CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
( THE UNEXPECTED.. )

     The last lesson before lunch was about to be over and Ella was sat in transfiguration. Sirius and Lily were the two that happened to be in her class. The shaggy-haired boy sat behind her which frankly Ella thought was a fate far worse than death. His constant prodding on her shoulder or head was the bane of her life. And as Ella was finishing making her notes, she felt a familiar tug.

     A soft sigh escaped her lips as she turned back to face Sirius. Since her and James' argument at Christmas, he had mostly left her alone in class but it seemed that today would not be one of those days. Sirius smirked when he realised he got her attention, her eyebrows furrowing.

     "What is it, Black?"

     "How did you do that? What's the spell?" Sirius asked, gesturing to her transfigured book. Ella tilted her head slightly, the disappointed look spreading across her face. He gave her a friendly smile and she sighed, whispering it to him. He grinned and then scribbled it down in his notes, taking his wand out. He then tapped his own transfigured book and was able to transform it back to the quill it once was, "Thanks," He grinned as he went back to note taking.

     "What have I told the two of you about sharing answers!" McGonagall said, her voice startling the brunette who's head whipped around to look up at her transfiguration teacher. She tried her best to act natural and gave her the best apologetic look she could as she moved to sit normally, "Do I need to take points off of Gryffindor?" She added. A few of their classmates - Lily included - were now watching though pretending to continue their notes.

     "Oh come on, Minnie. I just forgot the spell. I'll know it by next week. Promise." Sirius said as he looked up at her. His usually carefree attitude not even wavering despite the threat. Sirius had already lost them far too many house points in the past year and it was only February. Ella could not afford him to lose anymore.

     "I'd hope so because you're being tested on it." McGonagall said before she turned around and walked to the front of the class. She quickly began her end of class spiel, going on as she always did. Ella noted down any reminders for homework or work and then packed her things away. Sirius doing the same but at a faster pace than normal. He seemed he was trying to keep up with Ella.

     As she slung her satchel over her shoulder, that seemed to be confirmed. Sirius rushing to shove his things away before he caught up with her. She slowed down slightly for him, allowing him to walk next to her as they excited through the large door. Lily was a few students behind talking to her seat partner but seemed to catch up with them relatively quickly.

     "I heard about your chat with James, El," Sirius said. Lily appearing next to Ella right at that moment. The girls had yet to find out about her conversation with James but now it seemed she would have no choice but to let them know. Or at least Lily would know.

     "That's not goin' to distract me from your terrible transfiguration skills, Sirius," Ella responded quick to move away from the topic. She needed to talk about this another time out of the way of the corridors. They had transfiguration with various Slytherins and Ella did not have the energy to deal with whatever teasing they would come up with. She was receiving enough from the Slytherin's in her Herbology class. Her father teaching was not the ideal situation especially since their beliefs about her had been turned completely upside down.

     "That was one spell. I'm usually great," Sirius attempted to boast and Ella snorted. Lily grinning too as she remembered his last attempt at the practical tests. He had failed rather massively in front of the whole class. It had been the most amusing thing she had seen practically all week.

     "You flattened a mouse while attempting to turn it into an umbrella. I don't think that constitutes as 'great'," Lily joined in and Ella grinned as she watched him. His face fell at the words and Ella snorted, nudging him with her elbow.

     "Don't frown, Sirius. It's alright, I'm sure Marlene can help you improve. She's amazing at transfiguration after all," Ella smirked as she watched the boy's face turn to a scowl. Lily gave Ella and knowing look and as they walked down the steps towards the great all. The blonde that they had just been talking about appeared.

     "Go on, ask her now, Sirius. I'm sure she'll say yes," Lily said, pushing the boy down the last few steps so he could reach her. Ella couldn't help but chuckle as she watched him change from the scowling boy to his usual cocky self. His arm wrapping around her waist. Ella rolled her eyes and looked away spotting the others not far away.

     Layla was stood against the walk talking to Peter. Throwing her hands around wildly. Remus was looking mildly interested as James seemed to be just scanning the area. He grinned when he spotted Lily and Ella on the stairs. The redhead and brunette walking through the crowds of people to get to him. But Remus managed to get the word in first.

     "Where's Sirius and Marlene?" Remus asked and Lily gestured back to the pair who were currently snogging near the bottom of the stairs. James grinned and Remus rolled his eyes. Ella paid no attention instead her gaze flicked around the room in search of Kalia. The platinium blonde appearing from one of the corridors.

