#yes i signed every page a little egotistical don't you think

[fanartka]

At first, I just wanted to redraw this photo with Viktor, but while I was drawing, I had a few ideas.

The first thing is that Viktor is a young girl Viktoria.

And the second is this: Viktor tried to get an education at the Piltover School, but the Piltiers were afraid of the Zaun boys and refused him. Then he changed into a girl's clothes and went to school as a girl.

Which idea do you like more?

P.S. I'm going to draw Jayce on the left later.

[cupidsncheerios]

"yes, but only because you signed your notes. every page, might i add, a little egotistical, don't you think?"

HE SIGNED TWO LETTERS BRO. VIKTOR ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE HIM JUMP

[starlightopal]

Ekko and Viktor

I wonder what things would have been like if Viktor got to see Ekko's mind. If Viktor saw the community Ekko built, the people he helped, that the corruption of the Arcane was killing the tree. The lessons Ekko learns about breaking free from the imperfection of the present moment would have helped Viktor.

Instead Viktor is caught up in the "recursive impulse" that's become his "charge", "potential", his motivation moving forward. He's in the same death spiral in thought that his body has been in. It's suicide; being unable to see past the cycling patterns that have already occurred and unable to imagine what could be.

Jayce, Viktor, Jinx they get stuck in the same moment, cycling through the same thought that has grown so strong that it's running itself and effortless to reason through. They're stuck living the same moment and that is death. The Hexcore "thinks" in the same way and kills without shimmer.

Every suicide scene is broken with a distraction, by breaking the cycle.

"Actually, yes, but only because you signed your notes. Every page, I might add. Eh, a little egotistical, don't you think?" "Remember the Distinguished Innovators competition?" "Always a dance with you"

There's only two ways the cycle breaks - death or distraction from the cycling thought. There was a time when Viktor knew how to do this. He has the first scene talking Jayce away from the ledge. Maybe not actively dying gave him the mental space to be able to do so.

Once he's merged with the Hexcore, his ability to imagine is lost. His creations all come out of Sky's notebook. The Hexcore can only look into the past or existing conditions, it can't create, it can't build anything new.

"That device can't be"

The more Viktor dies, the more he loses his humanity - his dreaming and transforms physically. But the physical transformations are not change, are not embracing possibility but an evolution of the existing conditions. When Jayce (his inventive partner) shoots him, the gear (from Jinx - also a creative, an inventor) - the thing used to build and create falls out of his hands and he understands the message hidden within the pattern - the cycles of violence humanity is forever caught up in. The violence that puts a hold on dreaming, that stops art.

He'll remain trapped in the horror of that thought until Ekko comes along. Ekko is anti- Helrald Viktor. Ekko's powers are driven by change and possibility. Ekko can break Viktor out of his recursive impulses. While Jayce can balance out/ pull back Viktor (for better and worse) - resonate with Viktor, Ekko can break him out.

Ekko and Viktor would have been too powerful together.

[eternalera]

i love viktor being a sassy little shit. its amazing (rewatching s1)

"is that another paper with my name on it?"

"yes, but only because you signed every page... a little egotistical don't you think?"

LIKE GET IT!!!

[great20sworld]

LIVING THE DREAM

A Viktor x Reader fanfiction

Author's note: Chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6 and chapter 7 are available in my Tumblr page along with summary.

Chapter 8: Birth of an Era

___________________________

"The arcane is a curse upon our world"

"This power corrupts and consumes"

"Escape the warmongering of mages, not cultivate it"

The storm in his mind had endured those prejudiced, cowardly voices of those councillors who deemed themselves worthy to run piltover. It hurt, but it didn't destroy. Until he heard one voice, desperate and uncaring of the storm he had cultivated through his toils. The voice he loved, destroying him without even knowing it.

"My son isn't in his right mind"

"...chased an impossible dream"

"...foolish and unwise"

For goodness sake, magic saved her life! Nobody could have comprehended what he saw that day- the light, the beauty which blinded him and saved him, which prompted him to believe, gave him a purpose, a dream to set down on the road to.

Now?

Now the very same was being ripped apart from his very core. The trees of knowledge, of the gorgeous magic which had deep routed itself on his mind was being ripped away by uncaring hands, the pain bleeding down to his soul. Mrs. Kiramman, Caitlyn, all of them... They had believed in him once, and because of some wretched burglars who wrecked his entire workshop they paid the price of being humiliated just like him for what he had chased down. He hated to admit it, he really did- but he has no more fight left in him. The empty soul withering away without its passion. Jayce had left the crystal which he had kept binded to his wrist for so long on a boulder next to the edge. Let everyone know why he did it. If anyone cared.

The thriving city which he could view from up here mocked him all the same, making his head throb with the pain of rejection like the strike of a hammer down on it. He couldn't even fathom the thought of retreating back into the shadows of their forge and building hammers, when his heart still lay elsewhere.

He had failed. Failed to unveil the light of progress to his beloved piltover, and if he couldn't do it- there was no hope left.

The nails of his fingers digging into his palm as he clenched them tightly brought him to the present and he inches closer to the edge...

Goodbye cruel world.

See you on the other....

"Am I interrupting?"

Startled, he turns, breath hitching, almost losing the balance he had.

The assistant.

Is this man an omen? He seems to be there always whenever Jayce is broken!

He scoffs, covering his face with an exasperation he hadn't thought possible till now.

"The hell's your problem?! What's that? Another list with my name on it?"

He wants to snatch it from his hands and throw it into the abyss.

"Actually...yes. But, only because you signed your notes. Every page, might I add..." Golden eyes darted over the pages.

"Eh...a little egotistical, don't you think?"

Patience is a virtue and Jayce is a saint.

"Is that why you came? To insult me?" Jayce spat, turning away in contempt.

"No...no, I was intrigued by what you said at the trail"

What is his deal?

"That makes you the only one." Jayce says, as he hears the end of a metal cane tap on concrete as the man approaches tries to approach his side.

"Yes, well, I wanted to talk about your work... This hextech theory of yours"

How Jayce hated when another in the scientific community voices them as mere "theories".

"It's not a theory! I saw with my own eyes what magic can do, the lives it could save...you've no idea how beautiful it is..!"

The cold bite of frost, of the raging snowstorm in the mountains, the frozen weight of his mother's form next to him, the desperation with which he called out to the hooded figure and the warmth he had felt when saved... Jayce remembers it as clear as yesterday.

"...and now it's gone" his voice wavered, and he hoped the man didn't notice. "No one believed me."

"..."

"Nobody's ever believed in me. A poor, cripple from the undercity? I was an outsider the moment I stepped foot in Piltover... I didn't have the benefits of a patron or a name... I simply believed in myself. Which is why I'm here, because I think- you're onto something"

Jayce looks at him. This man who appeared as if he was one of the aristocrats, calm composed and with palpable gentleness, had a certain set look in his amber eyes. It was different from the cold blue of his professors, and the judgmental, only barely tolerant ones of his patrons. It was... Hopeful. The eyes of someone who seeks, who explores.

"I want to help you complete your research." He states, looking out into the world below them.

"No one thinks it can be done..." Jayce reminds him, softly.

"When you're going to change the world, don't ask for permission."

The man says, before extending his hand, the crystal resting in his palm, looking back at him invitingly.

Is this a dream?

Could he be hopeful...once more?

With a hesitation only weakly fueled by self doubt, Jayce takes the crystal from his hand, clenching his palm around it, as if making a promise.

One more time.

He looks back at the man.

"I don't even know your name...."

"It's Viktor." He answers.

