A Girl's Best Friend {James}

[Katherine Finnigan]

"Broom kit? Check. Gloves...? Check," Katherine mumbled under her breath as she looked through the various items on each shelf of Quality Quidditch Supplies. It was, of course, her favourite shop in Diagon Alley but most of the time, all she was able to do was look. With the price of things the way they were, a new broom would be completely out of the question and her old guards were still perfectly useable. They might have been a bit worn...but nothing too serious really. Her gloves, on the other hand, were trashed beyond repair. She didn't really use them much but her mother at least insisted upon her acquiring a new pair so that she didn't hurt her pretty little hands. The only thing Kat had to utter in reply to that was a simple, "Bugger to that, I say! Bugger!

Nonetheless, the necessity did give her a chance to pay the shop a visit and give it a proper look around. Besides that, she was running a little low on her broom care supplies. It wasn't too expensive so she could pick up a new kit with the money she'd earned doing chores and helping her grandmum out over summer. Ah, yes, family chores. They usually amounted to a few washed dishes or a half mowed lawn before bets were placed on something and everyone was thoroughly distracted from the tasks at hand. Kat grinned broadly as she recalled one such dishwashing event that ended only once every last dish her grandmum owned was shattered across the back lawn. Bloody brilliant, that was!

A dreamy expression on her face, Katherine Finnigan strolled toward the back of the shop with her care kit tucked securely under one arm and her new gloves in her opposite hand. As she stopped near a rack of brooms, she came back from her reminiscent daze to see the newest, "top of the line" broom that had just come out only a few months prior. As her eyes moved across the silky smooth finish of the handle and down the flawless tip, Kat let out a soft sigh. It was more the type of sound most girls made when they were swooning over some random boy or another. "Sheer perfection," she said very softly to herself

[Katie]

It was a normal day in Diagon Alley, with people bustling about with enormous bags filled with magical supplies. Everywhere james went he could hear an old woman gossiping to her friends or a desperate salesman trying to sell something in his store. James loved these days.

James passed a number of stores as he walked through the busy street. Flourish & Blotts, the book store; the Magical Menagerie; Ollivander's Wand shop and Eeylop's Owl Emporium. All of these stores he had visited over the summer and was in no need of visiting them again. No, today, he was interested in visiting the best shop is Diagon Alley: Quality Quidditch Supplies. Not only was he going to the shop to pick up a new broom kit (the one his Aunt Hermione had bought him had been used up), he was interested in seeing the latest broom they had in stock. He had been saving up for some time now to buy an awesome new broom but all the times he had been to the shop he didn't have enough money. He was going to see the price of the newest broom today.

Upon entering the store, James saw an advertisement in the display window for a new broom kit. With a nod, he opened the door and went to find the kit. Once he had bought it, James quickly looked around for the display of the broom. Finally he spotted it in the back of the store. He made his way over, all the way focusing on the beautiful broom ahead of him. "Whoa..." he said quietly as he got close enough so that he was able to touch it if he wanted to. He noticed the girl beside him was admiring the broom too and he was about to make a remark to her about it, when he noticed who she was: Katherine Finnigan. He immediately removed his gaze from the girl and stared back at the broom.

[Katherine Finnigan]

Kat's attention was now fully focused on each intricate detail of the Firebolt Thirty-Six Hundred. She gazed at the broom in complete awe. From what she'd heard about it, the broom was able to stop at an instant and could handle tighter corners than any other broom made. Surely, flying had a lot to do with the person but it helped if you had a wicked good broom as well. This broom, the Firebolt Thirty-Six Hundred, was what dreams were made of. Well, Katherine's dreams anyway. It was the official broom of half the professional Quidditch teams in all of Europe...including her Irish National team. Oh how she yearned to just have one go on it.

