11
"He said what?" Lily hissed through the nearly silent classroom as Charlotte shot her a warning glance, Slughorn, thankfully, scribbling away at his desk. Although, their professor had made it quite known that Lily was one of his favorite students, and sometimes Charlotte thought Lily could have blown the classroom up with no repurcussions.
"Lily, I said I would tell you, but I'd love it if half the school wasn't listening in..." Charlotte whispered back, scanning over the pages of their book until she found the title matching the chalkboard before them. The room was filling up now, sleepy-eyed students falling into their seats all around them.
"Well, I didn't think he'd admit to being bloody in love with you." She answered, shortly, her pages flying around until reaching the one Charlotte was on.
"He didn't say that." She replied, hearing the familiar laughter at once, dying down as the boys crossed through the doorway and offered Professor Slughorn identical innocent smiles.
"Evans!" James forgot his silence at once, hurrying towards the two Gryffindor girls and dropping into the table beside Lily. "How are my two favorite Gryffindor ladies doing tonight?"
Charlotte pressed a hand over her heart, looking towards James' grinning face. "I've made second place?"
"Shut up, Charlotte." Lily ordered with a warning glance as Sirius dropped into the chair behind James, Peter having already stolen the last spot at the table. Charlotte could practically feel Lily itching to look to the dark haired boy behind them, though she wasn't sure who was having a harder time as she heard Remus pull the chair out beside Sirius.
"Your hair looks different, Lils." Remus asked, noting the curls Lily had let Mary practice on her the night before. He pulled a few books out from his bag on the floor as everyone exchanged wide eyed glances. "Looks nice."
Lily's eyes found Charlotte's, pity forming behind them that made Charlotte's stomach sink. She forced her eyes to the book before her, willing Lily to answer him, to not let her feel like the entire group was watching the entire exchange.
"Alright there, Cassanova?" James exclaimed, shooting Remus an incredulous look that Charlotte could clearly read to mean shut up.
"Yeah, isn't it enough you've got girls throwing themselves at you in every class, you need to steal James's too?" Peter snickered, earning a glare from everyone of his roommates and judging from his wince, a hard kick beneath the table.
"Alright, Charlotte, let's go-" Lily stood from her seat, a flush rising to both of her cheeks before James caught her wrist, pulling her back down.
"Lily! Evans, Evans, I'm sorry. They're all wankers, I'm sorry."
Charlotte burst into laughter, Sirius's jaw dropping.
"Oi!"
"Actually, you've been surprisingly well behaved." James corrected.
"Yeah, we'll get you a treat upstairs if you sit nicely." Remus muttered beneath his breath before diving into his book, Lily and Charlotte exchanging an exhausted glance as Lily retook her seat.
"Ah, I believe that's the last of you!" Slughorn offered Marlene and Mary a thin smile as the girls collapsed into seats near the door. "I've got a bit of a fun lesson planned for us, if I do say so myself." Their professor's eyes gleamed. "Elixir of Euphoria. Now that you've all had a few weeks to study up since we went over this one, I thought it would be fun if we had a bit of a contest."
There was a low murmur of excitement, although Charlotte was sure she could hear a small whine from Peter a few seats down.
"Now, it's got to be fair, of course. We can't have all of our resident geniuses teaming up and taking over," He shot a look between Lily and Snape, who's dark black eyes were latched on the red head. "So, I'll be drawing names."
There was a collective groan now through the room which Charlotte had barely been able to stifle herself. While she did have a good amount of friends in this class, there was also the very real possibility she would find herself sat with Snape, or one of his friends. She unclenched her fingers in her lap before she broke one off.
"Alright, our first pair..." Slughorn was fumbling with a few slips of paper which were circling on their own in a large glass bowl on his desk. "Ah, Miss Evans and Mr. Pettigrew." Slughorn grinned, surely thinking his plan was already working out. "We have Snape and McKinnon." Marlene didn't attempt to cover the groan, Sirius and James bursting into laughter as Remus shot her a sympathetic look. "Miss McKinnon, please."