_______________________________

Well, you now know the meaning of hyperventilating, your eyes trained on the scene unfolding before you. You resist the urge to applaud as Jayce and Viktor finish their conversation, careful not to blow your cover carefully hidden behind the veils of darkness which filled the place, feeling as if you were getting the front row seats to the movie you were waiting for for years- and it did not disappoint.

You couldn't resist the squeal coming.

"what the- who's there?!" Jayce becomes startled, turning around as Viktor is also alerted. You cover is blown when their eyes land on you.

"YOU!" Jayce points at you and gasps, as Viktor looks at Jayce.

"You know her too?"

"yes! She came to my prison cell last day!" Jayce says, looking at Viktor. "Your advice was completely useless by the way." He directs his gaze back to you.

Viktor shakes his head disapprovingly. "So you did go there!"

Jayce looks at Viktor. "Is she your assistant?"

Viktor frantically shakes his head negatively while you frantically nod.

"no!" Says Viktor, "Yes!" You say.

"Jayce, don't you think it's high time we get to work? Figure out whatevers up with that...umm..." You gesture vaguely towards his crystal.

"oh yes! The leftover calculations are on my board...wish we had some light..." Jayce says, walking through the small rubble piles.

"Oh, like this one?" You say, smiling triumphantly as you pull out a kerosene lamp from your bag.

"You seem awfully prepared..." Viktor muses as he takes the lamp from you and lights it, it's soft luminescence bathing the dilapidated room.

"I am your assistant afterall..." You smirk.

"you're not-"

"Over here, yes... This is where I've been struggling with the calculations..." Jayce says, sitting down on and opening the notebook which Viktor brought.

You walk over to Jayce, sitting down next to him and leaning towards the notebook to get a better look at the figures, since you realise to your disappointment that most of what is written is in a language you do not follow, and only a small portion of it is legible English. Viktor goes to study the blackboard, picking up a chalk absentmindedly from the small box sitting next to it. You expected to be completely stumped by the diagrams and calculations, but surprisingly- as if something clicked, your eyes are stuck on what appears to be the planetary model. Beneath it is written, "crystal needs excitement".

The gears in your brain starts to turn hopefully. Seems like the source for this power is something resembling the electrons in an atom. Could it be that the energy could be similar to electricity? "Attracts other metals in short vicinity" the next sentence read. Attracting metals- magnetic property. Whatever this was, the excitation of it lead to magnetic properties of the material.

Electromagnetism. Analogues to it, maybe?

Your gaze darts towards Viktor who was redoing the calculations on board, regarding what you thought was frequency- based on a graph which showed values in various units of Hertz. So, that was valid in this world.

"Does the crystal have an energy field around it, Jayce?" You question, looking at Jayce.

"An energy field? Yes, it reacts whenever it is penetrated and..."

"produces magnetic properties? Such as attracting metals and behaving like a magnetic needle?"

Viktor's attention catches. "Based on this- yes..."

It was indeed electromagnetism. You mind rushes through all the info you had. "So we have to provide the crystal with energy which channels its own energy to circulate in it- until it looses its magnetic field, and yet works, without the added energy loss..."

Both Viktor and Jayce looks at you, and you're relieved to see a small flicker of interest in the former's gaze.

"If we could get it to work without an external field, we could be onto something." Jayce supplies helpfully, ruffling through the pages in which he had elaborated what appeared to be the laws of thermodynamics but with the added modifications for this world.

"Here, Jayce, you said it emits light?" Viktor circles something regarding the factory of photons on the board. "Yes, when hit with light, it seemed to be excited- but also not so much to keep it going."

Your brain starts to remember. "If we channel the residual energy into a bigger energy state, maybe while destabilising, or returning to stability it might emit the energy we require?" You ask timidly, remembering that particles do tend to jump from higher energy levels to lower energy levels to gain stability and from lower to higher when supplied with sufficient energy.

Jayce finds himself at a loss of words and looks at Viktor, who, to his surprise looked like the answer was in the tip of his tongue.

"wait a moment, we're getting something like this here..." He mutters, the speed of chalk scratching on the blackboard increasing as he proceeds.

Could it be similar to photoelectric effect? You had to check. You get up from your seat, taking a chalk from the box and drawing a small diagram which depicts rings of energy and particles on them and an incoming ray of light represented as a wiggly arrow. You note Viktor's gaze following you.

"Does it emit similar amounts of energy it is hit with? Then, we'll need quite an amount of frequency for the source of energy which hits it to produce something reasonable out of it." You supply.

"That can't be right..." Jayce's sighs. "All this time, I thought I should dampen the oscillations, because in very high frequencies, the crystal might as well detonate..."

"No..." Viktor breathes, his gaze darting to the diagram you made. He writes something on the bottom most ring in your drawing, and then mumbling something to himself, followed by scribbling something on the topmost ring. He nods to himself before tapping what he was writing down on the board, going through whatever was discussed behind him through written format and equations. "....the residual energy will only even stabilise at high frequency, she's right! We'll have to-..."

"Crank it!" Jayce and you chime in unison, eyes bright with excitement, your lips spread in a delighted grin.

Viktor turns, and then nods affirmatively, looking like a proud teacher, "yes! Yes...We'll have to... Crank it!"

"It works!" Jayce says, smiling at you and Viktor. "Eh, on paper..." Viktor says, quirking his brow at the blackboard. You feel your heart quicken when his golden gaze lingers on the diagram you made, with his lips quirking upwards.

"we could have tested it if we had access to my equipment" Jayce runs a tired hand through his face.

"....which is being destroyed tomorrow"

Viktor's words stops both your and Jayce's train of thought, the disaster about to arrive making both of you loose focus. Jayce's more so than yours. "What?!" He exclaims, jumping up to his feet.

"Oh... I, yeah. I, meant to tell you..." Viktor stutters abashedly, looking towards you as well as if for further confirmation.

Jayce's heart races, his mind in catastrophe. All those sleepless nights, early mornings, his blood sweat and tears were spent on those research equipments, with countless findings and puzzle pieces for the next upcoming ones as well. They can't just destroy it!

"That research is everything! My...my whole life. Maybe if we showed them the equations they'd let us..." Desperation shines through Jayce's voice

"We need more than promises." Viktor says, with mild finality. "We need...proof."

"Besides, they don't care about the groundwork, the mechanisms- they're not scientists or researchers. What they need... Is the tangible product." You say, dejectedly, a memory grazing your mind about how your projects had gotten rejected more than once because of lack of "scope".

Viktor looks at you in a brief moment of understanding. You both saw eyes to eyes before Jayce interrupts.

"Not without the crystals. The enforcers took them all. They're gone." His throat constricts slightly, as if swallowing down an emotional heart stuck in his throat, threatening to make him cry, as he sinks back down to his seat. Poor thing. You're about to comfort him when suddenly,

"yeah, locked away in heimerdinger's lab" says the smart voice with keys jingling at the end, emerging from his pocket.

Oh, how had you managed to forget this part?

"No. No. No! You heard the council, if we're wrong..."

"Better be right then." A tiny mischevious smile with a glimmer in his eye. You feel a flutter in your stomach when for a brief moment, the gaze seemed to approach yours, as if to show you how tricky he can be.

"Why? Why would you risk this?!" Jayce implores, eyes narrowed in disbelief at the lankier man.

Oh boy, here goes.

"Do you think it was my life's ambition to be an assistant?!"

"Scientists seek discoveries- ways to make the world a better place!"

You felt shivers down your spine at the passion lacing his accentuated voice. Nothing more captivating than true focus in it.

"This hextech dream of yours...has the potential to do that..."

"Don't worry Jayce, we'll make your hextech dream a hextech- reality." You smile encouragingly.

