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It was sixth year, which meant studying for NEWTS until you actually died. At least in Lily's brain, it did. Thea enjoyed studying, for the most part. She found magic fascinating and learning how it worked intrigued her. Marlene, unfortunately, couldn't say the same. The three girls were in the library studying the topics that were introduced to them during their first week back at school. Things between Thea and Lily were okay. Not good, not bad, just okay. Lily didn't know what or even if she did anything wrong. She thought about apologizing, but what good would it do if she didn't know what she did?
Thea hated that she felt different around Lily. Lily had been her best friend for years now and the two of them possibly liking Remus Lupin shouldn't change that. If anything, she was the bad friend. Lily had divulged her crush first. Thea shouldn't like Remus, but its hardly her fault. Remus was just Remus.
"I don't get this, I'm so stupid," Marlene complained with frustrated tears in her eyes.
Thea frowned. "No, don't say that." She chastised. "Look, it's only the first week, we'll keep working on it."
"On that note, I think that's enough for today," Lily said. The other two girls nodded and packed up their things. The three walked back to the common room in silence. Once inside, they found the marauders sitting around each other in the middle of the common room while Remus and Peter played Wizard's Chess.
Thea pursed her lips and followed tentatively after Lily and Marlene. The two girls sat down next to the boys. There were two viable options. Either she sits between James and Sirius or she sits between James and Remus. Lily had taken up the spot on the other side of Remus while Marlene opted to sit between Sirius and James.
"What are you waiting for, Thea?" Sirius called after her. Thea smiled at her friend and plopped down between him and James. James nudged her shoulder with his and raised his eyebrows teasingly.
"Shut up, James," She laughed.
James raised his arms in mock surrender. "I haven't said anything!"
Lily watched them with careful eyes. She had noticed the two of them had become close friends in the short amount of time they had spent back at the school and if she was being honest, she didn't know how to feel about it. She thought about the possibility of James not liking her anymore and finally shifting her focus toward someone else. That thought would have elated her past self, but now? She was sad. It made it even worse that the new girl could quite possibly be her best friend.
Remus tried not to think about the fact that Thea had barely spoken to him lately. It seemed like she was hellbent on avoiding him. He didn't know why, he just figured it would be for the best. The longer she avoids him, the quicker he'll get over her. This stupid crush is just making it harder for him. It's easier to want to be alone when you don't think about someone all the damn time.
