Chapter 3: Halloween
The first two months were almost over, they had settled into a routine of attending classes, finishing their homework, attending meals and making time for their friends. Well not Octavia and her friends, they were spending too much time exploring the castle in their free time as well as serving detention.
They had their first flying lesson in the middle of their second week at Hogwarts, and even that went by without an incident, both Sirius and Octavia assumed that with that being shared with the Slytherins and them being high up in the air that they would take this as an excuse to try and knock one of them off their brooms, but nothing happened.
James had managed to calm Lily down enough that she wouldn't hurt herself on the broom, Octavia and Sirius had ended up just floating off to the side incredibly bored with the whole process. They were both used to being ignored while they were on their brooms, this allowed them to zoom around the backyard of their summer homes as fast as they could. Octavia was even lucky to have their family home in the middle of nowhere and she was able to fly her broom in the backyard and Sirius had joined in on occasion since his family home was in the middle of central London and they weren't allowed to fly in their backyard.
Classes had even picked up their pace in terms of what they were learning and there were moments were Octavia wondered when she would ever be without homework.
But now all the first years were eagerly awaiting the upcoming Halloween Feast, they had heard the stories from the upperclassmen and were excited for it and couldn't wait for the next couple of days to pass.
"O…." Sirius pulled on her ponytail and the glare he received didn't even cause him to flinch.
"What Sirius?" she hissed at him.
"I'm bored," he huffed and she rolled her eyes, she knew just how easy it was for him to become bored.
"Then go work out how to get into the kitchens and leave me alone."
"Come with me O."
"Go bug Potter," she snapped but Sirius just shifted around on the couch to face her properly.
"When are you going to start calling him James?"
"You said yourself, it won't happen until one of us draws our wand."
"But you did, first week. He was bugging you when you were trying to take a nap, you pulled your wand out."
"But I didn't end up pointing it at Potter now did I?" Octavia raised an eyebrow at him but he still didn't budge.
"One of these days, and plus James is in detention. Filch gave him one for tracking mud through the castle."
"Where did he find mud?"
"Who knows but please, if we find a way into the kitchen I promise to find a way to get you chocolate chip cookies." He grinned at her knowing they were her one weakness.
She narrowed her eyes, "I hate you…"
"Go on then, put your books in your dorm and I will wait here." Sirius sat back triumphantly.
Octavia gathered up her books and headed towards the girls' staircase. "Bloody boys and their need to always do something." She muttered to herself as she made her way up to her dorm.
Octavia hesitated outside the door leading to her dorm, she was unsure if Kara would be in there. She just wanted to leave her books and head back down without having another argument about who knows what with a girl that doesn't seem to like her.
Kara had stuck by her word that Octavia was the one behind her hot pink hair even though there was no proof because no one could prove what she had said in Italian. Lily had gotten over whatever annoyance she had and the two of them had brief conversations if they were paired together in classes but otherwise it was left at that.
Not hearing anything on the other side of the door she opened it but she managed to startled Lily, "Sorry I didn't realise anyone was up here."
"It's fine," Lily waved her off before focusing on her book, it was obvious she was confused about something.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm just trying to understand this History of Magic stuff, it's harder being a muggleborn because some of it doesn't make sense to me as to why you all went that way." Octavia made her way over and looked at what Lily was reading, it was for their current History of Magic assignment.
"Oh that," Lily was reading about the Battle of Elect.
"Yes, I don't understand why it was needed in the first place."
"Because to Purebloods anything that isn't magical and deemed to be muggle they don't want in their lives, it took close to 75 years before they realised how useful cars could be and even then they always paid someone else to drive them. So when some muggleborns and half-bloods started suggesting introducing electricity into our community it didn't end well. It ended up in a battle but it was after the battle that muggleborns realised that electricity doesn't work well around magic."
"Why is that? It doesn't make sense."
"Hogwarts for example has so many people within its confines performing magic all the time so that along with the wards placed around it, make it impossible for electricity work. The more witches or wizards in the one place the harder it is for electricity to work as well, some of the more intense so to speak Pureblood families also have wards around their homes."
