(A/N): Hey Guys! So, here's the next chapter, sorry for the wait.

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognise.

Elaine

We joined James, Peter, and Lily in the Three Broomsticks a little while later on McGonagall's request. Remus, Sirius, and I were worried about Leo, and I could tell that James was too. He had seen the bruise on Leo's face and how pale we were, and Leo not being here with us was really causing him to worry. We sent Lily and Peter to get us more butterbeer, and took the opportunity to fill James in.

"Wait, wait, so Prongs knows about this?" Sirius exclaimed quietly, and James shrugged.

"He told me first year, remember? I just didn't realise it until last year when we pulled the prank in the Great Hall."

Sirius's eyes widened. "And that's how he could hear McGonagall and Filch!" All three of us raised our eyebrows at Sirius.

"Lily-flower's coming back," James announced, grinning like the Cheshire cat, only to have her scoff at him.

"Don't call me that, Potter."

He pouted for a second, before his grin immediately bloomed once more. "Okay, Evans."

Lily blinked in surprise before scowling- then paused. "Hey, wait a minute," She said, looking around. "Where's Leo?" Remus and I glanced at each other.

"He-" A chair pulled out next to me.

"I'm right here." We stared at him in surprise, noticing that there was no longer a bruise on his face- though his lip showed signs of having been split at some stage. It didn't look particularly recent, but I knew it hadn't be there the last time I had seen him. I could see Sirius staring at him and shot him a look, but Leo'd already seen it. He snagged Sirius's untouched butter beer and sipped it, raising an eyebrow at me and angling his head towards Sirius. I frowned and nodded, and Leo pursed his lips before sipping his drink again.

"Stop talking about me!" Sirius protested, and both Leo and I stared at him in surprise. "I know you are- can't you just say things out loud?"

Leo grinned, and shook his head. "Can't do that Sirius, it just isn't in my nature." He may have been smiling, but he had one eyebrow cocked, and he showed no amusement in his eyes.

"Alright... we'll just have to change your nature." Lily and Peter chuckled, but the rest of us remained stony-faced. The look on Sirius's face was determined and challenging, whereas Leo remained nonchalant, resting his glass on the table when he'd finished with it.

"Why do I feel like there's something going on here?" Peter asked, and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean?"

Lily crossed her arms over her chest, staring us down. "Like everyone here knows a secret that Peter and I aren't in on." Leo smirked slightly, but our conversation was interrupted as a pair of lips met Leo's cheek.

"Hey," Brooke greeted, and I couldn't help but glare at the raven-haired girl.

"Hey!" Leo replied, and I was surprised by the excitement in his voice.

"Can I talk to you?"

He glanced back at the others, and Lily waved him away with a forced smile. Brooke took his hand, and he used it to lead her away to the other side of the room. "What the hell?!" Lily growled, dropping the smile in an instant.

"Does anyone know when that happened?" Sirius asked, looking at Remus and I- I suppose that was only fair, considering we were typically Leo's best secret keepers... other than himself, that is.

"I don't think we knew about that," Remus said quietly, covering my hand with his in a clear attempt to comfort me.

"I hate her so much!" I grumbled, and James raised his eyebrows at me.

He practically blinded me with a particularly mischievous grin before he and Sirius disappeared across the room, following the direction Leo and Brooke had gone. "Ready to admit that you like him?" Lily asked once they were gone, and I scowled.

"I already have! I like Leo, I like him a lot. He was my first kiss, and now he's with that- girl-" I suddenly noticed that the others were gaping at me- and I realised what I'd just said, which was... exactly what I wasn't supposed to have said.

"What?!" Was the inevitable reply, and I dropped my head to the tabletop to weather the storm of incredulity that was to follow.

(A/N): Hehe...

So, what did you think?

This chapter has had small edits made to it on 15/2/23 - Made James and Sirius leave, since they were obviously not present in the next chapter, and their disappearance is noted in chapter 351: Full of Surprises (which is yet to be uploaded). Also changed Elaine's use of 'hussy' to '-girl-' because I don't like the idea of her calling Brooke any such names, just because she's interested in Leo. 'Slag' would probably be more appropriate than 'hussy' anyway, because it's British slang, but again, not using it.

This chapter has had edits made to it on 3/3/24 - formatting, and reconfiguring sentences so they make a bit more sense.