𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐚 || 𝘳.𝘢.𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬

031. remus' eighteenth birthday

"Thank you, Mari." Remus smiles gratefully and she shrugs with a forced smile, side hugging him tightly.

Whilst the boys set up for the party, Maria strolls over to the library with Lily to pick up some extra books to study for their end of year exams. They're walking down the aisles full of books, letting the books they're returning float up to their places on the shelves when Lily stops and sighs.

"Maria, I know about you and Regulus."

Maria almost chokes on air as she turns to the red head who's smiling slightly, shaking her head in amusement.
"You're not very good at being discreet, but I'm sure James is too stupid to notice." Lily chuckles and Maria sighs with an eye roll.

"When did you figure it out?" Maria questions curiously and Lily purses her lips, letting go of another book that floats up the shelf and into place.

"About a week ago." Lily states as they round another corner of the library. "I saw you both sneaking up to the astronomy tower laughing, on my way back from the library." She gestures around at the shelves of books and Maria rubs the side of her head.

"So. . .you won't tell James?"

"Does it matter? I won't obviously, but. . ." Lily sighs,  looking up from the books she's examining to Maria who's biting her lip anxiously. "If you love him, you can't help that."

Maria purses her lips, looking at the ground for a few seconds, going over what Lily had said in her head. Does she really love Regulus Black? Or is it just in their heads? She can't imagine James' face if and when he finds out, he'd be disappointed, no doubt, but he has to get over it someday. She's his sister after all, but then, Sirius was Regulus' brother and they don't talk.

Maria decided she's overthinking everything and just offers the red head before her a small, thankful smile.

[][][]

Arriving in the common room after dinner, Maria's mouth gapes for a few moments. Gryffindors already dancing around the room with red solo cups filled with fire whisky in their hands, couples snogging and a strong smell of cigarette smoke lingering on the air. Maria's already dressed under her robes in some flared jeans and a cream shirt with the top couple of buttons open, a denim jacket over it as she strolls through the room, a abandoning her robes on a coat rack before walking over to the drinks table.

"Drink for your thoughts?" Sirius grins, holding out a red cup that she instantly recognises as fire whisky from the strong alcoholic smell and she nods, quickly taking it and gulping down some. Sirius grabs the cup with a light chuckle, speaking over the blaring speakers playing 'good old-fashioned lover boy' by Queen. "Slow down, hey! Come dance!"

"Seriously?" Maria asks in a dull tone and Sirius holds out his hand to prove himself, making Maria sigh with a roll of her chocolate eyes as he pulls her into the dancing crowd.

Ooh, love, ooh, loverboy

What're you doin' tonight, hey, boy?

Maria lets out a laugh as Sirius spins her under his arm, almost dropping her cup as she stumbles into a Hufflepuff boy, Sirius pulling her back towards him, the two of them laughing hysterically together.
Sirius drags her through the people dancing and she smiles — a real smile — as he helps her onto one of the tables, hopping on after her.