𝕰aster Morning, 1976.
"Luna!" Four voices simultaneously woke me up from my slumber, jumping on to my bed in my room. "It's Easter!"
"I know" I mumbled, cuddling into the body that was closest to me, wrapping my arms over him, "Padfoot, you're very comfortable"
"Glad to be of service, M" The boy chuckled, ruffling my hair, "Come on, we have to go on the egg hunt!"
"Oh, we're still doing that" Peter voiced from the foot of the bed. Every year, Monty and Mia would hide easter eggs around the manor and outside, and we would spend the entire morning trying to find them without using magic. It became more of a competition who could collect the most, Remus and I were champions, we could sniff them out.
"Of course we're still doing that Wormy, what else would we do?" James replied in an obvious tone, "Come on, Elodyyy"
"I'm up" I muttered, feeling someone drag me out of bed from behind, prying me off Sirius. They placed me down, holding me up as I kept my eyes closed, them lifting my arms and shrugging on some fabric over my body. "Thank you"
He pressed a kiss to my lips, before I pushed him away, opening my eyes to glare playfully at him, everyone laughing at the two of us.
"I told you it was a one time thing"
"One time that happens over and over"
"No"
"Come on, let's go" Remus declared, getting off the bed and walking towards the door of my room, all of them in checked pjs and sweatshirts, in Remus and I's case, knitted sweaters. I put my brown converse on, James crouching down and tying them into small bows for me.
"Thank you"
He winked at me, before throwing me over his shoulder, making me yelp at him, not expecting him to do that.
"James!" I laughed, as he carried me through the manor, down the stairs to where everyone was gathered in the living room.
"Enjoying the view?"
"Not much to view"
"I'll drop you"
"No, you won't, because i'll land on my neck, snap it and then die. You'll be sorry then but it will be too late, i'll be in hell and you'll be on your sorry arse crying-"
"Very thorough, thank you Melody. James put her down, not on her neck if possible" Monty put in, James placing me down on the floor, holding my shoulders when I nearly fell over.
"Sirius calm yourself down" Mia muttered, the boy shaking with anticipation, he was determined to win.
"I think that we should get a headstart. They win every year, and their chocoholics and they sniff them out" James commented, nudging me with a smirk.
"You're just upset because I beat you and collected the last one when you were stood next to it" I returned, nudging him back.
"How about you do it in teams this year?"
"There's five of us though, it won't be even"
"The person with James on their team needs an extra anyway"
"Child abuse!" James yelled, pointing at his parents.
"That's not child abuse, child abuse is getting tortured for speaking when you aren't supposed to" Sirius said causally, everyone silent for a few moments, blinking at him, "I call M"
"Okay, Sirius and Melody, against Remus, James and Peter" Monty declared, Sirius grinning and moving towards me.
"Hope you won't be a sour wolf when you lose, El" Remus voiced, staring down at me, a mischievous glint in his honey eyes.
"You've already lost dear brother if you feel the need to speak such words. I don't know the definition of loosing" I remarked, staring back up at him, Sirius giving me a high five.
"Well then you're just stupid"
"You want to go there?" I quizzed the messy haired boy, folding my arms over my chest.
"Erm I don't think so? Yes- wait no-"
"Go" Monty and Mia shouted, Sirius and I rushing off after we distracted James, him watching us walking away still trying to answer the question until Remus dragged him away.
"Sniff them out, M" Sirius coached, the two of us beginning outside to collect as many as we could before going inside. I smelled the rich chocolate smell, instantly speeding off in a direction, Sirius following on my heels.
One by one, I placed them in the basket in Sirius hands, the other boys coming outside as we left to go inside, looking for more, without letting them see how many we had. We had twelve eggs so far out of the twenty. We would then separate them between the five of us, meaning we had four each which was plenty enough.
"Got one, over there in the fruit bowl" Sirius pointed out as I grabbed one from behind the bookshelf, placing it in the basket, "That's fourteen out of twenty, does that mean-"
"They've only got six" I burst into laughter, calling Monty and Mia over, "We have fourteen, there's no way they can win"
"Fantastic time, you beat your record Melody. Let them search for a bit longer, you can sit down and have some coffee"
The two of us sat down at the table, Mia pouring my coffee for me just the way I like it, Sirius resting with a smirk on his face. Around ten minutes later, the three trotted inside with the basket in their hands, noticing the two of us sat there,
"Oh have you given up?" James smirked, trying to eye our basket on the floor. I kept my face straight to not give it away.
"We couldn't find anymore" I feigned upset, Sirius wiping a tear from his cheek.
