lolo

Hunter's blue eyes narrow on me. "Hilarious.” I narrow mine right back at him, I cut the keg's tap off. “I could tell you the same, since we've been through the whole: I can live with my best friend at another university, every time we see each other.” I take a sip from my cup. “That's an exaggeration.” He teases. “You'd sure know about those.” I lilt right back, lifting my hands into air quotes. “Mr I'll never play hockey again.” I point my cup in his direction. “I'd still make a bet with you about that.”

He rolls his eyes at me. "We still up for lunch on Wednesday?” "Sure, although as your friend I feel like I have to warn you: Summer won't be there to personally hand you the signup sheet for the hockey tryouts. You'll just have to contend yourself with little old me.” I say as seriously as I can while bringing up two of the topics I like to tease him most about.

“Again, hilarious.” He narrows his eyes on me with a lazy smile on his face. 

As five tall athletic figures make their way into the kitchen, he tenses by my side. “Aaand that would be my cue to leave.” He quickly pushes himself away from the counter smacking a kiss on the crown of my head. 

Always acting as if any of the hockey players has a contagious disease with symptoms that'll make him wake up the next morning to find out he's actually playing for Briar's hockey team. “You know it's their house you're at right?” I holler after him, while he just lifts me his finger not looking back at me and heading towards a couple of his friends I recognize from the business classes I share with him. 

I prop my hip against the kitchen counter, backing away from the keg to not create an unnecessary line for whoever wants to get their fill. As I lift the cup back to my lips, I'm face to face with Briar's hockey captain. Brown eyes gleam mischievously at me. “You really just can't get enough of me can you?” He tips –what I know will be his only beer for the night– in my direction. “You were here yesterday, you were at the game and now you're here at my party.” “Your party?” I laugh lightly and watch as his lips twitch up at the sound. “Oh, yes! I keep forgetting how hockey consists of only its captain on the ice doing all the work, so of course this party is just to celebrate your win. How silly of me.” I exaggerate my words. “Nice goal though, congrats on the game.” I mutter genuinely but way lower, not wanting to help expand his ego even more. He nods in thanks and takes a swig of his beer, not taking his eyes off me. “And for alignment purposes.” He raises his eyebrows, probably already expecting something amusing from me. “I came here because I knew this cute guy was coming.” 

Hook, line and sinker. I think as I watch his eyes twinkle thinking I'm referring to himself. “You know, the one I hooked up with at this Sigma frat party I told you my friends dragged me to?” I lift my cup to my mouth, trying to hide the smile that took over my lips as I finish the sentence. Garrett laughs out loud at my antics, realizing what I did. I tsk at him and shake my head. “You and that hockey god complex of yours, you make it too easy for me.” 

“What complex? It would only be a complex if it weren't true, so in this case, it's a fact. I'm a hockey god.” He delivers seriously. I burst out laughing garnering the attention of the other boys that entered the space alongside him. He can't hold his composure for long and joins me with his deep laughter. 

“Was the cute guy the one who flipped you off as we got here? Cause if so, that seems really promising.” He tries to ask lightly, though I sense a slight tension in the question. I snort. “No Garrett,” I say slowly, “keep up! That was Hunter, I've told you of him multiple times before. You know, we studied together at Prep School, he's lightning fast on ice. I've been trying to remind him that he loves the sport so he'll join the team and help you out with that complex of yours, you know peg it down a notch.” He nods his head in acknowledgment with a small chuckle. 

