This part is subject to change. Right now, its the best I can do with the thoughts in my head.
Part 15:
7 Year:
Opening Feast:
Dumbledore stood up, smiling around the room. "Another year has begun with a new generation preparing to leave. This year we will be holding a Real Life Studies class. All seventh year students are required to take it. If this proves to be a successful venture, it will become a permanent course of seventh year study."
Sev and Sept looked at each other, then at Lucius and Narcissa. For once, the Slytherins looked as confused as the rest of their classmates. It was the subject of dinner discussions and would continue to hold the interest of everyone.
Real Life Studies Class:
"Good afternoon, students. I am Professor Benedict Lashona." A tall, black woman spoke from a desk off to the side. Dark, mocha hair was pulled up into a loose bun. Her chocolate colored eyes studied each student thoughtfully. It seemed that she measured them and found them wanting-or pleasing-with just one look.
"Good afternoon, Professor." Repeated dutifully.
She nodded briskly, as though their voices confirmed what she had decided about them. "As you can clearly see, this class isn't divided up by houses like your other classes. This was done as a special request for me because, once you leave Hogwarts, you will be associating with others of different houses. It is vital that you learn to cooperate now so that the transition is much easier. I have seen many students fail to make a success of themselves because they could not see past houses."
"Wonderful, another Professor Figg." Lucius murmured.
"Excuse me?" A frosty voice asked. "Do you have a problem with my teaching, Mr. Malfoy? If there is, you take it up with me. I warn you, I do not play favorites."
"Yes, ma'am." Subdued. He hadn't expected to be heard-or called on it for that matter.
She watched him for a moment, eyes narrowed. "Excellent."
Septina sat by Narcissa, reading over the material. She looked up as Lucius joined them. "Rough first day?"
He glared, "Is Professor Lashona a relative of ours that I don't know about?"
"Not to my knowledge." She said, "why?"
"Let's just say that she has some of your more interesting qualities." Bitter.
The girls exchanged looks, "made some kind of comment, didn't you?"
"I may have."
"Luc, you need to control that tongue of yours. It's going to get you into trouble one day." Narcissa scolded.
He rolled his eyes, chewing on a sandwich. "What I don't understand is, why are we being treated like experiments this year?"
"Our feuds have been more pronounced during our class year than any other." Severus answered, joining them.
"They aren't feuds, merely vocal disagreements between several different parties." Septina said, scooting over so that he could sit down. "Anyway, enough talking about real life studies, we can't change it no matter how much we'd like to."
The first month of school passed with little grumbling, and less action from Voldemort. "It's almost as if he's waiting. Do Dark Lords wait?"
"Not without a good reason." Sev said grimly.
"You think he suspects Lily?" Sept asked.
Sev nodded slowly. "I think that it is highly possible. She doesn't exactly hide what she is."
Burning pain along their forearms.
Quickly, they departed-after dashing off a note telling what happened.
Real Life Studies:
"Today we are discussing the way to present yourself in an interview. Not all of you will have the chance to become an auror or go into the Ministry, therefore you will have to get another job." She outlined the lesson plan, then assigned them into groups. "You have the rest of class to prepare for this. Tomorrow, you will present your work to the class and we will grade you on it. Begin."
Septina and Sirius spent most of the class glaring at each other.
"Is there a problem?" Professor Lashona asked, coming up behind them suddenly.
Quickly stifling her hand's movement, Sept turned towards the professor. "Yes. I cannot work with him."
"Ah, I've heard about your famous feud. Take this to heart, because I mean it, get over it. When you passed through that door, you entered my world. All grudges were left behind you. This is my class, either accept it and move on or get out and fail."
"Professor."
"That goes for you to, Sirius Black." She said to the smirking student.
"Of course."
Under her eagle eye, the two students began to work out their 'play'.
It wasn't until after Easter that things got difficult. That was when the professor announced that the classes would be applying what they learned in class for the final two months of school. On her desk was an odd oval ball. One side held an opening for the hand, the other end had a narrow opening which obviously ejected the information the ball read. "This ball will decide which situation you will find yourselves in for the next three months. Don't be surprised to find you've been placed with someone of another house. I would be shocked if you were paired with someone of your own house. When you enter the halls of higher learning, you will be sorted into new houses. Though there have been exceptions, these houses have no relation to what house you had in your old schools. One or two of the colleges offer co-ed dorms, so we will also be incorporating that into our curriculum."
