hope everyone is having a fantastic week.I only own my oc.
September quickly faded into October and Freya spent the past few weeks busying herself with homework and Quidditch.
Much to her relief the time had been uneventful, no random books appearing and the Slytherins left her alone.
The only complaint Freya had was the constant appearance of a certain bitchy Ravenclaw.
While they weren't officially dating, Watts could be seen at the Gryffindor table during meals, more often than not and usually in Sirius's lap.
"I think I'm going to vomit," Freya said as she watched a lump of oatmeal fall off her spoon.
"It is quite a show she puts on, isn't it," Lily said, glancing down the table.
"He's been leaving you alone though so that's a plus right?" Alice asked through a mouthful of bacon.
"Except in Potions," Lily laughed, "cuddles right up to share your book."
Freya rolled her eyes, poking her spoon around her bowl, "I only have to be partners with him until Christmas and then the world can right itself and he and Potter can go back to failing spectacularly, together."
"Actually," Lily started, "As far as partners go James hasn't been half bad."
Marlene, who had been mid-sip of her pumpkin juice, choked, spitting liquid across the table.
"Bloody fucking hell," Alice jumped up to avoid the spray.
"What in the world!" Lily yelled as she reached for her wand.
"You said," cough, "James," Marlene sputtered.
"No, I didn't," The redhead said quickly.
"Yes, you did," Alice huffed, "and now I'm wearing McKinnon's juice," she walked off, Marlene, laughing out apologies behind her.
"Did I really?" Lily asked.
"Yup," Freya laughed and took a bite of oatmeal.
Freya finished her homework for the week in the Library, Lily and Remus working alongside her occasionally switching papers to be checked over.
She gnawed at the cheek watching Remus as he checked over her Herbology essay.
"Watching me doesn't make me read any faster," he said, lifting his head slightly.
"Sorry," Freya looked down at the table tracing her finger through the wooden grooves.
He slid the paper back across the desk, "You seem a little off tonight."
"I'm tired." Freya shrugged.
"Well if you went to bed at a decent time like the rest of us," Lily snickered, "What in the world is so interesting at midnight?"
"Occlumency," she replied simply, "but I've hit a bit of a snag."
Lily's eyes went wide, Remus looked amused, "A snag?" The redhead gaped, "With magic they don't even teach here."
"Yes a snag," Freya hissed back, "I take it neither of you has dabbled?"
Lily shook her head, Remus leaned forward, elbows on the table, "I tried, I'm rubbish but James and Sirius on the other hand.."
"Of course," both Gryffindor girls groaned.
"Just go over there and ask them," Lily huffed motioning across the Common Room, "Merlin, it's not like you're friends or anything."
"I'm quite proud," Freya rolled her eyes, "And asking for help feels like admitting defeat."
"You'll thank me for this one day," Lily grinned, hopping up from her chair, and walking over to the two boys.
Freya jumped up behind her, "Lily!" She snapped, "I'm not a child."
"Off you go then."
Freya gave her friend one more irritated look before walking over to the boys.
Morganna, help me, she thought as she realized what the two were doing.
James cheered loudly as Sirius managed to catch the toffee he'd thrown across the table, with his mouth.
"So that's how you get all these girls following you around," Freya smirked, taking the empty chair.
Sirius took a moment to unstick the treat from his teeth before he smirked, "If that impressed you, then I'd love to show you what else this mouth can do," he finished with a wink.
Oh mother fucker. Stop, focus. Freya shook her head, "As tempting as that sounds, hard pass."
"Oh come on," Sirius laughed.
"Please stop," James whined before looking at Freya, "What's up Fawley? Or did you just come over here for the terrible pick-up lines from Padfoot?"
"No, I had a real reason."
I may have momentarily forgotten it but there was one. Freya let out a small laugh, "I need help with something and Remus said you guys might be able to point me in the right direction."
Both boys were still staring at her, she shifted a bit in her seat, leaning forward in her chair. Freya gave Sirius one last look before she sighed, "I've been doing some research into Occlumency and while I think I have the whole meditation and visualization down I don't really have a way to test it."
"And Moony sent you to us?" James asked, raising an eyebrow.
