ANOTHER break chapter. This one is actually something I loved writing, because SARAH. And yes, you guessed right - this one is going to be a Sarah Centric Chapter. Hope everyone is ready!


The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

"Come on, Williams, you know it wasn't fair."

"I think it was very fair," said June, reading her book. He was sitting opposite her, and she wasn't even bothering looking at him. "You were behaving like you were twelve."

"That book was for five-year-olds!" he said, reaching across and putting a hand on her page.

Her eyes flicked up to him. He met her gaze. Grey to brown.

"That just means I have less faith in your reading comprehension," she said loftily.

"You little –"

He'd snatched the book out of her hand, and put it to the side. "There," said June. "Now you're behaving like you're five. My case rests."

He narrowed his eyes. "You really are having fun, aren't you?"

"Only a little," she admitted.

He leaned back in his own chair.

June let out half a breath she didn't know she was holding.

Things had settled down. Lily and her friends seemed to have completely forgotten about doing anything about Sirius' mystery reader. Stuff between herself and Sirius was… strange. His letter about Old Man Goriot was oddly stuttered – over thought, over considered. And hardly very eloquent, or long. Some of it rambled on about friendships (since she had introduced it as a book about a strange friendship between a young student and an old man), weird or otherwise – at one point, he had even said, 'I'm not clear always on how one is friends with girls. Do you think it starts becoming weirder as time progresses?'

She didn't know why – but his interactions with the more real her were strange, as well. They weren't over thought, but at times she found him frowning at her, thinking of something she didn't have access to. She also found something strange had happened to her. She could look at him.

She didn't have that much of a problem with eye contact, but she always shied from it. After that evening at the bridge, however, she found him demanding her gaze for a lot longer. And he was always… drinking it in, in a weird sort of way. Lily seemed to have noticed, too – she smiled to herself when she saw them talking.

Thankfully, she kept whatever she was thinking to herself. Besides, Lily had bigger things to worry about. All of the school was gossiping about it: James Potter and Lily Evans were seen together in a non-professional and non-angry capacity.

No one was entirely sure how it had happened, but Mary filled June in. Apparently, the rumours of Sirius being besotted by someone exchanging books with him were true, and James had taken a leaf out of this unknown person's book as well (June did her best to look surprised). Lily swore that it was really nothing – apparently James had come to her to talk about some of the things he had been thinking of in Pride and Prejudice and made good on his promise to read it. June wasn't surprised in the least – but then, nothing really surprised June when it came to this sort of thing.

"I swear, he's not being weird," said Lily as they walked to class together. "He's just asking a lot of questions about Muggle life."

"Mhm," said June, chewing the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling. She could feel Severus Snape's eyes on them, but for Lily's sake, she was studiously ignoring him. Spending time with Lily seemed to just mean putting up with this sort of thing. She'd noticed Marlene and Mary didn't even blink when Snape was watching any of them.

"Oh, shut up," said Lily, tossing her hair behind her. "Not like you have much to say. You still meeting Sirius this evening?"

"That's different!" said June, indignant. "We're doing homework!"

"And James and I are doing a bookclub," said Lily.

June could swear she was blushing, but Lily would deny it. It was interesting to see them interact: Lily herself was frequently surprised that he didn't seem to get her angry and upset – but they would argue or debate constantly. James was being a perfect gentleman in all this, she was almost impressed. Marlene and Mary raised their eyebrows and said nothing, having known for a long time that Lily harboured a soft spot for the boy in question. June had also always known, but she'd known for longer than them.

To nobody's surprise, James Potter and Sirius were put in detention for making all the suits of armour chocolate on the sixth floor. June couldn't help feeling exasperated but amused – this sort of thing was actually funny. They hadn't done anything cruel in sometime anyway, so she didn't have much to worry about – but she sometimes worried, even now. She had a feeling Lily did, as well – and strongly pretended not to.

Neither party had to fret, however. Sarah had reported, horrified, that James Potter had apologised to her.

"The audacity," she said, in shock. "That boy! Just because he wants to impress Evans!"

"Mhm," said June, who had heard this for the third time that week. They were heading back from Care of Magical Creatures, and she was distracted by some owls flying to the owlery.

"You aren't listening."

"No, this is the fifth time you're complaining," said June, exaggerating for good measure. She watched a black owl with a mouse in its mouth disappear.

"You know it's not that many."

"It feels like the fifth time."

Sarah shoved her. June shook her head, dazed.

"You and your boyfriend doing okay?" asked Sarah after a moment. She looked around and cleared a small patch of stones under the beech tree.

