Bejeweled

The rest of the dance was amazing, even if there wasn’t much more time. Bella sang along to the rest of the songs, dancing with her friends, her Remus, and her sister. It truly ended too quickly, with Hoben thanking them all and telling them it was time to return to their respective common rooms. Andy left to sneak into Hufflepuff with her friends and Ted, giving Bella another hug before doing so, and then Bella turned to Remus and Lily to say her goodbyes before going to Slytherin. 

But James Potter of all people spoke to her before she got the chance. “We’re having an after party in Gryffindor Tower, you should come.”
Bellatrix’s eyebrows shot up, as did Remus’s. 

James answered their astonished looks without waiting for them to say anything. “The Slytherins aren’t going to be too happy with her, it might be safer to give them some time,” he explained. 

Remus frowned, glancing over at her with a worried look. “I didn’t think about that.” 

Bella shrugged. “I can handle any of them. But, since you’re offering, I’m down for an after party.” 

So, surrounded by friends, Bellatrix took the steps up to Gryffindor Tower and slipped inside, hidden in the group of students who actually belonged there. The first thing she noticed was how warm it was in their common room. Of course, being packed wall to wall with students surely contributed, but the bright reds and golds and the fire that seemed to blaze hotter here than the Slytherin one seemed like the main culprits. Everything about the room seemed to scream that if she were there alone, it would still be a sweet hot chocolate on a winter’s day. 

Several different reactions greeted her. Some students looked afraid, some looked furious, some cautious. Bellatrix wondered if maybe she should have faced the Slytherins instead. But then Remus put his arm around her waist protectively, and suddenly Bellatrix couldn’t have cared less about the other students’ reactions. 

Her group of Gryffindor protectors, Remus, Lily, and Potter, hovered around her as they found their way over to the table full of snacks, butterbeers, and even some fire whiskey, each taking their selections. 

“I wonder where Padfoot went, I don’t see him here,” Potter mentioned as his eyes searched the room. “He can’t still be fighting with Snape, can he?” 

“Those two?” Remus raised an eyebrow. “If no one breaks it up, they’ll both be in the infirmary before either of them walks away.” 

“You don’t think they’d really hurt each other, do you?” Lily frowned. 

Remus gave her a sorry look. “You and I both know the answer to that.” 

Lily groaned. “Maybe I should try to find them. The idiots.” 

“It’s Snape’s fault,” James grumbled. “What was he thinking, going up to you like that? You made it clear you don’t want to talk to him.” 

“It’s my fault,” Bellatrix spoke up, all of them turning their attention to her. “He saw you being friendly with me of all people and thought maybe you’d forgive him,” she reasoned. 

“He still misses me that much?” Lily asked. 

Bellatrix’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “Of course he does, it’s a running joke in Slytherin at this point.” 

“Oh,” Lily frowned. “I figured after so long he’d…” she trailed off, looking at the ground as her mind clearly drifted away from the current moment. 

“I’ll run upstairs and check-check if he’s there,” Potter said with a weird stutter in the middle that made Bella think he’d changed the end of the sentence. 

He hurried off and the three of them claimed a few chairs that Bella scared some first years out of with a simple glare. Lily shook her head at Bella in slight disapproval, but still sat down muttering something about how they should be in bed by now anyways. 

Potter came back before too long and let them know Sirius was indeed up in the boys dormitory, apparently having called it a night as the curtains on his bed were firmly shut. They all gave a shrug and moved on, mostly her, Lily, and Remus filling Potter in on what exactly had happened between all of them. 

“Call me James. If you’re Moony’s girl now, you’re alright with me,” James told her at one point.  

It made Bellatrix blush bright red to be called “Moony’s girl”, but she actually quite liked the title. Then her eyes went wide with realization. “That’s why they call you Moony,” she realized. 

Lily, James, and Remus all laughed, while Bella shook her head. “You really need to be more careful with that information. Someone could figure it out!” 

“You didn’t. Well-not for a while,” James pointed out. 

“Well…still! You should be careful,” she told Remus with concern. Her own reaction had been a perfect example of why, even if she’d gotten past it. 

“Awww, so concerned!” Lily teased good-naturedly. 

Bella rolled her eyes, reaching out to hold Remus’s hand. “Of course I am. I’m his girl now, remember?” 

“You really are?” Remus muttered, looking down at their entwined fingers. 

“Absolutely,” she declared proudly, and leaned over to kiss his cheek. 

The after party ran late into the night, and Bellatrix was yawning by the time they decided to go up to their dorms. 

“You can share my bed,” Lily told her. 

“Or…” James smirked, looking between Bella and Remus. 

Remus looked like a tomato at the suggestion. “Don’t pressure her like that,” he protested. 

“Well, I mean, if that’s an option,” Bella said flirtatiously, bumping her shoulder playfully against his as they walked towards the steps. 

“Oh, well, um,” Remus cleared his throat. “If-if you want.” 

“Of course I want to,” she assured him. Then Bella turned to Lily, “Could I borrow some pajamas?” 

“Sure, I have some that should fit you,” Lily nodded. 

The girls split from the boys for the moment, and Lily took her up to the girls dorm. The redhead began digging through her belongings until she found what she was looking for. “Here, try these on,” Lily instructed. 

Bella slid out of her dress and into the silky pajama set. It was pastel yellow, with little white dots all over, but the tank top and shorts set didn’t seem very appropriate for the time of year. 

“And these, for the trip over,” Lily added, handing her a pair of thick warm brown wool socks. 

“So you’re aware it’s freezing then?” Bella raised her eyebrow at her friend. 

“Well yeah, but this way he has to cuddle you to keep you warm, duh,” Lilly grinned back mischievously. 

“Oh sweetie,” Bella smirked, “these aren’t staying on.”