Author's note: Sorry this chapter if this chapter isn't up to the usual par, but I'm feeling rather uninspired… Hopefully I can do better next time. 3

Being grounded was boring. I normally didn't mind hanging out on the couch in Remus's classroom as he taught, but that was when I had something to amuse me, or I felt like sleeping. Just sitting there while he yammered on about stupid wars was toooorture. When lunch came I gave him my best puppy-dog eyes. "Can I go sit with my friends? Pretty please?"

He shook his head, smiling at me. "Go ahead."

I scampered off before he got the chance to change his mind—or at least I tried to…it's kind of hard to scamper with stiff muscles… I made myself comfortable next to Harry. Damon and Aubrey both left their tables and joined the Gryffindor table. Aubrey sighed from next to me. "So care to explain exactly what the hell happened yesterday?"

I gave them a censored version. Most of them looked a little pale, but Kayla just shook her head. "Seriously Rika? Seriously?"

I shrugged. "It's not my fault weird crap happens to me."

"Actually it kind of was your fault this time," Damon pointed out unhelpfully.

I stuck my tongue out at him, shoving food in my mouth. Ginny looked at me anxiously. "So are you okay now?"

"Yup. My backs killing me but that'll wear off soon."

Aubrey grabbed me by the shoulders and began gently repositioning me so that I was facing away from him. I blinked. "Um what are you doing?"

"You'll see."

His hands slid down from my shoulders and… Oooooohhh. Niiiiiiiiiiice.

"You have magic fingers," I mummered, leaning into the backrub.

He chuckled under his breath. "Well I am a wizard."

I muttered something incoherent, melting under his touch.

Fred and George leaned across the table, holding forkfuls of food up to my mouth.

"Here you go princess."—George

"Since you look like you could use some help."—Fred

"Wouldn't want you to sprain something trying to lift a fork."—George

I grumbled a bit but ate the food, secretly pleased I no longer had to move.

Sirius dropped his forkful of ham, staring at the Gryffindor table, jaw dropped. "..Mo..Moony..He's touching our baby."

Remus glanced towards the table where Aubrey was rubbing Rika's back. He shook his head. "It's just a backrub Pads. She's probably sore from yesterday."

"But Mooooneeeyy! He's touching our baby with his filthy hands! And do you have any idea how many of my sexual escapades started with 'just a backrub?'"

"No, nor do I want to know. But Rika isn't one of those cheap dates you always had, and even if she was, they're in the middle of the Great Hall"

Sirius grumbled, glaring daggers at Aubrey.

"However," Remus said in a calm voice, "if he even thinks of trying anything inappropriate, I will cheerfully tear him limb from bloody limb."

Sirius looked up at Remus with starry eyes. "You do care!"

Remus rolled his eyes. "Of course I care you dolt. She's my baby too."

The chorus of awwws that sounded from the female teachers—minus Umbridge of course—reminded Remus that they were not alone. He blushed, clearing his throat and resuming eating.

Sirius snickered then scowled when Remus elbowed him. He began eating again muttering derogatory things about Remus under his breath and glaring at Aubrey.

Today had been a long, boring day, so I was really looking forward to caldron cleaning with Sanpe tonight just so I could actually do something. Snape was seated as usual, grading papers. He gestured to what I should clean, never looking up.

I hesitated, then walked up to him. "Snape?"

"Yes?"

"Um..Well..I just wanted to say thank you for looking out for Harry and me. It really means a lot to me that you stood up for us." I leaned forward and gave him a quick, slightly awkward hug. "So thanks." I quickly backed off and turned to the caldrons, leaving a very stunned looking Professor behind me.

After a few moments I heard a 'you're welcome' and the sound of papers shuffling resumed. I smiled, humming while I worked. "Just so you know, they did punish me."

"I have still yet to learn what exactly you were punished for."

"Went off trail in the Forbidden Forrest, ran into some giant spiders, jumped in a river."

"And how exactly did they deem fit to punish you?"

"Grounded for two weeks, no iPod."

"Hmp. I hardly call that a suitable punishment for so recklessly endangering yourself."

"Trust me, grounding a werewolf is a grave punishment indeed. And denying me my daily music fix is simply cruel."

"I'm sure you'll manage to survive."

"Probably. At least I still get to hang out here."

"You are not here to hang out, you are here to work." After a minute of silence, he spoke again. "..You actually enjoy scrubbing caldrons?"

"No, not particularly, but I like talking to you. You say some pretty interesting stuff."

He muttered something incoherent which I chose to interpret as 'and I like talking to you to Rika. You're awesomeness never fails to warm my icy heart.' Yup. That's totally what he said.

