𝕮𝖆𝖘𝖚𝖆𝖑 (ᴊ. ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ)

0.5

The Hogwarts kitchens were warm and cozy, the soft glow of candlelight illuminating the rows of gleaming pots and pans hanging overhead. 

Jules sat at one of the long wooden tables, her feet swinging slightly as she took a bite of a freshly baked pumpkin pasty. Across from her, Peter Pettigrew sat with a butterbeer in hand, grinning as he took a big gulp.

"Best part about being friends with the Marauders," Peter said, smacking his lips, "is knowing where the house-elves stash all the best snacks."

Jules laughed, nodding in agreement. "I have to admit, this is pretty great. I had no idea these kitchens were so well-stocked."

Peter leaned back in his chair, looking around the kitchen with a satisfied smile. "Oh yeah, we've been sneaking down here for years. Late-night snacks, post-Quidditch victories, or just when we're bored. It's like our second home."

Jules smiled, enjoying the laid-back atmosphere. There was something comforting about being there in the quiet of the night, munching on treats and chatting away. As she reached for another pumpkin pasty, she noticed Peter watching her a little too closely, his expression thoughtful.

"What?" she asked with a chuckle, taking another bite.

Peter hesitated for a moment, then took a sip of his butterbeer before casually asking, "So... you and James. You guys have been spending a lot of time together, yeah?"

Jules shrugged, not thinking much of it. "Yeah, I guess. We get on really well."

Peter nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were piecing something together. "He likes being around you, you know. I don't think I've ever seen him so... I dunno, calm?"

Jules raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure where Peter was going with this. "Well, James is fun to hang out with. He's always making me laugh."

Peter leaned forward a bit, his tone casual but clearly fishing for more. "Right, right. So, you two are, like, close then?"

She nodded, taking a sip of her own butterbeer. "Yeah, he's a great friend."

Peter's face fell ever so slightly at the word "friend," but he tried to cover it up by quickly grabbing another pastry. He chewed slowly, clearly debating his next move. After a moment, he set the pastry down and looked at her more seriously.

"Just friends?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant but failing to hide the hint of worry in his voice.

Jules tilted her head, frowning slightly. "Yeah, just friends. Why?"

Peter hesitated, shifting uncomfortably in his seat before finally speaking. "It's just... I think James might feel a bit more than that, you know? About you."

Jules blinked, caught off guard. She set down her drink and shook her head. "No, no. James and I are just friends. We have fun together, but that's it. We're not... like that."

Peter's brow furrowed, and he stared at his butterbeer, absentmindedly swirling it around in his mug. "Yeah, but... he's different around you. Sirius and I have noticed it too. I think James really cares about you. More than just as a friend."

Jules felt her heart skip a beat, but she pushed the thought aside. "I mean, we care about each other as friends do, right? I've never gotten the impression that it's anything more than that."

Peter gave her a weak smile, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable now. "I just... I don't want him to get hurt, you know? James isn't really the type to handle rejection well."

Jules bit her lip, feeling a twinge of guilt. She hadn't considered that James might have deeper feelings for her. It had always seemed like harmless fun, like they were two people who enjoyed each other's company, nothing more.

"I had no idea," she admitted softly, her voice more serious now. "I thought we were just... having fun. I didn't think it was anything like that for him."

Peter nodded slowly; his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, well, maybe you should talk to him about it. Just... you know, in case. James doesn't always make it obvious, but he feels things deeply. Especially when it comes to people he cares about."

Jules sighed, her mind suddenly much less focused on the warm, cozy atmosphere of the kitchen and more on the tangled mess of emotions she hadn't seen coming. She had always thought of James as a friend, but now Peter had her second-guessing everything.

"Thanks, Peter," she said quietly. "I'll think about it."

Peter smiled, though there was still a hint of worry in his eyes. "No problem. I just... I want both of you to be okay."

As they sat in the quiet of the kitchen, the realization of what Peter had hinted at began to settle in for Jules. Maybe she and James would need to have a conversation sooner than she'd thought.