Chapter 6
It had only been a few weeks since Remus visited Elethia's family for Christmas break. He was sitting in The Gryffindor Common Room with Peter, James, and Sirius, watching the flames crackling the logs. His friends were laughing over the prank they'd done to Severus by locking him in the broom cupboard, but Remus didn't even bother laughing. Something else crossed his mind ever since he spoke to Elethia at her house.
Peter turned to Remus as he said, "Hey Remus, remember the look on Snivelus's face when we put owl treats in his robe." Their smiles wavered when Remus didn't answer, so they turned to him, while Peter said, "Remus?"
He finally turned to them with his mouth slightly parted. Remus looked between all three of them and said, "Yeah?"
James asked, "You okay?"
They all genuinly concerned when Remus replied, "It's nothing."
"You sure? Because you've been abnormally quiet. Even for you, it's strange."
Remus wasn't sure if he should tell them, but then again, it bothered him so much that he did not want to think any of his friends had any part in it, so he started off by saying, "My parents and I visited Elethia Cromwell's family for Christmas dinner." This forced Sirius to narrow his eyes as Remus continued, "And she said something disturbing actually."
Sirius rolled his eyes and cut in to say, "And what did her majesty have to say?"
"How she was in The Hospital Wing by having Devil Snare nearly killing her on Halloween night."
When he explained what was wrong, James and Peter stared at him completely dumbfounded as if they had no idea what he was talking about, but it didn't stop him from noticing how Sirius's eyes shifted away for a moment before they snapped back at him as Sirius barked, "So what? She didn't die."
The three boys eyes widened, shocked by what they heard, so Remus spoke up, "You're not even going to deny it, Sirius? You don't even feel bad? Don't you know what would happen if you can't escape Devil Snare?"
"She's fine now."
"She could've died!" Sirius glared at Remus menacingly, while Remus stood from his seat and turned to his two other friends and said, "Why didn't you both talk him out of it? How could you just let him do that to Elethia?"
"I had no idea what he did." James said.
"Listen," Remus began. "I'm all for pranking people, but attempted murder is where I draw the line."
When he walked went up the stairs, he heard Peter and James call out his name, but he ignored them as he turned himself in. The argument did not stop there when James stood from his seat and asked, "Sirius, I want you to be honest. Was Remus telling the truth? Did you really do that to Cromwell?" When Sirius stared at him, refusing to say anything, it confirmed his accusation. "What were you thinking?"
"Now you're taking his side?" Sirius's voice was laced with venom as he stood from his seat and headed to the dormitory to rest, leaving James and Peter with their thoughts.
The next couple of days were quiet for Remus. The only people he spoke to were James and Peter. He didn't understand why Peter would still be with Sirius. Maybe it was because he didn't want to choose sides. In a way, he understood it. After all, someone had to look out for Sirius. Remus still won't forget how the next day after their argument that Sirius refused to sit with them. He simply stared at the trio and sat near the door.
When they were in Transfiguration together, Remus sat with James in the front beside Elethia's desk, while Sirius and Peter sat in the back. Remus couldn't help but notice that at the corner of his eye, Elethia would stop jotting down notes in her notebook when Professor McGonagall's back was turned so that she could watch Remus for a few seconds before she got caught. He knew why she was staring at him, because he saw her looking back once to see Sirius. James and Sirius always sat next to each other just as Peter sat next to Remus.
By the time class ended, Elethia caught up with Remus, they were in The Transfiguration Courtyard. James naturally walked with Remus as they talked about what homework they have. Remus cocked his head and turned his body halfway when Elethia took his wrist.
"Hey. I was calling you." she said.
Remus looked away for a moment before he replied, "Sorry. I didn't hear you."
James smirked at Elethia as he said, "What can we do for you, Cromwell?"
She looked at him with a frown and looked between the two before she turned back to James and said, "I would like to talk to Remus. If you don't mind?"
He gestured to Remus as he said, "He's all yours."
The two students stared at each other before Elethia spoke up, "Sirius did it. Didn't he?"
He knew exactly what she was referring to, so he nodded his head and replied, "Yeah. He didn't have any shame in it actually. James and I haven't been on speaking terms for a while now."
Elethia shook her head and said, "That's expected." They then walked to one of the benches and sat down with James near them, looking around, and leaning on one of the statues, while he waited for Remus to finish his conversation with Elethia. "How have you been doing?"
"Fine. Why?" Remus replied.
"No reason."
He stared intently at her, knowing something was off, but he couldn't explain it. She seemed out of sorts. Perhaps it was because she was shaken up over what happened to her on Halloween with the Devil Snare. Remus didn't want to push it, so he kept it to himself.
"Well, look who we have." They snapped their heads to see Sirius and Peter heading their way, while Sirius continued to say, "Friends with Cromwell now. Are you?"
James made his way over to them as his eyes narrowed at Sirius, and Remus and Elethia stood from the bench, standing their ground as Peter said, "We'll be late for Flying class."
"We have all the time in world, Peter." Sirius replied with an undeniable smirk.
