The green mile

[James Potter]

James had asked Isabella to meet him in the gardens, the rain had held off for a few hours and what with all the madness surrounding their arrival, the welcoming ceremony and starting classes it just really seemed like he hadn't spent any time with her. The fact that there were so many beautiful girls here from the New Zealand school and the Durmstrang school meant very little to him for over a year well nearly two he had had eyes for only one. It had taken him a long time to recognise that and another long time to stop acting like a complete moron when he was around her.

He knew he could at any time have blamed his play acting and male egotistical bravado on her being a half Veela but he knew it had nothing to do with it. In the beginning sure but after being around Fleur and her children long enough he knew that the effects were almost mild in a sense after regular contact. So for the longest time that's what he had attempted to do, just make regular contact. It wasn't that he had needed to say anything to her, he just wanted to be around her enough times so she wouldn't effect him the way she did other boys.

Now, well now she effected him completely differently. She meant the world to him and as daft as that sounded at 17 yrs old he thought it had never been a truer statement. James often did stupid things trying to impress her and none of it seemed to matter to her or work for that matter and yet he still did them anyway. He checked his watch before shoving his hands deep inside his pockets. The naming ceremony would be tomorrow. He had sent a letter off to him parents letting them know how he was and how they were all getting on. Not once did he let on how nervous he was about it all.

What if he didn't get called out? The Great Harry Potters son couldn't live up to his fathers reputation. How many times had he heard that one already? Well he didn't want to live up to his reputation any how, wasn't he always told he was more like his grandfather, his name sake.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

Isabella had been lounging in the tent after finishing the rest of her unpacking when a first year came in with a message for her. She thanked her and smiled as the little thing left. Looking at the handwriting she smiled recognising James' scrawl. He wanted to meet her in the gardens, not needing another word Isabella checked the mirror Sakura had hung that morning for them and thought she looked ok. She pulled her hair back with a clasp hoping it would keep her unruly curls in place for a while. Throwing on her Gryffindor jumper over her tshirt instead of using her robes she headed out to meet him.

This was new for James, usually when he wanted to meet her there was a crowd involved. A party of some sort somewhere but his note had specifically to meet him alone in the gardens. Picking up the pace she ran the short distance there and spotted him within moments.

"Hello you"</COLOR><COLOR color="red"> she smiled as she got closer her heart did a wee flip as it always did. How lucky could one girl get?

 

[James Potter]

James turned around ready to make her laugh, he had placed a rose in between his teeth and began walking towards her with his arms outstretched.

"My daaar- llinngg" he infused every letter he spoke as if he were speaking with a thick french accent, "vill you do me ze honn- ure of ztrollingg arrround ze gardenz viz me?"
he spluttered momentarily taking the rose out of his mouth and gingerly touching the corner of his lips.
"think a thorn cut me" he muttered moving his jaw from side to side. He was quite sure the thorns in him mouth had pricked his tongue a little too.
Sticking his tongue out for her to see it he kept it there while he talked to her.

"than uh shee anthy biths of bluff?" he was really smiling of course and knew she wouldn't be able to resist coming in closer.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

Isabella nearly doubled over laughing as he walked towards her with the rose in his mouth.
"You are very foolish. People are starting to look stop it"</COLOR><COLOR color="red"> she looked about her and of course people were looking at them, the guy was larger than life for goodness sake who wouldn't look?
"James stay where you are don't come any closer" crazy as she was to say that statement when she wanted him of course to come closer.

She smiled pityingly at him when he took the rose out to check his mouth and tongue for thorn marks. How silly was he? She moved forward to check for him, not a single mark insigt of course. James was managing to smile through whatever little bit of mishap he may of had with the thorns so she knew not to feel too sorry for him.

 

[James Potter]

James laughed before gathering her up like a rag doll and swinging her around. Once he put her safely back down again he let her go only to reach out for one of her hands.
"I take it the populace isn't going to mind if I hold your hand?" he looked over at a large tree in the middle of the garden that seemed to be surrounded by a miniature sized maze.
"Lets head over there, we might even scrawl our names into the bark of the tree, so everyone will always be reminded that we were here" a slight stinging at the corner of his mouth made him instantly stick his tongue out to the side to check it. No decorum what so ever.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

Bella shrieked giddyily as she was effortlessly picked up by James and swung about as if she were as light as anything. She slapped his shoulder to get him to put her down and when he finally did, he still managed to hold her hand. The warm feeling she experienced whenever he did this always bubbled to the surface, would he always make her feel like this. She knew it wasn't going to last forever she wasn't stupid, seldom relationships began at 16 and 17 and lasted the test of time. Weren't Romeo and Juliet prove of that, those poor souls had to die just to remain together. Bella liked James, no she was crazy head over heels about the boy but she wasn't close enough to being as mentally lethargic as Juliet had been over Romeo. She allowed him to guide her to the tree he had indicated but tugged his hand slightly.

"We will do no such thing, desecrating trees so you can be immortalised. I know who I am here with and I don't care who in twenty or thirty years time might come along and see our names on that tree. What will they say anyhow? Oh Harry Potters son and a nobody?"</COLOR><COLOR color="red">
this was definitely not the right thing to say to James and she knew it but she really did get fed up with his nonchallant air.

