Born to Run

May 20^th, 1972

The crowd in the stands roared as the players from both teams soared into the sky. It was the final match of the season—Gryffindor versus Slytherin, the fiercest rivalry in Hogwarts, and all students from every House had gathered to witness their battle. Remus, Sirius, Peter, and James sat near the top of the Gryffindor stands, watching the teams assemble on the pitch.

“Gryffindor better win this one,” Peter said, bouncing on his feet. “I’ve got half a dozen chocolate frogs riding on it.”

“Why don’t you just go down there and referee it yourself then? I’m sure you’d be impartial," Sirius said, his eyes locked on the pitch. “But you’re right. They better win ’cause I placed six galleons against Parvis Bayer.”

“Six galleons?” James said, shocked. “Against the Ravenclaw boy? At this point, I’m starting to believe you have a gambling addiction.”

“Better a gambler than an alcoholic,” said Sirius with a shrug.

“I think your mother would strongly disagree on that.”

“My mother can very kindly sod off.”

“Welcome, ladies and lads, to the most anticipated match of the year!” The commentator’s voice rang through the pitch. “Gryffindor versus Slytherin! I must say it’s no wonder both teams have made it to the final. Though it’s a pity we won’t see the Ravenclaws competing. Lydia Nightgale is a breathtaking figure on the field— oi! — Professor McGonagall, we seriously need to discuss your tendencies to physical aggression—no, no, no, wait!”

McGonagall hit him on the head with her wand. The commentator cleared his throat. “Right, as I was about to say—LYDIA I’M FREE ON THE WEEKEND IF YOU’RE IN FOR A DATE!” He held his hands above his head to shield himself from McGonagall.

“We seriously need to find a new commentator,” said James.

“No, I quite like this one,” Sirius replied, grinning.

“Now, where were we? Right, most anticipated match of the year. This moment will define everything, fellas. There will be blood, sweat, and tears—tears of joy and tears of sorrow. The winners will go down in history and as for the losers…they might as well light their brooms on fire.”

“Isn’t that a bit melodramatic?” Remus asked raising an eyebrow.

Sirius’ grin widened. “It’s Quidditch, Remus. Melodrama is part of the fun.”

The sharp blast of Madam Hooch’s whistle cut through the air, signalling the start of the match. Instantly, the players shot into the sky.

“They’re off!”

The crowd cheered loudly.

“Gryffindor in possession— no, wait, Slytherin steals it— oh, correction, that was a foul. Fantastic start!”

McGonagall shot the commentator a withering glance. The crowd snickered, but the game continued with the quaffle now firmly in Gryffindor’s hands.

Remus sighed, leaning back in his seat. “This is going to be a long match,” he said.

Gideon Prewett streaked down the field with the quaffle tucked under his arm. He dodged a bludger aimed directly at his head, swerving fiercely as the Slytherin Beater, Amycus Carrow, cursed through gritted teeth. He barrelled towards the goalposts, aiming for the far-left hoop. Slytherin Kepper Alexander Nott, lunged to block it, but Gideon was faster. He feinted left, then hurled the quaffle through the centre of the hoop.

“Prewett scores! Ten points to Gryffindor!”

The Gryffindor stands erupted into cheers, Sirius whooping with delight as he clapped Peter on the back.

“That was as smooth as butterbeer on a summer’s day—though someone ought to check Nott’s reflexes. I’m no expert but even I could’ve stopped that one,” the commentator said through the mic.

“Merlin, I love this guy!” Sirius laughed.

“We’ve got this. Dear Godric, I think we’ve got this,” said James.

“Yeah, but they’ve still got Travers to worry about,” said Peter, pointing to a terrifying-looking, muscular guy who looked like he had devoured seven first-years for breakfast.

Scott Travers, the Slytherin Captain and Chaser wasted no time in showing just how ruthless he could be. As soon as Gryffindor regained possession, Travers swooped down on their Chaser, Alice Fortesque, knocking her broom just hard enough to send her falling six meters above the ground. Frank Longbottom, Gryffindor’s Beater, cursed loudly and rushed forward to catch her.