     "And there's your girlfriend," Ella said as Kalia weaved through the crowd. Her Ravenclaw tie looked odd amongst the sea of Gryffindor but Kalia liked it that way. The group then began to walk in once Sirius and Marlene finally joined. Layla, Lily and Peter continuing their discussion while Ella, James, Remus and Kalia all began talking.

     "I think Astronomy is going to be the death of me," James complained as they walked down the tables. Ella rolled her eyes at him and shrugged in response as they searched for a spot.

     "If you die doin' astronomy, I'm comin' with ya. I'm not bein' left alone in those late night classes," Ella said as he looked up at the messy-haired brunette. He rolled his eyes and the group sat down on the table. Half of them had gone down the other side of the table so now they were sat across from each other.

     "I'm already hardly in them. You can survive," James responded as they sat down. James' gaze briefly flicking to Remus who was too enamoured in conversation with Kalia to notice. The two sat together and discussing their notes. Ella smiling at how adorable they were before she adjusted in her seat, looking up at James.

     "You're the only reason I still like Astronomy," She shrugged before she grabbed her own book out to check her homeworks. Ella had organised a system that would mean she - hopefully - never forgot homework. She also kept a record of some of James' homework and since their talk at the Astronomy Tower she had found herself doing it again.

     "Right." James said obviously not convinced as he looked over her shoulder at her book. Ella could feel his breath against the skin of her neck. Her skin tingling and goosebumps appearing as she flicked to the page that had the current date on it, "What have I not done?" He asked as he let his hand rest across her shoulder.

     They quickly went through the listen and James had - surprisingly - done everything. He seemed pleased with that and Ella pulled out the last thing she needed to. It was for their astronomy lesson later in the day but she knew she'd have no energy when classes were over. So grabbed her chart and began to write out everything she needed to.

     "You've always loved Astronomy," James commented as he leant over to grab a few sandwiches. He placed a few on his own plate and then a couple of them on Ella's before he grabbed the hummus and carrot-sticks. He put some onto her plate, creating a dam for the hummus with the sticks. Ella barely even noticed as she continued with her astronomy work.

     "I swear if you two get into this debate again," Layla said, watching the two. Ella looked up and smirked. It was something they often talked about. Debated about. Who had gotten the other obsessed. Something that had cropped up more recently after Ella's return from the Astronomy Tower a few nights previously.

     "I've known the two of you for a year and I still don't understand why you talk about it so often," Kalia interrupted before Ella could make a rebuttal. She rolled her eyes and then absent-mindely picked up a sandwich. Taking a bite out before she began to talk.

     "James is so insistent that I was the one who started it when 'e's wrong. 'e knows I am, 'e just doesn't want to admit it." Ella shrugged, talking with her mouthful which quickly got her an elbow in the ribs by James. She cocked an eyebrow and he just rolled his eyes as he went back to his food.

     "James will never admit he's wrong," Lily responded and he feigned a hurt look. A soft chuckle escaping his lips as he rolled his eyes again. Ella smirked and glanced at the redhead who sent her a wink in return.

     "She's not wrong. You dragged me outside to see the stars when we were like six. Mia was ready to lynch you because you dragged me out to the woods and we fell asleep," Ella responded. James looked at her, raising an eyebrow at her words. She simply grinned in response to his face. His head tilted and then he took another bite, chewing and swallowing before he went to make his defense.

     "You were sleeping together that young? Why is anyone surprised they caught feelings?" Sirius asked, always finding an opportunity to make a comment. Ella felt her cheeks heat up and the awkward silence fell on the group. Sirius glanced around before he shrugged. They were all giving him 'why would you say that' looks and he really didn't seem bothered. It was the nature of Sirius it seemed.

     "Speaking of the two of you, when did you start conversing again? I must have missed that," Layla quickly cut in in an attempt to break the awkward silence. Ella glanced at James and he seemed to be taking the lead on that. Ella grabbing one of the carrot sticks and breaking the dam that James had built. Scooping up some hummus and eating.

     "I found her in the Astronomy Tower and we just talked. We stole a cigarette from your stash too, Padfoot," James added. Layla gave Ella a stern look and she just shrugged. Ella wasn't supposed to have another cigarette really. She had made a deal with Layla but it was one cigarette and she had never been addicted so it wasn't even a bad thing or a problem.

