NINETEEN

THE WEEK WENT BY as James and Annalise continued to warm up to each other. She was happy to see that their plan was working surprisingly well.

The rumors only increased as the week progressed, as the Hogwarts students began speculating what was up with the two rivals. Annalise and James never got along. And the fact that they were spending more time together and getting closer surprised everyone.

She was also shocked at how it was becoming easier and easier to be nice to James. Of course they still bickered frequently, but it was never anything serious, and the two of them got along well. She realized earlier in the week that her and James could have been really good friends a long time ago if they learned to put their pride and egos aside.

Annalise packed her stuff up quickly, returning her textbook to the shelves, and grabbing her scroll. It was Sunday afternoon and she was just finishing up her essay for charms on the reductor curse that was due the next day. She left the library at 2:00 P.M. exactly and headed to the common room to meet up with James. It had been exactly twelve days since they started her plan and it was now time to take their relationship to the next level.

She knew exactly how she was going to make it known to Hogwarts that she was "dating" James Potter. They were going to take a walk around Hogwarts, holding hands. It was subtle, but shocking enough to get everyone's attention. Once someone asked them if they were dating, they would confirm it. Then, they would sit back and watch the gossip spread. By dinner, everyone would find out about Hogwarts newest couple.

"Lunarwinkle." She said, as the portrait of the fat lady swung open. She ducked inside the portrait hole entering the common room. There were more people then usual on a Sunday afternoon in the common room. Most students spent Sunday's roaming the grounds, studying at the library, or spending time with their friends outside. However, as October neared it's end, the weather became chillier and the wind became stronger. No one wanted to spend time outside anymore.

She spotted James in the back corner of the room, throwing little scraps of paper into the fireplace. He missed about 50 percent of the time, so the entire floor in front of him was covered in tiny little balls of paper. Next to him was Alex, who was also throwing little pieces of his homework, but at James instead, only contributing to the mess on the floor. She let out an amused laugh and walked over to them.

"You ready to go?" She asked, as James looked up at her, giving her his attention.

"Let's get this over with." He sighed, slowly standing up from the couch. He followed her as the two of them made their way back to the portrait hole.

"Use protection kids!" Alex called out from behind, snickering.

Annalise simply responded with her middle finger, while James told him to shove it, which only made Alex laugh even more. She rolled her eyes as they ducked into the portrait hole and walked out.

She sighed, turning to James before they headed any further down the staircase. "Well," She said. "Time to hold my hand and act like you like me!" She said cheerfully, forcing a smile.

"Do I have too!" James whined, slumping his shoulders.

"Yes, you have too! How else are we supposed to make it official?" She asked him.

"I don't want to hold your hand. Especially in public!" James grimaced. "That's so embarrassing!"

She glared at him. "It's not that embarrassing to be seen with me! You act like your going to be holding hands with a troll."

James smirked. "I mean-"

"Don't you finish that sentence." She warned, her eyes turning to slits. "Come on Potter! It's literally for ten minutes. You agreed to do this. I'm not doing your potions homework for three weeks for nothing!"

"Fine." James grumbled. He took her hand and clasped it within his. Annalise's stomach fluttered, with the strange feeling of James' hand in hers as they walked down the staircase with him.

"Not so bad now is it?" She asked as they walked off the staircase and turned into the first floor corridor.

He looked down at her raising his eyebrows. "You look so uncomfortable. It looks like I'm holding you against your will."

Her cheeks turned red. "Is it that obvious."

"Just relax." He said to her. "Like you said. Just pretend you like me." He grinned.

"You make it sound so easy." She chuckled. They turned another corner, still no students in sight, and then almost ran right into Rose and Molly Weasley, James' other cousin who was currently a seventh year Gryffindor.

"Hey." Annalise said, smiling at the both of them. They both smiled hello back at her and James, before Annalise noticed both of their eyes glance down at their hands, which where intertwined.

Rose's eyes widened as she look back up at them in confusion and shock. "Are you guys- "

"Yes." James interrupted, already knowing what she was going to ask.

"You're together?" Molly asked, her eyebrows scrunching in confusion.

"Yes, we are." Annalise smiled.

Rose's expression only grew in confusion. "Like together together?" She spluttered looking back and forth between them.

"Yes." James sighed. Before Rose and Molly could say another word, he quickly said "Well, nice running into you both! See you later," before grabbing her hand and walking away rather fast.

Annalise burst into laughter as soon as they were a good enough distance away from the two Weasley's. Even James couldn't help himself and joined in on her laughter. "Did you see Rose's face." She laughed. "Poor girl looked like she was going crazy."

"I don't think I've ever seen Rose that confused." James agreed chuckling.

They continued walking, talking about the excessive amount of charms homework Flitwick had assigned for the weekend. As they walked on, they approached the main corridors, which were much busier and filled with students walking every which way. She tried to ignore everyone around them and what they were saying and instead focused her attention on what James was saying.

She spotted Filch and Madam Pince in the corner talking- no flirting- with each other. She watched as Filch winked at Madam Pince who laughed dramatically, smiling and batting her eyelashes. Definitely flirting, she thought, as she shuddered at the sight.

Turns out James had seen the same thing as her. "Filch and Madam Pince are definitely fucking!" James sniggered.

Annalise gagged. "Oh god James. You've now forever implanted that into my brain and that is one thing I did not need to ever imagine in this lifetime."

James laughed and then he suddenly paused. "You called me James." He stared at her.

"What?" She stopped, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"You called me James." He repeated, a small smile creeping onto his face.

"And- " She drawled out waiting for him to answer. "That's your name genius. Incase you've forgotten?"