“Longbottom, get back on your post!” Fabian Prewett, the other Gryffindor Beater, shouted. Frank caught Alice in the air and helped her back on her broom. But it was too late. The quaffle had already slipped from her grip, and Travers had snatched it mid-air, darting towards the Gryffindor goalposts with a determined gleam in his eyes. Fabian tried to slow him down by knocking the iron ball to his head, but Travers avoided the bludger effortlessly.

“Here he comes, Scott Travers everyone,” the commentator called, “looking particularly vicious today—must’ve had his morning pumpkin juice spiked with his enemies’ blood—he shoots!”

Gryffindor Keeper, Rosalind Ashford dived, her broom a blur as she attempted to block the shot. Travis hurled the quaffle towards the right hoop, but Ashford was ready. Her arm shot out, slapping the quaffle away just as it reached the goal.

“And Ashford saves it! A brilliant block!” the commentator shouted. “Gryffindor’s defence looking sharper than Professor McGonagall’s glare when you forget to hand in your Transfiguration essay!”

McGonagall, sitting nearby, shot him a pointed look, her lips thinning even more, but he didn’t seem to notice. The game became more intense, with both teams fighting fiercely for control. The quaffle flew back and forth between them, the bludgers zooming dangerously close to players’ heads as the Beaters from both teams worked overtime.

“Fortesque with the quaffle,” the commentator said, his voice rising above the cheers. “Dodges Carrow—not Amycus, his sister, Alecto—and she’s heading for the goal—Nott looks like he might actually try this time—oh no, too late! FORTESQUE SCORES! Twenty to zero, Gryffindor!”

Sirius leapt to his feet, punching the air. “Yes! That’s what I’m talking about!”

“You’ll lose your voice if you keep shouting like that,” said Remus.

“It’ll be worth it,” Sirius said, grinning ear to ear.

“A textbook goal,” the commentator continued, “if the textbook was about the best way to humiliate Slytherins. Nice work, Nott. Maybe try using your eyes next time? Never mind, they’re just as useless as your hands— oi! Professor, give me a break! What do you mean I’m not objective?”

The Slytherins glowered at the commentary box, but the commentator seemed entirely unfazed, even when McGonagall threatened to sew his lips together. Gryffindor led twenty—zero, but the Slytherins weren’t about to give up. They fought back viciously, weaving through the air like snakes, determined to regain control. Travers passed the quaffle to his fellow Chaser, Alecto Carrow, and she scored Slytherin’s first ten points.

“About time Slytherins remembered they were here to play,” the commentator said, earning some laughter from the Gryffindor stands. “Ten points to them, I suppose, but I wouldn’t get toο comfortable.”

Remus leaned towards James. “How long do these things usually last?”

James grinned. “Oh, it depends. Sometimes hours, if the Seekers don’t catch the snitch.”

“Of course,” Remus groaned.

High above the pitch, the two Seekers—Gryffindor’s Astrid Wood and Slytherin’s Eleanor Greengrass—were moving like hawks, their eyes scanning the skies for the golden snitch. Neither had spotted it yet. The game continued, both teams flying back and forth. The Slytherin Beaters were merciless, sending bludgers flying to anyone in red and gold, but Gryffindors fought back just as hard, dodging and weaving, refusing to give an inch.

A collective gasp came from the stands. Gideon Prewett gave a loud groan as a bludger slammed forcefully into his chest. He fell off his broom. His brother, Fabian, shot forward, desperate to catch him. He didn’t make it that far as he also got struck by a bludger. Patrick Goyle, the other Slytherin Beater responsible for both hits, smirked with a menacing look, satisfied at having taken down Gryffindor’s Captain. Gideon was halfway to the ground, but Professor McGonagall shot up, pointing at him with her wand.

“Arresto Momentum!”

Gideon kept falling in slow motion until he hit the ground. Though the collision was not as hard as it would’ve been without McGonagall’s slowing charm, Gideon still broke his left arm. The Gryffindors booed while the Slytherins kept sneering.

“C’mon! That was clearly a foul!” Mary shouted—she, Lily, and Marlene were standing in the row ahead of the boys.

“Yeah! What Macdonald said!” Sirius shouted along.

“Did you see that?” James demanded, nudging Remus.

“Yeah, boohoo, someone fell off his broom.”

