Chapter Eight - All About Lily, Nomomom
{ Charlotte Evans }
If one were to spin around twenty times and attempt to walk straight, they would undoubtedly make a fool of themselves, likely ending up as a heap on the floor. Apparition, however, was much worse—like spinning hundreds of times at an impossible speed. Charlotte knew that even some seasoned wizards felt nauseated by it, but she was sure she'd never grow used to the sensation.
The moment they landed with a sharp crack just outside Hogsmeade, Charlotte felt her stomach lurch. Her knees hit the cool grass almost immediately as she doubled over, clutching her abdomen.
"Charlotte, you alright?" James knelt beside her, his hand resting gently on her arm.
"Just a bit peaky, mate," she managed through clenched teeth, feeling the colour drain from her face as nausea churned in her gut. She knew it would pass—eventually—but right now, everything was a spinning blur, and her world tilted dangerously.
Sirius, of course, had a different approach. "You don't look peaky; you look green," he teased, ruffling her already tangled hair with a grin.
Charlotte shot him a glare as she swiped at his hand. "Sirius, unless you want vomit on you, keep your distance."
"Right, got it," he chuckled but stepped back, though the laughter in his eyes didn't fade. "If it makes you feel better, green looks good with your hair."
"Sirius, you're not helping," James muttered, offering his hand to Charlotte as she slowly rose to her feet, still unsteady.
Charlotte grasped his arm, grateful for the support, though horribly embarrassed to be treated like an invalid. "I can walk on my own," she grumbled, though her wobbly steps betrayed her words.
"Could have fooled me," Sirius said with a laugh, earning himself another glare from Charlotte.
They began making their way toward the Three Broomsticks, though the walk felt far longer than it should have. Charlotte stumbled more than once, still recovering from the disorienting effects of apparition. By the time they reached the entrance, she felt a bit more steady on her feet, finally able to shake off James' persistent hovering.
The warmth of the pub enveloped them as they stepped inside, and Charlotte paused to take in the dimly lit room. It wasn't quite as lively as it had been during school hours. Tonight, the place was filled with older wizards and witches, some already well into their drinks. The Three Broomsticks looked different in the evening—a little more rugged, a little less inviting, but it still carried the familiar charm of Hogsmeade.
James and Sirius led the way to a table in the far corner where Remus and Peter were already seated, looking relaxed with their drinks in hand.
"Remus, Peter," Sirius said grandly, waving his hand toward Charlotte as though she were some prize to be displayed. "This is the lovely Charlotte Evans, Lily's twin."
Charlotte rolled her eyes, swatting his hand away before stepping forward to greet the boys.
Remus smiled warmly and extended a hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Charlotte."
She shook his hand, offering a small smile in return. It was strange standing there, a stranger to people who had shared classes with her for years. Remus Lupin—kind, intelligent, and always just a bit too close to Lily—was no different. He, too, had never noticed her.
And why would he? she thought with a flicker of bitterness. Remus had always been close to Lily. If James was so desperate to win her over, why hadn't he gone to Remus for help? Surely, he'd be a better person to ask for advice. After all, Lily actually liked Remus.
"And you," she replied softly.
Then there was Peter, smaller and quieter than the others, but with a kind face. He gave her a quick, almost nervous smile. "Hey there," he mumbled.
"Hi," Charlotte replied, trying to ignore the awkwardness that settled over her like a thick blanket. She took the seat that James had pulled out for her, unbuttoning her coat and draping it over the back of the chair.
As they sat down, Charlotte's mind kept circling back to the oddity of it all. Why was James coming to her of all people? she wondered. Remus is practically best friends with Lily, and yet here he is, dragging me into this mess instead. It didn't make sense, but then again, a lot of things about James Potter didn't make sense to her.
Charlotte sat back in her chair, eyeing the group around her. She had a question nagging at her mind, one that she couldn't quite shake. Glancing between James and Remus, she finally asked, "So, why drag me into this? Remus, you're close to Lily, right? Why haven't you been helping James with all of this instead?"
Remus blinked, caught off guard by the question. His face turned a soft shade of pink as he averted his gaze. "I… I tried," he admitted quietly, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Lily and I are friends, but when it comes to James… well, it's a bit more complicated. She's… stubborn."
James let out a frustrated sigh, leaning back in his chair. "She listens to Remus, sure, but not when it's about me. Figured you, being her sister, might have better luck."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Right. Because dragging me into this is a foolproof plan."
Remus shot her a sheepish smile, clearly uncomfortable. "You seemed like our best shot," he said, his voice a little apologetic.
Charlotte chuckled, shaking her head slightly. "If Lily's already brushing off Remus, then I don't think I stand much of a chance."
"Well, you're my best shot at the moment," James said with a grin, his casual confidence returning.
"So," Remus began after a few moments of silence, trying to change the subject. "I didn't know Lily had a twin sister. What school are you from?"
Oh, brilliant. Charlotte sighed inwardly, a feeling of exasperation bubbling up. Not this again.
"Hogwarts," she said, keeping her voice steady despite the sharp stab of embarrassment.
Remus blinked, clearly taken aback. "What?"
James laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Remus, she's been in all our classes since first year."
Charlotte resisted the urge to smack him as Remus' mouth fell open in disbelief.
"You're joking," Remus muttered, eyes scanning her face as if trying to piece together memories that didn't exist.
"I'm not," Charlotte replied, smiling tightly.
Remus looked horrified. "Oh, Merlin, I'm so sorry. I didn't realise—"
"Don't worry about it," Charlotte interrupted quickly, waving her hand dismissively. "It's not the first time, and it won't be the last."
The guilt on Remus' face deepened, but before the conversation could sink into uncomfortable silence, Peter piped up. "So, you're the one helping James with his… situation?"
"If you mean his desperate attempts at wooing my sister, then yes." Charlotte chuckled, though Peter's suspicious expression didn't go unnoticed.
"That's considerate of you, given she's your sister," Peter said, frowning as if trying to figure her out.
Charlotte shrugged, avoiding his gaze. "I'm just… considerate, I guess."
The conversation shifted, and soon a cheery barmaid arrived at their table. "What can I get for you all?"
"I'll have three shots of firewhiskey," Charlotte said before she could think twice. The looks of surprise from around the table made her want to crawl under it.
"Charlotte, we weren't judging you," James said, though his smile was both apologetic and amused.
"No, but you all bloody looked like you were," Charlotte muttered, feeling a flush creep up her neck.
"Make that six shots and three butterbeers," Sirius added with a wink to the barmaid, earning a groan from Charlotte.
The conversation shifted back to Animagi, and Charlotte found herself recounting the story of how James had caught her in the restricted section of the library. She couldn't help but laugh at how absurd it all seemed in retrospect. But when Remus asked why she was so interested in becoming an Animagus, she hesitated.
"It's just… something I've always wanted to do," she admitted, glancing down at her hands. "It's a part of who you are, you know? I guess I just want to understand that part of myself better."
There was a shared look between the boys, one that made Charlotte feel like she was missing some inside joke.
The night wore on, filled with laughter, a bit of teasing, and plenty of firewhiskey. But underneath it all, Charlotte couldn't shake the feeling that she was still an outsider looking in, even among the boys who were slowly becoming her first real friends.