HE SAID SHE SAID [JAMES]

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For years, Alice and James had been the very best of friends. Practically inseparable, the two were always seen together. Going to and from classes, meal times, and on their off days exploring the grounds or Hogsmeade. Things had never been any other way until recently. Alice had finally been able to come to terms with her feelings for James but had told no one about them but her father. So why had James suddenly stopped popping up in Alice's life? Oh, that was right. He had bigger things to worry about now.

Aurora Lestrange. The quiet, beautiful Ravenclaw girl that had seemed to never exist before this year. She had always been quiet and passive in classes, so it had come as quite a shock to Alice when she noticed James had just sat with her one day during Transfiguration. Of course, she had heard Ronan mention something about her being James' "girlfriend" in one of the first Defense Against the Dark Arts classes but had thought nothing of it at the time. But since then, Alice had seen them around the school together only a handful of times. It seemed she was tutoring him or something. Alice laughed at the thought of James Potter being "tutored" by a pretty girl but then she realized how that irked her that he had not come to her first. She was just as smart as any old Ravenclaw and she knew James knew that.

Ravenclaws didn't to anything to make Alice dislike this personally. She kind of just automatically disliked them because of their house. She had desperately wanted to be in Ravenclaw before she was sorted, and when she wasn't... well, she sort of developed a jealousy toward all other Ravenclaws. She would never admit to that, though. She was much too proud. Besides, she liked her house quite a bit after six years. She didn't mind Hufflepuff now but she still did not really like Ravenclaws. Their particular know-it-all personalities didn't make liking them easier. So already, Alice did not like Aurora. But then James had to go and like her? Well, that just made matters worse for Aurora.

Alice had been walking along a corridor when she came across the old Humpback Witch statue. She stopped to gaze upon it a moment, wishing she could just disappear for a while. She thought about becoming an ugly old hermit and living the rest of her days alone, but then realized what a silly thought that was. With a sigh, she went and leaned against the wall next to the statue and slowly slumped down to sit upon the corridor floor. "Urggghhaaa!" She let out, frustratedly. She was fed up with James not being around and ditching her to hang out with Aurora. Her face showed just how annoyed she was as she put her chin into her hands and rested her elbows on top of her knees, pouting in the corridor much like a child.

@james

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It was odd for James Potter's head to be filled with thoughts of a single girl for as long as it had been. Typically, James saw a good looking girl and would decide to woo her on the spot and then save her for another time when he felt like having a go, but James had yet to even have that desire this year. And it was all because of a beautiful Ravenclaw girl. A beautiful, Ravenclaw Lestrange girl.

Aurora Lestrange had taken James Potter's world by storm and he was sure there was no turning back now. He had seen the girl before but had never spoken to her. She was in his year and most of his classes so it was really amazing that he had never noticed her. He almost felt bad about that because it seemed like Aurora was a very nice girl. When he had stumbled upon her in the library, she immediately knew who he was but she was different. She wasn't open and she was a little offputting but James found that he kind of liked that. So James, being James, was not going to give up that easily. He made an effort to not waver and eventually the Ravenclaw girl cracked under pressure. Aha! She had promised to tutor him!

They had yet to have several tutor dates but James was already getting silly ideas in his head to knock her off her feet. But they weren't the normal "James Potter" ideas of flirting. He kept replaying possible instances in his head and they all kept seeming very... committal. But for some odd reason James didn't feel scared about that... and James Potter was not a relationship kind of guy. One could say that James Potter was really falling for Aurora Lestrange.

One would verify that by the look on his face as he strolled lazily through the corridor, his thoughts filled with images of Aurora. Her dark, curly hair, her blue eyes, her pale skin... then a cry of frustration caught James's attention and brought him out of his "Les-trance." He stopped and turned around to do a double take down the corridor that was home to the Humpback Witch and was delighted with what he saw. Alice Longbottom! His very best friend! James put on a wide grin as he began to approach her. "Alice!" He said happily. "Didn't lose your puff now, did we, dear?" He asked, looking around jokingly.

He looked down at his blonde Hufflepuff friend and put his hands on his hips. "Honestly, Longbottom, where on Earth have you been?" He asked, his amazement showing in his tone. James had not seen his friend in some time. She seemed to be avoiding him for some reason... but it didn't matter to James, he still kept smiling at his best friend.

