CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
( SUSPICION & SNUGGLES )

     Ella was in Herbology the next day, her stomach twisting with anxiety as she sat next to Marlene. Her father was explaining something, Ella only half listening as her mind drifted to her exam grades. Maybe Lily was right and they had been tampered with and maybe James was too but the more she thought about it, the less it seemed possibly. Dumbledore surely would have noticed and James and Lily were her friends, they were having too much faith in her.

     Plus, she had been too stressed during that exam week. Not only did she have the exam pressure but also the anxiety about James. About somebody telling him. That probably affected her grades and caused her to practically fail or barely pass in them all. That had to be the explanation because there was no way that they could have been tampered with. It wouldn't have been approved, surely.

     As the lesson went on, Ella and Marlene were set to do practical work. Marlene talking and going on about how her and Sirius made up while Ella continued to let her mind wander. Her carelessness causing her to snip herself with her scissors. The blood pouring from her finger as Marlene pulled it away. The panicked words leaving Marlene's lips went over Ella's head as she noticed her father watching her. He didn't move though, just watched.

     "You tosser," Marlene muttered as Ella felt the wound heal over. Marlene clearly must have used the healing spell. Ella looked down and then back at Marlene. The blonde tilted her head and surveyed Ella's face, "You've been out of it all lesson, what's wrong?" She asked. Ella shook her head and quickly said she was just distracted. After a short back and forth, Ella's father came over.

     That was when Ella quickly went back to the task at hand. The two girls going quiet as they began what they were supposed to. But Ella's father still lingered and he began to tell them a few things. Marlene attempted to firmly ask Professor Hollander to move away but neither of them were lucky enough. Instead, he stayed around.

     Ella only finding herself put under more pressure. Though she hated her father for everything he had done, she found herself desperate to prove herself. Whether that was due to her failing grades or that he was her father, even Ella didn't know. But the pressure she put on herself was leading her to be clumsy. Not following the technique properly, Marlene having to correct her more than once. Her father walking around and still lingering, his eyes burning into her hands.

     Thankfully, Ella was spared his gaze not long after when there was a knock on the door of the greenhouse. Professor Hollander swivelled around in his dungarees and when he saw the woman at the door, he smiled. He told the class that he would be back in a moment and stepped out. Ella recognising the woman.

     It was her Ancient Runes teacher. She had saw them together the previous day when she left for the forest so now, as she stared, she tried to work out what was going on. Was there something she didn't understand there? He had smiled when he saw her, he seemed pleased to see her. Had he remarried or was she having an affair with him? Maybe they had been scheming against Ella. The brunette had no idea what they were talking about but as she watched them, it seemed serious.

     The two were facing each other. Her father's messy brown hair contrasting her pristine blonde hair that was perfectly straight. Her hands threw out as she continued to talk. Their voices becoming louder but Ella still couldn't work out anything they were saying. It sounded heated whatever it was.

     Marlene tried to pull Ella's gaze away but when she realised what was happening, Marlene couldn't help but watch too. Her curiosity was getting the best of her and the two girls didn't even bother to hide that they were staring.

     So when Ella's Ancient Runes teacher - Professor Landon - spotted her talking. The blonde seemed to huff out and grabbed a hold of Ella's father's arm. Dragging the man away behind the other greenhouse so they were out of sight from Ella and Marlene's curious gazes. That instantly felt suspicious to Ella who eventually went back to her practical work. She had to do this before her father got back otherwise she'd truly be a laughing stock. Something she really did not want to be. She had to try and make herself look as good as possible.

     The lesson dragged on and eventually, Ella's father had returned. He went on with the lesson as normal and by the end of it, Ella was suspicious and incredibly unsure of just about everything. She didn't know whether to be suspicious of him and if he was doing something with her Ancient Runes teacher. She didn't know a lot of things and she just needed to talk to somebody.

     So as her and Marlene left class, Ella decided to ask her whether she thought their professor was acting suspicious. He had gone in and out of the lesson and they proceeded to act weird and cagey for the rest of it. Ella wasn't sure why and she just wanted nothing more than to understand what was going on.

     "He was acting suspicious but I think you're reading too much into it," Marlene said as they crossed the small patch of grass to get inside. Marlene went first and the two continued down the corridor, heading towards their next class. Ella had History of Magic with Marlene so hopefully they could talk for the whole journey.

     "Lily, Layla and James all think that my grades have been tampered with," Ella muttered as she glanced down at her pocket where the grade slip was hidden. Marlene cocked an eyebrow and Ella shrugged. The blonde shook her head slightly as they approached the stairs that would take them to the correct corridor.

     "Dumbledore wouldn't let grades get tampered with. Especially not the grades of one of his best students," Marlene argued and though that train of thought had often came to Ella's mind, there was the question of whether he knew. Whether it was changed on the exam or some other time, it could have just been changed when she was given it but either way, something could have happened.

