The Prongs Switch
The Prongs Switch (Part 2)
Masterlist
synopsis: you had always mentioned your love for and how much you missed your family dog to all your friends. it was just a miscommunication on your part when you forgot to mention that your dog’s name is Prongs.
warning: cursing, lots of misunderstanding, sirius teasing reader and james, koby being involved and we dk why, james finally enters the fic!
i’ve decided for this to be an eventual james potter x reader because… i can! was so frustrated when revising and editing like i actually had another draft for part 2 but i decided not to use it cause i wasn’t satisfied… hope you guys like it, and sorry but i’m not into the tagging thing :p i believe that if it’s for you then the fic will find you!!! LMAOOO enjoy 👾
Thinking of not doing anything was actually easier said than done. Well, you didn’t really do anything, but you might as well have, considering how Potter reacted the moment the two of you made eye contact.
It had only been a few days since Monika gave you her advice. True to what she said, doing nothing turned out to be the best thing you could have done. While people were still talking about it, mostly those from Hufflepuff or the ones who already knew you, it wasn’t nearly as widespread as before. With all the other drama that had cropped up in the days that followed, the rumor slowly lost its popularity.
You still got teased about it occasionally, but not reacting to their comments bored them quickly. Eventually, they stopped caring altogether.
Living your life at Hogwarts had started slowly slipping back into your old routine.
A few more days passed, everything had gone back again in the way they always did. You attended your classes, took notes like you always had, and complained to your friends about work that just seemed to double. The professors would discuss new things at the front of classrooms, parchment piled up on your desk, and your days settled back into place like it had never been disturbed by some stupid gossip.
If you were being honest, you almost forgot about everything.
It was actually quite easy to have everything fall back into place, how the embarrassment could just fade into the background if you ignored it, becoming nothing more than an unpleasant memory you tried not to think about too much.
By the time dinner rolled around a few nights later, you were seated at the Hufflepuff table with Monika and Koby like always. With your plates in front of you, talking about anything as always, while hearing everyone else mind their business at the Great Hall.
You were halfway through your meal when Monika suddenly cleared her throat.
“So,” she started, looking everywhere but at you.
You glanced up, already suspicious. “So…?”
She smiled, eyes lighting up as she leaned closer. “I almost forgot to tell you lot. My parents are hosting a Christmas holiday party this year.”
Koby raised a brow, finally looking at her directly. You did the same, curiosity creeping in despite yourself. This is the first time Monika had brought up her family herself, you remembered back then when you mentioned visiting during the summers how she’d always dismiss your words. You just thought she didn’t like having people around, so you stopped asking.
“And,” Monika continued, words tumbling out faster now, “I was thinking maybe you and Koby would want to come?”
Your eyes widened. “Come? To your home??”
“Well… yeah. For the holidays,” she said quickly, then hesitated. “I mean, I know you’re both purebloods and you probably don’t really… do Muggle stuff… and I know my family isn’t exactly,” she gestured vaguely with her hands, “up there when it comes to bloodlines or whatever, so if you don’t want to, it’s completely fine! I just… thought I’d ask.”
Before she could talk any further, Koby cuts in. “Monika,” he said simply. “It’s fine.”
She looked at him, surprised. You nodded immediately, setting your fork down. Before adding “Yeah, what ‘pureblood customs’ are you even blabbing about?” You added, teasingly.
Her eyes widened slightly, then softened when she noticed how sincere you both are looking at her.
“If I’m being honest,” you continued, “I’m actually excited! It sounds fun, you know? My family has only ever hosted dinners with other purebloods, so you end up seeing the same people you’ve known since you were a kid.”
Whatever you said must have comforted her, because Monika let out a breath she had clearly been holding, a smile spreading across her face.
“Really?”
“Really,” you confirmed. “Though I just need to send my parents a letter first. Give them a heads up.” You then turned to Koby. “Do you want to come with me to the owlery later?”
He paused mid-bite, thinking it through before shaking his head apologetically. “Can’t. I’ve got other commitments tonight.”
You shrugged, unfazed. “Alright. Guess I better not go too late, then.”
