"You have to go," James pointed out.

Romi rolled her eyes as she threw another pebble into the lake and watched as it bounced on the surface a few times before sinking. James had found her sitting by the lake and had been trying to convince her to go to Sirius's birthday party which was to take place the following evening. Sirius and Romi had yet to make up from their fight. Though, one couldn't really call it a fight.

"I don't have to do anything," she pointed out, leaving her pile of pebbles untouched as she began to pull the grass up. She was stubborn as always, but this time with good reason. He would say things when he was upset and this time he had gone too far. And maybe she was so upset because there was some truth to it.

James frowned, "He's your friend."

"No, you're my friend," she countered. "He's yours and Remus's friend."

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Then what changed?"

"Nothing changed," she shook her head. "Would you stop asking?"

He remained silent at this. When she concluded that he had nothing more to say, she stood up.

"Where are you going?" he asked in confusion.

She glanced back at him, "You coming?"

He watched her for a moment before hopping up and off the ground. He followed her in confusion, "Where are we going?"

"To the lake."

"The lake?" he asked. "Why - No."

"What?"

"You aren't seriously considering swimming in there, are you?" he asked and she came to a stop at the edge of the pier. "You don't know what's in there! There's the giant squid and Grindylows and Merpeople and-"

"James," she interrupted, "It'll be fine." She grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. He looked off to the side and she rolled her eyes, "I used to do Quidditch training in a sports bra. It's nothing you haven't seen before."

A blush made its way onto her face and it was obvious despite how dark it was outside, "Yes but that was two years ago. Now you're more..."

"Developed?" she finished for him, an amused expression on her face. He was the easiest person to tease. She could do something so simple and his face would turn bright red. She loved it. "I appreciate you being respectful, Potter, but I don't care. If I did care, I wouldn't have taken the shirt off or I would have asked you to turn around."

He kept his sight away from the girl and she rolled her eyes. She pulled down her pants and tossed them to the side where her shirt was. She raised an eyebrow as he kept his sight away from her and she undid her bra from the back before slipping it off.

"Really?" he inquired and she shrugged.

She tossed her undergarments to the side. She turned to the water and dove in, the cold water stinging her skin but she didn't mind it all that much.

"Are you coming in?" Romi asked, her shoulder and head the only part of her above water. James turned to look at her, "You going to leave a girl alone out here?"

"Turn around," he requested and she obeyed. What the hell was he getting himself into?

When she heard the water splash and James suck in a breath at the cold water, she turned around. "See?" she mused, "Not so bad."

He swam closer to her, "It's freezing."

"It's not that cold," she countered and he shot her a pointed look to which she grinned. "It could be colder."

"We're going to get frostbite."

"We have magic," she shrugged, "Frostbite is nothing."

He rolled his eyes, "I forgot who I was talking to for a minute." She splashed water at him and he gasped dramatically, "That was uncalled for."

"It was so called for," she countered before splashing him again. He splashed her back which resulted in them getting into a water fight of sorts.

James got a hold of her wrists, preventing her from splashing him again, "I think that's enough."

"I disagree," she replied, her leg grazing against his. Despite the freezing water surrounding them, her body was on fire.

They were both now acutely aware of just how close they were. And just how naked they were too. Romi scanned his face for a moment and he watched her. They both leaned closer to each other and-

"Do my eyes deceive me or is that James and Romi in the lake naked?" Marlene gaped. The two's heads shot up to where the girl stood on the dock, an amused expression on her face and her arms crossed over her chest. She bent down and picked up Romi's pile of clothes. "I've been meaning to take this shirt back."

"No, Marlene, don't!" Romi shouted as she tried to swim to the dock but she wasn't fast enough. Marlene flashed a grin before she sprinted from the dock and back to the castle. "Bloody hell," she muttered.

James swam up beside the girl, "She left my clothes."

"Good for you."

James rolled his eyes as he placed his palms on the edge of the deck. Romi turned around as the boy hopped out. He pulled on the sweats and tshirt he had been wearing and left his hoodie and boxers on the edge for the girl. "It should work for the walk from here to the common room."

He turned away, facing the castle so the girl could get out. She huffed before pulling herself out of the water. She slipped the boxers on along with the sweatshirt. "I feel ridiculous," she informed him, pulling the boxers up higher and rolling them so they wouldn't fall. They were far too big.

He turned around with an amused expression on his face, "Well, you could streak naked through the school. That would be a sight."

"Oh, shut up," she grumbled as she crossed her arms over her chest and walked past the boy. She was quick to warm up, given her werewolf nature. But all she could focus on was the fact that they almost kissed.

"Lighten up," he suggested as he followed after her. "It could be a lot worse."

"You're dressed in normal clothes," she reminded him, "You don't look like this."

"It's a good thing too," he replied, "I don't think I could make it work as much as you do." She whacked him on the arm and he laughed, "Like I said, it could be worse."

"Caput Draconis," Romi said and the portrait door swung open. She started toward the stairs that led to the girl's dorms, "I'll see you in the morning."

"I have detention," he reminded her. "But I'll see you at the party?" he asked hopefully.

"I'll think about it."

Romi had ended up sleeping through the whole day. Apparently she had been more tired than she thought. She had fallen asleep thinking of their almost kiss and had woken up with it still on her mind.