One by one the students rose and did as instructed. Septina felt an odd jolt run through her hand and into her mind when she rested her hand inside the opening.
'Special. You'll need
special attention. I
know just what to do
with you.'
She moved away, cradling her hand and staring at the ball, terrified.
"The results will be posted after all classes have finished. That way, no one may claim any kind of unfairness in the decisions that have been reached." Pointed look at the Slytherins in the room.
At lunch, Septina picked at her food. Severus knew better than to interrupt her and kept the others from exerting undue pressure upon her. He could feel Lily watching them, a mixture of worry and suspicion in her eyes.
A brief glance.
Unspoken communication passed.
A meeting planned.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked, sitting down beside Severus on the piano bench.
His hands idly ran across the keys, playing softly. "I don't know. She's been like that ever since she got back from class."
"I take it you haven't been to yours yet?"
"No. Mine is tomorrow." He glanced up at her, "Why?"
"We are actually going to live through some of the situations we may find ourselves in once we leave school. For example, coed dorms in college. Professor Lashona has this oval ball that decides which situation we will experience."
"How does it do that?"
"You have to touch it and it reads inside you, finds the best place for you to be." Lily paused, her eyes widened. "You don't think that it?"
"Read what my sister is? I certainly do." He was grim. "And with Lashona's beliefs, there's no way I can convince her to alter the decision of her impartial judge to let me stay with her. I can only hope that whoever my sister ends up with will be most understanding and remain quiet."
"In other words, outside Slytherin." Lily murmured.
"No." He was cold. "Cruelty isn't limited to my house alone. You, of all people, should understand that."
She flinched at the reminder of what Sirius had done near the end of their sixth year. "I know. I just worry." Her hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing gently.
"I appreciate that more than you can possibly know."
The results were posted the next week and there was much grumbling. Remus was surprised to find himself housed in the Ravenclaw wing with Severus, Lily, and two Hufflepuffs he didn't recognize, though he knew one had been on the Quidditch team during their second year. They were supposed to be in college and would be required to go every morning for classes.
Lucius and Patil (a Ravenclaw girl) were one of the few married couples-which did not help his relationship with Narcissa any. But the biggest offense (in their eyes) was the fact that they were staying in special apartments beside the Gryffindor tower.
"James, you better make out your will." Sirius said, half-joking.
James pushed his glasses up and looked at his friend, "Why?"
"Guess who your partner in this little charade is? And where you'll be staying? I guarantee it isn't an apartment by the beach."
A funny feeling of foreboding formed inside his stomach, making him feel slightly nauseous.
"Stop your teasing, Siri. This is a very solemn situation." Lily scolded, linking her arm through her boyfriend's and leading him down the hall. She stopped in front of Septina and Severus, tapping the Slytherin girl on her shoulder. "Bad form, Septina, my girl."
"What are you talking about, Lily?" She asked, studying her friend's expression curiously.
"Stealing your best friend's boyfriend. I don't know whether I should be mad or wish you luck." And, with them staring at her in open mouthed shock, she disappeared down the hallway.
Septina looked at James. James looked at Septina. "This must be a joke."
"Why would Lily lie?" James asked, narrowing his eyes. "And don't say it could be Sirius, he wouldn't mess with a teacher's plans."
"Oh, really?" She was skeptical.
"Yes."
Severus shook his head, finally coming out of his shock. "Forgive us if we don't take your word, Potter. The bad blood between Black and us is just a little to thick. And before you say it, he did try to use Lupin to play a joke on me."
James flinched at the reminder. "That was low, Snape."
"When I care, I'll let you know." He shortly said, guiding his sister away, fuming. This was utterly impossible, Potter and his sister spending the last few months of school together? "How can you be so calm about this?"
"I knew," she whispered.
"What?" He whipped around, pulling her into the potions classroom.
"It told me, in my dreams."
His eyes closed, then he pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry."
