𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖, 𝐑. 𝐋𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐍

𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

-

     OUT OF EVERYONE IN THE CROWDED COMMON ROOM, Lina had to be the most sober. 

     And she wasn't even sober.

     Tommy hadn't left her side ever since Jules had gone to talk to a couple of Hufflepuff girls: he was a firm believer in the rules that the three had made for parties and always adhered to them no matter what. 

     He had been walking her around the room, his hand on the small of her back, introducing her to people he knew for quite some time. Despite his tendency to argue with just about anybody over quidditch, he was an extremely likable person and had friends in basically every house. 

     "Marlene, Lily, I don't believe you've met Adelina before," he said, walking the pair up to two gorgeous girls: a redhead and a blonde. 

     While Lina had never properly met Lily before, she sat by Marlene in Transfiguration during their fourth and fifth years, and the two got along well. 

     "You can call me Lina," she said quietly, shaking Lily's hand. Although she was slightly less tense due to the alcohol, she was still nervous meeting new people. Lily smiled kindly at her.

     "Lily here is the best Potions partner in all of Hogwarts," Tommy said, causing all three girls to laugh. 

     "I'm sure Lina here would have to disagree with that," Sirius walked up to the small group with James next to him, "I'm a damn good Potions partner if I do say so myself," he slurred. Lina silently marveled at his ability to always interrupt her conversations, even when drunk. "Moreau," he nodded at Tommy, who although confused, nodded back.

     "Where are the other two?" Lily asked, referring to Remus and Peter, who weren't present. 

     "What, are we not enough for you, Evans?" James fake-pouted. Lina could see Lily get physically irritated at James' presence, and she began to wonder why the black-haired boy hadn't lost faith yet. Lina would probably give up after being rejected once, let alone every single time she spoke. She didn't know if James' resilience was endearing or creepy. 

     Their conversation slowly began to fade out as Lina became hyper-aware of the sound of her heart pounding in her chest. They had been pushed towards the middle of the room and were now surrounded by a lot of drunk teenagers who kept bumping into them. Lina felt suffocated. She tugged at her collar as she began to sweat. 

     Her clammy hand found Tommy's and she pulled the boy down to her level so she could whisper into his ear. "Can we step outside?" She asked him, her voice wavering. He pulled away to look at her with a concerned yet questioning glance.