 

[James Potter]

James hated any reference people made about him and his father, he had basically gotten it every day of his life and it really riled him. So he didn't appreciate it now when the one person who was and had always been on his side should even mention his father. He dropped her hand as if it had burnt him.

"Where did that come from? that just basically means two nobodies then. I expect to have made a name for myself by then Bella, I won't always be known as the son of the Boy-who-lived you know!"

He was angry with her now, so much for a chance for the two of them to relax together. James knew he would hate himself later but for now thought walking away from Isabella until his temper calmed down was for the best. Without saying goodbye he turned on his heel and strode off giving a very brief wave as he did so.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

The mood had drastically changed between them, she hadn't meant to upset him. She had only been trying to make a point about not marking the tree. Could have put it another way girl.
"James..."</COLOR><COLOR color="red"> he began a long speel in anger before storming off. Isabella put her hand to her head, nicely done there Bella nicely done. Mad with herself as well she spun around and kicked the innocent tree infront of her before sinking down at its base. There was no way she was walking after him, she didn't do that. They'd talk later but both would have to be alot calmer, she knew why he had walked off. His temper would have sparked her own and they both knew exactly what happened when Bella got angry. With a sigh she gathered her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs.
"what I wouldn't give to be back home".

 

[Sakura Gemini]

"I hear that" Sakura walked over slowly to her bestfriend, she had witnessed their illustrious captain storming off and knew his ego had been dented big time and if James was in that mood goodness knew how Isabella was.
"Want to talk about it Bells?" she sat down beside her friend and nudged her gently with her shoulder, "I could wave my magic wand and create lots of ears around here. Get it, I'm all ears".

She hoped Bella would smile at least at her attempt to cheer her up, passing judgement on James would have to wait until she had all the facts first. Saks knew that Bella wouldn't appreciate it if she just blurted out what a jerk James was. So she sat there in a similar posture and waited.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

Bella smiled wanly at her friends attempt at humouring her leaning slightly to the side she rested her head on Sakura's shoulder and sniffed.

"Life sucks at the best of times doesn't it? I mean I didn't mention his father to get him all upset. I wish he'd just let up once in a while. If his father was a bad man I could understand the animosity but he isn't, he's lovely but James hates being mentioned in the same sentence as him. He wanted to carve our names here on this tree and I told him not to that in 30 years or so who would care that a nobody and Harry Potters son had scrawled their names there" </COLOR><COLOR color="red">
Bella sighed and sniffed again,
"I mean when is he just going to get over himself Saks? I'm crazy about him sure but he makes it really hard sometimes. He said they might as well say two nobodies then if that's all I think he'll still be known as in 30 years. Of course I don't think that not for a second."

The sigh that escaped her felt as if the entire weight of the world was on her shoulders.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

Sakura stroked the top of Bellas hair. Boys who could truly understand them, certainly not she. Why even bother? She could barely figure those who were her friends out, not mind her rivals in games yet these particular boys were slightly easier to fathom. But boys who you had an emotional attachment to, totally different ball game altogether. The were just a law unto themselves.

"I think best to leave him cool off for now. He knows you didn't mean anything nasty by it. I mean he didn't disagree with you being a nobody in thirty years did he? That was fine and dandy but Dumbledore help us all if James Potter comes up short against his father. You're right he should stop worrying about that type of thing and just begin enjoying his life and what he has. Boys!"

She rested her chin on Bellas head, amazed at how egotistical they all were really.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

"I know you're right it just doesn't make it any easier does it?"</COLOR><COLOR color="red"> Isabella sobbed though the initial tension from her body had ebbed and she sat relaxed against her bestfriend, relishing the comfort she was being given.
"I didn't even want to think on that fact, you know what way I get if I get riled in any way. I just didn't want to take the bait"
Bella closed her eyes and wished she were back home in England or better still back at Hoggies. It was just too different and too strange here. Nothing and no-one felt right in any sense, even all the HS students were behaving oddly. Asher was behaving as nice as anything when back home she wouldn't have given anyone the time of day, just alot of Slytherin attitude. Noah and Sakura hadn't even spoken to one another yet which she blamed herself for and now herself and James were after another tiff. This was getting beyond ridiculous.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

"Apparently there's a Brightstone weekend, similar to our Hogsmeade ones. We can get away from here for a break. I think we need it, don't you" she nudged Bella gently, "I could do with some icecream or pizza even. Do you think they have pizza here in New Zealand?"
She hoped she had managed to change the subject somewhat, they both needed space from the castle walls and its inhabitants.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

Bella wiped her eyes and sniffed once more before slowly sitting up so she wouldn't bump her head on Saks chin.
"That sounds like a definite plan. I could do with some shopping, nothing like splurging all our well earned funds to cheer a girl up"</COLOR><COLOR color="red">
somehow the idea of shopping shoved James momentarily out of her mind, well just to the far recesses anyhow. There was never a chance he would be out of it completely.

"When should we go then? Did you know they have a Halloween feast here, all fancy dress and stuff. Should we go check out some costumes?"