The Christmas holidays came faster than anyone saw them coming after Ellie and Sirius managed to somewhat reconcile. There was definitely still tension, the beautiful girl kept her distance regardless of him trying his best to be with her almost twenty-four hours a day, and she was a lot quieter than usual. But things were moving back to normal, very slowly, but they were getting there.
James had invited the boys to stay during the holidays as he had done before, but Peter knew his mother would want him home, and Remus was conscious of the fact that the wizarding world wasn't as safe as it once was. He'd wrote to his parents, and they were desperate to have him home, just in case, with a footnote that Hope Lupin had been feeling under the weather too. Lyall hoped that seeing their son would do her the world of good. So the messy haired boy believed it would be just the original trio this Christmas, which he hoped would settle the remaining hostility between Ellie and Sirius, unaware that the beautiful girl had invited a guest of her own.
Lily had been hesitant at first, wanting to see her family as everyone else did, but as soon as Marlene wrote to say that she'd be around the Gryffin's at some point for an Order meeting, the potential for a reunion was an opportunity not to be missed. That, and the fact that she heard her sister Petunia was bringing her boyfriend to their family's Christmas this year, something she wasn't thrilled about.
Though, even with the promise of seeing Marlene at some point, as well as ounces of quality time to spend with Ellie that they'd been very much lacking recently, there was still the worry of James Potter. As of yet, he didn't know she was staying all holiday, and whilst they'd been getting along recently, Lily thought this might just tip him over the edge of being annoying again.
She desperately hoped not, for she'd heard good things about Christmas with the Potters, and she was desperate to see the infamous grounds him and Ellie have always shared.
Tight hugs were given on Platform Nine and Three Quarters, along with the promise from them all to write as the girls said goodbye to Mary, Alice and Frank, and Remus and Peter went off to meet their parents. As always, Sirius was doing his best to dodge seeing Walburga, tucking himself behind James where possible and keeping a beady eye out for if Regulus went striding by, but thankfully, Cyrus and Fleamont arrived before the wicked woman was spotted.
"There's my boys!" Fleamont roared with joy, scooping both James and Sirius into one huge hug once he'd raced over, successfully embarrassing the messy haired boy in front of Lily.
Ellie and Cyrus hugged each other tightly, before Fleamont cut in for a squeeze and they swapped, the red head waiting patiently to be introduced as she watched on fondly, Marmalade nestled in her arms and purring. So far, there was no doubt Christmas would be as warm with these two families as it was with her own. Eventually, the two men turned to her with the same friendly smiles as Ellie placed her hands on Lily's shoulders.
"This is dearest Lily-flower, whom you've both heard lots about." She grinned, shooting sidewards glances at James and wiggling her eyebrows.
"It's lovely to finally meet you both. Thank you for having me stay, Mr Gryffin." Lily gave a little wave to both Cyrus and Fleamont as Marmalade meowed, the red head uncharacteristically shy as she gaged how formal was too formal. She'd not met many purebloods who weren't wild teenage Gryffindors. Though, from the stories Ellie and James had told on the train, she got the impression their fathers were just as reckless as they were when they were at Hogwarts.
"It's no bother ever. You can call me Cyrus." Ellie's father may have looked intimidating, but he was nothing of the sort.
"Thank you for having me stay?" James shouted, "YOU'RE STAYING?!"
"And you're bringing the cat?" Sirius scrunched up his nose, getting ignored.
"Yes, Prongs." Ellie grinned smugly, "All Christmas and New Year."
"Quick, catch me, Padfoot. I feel I might faint." James swayed on the spot dramatically, the back of his hand against his forehead, and Sirius was quick to sweep him off his feet. Joining in with the theatrics, he picked the messy haired boy up bridal style, James dangling limply in his arms.
"Do not fret, King Potter. Your knight in shining armour is here!" Sirius announced, "I shall escort you to your quarters so you can freshen up for the arrival of your fair maiden." He turned to Fleamont, whispering exaggeratedly, "That's your cue to appirate us away, dad. Before we look like fools, please."
"You've always been fools." Ellie scoffed as Lily suppressed her giggles at her side.
"Sorry, sorry!" Fleamont held up his hands in apology, "I'm a bit slow on the up take these days, but it's good to keep your old man on his toes. Sirius, will you do me the honour of taking my arm?"
