Pandora was running awfully late. She had allowed Barty to talk her into taking a smoke break in the Slytherin dorms during her free period, not that she’d taken much convincing, and ended up dozing off basically the second her head hit Regulus’ pillow.
Now the time had come to pay the price for it, that price being sprinting through the corridors at full pace, utilizing every morning of jogging practice Mary and Evan had goaded her into, and ignoring any looks from students she passed by. Not that seeing someone bolt down the hallway was rare, but not once before had it been Pandora and much less from the Slytherin dorms in the state she had to imagine she was in having just woken up. Surely feeding the rumors regarding the nature of her relationship with either of her brothers friends, she’d heard both Barty and Regulus’ names thrown around. (A laughable notion to all of them, though especially Pandora herself, being the only one of them to have picked up on both whatever it was Evan and Barty had going on and were choosing to ignore, and her theory of Regulus having some kind of crush on someone she was yet to determine.)
Though no rumor fueling or whatever state she was in mattered to her more than making it to potions in good enough time. Herself, Regulus, and some other 5th years had been moved into the 6th years potions class thanks to their advanced capabilities, it was a great opportunity for Pandora, and she was not about to make a bad reputation for herself by showing up late the first day of it, something she knew she was already too far gone to avoid. Now her goal was simply to make it to potions at all.
She saw the door in her sights and was in the room before long, leaning against the doorframe to catch her breath though all her brain was taking in from the air was the familiar scent of rosemary, coffee, and whatever perfume it was that Lily used and would never tell her the name of. The whole room was inexplicably full of Lily Evans and if Pandora was being honest with herself, she found it a little intoxicating. She always had, the presence of the other during their study group alone was enough to pull apart her usually meticulously strung together concentration to the point Pandora had begun dragging Regulus to the library an hour early on the days the group met so she could actually get something done. A habit that both Regulus and Remus, the other member of their group who would sometimes be found in the library early also looking for a moments peace, had noticed and while Pandora was certain they didn’t know why, sometimes she caught knowing looks from the both, it was probably just her imagination though.
Pandora had managed to catch her breath and reorganize her thoughts away from Evans, she pushed herself off the doorframe and stood taller meeting a room full of people questionably gazing at her. Pandora flushed and quickly made her way to her seat surrounded by Regulus and Remus closest to her and Lily the seat next to Remus, still the only scent in the room stayed the same.
She leaned to look behind Remus at Lily and asked both curious and joking, “Merlin Lily, what have you been doing in this room? All I can smell is you, not even the reek of these two is overpowering it.”
Lilys eyes widened at that, her mouth falling open and if Pandora could look close enough, her face was dusted a rosy pink. Regulus let out a strangled noise that sounded suspiciously like a laugh, covering his mouth with a hand but unable to hide the spark of amusement in his eyes. Pandora sat back upright in her seat to turn between him, Remus, and Lily confused.
That was until Remus spoke, a little softly as though speaking to a feral cat who may run at any noise, though carrying the same slight amusement as Regulus.
“Pan, do you remember what we’re brewing today?”
Pandora went rigid, for all she could be perceptive, forgetfulness came as her greatest flaw. Lily had nicknamed her Dory once after some Muggle film. And in that moment any memory of what they were brewing had left her. Though soon enough it was reentering, and her entire body felt alight; surely evident in the way she was turning red all the way to her ears. Because no, it wasn’t until right that moment she remembered the potion they were brewing that day, the one she had been so anxious for.
Amortentia.
“Fuck.” She said a little weakly though presumably quite loud as Slughorn cleared his throat in warning. Pandora looked around to find not only had Lily been sat gaping but half of the room who couldn’t seem to mind their business.
Pandora sheepishly slid out of her seat as if by moving slowly she may suddenly become invisible to the room of people already looking to her. Not daring to spare another glance to Lily, unprepared for whatever look of disgust or distaste may be on her face.
“You know what, actually. I’m just going to…” she started, expecting the rest of the sentence to fill in by her gesturing to the door she was now rapidly moving towards.
For the second time in all of five minutes Pandora was sprinting down the corridors. Not stopping until she reached her destination, back to the Slytherin dorms. Barty asked no questions as she flung herself back down onto Regulus’ bed burying her face into the pillow, only moved from his bed to lay beside her on his back, staring to the roof joint still burning between his fingertips. After a moment Pandora turned over onto her back to match him and held her hand out in a question, he handed her the joint without word, she took a drag and finally spoke.
