mickey einstein just wants to make a name for himself in the quidditch world and move far away from everything and everyone. a certain haughty james potter is getting in the way of that.
[intrigue universe]
[james x male oc]
[james' sixth-seventh ye...
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01 warning(s): weed/smoking
"Uh-oh, Wormtail, he's painting again."
James hears Sirius before he sees him. All Saturday, he's been cooped up in the dormitory, anxiously awaiting the news from McGonagall. "Hufflepuff is getting a new captain. Gryffindor will have to change our entire strategy based on who it is. Ugh, it's killing me."
Peter sits on his bed, eyeing the bespectacled boy with interest. "It feels like just yesterday, you were freaking out because Millie took over Slytherin."
Sirius claps Peter on the shoulder. "He should've freaked out. Millie's amazing on the field."
"Yeah, yeah," James mutters distractedly, "You love your girlfriend. I have actual problems here."
"It'll be fine," Peter quips. "Hufflepuff doesn't have a good team anyway. A new captain can't change that."
James whips around with his paintbrush, splattering blush-colored paint everywhere. "That's where you're wrong. A new captain can change everything, Wormtail. Suddenly, hufflepuff can get the house cup and all the great scouts will look to them for new recruits. Gryffindor has to stay on top."
"Slytherin is right behind," Sirius reminds James, who bites back another retort about Millie. "So hufflepuff will have to pass them as well."
"Who is this new hufflepuff captain, anyway? It's got to be one already on the team. Who's good enough to be captain?"
The three boys think for a moment before Peter snaps his fingers. "Mackey."
"Who?" James furrows his brows.
"Mackey Einstein. Great keeper, that one." Peter nods knowledgeably.
"Are you talking about Mickey?" Sirius laughs. "Wormtail, you're horrible at names."
James focuses on his painting. It started out as a Persian cat, complete with a pretty pink bow around her neck. Now it's splattered with frustrated strokes and unfinished inspiration. "It can't be Einstein. He's good, but he can't captain a team."
"Why not?" Sirius asks.
"Because," James draws out the word. "He's like, super jaded. I've never even seen him talk; how could he lead an entire quidditch team?"
"Maybe you haven't noticed him enough," Peter suggests. He dips his finger in the white paint on James' palette and smears it onto the corner of the canvas, "He might surprise you."
