CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE A Confession
Once Ophelia was released from the infirmary, she and Sirius spent most nights together studying for the OWLs.
As each week passed, the tests got closer and their studying became more intense.
The fifth year students found themselves with only two OWLs left to take; the following afternoon they would take Defence Against the Dark Arts and a few hours later would finish with Astronomy.
It was a late night and James, Sirius, Remus and Pete were in the quiet Gryffindor common room, studying as they had for what felt like an eternity.
Every few minutes Sirius would quickly glance across the room.
"Okay Padfoot?" asked Pete. "What's going on?"
"What do you mean?" he frowned.
"He means that your head will fall off if you continue spinning round at this rate." Remus explained. "Why do you keep looking over there?"
Sirius closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I like a girl and I want to ask her on a date."
"Who is it?" asked Worm.
Sirius remained silent.
"She can't be that bad." laughed Remus. "At least it couldn't be my sister."
He didn't answer.
"It's not Phe... right?"
Sirius looked up. "It's Phe."
James tried to suppress a laugh. All four looked over to where Ophelia and Lily were sitting.
"You can't date her, she's my baby sister!" Remus cried.
"Keep your voice down! She doesn't know yet."
"She doesn't even like you!"
"I don't know." James chuckled. "I think she might."
"Really?" he brightened.
They looked over once again, but this time they found her looking back, Sirius in particular. She blushed and hastily turned back to her reading.
Remus set his jaw. "You can have your pick of any girls at Hogwarts. Why does it have to be Phe?"
"I can't explain it, really. I just do."
He frowned. "Well, c-can't you... stop liking her?"
"You don't think I've tried?"
"Wait. Just how long has this been going on?"
"Nothing has been going on, but if you're referring to me.. seeing Phe as more than a friend, well then I don't know."
"How long?" repeated Remus.
"Since the first of September." he replied quietly.
"It would have happened sooner or later Moony." said James quickly. "If it wasn't Sirius it would have been some other wizard."
"I don't understand; you used to hate Phe."
"I never hated Phe! I used to love teasing her, come to think of it I still do," Sirius smiled fondly. "But we were kids. A lot has changed since then. When I see her now, I--"
Remus leapt to his feet, knocking back his chair. "Stop right there, Black." he shouted, his wand pointed squarely at his friend's chest. "I don't want to hear any more of this."
Sirius raised his hands in front of him. The entire room was watching them now.
"Moony, put down your wand and go up to the dorm now." said James, in a very authoritative tone. "You too, Sirius. Start walking."
They all stood up, and slowly made their way upstairs.
Once there, James sent them to their separate corners. "Alright, we're going to deal with this tonight."
"Need I remind you that we have two OWLs tomorrow?" sighed Remus.
"All the more incentive to get this sorted through." grinned James. "Alright, so as I was saying, this would have happened sooner or later, and you should be thankful that it's your best friend Sirius rather than... what was the name of that git who left after First Year... Cole Reid, that was his name. Wonder what happened to him?"
"He transferred to some American school." said Pete.
"Oh well, good for him." James cleared his throat. "Anyways. You're not looking at the bright side, Moony."
"The only thing I can think of right now is my best mate trying to...."
"What exactly do you think I'm doing?" cried Sirius.
"I can only see bad things coming from this. You breaking my sister's heart and... destroying what's taken ten years to build."
"I'm not planning on breaking her heart."
"What are you planning on then?" asked Remus.
"I don't know. I'm trying to get through this first."
A knock sounded at the door and a moment later Ophelia entered.
"What's going on? The entire common room is now convinced that you're up here killing each other." she said. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes." answered James quickly.
She nodded, casting a nervous glance to Sirius, who was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.
"Sir... you okay?"
He looked up, smiling. "Yeah. Thanks Phe."
"Yes well, it's not that I don't enjoy these little moments of ours, but why have you graced us with your presence?" said Remus, eager for her to leave.
"Speak for yourself, I know Pete and James and Sirius love my company."
"Ah, we do." smirked James.
"Thank you Prongs. I came to tell you all that I was talking to Professor Flitwick after the exam today and--"
"Why were you talking to Flitwick today?" asked Pete.
Her cheeks turned pink. "Well, we were arranging when we would meet over the summer.."
"You're seeing a teacher? Out of school?" James howled.
"Well yes, anyways. He let slip one of the standard questions on the Defence OWL."
"Well?"