“I forgot what we were brewing.” She said with a small chuckle in spite of herself, “asked Lily herself why the whole room smelt of her. Want to take a guess at what it was.”
Had it been anyone else, Regulus or Evan namely, Pandora would’ve known Barty to first have a small moment to appreciate the unfortunate circumstances in his own silent but not subtle way. But though he would never admit to it, Pandora knew there was a small soft spot for her. He turned on his side, a movement she matched until they were face to face.
“Oh fuck. Amortentia?” he said softly, voice made raspy by sleep and smoke
“Amortentia.” She nodded
Concern always made Barty a curious thing, “What did Evans have to say?” he prodded in that same tone Remus had used earlier, sans the amused glint.
Pandora turned to face Barty with a deadpan expression as if asking him if he heard himself speak, “You think I stuck around to find out? Merlin no B I left the second I realized.”
Barty nodded as though he well enough understood Pandoras thinking, it was almost chilling how he could do that sometimes, cling onto his friends thinking as though he can see their inner feelings right through their faces.
The two’s silence resumed for a moment until a question came to Pandoras mind, she had never mentioned her sexuality to her friends, let alone her small infatuation with Lily Evans, but Barty managed to grasp the situation instantaneously.
“Hey B?” she started earning a questioning grunt in return telling her to continue, “how did you know so fast? That it was amortentia. That I might smell Lily in it.”
Impossibly, Barty’s face softened further though when he spoke his slight joking demeanor was back, “Pan, did you think I wouldn’t notice you looking at Evans like James Potter the sequel?”
This pulled an unexpecting laugh from Pandora, “I am not that bad.”
“Eh, I wouldn’t be so sure, you and him sat next to each other watching Evans and Reg are practically twins.”
Pandora thought for a second on that, when it clicked- despite instantly recognizing what a ploy it was to distract her- she couldn’t help the gasp she let out.
“James Potter and Reg? our Reg. Is that who he’s been so caught up with, really?” she asked hushed in the tone so often used during her and Barty’s gossip sessions
“Really.” Barty replied with hushed excitement
As if they had summoned him, Regulus walked through the door and walked directly to squish himself the third person on a single bed. Moments later came Evan who had no idea what was going on but followed suit laying himself across the bed in some kind of a group hug central to Pandora.
“So,” Evan began, “what’s up with the cuddle pile?”
“Pan, care to tell him?” Barty spoke
Rethinking the ordeal, she only groaned in response, squeezing her eyes tight and trying to burrow further into the cushions as if she could hide from her embarrassment in the bedding.
“Reg, you were there. You do it.” she said, words mumbled by the pillows.
“She walked into potions late while we were brewing amortentia and asked Lily, and by proxy- thankyou Pandas naturally loud volume- the whole room why it smelled of Evans everywhere then sprinted out.” He explained with care
“Oh shit.” Evan replied tightening his arms around where they were slightly resting against Pandora struggling against the other people and cushions.
That was how they stayed for quite some time, joking around for distractions, and finding comfort in each other’s company until decidedly the shared space was growing too warm and they dispersed into their separate places.
Dorcas stopped by at one point, Regulus hopped away from his bed to let the two close the curtains around themselves. Dorcas had a way at calming anyone through any situation they may find themselves in. She held Pandoras hands as she told the story, rubbing small circles with the pads of her thumbs as she told her exactly what she was afraid of.
For what felt like hours, they talked and talked eventually Dorcas coaxed it out of her to gush about her crush despite her anxiety and for a moment in the afternoon she felt her spirits truly lifted.
Eventually Dorcas made her way back to her own dorm and Regulus curled into the end of his bed to leave Pandora the room to sleep though she swore it unnecessary.
The next morning Pandora woke up still in Regulus’ bed though the man himself was gone. She didn’t have much time to worry though as he returned moments after she woke up asking if she was good for breakfast.
Pandora was reluctant yet determined to brave the Great Hall. She walked in with her head held just slightly lower than usual and with Regulus, Evan, and Barty by her sides though this time no one was speculating about her and them, word travels fast through Hogwarts. While they’re usually the table to draw the most attention of the room, Pandora couldn’t bring herself to meet eyes with the Gryffindors.
She swapped her regular seat, next to Barty, with Regulus so her back could be to the rest of the room and Evan was at her side. She tried not to think of any ulterior motives he may have had to do that when she caught him looking over to the Gryffindor table a little too often making eyes with James she was sure. Breakfast continued this way, close enough to normal, that was until she caught Barty looking off the Gryffindor table.
