"Flavour of the Year? I can think of about fifty eight million girls in this school who would all love to be forced into a wall by Sirius Black and whispered that into their ears while he was within kissing distance."
Carnelia, playfully nicknamed "Lia" by Ana, quipped from behind her teen witch magazine. It always boggled Ana as to how Carnelia maintained perfect grades and had risen to Ravenclaw Prefect when she was constantly reading those magazines, fixing her makeup or dating the new boyfriend of the week instead of studying. Carnelia was rather popular in her house, being that she was half-Veela and absoloutely beautiful. She had platinum blonde hair, stunning blue eyes and skin so fair that she threatened to disappear when standing in the December snows that haunted Hogwarts. And her popularity was endless, she had a new boyfriend every other week. She had even dated James Potter back in year five, but due to common interest and Anastasiya's constant judgements, the relationship didn't last more than two weeks.
"Well, they can have him. Whatever happened to the days when Sirius and his gang ignored me. You know...back in the first year?"
Anastasiya popped her head up from her Advanced Charms and Hexes spellbook, uncurling her legs from the royal blue armchairs that occupied the small foyer outside of the entrance to the Ravenclaw commonroom. This was how Ana spent almost all of her free time - studying or reading up on magic. It was required for someone of her calibur to become and auror after this year. Everyone knew she had the magical potential for it, and the genius. The only thing that had kept Ana from being one of the Gryffindor Prefects was that she had the bad habit of mouthing off to the teachers every now and again. It even awarded her detentions on the rare occasion. But her grades were better than that of any Gryffindor, seventh year or below, and it was without question that she was the best looking female in the entire house. But it was due to her cold nature that her only two friends were Carnelia LeFèbvre and Severus Snape - sometimes Remus Lupin (but only when the rest Marauders were not around).
"I'd imagine it had something to do with you hitting puberty and growing boobs the size of cantaloupe halves, then sprouting legs as long as horses while you were at it. Seriously, Ana, the skirts are almost too short for you."
Lia snickered, tossing her magazine aside and lifting herself up from her seat. She moved to the wall and leaned against it, peering around the corner to see if anyone was coming down the corridor to signify classes ending.
"I can't help that. But really...those four need a hobby."
"They have hobbies. Sirius and James play Quidditch, harrass any girl who walks by them, date every girl who isn't repulsed, cast hexes on others and somehow ace their classes. Peter tags along everything they do like a lost puppy, Remus tries to keep the peace, studies and tags along, and collectively...they harrass you now. You're their new toy, miss Anastasiya Callisto Valentine, Crabby Queen of Gryffindor. Now, let me ask you this," Lia looked away from the corridor and stared at Ana with intense eyes, "What would you have done if Sirius Black kissed you?"
"Nn..." The thought of that made Ana cringe in repulsion. But before she could answer her friend (which would have taken quite a while) she leapt out of her seat and snatched her bag, "I have to go! I'm going to be late for Double Potions with the Slytherins!"
With a quick goodbye and a promise to meet up later, Ana dashed down the corridor and headed for the dungeons.
-
Severus Snape was correct in guessing that they were going to make the Draught of Living Death. Ten minutes into class and everyone had already gotten their ingredients out and had delved into making the potion. Severus, who was stationed next to Ana, was sharing his manual with her and giving her the tips he had figured out the day before. It made the potion-making go by much smoother.
Two tables away, Sirius and James were having difficulty with their own potions. Between the looks that James shot Severus and the goofing off that he did, it was a wonder that he managed to get his potion water bubbling. Sirius, on the other hand, was passing between staring Severus down angrily, and using the ingredient asphodel to play around with James. Of course, Ana ignored him and continued with her potion making, but it seemed that her eyes would wander to him when she was trying her hardest to not think of him. It caused her to fall further behind the potion's master beside her than she already was. By the time class ended, his potion was as clear as crystalline waters and hers was only a light shade of lilac. Severus received the best grade in the class as well as twenty points to Slytherin. Ana received the second best grade and ten points for Gryffindor, which was truly only five after Sirius got ten docked away.