     "Of course," Sirius rolled his eyes as he continued his eating. Ella continued with her eating and astronomy homework. The group's conversations coming back relatively strong after a few minutes of content silence. Sirius couldn't stop himself from being loud and with James feeling better, they were back to their usual duo. Though Ella kept finding James watching her work as the group conversed.

     She had stayed pretty quiet, eating her carrotsticks and just trying to focus. It would mean her last homework would be done for now. There was no doubt that she would get more but she was at least on top of it now which is how Ella wanted to be. She needed to be organised to make a good impression.

***

     Ella's prefect duty was dragging as she walked through the corridors. The first ten minutes had been relatively eventful. A few Slytherins were giving her grief which ended in her docking house points that they begged for her to take back. But once they were gone, she had to wrangle some first years who claimed they didn't understand the curfew but clearly were trying to set traps in the Great Hall. Most likely to ruin their friend's days when breakfast came.

     Housepoints were also docked off of them and Ella had managed to get them back to their dormitory without much of a fuss. She found herself having to lead them since she didn't trust them to go back on their own. Ravenclaw's were crafty when they wanted to be. So, now, she was walking back towards her designated area.

     James should have been nearby but she had yet to see him. Something she found odd but not entirely unsurprising. After their argument at Christmas, the train journey back had been awkward enough with the prefect meeting. The time they usually spent together on duty had been lost to the void and though Ella still felt strange without him around her on duty, she didn't entirely mind. It just meant she could focus more.

     As Ella rounded the corner to head towards the Great Hall, she ran into Lily. A smile spread across Ella's face as she waved to the redhead. Lily spotted her too and smiled back, the two meeting in the middle of the corridor.

     "Were you sneaking off your duty?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow as she turned to follow Ella back towards her assigned area. Ella scoffed and rolled her eyes, Lily nudging her with her elbow.

     "No. Some Ravenclaws were trying to set up a prank in the Great Hall. I thought it was best I escort them especially since they seemed quite.. .spiteful," Ella responded as she looked down at her. Lily nodded her head and let out a 'uh-huh'.

     "And James wasn't in his area either because...?" Lily asked as she looked down. Ella gave her an incredulous look and Lily chuckled, "So you got together, when?" She added. Ella sighed and gently shook her head, a frown spreading across her lips. Her face dropping, she could quite literally feeling her heart sinking at the implication of it. That was not happening.

     "We didn't. I don't know where 'e is. 'e might be done or 'ooking up with some other girl," Ella shrugged. Lily - upon realising her mistake - quickly began to apologise but Ella shut her down before she could get so much as a syllable out. Lily had no idea what was going on with them so it was no surprise that she would assume, "'e's far too enamoured with you to look at me like that. We're just friends and that's alright," Ella added, pushing a smile onto her face. Lily could tell it was fake but just tried her best to accept it.

     "I don't think that's entirely accurate," Lily responded as she directed them down the corridor that would lead to the Great Hall, where Ella was supposed to be. The brunette turned her head and cocked an eyebrow, waiting to see what she'd say, "I mean just look at how the pair of you act already. If you're doing homework, he gets your food for you. He literally made a carrot-stick dam for your hummus the other day. And you keep a note of his homework. He ties your tie for you. You have as-"

     "None of that means 'e's in love with me. We've known each other since we were born. I've always noted down his 'omework because 'e's an unorganised mess and the food thing is irrelevant," Ella said, waving it off. Lily rolled her eyes at her dismissal, "And tying my tie for me is not some romantic gesture. I'm just shit," She added. Lily gently shook her head, staring down at the floor for a moment before she looked at Ella. A smile had appeared on her face, her eyes slightly crinkled as she let out a soft chuckle. Ella raised an eyebrow.

     "The pair of you are so oblivious. I mean, honestly. He's just dumb because he didn't see that you love him before now. But you - honestly - the signs are so obvious!" Lily said, airing her frustrations with a hint of amusement in her tone as she walked down a few steps. Ella walked down them too, cocking an eyebrow.

     "What're you on about!" Ella said, getting only more frustrated. If the signs were obvious Ella of all people would have noticed them. She knows James better than anyone in this castle. Better than ever Sirius despite what the boy claims. Ella had known him her whole life. A difference in behaviour would be noticeable.

