The walk up the stairs seemed to take forever. Part of you was calm about what was about to happen as Mary and Marlene had spoken to you, clearly they didn't have an issue with you but Lily evidently wasn't which made you anxious. Your bags had already been taken to your room so you didn't have to worry about that so when you opened the door to your floor and saw your belongings by your bed it made you smile. It was a simple sight but the sight made you smile after spending all your time in that room with Sirius. Although things were far from normal for you everything in that moment felt normal, it really was the simple things in life that would always make you smile.
As you stepped into the room, making you presence known with a few squeaks of the floorboards. Mary was the first to turn around. Her bright eyes grew even brighter when they landed on you. A smile crept onto her face, happiness immediately showing all over her.
"(Y/n)!" She announced, striding over to you, pulling you close to her for a hug. You were taken off guard first as she ran towards you so fast but you quickly relaxed, laughing at her as you hugged her back. "You're back!"
"For now." You smiled as the pair of you pulled apart.
"How are you?" Marlene's voice joined the conversation, she was standing behind Mary but that quickly changed when she came over to you and engulfed you in a hug.
"I'm fine." You smiled at the pair of them. "On edge but I'm fine."
"Have you seen him since?" Mary asked. "You know, the mystery man?"
"No." You lied. "He seems to have just run off and left me be for now."
"Maybe Sirius did scare him off." Marlene laughed.
"How are you all?" You asked, looking between the girls.
"Well Lily has been a little on edge, her sister has been getting on her nerves again, she wanted to confine in you but everything happened with that bloke and we hardly saw you. The most we saw you was when the incident with Snape occurred." Marlene gave you a small smile. "I think she just missed you."
"Yeah, she always wants to talk to you but you weren't here." Mary continued.
"I'm sorry but Sirius and I weren't allowed to be around many students, I wasn't even allowed to play Quidditch. At one point we weren't even allowed breaks at times!"
"Sounds like hell." The familiar voice of Lily caught your attention. Everyone snapped their heads around to look at her, she was standing behind the girls with her arms folded. "It was also hell not being able to see you."
"Look I'm sorry." You pressed on. "I know I should have spoken to you I know, things just get in the way at times, life got in the way Lily. I was fearing for my life surrounded by a prat I hated. Sirius was the only one I was truly allowed to contact, even James, Remus and Peter were a stretch at times. Now I can be myself in my own dorm which by the way sharing with Sirius Black should be made a crime." Your words made her smile slightly before you continued. "Things can finally go back to normal well, as normal as they can be."
The pair of you looked at one another for some time, the girls looking between you both, waiting for one of you to make the first move. Eventually Lily broke out into a smile followed by a little laugh. "I can't stay mad at you for very long." She spoke.
"I find that hard to believe." You cracked a smile before Lily ran over and pulled you into a hug. "You would happily stay mad at me for a lifetime."
"Never, besides I should apologise to you." She said pulling back to smile at you.
"Bloody hell that's a first." Mary joked earning a glare from Lily before her expression turned soft again when she met your gaze.
"I'm sorry for everything, I may have overreacted ever so slightly and I need to thank you."
"For what?" You questioned.
"For nearly drowning Snape when he was an utter arse to me."
"Believe me I wanted him dead." You let out a small laugh. "I still do and so does James -"
"He's just as bad." She rolled her yes, leaving your side to slump down on her bed. "I mean, he just thinks he's better than everyone else." She rambled on, you and the girls followed suit and sat on your beds to join the conversation.
"He's better than Snape." You replied.
Marlene nodded, turning her attention to Lily. "(Y/n) has got a point."
"Yeah but she would say that wouldn't she?" She looked around at you all. "They're all best mates now."
"He's not that bad Lily, maybe you should go on a date with him."
"I would rather die." She snapped. "The way he acts is appalling, his hair looks like a mess, his face looks like he'd been fallen off his broom."
"Yet you still stare at him." You smirked.
"I do not!" She snapped.
"You don't stare at him but you know how to describe him, even in a horrible way." Marlene joined you in giving her a smirk which only angered the red head even more.
"See what happens when you come back?" She pointed towards you. "They all gang up on me again."
"We're only saying the truth." Mary smiled.
"Well then if I go on a date with James then (y/n) has to go on one with Sirius, Marlene you can go with Remus and Mary you can go with Peter."
"Oh piss off am I going to go on a date with that rat!" Mary huffed.
"I agree with her," You joined in with Mary. "He is a bit of a rat."
"I think a bit is rather a large understatement." Marlene added.
"You're right there." You fell back into your pillow. "There's something off about that boy."
"Maybe it's because he hangs around with James Potter." Lily replied.