Jayce rises from his seat, walking over to between you and Viktor, placing a hand on each of your shoulders, gripping it promisingly.

"Our hextech dream." He states, as your heart soars.

____________________________________

"So far so good..." Viktor whispers crouched infront of the lock, of the door labelled "Prof. HEIMERDINGER", Jayce holding up the tiny light for him and you holding the notebook and crystal, behind them. Viktor and you had convinced Jayce to break into Heimerdinger's lab and take what's rightfully his. Viktor was about to turn the final lock when suddenly, a brighter light shines onto your faces. Jayce flinches, your eyes narrowed and Viktor hisses.

You stiffle an out of place chuckle.

You three lift your gazes to meet Mel Medarda's sharp, serious demeanour with a hint of playfulness about her.

"Hmm. Willing to risk exile for your endeavour. That's quite the conviction." She comments, her voice soft velvet, but the context making it dangerous. The golden ornaments around her commanding attention to her presence even in this dark hallway.

"The councillor! Uh- what a surprise to see you, huh?" Jayce fumbles, trying to sound as if this was a completely normal situation, as Viktor suddenly comes up with pearls of words making you want to facepalm and walk away.

"Wait a minute, this isn't my bedroom...! Heh... How could I have-..." He pretends to fiddle with the keys, looking at the lock as if it had betrayed him. Jayce and you exchange disappointed looks, and with a sigh, Jayce decides to take matters into his own hands as he straightens up.

"Please. We can prove that it works."

The beautiful voice snaps back with controlled derision. "Hmm. You couldn't do so earlier today, how is tonight any different?"

"We figured out how to stabilise it." Says Viktor, straightening up alongside you, flinching lightly when the light flashes at him.

"You're the professor's assistant."

"No, he's my new partner." Jayce corrects her, making you smile gently.

Her gaze floats over to you, fixing on you with grace. "And you? Never seen you before.."

"Uhm... I-" you stammer.

"She's my assistant! New addition, latest interview."

Jayce and you look at Viktor, mildly surprised. You feel your ears go slightly pink at Viktor's words.

"Um...yes! She's part of this project too!" Jayce saves the lie. Mel didn't seem to be in disbelief. She focuses her attention back on Jayce.

"Even if you manage to prove your theory, the Council would destroy it."

"Heimerdinger will recognise the potential." Viktor says confidently. Mel scoffs at that. "He already does, and it scares him. It scares them all."

"What about you?" You ask suddenly, remembering her interested expression back in the trail. Her smirk fades, considering the three of you before speaking in a voice which you believed to be reserved for the council.

"I recognise that any worthwhile venture involves risk."

Suddenly, all of you are alerted by a whistle sounding from just around the corner, seemingly from a guard of the academy. You sense Viktor and Jayce freezing, as Jayce quickly tries to save you all...

"Councilor, this technology, it's real. And no matter what happens here, it's going to change our world. We should be the ones to lead it. Piltover, the land of progress, equality, innovation! I know it sounds impossible, but when have we ever let that stop us?"

"Please...just give us a chance."

The tension in the air grows with Mel's momentary silence as Viktor and Jayce hold their breath, preying to everything internally. Meanwhile, you were just glad to be here. Mel finally speaks,

"One night, gentlemen and assistant. Impress me, or I'd suggest you pack your bags." The words ignited excitement within all three of you. Mel turns towards the corner, switching of her flashlight and distracts the guard expertly, like the dazzling charming Councillor she is.

Jayce flicks back on the light and grins to himself appreciatively, and Viktor opens the door.

_____________________________________

"Wow, this soldering iron heats up so well! And no residue at the tip! And look at that rheostat! The resistance is so precise at each point, holy-!" You squeal over the equipments in the middle of work the three of you are engaged in (your work field in electrical sciences back at home helping you immensely) as Jayce removes his goggles to look at you curiously.

Your suggestion of the crystal being stabilised enough to become destabilized by high energy supply later had Viktor saying that more power sources would be required for such a process. So you and Jayce were building metallic platforms and holders to conduct more power into the circuitry for the crystal, while Viktor fishes out the said crystal amoungst all the other things in heimerdinger's lab.

"Sorry, sorry... it's just, where I come from, the lab isn't maintained this well..." You giggle softly, still looking over the equipments. "Where are you from?" Jayce asks in turn, and you are so thankful for Viktor's interruption.

"Everything's intact, right?" He passes over the blue breathtakingly gorgeous crystals over to Jayce. "Yes." Jayce says and you move over to their side of the massive table where the setup is as you watch him put the orb on top of a small metallic platform you and him crafted right now. Immediately, you are left to marvel at how the energy is derived from the crystal, the wires linked to it sparking brilliantly. So there was indeed a force field self contained inside it.

"It's time to crank it." You've never seen Viktor look so giddy yet uncertain until now.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Jayce questions, looking at the crystal which may or may not blow up everything, destroying all of you- to which his partner grimaces and shakes his head. This was the assistant Heimerdinger chose to handle all tech that was dangerously improving within the academy walls. Absolutely fabulous.

"You do realise that this thing can kill us, right?" You question, looking over to the skeletal man. "You do realise half of this idea is your own suggestion, right?" He questions back with a smirk. This man. This absolute unit of work.

Jayce switches on the circuitry, and the orb crackles, it's jagged edges emitting bright blue hues, painting all that is near in its colour of vibrancy. Viktor presses the button to increase the supply frequency from the main source. The metal arches clanks and spins angrily, the forcefield powerful enough to spin out shards from the table.

"I don't think it will hold! Look at the build up...!" Jayce worries.

"The resonance will stabilise it. Trust me!" Viktor reassures him, his eyes narrowed but never turning away from the contraption.

"If we manage to reach maximum amplitude... Shouldn't we be able to see the flux?" You ask, unsure.

"oh, I'll show you the flux!" Viktor grits his teeth behind sealed lips and increases the speed of the rotating metallic wanes. The three of you watch as the crystal behind to float in its own created power field, its small metallic platforms spreading around it like a lotus. You grin. "Huh... So it did."

You didn't miss Viktor's playful smirk directed at you as he leans over to Jayce "I told you it would work... All yours." He gives Jayce the room to inspect his creation. Jayce is lost for words as he inches closer to the miracle. "It's never done that before..." He looks at you and Viktor before hesitantly reaching over to the dial to crank it. "All right. Here we go."

The crystal rises up towards the small metallic arches, its forcefield reacting with the special structures attached halfway onto to the top, the frequency of energy input making it growl like an ill-contained beast with potential no one could dream of- beautiful intricate arcs being made in mid air as it soars within its confinement.

One could only contain a beast for so long.

It explodes- blinding you temporarily with a flash, the energy release so powerful it sends you tumbling down onto the cold hard floor as a beam of charge shatters from the small crystal to the window, dangerously radiant and blazing.

"DISENGAGE!" Viktor shouts, ducking down to the table as Jayce tries to reach the button, but he's too dazzled.

You stand up quickly, your otherworldly strength making it easier for you reach over and slam the button, resisting against the magical forcefield, but not before the glass shards from the broken window implodes and cuts through the air hazardously. The crystal, loosing its motive of lethal disturbance falls back down to the platform, plunging you all in darkness as inertia makes the three of you tumble backwards, you hitting the floor first because you were already crouching. Your elbows hit the floor as you try to get up, Viktor trips right on top of you.

"Incredible!" The golden eyed man says in bated breath.

