Chapter 34: Fear for Summer
It had been six weeks since that letter turned from Octavia's mother about what the plan was for her summer, what her punishment was for taking Muggle Studies and fear instantly set in for Octavia.
It was in that six weeks that they all saw a change in Octavia, she was no longer acting up in class, no longer in detention, was focusing harder than usual on her studies so she was ready for her exams.
"Class is dismissed, Miss Carrow if you could stay behind I would like a word?" Professor Smith spoke as the class packed up their things and began heading out.
Sirius reluctantly left the room, leaving Octavia alone.
"You wanted to speak with me professor?" Octavia spoke as she made her way towards the front of the classroom once everyone cleared out.
"Yes, now I don't mean to pry but I have noticed a change in you over the last couple of weeks, is there anything you would like to talk about? Remember I come from the same sort of families that you and Sirius do, surely there is nothing I won't understand." Smith spoke as she took a seat on top of her desk.
"Have you heard of Miss Hattie Burke's Etiquette School for Young Ladies?" Octavia questioned and couldn't help but frown at the look that crossed Smith's face.
"Yes I unfortunately had to attend the same schooling I'm sure you did from ages 7 – 11 as well as the summer before my fifth year, but what does that have to do with anything as you are only a third year?"
"I'm spending the summer there as punishment for taking Muggle Studies. What is so bad about the summer before fifth year at the school?"
"I heard about Hattie's passing, I doubt that the same things will happen and it's been a long time since I attended that school."
Octavia didn't like that smith was avoiding the question, or even avoiding talking about the school in general. "You still didn't tell me about how bad the summer was."
"You shouldn't worry about it, I'm sure it will be fine. I'm sure you are hungry, why don't you head off to the Great Hall for lunch."
Octavia didn't say anything, just collected her things and left the room but not before looking over her shoulder at Smith, there was something off about her ever since Octavia mentioned where she was spending her summer.
"What did Smith want?" Octavia jumped at the sound of Sirius voice and placed a hand on her chest.
"Bloody hell Sirius." Octavia, noting the small smirk on his face.
"It's just too easy O."
"Who knows, maybe once I complete the Animagus transformation I won't be as easy to scare anymore."
Sirius laughed and threw an arm around her shoulder, "Nope I think you're going to be this tiny useless little bird."
She responded by hitting him across the chest and pulling away from him, "says the mutt."
"Still with the dog jokes," he shook his head, before stepping back in beside her, becoming serious again. "But in all seriousness what did Smith want?"
"She asked what has caused the change in my behaviour and when I told her about the etiquette school there was a look that crossed her face for a moment. Sirius, she attended the school for that summer before her fifth year, she looked worried for a moment but yet she tried to reassure me that surely it will be different, that it's changed since her time and that Hattie was dead."
"Maybe she was right, maybe things will be fine and plus you have two days off because of the weddings. Aren't the weddings like a month apart?" Sirius spoke, worried when Octavia didn't say anything as she stepped into the Great Hall.
"How was Muggle Studies?" Remus questioned being the first one to spot Sirius and Octavia join them at the table.
"Fine," Octavia stated calmly before reaching over and grabbing some of the soup sitting in the middle of the table, ignoring the look Sirius was giving her.
"That look right there tells me something else happened," Lilith piped in, pointing her spoon at Sirius.
Octavia pushed her bowl away and stood up, "you know what, I'm not actually hungry."
"O…" James called after her as she walked away from Sirius shook his head.
"Don't, just let her be this whole etiquette school is really getting to her." Sirius spoke and the rest of the group continued on with their lunch.
Octavia was missing from their afternoon classes, they were all worried but Sirius just kept reminding them that she will be fine and just needs time alone and that if they went looking for her they were risking pushing her away even more, she will turn up again when she's ready to face them.
Sirius entered his dorm once classes were finished with the idea of dumping his bag and getting in a fly before making a start on the massive essay they had be given in Transfiguration but all his plans changed the moment he saw Octavia sound asleep on his bed.
He walked over and brushed the hair out of her face and watched as she began to stir. "Why do we have to wait till we are 17, why can't we leave now?" Octavia mumbled and Sirius frowned.
"You're the one that wanted to wait till 17, if we wait till I'm 17 then I get everything if not we will have more gold in our vaults before we leave. If we leave beforehand we will struggle."
