Seventeen
Sirius
“I’ve got it!” Sirius shouted as the doorbell to the Potter residence rang, already making his way to the door. People fluttered about, music pulsing from the massive speakers in the living room. The kitchen counter had been turned into a makeshift bar and Remus, who elected himself as bartender, raised his hand in thanks as he went about pouring shots.
Sirius swung the door open, finding Regulus and his friends all on the other side. They seemed to have gone for a group theme, each and every one of them dressed as immaculate, intricate pirates. Even Regulus, which Sirius found surprising. They half expected Regulus to show up in the bare minimum, slapping on an eye patch and calling it a day.
“The fuck are you supposed to be?” Barty asked, pointy looking Sirius’ green and orange feathered costume.
Sirius gave him a grin. “The Duolingo bird.”
“Please don’t tell me Remus is Dua Lipa.” Dorcas said, cringing at the words alone.
Sirius laughed. “No. I thought about it. He’s Scrub Daddy.”
Regulus made a displeased face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“A lot of things, Reggie, but if I told you all of them, we’d be here all night.”
“Regulus.” Sirius’ little brother corrected.
“It’s unique. I like it.” Pandora said brightly and Xenophilius nodded in agreement.
“You gonna let us in, Black? Or are we just going to stand here all night?” Evan asked and Sirius hastily moved aside.
As they filed into the house, Sirius snatched Regulus’ wrist and dragged him into the bathroom just off the foyer.
“What the- Sirius- tabarnak- let go!” Regulus squawked. He shifted as far away from Sirius as he could as she locked the door. “Sirius? What the fuck?!”
Sirius crossed her arms, leaning her back against the door. “I’m done.”
Regulus blinked at him. “I’m going to need a little bit more than that.”
“I’m done dancing around you. I’m done pretending we’re not angry at each other. I’m done with the not talking. I’m done with the avoidance. I’m done pretending we aren’t siblings.”
Regulus shifted uncomfortably, fiddling with the frilly sleeves of his costume. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sirius. Things are perfectly fine the way they are.”
“They aren’t!” Sirius shouted. “Stop pretending that they are. Orion fucking stabbed me and you just watched and did nothing!”
“Nothing?! Nothing, she says! I didn’t do nothing, Sirius. I called the ambulance. I called the Potters. I saved your fucking life!”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because you fucking left!”
“I thought you said you wanted me to leave?”
“Obviously I wanted you to fucking leave. You’re safer here than you have ever been at home. Didn’t mean you had to cut me out of your fucking life. You know how much it hurt? I did what I could to make sure I wouldn’t loose my brother and I lost him anyways.”
“Reggie,” Sirius whispered, pained, as the breath was forced out of them. “I didn’t know. I thought you just watched. I thought you did nothing. I thought-“
“You thought I was just like them, yeah. I’m used to it,” Regulus grumbled. “How do you think you got to the hospital?”
“I didn’t. I had no idea how I got there. It hurts my brain to think about that night, so I don’t.”
“You didn’t speculate? At all?”
“Nope.”
A silence fell over the two of them, thick and heavy with a long year of hurt, pain and miscommunication.
“I’m sorry,” Sirius said. “I'm sorry I abandoned you. I was in pain and confused but I shouldn’t have done that and I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry you thought you were alone in that house.” Regulus whispered.
“Can we…can we be better? Try and be brothers again?” Sirius asked.
Regulus gave her a minuscule smile. “I’d like that.”
Sirius grinned and unlocked the door.
“You didn’t kill each other, great.” Peter commented as they joined everyone in the living room.
Barty sighed, disappointed. “Damn. I wanted to see them bitch fight.”
Evan rolled his eyes and tugged on the bandanna around Barty’s neck in reprimand.
Remus slipped out of the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Sirius’ waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. “So?”
Sirius smiled, leaning back into their boyfriend’s embrace. “We’ll be okay.”
Remus smiled into her neck. “That’s good.”
The doorbell rang again and Sirius sighed, pulling himself from Remus’ grasp to go open it.