Startled at the sudden intrusive contact, you lift your torso, only for your nose to bump against viktor's, his dark hair hanging over his forehead brushing against your forehead, right when Jayce softly turns on the circuit, bringing back the light, illuminating the tender sight of his face in front of your eyes. A moment passes. Then, Gasping, and flustered, Viktor gets up, stuttering apologies.

"umm...You two okay?" Jayce starts, an embarassed expression finding itself on his face, as he tries to ignore the both of you. "Yes! Definitely! Right! So it works!" Viktor immediately starts to talk, hoping to heavens his blush isn't as obvious as he felt it to be. "We just need the right frequency!" You join in, quickly getting up to your feet.

Without wasting any more time, you start to build up the frequency again, this time knowing more accurately what to do. Adjusting the metallic arches for maximum coach, while still allowing room for garbage discharges, and safety valve action Jayce runs the system again. Suddenly, you hear something from outside.

Footsteps. Multiple of them.

"Someone's coming!" You warn, turning to the men. Soon enough, someone tries to push open the door. Acting fast, Viktor pushes his cane in between the door handles but it seemed as though it wasn't enough, as the banging increases in strength. You immediately press your back against the doors, pushing it back, hoping your strength acts up. Viktor turns to Jayce, his voice filled with controlled urgency.

"They're almost through! No pressure..." He tries to be calm. "That sounds like pressure!" Jayce yells incredulously.

Your breath quickens, feeling the door hit against your back everytime the big tremors of kicks and punches rocks the other side. Viktor's attention darts back and forth between you and Jayce frantically. Suddenly, you hear a voice. From your wrist.

"Power 100%. Thank you for the recharge."

Your head turns to look at your wrist. The Chronoporter works! With a delighted grin, you bring your wrist closer to your face so you could see the dial light up and the mechanical voice chime from within quietly to you.

"Chronoporter! You're back!" It felt like greeting an old friend.

"I detect high levels of electrical oscillatory frequencies nearby. Please unplug me..." The Chronoporter says.

"You weren't even connected! The charge was so powerful it enhances everything!" You say giddily. "How?! Nothing can be that powerful that the mere vicinity charged me! " The mechanical voice mimicks human enthusiasm at wonders.

"Y/N who are you talking to? Don't let them know we're inside!" Viktor whisper-shouts to you.

"Oh sorry sorry!" You wince, and say softly to the Chronoporter. "Be quiet now, I'll talk to you later." The Chronoporter engages mute in its system. "Good watch." You sigh, feeling the kicks behind you again, this time more powerful- the seams of the huge door rattling violently. A kick to the middle, however, hits your spine, making you fall forward. Viktor comes to your aid, pulling you up.

"Are you okay?" His worried voice makes you smile as his eyes roam to your spine for any cuts of bruises. "Yes..." You hold onto his arm as you get up, his bad leg trembling lightly from supporting you, but his attention is stretched to the crystal which floated amoung the symbols, spinning and destabilizing amoung the strange symbols floating around and over it, as the man who believed in their potential closes his eyes, envisioning all that magic had to offer to his life.

For progress.

The crystal's glow intensifies, surrounding air crackling with magic as blue filaments sparkles around and zipped through its force fields like tiny blue commets, the rumbling emanating from the core suddenly evolving into a thunderous crack unleashing a torrent of energy, a plethora of symbols buzzing past the shimmering light, the mesmerising dance of energy through the labyrinthe of wires meticulously constructed by you three as the floor seemed to fall beneath your feet...

The enforcers break down the door, Heimerdinger stepping in with them...

The air stilled in reverent awe at the breathtaking marvel before their eyes.

Suspended in radiance of azure, Jayce, you and Viktor drifted in the air, as if in space, surrounded by shimmering stardust like particles. The patterns of magnetic field in the ceiling as you floated close enough to touch it. The exhilarating ecstacy finding home in your faces was delightful as the fields of the crystal seemed to cradle you lovingly. Jayce was chuckling happily, with shaky breaths as Viktor gazed around, both his legs working to push him forward in the air.

Your {eye colour} eyes meets the golden ones, a shy intertwining of gazes of two souls floating in pure arcane magic, an exchange of delight, a tale as old as time. Your heart soars as you look the man who seemed like an angel with a halo over his head, his cheeks covering softly in a blush. Due to joy or the adrenaline rush, you didn't know. Other voices and noises in the room seemed to blue around you, only registering that you two weren't the only ones here when Heimerdinger says,

"Will you please stop hovering?"

You chuckle as Viktor winces. "I'm not sure how to do that, sir!"

"This is not what Piltover's future looks like, my dear boys....and....girl..." Heimerdinger says, his gaze directed upwards at the three of you.

"That's for the council to decide." The rich velvet voice sounds through the door, as Mel walks in, the scene framed perfectly for her to admire.

"Perhaps it's time. For the era of Magic."

"Uh, Hextech. For the era of Hextech." Jayce corrects her happily, hovering upside down.

Era of Hextech indeed.

You thought in as much relief as jubilation- everything was going according to plan.

Innocently enough, you were in such thrill to not remember what the eye of zaun had achieved in the depths of the undercity, with the same crystal, and a little girl who handled it. Neither were you aware of the eye which watched from the shadows, sent for you.

____________________________________

Chapter 9 available NOW in my Tumblr page.

[amarauder]

chapter nine ❥ | original

Y/n dragged her trunk as she looked up to the familiar Hogwarts Express sign above her head. She heaved it into an empty compartment and began to wait for her friends. Several minutes later, three girls stumbled into the compartment, laughing like crazy. Arabella's brown curls were loose and tumbling down her shoulders, while Jennifer's length blond hair was frizzy.

"Where are on earth were you three?" asked Y/n, frowning. "And why are you laughing?"

"Oh Y/n," said Arabella gleefully, with tears in her eyes. "Snape...he just said to the whole train that he was in love with you! Then Malfoy dragged him off somewhere else, muttering something about Snape getting drunk. It was priceless!

"Bella," sighed Y/n.

"Didn't think Snape would still like a thing like you, L/n," came a familiar voice. All four girls turned around to see the famous Marauder and heartthrob of Hogwarts, James Potter, along with the rest of his gang.

"Shut up, Potter," snapped Y/n.

"Not again," said Violet, moaning. "Y/n, why can't you and James be friends and get it done with?"

"Because, Vi, I am not becoming friends with an egotistical jerk like Potter," snapped Y/n angrily. "You know, James, life would be a whole lot better if you didn't strut around the school like you owned the place. Really, why can't you be more like Harry?"

"Because my parents aren't dead because of some psychotic wizard, that's why," said James nonchalantly.

"How dare you!" growled Y/n.

"Will you guys grow up?" asked Jennifer, rolling her eyes. "Really, N/n, I expected you to be together with James. After all, you guys are in your third year already! And we're starting new subjects!" she cried gleefully.

"Yes, Divination and Care of Magical Creatures," said Y/n happily. James' jaw dropped.

"No way am I going to be in my two new subjects with you!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Sirius, Remus, Peter and I signed up for the same subjects too!"

"How dare you!" cried Y/n, yet again.

"It won't be so bad," said Jennifer, staring dreamily at Remus.

"Well, at least your enemy isn't in all your classes!"

"That's because, apart from all the Slytherins, I don't have any enemies, N/n. Unlike you, making enemies as you go along."

"And it's because you and Remus will be snogging the whole time during Divination. I wonder who's the Divination professor."

"It's that fraud, Trelawney," said Sirius, informing them all. "She's the idiot who tells everyone they're going to die."

"Well, I don't need to be told now that I'm dying, since I already know," said Y/n grumpily.

"Arabella?" They all turned around to see Amos Diggory standing near their compartment door, and realized that they were having such a heated conversation that they barely heard the door slide open.

