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Chapter 16
Avalynn thought that the Slytherin looked startled by the vehemence in her voice as she declared that Voldemort was her target. To be fair, it wasn't like she had any personal ties to the monster of a wizard. None other than the fact that he was the main tormentor of her favorite book series while growing up. As a fictional character, sure, he sucked, but as an actual, real person? The world would be better off without him. The tears Ava shed while consuming the novels only solidified her need to prevent the future from occurring as it was currently headed. Lily and James would live long, full lives with their son. Sirius and Remus wouldn't be left to suffer alone and haunted by their friends' deaths. Sirius would not be spending twelve years in Azkaban. Harry wouldn't have to live in a cupboard under the stairs or be neglected by his relatives. He could grow up with his family, and no one would be taken from him. Not Sirius. Not Hedwig or Mad-Eye. Not Remus and Tonks. Not Fred. Not to mention all the others that were lost during the Battle of Hogwarts and the First Wizarding War, like Gideon and Fabian Prewett or Regulus. Letting out a shaky breath, Ava turned her attention to Severus.
"Done plotting?" he asked.
"When it comes time, I will tell you everything. And I mean everything. But for now, I just need to be more proficient at magic."
Severus stood from his perch on the sofa and said, "Then I suggest that we get to work," before tilting his head towards the dueling mat that the Room of Requirement had provided for them.
As a warm-up, the Slytherin had Ava perform first year Defense spells, like Locomotor Wibbly, Rictusempra, and Tarantallegra. Of course, the spells never actually landed on the wizard, causing a pout to form on Ava's face each time. What a sight it would be to see him dancing around uncontrollably, or laughing his ass off, she thought. This week, with Kingsley, and on her own, Ava had learned the second-year Defense spells as well, so she practiced casting Flipendo, Incarcerous, a Tripping Jinx, and Colloshoo, which was rather fun to say in her opinion. Once Severus was able to see that the witch could perform each spell correctly, it was time to put those skills into action. Ava's trouble was that she instinctively stood her ground, which became exceedingly difficult as Severus moved around the mat like a spinning top. She hadn't learned any shielding spells yet, so her best chance was to constantly move, duck, twist, or jump to avoid the spells that were flying at her. With sweat dripping into her eyes, Ava shouted, "You're going a lot harder on me this time."
Severus merely raised an eyebrow before firing two spells at her in quick succession. With a squeal of fright, she dove out of the way, ducking her head, only to have him defeat her with an Expelliarmus. "If you truly wish to cast at the level you need to be in order to follow through with your foolish ideas, then I need to be harder on you." As he handed Ava back her wand, he added, "It's the only way you'll learn."
Without waiting for a response, he settled into position to begin again. The witch rolled her eyes. "Just give me a second," she told him, shrugging out of her robes. Sure, she felt kind of like a superhero in a cape with her robes fluttering around her as she dueled, but they were much too hot and cumbersome. Feeling like she could breathe again, Ava turned to Severus, raising her eyebrows and expecting him to do the same.
"I prefer to duel fully clothed, as that is how I will more than likely be dressed if a dangerous situation arises," he said with a blank face. The witch stared at him for a brief moment before letting out an exasperated groan and shoving her arms back into her stifling robes. Even though Severus didn't say anything else, Ava could see the barely concealed smirk from across the room. With a grunt of annoyance, she launched her attack, flinging every spell she had learned at the obnoxious wizard. He dodged and deflected the spells quickly, but Ava's temper flared and she continued casting as she stomped closer and closer to the Slytherin. The rapid fire spells bounced off of Severus' shield with a hiss and sizzle due to the short range in which they were being cast. Noting this side effect, Ava sent red sparks flying into his shield, causing a light layer of smoke to form in front of her opponent. Seizing her chance, the Gryffindor ran to the side of the wizard and cast Expelliarmus, with her hand outstretched, expecting his wand to make an appearance. Confused, Ava frowned at her hand and then looked up to see that the smoke had cleared, revealing Severus with a bored look about him.