Freya's eyes flickered over to Sirius again who was now leaning back in his chair looking smug, "Should he not have?" She asked, mimicking James's expression.
"Oh no," Sirius started, "we're your best bet," he smirked, "but you understand how all of it works right?"
"Yes, one of you would try to find something in my mind and I would try to stop you by building magical mental walls."
"Yes, that is the basic idea," James started, "It's quite a bit more complex than that."
Sirius, now resting his arms on the table, "And to efficiently test your ability and build your defense, the Legilimens has to go for your deepest darkest secrets."
Sirius refused to meet her eyes but could feel her staring at him. James broke the silence, "It's not a pleasant experience either." He cleared his throat, catching Freya's attention, "The harder the Legilimens fights the more uncomfortable it gets, which messes with your concentration."
Freya silently weighed her options, ultimately deciding the book showed up for a reason and she wouldn't be able to figure it out without a little help, "I'll be fine," she finally said quietly.
"It'll be a couple of weeks before we can start, I've got detention every night that's not Quidditch," James said glaring at Sirius.
"Should have run faster," Padfoot laughed.
"You tripped me," he hissed back, causing Sirius to laugh even harder.
Freya rolled her eyes, "Better than nothing," she said standing up, "Let me know when you're free and I'll keep practicing on my own until then.
"Tuesday, after dinner," Sirius replied.
"I'm sorry?"
"Tuesday after dinner, you don't need both of us and I don't have detention." His face was serious, "Unless you have some thoughts in there you don't want me to see," he winked.
Annnnd you ruined it. Freya's face flashed annoyance, "I'm going to ignore that because I really need help with this. Tuesday it is."
Freya's stomach churned all through dinner Tuesday night. What had started as a small bubble of regret was now overwhelming.
The lack of concentration had led to accidental shifts all day.
"Greens a lovely color on you," Marlene remarked as she took a seat across from Freya.
"Merlin's balls," Freya grumbled, using a spoon as a mirror shaking out her hair.
Marlene looked down the table to see what Freya had been reacting to, "At least it's not Watts again," she offered.
No today it was a little redheaded Hufflepuff, she wasn't sitting at the table but whispering something in Sirius's ear.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Freya replied shortly before looking down at her book.
"So green doesn't mean envy?"
"Oh for the love- It's not one color fits all," Freya stopped realizing she'd been a little loud, ignoring the eyes in her direction, "I'm having a bad day," she quietly explained, "and no, for me green generally means disgust."
"Fitting," Marlene laughed, looking back down the table.
Freya stood up from the table with a small laugh.
Sirius had left the Great Hall and the dirty talking Hufflepuff at the first chance he'd got, catching up with Freya by the fifth floor, "You look nervous," he said jokingly.
"Wouldn't be very Gryffindor of me to be scared would it?" She smiled back and leaned on the railing as the staircase shifted.
"Nervous and scared are two very different things," he offered. Sirius was pretty nervous himself, he had his own thoughts he didn't want anyone to see.
"Besides," he started, climbing up the steps and onto the landing, "We're just practicing your side today."
Freya looked up at him as they continued their walk, confusion quickly turned to a look of relief.
Sirius smiled, "Your shifting was very… vibrant today, I gather you're probably a little tired."
She shook her head, "Not tired, I think stressed might be a better word. I essentially was a walking billboard for my emotions today. Super annoying but that kind of shifting doesn't mess with me." She waved it off.
Sirius however, grinned as they approached the hall, "What do you mean that kind of shifting?"
Freya froze, Sirius showed off his teeth as his grin grew to a full smile, "I'll give you a second to think about that."
He turned back to pacing in front of the empty wall, after the third pass a door appeared.
"After you, Fea," he motioned inside with his hand.
She bit her lip and moved forward, almost scared to see what he'd come up with.
"Wow," she breathed, looking up at the enchanted sky. It was sunset or sunrise, she couldn't tell, but the blend of bright orange and purple streaking across the ceiling had her lost.
"Can't take all the credit," he said plopping down on the grass, "I just asked for somewhere you'd feel comfortable, so kudos to you."
She smiled as she sat down, "So why would two trouble makers take the time to learn this advanced magic?"
