During the following weeks, it was difficult to keep out of Luke's way, but Blue managed all the same. Quidditch season only started at the beginning of November and it was reassuringly safe with James around, but Blue wasn't going to start wondering around on her own, not when an instinctual murderer was sleeping in a common room down the hall. As if things couldn't have gotten any worse, the amount of homework they had received, seemed enough to last them until next Christmas, not to mention the horrible Potions assignments they had been given.
"I can't take this anymore!" Arabella shrieked one afternoon, while the three of them were in the library.
"How the heck am I supposed to know, how many stupid pieces of goat's hind to throw into an already stuffed concoction?"
"I just guessed," Blue smiled, half managing to stifle a laugh. But Lily looked up sharply from her Herbology textbook.
"Bella, it's easy, just follow the instructions in your-"
"Excuse me ladies, can I borrow Blue for a sec?" Remus interrupted Lily.
"Sure Remus, go right ahead," Arabella winked. Blue rose slowly from her chair as Remus pulled her behind a bookshelf.
"Hi," he said quickly.
"Hi," Blue replied nonchalantly. "So, any particular reason why you're here?" She swallowed her words as she realised they were exactly what Luke had said to her a few weeks back. Dammit Blue, stop thinking about Luke, she reminded herself.
"Can't a guy not have reason for wanting to talk to a-"
"Friend?" she gave him a mocking look but he grinned.
"I was going to say a Quidditch partner but-"
"What? How?!!"
"Seems that Justin Humphrey and Derek Lombard had quite a nasty Beater accident, and well, you're looking at their replacement," Remus said cheerfully.
"You and who?"
"Sirius, who else?"
"That's so nice, but you didn't try out?" she said suddenly.
"After what happened to Justin and Derek, there weren't many volunteers." Remus gave her a squeamish look, but she was so taken aback by the good news, that she threw her arms around his neck.
"Well done!!" she squealed, he hugged her tightly but when she pulled away to look at him, the awkward silence settled on them.
"Well, I- um, I'll see you later. Tell Sirius I say well done."
"Will do. Good luck with potions." Blue laughed as she turned to walk back to her insufferable workload.
"Oh, and Blue," he called back, "you look really nice today."
"Thanks," she smiled as she felt her face getting peculiarly flushed. She turned away, to grin in peace and before she got back to Lily and Arabella, tried to regain her sombreness.
"And?" Arabella said leaning forward. Lily also managed to look up from her book once again.
"And what?" Blue asked blankly.
"What position's he playing?"
"You were listening!" Blue shrieked.
"Well, it's hard not to when your behind the next bookshelf!" Arabella cried scandalously. Lily nodded matter-of-factly at her side.
"Beater, and Sirius too, but then you'd know if you were eavesdropping properly," she said mockingly.
"Oh don't be such a wet fish," Arabella insisted.
"Yes Blue," Lily added unnecessarily, while she laughed. Blue shook her head as she noticed people starting to drift out the library.
"What do we have now?" Blue asked.
"Well, we have double Astronomy," Lily said to Blue, as she packed her books back into her bag.
"That means I have Muggle Studies," Arabella said blissfully.
"Why's she so happy?" Blue whispered to Lily.
"She sits next to Sirius, for a double period," Lily chuckled. Blue covered her mouth to stop herself laughing out aloud.
"Good afternoon class."
"Afternoon Professor Everingham," the whole class chirped at different times. A tall, slender woman stood at the front of the class, her crimson robes a few inches shorter than normal. Her short chestnut brown hair stuck out at odd angles beneath her black-pointed hat and her bony cheeks were dotted with ginger freckles. Everyone who took Astronomy agreed, they couldn't have asked for a better teacher. Very young, yet very experienced, Professor Everingham kept the class entertained for hours with her stories about how she'd played Seeker for Hufflepuff when she was at Hogwarts, or the time her and her friends bewitched Mrs Norris and made her act like a chicken. Everyone always listened with great interest during her lesson, and today was no exception.
