Milly

Her heels clicked as she attempted to shake the boy; she clutched the sides of her dress, hitching them up above her ankles as she ran through the corridors. 

She couldn’t hear him behind her anymore. Her heart was still hammering in her chest, almost painfully so. 

She had kept the majority of the tears at bay. But as she climbed the steps up to the Hufflepuff girl's dorms, it seemed the floodgates had been breached. 

In the dimly lit room, the air was heavy with the weight of her sorrow. Y/n sat huddled on her bed, her tear-streaked face buried in her hands. The room echoed with her muffled sobs, each a painful reminder of the heartbreak and betrayal that consumed her soul.

Memories of happier times flashed before her eyes like fleeting stars in the night sky. She recalled the tender moments, the laughter, and the promises whispered in the embrace of love. But now, it had all crumbled, like a delicate sandcastle washed away by the unforgiving waves of reality. 

It was all a lie. It had always been a lie.

He had gone out with her for three months for a laugh. 

Her heart felt like it was being crushed under an immeasurable weight, and the pain was too much to bear. It clawed at her chest, threatening to rip her apart. A torrent of emotions surged through her, and she couldn't control the tears streaming down her cheeks.

As the seconds turned into minutes and the minutes into hours, y/n's crying intensified. Her body shook with each sob, and her breath hitched with the agony that engulfed her. It was as if the dam of her emotions had burst, and the overwhelming rush of grief was no longer stopping.

But as the crying persisted, Y/n's tears, once flowing like a raging river, started to wane. The emotional storm had taken its toll, leaving her drained and spent. She desperately tried to hold onto the pain, to keep the tears flowing, for it was her only connection to the love she had lost.

However, despite her desperate attempts, the tears dried up. The sobs turned into soft whimpers, and her eyes seemed unable to produce any more tears. The depth of her heartache was too profound, and her body struggled to keep up with the intensity of her emotions.

At that moment, y/n felt like she had hit rock bottom. The anguish and heartbreak were still real, but the tears had betrayed her. She wanted to scream, to let out the agony that threatened to consume her, but her voice was stifled, lost amidst the echoes of her cries.

In the corridor, James stood, shocked at what had just transpired. 

An uncomfortable tightness was wrapping around his chest and into his heart as the gravity of the situation finally sank in. 

What had he done?

How did he let it get to this point?

He thought back to that fateful night three months ago.

Merlin, had it only been three months? 

It felt like a lifetime ago that he had agreed to the conditions. 

In the dimly lit dungeons, James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus found themselves seated at their usual spot in the potions classroom. The air was thick with the pungent aroma of various magical ingredients, and cauldrons bubbled with mysterious concoctions. 

James sat at his desk, stirring his cauldron with a sullen expression, occasionally glancing across the room toward the red-haired girl he couldn't get out of his mind—Lily Evans. She was engrossed in her potion, completely oblivious to James' forlorn stares.

Sirius, the self-proclaimed mastermind of their group, leaned over to James.

"Prongs, you look like a Dementor just sucked out your soul. What's eating you?"

James sighed. 

"It's Lily, Padfoot. She's been avoiding me lately, and I don't know what to do. She won't even look in my direction."

Sirius exchanged knowing glances with Remus and Peter before a mischievous smile crossed his lips. 

"Prongs, my friend, I've got an idea. What if we help you find a distraction, someone who'll make Lily sit up and take notice?"

James raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "What kind of distraction are we talking about here?"

Sirius leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. 

"We find you a new girl to pursue. Someone different, someone who'll make Lily jealous. And once she sees you with this new girl, she won't be able to resist."

“And who, may i ask, do you have in mind for this little plan?” 

Sirius scanned the room, his grey eyes falling on the perfect target.

“Her,” He pointed across the room to the hufflepuff table, where only one girl sat.

“Y/n?” Peter questioned, the first to see who he had pointed to. 

“Is that her name?” Sirius asked, “i didn’t think she had one.” 

Peter frowned slightly. 

“Whats that supposed to mean?”

Sirius just shrugged, leaning back on his chair and folding his arms over his chest, a lazy smirk on his face. 

“Nothing wormy,” He waved peters question off.

“Why her though?” James asked, trying to get a good look at her. 

“Cause she’s a bit weird, maybe it’ll be a challenge for you prongs.”

James hesitated, his thoughts racing as he considered Sirius's plan. The potions classroom buzzed with activity around them, students diligently working on their assignments, unaware of the intrigue unfolding at the Gryffindor table.

"But what if it backfires? What if Lily thinks I've moved on and just decides to move on herself?"

Sirius chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with confidence. 

"Trust me, mate. Girls like Lily don't just forget about blokes like you. This is a strategic move, not a permanent change. Besides, it's not like you're promising anything to Y/n. Just a few friendly interactions."

James still had reservations, but he couldn't deny the allure of the plan. The idea of making Lily jealous enough to rekindle her interest held a certain appeal.

As their conversation continued, Y/n's presence in the classroom seemed to grow more pronounced. Her quiet, introspective nature made her stand out amidst the bustling students. She appeared to be lost in thought, her delicate fingers expertly handling the ingredients as she followed the potion instructions with precision.

Sirius, sensing that he was gaining ground, pushed a bit further. 

"Look, Prongs, we'll be discreet. No one needs to know the real reason behind your newfound friendship with her. And if it doesn't work out, we can always come up with another plan. But I have a feeling this will do the trick."

James took a deep breath, his decision made. "Alright, Sirius, I'm in. Let's give it a shot."

Peter couldn't keep quiet any longer. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and spoke up.

"Guys, I don't know about this plan. Y/n's a nice girl. Won't this hurt her feelings if she finds out you’re using her to make Lily jealous?"

Remus nodded in agreement with Peter. 

"Peter's got a point, James. Y/n's a genuine person, and she doesn't deserve to be caught up in our mess. We should think this through."

Sirius groaned.

“Guys it’s not that serious. Besides how is she going to find out if none of us tell her?”