“He also kissed my best friend and Dean freaked out for whatever reason.” I really never understood why Dean did freakout, not like he's never seen Summer hooking up with someone.  “And he also kissed you.” Someone singsongs, then snorts besides me as they squeeze my shoulders. “Yeah, that's why Dean freaked out. Because he hooked up with Summer.” I don't even have to look up from where my head leans on the person's chest to know it's Beau. As much as I love him, I can't help the slight disappointment heavy on my gut that my time alone with Garrett has come to an end. “You still messing with Davenport?” Briar's quarterback asks with raised brows. I smile proudly. “Of course, I'll mess with anyone with an ego.” I nod towards Garrett to emphasize what I'm saying, which causes the hockey captain to roll his eyes at me. “But, no, really, how could I not? I'd be letting Summer down if I weren't messing with him.” “And we can't have that.” Beau replies, mock seriously. “You and Summer are always up to something.” Garrett pretends to shiver at the thought, probably remembering some of the times she's come to visit me or Dean. “Don't even get me started on them.” Dean announces as he inserts himself into our little circle. “Oh, shush, we make life more interesting.” I huff playfully. Dean and Beau both look at each other instantly and howl with laughter. “You guys are so annoying.” I mumble with an amused smile. 

I turn towards Dean. "Congrats on–” Well, I was planning on congratulating him on the game, and mentioning how his assist to Logan was insane. When a high pitched voice calls out for him and he instantly turns his head with that playboy smirk of his. Not two seconds go by and he's kissing her near where we're all gathered. In the middle of the kitchen. I roll my eyes at him and end up congratulating Logan and Tucker who had been stopped by a few people, and finally joined us. Apparently while I was tracking Dean and being polite. Beau decided to not be polite, and embarrass me. I snap back to attention when I gather what he's talking about.

“Remember when you and Summer got kicked out of summer camp?! Because you kept–” My hand slaps itself over Beau's mouth. “Oh my God Beau, shut up!” I groan while trying to fight back a smile, sobering my mood quickly. “You want to go there?” I raise an eyebrow playfully. 

He chuckles loudly enough that I'm able to hear over the thudding bass of the music being blasted through the house. The three hockey players –that aren't occupied with a tongue down their throat– gathered around exchange amused grins between each other. The smile I was fighting resurfaces.The hand that was on Beau's mouth and not occupied holding my red solo cup now taps on my chin teasingly as my eyebrows scrunch up. “If I recall correctly, there was this time that me and Summer decided we really wanted to play hairdresser.” Beau's eyes widen exponentially, knowing exactly what I'm talking about. "That was actually more embarrassing for Dean” he points out, holding back his laughter. 

I shrug. "Still.” “You guys can't keep us hanging like this with all these unfinished stories.” Muses Tucker.

“If I finish the story about the summer camp disaster–” “Misunderstanding.” I arch my brows, trying to stay serious. Beau nods because he knows what's good for him. “Yeah, sure, let's call it a misunderstanding.” He emphasises the word, just as I had. “I might just lose my balls. So just use your imagination on what two fifteen–” 

"We were, like ten.” “No, you were fifteen.” I roll my eyes and huff. “Anyways what two fifteen year olds can do with a waterhose, butter and a screwdriver at their disposal.”

I quickly interrupt and don't correct the list of items mentioned. “Okay, no one cares about that story.” 

There are some mumblings of the boys announcing that they do in fact care, but I just ignore them. We don't have to relive that embarrassing mess. “But the hairdresser thing was during a summer vacation when we were all at Beau's house at the Cape, and me and Sunny were so bored.” My old nickname for my best friend slips through along with a smile that creeps onto my face as I think of the memory. 

Beau snorts. "Which is a miracle itself, as we've established those two are always up to something when together.” I roll my eyes affectionately. “Anyways, we decided to tell the boys that we thought we wanted to open a hair salon when we grew up.” The smile takes over my face. “So we obviously had to practice our haircuts on someone. And no doll would cut it, since we were going to have real people as our clients.” Almost all of the boys listening to my story have a wince on their face already imagining where this is heading. Except for Garrett, whose eyes seem to shine with amusement and the smile that won't come off his face when around me. 

“So we asked Beau and Dean to be our first clients and told them that after we had our turn cutting their hair they could obviously cut ours next.”

“Obviously.” Beau drawls sarcastically. His shoulders shake from silent laughter. “More like I was smart and kept Summer talking while Y/N only had to smile at Dean." 