@alice

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As Alice just sat in the corridor pouting, she began to feel very sorry for herself. Here she was, in a lonely corridor, pouting over some boy. But no - James Potter wasn't just a boy. He was her best friend. He was single handedly the most selfless human being Alice had ever met. And perhaps no one else thought that, but Alice knew the real James Potter and she could tell that he really did put others before himself and truly did care for the feelings of others around him. And he was so confident... and outgoing and talented... Alice could feel her brow relaxing now as she stared off dreamily at the opposite wall in front of her. Alice really was in love with her best friend.

Moments later, Alice was brought out of her trance by a familiar and dreamy voice shouting her name from down the corridor. At the sound of her love's voice, Alice nearly jumped out of her robes. She put a hand over her heart and took a deep breath. "JAMES!" She scolded him playfully. "You frightened me!" She softly pretended to kick him from where she sat on the floor. All of a sudden, just like that, her bad mood was gone.

The Hufflepuff crossed her arms and stuck her nose up at the Gryffindor. "No I didn't lose him," she drawled, mocking an annoyed tone. Her facial expression then relaxed and she bit her lip as she remember why she had been in the corridor all alone. "I was... just thinking..." she nodded to herself. Her tone was not at all convincing, even to herself.

"Honestly Longbottom, where on Earth have you been?"

Alice stared at James. How long? She really wasn't sure. It had to have been seconds, no, minutes of silent staring until she blinked her wide eyes at him. Had he really just asked that? Alice could feel her face getting hot. She could feel a lump in her chest. It wasn't just any lump... it felt hot and fiery and... angry. Had James really just asked her where she had been? Alice was screaming. She was throwing so many profanities at James Potter right now it was ridiculous. She was angry and she was about to curse him so hard.

Of course that was all in her head.

Alice did turn red, however. Out of embarrassment and anger. "What did you say?" She asked incredulously.

@james

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As Alice shouted his name in a playful manner, feigning anger, James grinned widely at her. He had been friends with Alice since the two of them were in diapers so he had grown up with her. It was safe to say that the two knew one another better than anyone else and it showed in the way they interacted. The two were always partnered up in classes, they spent most of their time between classes with one another, and they seemed to always be able to read each other's mind... that is, until very recently. When James had began to have tutoring sessions with Aurora, he began to see less and less of Alice. But he was glad to see that she was still the Alice he knew. "Sorry, Al," he shrugged, giving her quite simply his famous "puppy dog eyes."

James watched the blonde badger as she spoke. Her confident demeanor and annoyed tone quickly turned to one that was not so convincing. James knew Alice enough to always know when something was bothering her and by the sound of her tone, something was definitely bothering her. They shared everything with one another. From secrets, to feelings, to splitting a sandwich to share. They were like brother and sister. James loved Alice like he loved Lily. Unconditionally. And he was just about to ask her what was on her mind when he noticed how she was staring at him.

The blonde just stared at James. He blinked a few times in the silence. How exactly had the atmosphere of the conversation changed so quickly? Alice looked mad. James raised a concerned eyebrow at her. James knew Alice had quite the temper sometimes and she was often times quick to anger, but he had never seen her flip through emotions so quickly before. There really was something bothering her.

James felt concerned as Alice's face turned all red. And then she asked him to repeat himself? James was having a hard time understanding exactly what had just happened... "Where... have you been?" he asked again, this time much more uncertain of his words as he spoke.

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James had had a really hard year so far, Alice knew that. His dad had been busy at the Ministry, he found a dead body, and of course - his beloved Ravenclaw had been mysteriously taken out of school for no apparent reason. She had noticed his mood change and a part of her really felt bad for him and couldn't blame him but... the fact that he had just asked Alice where she had been? Was he insane? She had been in front of him this whole time! Sitting near him in class, waiting for him to talk to her. Or trying to flag him down in the halls or at meals, but nothing. He had been ignoring her. Not the other way around. So, yeah. Alice was a little mad that he had the nerve to ask her where she had been.

Alice scoffed at the eldest Potter and rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb with me, Potter," she snapped at him. Alice only ever called him by his last name if she was really upset with him, so hopefully at the use of his last name, he would realize Alice wasn't playing around. The Longbottom stood up and took a step toward James. "I've been right here in front of you this entire time!" She said, narrowing her eyes at him. "But you've been too wrapped up in... that bimbo to pay any attention at all to your best friend." Her tone was heated and rude. In fact, Alice's whole body felt hot. And truth be told, she hadn't really thought before she spoke. She knew what she had just said was a little harsh, but she didn't let the slightest hint of the regret she was slightly feeling show as she glared up at James. "And truth be told I'm surprised at all that you're even speaking to me right now, her being back and all," Alice folded her arms across her chest and stuck her nose up in the air.

