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

The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue across the Hogwarts courtyard as students meandered around, finishing their classes or enjoying some fresh air before curfew. Celeste was walking along the edge of the grounds with Mary, still lost in thoughts of the confusing day. The events from the previous night still felt like a blur, and now she was trying to keep her head clear.

“You know,” Mary began, nudging her playfully, “you still haven’t told me about your ‘moment’ with James last night. What’s up with that?”

Celeste gave her a dry look. “We were just drunk, Mary. That’s all it was.”

“Oh, I know,” Mary said with a sly smile. “But I still think there’s something between you two.”

Before Celeste could respond, she spotted a familiar figure striding toward them across the courtyard.

“Great,” Celeste muttered under her breath. “Here comes trouble.”

It was Barty Crouch Jr., the Slytherin who’d been making more than one attempt to catch her attention lately. His perfectly styled dark hair bounced with every step as he came closer, a confident grin plastered on his face.

“Well, if it isn’t Celeste Montgomery,” Barty said with a smirk, as if she were some prize he had already claimed. He always made her skin crawl. She tried to mask her distaste, keeping her expression neutral.

“Barty,” Celeste replied, not bothering to hide the lack of enthusiasm in her voice.

Mary shot her a knowing look, but Celeste just sighed, knowing this wouldn’t be easy to get through.

“What’s going on, Celeste?” Barty asked smoothly, leaning against a stone pillar in the courtyard. His tone was casual, like he’d already made himself at home in her life.

“I’m just enjoying the weather. Nothing special,” Celeste replied, keeping her distance. She could feel Mary’s eyes on her, sensing the tension already building.

Barty chuckled, stepping closer. “Well, if you’re enjoying the weather, you should enjoy it with me. How about we go to Hogsmeade together this weekend? I’ll take you somewhere nice, maybe get you something special.”

Celeste stiffened. She knew exactly where this was going, and she wasn’t about to be part of it.

She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. “Barty, I’m going to be blunt with you: I’m not interested. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

His smile faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered, his voice turning icy. “Oh, come on. You can’t honestly say you don’t want to spend some time with me. I’m sure I can show you a much better time than—”

“No,” Celeste interrupted firmly, her voice sharper than usual. “I’m not interested in you, Barty. I don’t care how many times you ask. It’s not going to happen.”

For a moment, there was a stunned silence between them. Barty stood there, caught off guard by her blunt refusal. His usual smooth, charming demeanor seemed to have evaporated, replaced by an irritated scowl.

“Fine,” Barty said coldly, his eyes narrowing. “I see how it is. You think you’re too good for me.” He turned and began to walk away, but not before adding one final, venomous remark. “You’ll regret this, Montgomery.”

As Barty walked off, Celeste rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. “Good riddance.”

Mary, who had been quietly watching the interaction, let out a breath of relief. “I think that was the most satisfying thing I’ve seen all week. He deserved that.”

Celeste gave a small, tired smile. “I just can’t stand him. He’s a pompous prat, and honestly, I don’t even know why he keeps trying.”

Mary raised an eyebrow. “He’s a Crouch, isn’t he? I’m sure he’s used to getting whatever he wants.”

“Well, he’s not getting me,” Celeste snapped, the lingering frustration from Barty’s arrogant words still gnawing at her.

As she turned to walk away, she couldn’t help but notice a pair of familiar faces lingering not far off. James and Sirius, standing near the entrance to the castle, were watching the entire exchange. Their expressions were unreadable at first, but the brief flicker of jealousy that crossed both of their faces was enough to make Celeste’s heart skip a beat.

Sirius’s jaw was tight, and James, though trying to act casual, was clearly staring at Barty as he walked away, his brow furrowed.

"Are you two just going to stand there?" Celeste called to them, trying to hide the sudden awkwardness she felt.

Sirius smirked but there was a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "What, we can't appreciate a good show?"

James, on the other hand, didn’t smile. Instead, he looked slightly irritated, but when his gaze landed on Celeste, there was something else in his eyes—something possessive, perhaps, or just a flicker of discomfort.

“Well, that was quite the scene,” James finally said, trying to sound nonchalant. “But I guess Barty got the message.”

Celeste was about to respond when Sirius chimed in, his voice thick with mockery. “I mean, really, Celeste, who could blame you? Who would want to be stuck with someone like him? I know I wouldn’t.”

Celeste glared at him. “You’re one to talk, Sirius. How many times have you—”

Sirius grinned, cutting her off. “Touché. But at least I know when someone isn’t interested.”

Everyone gave him a look.

"No, you don't."

"That's a a lie."

"Idiot."

“Well, good thing for you, Celeste,” James added, his tone shifting slightly. “Not everyone is as pushy as Barty. Some of us know when to back off.”

Celeste frowned slightly, fwith any more jealousy or drama today.eeling the weight of James’s words. Was that supposed to be a compliment? She couldn’t tell, and honestly, she didn’t want to.

Mary, sensing the uncomfortable silence between the three of them, quickly nudged Celeste. “Maybe we should go inside.”

Celeste nodded. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with any more of stupid men or drama today.

As they turned to leave, she could feel both James and Sirius’s eyes on her, but she didn’t look back.

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