“It was Gideon, you prat! And you’re not even looking!” Sirius said, glancing at Remus who had pulled out his copy of “The Steppenwolf” by Hermann Esse, from his bag.

“I can still hear, though,” Remus said as he flipped through the pages. “And trust me, the commentary is more entertaining than watching a bunch of people chase after several balls.”

As if on cue, the commentator’s voice echoed over the stadium. “Yeah, not a foul, unfortunately. Madam Hooch, in my very humble opinion, YOU’VE BEEN DEFINITELY BRIBED. No, no, no, Professor McGonagall, wait— I’m just jesting! Please! Ouch! Argh, fine—sorry, Madam Hooch.”

The match was getting faster, more aggressive. Slytherin and Gryffindor both kept scoring and some players gained minor injuries. Alice Fortesque passed the quaffle to her fellow Chaser, Kingsley Shacklebolt, but Gryffindors were one Chaser down with Gideon out of the game so things started to be rough for them. Alice regained possession of the quaffle and shot it towards the right hoop.

“Blimey! Sorry—Fuck—sorry! Shit! Do my eyes deceive me? Nott managed to save? Somebody find Merlin, ’cause he just crawled out from his grave. Sorry Fortesque, better chances on your next try.”

The score was tight; eighty points for Gryffindor, one hundred for Slytherin.

Sirius took his head in his hands. “I can’t believe I’m gonna lose six galleons to Bayer.”

“Perhaps that should teach you a lesson,” James said. “Choose carefully where you place your bets.”

“I can’t believe you want our team to lose just to piss me off. Traitor!”

James shushed him with a dismissive gesture. “We won’t lose. There’s still the snitch.”

“Isn’t it exciting?” Peter and Marlene asked simultaneously, eyes wide with wonder.

“Thrilling,” both Lily and Remus replied flatly at the same time. They glanced at each other with a small smirk on their lips.

Just then, a sudden ripple went through the crowd as Gryffindor’s Seeker, Astrid Wood, shot forward, her eyes locked on a flash of gold darting through the air.

“The snitch!” the commentator cried. “Wood’s seen the snitch!”

The entire stadium seemed to hold its breath as Wood and Eleanor Greengrass raced after the tiny golden ball, their brooms streaking through the sky. The snitch flew and twisted, a blur of motion as the two Seekers closed in, neck and neck.

“C’mon, Wood!” James yelled, standing up again, his hands clenched.

“Yeah, baby, get me those six galleons!”

Wood leaned forward on her broom, urging it to go faster. The snitch was just ahead, its wings fluttering furiously, but Greengrass was right beside her, her own hand outstretched.

“Wood’s gaining—Greengrass is right on her tail—who’s gonna get it?”

The crowd was on the edge of their seats.

In a heart-stopping moment, just as Greengrass reached for the snitch, Wood shifted her weight and, with one swift motion, stood on her broom and jumped forward. Her hand closed around the small golden ball as she began to fall towards the ground. Wood kept falling but before Professor McGonagall could intervene, she quickly drew her wand from her thigh sheath.

“Accio broom!” Astrid yelled. Her broom instantly shot towards her, and she grabbed it with one hand, manoeuvring to climb back on.

For a few seconds, no one reacted as the crowd kept staring, flabbergasted. Then, every single person in the stands started shouting at the top of their lungs.

“OH DEAR MERLIN—STILL OUT OF THE GRAVE—THIS WAS—I DON’T EVEN HAVE WORDS FOR THIS—ASTRID WOOD—THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE— PLEASE MARRY ME—Sorry, Lydia—WHAT HAVE YOU JUST DONE—WHAT A PERFORMANCE!”

Astrid, grinning broadly, held the snitch, her fist raised high in the air as the crowd went feral. The noise from the Gryffindor stands was deafening as their team soared the skies in celebration. James jumped to his feet, shouting himself hoarse.

“I’m rich, baby!” Sirius screamed, grinning like a maniac.

Marlene, Mary, and Peter stood up, clapping their hands. Remus and Lily grinned at their friends, both feeling pride in their House. The Slytherins hissed and cursed. Sore losers, Sirius thought.