The last three minutes were spent cleaning up. Severus had done so at lightning speed and left Anastasiya when she was still scooping potion into phials for Slughorn to examine later. Peter and Remus had left the room shortly after Severus, and one by one students filed out. Even Slughorn left, leaving the door cracked, for James, Sirius and Ana to exit when they were done.
"Can you believe that Snivelly finished it? At least he's good at something."
James crowed, pointing his want at his cauldron and muttering Evanesco! to clean it out. Sirius snorted and followed suit, snatching the cleaned out bowl by its rim and tossing it back onto the shelf.
"Severus is good at a lot of things," Ana growled, stuffing her books back into her bag, "But you wouldn't know, would you? Self-centered git."
"You know, you have quite a mouth on you for someone so pretty. Why don't you let me wash it out for you."
James hissed, lifting his wand at her, and he began to cast a spell that would probably have hurt quite badly had two things not happened: one, Ana deflected it wordlessly, merely pointing her own wand at James (which she had drawn a few seconds earlier) and casted the Expelliarmus charm at him - with the use of occlumency. And two, Sirius not shoved into James, knocking him out of the way and taking the brunt of Ana's charm. He careened backwards, flying into the shelf of cauldrons causing a ruckus. When James recomposed, he went to his friend's aid. Ana only stuffed her books into her bag quicker and fled from the room.
She had made it halfway down the corridor before the door to the potion's room slammed open. It was not James whom chased her out, but Sirius - whose hair was more disheleved than ever and sported a few blossoming bruises along the line of his jaw. Not only was he a splendidly fast runner, but he was also a talented spellcaster.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
He shouted, spindled wand clutched outwards as he ran. Immediately Ana's legs locked up, the inertia of her movements causing her to fall forwards, catching herself with the palms of her hands before she smacked face-first into the concrete. Sirius approached, growling slightly beneath his breath and rolling her over with his foot. He bent down, plucking her wand from her hand and stroking beneath her chin with his own.
"You think you're so clever, don't you?" He sneered, chuckling when she averted her eyes and did not answer, "Don't you ever raise your wand to my friends again. First you set him on fire, now you nearly threw him across the room. Whatever issues you have with James, you take to me. Got it?"
Ana, again, did not answer. Instead, she pulled herself up onto her elbows and rolled her eyes. Out of anger, Sirius snagged her shoulder and shoved her into the cold stone of the wall - harder than before. She winced and hissed slightly in pain, glowering at him when he spoke again, "I said, 'got. it?'"
She nodded slowly, a look of disgust overtaking her face before she shoved him away. The grip of the spell on her legs loosened, and Sirius grabbed her wrist and pulled her up with him, letting her have her wand back. Before she could set off, however, he grabbed her once more and pulled her close to him, trapping her against his chest with his arm. He towered over her, well over six feet and obviously stronger, yet she never lost the nasty look on her face.
He lowered his head, forcing her close to him, and inhaled deeply - like a dog would if he were smelling at something to remember the scent. Anastasiya's eyes widened with curiosity and horror, and she tried to squirm away. Sirius caught her chin with his middle finger, forcing her to look up at him while studied her for a moment, a snide grin across his unfortunately handsome features. Unfortunate that Ana could admit he was handsome. From her chin, his hand moved to her fuller lips, where his index finger traced the lower one with a touch so light that it felt as if he was not touching her at all. And just when it seemed like he was going to bend his head down to have a taste of her lips, the door to the potion's room slammed open once more and James tottered out angrily.
"HEY. What the hell are you doing?"
Fortunately, James could only make out Sirius' back, being that he was fixing his glasses to sit on his nose more accurately. In this time, Sirius forced Ana away and grunted under his breath, "Get the hell out of here."
"Nothing." Sirius answered, turning to his friend and walking in his direction while Ana made her escape. The last of the conversation she heard was on James' behalf,
"Well, then hurry up. We have to help Moony tonight, remember?"
Moony. A name that rang a bell. One whose chime she couldn't quite remember.
