BORN TO DIE

𝐈𝐕   𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝

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James Potter sat at the Gryffindor table, his head resting against his hand as he watched Esmerelda Nott. He couldn't help but feel astounded by her, yet at the same time, he struggled to find the right word to describe his emotions.

All his preconceived notions about Slytherins had been shattered. Growing up, James had believed that all Slytherins were nothing more than blood purist scum, but Esmerelda had proven him wrong. She was different. Unusually, she was not seated remotely near Evan Rosier, but instead, she laughed and conversed with Dorcas Meadowes.

It struck James as odd to see Esmerelda Nott laughing. He had always known her to have a stoic, almost stone-like expression that seemed to repel any form of happiness or joy. But now, she seemed so at ease with Dorcas, and James couldn't help but wonder how their friendship had developed. He furrowed his eyebrows and contemplated this new revelation.

His friend Sirius noticed James' transfixed gaze and offered a nonchalant explanation. "Dunno, mate. They're both Slytherins. Snakes herd together," he shrugged, resuming his voracious consumption of food.

Curiosity still gnawed at James, and he couldn't help but voice his question to Remus. "Since when were they remotely close?" he asked, his forehead creased in thought.

Remus shot him a knowing look and replied, his lips threatening to curve into a smirk. "Why are you looking at Nott, though?" he questioned. The double entendre wasn't lost on him. James quickly defended himself, denying any ulterior motives, though his response only served to confuse Remus further.

The mischievous glint in Remus' eyes turned into a lazy grin. "One, that made no sense, zero, zilch," he teased, relishing in James' embarrassment. "And two – how many times did you mention her surname in that sentence?"

Flushed with embarrassment, James realized his slip-up. He hadn't noticed how frequently he had mentioned Esmeralda Nott's name - it seemed to have taken a prominent place in his thoughts. Peter chimed in, acknowledging her beauty with a shy pink tint on his cheeks.

Indignant, James retorted, "She's my future fake girlfriend, find your own, Wormy," stabbing at his breakfast with frustration.

Sirius couldn't resist chiming in, his curiosity piqued. "Why Esme? Out of all your fangirls, why the girl who quite literally hates you?"

Unfazed, James calmly explained his plan, seemingly oblivious to the quizzical looks from his friends. "Because she practically told me I was her plaything at a party, and now she's friends with Evans. So, if I manage to make her fall for me – which, let's face it, it's me, she will – Lily will finally realize she's been in love with me all along. We'll get married and have seven children."

Sirius couldn't help but gape at James' audacious plan. Patting his friend's shoulder, he remarked, "Well, mate, you certainly left no stone unturned."

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Barty groaned, feeling the weight of his frustrations bear down on him. He had always been a complainer, never content with anything. In this particular moment, he found himself trying to express his concerns to Esme, hoping she would understand his perspective. "Listen, Es, I support you and your individuality, you know, girl power and all that. But not everyone sees eye to eye with us," he explained, using animated gestures to emphasize his point.

Esme nodded in agreement, her face displaying a mixture of understanding and frustration. "Believe me, I know. You and Reg get me, and that's what matters most to me. As much as I love Evan and the others, if they can't see where I'm coming from, well, they can kindly go to hell," she retorted, her anger directed not at Barty but at those who couldn't accept her for who she was. She felt a complex mix of confusion and anger, unable to comprehend how good-hearted individuals could judge others solely based on their bloodline.

With a sigh of resignation, Barty reached out and firmly grasped Esme's bicep. "Come along, my dear child" he said, pulling her out of the common room and into the deserted hallways. Esme closed her eyes, allowing herself to be guided through winding corridors and down staircases.

"I'm not a child, nor am I your child," Esme quipped, her eyes scanning the playful paintings lining the walls as they passed by.

Soon, Barty's brisk walk transformed into a joyful run. They moved with uninhibited freedom, their clasped hands enabling a bond that transcended their societal roles. A bright smile graced both their faces as their laughter reverberated through the halls, echoing like the captivating sound of a siren's call.

