Chapter 2
A/N: yay I got 2 favorites and a follow. This is so insignificant but honestly it made my day. Ok so warnings for this chapter are drug use and somewhat explicit sexual content (all within the M rating though). If you're not into smut, or know me personally and really don't want to see how my mind works in that department, feel free to stop reading here. This is supposed to be a love story and, c'mon, they're 16. I'm just being realistic.
an explanation: Aife uses the secret turret to paint, I should've clarified that she was coming from there when Peter asked her out. I didn't really have my ideas as solidified when I wrote the first chapter, but it's a bit clearer now. Only a bit though.
Remus turned to Sirius and whispered, "Ah, so this is the girl from last night?"
Sirius had the good grace to look a bit embarrassed and said, "mhm".
"Expand the horizons of your minds," Onclous said, giving a loud hiccup at the end. She attempted to play it off as a cough. "Through the crystals, we can harvest and identify the emotions of the mind!"
"Which crystal's for boredom?" Sirius muttered. Remus gave a wry grin.
They spent the rest of the period making crystal grids, as pertaining to the psyche. Aife just arranged hers by color.
"I can't believe she made the fucking moonstone comment, what a hag. She just takes any opportunity to show off!" Sirius burst out after class.
"Drop it mate, no need to be upset on my behalf," Remus said in his quiet tone.
"I'm no- well, it's not the only reason. Mostly I just hate that old cow. And she that she dropped hints about your problem."
Aife had hung back after class, hoping to talk to Sirius. Merlin, she really had become one of those simpering girls, hadn't she? The Slytherin in her couldn't help but listen in on their conversation.
More about the moonstone, huh, she thought. Who'd have that that comment was such a big issue big issue?
Miyo was arguing with Alice when Aife caught up with them.
"Well I think he's sweet," Alice said, giving Miyo a look.
Miyo scoffed. "If you're into Hufflepuff dough boys. None of those guys have even an ounce of personality."
Aife privately thought that this had less to do with Miyo's dislike of Frank Longbottom, Alice's longtime crush, and more to do with Professor Onclois going off on Miyo after she wrongly interpreted the crystals. Meanwhile, the professor had doted on Alice, switching moods like a telly.
Alice looked hurt, and let Miyo know that she could do her own divination homework. She stormed away before Aife could attempt to diffuse the situation.
Sighing, she turned to Miyo and said, "Did you have to?"
Miyo looked even angrier and said, "Try and tell me Longbottom's not a tosser. Alice could do so much better. Everyone knows that Hufflepuff and Gryffindor are a bunch of tossers."
Aife gave her a cold look and rushed to catch up with Alice. Aife liked Miyo, but she could be a real insensitive bitch once she felt comfortable around someone. Times like these, Miyo and her sister were a lot more alike than Aife was comfortable with. Slytherin girls were so catty.
Miyo was good for 'studying' with. And by that Aife meant that she and Miyo learned dark spells from books in the restricted section. They mostly did it in the bathroom haunted by a ghost named Myrtle, who threw tantrums and flooded the place at least a few times a week. One time, they found an excellent room to practice in, with a dummy and other odd magical objects and potions ingredients. Sadly, they couldn't find it again.
Most of the magic they practiced wasn't horribly dark, but more of a grey area. A darker grey, to be perfectly honest. Not that they'd ever used or learned anything too horrible (well, they did practice the Imperius curse on each other, but it was actually kinda fun. They'd performed pretty crazy gymnastics). Neither of them had any intention of flocking to Lord Voldemort however, as so many others had. Boys in their grade, such as Snape and Mulciber, were rumored to be Death Eaters already.
"Hey, Alice, are you alright? I'm sorry she had to be sour about Longbottom like that." Aife found her halfway down the spiral stairwell that led to the trapdoor of the Divination classroom.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just don't know if he'll ever notice me. And then what if we get together and I do think he's boring and I'll have spent all this time worrying about it for nothing?" Alice wailed.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I doubt it'll be that way. Longbottom's very cool," Sirius said, his voice carrying out from behind them.
Alice looked surprised, and a bit embarrassed, but brightened at his statement. Aife gave Sirius a grateful look.
"How do you know?" she said in a small voice.
"He's a friend of ours. Not very close, I'll admit, but a friend all the same," Lupin said, gesturing to him and Sirius.
"Oh. You won't tell him I fancy him, will you?"
"Not unless you'd like us to," Sirius said, with his classic grin. It made Aife blush even when it wasn't directed at her. He was just so.. dazzling.