     "He gets your food for you and makes sure it's what you like! I literally watched him pick off peppers on a pizza slice so that you would like it but you were doing your ancient runes homework. You didn't even notice but he did it anyway. You note down his homework and he's so touchy. He wraps his arms around you and fixes your hair when he notices it's out of place. Wipes the sauce off your cheek when you can't get it yourself. He's always wanting to be around you, he's so fidgety when he knows lunch is coming, when he knows he's going to see you. His hand literally twitches as he's waiting for a professor to fini-"

     "'e does that with everyone!" Ella attempted to interrupt but Lily was having none of it. It seemed she was going to get her point across before Ella even got a look in. Not that Ella really minded, it was good to know what she hadn't notice.

     "No he doesn't. He gets so antsy when he's not been around you. He was miserable when you weren't talking. He does not stop going on about you in our lessons together! You say he's 'enamoured' with me but all he does is talk about how amazing you are! We were discussing exam results and he was talking about how you don't believe in yourself. Honestly, the pair of you are so blind!" Lily ranted, her voice raising in volume as she walked backwards. Passing the staircase to the Great Hall where they could hear shouting and voices.

     "Those bloody Ravenclaws!" Ella said, ignoring Lily's rant as she rushed down the steps. However, what she saw was not what she had expected. James and Sirius were at the entrance to the Great Hall, giggling and Ella tilted her head. Lily snorted from where she was and shouted a bye, leaving Ella to do what she does best, "James! Sirius!" Ella shouted. Her words echoing in the giant entrance hall. The pair jumped at the sound of her voice and James whipped around, giving her a smile.

     That smile made her want to melt. He had this way of completely bewitching her despite him basically doing nothing. She hated it and if she could spell it away, she would have by now. She couldn't go soft with him right now. Not while they were breaking school rules again. Rules that could lead to them getting more house points taken off or James losing his badge.

     "I was wondering where you'd got to," James said, smirking a little. As Ella got closer she could smell the cigarette and fire-whiskey. They both seemed relatively sober but little did she know that they were both drunk. Far from the tipsy that she had hoped for. James had lost his sense of duty versus fun in their drinking it seemed and Ella wasn't entirely pleased with that turn of events.

     "The pair of yous, honestly, you're like little boys. Get away from the door Sirius!" Ella shouted. James pouted a little and he walked closer to her, taking her hands. The brunette moved her gaze up to his face and he smiled lazily at her. Ella rolled her eyes and moved her hands away. The black-haired boy seemed to have moved away now.

     "Merlin, James, you could have at least tried to distract her," Sirius muttered as he walked over to them with his wand out. Okay, he was certainly a lot more drunk. That was not a good sign. Ella snatched his wand from him, the shaggy-haired boys reactions too slow for him to get it back. She shoved it into the pockets of her robe.

     "Why are the two of you drunk? Or at least drinkin'?" Ella asked as she watched Sirius sway on the spot. James glanced at his friend and rubbed the back of his neck. Clearly this was not something they particularly wanted to share but Ella was insistent.

     "I argued with Marlene... she was kinda a bitch..." Sirius muttered as he stumbled past the brunette. Ella sighed and quickly rushed over to him. She grabbed his arm and pulled him over to her. Ella cupped his face with her hands and brushed his hair out of his face. He didn't look good, his face was pale and his eyes looked bloodshot.

     "He's fine, Ella. Don't mother him," James said as he walked over to him. Ella glanced back and then sighed before she pulled Sirius into a hug, standing on her tiptoes so she could be a little more comfortable. That seemed to break Sirius just a little bit as he slumped against her. He relaxed and the frown appeared on his lips.

      "You've survived worse than this, Padfoot. Come on, s'okay. Marlene will be fine in the morning," Ella said as she pulled away. Sirius tilted his head and then shrugged. He must have said more than he was letting on but Ella didn't push it. Letting him just wallow a little bit, "She's on her period so she's going to be a bit moody." Ella tried to joke. Sirius smiled a little bit at that and Ella helped him stand up a bit. When she took a glance back at James, there was a look on his face she just didn't recognise. It was something like devastation but she didn't know why.

     "Ella's right, Pad. She's being overdramatic. It will be fine in the morning," James said, wiping the look off his face as he stumbled over Ella gently shook her head and looked between the two boys again. They were both without their robes or jumpers on. Their ties somehow not lost despite their drunken stumbling and their shirts undone by a few buttons. Sirius looked considerably more dishevelled than James, however, but really that was always the case.

     "Whatever you say," Sirius muttered as he turned around, away from her. He then began to stumble up the stairs, chuckling at his own lack of coordination. Ella just frowned and James came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She could smell the alcohol on him and it wasn't the most pleasant but him being this close just felt so nice.