With a sigh, he explained, "While your speed and…determination are commendable, you were still only throwing simple spells at me, Ava. And your magical strength should increase as your skills do." The witch crossed her arms and a slight pout formed on her face. "Every now and then, I suspect that those lower year spells would come in handy, purely for their unexpected use in a duel, but it's going to be quite some time before you're able to best me. If you ever get to my level of expertise, that is," he finished with not so subtle smirk. Knowing that she couldn't take him by surprise with magic, Ava settled for giving him a good smack on the arm, drawing an undignified yelp from the wizard who was now rubbing his arm and glaring at her.
Deciding to take a water break, the witch mentally asked the Room for some water, and in the next second a pitcher full of ice water and two glasses appeared on the coffee table. After drinking their first glasses in comfortable silence, Ava hesitantly asked, "So, how much, um, interaction have you had with Voldemort and his followers?"
The Slytherin's dark eyes glazed over and he muttered, "Enough to know that the future you paint isn't exactly far-fetched." Ava gulped and didn't dig any further, as she wasn't sure that she really wanted to know the details. After another minute, the pair continued dueling, but they would pause every now and then, with Severus giving Ava critique on her body movement or spell casting. Ava proved herself to Severus as a quick learner since her spell casting was forcing him to duck and dodge out of her way towards the end of their session. Soon, they were both panting and exhausted, so the wizard and witch sat down to work on the intellectual level of magic. Ava focused on reviewing for the third-year Charms test, as well as the second-year Defense test, the two subjects she seemed to excel at. Severus spent his time pondering over potential alterations to the pain potion that would eliminate the ingredients that Ava was being over-exposed to and contemplated ingredients that would have longer lasting effects, considering that their first experiment from last week hadn't lasted any longer than the ones from Pomfrey, according to Ava.
Upon hearing a loud grumble from Ava's stomach, the academically absorbed pair realized it was dinner time. Severus began to pack up his schoolbag, but Ava stopped him. "The Room can conjure what we need, remember?" The Slytherin looked at her skeptically. A moment later, a small table appeared, fully set for two people. "See?" Ava said with a smile. Walking over to the table, the wizard could see that the food closely resembled the food they would usually be served in the Great Hall. Noticing Severus' face, Ava said, "You can't just create food, right? But you can certainly take food that already exists." She sat down and prepared to eat, gesturing for the Slytherin to do the same.
Severus chewed his first bite cautiously and said, "It tastes normal."
Ava laughed. "Of course it does. You may not be familiar with this room, but it's still a part of the same castle that you've been living in for the past seven years. Hogwarts would never hurt her students." After this statement, their attention was drawn to the fireplace when the wood suddenly crackled and the fire flared up momentarily, causing a wave of warmth to settle over them. Severus' eyes were wide, but Ava tossed her head back and laughed joyfully. "I love magic!" she exclaimed. Noticing the wizard's expression blended between fright and confusion, she said, "You know the castle is sentient, right?"
Shaking his head, and brushing nonexistent dust from his shoulder, he said, "Of course, I do." Ava kept smiling, but stayed silent as she continued to eat her meal. For the rest of the meal, the witch allowed Severus to work through the problems they faced with the pain potion aloud, so that he could best organize his thoughts for the potion they would create after dinner that night. Indeed, once they had finished their meal, the pair packed up their schoolbags and headed towards the door. Ava stopped abruptly, turned back to the room and said, "Thank you for a lovely evening," before turning to Severus with her brows raised expectantly.
He cleared his throat. "Yes, thank you," he repeated. Almost in unison, Ava beamed at him and the room unleashed a wave of warmth directed towards them. With a happy sigh, Ava turned back towards the door, holding it open behind her for Severus, and they proceeded down to the Potions lab.
