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LITTLE REALIZATIONS
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"WHAT'S GOTTEN YOU MOODY?" Sirius yelled over the loud music, noticing that James has been quietly taking shots of fire whiskey rather than showing off to everyone.

"It's nothing, just tired!"
He replied, watching as Sirius retreats and returns to his guests.

James had been thinking of this particular thought for months now, and he's got no one to talk to about it. Sirius would somehow let it slip, Remus would throw hints about this and say things out of line.. Peter on the other hand...

He's a loyal guy, James thought. Running his hand through his hair, the young man set off to find Peter Pettigrew.

Navigating through the crowds of dancing bodies, a few snogging on the dance floor as he made from one side to the other.

Jusy before he could escape, a hand stopped him,

"James? Where are you going?"
Dorcas asked, a puff of smoke going over his face.

"Have you seen Peter?"

"Should be by the drink area!"
He thanked the girl--who had slightly red eyes--and found Peter.
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"Party is great, huh?"
James sighed,

"Yeah... Now, what's up with you?"
Peter had a suspicion. He doesn't look like it, but he's smart. Especially in reading body language, and he could see how James is nervous about something.

"Nothing.. Just a shame the girls didn't come."

"You mean Lily and Gambit? Yeah, they're drowning in school work--"
It clicked. James had wanted to talk about the two girls.

Peter slung his arm around James, offering him a shot.
"Alright mate, what's gotten you in a frenzy you're stuck between two girls?"

It went silent for a moment. James contemplated saying it but he just had to.

"I think... I mean, I might not like Evans anymore," He felt lighter than before, getting this off his chest as he downed the shot he was offered. And to his dismay, Peter snorted, thinking it was a joke.

"Wait.. You aren't laughing. Why aren't--you're serious...?"

Peter gasped,
"But you've liked Lily ever since, what, third year?"

"I don't know, whenever she's around I don't feel the same anymore.."

James couldn't explain it but rather, his heart that once beat for Lily had stopped beating in an abnormal speed. His palms weren't sweating like an asscrack in a sunny afternoon, and he felt more... Easy when she's next to him.

"I think... I think I finally see her as a friend--or a best friend."

"This isn't because she rejected you again, right?"
Peter asked, making sure James wasn't being dramatic.

"No, I think this is actually me finally moving on..!"
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Gambit never got the chance to attend the party. It's already been two days after and she's still swarmed with Charms essay and Potion brewing and now her third and fourth year exams are coming up.

But did she study? No.

What did she do? She had a picnic with Lily and Xenophilius by the Black lake, as she ate cake while tears streamed down her face.

"Those exams were really easy!"
Lily consoled her friend,

"But you're the top of every class..! Of course it was easy for you!"
Gambit cried harder, gulping a piece of blueberry.

"I'm sure you'd be fine, Perryl, you have a good memory. I'm sure you'd remember every answer for each question," This seemed to calm her down, how she remembered she's good at memorization.

"That's true.."
She mumbled with a spoonful of cake in her mouth. Finally getting motivation, she opened up her book. Reading and crying while she ate cake.
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The two friends found it rather odd to see Regulus Black approach the crying girl, gave her a sneer and passed pieces of paper to her. She exchanged the papers for a few scrolls of parchment to him, which were labeled as Herbology notes.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

Lily was bewildered. No one, and she means no one has ever interacted with Regulus Black without a fight breaking out.

Xenophilius was somewhat shocked, but he already had a reason why the two are in good terms.

"Well, Perryl is very tolerable. I'm sure Arcturus wouldn't mind hanging around her,"
The two boys are friendly with eachother, hence why Xeno calling Regulus his middle name.

"I shouldn't be shocked, they're both Slytherins. Of course they'd get along,"
Lily shrugged.
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James approached Gambit, swinging an arm around her as eyes from the other Slytherins glare at the Gryffindor.

"Calm down gents and ladies, I'm not causing trouble," He smiled, raising his hand defensively.

Gambit just left him alone, trying to learn more as much as she can because in any minute, it's time for her exams.

"What's gotten you in a twist?"

"I have exams, James.. I'm not in the mood for games right now," She huffed, flipping a page.

Professor McGonagall had excused her for the whole day, letting her professors know she won't be in class today.

A pair of heels clacked down the halls and Gambit could feel her impending doom.

"Do you have your cloak with you?!"
Gambit panicked, thinking she hadn't learned enough yet.

"It's just exams, I'm sure you'd be fine!"

His eyes caught the Professor's eyes, commanding him to drag Gambit out of her seat and send her off.

James struggled a bit, with how much Gambit didn't want to do her exams yet, she clinged on for dear life at the table, but alas, James summoned his hound dogs--Remus, Sirius and Peter--and they dragged the poor girl away.

The entirety of the Great hall watched in silence as this went down.