     "You're right..." Ella muttered but there was still some part of her that really did believe that something had happened. What else could explain it? Though Ella had long since accepted the grades, her friends seemed to think that there was something wrong. Even Remus did even if they hadn't openly spoke about it. His reaction made it pretty clear, "We're probably over-thinking," Ella said after a moment. Nodding her head in an attempt to convince herself.

     "Though I suppose it's possible something could have happened," Marlene said, half in thought before she looked up properly, "It may have even been intentional. Maybe they are trying to push you to do better," Marlene added. Ella rolled her eyes at that explanation. If they wanted to motivate her, they wouldn't have ruined her grades. They would have given her the real ones and her teachers would have encouraged her verbally.

     "I doubt that," Ella muttered as they reached the classroom door. There were voices inside already which Ella took as her que to enter. She gave Marlene one last shrug before pushing the door open. Their friends already in class. Peter and Lily talking from across the classroom. Various people from other houses conversing as Ella and Marlene sat down. Ella letting out a huff as she sat down.

     The conversation between the four quickly started and as Ella spoke more, Peter - as always - came out of his shell a lot more. The bell going for the start of class quickly cut them off. Professor Binns already beginning his usual mind-numbing lessons. Not that Ella totally minded, the rants and lectures were often the most interesting part of her day.

***

     Ella and James were sat in the Common Room which was unusually full for the night hour. But the late night Astronomy class was that week so most of the people awake were seventh years just like Ella and James. They were sat on the loveseat, Ella's legs draped over James' as she rested her arm over her eyes. She was exhausted frankly and wanted nothing more than to fall asleep but the occasional prods from James and the rambunctious talk of their friends was keeping her awake enough.

     Layla and Lily were sat together on the couch and Marlene and Sirius were draped over each other on the armchair. Talking more to each other than anyone else. Lily attempting to bring them into the group topic but they seemed more involved in each other than anything.

     "Oh and the other day, I scared this one. Nothing out of the ordinary there," James said, prodding Ella again. The brunette groaned and nudged him with her leg. He chuckled softly and leant over, pulling her arm from her eyes and giving her a smile.

     "How did you do that?" Remus asked, his gaze moving off the fire. He turned around from where he was and looked to his friends. He had been staring off at the fire for most of the night, wanting nothing more than to be somewhere else. He was exhausted and irritable but he wanted to be around to talk to his friends. He had missed them.

     "I thought I saw him in the woods and was shouting for him to come out. Only, he was behind me the whole time and decided to jump scare me like a tosspot," Ella muttered as she let her hand fall back over her face. A small pout on her lips before she rolled over to try and get more comfortable. Sleep was getting harder and harder to resist.

     "Why were you even in the forest?" Remus asked curiously as he pushed himself to sit up, moving over to the couch. He flopped himself down as James grabbed onto Ella and pulled her onto his lap. The brunette then snuggled up to his chest, her eyes closing as he supported her. Ella instantly finding herself more comfortable and willing to succumb to sleep.

     "I was foraging for a potion," Ella muttered against James. He chuckled softly and relayed the information. Ella nuzzling her face into his neck and felt the sleep slowly just take over. A soft smile spread across James face as he stroked her hair.

     "Yeah, she made the wit-sharpening potion. I understand Ancient Runes now," Layla joked, moving her gaze off of Ella and James to Lupin instead. Remus nodded, smiling a little though he was apprehensive. His gaze fixed on Ella against James' chest. He was worried and that was blatantly obvious to just about everyone.

     "You knew them anyway, honestly. Ella just helped you understand them a little better," Lily responded looking up at the brunette. Layla shrugged and then moved her gaze back to James. The look on his face was one that Layla had no expected. Her head tilting slightly and a frown spreading across her face. Lily - on the other hand - was very much grinning.

     James had one arm wrapped around her body and his other was resting in her hair, keeping her close. His fingers running through her hair as he just looked at her with admiration. His smile was small, barely there but his gaze was filled with love. Nobody knew whether the look was good or not but Layla knew that Ella needed to know.

     "You should wake her, you need to head to your lesson," Lily said, gesturing to the few students that were already leaving. Half of the Gryffindors from their house had left. James and Ella were the only two from that class that still needed to go. So with reluctance James woke her up. A soft groan leaving her lips as she buried her face again.

     "Come on, it's time for class," He whispered softly against her ear. Ella let out a soft groan of annoyance before she felt him press a soft kiss to her temple. That woke her up a lot more and she looked up at him. Blinking away the tiredness and he just smiled at her. Her heart melting right then and there. She had no idea what she was going to do now. He was being... adorable and Ella had to get away before she read too much into it.

     She climbed off him and grabbed her bag that had her telescope inside. James doing the same and the pair said goodbye to their friends before they headed towards the door. Ella still rubbing sleep from her eyes and stumbling slightly as she went. The portrait hole opened and they both left, it closed behind them and the gossipping between the friends left was quick to start as they filed away to their various dorms.

     Ella held her bag in her hand, a yawn escaping the brunette's lips as she covered her hand with her mouth. She could still feel the warmth of James' arms around her and she wanted nothing more than to melt back into him. Frankly she was too exhausted to even be able to think straight, James constantly having to nudge her in the right direction.