They were nearly to the dungeons when Ava paused in the middle of the corridor with an "Uh-oh," and began to rummage through her bag. Before Severus could ask what was wrong, the witch pulled out a potion vial, popped the cork, and downed it in a big gulp. She wiped off the remnants of the liquid that lingered on her lips and placed the glass bottle into her bag with shaky hands. Ava caught the wizard's look of concern before he schooled his features into a blank face once more. Without a word, he turned to continue on their way to the lab. Once there, the witch watched closely as Severus prepared the work table, hoping that someday soon she'd be able to sit for the first-year Potions exam. This time, he requested that Ava accompany him to the store room and help him collect the ingredients. The windowless room was cold and musty as the rest of the dungeons were, but some of the potions must have had particularly strong scents because something was definitely funky in there. With her nose wrinkled in disgust, Ava asked, "Is that smell normal?" The future Potions Master returned her question with a mere look of condescension, causing the witch to roll her eyes. As Severus picked out containers of various ingredients, he told Ava what each was and how it was to help with their potion. Just a few minutes later, they returned to the work table, and were about to begin preparing the ingredients when Severus noticed Ava trying and failing to steady her trembling hand that was currently holding a knife.
"I swear, I don't mean any offense, Ava, but it would be for the best if you let me handle the ingredients and potion tonight," he told her while looking at her twitching hand pointedly. The witch sighed before setting down the knife and taking a seat on the stool across from the Slytherin. "I'll still explain what I'm doing for each step and why, so pay attention." Severus then asked Ava to recall the name and use of each ingredient as he prepared it for the potion. She got two of the ingredients uses mixed up, but had the names correct. However, that achievement only deemed her worthy enough for a single nod of approval from her wise tutor. Once the base of the potion began brewing, the wizard decided to continue quizzing Ava on the information learned in first-year Potions. He was seemingly satisfied with her responses because once finished, he said, "Now, all you need is the ability to brew the first-year potions and you'll be set to take the exam."
Unable to contain herself, Ava launched herself off the stool with a squeal and wrapped up the Slytherin in a hug. After a moment's hesitation, the Gryffindor could feel reluctant arms returning her embrace. A hand pat her back a few times before Severus pulled away from her. "You needn't do that for each school year of Potions that you accomplish," he told Ava wearily. Her lack of response except for a smile was rather telling, causing the wizard to roll his eyes at her typical sentimental Gryffindor antics. Severus then returned to the potion and added more ingredients, stirring a specific direction each time, explaining that it determines the way that the ingredients interact with each other. Once the potion was ready to simmer for an hour and a half, he looked to Ava before asking, "Would you like to continue dueling?" Based on the broad grin that lit up the witch's face and that she leapt out of her seat and stood in a fighting stance in mere seconds, Severus shook his head in amusement and placed a protective spell around the cauldron and work station. He too stood, gave Ava of nod of readiness, and the pair commenced their duel.
Throughout the time that Avalynn had spent with Severus, one hot-headed Sirius Black was losing his patience. He was tired of just missing Ava. He had fully intended on skipping class before dinner, and was tracking Ava alongside that slimy git, Snape, when they both suddenly disappeared from the map. He had taken his eyes off of the parchment for a split second because the staircase he was on decided to start moving, and when he looked back down at the map, they were gone! He searched the entire castle through the magical parchment and couldn't locate the pair anywhere. Pissed off that Ava was spending time with the Slytherin and not himself and the other Marauders, he returned to class, but resolved to find Ava during dinner. However, before heading into the Great Hall for the evening meal, Sirius pulled off to the side with James and their eyes roved over the map before determining that Ava was still no where to be found. After dinner, Remus and James, and of course Peter, who sided with the majority of their group when they were divided, convinced Sirius to stay in the Gryffindor Tower and at least finish his homework that was due the next morning before he went looking for Avalynn again. He hurried through his two essays for Charms and Potions, then took the map out on his own. Peter and Remus didn't seem to care enough about Ava's whereabouts to accompany him and James was too whipped by his Lily flower to allow his academics to be push to the wayside. Pausing right outside the portrait of the Fat Lady, Sirius scoured the map, looking for Ava. His surge of victory was doused when he noticed who Ava was with. Snape. In the Potions lab. A look of confusion overcame his face when he noticed that their names seemed to be dancing around each other, but he shook his head and raced down to the dungeons at break-neck speed.
