Padfoot and The Mermaid

Chapter Nineteen ~ Fixing A Hole

It was the final Hogsmeade trip of the semester, and James was planning to go out with a bang. 

(y/n) and Peter were the first to arrive to the village, they both bypassed the Three Broomsticks for the time being, it just so happened to be the location of the party. They'd both been meaning to head to Zonko's for a while now, though they'd never found the right time to do so.

"So, you and Sirius huh." Peter teased, he was grabbing a few boxes of candy frogs.

"We're not dating." (y/n) mumbled, each time she said the words she felt even more guilty about it, she was truly in disarray about everything. The girl sighed and continued searching for the special edition Bertie Bott's, they were supposed to taste like flowers, or pleasant things at least.

"Oh, sorry, you two just look at each other as if you're in-"

"I like him, we're just not dating." (y/n) interrupted, she smiled when she found the jelly beans. "They hid the bastards in plain sight." (y/n) muttered to herself, Peter clapped his hands and cheered for the girls findings.

"Promise me you'll sort this out with Sirius, I fear he may be in love with you." Peter said sternly, he silently paid for his things and headed out of the shop. Peter was the type to act dumb to fit in, hiding his true thoughts on certain matters to avoid conflict, though when he spoke his mind it was impactful, it was well-thought out, and just like Lily, it was most often the truth..

(y/n) folded her arms and headed out of the shop, it was bitterly cold that night, the wind was beginning to pick up again, and on top of that the snow still remained here and there, making the pebbly road an icy slope.

"It's been a while." A voice called out, (y/n) recognized it immediately, it was Jolene. The girl spun around the look her in the eyes, she wasn't with a boy this time, she was alone.

"So, you and Sirius." Jolene said, she had no emotion in her face, besides a little smile and the usual sparkle in her eyes. The dullness that had swept over her after the first Hogsmeade trip seemed to have faded, had the old Jolene returned?

"Y'know, you're the second person to tell me that today." (y/n) teased, she folded her amrs, this time to warm herself. 

"We're not dating, but he wants us to." (y/n) added on, Jolene seemd a little surprised by the girls statement.

"I thought you were already dating?" She asked in confusion, (y/n) shook her head and sighed, she was feeling that guilt again and the knot in her stomach began to tighten.

"Only for a few minutes, I'm still not sure if I'm ready for a relationship." 

There was silence between the girls for a moment, then Jolene decided to speak her mind. Which was always something to behold. 

"You mean you're ready to tell him about you." Jolene spattered, she was right of course, but there was still more to it, that was simply the icing on the cake.

"Yes and no, I can't explain it, I don't even know whats holding me back anymore." (y/n) muttered, she had finally realized how stupid she'd been acting, and all the trouble that she'd caused the boy. He must be feeling awful, confused, sad, all because of (y/n)'s lack of courage.

"You feel like you don't deserve him, but I think you're the only person in this damned school who does." Jolene said plainly, she crossed her arms and stared the girl down. "You're the only one he wants." 

She was dead serious, Jolene, it was almost terrifying, but it brought a sense of urgency to (y/n), allowing her to grasp the severity of the situation, and showing her how stupid she'd been acting these past couple of months. It made (y/n) aware.