Waterloo
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself
Waterloo
I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo
Promise to love you forevermore
Waterloo
Couldn’t escape it I wanted to
29th May 1974
The crowds of students hurried from the Transfiguration classroom; rushing to their next lessons and free periods - all on the opposite end of the castle.
That is, save for two Marauders.
As their classmates vanished down the halls, James Potter and Sirius Black waited by their professor’s desk for her to notice they remained. Their friends parting with grins, nods to discuss the results later in the day.
“What is it?” McGonagall sighed, as though already wearied by merely their presence as she glanced from her papers.
“Minnie, I’ve been thinking recently-” Sirius began, in a sing-song voice.
“I thought that was your sister’s job.” She quipped, raising a brow. “Do hurry up and inform me of whatever transfiguration accident you boys have gotten into, so I can find the right counter spell.”
“Oh no.” James laughed nervously. “We just had a question about animagus, Professor.”
“Yeah, we’re dead curious about how you turn into a cat.” Sirius nodded, flashing her a classic grin. Professor McGonagall spot him a rather unimpressed look. “Wanted to know the steps.” He shrugged.
“That knowledge is not to be toyed with. Most wizards don’t start training until they are of age.” She warned, clearly weighing the options in her mind as she glanced between the two.
“This is all just hypotheticals, Minnie.” Sirius reassured, though it was rather pointless. His plan was written clear on his face. “We’d never do something that crazy.”
Minerva McGonagall gave the two boys a look that suggested she did not believe those words in any capacity. She sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair as she looked between the two. For a moment, the boys waited with bated breath - preparing themselves to go back to the drawing board.
“I suppose, if someone were hypothetically curious about it, they might go to the restricted section and pick up a book entitled: My Inner Animal, and Me.” She finally spoke - voice its usual firm tone, a warning look shot the boys’s way. “Hypothetically, of course.”
“Of course.” Sirius winked, James nodding vigorously.
“You’d both better be off,” McGonagall warned, shaking her head slightly as her lips twitched, “I believe you have Muggle Studies now.”
The boys, naturally, turned on their heels and fled. They’d call it a ‘tactical retreat’ later, not wanting to admit that they had panicked and blindly run away in the face of her forthcoming.
They managed to get out and shut the door before bursting into hysterical laughter - grabbing each other’s arms and jumping in a circle. Those waiting outside shot the boys a rather annoyed look; seventh years clearly stressed about their NEWTs and unimpressed by any interruption.
Sheepishly, James waved to the crowd - promptly grabbing Sirius’s collar to drag him away before he tried to flirt with the eldest Bones cousin.
“Wicked.” Sirius spoke once they were out of earshot, nudging James excitedly as they traipsed the corridor. “I knew Minnie would point us in the right direction. She’s gotta like us.” He wrapped an arm around James’s shoulders, shaking the boy until he laughed. “After all, we get rather boring detentions.”
“She did make us duplicate tests for our last detention.” James mused, his lips twitching in a lopsided grin. “That’s basically free tutoring as far as Moony thinks.”
“Our Moony would thank Slughorn for making us polish trophies if he though it’d get him a higher grade.” Sirius barked a laugh, ruffling James’s hair as he pulled away. Scowling the boy tried to fix the messy locks - only really making the entire thing look even more unkept.
“Better than you trying to flirt with all our professors.” James stuck his tongue out, jumping away before Sirius could punch his arm. “Might work better if you weren’t the shortest in the year.”
“I’m taller than Pete!” Sirius gasped, hand on his heart.
“Barely.” James scoffed.
“Just you wait. I’m gonna grow soon. I can sense it.”
“The only thing growing is your ego.” James laughed, playfully shoving Sirius before the boy could hit him.
They ended up at Muggle Studies with dishevelled robes and a ripped knee in James’s school trousers; twenty minutes late for the lesson.
——
“I don’t see the point in Astronomy.” Regulus stubbornly crossed his arms, glaring up at his sister.
Studying was a new thing for Ara.
Magic had always come easy to her. From their first lesson, it had felt so utterly familiar. As though the magic sung to her and she hardly needed the book to know the incantation - the motion to bring it forth. When they were children, she had learned from Sirius and Regulus teaching her what they’d learned in lessons. And she’d always taken to it, often having to give them a hand at perfecting whatever magic their mother wished to judge that week.
Controlling their accidental magic had been vital in their home. As had learning to control it, to summon books or change the colours of cloth whenever Walburga wanted to show off for guests.
