Another dreary Saturday found me in the library yet again, studying. Professor McGonagall had set us increasing piles of homework each week, I bitterly reflected as I scanned my second roll of parchment idly, running out of creative ways to phrase the same paragraph.
Remus and Mary were sitting at my table, they were two of the most studious people at Hogwarts, and aside from Lily, made the most ideal study partners, but seeing as Lily had Head Girl duties this morning, the three of us sat in one of the far corners away from the gaggle of first and second years, the only sound heard in our area being the scratch of quills against parchment.
"I'm almost finished," Mary said lazily after a yawn, "my hand is going to start cramping if I write any more than this," she surveyed the five rolls of parchment in front of her ruefully.
"Agreed," Remus said shortly, even as he continued scribing furiously.
"My brain has completely run out of juice, I haven't written anything new in the last ten minutes, I'm going to call it a day." I rolled up my parchment and began to pack away my quill and ink.
"So Remus," Mary began conversationally, "what do you and the guys do on your late night adventures?"
Remus froze, a thick blob of ink splashing onto his parchment as his quill remained poised in mid-air. I looked up, startled.
"Umm… Marauders secret Mary" he cautiously answered, keeping his eyes fixed on his textbook.
"Yeah but it must be something super cool that only happens once a month," she said airily, Remus jolted at this but Mary didn't seem to notice and blithely continued, "because you always go on these adventures once a month."
We both stared at Remus. I had never thought about that but it was true. Remus shifted uncomfortably in his seat, looking extremely nervous.
"I don't know what you're talking about, we just go whenever we feel like it." He eventually said.
"Hmm." Mary looked him over sceptically, shrugged at me and continued to pack away her things.
We left the library and headed towards the common room. Mary chatted away but Remus remained contemplatively silent, and I was lost in my own thoughts.
Once a month… Why did Remus look so agitated when Mary brought that up..?
"Watch out!" Mary grabbed my arm and pulled just in time, I looked down and realised I almost forgot to jump over the trick step.
"Oops, thanks Mary!"
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. As we stepped through the portrait hole and entered the common room, I spotted James and Sirius sitting on the couch. James got up to play a game of chess with Remus and Mary went up to the dormitory, leaving me awkwardly lingering by the entrance.
I slowly walked over to Sirius and sat next to him.
"Hi" I said shyly.
"Hey," he replied.
Oh merlin… talk about awkward…
Sirius and I hadn't brought up our argument since that night, and we were trying our best to act like nothing happened, but both of us were still reeling from the after shock of the intense emotions we were had felt. Every time we spoke or even looked at each other it was like we were both instantly reminded of the words we had exchanged that evening and we were forced to bury the hurt that wouldn't quite go away.
"So… how's your morning been?" I ventured.
"Fine. Just went for a fly with James. How was studying?" He responded politely, fiddling with a thread on the arm rest of the couch.
"Pretty good, almost finished McGonagall's essay. Have you done it?"
"Oh that thing, it was a piece of cake. I can read over yours if you like."
"Thanks, that would be nice. You are one of the class toppers after all" I said, hoping to ease the tension.
"Yeah," he chuckled half-heartedly.
I looked around the room, desperately searching for something else to say, while Sirius whistled quietly under his breath, probably doing the same.
"So, I told Lily I'd go to Hogsmeade with her since we haven't spent quality time together in a while, but do you want to go with me next week?" I asked, not looking at him.
"Yeah sure, that would be good." He said after clearing his throat. "Do you…do you maybe want to go to the kitchens? Before you go to Hogsmeade?"
I perked up at this, heartened that he wanted to spend time with me. "Yeah let's go!" I said excitedly, then cringed inwardly at how fast I'd responded.
Sirius smiled and got up and stretched. "Haven't even been down there since term has started." He said as we walked out of the common room together.
We chatted idly about the quidditch season as we walked down to the painting of the fruit and entered the kitchens.
It was lovely to be greeted by the kind elves and we soon we sat side by side at a table and began to feast on delicious pastries and sandwiches.
"I'm not going to be able to eat anything at Hogsmeade," I said through a mouthful of fudge.
Sirius laughed, "you were the one that asked for all these sweets!"
"I know because I can't resist!"
He smiled and bent down to my hand, playfully taking a bite of the fudge I was still holding. I flushed at the proximity. Sirius looked up and smirked as he saw my reddening face.
"Cute blush," he complimented lazily, enjoying the way my colour deepened.
"Pfft, don't flatter yourself, who'd blush for you?" I poked him on the forehead.
"Oh yeah?" He said lowly, and my heart thudded as his voice became deeper. He started leaning in, "Let's see if you blush if I do this."
He kissed me agonisingly slowly and it was like all the blood in my body had rushed to my head. I felt ready to faint as his lips moved tenderly over mine. Of course, I would never admit that to him or I expect I'd never hear the end of it.
