(06 : BLIND IS HIS LOVE . . .
AND BEST BEFITS THE DARK)

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     HALF-HEARTEDLY, JULIET TUCKED A piece of parchment under the statue of the one-eyed witch. Most girls would find handwritten love notes romantic and Juliet used to dream of such a love — until she turned eleven and realised that the only love she would ever know would be contractual. That was exactly why she knew the note she received in potions was ingenuine. Still, she ticked the box that said 'yes' in a messy scrawl, yet was prepared to unleash hell on Regulus Black for being so excessive. He should've just asked her in their common room, for Merlin's sake.

Only an hour ago was Slughorn wrapping up their lesson when the bell rang and Juliet was pelted by a love note. She had rolled her eyes at the cheesy poem and muttered incendio before even reaching the third line, but agreed to the date all the same. The next Hogsmeade trip was that same weekend and she might as well get to know the man she had to marry. Although he wasn't in Potions — being a year below the girl — Severus Snape regarded her with such scrutiny that Juliet knew he was playing messenger for the youngest Black. Why else would he care so much about her response to a love note?

Despite having History of Magic to attend, Juliet decided to skip it in favour of brooding. Not that she was often a brooder, but the bitter taste in her mouth lingered at having to marry someone to help a cause she wasn't sure she believed in. However, such plans were ruined by Potter cornering her.

"Juliet!" James detached from his friends when he saw the redhead, scrambling to keep in step with her. "I've been meaning to talk to you about . . . you know."

The girl blinked. "I don't know," she said slowly. "Have you got a concussion, Potter? You do remember that we aren't friends, right?"

With a snort, he ran a hand through his hair, treading carefully around the temperamental Slytherin. "You don't have to be embarrassed. I know it's a little weird considering we're not quite frien—"

She narrowed her eyes at him.

He corrected, "Acquaintances then."

She narrowed her eyes once again.

"See, when you look at me like that, I remember why we aren't friends," he muttered. "My point is, I didn't hate talking to you the other night. You also — maybe — made me realise that I haven't always been fair to Slytherins. Sure, 99% of your lot are greasy-haired gits —"

     Annoyed by his stalling, she snapped, "I'd suggest you shut up before I hex your balls blue because I don't have a bloody clue what you're on about, nor do I care for one of your bleeding heart, Gryffindor speeches today."

    James' face flushed red. "The party! The other night! We —"

     "Please don't finish that sentence." Juliet held up the palm of her hand to silence him. "I don't care what or who you do in your free time. I don't care if you've suddenly developed a moral compass in regards to your blind hatred of a house. I don't care about you. The last time we spoke was in third year when I asked to borrow a quill and it exploded in my face, so you can drop whatever elaborately laid out prank this is because I'm no fool."

    Caught off guard, the boy in question lifted his chin up, challenging her. "Are you sure about that? You looked enough like one when you were legless and —" James paused, watching how she simply turned away from him. "Oh, that's right, Fawley! Just walk away and be a coward like the rest of your damn family. I actually thought you were different, but you'll be kissing the Dark Lord's robes in no time."

Halting, the redhead smirked. "Well, that's just sad that I'm getting more action with Voldy than you'll ever get with Evans." Then, in a movement faster than Potter could comprehend, she pulled out her wand. "Oh, and don't ever talk about my family. Mimblewimble."

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"I see that went well," mumbled Sirius once the girl disappeared.

Unable to form a coherent sentence with his tongue literally tied, James widely gesticulated until Remus took pity on his friend and muttered the counter-curse whilst Sirius complained, "Do we have to? I like him better this way."

"Why are you so interested in her anyway, Prongs?" questioned Peter, failing to hide the judgement in his tone. "She's a Slytherin. Not to mention how she spoke to you! I know you told us not to interfere, but . . ."

Sirius nodded along. "He's right, you know. People like her are never going to change. She's a Pureblood Princess through and through."

Remus frowned at Sirius. "You can't really think that. People can always change."

"Yeah, people," Sirius snorted. "I'm still convinced she's half dragon, half hag."

"Oi, lay off her — the lot of you," insisted James. "I don't think she's all bad. And I keep thinking . . . there's a war coming. What if holding a grudge is what kills us? It did in that muggle book." His tone was teasing, but he was being serious. "We need all the help we can get if we're going to win. I somehow doubt the colour tie someone wore at fourteen will matter in battle."

Throwing his head back, Sirius tossed an arm around a strangely straight-faced James. "I'm beginning to think you're McGonagall disguised by polyjuice."

Appalled at the idea of losing, Peter paled. "If? What do you mean if? I thought — I thought the good guys always win."

"Not always, Pete," Remus said in a placating manner before glancing at James. "And whilst I appreciate the fact you've finally taken an interest in literature, it's fictional, James. Shakespeare isn't Merlin."

"Is that confirmed?" James wondered.

Rolling his eyes, the werewolf continued, "You can't treat Romeo & Juliet of all things as gospel. If anything, you should return it to whoever you stole it off."

"Is that Prefect Remus or Friend Remus speaking?"

"Both."

Elbowing each other and taunting each other as they went, the group of friends meandered down the corridor, only stopping when Peter halted in realisation. "You know you can just say if you fancy her. I mean, she's hot for a Slytherin."

Clutching his heart, Sirius stammered backwards. "I feel so betrayed, Wormtail."

"Oh shut up, Padfoot. We all know you snogged her."

    Except they all didn't. James stumbled upon hearing this, surprised that there was something he didn't know about his best friend. "What? When?"

   "For the last time, we were ten! It doesn't count as a snog at ten!" Sirius protested dramatically. With a wink in his friend's direction, he added, "No need to be jealous, Jamesy."

    Shaking his head at the boy's antics, James said, "I like Lily. It's always been Lily and that's not going to change." 

     "D'ya think she replied to your Hogsmeade invitation yet?" Peter mentioned casually.

     "Only one way to find out, mate."

     As James wiggled his eyebrows and went to retrieve to piece of parchment sticking out from one-eyed witch, the response was snatched out of his hands by Sirius. In a humorous manner, Sirius pointed his wand to his throat, preparing to do his most convincing Lily Evans impression. "James Fleamont Potter, as you are still an arrogant, bullying toe-rag, my answer is, like usual, n—"

    When Sirius cut himself off abruptly, Remus ceased his laughter. "What's wrong?"

     "Remus, I forgot how to read. Or Lily has. I'm not quite sure."

     Sighing, Remus snatched the now unfolded parchment from Sirius and almost immediately stilled. He passed it onto Peter, whose eyes widened to the size of saucers at what he was seeing. James' plan had worked! And Peter had helped! Pride seized Pettigrew's chest as he realised he was useful for once.

     "Shove off, you three." James pushed Sirius out of his way, despite grinning at their teasing. "It's not like she said — YES!"

    When James realised what box had been ticked, he leapt into the air before pulling Peter into a crushing hug. After six years of waiting, he was going on a date with Lily Evans. And if that wasn't proof Shakespeare was Merlin, he didn't know what was.

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A.N: This was such a fun chapter to write! I love how sarcastic my baby Juliet is and I really like my fanon James. I do think James would respect anyone who could hold their own and I want him to have a little more perspective on the world as opposed to being a blind, arrogant bully. He was one of the best in his year and joined the Order and I really can't imagine Dumbledore recruiting someone so clueless. Again, this is my interpretation of him and it's still not going to be easy for Juliet/James (Jumes? Jamiet? Jules?) but I was never going to write him as a one dimensional bully that hexes people for fun.