STRIKHEDONIA | MARAUDERS

FIVE;

1977, HOGSMEADE

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The weather wasn't too chilly or particularly hot on Saturday, therefore the six friends decided to spend the day at Hogsmeade, the town near the castle. It was a tradition for the group to go out to town together every other week to visit all the shops and finally resting at The Three Broomsticks and drinking butterbeer in a booth surrounded by comforting warmth. That was where five of them already were, sipping their drinks, laughing and talking. Rowen had run off somewhere after claiming she needed to run some errands of her own, so the boys let her leave without question. Thea, however, was suspicious, but she brushed her best friend's behaviour off, deeming it unnecessary to fret about such a silly, irrelevant thing.

"You've told the story so many times it's not funny anymore, Padfoot," Thea rolled her eyes as she pulled her sleeves over her hand and cupped her mug of butterbeer, recalling the time they all had a sleepover in the boys' dorm and they all transfigured her and Rowen's belongings into apples. It was a really odd prank, but it took them both a while to figure out which of the apples were their school uniform.

Remus hummed in agreement with the petite brunette. "Did you think it was funny to begin with?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"No, not really," Thea mumbled, "should've seen it coming though."

"Hey, we're not all that bad!" Peter exclaimed defensively.

Thea nodded in agreement. "You're right. Remus is the only nice one."

"Alright, go snog him then! Off you trot," James shoved her with his shoulder playfully, causing the girl to almost spill her drink.

"Hey! Play nice, you two," Sirius reprimanded, taking a tone similar to that of a mother.

"I don't need to snog anyone," Thea grumbled, pouting like a five year old and folding her arms on her chest.

The door to The Three Broomsticks swung opened violently and a gust of chilly wind raised goosebumps on everyone's skin, the temperature in great contrast to that which was the warmth of the fireplace. Rowen walked into the homely pub in a rush, her eyes frantically scanning the masses of people, only to finally settle on the five friends messing around. She hurried over to them and quickly sat down in an empty space, slightly out of breath and her cheeks tinted a dusty rose, unlike Thea's scarlet red.

"I know you guys won't believe me," she began, still panting, "but I need you guys to believe me."

Peter looked at her in confusion, trying to calculate whether or not the words she spoke were actual proper sentences in the English language, but in the end gave up as he deemed that he should probably pay attention to what she was going to say. The five friends gazed at the newly arrived girl with intrigue, curious as to what she had to say.

"Well, go on," James gestured for her to continue.

"I saw Kyra buying a love potion," she bit her lip, observing their reactions before adding on, "and before you say anything, I am one hundred percent sure that it was her and the bright pink bottle."

"Row, I know you hate her, but don't you think this is overdoing it a little?" Remus asked, his gaze flickering momentarily to Sirius to gage his reaction to her sudden revelation.

"I know, but—"

"Why can't you just be happy for me?" Sirius interrupted her before she could utter another excuse or explanation for her statement. "I'm in a serious relationship which I want to be in and have a loving girlfriend, so why can't you just be happy for me?"