A Place in this world || OPEN

[SARAH JANE FINNIGAN]

I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in this world

Sarah Jane Finnigan was the perfect Gryffindor. She was the product of a marriage between two other loyal Gryffindors and she planned to make her parents proud by being as loyal to their house as they were. Sarah didn’t have to try too hard to be loyal; it was just part of her nature. Part of the way she was brought up, she supposed. She couldn’t think of life any other way. Not getting up and putting on the black robes with the red and orange tie every day, not following (or sometimes, leading) her friends to classes. Not playing Quidditch with the rest of her house roaring “GO GO GRYFFINDOR!” from the stands. It didn’t seem like it was possible to have a life outside of being a Gryffindor. At least, not a life that Sarah Jane would want for herself.

The Gryffidnor sat in the common room wondering about the upcoming Halloween Masquerade ball. She hadn’t been asked, but that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Sarah was rarely seen as the type of girl who would make a good date to the ball. She wasn’t exactly graceful. Or girly. Most people, she was sure, saw her as one of the boys. Other people judged her or cast her aside due to some of her weird habits. Sarah was known to miss classes, or show up way later than everyone else. Of course, this was due to her visions. Something she couldn’t control. But no one knew about them. No one but her family. She heard what people used to say about her great aunt, she was a fraud, a cheat, a liar. She didn’t want that kind of treatment from everyone around the castle every day.

Sarah wondered for a moment who the rest of her friends were going to the ball with. She wondered if James had plucked up the courage to ask anybody yet. Maybe Sarah would still go to the ball; she would just have to go alone. And she was okay with that. She’d find a friend or two who also had gone stag and they’d dance and have fun together or in a group. That’s what this ball was about, was it not? A night to have fun. Sarah got up and walked over to the fire place. She had just started tending to the fire when she heard the portrait hole swing open. That was odd; it was late for someone to be coming in.

WORDS: 414
NOTES: Loving this new character
SONG: A Place In This World -Taylor Swift
TAG: OPEN to any Gryffindor

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

The night was young as far as James Potter was concerned. Concealed under the comfortable Invisibility Cloak, James ventured off from the Great Hall after dinner and hurried out to the grounds out the back door of the castle. Once he figured he was alone, he changed into his dog form and ran across the grounds with his clothes hanging from his mouth. His four legs carried him to the boathouse on the Black Lake and he went inside, dropping his clothes and laying down on the dock.

James spent a couple hours there in his dog form, watching the sun set. The moon rose into the sky with vibrancy, illuminating the darkness around him and setting the scene for bright stars to accompany it. James shook his head as he finally found the motivation to get up and explore the grounds before heading into the castle. James left his clothes in the boathouse, figuring it would be easier than dragging them about with him wherever he went. Plus, it made for less of a chance of being spotted.

His golden fur bounced up and down as he ran across the empty grounds. James had nothing in mind as he ran about. He simply wanted to get rid of some of the energy he had before being pent up in the Gryffindor Common Room all night. Sometimes it was cozy, other times it felt like being in a prison. Sometimes he wished he could fly or create a makeshift ladder so he could climb down from the tower and onto the grounds. James couldn't imagine what the people of Azkaban felt like being in a literal prison day in and day out. Of course, they deserved to be in there, but still. Must be pretty exhausting staring at the same four walls every day. James would go insane.

Finally deciding it was time to head up to the common room, James returned to the boathouse and changed back into his human form. "At least I'm tired now," he chuckled to himself as he slipped back into his clothes. He threw the Invisibility Cloak over top of his house robes before trailing up the lawn and retreating back into the castle. It was quiet and somewhat dark, but with his wand in his hand James had nothing to fear. At least, that's what he told himself as shadows crept toward him from around every corner. The changing staircases eventually helped him up to the Gryffindor tower and he entered the portrait hole - invisible still.

James couldn't have picked a better moment to scare Sarah Finnigan as she was huddled over the fire, trying to get it perking up again. However, James wasn't really in the mood for pranks and decided to reveal himself instead of making a fuss. Besides, the Head of House might come to see what the yelling was about, and would land them both in trouble. James took off his cloak and smiled at Sarah. He hopped over a side table and settled down into the couch, grinning at his friend. "You're up late," he said, chuckling softly. He knew she'd have something to say about his own late arrival to the common room.

