Silent Screams | J. POTTER

6 | failed apologies

"You have to go," James pointed out.

Romi rolled her eyes as she threw another pebble into the lake and watched as it bounced on the surface a few times before sinking. James had found her sitting by the lake and had been trying to convince her to go to Sirius's birthday party which was to take place the following evening. Sirius and Romi had yet to make up from their fight. Though, one couldn't really call it a fight.

"I don't have to do anything," she pointed out, leaving her pile of pebbles untouched as she began to pull the grass up. She was stubborn as always, but this time with good reason. He would say things when he was upset and this time he had gone too far. And maybe she was so upset because there was some truth to it.

James frowned, "He's your friend."

"No, you're my friend," she countered. "He's yours and Remus's friend."

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Then what changed?"

"Nothing changed," she shook her head. "Would you stop asking?"

He remained silent at this. When she concluded that he had nothing more to say, she stood up.

"Where are you going?" he asked in confusion.

She glanced back at him, "You coming?"

He watched her for a moment before hopping up and off the ground. He followed her in confusion, "Where are we going?"

"To the lake."

"The lake?" he asked. "Why - No."

"What?"

"You aren't seriously considering swimming in there, are you?" he asked and she came to a stop at the edge of the pier. "You don't know what's in there! There's the giant squid and Grindylows and Merpeople and-"

"James," she interrupted, "It'll be fine." She grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. He looked off to the side and she rolled her eyes, "I used to do Quidditch training in a sports bra. It's nothing you haven't seen before."

A blush made its way onto her face and it was obvious despite how dark it was outside, "Yes but that was two years ago. Now you're more..."

"Developed?" she finished for him, an amused expression on her face. He was the easiest person to tease. She could do something so simple and his face would turn bright red. She loved it. "I appreciate you being respectful, Potter, but I don't care. If I did care, I wouldn't have taken the shirt off or I would have asked you to turn around."

He kept his sight away from the girl and she rolled her eyes. She pulled down her pants and tossed them to the side where her shirt was. She raised an eyebrow as he kept his sight away from her and she undid her bra from the back before slipping it off.

"Really?" he inquired and she shrugged.

She tossed her undergarments to the side. She turned to the water and dove in, the cold water stinging her skin but she didn't mind it all that much.

"Are you coming in?" Romi asked, her shoulder and head the only part of her above water. James turned to look at her, "You going to leave a girl alone out here?"

"Turn around," he requested and she obeyed. What the hell was he getting himself into?

When she heard the water splash and James suck in a breath at the cold water, she turned around. "See?" she mused, "Not so bad."

He swam closer to her, "It's freezing."

"It's not that cold," she countered and he shot her a pointed look to which she grinned. "It could be colder."