In class the next day, Professor Lashona silenced the grumblers with a look. "The decision is final. I will not alter them. These packets contain the perimeters of your life but the details of daily life are yours to make. For the next two months, you will follow the schedule you find in your packet. Your morning classes have been changed where necessary or altered to suit your new life. This is our last class because the real test will begin tomorrow. Good luck."
Septina was curled up on her bed in the apartment she shared with James Potter, writing. They were cozily ensconced in Slytherin quarters, something that soothed her though she knew how much it bothered Potter. His presence irritated her fellow Slytherins. She had had to make it clear that he was with her. That anyone who had something to say about his presence, had to go through her.
Pathetic. I was a proud Slytherin, now I am nothing more than a shield to his high and mightiness. A chime rang in the room and she sighed, rising. Quickly crossing to the bathroom, she showered and dressed. According to their assignment, she was the main supporter of their little family. Potter would be having any children if they chose to have any-which apparently they had because he was a month along.
"I'll see you later, Potter." She called, hand on the doorknob.
Suddenly, he was behind her, a hand resting on the door. "Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Positive, Potter." She replied, coolly staring up at him.
"Must I remind you, its Snape." Gently mocking.
"You aren't worthy of the name." Repressive.
Smile. "Still, it is mine. And the name that all my homework is addressed and accepted under."
"Don't get used to it." She muttered, pushing him back. "I'll see you later."
"Have a good day." Silent sigh.
A few days later:
"He's driving me crazy, Lil. Can't you talk to him?"
Lily shook her head. "Sept, he's worried. He has been ever since that night, James has never seen anything like it."
"Yes, I realize that. But he's making me sick with his bloody concern. I can't escape his solicitations or his questions about how I'm doing." She ran frustrated hands through her hair, the closest she'd ever come to showing just how emotional she was becoming.
"I'll talk to him. But I can't promise you anything, James is one of a kind." Lily soothed, getting up.
"A one of a kind pain in the butt." Septina muttered.
Lily rolled her eyes and shook her head. She straightened her robe, smiling down at her friend. "I'll see you later, I have class." And with that, she was gone.
She's getting a little to good at that, Sept mused. Leaning back, she watched the unusual activity around the forest. She was still sitting there when James found her.
"Is something wrong?"
Septina sighed. "Potter, must you be here?"
James sat down, a thoughtful frown on his face. She glanced over and despised the pity she saw in his blue eyes. "If that's the best you could come up with, I would answer yes."
"I don't need your bloody pity!" She spat.
"What do you need?" Softly.
Getting to her feet, she glared down at him. "Nothing you could possibly understand or give me."
"Septina, if we are going to pass this test, we have to work together." He stood as well, "you're going to have to trust me."
"I'd sooner trust a hypogriff than you!"
His hand closed over her arm, stopping her. "Talk to me. Show me that you're more than a slut who sought comfort in my arms." Sarcastic.
Slap. "How dare you?"
They stared angrily at each other, ignoring the curious eyes of the students who stopped when they realized something was going on.
Lucius pushed his way through the crowd and tapped her shoulder. "Sept, Sev needs to see you."
She jerked her arm away from James, but he whispered harshly, "this is far from over."
And though she tried to prevent it, a shiver of fear ran through her.
James was waiting for her as she entered their rooms. "Dinner's almost ready." Tight.
Nod. "I'll eat after a quick shower."
Taunt silence stretched through dinner and their budgeting session. Speaking only when they had to, and in abrupt sentences, they worked out a schedule. Chilly good-nights were exchanged. Around midnight, James heard someone moving about. Getting up to investigate, he saw Septina staring blankly into a mug of cocoa. Tears coursed down her face unheeded.
I should just walk away, he thought even as his feet moved him towards her. Hands rested gently on her shoulders and pulled her, just as gently, into a warm embrace. Finding his voice after a while, he asked quietly, "What happened?"
"Voldemort has killed. I heard their voices, pleading for help but there was nothing I could do for them. He's calling all of us to dance with him in his dance of death." Eerie, emotionless voice.
James wanted to shake her but Lily suddenly spoke to him. 'Comfort her, you idiot. If you can't do that, bring her to us. Severus is worried.'
'Tell him that I will take care of her.'
'Like you did earlier?' Scornful.
'It won't happen again, Lily. I was hurt by her actions.'