"He's not my boyfriend," said June automatically. She crossed her legs and settled on the grass. "But yes, we are. Things are… better. I'm not good… with boys." This Sarah snorted at, but didn't comment on. She sat down, leaning against the tree trunk.

The sun was still out, and since it was getting a lot warmer – it was nice to sit outside. Besides, they were both wearing warm winter robes. June opened her mouth and shut it again.

"What?" asked Sarah.

She blanched. There was that prickling in her chest again, so she simply said, "I'm glad you're here."

Sarah threw her head back, her eyes closed. "I'm glad Sirius Black misplaced his book and I became friends with you."

June hesitated once more. Sarah opened one eye.

"Spit it out, Williams."

It was said with no preamble. June didn't think she had it in her to spit it out, so she tried to approach the problem slowly:

"Why are you friends with me, Sarah?"

"If you're fishing for compliments –"

"No," said June. "I mean it. I'm your observant friend, aren't I? I have observed you as well, you know. You aren't someone who is completely unsociable, like me. You weren't invisible, people know you. You had friends, too – for some time. By the sixth year, people usually have firm friends, and don't have time to waste to help idiots who misplace their books."

The loud ringing of the bell sounded across the castle. Some of the ravens that hid in the clock tower flew out, sweeping across the sky.

"It's a fair question," said Sarah. "Been gathering up the courage to ask, haven't you?"

June shrugged.

Sarah swore a little under her breath. For someone so direct, she was really nervous about this. It made June nervous. "You have to promise not to be weird."

She nodded. It was an admission of vulnerability that she had not expected from Sarah.

She took a breath. "You're right, I had friends. I even spent some summers with the Foresters – I was really good friends with Dawn Forester. Even her sister – idiot though she was."

June waited.

"Dawn and I fell out. You think you're bad with boys? I have never cared about them enough to find out whether I'm good or bad. I'm not interested in them. I'm more interested in women, and people like Dawn don't take kindly to that sort of thing. She had it in her head that I was interested in her, despite the fact that I wouldn't snog her if someone paid me." All of this was said quickly, with absolutely no emotional turmoil whatsoever – but June could tell that it was something of a test. If June didn't react correctly, Sarah would be gone.

She paused for a second and began again. "So here I am. I had time to spare for idiots who misplaced their books, without any other very good friends. Friends with you because of a ridiculous series of circumstances and Sirius Black, apparently."

A set of ravens swept the sky a second time. June swallowed. "What's wrong with Dawn Forester?"

"Ego the size of a mile, those stupid shoes she can't – wait, what are you asking?"

"Why not Dawn Forester?" asked June. "She's… fit?"

Sarah stared. "…fit."

"That's how Lily and the rest talk about boys," said June, rolling her eyes. "I don't really understand it, either."

"You have to be out of your mind to find Dawn fit, June," said Sarah.

"No, I'm not!" said June, earnestly. "I'm not just saying that or anything! She's got nice blonde hair and everything. And a nice laugh."

"I am not going to sit here and consider Dawn Forester as an option," said Sarah, brokering no argument. "I taught her how to snog. I know she uses far too much of her tongue."

"I think you're limiting yourself," sniffed June. "You ought to consider her. Otherwise you'd end up like David Abbot. He's seeing Jill Goldstein, and you cannot tell me you'd prefer her."

"What's wrong with Jill?"

"She's so mean!"

"I'm mean."

"No, you just don't take nonsense."

"God alone knows why I put up with you, in that case."

"I take it back. You are mean."

Sarah laughed. Loudly, guffawing. Almost too loudly. June smiled at her laughing, and seriously considered pinching her out of it if she didn't stop.

"I refuse to talk to you about who is or isn't attractive when you have such terrible taste."

"Just because I said I didn't like Jill Goldstein –"

"Not her," laughed Sarah. "But I'm glad you went there."

"Then who?" asked June with a huff.

Sarah stopped laughing, even though she was clearly amused. "You really are blind, aren't you? What of Black?"

"What of Black?"

It was said a little too quickly. Sarah noticed. "Even if it isn't you that's the problem, you ought to be careful. It's getting a bit strange."

June bit her lip. She had been so many times on the brink of just telling Sarah just what she was feeling. She always stopped herself.

"It's… it's not."

"It is. You have to be blind not to notice, June," said Sarah, in a there's-no-two-ways-to-look-at-this tone. "I know you're almost blind, but you really have to be blind, you know? He's always – always reading those notes, always studying your handwriting. Merlin alone knows how you've managed to get away with everything so far."

"I… you're… not wrong."

"You can't contradict me – hang on a tick. What did you say?"

"You're not wrong," repeated June.

There was a long silence.

"And you're aware of what I'm talking about?" asked Sarah sceptically.