Professor McGonagall stood up with her fellow professors to congratulate the winning team. She tried to keep her joy to herself, clapping her hands in a measured and composed manner, but the proud glint in her eyes and the faintest smirk on her lips betrayed her.

“Two hundred and thirty to one hundred! Gryffindor wins the Inter-House Quidditch Cup!”.

June 6^th, 1972

Remus sat at a table, furiously flipping through his notes on Transfiguration, trying to absorb as much information as possible before the clock ran out. James and Peter burst into the room, followed by a casually walking Sirius.

“Remus! Have you seen my Transfiguration book?” James yelled, rushing around the common room.

“Have you tried looking under your bed?” Remus replied, glancing up with a smirk. He could always count on James to be the epitome of last-minute panic.

Sirius threw himself onto the couch, groaning. “You’re all giving me a headache. It’s just a test, we’re not heading to the guillotine.”

Remus raised an eyebrow. “You sound weirdly self-actualized. Did you practice the spells I told you?”

“Yes, for the hundredth time, yes I did,” Sirius replied, rolling his eyes.

“So you remember that ‘engorgio’ enlarges the size of an object—”

“Got it!” James shouted from their dorm, emerging from under his bed, and rushing back to the common room as he held his book with a triumphant smile.

“—and ‘reducio’ shrinks objects back to their original form?”

“Remus, I swear to Merlin, if I hear one more word about Transfiguration till we take the damn finals, I’m gonna shrink you and put you in a jar.”

“Well, if you had actually studied, you’d know that this doesn’t work on humans,” said Remus with a smirk.

Sirius grabbed a pillow from the couch and pressed it to his face, releasing a frustrated groan. Peter desperately tried to cast a spell, making a final, last-minute attempt to get it right.

“I don’t want to go,” he whimpered.

“Relax, Pete,” James said. “Everything’s gonna be fine. It’s our last exam and you did brilliant so far.”

“But I heard McGonagall won’t go easy on us,” said Peter.

Sirius clicked his tongue. “From whom? The Slytherins? Those morons are only trying to intimidate you, Pete. Don’t listen to them.”

“But—”

“Come on, we’ve got to hurry,” James said, glancing at the clock. “We can’t be late.”

The boy gathered their notes, darting through the common room in a flurry of motion. Remus had already organised his bag so he patiently waited for the others near the entrance. Sirius soon joined him with a lazy stride, wiggling his eyebrows in a silent What’s up? After several minutes of them leaning against the door, Sirius yawned dramatically as he checked the watch on his wrist and gestured for the others to hurry up. Peter managed to grab his wand, quill, and a hastily wrapped chocolate frog for good luck, while James was still frantically searching for his missing parchment.

Once they had everything, they raced through the corridors, dodging other students and trying to avoid the occasional suit of armour. Remus couldn’t shake the nervous energy that had settled in his stomach. Part of it was the exams, but a bigger part was the thought of returning to Portballintrae for the summer break in just a few days. He didn’t want to think about it, so he forced himself to push it aside, knowing it only added to his already anxious state.

The boys rounded a corner and nearly collided with a group of Ravenclaws, who were also rushing to their exams.

“Watch where you’re going!” One of them snapped, and Sirius bit back a grin.

“Sorry! Too busy being brilliant!” James called back, throwing a wink at the group before moving down the corridor.

They arrived at the Transfiguration classroom, breathless. Professor McGonagall stood at the front.

“Mr Potter, Mr Black, Mr Pettigrew, and Mr Lupin,” she said, studying them from head to toe. “Right on time. I almost believed you wouldn’t show up.”

“Missed us already, Professor?” Sirius said.

McGonagall didn’t fall for his trap. “Please take your seats. Remember, no talking during the exam.”

The boys moved to their desks. McGonagall explained the rules and handed out the exams, and Remus’ heart raced. The blank pages before him felt like a mountain to climb.

“Okay, let’s do this,” he muttered, glancing at his friends, who were also gearing up to begin.

“Remember, it’s just Transfiguration,” James whispered to himself. “And I’m a natural at it!”

Professor turned an hourglass on her desk and everyone flipped over their papers. The first question asked them to transform a matchstick into a needle, something Remus had practised countless times. He took a deep breath, recalling Professor McGonagall’s precise instructions. As he envisioned the matchstick morphing before him, he managed the spell and glanced at Peter, who was chewing on his quill, looking lost. Sirius, on the other hand, was grinning as he worked through his spells with surprising confidence.

