tw - attempted sexual assault

Azalea stood back from the mirror, admiring her work. She'd spent the best part of the past three hours working on her hair and makeup, and then getting changed into her dress.

Now, she was feeling like crying at what she saw in the mirror, she felt so pretty. She didn't care that she and James were arguing, or that her whole life could implode during the next task. All she cared about was-

"What the fuck, you look amazing!" Lily said as Azalea came out the bathroom.

"Oh my god you do!" Alice was grinning.

"Thank you guys so much!" Azalea said with a wide smile, asking. "Where's Rose?"

"She's meeting Scorpius early," Alice answered.

Azalea nodded, smiling as she looked at herself again in the mirror.

"Can you believe we're here in seventh year, at our first ball?" Alice asked, shaking her head with glassy eyes. "I mean, it feels like yesterday that you and I were sitting on the Hogwarts Express together in first year."

"I know," Azalea said with a smile, her own eyes teary. "It's amazing how fast time has flown."

"Yeah, I mean, I didn't even know you, Lia, until about a couple years ago," Lily shrugged. "It's gonna be pretty lonely here without you two next year, and even without James and Fred and Louis."

Alice nodded with a slight smile.

"But hey," she said with a smile, turning to face her two friends. "Let's just make the most of it, okay?"

They all nodded, both Alice and Lily standing up so they could hug each other.

"Okay."

✾✾✾

"Shit!" Azalea cursed as they got to the top of the staircase descending to the entrance hall, where many of the people attending the ball were milling about and talking.

"What?" Alice asked.

"Literally everyone's there," Azalea said.

"Oh just chill, Lea, everyone knows you're beautiful," Lily said with a wink, before the three of them stepped out.

But Azalea had been right. Because as they descended the staircase, a lot of heads turned. Azalea tried not to focus on them, eyes flitting about the crowd to catch on Lauri's-

But they didn't.

They caught on James'.

Now, when James Potter had heard chatter behind him saying "they look beautiful", he hadn't really known what he'd find when he turned round.

But what he did find was his sister, in a green dress, Alice in a purple dress, and Azalea.

(Who made most of the air in his lungs disappear).

As much as he hated to admit it, she was looking absolutely beautiful. Her dress was amazing, and her hair was half done up with two red strands curled at the front of her face.

And as much as he tried with all his might to rip his eyes from her, it just didn't work.

Azalea, meanwhile, was having the same problem. James looked... well, like James. He was so shamelessly handsome, and he didn't even have to try to be. He was sporting deep black dress robes, his hair was still messy, and he had that trademark smirk upon his face.

But Lea had to pull her eyes away. She had to.

"Azalea!"

As she got to the bottom of the stairs, Azalea finally spotted Lauri, right in front of her, the expression on his face someway between shocked and lovestruck.

"Hey," Azalea said with a smile, a blush lighting up her cheeks. "You look so handsome."

"Thank you," Lauri grinned. "You look beautiful, Azalea. No - breathtaking."

Azalea smiled radiantly.

"Oh, there you are Azalea, Lauri," Teddy said, coming towards the pair. "Are you two ready?"

"Ready?" Azalea frowned.

"For the first dance?" Teddy laughed. "It's traditional that the champions are the ones that start the dancing. Of course, cause you've all taken each other as dates - well, apart from Adrian and Adelaide - there'll be less of you, but you're still starting."

Azalea sighed, nodding as Lauri extended his arm. "You ready?"

Azalea took it. "Of course."

✾✾✾

But then she ended up in line behind James, and she realised she was not ready.

As the champions lined up outside the great hall, everyone went inside it, and Azalea was left with the opportunity to see who the others' dates were. Of course, she knew about Eleanor and James, and obviously her and Lauri, but it appeared that Adelaide had taken another Beauxbatons boy, and Adrian a Durmstrang girl.

Azalea smiled when the doors finally opened, because it meant the opportunity to ditch James, and stop staring at the back of his head. When the champions walked into the hall, they saw the others had formed an aisle for them to walk down. Azalea clutched Lauri's arm as she walked down it, grinning at Alice, Lily, Fred, Louis, Rose, Scorpius, Albus and a girl she presumed was his crush, Ellie.

He never told me he asked her out!

When they finally got to the dance floor, they all split apart, Azalea and Lauri heading to one of the sides and standing opposite each other. Azalea grinned as she put her hand on Lauri's shoulder and he put his on her waist, joining the other two hands in a waltz hold.

