Chapter Thirteen
Iris POV
My life seemed determined to wipe my misery in my face. That very night, Mel and I each received a neatly folded piece of parchment announcing that Slughorn was throwing a formal party for the Slug Club students this weekend, Sunday night.
Dates were encouraged.
The whole school was abuzz with the news, even though the majority of students weren't invited. At lunch, I overheard a group of third year girls giggling about who was going with who and in the halls before Transfiguration, a seventh year Ravenclaw elaborately asked some swooning girl to be his date, getting down on his knees and everything. It was nauseating.
Mel, of course, already had several offers but her heart set on going with Eric, the Durmstrang seventh year with dreamy eyes. She had decided that if he didn't ask her within a day, she would ask him.
"Because we can't wait around our whole lives wishing. We've got to make our dreams happen," she'd said.
And I agreed with her. Which was why I had already come up with a plan for Sunday night. My dreams were slightly different than Mel's, however: exacting revenge on Regulus Black. The general idea was to so flawlessly prove that I was living my life without him, that he would wonder if he had had any impact on me at all. I had formed this plan with my trusted confidants around the Hufflepuff table: Mel and the boys in my year aka ‘the tribe’.
And although there were a lot of them, they were loyal and I trusted them through and through. Hufflepuffs were no gossips. The problem was that 'living my best life' included a broad range of activities not limited to, but definitely including, going to the formal with a date. And that proved much more easily said than done.
The problem wasn't lack of guys, I could have asked any of the 6th year puffs and I'm sure they would gladly have gone with me. It was more of a moral dilemma. I refused to use anyone as a means to an end. And that's what I would be doing by asking anyone out; there was no one I genuinely wanted to go with.
Thus, I spent the week fretting, meanwhile Mel secured Eric (by asking him herself), Lyla was going with Remus, and all I had by Saturday was the dress Mel had helped me pick out and a headache. I was seriously considering calling in sick, revenge or not, when Liam came up to me in the common room with a proposition.
"I've found a way to save us both," he told me, slumping down on the couch beside me. "You need a date to the party to get revenge on Black. And I need a date to the party to make Melissa jealous. So why don't we go together?"
"You want to make Mel jealous?" I asked, skeptically.
"Yes. She'll see me dancing with you, get all jealous and realize it is really me she liked all along not Eric. Brilliant, yes?"
"Not exactly," I answered. His plan seemed flawed for a multitude of reasons, the most important being that Mel had friendzoned him into oblivion our fourth and never looked back.
"Okay, it's a long shot but please, Iris? I thought you were desperate."
"I am," I admitted.
"And you wouldn't be 'using me' because I know exactly what you're doing and technically I am using you too," he finished happily.
"You're right," I agreed slowly, the idea growing on me. "You're sure you don't mind?" I asked.
"Mind. I'd be delighted," he answered. "I'll pick you up at seven sharp tomorrow night," he said, winking at me and heading towards his dorm.
Regulus POV
I hated her. I hated that she came to this party, I hated that stupid beautiful dress she was wearing, and most of all I hated her for picking that random Gryffendor over me.
I also hated that blonde idiot whose arm was linked through hers, even if it was clear he could barely tear his eyes off Mel.
The whole thing was stupid. The only reason I had come was because Slughorn was head of Slytherin House and a decently influential man. I wished I could be in my room studying star charts, or wandering the abandoned staircase in the East Wing, or on the train home already. And I never wished to be going home. Especially not this specific break with this specific visitor. I knew what was coming. And I knew who had my back. Exactly no one, except perhaps Kreature.
I wouldn’t have told Iris about my initiation even if we were still talking. She would have freaked out. She would have made me swear I wouldn’t do it. But she couldn’t see the long game like I could. Didn’t understand the knowledge I would be privy to. And she definitely didn’t know why that knowledge was so important. That was partly my fault. I could have shared that with her, but I didn’t. Trusting was not something that came naturally to me.