“Hey, Sirius, what’s the answer to question three?” James whispered, looking slightly panicked.

“Not telling you,” Sirius said quietly, though there was a hint of a smile on his face. “Figure it out yourself, you cheat.”

“Fine, be that way!” James whispred-retorted, pretending to pout.

Sirius nudged him with his foot under the table. “It’s Circe—the witch that transformed men into pigs.”

“Sirius Black, I love you,” James whispered and hurriedly wrote down the answer.

Remus found himself lost in thought, mentally replaying everything they’d learned throughout the year. He focused intently on his wand movements, his mind racing to remember every detail. Peter was on the verge of a mental breakdown from the mounting pressure. He had attempted the spell on question six multiple times, but no matter how hard he’d tried, he couldn’t get it right. Once McGonagall passed them to check on the other students, Remus grabbed Peter’s hand firmly.

“Do it counter-clockwise,” he muttered.

Peter nodded and finally managed the spell, the question magically erasing from the parchment. “Thank you,” he whispered to Remus.

McGonagall cleared her throat, shooting them a pointed look. She informed the classroom they had twenty minutes left, snapping Remus back to the present. He looked down at the paper. The questions were becoming progressively more difficult. The panic in the room intensified as everyone scrambled to finish their answers. Sirius let out a low, frustrated groan, and dropped his quill.

“I can’t remember anything about this stupid spell!”

“Focus!” James whispered. “Just think.”

“Easier said than done,” Sirius muttered, furiously scratching at his parchment.

Remus struggled with the last question, which required them to write about the principles behind changing inanimate objects into living creatures. He felt his confidence waver as he stared at the blank page. When the time was finally up, Professor McGonagall called for their attention.

“Papers down, please. I’m very proud of all of you for your hard work this year!” She clapped her hands, and the papers shot up into the air, flying to her desk before neatly stacking themselves.

Sirius slumped forward, crossing his arms on the desk and burying his head in them with a groan. James stood up and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you did great,” he said. Sirius only groaned louder in response. James then glanced over at Remus who was looking particularly disheartened. “Hey, what’s wrong? Didn’t you answer all the questions?”

Remus sighed, running a hand through his golden curls. “No, I did, I just didn’t have enough time to cover all the points from the seven authors mentioned in the chapter on transformation. I only managed six—actually, I wrote the seventh but Ι didn’t complete my answer in detail.”

Sirius’ head snapped up, staring at Remus. “Seriously? Like—are you for real right now?”

“What?” Remus said. “It’s not that I didn’t know it! I just didn’t have enough time!”

“Merlin, I sometimes forget how insufferable you can be.”

“Well, it’s not my fault,” Remus said, with a smug grin. “I’m growing on you, aren’t I?”

Sirius snorted. “Yeah, but thankfully you also remind me that you are an insufferable know-it-all above all.”

“Stop whining,’ said Remus. “I’m sure you did great.” He offered a sincere smile. “I’m actually very proud of you.”

Sirius’ eyes softened. “Thanks, Rem. Wouldn’t manage it without you.”

“Now let’s grab some food!” Peter said, his eyes brightening at the thought. The others laughed and they stormed out of the classroom, the weight of the exam beginning to lift.

“Guys, I’m not sure you realise, but we did it,” James said. “We survived.”

“Well, I’m not sure ‘survived’ is the right word,” Sirius said. “But we definitely got through it.”

Peter glanced sideways at them. “What if we flunk? What if they make us redo the first year?”

“Not a chance,” said James. “I’ll charm the socks off McGonagall if I have to.”

“Good luck with that,” said Sirius. “I’d like to see you try.”

The corridor was crowded with students celebrating the end of their exams and the beginning of their freedom. The boys walked to the Great Hall where a feast awaited them. The tables were laden with dishes, and the smell of beef soup, pumpkin pasties, and bread rolls filled the air.

Remus let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding, and they moved towards their usual spot at the Gryffindor table. Mary, Lily, and Marlene were already there. Malene was gesturing with her hands excitedly as she spoke, her dirty blonde hair tied half-up, while Mary listened with a lazy grin.