“Me and Summer were smart–” Beau tsks. "More like sneaky.” I ignore his interruption. “And knew that our parents were keeping an eye on us, because whenever the four of us were together, things tended to…. get out of hand” I laugh lightly. “So obviously we told the boys that our salon was underneath a table with a tablecloth on, you know for aesthetics and not because it hid us from the adults' linesight.” I cover my mouth laughing at the story. “And basically that was the reason Dean is wearing ballcaps and beanies for at least a year in all of our childhood photos.” I snicker reaching for my phone. 

“Oh we have to see those.” Tucker chuckles. 

“And also the reason why there were no scissors in any of our houses without supervision for a couple of years after that.” I add still giggling at the memory. “That's why he's so neurotic and obsessed with his hair!” Crows Logan in laughter. 

I'm looking for one of the pictures in which we can see at least one of Dean's bald spots caused by my artistic haircut choice. When an arm snakes itself onto my shoulders and pulls me away from Beau and towards another firm chest. “Why is everyone laughing and making comments about my hair?” Dean whispers close to my temple. I pretend I don't hear him while I'm still looking for a picture with a small smile on my lips. “She told them about the time she decided she wanted to be a hairdresser.” Beau decides to respond for me just as I find a picture of the mess that was Dean's hair when we were younger. The arm that's currently not over my shoulder, tickles me. I shriek loudly. And instantly feel the heat of two specific gazes tracking me. “Oh, no we won't.” Dean responds darkly as he realizes what I'm looking at my phone, shuts it off while pocketing it in his jeans. “You've officially lost your phone privileges.” He tuts, while slowly shaking his head. I roll my eyes. “Why don't you get back to that redhead you were kissing so I can continue embarrassing you?” I bat my eyes teasingly at him. His eyes dance in mirth. “Oh, so you were keeping an eye on me?” My stomach drops, but I make sure it doesn't show on my face. “More like, everyone was, since you know you were hooking up right in the middle of where we were all having a conversation.” Before he can answer, three friends of mine enter the kitchen's backdoor, eyes bloodshot from the weed and drunkenly screaming once they spot me in the middle of all the big hockey bodies, as if we hadn't seen each other for years, when it was actually just an hour ago. Saving me from this uncomfortable conversation, I let them pull me towards the makeshift dancefloor by the living room, dancing as I go. 

Once we get there I spin around in their arms, still glued and dancing to my friend’s front  and teasingly wave with my fingers towards the three gazes I knew would be following every move of mine.

Beau, one of my oldest and closest friend's, laughs affectionately knowing me and exactly what I'm doing. Always keeping an eye out for me, even though he knows I can take care of myself.

The other two are not looking at me with the same brotherly affection, even if one's supposed to be looking at me that way.

Garrett, the hockey captain who I've hit it off with since Dean introduced me to his new best friends, has a smile on his face, enthralled and never seeming to get enough of my antics, while he brings his only beer of the night to his lips, trying to smother how affected he is.

And Dean, my best friend's older brother. Who I've known my entire life and spent every summer with, who should be looking out for me just as Beau does. He's not smiling, not able to play his playboy persona with me, but his eyes don't leave me.

He'd answer the same. Because, well, he was a prideful lion was he not?

And then those around him would raise their eyebrows in utter bewilderment. 

You were the only one who made him feel like he was a breath away from self admitting himself into St. Mungo's. The one who made him raise his voice at the littlest things, resort to childish antics and drive Lily mad with his rants about you. 

Y/N Y/LN.

His lovers' best friend and lately, much to his grumbling, their crush. And his —he'd never admit this to her, give her the dignity of acknowledging her as someone respectable enough to be competing with him— academic rival. 

Yes, Lily sometimes did get better scores than they both did. James got the handle on a charm quicker than anybody in his house. And Sirius did achieve O's on his schoolwork without much effort. 

But that did not matter because they weren't you. The one who plagued his mind. Whose name was always on the tip of his tongue.

He was proud of them, encouraged them and commemorated them. 

The same could not be said about you. 

You were friends during your first year at Hogwarts… and then things got to the point in which they were now.

"I did not cheat!" You whisper harshly across from one of the library's tables. 