The music started rather abruptly, but the pair were ready for it, beginning their dance round the room with small gasps and giggles. Azalea was having a lot of fun, actually, the name James Sirius Potter leaving her brain completely.

One by one, couples joined the dance floor. McGonagall and Slughorn took the floor together, as well as Alice and Lily, then Fred and his date joined soon after. Lea also saw Harry sitting off to the side drinking a goblet of pumpkin juice, looking upon the ball with a keen smile on his face.

Then Azalea caught sight of James and Eleanor, however, and everything came flooding back. They were talking with each other, laughing and smiling, and Azalea's stomach was burning with-

"You okay?" Lauri asked, as they continued to dance, Azalea's eyes snapping back to his.

"Yeah, of course," she grinned. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Lauri chuckled. "Doesn't matter."

Across the room, even Teddy was getting his moment, taking the floor with Miss Korkonen, the Durmstrang headmistress. Azalea giggled slightly to see it, only imagining what his three adoptive siblings would have to say when they saw this happening.

"ALRIGHT PEOPLE, ARE YOU READYYYYYYYY?!"

The dance floor suddenly got a lot more crowded as the song changed to a rock one, the band The Weird Sisters playing in the corner of the room.

Azalea had the time of her life as she and Lauri jumped up and down in the pit of people, watching as Professor Flitwick got crowdsurfed over some of the students.

She was actually enjoying herself as Lauri spun her round and round, even kissing her a couple times, short and sweet.

By the time the song ended, her throat was raw, and a thin sheen of sweat was developing on her head.

"I'm gonna go get a drink, do you want one?" Lauri asked her, holding her hand as he tried to push out the crowd.

"Yeah, thanks," Azalea nodded, squeezing his hand as they exited the dance floor and parted ways, her going over to speak to Albus and Ellie, who were sat at one of the tables.

"Hey guys!" She said with a grin as she came over.

"Hey, Lea!" Albus grinned. "Er- this is Ellie Clearwater, the girl I was telling you about. Ellie, this is Azalea."

"Hey," Ellie said with a shy smile. "I- I really liked your performance in the first task."

"Thanks," Azalea said with a smile. "It was a team effort, though. Your dress is amazing, by the way."

"Thanks so much!" Ellie grinned. "I- I've heard a lot about you, is it true you punched Albus' brother?"

It was like music to Azalea's ears, someone calling James Potter 'Albus' brother'. "Yeah," she laughed. "He was being a git, though."

"Sounds like it," Ellie giggled.

Azalea looked from her to Albus. "Where did you find this girl, Al? She's amazing!"

The look of pride on Ellie's face was enough to know she had done something right.

And she loved it.

"Right, I've gotta go and find Lauri, he's getting drinks, but I'll see you later?" She asked Albus, practically glowing.

"Yeah," he said. "Oh, and if you run into James, don't start any drama, it's not worth it."

"True that," Azalea nodded. "But it's fine, we talked about this yesterday, and we're staying out of each other's way."

However, as she left, Albus sighed, pursing his lips and muttering. "Somehow I don't think that's true."

✾✾✾

After Lauri returned with drinks and they finished them, the pair returned to the dance floor, ready to do it all over again.

Azalea's feet hurt like hell, but she didn't think about it as she jumped up and down and sung cheesy song lyrics and kissed Lauri almost a thousand times, glad the lipstick Alice had told her to put on didn't transfer.

She was absolutely overcome with happiness. To be honest, this ball was exactly what she needed to get over all the drama lately, and hopefully after Christmas she'd be able to approach it with an open mind, and her and James could become friends again.

"Hey."

Lauri whispering in her ear made her turn. It had been at least an hour since they'd had those drinks, so she just thought he was going to offer to go get her another one.

But instead he said. "Do you wanna get out of here? Just to- to cool off."

But something about the way he said that made Azalea think they'd be doing more than just 'cooling off'.

Nevertheless, she grinned and accepted. "Yeah."

And with that, he took her hand, pulled out the crowd, and with that both of them headed towards the door.

✾✾✾

"James!"

Eleanor was brilliant, truly, she was. She was a great date, a model date; the exact type of girl a man would want at a ball. But she wasn't and would never be Az-

Shut up, James.

"James, I got you a drink!" His date said with a shy smile, walking up to him. Then, she frowned. "James?"