Slughorn continued drawing slips of paper until most of the class had been sorted. "Potter and MacDonald," He called, Lily taking James's leave as her excuse to hop over to sit beside Peter, a genuine smile rising to her face as she promised him they would definitely be winning. "Black and Mulciber."
"Bloody Hell," Sirius muttered from behind her, lugging his bag over his shoulder and starting towards the other end of the room where Mulciber was scowling in his direction. "Better me than you, blondie." He shot her his best attempt at a grin as he passed her desk, his hand landing on her head and ruffling her hair into a mess.
"And that leaves Lupin and Harris." Slughorn checked over the final slips before tossing them into the bin beside his desk and clapping his hands together. "The rest of the class period is yours. Follow the directions carefully and I will test them after class. The winners will be revealed for our next lesson and I'll have a very exciting prize made up for the pair who brings me the best elixir. Begin!"
There was a shuffle as the remaining students hurried to join their partners. Charlotte reached for her bag at her feet and turned straight into Lupin's chest as he dropped into the seat beside her, a slight pink taking over his face for only a moment.
"Sorry!" He chuckled, tossing his worn potions book to the table next to hers. "Hi."
"Hi." She nodded, praying her face wasn't as pink as his had been, though the color was all but faded now. "This school just won't let you stop helping me out with lessons, huh?"
"Oh, shut up." He shook his head, thumbing over pages in his book, "You're carrying our team for this, Lily probably mutters ingredients in her sleep."
Charlotte laughed, both of them rising to grab ingredients from the now dwindling crowd before the supply cabinet.
"How'd your herbology essay go?" He asked, pulling ingredients from the top shelf and handing them off to her.
"Oh, fine." She answered as they started back to their seats, "I'm actually a bit nervous for the lesson now. Why do so many plants have teeth? I feel like those should be the ones we don't have to work with."
He chuckled, taking his seat and beginning to skin their shrivelfig while Charlotte began to muddle the juice from the sopophorous beans.
"Alright, so these in first..." He muttered beneath his breath, sliding the shrivelfig into the bubbling cauldron and looking to her. "Oh, you..."
"What?" She glanced between his eyes and the bowl of juice she was holding.
"No, you've just got something in your hair." His hand flinched towards her before he pulled it back to the desk, hesitating for only a second before reaching to the side of her face and gently pulling along a strand of her hair. "Feather." He murmured, letting it float towards the floor before turning back to their potion, Charlotte thankful that he surely couldn't hear her heartbeat racing along with her thoughts.
"Thanks..." She forced out, emptying the juice into the cauldron while Remus stirred. "Now I know my friends are all fake if they let me through all of breakfast with that in my hair."
Remus chuckled, softly, setting the spoon on the table. "It was small. I'm sure no one noticed it." They fell into silence now as Charlotte scanned over the final instructions for the potion. They just had to add the wormwood in and stir again after a few minutes. "Charlotte..." Her eyes flashed to his, his lips pressed together in a thin line. "Thank you for... I mean... I'm just glad you're not mad at me. You should be, but I'm glad you're not."
Her lips twitched upwards, though she held down the full smile.
"It's fine, Rem-"
"It's not. It's really not. I really am sorry, and I don't have a good excuse to give you..."
"Sirius says you're moody." She shrugged, offering him a teasing smile and wishing he would smile again.
"Yeah?" He snuck a look over to a very tense looking Sirius deep into Slytherin territory. "Yeah, you could say that."
☾
Charlotte followed Lily down the last few steps, practically knocking the red-head over when she stopped, a low murmur of cheers filling the room. It was nearly curfew, so it was no surprise that the common room was so full. The odd part was the way that everyone was crowded into two groups on either side of the couches which had been shoved to the center a few feet apart, James and Sirius leaning against the wall near the portrait hole, matching grins painting their faces.
"What in Godric's name are you two doing?" Lily shouted over the cheers, a few of the younger students laughter slipping from their faces as they spun towards the prefect.
"Oh, good, Evans! You're here!" James beamed, "You won't be able to see me, I'm so fast, but you can probably watch Padfoot-"
"Shut up, you're all talk." Sirius shouted back, "Peter, just count us down, will you?"