A dark chuckle comes out from his lips as his eyes narrow to slits and focus on you. "I think I recall our Defence Against Dark Arts Professor rather clearly, we weren't supposed to use curses on one another."

The rest of your group don't even lift their heads from their work, as this is normal when it comes to you two. It became so common they could probably dedicate a time in their schedule for whenever you'd bicker, argue or shout at each other. It would be weird for a day to go by without some type of exchange between the two. "I'm glad to know your stupidity hasn't affected your memory loss seeing as our lesson was a couple of hours ago. And as I've said" You drawl lazily, although the tightening of your fingers around your quill betrays the way you actually feel "I didn't use curses." 

You hear more than see him scoff since you won't lift your head to meet his eyes. 

"I did not curse you, if you'd get your head out of your arse you'd have heard me when I said I created a—" Remus doesn't even blink at the aggression. "Also known as cheating." He sneers. "Or you're just barking mad and have great difficulty admitting that I'm better at duelling than you are."

That causes Sirius and James to abruptly stop their whispering and Lily to put down her book, all of them now tensely keeping their eyes on you both.

The banter was normal, once one of you mentioned you were better than the other at anything? Specifically a subject, an intellectual subject? All hell broke loose, there was no knowing where things would go. 

"Well of course, when one uses means that aren't following the rules then obviously it's much easier to defeat their opponent." "How many times am I supposed to tell you that I used a jinx that I've created?" Your voice finally starts to rise in volume. Really shocking that you've been able to control yourself for so long. "The same one you won't let me explain since you always end up interrupting-"

"I suppose until you admit that what you've done was against the rules." He raises his voice to meet yours in volume. 

The other three students' heads turn, following your banter as if they were watching a really intense quidditch match, not trying to diffuse the situation already knowing the outcome would be the same. 

"Shhh!" Madam Pince whispers fall on deaf ears as both of you only seem to get more and more agitated with your argument. 

"Just because I best you does not mean I cheated." "I'll remember that for future reference." "Please do! Are you finally admitting that you already expect me to win our next duels?" 

"Oh, please, this is embarrassing." He scoffs

"Okay, you know what, let's do a redo right now, and I'll be nice and not even use my jinx since you're so put off by it." You stand up abruptly, push your chair out, letting it topple to the floor in your haste to prove him wrong. Causing Madam Pince to yell in shock. "And will probably never be able to shield it." 

Remus barks out a condescending laugh, quickly standing up to meet you. "Yes. Let's." Escapes his gritted teeth.

James' eyes widen in shock that his boyfriend, his kind, collected and put together boyfriend, would actually pull out his wand in the middle of the library, his sacred place. Sirius just grins at the situation, even after years of this kind of interaction, still highly amused that two of the calmest people he knows could get so violent when together. "Remus, love—" Lily tries to reason. "Expelliarmus" He smugly says quickly as you were going off about something. Your wand flying across the table and into the palm of his waiting hand. 

"You were saying?" He lifts his eyebrow at you. 

You don't even think before hurling your tome right at his head. 

That's how two of Hogwarts' brightest were forbidden to study in the library at the same time. 

And how Remus ended up with a purple eye. 

McGonagall strides across the classroom returning her student's latest graded parchment. She could just use the locomoter spell to retrieve all of them at once, but Y/N along a few of her housemates suspect the professor enjoys the suspense. Some groan or silently cheer as they receive their work back, while others anxiously await for theirs. McGonagall hands Lily's with a small smile on her face. 

The witch beams at her parchment. The one that took her a while to put together and feels the need, the pride of showing it off to her loved ones. Wishing to be a part of a little healthy competition.

“I told you guys this was an easy subject.” She says smugly while showing off the O on the top corner of her parchment. 

“Well done love, congrats!” Remus murmurs half distractedly, pressing a quick peck to her lips, while keeping an eye as the Professor makes her way towards your side of the classroom. 