"I don't want to go home this summer," she spoke as she buried her face against the pillow.
"Come for a fly with me?" Sirius questioned and she shook her head.
He continued to stand there leaning against the post of James' bed watching her with worry, it wasn't until her breathing evened out that he realised she had fallen back asleep. There was nothing he could do, he didn't know how to change what her parents had planned for her for the summer and if he did he would do it in a heartbeat.
"What took so long?" James questioned when Sirius finally emerged from their dorm.
"Nothing," Sirius muttered and the two of them began making their way down towards the Quidditch Pitch to grab their brooms from the storage cupboard.
"Hypothetically, would your parents take me in for the summer?" Sirius spoke once they were both outside on the grounds and James looked at him like he was crazy.
"Depends, would you blow my house up?" James questioned with a smirk.
"Do you want me to blow your house up?" Sirius shot back and James laughed.
"No but why are you asking this?"
"Hypotheticals," Sirius shrugged. "Honestly though, would your parents take me in for the summer?"
"Probably but what about O?" James questioned and when Sirius fell silent that's when he realised, this wasn't a hypothetical. "Mate at home it's just me and my parents, sometimes it gets a little quiet. They always make comments about me having mates over and sometimes I have had Moony and Lilith over, Peter always claims he has other plans with his family, but for obvious reasons I've never asked you and O."
Sirius didn't say anything, just grabbed his broom and took off to the sky, with another idea forming in his mind.
.oOo.
The rest of term past by easy enough, they all managed to make it through exams thinking they were simple enough.
The group of friends had found that Octavia eventually returned back to her usual self, they don't know what happened that day when she disappeared during lunch and didn't return until after dinner. No one questioned where she was and no one questioned what she was thinking in regards to her spending the summer in the etiquette school because they were concerned about how she was going to react.
They had slipped back into their usual routine of pranking the Slytherin's and messing around in class which landed them all in detention, they were all even shocked when Lilith had joined them on a couple of occasions in detention.
"You'll look after my broom again James?" Octavia questioned and James nodded.
They were all on the train heading home for the summer but they were all cautious of asking what everyone's plans are for the summer because of Octavia so instead they stuck to a neutral topic, Quidditch.
"I can't honestly believe you let Gryffindor win the Quidditch Cup, Frank is going to have the biggest head all summer." Lilith complained and the boys laughed.
"Come on, surely you are pleased that we have kept it away from Slytherin again?" James spoke with Sirius pitching in in agreement.
"I would rather if we managed to win the House Cup." She frowned at them and crossed her arms over her chest as James, Sirius and Octavia shared a look.
Smirks appeared on all three of their faces, "won't happen while we are still here." Octavia spoke and Lilith shook her head.
"I swear you three have to grow up eventually," Remus piped in.
"Why where is the fun in growing up? There are way too many responsibilities of being an adult, you have bills, a job, laundry, cooking, chores…" James started but was cut off by both Remus and Lilith.
"You don't have chores?" the chimed in together.
"No…" spoke James, Sirius and Octavia all at once and everyone looked at Peter as well, wondering if he did or didn't have chores.
"I have chores as well," Peter finally spoke and they nodded.
"Well Lilith I'm guessing you don't have a house elf?" James questioned.
"Of course I do but it doesn't excuse the fact that I have to clean my room and clean up after Millie, my pet Kneazle."
"You have a Kneazle? Why don't you bring her to Hogwarts?" Octavia questioned in shock, this was the first time she had heard anything about a pet Kneazle.
"Because she's not really mine, it's the families pet but she's also old and set in her ways, she wouldn't like being at Hogwarts."
"Hang on I have a question, Frank has an owl, why don't you have an animal?" Remus questioned.
"I get one this summer, I had pet goldfish when I was younger that was all my responsibility but they kept dying, me looking after Millie during the breaks proved I've grown up enough to look after a pet, whether it be an owl, cat, or Kneazle."
"Do you know what you are going to get?" Octavia questioned Lilith causing Sirius to get up and switch seats.
It wasn't until they were half way through the train ride, waiting for the trolley lady so they can get some food when Peter sat up straight, an important thought in his mind.