"I told you we would win!" Peter cheered, Remus raising an eyebrow at the two of us.
"They've already won" He huffed, pulling a chair out and plopping himself down on it.
"What?! How do you know?"
"We've only got six, do you really think they would stop looking?" Remus said flatly, slurping his coffee up in a mood.
"Yes, a new record"
"I want to be on Elody's team next year, Moony you're rubbish" James grumbled, sitting at the table, Remus flipping him off.
"No way, I've claimed M now, there's no going back" Sirius shook his head, giving me a high five.
"Dream team, Siri" I responded, lifting our basket up, "Fourteen easter eggs. Try not to be a sour wolf, Remmy, I already know you're familiar with the term losing"
"You cheated!"
"How did I cheat?!"
"You are a werewolf"
"So are you!"
"I wasn't feeling wolfy today"
"You weren't feeling wolfy? Really? You don't feel wolfy any time you are a wolf. I'm just a better one" I acknowledged, flipping my hair over my shoulder.
"We'll get them next year, Moony" Peter tried, his eyes on the chocolate in the basket.
"I'm going to go and get ready" I told them, scraping my chair back and kissing the top of James' head before walking out the kitchen and heading for my bedroom.
"Oh, you're whipped" Sirius chuckled at James who watched the girl leave, dodging the easter eggs being hurdled at him repeatedly.
•••
I had a nice hot shower, allowing the scolding water to trickle down me, as I lathered the shampoo on my hair. I hummed a soft tune, washing my body with my vanilla body wash before turning the water off and wrapping the white, fluffy towel around me.
"Heyy- oh I- uh um, sorry." James stuttered, turning around when I walked out of the bathroom, putting his fingers over his eyes, even though I knew he was peaking. I laughed, shaking my head at him, grabbing the bag with the dress on and some underwear i'd be able to wear underneath. "I just came to see you"
"I can see that"
"Are you putting that dress on?"
"I am" I nodded, heading back into the bathroom to get changed. I let my hair down for the time being, the wet strands framing my face. I pulled on my underwear and the dress, the low zip at the back more difficult than I thought to reach. I bit my lip, knowing what I was going to have to do. "James?"
"Yeah?" He called from inside my bedroom, presumably walking towards the door.
"Can you help me with the zip, please?" I asked him, opening the door slightly. He nodded, entering the bathroom and closing the door behind him. His eyes widened when he saw the dress, scanning up and down my figure. I felt a blush on my cheeks from his reaction, a funny feeling bubbling inside me.
He swallowed thickly, moving behind me, the both of us facing the mirror. He carefully ran his fingers down my bare back, causing me to shiver before he zipped up the small zip at the back. My bare back still on show from the dress. I felt my heart beat pick up when he grazed his fingers along the scar I knew ran from my shoulder blade to my mid back, the contact sending electric coursing through my veins.
"You're beautiful" He whispered, moving my wet hair to one side and kissing my neck softly, leaving his lips lingering on the sensitive skin. I used that moment to observe him in the mirror, he was wearing a pair of jeans and a white shirt, the top couple of buttons open revealing his chest. Mia definitely did this on purpose, we were matching. His hair was as messy as usual, the way I love it, his framed glasses rested on his face. "Do you know what would make you look even more beautiful, if it was at all possible?"
I shook my head, knitting my eyebrows together. He put his hand in his pocket, pulling out a long, black, velvet box. My heart skipped a few beats, my eyes shifting up to meet his. "James I-"
"It's a gift, Lunes. I saw it and immediately thought of you. You're my girl and I-I uh want you to have it" He mumbled, running a hand through his hair nervously. I was his girl. His girl.
He opened up the box, my breath getting caught up in my throat. The box revealed a sparkling, silver locket with a crescent moon and a heart engraved on it. He opened it up, revealing a picture of me and him that someone had taken at one of the parties, the same day of Sirius' one he showed Monty and Mia but this time we were just gazing into each other's eyes. On the back it had a J and M engraved into it in neat handwriting. I glanced up to him, my heart bursting with love and adoration for him.
"Do you like it? I can change it if-"
"I adore it" I cut him off, reaching up and kissing his lips affectionately, "no one's ever got me something like this before"
"I'd hope not" He mumbled under his breath, a light laugh escaping my lips. He smiled whole heartedly, turning me around and putting it on me, his hot breath fanning the back of my neck when he clasped it shut. "Elody, I-"
"Yeah?" I whispered, twirling around the face him again, my hands on the locket as I stared up into his pretty hazel eyes, losing myself in the swirling caramel.
