𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑, ᴊ. ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐍'𝐓 stop staring at her. Her breathy voice floated across the hall while she spoke with her friends. He didn't think he'd ever seen anyone so beautiful. She was completely and utterly breathtaking. And she couldn't stand him.

"You should work on your subtlety, Potter," The voice beside him whispered, catching his attention. He turned to see Anastasia Rosier, who was smirking up at him. "I didn't realize you were still pining after Evans,"

"I'm not pining," James muttered, looking at the redhead one more time before returning his attention to the Slytherin girl. "Since when are you and I on friendly terms, Rosier?"

"We're not," She smiles sweetly, tilting her head. "I came to ask if you know where Remus is?"

It's weird; Remus's newly discovered friendship with the Slytherins. James wonders if it blossomed in 5th year after the prank. He'd been, rightfully, distant with them that year. "The library, I would assume,"

"No, Evan already looked there," She spun around, motioning for him to follow. He, surprisingly, did. They walked in an oddly peaceful silence before James broke it.

"Why are you looking for him?" The boy asks, watching as she runs her hands across the wall as they walk. She was rather serene for a Slytherin, but Sirius had always said she was kinder than most.

"The twins are looking for him," Anastasia shrugged normally, as if there weren't a million different twins in the school. She seemed to realize that soon after because she adds, "Aries and Reg,"

"Where are we going?" James had honestly just been following her around. It looked like they were heading towards Gryffindor Tower. "Remus won't be in our dorm, you know?"

She scoffed, as if that was obvious, and turned to stop in front of him. "Yes, Potter, I know that," James nearly trampled her as he tried to stop. "We're going to the Gryffindor dorms so you can get your map,"

What. The. Fuck. How on earth did she know about their map? And if she knows, that means all her friends do too. This is bad; very very bad.

Anastasia laughs, her eyes crinkling in the corner as she does. How can she be laughing when James is pretty sure he's about to pass out? "Before you go and blame Remus for me knowing, Aries was the one who figured it out first,"

"I don't know what you're talking about," He had never been very good at lying, but he was trying so hard to make this believable. "Why would a regular old map help us?"

"Do not undermine not only my intelligence but Aries as well, by denying the fact that you have a map that tracks everyone in the school," They continue walking until they reach the portrait that covers the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

James should fight to hide it, but if they already know, then there's no point. He sighs, turning to face her once they stop in front of the fat lady. He sticks his finger in her face, the way a mother would while warning her child. "You can not tell anyone that I let you see it, let alone use it,"

The girl playfully rolls her eyes and smiles, "I wouldn't dream of it, Potts,"

The two eventually found Remus in Professor Mcgonagal's classroom helping sort papers. He was shocked to see the two of them together, but quickly brushed it off when he realized there must be a reason why they were together.

"Everything all right?" Remus asked, looking mostly at Ana. She was about to answer when she seemed to remember that James was standing beside her.

"Yeah," She said, her voice smooth. "The twins are looking for you," was all she had to say for Remus to say a quick goodbye to the professor and walk out with the two.

After a few moments of Remus and Ana whispering to each other, James got the hint to leave. "I'm going to find Sirius," He starts, backing away from them. "Good luck with whatever this is about,"

༄༄༄

"𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 me find Rem because you wanted him to help you bake cookies?" Anastasia laughs, throwing herself down onto the room of requirement's couch. Regulus lifts her legs so they drape over his and Barty's lap. Aries was on a twin couch, Remus and Evan sitting on either side of her. Pandora, Dorcas, and Atlas were all in class, so they weren't there yet.

The room was arranged to look like a small flat, probably of Evan's dreams since he was the one who opened it today. This was their favorite place to hide from the world. They, the other Slytherins, hadn't wanted Remus to know about it, but Aries didn't care. She had told him about it nearly hours after they found the room.

"He makes them so nicely," The black-haired girl smiled sweetly at her best friend. Ana rolled her eyes, throwing her head back dramatically. "Plus, we all adore him."

"I don't," Barty mumbled playfully to the Gryffindor. Remus stuck his tongue out in response, flinging up his middle finger.

It was odd for Remus to see the different dynamics of his friends. With the Marauders, he was the reliable know-it-all. But with the Slytherins, he was just a part of them. They didn't have specific roles; they just were.

After a few more minutes of bickering, Aries sat up. Remus noticed, turning his head at the girl beside him. "Nate's coming." She said, her eyes going towards the door. All her friends looked as the blonde boy walked into the room.

"How the bloody hell do you do that?" Evan cries, looking at Aries incredulously. "Seriously, it's terrifying, Ri."

"Did she announce that I was coming?" Nathaniel smiles, kissing Aries's head before moving to the kitchen area. She smiles at him quickly before bringing her attention to her textbook. "Cookies, Love?" He asks mockingly.

"Will you stop flirting with my sister, please," Regulus whines, glaring at the blonde across from him. "I know you guys are supposed to get married, but I don't want to hear it."

"Don't be such a baby, Reggie," Ana laughs, pinching the black-haired boy's cheek. Regulus grimaces, smacking her hand away. "Ouch, my ring finger!" She cries, glaring at him.

"Oh no, now you can't marry Theodore." Remus deadpans, breaking up the two Slytherin's glaring contest.

Aries laughs, throwing her head back. It was a rare sight; to see her act so freely. Remus wished she was like this more often. He wonders how things would change if she acted like this outside of her friends. He thinks she and James would get along, oddly enough.

"Good one, Rem," Atlas smiles, patting the Gryffindor on the shoulder. Nate rejoins the group, sitting on the arm of the couch beside Aries. "And back to the cookies, Nott, Aries wanted them." The chestnut-haired boy shrugs.

"Why?" He inquires, looking down at the girl next to him. It always struck him, how beautiful she was. He thinks she'd have endless suitors if everyone wasn't so scared of her.

"Do I need a reason to want cookies, Nathaniel?"

"No, Love, of course not," He smiles sweetly at her, twirling a lock of her hair. "I was simply curious,"