“Gideon!” Sirius shouted happily.
“Sirius!” Gideon replied, throwing his arms around Sirius as much as he could through his blowup dinosaur suit.
"Good to see you, too," Kingsley said teasingly, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms. The wings of his Husk costume fluttered with the movement.
"Sirius, move," Frank said, shoving Gideon and Sirius out of the way of the door in his excitement. "Al!"
"Frankie!" Alice practically tackled him in a hug, the two of them stumbling backwards into the house and just barely avoiding tumbling to the floor. She grinned, tugging on one of his poorly tied pigtails. "Nice hair."
When he was released, Frank struck a pose. "Bubbles the Powerpuff Girl at your service."
"Out of everything you could've fucking chosen." Kingsley said, shaking his head with a smile.
"We needed a third!" Lily shouted from her spot draped over the living room couch in her Blossom costume. Next to her, Mary was dressed as Buttercup.
By the speakers, James turned down the volume so everyone could be heard without shouting. "Get your asses in here, you're letting all the cold air out."
Everyone filed into the living room, Gideon ducking so the top of his costume wouldn't get caught on the door frame.
"Also, everyone," Alice said, eagerly holding her new girlfriend's hand. "This is-"
"Cissa?" Sirius said, the person dressed as an angel and clinging to Alice's hand was unmistakably his cousin. Across the room, Regulus froze.
"Sirius." Their cousin said smoothly, French accent much heavier than either Black brother due to living in Montréal for her entire life. Her eyes skittered around the room before eventually landing on Regulus. She paused, looking him up and down.
"Cissa. Hi." Regulus said, cringing at the uneaven sound of his voice.
Narcissa hesitated before giving him a small smile. "I imagine whatever name I have in mind for you is wrong."
"Regulus," Regulus whispered. "My name is Regulus."
Narcissa hummed. "Well, Regulus, you can stop looking at me like I'm your downfall. I won't tell anyone."
Regulus sagged, pressing his face into the back of the couch in relief. His pirate hat slipped off his head and Pandora picked it up, placing it atop her own.
Alice looked between the cousins in confusion. "You know each other?"
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Her name is Narcissa Black. Y'know, like Sirius and Regulus Black? We're cousins."
Alice squinted suspiciously at her girlfriend. "I thought you said your name was Malfoy?"
Narcissa made a face. "It is, technically. It's a long story. I'm trying to change it back. Takes a while."
"I need a shot." Regulus announced and marched towards the kitchen before anyone could stop him.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea." Barty said and trailed happily after him, dragging Evan along.
Evan
Three shots and an hour later, Barty was well on his way to getting hammered. Evan stuck close by, making sure he didn't set something on fire or give himself alcohol poisoning. The rest of the musical cast had shown up and the party had properly started. The dining room table had turned to a makeshift beer pong table and, to Evan's surprise, Xenophilius had teamed up with that Kingsley guy and they were absolutely smoking Sirius and Marlene. A small game of either Truth or Dare or Never Have I Ever, Evan couldn't really tell which one, was taking place in a small corner of the living room. The rest of the living room had been turned into a dance floor, one Evan was currently on the edges of, by the speakers, occasionally picking up the nearby phone and queuing songs. Barty was in the middle of the crowd, singing(screaming) his heart out to a song from the Frozen soundtrack.
When the song was over, it switched to a more dancable song with a drumming beat(something James had put on). A girl who Evan recognized as an ensemble member but didn’t quite know who, sidled up to Barty and begun making conversation, one Evan couldn’t hear. She’d been hanging around Barty all night, waiting for the perfect opportunity to worm her way up to him.
Evan watched with rising irritation as she laughed, much too hard for any joke Barty could’ve made. She placed her hand on his bicep, squeezing. Barty smiled, knowing, as she stepped closer, dragging her finger down his arm. He winked at her, leaned in close before abruptly backing away, laughing as he made his way back to Evan.
