CHAPTER BONUS THREE
A Million Little Times
October 25th, 1977.

"What has gotten into you?" Marlene asked as she sank down next to James, and snuggled herself next to him. "Love, you look...sad. Are you sad, James?"

Was he?

Maybe he was. He hadn't spoken to Daphne for two weeks now, well ever since she had kind of admitted what he was itching to hear. Parts of him were ready to say he liked her back, but then he stopped himself for some reasons. Maybe he was scared of actually having her fancy him back. It was something rather unusual for him. Lily never liked him back, hell, she loathed him.

"I don't know, Marls," he mumbled, glancing at his childhood best friend. He loved Marlene, they had grown up together but were slightly drifting apart. "Guess I am."

Marlene sighed with a grimace, "Is it because of Lily? If yes, I can talk to her..."

"No, no, no," he hurried himself to reply. He turned his body so he was fully facing her. "Everything is alright with Lily. It's just...I think I might fancy someone and—"

"Go for it!" She shouted and he shushed by pressing the palm of his hand on her mouth. Marlene licked the inside of his hand as he groaned and took it off. "James, love, you have to go for it. You won't regret it. If you fancy her and she fancies you back, then this is all you need, isn't it?"

"I reckon," he breathed out, running a hand through his hair. "You know what? You're right! I'm going to go get her. Thanks, Marls. You're brilliant," he told her, kissing her cheek rapidly before rising on his feet.

"I'm a genius, I know!"

James rushed upstairs and barged into the dorm. To be fair, he couldn't care if Moony and Pads were having sex or Peter was sleeping soundly. He needed to get the map then find Daphne.

"Oi!" Sirius shouted. "You could have knocked, Prongs!"

"No time for that," James replied, starting to look around. "Where's the map, Pads?"

Sirius frowned, but bent down to look into his nightstand then handed it to James, "Here. Why do you need it?"

Remus groaned, "If it's to stalk Lily again, I've already told you, she doesn't like that, Prongs," he explained with a sigh, making James wince. "James?"

"Yeah, er...well, it doesn't hurt to try again," he muttered, clearing his throat as he unfolded the map and looked for Daphne Rosier. "I promise, Moony. It's the last time I'm doing it."

He felt awful lying to Remus and Sirius, or even behaving as if he was the biggest nutter. He also hated how they thought he was still focusing on Lily only, and he pondered if they had noticed how his comments towards the red-hair were rare now. There was only Daphne.

Ignoring Sirius and Remus' conversation, he finally settled eyes on her name and smiled widely. Currently, Daphne was pacing into an empty classroom with Regulus Black and Pandora Malfoy, but soon she was alone and he took this as his clue to go to her.

Folding the map back into the pocket of the Muggle trousers that Sirius had bought him, he walked out of the dorm and headed straight to the second floor. He could hear Black and Pandora's voices fading away from the class and he checked to see if she was still in there. He looked around to see if no one was around and hurried to enter the classroom; he immediately looked at her and a feeling of longing settled in him.

"A clandestine meeting again?" She said without turning around and her voice was cold, colder than he had ever heard it. "Aren't you growing tired of them, Potter?"

"Not really, no," he answered honestly with a little shrug. "I like clandestine meetings. It makes things a little more...exciting."

Daphne snorted, "If you say so."

"Can we speak?"

"You can speak to me, yes," she muttered, still not facing him. "Hurry up, I have class soon."

"Alright, alright," he breathed out, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean to react that way because...because I do want you, Daphne. Do you know why I always stay to see you play?"

"Because you think I'm a brilliant player," she replied.

"Well, yes," he chuckled, taking a step closer and watched as her fingers danced on the wooden table in front of her. "But also because I think you are the most beautiful girl in this school, and call me an idiot for fancying people way too quickly but...Merlin Daphne, I fancy you ever since I laid eyes on you in that stadium."

"You don't mean that, James," she finally said softly.

"I do!" He argued. "Daphne, would you look at me, please?" He asked and she turned on her heels so she could look at him properly. James smiled gently, noticing how vulnerable she looked. "I do mean it, every single word."

"Dating me wouldn't bring you anything good," she told him.

James cupped her face hesitantly, but felt his chest warm up as she leaned into his touch. He couldn't help but notice how her face perfectly fit in his hands, and he wondered if her hand fit his hand as well. Like a missing piece of puzzle.

"I know that," he assured confidently and she shook her head softly. "Dating me wouldn't bring you anything good, too," he added.

"Oh, I know that."

"We could keep it a secret," he whispered, running the pad of his thumb across her cheek. "We will meet late at night, I will stare at you across the Great Hall and you will give me a smile or two during our Potion class."

"Will I?"

"Yeah. Only if you want to, of course."

"James," she chuckled, meeting his eyes. "You could ruin your reputation by dating me. Sirius could hate you and Lily, too."

"I don't care about them," he said, sounding a little selfish. But, he was allowed to be selfish sometimes, was he not? He wanted to. "I'd ruin my reputation a million little times for you, Daphne."

"Merlin..."

"Have me?"

"I want to," she answered truthfully. "Merlin, I want to. Will you have me?" She queried, pulling herself away for seconds.

James hummed, "I will, Daph."

At this point, Daphne was fully pressed against the wall behind her and James was standing in front of her, slightly towering over her. His hands still on her cheeks, his eyes were now on her lips and he fought the urge to kiss her.

"What are you waiting for?" Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he focused on her smile.

He frowned, "What am I waiting for?" He repeated cluelessly.

Daphne laughed before pressing her lips on his. His eyes fluttered by the sudden contact, but soon his hands were awkwardly running through her hair as hers sneaked under his t-shirt sending shivers all over his body.

"Merlin," he whispered breathlessly against her lips as she tiptoed and kissed them one last time.

"Breathe, James. I can't let you go back looking like that, it looks like you played hours of Quidditch," she groaned, running a hand through his hair again to style them.

He smirked, "I'd tell them one of the finest girls snogged me restlessly while pulling on my hair," he shrugged innocently. "Don't worry. They won't know."

"I trust you."

"Is that it, then? You're just leaving after snogging me?"

"James..." she started. "Meet me on the seventh floor tonight, alright? I will show you something wicked."

Before she could walk out of the classroom, he took her hand and stopped her, "Are we—"

"Yes, we are! I'm not snogging every bloke that tells me they like me," she reassured with a laugh and James took a second to notice the wrinkles next to her eyes, or how her laugh echoed within him. "I will see you later, then."

"Yes."

"Good," she whispered, kissing his lips one more time before walking out and leaving James alone.

He finally got the girl.

—————
authors note, so this is finally the end of the bonuses 😨 i loved having them back for a little, i can't wait to write a little more of helena so you can have more of daphne and james BUT also helena and harry! 👹