James scowled. "No. Meaning, I don't think you've ever called me James."

She paused, taking a moment to think about it. "Shit you're right. I don't think I have!" She chuckled. "I didn't even notice, it just came naturally."

"I noticed right away because it's usually 'Potter!'" He mocked, saying it in an angry, shrill voice to imitate her.

Annalise laughed. "I do not sound like that!"

"You do."

"Do not!"

"Do too!" James stuck his tongue out at her.

She rolled her eyes at his childishness. "I mean it was about time I call my boyfriend by his first name." She smirked.

"Ugh." James made a face. "I can't believe I'm your boyfriend." He faked throwing up.

"Oh shut it!" She chuckled, hitting his shoulder. She looked around finally noticing how much attention they were drawing to themselves. She quickly looked down at her shoes feeling quite conscious of herself.

"I feel so uncomfortable with everyone staring and whispering like this." She muttered, leaning to whisper in James' ear. She certainly didn't want anyone eavesdropping on their conversation as well.

"Get used it." He grimaced. "That's all I can say. And anyway this is good. It's what you wanted"

"Yes, you're right. It is good, but I hate all this attention." She shuddered.

"Who knew Annalise Wood didn't like attention." James asked, feigning shock.

"I don't!" She replied defensively.

"You've brought a lot of attention to yourself the past couple years here." He shrugged.

"How." She frowned, daring him to continue on.

"Maybe by punching me every other week." He said with a straight face.

She blushed. "I didn't do it because I wanted attention- "

"Oh I know, trust me." James laughed. "You did it because you absolutely loathed me."

"I still do." She huffed.

James pouted. "That hurts my feelings you know! After all, I am doing you the biggest favor right now just out of the kindness of my heart."

"And three weeks of me doing your potions homework." She muttered, but he ignored her.

"I would at least think it was down to a mere dislike by now." He protested.

She chuckled. "You're right. You're simply growing on me." She admitted.

"What can I say! I have a very enjoyable personality." James grinned.

Annalise nodded sarcastically. "Enjoyable is definitely the word I'd use to describe it. Totally!"

"I mean- " James smirked.

"Don't push it, Potter."

It was confirmed that their plan had worked later that evening during dinner at the great hall. As soon as they sat down Albus and Lily Potter bombarded both of them with questions.

"I thought you two hated eachother?"

"Merlin's beard! Is this a joke?"

"What the fuck?"

"What the hell happened!"

"This has to be a joke."

"There's no way!"

They answered with the same thing they had rehearsed the night before. They had simply gotten closer over the past couple weeks, and had realized they liked eachother and decided to just go for it.

Albus and Lily both still seemed unconvinced before James forcefully ushered them away, back to their places at their tables.

"Well then." James said, digging into his dinner. "Get ready to see your name on every gossip magazine in the next couple days or so." He chuckled dryly.

"I'm sorry, what?" She asked, thinking she heard him wrong.

"Ok, I exaggerated. Maybe not every gossip magazine. But you can definitely count on wizarding rundown and spellbound." He replied, shoving more food into his mouth as if it wasn't a big deal.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" She asked utterly confused.

James turned his attention away from his plate of food and raised an eyebrow at her. Realization hit him. "You don't know what I mean do you?"

"Clearly not!" She said in annoyance.

"Well, if you didn't know, my dad's a pretty big deal around here. You know, saving the entire wizarding world and what not." He said nonchalantly with a hint of sarcasm. "So that basically makes me a pretty big deal around here and-"

"Yes, James. We know." She rolled her eyes.

"As I was I saying," He continued, ignoring her comment. "The media is obsessed with us potter kids. Our cousins as well, but not nearly as much as me, Al, and Lily. They've published news about every single one of my relationships in at least one magazine. And since you're the daughter of Oliver Wood, who's the retired keeper from Puddlemere United who won the euro league cup twice, I'm expecting at least a half page article. I wouldn't be surprised if they put a picture of you too." He explained.

Annalise's jaw dropped in shock. "You mean the entire wizarding world is going to know I'm dating you?" She stuttered.

James sighed sadly. "Unfortunately yes."

"What a complete violation of privacy!" She scoffed in disbelief and anger. "How can they just publish that for people to read!"

"People want to know every detail of the boy who lived and his children's lives." He sighed. "It's frustrating, but Me, Al, and Lily have all gotten used to it."

"But it's your life! Don't they owe you that privacy?" She asked. She knew celebrity magazines thrived off of gossip. She was never one to read them herself. But knowing that James was one of those people in the magazines and now even her, was not something she ever imagined. She still couldn't imagine it.

"That's not even the worst of it." He chuckled. "Paparazzi or even normal wizards taking pictures of you everytime you're in public. Gossip columns reporting every detail of your life. Death threats from extremists who hate my father." He frowned, his voice faltering at the last sentence.

She let out a gasp. "I didn't know it was this bad." She said softly. She could tell that he normally never talked about this.

He gave her a sad smile. "It's always been this bad. Like I said, I've just gotten use to it that's all."

"It's not fair to you. You didn't ask for it." She said, frowning.

"Hey don't worry about it too much." He quickly said, noticing the worrisome expression on her face. "There's nothing I can do about it anyway, so I just focus on the positives! I'm famous!" He grinned. "And that comes with a lot perks and privileges. It also means all the ladies love me." He smirked, winking at her.

Annalise snorted. "I would say you're full yourself, which you are, but you're not wrong." She laughed. "The girls are Hogwarts really do love you." She remembered multiple occasions where girls had gushed over the eldest Potter child, everyone trying to talk to him.

"They know I'm a catch." He smirked, shrugging it off causally.

"They're delusional." She snorted.