'You have no business being hurt by anything that she does.'
'Being my wife gives me that right.'
'It is a school project.' Dry. 'Try to remember that.'
James shook his head. Easy words to say but when the project bonded them like actual spouses, harder to retain that pertinent fact in memory. "Septina, people die. It is unfortunate that you must witness it but you are no god. It isn't up to you to decide how and when it happens." Wincing, he realized how callous his words must've sounded.
"That's your idea of comfort?" She mocked him. "Potter, that is truly pathetic."
"But it helped." He pointed out.
"Seeing you humiliate yourself-even in private-always makes me feel better."
He shook his head. "Unbelievable."
"I don't know why you would say that. My people have always believed me. It must be some deficient gene in your family, Potter." She sighed. "At least you are one step above that cretin Black."
"What is this hateful obsession you have with each other?"
"It is an old and time honored tradition dating all the way back to before word was written. I doubt that you, with your infantile outlook on life, could comprehend it."
"And here I thought I knew nothing about comforting you. Yet you sound perfectly normal-if despicable is normal." Mild. "Do you never get angry like your brother?"
"Don't you think one hot head is enough for any family?" She asked, "And I have gotten angry, remember this afternoon?"
"That doesn't count."
"Why not?" She dumped the frigid cocoa down the drain. "I behaved in a manner most unbecoming for one of my breeding."
"You don't really believe all that nonsense about pure bloods being better than muggle borns, do you?"
She coolly looked at him, "Not that it is any of your business, but no, I don't."
"Why?"
"Didn't I come to you?" She asked, he nodded. "You made it quite clear that you have no honor were that is concerned this afternoon."
"I was angry."
"That is no excuse."
He shook his head. "No. It isn't. Would it help if I apologized?"
"Sorry means nothing to me. Actions speak louder than words." She made as if to leave but stopped, questioning him with a look.
James stepped aside with a good natured grin, bidding her a quiet good night. He had a lot to think about. Over the course of their experiment, he grew closer to the twins. Trying hard to keep an open mind, he began to see things that he missed before. And once again, he wondered what it was that bound the twins to Lily.
Part 15:
7 Year:
Opening Feast:
Dumbledore stood up, smiling around the room. "Another year has begun with a new generation preparing to leave. This year we will be holding a Real Life Studies class. All seventh year students are required to take it. If this proves to be a successful venture, it will become a permanent course of seventh year study."
Sev and Sept looked at each other, then at Lucius and Narcissa. For once, the Slytherins looked as confused as the rest of their classmates. It was the subject of dinner discussions and would continue to hold the interest of everyone.
Real Life Studies Class:
"Good afternoon, students. I am Professor Benedict Lashona." A tall, black woman spoke from a desk off to the side. Dark, mocha hair was pulled up into a loose bun. Her chocolate colored eyes studied each student thoughtfully. It seemed that she measured them and found them wanting-or pleasing-with just one look.
"Good afternoon, Professor." Repeated dutifully.
She nodded briskly, as though their voices confirmed what she had decided about them. "As you can clearly see, this class isn't divided up by houses like your other classes. This was done as a special request for me because, once you leave Hogwarts, you will be associating with others of different houses. It is vital that you learn to cooperate now so that the transition is much easier. I have seen many students fail to make a success of themselves because they could not see past houses."
"Wonderful, another Professor Figg." Lucius murmured.
"Excuse me?" A frosty voice asked. "Do you have a problem with my teaching, Mr. Malfoy? If there is, you take it up with me. I warn you, I do not play favorites."
"Yes, ma'am." Subdued. He hadn't expected to be heard-or called on it for that matter.
She watched him for a moment, eyes narrowed. "Excellent."
Septina sat by Narcissa, reading over the material. She looked up as Lucius joined them. "Rough first day?"
He glared, "Is Professor Lashona a relative of ours that I don't know about?"
"Not to my knowledge." She said, "why?"
"Let's just say that she has some of your more interesting qualities." Bitter.
The girls exchanged looks, "made some kind of comment, didn't you?"
"I may have."
"Luc, you need to control that tongue of yours. It's going to get you into trouble one day." Narcissa scolded.
