Charlotte looked at her sleeping friends as she sat on the edge of her bed, a smile on her face. Rosemary and Anita were sleeping quietly while Daisy and Fatema snored away. The three who didn't snore always ragged on the two who did, the dynamic always friendly with teasing words. This was their last year together, and Charlotte could already taste the bittersweet air that would come.

This year would be full of lasts. The last first day, the last Quidditch match, the last class they would take, the last meal, and then they would be speeding away from Hogwarts on the train.

These girls had been her family for the past six years and Charlotte didn't want to leave them. She knew that there would always be dinners and meetups, but it wouldn't be the same. She didn't want them to grow apart and forget about each other.

Charlotte pulled a maroon sweater over her head, running her hands over the soft material. She put on her shoes, grabbed her wand, and murmured a soft "Lumos." Her wand lit up what the moonlight couldn't, showing clothes and nicknacks already strewn around the floor by Rosemary's bed. Fatema had her posters of the Harpies on the walls, Daisy had her plants on the windowsill, and Amita had her makeup on her bedside table. Charlotte's own bedside table was cluttered with photos, of her girls, of her family, of Teddy. Her sister's artwork accented the moving pictures, bright splashes of stationary. That was what made their room so special. They each had their own little touches. If there was such a thing as platonic soulmates, then Charlotte knew that these girls would be hers.

Charlotte gave one last look at her dorm room before slipping out of the door. She padded quietly down the stairs and past the doors of the other years, pausing when she reached the final step. The fire was crackling, the popping the only sound that she could hear, and there was a lump sitting in the cushy red and gold plaid-patterned chair closest to the fire. Amita always joked about how the most comfortable chair was the ugliest.

When she got closer to the chair, Charlotte saw that a dark length of hair was flopping over the back of the chair. Feeling the warmth of the fire on her back, she saw that the lump was Polly. A smile tugged at Charlotte's lips. A book was open on the younger girl's lap, the title warming Charlotte's heart. It was one of the cheesy romance novels that Charlotte herself had enjoyed when she was younger, this particular book one that she had reread over and over. Charlotte closed the book, making sure to place a scrap of paper on the page where Polly had stopped, and gently pulled a blanket over the girl. She checked on the fire, checked that she had her Head Girl badge, and climbed up into the tunnel that lead to the exit of Gryffindor Tower.

Charlotte pushed open the painting, winking at the Fat Lady and putting a silent finger to her lips. The Fat Lady winked back, accustomed to Charlotte coming and going at all hours of the night. Charlotte had learned her first year that if you were nice to the Fat Lady and actually tried to talk to her instead of just brushing past her, then you would get special treatment. She reckoned that it must get lonely, hanging on a wall all day.

Charlotte stuck to the walls of the corridors, staying hidden in the shadows. She was technically allowed out due to being Head Girl, and she could always use the excuse of being on patrol if she ran into any teachers, but she preferred to not have to explain away her late-night wanderings. She extinguished her wand silently, her feet knowing the path they were traveling without any light.

It must have been close to midnight, Hogwarts going into the hours of night that were eerie. The only sound was the quiet noise of Charlotte's footsteps and the crackling of the wall sconces that weren't actually real fire anymore. They were charmed to look and sound like fire, give off light and heat, all while being completely safe. Hogwarts had changed since the war, been modernized. Muggleborns had pushed for it, and it just hadn't made any sense as technology kept evolving to keep Hogwarts in the dark.

Charlotte climbed up the spiral steps to the Astronomy Tower, one hand trailing along on the roughly hewn stone. She paused at the top, sucking in a silent breath.

It looked like a god was standing on the cobblestone floor, staring out at the lake. A beautifully sculpted nose, lips pursed just right.  Moonlight washed over him, creating a silvery glow around Teddy. His features were that of a god, but as her gaze traveled down Charlotte saw that his body was clad in his usual attire of ripped jeans and an old band t-shirt. It lent some humanity to him, a sign that he was approachable. Charlotte coughed, drawing Teddy's attention to her.

"Hey, I thought that you were standing me up," Teddy teased her as he crossed the small circular room.

Charlotte shook her head. "No, I just got caught up in some," she paused, "reminiscing." She looked wistfully out at the lake, dark water lapping at the bank. Somewhere deep in the depths was the giant squid, there were the mermaids, it held secrets.

Teddy laughed. "Reminiscing about what?" he asked. His eyes were pools of happiness, infectious. Happiness emanated from him like it was the last thing that he was doing on this earth. Happiness was how Teddy Lupin did things. Whatever he did, he did it with kindness.

"Oh, you know, about how you split your pants down at that tree over there." Charlotte pointed at a gnarly-looking tree by the lake.  Teddy's eyes were pools, and her eyes twinkled.

Teddy gently pushed her arm and a blush bloomed on his cheeks. "I did not!" he protested. His laugh was a deep belly laugh, shaking his entire body. Teddy didn't do anything in a small manner. He always said that he got it from his mother, that her clumsiness had bled down to him along with her ability to change her features at will. Charlotte always shoved his shoulder and laughed at him.

"You so did." Charlotte shook her head with a smile. "You know that photo that I said that I got rid of?"

Teddy gasped. "You didn't?" His voice was full of playful disbelief.

Charlotte nodded. "I did," she gasped out in between her laughter. A snort came out of her and it only made her laugh even harder. Teddy joined in and they were laughing, laughing, laughing.

When her insides felt like they were splitting apart and she couldn't laugh anymore, Charlotte straightened up and walked to the edge of the tower. She leaned her elbows on the railing, looking up at the sky. She was lost in her thoughts, the moon shining down at her.

Teddy thought that she was the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen.

Charlotte felt arms wrapping around her waist, strong and warm. She laid her head back onto his chest, savoring the moment. She felt warmth throughout her body, her heart expanding and growing. Teddy Lupin and Charlotte Ramsey were two pieces of the same soul. "They are really pretty, aren't they?" she said, looking at the stars.

Teddy made a noise of agreement even as his gaze was trained on Charlotte, absentmindedly playing with a strand of her hair. He twisted it around his finger as he pulled his wand out of his back pocket. It was quiet, and then there was noise.

The faint notes of a Weird Sister's song started playing from Teddy's wand, filling the air with their sound. Most of the Weird Sister's music was upbeat, with bass lines and a beats per minute that was sky-high. But this one was not, it was the exception.

The music enveloped Charlotte. It danced in her ears, pretty and light. A smooth voice was the forefront, piano notes plinking in the background. The singer crooned on about love, about trust. It was her favorite song.

Charlotte swayed in Teddy's arms, rocking back and forth in time to the music. Her foot tapped the beat, her mouth mouthed the lyrics.

"Hey, come dance with me!" Teddy pulled Charlotte into the middle of the room as the music changed. They slow danced to a fast song, they danced like they had at the concert to a slow song. Their bodies were twisting together, moving in time with their heartbeats.

Charlotte was sure that Teddy could hear hers. It felt like her heart was going to pound out of her chest, push through all of the thoughts of friends. Teddy's face was close enough that they could kiss. Their lips were getting closer and closer, but they both knew that friends don't kiss friends.

Author's Note

I hope that you liked this chapter! It is probably one of my favorites. Also, I don't have a specific song for what they were dancing to, but if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them! I was listening to Friends Don't Kiss Friends by Studio Black featuring Emily Burns while writing this, so I think that kind of bled through. Thank you so much for reading!

- Nicole