"Of course." The handsome boy returned with in an overly posh voice.
"Drop me and you're dead." James warned as they span from the platform with a loud crack.
"Shall we?" Cyrus asked the girls.
"We shall." They both chorused with the same toothy grin.
Meeting Euphemia for the first time was the most overwhelming event of the day for Lily, after taking in the extravagance of the Gryffin house, having James and Sirius run in on her and Ellie as they unpacked their Hogwarts trunks which led into her being caught up in an argument between Ellie and James about what adventure they were going to embark on first, she wasn't sure anything else could've shocked her. The red head had also underestimated how much more chaotic her friends would be when on their home turf, but that was nothing compared to the way the loving woman James had to call a mother smothered her in affection.
James, Sirius, and Ellie seemed to almost line up for bone crushing squeezes off her, and so Lily had expected a hug, but she received the same tight embrace that the others did too. Her cheeks had flamed pink that sent Euphemia cooing over her beauty, which thoroughly embarrassed James in the process. His mother had a way of bringing up almost everything he'd ever told her about Lily Evans, to purposefully make him cringe and try and hide his face.
At one point, Euphemia had even begun a rendition of one of the poems James had wrote to Lily in the past, which ended up with Ellie and Sirius on chairs screaming the verses mockingly. James had wanted the ground to eat him whole, but Lily had actually found it rather endearing. If it wasn't for the uncomfortable words and bad rhyming.
As usual, Euphemia had baked, and the woman told stories of James and Ellie as toddlers as they waited for the cookies to be done, which Lily hung onto every word of. There was something sweet in the way James' cheeks went bright pink and his feet stayed restless, one hand constantly re-ruffling his hair - something that didn't bother her as much as it used to do. It wasn't often James Potter squirmed and Lily found herself grinning at him the entire time.
When the timer finally went off for the cookies though, the peace was interrupted by Ellie and Sirius spatting.
"Hand it over, Padfoot, I swear." The beautiful girl scowled as he held up the biggest cookie right in front of her face. It had the most chocolate chips too, and Ellie had bagsied it before it had even come out of the oven.
"What's the magic word?" Sirius grinned mischievously.
"Pretty please, puppy." She cooed, batting her eyelashes in the most convincing way possible.
"Actually, an Expelliarmus would've done it." When Ellie snatched for the cookie, Sirius backed off quickly, circling to the other side of the kitchen island, "Oh wait! I forgot you can't do magic outside of school yet. Must suck to be a baby."
"If you take a bite out of that cookie..." Ellie warned, shaking her head back and forth as they both circled the kitchen island slowly, eyes locked together.
"These are all empty threats, beautiful."
"Just have two, Ellie. You are both being ridiculous." Euphemia cut in, hands on her hips.
"That is beside the point. You owe me this cookie." The beautiful girl scowled, "After everything you've done. After Flora. You owe me one damn cookie, Padfoot Potter."
Sirius' grin only grew.
"See, now you can't be that mad at me, 'cause you didn't say Sirius you-know-what."
Ellie was about to fire back some clever remark, or leap across the island and snatch the cookie right from his hand, maybe even both, but Euphemia cut in first. The loving woman was frowning, having looked to James for answers, only for him to avert his gaze awkwardly.
"And what exactly did you do, Sirius? Who's this Flora girl? Has she been cruel to you, Ellie?" The questions came too quickly for any of them to be able to form some sort of lie, and the handsome boy felt his guilt seep in immediately.
He'd been hoping the Christmas holidays could be a break from everything, a chance to be who he used to be, but already they were talking about the fifth year who he'd grown to hate with every ounce of his being. Ellie looked no happier that she'd been brought up, slumping into one of the hightop stools and slouching onto the worktop, so Sirius moved to stand behind her, holding out the cookie he'd been keeping captive for her to take as she pleased. His apology was wordless as he stood there, staring down at her, and as Ellie picked the cookie apart, she ended up holding every other piece out to him.
Just little things like that gave Sirius hope they'd always be okay, for as much as Ellie would yell and make a fuss, she'd always share with him in the end. Her bark is worse than her bite, Sirius thought with an internal chuckle. It may have seemed like she'd have teared his head off for that cookie two seconds ago, but now, she shared it with him like they'd share everything. Like that orange at Andromeda's so long ago. Like our future, Sirius hoped.
