Caught in the Crowd {James Potter}

Chapter 7: Ties and Girls

Chapter 7: Ties and Girls

By the time she left the shower, her skin was cooked. Her stomach had a red heat rash spread across it and her skin tightened with dryness. But it was worth it. Freya emerged back into her dorm, dressed in loose grey pants and a jumper, hair hung around her face like a wet dog.

"Merlin's beard," Lily said upon seeing her. "I've been waiting for nearly an hour. Were you drowning in your sorrows or something?"

Freya looked at the floor, thinking of the best way to answer. "Potter hugged me today," she said.

Lily wailed her name, storming across the room. Her bright hair left a flaming trail. "Potter?" she hissed. Lily leaned closer, sniffing her shoulder. "I think you might need a second shower. Gosh, you must really be a mess after that." Freya gave her friend a tired grin, amused by her stubborn dislike for the boy. "What on earth led you to be hugging him? You must have been desperate. You could have come to me. Did he force you—because I'll have a stern word to that boy about consent!"

Freya sighed and flopped onto her bed, Lily sitting beside her. "Just my father," she told Lily. It was enough for her to understand. "I got a letter from him because Eugene was upset about the detentions. I was in class with him so unless I wanted to trek all the way to Ancient Runes to find you, he was the only option." Lily muttered to herself. "You know, he was actually really sweet about it, Lils. We just wandered the empty corridors on the floor till the end of class."

Green eyes hardened. "One act of kindness doesn't excuse everything else he's done."

"You mean done to Snape?" Freya almost wished she didn't say anything, because Lily looked at her like she would look at James. And it wasn't pleasant to be on the receiving end of it.

"He's a judgemental prat with an ego the size of the Black Lake." Freya twisted her lips in silence, knowing there was nothing she could say at that moment to mend Lily's fury at James Potter. Lily blinked, looking down at Freya's feet then back up. "I have to get ready for Slughorn's dinner party, but we can talk about stuff when I get back if you want."

Lily took towards the shared bathroom, locking the door behind her. In a few heartbeats, the water travelled through the plumbing overhead. Freya decided against staying in her dorm and headed down into the main Common area of the Tower. It was busy, being just an hour before the Great Hall would be serving dinner. Students of all years mingled together, the collection of voices drowning out any one conversation. Freya set her sights on Marlene and Mary, who had draped themselves across a loveseat near the bookshelves.

"Ah! Hawkins! Even better!" Her destination was swept away from her, a hand grappling her upper arm. Long black hair whizzed around a thin face. "I need you."

Freya's brows rose to her hairline. She could see exactly where this was going. "Whoa!" She dug her heels into the ground, tugging her arm back. "No. I'm not helping you with anything."

Sirius turned back around but didn't relent on his grip. "Come on," he protested. "I swear it's nothing that will get you into trouble. I just need your help with something in our room. More correct, James needs your help with something."

Freya narrowed her eyes. She wasn't sure if she completely believed him. But after Divination, she did owe James one. Damn him. "Why in your room? Can't you bring it down here—where there are witnesses?"

Sirius grinned like a dog, in on a joke that she was not. "I'd love more witnesses, but James would toss me off the astronomy tower."

He tugged again and Freya let him edge her towards the staircase leading to the boys' dorms. "Then why do I get to witness it?"