So bored want to shoot myself just so I don't have to endure another moment of this boredom.

I will be a good child from now on just so I will never be faced with another music-less grounding again.

Have resorted to stacking marshmallows on face to pass time. Hermione's bloody cat attacked face. No clue how the thing got into my room. Remus is now reprimanding my use of colorful language while Sirius laughs his ass off at the cat scratches on my face.

Bloody orange ball of demon fluff.

Occlumency lessons went well though I think I gave Snape a heart attack. Apparently he wanted the full story of what had happened because without preamble, he dove into my mind, searching for my spidery memories. When he pulled back, his sallow skin was even paler than normal. I watched him carefully, half expecting a lecture of some sort, but he merely continued on as if nothing happened.

I know he was shaken though because it was easier than usual to push him form my mind.

It was my least favorite day of the month: the day the moon was furthest from the Earth. Usually I spent this day crashed on the sofa in Remie's classroom, sleeping soundly, but without my iPod to lull me to sleep at night I was even more tired than usual so I opted to spend the day in bed. Remus had told me that despite the rules of my grounding, it'd be okay for me to lounge around here for the day. He ducked down, placing a kiss to my hair and promising to come check on me during lunch. Sirius had swooped in to ruffle my hair before following Remus out the door. I smiled at their retreating forms, feeling happy and loved. I was able to sink back to sleep easily even without my lovely iPod.

Thump. Whispers. Footsteps.

I groaned, rolling over and burying my face into my pillow. Moons and Pads couldn't be back for lunch already could they?

Without warning, a hand ensnared itself in my hair, painfully heaving me into sitting position by my locks. I let out a cry of startled pain, eyes shooting open just in time to see the two Slytherin boys who weren't holding my hair point their wands at me.

I gulped, trying to calm myself and focus on escape. I knew a bit of wandless magic, but did I know enough to fend off three armed wizards whilst in a weakened state? Carefully I began concentrating my magic. I needed to buy time… "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"Oh you don't need to worry about who we are," the one holding me laughed. "And as far as how we got here…well the wards around your quarters were only the basic ones; very easy to break into."

"What you should be worrying about," said one to my left, "is what we're going to do to you, filthy mudblood."

Almost ready… "And what pray tell would that be?"

He smiled darkly. "I don't think you want to know."

"It's always better to be prepared." So close.. I could feel the power running through my veins..

He leaned close to my face. "We're gonna break every bone in your pathetic little body, Crucio the fck out of you, and laugh as you burn."

"When you say burn are you referring to the curse pain or literally setting me on fire?"

"Both."

Well that's pleasant… There! Now was the moment to strike! I yelled the repelling curse Snape had used on my guardians earlier in the week. The boys flew in three opposite directions from me, screaming in surprise and slamming into walls. I took off running, fumbling with the front door, but never stopping. I was in the hall when I heard footsteps pounding after me.

Ohcrapohcrapohcrap

I pushed myself harder, willing my legs to move faster, praying the boys wouldn't catch up or worse, remember that they were wizards.

"Crucio!" one of them yelled from way to close behind me. Dammit! They remembered! I veered right, dodging the unforgivable, but lost balance in the process. The world seemed to slow down around me, and I watched in horror as my body glided over the nearby railing for the staircase and began to plummet to the floor below. Why, oh why did I have to live near a stairway? I closed my eyes, trying to curl in a ball and cover my head.

How could I die in such a lame way? I mean honestly! Images of my friends and family flashed before my eyes. Had I ever told them how much I loved them all? Told the Weasleys I thought freckles were adorable, told the Golden Trio they made the cutest little group of friends ever…told Kayla and Dames how much they meant to me… let Aubrey know he was the coolest Slytherin I'd ever met..told Sirius he was the best uncle-ish guy ever…

Told Remus he was like a dad to me?

No.

And now I never would all because of a fcking staircase.

I heard a male's voice scream my name and suddenly I was enveloped in warmth. My eyes snapped open, coming face to face with Aubrey. His arms were wrapped securely around my body, cradling me to him. He staggered a little from the sudden impact but almost instantaneously had his wand out and aimed a stupify at the Slytherins. He looked at his wand for a moment, startled, as if he'd stunned them on instinct rather than conscious thought, then his gaze locked on mine, wide and panic-laced. Hmm…This close up his green eyes had tones of blue in them…

He ripped his gaze away, turning on the spot and walking. He flicked his wand over his shoulder and the immobile Slytherins floated after us. I didn't ask where we going. I ducked my head into his neck and simply breathed in his comforting scent, trying to relax into his warmth.

I finally looked up when we came to a stop. Dumbldore's office. I should have guessed.

