Chapter 32: Chess

"Did you sleep with him?"

Cressida stares wide-eyed up at Andrews. He hasn't confronted her before now and she is honestly surprised that even has the guts to. Though she supposes that there haven't been many opportunities presenting themselves to him where she wasn't with someone else. She thinks it's a bit odd that he doesn't believe she can handle herself. Today he's caught her in a dungeon corridor alone, having handed in a late assignment to Slughorn that was due the day prior. "What?" Her mouth is drawn up in a disbelieving grin that doesn't match her eyes at all.

"Potter," he declares, squaring his jaw off. "Did you sleep with him so he'd let you back on the team?"

All she wants right now is to sit down in the Common Room and finish the homework she's already late on.

"A-Are you serious right now?" she laughs. How could one person have such audacity? Walking forward with a sway to each step, she points to him. "You. Andrews. Are accusing me of sleeping my way onto a team that I've been a part of for three years now? Wasn't it you who got the position through offering up your own sister? Or were you just the side piece who got lucky out of Braxton's own pursuits?" Cressida looks him over, holding her chin higher. "Either way, both of you got what you deserve."

His eyes darken with hatred that she didn't know he held. Contempt, yes, but this much fuel over Quidditch, no. "You're a fucking bitch, Hawthorne."

"And you're a shitty Keeper, Andrews." Marching forward, she prepares herself to elbow him out the way if need be. "We all have our flaws."

Not unexpectedly, a firm and rough hand grabs her elbow, tugging her closer to him. Cressida stumbles slightly but holds her ground. His breath splays across her temple and cheek. "You best watch your mouth before something happens to you."

In one swift movement, her wand is at his throat, her other gripping his tie close to the knot. "And you best watch where you place your hands." His throat bobs with a long gulp and Cressida only watches his skin indent more as she presses her wand further into his neck. "You think James and Sirius are the only duellers of the group? Even Remus could kick your arse." Turning herself around, his hand is forced to let go of her arm, but she doesn't yet remove the wand from his neck. "I've been reading up on knee-reversal hexes. I don't like using dark charms, but I will, if the right person comes along."

Satisfied that she's threatened him enough, she lets the tie slip through her fingers and he nearly leaps away from her wand. He breathes heavily, looking her over as though to decide if her threat is real or not. She hasn't decided herself since she was quite honest in saying she doesn't like dark charms, but her aversion to it isn't as strong as James'.

Andrews continues to back up until he is well on the other side of the corridor. A group of third years wander down, belonging to Slytherin and likely heading to their Common Room. His jaw muscles move around much like his eyes do before he storms off in the opposite direction.

"Merlin," she mutters to herself, tucking the wand back away. "Lunatics running around this school."

Xx

On her arrival back in the Common Room, Cressida is delighted to find the lounge unoccupied and marches straight towards it. "Make sure Andrews doesn't hex me if I'm sleeping," she calls out, landing face-first onto the lounge.

A few unidentifiable students lounge about the room as well, but James and Sirius are near the table, talking with Marlene and Alice, a seventh year Gryffindor. At the table, seated on either side of a chess table is Remus and Lily. "Any specific reason why Andrews hexing you now is a cause of concern?" Sirius calls out. Cressida turns onto her back but doesn't bother to sit up.

"Ran into him down in the dungeons. I threatened him so I doubt he's going to do anything, but I'm vulnerable when I sleep."

"Is this because of the whole Quidditch thing?" Lily questions. "The whole thing was stupid. It's just a game for Merlin's sake."

Cressida snaps up at that, matching James' and Sirius' narrowed eyes. "Not just a game, Lily," James sighs, hardly able to stay mad at his loved one. Lily shrugs nonchalantly, going back to her game with Remus.

Marlene grins, resting against the table with loosely folded arms as she talks to Lily. "At least they don't wear their gear around on days they don't even practice. I've seen that in those muggle movies you've shown me."

Cressida snorts, resting her arms along the back of the lounge, settling her thighs on her ankles. "That's just obnoxious. Just as the Quidditch World Cup still not being in England this year."

"It's in France, right?" Mary inquires.

"Yep," Sirius sighs. "Won't be held here for another fifteen years or so I reckon."

"It'd be cool though, wouldn't it?" Cressida asks. "Going to France to see the World Cup. I've always wanted to go around a bit of Europe." She adds with a mocking smile, "And Paris, the city of love."

"Speaking of, you never told us how that date went," Marlene hollers. Her blonde hair falls in natural waves, eyes narrowed naturally with a charming and almost alluring sparkle to them.

"Well enough for a second date?" Lily asks before she can answer. "Or terrible enough that we have to hide you before he sees you."

Bashfully, Cressida smiles over the rim of the cushions lining the couch. "The first," she announces. "But we haven't set up anything. But I'm glad to know you lot have my back."

James leans forward, bracing himself on an empty chair. "Maybe you and I should go on a double date with them," he suggests to the redhead. Lily rolls her eyes for a second time, making a move on the chessboard before answering.

She holds her hands slowly in front of her, smiling up at James with a sarcastic tone. "How about this. If Remus wins this match, I'll go on a date with you."

"Deal," James says without second thinking the offer. Cressida licks her lips slowly, watching the interaction closely for more than one reason. Remus will let her win, she realises. For his own gain.

Or maybe he wouldn't, being the selfless bastard he is and ensure his victory to let James have the date he always wanted. Lily wouldn't be easy to win against, having played the game longer than any of them there.

Crawling over the back of the couch, she sneaks forward, noting that she's not the only one the sudden deal has drawn closer. Sirius appears at her side as they stand a little further away than everybody else – James being the closest, watching Remus' next move intently.