"I-I-"
"Prongs, M are you in here? We're all waiting for you" We heard Sirius quiz from inside my bedroom, James closing his eyes briefly before opening them again.
"I'll wait for you downstairs, my love" He told me, kissing my cheek before exiting the bathroom and closing the door behind him. My love. He called me my love, not just love. I sighed, brushing through my damp hair, my eyes fixated on the locket. James Potter, what are you doing to me?
"You were about to tell her, weren't you?" Sirius squeezed his eyes shut guiltily, the two boys heading out of the girl's room, downstairs to everyone else.
"Yep" He sighed, rubbing his hand over his forehead, "Cheers, Padfoot"
"Don't blame me, I didn't know. Otherwise I wouldn't have come looking for you" Sirius defended, raising his hands up, "Did you give her the locket?"
"Yep" He repeated, arriving at the living room where he saw his mum and dad and the rest of the boys sat on the couches, drinking his mum's special cocktails. He breathed out, sitting down on the couch, tapping his fingers on his leg waiting for her. Her, his girl. The girl he was in love with and still hadn't managed to tell her. He had just missed the most perfect opportunity.
•••
I came down the steps, listening to soft laughter and voices talking, after I'd finished my hair and makeup. I walked into the living room, everyone pausing their conversations to stare at me, James' eyes on the locket. Mia's eyes on the locket, a smirk on her face and Remus' eyes on the locket and eyebrow raised in question.
"Hi" I said, not knowing what else to say.
"Melody, dear, I told you that dress would look perfect on you, and look I was right. Aren't I, James?" Mia commented, tapping her son's arm.
"Yeah" He breathed out, sipping his drink.
"You look pretty, Luna" Peter complimented, a smile on his face.
"Thank you, Wormy"
"I still don't understand those nicknames" Monty hummed, all of us exchanging a look, "You look lovely, Melody"
"Thank you, Monty. It was all Mia"
"Like I said, Mia you have good taste" Sirius chirped, grinning at me.
"It's a bit revealing" Remus muttered, rolling his eyes when Mia sent him a look, "You look stunning, El"
"I know, Remmy"
"El" He warned, his eyes softening when Sirius tapped his arm, distracting him from the name. Monty and Mia left to check on dinner, leaving the five of us in the room. I sat down beside James, him lifting his arm and draping it over my shoulder, bringing me into the side of his body. Peter, Sirius and Remus began a conversation about the cocktail, guessing the ingredients, whilst James and I sat there in silence, his fingers grazing my skin as he brushed his fingers up and down my arm.
"What did you want to say earlier?" I queried quietly, leaning my head against his.
"I can't remember" He replied. I hummed, not believing him but deciding not to press any further on the subject and enjoying the moment instead. "There's no cherries in it" He added to the boy's conversation, all three of them turning to him with a frown.
"It tastes like cherries"
"There's no cherries in it"
"How do you know?"
"Mum hates cherries, she was once sick after eating some and swore to never taste one again. She refuses to buy them"
"I told you there was no cherries"
"There's no blackberries either"
"What? Is Mia sick off them too?"
"No, dad's extremely allergic" James returned, "His throat closes up within seconds and he can't breathe"
"You've had experience with this?" Remus questioned, James knowing a lot of detail about the allergy.
"Yeah, it happened when I was seven at a restaurant. He ordered a drink with them in without knowing" He shrugged, continuing to trace small patterns on my skin, "There's alcohol in it"
"And that, my friends, is why Mia is my favourite mum" Sirius proclaimed, downing his drink and standing up to head into the kitchen.
"Do you want to go out for a little walk around the gardens later? Just us?" James whispered in my ear, pressing a delicate kiss to my temple afterwards.
"Yeah, sounds good"
•••
We spent the day playing games and listening to muggle music, dancing around together. The five of us put on a little show for Monty and Mia having not sung together in a long while, and we were now popular for it at Hogwarts. The night fell, the crescent moon had become visible high in the sky, Monty and Mia heading to bed, as did Peter as he was feeling a bit tired.
"You want to go now?" I mumbled to him, my head rested against his chest as we sat in the living room in front of the fire, Sirius and Remus on the other couch, sitting quite close together.
He hummed, beginning to stand up when I leaned off him, much to the confusion of the other two.
"Where are you going?"
"Outside for a bit. Just us. No distractions" James told them, emphasising the last part. Sirius slowly nodded, before presenting a huge grin on his face. Weird.