"Password?" a gargoyle croaked.

"Tell Professor Dumbledore that a student has been hurt." Aubrey demanded.

The gargoyle disappeared, presumably to deliver said message. I vaguely thought of reminding Aubrey that I wasn't a student but decided it was rather unimportant..

The door slid open and we went inside. Dumbldore was standing in front of his desk. He watched the procession carefully: Aubrey holding me magic-ing stunned Slytherins to trail behind. We must be quite the sight… Aubrey sat down in one of the plushy chairs, leaning back and never relinquishing his grip on me. "Are you hurt Rika?"

I shook my head.

"Good."

"Would you care to inform me of what is going on?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.

I sighed, plopping my head down on Aubrey's shoulder. His hand began rubbing nice circles on my back. "Well.." I began, "these boys snuck into my room while I was asleep, threatened me, held me at wandpoint, then chased me down a hallway, tried to crucio me, and led to me falling over the stair-railing where Aubrey caught me and brought us here."

"They were in your room?" Aubrey hissed, grip tightening on me.

"Yeah.."

"And they tried to crucio you?"

"…Yeah.."

"Headmaster, please remove these spurii from my sight before I harm them."

Dumbledore nodded. He stood, going to the fireplace. "I shall flu them to Professor Snape and see how he feels they should be dealt with."

When he was gone, I turned to Aubrey. "…Spurii?"

"It means bastards in Latin."

"…You know Latin?"

"I know a lot of things."

"Oh…well then.."

It was odd being so close to Aubrey…I mean yeah I was close to him—and all my friends—a lot, but it felt…different.. Maybe it was because he was looking at me with such an intense expression in his eyes and holding me so tightly… I wanted to break his gaze, needed to break his gaze but couldn't…It was almost hypnotic..

He moved a hand from my back, cupping my face. "You could have died."

"Yeah," I breathed out, still caught in that gaze.

He moved a strand of hair from my face, letting his fingers slowly run across my skin. "You scared me," he mummered."

"Did I?" I said back quietly, paying more attention to the hand that was once again cupping my face than to his words.

"Yeah.."

Aubrey wasn't lying. It really had scared him to see Rika tumbling down, coming so close to ending her life with a band to the head. If he hadn't happened to walk by... No. He didn't want to even think about it. Thank God he had picked that moment to need to use the restroom.

He frowned looking down at Rika. She looked so fragile.. Probably still shaken from what had happened.. It was odd to see her with brown eyes..They weren't an ugly shade by any means, but he preferred her normal gold shade; it was just so Rika. Unique, vibrant, beautiful..

She stared up at him, trusting him with her safety despite how violent he felt right now, how close he was to charging after Dumbleore and hexing the spuriis into oblivion.. Abruptly he decided it didn't matter what color her eyes were. They were her eyes and therefore they were beautiful.

Damn. If that wasn't bloody sappy then he didn't know what was. He had officially moved out of the crush faze and into the head-over-heels faze…This was not good… But… she was warm against him.. and was she leaning towards him? Or was he leaning towards her…Oh Merlin.. Before anything could happen (would anything have happened? And was the halting of what may have (but would it have?) happened a good thing or a bad thing?), the door burst open and in charged an angry werewolf.

I was suddenly ripped from Aubrey's arms and crushed into another frame. I blinked a little disoriented as whoever held me muttered frantically 'thank Merlin you're okay!'

I blinked, pulling back a little. "Remus?"

He nodded, looking at me worriedly. Over his shoulder I could see Sirius bouncing on the balls of his feet obviously wanting to latch on to me too.

"Um not to be rude, but why are you guys here?"

"Professor Dumbledore came and told us everything that happened." Remus said, releasing me to check over my person for injuries. Once he was satisfied that I was okay, he handed me off to Sirius so he could check me as well and turned to Aubrey. "Thank you so much for helping her."

Sirius nodded, passing me back to Moony. "I'll still slaughter you if I ever find you in her bed again, but you have my thanks."

Aubrey nodded. "You're welcome…do you think you could get me excused from classes for today? I know I'm not really hurt but.."

Sirius held up a hand. "Gotcha. Shaken nerves. Consider yourself excused."

Aubrey stood a little awkwardly. He looked over at me. "..Bye Rika."

Absurdly enough I didn't want him to leave… "Bye Studbucket."

He snorted at the nickname, shaking his head and walking out. I sighed, leaning back into Remus's arms. "Moony I'm tired."

"I know hon, let's…" he trailed off, breath freezing in his throat. Silently, he lifted my hand. Since I had been so rudely forced out of bed, I never put my gloves on so my Umbridge scar was showing. I mentally groaned, watching as Remus softly ran his thumb over it in horror. Sirius came up behind him and made a chocking noise.