"Like you and Black?"
"Yes more so Sirius than my own, Sirius' family live in the middle of central London. Muggles can't find their house due to the wards whereas my family home only has wards to keep out unwanted guests."
"Are they legal?"
"These days no but the houses get passed down through the generations, most of the family properties are centuries old as well as the wards that surround them."
"So the war was essentially Purebloods against muggleborns, the same issue that still stands today?"
"Yes, I believe it will for some time. It will take a lot for the Purebloods to realise their mistakes."
"But not everyone seems to have that issue, I haven't heard you once use the term mudblood."
"That would be because Potter reamed Sirius and I for it, we used it when there was no one else around. We grew up hearing that term, we didn't realise there was anything wrong with it."
"But still you have happily sat here and helped me out, even Lilith has no problem with me."
"Because not all of us are the same as those Slytherin students but in being said with that, not all of them are in Slytherin."
"You and Sirius are in Gryffindor."
"Yes we are, did that help?" There was an edge to Octavia's voice that startled Lily but she brushed it aside.
"A little, thanks." Lily gave Octavia a smile.
Octavia took that as a sign to leave and head down to where Sirius was impatiently waiting for her.
"What took so long?"
"Lily had a question about the History of Magic assignment."
"Oh that, that was easy."
"Yes Sirius, it was easy for us because we learnt about it at home, she didn't because she's muggleborn."
"Come on lets go." Sirius spoke not wanting to talk about the things they learnt at home.
Home life for both Sirius and Octavia had been a sore spot, Sirius had even given in and tried to contact his brother but he just received the letter back unopened.
"Hey are you alright?" Octavia questioned when the two of them were making their way down the stairs and there was no one else in sight.
"I received another letter from home this morning, you were late to breakfast and missed it."
"What did it say?" this confused Octavia, neither of them had received anything from home since their Howlers at the start of term.
"Dromeda got married, to some muggleborn. I was requested to cease all contact with her if I wish to fix the mess I made by being sorted into Gryffindor."
"Dromeda got married? I thought she was all set to marry a Goyle?"
"So did I, it was what everyone was talking about during the summer. I guess Dromeda must have taken off before the wedding and got married to someone else."
"I wonder when my letter will come, I knew Dromeda remember?"
"Maybe my family doesn't want anyone else to know?"
"Yes but doesn't sort of information have to be shared due to our marriage contracts? So surely my family as long with the Rosier family find out?"
"Who knows what's stipulated in those things, I'm hoping me being in Gryffindor they end it."
"Wouldn't the Rosiers have to pay something since they have the girl? I wouldn't be surprised if my parents are still hoping on my marriage with Regulus and the only way it will end is if your parents don't want two Gryffindors in the family."
"We'll find out at Christmas I guess, it's not like Makenna talks to me anyway."
"That's her name?" Octavia was shocked, Sirius had always referred to his future wife as the Rosier girl like her, but then again it made sense for him to know her name.
"Yes, now how do we get in here?" Sirius questioned putting his focus on the bowl of fruit portrait resting on the wall in front of them.
Octavia ended up taking a seat on the floor and watched as Sirius tried everything he could think of to get into the kitchen.
"Are you sure this is the right place?"
"Yes I remember it being a bowl of fruit when the Hufflepuff came out, this has to be it."
"And if there is more than one portrait like that."
"Don't think like that O, you have to be positive. I'm hurt you think so negatively." Octavia shook her head at his antics but let him continue on with what he was doing.
"Seriously maybe we just aren't made to get in, maybe it's only for the Hufflepuff students."
"If that was the case wouldn't access be from their common room?" Sirius snapped and Octavia lowered her gaze. "O I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap." He walked over and knelt in front of her.
Octavia slowly lifted her gaze and looked at her best friend, she knew he had a temper and this wasn't the first time he had snapped at her like this when he was already in a bad mood.
