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6th Year of Hogwarts
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ELOISE BIT her tongue as it stuck out of her mouth in concentration. Sirius gulped and started to turn back to Eloise. "Maybe we shouldn't do this...." He whispered uneasy. Eloise rolled her eyes and pushed his head back. "You'll be fine. Besides, you're the one who wanted this."

"I ASSUMED YOU WOULD BE USING MAGIC!" He exclaimed.

Remus stifled a laugh as he watched the interaction between his two friends. "Quiet you," Eloise narrowed her eyes at Remus, making him laugh harder. "Well, I would use magic but because of my bet with Moonster, I won't."

"You can get your wand back now, Foxy." Remus grinned at Eloise and she gave him a death look. "No, because that would mean losing," Eloise spat back, pinching Sirius' ear again and leaning in with the safety pin.

"I'm fine with you loosing," Sirius whined, trying to get away from Eloise. "Well I am not," Eloise sang, pressing  of the safety pin against Sirius' earlobe. Sirius opened his mouth to try and get her to stop, but was interrupted by his own scream as his flesh was pierced.

☆——⍟——☆

The bell ringed as the door of the small shop swung open and Peter, James and Eloise entered. Eloise had stuffed her hands into the pockets of the leather jacket she had taken off of James' hands in their fourth year. James meanwhile was fiddling with the zipper of his current leather jacket.

The two friends followed Peter around the tiny shop as he looked for a small gift for Dorcas. "I still can't believe you got a date, mate!" Eloise exclaimed, clasping Peter's shoulders and shaking the boy like a small doll. Peter laughed nervously and tried to escape Eloise's clutches. He failed.

James looked away from the small wooden doll houses and to his friends. He put down the small dolls he had picked up, a redhead girl and black haired boy. "Wormtail, are you actually sure this is a date?" Peter and Eloise's joy died as they turned to look at their third musketeer. "What...what do y-you mean?" Peter asked shyly, his shoulders sagging a bit.

"Did Dorcas ever fully say it was a date? And a date with her?"

Peter's face faltered and fell as he recalled the encounter with Dorcas. He was pulled out of his spiralling thoughts, by Eloise poking his cheek. "What were her words exactly?" Eloise questioned once Peter payed attention to her. "She said, I had a date today in the Three Broomsticks...." Peter trailed off. Eloise and James' lips curled up and they grimaced, eyes meeting.

Meanwhile, Quinn Chang sat in the Three Broomsticks. A mug of tea was clutched in her hands, fingers tapping on the mug in a odd rhythm. Her face was illuminated by a small flickering candle.

The bar was filled with witches and wizards who were drinking, laughing, kissing, weeping and minding their own business. It felt too lively for a girl who was in the process of being stood up.

What had she been thinking?

A Marauder was never going to go out with her, not even the least popular of the bunch. She was a nobody Ravenclaw. Yes she was loud, funny and obnoxious around her friends, but she knew them. How was she expected to be like that with everyone she met? People were weird, and they would find her weirder and an outcast.

"Good morning." Quinn looked up and saw her date.

There stood Peter Pettigrew, he wore a timid smile on his face. He extended his arms to her, revealing a small keychain. The keychain was a small enchanted tea cup. The enchantment allowed the keychain to make bubble noises when lost and smelled like the person's favourite tea.

"Sorry I'm late," Peter whispered, squeezing himself into the seat opposite to Quinn. Quinn smiled and looked down, double tucking back her glossy black hair. "It's fine....thank..thank you." Her lips pulled up and her cheeks bloomed into a bright red. Which in turn made Peter's neck and ears blush.

Pressing the keychain against her nose, Quinn took a big snif and sighed in relief as orange infusion smell flooded her senses. Peter watched amused as she visibly relaxed. Quinn peeked across the table at Peter and proceeded to extend her arm, holding out the keychain to Peter. "What do you smell?"

☆——⍟——☆

Grunts of pain were audible as Sirius climbed the stairs to the owlery. He massaged his earlobes carefully while holding ice cubes against them.

Finally having reached the damned owlery, he marched to the Potter's owl. "Hello, Rusty."

Rusty cooed and nibbled softly at Sirius' fingers, before happily taking the piece of meat out of Sirius' other hand. In return, Sirius was allowed to take the parchment letter from Rusty's claws. He read the name on the envelope and raised his brows.

Sirius Black

He tended not to get any mail addressed to him alone. Fleamont and Euphemia Potter did include them in their two week letters, but even there he was only ever referred to as Sirius, they never used his last name.

Turning over the letter, Sirius lipped turned up into a giddy smile. If someone were to look at him they would be very surprised for there stood a tall 17 year old boy with shoulder length black hair, heavy eye liner, safety pin earrings, black nails while wearing a black leather jacket with some dangling chains. Yet, he looked like a small child on Christmas morning, who held their present and couldn't wait to tear open the packing. All because of the name on the back of the letter.

Benjamin Potter

☆——⍟——☆

There weren't many students in the Great Hall, dinner had just started and it usually took a few minutes before most students arrived.

