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Bright, beautiful chapter image by Winterfell_Is_Coming @TDA!

 

 

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 After a long, desperately boring week in the hospital wing, I was ready to face the world.



 



 



 



 



 



 




“Well,” she started, grabbing my bicep, “You haven’t got a choice.”


With that, she drags me down the hall, ignoring my agonized calls of protest.


Confidently, Lucy stomps into the Great Hall, towing me behind her.  I duck my head, hiding my face behind the storm of red hair flowing behind Luce as she strode over to the Slytherin table.  We sit down with Scorpius and Al, eyes staring at me with curious expressions.


I was still in a poor state.  I shook easily, and was cold rather quickly.  My joints were sore from under usage, my head was throbbing.  I wasn’t dizzy anymore, which was good, and was drugged pretty well.
Glancing up from the table, which I was glaring at (the thing is bloody rude, let me tell you.), I find James Potter sitting across from me, examining my face rather closely.


Erm… awkward, much?


Have I something on my face?


Oh, wait; scars.

Ha. Ha.


Fuck off, Potter, I thought to myself.

“No can do, Malfoy,” James says, nonchalantly.  He was staring deep into my eyes.

Wait, did I say that out loud?

Oops.

“Yes, you did say that out loud,” he replies in an annoyed tone.

Wait, again?!

What’s wrong with me??!

James goes to open his mouth, but I cut him off.

“Don’t,” I say flatly, holding a hand up.  He studies me with an amused look in his eyes, which were sparkling with mischief above his smirk.

Damn him.

“What do you want?” Al asks irritably, glaring at his older brother.  James bites into a roll, ignoring Al completely.

“So, Malfoy,” James starts conversationally.  I roll my eyes with extreme exaggeration.

I hope the damn arsehole say me roll my eyes.

… Excuse my language, loves.

He’s just so incredibly stupid.

Honestly, he should get a medal.

Sponsored by me, of course.

And I’m not even joking.

That’s what I’m getting the arse for Christmas, since I have to get all of them a gift in order to be polite in front of the adults.

I bloody hate my life.

“What exactly did happen to your face?” he wonders out loud, tapping his chin.

My eyes grow wide, and I feel the tears threatening to spill.  I hate being insecure, but when James bloody Potter was asking me about this?

I just felt as if I was below everyone.

Like I was the ugliest human being alive.

“Look, Potter,” I say his name as if it was a disease, “I don’t care what you’re curious about, there is no way in hell I’m telling you.”

He studies me for a moment, his smirk growing wider.

“Doesn’t matter, Louis already did.”

No.

Bloody.

Way.

That daft, blonde dimpo.

I hate Louis Weasley.

 With a passion.

“He- what?!”  I sputter, my eyes growing wide.  I couldn’t believe Louis would do that.  I mean, it was low, even for him.

“I don’t lie, Malfoy,” James said, holding his hands up innocently, his smirk still playing at his lips.

I flip him the bird before getting up and stomping towards the Hufflepuff table, eyes following me as I marched across the Great Hall.

Walking past the Gryffindor table, I hear my name being called by Dominique, but I completely ignore her, much like how James ignored Al earlier.

Seething, I reach a wide-eyed Louis Weasley, who couldn’t get away before I grabbed him by the ear, dragging him straight out of the hall, refusing his cries of protest.

Oh, he was a dead man, he was.

You see, I have a tendency to act on impulse, despite how over dramatic or irrational the actions are.

And this?

Well, it was a bit over dramatic…

And irrational…

But whatever.

“Oi!  Bloody hell, Malfoy!” Louis squeaks- yes, squeaks-, clawing at my wrists, trying to get me off of him.

Not going to happen, sunshine.

“Yes, Louis?” I ask sweetly, sarcasm dripping off my voice.

Hehe, I loved annoying this prat.

It’s amusing, you see.

“What are you doing, whack-job?!” he asks, prying at my hands.

I turn the corner before shoving him into a broom cupboard, locking the door behind me.  Louis’ eyes got wide with fear, clearly thinking the more perverted reasoning for shoving him in a broom cupboard.

“Gee, love, if you want me, just ask,” Louis smirks, throwing his hands up in mock innocence.  I scowl at him.

“Get your head out of the gutter,” I snap.  He just laughs with joy at the situation.

Not for long.

{ Add evil cackle here }

“Why did you tell James?” I explode, throwing my hands into my hair, pulling with annoyance.

