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CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN - 🍂 ୧ jealousy . . .
& close call ও🦌

JAMES' EYES DARKENED with a mixture of jealousy and irritation as he spotted Autumn engaged in conversation with Marlene McKinnon and Dorcas Meadowes. The sight of the two girls, who were known for their beauty and popularity, chatting with her, only fueled his feelings of unease.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, as he stood there, a sense of possessiveness washing over him.

James wasn't sure when or how he had become so jealous, but one thing was certain: the green-eyed monster was now consuming him whole.

It wasn't just the fact that they were friends with her that bothered him; it was the extent of their familiarity. The way Marlene and Dorcas were lavishing Autumn with attention and practically smothering her was driving him mad.

James' jealousy was reaching new heights as he observed Marlene McKinnon and Dorcas Meadowes laughing, talking, and leaning close to Autumn. Each joke and shared glance they exchanged sent a jolt of possessiveness through him.

He fought the urge to storm forward and interrupt their conversation, his fists clenching tighter with every passing second.

With a sly glance, Marlene and Dorcas looked directly at him, a hint of mischief in their eyes, intentionally trying to provoke his jealousy.

James clenched his jaw, knowing full well their intentions. They had been like that ever since he had been after Lily. The girls had always found ways to taunt and needle him, taking pleasure in his irritation.

After Lily had made amends with her friends, the girls occasionally spent time together. Generally speaking, James had no issues with the additional company.

The group had warmly welcomed Marlene, Dorcas, and Mary into their fold. But the moment James noticed how clingy the two girls were with Autumn, his thoughts took an unexpected turn.

It wasn't just that Marlene and Dorcas were teasing him.

They seemed utterly smitten with Autumn. They were practically worshiping her, and it threw James off balance. He fought the urge to react, not wanting to create a scene, but his anger simmered beneath the surface.

Autumn was taken aback by the girls' sudden onslaught of attention, feeling slightly suffocated yet also puzzled. She couldn't understand why they were lavishing her with such intense admiration.

James was seated at a distance, forcibly moved away by Marlene and Dorcas, who had inserted themselves between him and Autumn. Sensing the anger building within James, Remus relocated next to him, trying to keep him from erupting.

It was clear that the two Gryffindor girls were testing James' patience. The more they pawed at Autumn, the more enraged he became.

James continued to glare at Marlene and Dorcas, his anger and jealousy growing stronger with each passing moment. Remus intervened, shielding him from further action.

James shot a look of betrayal at his friend, but ultimately, he did not resist Remus' intervention.

Shortly afterward, Raven, who had been delayed by her extracurriculars, arrived and took a seat in front of James. Oblivious to the ongoing scene before them, she focused on preparing her meal.

James muttered under his breath, his gaze locked on the girls showering Autumn with affection. The behavior was grating on his nerves, and he turned to Raven, seeking her advice.

"Why does this not bother you?"

Raven smirked and replied, "Why should it?"

James let out a sigh and inquired, "Because they're smothering her?"

She chuckled and retorted, "Pray tell, Potter, why I should be troubled by that."

James huffed and rebutted, "She's your best friend, isn't she?"

Remus let out a discreet chuckle, and James elbowed him in response.

Raven chuckled some more, adding, "And Elliot seems fine as well."

James turned to notice Elliot indifferent to the girls' friendliness towards Autumn.

James groaned in frustration and ran his fingers through his tousled hair.

She leaned in closer and whispered, "James, if you would just be honest about your feelings, confess to her and make it official, you wouldn't have any reason to be so jealous."

Remus chimed in, agreeing, "That's exactly what I've been telling you."

James was aware of the confession option but had a larger plan in place. He had meticulously orchestrated his approach for revealing his feelings, and it was clear that this moment wasn't the opportune time.

Once the Gryffindor girls finally departed, James wasted no time in resuming his rightful spot beside Autumn.

Autumn had just finished her pumpkin tart when she was startled by a sudden movement. She looked up to see James seating himself next to her. Without questioning the unexpected arrival, she flashed him a smile.

"Well, thanks to a certain food thief's absence, I was actually able to finish my pumpkin tart," she jested, meeting his gaze.

James, still frustrated by the two girls' clinginess, leaned his head on the table and whined, "Why are they being so clingy all of a sudden? And when did you three become friends?"

Autumn responded casually, shrugging in response, "I suppose it was the same day Lily and her friends made amends. Your guess is as good as mine, James."

James' playful mood blossomed in response to her explanation. "You've got this unique ability to draw people towards you," he chuckled. "I suppose I can deal with a little competition—" His words were suddenly muffled as Autumn gently pushed her half-eaten slice of pumpkin tart into his mouth. He mumbled around the sweet treat, words escaping his mouth.

Owing to Marlene and Dorcas' escalating fascination with Autumn, James had to develop a new quality - patience. This wasn't an easy feat for the typically impatient young wizard. The girls' involvement in the Quidditch team, of which he was the captain, only heightened the challenge.

Despite his disdain for the two girls, James had come to terms with the fact that he needed to suppress his feelings when it came to team matters.

The absence of Mary in Marlene and Dorcas' obsession was a fortunate development. James was positive that he would't have been able to keep his cool and control his anger if she, too, had been involved in their fixation.

