The rain had finally, completely cleared up. All the evidence left behind was a slight dampness in Sonny's bedroom carpet from the leak.

"Dorcas is gonna be so disappointed. This carpet is new." He said attempting to dry it with a spell but it was being stubborn.

"I'm sure she'll understand, you can't control the weather or a leak." I sighed. Simply watching him attempt not to set the carpet on fire by trying too hard.

"Let's just pray to merlin that it dries before she gets back." He sighed, finally getting up from the floor and stepping away.

We walked out of his room and he opened up a small utility cupboard.

"Thanks for your towels by the way." He said, handing them back to me freshly washed and dried.

I helped out around his flat, making sure it was girl approved for when Dorcas came back from visiting her grandparents.

"Sirius enjoyed seeing you last night." He spoke up again after grabbing us both a glass of water.

"I enjoyed seeing him! It was just so relaxed!" I smiled, enjoying how Sirius' acceptance towards me obviously wasn't a facade.

"And I'm sure Remus enjoyed the the night too. As he strolled in after breakfast this morning?" He said but threw his hands up in the air and to his ears as I began to laugh.
"Don't wanna hear anything about it."

I rolled my eyes playfully and set my glass of water down on his kitchen counter.

"What does he usually do on a Sunday night?" I asked. Curious about if I was gonna be thrown into another social situation.

"Nothing I don't think. Though if they do, the pub. I'm often invited but I'm more of a house party guy. Can't take your shoes off at the pub." He said.

"I mean...you could." I replied.

"Doesn't mean you should."

"Yeah, you're right." I agreed.

I helped Sonny with a few more chores, having nothing to do myself all day. He also cooked us both dinner to, since we were both eating alone tonight and so I didn't mind helping him clean.

I wandered back to my flat to change out of a T-shirt that smelt of cleaning products and into a casual summer dress, ready for seven which was only half an hour away.

Remus didn't tell me what we were doing so I just went nice but casual. I had a sneaky suspicion however that I was going to be reintroduced to some of the old group. Nothing he said gave it away but if his routine was anything to go by, my gut was right.

...and I didn't know how I particularly felt about it.

I had no hard feelings against James, Peter or Frank. If anything, I'd be happy to see James again. I remember how he was kind to me before I left.

There was something anxiety provoking about the idea of seeing Lily, Marlene and Alice again though and I couldn't quite put my finger on why.

I was never properly integrated into their group, which often seemed like a subgroup to the whole gang. There were moments that made me feel excluded and upon reflection I was probably very difficult to integrate into anything socially orientated. Truthfully, I was intimidated by them. Not because they were mean girls but because they were teenage girls. Often harder to understand than boys. More rules to abide by. Having to navigate teenage friendships with girls is daunting, especially if you're new. Especially considering they had all shared a dorm since first year together and then there was me. Not turning up to quidditch house games, not eating with them all the time, not studying with them. I wasn't glued  and instantly attached to them and I think that must have been odd. They were well liked and I didn't know who I liked.

Teenage girls will forever be intimidating to me, even if I've been one. You just never know what they're truly thinking. Narcissa and Bellatrix taught me that.

I had to understand we had all left school now. I had grown massively. The way Sirius reacted to me showed how much he had grown. Remus had changed and physically grown. They must have too.

I had been proven wrong each time when I've felt anxious about the people in my past. I just had to try and relax a little.

Easier said than done.

"You should really lock your door, what if a weirdo walked in?" I suddenly heard and I snapped my head in the direction of...Sirius letting himself into my flat.

"Seems one has." I replied, startled.

Remus quickly followed in behind him, mumbling a story at Sirius' make yourself at home behaviour.

"Right," Sirius slapped both my shoulders.
"Get up. You're coming to the pub."

"I was gonna take you out for food." Remus said looking drained by my cousin next to him.

"I've eaten." I smiled sadly at him.

"See? She's eaten." Sirius looked quite happy.
"I told him you would have. Also told him he's been hogging you and can't keep you all to himself."