"So I hope you've all been studying hard." There was a dismayed pause. Most people were utterly horrified to hear her say anything like that, and as a small smile crossed her lips she said," I'm joking, I'm joking!!" It took the class a few more moments to settle down and Professor Everingham took the time to seat herself, crossed legged on the top of her desk.
"Anyway, I was looking at Mars yesterday and the planetary alignments are quite unique for this time of the season. So my plans that I made at the beginning of the year don't seem to coincide with it. That means we're stuck on Constellations for the moment." There were a few groans and as Professor Everingham slipped off her desk and walked to her bookshelf, she frowned.
"Look, Constellations aren't all that bad. It's just because for the past few lessons I've been droning on about the History, and all those weird people who were obviously hallucinating when they thought up names for those stars." She paused as a few people laughed.
"But I promise you, as soon as we start sky gazing, you'll fall in love with Constellations. We might even get to name a star, that's if it isn't already taken. I did that once, named it after my owl. Then I suddenly got a summons from the Ministry of Magic saying I was being sued. That's one month I want to forget." She resumed her search for a book in her dusty shelf.
"I used to star gaze in India, but I'm on the other side of the world now," Blue whispered to Lily.
"No problem, the Constellations here are easy to learn." Lily said, leaning across James to talk to Blue.
"I hope so." She smiled as Professor Everingham was still searching hopelessly for something.
"Aaaah, here it is," she said slamming the book down on her table.
"A Beginners Guide to Constellations," she read aloud.
"If that's for beginners, I don't want to know what the Expert guide looks like," James said half-heartedly. Lily nudged him in the ribs and he shrugged.
"Right you are Mr Potter, this book is rather, er- thick," she said awkwardly, staring at the bulky leather cover. "But all the same, I learnt a lot from this little beauty." The class looked rather unconvinced as she opened it and began to cough from the protruding dust. She closed it swiftly again before it had the chance to make her cough anymore.
"I'm giving you a rather out-of-the-ordinary assignment. No essays or impractical pieces of parchment that I end up loosing, but a detailed oral presentation on the constellation you get given." There was a tiny murmur of voices, none of them could remember the last time they had been given an oral assignment.
"What are you waiting for, get a partner!" Professor Everingham exclaimed. Before Blue could even look at Lily, her and James were discussing what Constellation they hoped they'd get. She smiled and looked around for another suitable partner.
"So, how d'you think we're going to do this?" Remus said from next to her. He had been so silent that she had completely forgotten about him.
"Depends on what we get," Blue grinned.
"Exactly what I was thinking." They looked at each other before Blue thought of something.
"Remus, remember a few weeks ago you wanted to tell me something, when we were in the hall?" Blue asked him suddenly, and an abrupt remembrance swept his face as he nodded.
"Yeah."
"Well, what were you going to tell me?"
"It's just I-"
"So, partner number one. Remus and co," Professor Everingham said, extending an index finger.
"Later," he whispered as they approached her desk.
"What shall it be?" Professor Everingham said as she pulled her long, mahogany wand out of her robes.
"Revealatium!" she cried, bringing her wand down upon the book. It immediately flipped open and the pages began to turn rapidly. It rose a few inches into the air before stopping suddenly and slamming back onto the table. She peered down into the pages and looked up at them, smiling.
"Gemini!" she yelled, clapping her hands together. "Very nice. Gemini is very easy to see in the nights skies, if you come to me after class I'll give you a few pointers."
"Thank you Professor." Blue said as she turned to walk back to her seat.
"Full moon tonight," she heard Professor Everingham whisper to Remus.
"I know," he said gloomily as Professor Everingham frowned. Blue dismissed the thought as friendly banter and her mind was soon full of thoughts about the project. Astronomy was the last lesson of the day, and Blue had made plans with James to go flying. Besides the whole life threatening thing, Luke couldn't give Blue the one thing she really wanted: a few Quidditch lessons and Blue still needed a few points, so James, being that kind of guy, had kindly agreed. Blue went to meet him at the Quidditch pitch, a little earlier than they had arranged just so she could do a few laps before he arrived. She wasn't bad, but she wasn't brilliant either.