"I believe we're still on you avoiding my question," he laughed.
"Why do I have to say it out loud? You clearly already know."
"Fine don't tell me," he turned his head up and pouted.
"Wow what a convincing argument." Freya deadpanned.
He dropped the act and smirked back at her, "Most girls would fall over themselves for that pout."
"Well I guess I'm broken cause I felt nothing," she chuckled back.
"Ok back to business," he clapped his hands together and crossed his legs in front of him.
"I'm assuming since you're into all that hippie magic-"
"I wish you would stop calling it that."
"Not the point, I'm assuming you know how to meditate."
"It's the bane of my existence but yes," Freya ran her palms over her thighs and closed her eyes, attempting to turn her busy mind into a blank slate.
Sirius waited until he noticed her relax before quietly standing up.
He walked her through the process, explaining how the mind consisted of layers, therefore the best barriers were layered as well.
Starting with sticks and twigs, moving to logs and then stone, bricks behind that. Layer upon layer each memory and emotion locked behind a fortress locked securely behind a final blanket of magic.
Freya struggled at first having a hard time with the visualization but after an hour and several unsuccessful attempts she bravely said, "I'd like to give it a try… stopping you."
Sirius had been walking around the room but he stopped and focused on her, "You sure?"
Freya nodded, "Might as well get this over with."
"That's the spirit," he laughed pulling out his wand.
Freya pulled hers out as well, keeping her eyes on Sirius as he walked towards her and returned to his earlier seat.
Giving her a few moments to get settled, Sirius pointed his wand at her muttering the spell, trying not to pull her focus.
Building her confidence on a first attempt was crucial. It would give her a standard to achieve.
Freya felt a gentle push at the walls she built up.
Sirius pushed a little harder still not aiming for anything in particular, letting her get used to the feeling.
After a few more minutes he increased his efforts and Freya understood what James meant by uncomfortable.
The gentle push had turned slightly painful as protective walls started to fall. And before Freya could frantically try to rebuild them a memory flashed in front of her eyes.
It was quick and just glimpses, MACUSA and it's emblem printed on a large marble floor. Flashing to a large office with a wooden desk, where a silently crying Freya refused to look at the picture sitting in front of her.
Freya gave up trying to push him back, managing to call out a defeated, "Stop."
Sirius, who had been lost in what he saw, dropped his wand and moved over to Freya.
She was bent nearly in half, her fingers knotted behind her neck.
"I'm sorry, I…" he stuttered, kneeling beside her.
"It's fine," she replied, "I just need a minute," her voice was shaking.
Sirius put absolutely no thought into what he did next.
Freya was focused on the ground when she felt something unfamiliar on her leg. Taking a deep breath she turned her head to the side.
Her eyes met familiar silver ones but they were attached to a shaggy black dog.
He replaced his paw with his head when she sat back up, looking up at her with sad eyes and let out a whine.
"Well hello there Padfoot," she said quietly dropping her hands to her lap, "I would have guessed fox, but a dog makes sense too."
He nudged the hand closest to him and she rolled her eyes, "I'm the one upset but you get attention."
Still, she ran her fingers through the long black fur on his head. They sat like that for a while until Freya calmed down, "I don't know what I expected," she sighed finally.
Sirius moved away shifting back and laying in the grass, "James said it gets uncomfortable, I will say it wasn't bad for a first attempt and now you know better for next time."
"You still wanna help me? I mean I kinda freaked out a little there."
Sirius sat up with a determined look, "I've seen crazy, that was nothing," he smiled.
"I figured you shifted cause I'd be less likely to hit you in animal form," she shrugged, following it up with a small smile.
"I don't deal with guilt well. I know first hand how it feels when the walls come tumbling down," he looked down at the ground, dragging his fingers through the grass, "My first instinct would normally be to run in the opposite direction."
"Thanks for you know.. Not."
"So… you going to show me yours?" He laughed.
She was tempted to shift, it was only fair but the stress of the night had already eaten up a chunk of her energy, "Not tonight," she said with a yawn, "Tonight I sleep for real."
Sirius stood up holding his hand out for Freya, she took it and let herself be pulled up.
