The One with the Cousin

"At least you know someone," your mother encourages. You fake a smile, she means your cousin. You haven't seen him in ages?
You're entering - for the first time - King's Cross station, making your way to platform 9 3/4. "Mom, I haven't seen him in a decade or something." "You'll recognise each other, you're family after all." she's too happy.
The reason why it's your first time in the Hogwarts Express is that your parents had moved to England. Causing you to transfer from Ilvermorny to Hogwarts.

You board the Hogwarts Express, finding a compartment empty. You have settled down, ready for the trip.
The door opens to reveal this boy. "Hi, may I sit here? The other compartments are crowded," he smiles awkwardly. "Yeah sure," you say with a little smile. You see the boy, admitting that he's handsome.
"So? I have never seen you before, transfer?" the boy asks. "Yeah, I'm from America, Ilvermorny. My parents moved to England and I was stuck with them. So here I am," you chuckle playfully, causing the boy to laugh. "Cool, which house were you in?" he asks curiously. "Wampus."
"You'll be sorted Gryffindor for sure!" he says enthusiastically. You chuckle once more at his behaviour, "I guess you're a Gryffindor?" He nods proudly.
"My name's James, by the way," he says shaking your hand. "Y/N," you smile. You recognised that name, but no bells started to ring.

"See you later," he says with a wink. 'Did he just wink?' You thought confused. You had to follow Professor McGonagall - she's tall, severe-looking, and has grey hair tied up in a tight bun.
"You'll be sorted in one of the four houses; Gryffindor. Slytherin. Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw. The sorting ceremony will be starting soon," she told you, she acted nice towards you.

James's POV

As soon as I left the compartment, I was thinking of that girl. Her name sounded familiar some way, but couldn't put my finger on it.
"Prongs, where were you mate?" Padfoot asks and punches me friendly in the shoulder. "On the Hogwarts Express," I suppress a grin. Padfoot rolls his eyes, "which compartment? With who?"
They joined their friends at the Gryffindor table. "I've met this girl on the train. She's a transfer, I think she in a lower year," James explains. Moony and Wormtail are curious about what's happening. "Found a new firecracker?"

The sorting ceremony started. I spot Y/N between the first years. "Y/N L/N!" Professor McGonagall calls. My eyes widen, now I see. "Bloody hell," I whisper out loud. "What's wrong?" Padfoot asks curiously. "No... nothing," I stutter.
"Hmmm, a beautiful set of brains. Ah, I see courage and loves to play Quidditch. A seeker I see. Hmm, this is a hard one," the hat mumbles. "Seeker? She's a seeker! Competition, prongs," Moony whispers.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yells. Everyone on the Gryffindor tabel cheered for her - including me. She spotted me and walked over. She smiles and sit next to me. "Well, this is Y/N," I say with a little smile.
'She has changed into a goddess, bloody hell,' I thought. "Prongs, hey, Potter!" Moony calls. I look at Y/N - she has a shocked face. "Bloody hell," she says shocked. I smile innocently, "hi. How's aunt and uncle?" I ask carefully.
I notice that my friends are in shock too. "G... good, and with yours?" "G...great, they had told me you were a transfer, but... I haven't seen you for such a long time," I stutter. She has that little cute smile on her face. 'No, she's your cousin. Leave it.' But I couldn't help it...

End James's POV

'Bloody hell, is that James? How?!' you thought. 'He has grown and he has a cute face.' You could tell your cheeks were a shade of pink.
His friends had introduced themselves and they seemed nice. They already wanted to give you a nickname, but couldn't find one that fitted you.

A few weeks after the very beginning of the year. "Wolfs!" Prongs calls. You enter the Great Hall for breakfast, smiling to James.
You have to admit, you have developed feelings for your freaking cousin - not a big one - but no one knows. Not even the Marauders.
Fun fact: Moony had caught you, in another form. In your wolf form. You're an animagus, that's why the nickname. Also, you and the Marauders have pulled many pranks, which made you the fifth marauder.

"Goodmorning," Prongs says and he does something out of the blue. He kissed you on your cheek. Padfoot and Wormtail whistled, Moony - in that case - looked kinda... sad?
"Prongs," you say shocked, which lightened Moony's mood for a bit. "What?" he teases. You roll your eyes playfully.

In your free period you sat in the library. Prongs and Padfoot were taking their flying class and Moony? You didn't know where he was.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" a familiar voice speaks. Speaking of the devil. You look up, smiling. "Yeah sure." He smiles and takes a seat next to you.
"Hey, can you help me with this essay for Defence?" you ask. "Of course," he says and leans closer to you. "Okay, look," he says and starts to explain.
"Is there any chance you could help me with Transfiguration?" Moony asks curiously. You shrug, "Hmmm. Professor McGonagall says I'm the best student. So, I can take a look if you want," "Be my guest." You close the gap between the two, reading what he has to do.

"How's the situation between Wolfs and Prongs?" he asks without looking up from his work. "Good, why are you asking?" you ask curiously. "I was just curious. You would make a great couple," he forces a smile.
"I'm not sure. Things are quite complicated," you decide to vent about what has been on your chest. "What do you mean?"
"It's... is that...-" you are cut off my Prongs, who hugs you from behind. He kisses you on the head, "how are you doin'?" "I'm fine, Moony helped me with my homework and I helped him with his," you smile.
"How was flying class?" you ask. He shrugs, "it was fine, but I want to play Quidditch with you." "That time will be there, if I'm attending for your place as seeker," you laugh playfully.