"Hello, Amos," said Arabella coldly.

"I was wondering if we're still on," he said sweetly.

"And you would think that, why?"

"Because no girl dumps me for very long," he replied smugly.

"Well, I'm together with Sirius again, and nothing's going to pull us apart," said Arabella, smiling at Sirius.

Amos scowled. "You little rat. No girl dumps Amos Diggory. I'm supposed to be the one who dumps them!" He suddenly clapped his hand over his mouth, realizing what he had just said.

"Don't you dare call her a rat, you...you..." Y/n struggled to find words to describe him.

"Ah, Y/n, I suppose you would like to go out with me to Hogsmeade? After all, you are a third year this year and perhaps we can get a bit of butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks."

"No thank you, Amos, I think I'll pass on the offer," said Y/n coldly.

James breathed a sigh of relief, but unfortunately, everyone heard it. Sirius and the girls, minus Y/n, sniggered loudly, and Remus and Peter smiled thoughtfully. Y/n, however, was blushing as red as James was.

"Why would you care, James? You don't even like her!" snapped Amos.

"Well, we're getting along better than we used to, Diggory," said James, frowning.

"Whatever."

"You sound like a girl when you say that, Diggory," said Sirius angrily.

"So do you, Black."

"Well, I don't say 'whatever' all the time, Diggory."

"So...James," said Amos, sneering. "You like Y/n, huh? I thought you only went for the (not your hair color)."

James reddened. "Shut up, Diggory. I've never dated before in my life."

"What about Miss Deanna Jackson?"

"She was the one who gave me a Love Potion!"

"Yes, yes. And now y/n has caught your attention?"

There was a tense silence as James' knuckles tightened. Sirius squirmed uncomfortably and Y/n's e/c eyes were wide. When James was mad, he would take any action. To their surprise, his arms lowered, though still glaring at Amos.

"Get away, Diggory, before you'll be sorry."

Amos' eyes looked frightened, as he slid open the compartment door and slammed it shut behind him.

"Bloody brilliant, Jamie-boy!" cried Sirius, impressed. "You didn't even use violence?"

"Why would I, Sirius? It would frighten the ladies." He smiled warmly at the girls, who were hunched back near Remus and Peter, shaking.

"Are you all right?" he asked worriedly.

Arabella smiled. "Yeah, James, we're fine. Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not using violence in front of us. You know—er—how we don't exactly like violence."

"Y/N LOVES JAMES!" cried Sirius suddenly, startling them all.

"Er—Sirius? That was totally random," stated his girlfriend, wrinkling her nose.

"I know that, Bella dear, but I am a random person, after all."

"And I don't love Y/n," added James grumpily.

"Yeah, you do," said Remus, now joining the conversation.

"Why are all you guys' favorite conversations about us?" asked Y/n rather snappily. "Do you ever give us any peace around here? And we're not even at Hogwarts! Goodness!" She collapsed into the chair again and took out Hogwarts, A History.

"Why do you bother reading that stuff?" asked James lazily, as he stared into the clear, blue September sky. "It's so...boring."

"It's fascinating, once you start reading it," mumbled y/n, her nose almost touching the page.

"Don't you read it every year, N/n, on the Hogwarts Express?"

"Well, you should re-read books, you know. It's good for the soul."

"I think that Quidditch Through the Ages is a good book," said James proudly. "I've read it twice."

"I've read Hogwarts, A History twenty times," said Y/n loftily, her nose still in the thick book. "Of course, I would have read it twice as much if you didn't bother me at Hogwarts twice as much..."

"Twenty times? Bloody hell, that's too many times!" cried James. "Why don't you have fun in life? Haven't I showed you fun yet this summer? I told you on the train home in our second year that I'd invite you over the summer to show you what fun really is about. And has all that time been wasted by schoolwork?"

Y/n slammed her book shut and opened her mouth to speak, but then clamped it shut. It was true that she had learned what fun really meant that summer—and all thanks to James.

"Fine, I admit it, I did learn what fun really meant, James. All thanks to you." With that, she hugged him briefly and returned to her book, smiling slightly with red cheeks.

Everyone else tried not to laugh at James' open mouth and red face. His face took on one of those dreamy looks reserved for Y/n, and he sighed happily. Arabella, along with Jennifer and Violet, had burst out laughing. The boys were still silent, smiling at their friend. Yes, James was definitely in love all right. They could all see it in his eyes and his every move. It was too obvious, though he wouldn't admit it at all.

"What all you all laughing at?" he asked, confused. That made them laugh harder and James more confused.

Y/n was blushing like crazy. "Er—you know, guys, maybe you should stop laughing."

Arabella grinned at her best friend evilly. "C'mon, N/n, kiss Jamie."

Y/n's smile faded. "WHAT?"

"Kiss him."

"NO WAY AM I GOING TO KISS JAMES POTTER! WHY THE HELL WOULD I DO THAT?"

"Geez, don't get so touchy, she was only joking," said Sirius, grinning.

"Well, she had better be!" exclaimed Y/n. "I'm not kissing Potter. Never."

"Is that a promise?"

Y/n hesitated. "No. Because I know we'll probably end up 'loving' each other. Just not now."

"Sirius Black, how can you eat so much?" asked Arabella, staring at her boyfriend as he gobbled down everything there was on the table.

"Hey," he said through a mouthful of pudding, "at least you don't have to worry about me becoming anorexic."

James and Remus snorted into their own Yorkshire pudding and Jennifer frowned.

"That's not a joking matter," she said firmly.

"Jen, don't worry, Sirius was just fooling like always," said Remus, a plead in his gray eyes as he reached out for her hand. "Don't take it seriously."

Jennifer smiled. "I suppose."

"Good."

James groaned. "You guys are always sweet on each other. Why don't you just get married and begone with it?"

They both glared at him. "Because we're way too young." Jennifer and Remus looked at each other in surprise.

"Y/n, why aren't you eating?" asked Violet, concerned.

Y/n sighed. She just wasn't in the mood to eat. Her thoughts were all jumbled together as she poked her fork into her potatoes, and bit her lip. The future. It was what was tormenting her and James' lives. If only they didn't get married and get on to hating each other for the rest of their lives. Then Harry would no longer exist and defeat evil...Oh, it was all so confusing!

"Are you all right?" asked Remus quietly.

"Oh!" she cried in a high-pitched tone. "Yes, yes, I'm fine."

"You don't sound like it," said James, frowning.

"Why would you care?" she snapped. "You hate me."

"I don't—" he began, but she cut him off and started to eat furiously, an appetite that would rival Sirius'.

"Whoa, slow down there, Flower!" he exclaimed, staring at Y/n. "You eat more than I do!"

"I don't think that's possible, Sirius," she said, grinning. "Want to have a contest?"

"You're on, girl."

Ten minutes later, Y/n was smiling triumphantly at Sirius, who was groaning over a bad stomachache.

"Go to Madame Pomfrey," she suggested, her eyes softening at the groaning boy.

"No, she'll perform surgery on me," he said, clutching painfully at his stomach.

"I'm sorry for making you do the stupid contest," Y/n offered.

Sirius shook his head. "Nah, I was too thick to accept the dare."

Arabella and James cleared their throats and Y/n jumped.

"What?" she asked, annoyed. "What did I do now?"

"You do know you guys are flirting, right?" asked Bella, rather testily.

"Uh...sorry Bella, that's your area of expertise. I don't 'flirt' with boys."

"Well, thanks for lying to me, James," said Arabella angrily, as James started to crack up, causing all the other Gryffindors to stare at them. "Now my best friend is mad at me and my boyfriend thinks I'm cracked."

