CHAPTER TWELVE

Following James's heartfelt confession to Tabitha and the subsequent interruption by Frank and Sirius, who were both eager to escape the confines of the boring ball, her room quickly transformed into the primary hangout spot for most of the teenagers in attendance.

The once cozy space was now filled with whispers, giggles and chatter as the young wizards and witches congregated, finding comfort away from the formalities of the ball.

Tabitha found herself sitting on her bed next to Alice, surrounded by their friends. The weight of James's confession still lingered in the air, making her slightly flustered whenever their eyes met.

James felt a sense of frustration as he couldn't find a moment alone with Tabitha during the holiday gathering. She seemed to be constantly occupied with Alice's company, leaving him without the chance to address the confession he had made.

He observed them from across the room, his mind racing with thoughts and doubts. Would things be awkward once they returned to Hogwarts? Would she avoid him after hearing his confession?

He tried making small talk with Frank and the other guys, but his attention kept drifting towards Tabitha. His eyes found her easily in the crowd, her laughter and chatter with Alice drawing him involuntarily towards her.

He wanted to know how she felt about his confession, but the distance between them felt increasingly maddening.

Every time he tried to find an opportunity to approach her, Alice and the other witches seemed to pull her into conversations or divert her attention away. He was unable to find a moment alone with her.

James tried to maintain a relaxed facade, but the weight of his confession and his uncertainty about how she felt consumed his thoughts. He couldn't wait for the holiday to be over, so he could talk to her at Hogwarts and hopefully get some clarification.

After the Longbottom's winter ball, James' anxiety proved justified as he had little to no contact with Tabitha during the remainder of the holidays.

James found himself in a state of confusion after returning to school. Tabitha addressed him in their usual manner, as though his confession never happened. He was torn between two possibilities: had she truly forgotten his confession, or was her silence indicative of a rejection?

He tried to mirror the familiarity of their interactions, but her lack of any acknowledgement left him feeling unsettled. Every time they talked, he waited for her to mention his confession, but she never did.

He observed her closely, searching for any signs or hints in her behaviour that might indicate whether she remembered or if she was avoiding confronting the situation.

Every laugh, every smile, every casual conversation they shared felt like a guessing game, leaving him in a perpetual state of uncertainty.

James longed for some clarity, but for now, he was left with more questions than answers.

While James was left in the dark, Tabitha was acutely aware of his confession and the fact that it was unfair to keep him hanging. However, she also acknowledged the need to understand her own feelings first before providing a response.

She navigated their interactions carefully, weighing her words and actions cautiously. All the while, she remained steadfastly silent on the matter, unwilling to discuss it until she had a firmer grip on her own emotions.

Amidst the whirlwind of feelings, Tabitha found herself observing James more intently, noting his reactions, laughter, and smiles. She took in every aspect of his behaviour, searching for any indicators that might shed light on his emotional state.

It was a delicate dance, this balancing act of paying close attention while maintaining the guise of normalcy. All the while, she wrestled with internal conflicts, torn between speaking earnestly or continuing to keep him waiting.

While Tabitha and James were both engrossed in the silent dance of observing one another while Tabitha sought advice from Sirius, James found himself in a surprising situation—he decided to confide in Lily Evans. Despite their history, he found her to be the best person to provide a different perspective on his predicament with Tabitha.

Meanwhile, Tabitha and Sirius discussed the situation, with Sirius offering her insight and advice based on his observations and knowledge of both James and Tabitha.

Lily responded slowly, clearly puzzled by the situation, "So, you confessed, and she didn't say anything in return?"

He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees, as he sighed deeply answering her. Lily could sense his vexation, and a note of concern etched across her face.

"But she still spends time with you, right?" Lily asked James. "I mean, I even spotted you two together earlier today."

James affirmed with a nod, "Yes, she still spends time with me. It's as if my confession didn't happen at all."

Lily offered her perspective, suggesting, "Perhaps she's trying to make sense of her own feelings."

James shifted his gaze towards her as she continued, "I've been in a study group with Tabitha, and she truly is a kind-hearted person. Alice often speaks fondly of her, and based on what I know, I can assure you she isn't pretending the confession never occurred."

James considered Lily's words as she explained that Tabitha was likely trying to understand her own feelings rather than outright rejecting him. He shifted his gaze towards Lily and listened intently as she continued, mentioning her study group with Tabitha and Alice's praise of her kindness.

As Lily assured him that Tabitha wasn't pretending the confession never happened, a glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes.

A spark of hope flickered in James' eyes as he sat up a little straighter, responding with a more optimistic tone, "You really believe so?"

Lily's smile widened, and she reassured him with a gentle nod, "Of course. Just give her a little time."

James let out a quiet murmur, his mind processing her advice. "Time, huh?"

"Exactly, and I'd advise against doing the same thing you did with me," Lily said, a note of caution in her voice.

"Tabitha is a lovely girl who genuinely deserves to be treated with respect, unlike—well, you know," Lily's tone softened a bit as she continued, "making it a habit to confess to someone who clearly wasn't interested..."

James nodded, a smile tugging at his lips as he acknowledged her point. "Yeah, I learned that lesson the hard way," he admitted, chuckling softly.

Lily looked back at James curiously, asking, "Doesn't being friends seem better than being romantically involved between us?"

James chuckled softly at her question before standing up. "Yeah, it does, actually," he confessed.

He then looked at her with gratitude and said, "Thanks for talking to me about this."

Lily chuckled and replied, "No problem. Thanks for not making it weird, and feel free to ask for advice anytime."

James then smiled and quipped, "Thank you, Evans." He added with a teasing tone, "Going to find my little Hufflepuff now. See you around."

Lily laughed in response, enjoying the light-hearted banter between them.

As James began walking away, Lily called out, "You do that, Potter, and make sure to take care of her!"

James turned back briefly to give her a nod and a smile before continuing his search for Tabitha.