"Hey Blue!" James called as he walked towards her.
"Hi," she managed to call back, a little wearily.
"So, you ready for our Quidditch session?" he said, clapping his hands together.
"I guess. Did you hear about Remus being in the team?" As if someone had switched on a light in James' head, he smiled and nodded.
"Can I be straight with you?" he said suddenly.
"Uh huh."
"It's Remus, the guy thinks about you all day, and probably also at night. I just can't understand why you're not with him."
"It's complicated," Blue said with a guilty pang constantly hitting her heart.
"Of course I understand," James' voice suddenly took on a silent edge, "it would be complicated with him being a werewolf and all."
"What?" Blue's guilty pang stopped and it felt like she had been hit on the head with a very big hammer. All the memories came back to her and suddenly everything made sense. The way Remus had wanted to tell her something so many times, the way he wouldn't turn up for lessons and the way Professor Everingham and him kept in close conversation.
"What do you mean what? Oh god, please don't tell me never knew, please Blue."
"I never knew. But I do now," she squeaked, still reeling in shock.
"I'm the stupidest idiot ever!" James said, hitting himself on the head with his broomstick.
"James, stop it!" Blue said, grabbing the broom from out of his hands.
"It's better this way, it's better that I know."
"Me and my big mouth, I really thought you knew!"
"Remus tried to tell me a few times, but as fate might have it, today was the day." James lay down on the pitch and sighed.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Blue lay down next to him as they both looked up at the bright blue sky.
"Nothing. We're going to keep this between us. Besides, it's not that bad if he was going to tell me anyway." James was silent, which meant he was thinking, and after a good minute he voiced his decision.
"Okay, that seems like a good idea. Just between us then," he said as he stretched out a hand.
"Just between us," Blue repeated as she shook his hand. The clouds seemed motionless in the sky and as Blue and James were enveloped in their guilty pact, no one noticed Snape doing his usually sneaking across the grounds.
*Author's Note* It's been a while, I know, but I moved and I've had hectic work to do. But I did find time to dedicate to my HP fic. Anyway hope you enjoyed, it's getting more and more exciting, I think. PLEASE take a few minutes to read and review…I will be eternally grateful!
"I can't take this anymore!" Arabella shrieked one afternoon, while the three of them were in the library.
"How the heck am I supposed to know, how many stupid pieces of goat's hind to throw into an already stuffed concoction?"
"I just guessed," Blue smiled, half managing to stifle a laugh. But Lily looked up sharply from her Herbology textbook.
"Bella, it's easy, just follow the instructions in your-"
"Excuse me ladies, can I borrow Blue for a sec?" Remus interrupted Lily.
"Sure Remus, go right ahead," Arabella winked. Blue rose slowly from her chair as Remus pulled her behind a bookshelf.
"Hi," he said quickly.
"Hi," Blue replied nonchalantly. "So, any particular reason why you're here?" She swallowed her words as she realised they were exactly what Luke had said to her a few weeks back. Dammit Blue, stop thinking about Luke, she reminded herself.
"Can't a guy not have reason for wanting to talk to a-"
"Friend?" she gave him a mocking look but he grinned.
"I was going to say a Quidditch partner but-"
"What? How?!!"
"Seems that Justin Humphrey and Derek Lombard had quite a nasty Beater accident, and well, you're looking at their replacement," Remus said cheerfully.
"You and who?"
"Sirius, who else?"
"That's so nice, but you didn't try out?" she said suddenly.
"After what happened to Justin and Derek, there weren't many volunteers." Remus gave her a squeamish look, but she was so taken aback by the good news, that she threw her arms around his neck.
"Well done!!" she squealed, he hugged her tightly but when she pulled away to look at him, the awkward silence settled on them.
"Well, I- um, I'll see you later. Tell Sirius I say well done."
"Will do. Good luck with potions." Blue laughed as she turned to walk back to her insufferable workload.
"Oh, and Blue," he called back, "you look really nice today."
