September 4th, 1993
Gryffindor Girls Dormitory
10:30am
Roxana woke to anxious and excited voices. The two third years, even Hermione to her surprise, were obviously impatient to get going into Hogsmeade. Oh, joy, she thought with sarcasm.
How does life carry on when an INNOCENT man is on the run? She bit her lip, drawing blood, her eyes squeezing tightly shut in despair.
As she got up to get ready she made a mental note not to treat Dante any differently and to also not pull out the map around him. A sour taste filled her mouth just thinking about the Marauder's Map. She wondered what Remus would be able to see; if his current hatred and beliefs would overcome his past. I won't risk it.
"Are you coming, Ana?" Hermione placed some galleons in her purse as she asked.
"Im staying with Harry and Dante." Roxana wrapped the last strand of hair around her hot wand before letting it drop. Perfect.
Hermione grinned, "Alright, then I'll see you later."
"Have fun!" Roxana shouted after her. She turned towards the mirror and scrutinized herself. "You've got this."
Gryffindor Boys Room
It's the fourth day back and their room is already a mess.
"Morning guys" She said as she entered the space.
"Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Ana?" Seamus asked yawing for dear life.
Roxana shook her head as she looked carefully around Ron's bed. Where is he?
"Why not?" Dean asked, "I heard Andrey Colen was going to ask you."
She lifted Ron's pillow, to no success, the traitor wasn't there, "Who? Doesn't matter, tell him no. Whoever he is. I've got other things to do." She huffed and turned to Ron who was pulling his shoes on. "Where's that rat of yours, Ron?"
He turned briskly around, a look of annoyance and disgust on his face, "Hermione's devil cat ate him. There was blood on the blanket this morning where he usually sleeps."
She snorted, "I doubt that, but we'll keep an eye out for him." And then he'll be killed.
Forbidden Forest
11:06am
Breathe. Breathe, Roxana, breathe.
He's been putting on a brave face ever since I met him. He's never done anything wrong. He walked all the way to Scotland for Harry and I, despite that everyone's looking for him.
"Dante!" Harry shouted as they made their way down the path that had formed over the past few days from their footsteps. The sun's rays illuminated the ground despite the amount of trees blocking the sky above.
"Dante!" He shouted again and Roxana bit her lip to keep a cry from leaving her as the dog ran towards them barking happily. How are you still standing?
Harry ran ahead to the grass area, Dante walking circles around him. "Was he like this yesterday?"
Dante sat down as Harry did, face turned up towards her in confusion.
She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "I didn't make it yesterday. I got caught up on something."
Harry nodded in understanding and Dante no longer appeared fazed.
He want's to tell me, but like me, he's afraid. What two great lions we are.
September 15th (Wednesday), 1993
Forbidden Forest
The past few days had gone by in a flash and thankfully Roxana found a comfortable plan to balance out the 'duties' in her life. She now woke an hour earlier, around seven, went to the Great Hall to grab food and carried that in a small folded cloth to Sirius as her animagus.
After that she'd leave to meet up with the twins before heading to class. Roxana spent lunch with all her friends whilst finishing up homework, then went in whichever form she felt like, to spend some time with the convict. Currently she was in her animagus form.
As soon as Dante saw her, he changed. "Hey, it's you today." He paused, "It keeps me on suspense. Will you or Roxana show up? You must be her cat." He grinned.
"I mean, when she can't come, you show. She asks you to, doesn't she?" He looked certain of his theory, but she wouldn't give anything away, so she simply sat down.
His face lit up, "That's why she smells feline…" Then his smile dropped suddenly and a look of recognition passed over his features.
Oh god, don't tell me you've found out already.
Sirius' pov
"That's why she smells feline…" Feline. Something feline. Why does that sound so familiar?
Flashback
September 8th, 1977
Potions Classroom
Today they were to create Amortentia potion, also known as the most powerful love potion in the world. According to Remus, it was supposed to smell differently for everyone depending on what attracted them the most.
What a load of rubbish. He would much rather have been sitting, doing nothing like poor old Moony, than being forced in making a potion that would smell like his true love. How phony. As if he actually had one, anyways. Smell like his… couldn't it just show a picture of the chick instead? Why would he even want one bird for the rest of his life?
"Prongs, you wanna know what I'm gonna smell?" He smirked as he interrupted his best mates staring session directed at the one and only Evans.