Lily, a bit miffed at the lack of competition or ambition, brags, a bit out of character, but still “I bet I've done better than you did.” “Wouldn't be surprised, a bright witch as yourself” Remus gives her a bright smile, the words weren't even out of his mouth when he turned his head back to the front, eyes already back to tracking their professor. 

Not getting the reaction she'd wished for, she heads toward the other witch always competing with her boyfriend when it comes to grades. Practically skipping towards you, she doesn’t even get the chance to come up with a remark as you already interrupt her with a blinding smile that normally would make her blush by being the focus of your attention. “Another O Lily?” “Yes.” The redhead huffs and her shoulders slump with disappointment, really not the reaction you'd expect from someone that just got the perfect grade on an assignment that took them some time to put together. 

“Congrats dove, wouldn't expect anything less from you.” Lily just turns around and goes back to her seat next to James, who squeezes her shoulders trying to hold back his laughter at the situation, but being betrayed by his shaking shoulders. Which only angers his girlfriend even more. 

Professor McGonagall (along with any other Hogwarts instructor) already knows what to expect from a certain pair of gryffindors, purposely dragging out their bickering and anxiety leaving their scrolls towards the end of the pile. 

Lily, Sirius and James all sit in attention along with the rest of the class - well except for you as you try to pretend you don't care what his grade might be -  as their professor hands out Remus' parchment back to him. 

He beams smugly, eyes immediately finding yours –which seem to have gone against your orders and fixed themselves towards the lanky boy –he simply rests his head on the palm of his hands and with the other hand, joins his index finger to his thumb, forming the circular shape of an “O”. Knowing you were watching, which just aggravates you more. McGonagall distributes a couple more parchments and finally (actually) heads towards you, already letting out a small sigh, knowing the chaos that might descend her classroom like a storm. 

Your knees won’t stop bouncing, I mean, of course you know you did well, you just hope you did better than he did. That’s all that really matters. 

The Professor returns your scroll, trying to hold back her smile. Your eyes quickly scan the parchment. Your entire posture shifts as if you were sitting on a throne and not an old squeaky chair. Remus shoulders already tensing, having come to learn your body language. And Lily rolls her eyes at the fact that you didn't even open your mouth and have already garnered a bigger reaction than she did with her arrogant words. You don't even need to try hard to make eye contact with Remus, already expecting his eyes to be on you, the same way yours were upon him. 

You know your scroll got less adjustments from the Transfiguration Professor than his did, having heard him (purposely and) loudly commenting to his lovers. Your mouth forms your well practised Remus irking condescending smirk, sprawled on your chair you lazily imitate his earlier actions, joining you index finger to your thumb. 

He huffs and rolls his eyes, while muttering a “Well played". 

Lily was watching the interaction like every other student and professor in their class, and against her wishes a small smile crept onto her face, she slightly shook her head, quite glad that either of you took her up on her teasing. This was your game, your competition, even if either of you would never verbally acknowledge it, you still acted upon it.  

She had always had a soft spot for you, the two of you had been inseparable since you'd sat at the same train compartment on your first trip to Hogwarts and later on placed in the same room. You'd heard her complain about James' teasing back in their second year, and later on about Sirius' and James' outrageously embarrassing advances. Which only got worse when she started developing a small crush on the tall and more reserved member of their friend group.

You'd helped her realise that it was okay for her to have feelings for more than one wizard at the same time. That if the three of them made her happy, then there was no reason she should be ashamed, especially if all of them were feeling the same way. And in the midst of all this, you'd been the one to make her realise that maybe she was attracted to witches as well. She thought back to both of your first kiss shared behind closed bed drapes late at night, her bed full of scattered Witch Weekly editions along with chocolate frog boxes and sticky fingers from your stock of hidden sweets, which you absolutely hate to share, but you'd pulled out just to help console her feelings about the boys.

You both were just trying to help each other out, that's what each of you convinced yourselves that night, full of giggling, sighing and pointing at famous wizards on magazines. You were one of the few witches she didn't mind being silly with and she was well aware you were attempting to lighten her mood a bit, distract her from all of her confusing feelings and anxieties.

