Gwendolyn tried to sleep. She really did. But finally she just gave up. Pushing out of her bed she sighed and then looked to the beds on her right making sure she hadn't woken Raven or Lily. When Lily only sighed and Raven only mumbled something that sounds suspiciously like "tuna casserole" Gwendolyn sighed in relief and opened the trunk at the edge of her bed.
Reaching in she pulled out a box that she had kept hidden, not sure of what people would think if they'd see her wearing her fairy stone which was inside it. She opened the box and saw the stone was glowing. Quickly covering it with her hand she took a quick look around the room before she was certain no one was looking and snuck down into the common room.
Opening her hand she looked at the stone as it glowed brightly. She felt the hairs on her neck rise up and a sudden chill ran down her back. Then she let the stone go completely and it floated in front of her. A sound of music filled the air and then she saw it. It was only a flash, another quick vision like the one she had experience earlier when shaking Remus' hand.
It was just one picture, a wolf underneath the full moon. And when the wolf shifted his eyes to her she saw they were not the evil eyes of a prowling predator. But rather the soft and understanding amber eyes that had smiled at her at earlier…
The vision vanished as fast as it had come and the stone fell from the air and onto the floor in front of her. Gwendolyn found herself shaking from a cold she hadn't noticed until now and was suddenly too tired to stand. Leaning down she quickly picked up the stone and put it around her neck. As she held the stone she finally caught her breath. "Werewolf…" she murmured to herself. "Remus is a werewolf…"
She never noticed the pair of eyes that watched her from the girl's dormitory door. And when Raven was sure she wouldn't notice she slipped the door close and thought for a moment. She had just seen Gwendolyn have a vision. While such things were not uncommon in the wizardry world she wondered why Gwendolyn had kept it a secret. It wasn't something to be ashamed of… was it?
A warm thing rubbed against her leg and Raven nearly squealed when she saw it was only Kismet, Gwendolyn's cat. Leaning down she picked her up and then after petting her gently put her beside the door and opened it so she could get out into the common room. Kismet looked up at her a moment then purred her way through Raven's legs before jauntily walking into the common room and straight to her mistress.
At first Gwendolyn jumped, but when she realized whom it was she happily took Kismet in her arms and then she started to cry. Raven suddenly felt sad for her and slowly closed the door and headed up to her bed. She'd talk to Remus in the morning. He'd know what to do. After all he had a secret like Gwendolyn's and he would know how she was feeling.
Hours later, Gwendolyn wasn't even quite sure how she had made it up to her bed or even when she had finally fallen asleep. But it seemed that only a few seconds after her eyes had drifted closed Raven was there shaking her awake.
"Come on, Gwen! Wake up!"
"Go away until it's decent, Raven." Gwendolyn muttered pulling her pillow over her head and rolling over.
"Gwen, we're going to be late for breakfast. Hurry up before we miss it. " Gwendolyn had barely pulled the pillow off of her head to glare at Raven in time to catch the robe she had tossed at her full in the face.
"Ow!" pushing it away from her face she glared sleepily at Raven who stood with her hands on her hips fully dressed. "All right, all right… I'm up. "
Raven smiled then and walked towards the door. "I'll meet you in the common room. Hurry up and get dressed."
Pushing herself out of bed she dressed and changed in record time all the while muttering about how impatient and bossy Raven Hawkins was. When she had finally managed to tame her hair into some semblance of a ponytail she skipped down the stairs into the common room. And saw that Remus, James, Sirius and Raven waiting for her.
"Ah… good morning everyone…" she said finally and Remus and James smiled at her. Sirius managed to grunt. "Shall we go then? I hope you weren't all waiting for me."
"Nonsense, usually we're waiting for Raven." Remus said good- naturedly as he took Raven's hand. "You've just beaten her sleeping late record."
Raven smiled up at Remus and then she looked at Gwen as they headed out the portal. "It's true, Gwen. And now I'm going to have to kill you."
