+':+°*. "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO       SAY?" .*°+:'+

December 15th, 1978

MONTHS HAS PASSED since James and Selene hung out in Hogsmeade. It was now creeping up to the Christmas holidays. Selene had continued to tutor James, they decided that every, Monday they will meet by the black lake under the big birch tree they found that is hidden so they are not in sight; A good place to focus. That was when it was semi-warm out. Winter had arrived. the once autumn-colored leaves were nowhere to be seen. it was cold and snowy outside so their sessions resided in the study room in Gryffindor Tower.

James had started to grow closer to Selene, Talking to her more outside of their sessions, making inside jokes with her, and lightly flirting, in a platonic way of course.  His feelings for Lily were there but it changed, he no longer flirted with her or asked her out. People whispered in the hallway saying he had gone mad. Some even say he had a secret relationship.

Selene has now come to terms with her feelings, after a very awkward Hogsmede date with Edward the two had decided on being friends. Selene now had admitted to herself that it wasn't Edward that was her problem it was James. It was a tiny crush that meant nothing. He was obsessed with her best friend.

James had invited Selene and Lily to his parent's annual Christmas Party at the Potter Manor. Selene agreed on the spot, Lily hesitantly agreeing after Selene talked her into it.

Now, Lily and Selene were sitting in the great hall with the marauders, Alice, her boyfriend (Frank Longbottom), and Marlene and her random fling.

"I'm going to fail!" Selene groaned, her voice was muffled because she had her face covered by her hands, hitting her face repeatedly. Lily grabbed Selene's hands before they could meet her face, "You aren't going to fail if you had put as much time as I have. I am pretty sure you would be top of the class."

Before holidays practice exams were coming up. Everyone was frantically studying and cramming any last knowledge or notes memorized before the exams. Selene, Lily, Alice, Marlene, Sirius, Remus, James, and Peter were all taking the same subjects. Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, DADA, History of Magic, Herbology, (Selene's Favorite) and Muggle-studies. Selene had decided at a young age that she wanted to be: a Healer. She wanted to take care of people and save their lives.  To be a healer you had to have either Outstanding or Exceed expectations in the following subjects: Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and DADA. Selene received perfect marks all O's the only reason Lily "beat" her was because she took Divination and got an O as for her other classes, all O's.

"I like to sleep." Selene shrugged, as she stuffed her face with Eggs, she stress ate. "Potter, have you finished the practice tests for muggle-studies I gave you? I need to grade them."

James looked over at her with wide eyes, No he had not. "Of course I did, Sel."

Selene raised a brow, "May I see them?" James' eyes only widened more, "I...Um... Sirius ate them." He answered giving the girl a sly smirk. "Prongs, just because I am a dog doesn't mean you can use that excuse. Out of our friend group I would not be the one to eat paper." Sirius smirked

All eyes went to Peter.

Selene got up from where she was sitting between Lily and Alice and walked behind peter and put her hands on his shoulders, "Pete wouldn't eat paper for fun and we all know that. He would do it because he is a great friend and probably because one of you —" She pointed between Sirius and James "Told him to because you think it is funny. Honestly, Peter is such a good friend."

"I would not eat paper, no matter what." Peter defended, "I know." Everyone said is using.

....

"James!" Selene grumbles, "Yes, Ray?" James says while grasping onto her hand and dragging her down the corridors.

The two has just finished another, study session and James insisted he needed to bring her somewhere as a show of "thanks".

James stops abruptly and turns to face a confused-looking Selene, "You called me James?"

Selene's eyes widen, "No."

"Yes!"

"No

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Soooo...We on a first-name basis now?" James smirks rocking back and forth on his heels, Selene huffs, "I guess I can't call you Potter forever."

"Now will you tell me where we are going?"

"No chance."

...

James and Selene approached a place Selene didn't know, you would think after you have spent six years at a school you would know, but she didn't. James walked up to a portrait, raised his hand, and... tickled a pear? Suddenly, a door appears and opens up revealing, "I present the kitchens." James looked so excited looking at Selene, she smiled at him and walked in. "Very nice."

A house-elf came towards the two, "Mister James!" the house eld squeaked, "What can Dinky get for you?"

"Do you perhaps have any cookies?" James asks, "Of course, Mister." the house-elf bowed and ran back into the kitchens.

"I'm assuming you come here often?" Selene questions, "How do you know?"  "The house-elf, Dinky, knows your name... Mister Potter." Selene says the last part in a mocking tone, James breaks out in a grin and shrugs, "I get hungry, Miss Ray."

They both break out into a smile at each other, Selene walks over to the counter where there are five chairs placed and sits down. James follows suit.

Dinky comes over with a tray of what appears to be a mix of Chocolate Chip, Sugar, and Snickerdoodle cookies. "Thank you, Dinky." Selene smiles, Dinky bows in response.

