▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

CHAPTER FORTY!
                      — Limerence

" I'm Kelsey! "

EMBER SHOVED HER HAIRBRUSH IN HER BAG VIOLENTLY. She currently sat in James's dorm, many of her clothing items and everyday items were in there since the two spent so much time together.

"Why are you so violent today, blondie?" James laughed as he slipped a shirt over his toned body. Ember did everything in her power not to stare at her boyfriend whilst he changed. Still, her ears reddened slightly.

"I don't want to leave again." Ember whined, pushing herself off of the ground and going over to James. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hiding her face in his chest. Words muffled as she said, "I want to stay here with you."

James laughed slightly, bending down the tiniest bit to kiss her hair. "You're so clingy, Blondie!" Said James whilst wrapping arms around her. To be quite frank, he was clingy aswell.

Ember groaned into his chest. Shivers went down James's spine from the sound. "Please just let me hug you." She looked up with him, a small pout on her face, "I don't want to leave."

James smiled sadly and rested his head on hers. "I'm sorry, you have to Emmy."

Ember scrunched up her nose, un-excitedly moving from his chest to finish her stuff. "Darling?" Ember asked her boyfriend. James had migrated to his bed, laying down and playing with that damn snitch of his.

James hummed in response, letting the snitch flutter out as he looked over to Ember. She was still folding some shorts of hers, "Can I borrow a jumper?" She asked casually.

The messy hair boy smiled brightly, his face tinting a little. Embarrassed, he muffled, "yeah..."

Ember immediately brightened when James threw her the pale orange jumper. "Thank you!" She smiled as she tucked it away in her trunk. No doubt will it just come out soon.

Brushing his hair back, James threw a small gift at the blonde. She picked it up, giving James a small grin. In her hand rested a small, black box. If she wasn't smart enough, she would assume it to be a wedding ring. She glanced up at James, fiddling with the box. "And what is this?"

James smiles, dropping down beside her. He takes her hands, and the box, into his hands. Slowly opening it, Ember gasped. "Now, this may not be a wedding ring or a promise ring... but it was very expensive."

Ember laughed. Moving to wrap her arms around James's neck. She hid her head in his neck as she whispered, "Thank you so much, dummy."

The two departed, James sliding the emerald ring onto her finger easily.

The ring was a gorgeous emerald on a silver band that fit her perfectly. She had no idea how he knew her ring size... but he did. In truth, James had hunted down Remus and begged for the girls ring size.

He kissed her gently, "I'll miss you."

"Look on the bright side! Maybe mom and dad will let you come over! Or I could go see Mia, Monty, Sirius, and you!" Ember acknowledged.

"Oh shit." James blurted, his face paling. "I haven't told my parents we're an item yet!"

"James!"

"It just crossed my mind. Oh god what if my mom hates me for dating you! She likes you more than me." The messy haired boy ranted.

Ember rolled her eyes, "oh shush, potter!" The girl hissed, grabbing his shoulders and shaking them. "Mia won't hate you."

The boy in question took in a sharp breath, throwing his head back and groaning. "This is gonna be a failure!"

🖇

"Ember!" Mia laughed happily, wrapping the blonde into a tight hug. "I've missed you!"

"I missed you too, Mia! How was the garden going?" She asked, finally pulling away.

"It's doing great babe." She turned to her son, hugging him. "I missed you, James. I can't believe your graduating this year." The woman complained, squishing her sons cheeks. Fleamont snickered from behind Euphemia.

"Mom!" James grunted, swatting her hand away. "You're embarrassing me!" The boy hissed.

Sirius winked from his spot by Monty. Despite the boy no longer living with the Potters- he didn't want to be a burden- he was more than happy to spend Christmas with them. Curtsy of Euphemia and Fleamont begging him too. "Yeah! Dont embarrass him infront of his girlfriend, mom!"

The elder potters gasped in sync. Both of them looking between James and Ember.

Whilst James was already moving to beat up Sirius, Ember just waved awkwardly. Had she not told James to tell them? "Hi."

Fleamont smiled, "Knew it." He chuckled, giving his wife a high-five.

"Oh god." James groaned, hiding his head in his hands. "Kill me now."

"Pew-pew." Sirius giggled, pretending to shoot a gun at his friends and family.

"Your not funny." James whispered harshly to him. Sirius just rolled his eyes and allowed Euphemia and Fleamont to freak out over their son getting a girlfriend.

"I knew it would happen eventually!" Euphemia cheered, kissing James and Ember's heads.

A small yell, a familiar one at least, caught Ember's attention. "I have to go!" She quickly kissed James on the forehead and ran off.

Skylar, Genny, Riley, Marci, a random girl she didn't know, and Aries. Her speed faulted once she saw him. His curly blonde hair rested neatly on his head. He was holding the random girls hand.

Random girl was very gorgeous. Decorated with bright green eyes, a septum piercing, short dirty-blonde hair, and a sun dress.

"Hello..." Ember whispered as she got closer, only offering them a small wave. "I can apparate now, did you have to come?"

"Are we that embarrassing?" Genny asked, winking at Ember.

The blonde laughed, shaking her head. "No! Not at all. I just didn't expect you guys."

"Your stuck with us." Marci smiled brightly, pulling her daughter into a tight hug, "You've been through so much recently, everyone wanted to be here for you."

"What do you mean, mum?" Skylar asked, feigning confusion. "I don't remember the dying child Ember held, or the whole River situation, oh and then her almost dying, and we can't forget the boyfriend!"

Ember saw the black haired girl scrunch you her nose. She must've saw Ember looking because she smiled, "Hello! I'm Kelsey, you don't know me, of course." Even her American accent was gorgeous.
"I'm Aries girlfriend. I've heard so much about you!"