"It's fine, have you thought about actually touching the portrait in some way or another?" Octavia stood up and walked over to the portrait.
"O what's wrong?" through his own anger Sirius had yet to notice that something was off with her, he assumed something happened with Lily when she was in her dorm.
"Nothing Sirius," she spoke and it was only because he knew her as well as he did that knew it was the fake polite voice she had been taught to put on in public.
Sirius walked over and put his arms around Octavia, allowing her to bury her face in the crook of his neck so she can some privacy in a place like this.
"What happened with Lily?"
"I was helping her understand the Battle of Elect, I was talking about how some Purebloods are so set in their ways and I mentioned how not all of those certain family members are in Slytherin some get sorted elsewhere, mind you I didn't mention how normally it's Ravenclaw. She then went to say how like you and I were in Gryffindor, it was like she practically asking if we were a snake in hiding."
"Evans is an idiot." Sirius muttered and they stood in silence for a couple of moments before Octavia pulled away, she sniffed and wiped at her eyes before finally looking at him.
"Thanks now this portrait?"
"No I never thought about touching the portrait because most of them are alive and hate it when you touch them."
"Maybe this is one is different, it's the only thing you haven't tried aside from a password but they don't talk. Normally the ones that have passwords are talking portraits." Octavia softly rang her fingers along the portrait and stopped when she heard a giggle but nothing happened, so she did it again and the giggle was louder.
"You don't think…" Sirius spoke and then the portrait swung open. "You did it O!" Sirius spoke cheerfully before throwing his arms around.
"Only because you ruled everything else out Sirius, come on let's check it out and you owe me chocolate chip cookies." Octavia grinned as she walked into the kitchen, being careful as to not trip down the small number of steps.
"Look its house elves that cook our meals."
"No kidding Sirius, what did you think Hogwarts held people against their wishes in here?"
"Well the way our families talk about Dumbledore you never know…" he shrugged and it was then the elves noticed their visitor.
"That's true, we must be directly under the Great Hall. Look at the tables, they match the Great Hall."
"Mister and Misses, my name is Billzer. We all live to serve Hogwarts, is there anything we can get you both?"
"Hello Billzer it is nice to meet you, I'm Octavia and this is Sirius. If we aren't interrupting you we would love some chocolate chip cookies."
"Of course, of course it isn't a problem at all. Come now." Billzer spoke and he reached out to grab Octavia's arm and pull her towards one of the tables.
It matter of moments a few elves began running around doing who knows what and then there was a plate of cookies were placed in front of them as well as two glasses of milk.
"Thank you." They both spoke directing their thank you towards all the elves that helped make their cookies.
"This is perfect, James is going to be so jealous." Sirius was the one to speak up first.
"Lilith is going to love it."
"What about Pete and Remus?"
"Pete is obsessed with food and Remus, well he may sit with us but he is still a little on the quiet side." Octavia looked down at the plate deep in thought.
"What's going through your head O?"
"Well it's only been two months and Remus has already made one trip home and spent a few days in the Hospital Wing, what's wrong with him?"
"No idea," Sirius shrugged in response before reaching out for the last cookie, seeing the pout on Octavia's face he broke it in half.
"He lives in the same dorm as you, surely you know something just like I know that Kara isn't a natural blonde."
"He said he went home because his mother is sick."
"But then he was sick."
"I don't know O, you said yourself he is still a little on the quiet side. What do you want me to do? Threaten to push him down the stairs?"
"Oh come on I do that to Amycus one time, when am I going to get past that?"
"Never," Sirius grinned and she huffed in response.
It was her birthday last year and Amycus kept going on and on about him knowing what her birthday present was, he wouldn't budge every time she asked what it was saying it would ruin the surprise. It ended with Octavia threatening to push him down the stairs, it didn't help that she had cornered him above the stairs to begin with. He reluctantly caved not wanting to spend the last couple of days of his summer break in St Mungo's for falling down the stairs.
It was now the day before Halloween and they were thrilled to see that Halloween was the beginning of the weekend this year, on the Friday. Everyone was thrilled about the weekend and it turns out the upperclassmen also had a Hogsmeade weekend to top it off.
