James smirked. "Siri!" he called.
"Oi!" Sirius snapped. "Stop calling me that!"
"I thought you didn't condone the nicknames, Jamila," Avery quipped.
"Shut it, Abe."
"And all is well in the universe," Avery muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Maybe not," Remus answered. "You don't sound mad enough."
"I've had a vacation away from him," Avery responded. "Give me a few minutes, Remy." She examined the crowd. "Hey, Petra! Over here!"
Remus frowned. "Sirius… What happened to your eye?"
"What are you talking about?" Sirius replied, a little too innocently.
"You have a big bruise, mate," James agreed.
"Oh… That…" Sirius awkwardly answered. "I… um… fell."
"You… fell?" Avery repeated. "From where, dare I ask?"
"I think you dare," Remus responded.
"It was rhetorical," Avery stated.
"No, it wasn't," he disagreed. "If it had been rhetorical, then you wouldn't have been expecting an answer."
"I wanted him to say where he fell from," she disagreed.
"You asked if you dared to ask where he fell from," Remus retorted. "By putting 'dare I ask' at the end, you change the question."
"Maybe 'dare I ask' was rhetorical!" she snapped. "The part before it was the part that mattered."
"But that's not what you said."
"That is so what I said. You just misunderstood."
"Hi, guys!" Peter greeted. "What's up?"
"They're fighting," Krystal informed.
"We're not fighting," Avery and Remus disagreed together.
Avery grinned. "See? We just agreed."
Krystal laughed and shook her head. "You guys…" she playfully admonished.
"Quiet, Chris," Avery replied.
"Chris?" Krystal skeptically repeated. "I thought I was Christopher."
"You are," Avery assured. "Chris is a nickname for Christopher."
"Really?" Remus sarcastically interjected.
"Oh, hush!"
"So now I have a nickname for my nickname?" Krystal teased.
"I said to HUSH!" Avery snapped. She cocked her head. "Actually, 'Chris' could be a nickname for Krystal, too."
"You would have to spell it with a 'K', though," Krystal replied.
"Maybe I was."
"I doubt it," Remus answered. "Usually, Christo-"
"Well, I'm spelling it with a K now!" Avery declared.
"Why are we spelling it in the first place?" James inquired. "We're just talking-"
"I'll probably write it down eventually," Avery countered. "I like that. Kris." Someone laughed from behind her. "What?" she demanded, before realizing it was Ember.
Ember shrugged. "You never would have called her that before."
"Well, that was before," Avery retorted.
"Obviously," Ember dryly replied.
"So, you're the famous Ember?" Sirius demanded. "You don't look like much."
"Siri!" Krystal squeaked.
Ember shrugged. "Well, I don't. I'm not famous, either, so I have no idea what they've told you." Her voice was flat, and almost bitter.
"I thought you were Catherine," Remus carefully articulated.
"I am," Ember replied. Avery started to speak, but she quickly silenced her. "It's an inside joke between us. Well, more correctly, it was an inside joke between us. Anyway, I'm Catherine Whitley." As an afterthought, she added the epithet, "The Owl Girl." Sirius burst out laughing, and James noticeably blanched.
"I'm sorry," Krystal quietly apologized.
Catherine shrugged. "That's alright. It's perfectly normal not to notice that the only other orphaned American girl who happens to be your age and magically shows up at the same time as you is really your friend who invited you to her house and is the whole reason you're here in the first place. Oh, and thanks for waiting for me to read the book, by the way."
"Don't yell at Krystal!" Avery demanded.
Ember- or Catherine as she apparently wanted to be called- looked down at her scuffed leather shoes. "Sorry," she murmured. "Well, see you around."
"Wait!" Avery snapped. Catherine stopped and raised her eyebrows. "I'm sorry, she's sorry, we're both sorry. Okay?"
"Okay," Catherine echoed. "See you around."
Avery and Krystal shared looks of surprise. "That's it?" Avery suspiciously inquired.
"Yeah…?" Catherine replied.
"We don't have to give you the 'I'm sorry' chocolate?" Avery continued.
"Um... I wouldn't mind..."
"So, that's a no?" Avery demanded. She held up bag of chocolate. "Because, I really would miss it."
"I already forgive you, or whatever. With or without chocolate. Can I go now?"
"Um… sure," Krystal answered. Catherine shook her head and left.
Remus stared. "I don't get her."
"No one does," Avery assured.
"She's pretty noticeable," Sirius commented. "I don't think I would have forgot-"
"Shut up," Avery hissed. "Siri."
"Ugh…" Sirius moaned, but he was grinning.
