CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE! ༉‧₊˚✧
━━━━ ⋆𖤐₊˚.༄ ♡ ━━━━

"WE NEED A game plan," Diya swiveled around in her chair to face Sirius.

He sat up from his place on her bed, positioning himself on his elbows, "Why can't we just go with the flow?"

"When have you ever seen me go with the flow?" She raised an eyebrow. "We need a strategy for the school year, Sirius."

Sirius groaned, throwing his head back in defeat before standing up. "Fine."

Diya smiled, getting up from her chair and kissing Sirius's cheek. She began pacing the room, oblivious to the rosiness spreading across his face.

"Okay, well, most importantly, we need to figure out how to keep this from Lily." Diya chewed on her lip as she strategized. "She's always been able to read my mind, especially when I'm stressed."

"Doesn't help that she's brilliant either, I suppose." Sirius sat down in Diya's neglected chair. "We probably also have to make sure we don't act too different."

Diya nodded, pointing her finger at Sirius in approval, "Definitely. I think that R.J. was already a little suspicious of us last year, and that was before any of this even happened."

"I don't think it'll make a difference if Remus knows, to be fair. He definitely knows how to keep a secret."

Diya shrugged before stopping her pacing, "Most importantly, James cannot find out."

Sirius blinked.

Diya continued her strides around the room, "If James finds out, then he'll find a way to blab to everyone else, and then it's this big blown-up thing, and then—"

"Should I be writing this down?" He asked, pointing to the abundance of scrap paper littering Diya's desk.

Diya cued him to write, "The whole objective of hiding this is to preserve it."

Sirius nodded, scribbling quickly, "Main... objective... hiding to... preserve. Got it!"

"So James is the absolute last person who should find out."

"James... equals... blabbermouth." He continued to write. "And what are we doing about our ice cream adventures?"

"Well, according to Lily, everyone was very weirded out by the ice cream obsession, so it might be best to leave the notebook in the past."

Sirius spun the chair dramatically, "WHAT? We have to abandon Sirius's Superior Sweet Stops?"

"Sirius and Diya's Superior Sweet Stops," Diya corrected, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "And I told you you shouldn't have told them about mouth-feel!"

"The mouth-feel of the product is a crucial aspect in the reviewing process!"

Diya shook her head in disbelief, "Well, we have to give it up for now."

Sirius turned back to his paper, writing angrily, "Ugh, fine."

Diya continued pacing, "I'm not a prefect, but I'll find a way to snag Lily's schedule, and we can plan around it so we can still have time to ourselves throughout the year."

"A year?" Sirius turned toward Diya. "You're planning on keeping me around that long, Talwar?"

"If you don't annoy me too much, then maybe," She pushed his face back toward the paper.

As she turned to walk away, he grabbed hold of her wrist. Swiveling the chair toward her, he pulled Diya into his lap. Sirius let go of her wrist, snaking his arms around her midsection.

"I could never annoy you, and we both know it." He whispered into her ear.

"You're getting dangerously close, you know. The more you delay our planning, the less secure it is."

Sirius stood up suddenly, lifting Diya into the air as she squealed. "We can't have that!"

"Put me down!"

"Never!" he shouted as he threw her onto her bed.

She giggled, "You realize you have no impulse control, right?"

"Why do you think I keep you around?" Sirius kissed her. "We balance each other out pretty well."

Diya rolled her eyes light-heartedly. Diya placed her hand at the nape of his neck, pulling him down for another kiss.

༉‧₊˚✧

With the school year hurtling closer, James and Sirius took it upon themselves to constantly make plans for everyone in the group. Whether it was a picnic or a sleepover, it was almost like the soon-to-be sixth-years had seen each other every day since school let out.

Today, the group was going apple picking. Apparently, Sirius's family was obsessed with apples — it was one of the only things he missed about them. He was the one who had picked their destination that day.

The eight teenagers had gotten along at first, happily strolling about and picking their apples, but the summer heat quickly got to them, leaving most of them miserable and sweaty.

"Sirius," James moaned. He was sprawled across the ground, the apples in his basket rolling away. "Is it bad for me to say I wish you missed the hate speech instead of this torture?"

Remus shook his head, "It's funny that the House of Black continues to torture us even when the only member among us has been exiled."

"Moony, I'm gonna be honest." Peter plopped onto the ground, "I cannot understand a word of your smart talk when it's this hot out."

Alice climbed one of the trees to get a perfect crab apple. As she dropped down gracefully, she looked at the state of her friends and giggled, "I honestly think you guys are being dramatic."

Diya had her long hair piled up in between her hands. "Okay, Miss Pixie. Talk to me when your hair is thick and envelopes you like a blanket."

Alice pursed her lips, absentmindedly running a hand through her short hair, "You may have a point."

"If I have to walk one more step, I fear I may disintegrate." James's eyes widened dramatically.

Marlene spoke up, her hands carrying three full baskets of apples. "Aren't you literally on the Quidditch team?"

"That's flying." James sat up, ready to defend his honor. "Not running."

