IV: EASTER EGG HUNT
It had been nearly three weeks since the kiss. The pain hadn't subsided much, but it was bearable.
As of now, I was at home, surrounded by my family many found peculiar.
Both my parents were orphans, having grown in the British system. So they decided to help other orphans, such as myself.
My birth parents unfortunately passed away when I was 7, in a drowning accident.
Less than a week later Allistor and Louise Dashwood came in the orphanage, my soon to be elder sister Marie and younger brother Nicolas in tow, telling me about how they were my new parents.
I've been grateful for them my entire life. If it weren't for them, Merlin knows where I'd be.
Today was Easter Sunday and I was currently hiding in my room. My parents were completely unaware of my feelings for James and of the events that took place during his birthday party, so the Potters were obviously invited.
Thankfully so was Rob and his family. And since Sirius was pretty much unofficially living with the Potters, he was bound to come. So at least I had someone here.
My mum knocked on the door, telling me Rob was here. I finished brushing my hair for the umpteenth time and carefully opened the door, ready to shut it close.
The first person I landed my eyes on was Rob, his brown hair neatly styled, for once.
"Hi Rob!" I greeted him, wrapping my arms around him in a tight hug.
He smiled and hugged me back, greeting me. We stayed like that for a while, up until he dragged me to a secluded spot in my living room.
"How have things been? With James? Have you talked, owled, anything?" Rob asked, his eyes searching mine.
I shook my head no and looked down. I felt slightly ashamed about ignoring James, even if he had hurt me deeply. Next to me, Rob sighed in desperation.
"By this rate, you'll be dead lying in a coffin before you ever tell him you love him!" He joked, hitting my arm slightly.
"Also, you look good Luciana. For a dead girl, that is." Rob complimented me, throwing an arm around me.
"Yeah? What about you and Regulus? I know for a damn fact that you and Marc was not because you actually loved him." I bit back. Maybe I was being a bit too mean.
Robert sighed. "I have so many feelings for him." He murmured, his eyes glued to the floor.
"I know." I hummed.
"But I act like I don't fucking care about him." He lamented.
"Sometimes it's for the best, my friend." I pat his back and lead him outside.
We walked to the garden, where my younger brothers were playing around with Rob's sister, Tina.
Not long after we got into the garden, Rob went near his sister to help her with her flower crowns.
A few minutes passed before I saw Sirius's black hair emerging from the door, grey eyes flitting through every face present in the garden until they fell on me. A toothy smile stretched across his lips, striking a slight fear in me. It was never a good thing to see Sirius Black smile with so much teeth.
"When were you going to tell me, Lucy, that Remus John Lupin was bisexual?" His tone meant to fool eavesdroppers was not fooling me. I knew he was a bit mad about it, but it wasn't my secret to tell.
"Because, Sirius, Remus John Lupin had expressed his desire to me to keep it a secret, multiple times. I think he told you, then." I answered, looking up at the boy.
"Bloody right he did. By a fucking letter, too. Says he was afraid I wouldn't accept him." Sirius muttered, crossing his arms.
"There, there." I pat his head, similar to what one would do to a dog, which, weirdly enough, he seemed to enjoy.
"Padfoot! Oi, mate, where are you?" James's voice was heard, breaking through the small silence that had installed itself between Sirius and I.
"Before I go, tell me. Did James ever try to talk to you about the kiss?" Sirius inquired.
"No, not even once. I don't think he remembers it." I said, my mood becoming slightly bitter after the memories of that damned party resurfaced, as if to torture me a bit longer.
"Ok then. I better go and find out what the blockhead wants. Oi Prongs, I'm over here you worrisome prune!" The boy yelled back, slightly jogging through the grass to reach the spot where James was.
I didn't stay alone for long, because my youngest sibling, Johnathan, came to me, his springy curly hair akin to my mother's slightly tousled from the hat he was wearing for protection.
"Lulu! Lulu! Look! A bug!" He ended up showing me a simple cricket he had caught, which caused me to clap nonetheless. Catching crickets isn't as easy as one would think.
"Great job! Now, do you know what to do?" I questioned him, rubbing my thumb on his cheek to try and take away a dirt stain.
"Release it!" He said, chest puffing up knowing he'd do a good deed.
"Of course! Good job! Go on, then." I praised him, before pointing to the area below the swing I was on, a place where no one would be able to step on the bug during the day.
Johnathan then released the small cricket, telling him bye and running towards Nicholas and Tina, who were busy learning how to make flower crowns with Rob.