After that, the three of you fell back into eating, Monika quickly launching into an excited ramble about what Christmas was like at her place. She talked about decorations, food, funny stories, and traditions you had never experienced before, hands moving everywhere as she spoke.
You listened quietly, a small smile tugging at your lips, laughing softly whenever she cracked a joke.
Everything felt easy again, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
—
It was already late by the time you left the owlery.
The castle was definitely quieter now, corridors dimly lit as torches flickered along the stone walls. You kept your steps light, hoping not to run into anyone as you made your way back to the Hufflepuff dormitory. The last thing you needed was to be caught wandering around at this hour, especially by a prefect.
Or worse… the head boy and head girl.
You turned a corner, letting out a small breath of relief when the corridor ahead looked empty. Walking quietly, you suddenly hear a noise which causes you to slow down. Frowning slightly as you paused mid-step, It sounded like someone mumbling, followed by a soft thud. Your gaze flicked toward the storage closet near the wall to your left. You stood there for a moment, trying to listen more clearly.
It was just silence… maybe you imagined it?
You glanced around, half-expecting someone to jump out, but the corridor remained still empty. Just as you were about to move on, another sound came from inside the closet followed by a muffled clatter. This causes your brows to knit together.
Okay... you were definitely not imagining this!
Curiosity got the better of you as you took a cautious step toward the closet, lifting your hand slightly as if to reach for the door. But before you could, it creaked open on its own. You moved quickly, stepping to the side just as the door swung wider, hiding yourself behind it as someone stepped out.
You peeked around the edge to see the person who opened it before you could, completely shocked from who you saw.
“Black?”
Sirius Black startled slightly, turning toward the sound of your voice. He squinted in the dim light, clearly trying to make you out.
“Oh,” he said. “Hufflepuff girl.”
He cleared his throat, a little too quickly, just as you were sure you heard something else inside the closet. You ignored it, rolling your eyes.
“I have a name, you know.” You said flatly.
He shrugged, and ignored you rolling your eyes. “I’m sure you do.” Then, cutting you off before you could retort, he asked, “What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?”
You stared at him, momentarily distracted. “Uhh… I was at the owlery,” you replied. “I was just heading back.”
But then you tilted your head slightly, eyes narrowing. “What about you?” you asked, emphasizing the word. “What are you doing here?”
Sirius glanced back at the closet, looking at something or someone. You followed his look, then stared at him pointedly. You both knew he definitely was not casting spells in a storage closet.
Before he could answer, you heard another sound.
Footsteps.
Your attention snapped back to the corridor just as he grabbed your arm, also hearing the sound. You barely had time to react before he pulled you inside, closing the door quietly behind the two of you. He pressed a finger to his lips, silently shushing you as he leaned closer to the door, listening. Your heart pounded as you looked around, blinking as your eyes adjusted to the darkness. All the shapes inside slowly came into view, before you saw a figure on the other side.
Your breath then hitched at realizing who the person was.
“Koby?” you whispered, disbelief lacing your voice.
Koby stared back at you, eyes just as wide as yours in the dim light before blurting out your name as well. His gaze flicked between you and Sirius, taking in the situation, the cramped space, the closed door. His expression changed immediately, panic flashing across his face.
“This is not what it looks like,” he said quickly.
You just looked at him, also taking in everything. Then the words slipped out before you could stop yourself in a shocked whisper. “You’re hooking up with Black?!”
Koby reached out to you, hands flailing as he tried to shush you, nearly knocking your shoulder in the process. “No, no, stop, don’t say it like that!”
This causes Sirius' eyes to widen slightly, before he smirks toward Koby. “We’re hooking up now?” he said lazily. “Can’t blame you, Palladio. But you’re not my type.”
You shot him a look, before turning to Koby again. Koby ignored him entirely, turning back to you with a distressed expression. “It’s not like that, Merlin…” He whispered harshly. “Black just wanted to talk, and I said sure.”
He paused, then glared at Sirius. “Then he said he wanted to meet at midnight. In a storage closet.”
Your brows lifted slowly.
“I told him it would look like we were doing something else,” Koby continued, clearly annoyed now. “But he insisted, and said it was really important.” His voice dripped with sarcasm as he rolled his eyes.
