[ I'm sick rn and only finished this because it was mostly done. but don't hold your breath for an update tomorrow, babes ]

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YOU'RE A DARK LITTLE THING, HERMIONE.

JAMES POTTER'S HOUSE WAS OVERFLOWING ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON. Everywhere he looked, there was red hair — if it wasn't a Weasley, it was Lily Evans. Hermione was there as well as Neville Longbottom, who'd grown up right alongside Harry. And of course, Sirius and Remus were there, meaning there wasn't a single available seat anywhere in the house as people ran about, waiting on the dinner that Molly and Remus were cooking together.

Music was playing, people were chatting, and a Muggle football game was playing on the TV set, entertaining Arthur Weasley in particular.

James and Sirius were crammed in the overstuffed armchair by the open window in the living room, smoking and blowing the clouds outside to keep Ginny and Hermione from smelling it, who both always complained that they were going to die from it. Lily had told them that years ago, and they stuck with it, like her little anti-smoking minions.

"When's dinner going to be ready?" Ron asked in a whiny tone while sliding onto the couch next to his father. He put his hand to his stomach and groaned. "I'm starving."

"Remus just gave you a bowl of the mashed potatoes early," Harry pointed out with a grin, sitting on the floor next to Neville.

"It wasn't enough," he huffed.

"We've still got some of Ilona's pie if you want that," he told him. "It's blueberry."

At the mention of pie, Ron perked right up. But he wasn't the only one. The twins, who'd been running through the living room, on their way to bother Percy in the kitchen, froze.

"Ilona?" Fred questioned.

"Doherty?" George added, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Sirius nodded.

"She's moved in next door," Hermione informed every one matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, she brought this wicked pie," Harry went on before looking at his mother, who also had an affinity for blueberries. "I made sure there was plenty for you to try so long as Ron and Neville don't eat it all now that they know it exists."

"I wouldn't eat it all," Neville muttered, the tips of his ears red.

"That's sweet, Harry. I'm sure it'll be delicious," Lily said from her seat in the rocking chair. "And that's lovely that Ilona's moved in. She was always so great in class. Not to mention I've never seen a Seeker like her."

"Wait," Fred said, waving his hands. "You're telling me the Ilona Doherty is across the street right now?"

James frowned. "Well, she might be out—"

"She's coming to dinner," George declared. "We'll be right back."

In an instant, the twins ran out of the house, not even bothering to shut the front door. Sirius and James turned around and watched from the window as they jogged all the way to Ilona's small house. George hurriedly knocking on her door

"They're so obvious," Ginny scoffed, rolling her eyes at the fifteen-year-olds.

"About what?" Sirius asked while snatching the cigarette from James.

"They've a crush on her," Hermione giggled. "Always doing silly things in front of her to try and impress her. It's embarrassing, truly."

"Well, that's ridiculous," James said with a pathetic scoff, trying to act casual. "Having a crush on her at their age. So silly."

Sirius rolled his eyes and subtly stomped on James' foot before passing the cigarette back, figuring he needed to occupy his mouth to keep from putting his foot in it any more.

"Well, they think it'll happen despite their age differences and the fact that, well, there's more than one of them," Ginny noted, giggling a bit. "You can't date two people."

"Oh, sure you can," Sirius said to the young girl. "Just not everyone prefers to." Then he glanced out the window, spotting the twins, who were now towing Ilona with them. "Seems the party is growing."

Ilona hadn't been expecting for Fred and George to knock on her door, but she was certainly happy to see the boys that always put a smile on her face. However, they weren't paying her a visit to see her decorations. No, they were insisting that she join all their families for dinner.

"I don't want to impose," Ilona said as Fred was already dragging her across the street with George's help. Truthfully though, she was excited by the idea of seeing James again — and potentially Sirius and Remus assuming they made the cut for people invited. Though Ilona was already figuring out that they had an open and permanent invitation to the Potter home.

"Please, you'd never impose," George told her. "If James said you were imposing, we'd simply kick him out."

"It's his house," Ilona laughed.

"There's more of us Weasleys than him," Fred said with a smirk as they reached the house. They pulled Ilona all the way into the living room, hardly giving her time to study the inside of James' vast home that was decorated so brightly.

The living room was overwhelmingly crowded, only Molly, Percy, and Remus missing. Not a seat was to be found, all of the children opting to sit on the floor. And everyone greeted Ilona with a smile, some calling out her name and other generic greetings as Fred and George joined their sister on the ground.

"Hello, everyone," she nodded before her eyes landed on the only one she wasn't familiar with. But given his red hair, it was easy to infer who he was. "You must be Mr. Weasley. I've heard a bit about you from your sons."

"You can call me Arthur," he said as she came over to shake his hand. "And it's an honor to meet you given all your feats in the Quidditch field thus far. I'm quite the fan of the Irish, so I cannot wait to see what you accomplish."

"Oh, my accomplishments aren't much," she assured him.

"Nonsense," Sirius spoke up, scoffing a bit. "You're the best bloody Seeker Hogwarts has ever seen. The rest of the National legue will know that soon enough."