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND

[SARAH JANE FINNIGAN]

I'm just a girl trying to find a place in this world.

Sarah used her want to add a few logs to the fire and turn the logs that were already there. It was cold outside and during her first year at Hogwarts, Sarah discovered that the castle, particularly the common room was very drafty and often made their efforts at staying warm less than worth it. She was determined to keep this fire going. It was nights like these that Sarah felt most bad for the Slytherins. It must have been extremely cold for them, having their common room under the black lake. She wondered if their windows would freeze over when the lake did in the middle of December. Perhaps if she ever befriended a Slytherin, she’d have to ask them. The odds of that happening weren’t very high. Sarah was a true Gryffindor. She cared the natural house hatred for the house of the Serpent, a trait she inherited from her parents. She wouldn’t socialize with a Slytherin very much, if at all. Luckily, besides classes, she didn’t much have to.

The Gryffindor stood up and rolled her eyes playfully as James Potter strutted into the common room with his clock. “Ahh, it’s you.” She smirked and took a seat into the large arm chair that she was in before she got up to tend the fire. “Yeah… couldn’t sleep.” She admitted. She hadn’t really tried though. After dinner, the Gryffindor had come up to the common room and curled up in her chair with one of her class books that she needed to study for her exam, she hadn’t noticed that she was the last one awake until she got up to tend the fire and saw that she was alone. “You’re out late…” She added with her eyebrows raised. She wasn’t one to lecture anyone for breaking the rules, that wasn’t Sarah. She was always up for a little rule breaking as long as it didn’t hurt anyone. But she was rather curious. What had he been up to?

WORDS: 332
NOTES:
SONG: A Place in this world -Taylor Swift
TAG: JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course you couldn't - you never sleep like a normal person," James said with a laugh, shaking his hair back. He stretched out his legs and arms which, from a side-effect of shifting, felt cramped. His eyes found the flickering flames of the fire and watched it dance. The warmth was pleasant, but he knew it would take hours of its blaze to warm the entire Gryffindor tower. That was the unfortunate thing about being a Gryffindor - or Ravenclaw too, he guessed. The towers were drafty homes to find residence and it was only in the spring that the weather was accommodating enough to sleep peacefully in. Thankfully, James had got rather used to it over the years. Still, with each freezing winter, it felt less and less like home.

"Yea, well, you know," James laughed. "I was out and about...exploring the grounds in my furry condition," he winked, then yawned rather loudly. "Needed to get out some energy before coming back to the tower but you know...I'm pretty tired now," he said, then crawled down onto the floor and sprawled out, laying his arm down and resting his head in the crevice between his elbow and upper arm. The heat of the fire burned against his cheeks as he neared closer to it, going from being on the couch to on the floor, but it took little to no time for him to get used to it. "Come lay with me Sare-bear," he said softly, taking in a deep breath. It wasn't like the two of them laying by the fire talking was unusual - in fact, they did it quite frequently. Especially as children. Maybe that's why James used to be so carefree and light-hearted and, as of late, had become a bit stiffer than his usual self.

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND

[SARAH JANE FINNIGAN]

I'm just a girl trying to find a place in this world.

Sarah laughed at his comment. It was true; she often had a hard time falling asleep. And once she were asleep, staying asleep. She used to put herself under sleeping charms just to get to bed at night during her fifth year, which was a particularly bad year for her visions. Not only had she seen several people suffer fatal accidents, but she saw her great aunt take sick. The very aunt who gave her the ability to see into the future. “What can I say; I’m not a normal person.” The girl giggled. She of course, meant this based on more than just her sleeping habits, but she hadn’t told James about her ability. That was something she always wanted to do. She trusted James Potter, he was her best friend. But it was still a big secret to tell anyone. Though, he had trusted her with his secret…