"S-so sorry, B-Bella, b-but it's j-just t-too funny!" choked James, still laughing.

"Er—" It was one of the fifth year prefects, and she was looking at James like he was crazy.

"What?" he asked.

"Er—you know everyone else in the Great Hall already left, right?"

James looked around. Surely, everyone did leave, even Sirius, Remus, Peter, and the girls. He quickly rushed out of the Hall, and stopped in front of the Fat Lady, who sighed at the sight of him.

"Password? Dear me, it's another year, isn't it, James Potter?"

"Er—Sherbet Lemon?" he asked tentatively. It had been the password on the first day last year, so he assumed it would be this year, too.

"Certainly not!" the Fat Lady exclaimed.

"Er—oh damn, where's that prefect I was with a minute ago?"

"You mean me?" The girl was standing there, her prefect badge shining down all the way in the corridor.

"Yeah. What's the password?"

"Cornish Pixies," the girl said to the Fat Lady. The portrait swung open, revealing the old portrait hole leading to Gryffindor Tower.

"Jamie-boy! Where were you?" Sirius was running towards him, looking rather worried.

"All right, why'd you ditch me, Sirius?" asked James loudly.

"I didn't. Dumbledore announced something and told us to all go to bed. We all got up, and you were still zoned out somewhere, so I poked you. You said something about coming up later, so I went with the others. Then when you didn't show up later, I thought that you and Snape were dueling in the dungeons or something." He shrugged. "Where were you, anyway?"

"Trying to get into Gryffindor Tower. I didn't know the password."

"R-ight. Well, we'd better go up to bed, Jamie-boy. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. But we get to visit Hogsmeade this year!"

"Yeah. That's the only good thing besides Quidditch. And...our secret plan to become you-know-what."

"If Trelawney predicts my death one more time, I swear I'll kill her," muttered James, as he stared blankly into his star chart.

"What does it all mean?" asked Sirius, poking the same chart in front of him with his wand. "It makes no sense at all."

"That's because there is no sense to it, Siri-boy. So we'll make it up."

"Jamie, that's a genius plan! Ah, what would I do without you."

"You wouldn't be able to do anything, because I'm your savior."

"Er—right. So let's get started."

Half an hour later, both boys brandished their parchments, which were filled with fake predictions, proudly to the girls.

"Isn't it brilliant?"

"'Next Thursday, I will be attacked and eaten by the giant squid in the lake'," read Arabella, peering at Sirius' parchment. "Er—Sirius, it's too obvious that none of this is going to happen. You go to Azkaban because you betrayed James? That's ridiculous!"

"Maybe not." He shrugged. "Hey, I was running out of ideas! Let's see how you girls are going to bluff up the homework that Trelawney gave us."

"We don't have to," said Y/n practically, as she joined them. "We finished it two days ago. And it's all accurate too."

"You understand what the mad woman's trying to make us do?" asked James, his mouth sagging open?

"Yeah. Even though it's all a bunch of nonsense, we still know how to do it." Violet rolled her eyes. "It's not that hard."

"All you do is choose the planet that's two squares away from the one you're doing," said Jennifer, trying not to laugh. "It wasn't too hard to figure out."

"What? How come we never knew that?"

"I told you, Sirius, but you wouldn't listen," sighed Remus, shaking his head.

"You mean you finished too?" asked James furiously. "And you never told us how to do it?"

"I tried," said Remus, shrugging. "You two wouldn't listen, though."

"We would too!" exclaimed Sirius, pretending to look "injured".

"You said it was a bunch of crap," he said seriously.

James' eyes widened and he put his hand on Remus' mouth. "Sh...don't say it, Remie."

"Thanks a lot, Remus," said Sirius sourly.

"Well, it is a bunch of crap," admitted Jennifer, trying to save her boyfriend from getting killed.

"Well, I'm glad you think so, Jen, because it's the truth," said Sirius proudly. The other three girls rolled their eyes.

Y/n and James were off in their own worlds again. It happened quite frequently, now that they started to have those dreams about Harry again. When James looked over Y/n, his stomach lurched. It had been two years since they've known each other, and they were already in their third year. He thought of Y/n as a friend now, not someone he hated. Of course, it was a ridiculous notion, for Y/n hated him, and he still didn't like her too much to be her friend. No...he wasn't ready just yet to become friends with Y/n.

"Hello? Earth to Y/n and James Potter!" said Sirius, waving his hand in front of their faces.

Both turned extremely red. "We're not Y/n and James Potter."

"Then who are you?"

"Y/n L/n and James Potter."

"You mean Y/n soon-to-be-Potter and James Potter."

James sighed, exasperated, and Y/n rolled her eyes.

"Talk about idiots," she muttered.

"James!" exclaimed Sirius suddenly, scrambling to his feet. "We—have to work on the potion."

The girls gave them quizzical looks as James' face went white. He dragged the other three boys with them to their dormitory, while Jennifer raised her eyebrows.

"Do you guys have a feeling they're not telling us something?"

"I always have that feeling with them," said Arabella, rolling her eyes.

"Probably doing something against the school rules...again," said Y/n, bored. "Is it ever surprising, Jenny? They're born troublemakers."

"Yeah...but I have a feeling that they're doing something, well, illegal," said Jennifer uneasily. "I'm going to spy on them."

"Whatever you say, Jen," said Violet, staring off into space.

"Are any of you coming with me?" asked Jennifer incredulously. Her face fell when the three other girls shook their heads.

"What's the point?" asked Arabella lazily. "They're probably plotting their next prank on Snape."

Jennifer left and returned five minutes later, her face looking disappointed.

"Well, what did you learn?" asked Y/n, her nose buried in Hogwarts, A History.

"Nothing," she replied grumpily. "Even Remie wouldn't tell me anything, and he always tells me something about what they plan. They all told me to go away and mind my own business when I asked."

"Potter's going to be in for it," said Y/n, through gritted teeth. "Oh, how I'd love to get my hands on that ego of his and shrink it so he'll feel so ashamed of himself that he'll—"

"N/n, I'm surprised at you! After actually staying at his house over the summer and sharing a bed with him, you still hate him?" Arabella put on a surprised face. "How could you?"

"First of all, Belle, I did not share a bed with James Henry Potter. Second of all, I—"

"What's this about Jamie-boy's middle name?" asked Sirius curiously, as the boys came into the common room.

"What's it to you, Black?" snapped Jennifer. "You're the ones who kicked me out when I was just wondering what you were doing."

"Yeah—um, that's what we—er—came here to talk to you about." Sirius shifted nervously and glanced over to Remus.

"Jenny, you know I'm a"—he kept his voice down—"a werewolf."

"Yeah?" Jennifer was squinting at the foursome suspiciously.

"So—the guys decided to do something to help me," he continued nervously. "And—well—" He stared around at his three friends. "Guys, I can't do this."

"Then don't," said James, stepping forward. "Look, girls, we'll tell you when we're ready, but what we're doing is really dangerous, and we can't have you know just yet."

Y/n, Arabella, and Violet shrugged, but Jennifer still looked between the four.

"Why can't you tell us?" she asked, biting her lip. "Is it that important that you can't even tell your friends?"

"Look, Jen, we don't really care," said Arabella, standing up. "When they're ready, they can tell us, but for now, just let it go."

"You know, Remus means a lot to me," continued Jennifer, ignoring Arabella. "If you don't tell me what's wrong with him..."

"There's nothing wrong with him!" said Sirius quickly. "You know, we're just trying to help him during his transformations and—" He clapped his hand over his mouth in horror.

"You're trying to keep a werewolf in check?" asked Jennifer in disbelief. "You could get killed!"