By the time of getting a wand and going to Hogwarts, it all felt natural.
But it wasn’t as though Ara could say that. Especially not with a friend like Lily.
Not when Lily Evans hadn’t been born into a magical family. Each spell was new for her. Every day her best friend studied to prove herself. To show that she could understand, that she would thrive if given the chance. Top of every class wasn’t enough for Lily.
She had to be the best.
The ginger had secretly confessed to a deep-seeded desperation to prove her worth, despite her friends reassuring her of her place in magic. It simply wasn’t enough. Until Lily Evans knew every spell and every potion, she would not feel settled.
And so, Ara and Pandora had taken to joining her studying. Pandora, for the end of year exams. Ara, so she could keep an eye on her friends and brothers.
Hence why this afternoon, Regulus and Sirius Black were sat opposite the two Gryffindor girls (while Pandora went off with Xeno on one of their odd creature hunts) looking at their awfully constructed class notes. Well, Regulus was looking at his notes. Lily was frantically scribbling some Runes essay while the twins played paper football - trying to flick little scrunched balls between the other’s arms as their own essays sat half-finished.
“You picked it.” Ara huffed, shaking her head fondly as she looked to her baby brother.
“Why did you even pick it?” Sirius asked, flicking another paper ball. It bounced off Ara’s shoulder.
“Mother told me that I ought to at least know the stars, so I can understand our ancestors.” Regulus admitted, face aflame as he looked to his disappointed siblings.
“Yes, well, Mother isn’t even named after a star.” Ara grumbled, reaching over the table to squeeze Regulus’s hand. “Neither is Narcissa, and they made her do Astronomy since Bella and Andy refused. She also said it was pointless.”
“I’m not doing it next year,” Regulus sighed, squeezing Ara’s hand in return, “I just wanted to have something to stop her yelling.”
“That would be if we all magically were resorted into Slytherin.” Sirius barked a laugh, leaning back in his chair.
“We’d look hideous in green. Too sickly.” Ara shuddered, much to the others’ amusement. “And I’ll help you memorise the stars - I did it when I was seven.”
“Really?” Lily asked, looking up from her papers.
“Bella and I used to stargaze when we were at the French Manor.” Ara nodded, smiling in nostalgia. “She taught me, so I’d always be able to find her in the stars.”
“And she told you that she would always be able to find you too, we know.” Sirius loudly added, laughing as his twin scowled.
“I didn’t know you were also named after a star. You said it was your brothers.” Lily mused, smiling fondly at her friend. Studying in their free period was not going well. Except for Lily and Reg - the latter accidentally sucked into the swot’s terrors about end of year exams. She really ought to have expected it. Ara might have been a decent study partner alone, but with her twin in the mix… well, it was safe to say it was tumultuous.
Still, she could at least learn a little more about her friend and her siblings. After all, their odd closeness still astounded her.
“I’m named after a constellation, actually. On the other side of the sky to my brothers.” She shrugged, laughing weakly. “Ara means ‘the altar’. Apparently, the one that Zeus and his brothers and sisters swore to kill their dad over.” Her laugh was a little more genuine, that time. “Bella used to say that it was apt.”
“Maybe one day.” Regulus cracked a grin, eyes still fixed on his work.
“What kind of star are you?” Lily posed, looking the boys’s way.
“Well I’m Sirius, the heart of Canis-”
“I’m not asking you.” She snapped lightly, silencing him with a pointed brow before returning her attention to the youngest Black. He looked up at her, a furrow to his brow. Her eyes softened. “What kind of star are you?”
“Er, I’m the heart of the Leo constellation.” He replied nervously, a bright blush across his cheeks.
“I like lions.” She smiled in reply, returning her attention to her essay without a second glance. If she had, she might have spotted the softening of younger Black brother’s eyes - or the smile that tugged at his lips as he returned to his work.
“He’s our little king.” Ara grinned, looking to her twin with a nod. As she spoke, Sirius began to pack up their untouched work - spelling away the paper balls. Regulus caught the act in the corner of his eye, grinning as Ara waggled her brows and motioned for him to do the same. “And Sirius is the family dog.”
“Canis Major.” He puffed his chest; the difference in his and his brother’s names always a sore point. “In other words, Reg got to be a king and I’m a big dog.”
“The best dog.” Ara laughed, standing from the table to walk around and wrap both her brothers in a quick hug. “Now be a good boy, and let’s get out of here.”
