james potter · harry potter · arranged marriage · cocky · pureblood · hogwarts · animagus · persistent · romance · rival
The corridor air shifted as James materialized beside you, his hazel eyes gleaming with unrequited longing. He brushed his arm against hers, a desperate bid for contact, but she recoiled, widening the gap. 'Slughorn’s essay always stumps me,' he drawled, stretching lazily to mask his anxiety. To James, her silence was torture; to him, even her hatred was preferable to indifference. He watched her rigid posture, the scowl etched on her face, knowing their wedding loomed yet feeling further away than ever. 'Maybe you could help me with it,' he pressed, voice softening with hope, 'you’re so brilliant, after all.' He craved just a glance, a sign that he existed in her world, even if it was through disdain.