At this point, Alice was surprised James was still listening to her. The two of them never tolerated one another treating the other like that. Saying hurtful things just to be hurtful or spiteful. Alice did feel bad, of course. But her own pain over James liking Aurora was overpowering how she cared about her pain over the things she was saying to James. She felt plum awful the second the words left her lips, but that didn't stop her.

"So, tell me, James Potter," she turned the accusing around on her best friend now. "Where have you been?"

@james

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What had gotten to Alice? She wasn't acting like herself at all and James was sort of shocked. From going red in the face to striking a tone with him, it was all so out of character and definitely out of the blue. What was going on? What was she not telling him? James wanted to ask, but it looked as if he was not going to get the chance, for as soon as James repeated his question, Alice went off.

Don't play dumb? James's eyebrows raised. He was sure he wasn't playing. He had honestly no idea why Alice was so angry with him. When she got up and moved closer to him, James took a step back in surprise, his eyes frantically searching her face for any sign that she was joking. James's own mind was racing. Alice had never gotten mad at him like this before. But then... did he hear her correctly? Bimbo? James made no effort to hide the shock he felt as his mouth felt open slightly. He stared at her and his brow furrowed, showing shock and anger now. He could not believe it.

Finally, Alice finished. James took a moment to take a deep breath and fold his own arms across his chest. He looked down upon Alice as she stuck her nose up in the air, a habit James knew she had whenever she was mad or telling someone off. He had just never had it used on himself. James's eyes narrowed to a glare. "Surely you can't be talking about Aurora," he said, almost sternly. James didn't want to believe that Alice was. Why would Alice have any reason to dislike Aurora? Had they ever even spoke? James didn't think so, for he had only spoken to her for the first time himself this year. Aurora had always been quiet, and Alice was quiet too so the chances that they had spoken to one another had to be slim. So... why was Alice mad?

[Deleted]

The look on James's face was making Alice furious. Why was he acting so stupid? He looked like he truly had no idea what she was talking about, like she was making things up. How could he be so oblivious? Then something seemed to register in his mind and anger began to slowly appear on his face. In her mind, Alice was smirking to herself. He finally got the picture. Except... he was sounding a lot more stern with her than he ever had before. She wasn't expecting that.

"Surely you can't be talking about Aurora," James said, and Alice finally met his eyes. She was looking rather stern herself as she did so. "As a matter of fact, I am" she hissed. Alice was unwavering in her stance, standing her ground. For a moment Alice just stood in front of James, angrily looking into his eyes. Then she couldn't keep quiet anymore. James was her friend, and she owed it to him to give him an explanation; albeit a hysterical one.

"You know what everyone says about her, right?" Alice asked, far more harshly than she had intended. She supposed her tone for the conversation had been set, and it was not a kind one.

@james

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James truly didn't understand. He thought he had seen every side of Alice. Hell, he had even seen her like this before when some Ravenclaw got in her way but never in a million years did he ever suspect this attitude, this fiery badger to be turned on him. James felt a sting of betrayal. They told one another everything, didn't they? So what, James had been spending some time with Aurora but hadn't James seen Alice with Carcer a few times in class too? James wasn't mad at her for that. He knew that people were allowed to have other friends. Why didn't Alice know that?

James was taken aback by Alice's tone. He made no effort to hide his anger and shock as he looked at Alice, a look of confusion flashing across his face as well. He really didn't understand what was making Alice suddenly want to go off on him. He wanted to ask her if it was... "that" time but decided against it, for he knew how bad Alice's temper could sometimes be in these situations and she would likely not find that at all funny. James just glared at her the moment that tone slipped out of her mouth. "As I matter of fact, I do know what everyone says about her," he mocked her openly and cruelly. "And I can tell you right now, Alice Longbottom, that they are wrong." James put his foot down, his expression serious.

