Not Noticing

Gaby Kirkwood

All alone in my Common Room, I couldn't think of anything to do but wander around the school.

I had just gotten to the greenhouses when somebody seized me by the waist and pulled me back around the corner.

"What the…?" I exclaimed, twisting around to see who was pulling me so urgently.

I gasped, turning furiously red.

"Get out of the way," hissed James, finally letting go of me.

"Holy snitches, James," I muttered. "What are you doing?"

James brushed his hair out of his eyes, and eyed me with slight irritation.

"You weren't mean to come up here," he told me, slightly exasperated. "It's a trap."

I raised my eyebrows. "Who for?"

"Butterworth."

"I see," I said stiffly. "Well, then, ingenious as I'm sure your plan is-"

"Oh, get lost, Kirkwood," said James disgustedly.

"Why don't you!" I replied, irritated, and flounced off in the other direction.

I was pretty sure I hated James Potter.

And I was also pretty sure the feeling was mutual.

"Oi!"

I smiled to myself, realising by the livid tone of James' voice that he'd seen what I'd done to his trick with a simple flick of my wand.

"Kirkwood, get back here!"

I ignored him, throwing my hair back over my shoulder.

I hear footsteps behind me, but I ignored them, speeding up a little.

Before I could get any further, something hit me with the force of a Bludger and I found myself on the floor, James on top of me.

I struggled half-heartedly, but really, little as I wanted to admit it, having James lying on me was actually not a bad feeling.

I closed my eyes, feeling James so close to me that I could feel his breath on my nose.

Both of us had stopped struggling.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, but before I had time to take anything in, I heard a small cough above us, and quickly rolled out from under James Potter and jumped up to face our Herbology teacher.

Professor Longbottom looked rather amused.

"Is this the place?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

I felt my face turn a bright, boiling scarlet.

"Professor, we weren't-"

Professor Longbottom held up his hand for silence. "Gaby, I believe you."

I chanced half a glance at James and saw that he was looking furious and hardened my face.

Professor Longbottom gave us a look. "Just be careful, OK?"

Without giving us a chance to respond, he gave us a last, amused look and walked off.

Without giving James a second glance, I turned to follow him.

"Oi, Kirkwood."

Once again, I kept walking.

"Are you still mad at me?"

I sighed, but kept walking.

"Gaby?"

My teeth gritted, I turned around, and glared at him. "Yes, Potter, I'm still mad at you."

James looked vaguely bewildered. "Really? It's been a whole fortnight."

"And you've apologized over zero times."

"I don't do apologizing."

"Shame."

I turned and started to walk back to the Common Room.

"Gaby," said James exasperatedly, taking my arm and pulling me back around to face him. "I am sorry."

"Good," I replied sarcastically, trying to shake my arm free.

James leaned in closer.

"Do you forgive me now?"

"No."

He moved closer, still gripping my arm.

Slightly breathless, I swallowed, trying not to let myself get overwhelmed.

And, before I could do anything else, James Potter moved even closer and kissed me.