You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 36

"What is it, Mira?" Pandora asked. Her voice was thin and light, like the chime of a bell. She moved closer to her friend, her brow furrowed with a worry that seemed too heavy for her delicate features. She reached out as if she could pull the answer directly out of Mira's mind just by being near her.

Mira opened her mouth to speak, but her eyes caught Evan's over Pandora's shoulder. He was watching her with an intensity that matched Pandora's, but there was a sharp, knowing edge to his gaze. He knew about the diary. He knew about the war. He was a part of the darkness they were currently wading through.

Pandora, however, was different. She was the one person they all tried to keep in the light. Mira loved her for her airy kindness and her belief in things that couldn't be seen, and it was that very quality that made Mira want to shield her. The truth would only tarnish her, and in a world that was becoming increasingly gray, Mira couldn't bear to see Pandora lose her shine.

"I..." Mira began, her voice faltering. She looked at Evan again and then back to Pandora. "I just missed you."

She threw her arms around her friend, hugging her tightly. It wasn't a lie—she did miss the simplicity of their friendship—but it was a convenient shield. Over Pandora's shoulder, she caught Evan's eye once more and silently mouthed the word later.

Evan gave a sharp, single nod. He understood. Without another word, he turned and climbed the stairs toward the dorms, his footsteps echoing softly until he vanished, leaving the two girls alone in the blue-hued warmth of the Ravenclaw common room.

"I know I haven't been around much and... I'm sorry for that" Pandora said. She sounded genuinely guilty as she pulled back from the hug, her silver-blonde hair catching the light of the enchanted ceiling.

"Don't apologize. Please don't" Mira pleaded. She felt a pang of hypocrisy. In truth, Pandora's absence had made things easier. It was hard to hide a Horcrux or discuss illegal spells when your best friend was constantly nearby with a smile and a question. It was easier to keep the secret when there was no one around to keep it from.

"I'll make sure from now on I set some time aside for you" Pandora continued, gesturing vaguely toward the clusters of couches where other Ravenclaws were huddled over books or chatting with Xenophilius. "I'm sorry I got so caught up in all... these."

Mira chuckled, feeling a bit of the tension leave her shoulders. "It's alright, Dory. I've been known to disappear into the Gryffindor tower for days at a time to see Lily and Remus. I can hardly judge you for making friends in another house."

"Still" Pandora insisted.

"Perhaps you should set some time aside for someone else as well" Mira suggested, giving her friend a pointed look. She knew how much Regulus leaned on Pandora. He didn't have many people he trusted, and when Pandora was busy with Xeno or her Ravenclaw projects, Regulus tended to get moody and withdrawn. "He's missed you too."

Pandora smiled softly, her eyes clearing. "Noted."

"Now... tell me everything" Mira said, forcing a bright smile. She sat down, determined to spend at least an hour pretending that the world wasn't falling apart and that she didn't have a piece of a Dark Lord's soul hidden in her wardrobe.

The hour passed in a blur of stories about strange magical creatures and Ravenclaw gossip. Mira found herself laughing genuinely for the first time in days, but the weight in her chest never truly disappeared. Eventually, a shadow fell over them.

"Mira" Evan said, his voice low. He had changed out of his damp clothes and looked more like himself, though his eyes were still restless. "It's getting late. We should go."