"Ohh…" Peter spoke causing them all to place their attention on him. "Didn't you say your parents were going to pick you straight up from Hogsmeade O?" his question earned him an elbow in the ribs from Remus who was sitting beside him.
"They were going to but I think Amycus or Alecto sent something home because I received another letter a few days later stating that they will pick me up from Kings Cross instead." Octavia spoke before turning her attention back out the window.
"So who thinks we will have a new Defence professor come September?" Sirius questioned, hoping to divert the attention back off Octavia.
The train slowly pulled into the station and Sirius had to place his hand on Octavia's knees to stop her from bouncing them due to nerves.
"We will speak over summer, just like last year." Remus spoke as he gave Octavia a hug.
They all said their goodbyes before leaving the compartment, they all agreed at the end of first year that it was easier for them to say goodbye before they got off the train. Sirius and Octavia explained how their parents aren't exactly enthused with their friendships, the others agreed not wanting to make their home lives more difficult then they needed to be.
"Come on, it's time to face the music but Remus was right, you have your parchment we can still talk. We know how those summers work from all of Hattie's boring talks over dinner, the girls have their own room." Sirius spoke, hoping to make Octavia feel better about the whole thing.
"As long as they don't go through my things…"
"O, it's a blank piece of parchment. You're going straight there from here, you can claim it was left over from the school year."
"We'll see what happens, I have a couple of weeks until Alecto's wedding and then a month until Amycus' and then a couple of weeks until the end of summer," Octavia spoke before standing up to leave the compartment.
"Everything will be alright, I will be there for you at Alecto's wedding and hopefully we have the chance to talk." Octavia nodded before stepping off the train and heading to where her mother was standing, not even getting another chance to speak to Sirius before she disappeared from the station.
"Welcome to Miss Hattie's School of Etiquette for Young Ladies," Octavia heard a shrill voice when they arrived, she was not looking forward to this. "Ah Mrs Carrow, it is lovely to see you again and this must be Octavia. It is a pleasure that you will be joining us this summer."
Octavia plastered on a smile and looked over at where the voice was coming from, "the pleasure is all mine." Octavia spoke, remembering how she was taught to act when she was younger.
"I will see you in a couple of weeks when I come to pick you up for Alecto's wedding," Octavia was shocked when her mother leant down to give her a hug, it only lasted a second but it was something that never happened.
She looked at her mother when she pulled away and noticed the strange look in her eyes but it was then that she remembered the story of her cousin Bexley. This place changed her, this placed tore a family apart and this place caused Octavia's family to lose three people. It really made her question as to who made this decision.
"Now my name is Miss Madeline and I am the head teacher here since your dear Aunt Hattie passed away, I am to be referred to as such. If you follow me I will show you to your room." Octavia made a grab for her trunk and followed Madeline upstairs.
.oOo.
Sirius entered the study where he knew his parents like to spend their days, he was hoping that they will let him take off for the summer as long as he returned for the two weddings this summer and he would, he didn't want to leave Octavia alone at them.
"Sirius what can we do for you?" Orion spoke when he noticed Sirius enter the room.
"I was hoping I can spend the summer at a friend's house?"
"But the Carrow twins have their weddings this summer."
"I know this father and I promise to return for them, I will even return for Octavia's birthday since we always have dinner with the Carrows before we return to Hogwarts. Even if anything else comes up during the summer I will return, even if it is something as simple as a dinner." Sirius hoped that putting in the last statement would make his parents more agreeable to this option, he knew they wouldn't ask where he was going because they knew they wouldn't like the answer with him being in Gryffindor they knew who he was most likely friends with.
"No," Walburga stated harshly before Orion even had the chance to respond.
"You heard your mother," Orion when Sirius opened his mouth to try a different route.
Sirius turned and left the study and began finalizing plan in his head, he knew there was a possibility that his parents would say no but he wanted out of the house this summer, he couldn't sit around there all day again not knowing what was happening with Octavia while he was stuck at home having to deal with his parents.
He left the house and ventured out into muggle London, something his parents advised against him and his brother doing, in search of what he needed.
As he was walking down the street, something caught his eye.
"Can I help you there boy?" Sirius turned around to face an older gentlemen who had just left the garage.
"I was just curious about the bike, the sign says it's for sale, how much?" Sirius questioned looking back over at the motorbike.