"I hang around with James Potter." You sat up and gave her a look.
"I know." She smiled before getting into bed.
You spent the rest of your night catching up with the girls. It was just like old times where you could spend all night laughing and gossiping about Hogwarts and those in it. Besides anyone who ever said they'd never spoken about anyone behind their backs is just a liar. You tried your best to stay away from the Hogwarts games topic, too scared to bring it up and tell them that you weren't going to put your name in because they know you would and trying to come up with an excuse would be a challenge.
You lie in bed, letting sleep take over you. Tomorrow was going to be a bug day. You finally had a normal day in Hogwarts, well as normal as one day could be in Hogwarts. It was finally a day where you wouldn't have to constantly look over your shoulder, worrying if the mystery man was behind you or breaking into yours and Sirius' shared bedroom. You were finally able to get back to a normal life, for now anyway.
The next morning you headed down to breakfast with the girls, James and the rest of the boys were already waiting, smiles on their faces as the four of you walked over to them.
"Morning (y/n)." Sirius smiled, patting the space next to him on the bench so you'd know to sit beside him.
"Morning Sirius." You replied. "Was rather a weird sight not waking up next to you."
"Oh christ..." James rolled his eyes at the sight of you both.
"You know my bed is always free if you'd like to join." He smirked back at you.
"Hmm." You turned to look at Remus. "I'd rather share with Remus." Remus' face heated up, his cheeks flushing red as James broke down in laughter meanwhile Sirius just rolled his eyes, huffing as he ate his breakfast.
"Fine go with him then." He sulked like a child, acting as if you'd done something far worse.
"Aww." You leaned closer to him as you whispered to Sirius. "Wouldn't you want to share?"
He let out a small dark chuckle before leaning closer to you. "Oh darling I don't share what's mine." His eyes jumped from yours down to your lips in a heartbeat. "You should know that by now."
"I must have forgotten." You played along. "Perhaps you should find a way to help me remember. Maybe find something to do that'll make sure I won't forget."
"Oh believe me, I can think of many, many ways to make sure you never forget."
"You two make me want to be sick." James announced, waving his fork at you as he ate.
"Only because you're jealous." You smirked.
"Why would I be?"
"Because Evans would never sit anywhere near you." Sirius smiled.
"You're right about that." Lily spoke up as she began to pile food onto her plate.
"C'mon Evans." James whined. "You wouldn't even go on a date with me?"
"I'd rather go on a date with a troll than you!"
"They're basically the same thing anyway." You teased, following suit with her actions, making sure you actually ate before the day started.
"Yeah thank you (y/l/n)." James huffed. "Come on Evans not even a trip to Hogsmeade?"
Lily looked between the girls and then quickly glanced over at James. She was actually considering it. You could read her facial expressions like a book. Lily Evans was honestly thinking about going on a date with James Potter. You always had a small thought in the back of your head that she did in fact like him. She would always bang on about him, even if it was about how much she loathed him and even though you'd done the same thing with Sirius the pair of you had found some sort of middle ground well, to an extend. The pair of you would still argue a lot and he still got on your nerves but the two of you had shared some tender moments, perhaps it was time Lily done the same.
"Go on Lil," You smiled at her. "Give him a chance."
"Then you give Sirius a chance!" She hit back at you.
"Sort of did, he's not so bad although I do prefer Remus."
"I don't blame you." James added fuel to the fire, smiling as he eyed up Sirius who's new expression was now filled with anger.
"Cheers James."
"You're welcome mate." He smiled at his friend. "So what's it gonna be Evans?"
Lily looked at you one last time, you gave her a smile and a reassuring look. "Come on Lily he's not all bad."
"I'll think about it." She returned to her food, still sending a glare at the two of you.
"You won't even go for one butterbeer with him?" Sirius chimed in.
"Only if you and (y/n) go for one."
"Oh we've gone for more than just a butterbeer." He smirked.
"You're gonna make me throw up my food." Remus huffed.
"Oh get over it Moony." Sirius complained. "Just because I can get girls."
"And who said Remus can't?" You jumped in. "I can tell you that many girls would be into him."
"Oh yeah?" Sirius got defensive. "Like who?"
"Mary or Marlene probably." You gestured to the girls.
"He is cute." Marlene smiled.
"Told you." You smirked at Sirius. "Don't get jealous that you aren't the only ladies man around."
"Believe me, I couldn't care less, I've got the girl I want." He whispered down at you.
"Then let's see if you can keep her around." You kept your smirk bright at him, turning back to your food before your lessons started. Lily and the girls started to engage in conversation, you were able to slip away from what they were talking about to engage in conversation with the boys.