Wiping sweat from her brow, a red-faced Ava tried to catch her breath before her eyes widened at the glowing, red spell headed straight for her face. She ducked to the floor and somersaulted to the side, throwing Flipendo at Severus as she popped back up from the ground. Unfortunately, she missed, but her attention was drawn elsewhere when the Potions lab door slammed open, revealing Sirius with wild eyes and a heaving chest, wand at the ready. Due to his unexpected entrance, Ava was distracted enough to miss the second spell of red sparks being sent at her. She turned to question Sirius, catching the spell directly in the back. With a startled yelp, she glanced back at Severus over her shoulder to throw him a menacing glare. With her face turned, Ava missed the fury that overcame Sirius' face before he stormed past her, heading directly towards her dueling partner. As soon as Ava realized that Sirius probably intended to pummel the Slytherin, she took a running leap and jumped onto the Animagus' back, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around him. "Stop, Sirius!" she shouted.
"Argh, Ava! Get off," he growled, trying to shake her from his body.
"No! Not until you calm down and listen, you little punk," she exclaimed while tightening her grip.
Sirius stilled for a moment. "Did you just call me a 'little punk'?" he asked with a tone of shock before he resumed his thrashing.
Ava could see Severus in front of them trying his hardest not to laugh. She rolled her eyes before responding to Sirius. "Yes, I did, Sirius Orion Black. Because you are. A. Little. Punk." To punctuate each word, Ava flicked the stubborn Gryffindor's ear, forcing several yelps of pain from his mouth before he ceased his movement. Both Sirius and Ava had chests heaving from their exertion and were breathing heavily, but there was no mistaking the muffled chuckles coming from across the room.
"Why, you little.." Sirius began as he raised his wand in the Slytherin's direction.
"Wait, Sirius!" Ava yelled just as Severus cast Expelliarmus, securing Sirius' wand in his hand. "Severus!" the witch griped as she slid down Sirius' back.
"Severus?" the Animagus repeated quietly as Ava stepped in between him and the Slytherin.
"Yes, Severus. He's my friend, Sirius," Ava said with her hands on her hips before turning to approach the other wizard with her hand held open. Severus huffed and rolled his eyes, but handed over Sirius' wand. The witch stomped back over to the agitated Gryffindor, who had his hand extended, expecting Ava to return his wand, but she kept it. "Now, what did you think you were doing? Barging in here like that?"
Sirius let his hand drop as well as his jaw. "What?" His eyes flickered back and forth between the Slytherin and Ava. "But I..he..and you," he sputtered out with a tone of indignation.
Ava pinched the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes and looked up. With a sigh, she told him, "Sirius, if you would slow down for once in your life, and ask questions, rather than jump into action without thought, you would know that not only are Severus and I friends, but we were dueling. For practice." She beseeched him with her blue eyes to try and understand.
Sirius took a deep breath and grumpily asked, "So why'd he hex you with your back turned?"
Ava's eyes narrowed. "You came crashing through the door, dummy. I wouldn't have had my back turned if you hadn't made an appearance in such a manner. And besides, it was just those red sparks that second-years learn."
"And you guys have dueled before, I take it?"
Ava nodded firmly before giving him a small smile. "I'm actually getting a lot better with his help too."
Dropping his voice to a whisper, Sirius asked, "Is he teaching you dark spells?" He paused. "Well, you wouldn't know, you're too new to magic."
With a scoff, Severus spoke up for the first time since the brash Gryffindor's appearance. "I wouldn't underestimate her, Black."
"Oh, yeah? And what do you know Snivellus?" Sirius sneered.
