Author's note: I don't own Harry Potter or its characters. Please do not sue me. This story is set in 2051.

Morning Consequences

The next morning, Siri was awakened by Petra bouncing on her bed. The girl groaned and buried her face in her pillow. Unlike her cousin, she was not a morning person.

"Breakfast time!"

"Go away." Siri's voice was slightly muffled by the pillow.

"Come on, sleepy."

"Go. To. Hell."

"I'll get water."

Siri sat up and pointed an accusing finger at Petra. "You are an evil, evil person."

Kate laughed from the next bed over. "You sound like my sisters. Are you sure you're not twins?"

"Nope." Petra grinned, getting off Siri's bed. "Just cousins."

"Ah."

Siri pulled on her school clothes and tied back her hair with a ribbon before glaring at Petra.

"Let's go," she growled.

The three girls headed down to the great hall. There were several free seats around Remus who was already at the Gryffindor table. Once again his nose was buried in a book, and he had what looked like a mug of hot chocolate in one hand.

"Mind if we sit here?" Petra asked.

"Hn."

"Why, Siri, he sounds just like you do in the morning."

Siri had taken the seat opposite of Remus and had gotten her hands on a mug of hot chocolate. "Hn."

"I rest my case."

Several minutes later the chocolate taken effect on Siri, waking her up. She promptly hit the back of Petra's head. "There's no need to insult Remus. And stop being so disgustingly cheerful."

"Have you looked at our schedules yet?"

"No."

"Back to one syllable answers, I see. All our double classes are with Slytherins. It baffles me that even after all these years, Gryffindors and Slytherins are always put together. It never has ended well."

"Petra, they'll never learn, if over fifty years of pranks and fights haven't taught them, nothing will." Kate laughed. "Hey, the mail's here."

Owls of all shapes and sizes flew in dropping off letters and packages. Siri's barn owl dropped the letter on the girl's plate then stayed to nibble at Siri's fingers and then her toast. The girl laughed and ruffled the bird's feathers. Jareth had been a birthday gift from Petra, and Siri had named him after her favorite character from a book Petra's mother had given her. Petra owned the bird's mate.

Siri took the letter and opened it. She was very still as she read it over. Petra noticed her friend's knuckles go white as she carefully folded the letter and put it in her pocket.

"Siri?"

"Yes Petra." Her voice was too calm.

"Siri."

"My parents are displeased that I saw fit to let myself be sorted into Gryffindor. However, I have the opportunity to redeem myself by doing well in classes and making the right type of friends."

"Oh Siri."

"Leave it, Petra."

"How did they know?" Kate asked softly.

It was Remus who replied. "Her sister. The older Slytherin with the pale green hair ribbon, I think."

"Yes, that's Polaris."

"Siri?"

The girl smiled for the first time since reading the letter. "I'll deal. What's our first class?"

"Transfiguration."

"I'll see you there. Save me a seat?" With that Siri was gone.

Both Kate and Remus turned to Petra. It was Kate who spoke, "Will she be all right?"

Petra sighed. "I think so. It wasn't a howler. I think she just went off to get over it before class, I think. She'll deal. She always does."

"Are you sure?" Kate asked.

"She'll be fine. As soon as Siri does well on a test or an important assignment, it will be forgotten. Probably." Petra knew the pattern fairly well. Siri's parents were strict to the extreme, but they did care about their youngest daughter.

"Okay then. We'd better go to class and save her a seat."

Petra nodded, following Kate out of the hall. It really was the only thing they could do for Siri however much Petra wished she could do more.

xtotalltyatpeacex – I'm glad you like it. This is only my second HP fic. As for Siri and Remus, that issue will probably come up later.