(The following text will have an alternative. The other one starts after the stars. We'll start with Moony).

It was a summer night, so you sat - after dinner - at the black lake. You were busy with writing that you didn't hear someone approaching you.
"Hi, Wolfs," Moony says and sits next to you. You almost jumped into the air, covering your notebook. "Moony, you scared me." "What do you have there?" he asks curiously. "No... nothing," you stutter, cursing yourself.
"May I see it?" he asks gently. "Okay, but I'll away when you read it, because it is too embarrassing," you say, blushing. "Hmm, okay. And where will you be?" "Somewhere in the woods," you say, already transforming into a white wolf.

Remus's POV

'Why is it that James always get the girls?' I thought annoyed. 'Or interrupt the important conversation I had with Wolfs.'
I joined her at the Black Lake and I think I scarred her. "What do you have there?" I ask curiously. "No... nothing," she stutters.
"May I see it?" I ask gently. "Okay, but I'll away when you read it, because it is too embarrassing," she says, blushing. "Hmm, okay. And where will you be?" "Somewhere in the woods," she replies, already transforming into a white wolf. 'She is beautiful.'
She ran into the woods, letting me alone with her work. 'She has been writing a story. No, a letter?'

Dear Moony,

If you read this, I'm not near you; it's too embarrassing. I wanted to tell you in the library, but I'm glad Prongs came by.

The thing between James and me is that we can't be together. However I want to - and I think he wants to - it cannot.
The reason is that James and I are relatives. Yep, relatives. He's my older nephew.

You're probably asking how this could happen? Falling in love with your relatives. My parents moved to America when I was 5, so I didn't know James that well.
I didn't know how he turned out to be. When you said;" Potter!" Reality hit me, like a bus.

Even though, I still like him. And I know it can't and it is not allowed, I know. I did push those feelings away, concealing them.

I don't even know why I'm going to do this. Making even more a fool of myself.
I - er - have been noticing some things lately, about you. When Prongs kissed me, you looked almost sad. I see the way you're looking at me when you think I'm not looking.
The way you lean in, to be closer to me. Today, at the library. Maybe it is just all my imagine, but yeah...

You're an amazing person, Moony.

I think I'll be back by now. Look away from this parchment to see the white wolf.

Love,
Y/N L/N

I look away from the parchment - seeing the white wolf. A smile appeared on my face. She changes back into her human form.

End Remus's POV

"I - er - I already knew you would come," you stammer, sitting back in your place.

"So, James's your cousin right?" Moony asks curiously. "Yes," you say, blushing. "So, you... you wouldn't be mad if I do... do this?" He stutters, while leaning in to give you a kiss on your cheek.
"Why would I be,-" you turn to face Remus, but you are cut off by Remus. Your eyes widen, but didn't pull back.

Remus pulls away, shocked. "I'm so sorry, I... I didn't mean to. I mean, I was, but it was meant for your cheek and then... then you turned and then. Bloody Hell, I'm so sorry," Remus rambles.
You cup his cheek, causing him to look at you. He relaxed when he saw you smiling. You gently rub his cheek before leaning in again. Now, Remus's eyes widen. You chuckle into his lips.

*****

(Alternative two)

It was a summer night, so you sat - after dinner - at the black lake. You were busy with drawing that you didn't hear someone approaching you.
"Hey, Wolfs," Prongs says and sits next to you. "Oh, hi," you smile and focus back on your art work. You try to draw your patronus, which is a squirrel.
"Expecto patronum," you say and a silvery creature burst out of the tip of your wand. "Impressive, right?" you chuckle. "Yes, yes it is."

"Y/N?" James asks. "Hmmhmm?" you humble. "What about us?" he sounds nervous. You sigh, putting your down drawings.
"James," you start, "I adore you, but you're still my cousin, you know. It can't, we cannot be together. Just like a teacher and student relationship." You held his hands.
"I don't know if I can see you as my niece, because I really like you," James says, pinching you hands softly. "Hey, we can always have fun and I'm still a Marauder. It will be alright," you say.

"I might have noticed something," you suppress a giggle. "What?" he cocked a brow. "I might have noticed that Lily Evans has been staring at you, quite a few times," you giggle.
"Oh, is that so? Well, I...-" then he stops, not sure if he can tell you this. "What?" You raise a brow. "I - er - I might have seen that someone had been looking at you, but I was very jealous and told him to stop," he rambled.
"James!" you punch him - in a friendly way - in his shoulder. "Poor pup," you say. "Pup, you say," when he said it, he covered his mouth.

"What?" you asked confused. "Nothing," he tries to reduce the damage. "You said;' pup, you say.' Anyways, you better go to him and make it up to him," you say, feeling sorry for the boy.
"I will, I will," he says and hugs you. "I still adore you, by the way," you laugh. James rides into his feet, getting ready for an apology.

"James?" you call before he walks away. "Yes?" "Tell Remus I'll go on a date with him," you chuckle. You hear James swearing and something like;

"She is way smarter than I thought."