"SEVVY!" Tobi shouted, barreling into him and knocking them both over.
"Hey!" he moaned as he rolled out from under her. "What was that for?"
"I haven't seen you in forever!" Tobi replied, gracefully flicking her purple hair out of her face.
"It's been like three months," Severus protested. He shot a helpless look at Lilly, who was stifling her laughter.
"I know," Tobi agreed. "Forever."
"Okay…"
"I'll go," Lilly declared. "Bye, Severus!"
Severus glowered and stood up. "Great," he muttered.
Tobi frowned. "What's wrong?" she demanded. She followed his gaze. "Oh… You know, if you two are going to date-"
"What?!" Severus squeaked.
"-then she's going to have to put up with me," Tobi obliviously continued. "I don't think it will be a problem, but hey, who knows? I think she finds my public shows of affection cute, but-"
"What?!" Severus repeated. "She's not-"
"Oh, she minds?" Tobi inquired. "Well, for your sake, I'll back off, but personally, I doubt that-"
"She's not my girlfriend!" he forced out.
Tobi looked taken-aback. "I know," she indignantly replied. "I said 'if' and 'going to'. As in, you're not dating yet, but when you start-"
"We're not going to date," Severus protested. He was beyond red by this point. "We're just friends-"
"Friends can date," Tobi earnestly assured. Something briefly flickered across her eyes, but it disappeared quickly. "You and Lilly would be cute together. You're quiet, sensitive, and dorky, and she's cute and into dorks…"
"She's my friend," Severus repeated.
"So?" Tobi demanded. "If you like her, you like her."
"Yeah… She's my friend," he replied. "Of course I like her."
"No," Tobi stated. "You know what I mean."
Severus sighed and looked down. "Yeah."
Tobi blinked. "So, 'Yeah, I know what you mean', or 'Yeah, I will admit that I-'"
"Both, alright?" he mumbled.
Instantly, he was crushed in her embrace again. "First crush!" she gleefully whispered. She pulled back from her hug and grinned. "I'm so helping-"
"No!" Severus replied, more mortified than before. "You can't tell her-!"
"Pshaw," Tobi answered. "Why would I tell her? That would be violating your confidence, plus, it's totally tacky. I'm going to help you ask her. You know… boost your confidence and keep you from botching it."
"I can't tell her," Severus quietly proclaimed. "I… what if she doesn't like me back?"
"Then, I'll kill her," Tobi promised.
"Great. Thanks," he replied, rolling his eyes. "That's some great reassurance."
"Stop hanging out with Catherine."
"I don't hang out with Catherine."
"I could give her a love charm," Tobi suggested. "Lilly, I mean. I don't think Catherine is capable of love-"
"What?" Catherine called, standing next to her Ravenclaw friends a few yards away. "I heard my name."
"Not you," Tobi innocently replied. Catherine shrugged and returned to her conversation. Tobi grinned at Severus. "The offer still stands."
"No," he assured. "I want to do this by myself."
"Okay, then," Tobi agreed. "You can go back to talking to her now, then. I think she went into that car." She pointed to one a few cars down. "I'll meet up with you later."
"Okay," Severus awkwardly answered. He turned and raced off after Lilly.
Tobi sighed, her hands clasped over her heart.
Sebastian laughed.
"What?" Tobi demanded, unfazed by his sudden appearance at her side. Instead, she folded her arms across her chest. "They're going to be so cute together. I totally ship it."
Severus raised one eyebrow at her.
"What…? Oh. No!" Tobi yelped, shoving him. "I don't like him like that. He's my baby! Jeez. I'm happy for him. He's branching out. He's getting friends (albeit incognito Death Eaters, but it's a start, right? We'll work on that), and now he's got a crush on a girl! Sure, she's not my favorite person in the world, but they'd be good together. I think they're my OTP, Bassy."
Sebastian frowned slightly at "Bassy", but someone who knew him less wouldn't have noticed it.
Tobi grinned. "Oh, come on. I know you hate it when I call you Bassy."
"Severus told you that he hated to be called Sevvy," Sebastian replied. "And Catherine loathes Kitty."
"True," Tobi admitted. "It's no fun when they don't protest."
Sebastian smirked. "Do you want me to protest?"
"It's no fun when they're faking it, either," Tobi decided. "No. Don't protest. It's not like you, Bassy."
"Alright, then… October."
"Bassy, you talk back a lot for being a demon servant."
"Whatever you say, Mistress October."
"Oh, alright. It's a truce."
"Give me your summer essay."
"James, we've decided-"
"What, who?" James demanded. "I'm the one who gets to decide things."
