𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 [𝐑. 𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐧]

𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒

Song:
Jerome (Zella Day)
"Jerome, why you treat me so cold?"

"Flobberworm." Callisto stated, watching expectantly for the portrait to open. Just like every other time, the Fat Lady just scowled and the door flung open, allowing Callisto to enter the Gryffindor tower. The small lighter was safely in the pocket of her jeans, but she felt odd parting with it even if some days had passed. Her own pink lighter still hadn't been thrown away, instead being on the small nightstand next to her bed.

She didn't know whether it was pure luck or a curse that Ares was in the common room. It would have been fine if he was alone, but a few seats away, there were the Marauders and Lily, all hovering over a neon green vase.

"ELPHIE!" James announced, throwing his hands in the air as he hurried over to her side. She was immediately engulfed in a tight hug, all the air getting knocked out of her lungs as he squeezed her tightly. If it hadn't been obvious, James was a big fan of hugging. "Came to see us?"

"Actually, I came to return something to Brown."

"Oi, what do you want with my Keeper?"

"James, stop acting like you're dating the entire team." Lily tiredly pleaded. "Please?"

"But she wants my Keeper!"

"Guys, I'm right here." Ares interjected, sighing. "I'm literally here."

"Okay, bye now." Sirius said, the hostility in his voice throwing everyone off. He glanced at Remus who was refusing to look at Ares, his gaze fixed on a chess board on the table.

"Your lighter." Callisto murmured, handing him the silver object. Ares just smiled at her and put it in his pocket, taking out a small, plastic, orange lighter.

"For you." He stated, putting the lighter in her palm. Callisto just looked at it for a bit, before her fingers closed around it and she put it in her pocket. "Thought you'd need one."

"Thanks."

"No problem, Claire."

"You obviously don't know this, Brown," Sirius interjected, his eyes narrowing. "But Callie is allergic to orange. Your gift could kill her."

"Well, fuck." Lily murmured, looking at a strand of ginger hair between her fingers.

"What?" Callisto blurted out, frowning. "No, I'm not. How could that even work?"

"Ask Remus."

"Fuck off, Black." Remus groaned, annoyance lacing his voice as he picked up his stuff and hurried up to his dorm, his footsteps echoing as he stomped on the staircase.

Callisto just watched as his figure disappeared, feeling like banging her head on the wall repeatedly. The anger in her stomach seemed to stir again, revived by the remembrance of betrayal and his warm brown eyes that were now filled with pain. Did she want to hurt him? She didn't really know. She had told him the truth to make him feel just a fraction of what she did, but that didn't seem to satisfy the hunger inside her. It was rampant, clouding her thoughts as she struggled to push away every kiss and gentle touch he had ever given her. The two were feeding each other, filling her with so much bitterness that she couldn't even recognise herself.