No One Does It Better

Chapter 19

But we just always seem to fallout

When I'm most in need of it

After Transfiguration, Adaline and I sat at the Slytherin table to study and catch up on homework. She still wasn't fully speaking to me, but at least she sat with me. I was drawing up my homework plan for the following week when my eyes fell on the Saturday. My date with Cian. I stopped myself from sighing at the thought.

I felt bad - I did want to get to know him more, but I just knew deep down, that it wouldn't go anywhere. I wasn't really into him and the fact he was taking me to Madam Puddifoots did not help.

'So,' I started. 'You say I see how my date goes with Cian and then decide who I ask to Slughorn's party?'

'Well, that makes sense doesn't it?' Adaline answered curtly, scribbling away at either Ancient Ruins or Arithmancy homework – it all looked the same to me.

'Okay. Sounds like a plan,' I agreed, watching for her reaction. I was simply trying to get back into her good books now.

She slammed her book shut and started packing everything away into her bag. It was absolutely not the response I was looking for.

'I'm going to speak to Nathaniel,' Adaline stated and stood up. 'It's eating away at me – obviously something is going on and if you're not going to tell me, I might as well force it out of him.'

'But he's in Divination-'

'I'll just have to wait for him coming out.'

She didn't wait for me to answer and strode off out of the Great Hall. I heard a faint bang from the other end of the hallway and turned around to see smoke coming out of Sirius' wand. He caught my eye and gave me a smile and a wave over and then turned his attention back to Remus. If I remembered right, James and Peter had Muggle Studies this period.

I was ridiculously anxious about speaking to Remus. I didn't know how to approach him about it, and did he even really want me to? My mind was racing between Remus and my talk with Regulus the previous night. Why were bizarre things starting to happen to me? First, Sirius and I becoming friends all over again. Second, becoming friends with both the Marauder's and Lily Evans. Then, Cian McLaggen strolling into my life, completely out of nowhere. And then, to top it all off, Sirius and I having a moment. This was not the quiet year at Hogwart's that I had been anticipating.

The second period of the day drifted into the first morning break and James made a flamboyant entrance into the Great Hall with Peter following behind him sniggering. I waited for Adaline to appear, but she never did. My gut was twisting – I knew it musn't be going well with Nathaniel if she hadn't come back already. I sorted myself out and headed to History of Magic. I wanted to be in and seated before Remus, so that I didn't make the situation anymore awkward than what it had to be.

Just as I stood up, Regulus sat across from where I had previously been sat.

'You're talk with Scorpio seemed to work. I've not seen him all day.'

'Good,' I drew my cheeks in. 'I'm glad.'

I left the Great Hall as quickly as I could, not giving Regulus a chance to continue the conversation. I walked with my head down - I could feel Sirius' eyes burning into me.

I stared straight ahead the whole time in History of Magic, and that was a difficult task when you had Professor Binns as a teacher. I dared not to look at Remus because every time I did, I would picture him as a … as a werewolf and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

The class finished and I tried to think of what I could fill my time up with until the last period of the day when I had potions – I truly was that caught up with my homework.

'Nova?'

Obviously, it was Remus. I swallowed and looked up at him, flashing a small smile. 'Hi.'

'Will we go a walk around the castle?'

'Sure,' I replied and slung my bag around my shoulders. I would have preferred to drop it off in my dormitory, but I decided it could wait. We didn't speak until we were outside the castle, walking towards Hagrid's Hut where Sirius and Peter passed us after Care of Magical Creatures. Sirius didn't even as much as look at me and I clenched my jaw.

'He saw Regulus talking to you this morning,' Remus said noticing the cold shoulder I received.

'What a joke,' I huffed. 'I can talk to whoever I like, for Salazar's sake.'

Remus only nodded. I'm sure tiffs between Sirius and I were the last thing on his mind right now.

'I know that you know about my monthly routine,' he started. 'I never doubted that you wouldn't realise eventually – especially after that time with Sirius in the Hospital Wing.'

'I wish I hadn't of worked it out,' I admitted.

'I understand that. I'll tell you my story – I was only 4 years old when I was infected. His name is Fenrir Greyback, he did it as some kind of revenge attack on my father but that's an entirely different story,' Remus told me. 'My parents, they really did try to get me a cure but as you probably already know, here is no cure for lycanthropy.'