"Flora's a fifth year that Cubby punched square in the nose." James answered reluctantly, watching his mother's eyes shoot wide.
"She deserved it." Ellie grumbled quietly.
"She just so happens to be Padfoot's girlfriend too."
"Girlfriend?!" Euphemia shrieked making Sirius flinch as he sunk into the stool next to Ellie's, "Who is this girl and why is she in the year bellow you?"
The situation wasn't as clear as it could've been, if the handsome boy hadn't been gazing Ellie at the time. To Euphemia, the pair looked as they always had been, close and itching to be closer still. Ellie's free hand rested on the kitchen island, palm up and there to take Sirius' hand if that's what he wanted, for even if she still hated he was with Flora, that red light in her head hadn't stopped flashing over something being amiss. He flinched every time the fifth year's name was mentioned and became quickly cagey about their relationship - he wasn't the same Sirius who used to show off about having another girl on his arm. Instead, his hand edged nearer to hers as his little finger curled around her thumb.
"It's just sort of a thing." Sirius mumbled, no surer of himself when talking about the girl who actually had him hostage in their 'relationship' than he had been since she pinned him down in the Quidditch changing rooms. Once again, his belt no longer felt done up tight enough, but his blazing stare remained fixed on the beautiful girl.
"And this is?" Euphemia gestured wildly to him and Ellie.
"Pads and Cubs healing after arguing practically all year so far." James told her.
"Arguing?!"
"James, do you think we should leave your mum to talk to them about this alone?" Lily cut in, beckoning the messy haired boy to leave the kitchen with her as she recognised the way he was only working Euphemia up, "I should probably find Clementine just in case Marmalade is being a nuisance."
"Yeah, come on, honey." James nodded, reaching for her hand, "I'll show you my room too."
"Don't call me honey."
Dodging his hand, Lily hit him upside of the head before ushering him out quickly, leaving Euphemia with Ellie and Sirius still unmoving. If anything, the handsome boy only stared fiercer at Ellie, doing his best to show how sorry he was in actions rather than words. She'd told him to stop apologising on multiple occasions now, but Sirius knew that he'd never stop, not until things between them were completely fixed.
"Would you care to explain?" Euphemia asked once it was just them three, eyebrows raised as she sat in another one of the stools.
"We argued some." Ellie shrugged, "But we're fixing it slowly, and not arguing anymore."
"Never again." Sirius added, his finger tightening around her thumb.
"About?" Euphemia probed.
"Lots of things."
"This Flora girl?"
"Mainly."
"Why?"
"'Cause she's a bitch." Ellie grumbled, no care for Sirius' reaction. Not that he would protest against her words, he now felt very much the same.
Euphemia blinked twice.
"But she's your girlfriend?" She asked Sirius, very obviously confused. He just grunted, "And you two are?"
"Just us, for now." Ellie replied simply, finally shifting to meet Sirius' gaze.
"For now?" He asked hopefully.
"You need to make a definitive decision about Flora, then we'll talk about us."
"Us?" Sirius couldn't help but smile, "Like boyfriend-girlfriend us?"
"Maybe... But as of right now, our relationship wouldn't handle that. As I said, you need to decide with Flora what you two are doing, what your relationship is and if it's working, and then we'll talk."
A wave of dread hit Sirius right in the face, for as hopeful as Ellie's words sounded, he knew having a breakup discussion with Flora wouldn't be easy. In fact, it would be near impossible, for she'd hold that report of him being violent towards her over his head. It didn't matter that he now had Alphard's inheritance, Hogwarts and his friends were still very much the only two things that were stable in his life. He couldn't risk either of them.
And really, if he was honest with himself, Sirius didn't know whether he could do another relationship after Flora. Right now, he didn't feel as if it was something possible for him, not when he couldn't get as close to Ellie as he'd like. How was he supposed to hold her hand if he flinched whenever someone grabbed for him; how was he supposed to hold her when it only took her squeezing him a little too tight in a hug for him to freak out; how could he ever kiss, just like he so desperately wanted, when the thought of her breath fanning across his face made his skin crawl?
There would never be enough words to explain his anger over how Flora had ruined it all, how she'd stolen everything that should've been sacred - everything he'd ever wanted with Ellie and now couldn't have.
