They had been 'dating' for a week now and the whole school was still talking about it. Every single girl in the school seemed to hate her and every guy in the school suddenly found her attractive.

Val informed James about all of this and all he said was that she was welcome. She blamed it on his outburst in the Great Hall.

Even teachers were surprised at the pairing because when they arrived at classes together, they watched in confusion. They sat together in Herbology and it took Professor Sprout an extra fifteen minutes to start class because she was trying to figure out if she had missed something.

Val had even overheard a conversation between Dumbledore and McGonagall about how they had been surprised James had moved on from Lily or that he was even trying to. She had no idea the teacher's were so invested in their student's love lives.

The roommate situation was a whole other issue. Anytime Marlene was near Val, she was shooting daggers into her back. Lily always seemed sad around her while Dorcas was mostly confused as to how she was supposed to act toward the girl. Alice, however, remained as friendly as before.

She had tried to explain to James that she was pretty sure that Lily actually did have feelings for him. He told her that it was impossible because he had asked her out on the train and she had said no. Repeatedly.

He had been doing as they agreed and sitting with her at the end of meals. Once he finished eating, he would move down the table where she sat and watched her read. Sometimes he would request for her to read whatever book she was reading aloud. She thought it was odd but did it nevertheless.

"There's no way they're together," one of the Gryffindor's pointed out and Val did her best to ignore them. She overheard conversations like this all the time and she hated them more than anything else. "Of all the people for him to choose to move on with, it wouldn't be her."

"She is related to one of the founders of Hogwarts," another student replied. "That counts for something."

The first person snorted, "Yeah, she's a Hufflepuff who was sorted into Gryffindor. Her parents were probably so disappointed."

Val huffed, slamming her book shut. If they had such a hard time believing that James Potter would ever desire to be with someone like her, she would prove that they were together. Even if they technically weren't. But they would never know that.

She got up from her seat and made her way to where James sat. He didn't see her coming and she didn't wait for him to face her on his own when she grabbed his collar and turned him to face her. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his. It took him a second to register what was happening but as soon as he did, he was kissing the girl back eagerly.

She pulled away after a moment and he scanned her face. His eyes were wide and his mouth was slightly agape. It reminded her of a deer caught in headlights. She opened her mouth to say something but before she could, he pulled her back toward him. His hands found their way into her hair as he pressed her closer. This was not where she thought this was going to go but she couldn't say she wasn't okay with it.

Someone cleared their throat and the pair pulled away from each other immediately. Val's breathing was heavy and she realized after a moment that his was heavy as well. He was watching her curiously when whoever had cleared their throat spoke up, "As hot as that was, some of us are trying to eat."

They both looked over to see that it was Remus talking. James dropped his hand and cleared his throat. Val ignored the blush that had no doubt made its way to her face. She had forgotten people were watching.

"Right, well," Val trailed off, turning back to James. "I'm heading to the common room. Just thought I'd say goodbye."

"That was certainly a goodbye," he nodded, his breathing still shallow. His eyes flickered around the room for a brief moment, "I'll come with you."

"That's okay," she shook her head. "I'm just going to finish up my homework then head to bed. I'll see you in the morning."

"I will see you in the morning then," he agreed. She contemplated something for a moment and she leaned down to give him a quick kiss goodbye but it quickly turned into a full on make out session. She placed her hand on his chest and managed to push him away.

"Goodnight, James," she told him in a whisper, ignoring the looks from everyone in the room. Her skin was starting to itch and she needed to get away before it got worse.

"Goodnight, my love," he replied and she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the cheesiness of it. However, of all the pet names he could have chosen, she didn't hate that one.

She smiled before she stood up straight and made her way out of the Hall. She stopped where she had been sitting before to grab her book and left. If that's what all of their kisses would turn into, she wasn't sure she would make it through this whole fake dating thing for very long.

"I have so many questions," James announced as he plopped down next to her on the couch in the Gryffindor common room the next morning. She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, "Number one. Where did you learn to kiss like that? Because that was..."

She smirked slightly, "I'm going to take that as a compliment but deny giving you an answer. Next question."

"Still has to do with the kiss," he informed her and Val rolled her eyes. "Why?"

"There were still some people who didn't believe we were actually together," she shrugged. "I figured that would clear it up."

"It certainly fixed my friend's suspicions."

She raised an eyebrow, "Your friends didn't believe it?"

"In their defense, they heard the most about Lily," he explained. "But if we convinced them, I doubt anyone else will question it."

