5.22; how long?

                                    

                                          
The school year was finally winding down, and Arabella could hardly wait to return home, even if just for a short while. A break sounded perfect—a chance to breathe, reset, and maybe hear a few comforting words from her gran, Ruby. The tension that had been building between her and Lily since their last argument still weighed heavily on her mind. 
They hadn't spoken since, and Arabella found herself actively avoiding her, not wanting to spark another confrontation. The argument still stung, and Arabella felt a knot of frustration and sadness every time she thought about it.
The fight had spiraled in a way neither of them had anticipated, and Remus's name had come up unexpectedly, adding an uncomfortable layer to an already heated exchange. Arabella wasn't ready to unpack all of that—not yet.
Now that exams were over, the castle had fallen into a peaceful rhythm. Students were scattered about, some gathering in small groups, while others spent their time in quiet reflection before heading home for the summer. 
Arabella found herself walking through the corridors beside James, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. It had been a while since she'd had a quiet moment with any of the boys, and she was surprised by how natural it felt. 
For the first time in weeks, there was no urgency, no drama—just the two of them walking together, sharing an unspoken understanding. The hallways felt lighter, the burden of exams lifted, but there was still an unaddressed tension lingering between her and Lily, gnawing at the back of her mind.
"Finally done your detentions?" Since the thing that happened with Severus. McGonagall had found out and gave James and Sirius three days' worth of detention. 
Slughorn had found out about Snape's use of Mudblood before giving him the same amount of days. "It was bloody stupid, that I even gotten a detention in the first place." He complained, ruffling his hair; fixing his robes. "What Lily said, when it all happened? It's true isn't it." 
"A little." Arabella hummed. "Okay, a lot. But that makes you James, yeah?" 
He had seemed to go silent as if he was in his head about something. "How do I be less than that?" He eyed her for a second, Arabella turned to him as she walked. "It's not my fucking fault, I grew up wanting to be number one. And Now that I am? What?" 
"Now that you are, you don't dick around?" Arabella shrugged her shoulders. "But that's not being yourself." Sarcastically adding to her conversation. 
James couldn't help but smirk at this. She saw James, not as the school's douchebag. But as himself, a boy that just cared about his friends. Arabella was the same way when it came to her friends. "Please, Help me change." He looked at Arabella with puppy dog eyes, as she rolled her eyes. "Please,"
"Don't," Shrugging her shoulders. "If this is about getting Lily to go on a date with you, the rivalry between you and Severus is all in your head." 
Walking beside her; "How is it in my head, if Sirius also has a rivalry with him." 
"That's not the point." Shushing him. "The point is. Stop being a slag-off. At other people's expense." 
"Deal," James put his finger out for Arabella to intertwine together. She laughed before doing it with him. "So that means no pantin' 7th years when they are coming out for Quidditch." 
"Nope." Shaking her head. 
Then James continued to name the things that he had done to people over the years. Having Arabella confirm and or deny things that he was saying; as they were making their way to the Great Hall for the final lunch before they had to go back to the Hogwarts express.