"I am lost." Euphemia flapped her hands wildly in the air, "But whatever has happened, you keep that promise of no more arguing. I don't want to hear of any fall outs again." When she pointed a stern finger, Ellie and Sirius knew that she was deathly serious, both nodded in agreement, "And you rectify the situation with this Flora girl, Sirius, for it's cruel to drag her along. Especially when I promised Adelaide I'd bake your wedding cake. My plans for it are nearly done, so I need you two to hotfoot it."
Ellie bypassed blushing and went beet red, clearing her throat and shuffling awkwardly in her seat. Sirius liked to watch her squirm like that, it didn't happen very often to this new version of her who was so much fiercer. Though he'd never be able to thank her enough for being patient with him, for being so gentle.
Sirius went on to explain how he needed to visit Protea House at some point during the holidays, moving the topic of conversation away from all the complications this last term, as well as marriage, and Euphemia was sure they'd be able to Floo there. Whilst he wasn't really looking to move into the house right away, for it would be far too big for him on his own, the loving woman told him that they could all help redecorate at some point if that's what he wanted.
Now that he was seventeen and of age, she knew that he'd probably want to look for a place of his own so that he was no longer imposing on them, but Euphemia wasn't quite ready to let him go yet. She told him at the end of the year that maybe he could start looking for some form of flat, but for now, she wanted him under her roof, and would probably cling onto him and James for as long as possible.
They were her babies still after all, and the world was a terrifying one now.
Ellie suggested that they invite Andromeda to go with them to visit Protea House too, for not only did that mean they could see Nymphadora, but she also knew the house as Sirius did. It would be good to have another set of eyes who was familiar with the place, but it would also just be nice to see her again so soon. And so, plans were made to visit in a couple of day's time, after the prearranged Order of Phoenix meeting that was occurring tomorrow.
This piece of information pricked up Sirius' ears, and Ellie knew in an instant what he was thinking. She so desperately wanted him to wait to sign himself up, not jump in too fast and find himself stuck floundering in the deep end. They still didn't entirely know what the Order did, and the thought of him being sent out to chase Death Eaters set Ellie's stomach churning.
"I thought you wanted action too, Cubby, it's a good thing Padfoot wants to join." James said as they all lounged in the messy haired boy's room later that day.
Lily was placed awkwardly in the bay window seat as the now retrieved Marmalade snoozed in her lap, her eyes taking in every inch of the room that was so inherently James Potter, whilst Ellie floated in the middle of the huge room, Sirius sprawled himself on the floor, and James took up the bed. He was having to pretend that Lily Evans being in his space was completely normal, but it wasn't easy when her eyes were wandering everywhere - to all the Quidditch posters on the wall, and his first ever broomstick mounted proudly in the middle of them, to the huge Gryffindor mural that Ellie had designed for him back in second year.
"I do want action, but you're barely of age, Pads. You're not used to doing spells outside of school yet, let alone fighting a war!" Ellie argued, about ready to pull her hair out.
"I'll be alright." Sirius dismissed, "Besides, if nothing else, I'll be able to understand better what's going on. They'll let me sit in on the meetings and stuff, then I can report back."
"And if they send you out and suddenly you're face to face with Bellatrix or even Cygnus and Druella? Malfoy, maybe Narcissa? What do you do then?" Ellie scowled, shooting daggers at the handsome boy. It was kind of ironic how they were almost arguing already after promising they wouldn't, but Sirius refused to let himself get wound up with her. Instead, he remained calm.
"I can handle them." He shrugged.
"Without hesitation?" Ellie challenged, "'Cause that's what duelling takes. No flinching, no stumbling... You're so talented, Padfoot, we all know you are. But you can't lie and say that if you came face to face with one of them on the opposing side, you'd not hesitate for even just a millisecond."
"I know they've been caught up in dark magic my whole life."
"Suspecting and confirmation are two different things." Features softening, all Ellie could do was beg, "Please, don't join straight away. Just wait until after the others are of age too, Moony and Prongs. That's only until the end of March, and then you can together and it won't feel as scary."
"You're really this worried?" Sirius' expression mirrored hers in seconds. Ellie nodded, "Alright then, I'll wait... For you, I promise to wait until Easter and then weigh it up again."
"Thank you."
"Well done, children." James began to clap enthusiastically, "There was a conflict and you solved it without exploding everywhere. That type of calm during an argument is healthy. I'm proud, very proud."