"Jen," said Y/n softly, also stepping forward. "They're big boys, they can handle whatever they're going to do."

"I know, but they're so foolish, and Remus could bite any of them..." She trailed off, and ran to the girls' dormitory, tears spilling from her eyes.

Arabella rounded on the four boys like an angry hippogriff. "Thanks a bunch, you two." She, along with the other two girls, ran up to comfort Jennifer.

Remus stared at his friends, his eyes blank. "Now she hates me," he said bluntly.

"Remus, Jen will get over it," said James, trying to feel as confident as he sounded. "Er—it just needs time, like with Sirius and Bella."

"They were different," he said quietly. "Jenny, she can be stubborn sometimes."

James laughed uncomfortably. "Sirius and Bella are more stubborn than anyone we've known."

"I know. But still."

"We know, Remus. We'll help Jennifer understand."

"Those bloody prats," growled Arabella, putting her arm around Jennifer. "Why, I ought to kill 'em all. Especially that bloody Remus, oh how he'll get it..."

"Bells," said Y/n sternly. "Jen doesn't need this now."

"R-Remus, w-why won't he t-tell me w-what they're up t-to?" sobbed Jennifer.

"Because he's a bloody prat," said Arabella bitterly. Y/n glared at her.

"Maybe it's too important for them to tell us, Jenny. You know how they are, secretive about everything. Besides, we can't know everything about their personal lives; they're bound to have some privacy." She chuckled weakly.

Jennifer sniffed and wiped her eyes, smiling. "You're right Y/n. I shouldn't be moping around here, crying my eyes out for my own selfish reasons. Remus is a sweet guy; how can I ever dump him just because he won't tell me what he and his friends are up to? Oh, I'm so ashamed!" She buried her face in her arms, very red.

"Don't worry, Jen, Remus is the good sort," said Y/n comfortingly, "he'll forgive your little outburst."

"Thanks N/n, I'm going to go and find him."

Then everything ended just fine for both thirteen-year-olds.

Winter had arrived, and the eight teenagers often huddled near the fire when they did their homework. On this particular night, however, Arabella Figg was completely fed up with her life.

"Maybe I'll burn myself like they did in the Witch Burnings of the Sixteenth Century," she said gloomily.

"You're thirteen and you want to commit suicide?" asked James in disbelief. He was sitting next to the fire (literally) and reading 101 Ways to Improve Your Quidditch Skills.

"I just can't wait until the holidays," she said, looking depressed.

"Mum is actually letting me stay for the holidays," said Y/n, looking cheerful.

James groaned. "I'm staying too. That means I have to be with you for two weeks?"

"How pleasant," said Y/n sarcastically, sinking into her chair again. "Well, I still have to finish my Charms essay."

"Are you kidding me?" asked James incredulously. "You already have two rolls of parchment! How much more do you have to write?"

"You see, Potter, this is why you're failing Charms," said Y/n practically, scribbling on her parchment. "You never go the extra mile."

"What mile? Is this some sort of race?"

Jennifer and Arabella both slapped their foreheads at the boys' confused faces. "Daft," they both muttered.

"It's a figure of speech," said Y/n, rolling her eyes. "Going the extra mile means doing more than required."

"Oh...well, in that case, no, I never run the extra mile," said James, obviously still confused. Arabella burst out laughing.

"So this is how daft you've become!" she exclaimed, chuckling.

Y/n smiled, shaking her head. What idiots for friends I have, she thought. Poor Potter – though he does look kind of cute when he's confused. Yeah, I think this is from lack of sleep.

Y/n was twisting and turning as she tried to sleep. Suddenly, the world became blissful for her as she dreamed she was bouncing on clouds, and she sat up straight, drenched in sweat.

"I have to go back to sleep..." she mumbled to herself thickly, as she drifted to sleep again.

"Y/n, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off..."

It was the sound of James panicking and Y/n crying as a jet of green light burst through and James hit the floor, dead.

"JAMES!" Y/n screamed, jumping out of bed. Arabella, Jennifer, and Violet woke up, their eyes wide.

"Y/n? What's wrong?"

"James...he's dead...he's dead..." mumbled Y/n. "He's dead, I have to go see him. He protected me and Harry, and he's dead."

The three other girls exchanged dark glances at each other.

"It was only a dream, Y/n," said Arabella quietly. "Maybe you should go see Dumbledore again—"

"Good idea, Bells, I'll do that," said Y/n quickly, and tore out of bed. In the common room sat James, wide-eyed.

"James? What are you doing here?" James turned around, surprised to see Y/n.

"Y/n? What are you doing here?"

"I had a dream," they both said in unison.

Y/n stared at him. "James—you're alive," she choked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, confused. "You're alive."

"And I'm supposed to be dead?"

"I had a dream about you trying to protect Harry and then...dying, trying to risk your life saving him."

"I had a dream about you trying to hold off the wizard who killed us and give me time to take a run for it with Harry."

James held on to Y/n tightly. "Look, Lily, we're both alive, and that's a good thing. Now, let's get back to bed before we fall asleep in Transfiguration tomorrow."

Y/n chuckled. "Let's."

"N/n, are you okay?" asked Arabella, as she nearly pounced on her best friend. "You—you just disappeared and I was so worried and..."

"It's all right, Bella, I'm fine," said Y/n, getting choked by her friend. "Now, if you'd let go of me..."

"Oh—right," said Arabella, blushing.

The next day, Y/n and James weren't talking. They had just had an intimate talk last night, and James had gotten himself his very first girlfriend, not counting Deanna. He had finally noticed how many girls there were at Hogwarts, he told Sirius, and how many he'd have to go through to find his "true" girlfriend. Y/n was furious about what he had said, and didn't talk to him for the rest of the week. She hated Melissa Andrews, the girl James was currently "dating".

"He chose that little idiot after all the nice girls he could have chosen," said Y/n furiously. "What about Lucieta Samson? She's in Ravenclaw and the nicest girl ever!"

"James is an idiot, Y/n, what's said is said," said Arabella practically. "He only goes through the idiotic girls in this school and would never look at someone like poor Lucy twice. I wish he'd look at you like he looks at Andrews, Y/n. You're perfect for someone with a big ego like him."

Lily laughed bitterly. "I would never want James Potter to look at me that way. Who'd marry him anyway?"

"Well, you are," admitted Jennifer, trying to look for her wand.

"Who knows, maybe he finally grew up when I married him."

"James Potter, grown up?" exclaimed Violet, surprised. "What madness is this?"

"Good job, Vi!" cried Jennifer in approval. "Let's claim this day as 'Speak-Ill-of-James-Potter' Day!"

Y/n snorted. "You guys are such dorks."

Jennifer, Violet, and Arabella linked arms. "Aren't we though? Dorks and proud of it!"

Y/n laughed.

"Hey Y/n, can I talk to you?" asked James nervously. He knew that Y/n was furious with him and was afraid to "liven" her up, as Sirius called it.

"No," said Y/n angrily. "Go away Potter."

James grinned. "Oh, touchy. Come on L/n, you can't hide away from me forever."

"Oh, yes I can," said Y/n defiantly. She pushed him away and walked off to her next class—Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Hey! Wait! I haven't finished yet!" Y/n heard James calling her, but she ignored him completely. Why would she want to talk to him? He had the biggest ego in the world, not to mention having about groups of twenty girls swarming him every day. She was sick of it all.

"Why would I want you to finish?" she asked him coldly, as James caught up with her. "You have the biggest ego out of every male there is in this school, and you take advantage of all the girls who swarm around you. What's your problem?"