"Bloody amazing innit?" Kat murmured, noticing that someone else had wandered to the same spot. Her eyes were still locked on the glossy finish of the broom so she hadn't quite realized to whom she was talking but it didn't matter at the moment. Her affection and attention was primarily on the expensive and showy broom just there in front of her eyes. Kat tucked her gloves under her arm, along with the broom kit so that she had a free hand. Reaching out, she let her fingertips gently graze the spot where she'd have sat if she was going to ride it. "Goes zero to ninety in under thirty seconds or summat," she mentioned knowingly, "Takes corners smoothly and maneuvers like a dream too...so I've read."

Just as she shifted her attention to the other occupant of the shop, she nearly choked on her last words. It was Potter. Mentally, she slapped herself for babbling on like some dazed sport fanatic. Well, she really was but she chastised herself for rambling on like she did to THE James Sirius Potter. Bugger! Smooth move Kat! Good one...real good. As quickly as she'd glanced at him, she returned her attention to the broom and instantly revoked her hand to let fall back at her side. She couldn't believe she'd actually just bumbled on like an idiot to one of the most popular boys in all of Hogwarts. Besides that, he was also friends with another of the most popular boys in school. If she didn't think he'd notice, she'd have physically slapped herself in the forehead for being so daft.

[Katie]

James tried to keep his gaze on the broom while Kat was talking. He was listening to every word she spoke, intently, but was finding it hard to look at her. He focused on the little details of the broom, in the back of his mind completely admiring it. Still, he had to pay attention to what Kat was saying, just incase she tried talking to him.

Kat was going on about how wonderful the broom was and James was in awe...only not just of the broom. It was perfect! There was a gorgeous girl who was just as interested in Qudditch as he was, standing right next to him! Putting one hand in his pocket and the other behind his neck, he let his focus wander over to her. He grinned a little when he noticed that she had noticed him.

"Takes corners smoothly and maneuvers like a dream too...so I've read."
With a nod, James said, "Yeah, yeah, i've read that too." He decided that he wasn't going to continue acting shy and actually talk to the girl. "I've been saving up for years for a good broom. Hopefully by the end of this year i'll have enough." He went back to admiring the broom, thinking about how much the price may be.

[Katherine Finnigan]

Katherine could easily feel her heartbeat increase just a little. Nerves. She swore she could hear her heart thumping away inside her chest. The best she could do was hope that it wasn't audible to anyone besides her. Even though her attenion was on the spectacular broom in front of her, she could just barely see James out of the corner of her eye. She half watched as he put his hand behind his neck and then it happened: he actually looked at her...AND she noticed that he was actually grinning.

Who wouldn't be grinning Kat? This is the bloody Firebolt Thirty-Six Hundred! she reassured herself. That was all it was. Surely, that had to be why he was grinning. That was, after all, what had them both standing at the back of the shop. She gave a very short nod, mostly to herself, and continued to gaze at the broom. Every so often, she would hazard a quick glance at Potter out of the corner of her eye. She was still a little dazed at the fact that he was actually talking to her even.

For as nervous as she was, talking sport always helped. Letting her eyes linger on the broom again, she gathered up the audacity to reply, "Good? This broom is the best out there. It's right expensive too. I'd give just about anything to have a go 'round on it just once though...anything. Did you know nearly all the professional teams in Europe have that same broom? Kat was so focused on talking and the broom, that she actually looked over at James again and realized, once more, who she was talking to. Her eyes instantly darted back to the broom once more.

[Katie]

James immediately realized that his grin must be making him look like a fool, so he quickly changed his expression to a look of awe...or atleast he thought that that was what his face looked like. It turned out as more of a look of surprise, so James just decided to tone it down on the facial expressions.

He cleared his throat and looked back at the broom. "Yeah. Yeah I did. The Irish Team has them." He said with a slight nod of his head. Her words were spoken with such a tone of awe, James actually believed that he had found someone that may actually like Quidditch more than him. James, personally, didn't think this was possible but the way she spoke made it evident that this was true. He thought this was amazing.

When he had made the comment about the Irish Team, he said it knowing that this was her favorite team. He grinned again, not caring how stupid he looked.

