Unrelenting Fate: A Marauders Era AU

Chapter 47

Harriette Brighter was confident that her future would go according to plan.

She had never worried about where her path would lead because she already had it mapped out, from start to finish.

Herbology was her passion and something in life that made true happiness bloom in her chest.

Working with the many different plants from around the world intrigued her to no end, and she was beyond excited to begin the next part of her story once she graduated from Hogwarts in two months.

Royan was far less confident about his future.

He was hopeful that tryouts with the Montrose Magpies would go well, and he would be awarded a position on the team. But a tight coil of fear was sitting in the pit of his stomach, refusing to move.

The thought of growing up, and taking on such responsibilities as being an adult, scared him.

Was he ready? Would he be prepared to leave the place he'd called home the past seven years?

What of his friends? Would he walk out of the castle and become a stranger to them?

Harriette might have her life planned. She might be ready, but was he?

That was one of the many questions bouncing around in his brain as he sat in the library, looking out of a window and absentmindedly watching raindrops hit the pains of glass.

The grayness of the day matched his emotions perfectly, and he released a heavy sigh as his mind wreaked havoc with the same ferocity as the storm outside.

"Chase? You alright, mate?" Jaxson asked, slipping into a seat across the table from his friend.

"Do you ever ponder mortality?" Royan wondered quietly, resting his chin on the palm of his propped-up hand.

Momentarily startled, Jaxson ran through his options.

He could stand up and walk away from the broody Ravenclaw or find some smart and witty way to answer him.

"Um, damn. A bit early in the morning to being pondering mortality, isn't it, mate?" He asked, chuckling.

Royan gave him an uninterested shrug and continued watching the dark weather.

Jaxson racked his brain for reasons why his friend would be acting the way he was and ended up drawing a blank.

"Alright, man. You're going to have to help me out here. What's going on?" He sighed, crossing his arms and leaning on the table that was separating them.

Royan turned to him, and the younger Ravenclaw could see a frown was pulling his brows together.

"How am I supposed to accept the fact that after I leave in June, once I get on the train, I'm not coming back? How do I leave all of this?" Royan asked, waving his free hand around to add to his point.

Jaxson understood then what he meant and nodded. "I've only got a year more than you, and I'm nervous, but I know that I can't let that bring me down."

The Head Boy huffed and turned back to the window.

"Do you ever get a sinking feeling in your stomach? Or one that feels like a constant swarm of angry bees are attacking your insides?" He wondered.

"Sure. I've had that happen to me plenty of times," Jaxson said, nodding his head again.

"Really? What caused it do you think?"

The brunette wrinkled his nose and thought back. "Well, there was the time I asked Addie to the Halloween Ball. And the first Quidditch match I ever played. Then, the time I was learning to fly a broom for the first time. And, of course, when I was sitting with the Sorting Hat on my head!" Jaxson said, laughing as he remembered the timid little boy he'd been all those years ago.

Royan shot him a confused look.

"Mate, all those times? I was nervous, scared even! But each moment became a memory that I will forever cherish!" Jaxson explained, grinning at his friend.

The older boy took a few minutes to think over what he had said, and a slow smile began to make its way to his lips.

"Yeah, and you see how well taking Adelaide to the dance worked out for you." He snickered playfully.

Jaxson rolled his dark blue eyes in good nature.

"Shove off, mate! We are still friends, and you know that!"

"I do! That doesn't mean I can't make a bit of fun about it!"

"You are an arse."

"True."

*******

James loved the way he could lace his fingers through Adelaide's and feel them fit together perfectly.

He loved the that she blushed when he whispered sweet words to her as they walked side-by-side.

There was nothing James Potter didn't love about Adelaide Harthwood.

Nearly a month since their first date, and he could still feel a buzz of happiness whenever she smiled at him.

Hell! He felt buzzed whenever she so much as glanced his way! That was how much he loved her.

At that moment, they were sitting in the kitchens, playing a game of Wizard's Chess and eating Treacle Tarts Adelaide had made earlier.

James found himself mesmerized by the way she scrunched her nose when she was concentrating.

A couple of strands of strawberry hair had fallen out of its braid and into her face, framing it beautifully in his opinion.

There were so many settings that would have been prettier, so many more romantic ways to proceed, and yet James couldn't think of a single one that fit better than now.

"Adelaide?" He asked softly.

She hummed in reply, refusing to look away from the chessboard in front of her.

"What would you say if I asked you to be my girl?" His voice was nearly a whisper, but she heard him loud and clear.

Her head shot up, and her pale blue eyes were wide when they meet his gaze.

They stared at each other for several moments in silence, with James growing more anxious by the second.

Had he just blown it? Did he make an utter mess of everything?

The corners of her lips tilted upwards, and suddenly, he wondered if maybe he hadn't ruined everything.

"I would probably say, about time Potter," She finally said, leaning forward and planting a soft kiss on his lips.