"You know, Zoya has the same problem." Diya had begun to braid her hair into one long plait. "I think the co-captains need to boss us athletes around less and do drills more often."

"Shut up, Talwar. You've barely taken a dozen steps since we walked into this hellscape." James waved her off as Diya stuck her tongue out at him. "Flying is so much easier. Being a muggle must be so hard."

If anyone noticed Lily's annoyed reaction, no one said anything. Remus hauled James back onto his feet and pushed him further into the orchard.

As the day continued, Diya somehow ended up on Remus's back, getting carried through the orchard. After they had finished their three baskets of apple picking — and promptly handed them over to Marlene — the group made their way over to the peach trees.

Sirius, Remus, and Diya had developed a method to get better peaches than anyone else: By having Diya on Remus's back, she could reach the farthest, which expanded their options.

"That one!" Sirius cupped his mouth with one hand as he shouted, pointing at the tree with the other.

Remus moved closer to the tree, Diya stretching as far as she could, reaching the peach without a hitch and throwing it into the fourth basket.

"Guys, I've just found the perfect peach," Sirius's eyes were glowing. "I think I want to marry it."

Diya squinted, "Where is it?"

"I don't think I've ever felt this way about anything before. The color, the shape, the size: It's all perfect."

"Sirius, if you keep describing the peach without telling us where it is, I'm gonna drop Diya, and then none of us will have it." Remus groaned, readjusting the girl on his back, his fingers digging into her jean-clad thighs.

"It's all the way at the top." Sirius hovered a hand over his eyes, blocking the sun's glare. "It's the one that looks like the sun's reflecting off it perfectly."

"I never thought that Sirius's greatest love would be a peach," Remus muttered as he tried to get as close to the tree as possible.

"I don't know, R.J." Diya shrugged as she elongated her arm, "Makes sense to me."

After more failed attempts, Remus sighed, "It's not gonna happen, Sirius."

"Yours will be a star-crossed love," Diya said, dramatically placing her hand against her forehead.

"Shut up," He swatted at Diya's ankle. "Remus, just jump at this point."

Remus's head snapped back toward Sirius, "Are you kidding me? What if I drop Diya?"

He shrugged, "She'll live."

"What?!" Diya shrieked. "Remus, please don't base your choice on that response."

Diya didn't have the chance to finish her pleading before Remus jumped with Diya on his back. Not only was Diya unprepared to grab the peach, but Remus landed poorly, faceplanting as Diya was sent flying off his back and crashing into Sirius. Like bowling pins, the three were sprawled out into a pile of groans in less than 3 seconds.

"I hate you both so much," Diya groaned as she got up. Rolling her eyes, she dusted herself off before limping back to the rest of the group.

Remus groaned as Sirius shrugged, "She seems alive to me."

Their day began to wind down as they made their way to the blueberry portion of the orchard. Not only was everyone tired from walking up and down the hills (and Remus, carrying Diya), but the heat was still getting to everyone.

"I didn't know they grew on tiny baby trees like this!" Alice almost squealed as she kneeled to the ground to pluck unripened blueberries from their thin bushes.

Marlene was carrying five baskets now. They were all piled on each other and filled to the brim. Peter nearly handed her another in an absentminded daze, but Lily stopped him, pulling him back by his shoulder with a shake of her head. Marlene was always a great friend, but when her patience wore thin, she was a force to be reckoned with, and none of them were prepared to deal with that.

"How the hell do we have eight people and twelve baskets?" Remus inquired, his finger still extended from his count. "I didn't even have one!"

Diya silently counted to confirm his words, "You lot know we have to pay for these, right?"

Offhandedly, James said, "Yeah, that's fine."

"With muggle money."

James faltered, "Oh." He quickly took his basket and tried to push the blueberries back onto their stems, hoping they would stick.

"Let me guess." Lily deadpanned, "Only the girls brought muggle money."

James sheepishly smiled as he turned away from the blueberry trees and towards her. "Mayyybe?"

"It's shit like this that makes me happy for school to start back up," Lily complained.

"Why?"

"Because I'll be too focused on school to have to take care of you babies."

"I can't wait for the holidays," Marlene smiled as she set the baskets down. "I get to pull the themed socks out again."

"And the firewhiskey," Peter added, remembering the three large bottles she had hidden in her trunk.

Sirius chimed in, "Screw the holidays! I'm excited to turn seventeen."

"Why? So you can be the dancing queen?" Lily smiled at her quick-wittedness.

"Haha. Very funny." Sirius said sarcastically, glaring at her. "Because we'll finally be able to use magic outside Hogwarts."

"I do that either way," James ruffled his hair as he made a face that can only be described as The Smolder.

"Not all of us live in magical households, James." Lily rolled her eyes.

"You could live in mine if you wanted to," He leaned closer to her as he wiggled his eyebrows.

Lily smiled, pushing her palm into his face and forcing him to stumble backward.

༉‧₊˚✧

After what felt like ages, it was finally time to return to Hogwarts for the fall semester. Platform 9 ¾ was as packed as ever, full of tearful families and astonished first years.

