╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ♡ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
BATTLE SCARS
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ♡ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

LILY, XENOPHILIUS AND GAMBIT spent their afternoon together as they'd comfort Gambit.

"If you want to walk around, you can give this to Dorcas on the way," the boy gave her a small bag filled with green leafies.

"What is this..?"
Gambit already knew but wanted confirmation.

"Just leaves."

The three laughed, knowing it wasn't just leaves. This made people have a good time alone or together with others.
⠀

⠀⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀

The Slytherin walked around on campus, while also looking around for Dorcas.

While loitering, she bumped into Marlene.

Awkward tension surrounded them.

"Hi.."

"Hey, Perryl..."
Marlene clasped her hands together.

Gambit smiled, hinting she was going, but they both walked in the same direction--blocking each other.

"Oh! Yeah, okay, I'll go--you go right and I go left."

"Right, yeah."

It didn't work, they still blocked each other.

"No, like, I go to my left and you also go to your left...?"

"Got it."

A side step and they were clear. They laughed softly and separated, bit long after, Gambit spotted Dorcas alone.

"Hey, Gaunt!"

"Hello..! Xeno wanted to give this to you," She handed the bag discreetly, "Said he charged you five Sickles?"

"Ah, thanks girl, here. Five sickles and an additional chocolate frog," the girl with tan skin smiled, getting a piece of paper out her pocket, "You wanna try?"

"Oh no, thank you. I'd better get going, I'll see you--"

"Hello there ladies! Dorcas, Gambit."
James smirked, wrapping an arm around her.

"Oh Jesus, James.. Keep your hands off!"
Gambit struggled as they walked together, his weight was heavy on her.

"Right. What do you say, to going with me to Hogsmeade this weekend?"

"Hogsmeade? Well, I guess I can.. I haven't been there since I've been busy with school."

"I need a definite yes if you're going with me," James teased, waiting for her answer as they walked, "I've gotten a plan to talk to Lily already, so don't worry."

"As long as you don't talk to Lily, I'll only be treating you as a friend."

"Oh.. So once I talk to her you'll be treating me as something more?"
His glasses reflected the lights, eyes melting all over the girl as she felt heat rush to her face and neck down.

"Yeah, well..! I mean, you're a good friend!"

"Just a friend?"

This conversation seemed familiar to the both of them.

"We're.. We're best friends!"
Gambit stuck her tongue out.

"Touché," the boy sighed, spotting his group of friends as they neared the Black lake, "I'll see you later then, got some business to attend to," he ran off--not before blowing a kiss to Gambit, making the girl roll her eyes.
⠀

⠀⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
The day moved slowly, the Slytherin laying flat on her back, hair sprawled out as Xenophilius places small flower on her hair intricately as Lily peirces his ear with a somewhat clean needle.

"You're good with pain, Xeno. Gotten piercings before?"

"I have, but the holes closed up. Also, I've gotten a few stick and pokes, look," He cuffs his pant leg, showing a small moon and a flower beside it, "Got it when Dorcas and I smoked some rolls. Always thought if I had a daughter, I'd name her Luna."

"That's nice--oh, when I have a son, I think Harry is a nice name. Or maybe Rosette for a girl,"

"Rosette? That's... Nice, I guess--"
Gambit snorted, Rosette wasn't that nice of a name.

"Hey! I said if. I'm not even sure if I'd want to have kids, especially since I'd work in the ministry," Lily paused to put the earring through, a small green crystal that hangs with silver bands and wires around it.

"Well, if you won't have kids, I guess I'll name them with the names you like,"

"You better make us the godparents!"
Lily and Xeno hugged sideways, the red head pressing a kiss on his cheek.

"Definitely!"
⠀

⠀⊱ ──────ஓ๑♡๑ஓ ────── ⊰

⠀
It was a quiet evening. Dinner had just started but Gambit had skipped it, not really hungry as she spent time alone in the common room, reading a book as the green games crackled in the fireplace.

Unknown to the fact a certain secret passage had opened, with a figure approaching her from behind.

Hands covered her eyes,
"Guess who?"

The girl giggled, already recognizing the voice that spoke.
"I wonder who..? Maybe... Granger?"

The boy gasped filled with offense, making the girl laugh.

"How could you..?!"

"I am dreadfully sorry, mister! I had thought wrong!"

Sirius sat down, patting the girl's leg. They stayed silent, leaning on eachother as they watched the fire grow and shrink in size.

"You know, I noticed you and my brother talking and being friendly.." He paused, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of her hand, "Are you two friends...?"

"It's up to him if he sees me as a friend. But yeah, I think we are..."

"That's nice."

A comforting silence entouraged them, the two of them never got a one on one like this as they were in a big group whenever they were together--never alone with eachother--as their friendship started to form,

"I appreciate you looking out for him--"

"It's fine. No big deal really, but... Why aren't you?"

"Huh?"
Sirius knew what she was getting at, but didn't know what to answer.

"You should talk to your brother, Sirius. Because based on the way he talks about you seems like he doesn't hate you, per se.. Maybe a little hint of dislike, but he still admires you."

"Why? Did he say something?"

"It isn't about if he said something, it's about how his eyes light up when talking about his older brother and how he tries to deny ever admiring you," Gambit noticed whenever they'd talk about Sirius, Regulus would try and calm himself before talking about him. This gave her the feeling there were some slight misunderstandings.

"You should talk to him. It could help him get out of trouble or some bad decisions he might make,"

Sirius looked at her, smiling softly. He gave her one last hug before leaving. Saying he'll try and sort things out with him again.