Game On

Part 2 - Couches & Cringing

After the long ride to Hogwarts and the delicious feast I crash into my bed, exhausted. My breathing eventually evens out as I slowly fall into the pool of unconsciousness listening to the soothing voices of my roommates chattering softly.

Monday

When I wake in the morning I'm confused for a moment as to where I am, but soon I remember as I look at the red velvet curtains partially closed around my bed. I soak in the soft cotton sheets before happily pulling open the curtains and scooting to the edge of the bed.

"Morning J." Marlene speaks softly across the room while buttoning her shirt.

"Hi." I respond while rubbing my eyes.

Lily and Mary still have the curtains pulled shut around their beds.

"Can you wait for me to go to breakfast?" I ask.

"Of course."

30 minutes later me and Mar are eating our toast, eggs, bacon, yogurt, fruit and everything else we could dream of. We scan over the Daily Profit for a while before Lily and Mary come down. Soon McGonagall comes around with our timetables.

"Damn you're not gonna have any free time this year." Mary says while looking at Lily's schedule, "Same goes for you J."

I look at Lily's schedule, Lily and I have both decided to take a fair amount of classes this year. Specifically, I'm taking all of the regular core classes plus Arithmacy, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures.

"Yeah well if I ever want to be a-" I start but I'm interrupted by Mary and Marlene talking at the same time.

"A Curse-Breaker for Gringotts. We know."

"Ha ha very funny, lets all make fun of the girl who wants to have a respectable career." I retort.

I have always dreamed of working as a Curse-Breaker; going on adventures, studying magical artifacts and even fighting monsters. In order to be a Curse-Breaker I have to have a lot of experience with all things magical. And yeah, maybe a small part of me feels like I have to over compensate for being Muggle-born and maybe I think I have to earn my place in the magical world more than Mary or Marlene do but that's beside the point.

"Um rude. Marrying rich is definitely more respectable than being a Curse-Breaker." Mary retorts.

Lily reassuringly squeezes my hand, "Well I think it's great that you're taking a lot of classes. This way we can help each other out. Ooo and we can study with Remus!"

I could always count on Lily to make me feel better. As for the studying with Remus, it was really starting to feel like there was no way to avoid the Marauders this year.

I make my way through my first day of classes (Transfiguration, DADA, and Arithmacy) and then enjoy dinner, where me and the girls laugh about Lily's stand on the inhumane aspects of turning a gnome into a lawn gnome.

"Overall pretty good first day back." Marlene states as we walk past the portrait and into the common room.

"Lily-flower!" I hear a familiar voice call.

"Spoke too soon." I mutter under my breath.

"Hello James." Lily replies straightforwardly.

Remus and Sirius are lounging on the couch across from the fireplace. Meanwhile, Peter and James sit on the floor playing a game of chess which James does not seem totally invested in.

"Wow no insults or hex's Evans?" Sirius' voice moves through the room.

Lily begins to move over to the couches with Marlene and Mary. I reluctantly follow.

"What can I say? I'm in a good mood."

Lily sits down with Mary on a love seat and Marlene takes a seat on the last remaining chair. Leaving one open spot on the couch right between Sirius and Remus.

Fuck me.

For a second I consider just running up to my dorm room but that quickly passes when I decide that wouldn't be very Gryffindor of me and uncomfortably place myself between the two boys.

"You hear that Prongs? You might finally have a chance this year." Sirius remarks.

"Let's not go that far."

"Shut up mate."

Lily and James respond at the same time.

Sirius laughs before turning his head to the right to see me sitting next to him. He smirks at me causing me to give a very small, awkward and silly looking smile back before turning my head in the other direction. Merlin he's sitting so close to me, I can smell the cigarette he must've smoked moments ago.

My eyes land on Remus, leaning back on the couch reading an Ancient Runes book. I take a mental note of that because he's the only other person I know taking the class. I turn my attention to the fire trying to remember my timetable and what day we have Ancient Runes.

"You know Padfoot you're one to talk, where's your girlfriend this year?" Remus questions.

This receives many laughs including an involuntary giggle from me. Damn, good joke from the seemingly shy Remus.

"So glad you asked Moony. As always I'm planning to take the bachelor approach, I want to see how many girls fawn over me this year." He smiles cockily, "I mean there's honestly no shortage of damsels in my fan club."

I can't help but roll my eyes at this.

Sirius seems to notice.

"In fact, I could've sworn I saw Gryffindor's very own Jade Lovell checking me out on the train yesterday."

Seriously?

I jerk my body to face him. James snickers from across the room.

"I was not!" I reply, defensive and embarrassed.

"Hey I'm not blaming you!" He turns his body towards me, "I can introduce you to the rest of the club if you'd like."

I open my mouth to respond but I'm cut off by Mary.

"Don't worry Jade we've all had our dark moments where we thought Sirius' hair might be worth the rest of the nightmare." This earns heartfelt laughter from the rest of the group.

"So you admit you like my hair!"

I gratefully lean back against the couch, folding my arms across my chest and trying to cool the anger I feel running through me.

Ugh that was so embarrassing. He's such a prick.

I half heartedly listen to the group as they analyze Mary and Sirius' 4th year relationship. I can't fully pay attention though, because I'm more focused on the arm Sirius has thrown around the couch right by my shoulders, his smokey smell and small glances he keeps sending my way.