I'd give just about anything to have a go 'round on it just once though...anything.
"Oh, me too. I'd like, give up firewhiskey for a whole year." he chuckled. Then a thought popped into his head. A wonderful, clever, thought, that he was hopeful would work. "You know...if I have enough money to buy this awesome broom, I'll let you have a go on it. Free of charge. You won't even have to give anything up for it." He winked.

[Katherine Finnigan]

It was almost like the more they talked, the more comfortable she was actually starting to feel. So what if one of the most popular and sought after boys in ALL of Hogwarts was standing right beside her?! She could put away the silly girlish feelings for now. This was a discussion about Quidditch after all. Anything could be set aside for Quidditch as far as Katherine Finnigan was concerned. Quidditch and, of course, family.

Her eyes lit up the very instant that James mentioned the Irish National team. Sure, she'd been thinking about them but it was something completely different to have James Sirius Potter bring up that they had the Firebolt Thirty-Six Hundred. Glancing over at him, she couldn't help smiling brightly and giving him a short nod as she said, "They do...and they look brill this year. Might even make it to the cup again." It took everything she had to not blurt out her hopes for after this school year. She didn't want to jinx anything or come off like some over-the-top dreamer with some silly notion stuck in her head. As far as she was concerned, it was a serious goal...and one she intended to be successful at.

Just as Kat was about to make a comment on firewhiskey and how bad it was for a person when he started to talk again. If her eyes hadn't already been sparking with glee before, they certainly were now. Again, she felt her pulse pick up and a silly sort of grin grace her lips. She opened her mouth to speak but the words seemed to be frozen at the back of her throat. Fighting the urge to giggle and scream excitedly or to randomly hug him, she settled for blushing like mad and looking down at the floor as she managed a soft, "That'd be awesome."

Curse her nerves! They'd returned all over again. Quidditch or not, the mere notion that James Sirius Potter...THE James Sirius Potter...had actually suggested letting her have a go around on the broom if he bought it and the fact that he'd winked was enough to make her even more nervous than she'd been before.

[Katie]

James noticed that they way she was speaking was sort or more relaxed now, as was his speaking. Of course, he had been so nervous before that he might've spoke like he had a bad stutter, but now everything was better. It was more comfortable, you could say.

At the mention of the Irish Team actually making it to the cup again, James got really excited. "It would be amazing if they did. Ooh, man I would be at the game in a heartbeat." he said with a sure nod. "I have no idea how I would get enough galleons to get the ticket, but I am definitely there." He grinned at the sureness of his voice, knowing that his father probably wouldn't let him go. "Do y'think that you'd be able to go?"

He watched the girl blush terribly and look down at her feet and James felt like it was beating out of his chest. Yes! A blush and she's looking at her feet. Those are really good signs. Most every guy knew that when a girl would blush or giggle or look at her feet, she was flattered. James normally got this response when he talked to girls.

"Yeah...I just need to check the price..." He said as he started looking around the display. He wasn't positive he had enough, but he had been saving up for years, plus before he left for school his father had pulled him aside and handed him a few galleons with a wink. James hoped this would help. Finally he found the price tag and James's heart almost did beat out of his chest. "I...I think I have enough!" he realized he sounded like a complete idiot, but c'mon! He could buy the best broom there was!

[Katherine Finnigan]

"Merlin! It'd be the best thing ever if they did. They make the cup and I'm there. I know the tickets'll be expensive...but my uncle Fergus knows one of the reserves, I think they went to school together or something, so I can always beg him to get me tickets..." Thinking about it more, she smiled softly to herself. Just that THE James Sirius Potter was offering to let her ride the broom that he might have enough to buy...and free of charge...she nodded to herself as if approving of the decision she'd just made. Chancing a quick glance, she offered, "If I can get extra tickets, would you want to come along? I mean, if they make the World Cup, you know."

If nothing else, she was sure that her favourite uncle would gladly get her tickets just as a graduation present so that she and her friends could attend that match. She also knew that her father and uncles would probably be sitting somewhere else where they could watch the match as well as keep an eye on her. Protective much? Not that she really cared how protective her father and uncle were but it was an interesting thought all the same.