Louis’ (beautiful, gorgeous, oceanic, entrancing, mesmerizing…) blue eyes went wide and he began toying with his hair, running a hand through it with nervousness.

“Oh!  Well, ermm…” he stutters, shifting in place.

Gotcha.

“I told you I didn’t want anyone to know!” I cry, staring at him in disbelief.

I mean, I know Louis’ life goal is to destroy me, but this?

“Low hit, Weasley,” I whisper, leaning against the door, it supporting all my weight as I go to cover my face.

HUGE mistake.

I scream in pain as I move my hands away.  Louis takes immediate action, coming forward and grasping my wrists, holding them down away from my face.  I whimper, my face in inexplicable pain.  Shots of searing pain course through my face, it throbbing. 

“Hey, S’Mae, breathe,” Louis whispers, his hands shaking a little while he held my wrists down.

I nod, gasping for air, trying to control myself, trying to get through the pain that ran through my face.  Louis was hushing me, trying to get me to stop.

Eventually, I do.

But it was every bit of an hour later, and I was slouched against the door, sitting on the cold hard ground.  Louis was crouched in front of me, still holding onto me, not by the wrists, but by the hands.

“Done?” he whispers, looking me in the eye.  I nod, squeezing my eyes shut.

Perhaps he thought that I did this because I was, in fact, still in pain. 

But that wasn’t the reason.

Oh, that was so not the reason.

The next thing I know, Louis is hauling me up, letting go of my hands (much to my dismay) quickly, rubbing them against his leg vigorously. 

Well…

Then…

Just as Louis reached for the door, I acted on impulse (of course…) and grabbed his hand to keep him front touching the knob.

Louis looks over at me, curiosity taking over his expression.  My expression, however, hardens, all the thoughts and reasons of why I brought him here in the first place coming back to me, head on.

“Weasley, you didn’t answer my question,” I say, glaring at him. 

I swear to Merlin that boy recoiled.

But I can’t be sure.

“What question?” his voice was uneasy. 

Merlin, if you’re going to lie to me, at least make it believable.

“Please,” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest. 

Louis sighs, running a hand through his wild strawberry blonde hair that was pointing in every direction.

So typical.

“James is my closest friend,” he begins pathetically.  I roll my eyes at him.  Louis’ expression hardens as it morphs into a glare.

“It’s true,” he snaps.  “I tell James everything, just as he tells Teddy everything. That’s what friends do.  But you wouldn’t know, would you?  You don’t have any friends.”

Okay, that stung.

My eyes widen and I open my mouth to retort, but can’t find any words.

Okay, that hurt a lot.

Before Louis could do or say anything, I give him a right shove and fly out the door, finding a tear rolling down my cheek as I ran.

---

 
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering why that hurt so bad. 

And the truth is?

I’ve always had problems finding a friend in every situation.  Even muggle children don’t like me.  Everyone thinks of me as a monster because of who my mother was. 

And I hated that.

It wasn’t fair.  I’m not at all like my mother.  I don’t even know my mother.  I don’t remember her at all, don’t have one memory of her.  I was raised by Draco and Astoria, not Bellatrix.

I’m not a monster.

But no one understands that.  They push me away like I’m the scum on the bottom of their shoes, and I hate it with a burning passion. It’s unfair.

I was lucky when Lucy decided to be friends with me.  I never really counted Scorpius as a friend, more or less a brother.  Lucy was extremely hesitant about letting me in, but eventually found the courage to do so.  Albus was a bit of a package deal with Scorpius, and we just became close.

Victoire helped me my first year.  She’d sit with me when Scorpius wouldn’t, would hang out with me when she found me alone.  She took me under her wing.  We’re still friends, but just never find the time to talk. 

Dominique and Rose were only recent additions because they were told to make an effort.  Turns out, we really did get on well enough, and now are pretty close friends, but I didn’t necessarily make them on my own.  I had help.

But when people remind me how hard it is for me to actually fit in, to actually have a friend? 

It hurts.

A lot.

Just as what Louis said hurt.

And now?

Well, I’m sitting in my hide out above the library, praying to Merlin nobody comes in.

Especially James.

Oh, what a show that’ll be.

I was still wearing his sweatshirt and was curled in a ball, watching Rose and Scorpius talk below me.

Oh, they were so awkward it was bloody hilarious. 

Took my mind off everything for a while.

But I was quickly reminded of things when James came into the room.

