Of The Solstice

Butterbeer

I blinked my eyes open, the sunlight streaming into the room and stinging my eyes. They felt sore, so I rubbed them before rolling onto my side to escape the glare. Lily was already awake, sitting up in her bed. I knew that Marlene and Dorcas always disappeared on Saturdays and wouldn't be back until late.

"Lils, what time is it?" I groaned as I opened my eyes.

"It's just past eleven," Lily responded promptly.

"Wait, didn't you and James have a date today?" I asked as I struggled to sit up.

"Yeah, we do, but I wanted to check in on you first," Lily said as she sat down on my bed and reached for my hands.

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling a bit confused.

"Well, I know you had a tough day yesterday, and I thought it might be good for you to get out of the castle for a bit. Why don't you come to Hogsmeade with us? You don't have to stay with us, but at least get some fresh air," Lily suggested, giving my hands a reassuring squeeze.

"I suppose I could, are you sure?" I asked, still feeling hesitant.

"Absolutely," Lily said reassuringly. "It was James' idea, and I think some butterbeer will make you feel better."

I managed a small smile at her kindness. "Thank you, Lily. I appreciate it."

She got up from the bed and headed towards the door. "I'll be in the common room waiting for you," she said before disappearing through the doorway.

I let out a sigh and rose from the bed. After scanning through my chest, I grabbed an oversized cream-colored sweater and paired it with some baggy jeans. I quickly ran a brush through my hair before heading out to find James and Lily.

When I stepped out into the common room, I saw only Remus, James, and Lily sitting on the couch and chatting.

I sat beside Remus and asked, nudging him, "Are you coming with us?"

"I supposed I'd tag along so you aren't having to third wheel with these two" he laughed

We all got up from the couch and headed out of the common room. The halls were mostly empty, as many students had already left for Hogsmeade.

As we made our way towards the entrance to the village, James kept making silly jokes and puns, trying to lighten the mood. Lily and I exchanged a smile, appreciating his efforts.

Once we arrived in Hogsmeade, we headed straight to the Three Broomsticks. The warm, inviting atmosphere and delicious smells of butterbeer and pub food immediately lifted my spirits. We found a cozy booth in the back

"So Bugs, How about we make up for yesterday?" James said passing me a glass of Butterbeer.

I took a sip of the Butterbeer and smiled. "Sure, what do you have in mind?"

"Well, what do you want to do?" James asked

"I don't know, I heard there is a new bookstore that has some muggle texts" I replied smiling.

James smiled, "Sounds like a plan. Let's finish our drinks and head over there."

We finished our butterbeers and made our way out of the Three Broomsticks, walking down the street towards the new bookstore. As we approached, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. I had always been fascinated by muggle culture and was eager to explore the store's collection.

Once inside, I was immediately drawn to the section on muggle literature. I began scanning the shelves, searching for any titles that caught my eye. James and Remus browsed the other sections, occasionally pulling out books to show each other.

After a while, I heard James call out, "Hey Bugs, check this out!" He held up a book with a bright green cover that read, "A wizard of Earthsea."

I smiled, "Oh, I've heard of that one. It's supposed to be really cool!"

"Let's get it then! My treat" he smiled, and took the book to the counter.

As we walked out of the bookstore, James handed me the book. "Here you go, Bugs. I hope you like it," he said with a grin.

"Thanks, James. I can't wait to start reading it," I replied, tucking the book into my bag.

"Happy Birthday" James said, roughing my hair.

"Thank you, you guys definitely made up for my shitty day yesterday." I smiled, "I think I'm going to head back"

Lily looked at me with concern, "Are you sure? We can do something else if you want."

I shook my head, "No, I appreciate everything you guys did for me, but I'm just feeling a bit tired. I just want to relax for the rest of the day."

"Alright, well you know where to find us if you change your mind," James said with a smile.

"Yeah, I'll see you guys later," I waved goodbye and made my way back to the castle.

~

I made my way to the transfiguration courtyard, scanning for a good spot to settle in. Spotting a shady area, I walked over and sat down, crossing my legs and pulling out my new book. Leaning against the wall of the castle, I quietly immersed myself in the pages.

As I sat in the courtyard reading my new book, I noticed Sirius walking across the way, with Severus following close behind. Curiosity piqued, I listened in on their conversation.

"Sirius, why do the four of you disappear every full moon?" Severus asked, sounding almost desperate for an answer.

"Sniv, If you want to know, do what I said with the willow on a full moon," Sirius replied, smirking and waving his hand dismissively.

Severus let out a frustrated huff and walked away, leaving me to glare at Sirius. I knew all too well what the four of us were doing every full moon: James, Sirius, and I transformed into our animagus forms to keep Remus, who was a werewolf, company during his transformations at the Shrieking Shack.

"Is that some sick joke?" I thought to myself, my eyes fixed on Sirius until he finally looked my way. Our gazes met briefly before I quickly looked back down at my book, continuing to read.