"What is your problem, Sirius? Why can't you admit you were wrong?" James said.
"My problem is that you're supposed to be my friends and you're choosing Cromwell over me."
Remus didn't have to look to see a handful of students gaining their attention, while Elethia took a step forward to face him and replied, "Maybe they saw the light."
He looked at her with disgust and shook his head as he snapped, "Shove off, Cromwell."
Elethia glared at him, and Sirius did the same. They looked at each other like dangerous insects that needed to be squashed. Remus was worried something would happen between the two. He didn't think James should have been involved as he spoke, but he thought it was a noble act on his part to say, "Come on, Sirius. Just say you're sorry."
"Why should I?"
"Because you nearly killed her." Remus cut in.
Sirius looked around, feeling uncomfortable of the wandering eyes watching the scene unfold, so he glared at them and said, "Get a grip, Lupin. She's fine now. Look at her." He gestured to Elethia to prove his point.
"I have, Sirius." Remus said. "And if this is how you act, then maybe we shouldn't be friends."
Sirius scoffed without a care in the world, replying, "Fine. Have it yer way then."
"Guys." James cut in, putting his hand between the two, forcing them to stop, yet their eyes never left each other as James said, "Let's not be hasty about this-"
"No James." Sirius said, glaring at both Remus and Elethia. "If he wants to be friends with that Cromwell scum, then by all means, let him take her side."
Remus did not say a word. He simply narrowed his eyes at him and clenched his fists. Elethia took his arm, dragging him away, and he was thankful that she did, because he was worried he would do something horrible to Sirius. Remus was many things but being impulsive was not one of them. Sirius was not worth the aggravation. His pride stood in the way, and Remus did not think he could associate himself with people like Sirius anymore.
"Flipendo!"
Before Remus had a chance to turn around, he saw Elethia whip around, exclaiming "Protego!"
A green ball of shield surrounded Elethia, bouncing the Flipendo Knockback Jinx to Sirius. Remus was amazing to see Elethia protecting herself as did the students around them, forming a circle to watch the fight. Sirius's eyes widened, and his mouth parted slightly in shock as he was knocked to the ground with a loud "oomph".
The students around them whispered amongst themselves and laughed at Sirius for his downfall, while James looked at Elethia in amazement. Remus looked between Elethia and Sirius, watching Peter trying to help Sirius from the ground only to be shooed away and glaring daggers at Elethia as she smirked down at him. It soon vanished though when Professor McGonagall rushed to the courtyard with her skirt chasing behind her as she shoved the students aside to see what the commotion was. She noticed Sirius on the ground and Elethia had her wand out, while the students who watched minded their own business by leaving or going to a corner, pretending like nothing happened.
"Miss Cromwell?" She gestured to Sirius as she asked, "Would you care to explain what has happened? Why is your wand out?"
Sirius got up as he spoke, "I'll tell you why-"
"No!" James exclaimed, glaring at Sirius before he looked at Professor McGonagall and replied, "Because nothing happened."
Elethia almost looked surprised to see James standing up for her, but it was short lived when Professor McGonagall said, "If that is so, Mister Potter, then why are there many students observing Mister Black on the ground?"
"Because I jinxed him." They all turned to Elethia. Everyone was shocked, especially the four boys as they stared dumbfounded at Elethia. "I used a Flipendo Knockback Jinx to push him to the ground, because...I felt like it."
James, Peter, and Remus all had concerned looks on their faces, while Sirius was confused. Having enough of it, Remus spoke up and said, "No. Professor. That's not what happened."
"It's okay, Remus." Elethia said. "You don't have to defend me."
"Well," Professor McGonagall began. "You must learn to consider the consequences, Miss Cromwell. This will not go unnoticed. Five points from Gryffindor for your behavior." Elethia lowered her head when she said, "And you will serve detention in the kitchens."
"Yes, Professor."
Professor McGonagall looked between the group and went back in her classroom, while Sirius smirked at Elethia and said, "Happy cooking, Cromwell."
He then proceeded to walk away with Peter behind him, while Remus and James stared at Elethia, wondering what she was thinking. She could have told the truth, yet she didn't. After all, she must hate Sirius for everything he's done to her, yet she lied to protect him. They both did not understand it, so Remus looked at her and asked, "Why didn't you tell the truth?"
She couldn't look at either of them as she said, "If I did, then what? It won't make a difference. He'll still torment me, and besides, I'm used to the punishments by now."
When she walked away, Remus and James watched her go. They then looked at each other and were thinking the same. They both genuinely were sympathetic towards Elethia.
"She is a curious one. Isn't she?" James said, not taking his eyes off her.
Remus nodded in agreement and replied, "Yeah."
Hi everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I know the fanfic is a Sirius x OC, but this will be a slow burn, so it will be a while before they get together, so I hope you will be pleased with the result in the end. Please leave a review of what you think of the story so far, a specific chapter, what you are hoping for, or what you think will happen. I will try my best to update soon. Take care everyone!