“You can’t leave now!” Lily chided them, looking up from her parchment with a chiding frown. “You’ve still got half an essay each to finish! And that not even bringing into consideration Professor McGonagall’s assignment on animal transfiguration.”
“We can do it later.” Sirius brushed her off with a dismissive gesture as he stood - both his and Ara’s school bags over his shoulder. “We’re getting some practical learning experience.”
“Why can’t you just read about whatever silly spell you’re about to use?” Lily lamented, looking to her friends with a frown.
“There’s more to life than books, you know.” He smirked.
“Books!” Lily sputtered, face turning a very bright shade of pink.
“Books!” Ara joined in, cheering the word as she pulled her bag from Sirius and onto her own shoulder. “And cleverness!” She said to Lily with a wink, diffusing the girl’s temper ever so slightly. “Sometimes there are more important things. Like pranking the Ravenclaw shits that keep picking on Pandora.” Lily seemed to mull it for a second, swallowing very harshly before she spoke bitterly.
“I suppose if it’s for a good reason.” She looked to the twins, shaking her head fondly. “A good reason like friendship, mind you.” She corrected Ara’s previous words, sticking her tongue out at the girl’s jesting scowl.
“Of course.” Sirius drawled, the girls rolling their eyes at his cocky tone. “See you later.” He grinned, winking as he grabbed his and Ara’s bags and tried to clasp her hand. She rolled her eyes, pointing them towards their younger brother. “Reg, you coming?”
The youngest Black sibling, who had been focused on his work through this conversation, looked up in surprise.
“You want me to come?” He gawked.
“Naturally.” Ara grinned, her baby brother smiling up at her. “Why’d you think I…” she motioned again, her brother laughing at her waving hands.
“You’re the best of us at mixing charms.” Sirius nodded, moving to help Regulus pack his stuff.
“Oh!” Lily suddenly gasped, throwing down her quill as she looked to Ara. “I can’t believe I forgot to mention!”
“Mention what?” Ara asked, a small giggle escaping her at her friend’s wide eyed excitement.
“Bertha Jorkins, that Hufflepuff gossip a few years above us, she’s been saying that her older brother went to school with Ted Tonks and that they met up for a pint last month. Apparently he and Andy have a house of their own now, though I think you mentioned reading that. Anyways, he’s working for the Ministry now.”
“Not as an Auror, I hope.” Ara frowned.
“I think in Magical Law.” Lily promised. “Bertha said he was working on some Muggleborn rights case.”
“Really?” Ara gasped as Regulus stood, his hand finding hers. “Oh, I must write him and Andy to extend my congratulations.”
“You can do that after.” Sirius groaned, extending his hand towards her and gesturing for her to take hold.
This time, she didn’t roll her eyes as she accepted it.
I’m proud of you, Ara smiled, watching her twin blush at the compliment.
You won’t say that when you see my History of Magic marks.
—
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Ara groaned, adjusting her bookbag as she and her twin walked through the dungeon corridors.
“But that’s why it’s so brilliant.” Sirius grinned, unfazed.
“You’re insufferable.”
“You’re boring.” He stuck his tongue out.
“I prefer to consider myself practical.” Sirius’s snort at those words was eye-roll inducing.
“That’s just another word for boring.” He retorted, sticking out his tongue when she glared.
“Oh, piss off!” Ara grumbled, breaking into a shared laugh withe her twin at their ridiculousness.
The prank had gone swimmingly well.
They’d snuck into the Ravenclaw Tower, lucky that Ara had gotten the riddle so quickly. There, they had spelled every item in the Ravenclaw girls dormitory to be bright pink, save for Pandora’s belongings. Those, Ara had found a charm to prevent anyone the girl did not trust from touching without burning their hands. A handle spell from a book that she had definitely not gotten by sneaking into the Restricted Section under James cloak after curfew.
Certainly not.
For she was Ara Hermione Black, the rule follower.
And when she’d said as much to Regulus, he’d laughed so hard he snorted.
Speaking of, their younger brother was off to practice for next years quidditch tryouts with the boys from his dorm, parting with a beaming smile and still trying to stifle his chuckles. And the twins trailed along to their final lesson of the day; arriving to Potions as Slughorn began to recount the steps for that day’s potion.
Unfortunately, they’d arrived late enough that there were only two open spots. One by Pete, and one by Snape.
Lily was paired by Alice Brown that day, probably since the poor girl was so exhausted from Quidditch practices that without a delicate hand, her potions would turn to mush. She looked between Ara and her childhood friend with a bitten lip, apology clear in her green eyes. Begrudgingly, Ara pushed Sirius towards Pete - a warning look to let things alone.
