"Merlin's Beard, James," said Adara in disbelief. "What the hell did you do to his underpants?"

They had rummaged through half the library and still had no idea about what to do. He looked at her sheepishly, his hand wrapping around the Snitch.

"Remus helped us," he explained. She nodded in acknowledgement. That made more sense- when Remus assisted them they were almost unstoppable.

Sighing, she swept loose strands of hair oyt of her face, her fingers brushing her cheek.

She'd forgotten about Luca but now her stupid brain kept conjuring images of him. He left her, ignored her when she was going to ask if he wanted to go with them to Hogsmeade on the weekend. Clearly he didnt deserve to be invited but she still couldnt banish all thoughts of him.

Half an hour ago she swore she saw his face on the page of a textbook. Now his face showed up again, this time appearing on the table.

Shaking her head, she decided these unwelcome thoughts were caused by sleep deprivation. She slammed her book shut and turned to James decisively.

"Lets track him down and just spell them to be one color,"

He began to sweep books into the cart when all of a sudden Luca Malfoy burst into the room.

His hair was disheveled and his eyes wide. He began to run across the room towards them but abruptly stopped.

Madame Pince was glaring at him so fiercely she thought he would melt. Nearly laughing, she watched as he attempted to bow and straighten his robes.

"Perfect timing. You get this over with,"

"Are you not going to help?" asked James, grabbing his wand. She shook her head, grabbing the cart. Adara didnt want to talk to him.

Unfortunately, he strode up to their table. James eyed him amusedly and Luca's cheeks flushed.

"Thank god I found you. My father-," he started, pausing as she looked at him, appalled.

"Why the hell are you here? I have nothing to say to you,"

Breezing past him, she pushed the cart towards the circulation desk. James was still staring at him.

"She's mad enough at you that I don't need to punish you," he said darkly. "If I were you, I might be careful about where you flash those boxers of yours,"

Adara rejoined him, coolly glancing at Luca. Grabbing James's arm, she pulled him outside. Forget about unhexing him- all of her anger resurfaced.

"Shit," he groaned, watching them leave. She was clearly a lot madder then he thought and he knew it would be pointless to pursue them.

How was he going to warn her? If she died because he couldn't get to her in time, he didn't know what he would do with himself.

Squaring his shoulders, he ignored the looks of the other students. He hated the way his family wanted him to act but there was some good in it. Time to be cunning, he thought, clenching his jaw. He was going to find a way to tell her, to get her to listen to him.

For all he could know, his father might be unleashing a number of things. He wanted to punch Lucius in the face and ruin that stupid smile.

Sighing, he dashed out of the library towards the Owlery. Maybe she would listen if he showed her the letter.

Luca stumbled over the icy stone and looked around frantically. Where was it? He'd sworn he left it near the corner. A sudden noise caused him to freeze.

He whirled around in suprise, only to find Ophelia cooing gently.

"Sorry, girl. You surprised me," he whispered, ruffling her feathers. He gave the tower a backwards glance. The parchment had either been blown away or been taken- he needed a new idea.

It was a still morning like all others. At precisely ten o'clock sharp Veema emerged, a tea tray perched on her head. He wordlessly accepted the cup of earl gray before dismissing her.

"Pesky house elves," he muttered, vacantly staring out the window. Abraxas Malfoy was feeling quite irritated. The Red Court, all the Royals in the Guild, were meeting in a few days and he was going to have to put up with that insufferable brat.

The Magistrate was a few months older then Luca but he made a fool of them all. Kylo Valina was an unpleasant person who took pleasure in mocking them. He would never even have that position if that girl hadn't been taken by Him.

Now he was going to have to put up with the insolent teenager in days time. Eyes narrowing, he uncapped a decanter of gin and poured some into a glass. Ignoring the tea, he reclined, taking a sip. Suddenly, he heard a knock.

"Father? Can I come in?" said the muffled voice of Lucius.

"Very well," he said, annoyed. What did this boy want with him now? Lucius strode tentatively into the sitting room, taking a seat adjacent to him. Taking another swig, he watched him impatiently. Shuffling his hands, the boy straightened his shoulders.

"Luca sent me an owl today," he began. Sighing, Abraxas pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I don't need to know if you get mail," he snapped.

"He knows about the girl," Lucius interrupted quickly. Frozen, Abraxos set the glass down. How could he? He erased all records of her. "But it's not her- its the one at Hogwarts,"

He wasn't making any sense whatsoever. What would his idiotic son have to do with a Hufflepuff?