Because James wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were trained on a point across the hall, where a giggling and smiling Azalea Edwards was being led out the hall by a smirking Lauri Krum.

But the look on his face...

It wasn't one of love, more... one of lust.

And James didn't trust it one bit.

"James?" Eleanor's voice calling him made him snap back to life, looking at her. "James, what's wrong?"

"Eleanor, I'm sorry, but I can't do this anymore," James shook his head, looking at her. "I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"James-"

"I'm sorry."

And then he was rushing through the crowd, following the way Azalea and Lauri had went.

Maybe he was just being paranoid.

But where Azalea Edwards was concerned, he'd prefer to be paranoid and sure rather than relaxed and ignorant.

✾✾✾

Azalea smiled shyly as she and Lauri arrived in a little alcove around the side of the school, hidden by bushes and the darkness of the starry winter night.

"So," she said, looking at Lauri. "What are we going to d-?"

She was cut off as his lips met hers, his hand slotting round her waist and pulling them closer. The kiss didn't last long, for he pulled away, but Azalea only pulled him back in, kissing him deeper this time.

Eventually, she ended up pressed lightly up against the cold stone wall of the castle, Lauri kissing her deeply, his tongue sliding into her mouth. Azalea let out a small groan against his lips, smiling as well as the kisses became softer, slower.

Azalea hadn't even kissed someone until a few weeks ago, but now, she wouldn't mind doing it for the rest of her life. She wouldn't mind Lauri being her third, fourth, fifth, sixth kiss-

And then her mind went blank.

Because Lauri's hand was suddenly wandering, physically groping her arse, and squeezing.

"Lauri-" Azalea started, pushing him away slightly as she tried to speak. "Lauri, st-"

"Shhh," Lauri said, kissing her some more as his hand came round, slipping through the slit in her skirt and-

"Lauri," Azalea said, reeling her head away from him to speak. "Lauri, I don't feel comfortable with this-"

"Shut up, you slut."

And with that, Azalea watched as the boy she'd got to know over the past five months, the boy who'd been sweet, the boy who'd told her she was beautiful, the boy who she'd liked, slip away from her. Lauri looked at her with dark, cold eyes, and towered over her.

Azalea's eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. "Lauri, I'm not ready for this," she told him, her voice and her whole body shaking.

"Of course you are," Lauri said with a smile, leaning down again and kissing her lips, her face, her neck-

It was when his hand slipped through the slit in her dress and started to caress her thigh, climbing higher and higher-

"Lauri- Lauri, STOP!" Azalea screamed, tears leaking down her cheeks as she tried to physically push him off her. "STOP, PLEASE!"

"Come on, baby, you know you want it," Lauri moaned as his kisses went to her collarbone- "Be good for me and take it..."

"HELP, PLEASE!" Azalea screamed as she shoved against him, tears forming tracks on her face now as his hand reached the top of her thigh, hooking around the waistband of-

"STUPEFY!"

Azalea didn't even really register who had cast the stunner at first, only that next second, the heavy weight of Lauri shoving her into the wall was gone and his body was being thrown into the air with the strength of the spell, landing about five metres away.

Azalea, who was breathing hard, tears streaming down her cheeks, was then given the chance to look at her saviour.

And then she almost fainted in the process.

Because her 'saviour', the boy who had just witnessed her get assaulted, the boy who had just saved her, was James Sirius Potter.

And as he stood there, watching the girl he knew and could admit (only to himself) he still had very strong feelings for, cry her eyes out in a dress that only confirmed his idea that she was the most beautiful person in the world, James' heart broke.

"I, uh..." he started, his voice shaking slightly. "I know we made a deal, but... just so you know, it doesn't suit me anymore."

Azalea let out a sob before rushing towards him, not even thinking straight before her body crashed into his knocking him back slightly, her arms slotting around him and holding him tight.

"Lea..." James murmured, as she sobbed into him.

"I'm sorry," Azalea cried. "I'm so so sorry, James, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sor-"

She was hyperventilating, her chest heaving, and James knew that to get through to her, he had to look at her.

"Lea stop, you've got nothing to apologise for," James said softly, pulling back from Azalea and taking her hands. He didn't even have enough time to feel the thrill that ran through him - he needed to make sure if she was okay. "Breathe, Azalea, breathe with me."