After a few more minutes of horsing around, you'd just turned to her with a twinkle in your eye, like you couldn't settle with this being a night that she was already sure she'd never forget, you had to turn it into one that would change her life.

And suggested "let's just get it out of the way, see what the fuss is all about, this way you wouldn't have another worry added to the long list of things I have no doubt you've already created to obsess over, you know, with you being your rule abiding and dedicated self getting into a relationship with more than one bloke." All this with a toothy smile on your lips. She didn't even realise at the time that she was already leaning in, and she definitely wasn't expecting that she'd actually enjoy kissing her best friend. And understand what the fuss was all about.

You always fought her battles even when she said there was no need, you fitted right in with the marauders never missing a joke or the possibility of teasing one of them. You cheered for them and went out of your way to be there for them. You were always there for the people you cared for. You always tried to ensure people only saw the best version of yourself. She and her other two boyfriends couldn't help but fall for you. 

Remus had gotten much better with his insecurity, caused by his furry problem, but there were times that it still dominated the way he acted. Mostly keeping to himself, needing to prove that he was just as good as any wizard without his affliction, he sometimes took himself too seriously. You helped with that, you pushed him, made him lose some of the obsessive hold he had over having to control everything. Which somehow, just made you even more special to Lily. 

It saddened her, James and Sirius that the both of you couldn't see past this rivalry of yours that you'd obviously be a perfect addition to their group. Not that you already weren't a part of it, but romantically. 

So if this competition of yours made the two of you interact, come truly alive and lose the control that both of you tried so hard to prove to everyone that you had a handle on everything, she was happy. 

Maybe this would be the way that the both of you would finally stop being prats and would realise that Y/N was meant to be a part of their group. That you and Remus were destined to be together, to love each other and to push each other. 

It was so obvious this was all a farce for how you actually felt for one another. 

You guys were each other's drive to not settle. So she wouldn't get in the middle of this. 

A small smirk grows on her face as the both of you (predictably) fell into a small battle of wits. She nods to herself, now deciding she'd even help provoking her crush and boyfriend into these situations. It's not her fault this was the only way you'd interact for more than a couple of minutes. James, who was sitting on the desk besides her, was looking at her with an arched brow, recognising the scheming look on his lover's face. Which only made Lily smile more. 

She couldn't wait for when their well practised restraint finally snapped. 

He'd answer the same. Because, well, he was a prideful lion was he not?

And then those around him would raise their eyebrows in utter bewilderment. 

You were the only one who made him feel like he was a breath away from self admitting himself into St. Mungo's. The one who made him raise his voice at the littlest things, resort to childish antics and drive Lily mad with his rants about you. 

Y/N Y/LN.

One of his best mates' closest friend. And his —he'd never admit this to her, give her the dignity of acknowledging her as someone respectable enough to be competing with him— academic rival. 

Yes, Lily sometimes did get better scores than they both did. James got the handle on a charm quicker than anybody in his house. And Sirius did achieve O's on his schoolwork without much effort. 

But that did not matter because they weren't you. The one who plagued his mind. Whose name was always on the tip of his tongue.

He was proud of them, encouraged them and commemorated them. 

The same could not be said about you. 

You were friends during your first year at Hogwarts… and then things got to the point in which they were now.

"I did not cheat!" You whisper harshly across from one of the library's tables. 

A dark chuckle comes out from his lips as his eyes narrow to slits and focus on you. "I think I recall our Defence Against Dark Arts Professor rather clearly, we weren't supposed to use curses on one another."

The rest of your group don't even lift their heads from their work, as this is normal when it comes to you two. It became so common they could probably dedicate a time in their schedule for whenever you'd bicker, argue or shout at each other. It would be weird for a day to go by without some type of exchange between the two. "I'm glad to know your stupidity hasn't affected your memory loss seeing as our lesson was a couple of hours ago. And as I've said" You drawl lazily, although the tightening of your fingers around your quill betrays the way you actually feel. "I didn't use curses." 

You hear more than see him scoff since you won't lift your head to meet his eyes. 