He pulled away after a few moments and scanned my face, "I'm flattered Bells," I felt my heart give a dull thump at the sound of the endearing nickname I hadn't heard in a while. "Your face now resembles a tomato."
I buried my head in the crook of his neck, unable to hide my embarrassment.
"I can't help it okay, I like it when you kiss me, and you haven't in a while."
I felt him chuckle at my petulant tone. He nudged my head lightly with his shoulder, silently urging me to sit up again. I saw in his expression that my honest confession had moved him, and I immediately knew that even though we hadn't solved our issue, he was no longer upset with me.
"Well then I better make up for that right now," he said quietly.
"I agree."
I hummed merrily, chomping on a massive block of my favourite Honeyduke's chocolate as Lily and I strolled down a lane. It turned out I did have room in my stomach for more sweets.
"What's gotten you in a good mood?" Lily asked bemusedly.
"Made up with Sirius," I said thickly, my mouth still coated with the delicious confection.
One tear filled night, I had filled in Lily on the entire situation with Regulus and my argument with Sirius, leaving out the part of my suspicions about their late night adventures through the whomping willow. She admitted that she felt sorry for Regulus, and I felt better that someone shared my point of view. I had moaned and wailed that Sirius hated me and she comforted me with fond exasperation, assuring me that we would work it all out soon.
"Oh? That's great! How?" She beamed.
I turned to her with a grave expression before puckering my lips and making obnoxious kissing noises.
"Eewwww" she mimed gagging.
"Well you asked!" I cackled at her reaction.
"Couples are so thick, can't even solve problems with rational conversation, all it takes is a snog." She shook her head.
"Well I suppose in a way it is a kind of intimate conversation."
"Ugh! Gross B!"
"Have you had any conversations with James lately?
"WHAT?"
"I meant have you spoken to him, since you're Head Girl and he's Head Boy, geez what kind of conversation were you thinking of?" I smiled smugly at her.
"Oh shut it Bells," she shoved me lightly even as her face was aflame.
We continued walking up the path into the more secluded part of Hogsmeade, chatting animatedly, the sound of our laughter echoing through the trees.
Lily suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed ahead. I abruptly stopped talking and turned to see what held her attention.
I spotted a mop of greasy black hair, surreptitiously making it's way past the fence and into an area where no one ventured.
"Sev…. He's headed for the shrieking shack!" Lily said worriedly.
I bit my lip. I had no love for Snape but I couldn't help feeling a stab of panic as well. No one in their right mind would enter the shack. People say it's haunted with ghosts and malevolent spirits but no one knew for sure. What if it contained something dangerous and not merely harmless and creepy?
"Come on, we better make sure nothing happens." I walked towards the fence, ready to climb over it.
"Maybe we should get a teacher...?" Lily looked conflicted.
"That would take ages. Come on Lils, he could be in serious trouble."
"You're right of course, let's go."
We hurriedly jumped the fence and cautiously made our way to the shack.
Snape had left the door open and we peered into the ominous darkness inside before creeping slowly through the entrance, wincing at the creaking floorboards.
The interior of the shack was just as shabby as the outside. There was no furniture and the air was stale and the walls, peeling. We surveyed the dilapidated structure with wide eyes.
"Severus?" Lily called out.
We walked further in, trying not to be too creeped out by the howling wind rattling at the broken windows.
"Snape?" I joined Lily in calling for him.
"What are you two doing here?" We heard him sneer from a room to our left.
We both turned and strained our eyes that were still adjusting to the dark surroundings.
"Severus! We came to ask you the same thing! Why would you come in here? Let's go quickly!" Lily told him in a hushed whisper, as if there was a beast lurking somewhere nearby.
"How about you two just leave me alone and go back to frolicking down the streets? Keep your bloody noses out of my business!" He flared.
"Hey!" I stepped towards him, "we came here to make sure you don't get killed, there's no need to be so horrid."
"I'm not in any danger you foolish girl," he sneered.
"Um. We're standing in the shrieking freaking shack you git!"
"And just how often does it 'shriek'?" He quipped.
"What?" I asked angrily.
"You can only hear haunted noises from this place once a month. And it's not time for it to be haunted again today so why don't you get the hell out and leave me alone!"
Lily started arguing with Snape but I just stared at him blankly. Once a month. I felt a sick twist in my gut. What's going on here?
"-such a prick! What happened to you? We're only trying to help!" Lily shouted angrily.
"I don't need your help! Fat load of good it would do me!"
"You…you-" Lily looked ready to burst, she was speechless with fury.
"Come one Lils," I cut in, "let's just go, he clearly doesn't want our help and I'm beginning to think we were mad to worry about him."
Lily threw him a cold look over her shoulder before we both walked out, leaving him staring after us scornfully.
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