"Where are we going?" Esme called out, her voice resonating with pure happiness, a sound Barty hadn't heard from her in years.

Barty continued to run, guiding her out of the castle and down the rolling hills. "Anywhere! Nowhere! Who the bloody hell cares?" he exclaimed, reveling in the moment.

In that fleeting instance, they were no longer burdened by their titles or blood statuses. They were simply two kids, embracing the freedom to be themselves. For once in their confining lives, they experienced an unbridled joy, unencumbered by the constraints of societal expectations. Esme silently wished for this pure freedom to last forever, but deep down, she knew that nothing good lasts forever.

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James let out a sigh and settled down next to Esmerelda, who remained fixated on the stars above. He attempted to catch her attention, saying, "Hello, earth to Esmerelda."

"Don't call me that." She responded sharply, closing her eyes tightly and expressing her displeasure at being called by her full name.

Surprised by her reaction, James raised his hands in surrender, apologizing for his mistake. Silence enveloped them once again.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he inquired, "So, what brings you up here?" His gaze was fixed on her, searching for answers.

Esmerelda opened her eyes, turning her attention to James, who was seated by the railing of the astronomy tower. "It's peaceful — well, it used to be," she explained in a hushed tone.

James nodded in agreement, but he couldn't decipher her perplexing demeanor.

"That's Boötes," Esmerelda pointed out, indicating a prominent constellation in the sky. "The Greeks believe it represents deception, betrayal, and even murder. It's always been one of my favorites," she continued, her eyes locked onto the stars.

James followed her gaze, then glanced back at her, offering a slow nod. "That's certainly not a common choice," he remarked with mild surprise but genuine interest.

Esmerelda chuckled softly, clarifying, "No, it's not what you think. It's just that the mighty Boötes, and the all powerful twenty-eight isn't as loyal as it appears. I've had an affinity for constellations since I was young, and Boötes has always stood out to me."

James regarded her with a softer expression than he intended, silently acknowledging his understanding. "I know, believe me," he grimaced.

Lost in her thoughts, Esmerelda couldn't help but ponder the circumstances of Sirius's escape.

A sense of melancholy settled over her as she admitted, "Sometimes, I forget that Sirius got out. I'm proud of him, you know. He deserves to live, even if it's without us." A gentle smile softened her features, hinting at the unchanged bond between Esmerelda, Regulus, and Sirius despite the differences that accrued.

James confirmed her sentiment, affirming, "He knows."

Esmerelda nodded, wiping away tears that had threatened to fall. "You're still a twat," she said quietly, attempting to regain somewhat of her dignity back.

James grinned and retorted, "A brilliant, hilarious, and gorgeous twat."

She shook her head slightly, her lips tugging into a reluctant smile. "Nope, just a twat."

James admitted defeat, tilting his head back and emitting a soft laugh. "Alright, alright, you win," he conceded with a breathy chuckle in tow.

For a moment, Esmerelda stood in silence, her mind swirling with a million thoughts. Softly, she voiced her curiosity, asking, "Why are you talking to me?"

James looked at her, raising an eyebrow in response. "Am I not allowed to?" he challenged.

Esmerelda shook her head slowly, clarifying, "No, I'm just wondering. You've always been the loyal hater of Slytherins, so I'll ask again — why are you speaking to me?"

James explained simply, shrugging nonchalantly, "Because maybe I was wrong. You stood up for Evans and ended up in the hospital wing because of it. Even Dorcas seems to like you, and that's no small feat."

Esmerelda scoffed, countering, "Dorcas has always liked me, and we're dorm mates."

Dimples appeared on James' face as he smirked, replying, "Uh huh."

James let out a puff of air and sat down beside Esmerelda. She didn't move, her gaze still lingered on the starts above her.

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RIN SPEAKS

Is that... bonding??