Izzie smiled. "Thanks Neville. You're a life saver!"
Neville and Izzie spent the rest of the night talking, not bothering to get any sleep. By the time the other Gryffindors were beginning to emerge from the tower, the two had become the best of friends.
CHAPTER 11: JEALOUS
Sirius
October eighteenth,
Okay, so I kissed another girl even though Ashley is kind of my girlfriend. Big deal! I couldn't see why Moony was making it into a fight. He hadn't talked to me all day. Though, I had seen him walking around with Ashley.
In fact, there he went again. I watched as Ashley's shoulders shook, wracking her body with silent laughter. Remus was smiling at her, holding all of her books. She didn't even know I was there, and I was standing right next to her.
Why, that little-
"Hey, Sirius. Whoa, are you alright? You look a little, well, pissed, mate."
I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach as I realized what was happening.
Remus had a crush on Ashley.
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Ashley
Remus walks me to class and I can't help but to laugh at the witty joke he has just made. I shake my head in wonder. Who knew I would've made such a great friend in such a short amount of time. Remus had taken my books, insisting that he should carry them for me. I smiled at his kindness.
We make our way to Potions, my favorite class. Slughorn is a great teacher and I love making different things in my cauldron. It's hard to explain the feeling I get from brewing a perfect potion.
"Um, where do you want to sit?" Remus mumbles when we enter the room.
I shrug. Wherever you want to sit, I suppose. That is, if you don't mind me sitting with you.
I look at the other Marauders sitting at a table with one spot open. I notice that Sirius looks rather upset about something. I shoot him a quizzical glance but he looks away. I raise my eyebrows and turn my attention back to Remus.
"How about here?" He asks as he sets my books down on an empty table.
This is fine.
We're about halfway from Slughorn's desk at the front of the room, the exact spot where I loved to sit. Remus pulls my chair out for me and I smile at his thoughtfulness.
"Hello." I hear someone say behind me.
Oh, hey Felicity. Hullo Noah. I don't know if you've been properly introduced, but this is Remus. Remus, this is Felicity and Noah.
Noah and Remus shake hands, muttering greetings to one another. Felicity, outgoing as she is, hugs him and gives him a broad smile. "So nice to meet you, Remus."
He nods at her and mutters something under his breath. My two best friends sit down just as Slughorn enters the room.
"Good morning students!" He says in his booming, jovial voice. "Today, we shall be concocting a very complex healing elixir and so that you have enough time to complete it today, we need to start straight away. Please, open up your books to page four hundred and seventy two."
I do as I'm told, reading over the instructions for the elixir. It's complex, yes, but it doesn't seem too difficult.
My friends and I hardly talk during this lesson, too intent on what we are doing. About halfway through class we hear someone yell.
"Argh!" I look over and find Sirius covered head to foot in a mucky blue substance. I put a hand over my mouth to try to keep my laughter in, though no one would hear it anyway.
He burned a hole in his cauldron, causing it to splatter all over him. Slughorn clicked his tongue at him.
"Tut, tut, tut Mr. Black. If you had simply followed the directions, this could've been avoided." Shaking his head, Slughorn mutters a spell and wipes Sirius clean. He also mends the hole in Sirius's cauldron.
Sirius looks at me, betrayal written all over his face. I frown at him but he just looks away again. While waiting for my potion to turn purple, I grab a piece of parchment and scribble him a note.
What's the matter, Sirius?
~Ashley
I crumple up the note and send it to him with my wand while Slughorn isn't looking. I make sure Sirius gets the note before turning back to my potion. A few seconds later, something hits the back of my head.
I bend down to pick up the piece of paper at the same time Remus does. Our hands touch and he smiles shyly at me.
I got it. Thanks.
He nods and turns back to his cauldron, a frown on his face. I un-crumple the parchment and attempt to read Sirius's scrawled handwriting.
Nothing.
-Sincerely Sexy Sirius
I shake my head at the last part, chuckling to myself.
You just had to write that last, didn't you? And Sirius-ly, what's wrong?