"Why might he ask you about her?" he slowly said, his frown deepening. Lucius's hand began to shake and he looked at the floor.

"I...may have bullied her last year,"

Fury coursed through his veins, his eyes blazing. He had done the one thing he had told him not to do. The one thing that could end his life.

"And did I not tell you to stay away from her?" he uttered harshly. Yet there was something off about this, something that made no sense. "How are you still alive?"

A wry grin appeared and he met his gaze. "I didnt think about it before but I think he gave up. I apologize for not telling you now but I think we can act quickly,"

A dark smile spread across his face. The very person who threatened them so many times had finally let the crown jewel go. He knew it wouldn't be this easy but the threat of punishment had vanished and the playing field leveled. If he could reach her first, he would get the opportunity he had been waiting for. That brat would move down a rank while would finally hold the Guild in his hand.

"Come along Lucius," he drawled, hoisting himself up onto his cane. "I believe it's time to wake up the pets,"

Back in her dormitory, Adara sighed. Malfoy had just strode up to her, acting like nothing happened. For crying out loud, he didn't even apologize. Who the hell did he think he was?

She had skipped dinner despite James's protests and went to the kitchens instead. Good friends with Elio, head house elf, she carried a steaming bowl of comfort food up to her room.

Glorious pasta drowned in sauce and cheese with giant meatballs was the bane of her existence.

At the moment, she was in her pajamas, her hair in a hasty bun. She'd accioed various books from the library and was now happily curled under her sheets, magically turning pages as she shoveled food into her mouth. It was sometimes nice to have time to herself, especially on days when things seem to have gone so wrong. Vanishing her empty dishes, she was about to pick up another book when Marissa ran into the room.

Startled, Adara looked up at her reddened, worried face.

"What is it?" she asked, her brow furrowing. Marissa nodded, leaning on the door frame.

"Mc-McGonagall wants to see you," she said, gasping for breath. Adara looked at her in confusion.

"Now?"

"Now," she affirmed. Barely registering that she was in pajamas and had sauce on her shirt, she waded through the masses of students in the common room and stumbled into the corridor.

It was late, the moon on the rise. What could she possibly want with her? She raced down the cool, moon lit corridor, her thoughts keeping pace. Adara urged her brain to think. The only reason McGonagall would want to see her would be about the boys. Yet they were fine- at least they seemed fine. She snuck a glance at the moon. It was a waxing gibbous. Remus wasnt a werewolf yet so it couldn't be about that.

Think you stupid brain. Wisps of hair swirled across her face as she hurried up the stairs. She couldn't come up with anything. Turning her attention back to the present, she almost tripped over Ms. Norris. Filch's cat.

Eyes widening, she remembered that there was something she could be in trouble for. What if she found out about the stunt in Filch's office? But who could've told her?

Dread filled her stomach. There was no way Luca would betray her like that. But as much as she wanted to deny it, Adara couldn't come up with anything else.

Slowing, she tentatively crept into the Transfiguration classroom. Professor McGonagall was sitting at her desk as usual. Yet something seeded off.

The boys were nowhere in sight. Mystified, she wordlessly took a seat, beginning to regret her disheveled appearance.

"Have a biscuit, Adara," she crisply said, a warm smile breaking out on her face. What was going on? She reached for one of the chocolate ones, chewing as McGonagall began to talk.

"I was informed that you broke into Argus Filch's office the other day. Is this correct?"

No. No, no, no, no, no. She knew that Malfoy had to have told her. There was no other person who would rat them out. Balling her fists, she nodded slowly.

It didn't make any sense whatsoever for now the professor was giving her that odd look, as if she pitied her.

"I appreciate your honesty but that isn't the purpose of this meeting. I figured you five had already pulled something," she said tiredly, adjusting her spectacles. "There is a student who has a concern about your well-being. I'll leave you two to talk,"

"What's going on? You mean I'm not in trouble? And who-,"

McGonagall strode out of the room, ignoring her questions as a familiar golden head appeared. Luca.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she cried, dropping her head into her hands. "All I wanted to do was forget about you and binge read the Tales of Verana and Myron with my nice bowl of pasta. Instead, I find myself summoned to this classroom for unclear reasons to find you here,"

She looked up at him, eyebrows raised. "Care to explain? You seemed to have went through an awful lot to get me here so I'll give you ten second before I leave,"

Luca had no idea what to do after the parchment had disappeared. It was sad, really, how his first resort was blackmail. There should've been a guidebook.

