The Boys Are Back in Town

20- The Beginning of Them

"Lads? This is my little sister Jesaria," Sirius said as he swung into the carriage which was filled with Remus, Peter and James. The small raven-haired girl hugged a book close to her chest as she smiled sweetly at the older boys. "Hello," the boys chimed as Sirius ushered her into the compartment, sandwiching the poor girl in between himself and James. She was wearing a black dress over a white collared shirt and her hair was tied back in a ponytail at the base of her head. James was fixated on her. He couldn't exactly pinpoint why but she was lovely to look at. Little did he know she was crushing on a young Remus.

James spent his second year at Hogwarts wondering why whenever he saw the first year girl his heart fluttered in his chest. Then his third year came around.

The holidays before her 2nd year were when Jesse arrived at the Potter residence bruised and bloodied. Once she had gotten comfortable, James and her spent a lot of time together. "Jesaria Gardenia? You're kidding!" James laughed. "Don't! It's horrid I know!" Jesse said, holding her hands over her eyes. "She goes by Jesse," Sirius said as he sat on the couch. "Booo! Boring!" James shouted, cupping his hands around his mouth. "What shall I go by then James?" she asked. He pondered for a moment before raising his hand into the air. "Aria," he announced. "Merlin," Jesse shook her head, sipping on a glass of pumpkin juice. "I shall hereby only call you by this," he smirked.

Third year, James became quite the heartthrob. His hair began to naturally curl instead of falling flat on his head, he switched out his black framed glasses for silver rimmed ones. And he shot up like 4 inches taller. Lily Evans was the first to cash in on his newfound popularity. Which was also the beginning of the Marauders feud with her childhood best friend Severus Snape.

When Jesse arrived at school after her 13th birthday she looked different. Her long hair was chopped off at her shoulders and her proper dresses were switched out for Bowie tshirts, flared jeans and a brown leather jacket. Remus especially fawned over her chunky black boots. James sat in the Great Hall when she walked in, in the middle of a heated game of Wizard's Chess with Remus. He looked up as she entered with her friends, Blue and Carter. "Who is that?" Peter asked. James' mouth had fallen open. Sirius smacked Peter on the back of the head. "It's Jesse you ning-nong," he chuckled. "Woah, no way," Remus hummed, making his move without even looking. "Checkmate," he smirked. James snapped back onto the game. "Oh fuck you!" James said, flipping the board onto the floor. "Ello wankers," Jesse smiled, before dropping it and facing Lily. "Evans, fuck you," she smiled, gesturing an 'up yours' motion with her fingers before walking away. James snorted slightly before Lily shoved him. He couldn't help but think back to the timid girl he'd greeted at his doorstep not even a year ago. "You think we're to blame for who she's become?" James asked. Sirius looked over Remus' Bowie shirt, James' leather jacket and Peter's black boots. "Hm, I wonder," he said sarcastically, stroking his chin.

James and Lily broke up early on in his 4th year, which is when his reputation began. While Remus was the boy everyone wanted, Sirius was the boy that wanted everyone, James was the boy that everyone got. Jesse walked up behind him sitting on the Gryffindor lounge, resting her elbows on his shoulders. "Slut," she said. "Please, stop acting like you don't want a go," James winked. He didn't see the red blush that covered her face."Gross, I don't need your diseases," she laughed as she fell over the back of the lounge, landing comfortably with her feet in the air and her head hanging off the edge. James peeked down from his book, getting more than he bargained for with gravity and her school blouse. He gulped slightly, focusing on his book once more. "How's the douche?" He asked. Jesse swung upwards, sitting upright. "He's not a douche, we made up," she said. "Please, the guy wears a suede vest!" James exclaimed. "You wish you could pull it off," she smiled as she pulled her hair up with a scrunchie. He pulled his lip between his teeth and watched her through the side of his eye. He wanted to pull something off that's for sure... "You really fucked up that girl's face today," he said, referring to the fight Jesse had gotten in earlier. "Whatever," she mumbled. James had been seeing Jesse fight since she was 13 and she would never explain why the fights began. He assumed it was because of the rumours about her being 'easy'.

It took until the end of 4th year when he and Jesse spent the entire break together for him to realise he was hopelessly in love with her. "Potter," she announced as she descended the staircase in one of his shirts. Typically this was an average thing, but now he didn't know how to act around her. He turned red before humming a response, looking back down at his knitting. "What you making? A tampon?" she chuckled as she once again jumped over the back of the couch making him shudder. "It's for mum," he said as he held up his poorly knitted sweater. Jesse squinted at it before placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm afraid sweaters typically have two sleeves, not three James," she smiled. James examined his work closer. "Oh shit," he cursed, making Jesse giggle. He turned to her, watched her laugh. Feeling the familiar flutter in his stomach. "Jesse?" he asked making her look directly into his eyes. "Yeah?" she asked hopefully, her eyelashes batting. He sighed, a breath escaping that he didn't know he was holding onto. "Nothing," he shook his head. "PRONGS!" Sirius screamed. "My house is infested with Blacks," James sighed.