Chapter 1
The sounds of quills on parchments echoed in the Great Hall and out to the entrance hall. It was the fifth years students last O.W.L (Ordinary Wizarding Level) exam before summer break and you could almost feel the excitement in the air. One student after the other sighed while the bell slowly ticked down the last ten minutes of the exam. There were some students who had either finished or given up cause they kept looking at the bell, while the rest seemed to write down the last answer in panic. The sun shined through the windows and filled the restless students with thoughts of summer and freedom. It was only two weeks left of the school year and then the students could look forward to two months of summer break.
In the room of students there was a brown-haired girl named Cannel McCartney, who sighed quietly. She pulled away some hairs from her face and looked up on the bell. The exam had been going on all morning and Cannels hand had started aching from the writing. Cannels looked down from the bell and her eyes landed on a black-haired guy, who discreet smiled at her. The guy was Sirius Black, he's from Gryffindor and happened to be Cannels boyfriend. They fell in love at the of their third year at Hogwarts and had been together ever since. It was their shared dream to get married after Hogwarts and move to a house on the countryside. Cannel got a sparkle in her eyes by the idea and she smiled back towards Sirius. He blinked and quiet mimed I love you. Cannel did a kiss face to him and went back looking down on her exam. It was only five minutes left and Cannel filled in the last answers she could come up with.
The teacher went back and forth in front of the students and her sharped eyes looked on them, eager to catch anyone who tried to cheat. Cannel didn't think there was one student who dared to cheat, considering what could happen if they were caught. The bell ticked down to the last minute and Cannel put her exam to the side. She discreet looked around the hall and saw recognized another black-haired guy. The guy had written a couple parchments rolls and seemed to have gotten ink on his nose tip. Cannel smiled and studied her best friend, Severus Snape. They had become friends at their first year and had remained really close since then. The only thing that came between them was Sirius hate towards Severus. Ever since their first day at Hogwarts Sirius have bullied Severus, which Cannel never had accepted. She had to come between them many times and her hope on them getting along slowly disappeared. The bell hit twelve and the teacher shouted so the students stopped writing. She raised her wand and the exams flew up in the air, they landed neatly on her desk.
"You can all leave now" she said and all the students got up from their seats. Cannel reached for her bag and started to put away her things. In the corner of her eye, she saw Severus got up from his chair and walked towards her. He suddenly stopped when Sirius approached Cannel and instead left the Great Hall. Cannel really wished that they could coexist around her and sighed. She turned her attention to Sirius and smiled.
"We're finally free!" Sirius shouted happy and kissed Cannel. "Come on, let's go outside." They left the Great Hall and catched up with Sirius friends James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew in the entrance hall. Cannel hugged a relieved Remus, her study buddy. They had the same high-performance personalities and could challenge each other while studying. Cannel had tried to study with Sirius, but he were more interested in chit-chat and snuggle.
"It feel so great that we're finally done with the exams!" James shouted loud, while they walked down to the Black Lake. He picked up the golden snitch that he kept in his bag and played around with it.
It felt like the hottest day of the year and it seemed like no student at Hogwarts planned on being inside today. The gang found a shadow spot near the oak close to the Black Lake and soaked in the heat. Remus picked up a book from his bag and started reading it, while Peter starred fascinating on James and his play with the golden snitch. Sirius put his arm around Cannel and kissed the side of her head. They sat there for awhile and tried to unwind after a school year of homework.
"So what are your plans for the summer?" James asked and looked at his friends. They started talking and planning. Both Remus and Peter looked forward going home, while Cannel told her plan on going to America and visit her grandmother. Sirius, who had never wanted to go home, talked about joining her and James seemed interested as well. They started to make plans and talking about having a big adventure in America.
"Sure you guys don't want to follow?" Sirius asked Remus and Peter, none of them seemed eager on the idea.
Cannel looked around the schoolyard and became stiff of fear when she saw Severus coming out of the castle. He had his nose in a book and didn't seem to notice anyone around him. Severus seemed to be walking towards the Forbidden Forest, which were his and Cannels secret hangout place. They used to sneak out and explore the forest together.
Cannels blinked and looked back at Sirius and James, both had complained about being bored.
It was like Cannel went into a numb feeling when Sirius complained about being bored and then noticed Severus. She saw how Sirius and James got up and walked over to him. They seemed to be talking but Cannels could only hear echoes of it and she tried to shake of the mixed feelings. It really hurted Cannel to see Sirius and James treat Severus like this and she just wanted to scream at them to stop it. She looked up and saw Severus flying in the air upside down. This was it! Cannel jumped up on her feet and started walking towards them, but a female voice shouted behind her.
Lily Evans, a red-haired girl from Gryffindor in the same year as James and Sirius, walked pass Cannel. She had a mad face and shouted at James, who put Severus down again.
"I don't need your help mudblood." A mad and embarrassed Severus said to Lily. He secretly loved her for a long time, but he was so mad at everyone. Severus regretted it the second he said it and looked at Lily.
"What did you say?" James shouted mad.
"Just stop it!"
James and Sirius turned around and looked surprised on Cannel. She had a disappointed look in her eyes and walked towards them. It had been five long years of them bullying Severus and it was enough for her.
"Why can't you leave Severus alone? He has never done anything to either one of you. I don't understand why you have to pick on him because you're bored?" Cannel stopped and looked at Sirius. She fought the tears from falling down her cheeks, but they had their own will. The obsession Sirius seemed to have with Severus took it's torn and no matter how deeply Cannel loved him, it couldn't look past this.
"I keep hoping that you guys will change and grow up, but it never seems to happens and I'm so tired of this." Cannel looked down at Severus and held out a hand. She helped him up on his feets and whispered "It's going to be okay."
"You can't be serious?" Sirius tried to laugh it off, but stopped when he saw Cannels eyes almost shooting lightning. "Are you taking his side?" He took a step closer her and looked concern. It scared Sirius to see her crying and he could feel them taking a step away from each other.
"I am, because I'm so tired of you guys fighting with him, You know he's my best friend, but that doesn't seem to stop you!" Cannel wiped away her tears and sighed loud. "As long as you keep fighting with Severus, I can't be together with you." Now there was no stop for Cannels tears and she turned around to Severus. He put a arm around Cannel and followed her up to the castle.
Sirius stood still like a statue as he watched Cannel disappearing into the castle. It felt like his heart was breaking into million pieces and he finally looked down on the ground. He felt James hand on his shoulder and the tears started building up. I'm never gonna forget you Cannel McCartney." Sirius whispered and felt James arms around him.