'I'm so sorry, Remus,' I hesitated, but I reached out and squeezed his hand. I couldn't even begin to imagine what he and his parents went through when I was running around enjoying my childhood.

'Thank you. So, when I got my letter to come to Hogwart's, Dumbledore made arrangements for me to transform without being a threat to the school. You know the Shrieking Shack?'

I gasped. 'That's you?'

He chuckled softly. 'Yes. Because I was separated from humans, I would attack myself – scratch and bite. It was me the villagers heard. Any questions so far?'

We rounded into the edge of the forest and began walking towards the Black Lake.

'When did you tell the others?' I questioned.

'I didn't,' he replied with a smile. 'They worked it out in our second year and confronted me. They were annoyed I hadn't told them, believe it or not! Thought it was ridiculous to think I was worried they wouldn't want to be my friend if they knew the truth.'

I smiled at the thought.

'I know what has worried you is that they transform to be with me and I agree – I didn't want them to do it but they wanted to keep me company and I couldn't physically stop them from practicing to become animagi. Besides, I feel like less of a wolf when they are there with me, if that makes sense?'

I nodded and bit my lip. 'But, what about that night with Sirius?'

'It just went all wrong that night, to be honest, Nova. Trust me when I say, it's the worst thing I have ever done in my life and I will regret it forever.'

I couldn't help myself at this point. I stopped and hugged Remus Lupin. I even had to stop myself from crying for him. I felt terrible at picturing him as a monster – it was impossible. He was incredibly unlucky but lucky that he had the Marauders who stuck by him.

'I can't promise I'll master becoming an animagus for you,' I sniffed. 'But I want you to know, I'm here if you need me.'

'Thank you, Nova. But, just your History of Magic notes will be fine.'

I felt the pressure of having to talk to Remus lifted from me as I went through the remainder of my day. I somehow missed Adaline at lunch and I flat-out refused to speak to Sirius if he was going to be bitter about a small conversation I had with Regulus.

With that in mind, I walked into Potions late so that I didn't have to deal with the stubborn silence between us both. Sirius stared at his parchment as I took a seat and both Severus and Nathaniel glared at me.

It was lovely being at the centre of people's hateful thoughts.

'What?' I hissed at the two Slytherins, causing them to look away.

'Miss Bruce? Is everything all right?' Professor Slughorn asked with a hint of concern in his voice.

'Fine, sorry, sir.'

I heard Sirius snort beside me, but I ignored him.

'Now, today you won't be working in your pairs to brew your potions,' Professor Slughorn stated. 'Today, I would like you all to re-visit and brew me a perfect Amortentia potion.'

I thought back to the last year when I brewed the exact same potion. I had gotten it almost perfect. I felt relief when I opened up my textbook and saw the notes that I had taken from Severus that same year, after he prepared it flawlessly. I had even written down what it smelled like at the time: Fire, vanilla cupcakes and wet pavements.

I smiled at the scents, almost excited to smell them again, and began to brew the potion. I would be lying if I said I wasn't annoyed that Sirius was working away just fine on his own. Part of me wanted to know that I had a hold over him - that he needed me in this subject just like I needed him in Transfiguration, but that didn't seem to be the case. I was pathetic, I know.

Before I knew it, time was up and Slughorn was asking everyone if the scents of their potion had changed from last year. I kept rubbing my nose in the hopes I was smelling mine wrong. It had to be wrong – it was impossible. I must have fucked up at some point. I blame Snivellus' hacks.

'Nova, what about yours?' the Professor smiled at me.

I bit my lip and lied. 'Same as last year, sir. Fire burning, vanilla cupcakes and wet pavements.'

'Mr Black?'

Sirius half-laughed, but he still came across as cocky all the same. 'Well, sir, my potion has changed. I now get the lovely scent of a litter tray, fresh grass and something sweet I don't recognise – I reckon it's a flower.'

Thistles smelled sweet, I thought to myself. Wait - did he say a litter tray?

'Looks like you're in love with my cat,' I muttered to him while Slughorn continued around the class.

'At least I know Scorpio won't stab me in the back on purpose,' he replied quietly, pretending to look at his non-existent notes.

'What are you on about?'

'I know this morning wasn't the only time you spoke to my brother.'

'We had one conversation last night over my cat following him.'

'Not what he said,' Sirius shrugged.