"How to Be the Perfect Malevolent Son in 10 Easy Steps"

Any who, Luca used the only leverage he had. Of course, he didn't want to actually get her in trouble so he ran to Professor McGonagall. As he could recall, she was fond of Adara. Plus she wasn't from her house so she couldn't do anything too brutal. It took a lot of convincing but she finally agreed. Soon after that, an unwilling Adara was drawn into the room and now here he was, finally able to talk to her.

Squaring his shoulders, he met her eyes before looking back at the floor. They were just like McGonagall's when she discovered you didn't finish the homework.

"So I know you're mad but-,"

She snorted, narrowing her eyes.

"Really? I thought you didn't notice,"

"Just hear me out, okay," he said, sighing. "I wrote to Lucius. Not because I like that piece of filth but because I wanted to know why he did what he did to you. Anyway, it turns out there was a crappy reason but one nevertheless,"

Her eyebrows were arched so high he swore the professor was possessing her.

"You're telling me that my life is in danger because of a letter? I am both puzzled and angry that you did that just to say that but I'm fine,"

"You don't get it. Apparently you have something that they want but that doesnt matter. What does is that he hinted at my father's involvement. When he is, horrible things happen to said person," he said gravely, tensing his jaw. "I should know. The last person was Adaralyn,"

Freezing, Adara met his eyes with confusion.

"But that hardly makes sense. What would your family- whom I've never met, might I add, have anything to do with me?"

Slumping against his chair, he looked at her with resignation. "That I don't know,"

Grian Patil was walking cheerfully to the mailbox. He had finished mowing the lawn and was about to grab the muggle post. He could never get over the mail system they used. It took forever and yet it was oddly effective.

A shadow was cast over his face and he looked up to find a tawny owl emblazoned with the Hogwarts crest appeared. Chuckling, he looked up at the sky.

"So now she writes," he said, happy to hear from her. He thanked the owl, providing it with several Knuts before heading inside. "Vanessa," he yelled. "Guess who wrote?"

He made his way upstairs to their bedroom. Smiling, he looked down at his wife who met his eyes tiredly. She was quite thin but color had started returning to her cheeks. Hoping that was a good sign, he'd been quite optimistic over the past few days.

"Thank god," she rasped. "It's been so long since I've heard from her,"

He handed her the letter which she gladly accepted. She began reading aloud, and he closed his eyes. Her voice was a mixture of sweet and rough. Before she got sick she had been a co-singer to Celestina Warbeck. To they're delight, she was a prefect. He was so proud of her- she always had wanted to be one.

Suddenly, she stopped and he looked at her in surprise. Her face had paled and her hand began to quiver.

"What is it?" he asked kindly. A silent tear rolled down her cheek as she glanced at him with horror.

"She knows. I don't know how but she knows," she whispered, frozen. Grian's face went white and he snatched the letter out of her hand.

Do you happen to know anyone named Adaralyn Thorn? I stumbled acr-

He began to shake, dropping the paper to the floor. They tried so hard to keep her safe, so hard to make sure she wouldn't do anything that would cause her to get hurt. And yet she still managed to walk into the very trap they did everything to keep her from.

"We have to tell him, Gri," Vanessa croaked. "Otherwise he'll find more ways to hurt her,"

[EXTRA: HEADCANONS (James and Sirius)]

It's three o'clock in the morning and Sirius is still awake. He looks over at James who met his gaze.

"Hey Prongs," he whispered loudly. "Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer bu-,"

"Sirius, you once caught me sneaking out of my parents kitchen naked with a biscuit in my mouth. We have no secrets. Ask the damn question," he barked, grinning.

"So why'd you get kicked out this time?" James asked casually, leaning against the wall.

"I casted an expecto patronum when I saw my mother," he said sheepishly. Appalled, James looked at him wildly.

"Why the hell would you do that?"

"Well, she sucks the joy out of everything. Excuse me for trying to find a solution," he retorted, smirking. Remus doubled over, covering his mouth as he laughed. Meanwhile James couldn't help but grin.

"You've really done it now,"

The four were at Lily and James's wedding reception. Sirius was drunk as hell while Remus was trying to stop him from reaching the seventh bottle of fire whisky.

Nevertheless, he stands up on the table. Everyone grows silent with surprise.

"Let us raise a glass to the happy couple, Lily and James Potter," he yelled, taking a swig.

James rose his glasses, removing them from his head while Remus tackled Sirius to the ground. Face palming, Lily sighed.

"Is it too late to divorce this idiot?" she mumbled. James wrapped his arm around her, smiling.

"I'm afraid you're stuck with me,"