"So, Sel, this is the ultimate personality test," James starts, "What flavor of cookie will you be choosing?" Selene looks over at the tray and takes a chocolate chip cookie, "Well, Po- James. I will be choosing the only correct answer of chocolate chip." James nods in response and takes a chocolate chip cookie and sugar cookie.

They talked and ate cookies, and at this moment, Selene Ray knew she didn't have a little teeny crush on James. She liked him, and she was completely and utterly screwed. She liked James Potter. The same James Potter who had been chasing ever Lily Evans, her best friend, for their entirety of Hogwarts. But, James hadn't been showing Lily any interest since September. He also was talking about how it was getting old chasing her around. Lily also had no feelings for James, she wouldn't be hurting her best friend.

James was going on about his favorite topic: Quidditch. Selene's mind went to the day a few months ago when she was sitting in the great hall with Lily and Remus when she first started to feel things for James. She talked to her old friend, Reggie, Sirius' brother.

"May I help you?" Regulus Black asked, "Yes." Selene responded, "I know we don't talk much anymore since — " "Since my brother asked you to stray away. yes." He answered simply. "Sorry." Selene cringed, "I liked being your friend, it's just —" "You are loyal to Sirius." Regulus rolled his eyes, "I- I do miss you, Reg, I do. I still want to be your friend. Just ever since Sirius left your home it created a sort of divide. I want to be friends again."

Regulus smiled, the first real smile in a few months, "Wanna take a walk?" he asked, Selene smiled and nodded in response.

The two walked the grounds of Hogwarts, talking and laughing and catching up. Almost like no time had passed. Selene and Regulus first met on the train ride to Hogwarts in Selene's first year. After, Selene escaped the marauder's compartment after Sirius and James started acting out Romeo and Juliet. Selene left when James and Sirius were about to kiss.

"So... what did you want to talk about?" Regulus asked peering over at the brown-haired girl, "I need advice." Selene replied, "Naturally, you had to come to the superior Black Brother." Regulus said raising his head as they walked. Selene laughed.

"So, James Potter, your brother's mate, is shit at muggle-studies. So, I have been helping him study for it every week or so. We sometimes talk and I don't know... I have known him forever, but this is different. He just- I cannot even explain it. I am feeling things I shouldn't."

"Don't."

"What...?"

"Don't. Don't turn your feelings off or say you shouldn't be feeling what you're are feeling. Potter is an okay bloke. Lupin is better, but Potter is good too. If your feel progress, tell
him. I know it is scary but you could have a real chance with him."

Smart arse. That is what Selene thought to herself when she heard those words. The words echoed in her mind when with James. you could have a real chance with him. She couldn't do anything with James or tell James until she talked with Lily. That will be fun.

"Anyways, It was a great catch. We won the game, like always." James finished, shoving the last bit of cookie into his mouth. "I have never flown a broomstick before."

"WHAT? SEL, HOW COULD YOU?" James gasped dramatically. "COME ON, WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT!"

James grasped Selene's arm and they left with muttering a "thank you" to the house-elves. "I don't want to know where we are going." Selene sighed but there was a small smile playing on her face. "Quidditch pitch, of course." James squealed like a little boy on Christmas. Cute.

....

"I don't want to," Selene said dryly when James tried to hand her a broom. "Fine, get on mine with me." James rolled his eyes.

Selene got on the back of James' broom, with her hands resting on her thighs, James took her hands and put them around his waist. Selene had had her face lowered to the ground but looked up at this movement. Butterflies, she thought.

....

"You see? That was fun!" James said after the two dismounted. "Okay, fine, it wasn't horrible," Selene admitted. James broke out in a grin, "This is why I love — " James started but quickly stopped himself, "Awh, I hate you too." Selene mocked, "Shut up, you know what I mean."
"I didn't even know we were friends, much less you lo- er liking me."

James' face fell at this, "Of course we are Fri- yes, friends, Sel. I like you more than just you helping me because I am rubbish at muggle things..."

Before Selene could respond, James pulled her in by the waist and kissed her.

He kissed her without warning or deciding to do it, he just did. And, she kissed back. It was only them at that moment. A stolen kiss on the quidditch field. Both minds were blank, it was cold, and both of them were freezing. But, at that moment neither cared. The warmth of each other was enough.

Selene pulled away, "James-" she started "We can't you love Lily this isn't fair to you or her." James' face looked hurt, "Have you seen me show interest in her since at least October?" He started, "Or, have you noticed that I talk to you way more and give you attention?"

Selene's face softened, "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm trying to say—" He started running a hand through his already very messy curly hair.

"PRONGS?" The voice of Sirius Black called out, both parties looked at each other and then to the approaching long-haired man.

"Prongs, we were worried sick." Sirius pouts, "Come on- Oh, hi Ray."

"See ya."

"We will talk later, okay?" James whispered

Little did they know a certain green-eyed who was also doing the same thing Sirius did, though she came moments before and saw everything.

AN:

I am nervous to publish this one...lol

word count: 2090