Abnormal ?James Potter?

Chapter 9: Misunderstood

Her gaze snapped to him, sharp and cutting. "Push people away?  You've spoken of social constructs about your own issues, but then you go on and set your own prejudices. Do you have any idea what it's like to be left behind? To have someone you trusted—someone who was supposed to stay—just walk away and leave you to deal with the wreckage?" Her voice cracked on que, and she quickly looked away, her expression tensing, a practiced look on her face. "Sirius abandoned us. He abandoned me. He gets to be the hero now, but he left me in that house, with them. And I'm the one who's supposed to be the villain."

Every word true, but twisted to have him view her as a victim. To overlook every bloodpurist move she had made in the past years.

James was stunned into silence. He hadn't expected her to open up, even a little, and the raw emotion in her voice disarmed him.

"I... didn't know," he said pathetically, his voice lacking its usual bravado.

"Of course you didn't," she snapped. "You were too busy welcoming him with open arms, weren't you? Sirius the rebel, Sirius the brave. But bravery comes easy when you don't have to face the consequences."

James ran a hand through his hair, his stomach twisting at her words. "Look, I'm not saying he was right to leave you like that. But you have to understand—"

"Don't." She cut him off sharply, her voice suddenly quieter but no less forceful. "Don't try to explain him to me, Potter. You don't know what it's like."

He leaned back slightly, giving her space. "You're right," he admitted. "I don't. But you don't have to carry all of it by yourself, you know. Maybe you don't trust me, or Sirius, or anyone—but you're not alone. You don't have to be."

She scoffed, though the sound lacked its usual edge. "You make it sound so simple. Like it's just a matter of choice."

"Sometimes it is," James said, his voice softer now. "Sometimes you just have to decide to let someone in."

For a moment, Cassiopeia was silent, her expression unreadable. The intensity between them deepened, but she didn't look away.

"Look, I know I can't just snap my fingers and make you trust me," he continued, his voice low. "But I'm here, Cassiopeia. I'm trying, even if you aren't. And I'm not going anywhere, whether you want me to be or not. I know you don't trust me, and neither do I you... but we have to learn. If we don't we might die in the challenges ahead." Her gaze softened ever so slightly, and she blinked, as if processing the sincerity in his words.

"You don't get it," she said, but the sharpness was gone. "It's not about you staying. It's about whether I'm willing to let you stay."

James was quiet for a long moment. He didn't back off. He didn't give up, ignoring her brash attempt at deflection. "Then let me try, just a little. Let me prove that you don't have to shut everyone out."

Cassiopeia sat back against the cold stone of the bench, the flickering light of the lanterns casting an almost ethereal glow on her features. Her eyes were fixed on James, but her mind was working at full speed, calculating her next move. She could already sense the pull between them—he was there, on the verge of falling for her, and he didn't even realize it.

James didn't move closer, but there was a change in the air between them. He stood there, tense but trying to appear nonchalant. His gaze flickered to the ground, then back to her, as though unsure of what he should say.

"I want to help you," he said quietly, as if the words were somehow difficult for him to form. "I don't think you need to do this alone. No one should"

She let his words hang in the air, feeling their weight more than he could possibly imagine. She tilted her head, considering him for a moment. She knew this is how he acted, with everyone, not to take it to heart, but... no. If she was to carry this plan through, she would do it all the way, no matter what.