Ava let out a rather animalistic groan of frustration and flung her arms out. "I can't take this!" she screamed as she glared back and forth between the boys. "I can't! It's too much! I've got so much other shit to deal with right now and I can't be bothered or distracted by your stupid bullshit." With her arms crossed, Ava glanced between Sirius and Severus. "As much as it may pain the two of you, I need both of you." She looked at the stone floor, feeling tears pricking her eyes. "At least, I would like to have you both in my corner. This would all be a lot easier." She sniffled and wiped the tears from her face. "Everyone that I am choosing to surround myself with is a good person and they will help with my cause whether you want to believe it or not." Ava could see someone's shoes and robe come into view, but she refused to look up. The person grabbed her chin and gently pulled it up. Gray eyes looked into her own, and Sirius held the sides of her face, wiping away the tears that fell with his thumbs. "Please, Sirius," she pleaded softly.
His face softened as he sighed. "I'll try," he whispered before pulling Ava into a hug. She hugged him back fiercely, having missed her goofy friend the past week and feeling immense relief with him on her side.
Across the room, Severus cleared his throat, causing the two Gryffindors to break apart. "If it helps convince him, you can explain what we're doing here in the first place," he told Ava.
"Oh! Of course, thank you," Ava said. She turned to look up at Sirius and opened her mouth to explain, but then paused and began to wring her fingers. "Remember the oath I had you take?" He looked at Ava with wide eyes before flicking his gaze to the Slytherin and back. "Severus took the same one." Sirius let out a long breath with raised brows. "He knows what you know. Everything about how I'm not from here and everything about my soulmate connection with Remus."
The Gryffindor wizard began pacing with this new information. "Okay. But he can't tell anyone, right?" he clarified. "You're not going to tell anyone?" he directed to the Slytherin with a pointed finger. Thankfully, Severus merely shook his head.
"Right, he can't tell anyone anything, but he wouldn't anyway. He's on our side," Ava said.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Sirius grumbled.
"Well, that's why I'm going to tell you about the experimental potion we're working on here," the witch said.
Sirius stopped in his pacing and walked over to the work station, peering into the cauldron. "Is it some sort of potion that will help you get home?"
"What?" Ava asked, bewildered. She glanced at Severus quickly. "No, it's um, a new pain potion." At the wizard's look of confusion, she continued. "We're, well, Severus really, is trying to create a stronger potion, but without bad side effects because the one I'm currently using isn't really working anymore. I'm taking it three, usually four times a day, and—" His jaw dropped, causing Ava to pause.
"Are you having any overdose side effects?" Sirius asked her with concern, looking her over.
Severus raised his eyebrows. "I'm surprised that you're intelligent enough to work that out all by yourself, Black."
Ava elbowed him hard in the ribs. "Quit provoking him."
The Slytherin rolled his eyes and then proceeded to tell Sirius the symptoms that Ava was experiencing and even went on to explain how the new potion shouldn't have those same effects.
"See?" Ava looked at Sirius with hopeful eyes.
The Animagus looked between the witch and Severus with narrowed eyes. "Yeah, I suppose. But we'll see if he stays on our side."
The Slytherin opened his mouth to retort, but Ava cut him off. "Thank you, Sirius. That's all I'm asking for." She placed her hand on the Gryffindor's arm and gave him a gentle squeeze of appreciation.
"So, what now?" he asked.
"The potion will be complete in just a moment, and then we can test it," the future Potions Master said as he left the lab.
Sirius looked to Ava and she grumbled, "He's probably going to get a test rat."
The Animagus let out a bark of laughter, causing the witch to glare at him in annoyance. "Ava, those 'rats' are just transfigured pieces of junk. They aren't real animals."
She frowned and asked, "But, even if they're transfigured from something else, wouldn't that include creating the same anatomy as an actual rat?"
"Indeed," Severus replied as he walked back into the lab holding a small cage. "So, yes Ava, they have nerve endings like real rats."
The witch narrowed her eyes at Sirius. "That's not funny. I don't take pleasure in submitting these little guys to testing, but Severus reminded me that it's better than potentially dying. However, I have faith enough in his potions skills that none of our experiments will hurt them."
