??????? ??? ??? ????? ???? | James Potter

Celeste sat alone at a small, secluded table in the Hogwarts library, her fingers tracing the edges of a book she wasn't really reading. The peaceful silence of the library had always been her sanctuary, a place where she could escape the noise of the world, even if only for a little while.

It was one of those rare moments where the library felt like it was completely empty—until the sound of footsteps echoed between the tall, towering shelves.

She looked up, eyebrows raising slightly when she saw James Potter striding toward her, his usual confidence radiating from him. He flashed a quick grin when he noticed her.

“Celeste,” he greeted, his tone easygoing. “Got a minute?”

Celeste closed her book with a soft thud, setting it aside. She gave him a curious look. “What’s up, Potter? You’re looking awfully serious today. Should I be worried?”

James chuckled, a little awkwardly. He leaned against the table, running a hand through his messy hair. “Well, I—uh, I need your help with something. It’s kind of... personal.”

Celeste raised an eyebrow. James Potter asking for help with something personal? That was definitely a first.

“Personal, huh?” she said, her voice tinged with amusement. “You’ve piqued my interest. What’s going on?”

James shifted uncomfortably, looking down for a moment as though he was trying to find the right words. After a beat, he looked back up at Celeste with a serious expression on his face.

“It’s about Lily,” he said, his voice quieter than usual.

Celeste’s stomach tightened at the mention of Lily’s name. Of course. James was always going on about her, practically falling over himself to get her attention. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

“What about Lily?” she asked casually, though her curiosity was piqued.

James glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby. Lowering his voice, he leaned in slightly. “I really like her, Celeste. I’ve liked her for ages, but she’s... complicated. I want to ask her out, but I don’t know how to make it work. She’s got her walls up, and I just need... a little help.”

Celeste studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his sincerity. James Potter, as much as she teased him, wasn’t a bad guy. But when it came to Lily Evans, he had a tendency to let his head run wild and get him into situations that were a little... over-the-top. Still, he was asking her for help.

“Help, huh?” Celeste mused, tapping her fingers on the table as she thought. “You want me to do what, exactly?”

James shifted again, clearly unsure of how to ask. He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was hoping you could talk to Lily. Maybe... help me convince her I’m serious about this whole dating thing. I know she doesn’t exactly... love me in the way I want, but I think I could change that if I just had a chance. I just need someone on my side, you know?”

Celeste hesitated, her gaze flicking over to the shelves, where she could hear the faint shuffle of footsteps from other students. The request was a little unexpected, but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. James Potter had his charm, and even though Lily could be stubborn, there was no doubt that she might be swayed by someone she trusted, especially if Celeste vouched for him.

But there was a catch. There was always a catch.

Celeste crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair. “I’ll help you, James,” she said slowly, her voice low but firm. “But on one condition.”

James blinked. “A condition? What is it?”

Celeste’s eyes narrowed slightly as she met his gaze. “You have to promise me one thing. You have to keep Sirius away from me. I don’t care how you do it, but if I’m going to help you with Lily, you need to make sure Sirius Black doesn’t come anywhere near me. Understand?”

James froze, his expression shifting slightly. He hadn’t expected that. “Sirius?” he repeated, blinking. “Why would you—?”

“Because he’s relentless,” Celeste interrupted, her voice cool. “He keeps asking me out, and honestly, it’s getting a little out of hand. If you want me to help you with Lily, I need you to make him stop. And I’m not talking about a few half-hearted ‘leave her alone’ warnings. I want you to put your foot down. He listens to you, James. So promise me that, and I’ll do what I can to help you.”

James stared at her for a moment, clearly caught off guard by her directness. He opened his mouth as though to argue, but quickly closed it again, considering her words. He had to admit, Celeste wasn’t wrong. Sirius could be relentless when it came to the girls, and even though he didn’t mean any harm, it was wearing thin on everyone’s nerves, including Celeste’s.

Finally, James sighed, running a hand through his hair once again. “Alright, fine. I promise. I’ll make sure Sirius stays away from you.”

Celeste gave him a small, satisfied smile. “Good. Now, you can count on me to help you with Lily. I’ll talk to her, see what I can do. But don’t expect me to work miracles, James. You’re going to have to put in some of the effort yourself.”

James grinned, relief flooding his face. “Thanks, Celeste. I swear, I won’t forget this. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Just don’t forget your end of the bargain,” she said, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Because if I have to deal with Sirius one more time, I swear, I’ll put him in detention myself.”

James laughed. “Deal. Thanks again, Celeste. You’ve got this.” He gave her a wink before turning and heading toward the library exit, a new sense of determination in his step.

Celeste sat back in her chair, her thoughts swirling as she watched him leave. She wasn’t sure what kind of mess she’d just agreed to help with, but one thing was for sure—things were about to get even more interesting.

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