I opened my mouth to say something, only to be dragged away by the boy to outside the manor. He placed his denim jacket over my shoulders to keep me warm, his scent enveloping me again. We strolled around the gardens together, our fingers laced together, before he sat down on a bench, the moon and stars in clear sight up above. I placed myself down beside him, snuggling into his side, the heat radiating off his body keeping me warm.
"Elody, I need to tell you something" He murmured, my heart stopping beating for a few seconds. What did I do? Did I upset him? Does he not want to be with me anymore? I can't just be friends with him again, not now i've fallen for him.
"Okay" I gulped slightly, lifting my head up to look at him, the moonlight reflecting in his glasses.
"You know in third year when Lily had told me I would never be good enough and I was a horrible person? And then you came to me and we baked them cookies and you tried to take my mind off it by starting weird conversations like if a zebra was black with white stripes or white with black stripes..."
"Yeah?" I questioned, not sure as to where this was heading however smiling at the memory anyway, "James?" I called after a few moments, I could almost see the thoughts spinning around in his mind, "Whatever's on your mind, ignore it, tell me what you want to say"
"You told me you loved me and that you would always be there for me, no matter what and I instantly felt better in that moment because I knew I had a brilliant best friend. The thing is, I ended up falling for you and falling hard and you're not just my best friend anymore, you're my girlfriend..." He went on, a bubbly feeling inside my stomach building up from his words.
He lifted his hand up to my face, caressing my cheek. I leaned into his touch, admiring his affection towards me. His eyes drifted down to the locket, a newfound courage running through his veins. He was a Gryffindor, he could do anything. I stayed silent, allowing to continue what he needed to, giving him time to let the words form on his tongue.
"And here we are under the moon and stars, my little moon, and I-I can tell you that I'm completely in love with you" He breathed out, my body freezing from the words that spilled out of his mouth. He was in love with me. James Potter, my best friend and boyfriend was in love with me. "Y-you don't have to say anything, I know it's too soon and you're probably just-"
"Say it again" I stopped his rambling, wanting to hear him say it again, just so I know I didn't imagine it.
"What?" He asked almost inaudibly, his heart beat picking up in his chest, his hand still holding my face.
"Say it again"
"I-i'm completely in love with you"
"I'm completely in love with you" I replied, thousands of butterflies in my stomach dancing wildly.
"Yeah, that's what I said"
"No, James, you misunderstand me. I'm in love with you, entirely" I reiterated, a smile lighting up his face, my heart melting inside my chest.
"You are?"
"I am" I nodded, a smile on my face. He crashed his lips on to mine eagerly, his soft one's coming in to contact with mine. I immediately returned the kiss, pouring everything I felt in to him.
Falling in love with someone is the most powerful, amazing yet dangerous things. There's many ways you could end up by falling in love, you could end up hurt, left empty and broken for the rest of your life. Or you could continue loving that person till the very end of your existence, to be together for forever and eternity. We didn't care about that now, we were in the moment and there was no point worrying and contemplating the future because we would miss the now. James was in love with me and I was in love with him. That's all we knew and that was all we could ever need to know because it was our deep connection and love that would keep us bonded together. If there was anyone to fall in love with, I was glad it was him. My best friend.
He rested his forehead on mine, trying to catch his breath after the kiss, both our eyes fluttered closed, listening to each other's soft breaths in the silent night.
"I love you" He whispered, opening his orbs, peering them into mine, the flecks of green looking particularly prominent tonight.
"I love you" I returned, pressing my lips on to his again, savouring the moment between us. He sent me a goofy grin when we pulled away, making a smile etch its way on to my face again, "Speaking of moon and stars, you know they have their faces pressed up against the window watching, right?"
"Of course they are, why wouldn't they? We are the prettiest people to ever exist"
"Sirius would beg to differ"
"As long as you don't, I can cope with that"
"You are the prettiest, most handsome boy I've ever laid my eyes on, James Potter" I stated, laughing gently.
"You are the prettiest, most gorgeous girl in the world, and I adore having you as mine, Melody Lupin"
"Elody" I whispered, correcting him. He always called me Elody, not like anyone else.
"Elody" He nodded, opening his arms for me. I climbed on to his lap, wrapping my arms around him, the both of us feeling the need to be close together.
"Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier? When you gave me the locket?" I queried, feeling him rake his fingers through me hair.
"Yeah. Then Sirius happened"
"Sirius is always happening" I mumbled, feeling the vibrations in his chest from his low laugh at my comment, "He's still at the window"
"Probably complaining to Moony that I'm stealing you away from him"
"I'm sure Rem could fill my position quite well"
"I agree"
•3824 words•