Sirius didn't let go immediately, "I'm sure this goes without saying but everything that happens with these lessons stays between us," his eyes locked with hers.
Yes, he was rooting around in her head but she now knew something that could get him sent to Azkaban.
"Of course." She promised with a nod.
"How'd it go?" James asked as Sirius walked into the dorm.
"Fine," he replied, "well…"
"Well?" Remus repeated suspiciously from his bed.
"What did you do?" James narrowed his hazel eyes.
"I didn't - nothing I did nothing," Sirius huffed as he walked to his trunk.
James swung his legs over his bed, "Oh don't get all pissy," he laughed, "can you blame me? You walked in here acting like you got caught feeding the Hippogriffs."
Sirius ignored him, finally finding what he'd been looking for. He pulled out the hidden bottle of fire whiskey and took a long drink before dropping it back in his trunk.
"I showed her Padfoot," he said quietly.
All three boys, Peter included, looked at him with a mixture of shock and anger.
Remus shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I'm sorry I think I've been confunded, because I know you didn't spill our biggest secret, to a girl we know almost nothing about."
"To be fair," Sirius started, "she knew."
James stood up from his bed stomping over to his friend slapping him on the back of the head, "What the bloody hell were you thinking? Just because she assumed doesn't mean you needed to prove her right!"
"I'm sure McGonagall is suspicious too but you don't see me bounding down the Transfiguration hallway," James reached out to smack him again, Sirius grabbed his arm stopping the attack, "Hit me again and I will bite you," he warned letting James go.
"Eager little witch she is, wanted to try to keep me out and she did at first," Sirius sighed, sitting on the edge of his bed and running his hands over his face, "I couldn't make heads or tails of what she saw," he lied, "but it… I don't know, broke her."
"Then give the girl a hug," Peter snapped.
Sirius whipped his head to the side, giving Wormtail a look that caused him to shrink back towards the head of the bed.
As he opened his mouth to speak, James cleared his throat, "You trust her?"
Sirius slowly turned his head back to James and nodded.
"Well, then I guess it's time to get to know Freya Parks."
Freya leaned her chair back on two legs as Professor Binns drawled on about the differences in muggle interactions across the world. She looked to her right and saw even Lily was having a hard time paying attention as she doodled to the side of her notes.
To Freya's left, Peter was fast asleep, James had dipped Wormtail's fingers in ink and Sirius was tickling his nose with a quill.
She rolled her eyes and gave a small laugh, unfortunately, it wasn't quiet enough.
"Miss Fawley," the transparent professor called out.
Freya smiled at the teacher earning nothing but a disappointed look, "When was Rappaport's Law repealed?"
"1965," she answered quickly, "Although it was never recognized in Salem or New Orleans."
"What was the purpose?"
"It essentially said that any contact with the no-maj was forbidden unless it was necessary for daily life."
The professor gave her one last look before returning to his monotone lecture.
When the bell rang Freya tried not to laugh as Peter woke up and sleepily walked to the door, ink smeared all over his face. She stood up sliding her bag on her shoulder, "How long do you think he's going to make it before someone tells him?"
"Oh it'll be a while," Sirius snickered, " he has Divination until dinner, that tower is pretty dark."
James laughed before turning to Freya, "You don't have any classes left today right?"
"Right," She replied.
"Good, you're coming with us."
Freya raised an eyebrow, "I have this overwhelming urge to say make me but I'm not sure this is a fight I'll win."
James laughed but Sirius looked at her with an eyebrow raised.
Freya gestured for them to lead the way.
Ten minutes later they were sitting in a copy of the Gryffindor common room, Freya curled up on a couch with Sirius at the other end. James had pulled a high back chair over and faced it towards the two.
"We have some questions," James said, leaning his elbows in his knees.
"Ok…?" She shifted nervously before looking over at Sirius who just shrugged.
"Pads said you knew he was a dog before he showed you," James stated.
"Actually I guessed fox-"
"Cause I'm foxy?" Sirius winked.
"No because you think you're slick," she rolled her eyes and then focused back on James, "This can't be a surprise to you, if I can smell your Animagus I'm sure you can smell mine," she argued, there wasn't any reason to deny it at this point.
"Let's see it then?"