"Are we still on for today?" You whispered.
"On for what?" Peter asked, clearly clueless as to what you were alluding to.
"Our library date." James hissed. "We're gonna look into that Riddle bloke, god do you ever pay attention?"
"I do!" Peter spoke up, a rarity for him. "About interesting things."
"Oh and some bloke trying to kill us then telling us that a war is going to take place doesn't interest you?" Sirius joined the conversation.
"Evidently not." You huffed.
"Don't worry Wormtail you'll be the first we drop if we're about to be killed."
"Hmm." He only hummed in response. No one else paid him any mind but you did. His reaction wasn't normal, like he was planning something. Something that seemed like it could endanger you all. Peter was someone you would definitely keep an eye on. One day you'd catch him out, one day.
All of you then headed off to your lesson. Normally the lessons would run smoothly, you'd be threatened by a detention a few times but other than that everything would be fine, normal if you will, something you desperately wanted after everything that had happened. Well, everything was running smoothly until James set Severus on fire, it was an accident, so he claimed but you and pretty much everyone in the year knew that not to be true.
You told Lily you'd meet her at dinner before sprinting off with the boys, the five of you in tears of laughter at what had just happened but the laughter didn't last long when you were told to be quiet from the librarian.
"I swear that woman doesn't know what fun is." James huffed as he watched her walk away, holding a large amount of books in her hand in which she began putting away, finally out of your sights.
"She works in a library of course she doesn't know what fun is." Sirius joined in.
"Library's are fun." You snapped your head to narrow your gaze at him as the five of you made your ways to one of the tables. Taking out your notes on what you had to research you sat down and spread them around everyone.
"I agree with (y/n)." Remus smiled.
"Thank you Remus." You returned the smile.
"Of course he agrees with you." Sirius huffed. "What's all this then?"
"My notes, they're about what Theo said and what we need to find out. We need to find this wizard he was talking about."
"I think that Tom Riddle guy is a fake." James started talking. "I mean, he's just one of those edgy wizards that want attention."
"I wouldn't exactly call the man that is supposed to be starting a war an 'edgy wizard' but I guess that could be his code name if we didn't want anyone listening in or to know what we were talking about." You suggested.
"That might not be a bad idea." Remus agreed.
"What can I say?" James smiled. "I'm not just a pretty face."
"Yeah you're also a prat." Sirius added.
"Charming Sirius but can you drop it for an hour or so? We need to find out more."
"I think we should look into the teachers more." Remus said, looking around at you all. "He said we couldn't trust anyone so who can we really trust? Are we even safe with teachers anymore?"
"McGongall, we can trust McGonagall." You replied.
"How do you know?" James asked.
"It's McGonagall." Sirius replied. "The woman is a legend of course we can trust her, at this point she is the only one we can trust."
"We can trust the girls." You added, "I know they'd never do anything to harm us."
"Well at least we know not everyone is going to kill us." James answered. As the conversation grew you watched as the librarian walked past you all, keeping her head down she disappeared into the staff bathroom, now was your chance.
"Sirius come with me, you lot go look through the books." You jumped up.
"Where are you going?" Remus asked like a displeased dad.
"Restricted section -"
"But you can't go in there," Peter complained. "It's restricted."
"You are a smart one aren't you Peter?" You hissed, sending him a glare. "What that old hag in there doesn't know won't hurt her." You grabbed Sirius' wrist and pulled him along with you. "Find out what you can!" You whisper yelled back as you dragged Sirius in between the book cases.
"You know if you wanted me on your own you could have just said." He smirked.
"Shut up and start searching." Ignoring him you quickly began to search. "Tell me when you find something."
"Are you okay?" Sirius asked suddenly, the question alone catching you off guard.
"I'm sorry?"
"You heard, are you okay?" He asked, taking a step closer to you. "After everything that's happened recently I need to know if you're okay."
"I'm fine Sirius." In one swift motion he quickly moved closer to you, grabbing your hands and pulling you into his chest.
"Promise me that you are and if anything gets too much you tell me, yes?" His grey eyes held no lies, he really did care. His thumbs darted back and forth across the tops of your hand. "(Y/n)..."
"I promise you, I'm okay." You smiled up at him.
"Isn't this a sweet moment?" A voice sounded from behind you. Jumping apart from Sirius you turned around only to be met with a dark expression which belonged to none other than Regulus Black.
———
A/N: I am so sorry I disappeared for a while. I took time off as I was going back to uni and just wanted to spend time with family and friend, not to mention I had 9 assignments due last week and one due in soon. I plan to get that one done in the next few days so after that the regular updates should be running smooth again. I hope you're all safe and well :)