"We," Avery repeated.
"As in…?"
"Remus, Krystal, and I."
"Okay," James responded. "Continue."
"We've decided-"
"You said that already."
"AH! Anyway, you and Sirius need to study this year."
"What?!" James and Sirius cried in tandem.
"Yes," Avery asserted. "You're practically failing, and it's not even that hard. The three of us have made a pact to not let you copy our homework anymore."
"But-" Sirius began.
"Oh, and we'll stuff your head in the toilet with Myrtle if we catch you bullying people into letting you cheat," Avery added. "I almost forgot that part."
"Aw…" Sirius moaned.
"Don't worry," James coolly replied. "They'll-"
"Nope," Avery assured. "We aren't changing our minds."
"But Krys-" Sirius started.
"No," Krystal softly replied. "I'm not even allowed to help you. It's for your own good, though. In real life, we won't be there to help you. This will make you independent!"
"No…" Sirius moaned. "They've brainwashed Krystal, too."
"Excuse me?" Avery demanded. "I didn't tell her that."
"This is just payback for kicking you out of the group," James muttered.
"I'm not very forgiving," Avery answered with a smile. "I'll probably hold onto that one for years."
"We're doomed," Sirius declared. The boys shared looks before attacking their trunks. "Where's the stupid quill?"
"What was it about again?" James inquired.
Avery zoned in on a black box that had fallen out of James' bag. "Oo, what's this…?" she asked as she grabbed for it.
James snatched it out of her hands with wide eyes. "Nothing."
"Nothing is never nothing," Avery deviously replied.
"That's a triple negative," Krystal commented thoughtfully. "Does that make it negative again?"
"Yes," Avery declared. "It does. Probably." Krystal giggled, and Remus rolled his eyes. Avery's attention drifted back to the black mystery item. "What's in the box?"
"It's a case," James corrected. Then, he frowned. "You're not getting anything more from me."
"Well, it's obviously not for a prank…" Avery replied. She snuck a look at James, who rolled his eyes.
"I'm not saying another word," he declared.
"You just said like five," Avery pointed out.
"Do contractions count as two different words?" Krystal inquired.
"I don't think so," Remus answered.
"Peter, tell them to be quiet," James instructed. "They might listen to you."
"Be quiet?" Peter uncertainly declared.
"Oh, Peter, don't let them bully you," Avery replied. "You don't have to do anything they say."
"I'm not-" Peter stuttered.
"Hey, you're bullying him," James stated.
"No, I'm just telling him-"
"In a threatening voice-"
"-that he doesn't have to listen to you."
"But he has to listen to you?"
"No, but I advise it."
"There you go threatening him again."
"I am not! I'm just telling him he doesn't have to do everything you say."
"Well, if you're not threatening him-"
"Which I'm not-"
"-then, he could not listen to you about not listening to me, right?"
"Yeah… but why would he-"
"Guys?" Peter interrupted.
"What?" Avery demanded.
"James is my friend," Peter replied. "I can chose whether I listen to him or not."
James raised his eyebrows. "I see our training has paid off," he remarked, but he looked surprised. "Welcome to the club, mate."
Peter grinned, and Avery rolled her eyes.
"What were we talking about again?" Avery inquired.
"James and Sirius were finishing their homework," Remus explained.
"Oh, crud," James muttered, turning back to his scroll.
"Done!" Sirius declared, holding it proudly in front of him.
"Wow…" Krystal remarked, reading it. "Um… That's nice."
"What?" Avery demanded. She glanced over it and laughed. "Oh, nice job, Siri."
"I think it's fine," Sirius replied.
"And you are alone in that view," Avery replied.
"Ugh," James grunted. "I'm done."
"Oh, I think you need another scroll-" Krystal began.
"For now."
"Oh, okay," Krystal placidly responded.
"Club meeting," James declared. When Avery and Krystal didn't move, he stated, "That means you two leave."
"Oh," Avery replied. "I see how it is."
"Lilly, Mary, and Alice are that way, I think," Krystal remarked. "Let's go."
Avery stuck her tongue out at them all before leaving.
"Yeah… What's with girls and grudges?"
"HEARD THAT!"
…
"What day is today?" Krystal cheerfully called.
Sirius cocked his head. "The day you'll let us-"
"No," Avery replied.
"But-"
"No."
"You-"
"No."
"Any more guesses?" Krystal inquired.
"Um… Tuesday?" Remus offered.
"Monday, actually," Alex declared as she walked by.
"Yeah, but what's special about today?" Krystal urged.
"Quidditch tryouts!" James declared.