"I- I- I can't-"

"You have to, please," James said, squeezing her hands. "Listen to me, Azzie, please, just breathe in... out... in... out..."

Slowly, Azalea calmed down, James holding her hands and making her calm down. Azalea's mind was running at a million miles per hour, and that wasn't even thinking about how she'd just hugged James Potter, and how he was holding her hands right now.

When Azalea was finally breathing normally, she collapsed into James' arms again, chest wracking with a few more sobs.

"I meant when I said I was sorry," she whimpered. "But- but I'm also sorry for being so mean to you, and getting so angry at you, and being such a h-horible person to you-"

"Azzie, stop," James whispered, pulling her back to face him again, looking into those stupid blue eyes. "I forgive you, Azalea, abs I'm sorry, too. I said things I didn't mean as well, but that doesn't matter now."

"Thank you," Azalea looked down, tears filling her eyes. "Thank you for tonight, I... I was so stupid-"

"It's okay," James said, pulling her into him, wrapping his arms around her to protect her. Because he would protect her from anything, forever. "I... I hate to ask this, but how far did he-?"

"He didn't... touch me," Azalea told him, eyes filling with tears at those words. "But he came... close to it."

She dissolved into more sobs and she said this, and James just tightened his grip, swaying them from side to side slightly.

Not before long, Azalea calmed down slightly, her own arms coming up to wrap around James. He disguised his smile when she did this, just resting his chin atop her head and sighing contentedly.

They stayed there a while, both trying to ignore the fact that they were feeling happier than they'd ever been, just by being in the other's embrace. Azalea felt safe in his arms, and James felt very protective when he had her there.

(But neither would ever admit that).

Eventually, James leaned back slightly, loosening his grip and murmuring. "Do you want to go back in? Or just stay out here a while?"

"I... could we go back in?" Azalea asked, unwrapping herself from him before groaning. "Oh shit, I've probably messed up all my makeup. Does it still look alright?"

She looked straight at James, her emerald green eyes twinkling in the dim light.

"Of course it does," he replied, his voice low. "It looks..."

Beautiful.

Breathtaking.

Perfect.

"...good."

"Thanks, James," Azalea smiled slightly, her eyes twinkling even more- "You've, uh... you've really been a bit of a hero tonight, huh?"

James smirked at her, his eyes going all dreamy, and for the first time in seven years knowing him, Azalea didn't find it annoying.

"That's just what I do."

He'd always be her hero.

He just hoped she knew that.

✾✾✾

Of all the things the Weasley/Potter/Longbottoms in the crowd at the Yule Ball had expected to see, Azalea Edwards and James Potter entering the great hall, smiling and holding hands was not one of them.

"Holy shit," Lily, who was standing with Harry and Alice, seemingly forgetting her father was right there, said with wide eyes and mouth.

"Language, Lils," Harry warned as his only daughter continued to stare. "Anyway, what are you talking abou-?"

He cut himself off as he saw the two of them, his face practically going slack as he stared.

"Oh my god, they're dancing," Alice said, watching as Azalea put her hands on James' shoulders, and he put his on her waist, the both of them beginning to slow dance to the music, smiling and laughing with each other.

"You've seen it, then?" Albus asked, coming over with Ellie. Lily and Alice nodded at him, and he shrugged. "Had to make sure I wasn't the only one, I do tend to hallucinate-"

"Are you guys seeing this?" Rose joined the gather. "What the hell is going o-?"

"Just so you're all aware, guys, we're just witnessing a miracle," Teddy, too, got in on the drama, grinning like a madman as they all watched Azalea and James dance to the slow piano music being played.

"Yeah, we know," Lily shook her head, eyes still glued to the pair.

And, across the dance floor, Azalea and James were well aware they were being stared at, but for once in their life, they were both too captivated by the other to care.

"Thank you so much for tonight," Azalea said with a smile, looking straight at James, into those blue eyes she drowned in.

"Of course," he smirked back. "I mean, I am pretty amazing, so it's only natural."

Azalea giggled, her head tipping down as she was overcome with mirth. She knew the reality of narrowly avoiding assault would come in time, but for now, she just tightened her grip on James, and raised her head back up so her eyes could meet his.

"Scratch that," she said, but teasingly. "I hate you so fucking much, Potter."

And James just smiled, grinning happily back at her as he shrugged and the words fell out of his mouth.

"All's fair in love and war, Edwards."