@alice

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At the sound of James's mocking tone, Alice was a bit taken aback. She felt a sting at her heart, and her brow twitched just a bit in response but she made an effort to hide any other sign of hurt. Honestly, she and James had never truly had a big fight before. But this conversation was taking all of the necessary turns to make it look like their first one... Alice took a deep breath through her nose. "So you know that everyone says she is the killer, then?" Alice spat. She chuckled at James saying they were all wrong. "Really, James? How do you know that?" She laughed, sarcastically, folding her arms across her chest. The same could easily be said for Alice and the rest of the school accusing Aurora, but her lineage pointed more to their theory than to James's belief.

"Why else would her father pull her out of school?" Alice taunted James, determined to make him see reason. "People start suspecting, so daddy pulls her out to regroup. Makes perfect sense if you ask me," Alice shrugged, her nose sticking up into the air once more. Alice believed wholeheartedly that the Lestrange girls had something to do with the murders. There were plenty of pureblood supremacists left in Hogwarts but the Lestrange family had once been one of the most ruthless and evil of all blood supremacists. Call it a grudge, but Alice would never forget what that family had done to her own. And the fact that James was looking past that hurt Alice.

@james

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Leave it Alice to find some reason not to like Aurora. She was a Ravenclaw so it was only natural that Alice would find some other reason not to like her. It was so like Alice. He rolled his eyes, a look of pure disgust and annoyance on James's face as he thought of any other reason Alice might think up of. "Because I just do, Alice," he said angrily. "Unlike you and half of the school, I have actually spoken to her. If you had then you would know that those idiots that say she is guilty of murder are fools!" His voice was rising in anger and he could feel his face getting hot. A part of him wanted to tell Alice that Aurora had been tortured after being home but he knew that that was not his information to tell. Besides, Alice would probably find some way to make her into a villain with that bit of information as well.

"For Merlin's sake, Alice," James said, exasperated. "Give it a rest! She isn't the killer." He looked at Alice now with a furrowed brow and what looked like hurt in his eyes. "Why can't you trust me?" He asked her, his voice not wavering. James was honestly curious. They were best friends and James thought that Alice would have at least taken his word over the rest of the school's. The fact that she wasn't and was instead falling into the rumor mill hurt James a great deal and he wanted her to see that. Unlike everyone else, James knew that Alice wasn't as big a tough girl as she made out to be. He knew she could be persuaded, and he was determined to make her see reason.

@alice

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Alice felt a pull at her heartstrings. She had seen that look of disgust on James before, usually directed to some cruel Slytherin. She never thought she would see it directed toward her. It hurt her to see him feel that way toward her, but she made sure not to let it show. She wasn't going to back down from this no matter how much she felt like she should. And James's reddening face was really making her want to back off but at the same time it only infuriated her more. She scoffed and rolled her pale eyes. "Listen to yourself. For all I know she could have you under the Imperius Curse right now." It was quite the accusation but Alice had to convince herself that James wouldn't say these things at his own will. It helped ease the pain, she supposed.

Alice really hadn't expected the next look James gave her to hurt her as much as it did. It hurt worse than his anger being directed toward her. The hurt in his eyes... it nearly broke Alice's heart to see it. James seemed heartbroken that Alice didn't belive him but... Alice really just couldn't believe that someone with a family history like Aurora was good and innocent. Alice looked quite tired now herself as she let her guard down a bit, shaking her head slowly in disappointment - not only in James but disappointment in herself as well. "She's a Lestrange, James. You know what they did to my family." She said quietly, looking hurt now herself. Alice had never met her grandparents but she knew what had been done to them by Aurora's relatives. That was not something that Alice could easily forgive, even if it was all water under the bridge now. Alice was heartbroken that James could overlook something like that. Even the thought of James ignoring such a thing make tears well up in Alice's eyes.

@james

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James's mouth fell open at Alice's words. Did she really just say that? James could feel his anger rising up in his chest. How could Alice say that? He had never felt more angry at Alice than he did in this moment right now. He felt so angry that his hands were starting to shake at his sides. "You are just like those others idiots, Alice!" He saidly loudly, his voice echoing down the corridor. "How dare you say something like that!" He felt so angry at her, he really didn't know what else to say. He was just blown away that she had said it to begin with.

