You're just too good to be true (Can't take my eyes off of you)

TWO

The Gryffindor common room buzzed softly with the sounds of students settling in after a long day of classes. The flickering flames of the fireplace cast a warm glow across the stone walls, offering comfort against the autumn chill that clung to the Scottish highlands outside. The room was filled with the low hum of conversations, laughter, and the scratching of quills on parchment as students finished up their homework. Yet, nestled by the fire, the tight-knit group of friends known as the Marauders remained in their own world.

They were a group bound by loyalty, shared secrets, and a love for mischief—James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. Theirs was a friendship forged through years of shared adventures and a mutual understanding of each other's complexities. Different as they were, they had formed a bond that made them inseparable.

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡🪐༘⋆

James Potter lounged casually in one of the armchairs closest to the fire, his trademark Snitch flipping effortlessly between his fingers. His black hair was, as usual, a wild mess that seemed impervious to any attempt at control. His round glasses were slightly askew on his face, and the grin he wore was both confident and carefree. Everything about James suggested ease, as if the world were his playground and nothing could truly shake him.

James's confidence and charm made him the natural leader of the Marauders. People were drawn to him, and not just because he was the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain or because he came from a well-regarded wizarding family. James possessed an inherent charisma that made him the center of attention in any room. Whether it was his quick wit, his natural athleticism, or his unwavering self-assurance, people couldn't help but like him.

But underneath that bravado, James had insecurities—ones he rarely let show, even to his closest friends. He was used to getting what he wanted, and for most of his life, things had come easily to him. Except for one thing: Lily Evans.

Lily was the one person who resisted his charm, who didn't fall for his tricks or his easy confidence. And it drove him mad. She saw past the Quidditch star, past the prankster, and it both infuriated and fascinated him. For all his bravado, Lily's rejection touched a nerve he hadn't known was there. His feelings for her had started out as a crush, but over time, they had deepened into something more real, more vulnerable. It was this vulnerability that James tried to keep hidden, even from his friends, though they undoubtedly knew.

James flipping the Snitch and grinning. "I swear, if I score ten more goals in the next match, she'll have to notice me."

Sirius laughing from the couch. "Mate, she'll notice, but it'll just be to tell you to grow up."

Despite his frustration with Lily's continued rejection, James never let it dampen his spirit for long. His friends were his refuge, the place where he didn't need to be anything other than himself, and where he could admit his struggles, however casually.

Sirius Black lay sprawled across the couch, his long legs draped lazily over one armrest, a copy of a magazine flopped open on his chest. His dark hair, long and tousled, fell over his eyes, giving him the look of someone who couldn't care less about the world's expectations. His striking good looks and effortless confidence often drew attention, much like James, but there was something wilder, more dangerous about Sirius that made people hesitate.

Beneath his rebellious charm, Sirius was a deeply conflicted soul. Born into one of the most prestigious pure-blood families, Sirius had grown up surrounded by expectations of loyalty to his family's dark values—values that prized blood purity above all else. But Sirius had rejected everything the Black family stood for, breaking away from them as soon as he could. His rebellion against his family's bigotry had led him to James, who had become more of a brother to him than anyone in his own bloodline.