He's not even looking at me, the love sick fool. "What's that Pads?"
"Leather and oil." He grinned remembering the new wheels he'd bought a few weeks back.
Prongs turned to face him and snorted, "I wouldn't be surprised."
Shrugging, "And you're going to get… what did' ya call the girl this morning? Lily flower."
He snorted as James shot a glance to make sure Lily hadn't heard. "Of course I am."
Sirius shook his head and started making the damn potion.
Prongs finished first, much to the frustration of Snivellus."I was right."
Sirius looked up momentarily to see Lily's reaction. She turned bright red and called his mate an,"idiotic lying git."
James beamed at her, "She's coming around." He sniggered and read the next ingredient needed.
"In your dreams Prongs." Remus snorted and on cue Wormtail's potion exploded. Poor sod.
"Infirmary ." Slughorn drawled as he shook his head. Wormtail sighed and took a whiff from James cauldron. He walked out smiling.
The list said all he needed to do next was mix the potion once more, counter clockwise.
"Almost...done!" Sirius rubbed his hands together with a smirk on his face.
"Mr. Black , please refrain from shouting."
He heard Snivellus whisper something to Lily, but he payed it no attention.
"Apologies Professor." Wasn't excitement over a lesson encouraged? Wait, why am I so excited?
He leaned over the cauldron anyways, barely registering that the class had gone silent.
This is gonna be a mistake. He inhaled and his mind went blank.
It's not possible, but he sniffed again trying to separate the intoxicating scents from each other.
The scent that stood out the most was, "Vanilla." Floral but not overly so, "Roses." A very subtle white musk scent, "Patchouli." He smirked as his nose picked up his most beloved alcohol beverage, "Firewhiskey." He wasn't sure about the next fragrance though. It almost smelt like cigarette smoke, but less harsh and a bit more suffocating,"a thousand burning candles and…" No, it can't possibly be… how ironic. How perfect.
"And?" Most of, if not all the class urged on.
He looked up, not focusing on anything or anyone. He shook his head trying to clear his mind, but the memory had left it's mark and the entrancing scents lingered in his thoughts.
The bell rang a second later.
"Well, what'd you smell?" Prongs asked taking a sniff from his batch.
Sirius cleared his throat, "Something feline." Remus and James burst out laughing.
He couldn't care less about what they thought."That's what my witch is made of."
End of Flashback
Sirius blinked before he started laughing. "I must be going crazy." Roxana Constantin can not be the... Nope.
Roxana is just a girl that happens to wear vanilla perfume, loves roses, does random rituals involving candles and patchouli,… has a flask of Firewhiskey on her at all times and he looked down at the cat.
"Fuckk!" The cat looked up at him in confusion, unaware of the complete turmoil in his head.
"It's just not possible…" He took in a sharp breath, "She can't be… no." Forget about it Sirius. Put it in the back of your head and leave it there.
September 17th (Friday), 1993
The Three Broomsticks
11:30pm
"It's good to be back." Roxana grinned as she stole a seat at the bar and looked around the nearly empty bar.
Fred smirked, "I can't believe we didn't sneak out earlier."
George nodded solemnly, "And all it took was a few well thrown dung bombs."
Rosmerta, the owner of the pub, gasped when she spotted them. "Why you two...!" She narrowed her blue eyes on the twins. "Goading this poor girl into sneaking out at this hour!" Rosmerta cried out seeing the three familiar faces.
Roxana chuckled, "Actually, I'm the one that forced them out of their beds. I missed the village."
Rosmerta's demeanor changed immediately, "Well, then... three butter beers?" They nodded eagerly.
George smirked at the witch. "You know Rosie, I think your eyes are bluer..."
The woman interrupted him hurriedly, "Shh!" Roxana saw that her gaze reached beyond them and to the entrance.
"No, really..." Fred added, but he too was stopped when the windows in the pub started to frost.
Roxana turned to look at the street where five dementors or so were passing by.
The pub got very cold, and the fires blew out. "They do their rounds every night. It's ruining business." Rosmerta sighed. "Hopefully they'll catch Black soon."
"Do you think they're any closer to finding him?" Roxana asked biting her lip.
"... No, there hasn't been any sighting of him since September." Rosmerta placed the glasses in front of them.
"Where could he be hiding?" George asked not expecting an answer.