Evan tightened his grip on his glass. Barty has always been flirty, before and after Evan. He’d flash his charming smile at anything that so much as breathed in his direction. He’d draw them in, get them twirled around his finger before leaving them hanging. He’d tease, he’d flirt and Evans didn’t particularly care. If he did it with Regulus, with James or Frank. What he cared about was the fact that those he did flirt with didn’t understand. They didn’t know Barty was just playing. They thought he was genuinely interested in their advances and it made Evan’s blood boil.
Barty was his. His to love, his to hold, his to mark, his to break apart and put back together again in the way Barty loves.
When he got close enough, Barty wrapped his arms around Evan’s waist and rested his head in his chest, slouched over to fit under Evan’s chin as he tilted his head to look up at him. “You should join me out there, my rose.”
Evan wrapped his free arm around Barry’s back, tightly holding him in place incase he thought about running off while he shot the rest of his drink. Evan left the glass sitting on the cabinets under the TV. It’s fine, it’ll be the least of his problems in the morning and he sure as hell doesn’t care now. He pulled himself out of Barty’s arms, latched onto his wrist with a bruising grip and dragged him to the bathroom.
Barty laughed, giddy with excitement as Evan locked the door. He didn’t even get a word in before Evan pounced.
Dorcas
Despite being very obviously drunk, god could Marlene dance.
Stood on top of the coffee table, Marlene swirled and swayed her hips to Conan Gray’s Bourgeoisieses. It wasn’t a particularly graceful performance but damn, if Marlene wasn’t a sight worth seeing.
Tight, cropped black shirt, ripped black jeans, temporary tattoos plastered all over her skin(as she couldn’t legally get any actual tattoos yet), a dangling necklace with a cherry red guitar pick for a pendant, eyeliner somehow even more dramatic than usual, a plastic guitar she bought from the dollar store in hand, long blonde hair falling into her face, skin gleaming with sweat.
Dorcas wanted to take a bite. Marlene was a canvas and she wanted to paint her skins in reds and purples. She wanted to see her lips kiss swollen, wanted to know how Marlene would react if she tugged on her hair. She wanted Marlene panting, limp and clingy after reaching highs that had seemed so far out of reach before Dorcas got her hands on her.
Dorcas did not hate Marlene McKinnon, like she had once thought. In time, she might even love her.
And Dorcas wasn’t blind, nor was Marlene subtle. Her attraction for Dorcas was a blinking neon sign, impossible to miss and Dorcas wanted to follow it, wanted to see just how bright it could get.
But she wouldn’t. Not yet, despite how tempting it may be.
Dorcas reluctantly let Marlene dance in peace, going to join beer pong.
James
For someone who was so reluctant to wear a costume, Regulus went all out. Frilly sleeves, layered jackets, chains, belts, a sword on his hip and a hat - which he stole back from Pandora about an hour ago - on his head. Looking at him, James kind of feels plain, despite the dramatic, sun-like headpiece on his head.
James watched as Regulus and Mary played a surprisingly safe game of darts. The both of them were a bit tipsy(Regulus more bordering on drunk) but no one had died yet, nor had they missed the board on the wall.
Regulus looked happy. He grinned and giggled with Mary, eyes twinkling in a way James has only really seen during rehearsal and with his friends(sometimes, depending on how much of a menace Barty felt like being that day).
James wanted to be the cause of that smile. He wanted to feel Regulus’ lips against his own, wanted to know if they were as soft as they looked. He wanted to shower him in gentle affection, show him a softness he’s never experienced. He wanted to hold him, feel his weight curled around him all throughout the night and he wanted him to be held in return. He wanted to wake up next to him, wanted to spend Sunday mornings together in the kitchen making breakfast. He wanted to have Regulus at his side during family dinners. He wanted to hold hands while they drove, wanted to let Regulus drag him through a bookstore and spend hundreds of dollars buying him all he wanted and more. He wanted to rest his hand on his thigh under the table in front of all their friends and watch him squirm. He wants to find him in the middle of a party and drag him away to a bathroom, like he just saw Evan do to Barty. He wants to love, to share the feelings bursting from his heart in more than just a platonic way. He wants to love and be loved back.