“I always preferred you as a dog.” Sarah teased with a serious voice but a playful smile. “You’re a lot cuddlier that way.” She bit the tip of her tongue a little, trying to hide a smirk. One of her favorite pass times was teasing James, it always had been. Even back when they were young the two would tease each other. Sarah watched as he climbed down from the sofa and onto the floor. She didn’t think he would be very comfortable down there, seeing as the floor was hard wood, but he seemed comfortable enough. “Lay with you? You’re lying on a wood floor. It’d be cold.” She said but shrugged and got down with him anyway, laying the same way he had, with her head tucked between her elbow and her upper arm. “Fine, happy now?” Sarah knew that if anyone were to walk in, they’d think this was much more than it was. Sarah and James had been friends forever, they did this fairly often. It was just part of their relationship.

WORDS: 326
NOTES:
SONG: A place in this world -Taylor Swift
TAG: JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

Laughing, he managed to say, "You're right - definitely not a normal person Finnigan!" James quieted down and continued to lay peacefully in his spot. Despite the wooden floor beneath him he was actually quite comfortable. Being so close to the fire made it feel cozy. Fires always did James in; he could fall asleep quickly next to them. Something about the crackles and random pops of the flames, and the way the heat casually warmed his face created an overall sleepiness that James could not deny. It was a good thing at present because it was near his time to go to sleep. Before he entered the common room he couldn't even think about laying down his head but on the floor by the fire tricked James into desiring to find a pillow.

He pretended to gasp exasperatedly and buried his face in his arm. "So mean!" James' muffled voice said before he looked up with a grin. James knew Sarah would know he was joking the whole time; when did he ever get offended by something so petty? Never. If he had, James would be living a life full of torment and horror due to some of the things people said about him. And, well, to him. Sure some of it hurt but James brushed off most things because he couldn't be bothered to get hung up on every little thing people had to say. Being a Potter meant having tough skin, because if you didn't you'd get far too upset. Sometimes he wondered how little Lily handled the pressures of being a Potter, as well, but he tried not to worry about her as much now that she was a fifth year. She was independent and could handle herself - but, as her big brother, James still worried sometimes. It was his job, after all. "Quite, thank you," James answered matter-of-factly as Sarah joined him on the floor. He smirked at her before brushing some hair from her face. "Wonder what people would say if I showed up to class in my dog form - now that'd be hilarious. And I betcha I'd get a lot of 'he's so cuddly' comments. Nice suggestion, Sarah," James laughed, winking and then sighing. "How was your day though? Everything go alright?" he asked, then leaned his head in a little closer to add, "Prank any Slytherins?" James grinned. If anyone had more Gryffindor pride than him it was Sarah. And with both of their love for pulling pranks, it would thrill him to no end if Sarah admitted to doing something toward the prats in the school who most deserved it.

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND

[SARAH JANE FINNIGAN]

I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in this world.

A part of Sarah envied James for letting the world know that he was different. However, he had chosen to do this, it wasn’t something that he was born with. However, she knew it wasn’t something that would just go away either, but if he got tired of it, he could just stop changing and chose to life his life as a normal wizard like most of the other students here. Sarah would never be able to turn her inner eye off. She had tried though, trust her, she had. Nothing worked and she’d always end up with a splitting headache when she was done. “Well neither are you, Potter so don’t get too cocky.” She laughed. Sarah truly did want to tell James. However, this wasn’t the right time. She was sure that as soon as she would say it, someone would walk in, or maybe he’d get upset that she had been keeping such a big secret from him when he told her everything. This would be a complicated situation, she’d have to wait for the right time, she thought.

Sarah hadn’t meant her comment to offend James; she knew it would take a lot more than saying that he was cuddly to offend him. Maybe if she brought up the flees then he’d bite. The girl smirked and shook that out of her head. She had just been teasing him, something they had always done to one another. “I’m sure if you showed up to class in your dog form the teachers would be more thrilled than the girls trying to awe at how cute you were.” She smirked and bit her lower lip, keeping back a little laugh. Seeing the situation playing out in her head was rather amusing. However, the Gryffindor sighed, “Nah, nothing lately. I’ve been living in the library, the Potions Master says we have to brew perfect antidotes and he’s testing them by giving us a poison… bloody prat. Probably just talk though. I can’t really see him doing that.” Sarah admitted and ran a hand through her blonde hair, brushing it back behind her. “If a certain dog wanted to show up to that class, that might be okay, though.” She teased, not at all being serious.

