[james] i remember you

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

All things considered, James didn't particularly mind being a cat. He was able to hiss at people (or objects, for that matter) without anyone giving him strange looks for it. Four legs improved his balance tremendously. His hearing was at a record level, which could be useful in pretty much every situation he tended to create for himself. However, the lack of opposable thumbs proved to be a problem, and losing the ability to talk was just a tragedy for all involved, so he didn't mind returning to his human form, either.

He closed his eyes as she muttered the countercurse, and tried to ignore the shooting pain that rippled through him. Changing back into a human caused much more discomfort than shrinking into a cat. The fur receded into his skin, fingers and nails broke through his paws, and his tail shrunk back into a remarkably uncomfortable area of his body. His hearing slowly faded until he wondered, for a split second, if he were deaf, and his eyesight sharpened underneath his eyelids. He felt himself rise to his two feet, feeling a bit unsteady without the extra support. And as quickly as the process had started, it was over, leaving James in the form everyone knew and loved.

His first instinct was to touch the parts of his body, to make sure his limbs worked and that he wasn't left with any deformities (which, let's face it, would be a tragedy for the entire school, James thought, frowning). But before he could do so, Juniper had reached out and stroked his skin and hair. He felt himself subconsciously leaning into her hand as it brushed his face, but as soon as he realized, he stiffened and pulled away, at the exact moment she did the same.

He blinked a few times, adjusting, and stretched his arms over his head, wiggling his thumbs around. "Poor cats," he said, picking up his wand, which had fallen on the floor during the transformation. "Never get to know the joy of picking up things." To demonstrate, he tossed the wand into the air, causing it to accidently shoot sparks at one of the chairs. Thankfully, nothing caught on fire, so he simply grinned sheepishly and returned it to his pocket.

He turned back to Juniper, the same sheepish grin on his face, almost wary — an unusual trait for James. "Thanks," he said, the grin only stretching half of his face. "You're pretty good at Transfiguration."

[JUNIPER DAHLIA HOLLOW]

Now that James was back to normal, a very small part of Juniper wished he was a cat, again. If she spoke now, he could reply with any number of hurtful things. All it would take would be to say that he never missed her, or something to that effect. There was always that chance, and that's why being around him was so difficult. She was always teetering on the edge of hope and disappointment around him. And their prolonged silence also made things awkward, of course. And it was disorienting seeing James in her common room. Her mind kept telling her it didn't make sense.

Juniper was thinking up normal things to say - or clever things, as the situation was hardly normal. But her eyes were following his wand which was in the air. She had to stop herself from yelling out no! for she feared the disastrous possibilities. What if James Potter lit the whole common room on fire? But the wand merely shot sparks, and Juniper's body, which had been on edge, seemed to recede and almost crumple with relief. Still standing, she felt almost weak on her legs. Having to sit back down on the steps, she sat a bit higher up so she was closer to James's eye level. Hugging her knees, she rested her chin on them and looked at him.

James smiled sheepishly, and Juniper, knowing that smile far too well, couldn't help but smile back. Even if her's was rather exasperated at this point. She remembered once having a certain stamina for dealing with James - but time must've made her unfit in that aspect. And now, she wondered the same thing she always did - how didn't he tired himself out? All thoughts aside, she concentrated on answering his question. Her weariness prevented her from overthinking, so she could answer more naturally now. At his compliment she shrugged, still smiling, though. "We've all got our special talents," she replied casually, although it was nice to get a compliment out of him. And see him smile. "You make a cute cat." she added, her grin now slightly teasing.

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

Juniper was sitting farther up the stairs now after the wand situation (he mentally chuckled at his thought choice: wand situation), and James watched her as she moved up, though couldn't decide whether it was to gain height or distance from him. And though he would have never admitted it (or thought it could happen, for that matter), the latter thought hurt more than his ego. No harm done with throwing the wand up in the air. Was she mad at him for it anyway?

But then she smiled and he relaxed, realizing he was overthinking things. He shook his head and his smile faded a bit. When had he ever overthought things? He was a Gryffindor, and one of the more impulsive ones at that. He in particular was known for not thinking. The fact that he was headed in the opposite direction was unnerving, and he suddenly felt the desire to flee increase tenfold.

Thankfully, he had a reason to, as footsteps sounded from the dormitories, indicating someone was up and likely headed to the common room. So, after a quick glance upward, he looked back at Juniper and took a step back. Would they talk the next time they ran into each other? Would they have a reason to? Would he even want to? There were so many unanswered questions, but he knew the last one was 'yes'. They had got on so well as kids, and they could return to that level — he was suddenly sure of it.

So he pointed upstairs to show that he had heard footsteps, smiled vaguely at her, and headed toward the common room entrance. And, foot through the door, he turned around at the last moment and called out in a loud whisper, "Don't be a stranger." And with that, he disappeared.

[JUNIPER DAHLIA HOLLOW]

When she heard footsteps behind her, Juniper turned to look around. Looking back to James with warning in her eyes, she was relieved to see he heard them too, and was making his exit. Questions came to her as well, but all of them silenced when James smiled and said not to be a stranger. Juniper smiled, without really thinking why.

And he was gone. Juniper stayed seated on the stairs, still smiling. Facing the door though, the person coming up behind her wouldn't see. It was one of her random classmates. He asked her. "Hey, what are you doing up - everything ok?" Juniper thought about it. "No." What was that quote? I'm disrepair. I'm not quite right, "But I'm getting there."

The random classmate walked away, mumbling something about how she didn't have to be so fucking mysterious. Juniper looked at the door and looking down, smiled even wider. Then she got up, deciding now was as good a time as any to try and sleep.