A blush dusted her cheeks as she looked at him, taking in how his longer hair was half pulled back. "I don't know about the best—"

"Oh, no," James cut her off, giving her a pointed look. "When Sirius compliments you, you say 'thank you' and move on. We'll have no more of this humble bullshit."

"Yes, God forbid at least one Quidditch player in this room doesn't have a big head," Lily said with a smirk, knowing how all of them were — James, Sirius, Harry, and the twins included all thought quite highly of themselves for their talent. But then Lily smiled warmly at Ilona. "He's right though. You should be proud."

"I'll try to be. And it's nice to see you again, Professor Evans," she nodded to her.

"Oh, I figure you can call me Lily if you'd like — everyone else here does," she insisted.

"Might take some getting used to, but I'll try," she said with a grin.

"Take a seat, love. It'll be a while before Remus and Molly are done with dinner," James told her softly, wanting her to feel comfortable in his home.

With an amused frown, Ilona looked around the crowded room, not seeing anywhere at all. James smiled a bit sheepishly.

"Yeah, it is a bit crowded, I guess," he said, chuckling. "You can take my spot. I'll sit on the arm."

"You don't have to," she told him softly, not wanting to inconvinece him.

"It's no trouble," he assured her while hopping up.

Ilona nodded in thanks and took the empty seat next to Sirius. Instantly, as James perched on the arm, she regretted her choice to sit down. Both men were pressed against her sides, her feeling the warmth they gave off given that she was wearing a sleeveless sundress. Not to mention, Sirius's thigh was against hers. And it certainly didn't help that both men smelled heavenly — a blend of different scents mixed with the slight smell of cigarettes, which she was able to ignore.

She watched as James brought it to his mouth, a little too invested in how his lips wrapped around the cigarette. Then the corners of his mouth turned up into a smirk, him realizing she was watching him. So, to distract herself, she just looked into his blue eyes, pretending like she hadn't been caught staring.

"Those will kill you, you know?" she said pointedly before looking accusingly at Sirius. "You too."

As Sirius and James groaned, Lily and Ginny snickered while Hermione held her head a little higher. "It's pointless, Ilona," the young girl said. "They're determined to ruin their lungs and die gasping for air that shall not come."

Sirius snickered while throwing an arm over Ilona's shoulder, his hand resting on James' back. "You're a dark little thing, Hermione," he said, more amused than scared of death. "You sound a bit pleased by the fact that we're going to die that way."

"Well, you know how she likes to be right," Ron muttered. "When's dinner going to be ready? I'm starving."

"Ron, you have asked that exact question, word for word, five times," George huffed. "I don't think it's bloody ready."

"And no bothering Rem again," Sirius told him, rolling his eyes. "He doesn't like people in the kitchen when he's working."

"He doesn't like you in the kitchen when he's working," Harry said, smirking. "Everyone else is fine."

Sirius narrowed his eyes at the boy. "Where did you get this attitude from, young man?"

"Gee. I don't know," he said sarcastically. "Couldn't be from you or Dad. Heavens, no."

"So, Remus," James blamed. "It's always Rem's fault."

"Oh, you're being so mean, and he can't even defend himself," Ilona laughed. "What horrible best friends you make."

"I'm sure we'll find a way for him to forgive us," Sirius said, a mischievous look in his eyes that Ilona didn't quite understand.

"Sirius," Lily said in a warning tone, making him just smirk. It was a silent look telling the man to keep things PG with so many children around. Not to mention Ilona, who was squeezed between him and James.

"Lily," he said in the same tone.

Their little staredown that most everyone was ignoring — because they, along with Remus and James, were always acting ridiculous given how long they'd been friends — was soon interrupted. Remus strode into the room, wiping his hands on a tea towel as he looked down.

"Alright, Ron, dinner's almost ready, so stop hounding me. And I was thinking it might be nice to invite — Ilona!"

Remus came to a sudden stop when he looked up, spotting Ilona squished between a grinning James and Sirius. His wide brown eyes scanned her form before landing on her face, taking in her sweet smile.

"I see someone beat me to the punch," Remus said, smiling charmingly.

"Yes, the twins," she told him. "But that's so incredibly sweet that you wanted to invite me. I'm happy to know Fred and George aren't the only ones that insisted I be here."

"Oh, come now, love," Sirius said, mindlessly toying with her long hair behind her back, no one able to see it. But just feeling the little touch made Ilona nearly squrim giddily. "I'd have thrown a fit and dragged you here eventually. Everyone else gets so terribly boring at Sunday dinner."

"Rude," Ginny muttered.

"Well, she's easily more fascinating than you lot," he told her with a shrug.

Ilona smiled at Sirius and shook her head. "Sirius, I'm not fascinating."

"Love," James sighed dramatically. "What did I just tell you to do when Sirius compliments you?"

Shyly, Ilona looked from James back at Sirius, whose gray eyes were fixed on her, waiting expectantly. So, she ran her tongue over her lips, noting how his gaze followed the motion before speaking gently.

"Thank you, Sirius."

His small smile was beautiful, she thought, as he nodded, pleased enough with her. "You're welcome, love. Now, let's head to the table before Ronald starts eating his own foot."

"I would not eat my own foot!"