"You just ruined the moment." Lily hissed, and James sunk back onto his bed with red cheeks.
The four trailed behind Euphemia and Fleamont as they passed through the woods to the Gryffin house on the day of the Order meeting, not bothering about keeping close. They'd be shut away in the Library as soon as people got there, or maybe they might make it up to Ellie's room, but first the girls wanted to see Marlene.
Surprisingly, James and Lily had gotten on better than could've been expected so far, for Ellie had anticipated the red head getting testy with him. But she hadn't, and Lily had followed along with all of their schemes so far.
When Sirius put together some elaborate excuse for pulling Ellie away to have time with her on her own, James and Lily were left to spend time together, gradually figuring out where their interests crossed over and how to communicate in a way which wasn't littered with flirting on the messy haired boy's behalf. They'd done it before, briefly at the ball last year, but that was a long time ago now and lots had changed. James wasn't the same immature fool he'd once been and could recognise when Lily was getting frustrated with his pestering; the red head had more patience than she used to have where he was concerned.
They'd shown Lily the whole of the grounds, all the way through the forest; they'd spent time in the Orangery; and they'd been scolded for messing around with the potion supplies in Fleamont's workshop. James and Sirius had cooked up a plan to fashion their own stink bombs, but before they could rope Lily in for her exceptional potion making skills, Euphemia had caught them poking around.
Though this was a talking point between the red head and Fleamont thereon, and they'd spent countless hours already discussing the benefits of alternate cauldron material and whether the direction of stirring really makes much difference. Then when Euphemia heard that Lily was planning to train as a Healer after Hogwarts, that was it, and the Potters doted on her constantly after that.
James and Sirius were rather jealous of how well she got on with their parents.
And despite how much Ellie and Sirius complained about the ginger feline Lily had brought with her, Marmalade hadn't proved to be that much of a problem. When Lily couldn't look after him herself, Clementine was more than happy to take him off her hands, for the sweet house elf was quite taken with him. They went on walks around the garden together, and when Clementine cooked, Marmalade could be found sat on her feet.
Lily was curious about who else they might see before they were inevitably shut out of this Order meeting as they continued to follow behind Euphemia and Fleamont, for her summer back home had kept her cut off from the wizarding world and lots that occurred within it. She'd learnt about the Order of the Phoenix as Ellie had, and then panicked just as much as her friend when Marlene announced that she'd joined. It all sounded beyond reckless, and then some, and she had her own reservations about anyone else she cared about joining up.
Whilst Lily wanted action too, for the sake of all the fellow Muggle-borns being attacked, she also didn't know whether she was prepared to lose others for that cause. It didn't seem quite right, one life for the sake of another, but doing nothing also wasn't right either.
Hanging back beside the red head, James didn't say anything as he recognised her mind whirring away, but he just wanted to keep her company as Ellie and Sirius strode off in front. If it wasn't for Flora, he was sure they would've been holding hands, but instead, they chatted idly close to each other's sides but not touching. When they reached the Gryffin house James watched them stop a good way away from the big crowd outside on the white gravel as his parents continued onwards, and Lily grabbed his arm abruptly. He had to ignore the way his heart clamoured in his chest, for when his gaze met hers, those gorgeous green eyes were full of panic.
"James..." She spluttered, her fingers tightening on his forearm as she halted both of their footsteps, "When it's your birthday, when you're of age, do you really plan on joining straight away?"
"Come on now, Evans. You sound just like Cubby." The messy haired boy tried to tease, wanting to see the worry dissolve from her features, but it appeared he'd said the wrong thing.
"Take something serious for once in your life." She snapped quickly, completely catching him off guard.
When James' brow crumpled and he pried her hand off his arm to back away, Lily felt another surge of panic, desperate for him to keep a hold of her wrist. But he dropped it carefully, shoving his glasses up his nose.
"I am taking this seriously. I always have done." He argued, "I know what's at stake, and yes, I'm joining up straight away. Or at least at Easter when Padfoot will."
"Sirius said he'd weigh it up again, that's the not the same as definitely joining. I think that Ellie will try and stop-"
"Cubby won't be able to stop him forever." James interrupted knowingly. Even Ellie Gryffin couldn't sway Sirius' desire to ensure he was fighting on the right side. The side against the Blacks, "And when he does sign up, at Easter, I'll be right by his side."