“And for the record,” he added, crossing his arms, “have some respect for me. I have better standards.”
Sirius scoffed quietly before turning back toward the door, listening as the footsteps drew nearer. All three of you went silent, focusing on the sound as it stopped right in front of the closet. You held your breath, eyes flicking to Black, who stood directly in front of you with his mouth pressed tightly shut. Then you glanced at Koby, who looked just as frozen, lips sealed as the three of you tried to stay as quiet as possible.
After a moment, the footsteps moved again, turning down another corridor and slowly fading farther and farther away from the storage closet.
A few seconds passed, then Black reached for the door.
You grabbed his arm immediately. “What are you doing?” you whispered sharply. “Do you want to get caught?”
He looked down at you, eyes glinting with amusement, before smirking. “I’m friends with a prefect and the head boy,” he said quietly. “Don’t really have anything to be afraid of,”
Before you could stop him, Sirius slipped out of the closet and took off down the corridor, disappearing in the direction of the Gryffindor dormitory. You stared at the closed door in disbelief for a moment before slowly turning to Koby.
He inhaled deeply, then exhaled. “We should head back,” he said. “It’s already way past curfew.”
You nodded, then hesitated. “By the way… what did Black want with you?”
Koby shrugged as he stepped closer to the door. “Didn’t really get anywhere worth knowing about.”
You narrowed your eyes at this, hesitant before asking. “Is this… the prior commitment you were talking about earlier?”
He paused, then nodded. “...Yeah.”
There was something in his tone that made you doubt he was being completely honest. Koby sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look… I can’t tell you much ‘cause he was being really cryptic. He kept going on about something that happened at the dormitory party. But I barely could understand what he was trying to tell me.”
“And?”
“Like I just said, I couldn’t understand what he was getting at,” Koby continued. “Before he could actually explain, he stopped talking… then he opened the door.” He gestured vaguely toward where you were standing earlier.
You stared at him, eyes widening slightly. “The dormitory party?” you whispered. “Don’t tell me… was he supposed to ask about that gossip from a few weeks back?”
Koby let out another sigh, shrugging again. “I don’t know. He was being weird about it… So, probably?”
“Probably?” you echoed, incredulous.
“Ehh… maybe?” he replied.
“Maybe?” you repeated, now louder but still in a whispered voice.
Koby immediately shushed you, eyes darting toward the door. “We’re still in a storage closet, you dummy!”
This causes you to clamp your mouth shut.
“Wish I could tell you more but I really don’t know,” he said more firmly. “Let’s just head back already. We can talk about this more tomorrow.”
You look at him before nodding slowly, with a slight unease settled in your chest.
—
Because of what happened last night, you had barely slept at all. Every time you closed your eyes, your mind replayed what had happened in the storage closet. Black, Koby, then Koby’s words about Black asking about the dormitory party. By morning, you woke up already tense, shoulders stiff as if you had never truly rested.
Yeah, paranoid might have been the right word for it.
With a bit of free time before your next class, you decided not to stay back at the dorm. Instead, you wandered toward the courtyard, hoping the cold air and open space would clear your head.
Most of your friends were all in class, which meant you would be alone with your thoughts. As you walked through the stone archway leading outside, you noticed a small group of students scattered around the courtyard. From a distance, you could already make out the colors of their robes.
Black, red, and a bit of yellow mixed in… oh, they were mostly Gryffindors.
You slowed slightly but kept walking, eyes down as you passed by. Before you could fully realize who they were, a loud voice cut through the air.
“Hey, Peeper! Is that you?!”
The voice causes you to freeze. Was he calling you?
Also… Peeper?
Confused, you lifted your head just in time to recognize who it was.
Sitting just at the branch of the huge tree is none other than Sirius Black. And of course, he was with his flock of friends that were all sitting under the tree.
Wait… his usual friends?
As a flicker of panic shot through you, you had accidentally made eye contact with none other than James Potter. He had been looking at Sirius first, clearly listening in on something, before his gaze trailed toward the person he was calling. The moment he realized it was you, his eyes widened just slightly before he looked away almost immediately.
