You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 18

It had been four days since Mira had gotten to the Lupin household, where she would spend the second week of her holidays. Hope Lupin had showered the girl with kisses and hugs when she saw her, while Lyall fist-bumped her before ruffling her hair affectionately.. Remus awaited patiently for his parents to get enough of Mira so he could snatch her away and hear all the latest gossip. It was midnight when Hope and Lyall decided to let Mira be, being too tired themselves. Remus hadn't wasted a second he had with Mira the following days, complaining that he he wouldn't have the chance to be around her all the time at Hogwarts. Those  had been the most peaceful and joyful  Christmas holidays , Mira had in a while. But her peace and joy would soon be threatened. James and Sirius would be arriving shortly, alongside Peter, to spend their last night before school started ,together. Marlene couldn't make it , due to some family obligations, the blonde would never stop complaining about on her letters. Thankfully, Lily would be arriving earlier than anyone else, so Mira had a few more moments of peace before the downfall. Remus and Mira were comfortably laying on Mira's bed when the door knocked. The girl practically sprinted downstairs, leaving Remus miles behind her. When she reached the door Hope had already opened it and Lily was inside, greeting the older woman.

"Lily!" Mira exclaimed with a huge smile on her face, running towards her friend with her arms open.

"Rosie!"Lily said , matching the excitement of her younger friend, opening her arms to hug her. The two girls embraced each other tightly , swaying left and right, extremely happy to be with each other again.

"Oh yeah. Do tune out the rest of the world" Remus said in mock frustration, a while after just standing there watching his friends with a smile.

"Come here, Remmy" Mira motioned for him to join them, jokingly rolling her eyes at his statement. Remus did as he was told, folding his arms around both girls. It was quite for a while, before Hope emerged in the room to whisk Remus away so that he could help her around the house before the boys arrived. After some complains and an exchange of a few deadly glares, Remus finally gave up and followed his mother inside the kitchen. The two girls went up to Mira's room ,where Lily would be staying for the night.

"So..." Lily started ,dropping her bag beside the bed and plopping onto it. "How was  the ball? Did you dance with a charming gentleman? Did you laugh politely at someone's jokes? Ooooh, did you kiss someone?" she asked , making her british accent even thicker.

"Yes.Theo" Mira replied simply with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Theo what?"

"All of the above" Mira laughed, earning herself and eye roll from Lily. The red-head groaned and turned around to hug her pillow , burying her face in it.

"Have you fallen for him?" Lily asked, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"The only thing I've fallen for is those trick steps at Hogwarts. I think I still have some bruises." Mira replied, inspecting her arms and legs.

"Rosie..." Lily sighed disappointingly, turning so she could look at Mira. Lily had never liked the idea of Mira and Theo together, she just pretended it was fine. She had secretly hoped that it wouldn't last. It was Nott ,after all. But it had been four months they were going out and she started to worry about the outcome

"Do you want to hear the whole truth?" Mira asked, making Lily sit up straight, opposite her and cross her legs. "I already knew what Theo was like, I could've stayed away. I enjoy myself, he enjoys himself, end of story. I didn't see myself falling for him because I knew he would never fall for me. It's convenient really. But Lils, he gives me the attention I need. I never felt wanted before. And anyway, being a teenager is all about making mistakes. I never got to do that. So ,please,let me make my own mistakes" Mira finished with a smile, her eyes begging Lily to understand.

"Alright" Lily replied softly. "If all this ends up being a mistake...I'm here" she continued, brushing a strand of hair out of Mira's eyes.

"I know" Mira replied gratefully, going in for a hug and landing on top of Lily. The two girls laughed before trying to get themselves into a more comfortable position. Mira's head ended up on Lily's chest, while she stroked her hair gently.

"Wait!" Lily said suddenly. "You didn't see yourself falling for him?Past tense?"

"Just some stupid shit Barty said, getting in my head. Let's not discuss it"

"Girls!Come down, I made cookies!"

"Ooh cookies!" the two girls exclaimed in unison before running downstairs. Because when Hope Lupin baked cookies that exactly what you did. You run ,before Remus could eat them all.

....

"What's it like?" Peter asked ,puffing out some smoke. They had all arrived at nine, had settled in their respective bedrooms and then sat down around the living room table playing games,laughing and talking. There were times like that , that being around James and Sirius wasn't all that bad. The clock had struck three am and Lily, James, Sirius and Remus were too drunk to form a single sentence. So they started making out. Peter and Mira, feeling like they were interrupting ,decided to leave the living room. At first Mira was going to go up to her bedroom, maybe call it a night, but Peter had suggested they go outside. Mira had unintentionally avoided being alone with Peter anywhere, even if she knew he wasn't still the person he was going to be in a few years. Peter never seemed to understand that though. He was talking to her like he did with anyone else, even if the girl cut every conversation short. She wasn't scared of him, she hung out with tons of present death eaters. So hanging out with a future one couldn't be that bad, right?

"Your world" he explained when Mira looked at him, lost. "There's a war coming , Ro. We all know it, even if we don't acknowledge it. So what's a world where there is no war like?"

"There are still wars, Pete. Anywhere you are" she said sternly. "Life isn't much easier out there. It's the same as here. Some have it better than others"

"What about you?" he asked before taking a drug of his cigarette. "What was your life like?"

"Miserable" she laughed, looking at the grass and bringing her knees to her chest. "I don't think I really lived until I came here" she confessed with a font smile on her face.

"Lily says you're the light our lives needed." he informed with a chuckle. Mira finally turned to look at him, the smile on her face still prominent. "And I think she's right"

"What can I say?" Mira chuckled, breaking the eye contact. "You , idiots, bring out the best in me"

.....

"Are you done?" Mira questioned with an irritated expression. She was the first to wake up so she went down to the kitchen to make everyone some breakfast, seeing as Hope and Lyall had left for the morning. What she didn't expect to find was Sirius mixing something up in a bowl. Mira sat down on one of the kitchen table's chairs waiting for him to be done. Moments later he brought a bowl of oatmeal right in front of her, ordering her to eat. Mira did so with a scowl as he sat opposite her , getting himself a bowl as well. They ate in silence until Sirius decided to start judging every last one of Mira's decisions since she had gotten there.

"Why? Because the truth hurts?"

"I just don't like to take my oatmeal with some bullshit" she said with a fake smile, motioning to her bowl.

"Let me just say one last thing" he stated mocking her smile. "You know you're just a rebellion right? For Nott. He wants to go against his parents, every child of a family like his does. What better way that to parade around with a 'blood-traitor' . He wants to get a point across. Even if him and his little friends tell you otherwise. It's all a trick , Ro. I've seen it happen once too many times. I did it too" Sirius looked much to happy to inform her of the situation. So much that it irritated her even more. But her irritation didn't win the feeling that realization gave her. Why hadn't she thought of it that way?

"You really think that-"

"Yes!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "Now eat your oatmeal" he ordered one last time before standing up and going over to the kitchen to wash his own bowl.