Ch 11: L is for library, L is for liar, L is for…
"You're pacing again," Moony commented dryly, from where he lounged on his bed.
"I know I'm bloody pacing," Sirius snapped back, though, in truth, he hadn't noticed until his friend had spoken up.
"What are you pacing for?" Peter asked brightly, somehow glossing over Sirius' agitated tone.
Sirius snapped his head to shoot his friend a withering glare, before deadpanning, "Seemed like a good way to stay in shape for Quidditch."
Peter shrunk under the glare, until Remus cut in, "It was a simple question Padfoot, no need to bite his head off. Anyways, why are you pacing? Nervous?"
Sirius bristled further at the teasing note that laced through the second question, "What do I have to be nervous about?"
"Nothing, nothing, just that Elsa might not show," Remus remarked casually, "I mean after all you did nearly kill her with your prank yesterday."
"I did not, and I'm not the one who set up this bloody library date in the first place," Sirius growled back.
"Date? Since when is it a date?" Peter asked, alarmed, "Are we all supposed to come if it's a date?"
Sirius returned his glare to the smaller boy until he realized Peter was trembling. Sighing with guilt and frustration at himself, he softened his look with some effort. It wasn't Peter's fault that things had gotten complicated if anything it was Moony's for deciding to invite Elsa to the stupid library in the first place.
"Not that kind of date, Pete. I was being sarcastic," he sighed, "Sorry for snapping at you."
"It's alright," Peter replied softly, "I know you didn't mean anything by it."
Sirius nodded his agreement then fixed his glare on Remus, "Why are we meeting her at the library anyway?"
Remus met his cool grey eyes evenly, "Like I told you at dinner last night, I think we're good for her and I think she'd be good for us. Besides, you're the one who wants to be best friends with her to piss off your mom or whatever."
Sirius dropped his gaze, "I do, it's just…"
He struggled to figure out what he was trying to say, suddenly too aware of Remus' golden gaze. Remus always could see through Sirius' bravado, "I just think there are things about her you're not taking into consideration."
Remus barked a laugh at his friend's statement, "Things I'm not taking into consideration? Says the King of 'not taking things into consideration'. It's just a study session, Sirius. It'll be fine."
Sirius rolled his eyes but didn't say anything else about the subject. Moony was the biggest over-thinker he knew, insinuating he'd overlooked something probably hadn't been Sirius' brightest move. He needed to talk to James. His best friend always understood what Sirius was going on about, but James had gotten detention for playing with a snitch in Charms yesterday and was polishing candlesticks during their free period. He'd have to sort this one out on his own for the time being. Why was he so nervous about the library meeting? He remained pensive through their next class, despite James' returned presence, seeing as transfiguration probably wasn't the best time to discuss personal matters if he didn't want McGonagall jumping down his throat. Despite Sirius' unusual silence, the other boys held their tongues until lunch. By which time, being around his best friend again seemed to have thawed Sirius, returning him to his energetic and, admittedly, loud self. Sirius was all jokes, bluster, and charm again. Remus took over the silent and pensive role, per usual, and spent most of lunch analyzing the Hufflepuff table. He wasn't sure if he should be concerned yet but noted this was now the fourth meal in a row.
Elsa meant to eat at breakfast or at least lunch. She really meant to, but her nerves were playing hopscotch in her intestines. By the end of classes, she was feeling a bit shaky, which didn't help her ever-growing nerves. It was just a short study session in the library, nothing to work herself up over. Still, her heart continued to pound faster and faster as she slowly made her way to the library. She counted the cobblestones on her walk over, but somehow her heart still hadn't decided to stop sporadically speeding up to double time. She approached the ornate double doors with some trepidation and eased one open so she could peak into the vast room. Sirius and Remus were easy enough to spot. They had claimed a table near one of the windows and seemed to be engaged in an animated, though appropriately quiet, conversation. However, James and Peter were missing, apparently, she'd beat the other two here. She was tempted to wait for their appearance but could only imagine the embarrassment if they ran into her skulking here, spying on the other two. She took a breath to steady herself before approaching. The boys appeared not to have noticed her yet, as she came within earshot.
"It's just fun to make her blush," Sirius shrugged, "Seeing as her hair gets involved and everything. I don't mean anything by it, you know that."
"All I'm saying is you would do well to back off a little. You're playing with her and it's cruel" Remus' voice was hard with accusation.
Her face burned at the bookish boy's implication, but she was still a bit too far away to interrupt their ridiculous argument.