But he’s awful, Sirius frowned, looking between Snape’s table and Ara with great worry.
And I’m worse, she shrugged, if he gets snappy I’ll get Lily to tell him off.
As if he’d listen to her, Sirius scoffed, finally sitting by Pete as Ara made her way to the table.
The dour boy did not speak to her for the first half of the lesson. In fact, when Slughorn issued their ingredients list, he fled to the supply cupboard and returned without comment. When she asked to prepare some of the ingredients, he shot her a rather flat look - filled with contempt.
“Piss off, Black.” He warned, gripping his tools rather tightly.
So, she’d let him alone for a while. Waiting until either he would crack, or she gave up on being polite. Whichever happened first.
In the end, it was her that broke first.
“That’s not how you do it.” Ara snapped, pulling the cutting board away from Snape as he butchered the ginger root.
“As if you’d know, Miss Barely Passing.” He tried to tug it back, glaring as she fought him.
“I’m just saying you’re doing it wrong.” She sang. “You need to cut the root the other way to conserve the juice. Probably should press it too.”
“You do it then if you’re so clever.” He hissed, releasing the board with an almighty scowl. Without the force of him trying to yank back the board, Ara slipped backwards from her chair. She released the wooden slab, falling to the floor with a thump and a yowl.
At once, all heads spun to catch view of the pair. Some Slytherins were snickering, but the Gryffindors merely glared them down. A hand reached for Ara’s to help pull her up - James’s messy shirt in her vision as she brushed dust off her own.
“Everything alright?” Slughorn asked.
“Just slipped.” Ara grit out, glaring at Snape as she briefly nodded in thanks to James before retaking her seat and snatching the cutting board before anyone else could.
With that, she ignored the two boys that were now staring at each other so hardly, it was as though they hoped to explode the other’s mind with their own bad thoughts.
“Oh, look! Miss Black has taken the initiative to press the root before slicing. Very good! Five points to Gryffindor!” Slughorn beamed, his head bobbing approvingly as he watched Ara Black gently scrape the ginger into the cauldron. “I dare say you might have promise in Potions. Have you considered it for a career?”
“I haven’t really considered any careers.” Ara admitted, ignoring the snickers from the Slytherins at her confession.
“Be a surprise if Flint lets her leave the house.” She heard Avery whisper to his twin in the row behind - bristling at the reminder as Snape snorted a quiet laugh at her misfortune.
Slughorn seemed to hear it too, offering a rather commiserating look her way. The jolly man looked to her with as much sorrow as he could muster - eyes flicking between her and the horseshoe of Slytherins that surrounded her.
“Come by my office sometime, Miss Black.” He offered, kindly. “We can discuss your academic goals.”
“Thank you, sir.” She nodded, the professor moving onto the next table.
Snape’s scoff broke her dour thoughts as she looked his way.
“You know, Severus, it might be useful for you to know that being so cut off may actually inhibit your chances. Especially professionally.” He blanched. “I’m just saying, ‘cause I know Lily’s friendly with you, that maybe you should stop being so cruel and harsh to all of her friends.”
“Or what?” Unknown to the two arguing teens, their friends surrounding had begun to eavesdrop - Lily and Alice watching nervously as James and Sirius bristled at Snape’s tone.
“Or I may stop telling her that I don’t mind your friendship.” Ara warned, looking up to him with cold eyes. “I’ve tried to be nice to you, Snape, but you clearly dislike me and my brothers. Whatever problems you have, hating us won’t solve them.”
“I can dislike people without it being part of some greater ordeal.” He scowled. “Perhaps I simply dislike nosy little chits with buckteeth and ugly scarred faces.”
“Better that than a sour, dour and frankly dull little boy that never figured out personal hygiene.” Ara replied simply, shaking her head disapprovingly as she stirred the potion. “Besides, I don’t have buckteeth any longer. I ought to say thanks for that, I suppose.”
“Keep your thanks.” He hissed, glaring at her from under greasy strands. “I don’t want anything from you.”
“Of course not.” Ara glared back, voice oddly calm as she leant in to whisper. “You just want to knock me over so you feel important. Guess what, Severus? There is only one thing keeping me from treating you as I do the Averys. Do you know who it is?” She spoke so softly, the hairs on his neck standing on end as he blushed and looked Lily’s way. The girl had been glancing at them all lesson, gradually getting more and more nervous. “I don’t care what you think of me, but let it alone for her sake. Do you honestly think this is fair on her?”