"Aren't you a little young my boy?"
"I didn't realise it was illegal to ask questions," Sirius snapped back and the old guy let out a laugh.
"Just so you know the bike doesn't run, it needs a little fixing up but I don't have the spare cash for parts." Sirius was a little disappointed at that, ever since Remus had explained what a motorbike was he had wanted one, to know what it was like to ride one.
"How about this my boy, if you pay for the bike and parts I will help you fix it up. You seem like a decent young man." Sirius smirked at the man, knowing it could be considered far from the truth.
"I like the sound of that deal but just so you know I live at a boarding school for most of the year and is cash alright?" Sirius questioned, thankful that he was taking Muggle Studies and knew some of the more common terms amongst otherwise this guy might have raised an eyebrow at a few things.
"Cash is fine with me, I have a business to run during the weeks so I can only help you on the weekends, come back this weekend with the money and we can get started." Sirius was told the price and he instantly agreed, not having any clue as to if it was a good deal or not and left in search of his original destination.
After Sirius found what he was looking for, going to Diagon Alley to exchange his gold for muggle currency before going back to the shop he found. He grabbed enough gold to cover what he wanted as well as the money the guy asked for the bike in case he didn't have the chance to get back to Gringotts before then.
He had never used a taxi before but figured he wouldn't be too hard, he had the addresses he needed to get to and figured the driver would do the rest, but by the looks he received maybe it wasn't something a 14 year old did on their own but either way the drivers took him when he offered to pay them, seemed overly thrilled when he threw the money at them and didn't wait for change.
After a long day out he finally made it back home with his purchases, glad he hadn't run into any of his family members or that wretched elf that his parents insisted on keeping around before he made it up to his room so he could get to work on plan B.
Days had passed before anything was said about what he had done, he was hoping that it would come about a lot quicker than it was happening and he was starting to get antsy.
He was currently hiding out on this little balcony that had been charmed way back when to make it look like it was overlooking the woods instead of the inner city look that London gives. He had two pieces of parchment laid out in front of him but he had only written on one of them.
He picked up the glowing one and read the message.
O – You available?
Octavia had created a piece of parchment intended just for the two of them, they never saw the use of it before this summer because if they needed to talk they could just turn up at each other's house but this summer they were forced apart again and Octavia wanted the safety net just in case.
S – Yes, I'm actually waiting for things to blow up here.
O – What did you do Sirius?
S – I may have placed some things on my wall that my parents won't approve of when they notice it but how are things for you?
O – Fine I guess, it's only been a couple of days and not much has happened since the girls are still turning up and strangely enough, I'm not the only one that isn't fifteen here.
S – I wonder why that is, everyone we have heard of that has attended that school for a summer period had always been fifteen or will turn fifteen at some point.
O – I have no idea, I haven't had the chance to talk to any of the other girls that aren't fifteen yet. There is a part of me that is hoping that they are being punished as well but my chances are slim I suppose, it almost seems like some of these girls spend their summers here every year it's all very click like, almost like Hogwarts with their houses.
S – You'll be alright O, I'm sure you will make friends soon enough, who wouldn't like you?"
O – Evans and Blake…
S – Are from a different world to us, chances are these girls all understand what it is like growing up in our families, they will have at least one parent from the families or their parents are trying to be accepted by the families and are doing everything the same as them, this school included.
O – Hopefully, so what have you planned to annoy your parents with this time? Is it going to backfire and prevent you from attending Al's wedding?
S – Doubtful considering when I asked if I could spend the summer at friends, promising to return home for both Alecto and Amycus' weddings as well as for your birthday they still said no.
O – So now you have planned something to piss them off in hopes they will just tell you to bugger off already.
S – I see your eyes rolling from here.
O – Very funny, look I have to go it's time for lunch and I think I finally have orientation this afternoon.
S – You will be fine don't stress and I will see you at Alecto's wedding, just remember that because I honestly don't believe I can do something to piss them off that much.
O – I hope so because I honestly believe I will only make it through the summer if I know I will be seeing you soon.
S – Make friends O, it will help the time pass faster.
Sirius placed the parchment that was communication between him and Octavia back on the ground and looked at the other one, wondering why James hasn't said anything in response yet. He needed to hear from him soon otherwise everything will backfire.