"And if something happens to you?" Lily mumbled, dropping her gaze as her cheeks heated up pink.
"Be careful, it's starting to sound like you care about me."
"And what if I do?" She challenged harshly, "What if I care about making sure you don't do something stupid and get yourself... And- and get yourself killed?!"
With the way she raised her voice, Ellie and Sirius had heard her outcry, but neither of them turned to stare. They understood James and Lily needed space for this conversation, it had perhaps been years in the making.
"Diggory." James blurted, utterly flustered, "I thought you went to Hogsmeade with the puffball."
"I did. What's that to do with any of this?"
"Well, I figured..."
"You figured what?"
"That you wouldn't care, Evans!" James bellowed, "I've tried, for bloody years I've tried and you've never cared before! So why now? Why would it be any different when you're off dating other boys?"
"Maybe because it made me realise that I don't want to be dating other boys!"
"...What?"
"Marls! Marlene don't!" Ellie's voice yelled, but before anyone could react, there was a blonde barrelling into Lily's side who'd appeared from nowhere.
Knocking her off balance, the two girls went stumbling around as Marlene wrapped Lily into her arms, beaming so wide it looked like it hurt, but her friend couldn't react. Not when she finally processed the words that had fallen out of her mouth. Not when James Potter was staring at her like that, and she'd just said-
"Oh, Lils, I've missed you so much!" Marlene cooed, pulling away from her hug to place her hands on the red heads face. When she met a bank expression, her excitement fell away, "What's the matter?"
Marlene looked over her shoulder at James, narrowing her eyes suspiciously, but the messy haired boy looked just as blank. In fact, he physically shook his head like he needed jolting back to reality before he wandered off aimlessly. Ellie and Sirius were quick to usher him towards them, scooping him up like concerned parents and flapping hands around as they spoke hushed words to him that Lily couldn't hear. The red head didn't like knowing that they were clearly asking him questions about what she'd just said. She didn't like how emotionless James appeared.
"It's nothing." But she plastered on her best smile for Marlene, pushing aside all thoughts of the messy haired boy so that she could be excited over the reunion with her friend, "I've missed you too, Marls. So much more than I can express.
When Lily pulled the blonde into another hug, she looked over her shoulder at the back of James' head, willing him to glance around in Sirius' hold. Ellie was at the boys' side, and she just shrugged her shoulders at Lily, as confused about James' reaction as they all were. Sirius' lips moved faster than she thought possible, and then he was waving Ellie off, the beautiful girl starting towards where Lily and Marlene were stood hugging.
"It's only a quick hello, we're going in soon for the meeting, but as soon as we're out, I promise we'll get some time to catch up properly." Marlene grinned, pulling back to take one of Lily's hands as she beckoned Ellie to them quicker, "Merlin, life is not the same without you two."
"You just told him you like him." Ellie blurted as soon as she got near, no regards for the fact Marlene had absolutely no idea what was going on, or the way Lily was shaking her head furious to try and get her to be quiet, "You just told Prongs that you like him."
"You've done what?!" Marlene blinked twice and then Ellie was grinning wickedly.
"Lils just admitted it. Right to his face... You interrupted by the way."
"I did not?" Marlene gasped, falling to Ellie's side as both the girls stared at Lily like she was some artefact in a museum, "I am so sorry. Why didn't I get any warning?"
"In my defence, I was shouting after you."
"I- I didn't admit it... I didn't tell him that." Lily defended desperately, knowing her attempt to salvage her dignity was futile. Those words exactly hadn't fallen out of her lips, but she might as well have them printed on her forehead for everyone to see.
"You said you don't want to be dating anyone else." Ellie raised an eyebrow.
"That's not the same! What if I meant anyone else ever. As in no more dating."
"Did you?"
Lily cast a glance over at where Sirius was still clinging to James' shoulders as if he needed coaxing from a sleepwalk. Just the back of his head made her heart pound. That messy raven hair...
"No." She mumbled, "But my date with Amos Diggory was awful. He about tried to force his tongue down my throat at one point."
"Prongs would never do that..." Ellie smirked, "Forcefully, at least."
"I know he wouldn't."
"So what does this mean then? What did Potter say when you confessed?" Marlene whispered the last word as if it was taboo.
"What?" Lily replied simply.