"I'm not hogging- it's no use fighting!" Remus threw his hands up in defeat and rolled his eyes.

"Come on. You've got some people to meet." Sirius almost dragged me out of the flat.

"You feeling ready?" Remus mumbled behind me as I was being rushed out, rubbing my back.

"No. But I didn't feel ready for the rest of you." I said truthfully. Talking about him, Sonny and Sirius.

-

We arrived at hogsmeade by floo powder. Somewhere I hadn't been since school.

Mother and Father believed it was too close to Hogwarts to let me go to. Also not having many high end shops for them to bother going to. Except my Mothers tailor. Which I was never allowed to attend those appointments anyway.

"The Hog's Head." I said out loud.

And suddenly I was in Scotland again. Instead of London, England. The air crisp and it being cooler due to lack of air pollution.

"A classic." Sirius said.

"It closes at eleven. We don't have to stay for long if it's too much." Remus whispered in my ear.

I reached out for his hand and he took it subtly. We stood so closely you could hardly tell. I just needed the grounding feeling of him by my side as I thought about who might be inside the inn we were approaching.

Sirius took lead, entering the hogs head before us and Remus continued to hold my hand. I wasn't letting go. Though perhaps I should have as my palms began to feel hotter and damper with nerves.

For a Sunday it was surprisingly busy. Full of older wizards and a scattering of underage students.

And there in the corner, the corner they always sat at during school...was the group.

I wandered over almost cowering behind Remus' tall frame. Attempting to hype myself up.

I'm not the person I was,

I've come so far,

I don't need to be nervous,

I'm strong,

I'm kind,

I'm -

"Art!" James Potter stood up. A head full of dark curls bouncing as much as he did. A big smile appearing on his face and making his eyes crease.

The rest of them remained sat down but all looked very excited, a number of joyful 'hellos' being almost screamed in my direction.

Remus held my shoulders and forced me to stand in front of him instead of using him as a safety blanket. But he still stayed close by.

James almost scrambled over the group to come and give me a jockish hug. Almost violently slapping my back in the boyish embrace.

"Hi, James." I tried not to laugh too hard. Still kind of nervous and a little overwhelmed already by his energetic aura that seemed larger than life.

I looked at them all as Remus and Sirius began going around the group and giving small hello hugs.

Lily was stunning. She had always been pretty but after all these years she had seemed to bloom. Porcelain skin that didn't seem to have a single freckle, pink flush, mole or scratch on it. Big green eyes with long eyelashes and long bright orange hair that wasn't the slightest bit frizzy or out of place, but naturally so. She looked a bit shy, avoiding prolonged eye contact with me despite her confident posture.

Marlene looked so glamorous. Her big curly blonde hair less matted and wild than at school. She wore big earrings and effortlessly expressed her loud personality through pattern and texture clashing her clothes. She attempted to get up to say hi to me before James scrambled past her and pushing her back down. She was now just relaxing in her seat and fiddling with her layered rings whilst watching everyone settle.

James hadn't grown much. Around my height but muscular, very obviously athletic. His hair was still a little frizzy but you could tell he was attempting to understand his curly texture, some strands more ringleted than others. Dark blue eyes under new glasses frames. Thicker than the last pair.

I knew not to expect Frank or Alice due to them being away travelling but I expected to see Peter. Who wasn't at the table.

"Come take this seat." Marlene finally spoke up, her loud voice swamping the chaotic chit chat of the boys being together as she gestured me to come over and not hide behind the boys.

I smiled at her and sat in the empty chair.

"I like your earrings." I said shyly. Attempting so hard to find the confidence that has lived inside of me in the past few weeks.

"Thanks I made them! It's nice to see you again, love." Marlene said with a cool smile, leaning back and pulling a packet of cigarettes out of her pocket.
"Do you smoke?" She offered the open packet.

"No, thanks though!" I said.

"I do." Sirius popped out of nowhere and pinched one before she could close the packet.