"BOY!" Sirius heard his mother yell and boy was she angry, "Get down here!" he climbed back in through the window and headed downstairs in search of Walburga.
"Yes mother?"
"Kreacher has just informed me of the foul things up on display in your room."
"Why is Regulus allowed to display his house pride by hanging Slytherin banners up in his room but I'm not allowed to hang Gryffindor banners?" Sirius questioned knowing it was just adding fuel to the fire.
"No I am not talking about the idiotic Gryffindor banners you seem to constantly have on display in your room, no I am talking about the foul half naked female muggle posters you thought was appropriate to put on display in there." Sirius could see the tick beginning to form in his mother's forehead indicating she was incredibly annoyed.
"But it's my bedroom, I was under the assumption to do as I please in my bedroom mother."
"Not under my house my boy." Walburga snapped and this was the reaction he wanted but he had to keep the smirk off his face, knowing that is going too far. "Don't think we haven't noticed you disappearing for hours on end during the day Sirius, we don't even want to begin to think what you have be getting up to but if you want to go and see your blood traitor friends, fine but you better return when we need you to, to keep up family appearances."
"Yes mother," Sirius spoke and turned heading back up the stairs.
"And take down those foul pictures!" He heard his mother yell from the other room as he took the stairs two at a time.
Sirius quickly threw what he needed into his trunk for the next few days knowing he will have to return for the first wedding before dragging it to the floo and heading to the Leaky Cauldron, hoping more than anything James will reply soon.
J – What's going on? The message is gone but the alert was going off.
Sirius was glad he was only having to sit at the pub for 10 minutes before James finally responded.
S – Does your offer to spend the summer at yours still stand?
J – Yeah of course it does, why?
S – How do I access your floo?
J – What, why?
S – Because I'm curious…why the hell else would I want it?
J – Of course, sorry. Potter Manor.
Sirius quickly placed the parchment back in his trunk before heading back over to the floo, throwing a Galleon at the bar tender for not kicking him out and flooed to James'.
When Sirius stepped through on the other end he was actually a little surprised, he thought only the families his family associated with liked to flaunt their money but this house, or Manor more correctly, clearly showed that the Potters had money and they weren't trying to hide it.
"Hello, you must be Sirius, it is so nice to have finally met you." Sirius was startled as an older women rushed forward to great him. When she pulled away she must have noticed the look on Sirius' face, "Sorry, my name is Euphemia, I'm James' mother and he has told me so much about you, Octavia as well."
"It's nice to meet you and I'm grateful for the invitation to stay here," Sirius smiled at her, remembering his manners.
Euphemia smiled in response, "of course any friends of James, come I believe my son is hiding in his room."
Sirius followed Euphemia upstairs, taking note of everything that was out on display, despite the fact that the furniture and other pieces out of display that showed that the Potters had money it was very different to the houses Sirius was used to seeing as he grew up. His house along with the many others only ever had one family portrait that was always redone every couple of years that was situated in various rooms, but this house, this house had multiple photos of the family covering the walls.
"We had just finished lunch when James informed me that you were arriving, are you hungry Sirius?"
"No thank you, I ate before I arrived."
"Very well, James' bedroom is that door over there and again it was lovely to meet you." Euphemia gave Sirius another smile and placed a soft hand on Sirius' shoulder as she walked past him.
Sirius walked over and opened the door that Euphemia pointed to and found James lounging about on his bed, he quickly sat up at seeing the sight of Sirius.
"Mate what is going on, I get these messages from you and when I didn't get a response I jumped up and run downstairs to tell them you were coming to stay a couple of days. Mind you they were thrilled that you finally accepted an invitation since I refused to tell them why I couldn't ask you, they know what type of families you come from but wouldn't believe that your parents would refuse you from coming over."
"Well they did originally when I asked." James' mouth fell opened and Sirius rolled his eyes, it wasn't that shocking that every now and then he wouldn't rebel against his parents' wishes.
"Wait, you actually asked your parents and not take off?"
"Me taking off won't end well at all, I did enough to piss them off so they would let me leave the house. I just have to return home when needed." Sirius walked over and flopped down on the bed beside James.
"How bad would it end?" James questioned but Sirius didn't say anything in response to his question.
"Heard from the others?"