"Oh, c'mon Ava. They were just turned into rats, they're not real rats," the Gryffindor said.
She raised her brows at Sirius. "Oh? How about we get Peter down here and use him instead? After all, he's just turning into a rat, he's not an actual rat." Ava turned her attention to Severus and under her breath, added, "Even though he may act like one." Realizing what she had just said, Ava resolutely ignored Sirius' questioning gaze, giving all of her attention to the Slytherin and the experimental potion.
After siphoning some of the new potion and encouraging the rat to consume it, Severus turned to Ava and said, "Now, I'll monitor its health for the next twenty-four hours. If it proves to be safe, then you can take this potion instead of the one from Pomfrey the next time you feel an episode coming on."
"So, he knows about that too?" Sirius asked.
Severus scoffed. "It's difficult not to when she collapsed right in front of me," he stated while giving the girl a slight glare.
Ava looked to the floor before saying, "I am sorry, Severus. You know I didn't mean to scare you." Regardless of the other Gryffindor's presence, it seemed that the Slytherin couldn't help but have his anger tempered by the true remorse in Ava's voice. She looked up to see his facial features soften before he gave her a nod. Breaking the emotional moment that no doubt left Severus feeling exposed, she said, "Well, we should all probably head to bed. I know I've got to shower and get some more studying in. Aunt Minerva said that I could take the third-year Charms and second-year Defense exams this weekend if I felt ready enough for them."
As the Slytherin packed up his schoolbag, he reminded Ava, "Do try and get to sleep without wearing down your magical core," before heading out the lab, leaving Sirius staring at Ava in curiosity.
The witch sighed as she shouldered her bag and moved towards the door. "Apparently, one of the side effects I've been having is not being able to get to sleep." Checking over her shoulder to make sure the Gryffindor was following, she continued, "So, I've been practicing spells until I feel exhausted enough to actually sleep."
Walking in step with the witch, Sirius groaned. "I'm assuming the greasy git explained why you can't be doing that?" Ava smacked him on the arm, hard. "Oi! What was that for?"
"Don't talk about Severus like that," she replied primly.
Rubbing his arm, he said, "Alright, alright. I'll try harder not to. But I reserve the right to when he turns on us."
Deciding to not get into an argument, Ava let that comment slide. She slowed to a stop as they came upon the staircase the Animagus would need to return to Gryffindor Tower. "So, I'll see you tomorrow?"
Flashing her a smile, Sirius said, "You're not getting rid of me yet, milady. A gentleman escorts witches to their quarters." He held out an arm for Ava to take.
Laughing, Ava took his arm. "Oh, so you're a gentleman now? I'll believe it when I see it," she said, throwing his words back at him.
The wizard rolled his eyes. "Are we going to talk about how you've been avoiding us, especially me and Prongs?"
She squeezed his arm and said, "I'm sorry. I just think it might be for the best if I don't hang around you guys all the time."
Sirius stopped walking, slightly jerking on her arm in order to bring her to a halt. "Ava, you haven't seen us at all this entire week, and I certainly don't count when James and I had to corner you outside the Kitchens."
Ava closed her eyes and sighed. "I just…"
"What?"
"I just don't know what to do, Sirius."
He untangled himself from Ava's arm and wrapped his own around her shoulders. "That's when you rely on your friends. So, what happened with Remus?"
She looked up at Sirius with some fire returning to her defeated eyes. "My stupid magic somehow took control of my body and made me get all lovey-dovey over Remus and I literally almost couldn't stop myself with you not there. I was going to kiss him!" By the time she finished, Ava was shouting.
The wizard looked at her in surprise for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Basically, your magic wants you to shag Moony."
Tossing his arm off of her shoulders and stomping her foot with her arms crossed, Ava shouted, "It's not funny, Sirius." But he was laughing too hard to reply, clutching his sides while struggling to breathe. "Stop laughing! My magic is trying to force me to have sex with Remus."
