The Better Chaser; James Potter

Chapter 7- The Gryffindor Common Room

After that, the mood lightened a bit and slowly but surely it felt as if nothing had really happened. I tried to go back to my dorm but they all insisted that I spend the night, worried that something might happen to me. Not wanting to open that topic of conversation ever again, I swallowed my pride and decided that my first night back fifth year would be bunking with the Gryffindors. I internally laughed at this thought.

Lily had wanted to spend the night in the boys dorms too and I wanted her there too, but I pointed it out that her roommates might be suspicious of her disappearance. I could not go with her or that would be even more obvious. So I unfortunately settled for bunking with the boys tonight. Lily left around midnight when Peter started yawning and preparing for bed. I kissed her cheek good night before reassuring her that I would be fine and with that she left. 

"So, what are the sleeping arrangements," Peter asked tiredly already in his bed.

"I guess Pete's in that one," Sirius pointed obviously as Peter drifted off into sleep.

"I could take the floor," I offered, "I'll just need to borrow a blanket so I don't freeze on your cold floors,"

The three boys just shook their heads,

"How about we perform an engorgement charm on one of the beds, and maybe Remus and Sirius can use it. Then James on his bed, and I'll use the last one," I suggested

"NO!" Remus and Sirius both blurted simultaneously. I eyed them suspiciously but continued, "Alright then, I'm honestly good with anything as long as I don't have to share a bed with Potter,"

He scoffed before responding, "You'd be lucky too,"

"Good thing I don't believe in luck," I retorted back. Remus interrupted sensing a bicker match starting and stopped it by saying, "The engorgement charm was a great idea, I don't mind you sleeping in my bed Reigna so there, James keeps his bed as does Sirius," I smiled at him gratefully,

"Thanks Remu," I called him by my nickname for him which he gets embarrassed from, claiming that it's too sweet, 

'that's why I'll only use it while you're being extra sweet' I smiled at the memory. 

I walked to his bed before performing an engorgement charm changing his four-poster twin sized bed, into a queen sized one. I smiled contently, before deciding to use the loo and wash up before bed. As I rounded around Remus' now enlarged bed I caught Sirius' gaze and he was weirdly glaring at me. I eyed him and mouthed what to which he responded by smiling, or attempted to at least. It came out as a grimace. Shrugging it off I made my way to the bathroom and glanced into the mirror. I looked like actual shit. My hair was even wilder than before frizzing up in the weirdest areas but matted down around my face, my eyebags seem more prominent than ever and my eyes looked black and dull. I sighed washing my face trying to make myself look alive before giving up. Only a shower would make me feel clean and re-energized. I had layers of filth and dried up sweat making me uncomfortable.

I stuck my head out of the bathroom. Remus had passed out, Sirius had started to fall asleep, Potter was sitting in his bed the only one awake. I groaned slightly,

"Oi-Potter!" I whisper-yelled, his eyes darted to mine, surprised I addressed him, "Is it alright if I take a shower, I'll perform a silencing spell so I don't wake the boys don't worry," He nodded at me with a confused face as if wondering why I had to ask.

Bloody manners Potter, of which you clearly had none, I thought

With that confirmation I pulled my head back in the bathroom, locked the door and performed the silencing charm. I stripped off my clothes as I waited for the shower to heat up. Once it was warm enough I entered excitedly. As I showered and washed all that grime off, my hair calming down and returning to it's normal state. The shower did help, I felt much better and calmer, but still I felt a bit on edge. As I exited the shower I realized I did not have a towel, or a brush, or a bloody change of clothes.