𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑, ᴊ. ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ

𝐒𝐈𝐗

𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑, Aries could reluctantly admit that James Potter is a lovely guy. She's gathered this after many nights of him sneaking in snacks so she wouldn't go hungry and walking her back to the dungeons when it was late.

Thankfully, there were no more run-ins with Sirius. She overheard the two arguing in the hall about her a few days after their first meeting. Aries almost wanted to step in before Remus beat her to it. That was the last she heard of them arguing; if there was trouble in paradise, they did good of hiding it.

It wasn't until well into October that Aries considered James a friend. Their project had gone well enough that Slughorn decided they would be partners for the foreseeable future. She had no reason to complain, James was a decent counterpart. He helped more than Nathaniel ever did.

She now sat in the library, well past hours, studying with James. Remus, Anatasia, and Regulus were minding themselves within the rows of books. Aries watched as he twirled his quill, his words waning as he read aloud to her.

Her eyes flicked to the shadow behind him as his voice got softer. She recognized that shape, she knew it well. Aries hadn't stopped seeing that dark figure since she was eleven. Most of the time, she could ignore it. The cold chill it brought to her bones.

Rarely did the shadow step into the light to reveal its face. It didn't need to; she knew what it was. Who it was. Sometimes when she was alone, Aries would try to talk to her. She only heard the ghost's voice when she had one of her surges. That was the only time she deemed it okay to reach out.

"Aries?" James says breaking her from her thoughts. She slides her eyes to his in acknowledgment. "Are you alright?"

Aries arches a perfect brow. "Why wouldn't I be?" She asks. James has spent too much time with the Slytherin girl recently because the look he levels her with is one of her arsenal. "I'm fine, Potter,"

"You're lying," He smirks, lolling his head to the side to fully look at her. They sat on the carpet, their backs resting against the bookshelf. Opening her mouth to deny it, James cuts her off by grabbing her hand. Aries nearly flinches from the touch. "You fiddle with your ring when you're lying," He pauses for a second. "Or nervous,"

Aries doesn't respond, too busy watching as James's thumb runs over her favorite ring. The touch is so gentle it almost makes her nauseous. He touches her like she was something to be cherished; something you couldn't fathom breaking.

"What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" James smiles at her; one of the genuine smiles he creates for each of his friends. The flirting didn't surprise her, he'd been doing it since they started working together. It probably should bother her, but she can't find it in herself to care.

"Careful," Aries mumbles. Her eyes shift to where their fingers are still touching. James jolts, pulling his hand away as someone yells.

"Ries!" Ana comes barreling over to the two, Remus and Regulus pursuing closely. Aries's head snaps to her honey-haired best friend, worry beginning to cloud her thoughts. "I know that look– nothing is wrong," The raven-haired girl breathes, standing to meet her friends. James follows suit, standing a breath behind her. "Remmy just told me something that you need to know," Anastasia's eyes are wild as she looks at everyone.

"It can wait," Remus mutters, glaring at the younger girl. "She's just being dramatic,"

"Anastasia? Dramatic? I'm shocked," Aries smiles as she steps forward to brush Ana's arm. "What happened, love?"