"What do you reckon he'll do?" Sirius question her in a hushed voice.

She shrugs slightly, watching Remus' knight move forward. "I think you and I both know what he wants." To lose. "But it's another thing when it comes to James. It could go either way. He might try for that – for his friend to have a chance."

"I wouldn't." Cressida frowns, side-glancing him. "If I were Remus, I would lose on purpose."

"Perhaps," she whispers. "But he's only got a crush on her, James is in love with Lily."

Sirius shifts his weight around on his feet. "I wouldn't be so sure of that."

A loud groan fills the room which she can instinctively place as James'. Remus lost. Lily beams and the other girls holler in victory. "Sorry James," Remus sighs. She can't read if it's sincere or not.

"What do you mean?" she demands of Sirius. Her eyes pin on Remus, watching him smile subtly at Lily who's laughing at James' figure. Remus only has a crush on Lily. He doesn't love her. Not in the same way James does.

"I just mean…" Sirius sighs in a sharp breath, standing close to her once again. His head leans over from the back of her shoulder. "Look at him." She does. "The way he looks at Evans is different, isn't it?"

Cressida watches Remus. He's rubbing his hands slowly, laughing gently as James badgers him about making shotty moves. His eyes are turned to Lily. James turns back to her, practically pleading for a rematch. "Maybe," Cressida mumbles. "But we'd have to ask to know for sure. It's a bit of a terrible situation for him, isn't it? Liking the same girl your best mate has for years? You'd feel like you couldn't do anything about it."

"Were you looking at Remus or James?" is Sirius answer.

Cressida frowns, glimpsing over her shoulder. "Remus," she answers. "We're talking about Remus' crush on Lily."

Sirius tips his head from side to side in some sort of deliberation. "Yeah," he replies to add to her confusion. Suddenly his hands are on either one of her shoulders, spinning her around so the scene disappears. Cressida is startled by his abruptness and the sincere concern in his dark eyes. "Are you going to admit it yet?"

Cressida swallows hard. "Admit what?"

Sirius exhales slowly, watching something over her head. "I guess not," he whispers. "Just do me a favour and don't go out with Griffiths again."

Cressida circles her arms up, pushing his own away from her shoulders and taking a step back so as not to get caught in them again. "You can't just tell me who and who I cannot date. Who do you think you are?"

"Your friend," he hisses extending an arm towards her. "You seem to forget that."

Her throat tightens in frustrated confusion. "What's that supposed to mean? I've never treated you as anything else."

Sirius breathes hard, his hands forming a prayer gesture with his chin tucked between his thumbs and forefingers. "You're hurting yourself, and you won't let me help."

The silence of the rest of the room is glaringly apparent but she isn't brave enough to turn around and check where their attentions lay. Cressida's fingers curl into her palm, nails forming crescents in the soft skin. "I've told you before, it's not your place to care. I'm not asking for your help."

Sirius' arms splay out wide, almost inviting the rest of the Common Room to answer. "So, what? You're just going to be content unhappy?"

The conversation – if that's even the right word – feels dangerous. Dangerous because context is a nasty thing and if someone figures it out, so much could change that she's not prepared to. "Yes," she breathes. "Because what else am I supposed to do?" Her fingers unfurl, only to dig around her hip bones. "Oh, great, I'll just go talk to Sirius Black and he'll solve the problem. I'm in a dead-end, Sirius. Don't you get that? I don't need help, because nothing needs to change."

The worst person possible comes into view at that moment, standing just off to the side, between her and Sirius. "What's going on?" he asks softly, holding up his hands as he glances between them. Despite his confidence to have such a conversation in public, Sirius it seems, is not game enough to say anything to James. Her brain mutters a sarcastic thanks for at least knowing to keep his mouth shut by this point.

She's still in disbelief that he knows. There must be something she's missing – some part of the narrative that he thinks he does but doesn't.

"Sirius, I think you need to back off," he instructs in one of the softest tone's she's ever heard from him. There's only one place she can go where they can't and at this moment, it's the only thing she needs. Blinking aware tears she didn't know were there, Cressida takes two steps backwards before spinning on her heels and darting towards the stairs to her own dormitory. "Cress?!"

No amount of blinking washes away the tears but her composure remains for the most part, resting her hands on her hips, pacing the dorm. Only a few seconds after she shuts it, the lock clicks open again. Cressida raises her head to lock gazes with Marlene. Her usual sharp features are relaxed and off-guard. "I haven't decided if Black's a dick, or he's right yet. Depends on what you want to say." Cressida controls her breathing, slumping on the side of her own bed, knees pressing her hands together. Marlene wanders over, sitting with a grace that she envies, on the bed. "Alright, he's a dick no matter what you say," she tries with a ring of humour. Cressida laughs bitterly, wiping her eyes with the ball of her palm.

It spews out. "I like James." Another bitter laugh comes out, this time louder, and less humorous and more manic. "Merlin's beard this is so stupid."

Marlene nods slowly, more to herself than Cressida. "That makes whatever that was with Black make sense," she notes. "You told him?"

Her head shakes in a short, violent motion. "You're the first person. I don't know what Sirius knows.

"I don't think he's right, but I don't think he's entirely wrong, either. This information is sealed behind my lips," she assures. "And you can feel free to rant to me anytime. Just not before nine am because I can barely form two words that early."

Cressida laughs again, this time on the lighter side. "You're amazing."

Marlene drops her features back into her iconic sharpness. "Oh, I know." They both break again, drawing each other into a well-needed embrace.