I went inside and headed to the kitchen, where I was greeted with the sight of Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Scamamder helping mum with magic, who was looking at it a bit weary and amazed alongside my sister Marie.
"Hi dear." My mum was the first to greet me, before Mrs. Potter engulfed me in a giant hug, a type of hug only Euphemia Potter could produce.
We exchanged courtesies and a slight conversation up until my mum started to hand me dishes full of food to put outside.
I carried a few with them and soon we were all seated in the big backyard table and eating some of the tastiest lamb leg ever.
Lunch went surprisingly well. I was seated next to Johnathan and Rob, then Sirius, then James. A reasonable distance, I'd say.
Ever since he had stepped foot into the house he ignored my existence. To be honest, it kind of hurt. It's like he completely gave up on me.
Back when he and Sirius had a massive fight about Merlin knows what, they were talking in less than a day after.
Sure, I ignored him first but bloody hell it was only once! When he decided to ignore me for a whole month in 3rd year because I forgot he had a quidditch game I had to pretend everything was fine. And apologize!
I came out of my own thoughts with my mum asking me for some more gravy. Johnathan was the one to shake me awake.
I passed the gravy and kept eating in silence. No one seemed to question how quiet the table was. It was usually very loud, with me and James playing some stupid game.
Soon lunch came to an end. And with the ending of lunch, came the best part about today. The egg hunt.
I spent my whole afternoon yesterday hiding eggs while Marie was distracting Nicolas and Johnathan. I hope I did a good enough job.
Mum came out with some baskets decorated with ribbons and pretty fabrics for the people who would be playing.
Soon, all of them were with their heads buried in the ground, searching for the colourful chocolate eggs dad had bought the other day.
Me and Sirius were the only ones who stayed behind. Sirius had feigned an injury simply because he didn't have the heart to tell my mum he didn't want to play and I stayed for obvious reasons.
From time to time we'd see a head pop up, meaning that they found an egg.
After 30 minutes passed, everyone came back to the table with their baskets full of eggs, all with smiles on their faces.
Everyone seemed happy with their findings, even if some didn't find as much as the others.
The day's main activity had been done, so now the adults would go and converse inside while the kids would play around outside.
I had gone back to my swing, observing the people in the backyard and felt serene, as if nothing in the world was currently bothering me, as if I was simply a cricket who's sole concern was to never be caught.
Suddenly the swing jerked, causing my eyes to immediately open and my head to turn over to the intruder.
It was James.
So he finally grew himself a pair, huh.
He refused to look me directly in the eyes for a while, but did end up talking to me.
"Hey. I know that you aren't exactly talking to me right now but would you still like to be friends? I miss you, Lucy Poo." James said.
I sighed loudly before reclining myself.
"What do you want, James? You haven't made any effort to talk to me in the past few weeks. Sure, I haven't done it either but I thought maybe you would've gotten the hint that you royally fucked up." I was more than pissed at him.
"I know. I'm very sorry about that. I guess I was confused and the alcohol made me do it." He gave me a bullshit excuse.
I sighed again. I can't with this boy. Why do I love him again?
"Alright fine. We can still be friends. I'm sorry for ignoring you." I turned to him and offered my hand.
"Truce, Jamesie?" I asked, giving him a small smile.
He smiled back and took my hand in his. "Truce, Lucy Poo."
We hugged and suddenly Sirius's voice was heard, cheering us on alongside Rob. They were both jumping around like schoolgirls who were noticed by the popular pretty boy.
The kids were around them, all looking towards them in confusion and sort of disgust.
The scene cause James to laugh, the kind of laugh one let's out when they're truly enjoying themselves.
I could only look at them, a soft smile stretching itself on my features, while my mind wandered, thinking about our future.
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And that's a wrap for this chapter!
A few notes on Lucy's family:
- Lucy's family is heavily inspired by the foster family in the Shazam movie, given that they were all from different ethnicities and races.
- Louise is a black woman, Allistor, Marie and Nicholas are all white.
- Allistor is Scottish, Marie and Nicholas are French.
- Johnathan is their biological child so he's mixed.
- Marie is transgender, she started transitioning at age 12.
Fun fact, this was supposed to be on time with the actual Easter holiday but a bitch was stupid and nearly got herself held back a year in school. Again.
Another fun fact. I only need to publish 4 other parts of main story plot and then we have the epilogue.
But fret not! For I, your messy author bring 3 bonus chapters! They'll be published after the epilogue, exactly one week apart each.
As always thank you so much for reading, commenting and voting. Seriously.
See you next time!