On the far right of the room, at the table with the red and golden banner, sat a very happy Eloise and an annoyed Remus. "Oh, stop grinning," Remus whined, pushing Eloise's face, making her laugh. "Nope, because I won." She spread out her arms, smiling so widely that her eyes were closed. Remus watched her and tried his utter best to stay mad at her. But Merlin, did she look adorable.

Maybe, just maybe her expression and mood would make him loosing the bet worth it.

"Good evening," Lily breathed out as she sat down next to Remus, James took a seat next to his girlfriend. Both of them looked suspiciously disheveled to say the least.

Sirius was the next to join the group at the dining table, he shrugged off his leather jacket, leaving him in a rolling stones t-shirt. Resulting in him and Eloise fist bumping for matching.

The Great Hall was largely filled by the time they were graced with Peter's presence, who briefed all of them on his date. Which for the record went well. Very well. So well that Quinn Chang was staring at Peter Pettigrew. Peter in turn was a blushing mess as he told his friends all about the amazing Quinn.

Peter wasn't given much time to gush about Quinn, because soon Eloise turned to Remus and he sighed deeply before climbing onto the table with a groan. He pressed his wand against his throat. "Your love is liftin me higher, than I've ever been lifted before," The students turned to stare at the crazy singing student. "Your love is liftin me higher, than I've ever been lifted before So keep it up, quench my desire and I'll be at your side forever more!"

The professors were trying very hard to not enjoy the spectacle happening before them, but if one were to look closely at their faces, they would see the faint smiles and sparkles in their eyes. Sparkles that longed for their youth, when they did not have to worry about adult things and the war outside.

"Now once, I was downhearted disappointment was my closest friend. But you came, he soon departed and he never showed his face again," Remus continued to sing embarrassed. He was struggling with everyone looking at him. A quick glance between Sirius, Peter, Eloise and James was enough. "I'm so glad I finally found you, your that one in a million man," Remus almost stopped singing as his friends climbed onto the table beside him.

Eloise partnered up with Peter while James and Sirius got together, they were spinning each other around in a terrible fashion. They constantly slipped and came dangerously close to falling off of the table.

"When you wrap your lovin arms around me. I can stand up and face the world again."

Lily grabbed James' extended hand and joined the Marauders on the table. She giggled as James picked her up and spun her around widely, her red hair leaving a fiery ocean in it's wake.

Alice and Marlene followed their best friend, which led to Frank joining in as well. The chain reaction continued and soon many other students started to jump onto the tables and dancing, some even joined in singing. "Your love is liftin me higher than I've ever been lifted before. So keep it up, quench my desire."

Peter stumbled off of the Gryffindor table and jogged towards the Ravenclaw table. "Quinn!" Said girl turned to see him standing there. "Peter?" She asked unsure. Quinn was still seated, she was way too uncomfortable to dance in public, let alone on a table.

Peter licked his lips and scratched the back of his neck. "Can I have this dance?" He extended a hand to her, slightly bowing his head. There was a second of silence as Quinn hesitated before she reached out, clasping Peter's hand. "Yes."

"And I'll be at your side forever more," Remus continued, a bit more sure of himself as most people barley payed him any mind, too busy enjoying themselves. "I should make you lose bets more often!" Eloise hollered, throwing her arms around Remus' neck. There was a small vocal break in the song and Remus pulled the wand away from his neck. "You won't. This is a one time thing!"

"That's what you think Moonster!"

☆——⍟——☆

Some time late in the guest room of the Potter house.

Benji carefully folded open the letter he had just received. He readjusted his glasses with his thumb while reading the words on the parchment. A broad smile appeared on Benji's face and he whispered a silent thank you to Newt, who had convinced him to write Sirius.

Perhaps Benji wasn't alone. Perhaps there were more people out there like him. Good people even.

Maybe being him wasn't so bad.

Maybe being gay was okay.

Dear Sirius,

Thank you for your reply. I would love to meet you in Hogsmade whenever you have time. If you're available nest Saturday, we can pick up a niffler together. Only if you want to. If you don't, that's alright. Really.

Also, thank you for the picture, it looks like you were all having fun. Am I safe in assuming Elo, Jamie or you caused the dancing? I should be telling you, that it's not well mannered to dance on tables, but I don't think you care too much, so I'll spare you the lecture.

Oh, I almost forgot. While visiting London yesterday, I saw some muggle magazines I believe you will enjoy. I'm sending them to you with Rusty. I hope you enjoy them.

With love,
Benji Potter

a/n:
ahh sorry this is so late!!! i hope you
enjoyed this chapter! also, yes quinn is going to
be a semi prominent character and i love her, although she
deserves so much better. but for now she and peter are happy.
also, sirius and benji are wholesome and deserve the world....which
i will not give to them, buttt they still deserve it. check out the sequel:
courageously or timidly (regulus black), anyhow, lemme know your thoughts!

wholesome post:

date published: 21 july 2021
word count: 2001