"Potter? How did he reply?"
"No, he said 'what?'" Lily huffed, "Like he didn't hear me."
"Oh he definitely heard you. Me and Pads did and we were right up the path." Ellie interrupted with a solemn nod.
"Then what's going on?" Marlene was completely lost, "Why didn't he piss himself?"
"I think he has." Ellie confirmed, "Just perhaps not in the way we expected. Padfoot is trying to get something out of him, anything, but the boy has become mute. I think you broke him, Lils."
"Oh shit." The red head cursing was shock enough, but then tears were welling in her eyes, "He's never meant it. It's always been a game... I told myself not to fall for it, that it was all some elaborate act for popularity. I told myself never to fall for James Potter because it was all fake. All this time it was a show, and I knew it... I've been stupid. So so so stupid, and now- now I just look like a fool. I'm a fool to him because he's never actually cared and now I actually do."
Within seconds Lily was sobbing and Marlene darted forward to let her bury her face in the crook of her neck. The situation had escalated so quickly that it was hard to keep up, but Ellie raced away down the path to try and help Sirius get James moving. If they could get him out of the way, then the girls could get Lily inside. It really didn't help that the whole of the Order of the Phoenix were still gathered outside by the front door, for no doubt all eyes would be drawn if they carted a sobbing Lily Evans by.
Ellie's panic washed right over Sirius and he began to flap as she blurted commands out at him, which then had James' eyes watching them intently. The messy haired boy's features remained blank until he heard Ellie doing her best to whisper.
"Lily's crying." She hissed in Sirius' ear, and James rounded on the spot with some random burst of energy.
"Evans!" He called, watching Marlene console the red head whilst she shot him daggers.
"Shove off, Potter." Lily only just managed out a shout.
"Prongs, mate, let her cool off a little." Sirius interrupted, reaching to grab a hold of James' arm, but he was only swatted off, "I swear, if you ruin Christmas with this..."
"Evans." James called again, feet carrying himself back down the pathway before he'd even registered that he was moving, "Do you mean it, Evans?"
"Mean what?" Lily spat when he came to a halt right in front of her. Marlene refused to step aside, doing her best to become a barrier in between the two.
"That you-" James suddenly lost momentum, struggling for his words. Chest heaving, he ran a bashful hand through his hair to try and calm his nerves, but he was shaking so violently his feet wouldn't remain still, "That you maybe- No. That you do like me? Like I like you."
"Is it not all just a game to you, Potter?" Lily sniffed, swiping the backs of her hands across her face, "I've told you before to stop embarrassing me, but here you stand."
"I'm not trying to embarrass you." James muttered, shoving his glasses up his nose.
"But it's always been a game, right?"
"No."
"Yes."
"Why are you always determined to make me the bad guy? I like you, Lily, I have done for a really long time and I don't know how you can't understand that yet. It's never been a game. Yeah, I'm arrogant and get carried away, but I've never just been toying around with your feelings. I wouldn't- I would never be cruel with you like that."
"Do you mean it, Potter?" Lily echoed back at him, eyes blood shot and tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"Maybe if you started calling me James again." Marlene's scowl alone was enough to make James realise he shouldn't be joking, "I'll never not mean it, Lily. I like you, it's not some silly prank."
"Well, I..." It was Lily's turn to stutter for words.
"Like me back? Love me? Would say 'I do' in a white dress if I asked and the weather was nice and our families were there and-"
"I'm getting there." Lily interrupted, "Please, let's take baby steps."
"Baby steps..." He repeated as if he needed to try it out on his tongue, "I'll take baby steps if you mean it too?"
"I mean it, James."
And for the first time ever, they hugged. Lily didn't cringe away or hit him on the arm, and James wasn't entirely aware what was going on. It was too much to process, that after all this time, they were one step closer to being together.
Things wouldn't happen overnight, and this certainly didn't mean they were a couple in any way, but they'd get there eventually. Just as Ellie and Sirius would. Because sometimes, love wasn't as easy as just eight letters, you needed to work for it instead. They were living in troubling times, so of course relationships would be troubling too, for just as the girls had expressed, they weren't ready to sacrifice each other to this war, and so much trust was needed to navigate that. Trust that none of them had learnt to give yet.