"I'm not blind," said June. "I may be stupid, but no. I can see what you're talking about."

Sarah surveyed her. "You – you can see what I'm talking about."

"Yes," said June. "But you know – his notes have been getting a lot shorter. Look at this one about The Hobbit."

She fished out a note and gave it to Sarah, who looked even more surprised if it was possible. June knew what it said, of course but she scanned it quickly anyway:

Dear Reader,

I know we avoid talking about our personal lives, but I really needed this book at the moment. The number of dragons was pleasing, even if it was nonsensical that they spoke in riddles. I like the concept of being a dwarf. I think I would be good at it. And I'd get to have an axe. I needed some of the distraction.

Thank you… for giving me some of you. It's a strange time right now, I'm a little confused in my head about some things. I hope your next book will be just as good for me.

Yours,

S

She didn't tell Sarah she had stared at the "Yours" for far too long. She didn't tell Sarah anything, she just waited for Sarah to… react.

Sarah's eyes went from left to right on the note. Instead of reacting, she put it away, took a breath, and stared at June.

June, uncomfortable with the look, tried to turn away. Sarah continued, even coming closer – as if trying to sense something. When Sarah was about two inches away from her cheek, June snapped, "What?"

"You like him."

The world cracked open, finally listening to June's demands, and swallowed her whole.

It didn't, but June really felt like it had. It felt like the most horrible truth had been revealed, the worst of the story, the forest was burning – that sort of thing.

"Do not!" cried Sarah, falling back. "Do not deny it, June Williams. Fess up. Fess up!"

"Okay, fine," wailed June. "I do – I hate it, but I do, and it's terrible, and I would willingly rip my heart to shreds if I could."

"Oh my god. You – you fucking – moron –"

"I know."

"You absolute –"

"Incomparable –"

"Bizarre –"

"Idiot!" they both finished together.

And then, inexplicably, Sarah started laughing.

June stared at her for a few seconds, but she did not relent. Before she knew it, she was laughing as well. They went to pieces under the beech tree, clutching each other as they kept laughing.

"Oh god, Williams – you really are a magnet for trouble, aren't you?"

"I really am not," said June seriously. "I was most invisible for years. I don't know why the world chose to pay attention to me again."

"It's good it did," said Sarah, nudging her with her shoulder. "I like you."

"I'd honestly prefer if the world found easier methods to pay attention to me," grumbled June. "The current strategy is very exhausting, not to mention awfully painful."

"Why painful?" asked Sarah.

"I… don't know which one of me he likes," confessed June. "I know that's a strange something to be worrying about, and I don't even think he likes either the reader or this version of me – and I get confused between them, too. There's also the only too factual knowledge that Sirius Black is nowhere near my league – or my galaxy, for that matter. To top it all off, I have… no experience with men. Boys. Whichever. I haven't been kissed, I haven't been on a date – and I had no intention to, either. I can't… do this. That's not even – even comprehending that sort of thing sets me off into a frenzy, I can't imagine ever being on a – on a date. This is just a very ridiculous circumstance, and I keep expecting myself to wake up any minute now."

Sarah blinked. "That's… a lot."

June breathed deeply.

"You don't have to – imagine up everything, I mean. Stick to the facts. You like him. You don't know if he likes you – all the rest is just complication."

"Complications with real possibilities of blowing up," June responded.

"I know, but just to humour me," said Sarah. "You like him. I don't think he's oblivious to you, either."

"Yeah, I have a chance with Sirius Black," she snorted. "I thought we were sticking to facts?"

"He's not insensible to you," pointed out Sarah reasonably. "He spends time with you. He even flirts with you."

"He'd flirt with a teapot."

"But he does with you. It gets him going, somewhat. Gives him a rise."

"Anything that could challenge him gives him a rise," said June, her voice flat. "If it was a thestral, it would give him a rise."

"Now that's just monstrous," said Sarah, exasperated. "I'm trying to be the nicest version of myself for this conversation, and all you can think of is Sirius Black getting it on with a thestral."

June pushed her with a laugh. "Anyway, things have been… weird between us. Something about it feels skittish."

Sarah's eyebrows went up. "Tell you what, Williams. You're going to be eating your words one day, and when you do, I'm going to laugh."

"If I am eating my words, you have to ask out Jill Goldstein."

"You just said you hated her."

"I'd make an effort if you liked her."

"I don't," laughed Sarah. "But I'll consider it."

"Oh, this is actively cruel," said June. "You know as well as I do I have not a chance with Sirius Black, and you're only doing this to encourage me."

"Of course I am," said Sarah, leaning back again, throwing her head up. "I want to see you make an effort at flirting. I'd pay money for that sort of thing."


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