A Step Above The Rest

It was the day before the Quidditch Cup finals. James thought that he would get some time alone to 'meditate' before he goes into a nervous breakdown. He pulled his cap further down to cover most of his features so as not to be recognized as he walked the city streets.

"Good God, are you James Potter?" a young man asked.

So much for not being recognized.

James flashed a grin forcefully. "A lot of people say that I do have a remarkable resemblance to him."

The man continued walking, disappointed. James was relieved that he wasn't asked any further. He was getting tired of signing autographs. He walked through the park being asked every once in a while about his identity and he would come up of some lame excuse every time. He approached a bench and sat down on it not noticing the woman that was sitting on the other side reading a book.

"You didn't even have the decency to ask whether that seat was taken, did you?" the woman asked, not looking up from her book.

James who had his head buried in his hands looked up at the woman, startled by her bluntness. "I'm sorry? Do you know who I am?"

The redheaded woman met his gaze. James has never seen such deep emerald eyes.

"Of course I do," she replied simply. "But does it matter who you are?"

James mouth twitched into a grin. He never broke their eye contact. "Do you have something against me?" he asked with a hint of cockiness in his voice.

"Typical," her last comment was a mutter but it was audible nonetheless.

"Define 'typical'."

"Well, I asked you whether you had the courtesy to ask me whether the seat was occupied and you immediately relied on your status as an excuse for your behaviour. You expect me to forgive you instantly because of what you are. Just because you're some big superstar, it doesn't mean that you own the world and everything in it. You didn't even bother to apologize and you still dare to act like you did no wrong," she explained. "Typical," she repeated smugly then returned to reading.

James jaw dropped. This woman actually had the nerve accuse him of such a thing. She hardly knew him but she was judging him as though he was one of her books. James was deeply fascinated. Simply because she wasn't mesmerized by his image. James had to say something. He was sure he looked like an idiot, gaping there like a goldfish.

James cleared his throat. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "So, is this seat taken?"

The woman looked up from her book again. She raised an eyebrow. "No."

There was a moment of silence before the woman stood up. James watched her as she gathered her other books that were stacked neatly beside her.

Before she left, she gave James a quick word. "It's been nice conversing with you, Mr Potter."

She turned to leave.

"She's leaving, James. You might never see her again," James thought. "Get her name for God's sake!"

"Excuse me, " he called out as she walked off, "it isn't fair for you to leave me with no knowledge of your name when you know mine."

The woman turned around to face him with a smirk on her flawless face. "It isn't my fault that everybody knows your name, is it?"

"So, you're not going to tell me?"

"What do you think?" the woman gave one last wave before she exited the park.

"Feisty, that one is," James thought, smiling. "Not bad looking either."

**********

Arabella Figg entered her living room, surprised to see her flat mate and best friend, Lily Evans, curled on the couch reading a book.

"I thought you went to the park," Arabella spoke up.

"I did," Lily replied, "It got noisy so I decided to leave."

Arabella didn't quite believe her friend. Lily has always spent her afternoon reading in the park for a few hours and she has never minded the noise there. She returned only after half an hour that day. Arabella grew suspicious.

"Did anything happen while you were there?" Arabella asked innocently.

"No." Lily answered a little too quickly.

"Liar."

"Bu.. wha.. ho.. yo-" Lily sputtered.

"Enough said," Arabella stated with finality. "Spill."

"I met James Potter in the park and I was rude to him and I didn't know what to do an-" Lily said all of this very fast.

"Wait, wait, wait, Lil. Back up a bit," Arabella said, rolling her arms back. She then asked incredulously, "You met James Potter? THE James Potter? Cute and amazingly attractive Quidditch star James Potter?"

"What? He's cute but not thaaaat cute. He's alright. Quite arrogant actually," Lily said matter-of-factly. She couldn't believe her friend was acting like he was GOD.

"Well, duh! He's got the world at his fingertips!"

"Erm, I kinda told him otherwise."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I think it's somewhere along the lines of 'just because you're some big superstar, it doesn't mean that you own the world and everything in it'."

"You told him that?"

"Well, yeah. But it's OK. It's not like we're going to meet anytime soon. He can't sue me," Lily pointed out.

"That isn't exactly true."

"Wha.. what do you mean?" Lily asked in a voice that was too high to be hers.

"I got us Top Box tickets for the Quidditch match tomorrow. It was supposed to be a surprise," Arabella admitted. She knew Lily liked Quidditch and since she was working at the Ministry, she begged her boss to sponsor her some free tickets.

"WHAT?"

"This is the thanks I get?"

"Oh, Belle. Thank you but I can't. I just can't."

"Come on, Lil. The stadium is huge and he can't possibly zoom in on you. He has met tons of people. He probably won't recognize you."

"Gee, that boosted my confidence level," Lily commented sarcastically.

"You have to go! It's the most happening event this summer!" Arabella pleaded.

Lily threw her hands up and surrendered. "Fine, fine. I'll go. But if James Potter sues me, it'll be your fault that you lost your best friend."

**********