"I don't think he's hiding." Fred shrugged as he took a sip of his foamy hot drink.
Roxana bit her lip as she traced the lines in the wooden counter, "No... he's not hiding. He's waiting."
September 30th (Thursday), 1993
Shrieking Shack
9:00pm
Roxana, in her animagus form, was sitting on the old, broken, dusty bed in the Shrieking Shack waiting for Remus. It was the full moon and the first time he'd be changing in the Shack since his school days. Sirius had told her the latter part of course, because she hadn't even considered the place a possibility. He also hadn't asked her to stay with Remus but she was there because she... felt bad for him.
Her knowledge of werewolves and additional experience with them, made her unafraid, hence why when Remus finally showed, she didn't even bat an eye.
"You're definitely not going to want to stay here tonight." He placed an old blanket on the ground, a few pillows and a change of clothing. She got up, stretched, meowed and sat back down.
"Your funeral." She rolled her eyes. You've taken wolfsbane Lupin, it's not like you're going to turn into the big bad wolf that huffs and puffs until the damn house collapses.
5:00am
Before the sun rose, the moon set and Remus began to change back.
His wolf hadn't even been wary of her and she wondered if it was because she was friends with his mate. It seemed plausible. After he'd changed and made sure she knew he was in charge, the wolf fell asleep.
It was kind of like babysitting a grumpy sleeping toddler, easy, but she hadn't closed her eyes. As Roxana walked through the foggy morning back to the castle she wondered if she'd helped him in any way.
Defense Against the Dark Arts
"I wish we could just have a place to perfect our pranks." Fred rolled his eyes at his two friends as they sat down.
"Honestly, those small fireworks we set off in the Slytherin den barely even caused a 'poof,' and they were freaking expensive." George groaned.
Roxana slapped her forehead, "Guys. Oh my god, I forgot…" She made sure no one was listening, "I found a secret room, it wasn't even on the map. And it gives you whatever you want."
Their eyebrows rose and rose, evil smirks spread across their faces and they kissed her on the cheek.
"Lunch?" They asked in unison.
"Lunch." Roxana nodded excitedly, the bell rang and Professor Lupin quickly walked in. She was surprised to see him.
He looks okay. He was a bit pale and there were dark circles under his eyes, but there were no new scratches, not that he'd hurt himself during the night; she'd payed close attention.
Seventh Floor Corridor
2:00pm
"Shut your eyes and think of your room." Roxana told the twins as they stood in front of the barren wall. She'd explained the gist of the space. It would give them whatever they asked for, except food or any of the other five principal exceptions of Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. "Now walk back and forth three times."
They did as they were told and opened their eyes.
"A door!" Fred clapped happily.
"No brother, it's a portal." George rolled his eyes and Roxana giggled.
"It's a door." Fred nodded.
"Go on open it." She followed closely behind them and like she expected, they gasped like Grindylows out of water when they saw the inside. It was the exact replica of their room at the Burrow.
"Merlin."
"This is gold."
"Look Ana, everything's here!"
"Hmh, impressive isn't it?"
"How'd you find it?" George asked her and his twin tilted his head.
She focused her attention on an empty box of fireworks as she responded, "I just passed by it and a door appeared. I'm sorry I forgot to show you guys."
"No worries."
"None, Ana boo. It's amazing."
"What should we call it?"
"Yeah, what should we?"
"How about… the Room of Requirement? The room that shows itself only when a person needs it the most." The twins stuck their palms out and she high fived them.
"So, who are we pranking first?" She smirked.
October 11th (Monday), 1993
Divination
October started and with that... Quidditch practice. The boys were ecstatic, the girls, not so much. Harry, Fred, and George were rarely around anymore.
The weather had also began dropping, so Roxana brought Sirius warmer clothes that she'd bought in Hogsmeade. She very rarely went to the village anymore, but the twins were always sure to bring her back pepper imps, sugar quills and Firewhiskey; what more could a girl ask for?
The older trio were sitting in the hazy, stuffy room wait anxiously for the bell to ring. They were still reviewing last year's lessons and therefore bored out of there minds. Today's schedule was tea leaf reading, like every class, then crystal ball gazing.
George had come up with the brilliant idea of using Roxana's skill of light to make all the crystal ball's in the class glow. It was a reasonable prank that would wow the students and agitate the teacher.