But that'll never happen, much less with Regulus. If James does get a partner, it'll be someone who's bored and just wants to fool around, someone who doesn't really care but sees how fucking pitiful James is and lets him love just to make him stop. Or it'll be someone who's desperate enough to take just about anyone, even the broken, lost, misshapen form of James Potter.
James Potter, a boy who has no fucking idea what to do with his life. James Potter, someone who has the very high possibility of having to take a Victory Lap because he knows if he took a gap year, he'd get some shitty retail job he'd never be able to leave. James Potter, a boy with two loving parents, the best friend group and a perfect life. James Potter, who is supposed to be the sun. James Potter, a boy who struggles anyways. James Potter, who is so fucking close to exploding. James Potter, who's mind is trying to kill him from the inside out. James Potter, who's too loud, too much, no matter how much he tries to be less, tries to be just enough so someone will want him. James Potter, who wants a romance from the movies. James Potter, who loves and wants Regulus Black more than anything, who breathes just for him, who's every heartbeat chants his name. James Potter, who loves someone who despises every single part of his being, all because he tried to be there and save someone else.
James scratched at his arm, shoulders drooping as Regulus gleefully shouts in victory. He shook his head and turned his back, despite wanting nothing more than to keep watching. He gets a shot from Remus, drowns it and forces himself to have fun, going to join Marlene on the dance floor.
Mary
“So, how did this happen?” Mary asked, waving between Alice and Narcissa.
“Y’know, I’m curious, too.” Gideon said. He sat on the kitchen floor, beer bottle in hand. He had since taken off half of his costume, now just the bottom half of a dinosaur with a human torso.
Alice leaned back against the kitchen counter, between Narcissa's open thighs. “We're in the same psych class."
"Oh, come on," Peter groaned from his spot next to Gideon. "You gotta give us more than that."
Alice shrugged. "There isn't much more too it, to be honest. She sat in front of me the first couple weeks, I gave her a note asking her out mid-lecture and we grabbed coffee afterwards."
"You're forgetting the part where you stalked her for three weeks," Kingsley said, smirking while Alice glared at him. "You found her on every possible social media page and eavesdropped on every conversation you could. You found out her dorm, her sisters, her roommates, where she lives in Montreal."
Narcissa tangled her fingers within Alice's hair and gently tugged on the strands until her head fell back. She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You did what?"
Alice went as red as the devil horns on her head. "Sorry. I was curious."
"And desperate." Kingsley added, ignoring the middle finger Alice held up at him.
Narcissa smiled. "You're adorable, darling."
"Not sure that's how you're supposed to react when you find out you've been stalked but alright." Peter muttered before taking a sip of whatever he was drinking, Mary didn't really care enough to ask.
Alice turned her head and buried her face in the meat of Narcissa' thigh, letting out a little scream.
Frank snorted. "You're ridiculous."
Alice lifted her head just enough to glare over at him. "Get a partner, have them pet name you and then we'll talk. I know from experience just how much you like it."
"You two dated?" Narcissa asked, glancing between Alice and Frank.
"For two weeks in eighth grade." Mary explained.
"That was before I realized I was painfully gay." Alice said.
"We very quickly realized we were better of as friends," Frank added. "And fuck you Alice. I am talking to someone, y'know."
Alice shot up and the kitchen exploded with surprised shouts, much like the group chat had the week before.
"What do you mean?" Alice shrieked. "When did this happen? Who?"
"It's been awhile," Frank admitted, smiling into his drink. "He's a jeweler. It's relatively small business and I found him through Instagram. I bought a couple pieces and we got to chatting. We're not official, yet, but we're exclusive. He wants to meet me, take me on a few dates first. I've got plans to go see him during the winter break."
"He?!" Peter shouted. "He?!"