For Zoya, it was the last time she would experience this feeling. These were the last days of her childhood. As soon as she leaves the castle in June, she will be a married woman.

"Are you alright, Zo?" Diya asked, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. The two sisters had said a quick goodbye to their parents before running to the train. Neither of them had wanted to deal with their parents any longer than they had to, anyway.

Zoya gazed ahead, focused on a group standing near an empty compartment. The teenagers stood in a circle, ecstatic to begin their last year together.

"I don't know how I'm gonna tell anyone." Zoya worried aloud. "Hey, guys! How was your summer? I got engaged! Oh — and my wedding is in less than a year, so you should start preparing!"

Diya frowned, "They're your best friends, Zoya. If they're any good, they'll help you."

Before Zoya could doubt them, the group of Seventh Years spotted her. Eyes brightening at the sight of their friend, one girl waved her over.

Zoya returned the wave with a half-hearted smile.

"You can do this, Zo." Diya squeezed her arm. "I'm always here for you."

Zoya gave her sister one last smile before turning to her friends and leaving Diya to find her own.

She tilted her chin up, beginning her strut down the aisle in search of her friends. She began peeking into each compartment, her arms stretched out on either side as she grazed the doors.

Compartment C, Compartment E, Compartment G... Where are they?

Diya lost her train of thought as she collided with a tall chest. She had been walking so fast that she would've fallen if not for the hand that grabbed her at the last second.

"Glad to see that your clumsiness stayed the same over the summer," Remus said as Diya steadied herself.

"I'm reliable like that," Diya said, dusting herself off.

"Diya!" Peter screamed from down the corridor.

Diya mimicked his tone, "Peter!"

The boy brought Diya into a one-armed hug. "We're all sitting down this way."

Once again, it seemed that most of Diya's friends were in the same spot as last year. Lily and Alice were in the compartment on the right, and James and the boys (except for Sirius) were in the one on the left.

"Morning, Talwar," James chimed from his seat as she nudged past her friends to get to the window seat.

"Morning, James!"

"Do we have to endure you and Sirius and your weird flirty attitudes on this fine morning?" James asked, checking his nails.

Alice side-eyed Diya, trying her very hardest to keep her smile to a minimum and keep their secret safe.

"Oh, you're one to talk, Mr. Lilybug." Diya joked, relaxing in her seat. "Plus, I don't see Sirius anywhere."

"I just saw him having an awkward conversation with Regulus further down," Marlene said as she walked up to her seat.

"That can't be fun," James frowned.

"It certainly wasn't, Prongs." Sirius swung into the compartment, seemingly from nowhere. "Morning, everyone."

"Morning, Sirius," Alice nudged Diya slyly through the chorus of responses.

Diya rolled her eyes with a smile, turning to the window as the train began to chug away from the station.

The train began to chug away from the station, and Diya fell into her usual silence.

Slowly, as the train moved down the platform, Diya watched the faces and mixed emotions of everyone on it.

At one end of the platform was the circle of Slytherin parents, conversing in one large group, most likely planning the next Pureblood Supremacy Function.

Further down, Diya could see Euphemia and Fleamont approaching Lily's parents with a very annoyed Petunia by their side.

Eventually, it was tough to recognize most people since there were so many new first years and more and more muggle-borns being admitted to Hogwarts every year.

It was hard to believe that it had already been 5 years since Diya first stepped onto the Hogwarts Express as a student. Diya smiled as she recounted her memories. She'd known these beautiful people for half a decade and built friendships that would last her decades more.

She began thinking of Zoya and how this would be her last time leaving this station with a year at Hogwarts ahead of her. Diya's smile turned to a concerned frown. She could only hope Zoya was enjoying herself.

༉‧₊˚✧

Zoya was not enjoying herself.

Sandwiched between her friends, she suddenly found everyone and everything annoying.

She hadn't realized how difficult this impending doom would feel. She no longer related to their trivial boyfriend troubles or the drama they constantly found themselves involved in.

Zoya wished that her boyfriend troubles were trivial. She had to figure out how to break the heart of the first boy she's ever loved, end her happiness to satisfy her parents, and isolate these complicated feelings from Quidditch.

As co-captain of the Quidditch team, there is no way she'll let something as stupid as her own emotions get in the path of her skills.

The days of isolation for Zoya were over. If she has to get married within the year, at least she should get married having the best year of her life.

This is gonna be quite the year.

༉‧₊˚✧
a/n

WE HIT 100K READS IM SO BEYOND HAPPY THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH

i know yall hate long author's notes so here's the synopsis for my absence 😋:

FIRST: junior year of high school, lots of work, lots of depression, lots of writers block
THEN: senior year of high school, lots of work, applying to universities, lots of stress
NOW: im graduating on saturday which means lots of free time over this summer to write and gain some progression toward the main chunk of the story

love u all, see u soon, tell me if u hated this chapter so i can step it up pls 😚

P.S. : EEEEE WE'RE FINALLY INTO SIXTH YEAR 😁😁