𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 [𝐑. 𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐧]

𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐃𝐈 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐎

Song:
The Moment I Knew (Taylor Swift)
"And what do you do when the one who means the most to you, is the one who didn't show?"

The next day, it was as if nothing had happened.

Callisto had taken her seat next to Regulus and Narcissa, putting a pancake on her plate and coating it with her usual chocolate syrup. Instinctively, she had looked towards the Gryffindor table, the sight of Remus finishing his essay while James waved a spoon full of cereal in front of his face bringing a small, bitter smile on her lips.

Remus had greeted them all like usual, before he pulled out the almost finished essay and his quill. He didn't say anything more, focusing on his assignment in order to try and distract himself from what he had witnessed the previous evening. Peter's confession still felt heavy on his chest, his eyes lifting up slightly to glance at Callisto. There was no blood on her, the blue jacket and white shirt she was wearing replaced by her school uniform. Sleeves scrunched up, revealing scarred, pale arms, her silver and green tie tied loosely around her neck, only accentuating how crumpled her school uniform was.

Peter's gaze was fixed on his waffle, his fork playing with the ridiculous face made of berries and whipped cream Lily and Sirius had decorated his plate with. He only looked up, locking eyes with Remus who gave him a toothy grin, full of reassurance. Peter would have almost let himself believe it, hadn't it been for the small owl flying over them and dropping a single, white folder on the table.

He gingerly picked it up, vaguely aware of Remus' gaze. He could bet that if he turned around at that moment, he would see Callisto staring at him, eyebrows furrowed and an unreadable expression in her dark blue eyes.

Peter,

I know what you expect this letter to be. You want a proper goodbye; you need to hear what Callisto told me to write to you. You, Petey, want to fool yourself into believing whatever stupid excuse I'd make up for my mother's "death". There's no need for that, you wouldn't believe it either way. I know you and Lupin were there, I could practically smell you.

I have to write you something though to appease Callisto. If she can't love me the way I do, I will settle for pleasing her just one more time. A letter for her, the truth for you.

I never loved you, and I never could. I'd say you shouldn't take it personally, but what other way is it to take this? She's everything you're not, but you knew that already. It took me only one "date" to realize you're nothing but a shadow, trying to reach your friends, but never quite making it. They all see it, Petey. How could they not when you reek of insecurity and weakness? So, to answer the question you're surely thinking of, I didn't mean any of it. There's no reason for me to keep pretending when I know the game is lost.

It was a Game of Hearts, and I lost. We both lost, but to different people. I lost to Lupin, you lost to Callisto. And them? They will keep on losing every time they choose each other.