𝕿𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗 - ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

Chapter 11: Coming Out of the Closet... And onto the Quidditch Pitch

[ November 1st, 1977 ]

    THEONA LOVED her friends. Deeply and overwhelming so. They were worth every moment of pain she'd experienced in her sixteen years of life. Every tear and quivering lip; every cut and bruise. Whatever it took to get her here was worth it, because she had them. She'd once thought she'd trade anything for her hands to be healed. Not anymore, she'd decided.

     When she, James, Sirius, and Lily returned to the Gryffindor common room after their early departure from Slughorn's party, they were greeted by their lovely friends-all of who were sipping away at multiple bottles of fire whiskey. No one seemed to be out of control drunk, but they all were nursing a cool buzz.

     "Oh, party's over, mates, the snooze-fest has arrived!" Mary exclaimed, blowing a raspberry with her lips.

     "What? The party doesn't start 'til I show up. Pass the bottle, MacDonald!" James shouted, snatching the fire whiskey from her hands and flopping down onto an empty armchair.

      Laughter passed through the air as Mary pouted. Lily took her seat on the floor in front of James's chair; he reached a hand down to rub her shoulder. Theona scanned the room and made a beeline for the only unopened bottle of fire whiskey. The laughter abruptly stopped when Sirius took his seat...

     Directly on Remus's lap.

     Every head in the room turned to her, and she turned to Sirius.

     "Oh relax, you twats, she knows," Sirius announced.

     Every head in the room then turned to Remus.

     "You told her?" He asked accusatorially. Theona tried not to take offence to the anger and fear hiding in his tone. He was cautious for a reason; a good one, too.

     "Nah, she figured us out," Sirius grinned, "we're pretty obvious, apparently."

     "Not Remus, just you," Theona said, still a little in shock at Sirius's boldness.

     She didn't realize that everyone knew about Sirius and Remus. That everyone was okay with it. She knew about James and Peter, but even the girls were aware? She'd only met two people who weren't against queers before she moved here: Eve and her brother. And even Sebastian had his moments of bigotry.

     "So," James started, looking at her with warning in his eyes, "what do you think?"

     Theona recoiled. James had never scared her before now.

     "I mean," she gulped, "I really don't see how Sirius managed to pull Remus. Like, he's next level hot and Sirius is just meh."

     Remus choked, nearly knocking Sirius off of him. Sirius, on the other hand, looked too hurt to pay his boyfriend any mind.

     "Eh, that's my girl!" Marlene whooped, grabbing Theona by the wrist and pulling her down on the couch next to her and Dorcas.

     Theona giggled, popping off the cap of her bottle.

     "I'm surprised you're so supportive," Remus cut in, "from what I've read about Americans, they're even more judgemental than us Brits."