"Ha! Fuck you Gideon, you owe me fifty bucks!" Alice celebrated, throwing her hands up in victory and knocking Narcissa's halo off her head. Alice didn't seem to notice, instead flinging herself at Frank and tackling him to the floor.
"I knew it!" Mary gasped. "I've caught you staring all lovey-dovey at your found one too many times!"
"What's his name?" Kingsley asked, much quieter than everyone else and nearly lost in the cacophony of sounds.
Frank smiled at the mere thought. "Rabastan."
Suddenly, Remus poked his head into the kitchen, brow raised at them all. "Everything alright?"
"Frank's got himself a boyfriend." Gideon informed.
Frank groaned. "He's not my boyfriend."
"Yet." Alice said.
Remus snorted. "And this is news? I've know for ages."
"How?"
Mary winked at him. "I am all knowing, Longbottom."
"Fuck you, Macdonald."
"Anyway, stop screaming or we'll get a noise complaint," Remus said, "And tell me when we figure out if he's a top or a bottom."
"Why the fuck do you want to know that?" Frank demanded.
"No reason." Mary and Remus both said in unison. Mary met Remus' gaze and they narrowed their eyes at each other.
Peter gasped. "You guys made a bet? Without me?"
"Is it open?" Alice asked, pulling out her wallet and waving it around.
Mary shrugged. "Why not?"
"Five bucks says he's a bottom." Kingsley announced.
"What the fuck?" Frank squeaked.
Alice raised an eyebrow at Kingsley. "Really? I bet on top."
"What if it's giving power bottom?" Narcissa asked, looking Frank up and down.
"Still a bottom." Remus pointed out.
"King's typically right," Gideon said. "My money's on bottom."
"I'm going to say top." Peter said.
Mary pulled out her phone and opened her notes app to the long list of ongoing bets. She added Narcissa, Alice, Peter, Gideon and Kingsley to the Frank bet and paused when she scrolled past the bet on James' major. "Any updates on James?"
Frank groaned. "No. That fucker wouldn't tell me shit and my time's up."
"What's going on?" Kinglsey asked.
"James hasn't told anyone his major yet," Peter explained. "We all made a bet on how long he'd last two months ago and he still hasn't cracked."
"Almost two months ago," Remus corrected. "There's still a week left for me to win."
"What if he doesn't spill at all?" Gideon asked. "Who bet the longest?"
"Me." said Remus.
"And if James doesn't tell anyone, he gets the pot." Mary said.
"That's..." Peter counted on his fingers. "Seventy bucks."
“Have it occurred to none of you that he might not know his major yet?” Narcissa said.
Mary exchanged a glance with Remus, who shook his head. “James wouldn’t let us make the bet otherwise.”
Narcissa still looked skeptical but shrugged. “Alright. I won’t claim to know him better than you do.”
The chatter flowed to more tranquil gossip. Remus left to go make sure Sirius wasn’t about to break any bones(hers or someone else’s) and at some point some other cast member came to flirt with Kingsley(probably not realizing he was of age and she was not, or not caring). He had to dip out of the kitchen to try and loose her somewhere in the house and has yet to come back.
“Mary, since you seem to know so much about my love life,” Frank began, a wicked grin forming. “How about you tell the class about your own?”
Peter groaned, throwing himself on his back. “Please don’t. I have to hear Lily Evans this, Lily Evans that, ‘oh my god Peter she’s so pretty how could she ever love me?’ And I can only tell her Lily is as utterly fucked as she is so many times before I loose my goddamn mind.”
“Who is that again?” Narcissa asked.
“The redhead. Third PowerPuff girl.” Alice murmured up to her and Narcissa responded with a quiet ‘ah.’
Mary jabbed Peter in the side with her foot. “You don’t get to complain. You have no idea what I’m going through.”
“And I never will. One of the joys of being aroace, I don’t have to embarrass myself with how utterly oblivious romance seems to make everyone,” Peter said blissfully, linking his hands behind his head. “Honestly, the only thing that keeps me sane between you and Lily, Marlene and Dorcas and, James and Regulus is writing fanfictions about all of you getting your shit together.”