"He said there will be a question on identifying the werewolf. And I know that has always been a.. weakness of yours, so study hard big brother." she winked.
"Thanks Phe." Sirius smiled. Remus looked over at his side of the room.
"You're welcome. Er, are you sure there's nothing wrong? Because I'm sure if I really tried I could find out what it is."
"We're fine, Ophelia. Could you please leave now?" said Remus.
"Fine. I hope when you wake up tomorrow Remus, you're less of a prat." she replied, slamming the door behind her.
"Did you see the way she looked at him?" James began. "And you don't think anything good could come from that?"
Remus took a deep breath. "If it turns out that you've caused her one second of pain... I will come after you."
"You sound just like her." grinned Sirius.
"What are you talking about?"
"Those were her words when we told her we knew about you being a werewolf."
He thought for a moment. "Then you know how serious I am."
James brought them forward. "Now you have to shake hands."
"Why?"
"I don't know, that's just what you do. Now shake."
The two friends slowly shook hands.
Lily rummaged through her bag and withdrew a deck of cards.
"Study break?" Ophelia asked cheerfully.
"I made some cue cards."
She groaned. "Fine, hand them here. Let's start with Defence, list the physical characteristics of the pogrebin."
"Er.. it has a grey body and is covered in hair." she replied uncertainly.
"And why is it considered a dark creature?"
"The pogrebin makes people fell hopeless and depressed and then once they have given up all hope they eat them."
She nodded. "Two points for Lily. How many heads does a runespoor have and what animal does it most resemble?"
"A three-headed snake."
"What month is Orphuicus best seen at?"
"July?"
"Yep. And Eridanus?"
"December."
Ophelia shuffled through the next few cards. "Alright. Well it seems you have everything under con--"
"No Phe! There is still so much we have to cover!" cried Lily.
She looked over to where the Marauders were sitting. Sirius was facing her, much to her happiness, and every few moments she sneaked a glance.
Lily slapped her hand. "Stop that! Need I remind you that we are in the middle of our OWLs?"
"I know, but it's so hard." she whined. "I mean, just look at him; sitting there... I don't think anyone else looks as good in there robes as him."
"Oh this is getting sad. I kind of wish you were still in denial." she groaned.
"I'm glad I've seen the light." giggled Ophelia, throwing another look to Sirius. But the and the rest of the table were staring back at her, the same weird, emotionless expression plastered on their faces.
"Oh Zeus." she hissed, turning back to her work. "That was too embarrassing."
"Serves you right." said Lily, pushing the cue cards back into her hands. "Now lets go again."
"Fine. Besides Adhara, Aludra, Mirzam and Wezen, what other star completes the Canis Major constellation?"
"Siri-- that's not funny, Phe."
Ophelia laughed. "I wasn't making it up, you wrote it yourself."
"And it just happened to be the next question in the pile?"
"Yes."
"Right. I'm sure."
"Stop right there, Black!" hollered Remus, pointing his wand at Sirius. "I don't want to hear any more of this."
James rose to his feet, and a few moments later, the four of them filed up the stairs.
"What the hell was that about?" asked Lily.
Ophelia shrugged. "No idea."
"Maybe you should go up there."
"No. I'm helping you study." she shuffled the deck. "What are the physicals characteristics of the... Lily, tell me you didn't put that in."
"It's good to review!" she protested.
"Which reminds me, Professor Flitwick and I are meeting at the Three Broomsticks next month."
"What for? Are you going over work for next term?"
"No, we're beginning a friendship outside of Hogwarts." she explained. "He's such a nice man that I want to get to know him better."
"That's.. odd. But I wish you luck with that."
Ophelia put the cards down on the table and stood up. "Alright, my curiosity's gotten the better of me. I'll be right back."
When she returned, she was frowning like mad.
"What's wrong?"
"Stupid Remus thinks he's so great." she huffed. "I'm done studying. I'm going to bed."
"No you can't! We still have so much work to do." cried Lily.
Ophelia took her friends face in her hands. "Lily, it's almost midnight. We need rest. And I have no doubt that you will get no less than an E on both OWLs, alright?"
She smiled. "Okay, we can go to bed. Just think, in twenty-six hours we'll be done!"
"That's great." said Ophelia, forcing a smile.
She couldn't shake the feeling that Remus and the others were hiding something from her. She was going to find out what was going on.
Only it would have to wait until after the OWLs.
