Liquid Luck [Sirius Black]/editing

chapter 85

It's nearing the end of the fourth year and that probably saddens me more than it should. Counter to some past complaints I've made, I actually enjoy waking up and attending classes everyday.

Lily and I haven't spent much quality time alone together in a good bit of time. We either speak briefly across the table during meals or make quick chitchat on the rare occasion that I sleep in the girls dorms. She spends most of her time throughout the day with Severus. But I just can't get comfortable around him, he always sends me dirty looks when he thinks I'm not looking. I've been nothing but kind to him since we met, so I can't understand his reasoning for disliking me.

Today though Severus must held up with something because Lily is up in our dorm room reading on the windowsill, still in her pyjamas.

Upon my entering the room, she beams up at me. "Chiara!" Her voice sounds so gentle and sweet I could be lulled right to sleep. "I feel like I never see you anymore. Come sit with me, lovely." She gently shuts her book and sets it aside.

I take the place beside her and hug my legs. "What were you reading?" I ask her curiously.

She perks up and picks the book back up to show it off to me. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." She thumbs the worn out cover. "Newt Scamander is a sweetheart. The way he writes about these animals...you can tell caring for them is what he's really passionate about."

"I think someone's got a crush." I tease, wiggling my eyebrows.

"Obviously!" She rushes off to her trunk to retrieve some photographs. She returns to my side and shoves them into my hands. "Look at the man and tell me he isn't the most beautiful person you've ever seen. Granted, these were all him when he was young but still!"

"Sweet lord!" I gasp, eyeing the perfect man in the pictures. "If he went to our school, well let's just say I'd have to have him."

"He did, silly!" She laughs and looks out the window dreamily. "He was in Hufflepuff. I've spoken to a woman who knew him during his time at Hogwarts. She told me he was terribly awkward but overall respectful and kind. Just as I'd imagined."

"Could I have this?" I ask, holding a particularly attractive photo up to her face.

"Take them all if you like." She shrugs, sweeping her bright red hair off her shoulders. "I've got plenty more at home."

I pocket the photographs with a bright smile. Since we're on the topic of boys, it's been a while since I've seen her with Amos Diggory. "How are things going with Amos?"

Her smile falters but she quickly shrugs it off. "I ended things. He was sweet and it was nice while it lasted, but we weren't right. We're still friends though."

"James will surely be glad to hear it." I smirk.

She openly scoffs, "That immature arrogant toe-rag could eat my dirty socks for all I care. As if me suddenly being single would give him any better shot." I just continue to watch in pure amusement as she gets more and more flustered. "He doesn't know when to quit! It's infuriating and..." She finally meets my eyes. "W-What?"

"Nothing." I hum knowingly.

Her cheeks now match her hair. "I don't want to talk about him anymore. What do you have planned for summer?"

"Nothing that I know of. But Everliah owled me the other day saying she's taking a trip to Hawaii with her boyfriend. Lucky, too. I've always wanted to go."

"Hawaii?" Lily asks with wide green eyes. "That should be beautiful this time of year. I hear they have the prettiest sunsets."

"I'm sure." I nod. "How about you then? Any plans?"

She shrugs her shoulders and switches positions to sit cross-legged on the sill. "Petunia's been pestering our parents to take us someplace with a beach. She always gets what she wants so we'll probably spend the summer somewhere tropical."

"You don't sound pleased."

She gives me a half-smile. "Going home isn't always so pleasant. Petunia hates me for being a witch. She's constantly calling me a freak.m or other foul names. We used to be so close before...it just makes me sad to see her. I have so much love for her but she doesn't even care to talk with me anymore."

"She's just jealous. I think it's the same as how Filch resents us all. Deep down the two wish they were like us. I'm sure she doesn't hate you at all, she just has so much resent that it clouds over every other emotion. Come on, Lils, it isn't possible to hate you. That would be like hating Santa Claus...or someone equally as loveable."

She giggles, "So...you?"

I laugh along and quip, "Well I was trying to be humble, but yes."

*

Fabian and Gideon have been pestering me endlessly about going over over summer break. "C'mon, Hollie!" Fabian whines. "Molly's been asking to meet you. Duke is coming to stay over for some time too. He's nervous about meeting our family and I'm sure another friendly face there will make him feel a bit better. Please come."

"Okay." I smile happily.

"Okay?" Gideon frowns.

"Yeah, okay." I nod with an even bigger grin. "I was never going to say no."

"Then why the hell haven't you said anything? Why did you just let me and Fabs go on for the past twenty-minutes trying to persuade you?"

"It was fun watching you beg." I explain simply.

Gideon frowns deeply while Fabian just smiles largely.

"You think you're so slick." Gideon suddenly smirks at me.

"I do actually." I purse my lips arrogantly.

"You're officially uninvited." He declares with a finger pointed up at the ceiling.

"Oh, am I?" I snort.

"Yeah," He nods and leans close to me. "What are you going to do about it, Hollie?"

"THIS!" I start viciously tickling his sides and he loses himself under my touch, laughing hysterically. He squirms and tries pushing me away but to no avail. I've had enough tickle fights with James to know how to stand my ground against a bigger boy.

"Alright –" He laughs some more and gasps for breath. "Alright – you're invited again – please stop!"

I sit back with my arms crossed over my chest and a smug look on my face. Gideon, sprawled across the couch beside me, catches his breath. Meanwhile Fabian holds up a hand and I meet it in a high five.

"Well played," Gideon pants.