Octavia was currently sitting in the common room hoping to get her homework finished so she could enjoy her weekend
"Where have you been?" Octavia questioned when Sirius walked over and sat down beside her.
"Detention, what are you doing?"
"Charms homework, what were you doing in detention again for?"
"James and I might have sent some hexes at some Slytherins," Sirius shrugged like it wasn't a big deal and Octavia's jaw fell open.
"You did what!"
"Oh come on O, don't act like you haven't been in detention. You're just jealous I've had more detentions than you." He teased and she just looked at him in disbelief.
"Oh come off it Sirius, I'm not jealous. Because honestly, I don't have to be because I've had more detentions than you." She stuck her tongue out at him before looking back at the book in front of her.
Sirius scoffed in response before ripping the book from her hands.
"Hey give that back!" Octavia yelled at him but he just smiled in response.
"Wanna make a bet O?" she narrowed her eyes at him and the smile changed, the same one he always had when he was excited for a challenge.
"What's the challenge?"
"The one with the most detentions come June."
"Who will keep count?" she questioned, not even bothering to disagree with the challenge.
Maybe this was why the hat thought she would thrive better in Gryffindor, she wouldn't be able to be in Slytherin like this. Challenges and bets weren't as common since self-preservation is too high amongst them, they wouldn't take the bet unless they were sure they would win. With this Octavia had no idea if she would win, she just love a challenge.
Sirius looked around and just caught sight of Remus walking past them. "Remus will," he spoke loudly before standing up and walking over to where Remus was looking startled.
Remus had slowly began talking to them all but was still a bit shy around them.
"We need your help Remus," Remus looked at the two of them and noticed the looks on their faces, he was unsure if he wanted to be a part of this. The last time he clearly remembered seeing that look on their faces a group of Slytherins ended up wearing hot pink robes for three days.
"With what?" he stuttered and Octavia gave him a small smile.
"You aren't involved, we just need you to keep count."
"Of what exactly?"
"How many detentions we receive between now and the end of the school year." Sirius grinned once again and Remus shook his head, this wasn't the first challenge to take part between Sirius and Octavia, mind you they weren't as big or stupid, if you wish, as this one.
"Do you have any rules set yet?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well wouldn't it be unfair as to if you could just do something in front of a teacher and then you get handed a detention." Octavia and Sirius shared a look before looking back at Remus.
"Sounds fair, anything else?"
"Do you two ever think of that sort of stuff?" Remus questioned and they shrugged causing him to laugh. "Alright well, like I said no sense to pull pointless stuff in front of a teacher. Obviously pulling something granting you detention won't count, if you want a reason to not do it if you pull something like you will lose how many detentions you receive for it off your total."
"Oh you're cruel…" Sirius spoke while narrowing his eyes at Remus but he just shrugged.
"I'm fine with that if you're willing to keep count Remus."
"Sure but how about we wait until after Halloween and then we start fresh from then?" They both nodded in agreement with Remus, Remus was a little unsure about the look on their faces and how long it would take until James was a part of this bet but Remus was happy that his friends were keeping him involved in their plans, he pushed aside his concerns for how long it will last.
It was the following morning and everyone entered the Great Hall to see it filled with pumpkins galore, it was a Halloween display and it was the best any of the first years had seen.
The conversations that took place in the Great Hall during breakfast were only about the upcoming feast and what spectacle they would witness. The first years listened to the older students recount what has happened in previous years and it just made them that much more excited for that night.
The first year Gryffindor reluctantly pulled themselves away from the Great Hall and made their way up to the third floor to have Defence Against the Dark which was the first class of their day.
"Alright everyone I think today will be the day I finally decide to put you all against each other and see how well you shields work against minor spells. I will be calling you all up in pairs and grade you accordingly." Professor Briggins spoke and there was excitement throughout the room, up until now they had only practise their shield charms to see how they looked or used their jinxes and hexes against the dummies but not each other.