"What the hell is that?"

I flopped my head down on Remie's shoulder. "Make Harry explain."

"Harry knows? Why dose Harry know but not us?"

I closed my eyes, not answering. Remus cursed quietly under his breath and picked me up, carrying me back to our quarters and setting me on the sofa. Sirius came in a few minutes later with Harry in tow. Harry looked at me in question. Poor kid. Probably couldn't understand Sirius's mad ranting. Wordlessly I held up my hand, showing him the visible scar.

He gulped. "I guess you want an explanation then…"

"Do you have one too?" Sirius worriedly grabbed his hands, growling when he saw the scarred words.

I must not tell lies.

"Explain," both men growled.

I flopped my head back. "Harry be a dear and explain. I'm still trying to come to grips with almost dying again."

"What?" Harry yelled, looking between all of us. "What happened? What does she mean?"

I waved him off. "No worries, no worries, I probably wouldn't have actually died… Now do sister-cousin-Rika a favor and cover for me whilst I space out…"

Remus was watching me mildly disturbed. "…Did you hit your head?"

I declined answering. He opened his mouth, then closed his eyes, muttering something about tackling one problem at a time, and turned to Harry. "Please explain what this is all about."

I didn't pay much attention to Harry's explanation or the multiple obscenities and growls coming from my guardians. I was to busy thinking about Aubrey… What the hell had happened? One minute we're talking..and then I just stop thinking straight..and his eyes..and leaning.. Surely we hadn't been about to kiss. I mean really now! Why the hell would I kiss Aubrey? I had just been trying to see his eyes better..yeah..that was all…

Oh who am I kidding, no it wasn't!

"That bloody bitch!" Sirius yelled, hexing random spots on the wall.

I wanted him to kiss me!

Remus gently grabbed Harry's arm. "Why didn't you tell us? You know we would have helped you, right?"

Oh hell. No. Nonononononono.

Harry hung his head. "I didn't want you guys to start a fight with her..That's what she wanted.."

I didn't want boys to kiss me. I couldn't. I could not fall in love. Nope, not for me.

Sirius ceased his hexing. "Of course we would have picked a fight! You're our pup, it's our job to take care of you!"

"I'm not a kid, I can deal with it.

…But what if I was?

Remus turned to me. "Why didn't you tell us Rika?"

"No."

"..No what?" Remus asked.

I shook my head. "No heart-to-hearts. Can't process now."

They all stared at me. "Rika," Remus tried, but I cut him off.

"No! Do you have any clue how many heart-to-hearts we've had lately? My entire life is becoming one giant heart-to-heart!"

"Bloody hell what's wrong with her?" Sirius whispered—very loudly might I add—to Remus. Remus blinked, a little taken aback. "Rika, calm down—"

"No! You don't understand, I can't!"

I can't like Aubrey! I've sworn never to get involved with a guy, for both our sakes…

Remus reached into his pocket, pulled out my iPod, and shoved it in my hands. I blinked down at it wide-eyed. He took a deep breath. "I am going to go speak with Dumbledore. You follow Sirius to class and listen to that, and try to overcome whatever emotional breakdown you're having. We will talk later when your sensible. Harry go back to class. You can come talk with us when Rika recovers."

"I…iPod…outside.." I mummered in wonder, hugging the device to my heart. Sirius gently put a hand on my back, guiding me out.

"Come on now Rika.. I don't know what the hell you're going on about, but just listen to Mamma-Moony…"

Apparently Mamma-Moony knew what he was talking about. After lounging in the grass for a while (yay grass, yay sun, yay air!) and listening to some calming tunes (double yay), I felt a lot more mentally stable. I had surmised that it was perfectly okay for me to have a crush on Aubrey. I was a teenager for goodness sakes, what was I thinking planning to never have a crush? I simply would not act on said crush and everything would be okay.

…..Now I'm kind of embarrassed that it took me so long to come to this conclusion.. At least it postponed the talking… I wasn't lying when I said that my whole life was turning into one big heart-to-heart. How many of those things have I had recently? That many h-t-hs couldn't be healthy…

Sirius kept shooting me weird looks all day, but kept his distance… Emotionally distraught teenage girls probably weren't his thing. Classes were over though, and I felt pretty confident that I could handle the upcoming Umbitch talk relatively well… That didn't mean I actually wanted to though.

Author's note: I got the term spurii from google translator so fill free to correct me if it's wrong. If you don't remember why Rika thinks it's an issue for her to like a guy then leave a comment or pm an I'll remind you why. A good day to all!