"So, are you two official now?" asked Lily, her eyes switching between Marlene and (Y/N). The recent dance had proven to be the grounds for many things, including new budding relationships coming to light and previously known ones beginning to fall apart. All three of her roommates were proof of that. Marlene and Remus were starting to become a known couple, both finding happiness in each other without the odd trials and disasters other couples had to wrangle their way through. (Y/N) and Sirius, on the other hand, was more in limbo; the relationship was growing, flourishing into something else, yet both denied there was anything but friendship between them.
On the other hand, poor Isolde faced trials of her own. Her relationship with Joaquin had hit quite a rough patch, stemming from the Wolffe family dinner during the summer. For whatever reason, his parents were punishing Joaquin; his mother especially seemed harsher and more creative. Although Joaquin was the one being punished, Isolde couldn't help but feel she, too, was suffering. The recent letter from Qimir Wolffe did little to remedy that feeling.
"We're not dating," replied (Y/N) to Lily's earlier question, although she grinned widely nonetheless. The dance was also where Helena and Aurelius made their relationship public, as did many others. She was happy for her sister, especially now that she was gaining the confidence to reach out, get what she wanted, and speak up when hurt.
"Yet," laughed Lily teasingly, suspecting more trials would come before the pair finally gave up their game and gave into each other. "Thank god Marlene and Remus are far simpler when it comes to their dating life," she added, another chuckle escaping her lips when Marlene's cheeks reddened, and she rushed to hide behind the nearest pillow.
"We're not officially dating," commented Marlene, recalling the conversation when both had decided they weren't ready for such a commitment yet. Although they'd at least admitted their feelings for one another, just like Sirius and (Y/N), they'd chosen to remain friends, if only to see where things went without all the expectations others would inevitably place upon them. "What about you, are you and Severus ..."
"Oh, no, we're just friends," spoke Lily honestly, although another bout of laughter escaped her when (Y/N) raised an eyebrow with a sigh, uh-huh, escaping her. "He's my best guy friend; it's not like how things are between you and Sirius," added the fiery redhead in an attempt to explain; although she didn't want to admit she knew Severus had developed a crush on her, she didn't want to ruin the friendship. "Plus, I'm not ready for the turmoil of dating yet. Perhaps next year," she added with honesty. She'd seen the hassle other students went through, both those in the same year group and those older. Some were happy, but most struggled with the constant rollercoaster of ups and downs. "What about you, Isolde?"
"Not exactly anything to write home about," voiced Isolde, sadness ringing. Even more so when she realized it wasn't just her relationship with Joaquin suffering but her friendship with (Y/N). Both started to go downhill at the fateful family dinner over the summer. However, she understood that Joaquin's parents had instructed him to keep his distance as part of his punishment. She, however, didn't understand what had happened for her friendship with (Y/N) to go downhill so quickly; despite wracking her memory, she still couldn't find the answer. Although she had plenty of theories ranging from just drifting apart to jealousy, they all had been debunked.
"That bad," commented Lily; momentarily, she glanced over to (Y/N), the only other present who knew what had happened and why Joaquin was being punished. "What happened between you two?" she asked, motioning between the girls. She quickly noticed Isolde's expression turned colder as if she was dealing with an internal struggle, whereas (Y/N) seemed to ignore the question completely. However, she did fall silent; her laughter stopped as she picked up a thick, old, dusty book from her bedside cabinet.
"I don't know," sighed Isolde in defeat, admitting the truth but keeping her theories to herself again. "We were fine until the dinner," she added, looking to (Y/N), who seemed quite happy to ignore the topic. However, Isolde, like Lily and Marlene, did notice the frustration begin to paint on (Y/N)'s otherwise neutral features.
"I'm not sure I'm the right person to answer that question," started (Y/N), flicking through the pages of the heavy book. "I'm too young and stupid to know anything after all," she added with a bit of spite. (Y/N) didn't see the realization painted on Isolde's features or how Marlene and Lily looked between the two girls. She didn't see how Marlene and Lily glanced at each other as if both had finally gotten the answers to questions and understood what had happened. The only question they had now was if the rift could be fixed.
"That's not how it was meant," replied Isolde, with a sudden bout of anger. Even more so now, she was aware a misunderstanding had caused the rift and silent treatment. Joaquin's punishment and wedge with his sisters had been over the same silly thing. "He was just sharing his opinion, and you know what, he's right. Helena can do far better than Aurelius, and you can find someone better than Sirius."