"Potter and Carrow." Briggins called out, they both smirked at each other before standing up and making their way towards the front.
"Now remember, basic spells only. Just mostly with your disarming and protective spells. Wands at the ready." Briggins spoke and they raised their wands' at each other seeing who will speak first.
"You ready for this O?" James spoke and Octavia instantly smile, not only had he dropped the last name but he also called her O.
"Of course James, are you?" he nodded and Briggins gave them the signal to begin.
Everyone watched as they both continued to throw spells at each other, it was obvious that James had the quicker reflexes but Octavia had a better knowledge of spells, she was throwing ones that James hadn't even heard of and it took a lot of concentration on her part to make sure she didn't throw any darker family spells at him that she had already learnt.
Sirius knew this would be hard, since he was already thinking about what spells he couldn't preform. It wasn't uncommon for the sacred families to begin teaching their children young in terms of magic, in some families they even practised spells with their parents' wands.
Even though you were better off using your own wand, you could use a family members' wand to some degree but not to the same power capacity as if it was your own.
Sirius had had his own wand since he turned eleven the previous year and Octavia had hers since she received her letter at end of July giving them at least some time to practise magic under the education of their parents.
It didn't matter if the Ministry placed a law that stated no magic should be performed by anyone under the age of 17, most of the time the law was only enforced with muggleborns since there were no adult witches or wizards around. The law couldn't tell you who performed the spell, it just gave an indication as to if there was magic performed around someone under the age of 17.
Octavia's shield had stopped working and this gave James the opening to aim a jinx to take out her feet, she fell to the ground declaring James the winner.
"Congratulations Mr Potter, Gryffindor will also be rewarded 15 points for both your amazing efforts today, well done." Briggins spoke and it was then James was lifted into the air.
"Oh dear," Briggins was the only to speak as everyone was shocked at James floating in the air, no one knew how this was managed.
Sirius was finally able to move and he rushed up to the front where Octavia was still sitting on the floor staring at James while he was up in the air.
They've been at Hogwarts for two months and nothing, aside from the Howler bursting into flames incident which couldn't be fully linked to Octavia had happened with her and her 'accidental magic' so they both thought that being at Hogwarts had helped fix whatever was happening.
Although now with Sirius watching Octavia like this there was the same blank stare on her face like every other time and her wand was lying on the ground beside her.
Sirius waited until he had a hold of James' arm before attempting to Octavia's attention. "O! Give me a hand?" Sirius called out and she snapped out of whatever she was in and James fell to the ground, Sirius' grip on his arm preventing him from falling to the ground completely but he did land awkwardly on his foot.
"Ouch, that hurts." James hobbled on the spot, Sirius put an arm around his shoulder to help give him support.
"Carrow why don't you help Black assist Potter to the Hospital Wing?" Octavia nodded before walking over and placing an arm around James as well and the three of them walked out of the classroom and headed towards the Hospital Wing.
"What happened there O?" James questioned and she averted her gaze.
"What makes you think it was her and not one of the Slytherins?"
"Oh that is a good point, aren't they still annoyed at the whole hot pink robe thing?" James bobbed his head.
"They've been biding their time to plan their revenge, we knew it would happen eventually. Looks like they placed the whole thing on you and not the three of us." Sirius spoke and the three of them slowly made their way to the Hospital Wing.
"Oh dear what happened here?" Pomfry spoke when the three of them entered the Hospital Wing.
"Mishap in class, he ended up being levitated into the air and he landed on his foot awkwardly." Sirius explained and Octavia just looked at James as he got up on one of the beds, there was no proof that it was her that did that to James but why did she feel so guilty?
"Very well, he will be just fine and will join you two at lunch. You can head back to class." Pomfry spoke before focusing her attention on James while Sirius pulled Octavia out of the Hospital Wing.
"He will be fine, but what happened? You've never done that to a person before." Sirius questioned and Octavia shook her head as tears welled up in her eyes.
"How do you know it was me?" she questioned softly and Sirius stopped walking to force her to look at him.
