You’re not sure why you trust a word that comes out of his mouth.

Maybe it’s because he wanted to make you happy. Maybe it’s because he got caught up in the heated moment, panting as he had you pinned down to the mattress in the Room of Requirement. Maybe he was a liar.

James was supposed to take you to the Yule Ball. You, at first, thought he was just taking a while to ask you because he was planning something extravagant. As more and more time passed, however, you slowly started to realise he just wasn’t going to ask you.

You didn’t even know he was going with Lily until Remus told you as you shared a cigarette at the top of the Astronomy Tower.

You weren’t sure why you were so surprised. After all, you weren’t dating James. You were just his friend he occasionally slept with. You were just his friend he kissed for a little too long in between classes.

Just his friend. You weren’t Lily.

You had begrudgingly accepted the offer from a Hufflepuff boy in your year, Damien. You danced with him for a while, ignoring his wandering hands as you tried not to stare at Lily and James from across the room.

You stood next to him as Lily and James were crowned Yule King and Queen. The applause was loud, and even though you clapped along, you weren’t happy for them. Not really.

The dance is long over now. You had rejected Damien’s advances and to no surprise he abandoned you in the castle, stomping off in the direction of his common room, no doubt going to seek the comfort of his right hand.

You slowly walk the castle grounds, a leather jacket you nicked from Sirius draped over your shoulders as you headed towards the Black Lake, your safehaven.

The lake is so familiar and comforting, even when it’s this late and cold. You sit down on the shore, settling into the sand, closing your eyes as you taken in the sounds of the water.

“Thought I might find you ‘ere.” Your bliss is interrupted by a familiar voice, and when you open your eyes again you see James going to sit down next to you.