Where It Stays | J. POTTER [1]

16 | misunderstandings

"Hey," James greeted, plopping down on the couch next to her. He looked up at her with his usual grin, as though nothing had happened between them. "Whatcha reading?"

Maya glared at him, "You don't need to pretend that we're friends. Especially when no one is even around."

His face dropped at this, "What?"

"Just leave me the hell alone, okay?" she requested, slamming her book closed and standing up. "It'll make this all a lot easier."

"Wait," he shook his head, standing up. He reached for her hand but she moved it out of reach quickly, confusing him more. "Make what easier?"

"So that's how you're going to play this?" she scoffed, "Real grown up, James. Honestly."

"I don't understand-"

"If you ever cared about me at all, you would just leave me alone," she requested, making her way over to the stairs that would get her away from him.

"What did I do?"

"I'm not playing your stupid games," she shook her head, "Leave me alone."

Maya made her way up the stairs quickly as Sirius, Remus and Peter stared at them along with everyone else who had emerged from there rooms.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Sirius demanded, doing everything in his power not to tear apart his best friend.

"I don't know!" he exclaimed, "One second everything was fine and then the next it wasn't. I have no idea what happened."

"She's pissed for a reason, James."

"And I'm sure for valid reasons but whatever it is, I didn't do it."

"She isn't just making this up," Sirius argued, "You did something."

"I swear, I didn't!"

"Then who did?"

"I don't know!" he shouted back, "Don't you think if I knew, I would have done something about it already!"

"Whatever the hell it is, fix it," Sirius demanded, "Now."

-

Lily approached the boys in the common room cautiously, unaware of the best way of coming about this sort of situation.

Remus was the first to notice her presence, "Lily."

Sirius looked up at this and raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing here?"

She held up the map as explanation and they seemed to understand. "This map you guys made..." Lily began hesitantly, "Has it ever made mistakes?"

Sirius scoffed at this, "No, it hasn't."

Lily frowned and Remus grew confused, "Why do you ask?"

"It's just..." she trailed off. "The night you broke it off with Maya," Lily explained, gesturing to James who opened his mouth to protest. "Allegedly broke it off with Maya." He seemed satisfied with this and she continued, "Well, I was holding it and watching like she asked me too and someone was there." She looked over at James, "And it wasn't you."

"Then who was it?" Sirius demanded.

Lily hesitated again, "Like I said. It could have been a mistake. I don't know how the map works and-"

"Lily," Remus cut her off, "Who was there?"

She sighed before looking at Sirius, "Regulus. Your brother."

Sirius' face immediately dropped and both James and Remus grew worried at this. Lily placed the map in Remus's hand, a frown on her face, "I'm sorry."