He rolled his eyes, chewing on a sandwich. "What I don't understand is, why are we being treated like experiments this year?"
"Our feuds have been more pronounced during our class year than any other." Severus answered, joining them.
"They aren't feuds, merely vocal disagreements between several different parties." Septina said, scooting over so that he could sit down. "Anyway, enough talking about real life studies, we can't change it no matter how much we'd like to."
The first month of school passed with little grumbling, and less action from Voldemort. "It's almost as if he's waiting. Do Dark Lords wait?"
"Not without a good reason." Sev said grimly.
"You think he suspects Lily?" Sept asked.
Sev nodded slowly. "I think that it is highly possible. She doesn't exactly hide what she is."
Burning pain along their forearms.
Quickly, they departed-after dashing off a note telling what happened.
Real Life Studies:
"Today we are discussing the way to present yourself in an interview. Not all of you will have the chance to become an auror or go into the Ministry, therefore you will have to get another job." She outlined the lesson plan, then assigned them into groups. "You have the rest of class to prepare for this. Tomorrow, you will present your work to the class and we will grade you on it. Begin."
Septina and Sirius spent most of the class glaring at each other.
"Is there a problem?" Professor Lashona asked, coming up behind them suddenly.
Quickly stifling her hand's movement, Sept turned towards the professor. "Yes. I cannot work with him."
"Ah, I've heard about your famous feud. Take this to heart, because I mean it, get over it. When you passed through that door, you entered my world. All grudges were left behind you. This is my class, either accept it and move on or get out and fail."
"Professor."
"That goes for you to, Sirius Black." She said to the smirking student.
"Of course."
Under her eagle eye, the two students began to work out their 'play'.
It wasn't until after Easter that things got difficult. That was when the professor announced that the classes would be applying what they learned in class for the final two months of school. On her desk was an odd oval ball. One side held an opening for the hand, the other end had a narrow opening which obviously ejected the information the ball read. "This ball will decide which situation you will find yourselves in for the next three months. Don't be surprised to find you've been placed with someone of another house. I would be shocked if you were paired with someone of your own house. When you enter the halls of higher learning, you will be sorted into new houses. Though there have been exceptions, these houses have no relation to what house you had in your old schools. One or two of the colleges offer co-ed dorms, so we will also be incorporating that into our curriculum."
One by one the students rose and did as instructed. Septina felt an odd jolt run through her hand and into her mind when she rested her hand inside the opening.
'Special. You'll need
special attention. I
know just what to do
with you.'
She moved away, cradling her hand and staring at the ball, terrified.
"The results will be posted after all classes have finished. That way, no one may claim any kind of unfairness in the decisions that have been reached." Pointed look at the Slytherins in the room.
At lunch, Septina picked at her food. Severus knew better than to interrupt her and kept the others from exerting undue pressure upon her. He could feel Lily watching them, a mixture of worry and suspicion in her eyes.
A brief glance.
Unspoken communication passed.
A meeting planned.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked, sitting down beside Severus on the piano bench.
His hands idly ran across the keys, playing softly. "I don't know. She's been like that ever since she got back from class."
"I take it you haven't been to yours yet?"
"No. Mine is tomorrow." He glanced up at her, "Why?"
"We are actually going to live through some of the situations we may find ourselves in once we leave school. For example, coed dorms in college. Professor Lashona has this oval ball that decides which situation we will experience."
"How does it do that?"
"You have to touch it and it reads inside you, finds the best place for you to be." Lily paused, her eyes widened. "You don't think that it?"
"Read what my sister is? I certainly do." He was grim. "And with Lashona's beliefs, there's no way I can convince her to alter the decision of her impartial judge to let me stay with her. I can only hope that whoever my sister ends up with will be most understanding and remain quiet."
"In other words, outside Slytherin." Lily murmured.
"No." He was cold. "Cruelty isn't limited to my house alone. You, of all people, should understand that."
She flinched at the reminder of what Sirius had done near the end of their sixth year. "I know. I just worry." Her hand rested on his shoulder, squeezing gently.
"I appreciate that more than you can possibly know."
The results were posted the next week and there was much grumbling. Remus was surprised to find himself housed in the Ravenclaw wing with Severus, Lily, and two Hufflepuffs he didn't recognize, though he knew one had been on the Quidditch team during their second year. They were supposed to be in college and would be required to go every morning for classes.