And it was a good thing too, because look at us now. Her, twirling on the edge of the room the farthest physically possible from me, the beading on her midnight blue satin dress catching the candlelight. Me, actively not being caught staring, my jaw so tense I knew it would ache tomorrow. I would keep that aloof expression on my face all night if it killed me. This is why I didn’t share information. This is why I didn’t trust people. They just left. I had learned that lesson already but somehow, like a fool, I had forgotten it and, of course, it had come back to bite me. I was no fool. I knew he wasn’t. And it would not happen to me a third time. Never again.
Hate burned steady and roiling in my chest, all too familiar. I was still Regulus Black. And no one would forget that.
Lyla POV
I had nearly died when I had looked at myself in the mirror before the Slug Club. The dress I was wearing was gorgeous. The shoes were fabulous. My hair, immaculate. But I felt truly beautiful—inside, outside, and all around—when Remus, guiding me into the party, leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You’re radiant. Absolutely breathtaking.”
“You’re not too shabby yourself,” I teased. He grinned, taking my hand and twirling me once before wrapping his arms around me. We swayed easily to the music couples around us all doing the same.
I frowned, thinking of Iris and Regulus. Iris had come up with some hairbrained plan to make Regulus jealous or something. I hoped they’d reconcile soon. Things said in anger are never truly meant.
“Ah, there’s the happy couple,” Sirius came bounding over to use. Remus rolled his eyes.
“It’s not a wedding, Padfoot.”
“But, Moony dear,” James came up behind Sirius. “This is your very first girlfriend.”
“And,” Sirius added, sending James a conspiratorial look with the other boy returned just as eagerly. “Judging by how it looks, it will be your last.” The statement sent both boys giggling and Remus and I blushing. I wondered how they always managed to make me embarrassed.
“You’re not one to talk,” I countered. “James has only ever had one crush, and Sirius, I don’t see you here with a date.” The boys fell on each other laughing uproariously.
“Lily!” James called, waving her over. The red headed appeared, greeting James with a deep kiss before turning towards me.
“Hey, Lyla,” she said. “It’s good to see you!”
“It’s nice to see you again too.” Lily leaned in closer.
“I’m thrilled with your arrival into the group. The boy to girl ratio was in need of vast improvement.” I returned her smile.
“I’m happy to help.”
“Alright, gang,” James slapped his hands together. “Are we ready to ditch?”
“We made an appearance, so I’m pretty sure we're off the hook.” Sirius grinned, winking. Remus bent down, his lips brushing against my ear.
“Are you okay with that?” he whispered.
“Yes,” I laughed. “Parties aren’t really my jam.” Remus took hold of my hand and we followed the other out of the room, ducking low so as to avoid the notice of Professor Slughorn.
Once we hit the hallway, the boys took off sprinting down at full speed, Lily racing against James and clearly winning despite his protests. Once hand in Remus’s and the other hoisting up my skirt, I chased after them, giggling like a madwoman. Portraits shouted in astonishment and annoyance as we darted noisily passed. Sirius threw both of his fits in the air and whooped.
“I’m free!” he cried.
“Free!” James echoed. I couldn’t help but agree with them. This feeling was everything.
The marauders led me to the Entrance Hall, and, without slowing our strides, we danced out into the snowy night. James managed to twirl in a circle while running, and Sirius had somehow gotten Lily to piggyback ride on him. Remus pulled my arm, bringing me closer. He wrapped his arm around me and picked me up, spinning me around and around. Snow and ice scattered around us as we slipped and slid down the hill to our destination: the Black Lake.
Sirius stepped out onto the thin layer of ice on the lake, panting and—was he crying? Remus stepped forward, his right hand still holding mine as his left reached out towards Sirius. James threw his arm around Sirius’s shoulders letting his other drape over Lily.
“I just—I just love you guys,” Sirius sniffed. “I feel…safe.” He sighed thickly.
“We love you too, Sirius,” Remus answered.
“Always,” James agreed.
I inhaled deeply, letting the cold bite my lungs. The world was a complex place, I decided, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t love each other. I leaned my head onto Remus’s shoulder, the feeling still a present cloud around us. It was freedom. It was hope. It was love.