WORDS: 376
NOTES:
SONG: A place in this world- Taylor Swift
TAG: JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

"Oh but haven't you heard? I'm the cockiest person around," James laughed, knowing that he and Sarah both knew it wasn't all that true. Sure James was confident and he could be a bit cocky at times but in the end he knew there were much more brilliant people at Hogwarts than him and that there were far more skilled wizards in the world. A lot of people thought James didn't realize this, though. They assumed that just because he was confident in the abilities that he had, that he didn't recognize the abilities other people had. That simply wasn't the case - at all, in fact, because he was preparing the rebirth of Dumbledore's Army and needed to get people with talent into the Army not only to help him teach those who needed assistance in dueling skills but also so that when the time came, the dark force that was upon them would have tough opponents to face. James couldn't take someone on like that on his own and he wasn't planning to. He knew he needed help and that those who helped were worthy of doing so.

James smirked. "Professors," he said, then yawned, "can get over it. They'd be honored to have such a prime specimen of canine in their presence," he finished, then laughed. James was completely joking, of course, though could easily recognize that his dog form was very pristine. Golden retrievers were considered a beautiful breed of dog - not that James chose his form. No Animagus could choose. Forms reflect on the person's personality, attributs, and physical aspects in their human form. He believed that his form of a Golden Retriever said many things about him, actually, though he would never admit to thinking in that sort of philosophical manner. "Right I forgot about that assignment. Nevertheless, I think the professor was joking. Can't really expect us to be perfect at anything - not at this level of education," James said, then yawned once more. He closed his eyes and adjusted his head position on his arm, then sighed. "You're keeping me awake, Sarah, which unlike most other times is not a good thing," he said, then opened his sleepy eyes and smiled. "I'm exhausted, which never happens."

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND

[SARAH JANE FINNIGAN]

I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in this world.

“I have heard that, actually.” Sarah smirked as she thought about all the rumors flying around the castle. There were always a few rumors going around, always at least one about one of the Potter children. People were told stories about how some people thought Harry Potter was cocky and arrogant and automatically assumed he passed those traits down to his children. James got the brunt of this, she knew from experience. But she was sure Albus and Lily got some of the rumors flying about them too. She wasn’t sure why there weren’t as many rumors about her, but she wasn’t complaining. She knew there were a few about their group of friends, people were always trying to pair people in the group together, she supposed that was what happened when there was an even number of boys and girls. Lately, people had been talking about the ball mostly. And the fact that Sarah was going alone may have gotten around.

“Well he seemed pretty serious to me…” Sighed Sarah, who had been camping out in the back of the library almost every evening since the test was announced, researching antidotes. If the professor really had been joking, Sarah would mentally kick herself. She had done all that work for nothing? She’d given up opportunities to go out and watch the guys play Quidditch or go get a drink in Hogsmead. She normally wasn’t the type of girl who would study, but being in the library got her out of the public eye for a while, which was very nice. And her parents were glad when she got good marks in all her classes. Sarah had always been very much a daddy’s girl. She wanted to make her father proud of her. “If you’re tired, James, go up to bed.” Sarah said through a yawn. She hadn’t thought she was tired, but perhaps laying down in front of the fire had changed things.

WORDS: 324
NOTES:
SONG: A place in this world- Taylor Swift
TAG: JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James shrugged. "I'm used to it, you know...always something about us Potter's being talked about," he said, sighing. It was true, though, and Sarah knew it well because often when James was feeling down about something in particular regarding the rumors, he retreated to her advice. She was always good about comforting him and being able to reassure him that the bad things weren't true. Of course James knew the horrible gossip that spread about him were lies but it hurt pretty deeply and Sarah knew how to get into his mind to stop those bad thoughts from troubling him. He didn't like people constantly looking at him as such a horrible person because he honestly would have done anything to help anyone out, even strangers. Of course his many enemies trashed his image in a sense but he couldn't help the fact that he defended the innocent students around him - he wasn't going to stand for people talking badly about the people he cared about or people who didn't deserve the consequences that bullying had on their lives. Everyone deserved to live in peace and James was there to make sure they could.