Lucius and Patil (a Ravenclaw girl) were one of the few married couples-which did not help his relationship with Narcissa any. But the biggest offense (in their eyes) was the fact that they were staying in special apartments beside the Gryffindor tower.
"James, you better make out your will." Sirius said, half-joking.
James pushed his glasses up and looked at his friend, "Why?"
"Guess who your partner in this little charade is? And where you'll be staying? I guarantee it isn't an apartment by the beach."
A funny feeling of foreboding formed inside his stomach, making him feel slightly nauseous.
"Stop your teasing, Siri. This is a very solemn situation." Lily scolded, linking her arm through her boyfriend's and leading him down the hall. She stopped in front of Septina and Severus, tapping the Slytherin girl on her shoulder. "Bad form, Septina, my girl."
"What are you talking about, Lily?" She asked, studying her friend's expression curiously.
"Stealing your best friend's boyfriend. I don't know whether I should be mad or wish you luck." And, with them staring at her in open mouthed shock, she disappeared down the hallway.
Septina looked at James. James looked at Septina. "This must be a joke."
"Why would Lily lie?" James asked, narrowing his eyes. "And don't say it could be Sirius, he wouldn't mess with a teacher's plans."
"Oh, really?" She was skeptical.
"Yes."
Severus shook his head, finally coming out of his shock. "Forgive us if we don't take your word, Potter. The bad blood between Black and us is just a little to thick. And before you say it, he did try to use Lupin to play a joke on me."
James flinched at the reminder. "That was low, Snape."
"When I care, I'll let you know." He shortly said, guiding his sister away, fuming. This was utterly impossible, Potter and his sister spending the last few months of school together? "How can you be so calm about this?"
"I knew," she whispered.
"What?" He whipped around, pulling her into the potions classroom.
"It told me, in my dreams."
His eyes closed, then he pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry."
In class the next day, Professor Lashona silenced the grumblers with a look. "The decision is final. I will not alter them. These packets contain the perimeters of your life but the details of daily life are yours to make. For the next two months, you will follow the schedule you find in your packet. Your morning classes have been changed where necessary or altered to suit your new life. This is our last class because the real test will begin tomorrow. Good luck."
Septina was curled up on her bed in the apartment she shared with James Potter, writing. They were cozily ensconced in Slytherin quarters, something that soothed her though she knew how much it bothered Potter. His presence irritated her fellow Slytherins. She had had to make it clear that he was with her. That anyone who had something to say about his presence, had to go through her.
Pathetic. I was a proud Slytherin, now I am nothing more than a shield to his high and mightiness. A chime rang in the room and she sighed, rising. Quickly crossing to the bathroom, she showered and dressed. According to their assignment, she was the main supporter of their little family. Potter would be having any children if they chose to have any-which apparently they had because he was a month along.
"I'll see you later, Potter." She called, hand on the doorknob.
Suddenly, he was behind her, a hand resting on the door. "Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Positive, Potter." She replied, coolly staring up at him.
"Must I remind you, its Snape." Gently mocking.
"You aren't worthy of the name." Repressive.
Smile. "Still, it is mine. And the name that all my homework is addressed and accepted under."
"Don't get used to it." She muttered, pushing him back. "I'll see you later."
"Have a good day." Silent sigh.
A few days later:
"He's driving me crazy, Lil. Can't you talk to him?"
Lily shook her head. "Sept, he's worried. He has been ever since that night, James has never seen anything like it."
"Yes, I realize that. But he's making me sick with his bloody concern. I can't escape his solicitations or his questions about how I'm doing." She ran frustrated hands through her hair, the closest she'd ever come to showing just how emotional she was becoming.
"I'll talk to him. But I can't promise you anything, James is one of a kind." Lily soothed, getting up.
"A one of a kind pain in the butt." Septina muttered.
Lily rolled her eyes and shook her head. She straightened her robe, smiling down at her friend. "I'll see you later, I have class." And with that, she was gone.
She's getting a little to good at that, Sept mused. Leaning back, she watched the unusual activity around the forest. She was still sitting there when James found her.
