the girl who forgot the stars ; sb

𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑅𝑢𝑏𝑦, 𝐷𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒

"Gryffindor!" the Sorting Hat shouted proudly.

Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table as Ruby hopped off the stool, cheeks glowing with nervous excitement. She made her way toward the sea of red and gold, her eyes instantly finding her brother. She slid into the seat between Remus and a dark-haired boy whose smirk had her stomach do something... odd.

"Thank Merlin we're in the same house!" Remus grinned, bumping her shoulder playfully.

"Welcome to Gryffindor, Ruby Lupin!" James said with dramatic flair, leaning in with Peter echoing him enthusiastically.

"And from me too," Sirius added, his grin easy and charming.

The feast began, dishes appearing in a magical swirl across the table. As laughter filled the air, Ruby kept finding her eyes drawn to Sirius. He was loud, energetic, and far too amused making fun of a Slytherin across the room—with James and Peter gleefully joining in.

"Hey!" a new voice chirped, causing Ruby to jump slightly. She turned to find a girl with fiery red hair and a warm, dazzling smile.

"I'm Lily Evans. Remus and I are friends. I hope you have a blasting year ahead, Ruby!" Lily said kindly.

Ruby returned the smile, slightly stunned by her brightness. "Thank you, Lily! I hope you do too."

Before Lily could say more, James practically leapt across the table.

"Lilyflower! You're back!" he exclaimed dramatically.

Lily rolled her eyes with a groan. "Merlin help me. This arsehole never learns," she muttered under her breath before giving Ruby a wink. "I'll take my leave before he invents another ridiculous nickname. Bye, Ruby!"

As Lily sat beside a blonde girl further down the table, Ruby turned to James with curiosity in her eyes.

"What's with you and Lily?" she asked.

James straightened up with a smug look. "I fancy her."

Ruby blinked. "You're twelve."

He shrugged. "Love doesn't have an age limit," he said with a dramatic sigh.

That earned a chorus of laughter from the group. Even Peter accidentally banged his hand on the table in his fit of giggles.

Maybe Hogwarts wouldn't be so bad after all.

⸻

Fifth Year

"Ruby! Let's go! Bye Mum, bye Dad!" Remus called out, dragging his trunk toward the train. Ruby hugged both parents tightly, kissing their cheeks before following her brother up onto the platform. Together, they waved until Lyall and Hope were nothing more than blurred shapes in the distance.

Once on the train, Ruby's eyes twinkled with excitement.

"Let's go find them, shall we?" she asked brightly.

After a few turns, she spotted the familiar compartment. With a grin, she pushed Remus aside and flung open the door.

"Hello, guys!" she beamed.

James immediately stood up to pull her into a warm hug, followed by Peter. Remus stood behind her, rolling his eyes in mock irritation.

"Alright, enough with your sappy reunion. I'll be off—prefect duties call," he said with a smirk, turning on his heel.

"Bye-bye, Prefect!" Ruby teased.

Sliding into the seat next to James, she joined the group's chatter about summer vacations. Yet, as the laughter bubbled and the stories flowed, she found herself glancing at the door—expecting someone. Or... hoping.

"Where's Sirius?" she asked, trying to sound casual. James and Peter exchanged knowing looks and matching smirks.

"Oh no. Not that face," Ruby groaned, rolling her eyes.

"What face?" James asked innocently.

"The one you both make when you start shipping me with your dumb friend."

"I'm just saying," Peter said through a mouthful of biscuit, "you ask about him a lot."

"I'm just asking. Doesn't mean I like him," Ruby muttered, stealing a biscuit from Peter's tin. He slapped her hand in mock offense.

"He ran off when he spotted a Gryffindor girl waiting for him," James said with a teasing lilt.

Ruby just nodded, unsurprised. Sirius's reputation was as consistent as ever.

"Why don't you try dating someone else?" Peter asked.

"If I find someone interesting, maybe I will," she replied coolly.

James perked up. "Have you seen Evans?"

"Not yet, and please don't tell me you've written her a sonnet again."

Before James could defend himself, the door slid open—and in walked Sirius Black.

Ruby's eyes swept over him instinctively. Collar half undone, lipstick smudged on the corner of his mouth, hair artfully disheveled.

She rolled her eyes.

Of course.

"Ruba!" Sirius called out cheerfully, throwing his arms out as if they were long-lost best friends.

"It's Ruby, you dumb-arse," she snapped, offering him a not-so-subtle fake smile.

Sirius chuckled as he flopped into the seat beside her. "How was your summer, Ruba? Hope it was nearly as exciting as mine."

"It was lovely, thank you," she said, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve. "Though I imagine yours continued right up until the train doors shut behind you."

"You jealous?" he asked with a smirk.

James choked on air. Ruby instinctively patted his back.

"Absolutely not!" she shot back, ears glowing red.

Sirius laughed and ruffled her hair. "You're cute when you're angry."

Ruby narrowed her eyes, but her heart was doing somersaults. Stupid Sirius Black.

Still... she couldn't quite hide the smile tugging at her lips as the four of them settled into another year of Hogwarts mischief and magic.

⸻

Author's Note

And just like that... Ruby's fifth year begins! Can we just talk about how Sirius walked in looking like trouble wrapped in charm and Ruby pretended not to care? Yeah. We see you, girl.

Also, James? Still hopelessly in love. Peter? Biscuit boy. Remus? Prefect on duty but watching all the chaos with a brother's eye. And Ruby? Trying so hard not to fall for a boy who lives to ruffle her feathers (and maybe her heart).

And hey, guess what?

WE'RE IN SIXTH YEAR OFFICIALLY! (Well, fifth for Ruby.) Things are heating up, hormones are wild, and hearts? Oh, they're in danger. And I can't wait to take you deeper into the drama, friendships, tension, and everything in between.

If you're still here reading—thank you. Seriously. Whether you comment or not, you've made my day just by being here. But if you do leave a little message or thought? I'll be grinning like Sirius himself.

With endless love and biscuit crumbs,
Nanii <33