"I need you to buy me dinner first, if you're going keep trying to order me around."
Sirius let out a barking laugh from his spot on the couch earning a glare from James, "Not helping."
"It was funny." He shrugged.
Freya sat up tall, putting her feet on the floor, trying to be as intimidating as possible while still sitting down, "You smell like prey," she smirked, "If you can guess it you can see it." She crossed her arms and leaned back triumphantly.
"Great plan you had there Prongs," Sirius leaned up, "Fea, the boys are a little nervous about me letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak. It's a secret we've kept for years."
"I already said I wouldn't say anything," Freya argued, "hell, I've known Remus was a werewolf the second you walked into my compartment on the train. Why do you think I'm always giving him candy?"
It was James's turn again, "Look, Sirius trusts you, which holds a lot of weight but I think it's only fair you share some of your secrets too."
Ferry chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment, "I have conditions."
"Fair enough, what are they?"
"Nothing said leaves this room, Marauders excluded." Freya said holding up one finger, James agreed and she ticked up a second, "I have the option to veto a question."
"Deal, anything else?"
"You can't force me to shift, that's it."
"Fine, Why does the map say Freya Parks?"
She took a deep breath and focused on her hands, "I'm a half-blood. My dad was a muggle policeman, he and my mom met after she ran away."
"Ran away?" James asked.
"You really didn't tell him?" Freya looked at Sirius.
"I said I wouldn't," he shrugged.
"My mom's Sofia Fawley," she paused, "She left London and went straight to New Orleans. Met my dad six months later when someone broke into the shop."
"Why would she call the muggles."
"MACUSA isn't allowed in New Orleans. Well, except for special circumstances."
"Like what happened to your parents," Sirius said quietly, remembering the picture on the desk.
Freya nodded, "A double murder, and a weird symbol in the sky that no one had ever seen before was cause for concern."
James looked at Sirius, who ran his hand through his hair, "It's called the Dark Mark."
James flopped back in his chair while Freya looked between the two boys hoping one of them would elaborate.
"It's the symbol Voldemort and his Death Eaters use," Sirius tensed up his hands now running nervously over his legs, "What I don't understand is why your parents? To my knowledge, they only really have a following in Europe."
"I'm in the same boat," Freya tucked herself back into the couch, the confidence from earlier long gone, "Vera said it hasn't been seen since. There's more, my parents' will was blatantly ignored, I shouldn't even be here." She rubbed her hands over her face, "Can we just move on?"
"Yeah," James replied with an apologetic tone, "How long did it take for you to learn how to shift?"
"About three months."
"Three months!" Both boys shouted, Sirius, adding, "It took us years!"
"I had help, lots of it."
"Why?"
"Pass," Freya said sternly.
Sirius looked like he wanted to protest but James held up his hand, "If Sofia is your mother then we're related."
"Oh god I'm not going to have to marry you am I?" Freya tried to laugh.
"You wish, no, Tibias Fawley, your grandfather, was my mother's older brother," James said.
"Every day, I get a little more unnerved about how small this world is."
"The fact that you're still surprised is a little astonishing," Sirius laughed, finally shaking off his earlier mood.
"Why are you so interested in Occlumency?" James jumped back in.
Freya twisted her fingers together, "Because I have to know it before I can learn Legilimency." She sighed, "Look everything I've told anyone is true except my last name, I just don't talk about my dad. No one asks questions about dead parents, well except you two busybodies."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"You know lady Fawley is trying to pawn me off to Rosier. Have you met him? Doesn't really strike me as the kinda wizard to play fair. I'm willing to learn anything to help me out of this mess I've fallen head first into."
"Well any chances to knock a Slytherin down a peg or two," James replied. "You can understand why we were a bit skeptical yeah?"
"I get it, I wouldn't trust me either," she waved him off still sitting on the couch.
The messy haired Gryffindor stood up offering a small smile, Sirius moved to follow him.
Freya turned around looking over the back of the couch, "Hey," she called out.
He turned around giving her a smirk, "Yes?"
"Did I pass?"
"He didn't mention trying to obliviate you so I'd say so," Sirius replied jokingly.
Thanks for reading if you're enjoying the story please drop a comment and let me know.