She's a Snitch | James Potter | Marauders Era

THIRTY-FIVE

this photoshoot has provided me with so many elle gifs but they all look he god damn SAME

The few days following Lily's death took their toll on the usually happy-go-lucky Marauders, some more than others. It had been a week and Eloise had yet to leave her bed, thus, neither had Sirius. He had, at first, been convinced to go to lessons by the Marauders but, after returning and seeing his girlfriend shaking and crying wearing Lily's shirt, he didn't leave her side again. The others were able to go to classes, Remus to distract himself with work, Peter to be with his friends, Thalia to comfort her friends and James, for some reason, was acting completely as normal. If Remus was to drop his head into his hands and a tear was to drop on his desk, James would be the one to wrap his arms around him and give him some chocolate that he kept in his robe pocket; if Peter would stare at Lily's empty seat, James would pat the boy on his head and write the next word on his essay so he knew what to do; if, when they returned to the dorm, Sirius was exhausted from waking up with Eloise to comfort her, James would take his sister into his arms so his best friend could sleep peacefully. James was putting on a brave friends for his friends but Thalia knew that, deep down, he wasn't okay. On the first day of February, ten days after Lily's death, the Marauders (minus Sirius and Eloise) were sat in Potions. Remus and Peter were sat next to each other and Thalia beside James. The boy was staring at his ingredients book with a furrowed but Thalia noticed that his eyes weren't moving across the page and she decided she had to say something.

"James..." she said gently, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder and his head snapped up, his glasses slipping down his nose and a large grin plastered on his face.

"Oui, Petite Mademoiselle Amérique?" he rested his elbow on the desk and placed his chin in his hand, smiling adorably up at the chocolate-haired girl. Thalia gave him a look and he frowned for a second, "What?"

"Drop the act." she said simply, a sympathetic smile on her face and James lifted his head, ruffling his hair at the back,

"What act? I don't-"

"You're not fooling me, Potter." she leant forward and tapped his nose with a small smile. James' all-too-happy facade cracked ever so slightly when Thalia addressed him as Potter and he lowered his head so he was staring at his hands. Thalia's eyes softened sadly, "You're allowed to hurt too." she whispered and James looked up slightly so he was looking at the girl through his hair. "Lily was your friend." Thalia brushed his hair off his forehead softly and thanked Slughorn that he had set the class a particularly difficult potion as no one was paying them any attention.

"I just feel like, if I'm not strong, then no one will be." James' voice was weak and Thalia sighed, "And especially because Belle is hurting so much, I want to be able to be the big brother that can help her feel happy again."

"But you shouldn't pretend, James. It's okay if you're not...okay." she assured him and he sent her a soft smile,

"Thanks, Pup." he put his arm around Thalia's shoulders and squeezed her tightly, "You're right...I'm not exactly okay." he whispered and Thalia rested her head on his chest,

"I know," she wrapped her arms around his waist, "Why don't we go to the kitchens after this. We can skip Charms and get hot chocolates instead."

"You know me too well."

****

After having hot cocoa with James, Thalia asked for two extra mugs along with some sandwiches and took them up to the Marauders' dorm with a tray whilst James went to lunch with Remus and Peter. Thalia walked up the stairs towards the dorm, cursing quietly every time some cocoa sloshed over the side of one of the mugs, so she was cursing the entire way up. When she reached the door, Thalia knocked softly and waited for Sirius' word to go in. She opened the door and her eyes went to Sirius' bed. She sighed with a small smile as she saw Eloise sat with her knees to her chest and her wet hair dripping onto the mattress, telling Thalia she had just showered. Sirius was at his drawers, his hair also damp, rifling through his clothes until he picked out a grey jumper of his.

"Hiya, Thals." he smiled wearily as he walked over to Eloise and slipped the jumper over her head. Thalia greeted him in return and went to place the tray of food and drinks on the table by his bed. "Do you want to dry your hair, love?" Thalia heard Sirius whisper and looked up to see Eloise nod before closing her eyes and, in a matter of seconds, her natural brown hair was glossy again, the ends a deep, sad blue.

Sirius noticed the tray that Thalia had brought up and sent her a grateful smile, pulling it onto the bed. Thalia sat down beside the couple and placed a hand on Eloise's arm,

"Hey, Elle." she smiled and Eloise lifted her eyes. Thalia noticed the dark bags she was sporting and was sure, had she not just showered, that she would've had tear stains on her cheeks. Eloise lifted one side of her mouth in a half-hearted smile and Thalia's heart cracked slightly. Sirius moved beside her and Thalia watched him pass his girlfriend a mug of hot chocolate before checking the sandwiches to see if they had anything she didn't like in them. Thalia took the opportunity to look at the Sirius' matching eyebags to Eloise, as well as his bloodshot eyes and the way he yawned every three minutes. As the boy was straightening Eloise's jumper, Thalia placed a hand on his shoulder,

"Sirius," she whispered worriedly and the boy turned to her with a tired smile, humming in response, "When was the last time you slept?"

Sirius smile dropped as he frowned and Thalia ran a hand through her hair. "I'll be right back." she assured him before sprinting out of the room. Sirius shook his head slightly and took a sip of his cocoa, picking up Eloise's hand and lacing his fingers with hers. Within minutes, Thalia had returned dragging a confused Remus by the hand.

"Pup, wha-" he stumbled as Thalia stopped abruptly and the girl pointed to Eloise,

"Why don't you take Elle on a walk, Moony?" she asked and Remus and Sirius simultaneously raised their eyebrows. Thalia gave the tall boy a pointed look and a look of recognition dawned across Remus' face as he took in Sirius' sleep-deprived appearance.

"Oh, y-yeah sure." he nodded with a smile as he walked towards Eloise, who was yet to say anything. Sirius looked panicked as he stroked Eloise's hand,

"But...but it's cold out there and it's snowing and Elle doesn't like wearing hats because it messes up her hair and...and...I won't be there." his voice dropped to a whisper as he sent Eloise a wary look and the girl in question smiled softly for the first time in a week and a half.

"I'll be fine." she ran a hand through his hair and Thalia felt relieved as the familiar smiley Eloise began to reappear. "I need some fresh air, it smells like dog in here."

Sirius chuckled and nodded, biting his lip. He pulled Eloise into his chest,

"I love you." he said into her hair and the girl pulled back to kiss his forehead,

"I love you too." she smiled and Thalia's heart warmed at the sight of them. Eloise sent her boyfriend one last smile before taking Remus' outstretched hand and getting up from the bed. Remus bent down slightly and Eloise jumped on his back without hesitation and the pair left the room, the werewolf cracking jokes and Eloise giggling ever so softly. Sirius stared at the doorway and Thalia patted his knee,

"Padfoot, got to sleep." she told him with a smile and Sirius tore his gaze away from where Eloise had left.

"Im fine-"

"Sirius Orion Black the third if you don't get under that blanket right this instant and dream of bunnies in flower fields then I'm going to chop off your testicles and force you to play fetch with them."

Sirius swallowed with wide eyes before scrambling under his duvet and closing his eyes, pretending to fake snore before his face relaxed and he fell asleep in a matter of minutes. Thalia shook her head with a smile before tiptoeing out of the room and shutting the door, patting herself on the back before skipping down to the Common Room.