     "I miss you," James muttered as he rested his head against hers. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he just smelt her hair. Ella didn't quite understand and turned around to look up at him. Her hands moving to hesistantly take his off her waist.

     "M'right 'ere, James," She said as she fully turned now. James' hands not leaving hers as he leant forward. He stumbled into her a little and she chuckled, moving her hands to rest against his chest and keep him stable. He just seemed to stare at her, admiring her and she didn't know exactly what to do, "Come on, we should go after Sirius," She muttered as she tried to pull away. But James had a hold of her waist now.

     "He's fine," James muttered as he kept her against his chest. Ella just looked up at him, unsure what she was even supposed to think. He was drunk and the closeness was only making her realise how much. Ella wanted to desperately pull away, not willing to lose everything again but she just couldn't bring herself to. Between his strength and her own will power, she stayed there, "Just stay here with me," He slurred as he let his gaze linger on her lips. Ella sighed and gently lifted her hands up to his face. Her thumb brushed along the skin before she let her hands slide into his hair. Softly combing through it as she waited for him to say something else.

     But rather than words, he decided to lean forward. Their faces inches apart and Ella froze. Her hands stopped moving and her heart thumped against her chest. She opened her mouth to speak but she didn't get a chance. James kissed her. His hands moving from her waist to her face. Her hands moving back to his chest, unsure what she wanted. He was kissing her. Drunkenly and it was slightly sloppy but he was kissing her. Ella couldn't help but kiss back, letting her eyes close as she enjoyed the feeling of his closeness.

     It's all she had been wanting but as soon as she began to enjoy the movement, she realised that she shouldn't be so she pushed against his chest. It was light at first but when he didn't seem to get the message, she pushed harder and he pulled back. His eyes full of confusion as he watched her. Her cheeks had heated up, burning bright red as she let out a soft chuckle.

     "We should find Sirius," Ella said as she gently moved his hands away. Her stomach twisted with anxiety and all James did was nod. That was enough for her to know that it probably meant nothing to him. Drunkenly kissing the girl he had hooked-up with was nothing to him. But she didn't want to think about that. Instead, she began to walk away from the Great Hall. James following after her, a frown on his face. A piece of parchment in his hand that he had suddenly lost the nerve to give to her. She had pushed away. She didn't want this.

     James - it seemed - had lost his chance but he didn't want to give up. Not on her, not on any of this. Ella made it to the top and was quick to spot Sirius. His hands wrapped around his head as he curled up in an alcove. Ella frowned and rushed over to him, not letting her own emotions get the best of her. Even if it was obvious she wasn't okay. They were both too drunk to notice.

     "Padfoot, come on, you need to get to the dorm," Ella muttered softly as she pried his hand away from his head. Sirius looked up at her and she offered him a soft smile. Her hands wrapped around his wrist and she pulled the unwilling boy to his feet, "Come on, both of you," Ella said as she wrapped an arm around Sirius to support him. They walked back over to James who was at least capable of walking. The trio then began their descent to the common room.

     It took Ella a little while and some explaining to Remus but she eventually got both of the boys to their room. Peter already asleep by the time they got back. James watched her as she helped Remus put Sirius in bed. The boy being relatively unwilling to do anything. Remus glanced over at James and noticed the paper in his hand. Clearly giving him a signal to hand it over but he didn't want to.

     "Ella, James wants to give you something," Remus whispered as he finally managed to get Sirius to settle in bed. James' face switched from alarmed to relaxed in the second it took for Ella to turn to him. James then offered the parchment to her and Ella took it from him.

     "I'll read it when I'm back in bed. Get sleep, the three of yas," Ella whispered, giving them a soft smile before she headed out of the dorm. A part of her wanted to read the parchment straight away but frankly, she was too tired to even be able to comprehend it. So as she got ready for bed, she put it on her bedside table. Unaware that she knocked it off and it rolled under her bed as she got in.

     Molly, having spotted her owner's return, got up from Layla's empty bed and joined Ella. Snuggling close to her as the two fell asleep. Ella's emotional exhaustion catching up on her almost instantly.

***

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ! these last two chapters have been unedited but it's part of my goals to go through and fix them so that won't be for long! anyway, here's the second update of the day... and james DID THAT bois, like yeah, this chapter did not go how the plan dictated and to say this scene fucked my whole plan for this book is a damn UNDERSTATEMENT but it's fine and i still managed to work everything out in the end! so yeah, i hope you enjoyed this chapter <333