Gwendolyn stopped as a chill went down her spine. No one had shortened her name since… since Papa had before he died. Mother had loathed having her name shortened. Saying it "was simply not done. Gwendolyn was a fine upstanding name and she would not have her daughter be slandered for a nickname…"
"Gwen? Are you alright?" Raven said stopping and watching her.
"Uh… sorry but did you just call me Gwen?"
"Yeah, it's shorter than Gwendolyn. Not as refined but easier to say. You don't mind do you? I mean I haven't offended you have I?"
"No, no, nothing like that. I just… that is, no one has shortened my name in…" Gwendolyn suddenly wanted to tell Raven the whole story right then and there. About her mother and father but then her eyes met with James, Sirius and Remus' and she lost the courage. "Well… in a very long time. I like it though. Gwen. Come on, we're going to be late for breakfast."
Gwendolyn… that is, Gwen hurried down the stairs mortified and absolutely aware of the four people watching her as she rushed down the stairs to the great hall to a breakfast she knew she would never finish.
Sirius Black was not in love… he could not be in love. He just wasn't hungry and he just hadn't been able to sleep last night because… he was restless. Yeah right!
Okay, I admit it. She's beautiful, she's funny… she's wonderful. I like her. Is that a crime? Really, James and Remus have someone, why shouldn't I? Sirius looked up at Gwendolyn as she sat between Raven and Lily again telling them about the place she had called home. Her face was animated as described the forest that surrounded the small cottage, the mountains, fields and hill…and the cottage itself.
"…and then Kismet slipped right into the bucket of water. Oh you should have heard her yowl. Just splash! She looked like a wet mop for weeks."
Well, no time like the present to get her to like him back. Time to turn on the old Sirius Black charm. "Kismet? Why name your cat Kismet?" he asked cutting Gwendolyn and the girls' laughter short.
"I-It means something or someone who came into your life at a life changing moment."
"Kismet changed your life? How?" this time his tone had changed. He was really interested.
A small smile played along her lips for a moment. "Kismet was a runt. I still remember the way she looked. My world had just turned upside down and it was raining like as if the sky was crying with me. And then I just heard this sound." Her eyes had become distant as if she was remembering. "You know the kind of sound that you're not even sure you hear but you follow it anyway. I opened the door… and here was this little calico fur ball, soaked from the rain. She wasn't even a year yet. All she had to do was look at me with her big green eyes… and I was in love…"
"But how did she change your life?"
"She showed up on my doorstep the day my…" her eyes changed and seemed to become sad and lost but she took deep breath and tried again. "The day something horrible happened. She changed my life and has been my friend ever since. Her name fits. It's who she is."
The whole table around them had gone completely silent watching the play between Sirius and Gwen. Then as if they all realized exactly what they were doing they all began to eat once more and act as if nothing had happened, as if the entire Gryffindor house hadn't heard Gwen's story.
Sirius watched Gwen as she blinked away tears and stared down at her plate and nearly hit himself in the head. Smooth move, Black. Very smooth. First girl you really try to impress and what do you do? You make her cry… Smooth.
Gwen pushed away from the table muttering, "I have to go. I need to… I just have to go. Don't worry about me." She took off and headed towards the girls' bathroom.
Raven looked at him with a withering glare then stood and strode after Gwen with Lily right behind her. And when he sighed and looked down the table at his friends he found them shaking their heads as well.
"What?"
Remus spoke first. "It's just the first time we've seen you mess up when trying to get to know a girl. You're usually smoother than that, Sirius."
"Give me a break. I didn't know she was going to cry."
James and Remus turned to one another as if ignoring him for a moment. "Love does crazy things to a guy. I mean look at you, Remus, you've still got stars in your eyes about Raven." said James craftily as if trying to make sure Sirius didn't hear. But he did.
"I am NOT!"
"Not what?" Remus asked innocently.
Sirius was about to yell but changed his mind and lowered his voice almost threateningly. "I am not in love with her." Then he turned on his heel and strode out of the Great Hall to go who knew where.
James and Remus watched him go then turned to look at one another consideringly. They both nodded. "He's in love," they said together then a gleam came to James' eyes and he grinned mischievously.
"I've got an idea…"