CHAPTER FOUR

James arrived promptly at the location specified by Elodie, only to find that she was nowhere to be seen. He stood there, perplexed and a tinge of annoyance on his face, as he looked around in search of her.

A frown tugged at his lips, and he began to wonder if he had been stood up for their planned date.

"You know," Elodie's voice suddenly rang out, and startled, James turned quickly, nearly losing his balance due to surprise. She burst into laughter, apparently finding his reaction immensely amusing. "Oh, that was bloody hilarious!"

He stood there dumbfounded for a moment, his heart still racing from the unexpected shock. After regaining his composure, he shot her a mock glare. "You're unbelievable," he grumbled, shaking his head.

His face was flushed with embarrassment, his cheeks burning a deep red hue. "Merlin, where have you been?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of irritation and surprise.

She responded with a satisfied smirk, folding her arms and maintaining a defiant stance. "I was right here, you know," she stated matter-of-factly. "I just wanted to see how you would react, thinking I wasn't going to show up. I'm not sorry for nearly scaring the life out of you, though - that was too funny."

James furrowed his eyebrows, a frown creasing his forehead. "But why did you ask me out on a date? I know you don't have any romantic interest in me," he queried a hint of confusion in his tone.

Her response was immediate and blunt, "No, it's true. I don't fancy you, thank Merlin's Beard. The thought is utterly dreadful," she said bluntly, shuddering at the mere idea.

"Then why did you ask me out on a date?" James pressed again, his frustration starting to show.

She interrupted him with her explanation, "Honestly, I was curious about what is so attractive about you that half of the student body seems to find irresistible. Since I obviously don't see it, I decided to come see for myself. I expected you not to show up, given your well-known stance against dating a Slytherin."

James protested, "I'm not anti-Slytherin. That's merely a misconception. Despite the years passing, the stereotypes persist."

"Regardless," Elodie cut in, waving her hand dismissively, "it doesn't change the fact that the notion of Gryffindor and Slytherin being an unlikely pair will always persist, no matter how much time passes. It's simply the way things are, James."

James tried to reassure her, "I'm being honest. I truly hold no animosity towards your house. It's more a matter of how the members of Slytherin don't usually reach out to begin with."

She laughed, patting his chest and continuing, "Honestly, James, I don't care that much. And if you don't mind a little secret, I have a bit of an irrational fear against Hufflepuffs."

James let out a humorous scoff, "What? Really?"

She defended her point vehemently, "Be serious; badgers are truly scary when angered! I might not have experienced it personally, but I have witnessed a furious Hufflepuff, and the sight was truly alarming. And may I remind you, badgers are natural predators of snakes, and they prey on them without mercy."

James raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a chuckle at her reaction. "You're acting like a little mouse afraid of a badger," he teased, "But come on, seriously? Badgers might be fierce in their own rights, but it's not like they're going to attack you," he chuckled, finding her fear amusing.

Elodie shot him a glare. "Don't underestimate the power of badgers, alright? They're ferocious little creatures. I know they won't attack me directly, but you must admit they're not exactly harmless."

He smirked, "Yes, yes, I completely understand your fear," he said with a slight eye roll. "Badgers may come across as cute and cuddly, but they're actually fierce and formidable. Still, I doubt one would go after you just for the heck of it."

She folded her arms, shooting him a sidelong glance. "You're mocking me, aren't you?"

He feigned ignorance, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Me, mocking you? What gives you that idea?" His smile gave him away.

She huffed in response, "Oh, please," she sighed. "I can see right through you. You're definitely enjoying this."

"Enjoying what?" He asked with an air of false innocence, enjoying the banter. The smirk on his face said it all.

She rolled her eyes, "You're enjoying the fact that I'm afraid of badgers. Admit it."

He shrugged, "Can you really blame me? It's kind of amusing, you know?" His tone was filled with a hint of tease.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she rolled her eyes again. "Oh, shut up," she muttered, trying to hide a smile.

Her initial explanation made him burst into laughter, his hand clutching his stomach. She couldn't understand why she had shared that, but it didn't bother her much.

She shifted the focus back to their date, "Regardless, I hope you're ready for what I have in-store today. I'm going to prove to you what a truly enjoyable date entails."

He challenged her statement, "As if my dates weren't fun? I'll have you know; I plan the best dates in all of Hogwarts."

She shook her head, her voice dripping with feigned horror, "Going to Madam Puddifoot's? It's practically the epitome of unenjoyableness! Seriously, how can you even consider bringing a lady there? The place is obnoxiously pink and utterly dreadful."

James nonchalantly shrugged, "Well, the girls I've taken there have never complained about it."

With a knowing look on her face, she pressed further, "And that's quite telling enough to say you've got minimal experience with females. Let me shed some light on things, James. Just because they don't speak up doesn't mean they're genuinely enjoying themselves. Have you ever, ever, asked them what they desired?"

James averted his gaze, unable to respond, realizing the truth in her words.

He remained silent, acknowledging that she was spot on with her assessment. He couldn't recall if he had ever asked any girl what she wanted. He just assumed, thinking they were fine with his own preferences.

"Well... no, I haven't exactly asked them," he finally admitted, his voice slightly sheepish. "I guess I always just assumed they were fine with whatever I had in mind."

She crossed her arms, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "Exactly, that's the problem. You've been so self-centred that you haven't taken the time to even ask what they want."

He looked down at his feet, guilt gnawing at him. "I guess I've been a bit too focused on myself, huh?" he muttered. "I didn't really consider what the girls might want."

She nodded, her expression softening a bit. "Yes, exactly. You need to remember, James," she said. "It's not all about you and your preferences. Think about the other person for a change. Their desires and wishes are equally important."

He nodded slowly, feeling regret for his behaviour in the past. "Alright, I get it. I've been a bit selfish, I'll admit it. I'll try to do better."

"And that's good to hear," she replied, a small smile on her lips. "It's about time you realize that relationships are a two-way street. You matter, but so does the other person. Pay attention to them and their wants."

He agreed, looking a bit sheepish, "You're right, I understand now. I was shortsighted before, only focused on my own wants and ignoring theirs."

A heavy sigh escaped her as she suggested dropping the serious subject for now. A smile tugged at her lips as she continued.

"Let's forget all that for now. We're here for fun!" she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "How about we head to Zonko's? There are some essentials we need for our date."

James grimaced, clearly not thrilled with the idea. "Zonko's?" he repeated, his tone less than enthusiastic.

She snickered at his initial reaction, clearly amused by his displeasure. "Come on, it'll be fun," she said, tugging gently on his arm to encourage him onward. "Trust me, we won't stay for long. There are a couple of things we must have for the date."

He allowed himself to be dragged, his face still set in a reluctant expression. "Fine, fine. But it better not be a complete waste of time," he grumbled, following her lead.