"I don't smoke either. Makes my teeth feel furry." Lily smiled at me, sitting next to Marlene.

"And she can't inhale without choking." Marlene added with a smirk, taking a puff out of a newly lit cigarette she pulled out.

"Neither can I." I lightly laughed.

"How've you been?" They both said at exactly the same time. In different tones.

"Busy, but good!" I said, beginning to fiddle with the hem of my dress under the table.

"You look good!" Lily said, giving me a hopeful look.

I felt stuck. It felt like they were trying to pull blood from a stone all over again, I had to loosen up.

"You guys look amazing." I said, feeling my shoulders raise in an attempt not to appear so socially awkward for the second time.

Confidence begins with faking it. It's shown within your body. I had two options. Improve my posture like Lily or become super laid back like Marlene. Who was currently man spreading shamelessly. Which I kind of loved but knew I couldn't mimic without looking ridiculous ...improved posture like Lily it was.

"We're so sorry." Lily rushed out quickly, her confidence breaking slightly as if she had been holding herself together from obvious guilt.

"For what?" I said innocently. I had some ideas.

"For expecting you to just act as if you weren't new." Marlene said, puffing out some smoke.

"We just didn't understand how tough that might be, back then. To us our group is so easy to find fun and to trust. I didn't understand why you didn't want to hang out all the time." Lily said.
"Which I understand was immature." She added.

I took a pause to reflect. Taking in their expression. Marlene didn't look at me, seemingly more interesting in observing the boys conversation. Though I could tell it was just out of feeling uncomfortable with apologising. Lily's porcelain clear skin managed to get the tiniest bit pink as she began to bite her bottom lip a little, waiting for my response.

"Thank you." I said sincerely.
"I couldn't have been the easiest person to try and integrate into your group but I always appreciated the enthusiasm. It was the secrets that threw me." I said honestly.

"Secrets?" They both said. Marlene's eyes now looking between Lily and me and Lily's seeming panicked.

They were hiding and protecting Remus, they all were. After discovering and accepting that he could be a werewolf their behaviour made sense. Was I to be trusted with such a heavy secret? The mumbling around me was never directed at me, it was about him liking me.

"We all had them. I'm sure. There was always a lot of mumbling." I shrugged it off, trying to cover up my implication.

Suddenly someone walked past the table. Wearing all black, like the bartender.

"Oh could I get a drink menu please?" I flagged him down as politely as I could. Not wanting a butter beer.

He stared at me. Tall, blonde and thin faced. Frowning as if I had offended him.

"Oh sorry. I'll go up and ask." I said, realising he must have been implying that it was bar service only.

The table began to erupt with laughter, a hot flush of embarrassment finding its way onto my face, not knowing why I was being laughed at so ferociously.

"I don't work here. I'm just late." The unimpressed boy rolled his eyes as he...took a seat at the table.

"Oh I'm sorry." I blushed and sank down into my seat. Not wanting to go up and get a drink anymore.

"You remember Peter don't you?" James said across the table.

"Oh Merlin- Peter?!" I almost spat out in shock.

"Yep." He said, still not impressed by me flagging him down for a menu.

"I hardly recognised you! You're..." I trailed to try and find the right words.

"Skinny?" He said.

"Tall!" I corrected.

Though he was much skinnier, once being a chubby small boy with pink cheeks and short blonde hair, a cute smile and lighthearted aura.

He didn't have pink cheeks anymore, more sallow and he was about the height of Sirius. All boys being much taller than him back at Hogwarts. He didn't have that lighthearted energy about him anymore.

"I'd keep an eye on that one." I could hear Sonny repeat in my head, the first time he met Peter at school. I never knew how anyone could see anything strange about the cute boy...until he sat before me miserable and stern looking.

"So Art!" James began but I couldn't quite listen to him as he started going into conversation with me, his voice blurring behind the weird feeling I got from Peter Pettigrew, who didn't acknowledge me for the rest of the night.