"Thanks," she smiled as she felt her face getting peculiarly flushed. She turned away, to grin in peace and before she got back to Lily and Arabella, tried to regain her sombreness.
"And?" Arabella said leaning forward. Lily also managed to look up from her book once again.
"And what?" Blue asked blankly.
"What position's he playing?"
"You were listening!" Blue shrieked.
"Well, it's hard not to when your behind the next bookshelf!" Arabella cried scandalously. Lily nodded matter-of-factly at her side.
"Beater, and Sirius too, but then you'd know if you were eavesdropping properly," she said mockingly.
"Oh don't be such a wet fish," Arabella insisted.
"Yes Blue," Lily added unnecessarily, while she laughed. Blue shook her head as she noticed people starting to drift out the library.
"What do we have now?" Blue asked.
"Well, we have double Astronomy," Lily said to Blue, as she packed her books back into her bag.
"That means I have Muggle Studies," Arabella said blissfully.
"Why's she so happy?" Blue whispered to Lily.
"She sits next to Sirius, for a double period," Lily chuckled. Blue covered her mouth to stop herself laughing out aloud.
"Good afternoon class."
"Afternoon Professor Everingham," the whole class chirped at different times. A tall, slender woman stood at the front of the class, her crimson robes a few inches shorter than normal. Her short chestnut brown hair stuck out at odd angles beneath her black-pointed hat and her bony cheeks were dotted with ginger freckles. Everyone who took Astronomy agreed, they couldn't have asked for a better teacher. Very young, yet very experienced, Professor Everingham kept the class entertained for hours with her stories about how she'd played Seeker for Hufflepuff when she was at Hogwarts, or the time her and her friends bewitched Mrs Norris and made her act like a chicken. Everyone always listened with great interest during her lesson, and today was no exception.
"So I hope you've all been studying hard." There was a dismayed pause. Most people were utterly horrified to hear her say anything like that, and as a small smile crossed her lips she said," I'm joking, I'm joking!!" It took the class a few more moments to settle down and Professor Everingham took the time to seat herself, crossed legged on the top of her desk.
"Anyway, I was looking at Mars yesterday and the planetary alignments are quite unique for this time of the season. So my plans that I made at the beginning of the year don't seem to coincide with it. That means we're stuck on Constellations for the moment." There were a few groans and as Professor Everingham slipped off her desk and walked to her bookshelf, she frowned.
"Look, Constellations aren't all that bad. It's just because for the past few lessons I've been droning on about the History, and all those weird people who were obviously hallucinating when they thought up names for those stars." She paused as a few people laughed.
"But I promise you, as soon as we start sky gazing, you'll fall in love with Constellations. We might even get to name a star, that's if it isn't already taken. I did that once, named it after my owl. Then I suddenly got a summons from the Ministry of Magic saying I was being sued. That's one month I want to forget." She resumed her search for a book in her dusty shelf.
"I used to star gaze in India, but I'm on the other side of the world now," Blue whispered to Lily.
"No problem, the Constellations here are easy to learn." Lily said, leaning across James to talk to Blue.
"I hope so." She smiled as Professor Everingham was still searching hopelessly for something.
"Aaaah, here it is," she said slamming the book down on her table.
"A Beginners Guide to Constellations," she read aloud.
"If that's for beginners, I don't want to know what the Expert guide looks like," James said half-heartedly. Lily nudged him in the ribs and he shrugged.
"Right you are Mr Potter, this book is rather, er- thick," she said awkwardly, staring at the bulky leather cover. "But all the same, I learnt a lot from this little beauty." The class looked rather unconvinced as she opened it and began to cough from the protruding dust. She closed it swiftly again before it had the chance to make her cough anymore.
"I'm giving you a rather out-of-the-ordinary assignment. No essays or impractical pieces of parchment that I end up loosing, but a detailed oral presentation on the constellation you get given." There was a tiny murmur of voices, none of them could remember the last time they had been given an oral assignment.
"What are you waiting for, get a partner!" Professor Everingham exclaimed. Before Blue could even look at Lily, her and James were discussing what Constellation they hoped they'd get. She smiled and looked around for another suitable partner.