     "Why are you so tired?" James asked as he finally just decided to grab her bag from her. He held it with his own as the two weaved through the corridors. It was still relatively quiet despite the twenty or so students all heading towards the Astronomy tower.

     "I was studyin' all last night," Ella muttered as she rubbed her face with her hands. Frankly, it was the worst idea she'd had in a while but she felt like it would have been a good idea at the time. She just wanted to try and improve and do better but quickly realised that most of the information had in fact, not gone in so rendering the session completely pointless.

     "You should have stopped. I doubt it helped," James said as they came up to the stairs. James making sure to move slowly as he began to climb up them. Ella's exhausted limbs taking double the time she usually would. She was just exhausted.

     "It did... a bit..." Ella muttered though that was obviously a lie. One that James quickly saw through and he took the last few steps, waiting for her. Ella yawned again as she reached the top, running her fingers across her face before she stretched her arms out, "Why did you have to wake me up?" She pouted softly. He chuckled and instead, grabbed her hand and began to drag her towards the staircase.

     "Otherwise I would have been late too, you were snuggled up to me," He responded as he looked over at her. Ella only pouted more in response but reluctantly began to walk by his side. A soft huff escaping her lips as she tried to just keep up. Her mind slowly beginning to truly wake up and then they reached the bottom of the Astronomy Tower.

     "I'm too exhausted for this," She muttered as she began take the steps up. James rolled his eyes and let her hand go. Passing her her bag back. The telescope had been spelled to weigh practically nothing but Ella still felt like it was pulling her down.

     "I thought you loved watching the stars," He teased as he watched her. Walking backwards up the stairs, a bad idea but something he had a lot of practice with nonetheless. The rest of the class were still trailing down at the bottom and he could hear vague voices at the top which meant that everyone was slowly arriving too.

     "I do. I always dragged you outside because I do but midnight is too late for me right now," Ella pouted and James face lit up. She finally admitted it was her that had dragged him out in the first place. Ella barely registering his delight until she was being picked up by him. James running up the stairs with her hanging off him. Finally her brain jostling awake as he ran up the stairs, calling about his victory and how she had finally admitted it. Ella shouting at him to put her down once she got over the intial shock but he refused. Instead, holding her over his shoulder as she flailed and whacked his back. Her telescope nearly falling down the stairs as the stone rushed past her head.

     The wind rushing by her as they bounded up. His shoulder digging into her stomach with every movement and she was quickly becoming winded, finding it difficult to breathe. All the while James continuing to tease her about his victory, the whole castle hearing at this rate.

     Only when they reached the top and James was given a disapproving look did he place her down. Soft pants escaping his lips as he admired her. Ella huffing out and sorting her hair with a push of her hand. Her arms crossing over her chest as she looked up at him.

     "Well at least ya woke me up," Ella muttered before she turned around and walked towards her usual spot. Placing her bag down and then plopping herself down next to it. A soft huff leaving her lips as James chuckled. He followed her over and sat down next to her.

     "You finally admitted you started it. I had to celebrate," James shrugged, his smirk still evident as he began to take all his parts out. He was quick to begin to build his telescope, the movements basically automatically for both of them now. Ella felt the breeze on her face and felt oddly comforted by it. The brunette then switched her gaze to James and his telescope was basically already built. A soft huff escaping her lips.

     "How do you do it so quickly?" Ella muttered attempting to try and assemble it quicker. However, she only proceeded to fail and very nearly drop all the parts of the telescope. James crawling over to her and then he began to help her.

     "It's practice, Ella. It's what I do to procrastinate everything. I did it a lot over Christmas," James said as he picked up another part, twisting them together. Ella nodded, glancing down at the parts to see that James had assembled most of it. So instead she just sat back and allowed him to finish. Even after seven years, Ella still failed miserably.

     "Did ya ever open my Christmas presents? I saw that you didn't open 'em on Christmas day," Ella muttered as she rested her head against the railing of the tower. James stayed silent for a moment and continued to build the telescope. But once he was done, he sat down and looked at her.

     "Not yet but mum put them in my trunk. I'm glad she did now," James said as he watched Ella's face fall slightly. At this point she couldn't even really remember what she had bought him but it had been quite a bit. Well, at least he could open it some time soon. James watched her and couldn't help but feel his gut twisting in anxiety.

     But before he could say a word to her, their teacher began to talk. Beginning her usual beginning of lesson spiel. Reminding them of the importance of what they were doing and passing the NEWT exams. Something Ella was very much aware of considering she took ten which was not the most common choice. Remus, Lily and James had only took seven each and they often wondered why she was so exhausted and stressed.

***

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ! please excuse the cringey chapter title BUT IT FITS, we're getting more james and ella content which is what i need to survive honestly, these two own my whole ass soul and i adore them more than life, okay? okay! i'm honestly happy with this chapter, did a lil bit of editing but will most definitely still have mistakes so i apologise BUT i hope you guys enjoyed nonetheless! <3