Not obviously, but enough for you to notice. You could make out his jaw tightened, attention suddenly fixed on literally anywhere else, and is it just you or were his ears turning red?
Shit!
Has he heard the rumors now? Well, it has been a few days already but you thought that you could already put this all behind you!
No!
No!!
NO!!
Before you could try and play that you didn’t notice Black at all, he called out to you again louder. “Peepers! Over here! Yoohoo!!”
You noticed a few heads had already turned in your and his direction. Heat rushed to your neck as you realized ignoring him was no longer an option. Is he seriously making a scene all because you’re pretending to not notice him?!
Muttering under your breath, you hurried over to them.
Getting up close to the four of them was… awkward. Well, two of them were known for being calmer, so you didn’t mind their smiles as they greeted you. The other one, the one wearing glasses who was very obviously looking everywhere but at you, hands shoved deep into his pockets, was not known for being quiet.
You reached the bottom of the tree, with Lupin standing closest to you. Black, who had been perched higher up, jumped down. The moment his feet hit the ground, you grabbed his wrist and tugged him closer.
“Black, are you mad?” You hissed. “You’re making a scene!”
He just laughed at your words before patting your head. You grabbed his arm again and yanked it down. “Stop it! And stop with that weird nickname too!”
Black tilted his head, his grin widening. “What? Peeper?”
“Yes. That,” you snapped. “Where did you even get that?”
He shrugged. “Uh… because you were peeping into a storage closet at me and your friend. Duh.”
“I was not!” you hissed immediately, glancing around. “And also,” you added quickly, pointing a finger at his chest, “stop saying it like that, people will get the wrong idea! Koby is way too good and would never be involved with the likes of you.”
Sirius placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “Fair point… not why I called you though.” Then he leaned in slightly, brows wiggling as his grin turned mischievous. “I’ve been hearing a certain friend of mine has got himself a girlfriend.” he says teasingly.
You felt your stomach drop at this, already knowing that they’d eventually confront you but not like this!
“Listen,” you said quickly, lowering your voice. “I know what it sounds like, but I can explain—”
Sirius cut you off with a shrug. “Hey, it’s fine. Honestly… the whole you-being-his-girlfriend thing was a bit exaggerated.” He smirked. “Prongs doesn’t like rushing stuff.”
You thought he was done before he then continues, “Though,” Sirius continued, clearly enjoying himself, “you’re a smart lass. Prongs here actually have this thing with being called—AH!”
Before he got to saying it an arm suddenly looped around his neck, pulling him into a headlock.
“Shut it,” Potter mutters, his voice is quiet but you could hear how serious he is.
Sirius burst out laughing, clearly unbothered as he tried to pry Potter’s arm away. “Ohhh, what’s this?” he teased. “You trying to impress your girl or something?”
“Pads, I’m serious!” James snapped, tightening his grip.
The two of them started wrestling, stumbling around as Sirius laughed loudly and James tried to silence him, both of them drawing far too much attention from everyone now. Well… when have they never drawn attention? You were just unlucky that you were somehow involved in all of this. Stepping back instinctively, you’re doing your best not to get dragged into their tumbling.
“I’ve never seen you this serious before,” Sirius managed to say between laughs. “What, pretty girl making you nervous?”
James only tackled him harder, the two of them nearly toppling over. Lupin sighed and moved in, trying to separate them. “Merlin, you two—watch it!” he said, attempting to wedge himself between them while also trying not to get punched in the face.
Pettigrew shuffled over to you, glancing nervously at the scene. “Uh… sorry ‘bout this but you can leave now if you want,” he said quietly. “When they start wrestling, it usually takes a while.”
You looked at him, then back at the other boys. Now it was not just the two of them anymore. Lupin, who had been trying to break them apart, had somehow gotten dragged into it as well. That alone made you nod slowly at Pettigrew’s words. You murmured a quiet thank you, still unsure how you were even supposed to react to what had just happened.
While it was true that Potter had most likely heard the gossip about you calling him your “baby boy,” the way this confrontation unfolded was nothing like what you had imagined.
“Hey, Hufflepuff. You really think I’d get involved with someone like you? Bit too brave for someone in your house, no?” Potter sneers, while his friends all laugh at his words.