"I did not curse you, if you'd get your head out of your arse you'd have heard me when I said I created a—" Remus doesn't even blink at the aggression. "Also known as cheating." He sneers. "Or you're just barking mad and have great difficulty admitting that I'm better at duelling than you are." That causes Sirius and James to abruptly stop their whispering and Lily to put down her book, all of them now tensely keeping their eyes on you both.

The banter was normal, once one of you mentioned you were better than the other at anything? Specifically a subject, an intellectual subject? All hell broke loose, there was no knowing where things would go. 

"Well of course, when one uses means that aren't following the rules then obviously it's much easier to defeat their opponent." "How many times am I supposed to tell you that I used a jinx that I've created?" Your voice finally starts to rise in volume. Really, actually quite shocking that you've been able to control yourself for so long. "The same one you won't let me explain since you always end up interrupting-"

"I suppose until you admit that what you've done was against the rules." He raises his voice to meet yours in volume. 

The other three students' heads turn, following your banter as if they were watching a really intense quidditch match, not trying to diffuse the situation already knowing the outcome would be the same. 

"Shhh!" Madam Pince whispers fall on deaf ears as both of you only seem to get more and more agitated with your argument. 

"Just because I best you does not mean I cheated." "I'll remember that for future reference." "Please do! Are you finally admitting that you already expect me to win our next duels?" 

"Oh, please, this is embarrassing." He scoffs

"Okay, you know what, let's do a redo right now, and I'll be nice and not even use my jinx since you're so put off by it." You stand up abruptly, push your chair out, letting it topple to the floor in your haste to prove him wrong. Causing Madam Pince to yell in shock. "And will probably never be able to shield it." 

Remus barks out a condescending laugh, quickly standing up to meet you. "Yes. Let's." Escapes his gritted teeth.

James' eyes widen in shock that Remus, kind, put together Remus, would actually pull out his wand in the middle of the library, his sacred place. Sirius just grins at the situation, even after years of this kind of interaction, still highly amused that two of the calmest people he knows could get so violent when together. "Remus, love—" Lily tries to reason. "Expelliarmus." He smugly says quickly as you were going off about something. Your wand flying across the table and into the palm of his waiting hand. 

"You were saying?" He lifts his eyebrow at you. 

You don't even think before hurling your tome right at his head. 

That's how two of Hogwarts' brightest were forbidden to study in the library at the same time. 

And how Remus ended up with a purple eye. 

McGonagall strides across the classroom returning her student's latest graded parchment. She could just use the locomoter spell to retrieve all of them at once, but Y/N along a few of her housemates suspect the professor enjoys the suspense. Some groan or silently cheer as they receive their work back, while others anxiously await for theirs. McGonagall hands Lily's with a small smile on her face. 

The witch beams at her parchment. The one that took her a while to put together and feels the need, the pride of showing it off to her friends. Wishing to be a part of a little healthy competition.

“I told you guys this was an easy subject.” She says smugly while showing off the O on the top corner of her parchment. 

“Well done love, congrats!” Remus murmurs half distractedly, pressing a quick peck to the crown of her head, while keeping an eye and straightening as the Professor makes her way towards your side of the classroom. 

Lily, a bit miffed at the lack of competition or ambition, brags, a bit out of character, but still “I bet I've done better than you did.” “Wouldn't be surprised, a bright witch as yourself” Remus gives her a bright smile, the words weren't even out of his mouth when he turned his head back to the front, eyes already back to tracking their professor. 

Not getting the reaction she'd wished for, she heads toward the other witch always competing with her scarred friend when it comes to grades. Practically skipping towards you, she doesn’t even get the chance to come up with a remark as you already interrupt her with a blinding smile. “Another O Lily?” “Yes.” The redhead huffs and her shoulders slump with disappointment, really not the reaction you'd expect from someone that just got the perfect grade on an assignment that took them some time to put together. 

“Congrats dove, wouldn't expect anything less from you.” Lily just turns around and goes back to her seat next to James, who squeezes her shoulders trying to hold back his laughter at the situation, but being betrayed by his shaking shoulders. Which only angers his girlfriend even more. 

