Written In the Stars | s.b |

FORTY-EIGHT

Summer in Liverpool was beautifully calming. It was the perfect temperature, a slight breeze always rustling the branches of the blossoming trees surrounding the small cottage-style houses.

The Lupin household stood alone, standing out greatly from the other one story houses of their neighborhood with its lopsided second floor. The Lupins had gone thirteen years without the additional floor, but once the twins hit their teen years, Lyall found it unfair to stick them in the same room and created the extra floor for his daughter. Now that there was another child to care for, there was suddenly another need for an extension.

"This can't be safe," Ariah said, watching her dad extend the second floor out a bit. "Just hire a construction wizard."

"Why hire someone when I can do the job myself?" Lyall asked, sticking his tongue between his lips slightly in concentration — a habit both twins acquired.

"Oh I don't know," Ariah said. "To have a safe home?"

Lyall rolled his eyes. "You got your cookies now go out to the lake with the rest of your friends while I finish this."

Ariah shrugged, stuffing a cookie in her mouth as she headed to the lake where the others were. Naturally, her eyes landed on Sirius who had aged exceptionally well in the first month of summer. His hair was longer than when she had last seen him and a lot more curly. In that moment, the sun hit him in just the right way, revealing light freckles around his nose.

"Yes, cookies!" called Peter, startling Ariah as all eyes fell on her — including a specific pair of grey-blue that sent her stumbling.

The plate fumbled from her grip, tumbling onto the ground along with the cookies.

"Awe..." pouted Peter.

"It's fine," James said, grabbing a cookie. He blew on it before stuffing it in his mouth.

Lily cringed. "You're disgusting, Potter."

James just shrugged. "Good thing I don't live for your validation, eh, Evans," he smirked.

"All of this is taking us away from the main point of our meeting," Meeka said. "We are taking this month of July to put the mandrake leaf into our mouths and become animagi!"

"Yes," Lily said, handing out a mandrake leaf to each of them, aside from Remus and herself. "And it is imperative that you all do this right, or else there will be major consequences."

"Though," she said. "Admittedly, I would be highly entertained to see James with a human body and a dog head."

"Awe, you do think about me," James said with a smirk. Lily's smile dropped into a scowl.

"Just put the leaf in and shut up," Lily said sourly.

The three girls ditched the boys as they began to mess around in the lake. Lily, Meeka and Ariah all went to Ariah's room.

"I'm already thinking about the celestial ball!" Lily exclaimed. "I heard Duncan has been thinking about asking me."

"Year 5 hasn't even started!" Meeka exclaimed.

Lily shrugged. "It's never too early to think about dates and dresses."

"I definitely think it is," Ariah said. "I'm just thinking about surviving the summer... Sirius will be here all summer...."

"Aren't you guys friends again?" Lily asked. "Oh I can never keep up..."

"We've always been friends and we always will be friends," Ariah said surly. "Things just got... awkward."

"Because you tried to kiss him," Meeka said.

"What?!" Lily asked.

"He told you?!" Ariah shouted.

"Oops... well... that's what he gets for not making me solemnly swear..." Meeka said.

"Oh my gosh." Ariah covered her face with her hands. "What did he say about it...."

Meeka opened her mouth only to close it and sigh. "I'd tell you if I could. But we solemnly swore that one..."

Ariah groaned. "Of course..." she mumbled.

"Wait hold up," Lily said. "You tried to kiss Sirius? When? And why?"

"Because she fancies him, obviously," Meeka said.

"And... you're okay with all that Meeka?" Lily asked.

"Well... yeah," Meeka said. "Why wouldn't I be...?"

"Because... well you and Sirius are dating," Lily said.

"What?!" Both Ariah and Meeka said.

"You and Sirius are dating?" Ariah asked, her voice quiet and pained. "But... I thought you were in love with Remus?"

"No! No that's," she gagged. "No! Gross, Sirius and I are not together! Im very much still in love with Remus, ridiculously enough. Where'd you hear that Lily?!"

"Everyone thinks you two are," Lily said. "It's all anyone in our year talks about. What do you mean you're still in love with Remus? Didn't you guys break up like a year ago?"

"Yes, Lily," Meeka said. "Thanks for the reminder."

"She's still in love with him, he's still in love with her. She doesn't believe me. He doesn't believe me," Ariah stated. "It's very annoying."

"No you're just saying that so I'll stop obsessing over it," Meeka said.

"No! That's makes no sense!" Ariah argued. "Why would say that just to make you stop obsessing over it!?"

"Look," Meeka said. "Even if he still loved me.... the problem lies in him not wanting or seeing a future with me — the problem is that I'm not good enough."

"No!" Ariah slammed her hands on the bed frame. "The problem is that you're both too blind and stubborn to see you guys are happier together! I swear I just need to —"

Ariah stopped, her eyes going wide. "Meeka follow me."

"What?" Meeka asked as Ariah grabbed her arms. "What're you —"

Ariah pushed her friend up on her patio, shutting and locking the door. "Watch the door," she told lily before leaving to Remus' room.

The boys were back in Remus' room, playing some muggle video game. It was hard for Ariah to concentrate on her mission as she caught sight of Sirius, who was shirtless. All the boys were, clearly having gone for a swim in the lake , but Ariah found it difficult to keep her eyes from staring at Sirius in particular.

"Ariah what're you—"

"Sorry boys," Ariah said, grabbing her brothers hand. "I need him for a second."

She pulled him out of his room and up the stairs, ignoring his constant questioning. When she got to her room, Lily was guarding the door. A smile brought on her face when she realized what Ariah was up to.

Quickly, Lily unlocked the door allowing Ariah to shove Remus out before they shut and locked the door.

"Hey what the hell Ariah!" yelled Remus.

"We won't let either of you out until you talk!" Lily yelled.

"Until you two come back out boyfriend and girlfriend!" Ariah added, high-giving Lily.

"They'll thank me," she said to Lily, who nodded in agreement.