"Speaking of Lily," she sat up. "I really do think she likes you. Now I know you said you weren't sure but you don't hear everything they say when they think I'm not listening."

"I have to be certain," he replied. "Because I'll have to wait some time after breaking up with you before-"

"Hang on," she interrupted. "Why do you get to break up with me?"

"Because I'm the guy and-"

"Okay, I'm gonna cut you off there," she began, "I'm not a huge feminist but something tells me I won't like what's about to come out of your mouth."

He seemed to be thinking it over before nodding in agreement, "Yeah, alright. What about a mutual agreement?"

"I can work with that," she agreed, "'It just wasn't working and the passion wasn't there.'"

"If we're going to go with that we may not want to keep up the public PDA," he informed her. He looked down at her hands to see that she had a book in her lap, "What are you reading?"

"'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,'" she answered. "It's Lewis Carroll."

"Read it to me," he requested and she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"There's no one here," she reminded him.

He shrugged as he adjusted himself so that his head rested in her lap, "I like the sound of your voice."

"Want me to start from Chapter 1?" she asked and he nodded.

"Alice was beginning to get very tired..." she began, reading the words from the book. She had read him two books in the past week alone, this one being number three. She made a habit of keeping two books on her at all times. One for her to read at her own leisure and the other for when he joined her after meals or when they finished studying in the library early.

He listened attentively as she continued through the book. They had made it through the first two chapters and were halfway through the third when the portrait opened.

"Hurry it up," one of James' friends suggested and if Val was remembering correctly, his name was Sirius. "We only have so much time today."

"I think I'm just going to stay in with Val this time," he informed them. "I'll come out to Hogsmeade with you guys next time."

"She's turning you into a hermit, Prongs," the boy informed his friend in disgust. Val raised an eyebrow. What kind of nickname was 'Prongs'?

"Go with them," Val suggested, ignoring the jab at her asocial tendencies. "I'll see you later."

"You can come with us," he suggested as he sat up on the couch.

Val looked up at his friends and her eyes landed on Peter and she quickly looked away. She shook her head, "I have things I need to get done."

James nodded in agreement as he stood up. He leaned down to give her a quick goodbye kiss but someone latched onto his shirt and yanked him back. "If you kiss her, we'll never get out of here," Remus informed him and James blushed at this.

Val marked the page they left off with a scrap of parchment paper and stood up. "I'll see you at dinner?" she asked James and he nodded.

"Don't read without me," he requested and she rolled her eyes. She would just pick out a new book to read then.

"You're such a child," she informed him as she crossed the room to the stairs that led to her room. "Have fun with your friends."

He opened his mouth to reply but before he could reply, Sirius yanked him out through the portrait, mumbling something about how him actually being in a relationship was more annoying than hearing about Lily all the time.

Val rolled her eyes before she made her way up to her room. She would have to trade out Alice in Wonderland for a new book and she would probably go read by the lake. She found that it was normally quiet and peaceful there especially when virtually everyone was at Hogsmeade.

She opened the door to the room and the chattering fell silent. Lily, Dorcas and Marlene turned to face Val who smiled awkwardly at the group before going to her area.

"Merlin, can you believe the nerve of that girl?" Marlene scoffed once she closed the curtain and it took everything in Val not to react.

"Let it go, Marlene," Lily requested with a frown.

Val crouched down and scanned her bookshelf. She pulled her copy of The Great Gatsby off the shelf and stood up straight.

"Why should I?" she inquired. "She knows that you and Potter were going to end up together at some point. She's wasting her time."

"He seems to like her," Lily pointed out.

"Please," she scoffed. "The Hufflepuff is just a distraction."

"The Hufflepuff can hear everything you're saying," Val announced with her arms crossed over her chest. She wasn't going to get angry but she wasn't going to sit and listen to them talk about her when she was in the room. "Common sense says to wait until the person has left the room before you talk about them."

"I had every intention of you hearing what I said," Marlene replied.

"Then tell it to my face instead of acting like a child," she suggested.

"Fine," Marlene stated before hopping off the floor and crossing the room to the girl. "I think you're a bitch."

"Takes one to know one," Val replied.

"Maybe we should head to Hogsmeade," Dorcas suggested warily. Lily nodded in agreement as the girl continued, "If we don't leave soon, by the time we get there, we'll have to leave."

"Have fun," Val suggested. She turned to look at Lily, "James is there. Feel free to let him in on how you really feel." She made her way to the door and glanced back at them for a moment, "Until then, keep your opinions to yourself."