“Well, well, look who decided to finally show up,” said Marlene as the boys stopped near the table.

“Yeah, turns out we did it,” said Sirius. “I thought James was going to lose it halfway through.”

“Potter lose it? Surely not,” said Mary.

“I thrive under pressure, Macdonald,” James said, taking a seat on the table. “You should know that by now.”

“Yeah, thrive so much that I had to remind you who Circe was during the exam,” Sirius teased as he tried to move past Mary to sit next to James.

Marlene snorted. “Remind him, huh? That’s just a fancy way of saying ‘cheating’, isn’t it?”

“Depends on who’s judging,” Sirius said. He shrugged with a small smirk. “For me, it was merely helping a friend in distress. For McGonagall on the other hand…”

Peter, always awkward around the girls, made circles with his foot and cleared his throat. “So, uh…you done with exams?”

“Thank Merlin, yes, we took our Herbology practical earlier,” Mary said, making space on the bench for him. “Professor Sprout almost had a heart attack when Marlene knocked over the pot of venomous tentacula.”

“It wasn’t my fault!” Marlene shot back defensively. “The stupid thing grabbed my sleeve.”

James chuckled. “Would have loved to see that. Did Sprout turn as red as a puffapod?”

“Puffapod is that stupid, little thing with the shining beans?” Sirius asked.

“Great way to describe it, Black, but yes that’s it,” said Mary. “I’m sure you aced Herbology.”

Sirius shot her a mocking look and she returned it with a smug smirk.

Marlene folded her arms on the table and turned to James. “To answer your question, she turned redder, actually. But I still saved the day.”

Remus slid into the seat beside Lily. 

“How’d Transfiguration go?” she asked, her voice genuinely curious.

Remus shrugged. “Not terrible. I just wish I’d had more time for the last question.”

“Not this again,” Sirius groaned.

“Let me guess,” Mary said. “You overthought it, didn’t you?”

Remus let out a small laugh. “That obvious?”

“Painfully so,” said Marlene. She reached for a pumpkin pasty and took a bite. “You should’ve seen him during Charms last week. He almost had a seizure from the deep pondering.”

“I did not!” Remus protested, but he was already laughing.

“Well, I think it’s impressive,” said Lily, touching his shoulder lightly. “Overachieving or not, you’re always on top of it, Remus.”

“Says you,” he said. “I heard McGonagall call you ‘brightest witch of our age’ the other day.”

Lily waved him off, feigning modesty. Sirius leaned back, watching the exchange with a sly grin, crossing his arms above his head. “Oi, Evans, don’t you have any sweet words for my friend here?” He tilted his head towards James who glared at him, chewing slowly his mashed potatoes.

“No. He has to earn it,” said Lily.

“Ooh! That was rough,” said Sirius. “Sorry, mate, I really tried here.”

James tilted his head, raising his brows in a mock frown. Sirius made a heart sign with his fingers.

“What’s the first thing you’re all doing now that we’re free?” Lily asked.

“Sleeping,” Peter said instantly, drawing laughter from the group.

James thought for a moment. “I’m gonna sneak into the Quidditch pitch and practice the wronski feint. I’ve been dying to try it out.”

“What’s a wronski feint?” Mary asked.

“It’s a move Seekers usually pull, to distract the Seeker from the opposite team,” said Marlene, cutting him off. “They dive sharply towards the ground as if they’re about to catch the snitch, tricking the other Seeker into following them. As they close the distance to the ground, they abruptly pull up, in hopes that the other Seeker we’ll be too slow and they’ll collide. It’s quite dangerous.”

Sirius shot Marlene an impressed glance. “You’re interested in Quidditch, I see.”

“I love it,” Marlene beamed. “One day, I’m gonna be the best Seeker in Hogwarts’ history.” She glanced at James. “Why do you want to practice the wronski feint though? I thought you were trying for Chaser’s position.”

James shrugged. “It’s good practice. I have to improve my flying if I want to make it to the team next year.”

“I think our previous conversation about exams was far more entertaining,” said Remus.

“Definitely not,” Sirius said, pointing a warning finger at him. “Not another word about exams, or I’ll volunteer to drown in the lake.”

