the secret of Erised {s.b.}

chapter 28: sleepless

The hot days of summer seemed to last forever, but Esmeralda did not mind it at all. She missed the sun against her skin and feeling the sweat drip down her body. All of these sensations that she had missed for ten years excited her and made her have a childlike beam. Sirius adored seeing her smile and laugh every time she jumped in the pool and played around with the water. It was little moments like that which made Sirius fall even more in love with Esmeralda.

Fleamont and Euphemia had invited Remus, Peter, Lily and Esmeralda to join them, along with James and Sirius, for summer vacation. The Potters owned a small villa in the north of Spain, it had been passed down for generations in Euphemia's side of the family. The small villa stood at the top of a hill overlooking the Cantabrian Coast. Giant trees surrendered the house, making it private from any bypassers and neighbours. The backyard had a small pool, which the young witches and wizards used every day.

There was a beach at the bottom of the hill that no villagers went to because it was too small. That meant that the Marauders, Lily, and Esmeralda did not need to worry about muggles seeing them magically set up their area in the beach. They spent most of their mornings down at the beach and usually ate lunch there thanks to Euphemia's brilliant idea to make them sandwiches every day after they came back one day from the beach levitating Peter, for he had passed out from the hunger he felt.

Nights at the Potter's Spanish villa were the most enjoyable. The Asturian nights were cool compared to the hot, humid days, so they normally stayed inside the villa. Esmeralda had missed these nights where witches and wizards played Wizard's Chess and drank butterbeer around a fireplace, with no worries of classes, exams or any sort of danger lurking in the shadows. 

This night was going to be different for Esmeralda. Sirius had asked her to dress nicely because he was taking her out on a date. This made Esmeralda incredibly nervous because even though they had made their relationship official a few months ago, the couple had never been on an official first date. When Lily heard this, she smacked Sirius in the back of the head and called him a lousy boyfriend. He tried to justify himself by saying that he didn't want to take her to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, but Lily called bullshit and grabbed Esmeralda's hand and dragged her to their bedroom.

"Why did I not know that you had never been on a date ?" Lily asked Esmeralda while she combed her brown hair.

"I just didn't think that it was important, you know ?" she replied, "We've been alone plenty of times, but we've never actually gone on a date."

Lily raised one of her eyebrows mischievously and looked at her friend through the mirror's reflection. Since Lily was touching Esmeralda, the young witch could see what her red-haired friend was thinking. Her eyes widened and she pushed her friend playfully.

"Lily ! Not alone like that," she said, "We usually go to the Room of Requirement and talk for hours. We know that no one will interrupt us while we're there."

The red-haired witch smirked.

"Oh, sure," she said, "You go to the Room of Requirement to talk to your boyfriend. Didn't know that's what we're calling it these days"

"For Merlin's sake, Lils," Esmeralda said, "I'm telling you the truth. If you must know, I've never done it."

"Done what ?"

Esmeralda rolled her eyes and turned around to face her friend.

"For being the smartest witch in our year, you sure are slow," she said, "I've never had sex, Lily. Happy ?"

Lily's expression quickly fell from a cocky grin to an ashamed frown. Esmeralda smiled warmly at her friend and patted the space next to her on the vanity bench for her to sit on. Lily sat down slowly and looked at the ground.