To embers surprise, Kelsey brought Ember into a hug. "I hope they were all good things." Said the girl after they broke apart.

"Well practically! The way Aries talks about you I would've thought you saved the world. I wish I could've sent a letter... I miss Hogwarts. I was an exchange student. Ohh and I was a ravenclaw. I'm not very smart though... oh right the letter! Oh gee I'm rambling!" Kelsey laughed awkwardly.

Ember grinned. Oh her and Kelsey would get along swell. Before speaking, she took in a deep breath, "I'm stealing your girlfriend."

The group laughed. Riley laughed the loudest, however. Her father wiggled his eyebrows as he spoke, "I'm not sure if JamessSe would enjoy that."

Ember rolled her eyes whilst Aries smiled. "So, my baby sister has a boyfriend?"

The air suddenly became shallow. Awkwardness was clear on everyone's faces, not including Kelsey. Ember didn't blame her for looking around confused. It was most likely Aries didn't mention their fight when he talked about his family.

Ember cleared her throat, "Yep... James Potter."

"Euphemia and Fleamont's son?"

"Yeah..."

Aries smiled, surprisingly enough, "I'm happy for you, Ember." And it didn't sound a bit fake.

She gave him a small smile back. "I'm apparating back now, if that's okay."

Marci laughed, "of course you can apparate, baby."

Ember nodded, ready to leave the embarrassing moment. She still held a grudge against Aries. Though, at one point they were best friends. Ember didn't think she could just forget something like that.

Her world twisted and turned before she ended up right in front of White Estate.

The rest of the night went by in a blur. Ember got to know Kelsey better. And not very surprisingly, she was very sweet. How Aries of all people could end up with her was beyond Ember's mental capacity.

Not only was Kelsey a topic of intrest, so was the war. Sadly, Ember found herself zoning out through the conversation. The only thing making her aware was the Prewetts being mentioned.

"The Prewett twins and Molly Weasley, and I suppose her husband, are joining the war." Aries mumbled. Even if Ember hated him, he knew how much losing someone during a battle could hurt someone.

Ember's fork fell from her hand, a dinging noise emitting. "What?" She asked her brother. "How do you know?"

Aries cleared his throat, voice becoming softer, "I joined the order. Gideon and I were talking -He's working along with Moody- he wants justice." His voice faded away at the end.

Ember's head spun. The prewetts already lost one daughter to the war. What would happen if they lost another? Their sons? Molly has children. What would happen if her or Author died in battle?

Every eye was on her, even Kelseys. Ember clinched her jaw. She wanted everything to pause. Nightmares of the dying girl remained in her head most nights. "I'm tired, goodnight."

She left as quickly as she could. Shuffling to her bedroom. Back down at the dining table Riley took in a sharp breath, "I don't know how she does it."

"She's strong." Genny muttered, trying to light up the mood. Under the table Skylar took her hand. "I couldn't do it."

"She has Ophelia and I suppose James now. Did you see that boy when she was out?" Marci laughed dryly, not a big of humor in her voice.

Kelsey raised an eyebrow, "No one told me James stayed with her?"

"He was by her side the whole time." Skylar told the girl, "Never left. Well, once when we got there to give us time. He looked close to death."

Aries, who hadn't said anything, stood up from his chair. "I'm checking on her."

No one stopped him. Everyone-maybe not Genny- knew what Aries had lost in America. A battle in a random field which caused too many lives to be lost. Including Aries best friend. If anyone, Aries knew what was going on in Ember's brain. The regret, the suffering, the bargaining.

Arriving closer to the room he heard sniffles and heavy breathing. He didn't bother knocking before he opened the door. The plants in her room letting out an earthy sent.

"Ember..." he whispered, falling next to his crying sister. She was having trouble breathing. Not to the point of a panic attack, just in her own head. He sighed before shaking her out of it.

"I don't... I really tried, Aries. I tried really, really hard." Ember cried out, shaking her head.

Aries wiped one of her tears away, "Everyone knows what you did, Ember. You did amazing. Think about all the lives you could safe when you become a healer!"

"I couldn't save her!" The blonde girl sobbed. "I watched her die in my arms."

"You'll see more people live than die. I know you will. It's how life works, Em." Aries soothed his sister, hugging her by her side.

Ember nodded, though she didn't want too. "I don't want people I love to die."

"I don't either..." He muttered. Just thinking about Kelsey, a girl who everyone ignored because she was too bubbly. A girl he almost accidentally hit with a curse. Who would've known they would've fallen into love. "Ember, promise me that no matter what, no matter the outcome of this war, you'll stay alive. Not just for me, but for James, for Ophelia, Skylar, mum, dad, your other friends."

Ember sniffled, "Only if you promise me you won't die... and that you'll start owling me again."

Aries laughed. "I promise." He hooked pinkis with his sister. No matter how old you were, pinky promises were always the best. "No bad blood anymore?"

Now it was Ember's turn to chuckle, "No bad blood."

Just like that, the internal fight between the Whites were over. A promise made between two enemies. One to survive. One to love eachother. One to owl eachother back. In turn sinking the ship of tension.

ASHLEE SPEAKS!

did this take me a weeks to write... mhhh yeah!

Oh and ig Ember and Aries are good again?

I told my great grandpa (he's 85) that I write stories for fun and he wanted to see one so I showed him my rough draft for an original (I never planned to release it on wattpad) and he wanted to know everything about it LIKE IT MADE ME SO HAPPY AHH

THE GIRLFRIEND WHOS BETTER
THAN HER BOYFRIEND

Scarlett Johansson as KELSEY HART