"Count you down to what-" Lily's sentence was cut off as Peter's voice shouted out, James and Sirius pushing off the wall and launching into a full on sprint. Sirius was ahead for only a moment, until both boys reached the couches, Sirius fumbling on the cushions as James leapt forward easily, already zipping around the arm chair when Sirius's feet touched the floor again. Finally, they collapsed against the wall at the far side of the room, Sirius letting himself fall onto James and ignoring the cry of pain as the common room chuckled.
"You cheated." Sirius huffed.
"Cheated at moving?" James giggled, "Who's next?"
"No one is next!" Lily slid her wand through the air easily, the couches re-arranging themselves at once. "You're going to break something, and I'm not sure how you were planning to explain the ruined ancient furniture to McGonagall."
"It was time for an upgrade!" James smirked towards the red-head, "We can have a fundraiser. I'll start." James fumbled into his pockets, pulling out his wallet and dropping down a dozen golden coins.
"Me too." Sirius tossed his wallet onto James's lap. "New couches, all around!" He pointed towards random students as one by one they began to filter out from the room, most of them avoiding Lily's gaze as they hurried to their dorms.
Charlotte led Lily towards the pile of Gryffindor boys, Remus and Peter watching amusedly from beside them.
"Are you two drunk?" Charlotte asked, biting back a smile as she could practically hear Lily's sigh behind her.
"Drunk?" James forced his eyes wide. "Why, I never-"
"Yes." Sirius answered, as if he hadn't heard James speaking at all.
"It's a Thursday night!" Charlotte finally laughed, reaching a hand out to help the boys up, Remus's hand falling to her shoulder as James and Sirius pulled her hand hard.
"Ouch!" She let Remus pull her back from the laughing pair, shaking out her arm.
"How did you not see that coming?" Remus chuckled, knowingly before starting towards their usual places before the fire.
"Get up on your own, then, you drunks." Charlotte tossed them a scowl, falling onto the couch as Remus took the arm chair, Peter and Lily taking the couch across from him. Charlotte watched the two boys groan, pulling each other up from their drunken fall and sauntering towards the rest of their friends.
Charlotte smiled, looking around at the friends. She didn't see why Lily minded so much, although she thought part of it might have been a show for the younger students. It was nice, listening to the boys all laugh together, trying to piece together their drunken jokes. Peter's face was nearly red from laughing at something that James had muttered as he had fallen onto the couch beside him.
Remus seemed almost like a new person. He was still quieter, sure, not screaming his every thought through the room like his friends, but the smile lining his face seemed permanent, and it hadn't faded since Charlotte had entered the room.
"Lupin, go get your record player, we can listen to that new Fleetwood album." Sirius begged, pointing over to Remus as if he wouldn't have known who he was talking to without the hint.
"It's not new, Sirius." Remus sighed, leaning back deeper into his chair. "And I'm not lugging that thing down here right now, it's bloody heavy." He chuckled, watching Sirius's face fall into a pout.
"She rings like a bell through the night-" Sirius shouted up at the ceiling, eyes shut as James burst into a new fit of giggles, watching his friend, Remus letting his head fall onto his lap.
"Please, no." He chuckled, his hands wrapping over each ear, the silver scars stretching along his flesh as Charlotte forced her eyes away from him.
"Rhiannon!" Sirius sang, even Lily breaking into laughter now.
"He's not bad, Remus! You said he was bad!" Charlotte laughed, grinning towards the brunette beside her as Sirius's singing cut out.
"You said I was bad?" His eyes flashed and Remus broke down, laughter howling around the group.
"Charlotte, stop!" James forced out, his head leaning down to the arm chair of the couch beside him. "I'm going to piss myself, you just started an actual war."
"Blondie's the only one here on my side!" Sirius reached out, one hand circling Charlotte's hip as he pulled her closer. "Here." He pulled a glistening silver flask from his pocket and held it over her lap.
"I'm alright, Sirius." She smiled, pushing it back towards the dark haired boy.
"I don't have cooties!" Sirius promised with a small grin.