Krystal nodded. "I'm so excited!" she giddily exclaimed.
"You're not trying out, are you?" Lilly inquired.
"No," Krystal admitted. "Not the position I want. Why?"
"You don't seem… like the quidditch type," Mary politely informed.
"But I love quidditch," Krystal replied.
"No, not that," Lilly assured. "It's just… you're not the most…"
"Athletic?" Sirius suggested.
"Idiot!" Avery snapped, smacking the back of his head.
"OW!"
"You never say that to a girl," Avery chided. "Much less my sister."
"I don't need to be athletic," Krystal protested. "It's a broom."
"It still needs some athletics," James disagreed. "And usually-" He stopped when he noticed Avery staring at him. "You know what? I don't need to get a headache today."
"Usually, they're… bigger," Marlene stated. "And guys."
"Melissa and Avery are girls," Krystal argued. "And Tobi."
"They're… well… special," Lilly explained. "Don't get me wrong… In America, I'm sure girls play lots of sports. It's just that here… It's still mostly a guy thing. It's getting better, though. Besides, I don't think you would like it as much as you think. It's pretty high up-"
"My fear of heights is getting better," Krystal asserted. "And I didn't mind roller coasters or when I practice with Avery over the summer. It doesn't matter, though. I want to be a Seeker, but Jeff was a Beater."
Avery shrugged. "You'll have to wait a while, then," she stated. "Melissa is only a year older than us. Oh, and you'll have to beat James because he wants Seeker really bad."
"I'm going to practice," Krystal declared. "I'll do well… you guys will see."
"How do you test the people that want to be beaters, anyway?" Avery inquired. "Do we just lob blugders at them?"
"I can't believe we just lob bludgers at them," Avery marveled.
"Are you complaining?" James inquired.
"No!" Avery laughed. "This is so much fun."
Krystal rolled her eyes, but she was giggling. "Only you could revel in someone's pain," she remarked.
"Not true!" Avery replied. "You have to admit that it's funny."
"I will admit that it's funny," Sirius declared.
"Schadenfreude," Melissa teased.
"What's that mean?" Avery queried. "I've heard it a lot, but I don't know what it means."
"I don't know," Krystal replied, "but I'm guessing it's not good. I don't speak German, so…"
"It's English," Remus reassured. "Well, it was German, but the English took it. It's in the dictionary."
"What is it, then?" Avery demanded.
Remus dug in his bag until he pulled out a dictionary. When Avery stared at him, he only shrugged. "I'm a half blood, okay?"
Avery held up her hand defensively. "Okay, okay."
"Here it is. Schadenfreude: satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune."
"That's nice…" Avery replied. "They have a word for it."
"It's got a negative connotation," Remus continued.
"What?"
"It's not supposed to be a compliment," he dryly answered.
"Well, duh," Avery responded. "'I'm going to kill you and laugh while I do it.' 'Oh, wow… you're so amazingly schadenfreude… how do you do it?'" She rolled her eyes.
Krystal giggled. "He's just reading it," she pointed out.
"Well, dictionaries are obvious," Avery retorted. "Do you know that 'ain't' is a real word? It's in the dictionary."
"As slang," Krystal protested.
"It's still there," Avery insisted.
"Quiet," James commanded. "I'm trying to pay attention here."
"That must be hard for you," Avery evenly replied.
"Shut up."
"Are you glaring at that guy?" Avery inquired.
"What?" James turned at this.
"You were all squinty weird," Sirius agreed.
"I was sizing him up," James defensively replied. "What's his name again?"
"That's Stephen," Avery answered. "Stephen Rodgers…? You just talked to him like five minutes ago."
"Oh, that guy," James answered. "Okay."
"You're acting weird…" Remus remarked.
"No, I'm not," James responded.
"Denial," Avery and Sirius declare at the same time.
James huffed but didn't answer.
"Definitely weird," Avery agreed.
"Shut up!"
"Okay, that was normal."
A/N
Yay! Over 100,000 words... :D Wow. I write a lot.
Avery: You couldn't tell?! You're on chapter 35.
Hush. :P
Thank you to my followers and readers that put up with me thus far. I really appreciate it.
Thanks to my reviewers: Akozu Heiwa, Lady Loophole, Blue Luver5000, Hopeful Star, and DrowninginWords.
Now, even though it's way past irritating:
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, or any of its people/places/terms/ etc. If I did, I could hire someone to write these quirky things. ;)
Avery: I work for chocolate. :D
You didn't give Catherine those chocolates... did you?
Avery: No...
Krystal: You told me-
Avery: Ummm... Bye!