Sirius barked a quiet laugh, "It's harmless teasing, Elle knows that."
"Sirius," Remus sighed heavily, "I don't know if you've noticed but Ellie keeps mostly to herself. She's never had anyone give her the time of day before, your charms are overwhelming at best."
She'd had enough and finally arrived at their table. Doing her best to keep her hair from going bubblegum pink, she announced her presence, "You two done talking about me?"
Remus was suddenly a bright red as he realized she'd probably heard everything, "Ellie! Er… I wasn't- I mean we didn't…"
She took a seat across from them, "Don't worry Remus, I'm not overwhelmed. Sirius would have to have charms in the first place for that. Now, where are the other two?"
James and Peter appeared as if on cue, their arms full of books. Remus welcomed them eagerly and checked the books off the list he had drawn up for them. Apparently satisfied with the haul, they began their research and outlining for the essays. Elsa was surprised at how smoothly it all went and to find herself enjoying studying with people rather than on her own. Peter was surprisingly insightful, and her essay seemed to come together quicker than she could have imagined. It was all going much smoother than she could have believed until a sudden flash of red caught James' attention.
"Evans!" he crowed, suddenly all confidence and bluster for the redhead.
Remus buried his face in his hands, muttering, "No no no, not now."
James ignored his friend's clear disapproval and was suddenly on top of the table, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate."
His booming recitation of the sonnet was cut off as Madame Pince swept in and grabbed him by the ear and dragged him off the table despite his howling protests. She quickly banished him from the library with little concern for his discomfort.
Remus shook his head and stood reluctantly, "I better go talk to Lily. He really did mean well, memorizing a muggle sonnet and all."
Elsa had a feeling the justification was intended for her, considering the other boys seemed mostly unphased by the outburst, "It was a sweet gesture, if mildly misguided."
Remus nodded appreciatively before taking off to smooth things over with Lily with a sense a weariness that implied, he did this often. The table fell into an awkward silence as Sirius glared at the library door and Peter seemed engrossed in straightening all the fibers of his quill.
"One of us should probably go after James," Sirius broke his staring contest with the doors to glance anxiously back at Elsa.
Peter nodded in agreement, "He probably needs a bit calming down."
"He probably does," Sirius agreed, staring down the smaller boy pointedly.
After was felt like an eternity, Peter finally got it and lept up with a squeak, "I'll go do that then."
"I guess that leaves just the two of us," Sirius announced as he turned to look at Elsa with that ever-present smirk.
She tried her best not to blush at his flirtatious wink, "Is that really necessary?"
"Do I really bother you that much, my little mouse?" his earnest storm grey eyes captivated her, "I'm only teasing."
"I know you're teasing," she shook her head, "It's not that so much, it's just, you seem determined not to leave me alone. Before you all, I was always all alone."
"And that was a good thing?" he furrowed his brow in confusion.
"No – I mean yes. I mean… I don't know," she sighed and dropped her gaze to her hands, "It was easier. Now, thanks to you, I might actually have friends."
He smiled broadly at the mention, "Of course we're your friends now Elle."
She clamped her mouth shut, unsure what had led to her sudden divulgence, "Er… I mean, well I won't be all alone at least."
He sighed at her return to her now-familiar insecurity, "We really do like you Elsa, so I hope you know we're not going to stop bugging you and forcing you to come hang out with us."
She stared at him, at a loss of how to respond to such a statement. They liked her?
Luckily, she was saved from having to reply by the return of Remus. He sighed that it seemed their studying seemed to have concluded and began to gather his things. The other followed suit, packing up the absent members' bags as well so that the boys could convey them back to the Gryffindor rooms before dinner. They all left the library together, splitting at the stairway so they could put their things in their dorms. Elsa let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding once they'd finally parted ways and continued to her rooms.
She meant to go to dinner, she really had. Sure, she'd thought about skipping it when she realized she'd likely see her sister again, but she had meant to go to dinner. She'd only meant to stop into her dorm quickly to store her book bag, but a flash of honey blonde hair caught in her peripheral vision and she barely stopped herself from audibly gasping when she looked his way.
She followed Evan down the corridor without a second thought. Her real goal was to catch up to him and get to talk to her older brother for once, but he walked so bloody fast. It wasn't long before she was nearly jogging to keep pace as he led her down and through the winding maze of basement corridors. She lost sight of him as he turned a corner and was just sprinting up to catch him when she slammed into a warm wall and nearly ended up on the ground yet again. Instead, she found her wrist caught in a firm grasp.