“Don’t tempt me, Black,” said Mary. “I might just hold you to that.”

“So, what’s the plan for summer, Macdonald?” Sirius asked. “Are you going to terrorise all the boys in your neighbourhood?”

“Family holiday, actually,” Mary said. “We’re heading down to Cornwall for a few weeks. Lots of beach, lots of fun. Marlene will come for a few days.”

“Sounds brilliant,” Peter said enviously, his eyes lighting up at the thought of sunny beaches and no schoolwork. “I’m stuck at home with my parents.”

“You should join us then!” Malene waved enthusiastically. “Right, Mary?”

“No problem with me,” said Mary. “The more, the merrier. I have to ask my parents though. But Cornwall’s lovely in the summer, and we could all use a break after this year.”

Peter flushed bright red. “I—I don’t think my mum would let me…but uh, thanks.”

“And what about you, McKinnon?” Sirius asked. “More daring adventures with venomous tentacula in your future?”

Marlene giggled, leaning forward. “Not quite. My cousins are visiting for a while, and we’re planning a hiking trip up in Scotland. My older brother will join us.”

“You’ve got a brother?” James asked.

“Two, actually. And a little sister. Edward is the oldest, then me, Beatrice’s next, and Thomas’s the youngest, our little rascal.” She looked over at Sirius, with a playful smile. “You kinda remind me of him, you know.”

“Ooh!” James exclaimed, nudging Sirius. “Seems, you'll be keeping me company in the pal zone.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. He then turned back to Marlene. “Well, sounds dangerous—this hiking. You sure you’ll survive?”

“Please, I’ve done worse. Besides, it’s just a bit of hiking. Nothing a Gryffindor can’t handle.”

“I think hiking’s the least of her worries,” said Mary. “Her cousin Fabian’s coming along, and he’s a menace.”

“Fabian?” Sirius repeated. “As in the Fabian? Fabian Prewett?”

“Exactly,” Marlene groaned, though there was affection in her tone. “He’ll probably drag us up to the mountains and back down again before lunch. But I love the idiot.”

“Wait a minute—you want to tell me you’re cousins with the Prewetts?” James asked. “Fabian and Gideon—our team’s Captain?”

“Distant cousins, but yes,” Marlene said. “So you might think twice before ever crossing me, or you’ll never make it to the team.” She batted her eyelashes playfully. “Gideon’s quite fond of me.”

“Anything you say!” James said, grabbing the soup. “Want me to fill your plate?”

“Sod off!” Sirius shoved him lightly. “The girl clearly wants some pumpkin juice, right McKinnon?”

Marlene flashed a wide grin, shifting towards Lily. “Tell me again, why didn’t we mention that earlier?”

Lily leaned closer. “Doesn’t matter. Now, we got them wrapped around your finger,” she whispered.

“Well, if you—you know, need a rescue mission on the mountains, just send an owl,” said James.

“Oh, I will,” Marlene said. “But only if you promise not to bring Black. I’m trying to survive the summer, not add to the chaos.”

“You wound me, McKinnon,” said Sirius.

“You’ll live.”

“What about you Evans?” James asked with a cheeky grin.

Lily glanced up, unimpressed. “Well, back to Cokeworth I guess.”

“Will Snivellus join you?”

“Watch it, Potter,” Lily warned, narrowing her eyes dangerously.

“Right, right—sorry,” he said quickly, holding up his hands in an apologetic gesture.

Lily released a deep, frustrated sigh. “I don’t know,” she continued, an edge suddenly appearing in her voice. “We haven’t spoken much.”

“His loss,” said James.

Lily cleared her throat awkwardly.  “Anyway, I might join the girls in Cornwell.”

“Please, do!” Marlene exclaimed, grabbing Lily’s arm and shaking her slightly. “It won’t be the same without you!”

“Fine, fine, we’ll see,” Lily laughed. “I bet Petunia will vouch for me. She’ll be thrilled if I’m not around, even for a few days.”

“Who’s Petunia?” Sirius asked.

“My sister."

“And you guys don’t get along?”

Lily lowered her eyes, fidgeting with her hands. “It’s…complicated.”

“I can do complicated,” James said, resting his chin on his hand.