Snape looked to her for a moment - face so oddly open for the usually neutral looking boy. There, in the slight raise to his brow, in how his lips were parted… there was a boy, terrified of losing the first and only friend he had. Ara’s mouth parted slightly in shock; disbelief at seeing so much of the closed off boy.
“Piss off, Black.” He finally spoke, voice a little squeaky.
They did not speak again for the remainder of the lesson. Severus did not even glance her way - refusing her help on the potion. In the end, she gave up trying and instead took out a comic book. When the bell rang, she finished the page before leaving the classroom, letting the others trail out first. Lily parted with a sorry look, a glance exchanged before she chased after Severus. Sirius, with a promise over the bond that he and the boys would be getting retribution, against her wishes.
With a heavy sigh, Ara crammed her book back into her bag and finally departed. She ignored Slughorn’s offer for a chat, ignored the fact that her best friend had such an awful other best friend. Figuring on her lonesome walk, she could let out a little steam - perhaps she’d bump into Avery and have another scrap?
“That looked grim.” Ara jumped as she left the classroom, spinning to face her friend with a beaming grin.
She hadn’t thought any of them would wait for her.
But there he stood, with that classic Potter smile. Lips lopsided but brightness so blinding.
“Snivellus really can’t figure out when to quit, huh?” James motioned for her to walk with him, the girl matching his pace as they strode from the Dungeons.
“He’s just grumpy like he always is at the end of the year.” Ara shrugged. “I imagine it must be difficult to spend so much time around people that hate your first friend.”
“It isn’t as though he doesn’t treat the other Muggleborns the same way.” James countered.
“I suppose.” Ara sighed, leaning over to link their arms as they walked. Unnoticing of the way James tensed slightly, looking to her with darker cheeks and tipped ears. “Just, for Lily’s sake, I’m trying to be civil.”
“That lesson did not look civil.” James laughed, leaning closer. “You looked like you were one word away from thumping him, half the lesson.”
“Better than Sirius and him getting into an actual fight in the middle of Potions. Who knows the damage they would have done?” She shuddered - looking up at him with those bright grey eyes. Unconsciously, he tilted slightly away as he tried to ignore how hot his face felt. “I’m already dreading how Sirius is planning to distract our parents from me this summer. I suspect something garishly loud, just to spite them.” She sighed, her lips twitching slightly as she tried to hide her amusement at his commitment to being (at present) the most difficult child.
Classic middle child syndrome.
“If you all came to the Manor, you’d only have to face him trying to get Charlus to practice duelling with him. That’d be far funnier.” James replied, forcing his face into a good-humoured smile to mask the utter dread that pooled in his gut.
“I wish.” Ara sighed, loosening her grip on his arm slightly. “But Bella’s got her birthday dinner and Flint’s been writing Walburga now so I have to take tea with him and his mother and see his Manor.” She admitted, face flushed as the secrets were finally in air.
For the past fortnight, the Black siblings had been oddly cagey. After a morning letter to Regulus from their mother, the three had told James that they were no longer coming to his Manor for the summer. They wouldn’t say why, no matter who asked. Not properly, anyways. Only that they had to see their cousins.
No wonder none of them had told him yet. This was a slip of the tongue. A confession in a silent corridor.
“Is he still sending you letters?” James frowned. Ara blinked up at him, guiltily.
“I forgot you’ve been training in the evenings a lot. You miss the last post. That’s when he sends them.” Ara explained, nervously fidgeting with her sleeves. “It’s not as bad as the one on Valentines. Mainly, he just keeps trying to order me to write him back.” She laughed awkwardly, her shrug one of defeat.
“Shit, Ara.” James frowned, running a hand through his messy locks. It stayed there for a moment as his brow furrowed in thought. “Is that why you’ve been told to go back all summer?”
“Probably.” She admitted. “I tried to tell Siri and Reg that they don’t have to come with me, but you know my brothers.”
“I know your rule.” James spoke, a little pointedly but not unkindly. “You’d never leave them behind. Makes sense they’d do the same.”
“I suppose.” She sighed. “Though, only because I say it so much. Sometimes I worry how they’d cope without me.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“I know, but still. I’m tired of always being the big sister. I never do enough.” She huffed.
“You so do.” He frowned. “You got betrothed so they wouldn’t have to. Arguably that’s far more than enough.”
“Still.” She shrugged.
“Don’t put it all on your shoulders.” James paused walking, holding her shoulders steady as he looked her dead in the eye. “You may be the eldest, but you aren’t alone. You’ll make yourself miserable just to see them happy.”
