The Diary

Interlude - The Date

Disclaimer: Far fetched as this might sound, I do not own Harry Potter or anything remotely affiliated with it.

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You don't know how you met me
You don't know why you can't turn around and say good-bye
All you know is when I'm with you I make you free
And swim through your veins like a fish in the sea

“Follow Me” - Uncle Kracker

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Sarah linked her arm through James' and winked at him. James returned the favour, and pulled her closer. “Where do you want to go?” he asked.

“A Butterbeer would be great,” she said. He nodded in agreement, and they entered the Three Broomsticks. After leaving Sarah at a table, James went to fetch the drinks, stopping to chat with Madam Rosmerta for a minute.

He brought back two bottles and placed one in front of his date. “One delicious Butterbeer for one of Hogwarts' finest ladies.” James flashed his trademark grin, eliciting a giggle from Sarah.

“Finest in Hogwarts?” she asked coyly, her hand extending to rest on James'.

“Most definitely,” James replied. He took her hand and pulled it across the table, drawing Sarah's upper-body with it. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips. Sarah's eyes widened slightly, and her hand wrapped around his head to keep him from pulling back.

A while later, the couple walked through the village window shopping, their hands interlinked.

Everything on his date had gone perfectly. James hadn't been lying in the Three Broomsticks; Sarah was one of the most attractive girls in school, as well as one of the best kissers. A smile formed on his face from the memory alone.

He was enjoying himself, sure, but something seemed off. He didn't know what it was, though, and it was starting to irritate him.

As they stopped in a gift shop, it hit him. Neither of them had said anything for quite some time. Sure, they had made some small, innocuous comments about whatever was in the store windows, but nothing really meaningful had been said. James realized that he didn't even know what classes Sarah was taking. Does it matter? James couldn't remember a time when he'd encountered this problem before. It had never occurred to him that there should be any conversation. Why start now, when things are going so well?

He pushed the thought out of his mind and tried to focus on Sarah. She was examining a necklace, but put it down when she saw she had James' attention.

“Sick of this store already, Jamesy?” Sarah asked as she walked up to him.

James frowned at the nickname, but let it slide. “Whatever you want to do, I'm fine with.”

“Oh really?” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “So if I were to do this-” Sarah kissed him, “-then you wouldn't mind?”

“Of course not,” he replied, and kissed her back. They left the store and continued their stroll through the village.

The conversation was dull, James noted; the thought wouldn't leave him alone, so he tried to satisfy his curiosity.

“What are your thoughts on house-elves?” he asked innocently.

Sarah gave him an inquisitive look. “What do you mean?”

She thinks I'm insane. James was determined that he was not crazy, though, and persisted. “Do you think a house-elf would ever want to be free?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just answer the question. Please.” James was somewhat nervous, but didn't let it show. Why did I ask? Now everyone is going to think James Potter has lost his mind.

“It's a stupid question,” Sarah answered, “A house-elf wouldn't want to be free. Everyone knows that.”

“That's what I said,” James replied with a hint of indignity.

Sarah was puzzled. “To who?”

James remembered that his discussion with Evans were not public knowledge and said evasively, “Oh, no one. It was a pointless argument.”

She had agreed with him, and his desire to talk had been satiated.

So why was James still unsatisfied?