enchanted | james potter

a house in nebraska

" And I still call home that house in Nebraska. "

The rest of the holidays Keira spent it either with family or working. She conversed with her friends through letters. One day she was sat at her desk when an owl came to her window, she expected it to be a letter from one of her friends, so she excitedly opened it, not expecting what was written in it.

Hi Keira,

I know you don't want to speak to me, but I think you'll want to know what's been happening recently.

Sirius is staying at my house, the other night he turned up at my door and said that he got into an argument with his parents and they disowned him. Me and my parents think they used the crucio curse on him since he's uncontrollably shaking.

He hasn't told us everything, what I've told you is all I know. If you want to see him you're welcome to come round, the others are coming this afternoon.

From, James.

Keira immediately cried, feeling inexplicably sad for her friend. He confided in her many times about his family, so she half expected this would happen but not to the extremity of unforgivable curses being used.

So, in the afternoon, Keira floo'd to Potter Manor. She stood outside for a couple minutes, reminiscing in the amount of times she'd been here and how there were nothing but happy memories made in that home.

The last time she was at this house she would've never guessed that the next time she'd be here it would be so different. Keira quickly took a pill, to help settle her nerves.

Euphemia answered the door, immediately pulling her into a warm and tight hug. Keira held onto the woman, they were still close, Euphemia would occasionally send Keira letter when she was at Hogwarts, but they hadn't seen each other since the summer.

"It's so good to see you, Lovie." Euphemia said. Lovie was a nickname she called Keira a lot.

"You too." Keira smiled as they let go of each other.

"How are you?" She asked, her hand on Keira's cheek.

Keira nodded, "I'm alright."

Euphemia watched her for a second, she could tell something was wrong, but she didn't want to pry, she could tell Keira wouldn't admit it.

"They're all in the living room." Keira thanked Euphemia before making her way to the living room, James' mothing going the opposite way, she looked at the wallpaper, the furniture, the pictures on the walls. She noticed a picture from the spring when her, James, and his parents went on a day trip and had a picnic, the picture is of the four of them standing with big smiled on their faces. James' arm is around Keira's shoulders, her hand on the small of his back as they both look at each other sharing a smile.

She admired the picture and the memories of that day. She couldn't believe she had forgotten that day, she loved it so much.

Her thoughts got cut off when she heard her name.

"Keira." She turned her head quickly to see Remus stood next to her.

"Hi." She cracked a sad smile as they shared a hug, "How is he?"

"He's quiet." Remus said as they pulled away before they made their way to the living room.

Once they arrived everyone turned to see her, all of them sat around Sirius who sat on the sofa with Marlene next to him, her hand resting on his upper arm, comforting him. Keira look at James and they held eye contact for a couple seconds before people started greeting her.

"I thought you'd like these." Keira said, kneeling on the floor next to the sofa Sirius sat on, taking out boxes of sweets from her bag.

"Thank you." Sirius gave her a smile, his hand on her shoulder.

Keira immediately felt guilt and pity for him, he didn't deserve what had happened ot him. None of it. Keira sat on the arm of the sofa, putting her arm around his shoulders.

The group conversed in small conversations, throughout the afternoon, Sirius laid his head on Keira's lap, wanting some rest. Keira and James didn't speak to each other, neither knew where to start and what to say to each other, so they didn't say anything.

Later on, Keira left to go to the kitchen to make her and Sirius a tea. She was straining the tea bags when James approached her after getting the milk out of the fridge.

"Thanks." She mumbled.

They stood in silence as she poured the milk into the two mugs. "I'm sorry. For everything I said to you." James said, Keira looked up at him as he had a serious face on.

"You don't need to, I was the one who treated you badly." Keira shook her head.

"How about we agree that we're both sorry."

"Yeah," Keira let out a small chuckle with James. He went to leave and go back to their friends when Keira spoke, "Hey James?"

He turned around, "Yeah?"

"I missed you." Keira said truthfully, his face softened.

"I missed you too, Keira." He said, smiling before leaving the room.

Their interaction gave both Keira and James hope; maybe they can be friends.

People started going home in the evening, though Keira stayed later with Remus, Sirius still wanted company and neither had a curfew.

James walked Lily out to the front door, wanting to say goodbye to her. Lily held a serious expression on her face, "James... I don't think I can do this." Lily sighed.

"What?" He asked.

"I don't feel right doing this, I feel like I'm betraying Keira." Lily looked down at her shoes.

"Why did you say yes then?" James asked, a bit frustrated.

"I don't know, but seeing her today and you two barely even looking at each other, I'm putting myself between something that I really shouldn't be. She's my best friend, you're not supposed to do this to your best friend." Lily looked at James who ran his hand through his hair.

He was quiet for a bit, "Okay."

"I'm sorry, James." Lily watched him in pity, she reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek, before leaving the house.

When James turned around he saw Remus at the end of the hallway, a shocked expression on his face. Shit, James thought.

"What the fuck was that?" Remus asked.

"Nothing." James waved him off.

"No it's not. Her betraying Keira? The kiss on the cheek? What the fuck did you two do?" Remus followed James into the empty kitchen, closing the door behind him.

"We were dating, okay! But don't worry because we're not anymore, you just watched her dump me, anyway." James shouted, turning around abruptly to face Remus.

"Why the fuck were you dating Lily? She's Keira best friend!"

"I know, fucking hell I know!" James ran his hands through his hair.

"Mate, you need to get a grip." Remus crossed his arms, "Does Keira know?"

"Of course she doesn't, no one does except you now."

"Are you going to tell her?" Remus asked calmly, but inside he was furious with both of them.

"What, no."

"You're joking."

"No?" James watched Remus shake his head, "Don't you tell her." He pointed his finger at his friend.

"James I'm not keeping this to myself, she has to know! Either you or Lily tell her or I am because she's going to find out at some point."

(A/N; I. LOVE. ETHEL. CAIN.)