Lily raised her eyebrow. “Please, the most complicated thing you’ve managed, Potter, over the past few years, is learning how to tie your shoelaces.”

“Well, true, but now I’m a pro."

“When you say complicated?” Sirius pressed lightly.

Lily hesitated, playing with the hem of her robes. “Well, she…she’s been in a mood for ages and it’s always awkward at home. Petunia just doesn’t understand any of this,” she said, waving her hands as if gesturing to the wizarding world as a whole. “She hates magic. Hates me for it, really.”

The group fell silent for a moment. Marlene placed a comforting hand on Lily’s arm, and Lily offered a crooked smile.

“Petunia sounds like a right git,” Sirius said bluntly, earning an immediate glare from Lily.

“She’s not a git. She’s my sister.”

Sirius raised his hands in surrender. “All right, sorry. Didn’t mean to offend.” He shifted in his seat. “You know, my brother and I always fight like dogs. Sometimes I don’t get him at all and he doesn’t get me either, but there’s nothing that could really step between the two of us. Perhaps your sister will come around.”

Lily sighed. “She just—she doesn’t get it. I don’t think she ever will,” she muttered.

“Oi, chin up!” Marlene said. “It’s almost summer break. Who cares if Petunia is a git?” She glanced at Sirius and they both smirked.

“She’s not a git!” Lily protested but she was already laughing.

“You have to admit it though, she is a bit,” said Mary.

“Okay, maybe a little.” Lily leaned back as a feeling of warmth crept in. Despite everything, it was hard to stay sad with her friends around.

“That’s the spirit,” said Marlene. “Can’t have you moping over Petunia all summer long, can we?”

Lily shook her head and tucked her red hair behind her ear. “Moping isn’t exactly my thing, but thanks for the reminder.”

Sirius leaned forward, elbows on the large table. “We’ll keep you busy,” he said. “Summer plans are in the works. And also, plans for our next year. Something involving a lot of broomsticks, even more pranks, and possibly breaking some rules. You in?”

“I hate flying,” said Lily. “Do I even have a choice?”

“You always have a choice,” Sirius said with mock seriousness. “It’s just that, more often than not, our options are way more fun.”

“And by fun, he means absolutely reckless,” said Remus.

“Reckless? I prefer to call it adventurous.”

Remus stared at his friends with a defeated expression. “And ‘adventurous’ usually means we end up in detention.”

“Stop decoding everything I say!” Sirius threw a half-eaten bread roll at Remus, who ducked to avoid it with a broad smile.

Marlene grinned. “Well, what’s a little detention compared to making the best memories? Consider me in.”

“See? McKinnon gets it,” said Sirius.

Peter leaned towards Lily with a sympathetic expression. “Feel any better?”

Lily smiled but something in her eyes still flickered with unease. “I guess I worry too much. My sister, this whole magic world. Sometimes it feels like I’m balancing two lives. And I’m afraid that, eventually, I’ll lose one.”

“You won’t,” Mary said. “You’ll find a way. You always do, Lils.”

“Macdonald’s right,” said Sirius. “You’re a tough one, Evans.”

“Careful, Black,” said Lily. “I might assume you even like me.”

“Wouldn’t do that to my friend," he said pointing at James, "and you know it.”

“No, please, go ahead,” said James. “It’s clear that she prefers you and Remus over me.”

“Oh, don’t pout,” said Lily. “You have your moments.”

“I do,” James said, puffing his chest. “And you’ve got us. If you ever need a break from your sister, we’re always here to remind you there are worse.”

Lily looked around at them. “I don’t know what I’d do without you lot,” she said quietly.

“Probably get a lot more studying done,” Sirius teased, earning a playful punch on the shoulder from Mary.

The laughter that followed felt lighter this time, less strained. Lily knew Petunia’s disapproval wasn’t something she could get past, but it felt a little easier to bear with her friends around. They had a way of reminding her that she wasn’t alone, even when the lines between her two worlds blurred.

“All right,” she said. She stood up and stretched, her mood noticeably lifted. “Let’s talk about these pranks of yours on our way to the common room. Just…no brooms, okay? I don’t fancy near-death experiences.”

“Well, we’ll see about that,” said Sirius.