Katherine listenend and watched as James looked around the display for a price tag. She'd known the price right off the top of her head but it hadn't occured to her to say so. Instead, she stood there silently and watched him. She almost wanted to jump for joy when he said he thought he had enough. He might have been excited but she was just as jazzed about it as he was. The broom was, clearly, one of the best things in the world...so who wouldn't be excited?

[Katie]

James was about to practically hug Kat when she mentioned that she could get tickets for the World Cup that the Irish Team could possibly be making it to. "No way...really?" he said, half not believing, the other half excited as hell. "That would be so awesome if you could go!" James said. What came next was not really what James expected, but was very glad to hear her say it. "I would love to come along to the game with you." James said, giving her another wink as if it were his nature.

With the thought of actually going to the possible game with Kat and actually being able to buy the broom, it was a wonder that James wasn't running around the store with all the excitement that he had. He looked back at Kat with a stunned face, as if he didn't believe it himself that he had enough money to buy it. "Wait, wait." James said, trying not to get his hopes up if he didn't have enough. "Lemme count again..." he almost spoke like he was talking to himself. He reached into his pocket and took out a leather money pouch. Emptying it out onto the display table in front of him, he slowly counted the heap of galleons one by one. A few minutes passed and all James could hear was a ringing in his ears because of how fast his heart was beating. When he counted the last coin, he almost cried.

"I do have enough!" he exclaimed, overjoyed. He made an extreme mental note to write home to his father to tell him how gracious he was for the few galleons he gave him before coming to Hogwarts. Quickly, he pushed all of the galleons back into the leather bag and grinned over at Kat. "C'mon." he told her as he picked up one of the brooms that was behing the display case, his grin wider than ever. He walked over to the counter with a slight bounce to his step. "Oh wait till my friends see this..." he said to himself, chuckling.

[Katherine Finnigan]

Katherine nodded fervently in response to his disbelieving question. There would be no way in Merin's name that Katherin Finnigan would miss out on attending the World Cup match if her Irish National team made it. If she had to practically sell her life, minus family of course, she'd do it just for a ticket to the match. Then again, if the Irish had any scouts coming out to the last few Hogwarts matches, like so many other teams in Europe usually did from time to time, then she might just get to go anyway for the sake of being good enough. As all these thoughts swirled around in her head, a very dreamy smile seemed to grace her lips. Quidditch was her one true love and always would be.

Seeing him wink at her again and hearing him say that he'd go with her to the match, if the Irish made it, Katherine blushed again and let her eyes slowly wander back to the broom. Today couldn't have been any better unless the Irish team were to show up and invite her off with them right at that moment. Since that would't happen, she would settle for spending time with James Sirius Potter in the Quidditch shop talking about what could be was more than enough for Kat. Again, she nodded when he suggested that he recount his money to ensure that he had the proper amount for the broom. She wasn't exactly sure if he was talking to her or to himself but she was still excited all the same as she stood silently and watched him pour his money out to count.

She nearly jumped up and let out a yelp of glee when he exclaimed that he did, indeed, have enough to purchase the broom. Katherine was so happy for him and still excited about his offer. As she played his voice over again in her head, she could feel her heartbeat increasing even more. Oh how she hoped that this wasn't just some dream that she'd wake up from before it got to the good part! The instant he said "c'mon", she was torn from her thoughts to see that he was grinning. Without even a second of hesitation, she followed him to the counter with a smile etched upon her face as well. Excited! She was beyond just excited! Katherine was so excited that she could barely contain herself.

[Katie]

The ringing in his ears had died down a bit, as James had pretty much gone into shock. 'I can get the most amazing broom in the world. I can the most amazing bloody broom in the world.' This thought kept running through James's head, nonstop, making him grin wildly. He started to daydream about how much fun it was going to be using this broom in all the Quidditch games, and how Lucinda Malfoy's face was going to be priceless when she saw it.

"Excuse me, sir. Are you planning on buying that broom?"
The shopkeeper's voice snapped him back to reality. "Uh, yes! Yes I am!" He said enthusiastically. He reached into his pocket again for little leather pouch, giving Katherine another grin and wink. "Here you go." he said, handing the bag to the man. While the man was counting the money, James turned back to Kat and said, "You know, I was thinking. How about you come back to the castle with me now and have a go on the broom?" Secretly, he hoped that she would say yes. He was happy now that the awkwardness had cleared between them now, and hoped that it wouldn't return.

The shopkeeper finished counting the galleons and nodded to James. "Ooh, yes!" James said, taking the broom off of the counter. THE broom was finally his. The most amazing, fast, brilliant, ridden by National teams, broom was his. He turned to face Kat again. "So...you game?" he quirked his eyebrow up and gave her a mischievious grin.

[Katherine Finnigan]

Shoving her hands into her pockets, mostly to refrain from doing anything and to keep herself centred, Katherine stood silently a fair few steps off to the side from James. She was still beyond just excited about this. It might not have been her buying the broom but now she officially knew someone, personally, that owned the most amazing and fantastic broom in the whole entire world. That was just cause to be practically beaming as she stood just off to the side with her eyes locked on the brilliantly polished handle of the Firebolt Thirty-six Hundred.

Her complete and undivided attention on the broom, Kat managed to miss the additional wink that James gave her. Her thoughts and attention were broken only by the voice of James Sirius Potter as he began to address her. Turning her face to look over at him, she gave a slightly embarrassed smile and listened to his suggestion. Oddly enough, she didn't feel nearly as nervous or uncomfortable as she had before. Quidditch usually did that for her. She had to replay the words over in her head a second time after he'd said them to make sure that she'd actually heard what she thought she'd heard. Fortunately, the shopkeeper had distracted James for a moment to give her time to come up with an answer besides screaming excitedly.

Nodding adamantly, she agreed, "That'd be great. I'd love to. I mean, you don't mind or anything? I'd hate to be taking over on the broom you just bought and all..." As enthusiastic as Kat was about getting to have a go on the most brilliant broom in the world, she didn't want him to feel like he had to let her ride it. It was, after all, his broom and he'd just barely bought it. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt.

[Katie]

His heart soared when Katherine Finnigan, the girl he liked so much, agreed to come to the Quidditch Pitch with him. It was like his two favorite things coming together: Quidditch and girls, well one girl in particular, and he was so happy. At the mention of her not wanting to take over the broom, he could do little to suppress a grin.

"Please, Kat. I'd be happy for you to come and ride the broom. Actually, I would be hurt if you turned down my offer." He tried to keep his voice calm and cool, even though that was the complete opposite of how he felt.

"Now, shall we go?" He offered out his hand for her, hoping that she would take it so they could run out of here and back to the castle to go on the Pitch. He could hardly wait.

((so sorry for the exceedingly long wait {damn school} and the shortness of this post! my next post will be better!))

[Katherine Finnigan]

Katherine chanced a glance at the broom again as the shopkeeper finished counting the money that James had given him. She had to pull her eyes away from the broom after only a second or two so that she didn't end up staring. Likewise, she didn't want to end up staring, dreamy-eyed, at James while her mind was elsewhere. Instead, she watched the person behind the register until everything was taken care of. It was her safest option, to say the very least...until, of course, she heard James talking to her again.

Turning to face Potter, she couldn't keep the bright smile back. It was still so hard to believe that he was being so incredibly nice to her considering they hadn't ever really talked much before now. Still, though, she wasn't going to complain. This was like some sort of daydream that she hoped to never snap out of. Maybe it really was a daydream. Perhaps that was why she wasn't nearly as nervous as she was sure she'd be. With small grin, she cheekily replied, "Well, since we wouldn't want you to be mortally wounded, I suppose I couldn't possibly turn down your offer now, could I?"

It was hard to tell where her cheeky confidence came from considering the scenario but Quidditch and flying did tend to make her much more sure of herself than she would be otherwise. As such, when James offered his hand and asked if they should go, she thoughtlessly grabbed onto it and reminded him, "Don't forget the broom. Can't right well go flying without it."

{ooc: No worries at all. I can entirely understand that.}