Professor McGonagall (along with any other Hogwarts instructor) already knows what to expect from a certain pair of gryffindors, purposely dragging out their bickering and anxiety leaving their scrolls towards the end of the pile. 

Lily, Sirius and James all sit in attention along with the rest of the class –well except for you as you try to pretend you don't care what his grade might be–  as their professor hands out Remus' parchment back to him. 

He beams smugly, eyes immediately finding yours –which seem to have gone against your orders and fixed themselves towards the lanky boy– he simply rests his head on the palm of his hands and with the other hand, joins his index finger to his thumb, forming the circular shape of an “O”. Knowing you were watching, which just aggravates you more. McGonagall distributes a couple more parchments and finally (actually) heads towards you, already letting out a small sigh, knowing the chaos that might descend her classroom like a storm. 

Your knees won’t stop bouncing, I mean, of course you know you did well, you just hope you did better than he did. That’s all that really matters. 

The Professor returns your scroll, trying to hold back her smile. Your eyes quickly scan the parchment. Your entire posture shifts as if you were sitting on a throne and not an old squeaky chair. Remus shoulders' already tensing, having come to learn your body language. And Lily rolls her eyes at the fact that you didn't even open your mouth and have already garnered a bigger reaction than she did with her arrogant words. You don't even need to try hard to make eye contact with Remus, already expecting his eyes to be on you, the same way yours were upon him. 

You know your scroll got less adjustments from the Transfiguration Professor than his did, having heard him (purposely and) loudly commenting to his fellow Marauders'. Your mouth forms your well practised Remus irking condescending smirk, sprawled on your chair you lazily imitate his earlier actions, joining you index finger to your thumb. 

He huffs and rolls his eyes, while muttering a “Well played". 

Lily was watching the interaction like every other student and professor in their class, and against her wishes a small smile crept onto her face, she slightly shook her head, quite glad that either of you took her up on her teasing. This was your game, your competition, even if either of you would never verbally acknowledge it, you still acted upon it.  

She had always had a soft spot for you, the two of you had been inseparable since you'd sat at the same train compartment on your first trip to Hogwarts and later on placed in the same room. You'd heard her complain about James' teasing back in their second year, and later on about James' outrageously embarrassing advances. Which only got worse when she started developing a small crush on the bespectacled boy.

You'd helped her come to terms with her feelings for the loud wizard.

You always fought her battles even when she said there was no need, you fitted right in with the marauders never missing a joke or the possibility of teasing one of them. You cheered for the people you cared for and went out of your way to be there for them. You always tried to ensure people only saw the best version of yourself.

Remus had gotten much better with his insecurity, caused by his furry problem, but there were times that it still dominated the way he acted. Mostly keeping to himself, needing to prove that he was just as good as any wizard without his affliction, he sometimes took himself too seriously. You helped with that, you pushed him, made him lose some of the obsessive hold he had over having to control everything. Which somehow, just made you even more special to Lily. 

It saddened her, James and Sirius that the both of you couldn't see past this rivalry of yours that the both of you would get along.

So if this competition of yours made the two of you interact, come truly alive and lose the control that both of you tried so hard to prove to everyone that you had a handle on everything, she was happy. 

Maybe this would be the way that the both of you would finally stop being prats and would realise that you and Remus were destined to be together, to love each other and to push each other. 

It was so obvious this was all a farce for how you actually felt for one another. And she was full of it.

You guys were each other's drive to not settle. So she wouldn't get in the middle of this. 

A small smirk grows on her face as the both of you (predictably) fell into a small battle of wits. She nods to herself, now deciding she'd even help provoking two of her dearest friends into these situations. It's not her fault this was the only way you'd interact for more than a couple of minutes. James, who was sitting next to her, was looking at her with an arched brow, recognising the scheming look on his lover's face. Which only made Lily smile more. 

She couldn't wait for when their well practised restraint finally snapped. 

[part 2]