~A
I add some dragon scales and beetle eyes into my potion. I'm almost done with only five more steps to go. Slughorn walks by and glances at my potion just as I throw the beetle eyes in. It turns a dark golden color.
"Very nice, Miss Worthington." He nods in approval before walking away.
I smile to myself and turn to the piece of parchment I had felt hit my leg while Slughorn was talking to me.
Meet me after class. Just outside the portrait hole, okay?
~S. S. S.
I wonder what he wants as I hastily scribble "alright" onto the parchment and throw it back. No one seems to notice us passing notes, intent as they are about their potion-making.
I wait anxiously for the end of class.
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I wait for Sirius outside the portrait hole, wondering what is going on. Is he going to break up with me? Was he just bored last night when he decided to fly to my window? Was it just some sick joke?
My head is spinning and butterflies are flying all around my stomach when Sirius finally approaches me, panting.
"Sorry I'm late. Had to… long story," he puts his hands on his knees and gestures for me to forget what he was going to say.
No problem.
I give him a moment to catch his breath before asking the question that has been on my mind for quite some time now. What are we here for?
Sirius stands up straight and grins. My heart flutters wildly. "I want to show you something. Come on."
He grabs my hand and leads me deep into the seventh floor, to a blank stretch of wall. He doesn't let go of my hand when we reach out destination. I smile at that.
Where are we, exactly?
Sirius grins broadly. "My dear Ashley, we are just outside the Room of Requirement! Just think of what you need the room to be, walk in front of the wall three times, and it shall appear for you!"
I frown at his words. That can't be true. That is just…
"Amazing, huh?"
I nod. What kind of room are we looking for?
"Whatever kind you wish."
I step towards the wall, reluctantly letting go of Sirius's hand. I stare at the wall a moment before I realize what kind of room I want. I close my eyes and walk in front of the blank wall three times, thinking of the kind of room I want.
I want a room where you can tell no lies, where everyone must tell the truth. I want a room that is private. I need a room that's comfy and romantic and has a fantastic view of the moon and stars at night, where no one can see you looking out the window.
I open my eyes and before me are two large doors. I turn around and grin at Sirius. He walks forward and takes my hand, leading me forward. Together, we push open the doors and enter the room.
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Izzie
The next couple of days passed in a blur. Izzie was so busy with friends and classes and studying that she had barely a moment to rest and just enjoy being back at the castle. On the first Friday night, Izzie finally had a break from homework and decided to just sit in front of the fire in the common room for a while. When she entered the room, she spotted Neville sitting on the very couch she had imagined and went to sit next to him.
"Hey Neville," she said, taking a seat.
"Oh, hey-hey Izzie." He said, blushing and looking down.
She smiled at him and glanced at the book in his hand – A Wizard's Guide to Poisonous Plants.
"Good book?"
"What, oh, yeah, I suppose." He seemed rather nervous so Izzie decided to give him a moment to collect himself.
The fire cackled in the silence and they could hear other students laughing and talking behind them. It was getting late and many of the chattering students were beginning to head to their dorms. Soon enough, Izzie and Neville were left alone.
"Looks like it's just us," Izzie commented, startling Neville from his thoughts.
"Yeah…"
Izzie nodded her head, trying to find a way to make things less awkward. Just then Neville dropped his book and she leaned down to pick it up at the same time Neville did. Their hands brushed and they looked at each other.
Izzie leaned forward as did Neville. Just as their lips were about to touch, the portrait hole slammed open and someone walked in. The pair jumped apart.
"Oh, hello Neville, Izzie," Hermione said, looking a little flustered. Her hands were filled with books. "Um, sorry… I'll just…"
She raced up the girls' staircase, trying to avoid the awkwardness.
"I guess I'll just go to bed then," Izzie muttered, straightening her skirt as she stood.
"Izzie?" Neville asked as she began to walk away, her hands shaking.
"Yes, Neville?"
He took a deep breath and then said, "I- You have pretty fingers."
Izzie smiled at his feeble attempt to compliment her. "Thanks… Goodnight, Neville."
"Night," he said, falling back onto the couch, covering his face with his hands.
Izzie chuckled to herself as she made her way to her dorm. Next time, she would kiss him.