"Yeah, Pads, show her your vet records, you absolute dog!" James giggled, Remus nearly choking on his drink as Sirius shook his head, the smile never faltering.
"I bloody love you lot." James sighed, his laughter dying down at last as he stretched his legs across the couch, Sirius swatting them off his lap.
"I can already tell you wore these socks to practice, Potter, you reek." Sirius slid farther from his friend, pressing Charlotte against the arm of the couch, the familiar cologne washing over her as she looked to Lily, who's green eyes were stuck on James, who thankfully was still gazing up at the ceiling.
"I can't wait for Christmas." James spoke to no one in particular, yet everyone was listening to his every word. "You all have to come for Christmas."
No one answered for a moment until Peter finally broke the silence. "You know I'll be around."
"We can throw a big party. Evans, you'll come right?"
"Maybe." She answered, dismissively, rolling her eyes towards Charlotte who bit back a laugh.
"Char?" James sat up at last, twisting around to find the blonde haired girl. "Swear?"
"Sure, James. You set it up, I'll be there." She smiled, truthfully. Being around James Potter was infectious, and she could tell that even Lily wouldn't mind being dragged along just this once.
"She's an angel." James looked to Lily now, "You've got great taste in friends, Evans. Can't believe you kept her from us for so long-"
"Alright, Romeo, simmer down." Sirius elbowed him over, though James hardly seemed to notice, rolling his arm beneath his head as a makeshift pillow.
"I've got practice in the morning." James muttered, mostly to himself.
"You've never had a hangover in your life, Potter." Peter laughed, taking another swig from his flask as James heaved himself up from the couch.
"Better not start now." He grinned to his friend.
"Well, at least you're a responsible drunk." Lily smiled, standing from her spot as well and starting towards the dorms. "Charlotte?"
"Yeah, I'll be up as soon as this erumpent gets off me!" Charlotte shot Sirius a grin, watching his lips fall into half a sneer, his eyes narrowing to slits, though she wasn't sure if it was supposed to be menacing or if it was a sure sign that he was tired.
"Night, guys." Remus nodded, his smile only finally leaving his face as he capped his own flask, following James and Peter up the steps slowly.
"You should probably get to bed too." Charlotte reminded, watching as he shrugged, meeting her eyes.
"Je ne suis pas fatigué." He answered, rolling his head back towards the fire again as Charlotte laughed.
"Pardon you?" She watched him, eyes wide as he returned her gaze.
"What did I say?" He blinked a few times.
"As if I could repeat it!" She shook her head. He really was drunk. "Was that French?"
He simply shrugged again, his eyes skating over her cozy sweater and jeans, her hair pulled back into a low bun. A few strands had fallen loose around her face, and Sirius felt his gaze linger only a second too long.
"Tu es étourdissant." He muttered, orange flickering through his bright gray eyes from the fire before them. Charlotte bit back another laugh.
"Is there anything you can't do? I don't know how anyone can stand to be your friend, it must make everyone feel so inferior."
A grin pulled to his lips as he watched her laugh, shaking his head slightly.
"I'm no good anymore, haven't had a lesson in years. Reg is perfect, drop him into Montpellier, no one would bat an eye."
"Have you been? To France?" The blonde sank further into the couch, watching as Sirius's gaze pulled back to her after his comment on his brother.
"Yeah, twice. Mum loves it, she even smiled a few times." He answered beneath his breath, his eyes blinking shut a few times before they snapped back to Charlotte.
"Let's go to bed, okay?" Charlotte sat up on the couch, watching a smirk slide along his face.
"Charlotte Harris, I never thought I'd see the day-"
"Shut up," She stood up, hands on her hips as she waiting for him to finish his joke.
"Begging to go to bed with me." His white teeth flashed through his laugh before he took her hand, letting her pull him to his feet, the two of them stepping around the couches and heading towards the stairs.
"Charlotte." Sirius's voice pulled her eyes to his once more, her foot pausing on the first step. "Tu es toujours dans mon espriti."
"Sirius!" She laughed as he started up the stairs. "Sirius! Translation, please?"
"Goodnight, love." He smiled, already gone from view by the time his words reached her ears.