"Guess we'll have to find out how severe it is, huh?" he asked with a smile. Sarah never really worried about classes much, although he knew her parents wished she would. Just like his own. They were so similar in that regard, and in many others, which made them even better friends on many levels. James let out another loud yawn and then shook his head. "If I go to bed you have to, too," he said softly, closing his eyes. "And promise you'll meet me on the pitch tomorrow after lunch."

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND

[SARAH JANE FINNIGAN]

I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in this world.

If a normal person were to observe James and Sarah for a full day and analyze the way the two acted around each other, she was sure they’d swear they were siblings. Or at least cousins. In a way, Sarah did think of her friend as a member of her family, the closest member, besides her sister. He was and had been her best friend since they were children. Sure, it was sort of forced upon them by their parents, who spend a lot of time together, but they had grown up together, there was no way something like that wouldn’t develop a close relationship like the two Gryffindors had between them. Sarah had grown dependent on James Potter. He was one of the few people who could always make her smile. “It’s okay… at least your dad isn’t known as the one who blew up all his cauldrons in Potions.” She rolled her eyes. It was a child’s job to tease her parents, right?

Sarah, surprisingly, was okay with being sent up to her room for bed. Normally, if a prefect of their head of house had caught her out they’d tell her to go up and she would go, but she wouldn’t go bed. She’d sit and read or write a letter to her parents that she had been putting off for weeks. Or, more likely, she’d bother the rest of her roommates who were trying to sleep. “Okay.” She agreed and made an effort to sit up, her bones hurt from laying on the floor and didn’t really want to move. “Why am I meeting you tomorrow?” She asked, not having heard of these plans before. The girl stood up and held out her hands to help James up.

WORDS: 292
NOTES:
SONG: A place in this world -Taylor Swift
TAG: JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James had almost forgot that Seamus Finnigan, Sarah's dad, was pretty well-known around Hogwarts for being practically the worst Potions student ever. It was pretty hilarious, actually, and James' own father had teased Seamus about it in front of them before. His casual manner about the whole thing might have been the funniest part about the whole ordeal. James knew it meant that Sarah often got eyed at during Potions class, but hey - she wasn't as bad as her dad so that was good, at least.

"You're meeting me because I said so!" he laughed, taking her hands and lifting himself up. He almost pulled Sarah back down which made him laugh even harder. As he steadied himself he fell into her arms and hugged her, laughing. "But really though, why don't you meet me on the pitch after lunch and we can do something? That is, unless you'd rather study," he teased, grinning at her.

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND

[SARAH JANE FINNIGAN]

I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in this world.

Sarah had heard the worst things about her father, but she had also heard the best. And, though the girl was sometimes embarrassed to be his daughter, she was never ashamed of him or the reputation he made for himself while he was at Hogwarts. She knew he had taken a brunt of leadership during his seventh year while Harry, Hermione and Ron were away. Her father was a very brave man and she always admired him for it. He was still brave, she was sure he was talking with Harry about joining up in the Order once more. With the bombing of the university and all, Sarah was sure they would start that up again.

Sarah laughed too as he almost fell back down, that had happened before and usually resulted in a bruise of sorts on one of the two. Together, they were clumsier than anyone else she knew. Sarah hugged him back. “Okay. I haven’t got any plans. And I’m SICK of studying. If not better offers come along, I’ll be there.” She smirked.

WORDS: 177
NOTES: It's short... I'm tired.
SONG: A palce in this world -Taylor Swift
TAG: JAMES SIRIUS POTTER

[JAMES SIRIUS POTTER]

James laughed and shook his head. "No better offer could come along my dear," he said sarcastically before pulling Sarah into a tight hug. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" James offered before turning away from her and heading in the direction of the boys' dormitory.

And fin!

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND