CHAPTER FOUR

James had once again spent the day with Tabitha, and he hummed to himself, feeling quite satisfied as he made his way back to the Gryffindor common room.

James didn't linger in the common room and headed straight up to his dorm, nodding at Sirius, Remus, and Peter as he entered.

Sirius spun in his bed to face James, raising an eyebrow, "So, what's with the sudden shift from Lily to Tabitha?"

Remus looked up intrigued, and even Peter had stopped eating to hear the response.

James cast a glance at his three friends, "I thought you said you wouldn't ask until I told you guys," he repeated.

Peter spoke up, "That was just Moony," nodding at Remus, who sighed and leaned back against his headrest.

"Well, at the time, I thought it was a good idea," Remus mumbled in response.

James looked at his friends, his expression serious. "I'm not forgetting Lily, and Tabitha is definitely not a replacement for her," he stated firmly.

Leaning his chin on his hand, he continued, "She said some things to me during that party, and it really made me reconsider everything."

"So, you're telling me that some drunken words actually influenced you?" Sirius inquired, eyebrow raised, causing James to roll his eyes in response.

James answered, "No, her words were sincere, but it wasn't—"

Peter interjected jokingly, "Did she confess her undying love for you or something?"

James groaned again and denied it, "No, in fact, she even stated that she didn't fancy me in the slightest."

Remus interrupted, "James, I think it's a bit unfair to her," he said. "I'm not sure what happened at the party, but perhaps just forcing yourself into her life isn't the right approach."

James looked at Remus, stopping himself before he finished his sentence. "I'm not just..." He fell onto his bed, "I'll be careful. For her sake."

"I really enjoy talking to her," James explained, his voice slightly softer. "She doesn't push me away or tell me to leave when I do. She—"

"She just puts up with it?" Sirius interjected, his tone laced with sarcasm.

James shook his head, "No, she listens. She really listens and actually cares about what I have to say."

"So, you don't have feelings for her like you did for Lily?" Peter asked through a mouthful of food.

James paused, taking a moment before responding, "I don't want to answer that yet," he replied. "Over the past four and a half years, I've been trying to win Lily over, and it's not going to be easy to just forget about all that now."

He leaned back against the headboard, his eyes thoughtful, "It's not that simple" he said, looking at his friends. "I can't just forget everything I felt for Lily, not just like that"

Sirius nodded in understanding, "No one expects you to, Prongs"

"Exactly," Remus chimed in, "It's completely understandable that it would take time for your feelings to change, especially after trying to win over Lily for so long"

Peter nodded, agreeing, "Yeah, and Tabitha has been nice to you, right?"

James looked at Peter, his tone firm, "I'm not going to mistake her kindness for anything more than it is," he stated. "So don't worry about that, Wormy."

"We trust you, Prongs" Sirius reassured, "We know you're smart enough to not make such a mistake"

Remus also nodded in agreement, "Yeah, just be careful and considerate towards her."

James nodded, appreciating the trust his friends placed in him. "Thanks, guys," he said, a small smile on his face. "I'll make sure to be careful and considerate with her"

"Alright, we've got your back," Sirius affirmed with a grin. "If this is what you've decided, then you have our support"

James couldn't help but chuckle as he thanked his friends, his thoughts swirling with thoughts of the Hufflepuff with rosy pink locks.

"I'm going to do this right," he muttered to himself, determination in his voice.

As the days went by, the Marauders kept their decision in mind, and they found themselves frequently stepping in whenever they overheard derogatory words directed towards Tabitha. It was a subtle but meaningful change they silently agreed to.

Even small attempts to jinx or hex Tabitha were swiftly halted by the Marauders, as they no longer just tolerated such actions. Whether out of respect for her, concern from James, or a sense of their own loyalty, it was clear they had come to consider her more than just an acquaintance.

Then a few weeks passed, and news of their intervention spread, reaching even a handful of the students who had previously targeted Tabitha. The words they had spoken about her were now hushed and whispered instead, knowing the Marauders would not tolerate their insults any longer.

As the weeks turned into months, the Marauders continued their silent protection over Tabitha, intercepting any remarks or actions directed at her that they considered inappropriate. No one even dared to utter a harmful word in her name, knowing the consequences they would face if they were caught by the Marauders.