James Potter struggling to ask you to the Yule Ball would include:
—› Trying and failing to catch you after classes
He could plan it like an extremely detailed and thought out stake out. Slouching against a wall with anxiety-ridden impatience as he waits for your Transfiguration lesson to wrap up. His hands are messing around with the rolled lint in his pockets as he goes over exactly how he's going to ask you. His own mind is his greatest enemy because it plays every single bad scenario of what could happen on repeat like a scratched record. Would you just say no in a flat and unimpressed tone? Merlin, would you laugh in his face and call the notion absurd? What if somebody already asked you? The very thought makes his stomach churn with unease as a familiar tightness builds in his chest. He's so wrapped up in his own fears that he doesn't even notice that your class ended and you had already left, not noticing him at all.
—› Maybe he'd have better luck at dinner? Yeah, no.
Sirius would be spinning some sort of idea for a prank in between bites bread while Remus implores him to slow down and not choke, but James? He's not paying attention at all. No, James was busy staring at how the lightning of the Great Hall seemed to bring out the vibrancy in your eyes. How your laugh—despite being dwarfed by the rambunctious noise around you—attracted him each and every time. "What's got you so mesmerized?" Peter questioned, drawing the attention of both Remus and Sirius who halted their light-hearted bickering. James could feel their eyes on him, burning holes through his robes with suspicion, but he didn't respond. Partially because he didn't know what to say, and partially because he just watched another chance to ask you fade away like smoke as you walked out of the great hall with a friend.
Better luck next time, Potter.
—› The Courtyard! It's winter, it's romantic, he just can't fail! Right?
James was nothing if not determined. This time nothing would go wrong, he'd been so sure of it. He knew your schedule like the back of his hand—he knew which corner of the library you'd hide away in when the world got too loud, when you'd take a nap to recharge your energy if you barely got any sleep the night prior—therefore, he knew you'd be under your favorite tree exactly at this time because it "helped you focus better". Unlike before, he actually was speaking to you, or at least he thought he was. His back was pressed against the opposite side of the bark, the ridges of the cold wood digging into his back. But he paid it no mind, he was more focused on not stumbling over his words. "I was hoping—really hoping—that you'd be my date... to the the Yule Ball?" He did it right? He asked, now it was just to wait for your response. Except it never came. James felt dread pool in the pit of his stomach, Merlin, you were thinking about how to let him down gently weren't you? Summoning the courage, he took a peek around the tree, bracing to see a look of pity, resignation–something. Only to see a completely different girl who's brown eyes were as wide as saucers, so obviously in disbelief—and what looked like her boyfriend striding towards him, on what looked like a war path.
Safe to say he never wants to experience that again.
—› It was that easy? Really??
It happened by chance. He had found himself climbing up to the Astrology tower to clear his head, maybe to bang his head against a wall, who knows. Then he saw you—ethereal and breath-taking as you always have been to him—slouched over the railing with your eyes closed as the setting sun bathed you in a warm light like it was a bloody paid actor. He should turn around, he shouldn't be here. James felt like he was interrupting a scene orchestrated by the divine. Then—to his possibly luck or horror—you looked up, your [eye colour] gaze meeting his. "James? What are you doing up here?" You asked, a smile immediately tugging on your lips without a second thought. Merlin, you smiled so easily around him, it made him positively sick.
He fumbled for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Fresh air?" He settled with lamely. Seriously, Potter? Fresh air?? Strike him down now. But you, sweet and merciful you, simply chuckled. A weight he hadn't even known was there was lifted off his shoulders. With a brand new (and possibly brief) sense of courage, he stepped up to your side, draping his elbows on the railing next to yours. Your arms were almost touching! He felt so giddy. "Why are you up here by yourself?" A conversation starter.
You blinked at him before a heavy sigh left your throat. For a second—he panicked. Maybe he shouldn't have asked? You're entitled to brooding in the Astronomy Tower just as much as anyone else!
"It's stupid." You finally spoke, your voice uncharacteristically small.
"Nothing that has you sighing like that is stupid, not to me." He replied with such conviction that it sent your stomach into knots.
A smile twitched upon your lips. "I don't have a date for the Yule Ball." You admitted sheepishly. "I was... hoping someone would ask me, but he hasn't yet." You said a bit pointedly, waiting for him to get the hint.
Oh, and James. Oh, sweet and painfully dense James Potter. He felt someone just him over the head with a snitch. Oh Merlin... You wanted him to ask you! That was it, wasn't it?
By George, I think he's got it!
James tried to casually clear his throat, though that couldn't dissuade the heat that began to creep up his neck like an enemy general during war who just found an opening. "You haven't been exactly... the easiest person to get ahold of, love."
Excuses. He told himself.
Gently, and ever so carefully, he grabbed onto your hand, intertwining your fingers with his like they were something sacred—and to James? Any part of you was sacred.
"Well then, will you be my date to the Yule Ball...?"
"Yes, James, I'd love to be your date."
He may have struggled here and there, but he got there! Eventually.
→ let's all as a society pretend that I posted this on Christmas, yeah? My last post of 2025, can't believe it's gone by so fast 💔 my first time writing for james! apologies if he's ooc, I'm just a girl trying her best </3