"My parents actually invited them all over for dinner last night, turns out they have been talking at the station when it comes to picking us up."
"I bet that conversation doesn't include mine or O's parents."
"You would be correct."
"How was the dinner that I missed out on?" Sirius mocked whined and James just laughed before launching into what happened during dinner the night before.
.oOo.
"Why hello there stranger," Sirius spoke as he stepped in beside Octavia.
It was the day of Alecto's wedding, her wedding was first since her soon to be husband has an intern ship to attend to within the Ministry. Sirius and Octavia barely knew the guy since he attended Durmstrung for his magical education instead of Hogwarts but he was still around during the breaks.
"Sirius it's good to see you." Octavia faced him with a small smile on her face.
"How have your first two weeks been?"
"They've been fine, I'm unsure as to what exactly it is everyone is so scared of at the moment but most of what we have been going over is more of a recap of everything we learnt when we were younger. I believe when I return tomorrow the new stuff begins."
"Well that's something, maybe they will make a women out of you yet." He smirked at her and she shook her head.
"You keep forgetting that I am in fact a girl Sirius."
"That dress helps prove you are a girl," Octavia turned in shocked and faced him completely, feeling unsure about the way his eyes raked over her body.
"Sirius stop, we'll get in trouble." She hissed at him and his eyes went back up at her face.
"Sorry," he mumbled his apology.
"It's fine, how has your week been at the Potters." Octavia and watched as Sirius looked back out on the backyard where the wedding was set up.
"You don't want to know, it'll make you annoyed you are stuck at the school."
"Too right, how the bloody hell did your parents agree to that?" Octavia questioned but Sirius could hear the anger in her voice.
"I may have put some things up on my walls that I knew would anger them and in turn just let me do what I want." Octavia shook her head at him, she still hated that Sirius could do what he wanted and he wouldn't be punished.
She always wondered how far Walburga and Orion would let him go before they disowned him, there was a small part of her that always hated her best friend because no matter what he did to anger his parents they never turned on him like hers did.
"Come on you two, the wedding is about to start." They both turned to face Amycus who had come and interrupted their conversation.
Sirius nodded before leaving the two siblings alone and Octavia turned to face her brother.
"How are you doing?"
"Fine I think, it hasn't been too bad. As much as I hate saying this I would rather be at home and deal with the physical punishment instead of at that school with fear of what could happen. Did you know mother hugged me goodbye?"
Amycus raised the glass in his hand and took a sip before taking a deep breathe, "I found something out a few days ago, our grandparents were the ones that suggested you attend the school."
Octavia's whole body tensed up at the mention of their grandparents. "Which ones Am?" she questioned wearily.
"Which ones do you think O?" he responded and Octavia grabbed the glass from him knowing full well it was Fire Whiskey and she would most likely get in trouble but this bad news.
She drank what was left, ignoring the burning sensation and handed the glass back, "Our grandparents, our paternal grandparents. The ones who used first used the Cruciatus Curse on me when I was six were the ones who suggested I should attend that bloody school. The ones who didn't care that Bexley was dead and in turn Maxon and Cora as well. I know about our parents being somehow related so even though technically Maxon and Cora on our maternal side of the family but aren't they all related."
Amycus nodded and Octavia threw her hands up in the air. "They pushed for Al as well but because she was in Slytherin, doing everything that was requested of her, she was so eager to become a Death Eater, she whole heartedly believed what the Dark Lord was talking about at the parties."
"But because I'm in Gryffindor, play Quidditch, take Muggle Studies and everything else I get punished for they gave in to them?" Amycus nodded at her question, she bit her tongue to hold in her screams of frustration. "And now I have to spend all day playing nice with them, just great." Octavia muttered before walking off, knowing stomping and throwing a tantrum like a two year old would just cause more issues.
.oOo.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who continues to read, set alerts and review my story it means a lot to me but reviews mean even more.
Hibiki Loke thank you for reviewing, it means a lot to me. I'm glad you're enjoying the story, I didn't even realise that there may be similar aspects between this story and What Happens that do follow the story of Castor and Vega, but now that you have mentioned it, I do see the similarities.
Raven that flies at night thank you for reviewing, it means a lot to me. Oh that place will be a lot of fun, Octavia will have lots and lots of fun and not miss her friends at all (replies sarcastically).