Before she could ask questions rapid movements began. Barty and Regulus nodded to James and Sirius before standing and walking around to Pandora who Barty swooped up effortlessly as Sirius did with Lily.
“Off we go.” He said clearly amused, “I will not let you avoid this like I know you’re planning to”
The lot walked out of the Great Hall, away from prying eyes as if it was a normal sight to see until they reached a secluded corridor where they dropped Lily and Pandora.
James was the first to speak, “Now everything we say, we say with much love.”
“Yeah, yeah. To the point, you dolts have been head over heels for each other the better part of the year now it’s sickening really to watch all the pining. So please, for the love of Merlin, and the sake of all of us. Let’s talk about that.” Regulus delivered coolly
Then it was Sirius’ turn to pipe up, “and by that he means, you talk about that while the rest of us stand by thee door and pretend we’re not listening.”
Pandora wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself, it seemed to her there was no way anymore to run from this one. Either way she had to discover just how much truth there was to Regulus’ claims of them both being head over heels.
The room was in a deep silence as the four waited for any kind of response, in the end it was Lily who spoke first.
“So, wait you four, as in the Black brothers, James, and Barty, worked on this little plot to get us here, together?”
There were four nods in reply, “There was a note from Evan, Dorcas, Pete, and Remus here and there but generally yeah we were the only ones with the time to plan and execute.” James chimed in
It all fell into place there, what Lily was thinking when she asked, it wasn’t uncommon knowledge that the Black brothers were nothing you would call close, civil at best, though in recent times they were attempting to better that. The same could be said for James and Barty, they got on like a house on fire, but in the end that was decided to be almost for the better considering the schemes that would arise from their collaboration. Yet here they were, getting along well enough for this plot.
“My goodness, you’re right.” She said, still anxious though overridden by her shock at the unexpected situation, turning to Lily she continued, “they really worked together on this. Can you believe that?”
“I wouldn’t if I weren’t here right now. So, seems like a bit of a waste to not have the conversation then.” The other replied spinning slightly on one heel.
With that Barty, Regulus, James, and Sirius sauntered out of the room.
As soon as the door shut Pandora took a breath and began “I’m so sorry, Lily. About yesterday and announcing….that to everyone and also kind of for smelling you at all really I mean I know we were good friends and I probably ruined everything but if you’re not like totally done right now I’d really love if we could stay friends, or not.” She let out in just the one breath.
Lily placed her hands on either of Pandoras shoulders steadying her slightly and looking into her eyes
“Dory, you haven’t ruined anything, I promise you and you don’t need to apologize for anything at all. If it hadn’t been for the whole, sprinting out of the room thing I would have thought it quite sweet.”
“Oh” Pandora breathed out
“Yeah, oh” Lily replied softly with a slight smile, “They weren’t lying you know, at least not on my end, to say that I’m a little head over heels.”
“Really?” She said with a lilt to her voice
“Really.” Lily responded with a firm nod
Feeling some of the tension dissipate from the room the two lapsed back into their feelings of comfort, and banter.
Pandora smiled “Well, I think the potion pretty much cleared up how I feel.”
“Yeah, but just maybe I want to hear you say it anyway.” Lily said with something of a sly grin
Pandora sighed tenderly, “Lily Evans, I am hopelessly, borderline unbearably, head over heels for you.”
“Well then,” Lily replied tucking a strand of Pandoras hair behind her ear, “what shall we do about that?”
“What shall we do?” She said pausing between each word and further closing the gap between them, “How about a Hogsmeade date this weekend?”
“I would be nothing short of honoured to go on a Hogsmeade date with you this weekend.” Lily replied unable to prevent the elbow-to-elbow grin spreading across her face
Pandora returned the smile sweetly and for a second they simply stood arms slung over each other’s shoulders, bordering on resting forehead to forehead, unable to wipe the pure joy off their faces. That was until the time came for them to return to classes.
They began to break apart but just before either could take a step back Lily spoke “Just one thing.” She spoke
Pandora felt her heart accelerating, only more so by the movement of Lily cupping her face, she leaned into the touch instantly moving in time with Lily to pull each other into a chaste, long-awaited kiss. Pandoras mind was reeling as her senses were overcome by the sensation of soft lips on hers and the smell of rosemary, coffee, and that one perfume Lily would never tell her the name of.
Moments later she walked into potions with her head held high, and Regulus and Remus on either side of where she was walking, on the arm of Lily Evans.