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

The next day dawned bright and crisp, with the promise of a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw hanging in the air. The Great Hall buzzed with excitement as students filled their plates with breakfast, chattering about the game later that afternoon. Celeste and James sat together, surrounded by the Marauders, but there was an underlying tension that wasn’t there before.

James had been on edge since the previous night. Though Celeste had reassured him that there was nothing between her and Ben, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in his stomach every time he thought about the Gryffindor boy.

"James, are you even listening?" Celeste's voice cut through his thoughts, and he blinked up at her.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry," he mumbled, flashing her a sheepish smile. "Just thinking."

"About Ben?" she asked, her tone playful but with an edge of concern.

James hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I guess I’m just… not used to other guys being around you like that."

Celeste raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a smile. "You really need to chill. Ben’s harmless, I promise."

"I know, I know." James sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s just weird."

Sirius, who had been quietly listening from across the table, decided to intervene. "Mate, relax," he said with a teasing grin. "Celeste can talk to whoever she wants. You can’t be her personal bodyguard every second."

James shot Sirius a glare, but deep down, he knew Sirius was right. Celeste wasn’t his to protect. Still, the jealousy gnawed at him, especially with the upcoming Quidditch match. There was no way he was going to let some other guy steal the spotlight or her attention.

Meanwhile, Remus and Peter were discussing strategy for the game, both of them focused on the upcoming match rather than the drama unfolding at the Gryffindor table.

Marlene, sensing the tension, leaned in toward Celeste, whispering, "You alright, Cels? You’ve been looking a bit distracted."

"I’m fine," Celeste responded with a grin. "Just trying to figure out how to keep my overprotective boyfriend from biting everyone’s head off."

"Good luck with that," Marlene replied with a wink, clearly amused by the whole situation. She knew James could be possessive, but Celeste had a way of calming him down—when she wanted to.

"Enough with the drama, you lot," Sirius interrupted with a grin, slinging an arm around Remus's shoulders. "Let’s focus on the important stuff—like winning the game later!"

James couldn’t help but laugh, his mood lifting slightly. "Yeah, yeah, winning’s all you care about."

Sirius waggled his eyebrows. "And, of course, making sure our broomsticks are properly waxed and ready to go." He turned to James with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Wouldn’t want you flying in a straight line all match, would we?"

"Shut it," James muttered, though the corner of his mouth quirked upward. He couldn’t deny it—Sirius’s antics always lightened the mood, even when the tension felt thick.

As the conversation turned to the Quidditch match, Celeste found herself glancing over at Ben, who was chatting with a group of his friends a few tables away. Her stomach fluttered slightly, but she quickly shook off the feeling. James was right there, and she had no reason to feel guilty. Still, part of her wondered if James would ever fully trust her to be around other guys without feeling jealous.

But that was a question for later.

With a final exchange of jokes, the Marauders finished breakfast and headed out of the Great Hall to prepare for the match. Celeste grabbed James’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they made their way to the pitch.