Whilst things were good now, the rest of the morning proved to be rather awkward, with Ellie and Sirius stuck between James and Lily's constant fleeting glances and pink cheeks. At one point the red head was even giggling uncontrollably, and Ellie had needed to step in to calm her down. The pair really hoped this wasn't the way things would be from now on, but there was also no denying James' huge grin and lovesick eyes. They'll fall into a comfortable rhythm, Ellie had told Sirius when he complained under his breath about how 'lovey-dovey stuff' made him 'considerably nauseous'. But thankfully, the Order meeting didn't drag on.
Before long, the girls were separating off from the boys, and James and Lily were torn apart to come to terms with what the day had brought for their changing relationship, without all the awkward eyes and restless shuffling. Ellie was quick to drag the girls out to the Orangery, because despite the cold winter weather, it was always warm in there. Sirius, however, struggled more to drag James away from his favourite red head.
Chatting and giggling was no different to how it had been at Hogwarts for the girls, and it was as if they'd never spent any time apart at all. Lily explained more about the James Potter situation and how her opinions of him changed a lot of summer in all her time of reflection, and then she made a very reluctant Ellie explain about the Sirius situation. Marlene was beyond thrilled to gossip about all the relationship drama, having some of her own to spill too, but she was surprised by how much Ellie and Sirius had been arguing. They looked perfectly fine now, just a little less all over each other, but as the story went on, it was made very clear that the pair still had a long way to go where fixing what was broken was concerned.
"Baby steps. Just like me and James." Lily had told the beautiful girl, but Ellie had a feeling that her relationship with Sirius would just always be volatile.
"Her name's Dorcas." Marlene explained when it was her turn to vent about the relationship turmoil she'd been going through, "And she's beautiful."
"Does she know you think that?" Ellie smirked as she relaxed back on the mattress on the floor, Lily at her side as Marlene paced back and forth in front of the work bench.
Some of the plants had recovered from lack of nurturing over summer, for Clementine had been coming daily to tend to the plants so that Cyrus didn't have too, but it still wasn't as green as it once was. Sketches and extra notes on her Lycanthrope Legislation made up for it.
"Yes, she does."
"And?" Lily probed for more information.
"And I hardly get to see her." Marlene grumbled, "You'd think, living in the same building, we'd pass frequently. But between being sent out on Order stakeouts with Moody-"
"Who's Moody?" Ellie interrupted.
"Alastor Moody. The Auror. The one always talking to your dad."
"Oh right, sorry, continue."
"Between being sent out on Order stakeouts with Moody, who also happens to be completing my Auror training, I don't get a break. He's constantly getting me to do stuff. All good things that will improve my grades at the end of training - extra concealment and disguise work or a repeat of some tracking technique. But just so much of it. The man doesn't know what the phrase 'day off' means and it drives me insane. How does he expect me to have a love life?"
"He probably doesn't." Ellie scoffed, "Have you seen him? He doesn't look like he has an ounce of love to give."
"He's not always so bad, but you're right." Marlene nodded solemnly, "He'd say relationships are a distraction, a weakness. I think he came out of the womb as an Auror."
"What does Dorcas do?" Lily asked, trying to contain her giggles from the previous statement.
"I'd ask her if I was given a chance!" The blonde threw up her hands, paces become more restless, "I mean, she was a Hufflepuff, a couple of years above me, and she's always in a suit whenever I see her. I feel like it must be Ministry work, 'cause that would make sense that she lived in the same building as me, but I've never seen her there."
"She could just be in a different department, the place is huge." Ellie shrugged, "Not Magical Creatures though I hope, that one is flawed beyond belief. I don't know how Moony's dad does it."
"She asked me about Quidditch once."
"Then maybe she's Magical Games and Sports then?"
"Perhaps."
"Why don't you just visit and find out?" Lily suggested, "As an Auror in training, you're well with your rights to visit the Ministry whenever you want. Then you could get lunch with her one time?"
"Or walk her to work one day?" Ellie suggested.
"Do the chivalrous Gryffindor thing, Marls. I'm sure she'd appreciate it. Then it definitely shows your interested too."
"And if she's not into girls? Or freaks out about it." Marlene's paces stopped abruptly as she dropped her head.
"Then she's not the right one for you." Ellie soothed, "But you will find someone. Sod Moody."
"Baby steps?" Marlene asked Lily.
"Baby steps." The red head echoed.