"Because I recognised that same look on your face and you were staring at James, who else could it have been? Pretty much everyone was fascinated with your duel, it was seconds later that James was lifted into the air, who had the time for that?"
"I don't want to hurt people…" the tears slowly escaped and Sirius frowned.
"James just rolled his ankle, he will be fine by lunch. You can't hurt people, it's not a part of you."
"But would have happened had you not help steady him?"
"He rolled both ankles? It wasn't like he was hanging by his feet where there was a chance he would fall on his head, James will be fine."
"What about next time?" her voice finally broke and Sirius wiped away the tears that were escaping.
"There won't be a next time, you'll learn to control your magic." Octavia pulled away from Sirius and used her sleeve to wipe away any trace of tears.
"We should head back to class…" was all she said before she headed down the corridor.
Sirius stood there and watched her leave for a moment before running a hand through his hair. This was Octavia, the same girl he grew up with that cried when she accidently stepped on a butterfly, she would never hurt someone would she?
Sirius chased after Octavia but nothing was said when he caught up to her, they just returned to class in silence.
Octavia was silent for the rest of the day, she barely said a word. Even when James returned from the Hospital Wing and joined them in the Great Hall for lunch she barely said anything, she was the first one to ask if he was okay and when he stated that he was she went back to pushing the food around her plate.
Sirius carefully watched her for the rest of the day, waiting to see if the mask she had up would crack but nothing happened. The rest of their friends had even noticed the unusually silent Octavia and they were worried.
"What's wrong with O?" Lilith questioned Sirius but he just looked at Octavia, he was unsure as how to answer this because he couldn't lie, it was too obvious that something was wrong.
"She had a run in with Amycus on the way back from the Hospital Wing, words were said. She will be fine soon enough."
"What was said? I can't imagine being on the outs with my brother." Lilith looked a little sad before looking over at were Octavia was sitting staring at the fireplace.
"Just the usual you disgraced our family, blah, blah." Sirius waved his hand around as Remus joined them.
"Come on we should probably head down for the Feast, is O alright?" Remus questioned and Sirius smiled, it seemed as though everyone cared about Octavia more than either of them had realised and it meant a lot to Sirius. He just hoped when Octavia was back to herself she would be glad as well.
"She will be fine, you lot head down and I will get her attention." They all reluctantly got up and left the common room leaving and leaving Sirius to deal with Octavia.
"Come on O, it's time for the feast."
"What if I had hurt him more than I did?" she questioned softly not pulling her gaze from the fire. All day Octavia just kept replaying the images of James floating in the air and then falling to the ground over and over and it was tearing her apart.
"But you didn't, he is perfectly fine. Come on you've been so excited for the Halloween Feast all week, you can't miss it now." Octavia reluctantly stood up and looped her arm through Sirius', he let out a sigh.
It's been years since Sirius had seen Octavia this distraught over something and it was because her grandmother had died, she was probably the only person in the whole family who didn't follow the same values they did. She just kept her mouth shut and her opinions to herself as to not make things harder for her than necessary, Octavia had learnt that from her.
"There are rumours going around that the ghosts are going to put on a show for us."
"Oh cool," Octavia spoke but Sirius heard the flatness to her tone, he just hoped after some sleep and fun this weekend she would return to normal and stop blaming herself for what happened to James.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read and set alerts for my story, it means a lot to me. Please leave a review and let me know what you think, or what you think your theories are for how the story will play out.
Olivia0707 thank you for reviewing, it means a lot to me. I'm glad you love the story so far, hopefully I can keep it up for you.
Dreams and Pixie Dust thank you for reviewing, it means a lot to me. I'm glad you enjoyed the Howlers, it is something I always assumed Sirius received after his sorting, so why not Octavia as well. As for Lily and Octavia, yes it's true. Nearly every single story I have read when they have placed an OC in the Maruaders era they are almost always best friends with Lily, I thought this would be different, be a change of pace. It makes James work for Lily's attention without a girl friend in Lily's ear.