“You what now?” Frank said.
“Jesus Christ.” Mary muttered under her breath.
“Nothing. You okay, Longbottom? I am completely and utterly ordinary.” Peter said innocently.
Frank narrowed his eyes at him. “You aren’t gaslighting your way out of this one, Pettigrew.”
“Me? Gaslighting? Are you sure you’re good, Frank?” Peter sat up, feigning concern. Next to him, Gideon snickered and Mary rolled her eyes. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Pete. Stop.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“I’m serious.”
“No, you’re Frank. Sirius is probably jamming his tongue down Remus’ throat in the room over.”
Frank gave him a dirty look. “Fuck you.”
“No, thanks. Not exactly my cup of tea. Meet up with Rabastan, I’m sure he’d be more willing.” Peter grinned.
Narcissa tilted her head. “Rabastan Lestrange?”
Frank’s head snapped towards her. “Yeah. How’d you know that?”
Narcissa snorted and took a sip of her drink. “My sister married his older brother, Roldolphus.”
Frank gaped at her. “The crazy sister-in-law is your sister?”
Gideon nudged Frank with his toes, stretching out to reach him. “That’s her sister, man. Be nice.”
Narcissa laughed, albeit a little pained. “He’s right. Bella is…well, ‘crazy’ is putting it lightly.”
“And Roldolphus married her?” Mary raised an eyebrow. “Willingly?”
“No, no,” Narcissa shook her head. “An arranged marriage.”
“People are still doing that?” Peter asked.
Narcissa hummed. “The more traditional ones. That, or it’s a part of their culture. Either way, it happened to Bella and Roldolphus. And me, but I’m in the process of divorcing him.”
Alice’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
Narcissa cringed. “Sorry I haven’t told you, darling. It isn’t exactly my favourite subject.”
“Aren’t you eighteen?” Gideon asked.
“Yes. For my eighteenth birthday, I was given marriage.”
“That’s…” Mary trailed off, unable to find the words.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to because a very, very drunk Lily Evans stumbled into the kitchen, giggling to herself and swaying on her feet. Mary jumped forward, slinging an arm around her waist and throwing Lily’s over her shoulder.
“Easy there, Evans.” Mary murmured.
Lily brightened and Mary’s heart panged. “Mary!”
“Shhh. I’m right here, Lils, you don’t need to shout.”
“Sorry,” Lily said in a loud whisper before erupting in a fit of giggles. “Come dance with me.”
Mary raised an eyebrow. “You can barely stand by yourself, how are you going to dance?”
Lily leaned in and booped her with her nose. Mary fought the near overwhelming urge to lean in and steal Lily’s breath to the point where she’d be panting for days. She wouldn’t though. Not while Lily wasn’t sober and in the proper mind to give her consent. “With you.”
Mary let out a shaky breath. “Alright.”
Slowly, Mary led Lily out of the kitchen and into the living room, still pulsating with music Mary was almost 100% sure they’d played already tonight. Or maybe she had been friends with Sirius so long that Another One Bites The Dust by Queen was just permanently carved into her brain and would give her deja vu no matter the situation.
Just before they could blend into the crowd, Lily went stiff, clinging Mary’s arms with a white-knuckled grip. “Bathroom.”
Mary’s eyes widened and she quickly dragged Lily up the nearby staircase, not trusting the downstairs bathroom to be unlocked.
The moment they bust through the door, Lily collapsed in front of the toilet. Despite Lily’s hair already being tied back due to her costume, Mary gently took the red strands in hand, comfortingly running her fingers through it.
After a minute of absolutely nothing happening, Lily leaned back, eyes apologetic. “Sorry. False alarm.”
Mary gave her a warm smile. “That’s okay. I’d rather it be a false alarm than be covered in vomit in James’ living room because you didn’t say anything.”
Lily giggled. “I’d probably wreck the carpet and Effie would yell at me.”
Mary snorted. “She’d lecture you, maybe, but she wouldn’t yell. Effie never yells. That woman doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
Lily hummed. “You aren’t mean, either.”
