You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 10

 The first month of classes had gone by smoothly. Potions had fascinated Mira more than any other subject, and Professor Slughorn made sure he praised for everything she managed. Charms and transfiguration were hard to go through, seeing as the magic she was able to do was very weak, but the one class she hated the most was Herbology. She just couldn't get the hang of it. Professor Sprout looked almost sad every time Mira cut an extra leaf or couldn't answer a question correctly. Pandora loved Herbology so she helped Mira in any way she could. Pandora and Mira hadn't been separated for more than an hour in the last month and they weren't complaining. But James was.

"Really Ro, where have you been the past two weeks?" James had found her in between periods walking with her 'evil' friends, as he called them. It was weird that he was alone in the first place and it became even more weird when he had asked for a private walk with his favourite cousin who he loved very much. Pandora had whispered 'You're cousin's weird' in her ear, as she always seemed to do before while the others gave James weird looks. Mira waved goodbye at them , promising to catch up with them later.

"I've been here" she replied, not knowing where all this anger was coming from.

"Look" he stopped on his trucks, making her do the same. "Me and Sirius , admittedly, aren't your biggest fans, but everyone else simply adores you. And they're worried Ro. Merlin even I'm worried" he bellowed.

"What for James?" she asked in exasperation. Was her having fun such a crime?

"You've changed Rosie. They've changed you. And don't get me wrong , I think it's great for someone to change. But it's only been a month." he explained in a soft tone. Mira had never heard more sincere words coming from the mouth of James Potter, not to her at least. "It's great that you have new friends, you'll need them when we're gone, no matter how evil they are. I trust your judgment. But don't forget the people that were there for you first"

Mira was at a loss for words. She had to admit she hadn't spend much time with her Gryffindor friends the past month. Making new friends, whoever they may have been, had taken up all of her time. She was having fun, they were having fun, and it was the first time anyone had enjoyed her company. It was the first time someone actually wanted and chose to have her around. Her Gryffindor friends didn't have much of a choice in the matter. She was forced into their lives. Maybe that's why she avoided them, thinking that they were just doing her a favor, feeling like she was intruding. But hearing James say that they were worried made her feel guilty for ever thinking they were faking their friendship.

"You're right. I haven't been a good friend. I'm sorry"

"Well don't apologise to me. Come to our common room tonight. Maybe stay the night" he suggested and Mira nodded "I'll be at the portrait at 8. You better be there little Potter" he gave her a cheeky smile before turning on his heels.

'Wait James! How exactly have I changed?" she couldn't hep but ask him.

"Well...the Rosie I met in the summer wouldn't sneak out to watch the sunrise with a Slytherin every week" and with that being his last sentence he dissapeared.

Had he seen them? Oh but of course he had, probably on one of hi patrols, he was Head Boy after all. But why hadn't he said anything until then. He was right of course, both about her summer self not even thinking that she would watch the sunrise with someone like Theodore Nott and the fact that it was becoming a trend. Every Sunday morning Theodore would wait for her down at the common room, so they could go to the Quiditch pitch. It had become her favourite part of the week. Of course no one knew about it except the two of them...and James. Theodore and her talked during the day but not much. She had found herself in close company with Barty and Evan more than anyone, other than Pandora. Of course that only happened because Regulus was being cryptic and requested to talk to Pandora in private more than a few times in the day, leaving Mira with the other three boys. She couldn't still trust them all the way but she was warming up to them day by day,

......

"So I finished it" Lily stated plopping on the couch next to Marlene.

"Finished what ?" Marlene asked , her mouth half full with some of Remus chocolate.

"The book I was telling you about." Lily reminded.

"Oh yeah, that. I'm pretty busy now , why don't you talk to Remus?"

"Oh I wish Mira were here" Lily said sadly ,making everyone else look down as well. Mira hadn't been around in what felt like a century . It seemed that she had forgetten all about Lily now that she had Pandora.

"Be careful what you wish for Lils" a voice said coming from the entrance of the common room. And there she stood, in all her glory, their favourite Slytherin. Mira. Lily wasted no time as she stood up and run to hug the younger girl tightly. Oh how had she missed her. Lily loved all her friends dearly but with Mira it was different. She had appeared in their lives out of the blue and had fit in right away. Granted she already knew of them, it felt like she had always been one of them. Even if James and Sirius didn't like her very much , they still felt the same.

"I missed you" Lily whispered in her head, not letting go of the hug just yet.

"Missed you too" They all took turns in hugging her . Even Sirius shook hands with her before he dissapeared back up to his dorm room, but Remus was sitting stubbornly on his armchair in the far end of the fireplace. He didn't even turn his head to look at her. Mira found his behavior to be rather comical, like a child being denied chocolate, or like Remus without his chocolate for the matte. She approached him slowly until she was right in front of him.

"I'm sorry Remmy, I've been a shitty friend"
"Well being self aware is a good thing I suppose" he replied coldly. It was just another second before he stood up and hugged her just like everyone else had done. He had gotten used to her presence too much during the summer, so when she wasn't around he could feel something missing at all times. It made him wonder what life would be like when she would be gone for good. But they had time for that.

"Okay enough with the soppy shit." Marlene declared. "Now tell about your alternate Slytherin self"

"There's not much to say, really" Mira said , taking a seat next to Remus. By that time Sirius had come down as well, so they were now all sitting around the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Mira to tell them about her life the past month. "Really guys, the Slytherins I hung out with aren't bad at all. They actually help and care and know how to have fun. The only one that isn't really...outgoing is Regulus. Are all blacks drama queens Siri?" she asked Sirius with false curiosity making him scowl while everyone else laughed. "No but seriously. What's wrong with your brother. Even Nott talks more than him" James cleared his throat at the mention of the name .

"Maybe he doesn't like you Ro. We are brothers after all"

"Oh absolutely"

"Did you just...agree with me?"

"Never"

After a while they fell into casual conversation filled with laughter. It was 3 am now, Marlene and Sirius had gone up to sleep, Mary and Peter were talking about how difficult their classes were and Mira sat cuddled up next to Remus while they shared the latest gossip. Lily had her head on James' shoulder while he hugged and they were just enjoying their time with their friends.

"Thank you" Lily whispered to him with a smile, watching Mira and Remus laugh quietly.

"What for, flower?"

"That you brought her back to us"

"Don't tell her, but I missed having the little midget around too" he said kissing her forehead.

"She brings light wherever she goes James. How can you not miss her?"
"She is a Potter"

"Not really"
"She's getting there"