The Longest War
Chapter 1
"Did you see the price of that dress Bella was looking at, the ivory one" Sera's words were steeped so heavily in envy that Selena was tempted to turn to see if her dorm mates skin had taken on a green hue that would match both her tone and robes,
"I can't wait to get married. Mother was talking with Mr Avery just the other day" Celeste commented from the other side of Selena who smothered the instinct to roll her eyes – only just. Selena wanted nothing more than to skip Transfiguration completely, she had already endured enough for one day.
She could still feel the uneasiness that had draped over her shoulders when she'd found Regulus Black sandwiched between Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange on the emerald green soft in the common room that morning. Across from him had sat Nott, Mulciber and Avery. She had watched them, hidden in the archway for several moments feeling her skin prickle and an uncomfortable weight settle in the pit of her stomach. She'd sucked in a deep breath and stalked past them ignoring Mulciber who turned to wink at her and Regulus who smiled weakly. She hadn't seen Rabastan's eyes flick up lazily towards her, appraising as she exited the common room.
"What about the veil that Bella's mother has bought her, stunning don't you think." Selena would settle for the hospital wing, she mused, perhaps in hope of finding something that could banish the pain that had been steadily building behind her eyes all day.
Still, she set her shoulders sucking in a long breath – she had one more class and one detention to get through before she could declare the day done – and though it was unfortunate she knew that any absence would undoubtedly get back to her parents neither of which she had any desire to anger.
Selena was met with the sound of glass shattering on stone as she rounded the final corner to the Transfiguration classroom. She just managed to catch herself before she tripped over the book that landed at her feet with a thump. Selena pinched the bridge of her nose as her temper pulsed and she drew in a long breath before opening her eyes,
"Watch it Evans" she snapped coldly once her eyes focused and she caught sight of the long red hair of the crouched student before her. Lily Evans flushed realising who was standing in front of her,
"Of course," Dorcas began angrily, "I knew it wasn't your bag Lils." The blonde Gryffindor stood from where she had crouched to help Lily retrieve her belongings and scowled fiercely towards the Slytherin,
"I should have known that you'd have something to do with it Hasting's," she spat in accusation before reaching down to grab the book.
"It wasn't her dork" Sera interjected from beside her and Selena held up her hand to quieten the girl having no interest in defending herself against Dorcas Meadows of all people, the perfect little Gryffindor lion, beloved by all.
Her eyes snapped up towards the small alcove beyond the classroom where she spied two second years in green robes. She caught the satisfaction that beamed from their faces be replaced in an instant by twin horrified expressions when they realised Evans' ink had splattered all over Selena Hastings herself. She eyed them both coldly as she raised her wand,
"Scourgify." Without another look the two boys turned and scampered down the hall disappearing as fast as the ink and she drew in another long breath.
"Do you really think that I would bother myself with Evans here of all people" she questioned curtly making Dorcas bristle with the implication and Evans herself glare up from the floor – despite the fact that she had turned a darker shade of red. She felt a slight strum of appreciation that the girl wasn't cowering however ignored her completely,
"Lay off Hastings" a new voice sounded from behind her, familiar. Selena turned to see Sirius Black, wand in hand, several feet from her, flanked as always by the other marauders. As she met his gaze she felt her mind clear slightly, the fog lift and something spark within her as she observed the challenge in his eyes and stance. Suddenly the boredom that came with ivory fabrics and finishings evaporated as her own fingers ghosted over the wand at her side.
"Black," she acknowledged him in the same way she had appraised the flubberworms that had been the topic of her first class that day. James Potter left Sirius' side and she didn't need to turn to know he was hurrying to help Evans who was still gathering her scattered belongings.
She noted the way a hush had fallen over the corridor but was distracted by the way Sirius' lips suddenly quirked upwards as he met her gaze defiantly,
"Just ran into your darling little sister," Sirius drawled but she heard the sharp edge to his words. Several startled gasps were heard from the group of students that had begun to mill around them and Lupin's eyes rolled as he turned towards his friend while Pettigrew scuttled backwards. It was common knowledge that any mention of Olivia Hastings around her older sister was the fastest way to get yourself admitted to the hospital wing.
"She was stumbling out of a broom closet with Rosier a floor up. Can't be sure but I could have sworn her robes were buttoned wrong. What. Would. Mummy. Think?" Sirius mocked, his eyes dancing. Ignoring his words and the way her blood curdled she shot back at him coldly,
"Well at least she wasn't all cosied up on the sofa with the Lestranges like your brother was just this morning," Sirius' jaw clenched as his eyes narrowed in anger. The air seemed to crackle in the corridor, students watching carefully and waiting impatiently for the inevitable. It went mostly the same way whenever she and Black would encounter one another. Typically, one of them would require a visit to Madam Pomfrey, or if they somehow managed to remain unscathed and intact the castle itself often required some maintenance.