'Well, what did he say?' I demanded as the bell rang signalling the end of the day. The room burst to life, but I sat firmly where I was.

He shrugged again and threw his bag over his shoulder.

'How are my two favourite pure bloods this lovely Friday afternoon?' James bounced over to us.

'Let's go,' Sirius said and stormed off.

'What's going on?' James asked, clearly confused.

'If I was hazarding a guess,' Remus piped in. 'I'd say Padfoot was jealous about something.'

I stared blankly at Remus and without realising, I was marching out the classroom to get Sirius.

'Why do I feel like we are always chasing either one of these two out of Potions?' I heard James ask Lily as they followed behind me.

I saw the flurry of Sirius' hair just in front of me, but he was too far away for me to catch.

'Locomotor mortis!' I pointed my wand and watched as his legs were bound together and he fell to the floor. When I got closer, I removed the curse and watched as he jumped up, his face fully red with anger at me.

'We're talking about this,' I stated.

'No, we're not,' he spat back.

'I don't even know what the fuck has been said about me!' I told him, exasperated. 'And you're now willing to believe what Regulus says over me?'

He shrugged at me again. If he lifted his shoulders in response to me one more time, I was stupefying him all the way into the Forbidden Forest.

'Come on, Padfoot, mate,' James chipped in. 'She does have a point.'

'Nova, I need to speak to you,' Nathaniel called walking up to us, Severus beside him. Merlin's beard, what was it with everyone today?

'Can't you see I'm busy?' I retorted.

Nathaniel arrogantly scanned us all standing there. 'No. So now, please?'

'Shit,' I heard James mutter and I turned around to see Regulus leaving the Slytherin Common Room, heading straight for us.

'Well, Nova, that's your favourite here, so I'll just go,' Sirius said bitterly and made to move.

'Stop!' I yelled and walked over to the stairs leading up to the castle. I stood on the top one so I was looking over my audience. I pointed to Snape.

'You, what's your problem with me?'

'I – what?' he stuttered.

'Nothing? Okay, good, piss off.'

Severus stood and looked between Nathaniel and me. He looked almost stunned, but nonetheless, he went back down the hallway towards the common room.

'You,' I looked at Nathaniel. 'What's your problem?'

'I want to talk about it in private.'

'Tough, I'm fully booked. It's now or never.'

'You told Adaline.'

'No, I did not,' I replied curtly. 'I simply told her you had something to tell her. Now, piss off.'

I thanked the stars for James staring Nathaniel down enough to stop him from arguing back with me. Annoyingly though, he stayed firmly in place to watch the rest of the show. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention elsewhere. I was past caring who was listening in at this point.

'Now, you two,' I looked at the Black brothers. 'What the actual hell is going on? Regulus, as far as I was aware, all you and I really spoke about last night and again, this morning, was Scorpio following you. Am I correct?'

'Yes,' he nodded in agreement and I watched Sirius' neck nearly break as he looked at his brother.

'Well Sirius seems to think-'

'You little bastard,' Sirius growled and punched Regulus.

My mouth dropped to my feet and almost instantly James and Remus were trying to rip Sirius off his brother and Nathaniel was trying to aid Regulus.

'I'm assuming this isn't how you thought that was going to go?' Lily moved beside me, watching in horror.

'Not in the slightest.'

'WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON HERE?'

Professor Slughorn came hurtling down the dungeon corridor and all five boys managed to pull apart.

'You five, my office – now!'

Sirius gave Regulus one last shoved before heading down the corridor behind Slughorn. Lily and I watched on, almost unsure of what to do.

Lily cleared her throat. 'Do you want to go to the library and wait? They will come and find us if they want to see us.'

'Sorry, Lily. I think I might go down to the quidditch pitch and fly for a while.'

'Okay,' Lily nodded. 'I would say I would come and sit and study while you did, but it's too cold.'

We parted ways and I headed to the common room to change and grab my broom. My head was racing at everything – I still had to see Adaline and judging by Nathaniel's hostility, it didn't go well. Regulus for some reason or another had lied to Sirius over Scorpio – what was that even about?

My main concern, however, was that wet pavement was no longer one of my amortentia scents. It had been replaced by the scent of a dog.

Fallout by Catfish and the Bottlemen

Getting my inspiration for this back at the moment, so I really hope you are all enjoying it!

Let me know all your thoughts - I would love to know.

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