9. Check mate.
When I woke up on the first of January, my eyes were blank. I couldn't see a thing. That thing often happens to me when I had a tough night. And this one was a tough one. Mainly due to the fact that the Lupins' neighbours tried to shot a rocket to celebrate.
I slowly made my way towards the staircase using my hands. My pink pyjamas would be hideous, but I didn't care, they'd seen me weirder than that.
When I stepped in the kitchen, my eyes still a little blur, I was immediately assaulted by a tall figure wearing a cloak.
"Happy 1977!" then said a voice I would recognize anywhere.
"James?" I asked unsure.
"Who do you think?" he replied mocking. "Have you turned blind?"
"Prongs, she's always this way when she didn't sleep well. Wait a couple of seconds..." said Remus who I could hardly point sitting at the table eating something.
And then it all became lighter at once. I immediately spotted James in front of me and hugged him tightly, and then the one I feared to see who was standing before the fireplace, looking in my eyes for the millionth time.
I just kept staring at him until James cleared his throat.
I freed him and just nodded to Sirius. I came to kiss Remus on the cheek and grabbed a toast I started to eat standing by the window. Better warn them, I wasn't friendly in the morning. At all when the night had been horrible.
o°o°o°o
"So, Vals, having a nice holiday, are you?" casually asked James putting an arm around my shoulders.
I glanced at him suspiciously.
"No, not nice, really. I was just starting feeling at home when you two arrived", I joked.
I took an apple on the table and teasingly walked upstairs winking Remus. He smiled back and giggled a little. I heard John entering the room.
"Ah, Sirius! Have you seen Vala yet? I would rather like seeing her killing you, must be an interesting fight to witness."
I rolled my eyes to the wall and entered by bedroom to get dressed.
I soon decided to stay there as to avoid seeing the git, and made up to do my homework in order to do something useful.
After I'd done everything I could do, I've had a furious envy to read something so I walked recklessly into Remus' room. And of course, there they were, all three of them, talking as I understood it. I walked straight to the fantasy pile, my favourite, and pretended to read the summaries.
"Why aren't joining us, Vals?" asked James and I ignored him. "You could have fun."
"I'm having fun, James, thanks for asking. I've just retrieved my two best friends: Paolini and Bottero." I said pointing at the pile of nine books I had in my arms. "They salute you all." I added before going out.
I remember that I shuddered when I met Black's eyes. All that time he hadn't stopped staring at me in a mad way, and I really felt uncomfortable about it.
o°o°o°o
Eragon and Ewilan's sagas were one of my favourite stories of all times, and of course I discovered them at Remus'. As I was drowned into Brisingr, a soft knock made itself heard on my door. I sighed, dreading the worst.
"Come in", I said bitterly.
It was Helen, wearing her work-robes.
"My darling, I'm going to work. You're alone with the boys until five, I'm afraid. Here, I've carried you lunch, I would think you would be interested in remaining alone for today."
I smiled and mouthed "Thank you" before she closed the door.
On my desk, there was a dish of steak with a spinach purée. My favourite ever. I thanked the sky to have created Helen Lupin.
I read all the books in less hours that I would have wished to and I soon after fell asleep. It wasn't four yet when I woke up a presence at my side.
I knew it would be him but pretended otherwise.
"Rem', I told you before I didn't like you to sneak in my bed unwanted!" I said faking sleep.
I sensed him frown behind me and I giggled.
When I looked at him, he was looking awfully upset.
"What the hell are you doing here, Black?" I asked as if I just realised it was him.
"Just wanted to...see...how you were." he said stroking his hands.
"You really need to play this on me. It doesn't work." I said seriously.
He looked different at once. His eyes met mine in an eager way.
"Really? Well, I may try something different then" he smiled.
I rolled my eyes and leaned to get up. He stopped me putting his face in front of mine.
"How did you survive Christmas?" he asked innocently.
I eyed him angrily. I had tried to avoid him the previous days to prevent myself from having a really unpleasant conversation.
I swallowed. He smiled.
"Oh, not wanting to talk about it, hey? Did you really like it so much?"
He leaned forward as to kiss me once again, but I got up.
"I'm not really fond of this kind of presents", I said, and it was true.
"You kissed me back, Vala." he said getting up and facing me with all his height.