But her words had the opposite effect, and the Animagus only laughed harder. "Oh, yes. You poor witch," he managed to wheeze out.
The witch's angry and stern demeanor was beginning to crack the longer she watched the amused wizard. She rolled her eyes, "C'mon, Sirius. It's slightly funny, but it's really not when you think about the fact that my body is being controlled." She dropped her voice, "I can imagine that's what the Imperious Curse feels like." That thought sobered up the wizard, and he looked at her curiously. "Well, I get and warm and fuzzy, and my only thoughts are about Remus and getting closer to him and it doesn't seem like a bad idea at all, even though that's not what I actually think. All he did was touch me and I started to practically come onto him."
"So, that's what set your magic off? He touched you? How?"
Ava let out an exasperated breath. "He was being all caring and nice, per usual. He touched my hand when he saw that I was upset when you and James didn't show up to breakfast."
"Oh, Ava. We're both very sorry. If we had known.."
"But you didn't, and I shouldn't have blamed you. I was just still so upset. I'm sorry," she told him.
Sirius slung his arm around her again. "I'm sure Prongs will get over it as soon as you let him know that." They began walking towards the McGonagalls' quarters once more. "What do you need from the Marauders and me, Ava?"
The witch took several moments to think before she spoke. "I can't be with Remus by myself. I don't trust myself enough to do that." She looked over to see Sirius nodding. "I really need you guys to cool it with the whole 'Oh, Slytherins are all evil, stay away from them' thing." Indignation flashed across Sirius' face, but Ava held up her hand. "Seriously," she began, before giving him a look. "You and James need to accept the fact that I'm friends with Severus and Regulus and there may be more Slytherins that come along that I'll befriend too. Just think about everything I've said since my arrival and decide whether or not you can trust me, Sirius. Not right this second, but think on it." She looked directly into his eyes as she spoke her last sentence. "If you can't trust me, then we can't be friends."
Ava thought the Animagus was going to argue with her, but he simply nodded and his next statement surprised her. "You know, if you need any help getting potions ingredients, the Potters wouldn't mind at all. Who knows? There could be some rare plant or something that could help."
The witch's face brightened at that thought. "That would be awesome."
Sirius smiled at her response. "Really, Ava. Just tell us what you need, and we'll do it. But no shutting us out. Also, if you're really up for dueling, I happen to be one of the best Defense students of our year."
"Oh, yeah?" Ava asked with a knowing smile.
"Definitely. If you practice with me, you'll be wiping the floor with Sniv-Snape in no time," he said.
The witch bumped his shoulder in a friendly manner. "I'd like to practice with you. I'll probably be in third-year Defense classes this week, so Aunt Minerva will see that I need to start practicing with you guys. But I won't be able to do it all the time. I still have to study for all the other classes you know."
Sirius rolled his eyes as they approached the door to Ava's quarters. "Yes, witch, I'm aware. We've got our own things to do too you know." Ava raised an eyebrow, prompting him to add, "You know, homework, Quidditch, pranks and such."
With a light laugh, Ava said, "I actually haven't seen a single prank from you famous Marauders since I've been here."
"We'll just have to change that, won't we?" Sirius asked with a smirk. He took Ava's hand and bowed, saying "Goodnight, milady. I will see you tomorrow."
Ava smiled. "Yes, you'll see me tomorrow. Why don't you and James pick me up here?"
"Sure," the wizard replied before heading down the corridor. He threw a wave and a smile over his shoulder right before turning the corner.
Even though Ava returned his smile, she sighed. While the witch was ecstatic to have Sirius' vote of confidence, for now, she was most definitely not looking forward to facing Remus again. After entering her quarters and taking a seat at the small dining table, Ava put her head in her hands with a groan. Not only was she concerned about her magic potentially controlling her body, but the last time she spoke to the werewolf, she practically snarled at him. She wasn't sure she'd ever be able to live down that embarrassment.