The bell echoed in the space and the three jumped to their feet, cups in hand to get tea first. They sipped their tea until there was none and flipped them over on the small plates resting in front of them.
"Now, we wait." Roxana sighed yawning and leaning against Fred for support.
"I hate waiting." George yanked his teacup off his plate, causing all the wet leaves to fall into his lap. He pouted, "Damn."
Roxana rolled her eyes and waited five more minutes before she took her cup gently and peered inside.
"What?!" All the tea leaves were in a clump at the center of the cup. Roxana always left enough tea to make it possible for a form to take shape, but there was no true form. Of course that had to be the moment Trelawney came up behind her.
"What have you got, dear? Any clues?"
Roxana pouted, handing the cup over, there were no symbols in the fifth year book for whatever mistake she'd done. "It didn't work this time." I'm her star student. How disappointing.
"Nonsense." The woman peered into the cup then frowned, "Did you leave enough tea?"
"Yes, I didn't do anything different this time." She bit her lip.
"Then it must mean something. I'll look it up later in my grimoire, okay? If it means anything I'll send for you." Trelawney flounced away with her teacup and Roxana sat there confused and a bit depressed.
"Read mine, you cute nerd." Fred passed his teacup and she twisted the object until something caught her eye.
A snake? A knotted rope?
"You may feel constrained in the future or you're going to marry a snake." She shrugged.
"Give me that!" Fred grabbed it out of her hand and with a deeply furrowed brow stared into the cup. "It looks more like I'm going to choke a Slytherin if you ask me."
George leaned closer to his brother, "kinky." Fred slapped the back of his head.
"Everyone grab a crystal ball." Trelawney's voice interrupted their bickering.
The boys stood and dashed to where the spheres were stacked. Fred made a show of balancing one on his head, before it nearly slipped.
They waited until everyone had gotten theirs before commencing with the plan.
"I'm not sure it's gonna work." Roxana told them in a whisper as she started concentrating on the clear ball she was grasping.
A few seconds passed before students started shouting. Roxana was glaring at her empty crystal ball while the twins were too busy looking around the room excitedly to notice their own.
"I...I think I see something!" A Hufflepuff voiced happily.
"I see something too!" Angelina looked closer. "I'm going to be Captain of the Quidditch team!"
"I see a… graveyard?"
"That's so wretched, Pretty Boy!" The twins cried out in unison.
"Hufflepuffs going to win against Gryffindor!" The chaser on the Hufflepuff team cheered.
The twins shot daggers at him and rolled their eyes knowing it wasn't going to happen. They continued to look around the class, waiting for the expected prank. After a few minutes of people still shouting out fake prophesies, they finally turned to their own table.
"It's not working An..." George's voice caught when he saw her. Roxana's eyes were closed and her head resting on her folded hands.
Fred was far more chill about it. "Ana boo, wake up." He nudged her across the table and she shot up.
A look of confusion passed her eyes, "I either fainted or fell asleep. What happened?" She yawned and looked around the room.
"Why's it gone?" Angelina cried out.
"I was just about to score a goal!" A Hufflepuff boy shook his crystal ball. It's not a t.v, you git.
She tilted her head at the twins, George replied, "Normal stuff. People shouting out fake shit to get more points."
"Ah. Sorry, it didn't work."
"Nah, don't worry about it. You hadn't even tried it before." Fred reassured her.
"Miss Constantin, please come here." Trelawney was waving her over to her desk.
"I did find a picture with a description." She turned the old grimoire for Roxana to see. The pages were as thin as rice paper.
Circle of leaves: Means balance and divine knowledge. A small picture, like her cup, was next to it.
That's all? Roxana shrugged and thanked the woman as the bell rang.
"Have a wonderful day." Trelawney looked at them with a dazed expression. As the last student walked out, her gaze dropped to the book in front of her by accident. There was a large picture of an eye under the few words. Usually there was a much longer description, especially in a grimoire so old. Sybill Trelawney made the mistake of flipping the page whilst taking a sip of tea.
"Good morning, Professor." A sixth year Ravenclaw called out and she spilled the scolding drink on the book.
She jumped and used her sleeve to mop up the tea. "Hello, hello." She grinned widely as the next class came in. Looking down she muttered a surprise, "Oh no." The page had turned into a big black smug. Sybil barely frowned as she closed the book and began her next lesson.
A/N: Thanks for reading.