Yep, I jinxed myself.

I swear to Merlin I have the worst of luck EVER.

He was holding the map in one hand as he silently sat down next to me.  I look at him curiously, confused as to why he was there.

“What are you doing here?” I ask eventually, cutting the silence.

James looks over at me thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

I was shocked.  The sincerity in his voice was thick and true.

I couldn’t believe my ears.

“What?”

Who are you and what have you done with the evil, malicious James Sirius Potter?

“I’m sorry,” he repeats.  I furrow my eyebrows.  “I shouldn’t have been snooping around in your business.  It was wrong.”

I stare at him for a few moments, completely and utterly confused.  Why would he apologize.  To ME.

Then it dawned on me.

I cracked a smile.

“Who paid you?” I laugh, watching his expression change into complete and total amusement.

“Now, Sophia Mae, why would anyone possibly pay me to do something like this?  It takes more than money,” James says, clutching at his heart in mock hurt.  I tip my head back in laughter.

“How m-much?” I say through giggles, clutching my gut because of how hard I had laugh hurt. 

This was so funny.  I knew James would never possibly apologize willingly.  It would take some serious convincing and money to bribe him into doing this.  He was far too proud a person.

“20 galleons,” he shrugs.  My eyes bug.

“What?!  That much?!” I yelp, not believing a word.  He nods.

“Rose, Dom, Al, Malfoy, Goyle, and Luce all paid me, so it added up quickly.”

I roll my eyes at how much it cost for him to apologize for making me attack Louis.

Louis.

“I tell James everything, just as he tells Teddy everything. That’s what friends do.  But you wouldn’t know, would you?  You don’t have any friends.”

The words came back to me, and tears, yet again, pricked my eyes.  Damnit, when did I become so weak?

“Erm.. Malfoy?  What’s wrong?  What did I do?” James asks, looking uncomfortable. 

Whoops, maybe I shouldn’t cry in front of him.

“Nothing,” I snap, smacking my cheeks in attempt to wipe the tears away.  I left them stinging badly, throbbing against the pain, and I dip my head away, scooting against the wall, curling into a ball.

I just wanted to be alone.

I didn’t need another person that gave me a hard time because I’m a Lestrange right next to me while I mourn over what Louis had just said.

And it was true.

The evidence was right next to me.

“What’s wrong?” James sighs, shifting uncomfortably from next to me.

I didn’t blame him.

“I said nothing,” I snap again. “Please go away.” came out in a whimper.

His footsteps echo through the room.
 

---

*** James’ POV ***
 

---

 “I said nothing,” she snaps at me.  That kind of stung.  Although, I had no idea why it hurt me so much that she wouldn’t tell me.  I shouldn’t care.

She’s a Malfoy.  A Lestrange.

She should be nothing to me.

Yet, I’m sitting here, wanting to know why she’s crying.

“Please go away,” she whimpers, tears rolling down her cheek.

And, I don’t know what made me do it, or why, but I walked.

Straight over to her.

I slide down the wall, and, very carefully, put an arm around her.  She stiffens at first, but eventually couldn’t fight it anymore and melted into my side, the side of her head resting against my chest because she couldn’t bury her face.  It would hurt her. And then I’d feel even worse than before.

I couldn’t get over the awkward feeling that was in me.  It bothered me that I was so…. accepting of the fact that I’m sitting here with Sophia Mae Lestrange Malfoy in my arms, and I’m not pushing her away, not threatening to hex her into oblivion, not wanting to be anywhere else.

What was wrong with me?

---

 

*** S'Mae's POV ***

 

---

 “WHAT. THE. FUCK?!” Dominique’s squeals interrupt my studying in the library.

“Miss Weasley, get OUT of my library!” Madame Gerome screeches.

“With pleasure,” she growls, grabbing me by my ponytail and dragging me out of the library.

We pass a horror-stricken Potter and an amused looking Scorpius as she tugs me along, all the way across the castle by the HAIR until we’re up in our dorms.  She pushes me down on my bed and crosses her arms, tapping her foot expectantly in front of me.

“May I help you?” I ask, my voice wavering with fear.  Dom growls in response.

“Actually, no.  James already did,” she snaps.

My eyes grow wide.

Oh.  Shit.

It’s been three days since my little incident with James.  We agreed never to speak of it again as long as we walked this earth. 

Well, by the looks of things, that didn’t last long.

And here I am, still on earth.