By the time she made her way downstairs, the party was in full swing. As soon as her foot landed on the last step, someone grabbed a hold of her hand and was dragging her off.

"We're playing Never Have I Ever," Lily explained as they arrived at where the circle of their friends were.

"Lovely," Romi muttered in response as Lily took a seat next to Marlene. Romi took a seat in the space between James and Peter.

"I thought you weren't going to come," James admitted as he poured her a shot glass and handed it to her.

Romi had her eyes narrowed on the boy, "I just woke up."

He raised an eyebrow, "It's nine o'clock."

"And?"

He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, focusing his attention back on the game.

"Never have I ever had a one night stand," someone said and Romi rolled her eyes. She had no idea who the person was and assumed that they came from another house. She downed her shot before sticking the glass out to James.

He refilled it before refilling the others. Sirius, Marlene and Mary were the only others to take a shot.

"Never have I ever had a threesome," Mary said. Romi must have missed the rule about them all being sexual matters. There were two people in the group that Romi didn't recognize and they were the only two to take a shot.

"Never have I ever gone skinny dipping," Marlene said, her gaze flickering over to Romi and James momentarily before she looked around at the rest of the group. She raised her shot glass to her lips and downed it.

"You're supposed to say something you haven't done," Romi pointed out, her eyes narrowed.

"There isn't anything of interest that I haven't done," she shrugged.

Romi rolled her eyes before she too, raised the glass to her lips and downed it. No matter how often she drank, she wasn't sure she'd ever get used to the burning sensation as it slid down her throat.

"Nobody else?" Marlene looked over at James expectantly, "Potter?"

"Hmm," he replied, looking up from his drink. "What?"

The blonde smirked slightly, "I think you're supposed to take a shot now."

"You have gone skinny dipping?" Sirius gaped at the boy he thought he knew so well. "You? James Potter?" James narrowed his eyes on Marlene before he downed the shot with a grimace. He knew he shouldn't have played this game. "Here I was thinking I knew everything about you."

James huffed, placing the glass on the ground rather roughly. The cup shattered causing the two sensitive eared ones in the group to jump. "Sorry," he muttered before pulling out his wand and cleaning it up. "I was coerced."

Marlene snorted, "More like seduced."

James placed his head in his hands as Sirius grinned, "What do you know?"

She shrugged, "Guess we'll have to keep playing to find out."

"How about something more interesting?" Sirius suggested, raising his glass slightly. "We could play Veritasium or Dare."

"I like the sound of that," she nodded. She stood up, "I'll be back with the goods."

The girl vanished, leaving everyone alone in the circle. "I think I'm going to head to bed," Romi announced. This was not a game she was interested in playing.

"The game hasn't even started yet and you're already chickening out?" Mary inquired. "What is it that you're hiding?"

"Nothing," she replied, "I'm an open book. I'm just tired."

"Stay for at least a round or two," Lily suggested, "What's the worst that could happen?" Romi glanced over at her brother who shared the same expression. You have no idea.

"Fine," she agreed, adjusting her position so that her legs were crossed under her. "Only a few rounds."

"I'm back," Marlene announced, a bottle in hand. "Rules are simple. It's Truth or Dare but on a Truth, you take a sip of this," she held up the bottle, "The effects will last for about thirty seconds, long enough for us to get the question out and for the target to answer."

"Let's get this over with," Romi suggested and Marlene grinned.

"Okay then you first," she announced and Romi narrowed her eyes. "Truth or Dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to kiss the person next to you."

Romi raised an eyebrow as she thought of the dare. Clearly, Marlene had wanted her to kiss James. She thought this through for a moment. She could kiss James but this wasn't how she had wanted that to happen. If she wanted it to happen at all. So she didn't.

She looked over to her right and leaned forward, pressing her lips against Peter's. The boy's eyes widened in surprise. He, just like everyone else, had expected her to kiss James.

James watched the two, his heart pounding against his chest. She kissed Peter? Why would she choose to kiss Peter over him?

When Romi pulled away, Peter was beat red and she couldn't help but grin. She patted the side of his face, "I hope you enjoyed it because it's the only one you're getting from me." He gulped as she turned to face everyone. "Does that make it my turn to ask?" Romi inquired and Marlene had her eyes narrowed on the girl.

"Yes, I suppose that's how the game works."

The game went on and was relatively boring. Minus the fact that Mary had been dared to sit on the person's lap across from her for the next five rounds. And the person across from her happened to be Remus.

The boy hadn't protested as Mary made her way across the circle. Romi raised an eyebrow as she looked from her brother to Sirius, whose jaw was clenched and he was clearly trying to look anywhere but at the pair next to him.

"Sirius," Mary spoke up and he reluctantly turned to look at her. "Truth or Dare?"

"Truth," he muttered, shifting his gaze to his hands that he was fiddling with in front of him.

The bottle was passed around the circle before Sirius grabbed it. He took a sip and Mary spoke, "Why is Romi mad at you?"

Sirius faltered, "I told her that no one could ever love her." The group fell silent.

James looked at the boy in surprise, "You told her that?"

Sirius looked from James to Romi, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, okay? I was angry and-"

"I really don't want to hear it," she informed him and she stood up. "I'm done with the game."

"Romi, please," he tried and she shook her head.

"Just leave me alone."