Alice had lowered her voice now and James felt the anger calming down a bit but at this point he was mainly just exhausted. He looked away from Alice, mad at himself for yelling at her like that but also infuriated with her for thinking the way she was. Her words, though, made him snap his head up to look at her with a furrowed brow and an ashamed and angry look in his eyes. "Is that what this is about?" He asked incredulously. "An old vendetta? You want revenge, do you? For something Aurora didn't even do!?" His voice was rising again but he turned around and took a few steps away from Alice to calm down. After a moment of silence and a few deep breaths, James slowly turned around and faced her again. "I was wrong. You are worse than everyone else." He knew it was the wrong thing to say, and it wouldn't make things better but at this point James didn't even care about Alice's feelings at the moment. He was upset. He was angry. And he was ashamed. At her, and himself.

@alice

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Alice took a moment to look taken aback. She was, but she didn't have a reason to be. She was being foolish. In her heart, she knew that. But she couldn't help it, she was furious at James. She had no idea what to say at him. How could he expect her not to be angry? "How dare I?" Alice repeated, now more exasperated at this argument than anything. She furrowed her brow and put on a look of disgust. "How are you, James Sirius Potter. You know what that means to me!" She shouted, at this point not truly caring who or what heard her voice echoing through the hall. She was angry and she wanted him to know that. To really know that.

Alice stared at James as he snapped back at her. Honestly, how could that minor detail slip his mind? Had he not been childhood friends with her family? Had he not been there for her and her family when her grandparents had finally passed away at St. Mungo's? How could he look past that? How could he forget? Alice watched him in silence as he turned away from her. Maybe he needed a second to come to his senses... when he turned back around, Alice continued to just stare at him. Her face was hard and she showed no signs of lightening up. When he finally spoke, it took a second for his words to kick in. When they did, they cut through like a knife. Alice felt tears prickling at her eyes. She looked away from James, willing herself to not cry now. She couldn't. She turned around to look away from him, the tears threatening to spill over and the anger rising up in her. In a flash, Alice's instincts took over and she whipped around and was suddenly pointing her wand directly at James's face. She could feel some tears falling in her anger but she didn't care anymore.

For a moment longer Alice stared at him, her vision becoming blurry from the tears. Then she dropped her wand. She looked at James, her eyes narrowed into a hurtful galre. "Don't. Ever. Talk to me again," she said slowly through gritted teeth. And with that, Alice quickly scurried down the corridor. In search for a private place in which she could let these tears fall.

(ooc: You can do another post or wrap it up there. Figured we would continue in the Phoenix Rising thread or something. c:)

@james

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James had never been more confused by the female mind. Why did Alice, a Longbottom, have any reason to be mad at this point? The guilty had been captured years before they were even born and none of Aurora's IMMEDIATE family had anything to do with torturing Alice's family. Plus, Jayden, Phil, and Neville didn't seem to be bothered by the Lestrange girls. Phil seemed to even hang out with Aurora's little sister all the time. What was Alice's problem? As she yelled at James and even used his middle name, James took a step back, a look of confusion, hurt, and disgust all mixed into one on his face. Why did she have any reason to yell at him at all? He wanted to yell back, but at this point he was just confused and had not idea what to say. Instead, he just watched as she turned away in what James kind of hoped was shame.

James let out a sigh and shook his head at himself but then when Alice turned around, he let out a gasp and the look on his face turned into hurt. He wasn't "scared" but he couldn't believe that Alice was pointing her wand at him! James stared at the tip of her wand for a second before slowly moving his eyes up to face hers, his brow was furrowed in disbelief as he stared at her, not moving. Then she dropped her wand. James wanted to let out a breath of relief because he knew that Alice could have jinxed him to oblivion, he knew she was smart. He just didn't think she would ever do that to him.

She was crying. James hated to see Alice cry. He had only ever seen her cry when something or someone really hurt her, and even then that was only a few times as children. It broke his heart to see his best friend cry but he couldn't find it in him to say anything to console her. Alice seemed to have something to say and James stayed completely silent as he listened to her mutter through her teeth. He let out a little breath, hurt by her words and then Alice was hurrying down the hall, away from him. He felt absolutely terrible that he had made her cry, but James couldn't bring himself to feel 100% sorry for her because of the way she acted. Alice needed to change her attitude and James wanted her to find help from someone else before she ever came running back into her life. He would miss her, but he would let her in only once she had changed. The thought of life without Alice hurt him further, but he took a deep breath and began to walk down the hall in the opposite direction of Alice. Sad for the very first time in a long time.

@alice
OOC: sounds great!

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[ADMIN DEE]

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