Mary raised a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m plenty mean.”
Lily shook her head. “No. Not to me. Never to me.”
Mary heaved a sigh. “Yeah, well, you’re special.”
The grin that crossed her face made Mary’s heart soar. “I like being special.”
“I bet you do, Evans. I bet you do.”
Lily grabbed Mary’s hand, tracing patterns over her knuckles with soft fingers. “You’re special too.”
“Am I?”
Lily nodded and her fingers trailed higher up her arm. Mary shivered. “No one else has made me feel like this. Not even James.”
Mary swallowed hard. “Like what?”
Lily leaned closer, hand curling around Mary’s bicep. “Like I would dismember someone just because you asked me to. Like the way my heart beats when you smile at me, so fast I think it’s trying to kill me. Like the way you steal my breath with even the smallest of things.”
Lily leaned in farther, barely any space between them. Mary could feel Lily’s warm breath, stained with alcohol, fanning over her lips. They were so close Mary would barely have to lean it to finally feel those incredibly soft lips against hers.
"Lily," Mary whispered. "Lils, your drunk-"
Lily pushed forward and Mary stopped breathing. The gentle glide as their mouths slotted into place, albeit a little sloppily, was something pulled directly from Mary's dreams. Mary responded instantly, hand tangling in Lily's hair and urging her into her lap. Lily hummed in encouragement and Mary let out a desperate little sound at the vibration. One of Lily's hands cupped her jaw, rubbing soft patterns into dark skin, a stark contrast to her other hand, nails digging into the meat of her shoulder.
When they parted for air, Mary turned her head to the side before Lily could sweep her up in another kiss. Lily whined, pressing sloppy, open-mouthed kisses to her cheek as Mary panted, eyes shut tight. She wanted nothing more than to ignore her stupid fucking conscience and pull Lily apart right here, right now on James' bathroom floor. But she wouldn't, couldn't. Not while Lily was drunk and she was not. Not while Lily could wake up the next morning and blame it on the alcohol.
Lily tried to turn her head back but Mary pulled away, pushing Lily off her lap and getting to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Lily asked, hand grasping Mary's shorts in an attempt to stop her.
Mary pried herself out of her grip. "Home. This was sweet but...unless your sober, nothing is going to happen."
Regulus
Regulus watched through the glass from his spot on the Potter's back porch as James led a tearful Mary out the door. Regulus had watched her come down the stairs, nearly crash into Potter and then begin ranting to the point of tears. James had nodded along, expression sympathetic and now Macdonald was leaving. Regulus tilted his head. What was that about? Oh well. He'd hear about it sometime later. Drama doesn't stay a secret for long with this group.
When Mary had safely left, James wandered back to the living room and was instantly dragged into the thick crowd of sweaty, dancing high schoolers by McKinnon, who was still going strong.
Regulus didn't know why he was watching. Why did he care about what Potter did? He blamed his drunk brain for being easily entrapped in the copious amount of gold glitter Potter had dusted across his face. He liked the way it shined when the light hit it just right, making James' caramel skin glow. He blamed it on James', quite frankly, amazing Apollo costume(though he'd never tell anyone he thought that). He blamed it on the near sinful way James moved his hips to the beat of whatever song was playing. He blamed it on the way James smiled and laughed while he danced, eyes bright with a light Regulus didn't normally see. He blamed it on James being the only thing worth his attention at this damn party. He blamed it on the way his heart fluttered whenever Regulus laid eyes on the man. He blamed it on the fact that, while he pretends to he hate James, he actually quite likes him. Likes his voice, the passion he puts into a performance. He likes when James rants about meaningless things, even if it disrupts rehearsals. He likes James' beauty and the way he both knows and yet is somehow entirely unaware of just how magnificent he is. He likes-
Oh. He likes James. He likes James. He like likes James. He likes James in a 'I-want-to-jam-my-tongue-down-your-throat' kind of way. He likes James
Oh shit.