"I don't want anyone else," yelled (Y/N), her hair turning the same fiery red as Lily's, her eyes blazed the same orange. "And what right do you or Joaquin have to make decisions for anyone else but yourselves?" she asked with the same rage-filled tone; no regret shone in her eyes this time, only anger and frustration. For so long, she'd avoided the confrontation to spare her friends and those she cared for, to try and find a way to move past what happened. But now she realized it was pointless; stupidity wasn't the problem, the blindness of one and Isolde was.
Without another word (Y/N) left the dorm, storming from the Common Room with the same raging silence. Her hair was still fiery red, a warning at least for others to stay out of her way. A warning she was angry and unwilling to be reasonable with anyone. Isolde left the dorm shortly thereafter, initially intending to go after (Y/N) and attempt to put things right, although she soon thought better of it. Her time could be better served trying to get her relationship with Joaquin back on track.
"Isolde," called Allegra upon seeing her sister leave the girls' dorm mere moments after (Y/N) had stormed from it. A sweet smile painted Allegra's lips; for the first time, she was without her wicked witches of friends. Instead, it was just her reading near the fire. "Come join me," she added, not bothering to care what others thought or whether they questioned what she was up to. All Allegra hoped was one of the boys or Lily and Marlene seen them together.
"What do you want?" asked Isolde, as if Allegra was a stranger rather than her twin and resident school bully. "I'm not interested in whatever pathetic game you're trying to play," she added, stepping toward the portrait hole, only to nearly crash into Sirius, Remus, and James, all three no doubt returning from recent detention with the professor of Divination.
"Just to talk," replied Allegra, her voice usually soft and absent of the normal squeakiness. Her expression turned neutral now as if she was trying to fool everyone into thinking she was the perfect sister as if she was putting on a well-rehearsed act. "Perhaps I can help you with your relationship troubles and drama with (Y/N)," she added, noticing quickly when Sirius' expression changed to one of judgment, James too appeared as if she'd lost some respect for the muggle-born girl he'd previous thought of as a friend.
"I'll go looking for Snap," spoke Moony, turning on his heels and leaving as quickly as the words left his lips. Quickly, he suspected she'd been in one of a few places, the second-floor girl's bathroom, in the mystery room on the seventh floor, or sitting near the Whomping Willow, where she normally went when wanting to be alone with her thoughts.
"Go check on the girls," instructed James, nodding to Sirius as they headed toward the spiraling staircase. James displayed enough common sense to realize he wouldn't be a welcome sight to Lily, even if he wished he was. Instead, he'd personally check in with Peter, ensuring the plumper boy was in one piece after escaping detention at the cost of dealing with the four girls he'd become associated with. "Gonna be an eventful year," commented James, patting Sirius on the back before pretending to enter the dorm; instead, he sat on the floor of the walkway, attempting to spy on the sisters below, if only to settle his growing nerves and get an idea of what happened.
"Guess we'll put Christmas plans off for another year," voiced Sirius as he knocked on the door to the girl's dormitory, kindly asking the first year to open it if they could retrieve the two he was there to check on. James merely hummed from his spot on the floor, recalling Sirius sharing his little idea of how he'd framed it as bonding. After all (Y/N) would once again be staying in the castle for Christmas, although no one knew why she'd chosen to stay behind. Marlene had mentioned she'd be staying behind that year, her brother too, and Sirius took every chance available to escape his home life.
"We can still do it, just with a small group that intended," replied James, wondering if Lily would choose to stay behind or return home for Christmas; after all, she still tried to work things out with her sister Petunia, even when the two were practically strangers now. For a moment, James thought about the little trinkets he'd gotten for the girls, intended to be Christmas presents. The yearly tradition they'd created was still in place, even if the small group of friends were falling apart. "Do you think you three can move on?"
"Would you be able to move forward with a friendship if someone said you can do better than the person you chose?" asked Lily, displaying her understanding that things wouldn't go back to the normal that had existed between them. They were growing up, perhaps too fast, and now their friendship was paying the price. "Misunderstanding or not, Isolde did push it too far," she added with sadness, curious if Isolde had opinions about others too, believing she should control who other friends should be with.
"No," quietly responded James, for a moment looking to Lily and finding a sense of commonality between them. "I'd perceive that as a betrayal rather than helpful advice," he admitted, quickly changing positions from sitting to kneeling to look over the balcony and get a clearer picture of what the twins were doing below. Marlene followed his line of stare while Lily spoke with Sirius. Instantly, the blonde teen found herself torn; she was pleased Isolde was talking to her sister again, appearing to mend their broken sisterhood, but that also scared her, considering Allegra was a bully and a merciless one at that.
