DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER | Renee

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James could officially walk around on his crutches since being attacked by The Dark Lady and was actually enjoying his summer. The family would be taking off for the United States in a few days and James knew that, in preparation for the trip, he needed to make an over-due stop at his uncle's joke shop. James knew he couldn't pass up opportunities at pranking his cousins and siblings while in the U.S. James might have looked like a walking target for death, but he didn't feel that way. He was more protective of his family more than anything else. Worries about himself were nonexistent, practically, though at night he often found a new fear of the window at his bedside. How easy it would be, he thought, for The Dark Lady to come in and snatch him - or to finish off the job she started weeks prior.

He bit his lower lip as he limped into the joke shop in Diagon Alley, the thoughts of what happened at the attack blurring his concentration. That soon became clear, however, as his Uncle George came at him, clapping him on the back and greeting him as always. James grinned and exchanged banter with him, then watched as his uncle disappeared to deal with a group of kids messing around near the love potions. James chuckled and made his way toward a new section of the shop that he had yet to venture; new things in a joke shop should not have been so comforting.

RENEE CORRINE FOSTER

[RENEE CORRINE FOSTER]

Renee often found herself wandering Diagon Alley. She had made a habit of not doing all of her shopping in one day, so walking around Diagon Alley on her more bored days really solved the shopping for the following school year issue. She wasn't an ordinary girl, she actually didn't enjoy shopping. Though, shopping for clothes was a completely different thing. She loved that. Shopping for anything other than that just seemed boring. Today was slightly different, she was becoming more and more intact with her goofy side. She knew she hadn't ever been into the Joke Shop owned by the Weasley Family, but she had never really played a prank either. Her excitement and enticement towards the shop pulled her in. She put her random shopping on hold and took her entrance.

At first glance she saw someone who really resembled a Weasley. Could it be George, the man who she heard was the owner? She nodded, shrugging, and watched as he dealt with kids in a section of the store that looked to be the display of love potions. She giggled slightly. Renee had a laugh that was innocent and sweet. It resembled her face, however, not her Slytherin housing. Absent minded, she followed the trail of the Potter boy, not even noticing him. She was directly on the other side of the shelves looking at a few items that seemed to resemble glue-related pranks. She picked one up. Renee giggled again, reading some of the explanations. "These are funny." she stated to anyone who was listening, flipping over the box she had picked up. This shop made her smile, constantly, and she just couldn't help it. As her eyes glanced her surroundings, she saw a familiar boy. A slight blush came across her cheeks. He was cute, and obviously had heard her.

JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

It seemed that Uncle George was awaiting a shipment in stock for James could clearly see through the shelf to the girl standing directly across from him. He chuckled at her statement and nodded.
"Those are a fair riot, actually," James said and looked down at the item in the girl's hands."Ever-Sticking Discs - they're not really ever-sticking though...but they could definitely leave your enemy in a chair for a couple of days if they weren't paying attention before they sat down," James chuckled. He had certainly debated on using them on Scorpius Malfoy a few years prior, but never brought himself to do it. No, they had enough tension as it was to be playing mindless pranks on each other. James left those sorts of things to his family and friends.

"You're familiar - have we had any classes together?" James asked as he looked up from the discs in her hand to meet her eyes. Now that he got a proper look at her, she was quite pretty. He grinned at her as he awaited her answer, shaking his shaggy hair to the side and leaning on his crutches for support.

RENEE CORRINE FOSTER

[RENEE CORRINE FOSTER]

When he began talking to her, she recognized the voice. He had a distinct and familiar one, which took her mind to remember exactly who he was. Of course, she had only met him once or twice--maybe had a class or two with him, but his name was John.. Or Jakob... (jingleheimerschmidt?) No maybe.. was it James? She tried to remember, but took a better listen to what he had to say, and forgot about it. Clearly, she didn't know who he was. She laughed, the thought of sticking Dean to a chair for a few days made her think about it. She shook her head slightly, "That could be just unfair." She muttered, with a small grin on her face.

She placed the box back on the shelf and looked back to the boy. "We might have been, but I think you are a bit older than me? Are you just graduated?" she was curious. She knew he was older, so that would mean either he is going to be a seventh year, or is just graduated. He didn't look young enough to still be in school though, but she shrugged it off and waited for the answer. He did kind of resemble that Harry Potter character, could he be his son? Renee beamed as he waved his hair, and then noticed he was on crutches. She was a bit taken back. She hadn't seen them before, and was curious as to why not.