"Really? Don't remember it..." I lied staring at him.
"Have you found my soul then?" he asked changing subject.
I quietly opened the door and before I closed it behind me, I looked back at him.
"No, not yet. And I doubt I will."
o°o°o°o
He caught me when I reached the woods behind the house. His hand clenched mine and I was forced to slow down.
When I looked at him, I saw that he kept his eyes closed, as if he was listening to something. I understood that this something was my heart, which was racing since I left my bedroom.
My nails were already sharp, but my eyes were only starting to grow, and my temper wasn't as strong as it had been in the forest, not so long before.
"Is it me?" he asked opening his eyes.
I knew what he meant by that.
"Apparently, yes." I replied freeing my hand.
"And Christmas?"
I sighed and turned to the welcoming woods. I could then see as in daylight.
"I was under a Calming potion." I whispered.
"Are you losing it now?" he seemed concerned.
"I don't know. It seems to slow down."
He walked forwards and took my cheek.
"Are you going to kiss me again? 'Cause I don't think it'll help this time." I sighed looking in his silly face.
"Have you realised you're speaking to me, not yelling?" he said smiling a little. "Besides, your eyes are starting to grow back."
And I knew it was true, because the sky was getting darker for my eyes, as my nails were retrieving their usual size.
He pulled me towards the house, his hand still holding mine.
When we reached the door, I freed myself again.
"It didn't mean anything, Black" I said.
"No, of course it didn't" he grinned.
"You're a lost cause" I said before entering before him.
o°o°o°o
Diner, as I remembered, had been really calm. John was constantly joking with James, Helen and I were talking about my studies and Remus and Sirius were talking about whatever was a good topic for them.
Soon after I washed the dishes with her, Helen kisses my forehead and rested her hands on my shoulders.
"Vala, I know it isn't the right time for this, but you received a letter this morning. I didn't give it to you because I'm under the impression you'll have to calm down in the woods tonight."
Before she handed me the envelope, she gave me a thick blanket and smiled sadly to me.
I took the white sheet and got out of the house, concerned about what it was talking about.
It was a wedding announcement. A wedding announcement with my Dad's name on it. I sat down in the grass, my nails growing silently as my eyes wandered on the paper.
"Joshua Emerald and Moira Spencer are really proud to announce their marriage which will take place on the fourth of February 1977." I mouthed before tearing the letter apart and starting running to the woods.
My temper took it all in a fraction of seconds. How could he do this to me? Tell me he was getting married using a letter? Was he my father or a foreign acquaintance?
I ripped a tree apart using my nails and claws, and before no time I was joined by a dog and a stag. They both took my arms in their mouths and forced me to sit down. The only wish I had was to make them pay for what my father did to me, a monstrous betrayal as I never heard of before.
My claws closed on Sirius paw and I hit James with my head, but they didn't let go and waited for the tears to come streaming in place of rage and despair.
I let myself fall on the ground and covered my head with my hands.
James was the first to turn back.
"Vala." was the only word he pronounced before putting his arms around me. I cried against him for a long moment, before my temper was completely down and I could see Sirius looking apologetically to me.
"Come on, let's get some hot chocolate before getting to sleep." then said James, and they both helped me up.
Sirius kept my hand in his during all the way home, and James was noticing he was grabbing my waist as if I was Lily. Or so I thought.
When we got into the living-room, Remus jumped into my arms and squeezed me hard against his chest. I started crying again and Helen patted my back while John was looking sadly into my face.
Once I was done, they both kissed me gently and parted for their bedroom. James came back from the kitchen holding a huge pot of hot chocolate, Sirius was reviving the fire, and Remus was still holding me tight while we sat in the couch.
I looked into their faces and waited until my breathing paced quietly to speak.
"Thank you, guys. I think I could have lost it all if you didn't came around." I said before taking a boiling sip in my mug.
They all put a hand on me, James on my leg as he sat on the floor, Remus around my waist, and Sirius on my resting hand as he sat next to us in the couch.
That was the first time ever I felt as if I had more than one friend...
…...
I suck, I really do. I just thought of all this father betrayal thing, and it lingered on my mind for a long time, but this chapter isn't my best. At all...
Review anyway, it makes me smile... :)
