Shattered || James Potter Angst
cointains : ♧ - HEAVY ANGST || pt2?
warnings: james being a total prick
You had always trusted James Potter.
Through the chaos of Quidditch practices, through the pranks with Sirius and Remus, through the starry-eyed confessions under the Astronomy Tower… you trusted him. You thought you were safe in the warmth of his hands, in the way he whispered your name like it was home.
You weren’t meant to see it — the way James leaned against the wall of the common room, Lily Evans pressed against him. You weren’t meant to hear the muffled laughter, the half-swallowed moans, the unmistakable sound of lips meeting lips.
The world tilted sideways, every sound muffled under the roar of your pulse in your ears. The bag of books you’d been carrying slipped from your hands, scattering across the floor. Both heads turned.
James froze, eyes wide, lips still swollen from a kiss he never should’ve given. Lily looked stricken, guilty, but not surprised.
You had always trusted James Potter.
Through the chaos of Quidditch practices, through the pranks with Sirius and Remus, through the starry-eyed confessions under the Astronomy Tower… you trusted him. You thought you were safe in the warmth of his hands, in the way he whispered your name like it was home.
You weren’t meant to see it — the way James leaned against the wall of the common room, Lily Evans pressed against him. You weren’t meant to hear the muffled laughter, the half-swallowed moans, the unmistakable sound of lips meeting lips.
The world tilted sideways, every sound muffled under the roar of your pulse in your ears. The bag of books you’d been carrying slipped from your hands, scattering across the floor. Both heads turned.
James froze, eyes wide, lips still swollen from a kiss he never should’ve given. Lily looked stricken, guilty, but not surprised.
“Y/N—” James’ voice cracked.
You shook your head, backing away before he could reach for you. “Don’t. Don’t you dare.”
Later, in the dormitory you’d shared so many nights, he begged.
“It was a mistake,” James said, running his hands through his hair until it stuck up worse than usual. His voice was frantic, desperate. “I don’t even know what happened, love, I swear—”
“Love?” Your laugh came out sharp, hollow. “You don’t get to call me that.”
His face crumpled, but you pressed on, words trembling with fury and heartbreak.
“Do you have any idea what that felt like? Seeing you—seeing her—” Your throat tightened, tears stinging hot, but you refused to let them fall. “I trusted you, James. I thought I meant more than just—just someone to keep around until Lily Evans looked your way.”
James stepped forward, reaching for your hands. “You do mean more. Merlin, Y/N, you’re everything. I don’t want her, I want you.”
“Then why wasn’t that enough?” you whispered.
Silence. The kind that settled like broken glass, sharp and cutting.
The next morning, you left him standing in the common room as you walked past without a glance. You ignored Sirius’ confused stare, Remus’ knowing frown. You ignored James calling your name until his voice broke.
Because you knew one thing: you deserved better.
And when you found comfort in someone else’s smile a week later — someone kinder, gentler, someone who looked at you like you were the only person in the world — you let yourself take it.
James saw, of course. He saw you laughing by the Black Lake, saw you holding another’s hand. His face was pale, his fists clenched, like he was watching his world collapse.
Still, nights were the hardest. You lay awake in your dorm, staring at the ceiling, haunted by memories you couldn’t scrub away. The way James used to whisper promises into your hair. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. The way he said forever like he meant it.
You hated him. You missed him.
And sometimes, you hated yourself for missing him.
It was raining the night he came back.
You were sitting by the fire, a book open but unread on your lap, when the portrait creaked open.
“Y/N.” His voice was rough, broken, like he hadn’t slept in days.
You looked up. James stood dripping wet, rain soaking his clothes, his hair plastered to his forehead. His hazel eyes found yours, desperate, pleading.
“Please,” he whispered. “Don’t shut me out. Not forever.”
Your chest ached, torn between anger and the ghosts of love.
…and the dorm door swung open behind you.
“Y/N?” The voice of the boy you’d started seeing Evan — warm, steady, safe — cut through the tension. He walked in, eyes narrowing at James, then softening as he met your gaze. “Ready to go?”
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Two sets of eyes on you. One, full of regret and desperation. The other, gentle and patient, offering you a new beginning.
Your heart thundered. Your throat closed.—” James’ voice cracked.
You shook your head, backing away before he could reach for you. “Don’t. Don’t you dare.”
Later, in the dormitory you’d shared so many nights, he begged.
“It was a mistake,” James said, running his hands through his hair until it stuck up worse than usual. His voice was frantic, desperate. “I don’t even know what happened, love, I swear—”
“Love?” Your laugh came out sharp, hollow. “You don’t get to call me that.”
His face crumpled, but you pressed on, words trembling with fury and heartbreak.
“Do you have any idea what that felt like? Seeing you—seeing her—” Your throat tightened, tears stinging hot, but you refused to let them fall. “I trusted you, James. I thought I meant more than just—just someone to keep around until Lily Evans looked your way.”
James stepped forward, reaching for your hands. “You do mean more. Merlin, Y/N, you’re everything. I don’t want her, I want you.”
“Then why wasn’t that enough?” you whispered.
Silence. The kind that settled like broken glass, sharp and cutting.
The next morning, you left him standing in the common room as you walked past without a glance. You ignored Sirius’ confused stare, Remus’ knowing frown. You ignored James calling your name until his voice broke.
Because you knew one thing: you deserved better.
And when you found comfort in someone else’s smile a week later — someone kinder, gentler, someone who looked at you like you were the only person in the world — you let yourself take it.
James saw, of course. He saw you laughing by the Black Lake, saw you holding another’s hand. His face was pale, his fists clenched, like he was watching his world collapse.
Still, nights were the hardest. You lay awake in your dorm, staring at the ceiling, haunted by memories you couldn’t scrub away. The way James used to whisper promises into your hair. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. The way he said forever like he meant it.
You hated him. You missed him.
And sometimes, you hated yourself for missing him.
It was raining the night he came back.
You were sitting by the fire, a book open but unread on your lap, when the portrait creaked open.
“Y/N.” His voice was rough, broken, like he hadn’t slept in days.
You looked up. James stood dripping wet, rain soaking his clothes, his hair plastered to his forehead. His hazel eyes found yours, desperate, pleading.
“Please,” he whispered. “Don’t shut me out. Not forever.”
Your chest ached, torn between anger and the ghosts of love.
…and the dorm door swung open behind you.
“Y/N?” The voice of the boy you’d started seeing — warm, steady, safe — cut through the tension. He walked in, eyes narrowing at James, then softening as he met your gaze. “Ready to go?”
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Two sets of eyes on you. One, full of regret and desperation. The other, gentle and patient, offering you a new beginning.
Your heart thundered. Your throat closed.