She walked around the shelf and came around the corner with a smile. "So, you do look kind of familiar. What is your name?" She was curious. She took her fingers and began playing with the tips of her nails. This was a habit she picked up because she always felt like she never really knew what to do with her hands when she was just standing around talking to someone. It was also partly because it came from her nerves as well.

JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James' ears perked up as she muttered to herself and, honestly, James didn't hear a word of it. He went on smiling though, his eyes shifting to a pair of Shaky Brooms wobbling about in their box as to not look awkward. When he looked back up, the girl had rounded the corner and was now beaming up at him. Her smile was infectious - he couldn't help but return it. When she asked if he'd just graduated, it took him a moment to realize that, yes, he had. It hadn't been that long since he departed from the famous wizarding school and the haunting idea that he'd never return there was a bit unsettling. Still, it was life. "Yea, just graduated," he answered with a nod. James wondered if that would effect her decision of continuing to talk to him or not.

It wasn't often that James formally met someone that he hadn't before. After all, Hogwarts wasn't that big of a school so getting to know the people around you didn't prove difficult. Still, James enjoyed the couple people he'd never met before as they all seemed to turn out pretty good friends of his. Most people did, really. James didn't prejudice much but Slytherins always kept him on his toes. Some of them were definitely alright - but some of them were certainly not, and it was difficult to differentiate the two. Occasionally, though, James found himself in good company with a Slytherin and it was a welcomed surprise to his everyday life. If the girl in front of him were a Slytherin then she certainly hid it well behind that gorgeous smile.

He chuckled when she outright asked his name. "James Potter, and you are...?" he asked as he extended his hand, his elbow stabilizing the crutch beneath his arm. At first James had only been able to get around by wheelchair, but now he was up to using crutches. When you had to use them for a while, you got used to them pretty quickly. James could now actually play around and do things while on his crutches as opposed to when he first got on them; at that time, he could barely walk with them at all.

RENEE CORRINE FOSTER

[RENEE CORRINE FOSTER]

She smiled. This actually made her very happy. It meant he wasn't immature. She laughed to herself. It had been a very long time since she met a guy she was nervous to talk to because she usually was just one of the guys. She took her hands to her hair and pulled it all to her left shoulder and ran her fingers through. "That is good to hear! How do you like being an adult--officially?" She asked with a expectant grin. She could hear him now saying that he loved it and it was better than being a kid.

Renee hadn't really met any of the Weasleys or Potters before, which was odd. She knew of them, seen some in passing, but wasn't really a friend to any of them. She had no problems with any of them really, except for that Rose girl. She did have quite the crush on Scorp throughout the years, but she never expressed anything. He was a Potter--James Potter-- he had to be a Gryffindor grad. They had really good heads on their shoulders and at that notion, she smiled. He was intelligent, that was for sure. Though, his crutches did seem a bit out of place. Why did he need them? Was that the attack she had heard about?

His name rung a bell, but which bell? She was so social, and beside him being a Potter, she couldn't remember where she had seen his face often. "Well, nice to meet you James!" she said sweetly. It wasn't like it wasn't, he was adorable. "My name is Renee Foster," she said with her plain, easy going smile. "Most of my friends just call me Ren." She spoke, nodding her head. Her hands were back to her finger nails. They were pretty, just grown out no polish, but strong and definite. She checked out his body slightly, then tried to cover it up, "Um... So.. What happened?" she stumbled through finding words. "I mean.. Why the crutches?" she giggled nervously but soft.

JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James chuckled at Renee. "Well it's uh...fun?" he said and then laughed. "Adult life is great for the freedom and stuff, but being Seeker for Puddlemere United is probably the best part of it," James said with a nod. If you had asked James in his sixth year if he would be an Auror or a Quidditch Player, he couldn't have been able to answer properly. It took James nearly half of his seventh year to even take up the offer from Puddlemere United to become their Seeker. Honestly, it was the best choice he could have made for himself. Aurors are great and all, and James respects them a whole lot, but being on a broom is James' calling and he was completely happy with his final career choice.

"Ah well, it's nice to meet you, Ren," he said with his nose in the air playfully. James chuckled and took her hand, planting a quick kiss on the back of it and grinning up at her from behind her flesh. "A pleasure," he said with a grin. He released her hand and shook his shaggy hair to the side. At the mention of his crutches, James sighed and looked down at the very things holding him up. He gulped and looked back up to her face, shaking his head. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her it was just...well, a bit difficult. Most people that he associated with already knew the story of what happened. Renee was, actually, the very first 'outsider' that hadn't heard the tale.

James knew, however, that there was no real way getting around this conversation. He was sure that, being as sweet as she was, Ren would understand if he said that he didn't want to discuss it. That said, James didn't want to hide it from her. It was better to let it out in the open. She should know who she was hanging out with - a person that The Dark Lady sought to destroy. "I got attacked at the beginning of summer, actually," he said with a nod. "I went under the Cruciatus Curse...and my body just couldn't withstand that kind of power," he said and shrugged. He tried not to make it as big of a deal as it might have seemed, although it really was a huge deal. The use of an Unforgivable Curse was nothing to take lightly.

RENEE CORRINE FOSTER

[RENEE CORRINE FOSTER]

She giggled, placing her hand to her mouth. "You don't seem all that happy. But I'm glad you are enjoying it, regardless." Yeah. She heard that. He was a professional quidditch player? That would explain his fit figure and strong features. Could that also explain the crutches? She was curious. She hadn't really met anyone in professional quidditch before. Sure, she knew a lot of the player in the teams at Hogwarts, she wouldn't dare miss a game. Those were the perfect opportunity for her to show off her tomboy side by hanging out with Arley and some other boys and her competitive edge.

She nodded in agreement with a kind smile. She was completely taken back once he grabbed her hand. She was so used to guys offering her high fives and bro-hugs. James was making her feel like a lady again, and she wasn't hating it. She blushed and with her free hand, she brushed her hair from her eyes. She giggled slightly once he released her hand, "What a gentleman." She bit her bottom lip with a small smile. "You're.. different." she said with a mysterious intent. He was different. More chivalrous than any guy she had ever met, and she only knew him what? Five ten minutes? He was gently, sweet, and kind. "Oh no... Pleasure's mine." She beamed.

She knew going into a conversation about any kind of injury could prove challenging. She wasn't really looking forward to a dark answer, but the Quidditch image she had thought up before was nothing she heard. As he talked about the Dark Lady, her face turned a bit sour. She was so glad she didn't kill him, and decided to try and lighten the mood. She assumed, he really didn't want to stay on that topic, "That tart will get what's coming to her.. I mean, how could she do that to someone with such an adorable face?" She tried. But it came out odd, she laughed at herself and hoped he wouldn't feel awkward from that. "So, how about you quidditch players?" She crinkled her nose with a small smile.

JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James raised an eyebrow. He never figured that he didn't seem happy before. Did he really come off that way? James generally was happy but he supposed...deep down...he was pretty incomplete, actually. Renee might not have known the emotional journey and mental trip she sent him on, but it was definitely a deep one. James wasn't sure why his life wasn't fitting up to his standards. Maybe it was the ever-looming threat of death that had him caught off guard. After all, The Dark Lady had come out of nowhere and attacked him and his cousins like it was absolutely nothing to her. James was strange, emotionally, and he wasn't sure how to really change it. Maybe it couldn't be changed after all he'd been through - maybe he was stuck like this.

He found himself perking up, though, as Ren seemed pleasant with his gesture. "Is different...good?" James asked with a laugh. Sometimes different wasn't good, after all. Judging by the smile on her face, James could imagine that she meant it in a good way...but it was definitely always better to check.

James chuckled as she mentioned his adorable face and shook her head. "Thanks, Ren," he said and pushed some of his hair back out of his face. "No, she'll definitely get what's coming to her," he said, attempting to hide his vengeful side. James was a part of the Order of the Phoenix and he was going to get revenge on that pathetic monster someday. He knew he wasn't strong enough to take on the lady by himself, not yet, but he knew one day it would ultimately come to that. War was brewing and maybe Ren didn't know it - and maybe he wished he didn't know it either. "So, Ren, were you just looking around? Would you maybe want to go grab lunch?"

RENEE CORRINE FOSTER

[RENEE CORRINE FOSTER]

He watched his face. She hoped that she wasn't being too blunt, but she couldn't help herself. Her Slytherin had to be expressed in some way, shape, or form. She stumbled to correct herself, "What... What I meant was, you seem... distant toward the subject.." She looked down for a moment. It was most likely his confidence in life at the moment. It wasn't everyday someone was deemed immobile and for proceeding months, injured, by the leader of the dark forced that threatened the good side. She put her hand on his, "Sorry, that was... insensitive.." She looked back up at him and pulled her hand back.

As the mood between them changed, she smiled brightly. She didn't want to continue those down conversations. "Different is... a lot better. than. similar." she said, as she found words throughout the sentence. She chuckled slightly and slowly blinked. "It's good." She smiled brightly. His intentions seemed honest, and he was being very kind. She was certainly not used to this kind of attention.

"Like I always say, there is no need to thank the truth. I was just stating a fact." her cheeks became red. She was being too blunt, too bold even for her. She giggled nervously. "Yeah... the torture curse for hours.... if she's lucky" Her darker side came out just a bit. She could be cynical when she needed to be, but it never was taken out of hand. She tried to recover from that. She laughed it off, "Sorry, just... Strong feelings for anyone who takes prey on anyone significantly younger than her... Hiding in the shadow..." She slowed her words and shook her head. "Onto.. happier topics!?" she said with a chipper smile than prior.

"Honestly, I needed some space from my house..." The summer had been nice. She had spent most of it writing music and playing her guitar and singing. Though, a week of that could deem her restless, which it had. She made her way to the joke shop as a ploy to possibly find something to mess with Dean with. "Well, I was just getting away from my guitar... Looking for a prank or two." she swooned innocently, "But I could eat." she nodded.

JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James shook his head. "It wasn't insensitive, you're fine, Ren," he said with a nod. "It just got me thinking is all," he said with a nod. James didn't want her thinking that she had hurt her feelings. It wasn't like that, really. No, James simply had a sort of revelation from Renee's words.

"A lot better than similar, ya?" he asked and laughed. James nodded as she said it was good, shaking his head as he continued to chuckle. "Well I'm glad it's good then," he laughed, looking down at his shoes momentarily. He looked back up at her and mentally thanked her for her humor. It wasn't often that James had something to laugh about, what with the current climate of things. For that, he was grateful for their official meeting.

He nodded, understanding. He, too, needed to get out of the house, so her mention of doing so herself connected them. James shrugged and shook his hair out of his face slightly. "If you're not up to it, that's okay too," he said, not wanting to pressure her into doing anything she didn't want. "But it'd be great to get to know each other," James added with a grin. He was curious as to how they really hadn't met before - but, then again, she was younger, so there was that. And she was definitely not in Gryffindor which, unfortunately, made it rather difficult. See it was fine to mingle with other houses, but because one is sorted into a house, you generally got closer to those in your house and especially your roommates. That wasn't to say that it was impossible to get close with people of other houses because he'd done so himself, but being in the same house made a friendship that much easier to blossom.

RENEE CORRINE FOSTER

[RENEE CORRINE FOSTER]

Made him think? This peeked her curiosity. She had always had an over curiousness that consumed her. She would become so involved in things until she learned everything there was to know about something, or someone. "Care to... elaborate that a bit more?" If he didn't want to, she wouldn't pry, but she was just so very intrigued. She liked knowing what people were thinking about.

She felt the need to explain. It wasn't like it was a hard explanation, she just didn't want to sound all--oh I hang out with a million guys-- but it needed to be clarified. "I just.. have a lot of guy friends, and you aren't like them.." She couldn't help but realize just how awfully slutty that made her sound. "I mean.. you just rub me differently." Yeah Renee, not a good choice of words either. She became flustered, "No, I.. I mean, you're someone.. I just.. Errr--" she giggled nervously. She wasn't sure what exactly she could say to make this sound any better, but she hoped he would understand. She shook her head slightly, "You're... actually worthy of being a girl around." Hopefully that would clear things up, and... not make the rounds back to Arley or River....

She heard that loud and clear. Of course she wanted to. She was hungry, and passing up an opportunity to hang out with him more wasn't exactly in her plans. She smiled sweetly, "Oh no, we are going. And I'm buying!" She gave him a nod and turned around slowly. "After you, crutch." She said with a giggle. "And yeah, getting to know each other does sound like a lot more fun than not doing so." Her flirtatious giggle continued, and she waited for him to start toward the door. She wouldn't want to be rude.

JAMES SIRIUS POTTER