You could almost hear it so clearly in your head. You imagined yourself frozen in place, scared, tears threatening to spill as you struggled to explain yourself. Desperate to clear the misunderstanding without him thinking you were lying.
But instead of that, you got Potter being quiet. Barely speaking actually and barely making eye contact with you, while his friend casually reveals how you went and made up gossip behind their backs.
Well… technically, you didn’t make the gossip, but you were still involved.
So if he had reacted the way you first imagined, you wouldn’t really see anything wrong with it. It would have made sense, really.
Hmm… maybe you had the wrong impression of him.
—
Flashback
James was the type to drink at parties, but he wasn’t really feeling it tonight, so he decided to stay sober. Who would have thought that the first time he didn’t drink, he would end up falling asleep on the stairs instead.
When he woke up groggily, he barely recognized where he was at first. It took a moment before it hit him that he was at a party.
Which House was this again?
He stood up, already knowing it had to be past curfew. Even the portraits would have probably been asleep, if they were the type to sleep. As he wandered around, trying to look for his friends, he noticed someone sleeping on one of the couches.
You were slumped awkwardly to one side, like you had meant to stand up but failed and simply fell asleep instead. Your head was tilted forward, hair falling into your face, your hands limp in your lap.
Yeah, you were definitely asleep.
James slowed, frowning slightly. He couldn’t see anyone else around, but he hesitated, half-wanting to ask which dormitory he was actually in. He knelt down on one knee to steady himself, then cleared his throat.
“Uh… hey,” he said quietly, stepping closer and gently shaking your shoulder. “Excuse me, have you seen Padfoot?”
When you didn’t even stir, he tried again, a bit firmer this time. “Hey. Lady, wake up.”
That was when you started to move. Your head lifted slowly, eyes fluttering open just enough to focus on him. For a split second, James thought you were finally awake. Then, out of nowhere, you reached out. Your fingers brushed through his hair, slow and clumsy, like you were trying to make sure he was real.
“Prongs?” you murmured.
James froze at the sound of his name. So you knew him, that meant you probably knew his friends too.
“…Hmm?” he hummed instinctively, more out of curiosity than anything else. He was skeptical that a Hufflepuff girl he barely knew had just called him Prongs, but he figured you must have known his nickname, like everyone at Hogwarts did.
You smiled faintly, eyes still half-lidded.
“Oh,” you sighed dreamily. “I missed you.”
James immediately grew more confused. “Missed… me?”
“How are you, baby?” you continued, words slurring together as your hand tangled further into his hair. You poked at it, fingers brushing through his curls like you were examining something familiar. “You got so much softer than I remembered.”
He stiffened at your words, his heart starting to pound at the way you were touching his hair. He tried to take your hand away gently. “Uh— thanks? You know where—”
But despite his efforts, you didn’t let go. Instead, you touched him more intimately, your fingertips trailing over his temple and then his cheek. You frowned thoughtfully, your thumb brushing over his skin.
“Huh,” you murmured. “It’s been so long I don’t even recognize you. I don’t remember you having such smooth, bare skin.”
James’ brain felt like it was melting. He was confused, yet at the same time, painfully aware of how much he was enjoying your soft hands on his face.
Was he missing something? Had he done something stupid he didn’t remember? Were you a past fling? A family friend?
A hundred thoughts raced through his head all at once, and he wasn’t entirely sure if he actually knew who you were.
Or maybe… was this some elaborate prank?
Before he could decide, you leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head. He sucked in a sharp breath.
“Oi—!”
But when he looked at you to confront you, your grip had already loosened. Your head tipped forward, resting against his chest for half a second before slipping away entirely and back onto the couch.
You were fully asleep again.
“…Hey,” he whispered, stunned. “Hey. Lady!”
He shook your shoulder gently, then a bit more urgently. “Lady. Hufflepuff girl. Wake up.”
You didn’t even budge, while James just kneeled there staring at you in disbelief. His heart was racing now, his hair thoroughly messed up from the way you had ruffled it, with no idea what had just happened.
And no idea why the endearment was still ringing in his ears.