This heightened sense of determination made James even more focused on dominating all opponents they would face. Fortunately, the members of his team, including the newer recruits, shared this intense passion for the sport, relishing every moment of practice.

Finally, the weekend arrived, and the Quidditch teams readied themselves for the highly anticipated match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.

Despite the excitement surrounding the upcoming match, a sense of disappointment washed over James. This meant that Autumn wouldn't be cheering them on in the stands.

He continued to keep her drawing close to him, and its presence in his pocket provided him with a subtle boost of energy and motivation.

James reveled in moments of solitude in the locker room, seeking brief respite before the game. Yet, the unexpected sight of Autumn entering the changing area left him utterly speechless, his eyes wide in surprise. He certainly hadn't expected to encounter her here, nor had he anticipated seeing her prior to the match.

He met her gaze, a glimmer of playful banter in his eyes. "Should I be concerned that someone representing our opposing team is sneaking around here?", he asked.

Autumn, with arms crossed and a playful grin, retorted, "What, do you think I'm going to leak your game plan to them? Let's be real, my Quidditch knowledge is practically nonexistent. How could I possibly support their team?" She challenged him, her tone laced with humor.

He continued the banter with a mischievous smirk, saying, "Never underestimate the potential of a supposed spy."

James inquired further, "So, if you're not here to pass along classified information to the opposition, then what brings you here?"

As she reached into her robes, James felt his curiosity peaking. When Autumn pulled out a small, folded piece of paper, his intrigue heightened.

"What's that?", he asked, his eyes fixed on the mysterious object in her hand.

Autumn chuckled as she handed the paper to him, explaining, "I thought it would go nicely with the drawing you already have."

James shifted his gaze from the paper to her, a subtle smile forming on his face. "Oh, you thought you'd throw in a little extra treat?", he teased playfully.

As James unfolded the sketch, he immediately noticed the moving drawing within. It depicted Autumn, wrapped in his scarf, passionately cheering for him from the Gryffindor stands.

Autumn elaborated, "Since I won't be able to cheer you on when you face my house, I wanted you to have something to remember my unwavering support."

James stared at the drawing in awe, his eyes transfixed on the intricate details. After a brief moment of silence, he finally managed to utter, "You truly are simply remarkable."

Autumn's cheeks flushed with a hint of shyness in response to his words. She was about to excuse herself and leave when James suddenly embraced her from behind, enveloping her in a tight, unexpected hug.

She froze in place, her body rigid with shock, as she felt his head rest against her neck.

"Just give me a few minutes," he mumbled, his voice soft and almost pleading. She nodded, still dumbfounded by his sudden show of affection, feeling the warmth of his embrace slowly soothe her frayed nerves.

James held her in his arms, savoring the warmth emanating from her body. Her comforting scents of pumpkin tarts and vanilla enveloped him, providing a sense of ease. He continued to hold her gently, still inhaling the familiarity of her essence.

James could almost envision the flush upon her cheeks as she desperately fought to keep her composure. Unable to resist, he slowly spun her around, eagerly seeking to observe her features fully. He gently gazed into her beautiful eyes, which grew wide and slightly ajar, the surprise evident on her face.

"You're particularly adorable when you're blushing," he teased, his tone gentle as his fingers delicately traced the contours of her face, caressing her cheek.

Her heartbeat quickened in response to his touch, each gentle stroke sending a wave of both adrenaline and warmth through her. Their faces were merely inches apart, close enough to feel his gentle breath against her skin. She couldn't bring herself to push him away, nor did she want to move.

They stood there, eyes locked in an intimate gaze, each moment seemingly frozen in time. In that moment, it felt as though the world around them had come to a halt, and all that existed were the two gazing into each other's eyes. It was a hypnotizing silence, a rare connection that neither of them wanted to break.

But reality soon intruded, as the locker room door opened with a loud thud, jolting them both out of their shared reverie.

"Prongs!" Sirius hollered, his voice echoing through the locker room. "Where are you, mate? The game's about to start!"

Sirius walked into the room and spotted James and Autumn standing side by side. He immediately noticed the subtle hint of awkwardness between the two, clearly realizing that he had interrupted a moment. He cursed quietly to himself, frustration setting in as he recognized that he had inadvertently ruined something intimate between them.

A slight cough escaped Autumn's throat, an attempt to mask the awkward atmosphere. She could feel the tension escalating with Sirius's presence in the locker room.

"I should probably head out... Good luck in the game you two," she mumbled, hastily exiting the room before either of them could utter another word.

A moment of silence hung in the air after Autumn's swift departure. Finally, Sirius broke the silence, a hint of guilt in his tone.

"Sorry about that, mate. Didn't mean to interrupt," he muttered.

James gave a reassuring smile, although the situation still felt a touch awkward. He nodded his head in agreement, conceding, "Yeah, it's probably for the best. I was just a split second away from blowing my entire plan..."

They exited the locker room, James looping an arm around Sirius's shoulders. The male chuckled, and let out a knowing grin, replying,

"Right, that plan. The one you've been working on all summer."

James sighed and rolled his eyes, his voice filled with determination.

"I want it to be perfect... And it will be."