“Oh Jamie,” Ara laughed faintly, eyes glowing with too much sorrow for a fourteen year old. “It’s been working perfectly well so far.”
“Maybe.” He sighed, squeezing her shoulder. “Or maybe it’s been killing you since you were five years old. After a decade of doing the same shit to the same bullshit responses… perhaps it’s time to try something new?”
Grey met hazel; both burning. His hands stayed on her shoulders, her own by her sides. But their eyes would not part, both caught in each other’s gaze.
“I’ll think about it.” She finally replied.
James Potter did not bother to say anything else. Considering the glazed look to Ara’s eyes, he suspected she wouldn’t hear him.
Instead, he kept his arm around her - guiding her towards the Tower. A hand reaching to twist one of her curls; savouring the feel of silky strand wrapped around his finger.
He was reminded of her face, the very first time they met, as she watched his mother leave them alone in Diagon Alley. The look of confusion and longing; that odd frown of disbelief as she’d murmured excuses. Of their first Yule at the Manor, their first true birthday celebration. Every time, that same look of disbelief at the care taken by those that loved her.
Because if James had the courage, he’d devote every second of his life to telling her that she was the single greatest thing to ever occur. That he thanked every god from every religion for her presence in the world at the same time as him.
Damn it all, he’d silence the world to stop the headache it gave her.
There had been a day, earlier that year - right before Valentines - when the Marauders had snuck to the kitchens for a midnight snack. Organised by the twins, naturally. Right before a full moon, based on the excuse of getting Remus some chocolate to soothe his post-transformation sore nerves.
In the dim light of the kitchens, as the boys piled pastries and chocolates into transfigured baskets, she’d turned to James with a soft smile.
“Here you go, Jamie.” She’d beamed up at him - grey eyes glowing in the moonlight. He froze for a moment, completely trapped by her gaze. It wasn’t until she nudged his hand again that he’d realised she was sneaking him a pumpkin pastry while the others were distracted. He looked down to make sure he grabbed the confection and not just her hand.
“Thanks.” He spoke breathlessly, looking back up to her kind eyes.
“Anytime, Jamie. I look after my boys.” She’d ruffled his hair and stalked back to her twin, helping him to balance some jam tarts on top of some chocolate scones in a rather precarious manner.
James had joined after a few blinks, ignoring Remus’s questioning look as he stood beside him instead of Sirius - his usual place. But Ara was next to Sirius in that moment and though it was always like that, that day he just couldn’t get his feet to move there.
Not when all he was thinking, was how nice it was to be her boy.
And something had changed. Or more accurately, something finally clicked in his mind.
Because Ara Black was the prettiest girl he had ever seen in his life. And though he already knew he loved her, it finally occurred to him that his little crush on his friend may have always been something far greater. In that kitchen, lit by candles and oven lights, Ara Black was the most magnificent sight of his life.
She hadn’t changed in any way, hadn’t done something different to her hair or put on beauty charms like some of the other girls had started to do. Not that day, not yet.
There were the same freckles, same scars, same uniform.
And yet… he found himself completely unable to look away. So, realising now was as good of a time as any, he finally accepted the truth he should have figured out in first year.
He was hopelessly and ridiculously in love with Ara Hermione Black. This was not some silly crush.
She had eyes like gravestones, the temper of a Hippogriff and the loyalty of a house elf. She was a storm in a coffee mug - the only daisy in a field of poppies. He could watch her read for hours and never tire of her little expressions. Any day spent with seeing her for at least half of it simply wasn’t a good day.
So naturally, he happened to fall in love with his best friend, who just so happened to be (in his opinion) the most perfect and incredible witch of all time!
Merlin, he was fucked.
Especially as he looked to his friends distractedly, eyes freezing on the soft expression of Remus Lupin as he gazed at the girl in question.
Transfixed by the jingle of her laugh, the softness of her face and curls.
As James finally realised his own feelings; he watched his best friend fall in love too.
And as he walked her back from Potions, months later, his arm around Ara’s shoulders… he contented himself (for the hundredth time that week) in her friendship.
It was all he could afford to ask for.
His best friend was her twin. His mate that crept into his bunk most nights to chat, who most often began their pranks… the first friend he had ever made that his parents hadn’t orchestrated. He couldn’t say it, not when he knew that Remus loved her too.
And as she leant her head on his shoulder, he prayed to Merlin that she wouldn’t hear how loud his heart was beating.