Potter is SO dead.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.  I didn’t know what to make of it.  I was confused and scared and quite frankly disgusted by the fact that I let him hold me and didn’t push him away screaming.  I was just so upset because when I dragged Louis away he started screaming at me, saying I didn’t understand his relationship with James because I didn’t have any friends.  So when I was crying and James was sitting there, mocking and proving the point that Louis had said, I couldn’t help it.  I cried.  I told him to go away but he didn’t when I thought he did.  He just wrapped an arm around me and I couldn’t help it!” I scream in one breath, a tear escaping my eye. 

Dom’s reaction was completely unlike her.  She was just staring. 

Just staring at me.

She didn’t scream, didn’t lash out on anyone in particular, just stared at me.

It was creeping me out.

“He said that?” she whispers, a tear escaping her.  I grow wide-eyed, shocked that she was crying because of what he had said.

I nod slowly.

“I’m so sorry!” she wails, throwing her arms around me.  Her hair flies in my face, causing it to throb and sting a little, but I ignore the pain.  She sobs into my shoulder for the longest time before pulling away.

Her eyes were dark and her face was livid.

Oh, no.

“I’m going to kill him,” she growls, before pulling her wand and running from the room.

Oh no.

This isn’t going to be pretty.

“Dom!”  I call, chasing her, trying to get her to stop.

She kept going.

---

 



 



 





Then you get The-Boy-You-Thought-You-Hated-But-Now-Aren't-So-Sure (James) to throw a punch in your best friend’s twin’s face.

It works.

I’ve seen it.

And now?

Well, I’m standing over Louis as he clutched his bleeding nose, curled on the ground.

It was an oddly satisfying sight to see.

Don’t ask why I thought it was satisfying.

I have no idea.

Must be that bit of my mother in me.

Merlin, I hate my life.

“James, that was completely and utterly…” I start, but can’t find the words to say.  My face was deemed expressionless. I had mixed feelings for the situation.

Scorpius and Al had dragged Dom out of the room, so it was just Louis, James and I in the Hufflepuff Common Room.

James was studying my face, looking ready to recoil and shield himself.  As if I was going to explode on him.

But I didn’t.

I did something far more ridiculous.

I hugged him.

Don’t ask me why.

I don’t know.

JUST LEAVE ME AND MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AT PEACE, I BEG FOR MERCY!

Yeah; I'm a bit insane at the current moment.

Check in for sanity later.

James stiffens in my arms, and I feel completely stupid. I go to pull away, but his arms wrap around my waist and he pulls me close.

Then he laughs.

“This is so weird,” he mumbles, his warm breath tickling my ear.  I nod, laughing breathlessly.

“Yeah, it is,” I whisper.

Because it was.

I mean, James and I have hated each other for as long as I could remember.  It was a natural thing, his hate toward me.

And here I was, hugging him.

Over an unconscious Louis.

Ah, life.  It’s a beautiful thing.

“Whazzgoinon?” Louis’ sleepy mumbling brought us back to reality, and we shot apart so quickly it was as if a fire was set between us.

Ha.  If only.

“You’ve got three seconds to fuck off, Louis Weasley,” I growl.  Louis’ eyes grew wide, the memories flooding back.

He scrambles off the floor and looks at me, wide eyed.

“I’m sorry, S’Mae, I really am!” he practically begs.  I continue to glare.  “Honestly, I didn’t mean it. I was just so pissed.”

How did I even begin to… like (insert gag here)… that thing is beyond me.

“Get.  Out.  Please.”

He nods silently and walks out of the room, leaving me to cry in Potter’s arms.

Again.

---

 

A/N: How'd you like it?!  Big nono, or big yes?  I didn't even realize I what I was doing with James' character until I had done it and thought 'Hey, that's a really good idea and plot twist!' so did anyone see it coming?  And how about Louis?  Dominique's reaction? Sorry about the huge spacing.  Trying to figure out why it won't let me post unless it's this size spacing.  Bit annoying, reallly.   Let me know, and REVIEW!  ~ LilyLou

 

A/N 2: *3/31*Edit*   Okay, so I went through and fixed the spacing, guys!  Sorry it's been so long, I was on a new story, and then got writers block for a bit.  But I'm back!  I've done some thinking, and I'm highly concidering switching this to a Louis/OC/James story!  What do you think?  Up for a plot twist?!  Let me know! And please, review!(:

P.S. I've started signing all my stories with my real name.

~ Janelle(: