𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍; 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫.

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢. 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧, 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐧

a/n

hahaaaa this chapter is a little special. figured everyone had a ship they preferred and i wanted to make sure i got all you guys right, so iput in a little bit of everythinggggg enjoy...

"𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞," 𝐒𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟. "𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝'𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭."

"I did," Lily grumbled. "He said he had one."

"Well, why would we believe him?" Sirius said in an exasperated tone. "It's Pete, not..."

"Not what?" Remus prompted, but the look on his face told everyone he knew what Sirius was thinking.

The tense conversation was cut short when Marlene and Lily, upon hearing what song was playing, began to squeal and slap each other. Amara recognized it as How I'd Have It, a song by the Warbling Witches that the two girls were very fond of. Amara had often heard them playing when getting ready for various events.

They immediately got up to dance, dragging each other onto the floor. Amara, who always ended up smoking more than she did drinking, was sitting, smiling loosely as James shifted uncomfortably in his seat. 

"I was thinking about it," James said eventually. "Don't you think we should lay off on Pete every once in a while?"

Sirius laughed. "What?"

"No, I mean it," he insisted, some strength coming in his voice as his sense of justice prevailed over his nerves. "We kind of gang up on him, don't we, it's not all that fair. D'you suppose it bothers him?"

"Yes," Remus said, and Sirius, who was shaking his head, stopped and looked at him in surprise. 

"It's all just jokes," he said defensively. "He can't take it personal."

"But we made it personal," James said. "So I think he really can."

Sirius opened his mouth to no doubt say something he was going to regret, but Remus caught on quick and clapped his shoulder. "Sirius, want to dip out for a smoke with me?"

"That sounds delightful, Remus," Sirius replied, glancing at Amara before following him out past the crowds of people. 

"Nice time to bring it up," Amara said quietly, watching them go.

She hadn't seen Evan yet, but was scared of what she'd do, in the state she was in. Scared of what she'd say.

The music slowed and the lights dimmed. Amara looked up, her head swimming, before James frantically tapped Amara on the arm.

"What?" she muttered, looking over.

Oh.

Lily was standing alone, Marlene having been swept up into the arms of Fabian Prewett, slow dancing quite dramatically. 

"Go," Amara confirmed.

She watched as James ran a hand through his hair, straightened his collar, and got up from his seat, loping easily over to where she stood. His confident smile and loose, easy mannerisms were nowhere to be seen; Amara smiled as he scratched the back of his neck, shrugging hopefully.