𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐏A𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄, jp

𝐒𝐈𝐗

Three days; that's how long Isabella had until her mum and dad came home. She lay on the roof of her house, her eyes on the starry night sky above her. Lupin cottage was ever so peaceful at this time of night, and so Izzy was able to relax as she watched the stars around her.

"Watcha doing up there?" The voice she recognised to be James' called up from the garden.

She peered down at him curiously, "what're you doing down there?"

"Can't sleep, came for some fresh air, it's really hot in Moony's room."

"I can imagine," she said thoughtfully. She peered down at him, the jump didn't seem too far, their house wasn't massively high anyway. She dropped to the floor, brushing herself off as she looked at James. "Does Remus know you're up?"

"Do you know what a deep sleeper he is once he finally falls asleep?" James asked, chuckling softly.

"No," she replied bluntly.Izzy sat down on the grass. It was extremely rare for her to actually be in the garden, given the history. Yet at this particular moment she didn't care, pushing thoughts of Maisie out of her mind.

James did the same, sitting down next to the blonde as he observed her, "have you slept yet?"

"No," she shrugged, "I was thinking about making some dinner. My room was hot, though, so I wanted some fresh air, plus, look how pretty the sky is! Everyone should be able to see that."

"Dinner?" James repeated, "Bells, you know it's midnight, right?"

"Which means Remus is asleep," she explained, blushing slightly at the nickname. Though her heart was racing, she was very openly not being nice about Remus to his friend, which could very easily turn wrong,"peace and quiet as I eat, no offence."

"None taken," he smiled softly, "you shouldn't have to eat this late because of us, though."

"I don't mind, honestly," she shrugged, picking at the grass.

"You know," James said quietly after a brief moment of thought, "I don't think you're as bad as I'm told you are."

"Thanks?" She laughed awkwardly, "I'll take it as a compliment, I think?"

"No, no, it is," James internally groaned at his wording, deciding to change the topic incase he embarrassed himself anymore. "So you're starting Hogwarts?"

"I am," a chill ran down her spine, making her shiver a little, and she wasn't sure if it was the cool breeze or the thought of Hogwarts.

"Do you know anyone at Hogwarts?" James asked, he the noticed the very slight shift in her demeanour, but was determined to help her.

"Just Remus, and you guys I suppose," she said, looking up at him, "why do you ask?"

"Can't let you go to Hogwarts without any friends, can we?" He grinned, "my friend Marlene would love you, I'm sure that if you're sorted into Gryffindor - which I think you will be - the girls will be kind to you."

"Thank you," she replied meaningfully, "I don't want to go, though. I loved Beauxbatons."

"I can imagine leaving your friends isn't easy," he mentioned after a few seconds of thinking, "but you can write to them, plus you can see them in the holidays!"

"You're being really nice to me," she studied the boy in front of her, dressed in his black pyjamas shorts and white T-shirt that was just a little bit too tight, revealing all of his muscles, he didn't even look half bad. "Why?"

"You seem to have it rough with Remus," James said honestly, though he failed to mention the part where he had overheard the phone call she had had with her mother. "I don't want you to go in thinking your relationship with him will be the relationship you have with the rest of us."