As Sirius opened his mouth to respond, a louder voice from behind them interrupted,
"Five points from each and every one of you. You are all late to class and it will be ten if you do not move immediately," students launched into action from around them, the tension broken in a second by McGonagall who had obviously gone in search of her missing pupils,
"Why is it always you two," the head of Gryffindor asked disapprovingly with a long-suffering sigh as she came to a stop between Selena and Sirius. With one last glare Selena turned on her heel and marched into the classroom ensuring her heel landed on a quill, snapping it loudly. She ignored the voices behind her as she swept into the classroom.
"Mr Black, you can explain the meaning of this to me at a later time. Miss Evans, I'm certain Mr Potter will lend you an extra quill until we can replace your supplies" the professor said sharply before gesturing them into the classroom,
They didn't dare speak knowing that Gryffindor had just lost a significant amount of points, unfairly of course and from the head of house no less, but they knew any sign of arguing would only ensure more were taken. The only comfort was of course that Slytherin's total had also been decimated and considering Slytherin had been in the lead for the house cup the marauders considered Hufflepuff's new lead a win.
James sent an agonised look back towards his friends when Lily snatched her bag back from the chaser silently as she and Dorcas stalked away. Alice Longbottom offered him an apologetic look before following her friends.
Sirius sucked in a deep breath as he felt Remus nudge him towards the classroom. His body was alight, and frustration swirled in his veins. She got under his skin like no one else could, always had, he reflected. Their 'relationship' had grown nastier over the years as he realised they'd both immediately used their younger siblings to hurt each other. At one time, he could remember the two of them working together to keep their younger charges out of trouble and harm but those days were long gone.
He growled under his breath despising the way she seemed so unaffected as she pulled her books onto the desk, especially considering he knew she would have seen him react to the thought of Reg and the Lestranges. The lump that had lodged itself in his throat at her words refused to budge. She could have made it up of course, just like he had about Olivia, but he knew that Reg was slowly beginning to get caught up in everything that he hated most – the thing he lost the most sleep over.
And she knew it. The hatred throbbed within him as he dropped into his own seat. He seethed while McGonagall spoke, failing to hear any of the instructions she was outlining.
"Pads, relax will you," James murmured from beside him, "We deal with snakes every day."
"I mean what did you expect from Hastings?" Remus asked quietly, leaning around James and looking up from the parchment he had been taking notes on,
"I just can't stand her" Sirius snapped back irritably not catching the way James eyed him carefully before shrugging,
"Well I think the feeling's mutual mate" they both looked over to the see the sharp glare of the Slytherin. Sirius rolled his eyes, ignoring her while James's eyes lingered slightly, and flicked back and forth between the two curiously.
The rest of the class passed with an eerie tension draped over it until they were dismissed.
"Mr Potter, Miss Hastings please stay behind. I recall we have a detention to fulfil" McGonagall instructed sharply. Sirius, who had considerably lightened up during the class after working with his mates to transfigure the textbooks into an owl, sent a sorrowful look towards James as he pulled his bag over his shoulder,
"What out for her prongs, she's in rare form tonight" Sirius snarked as he stalked from the room. Once the door closed they were plunged into silence, McGonagall having left to escort an unfortunate student with singed eyebrows to the hospital wing.
Selena remained in her seat revelling in the first moment of silence she'd been granted since she left her dormitory that morning. She sucked in a cool, calming breath into her lungs knowing of course that it wouldn't last. Sure enough, the sound of Potters chair scraping across the stone pierced the air a moment later,
"Could you lay off my future wife please," she rolled her eyes, groaning out loud the sound reverberating around the empty room,
"That girl wouldn't marry you if the giant squid was her only other option" James simply grinned at the insult hurled his way. He bounced over the way an overexcited dog would, Selena mused.
"Well then" he started in the tone she had learned almost always meant mischief, "it you and me Hastings" he proclaimed, dramatically dropping to one knee before her. She rolled her eyes for the second time that night, knowing it surely wouldn't be the last. She observed him over the desk, his hazel eyes dancing with laughter and seemingly completely unaffected by the earlier drama. Feeling a lightness that she hadn't felt all day…all week begin to seep into her skin caused by his infectious happiness she leant forward planting an elbow on her desk pretending to ponder it,
"On one hand, it might actually be the thing that breaks Black" she said wryly and James threw his head back laughing. She heard the door before he did and effortlessly schooled her face back into a cool indifference. James turned wondering if Sirius was back only to be met with Professor McGonagall staring down at him,
"And just what do you think you are doing Mr Potter" she asked exasperatedly to which he didn't hesitate,
"Proposing of course Minnie" he beamed back and for a moment Selena marvelled at the impossible way James Potter seemed to exist.
"Well congratulations to the two of you" the professor replied curtly; she didn't bother responding knowing it would only seek to amuse and encourage Potter further,
"The two of you can celebrate your engagement cleaning the desks, without magic."
Hi all! Finally polishing off and posting this story that I've had for a while - I hope you enjoy. Please let me know if there's anyone here that would like to read on!
I really hope everyone's managing to stay safe and healthy in this crazy, crazy time we're living through at the moment. Here to chat always! XX