"Y/n, I—"

"Stay away from me, James Potter. I don't want to be involved with players like you. Who knows, maybe I'll be in one of those traps of yours like all those other girls." She swung her bag over her shoulder and entered the classroom.

"Am I late, Professor?" she asked, ignoring James' feeble protests.

"No, no, Y/n, you're right on time," replied Professor Wickham, smiling at his student. "Now, where is Mr. Potter—?"

As if right on cue, James burst into the classroom. "Professor," he gasped. "I—I hope I'm on time."

"Yes, James, right on time. However, I would advise you and Ms. L/n to maybe arrive a little earlier next time." His eyes twinkled as he winked at Y/n and James as they sat down.

"Yes, Professor," said Y/n politely. James grunted and took his seat beside Sirius, while Y/n sat next to Arabella.

"Where were you?" mouthed Arabella, as Y/n sat down.

"I'll tell you later," Y/n mouthed back.

As class started, Y/n took her dutiful notes as usual, while Arabella slept (as usual). Remus was too absorbed in his note taking, and Peter too absorbed in sleeping, to notice Sirius and James' serious (no pun intended) conversation.

"What was that all about?" whispered Sirius, as he took some random notes about goblin rebellions.

James was trying his best to avoid the topic. "Sirius, why are you writing about goblin rebellions?" he asked hastily. "This is Defense Against the Dark Arts, not the History of Magic class."

"What—oh! Well, you know, all the notes are the same, so you may as well say the same thing," said Sirius complacently. "Now, about you and Y/n..."

"She won't listen to me," confessed James. "She totally hates me."

"She's always hated you, Jamie-boy," hissed Sirius, rolling his eyes.

"She's disliked me, not hated me," corrected James.

"You even said it was the same thing." Sirius' voice was dripping with sarcasm and boredom.

"Well, I don't blame her," said Sirius, surprising James. "I mean, you totally ignored her today at breakfast when you guys had your little 'conversation' last night. Then you called her a you-know-what, and I would be upset about it, too."

"I apologized," argued James.

"So? You're not acting like you're sorry, James."

"You sound like you're on her side," said James grumpily.

"That's because I am on her side, Jamie." Sirius' voice was very serious now and very unlike his usual playful tone.

Across the other side of the room, Y/n and Arabella were having their own note-passing conversation (Y/n had pointedly refused to talk in whispers).

You can't stay mad at James forever, Y/n.

Oh yes I can, Bells. I can stay mad at him until the end of the world.

But Y/n, if you stay mad at him forever, what about Harry? He'll never be born! And it's his destiny to live in this world.

::sigh:: Yeah, you're right, Bella, but...I just can't forgive him now. Do you know what that idiot called me?

What?

Five letters, begins with a 'b'.

He didn't!

He did.

Why, that little...

Sh! Bella, quiet!

Why? This is written on paper, Y/n, not said out loud. ::rolls eyes::

Yeah, you're right. Hey, Wickham is looking our way. Let's ditch this paper.

That would be a very good idea.

"I'm dying to know what they've written about," said James eagerly, as the bell rang. He grabbed the piece of parchment that the girls carelessly threw in the wastebasket and read it, dropping it back afterwards.

"What did it say?" asked Sirius curiously, looking from the basket to James' red face.

"L/n told Arabella what I told Y/n," said James, shaking with anger. "Why, that little—"

"James, you've been treating Y/n horribly," said Remus quietly. "Tomorrow is the first day of the holidays, and I suggest you go apologize to her."

"No way will I spoil my first day of the holidays apologizing to her."

"Come on, four-eyes, give in." They turned around to see Arabella glaring at all four of them.

"You hate me now," said James bluntly.

"No." He turned to look at her, surprised. "You just don't get it yet, James Potter. I know you'll give in to Y/n someday, and do whatever she wants, but not yet. You need time, James. Time is what's pushing you and Y/n farther than you should be." With that said, she left without another word.

"That girl really never ceases to amaze me," commented James, still dazed after Bella left.

"Yeah, isn't she great?" asked Sirius dreamily. "I am so glad she's my girlfriend. We belong together; I know it."

"So does the rest of the school, Sirius."

Sirius whacked James in the head. "Hey, shut it Potter. I have a proper girlfriend, unlike that Melissa Andrews. What were you thinking, dating something like her?"

James shrugged. "I'm planning to dump her tomorrow anyway. Bella is right, Sirius. The only thing that's standing between Y/n and me is time. And I'm not going to let it stand there forever."

Y/n was awake early the next day. Christmas was in one week and she would spend it without her family. Of course, she was slightly unhappy that her parents wouldn't be there, but joyous that Petunia wouldn't. And none of her friends had left for the holidays, which was a good thing, for they could spend it all together.

"I'm glad—and surprised—to see you up early, Bella," she said, grinning, as her half-awake friend stared across the table. Y/n looked over to see what she was staring at and saw Melissa Andrews crying by herself at the Hufflepuff table. She rolled her eyes and started to eat, ignoring the blue-eyed blonde crying her eyes out.

"I'll bet you Potter dumped her," she informed Arabella. "He could never keep a girlfriend, ever."

"I actually feel a bit bad for Andrews," said Arabella. She slapped her forehead and grinned stupidly at Y/n. "I think I really needed that."

Y/n rolled her eyes just when the rest of her friends and the Marauders entered the Great Hall.

"Oi! Potter!" she called, as he passed her seat. "I suppose even Melissa Andrews isn't good for you, huh? I guess you'll be going through the Slytherins next."

James glared at her and sat down next to Violet. "I didn't know she was that evil. I think L/n could pass for a Slytherin," he said, to no one in particular.

Violet gasped and glared at him, moving to a different spot. He heard Peter sigh audibly and looked around at everyone.

"Why is everyone so mad at me?" he asked Sirius.

"Because you've been acting like a great prat, James, no offense."

James turned to Sirius and said quietly, "I'm going to apologize to her right now."

He got up and walked to where Y/n was sitting. Her three friends looked up and saw him towering over them, and nodded their heads, smiling. James cleared his throat just when he reached Y/n, but Y/n jumped up and ran out of the Great Hall. He sighed, and followed her, assuming that she went back to Gryffindor Tower.

"Password?" the Fat Lady asked as he approached the portrait, panting.

"Pig snout," he gasped, clutching his chest for breath.

He rushed up to the girls' dormitory where Y/n was sitting on her bed, staring at nothing in particular.

"Y/n, you have to forgive me," said James, a pleading look in his eyes. "I—I broke up with Melissa. I knew she wasn't the one for me, I just wanted to impress you."

Y/n's head shot up and stared into his eyes. "To impress me?" she croaked. "Why?"

"I have no idea," admitted James. "I've been a great prat, I know, and I'm really sorry. Please forgive me."

Y/n sighed. "I may as well, since you're giving me no peace at all. I forgive you."

"Thanks." James breathed a sigh of relief. "Friends?"

"In your dreams, Potter."

They walked into the Great Hall together, where their friends were eagerly discussing something in whispers. They grinned when they saw Y/n and James standing next to each other.

"Are you guys friends?" asked Violet hopefully.

"Nope," they said in unison. "But we don't hate each other anymore."

"So do you like each other?" asked Sirius, confused.

"Nope."

"Then what are you guys?"

"We dislike each other," they said together. Everyone rolled their eyes and laughed.

"Well, I guess some things never change," said Arabella, looking hopeless.

"That's a good thing," replied Remus, grinning.

The six friends smiled at Y/n and James chatting and arguing together, knowing that the two would give in...someday, if not now. And they would be in for a love story greater than life itself.

tags; @thecurlyhairedwinchester

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