Friday, 6 May 1977

"What's wrong, Reg?" Lena asked as they brewed their potion that smelled too much like rotten eggs for Lena's liking.

"My uncle Alphard died the other day," he murmured.

"Shit, Reg," Lena said. "I'm so sorry. Were you two close?"

Regulus nodded. His grey eyes seemed lighter than usual. "He was just really, really nice."

Lena smiled.

"He left me some money," Regulus said. "And Sirius, too."

Lena knew that Sirius would appreciate it. After he had been disowned, he didn't have a Knut to his name. If it hadn't been for the Potters, Sirius would have had nowhere to turn.

"That was really good of him."

"He got blasted off our family tree."

"What?"

"My mum blasted him off the Black family tree. It's traitorous to support a blood traitor, even in death."

"Shit."

"Shit's right, Lee."

"What do you think Sirius will do with the money?"

"Who knows. It's Sirius."

"You don't need to move out!" James cried.

"I know, Prongs," Sirius said calmly. "I just feel like I'm taking advantage of your parents. And I'll be fine. Uncle Alphard left me a really generous amount of money."

"But you're not taking advantage of my parents! They love you! And I love you!"

"I love the three of you, too."

"But we're going to miss you!"

"I'll visit all the time."

Remus and Peter bit back laughs as they watched the exchange take place between James and Sirius.

"Where are you even going to live?"

"In a flat."

"Alone?"

"That's the idea."

"But you can't be all alone! What if you get hurt?"

"Then I'll go to St. Mungo's."

"What if you get so terribly injured that you can't go on your own and there's no one there to help you and you just die on the floor of your flat? And then you're going to traumatize me, Wormtail, and Moony when we find your body!"

Sirius' mouth dropped and James was breathing heavily.

Remus opened his mouth to speak. "Prongs, are you saying that Padfoot's going to get murdered?"

"Not necessarily. He could just be dumb and injure himself.

Remus thought about it for a moment and moved his head to the side and nodded in agreement. It was a reasonable possibility.

"Hey!"

"Well you do a bunch a dumb shit," Remus said.

"Yeah," Sirius pouted. "But you don't have to say it out loud."

Peter jumped up from his bed in excitement.

"I've got an idea!"

"That Sirius should keep living with me? I agree," James said.

"No, he should move in with Gwen."

Sirius, James, and Remus stared at him blankly.

"I think I misheard you. Can you say that again," Sirius said.

"I said," Peter repeated, "that you should move in with Gwen."

"You want me to move in with Rowle? Guinevere Rowle?"

"It's just a suggestion," Peter shrugged.

"Why would you suggest that?" Sirius cried.

"Because Gwen's looking for a place to live this summer too. That way it'll be cheaper and neither of you will have to be alone," Peter explained. "Plus, I think the two of you would get on pretty well."

Remus looked between Peter and Sirius. "He's not wrong, mate. And Gwen's pretty cool."

Sirius collapsed on his bed.

"I think you broke him," James said.

"It was bound to happen eventually," Peter shrugged with a laugh.

Wednesday, 10 May 1977

Lena's day was going pretty well up until six o'clock.

She had gotten an E on her Transfiguration assignment she handed in the week before. She found a Galleon in her pocket that she had forgotten about. Flitwick had let them out ten minutes early. Maggie had given her a packet of Sugar Quills. Remus had left her a note in her Herbology textbook.

But now the day was bad all because of the Rowles. Well, not Gwen. Her brothers Thorfinn and Soren were the issue. Thorfinn was a towering seventh year with bulging muscles. Soren, the youngest of the Rowles, was a fourth year. He was tall like his brother. Unlike his brother, Soren did not have any muscles. Both brothers had the same blond hair and dazzling blue eyes as their sister.

The happiness of Lena's day came to a crashing halt as she and Gwen entered the Great Hall for dinner. Before they could go to the Hufflepuff table to join Maggie and Ava, Thorfinn and Soren Rowle came up to them. Lena knew from the cruel look on Thorfinn's face and the nervous, shifty glances of Soren that nothing good would ensue.

"Guinevere," Thorfinn spat.

"Thorfinn, Soren. To what do I owe this displeasure?" Gwen said with a slight smirk.

Lena knew Gwen's bravado was a facade to hide her nerves and fear. She knew her brothers better than Lena did. She knew better than Lena did that no conversation with Thorfinn and Soren could end with a smile.

"Tell your little Hufflepuff thing to leave," Thorfinn said.

Lena stood her ground and glared. "I'll be staying."

Thorfinn growled. "Fine by me. Just another person to humiliate you in front of, Guinevere."

Lena slipped her hand into Gwen's and squeezed it.

She squeezed back.

Thorfinn turned to his brother and nodded at him.

"You've been disowned," Soren said. Lena knew from the look in his eyes that he didn't want to be a part of what was happening.

"I know, Soren. That happened a few months ago. Get with the program," Gwen said firmly.

Thorfinn gave a shark-like grin. He was going in for the kill.

"Well, since you're not a Rowle anymore, you don't deserve anything meant for Rowles."

"Who'd want to be a fucking Rowle anyway?" Gwen said.

Thorfinn smirked. "Give us back your earrings."

Lena heard Gwen's breathing intensify and felt the grasp around her hand tightened.

"Excuse me?"

"Those are mum's earrings. She's not your mum any more. Give them back."

Gwen swallowed and Lena could not believe she was able to answer without her voice cracking. "Gladly."

Gwen let go of Lena's hand and lifted her hands up to her head. She took off the diamond studs that Lena had never seen her without and dropped them into her brother's hand.

Soren swallowed. "And the necklace. The family heirloom… You're not family anymore."

"That's fine be me. We were never much of a family to begin with."

Gwen reached around her neck and unclasped her necklace and handed it to her younger brother.

But the Rowles weren't done.

"And the ring," Thorfinn said.

Lena looked down at Gwen's left hand that was holding her own only minutes before. It was golden and rested on her pinky finger. The Rowle family symbol, the falcon, was etched into it. Lena knew how much the ring meant to Gwen. She never saw her without it. She always touched it with her left thumb whenever she was nervous or needed reassurance.

It pained Lena to watch as Gwen twisted off the ring and placed it into the palm of her brother's hand.

"Now we're done with you for good," Thorfinn.

Lena thought that was just about the cruelest thing she'd ever heard.

The Rowle brothers walked away.

Lena looked around the room. Most eyes were on them.

Lena looked at Gwen. Her blue eyes were blank. Her jaw was set. She was numb.

The brunette linked her arm with Gwen's and began to guide her out of the Great Hall.

"No," Gwen said. Retreating would mean defeat. She wouldn't be humiliated any further than she already had been.

Still linked to Lena, Gwen walked to the Hufflepuff table and took her seat.