"So, how d'you think we're going to do this?" Remus said from next to her. He had been so silent that she had completely forgotten about him.
"Depends on what we get," Blue grinned.
"Exactly what I was thinking." They looked at each other before Blue thought of something.
"Remus, remember a few weeks ago you wanted to tell me something, when we were in the hall?" Blue asked him suddenly, and an abrupt remembrance swept his face as he nodded.
"Yeah."
"Well, what were you going to tell me?"
"It's just I-"
"So, partner number one. Remus and co," Professor Everingham said, extending an index finger.
"Later," he whispered as they approached her desk.
"What shall it be?" Professor Everingham said as she pulled her long, mahogany wand out of her robes.
"Revealatium!" she cried, bringing her wand down upon the book. It immediately flipped open and the pages began to turn rapidly. It rose a few inches into the air before stopping suddenly and slamming back onto the table. She peered down into the pages and looked up at them, smiling.
"Gemini!" she yelled, clapping her hands together. "Very nice. Gemini is very easy to see in the nights skies, if you come to me after class I'll give you a few pointers."
"Thank you Professor." Blue said as she turned to walk back to her seat.
"Full moon tonight," she heard Professor Everingham whisper to Remus.
"I know," he said gloomily as Professor Everingham frowned. Blue dismissed the thought as friendly banter and her mind was soon full of thoughts about the project. Astronomy was the last lesson of the day, and Blue had made plans with James to go flying. Besides the whole life threatening thing, Luke couldn't give Blue the one thing she really wanted: a few Quidditch lessons and Blue still needed a few points, so James, being that kind of guy, had kindly agreed. Blue went to meet him at the Quidditch pitch, a little earlier than they had arranged just so she could do a few laps before he arrived. She wasn't bad, but she wasn't brilliant either.
"Hey Blue!" James called as he walked towards her.
"Hi," she managed to call back, a little wearily.
"So, you ready for our Quidditch session?" he said, clapping his hands together.
"I guess. Did you hear about Remus being in the team?" As if someone had switched on a light in James' head, he smiled and nodded.
"Can I be straight with you?" he said suddenly.
"Uh huh."
"It's Remus, the guy thinks about you all day, and probably also at night. I just can't understand why you're not with him."
"It's complicated," Blue said with a guilty pang constantly hitting her heart.
"Of course I understand," James' voice suddenly took on a silent edge, "it would be complicated with him being a werewolf and all."
"What?" Blue's guilty pang stopped and it felt like she had been hit on the head with a very big hammer. All the memories came back to her and suddenly everything made sense. The way Remus had wanted to tell her something so many times, the way he wouldn't turn up for lessons and the way Professor Everingham and him kept in close conversation.
"What do you mean what? Oh god, please don't tell me never knew, please Blue."
"I never knew. But I do now," she squeaked, still reeling in shock.
"I'm the stupidest idiot ever!" James said, hitting himself on the head with his broomstick.
"James, stop it!" Blue said, grabbing the broom from out of his hands.
"It's better this way, it's better that I know."
"Me and my big mouth, I really thought you knew!"
"Remus tried to tell me a few times, but as fate might have it, today was the day." James lay down on the pitch and sighed.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Blue lay down next to him as they both looked up at the bright blue sky.
"Nothing. We're going to keep this between us. Besides, it's not that bad if he was going to tell me anyway." James was silent, which meant he was thinking, and after a good minute he voiced his decision.
"Okay, that seems like a good idea. Just between us then," he said as he stretched out a hand.
"Just between us," Blue repeated as she shook his hand. The clouds seemed motionless in the sky and as Blue and James were enveloped in their guilty pact, no one noticed Snape doing his usually sneaking across the grounds.
*Author's Note* It's been a while, I know, but I moved and I've had hectic work to do. But I did find time to dedicate to my HP fic. Anyway hope you enjoyed, it's getting more and more exciting, I think. PLEASE take a few minutes to read and review…I will be eternally grateful!