"Is something wrong?"
Septina sighed. "Potter, must you be here?"
James sat down, a thoughtful frown on his face. She glanced over and despised the pity she saw in his blue eyes. "If that's the best you could come up with, I would answer yes."
"I don't need your bloody pity!" She spat.
"What do you need?" Softly.
Getting to her feet, she glared down at him. "Nothing you could possibly understand or give me."
"Septina, if we are going to pass this test, we have to work together." He stood as well, "you're going to have to trust me."
"I'd sooner trust a hypogriff than you!"
His hand closed over her arm, stopping her. "Talk to me. Show me that you're more than a slut who sought comfort in my arms." Sarcastic.
Slap. "How dare you?"
They stared angrily at each other, ignoring the curious eyes of the students who stopped when they realized something was going on.
Lucius pushed his way through the crowd and tapped her shoulder. "Sept, Sev needs to see you."
She jerked her arm away from James, but he whispered harshly, "this is far from over."
And though she tried to prevent it, a shiver of fear ran through her.
James was waiting for her as she entered their rooms. "Dinner's almost ready." Tight.
Nod. "I'll eat after a quick shower."
Taunt silence stretched through dinner and their budgeting session. Speaking only when they had to, and in abrupt sentences, they worked out a schedule. Chilly good-nights were exchanged. Around midnight, James heard someone moving about. Getting up to investigate, he saw Septina staring blankly into a mug of cocoa. Tears coursed down her face unheeded.
I should just walk away, he thought even as his feet moved him towards her. Hands rested gently on her shoulders and pulled her, just as gently, into a warm embrace. Finding his voice after a while, he asked quietly, "What happened?"
"Voldemort has killed. I heard their voices, pleading for help but there was nothing I could do for them. He's calling all of us to dance with him in his dance of death." Eerie, emotionless voice.
James wanted to shake her but Lily suddenly spoke to him. 'Comfort her, you idiot. If you can't do that, bring her to us. Severus is worried.'
'Tell him that I will take care of her.'
'Like you did earlier?' Scornful.
'It won't happen again, Lily. I was hurt by her actions.'
'You have no business being hurt by anything that she does.'
'Being my wife gives me that right.'
'It is a school project.' Dry. 'Try to remember that.'
James shook his head. Easy words to say but when the project bonded them like actual spouses, harder to retain that pertinent fact in memory. "Septina, people die. It is unfortunate that you must witness it but you are no god. It isn't up to you to decide how and when it happens." Wincing, he realized how callous his words must've sounded.
"That's your idea of comfort?" She mocked him. "Potter, that is truly pathetic."
"But it helped." He pointed out.
"Seeing you humiliate yourself-even in private-always makes me feel better."
He shook his head. "Unbelievable."
"I don't know why you would say that. My people have always believed me. It must be some deficient gene in your family, Potter." She sighed. "At least you are one step above that cretin Black."
"What is this hateful obsession you have with each other?"
"It is an old and time honored tradition dating all the way back to before word was written. I doubt that you, with your infantile outlook on life, could comprehend it."
"And here I thought I knew nothing about comforting you. Yet you sound perfectly normal-if despicable is normal." Mild. "Do you never get angry like your brother?"
"Don't you think one hot head is enough for any family?" She asked, "And I have gotten angry, remember this afternoon?"
"That doesn't count."
"Why not?" She dumped the frigid cocoa down the drain. "I behaved in a manner most unbecoming for one of my breeding."
"You don't really believe all that nonsense about pure bloods being better than muggle borns, do you?"
She coolly looked at him, "Not that it is any of your business, but no, I don't."
"Why?"
"Didn't I come to you?" She asked, he nodded. "You made it quite clear that you have no honor were that is concerned this afternoon."
"I was angry."
"That is no excuse."
He shook his head. "No. It isn't. Would it help if I apologized?"
"Sorry means nothing to me. Actions speak louder than words." She made as if to leave but stopped, questioning him with a look.
James stepped aside with a good natured grin, bidding her a quiet good night. He had a lot to think about. Over the course of their experiment, he grew closer to the twins. Trying hard to keep an open mind, he began to see things that he missed before. And once again, he wondered what it was that bound the twins to Lily.