Abnormal ?James Potter?

Chapter 4: The Sorting

"Potter," she greeted him, her voice carrying a nuanced blend of formality and veiled interest, a fake kindness attached at the end. "I suppose we'll be working together this year, hopefully... I'll get to know a different side of you during this competition."

James, known for his bold charm, offered a grin tempered with curiosity, a wonder that's almost never tampered. "Looks like it Black, I think I can speak for both of us when I say that I also hope there's more to each other than who we represent," he replied, his eyes narrowing at the Slytherin, as much as he hoped Sirius's warning could be proved wrong, he doubted it. After all, she was a Slytherin, and even if he hadn't fully witnessed her horrendous behavior first hand, he trusted his mate's judgment with his life. The fact that she was a Black even furthered the mistrust, a deeply rooted second hand hate from all the torture Sirius had to endure in his old house hold. However, people tended to go after what they couldn't have, a moth to a flame, never quite ready to get burned.

Cassiopeia, on the other hand was already thinking of her next move, needing James to see her in a different light, even if that light was an illusion. This partnership was no mere happenstance—it was an opportunity to blend cunning with allure, orchestrating a particular vision.

Evan, meanwhile, was also making somewhat of an effort with Remus, Approaching the werewolf with a singular goal in mind, Evan maintained his composed grace, shadowed by the purpose Cassiopeia had imparted. His demeanor carefully aligned to the pureblood facade but with underlying motives. Remus's sarcasm seemed almost reassuring, a wit slicing through pretense, unexpected of a Gryffindor Evan thought. "Uncharted territories beckon," Evan noted, his words a graceful nod toward transformation.

"Exploration is worth the venture, don't you think?" Remus replied, a glimmer of mischief underlying sincerity.

While house lines threatened to constrain, Cassiopeia was intent on subverting those constraints—using James's own charms against him. Intent on capturing a Gryffindor heart and tilting the narrative, she walked calmly by his side.

Their handshake was both formal and congenial, promising a partnership that courted novelty and challenged norms. Evan saw in Remus's eyes not just sarcasm, but intelligence—a potential key to unraveling new paths.

Moving through the corridors, their conversation unfolded—a dialogue of contrasting ideas and sharp repartees. Remus's sarcasm teased lightly, probing the depths of Evan's carefully curated facade, while Evan's astute remarks hinted at more than traditional cunning.

"I've been told I have a knack for unlocking potential," Evan remarked at one point, his voice carrying a hint of teasing, a nod to Cassiopeia's strategic counsel.

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The corridors of Hogwarts echoed with the bustling chatter of students transitioning between classes. Cassiopeia and James made their way toward the library, the setting for their collaborative project. Cassiopeia's mind was a web of strategic possibilities, each strand woven with calculated intent.

"So, Potter," she began, her tone smooth yet laced with subtle indifference as they walked. "What is it that drives a Gryffindor's daring pursuits?"

James, ever the charmer, grinned at her question. "Oh, a mix of impulsiveness and a thirst for adventure, I suppose. And what about Slytherins?"

"A blend of ambition and precision," Cassiopeia replied, her smile almost predatory in its friendliness. Beneath her composed exterior was the simmering intention to entangle James in her plans—both a challenge and a calculated conquest.

The path she carved was not one of simple rivalry, but an intricate strategy designed to charm and eventually break James's heart—an exercise in power and control that would reaffirm her cunning.

Meanwhile, Evan and Remus ventured through the corridors on their way to the same destination. Evan's pureblood facade masked his abnormal nerves around the ruffled brunette. The werewolf in question resorting to sarcastic humor needled at the edges of his guarded persona, his mistrust stemming further than Rosier just being in slytherin, but the fact that he was also well known to carry out Cassieopia's dirty work...

"So, now having to be tortured with being in a 10 feet radius of a Gryffindor, are you going to survive Rosier?" Remus said sarcastically, casting Evan a sidelong glance, trying to somewhat ease the tension. 

If they were going to be stuck together for a whole year he might as well try to get past the house rivalry, even if it was for formality's sake. Reigning in James' optimistic outlook was quite hard for Lupin—Everyone had heard at some point in their Hogwarts years of Rosier's participation in the dark arts. It could be mere gossip, a teenager's biggest weapon, but who was he kidding, every rumor has some truth to it. Remus then proceeded to adjust his jumper, a nervous habit he had developed, covering his arm scars that were peaking out. A constant reminder of who Remus truly was behind his kind exterior, a monster.

Evan, maintaining an air of nonchalance, responded, walking a bit faster ahead. This quite surprised Lupin since he himself took long strides, "Perhaps, you aren't all as insufferable as you're often painted."