𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍; 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫.

𝐱𝐱𝐱𝐯𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝

𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲, 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬. After seeing her break down, and hearing the things Evan had said, he had softened and set to comforting her. Having spent forever pining for Lily, and hearing everyone telling him to give it up, he surely had a greater understanding of her situation than others.

Remus, although at a loss for Amara's complete disregard of logic, had grown to accept it.

But Sirius?

He would not fathom it. He would not forget it. He would not condone it.

"It's ridiculous, it's selfish, it's the worst idea you ever had," he was saying, shouldering his trunk and stepping off the Hogwarts Express. "You can fuck anyone you want, Tal, but him? It's a shot to the nuts."

"I'm missing his nuts right about now," she said sarcastically, following him off. She stood on the platform, bags gripped tight in her hands, scanning the station for Henri. He was the chaeuffer that generally took her to and from the station (her parents had no interest in her "witch school").

He was nowhere to be found. He usually waited patiently right by the second lamp-post from the right, tapping his foot and checking his pocket-watch. He was never late. He was never lost, either.

She bid farewell to Peter, who scampered off to his gray-haired, dull-eyed mother; two little children at her feet, a baby in her arms, and a swollen lump indicating she was pregnant with another.

Remus was next to go; sighing heavily and approaching his stern-faced father, offering minimal greetings. He looked back, waving at Sirius. He looked very small.

Sirius cleared his throat, waved briefly, and shouldered his bag. "Well, this is me," he said roughly, nodding in the direction of Regulus Black. He was standing with Evan Rosier, who was watching Amara carefully.

He didn't smile at her, but a softness in his eyes took over as he studied her.

"Jesus," Sirius grumbled. "Bye, Tal. Bye, Lily, bye, Marlene, bye, James."

"Bye, Sirius," Lily said mournfully, before Marlene dragged her away to say goodbye to the other girls.

James gave him a firm handshake. "Mine at New Year's. If you can."

"Maybe," he muttered, shaking his head. "I don't forgive you, Tal." And he stalked off, nodding briefly to Regulus and ignoring Evan frostily. 

James, however, did not. He eyed Evan sourly but hesitantly, as if figuring him out. 

Evan stared right back, hands in his pockets. "Bye, Reg," he said quietly, clapping him on the shoulder. And the two brothers turned, disappearing into the crowd to find their parents.

"You're staring," Evan said casually to James, as if they weren't sworn enemies.

"I'm formulating," he replied. "Don't talk to me."

"The way you were staring suggested an invitation to conversation, actually," Evan said smoothly. He glanced at Amara again, and she wondered if he was trying to mentally ask her something.

He knows, Amara mouthed, nodding at James.

"I actually..." James paused, and Amara stared at him. What was he tryiing to do?

Evan looked between the two. "If you're going to ask me something personal, I'd ask that you don't."

"Will you be at the Black's on New Years?" he blurted. "We're worried about Sirius."