01: asking

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Elodie Westwood, a fifth year Hogwarts student, listening to the most barbaric proposition of her entire life. The guy offering to her, grinning as if it was the best thing he'd ever come up with.

"No." She spoke flatly, making his smile fall off his face, the only person to say no to dating him was Lily Evans. I mean, not to toot his own horn, but he is James Potter! Anyone would jump at the opportunity to date him, even if it was fake.

"What? What do you mean, no?" He asked, as if the rejection was completely unheard of- which to him, I guess it was.

"You want me to fake-date you, so my best friend gets jealous enough to realise her feelings for you? Do you know how far-fetched that sounds, Potter?" Elodie explained, paying no notice to the Marauder, instead stirring their potion.

"Call me an optimist." He beamed. "Please, Ellie! I'd be forever in your debt." He whined, looking at her and pleading. He looked rather pathetic like this. Elodie thought.

"She won't believe it anyway. You literally asked her out last Wednesday, and now all of a sudden you're head over heels for me? No one would fall for that-"

"Miss Westwood and Mr Potter." Professor Slughorn interrupted the two, and everyone's head turned to look at them. James' head, which had been resting in his hands snapped up. "If you've quite finished your flirting, please pay attention to your potion." Elodie looked at the cauldron, noticing it practically overflowing. She muttered every curse under the sun, and began to stir it slowly.

"Sorry, Professor. It won't happen again." James smiled innocently at Slughorn, who sighed and shook his head. Elodie, however, couldn't help but notice a certain redhead looking at her with curiosity.

"Please, just... consider it. It'll only be for a few months, just occasional dates, maybe we'll get a bit frisky and hold hands-"

"Never say that again, Potter." Elodie laughed, adding a gecko's tail to the potion, watching as it disintegrated into the mix. "What if this plan of yours backfires? And pushes her away?" James raised his eyebrows at her, clearly not thinking that far.

"Evans wouldn't do that, I know she likes me, she just doesn't know it yet." Elodie sighed deeply. "Which is why, I'm hoping you'll say yes. You're a key part of the plan, no fake girlfriend? No fake relationship."

She looked at him blankly, sitting back down at her desk. "Why me, Potter? Why not one of your fans?"

It was a good question. One James didn't actually know the answer to, he just thought about asking her and did. James is an impulsive individual, not really thinking about the repercussions until he gets to them.

"That's a good question, I'll get back to you on it." Elodie smiled and shook her head. "So, what's your verdict?"

"My verdict, is still no, Potter." She picked up her books, smiling at him, and left the class - James looked around in confusion, realising it was only him in the class. "Mr Potter, if you're interested in extra potions classes, by all means stay behind and join the second years. If not, I'd ask you to leave."

"Yes, Professor.."

*:・゚✧*:・゚✧

"Oh, Merlin - Potter's coming over." Mary Macdonald, a girl in their year, sighed. Elodie practically heard Lily roll her eyes, whereas Marlene sipping on her butterbeer, intrigued on his next attempt to date Lily.

They never find out, however, when James didn't even look at Lily, much to everyone's surprise. Elodie's sure she even saw Sirius Black do a double take. "Alright, Ellie?" Marlene's jaw dropped as she tried to conceal her grin. Elodie hates being called Ellie, and here James is getting away with it.

Elodie dramatically groaned, "What do you need, Potter?" He grabbed a chair from a neighbouring table, and seated himself next to Elodie. "Just wanted to drop in, say hello, offer you ladies a drink. But, alas, if it's too inconvenient-"

"Elodie would really like it- for you, to buy us all drinks..." Marlene butt in, giving her best 'I would like to manipulate you into doing me a favour' face, but it just looks similar to a scared smile.

"Well, I'll go get some. Butterbeers?" Marlene and Mary nod, and watch as he walks away. When he's just out of earshot, Marlene reaches across the table to lightly slap her. "Since when have you and James Potter been that close?!" She whisper-shouted, smiling widely.

"We just got closer since potions, why?" Elodie responded, as if it were normal for the guy who has been- well, still is, in love with her best friend to be so friendly with her.

"I'm sorry, did we all see him just... walk past Lily for El? I'm not going insane right?" Elodie shrank in her chair. Marlene, the chaotic individual she is, smacked her hand off the table in agreement with Mary.

"I am just so confused, first Potions and now this..?" Lily rubbed her eyes. "Probably the lads pranking us or something, and they got El in on it." Not far from the truth, actually.

Before they could discuss the topic any further, James came back with the drinks, and they all landed in front of each girl. The one in front of Elodie had strawberry sauce squirted onto it in the shape of a little heart, turning Elodie even redder.

"Problem, Els?" He asked, grinning mischievously at her, earning a glare in response. She sighed, standing up and grabbing his hand, dragging him out of the Three Broomsticks. "Just, what are you playing at Potter?!" She snapped.

"I told you Ellie-"

"Don't call me Ellie." She cut him off. He took a deep breath, continuing. "The reason I asked you, instead of anyone else, I think is because I think you're cool, and it would be more effective. Besides, I promise I'll make it worth your while. Yeah?"

"Your friends already know something is up, so we might as well." Elodie sighed, wondering how on Earth she got herself into this.

"If I say yes-" James cheered loudly,kicking some snow accidentally onto her trousers. "Whoops, sorry."

"We'll establish rules. Okay?" She said sternly, looking at James expectantly. "Course, yes, thankyou Ellie- Elodie." James was like a child at Christmas, unable to contain his smile. You'd think Elodie had actually agreed to dating him.

James looked through the window, seeing their entire group watching eagerly as the two talked. "I'm going to kiss you, now." Elodie's eyes widened. "Wait, what-" She subtly looked through the window, seeing Lily watching them suspiciously. "Shit, okay. Fuck."

He waited a moment for her to properly be ready for him to kiss her, he couldn't believe his life had come to this. Before he knew it, Elodie's hands were on both sides of his neck, and he could feel how cold her lips here. He froze at first, before his hands found her waist, and he kissed back.

Elodie was a good kisser, James thought. Her lips were soft, and she tasted very faintly of butterbeer with the combination of strawberry lipgloss, and he found himself getting lost in her. Where were they? James couldn't tell you. All he felt right now was Elodie's hands on his neck and her lips on his, and James was not complaining.

Eventually, she pulled back to catch her breath, James chasing after her, as they gasped against each other. How was his best kiss fake? He quickly pecked her again, before pulling back, letting go of her waist. "Right, I'll um-"

"See you later, James. You owe me."

"Yeah, yeah I do. Thanks."

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!AUTHORS NOTE!

first chapter done! this'll need a lot of editing as i wrote as the ideas came to me :) but i hope it was okay! im also not 100% on all the canon stuff, so please correct me on anything incorrect

james getting flustered over the kiss omg :( theyve got themselves in a little bit of a mess now!

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