Alice returned his smile. Aife felt a tiny nub of jealousy push at her. She brushed it away, knowing just how crazy it was. You really can't afford to be jealous of Sirius Black, you'd go crazy.
By lunchtime, Aife was exhausted. She decided to have a kip in her four-poster, especially since she had next period free.
Aife dreamed of Sirius. He had stroked her cheek and they laughed together. This can't be a normal reaction, she thought. Had the git slipped her a love potion? For Merlin's sake she was becoming pathetic. It's only been a day, she reminded herself. Sirius had a drug-like effect on her. Was there anyway to make it stop? Sure, it would be all good and well if he returned her feelings, but he was a Gryffindor and she was a Slytherin. Aife was, after all, just Aife, the odd orphan girl, and he was... Sirius Black. But he did want to pair up with you for Divination, her mind nudged.
Aife was jolted out of her anxieties by a snide voice. "Hey Aife," Narcissa said cooly while Moko giggled.
"What do you want, Narcissa?" Aife replied, just as coldly.
"Oh," She dramatized the word. "Well, I, for one, was just wondering why you were muttering my cousin's name in your sleep."
Aife's face had surpassed red and turned purple. Shit shit shit shit bloody fucking goddamn shit.
"Would you like me to put in a good word with him for you?" She asked her lip curling at Aife's panicked expression.
Aife struggled to regain her composure. Did she insult Narcissa back, guaranteeing Narcissa would tell Sirius, just to embarrass Aife? Or, did she offer some kind of reward for her silence?
Aife gave a great sigh. "What do you want from me?"
"Oh, you know, nothing... life threatening. How about a favor?"
Aife eyed the girl shrewdly. As much as she hated to admit it, Narcissa was beautiful. And not unintelligent, unfortunately for her. "What kind of favor?"
"That's to be decided."
"And if I don't want to do it?"
"I tell the red and gold Black all about your saucy little unconscious snogfest with him."
Aife blushed and glared. "Fine." She gave up on sleep, deciding to check up on her painting and then go to double Potions. Aife considered hexing Narcissa, but realized she could do nothing to retaliate without having her secret spilled.
Aife was filled with anticipation when she arrived at the trapdoor for Divination Friday. She had put on a bit of make up, making her lips look delicate and her eyes even bigger. It was a positive effect, but she was far too groggy to bother on most mornings.
Onclois waved a paisley-print shawl and dug around the back of her desk. She produced a large mason jar full of cannabis. Aife didn't have many muggle friends, but from what acquaintances she had, she knew most muggle teens would've had a heart attack if their teacher pulled out a big jar of weed. Onclois began to spectate the sticky stuff into small bowls for each pair, and setting it on the table. Ah, what a time to be alive, Aife thought. She had no clue how Dumbledore allowed this. Most muggle drugs were strictly forbidden at Hogwarts, with the exception of poppy milk (i.e. opium), which Pomphrey had kept locked up tight.
Aife gave Sirius a hesitant smile. He gestured to the bong on the desk before them, as if to say "Shall we?"
Aife grinned and swatted his arm, attempting to non-verbally indicate that they weren't supposed to start the "smoking ceremony" until Onclois had finished her lecture on the use of Cannabis in Ancient Greece. Aife caught the words "Cult of Dionysus" and stored it away in case they were being quizzed on this. The professor spent another 10 minutes on the Thracians' use of cannabis and then allowed them to proceed.
This was only the second time they got to do the smoking ceremony. It was very odd, being instructed by the teacher on how to break up the herbs, then to how to smoke them properly ("Inhale all the smoke and then take another breath, wait a few seconds, and let it all out! And mind you don't waste it!").
"You know, I hear Cannabis is an aphrodisiac," Sirius said suggestively.
It made Aife's stomach flutter, and yet turn over. "If you're just sitting and talking to me because you want to get into my pants, you can leave now." I'm such a romantic, she thought.
Sirius looked affronted. Aife couldn't tell if he was joking. "C'mon, it was just a bit of light hearted flirting. Surely, you can't be entirely immune to my charms?" A small grin lifted a corner of Sirius's mouth. Aife couldn't help but mimic it.
"Perhaps, you should try a different approach," she said.
"Mm, more the intellectual type?"
"Well, it'll take more than a couple winks to get me in your bed, that's for certain." Were they flirting? This was bad, she needed to fix this. I will not be a bimbo, she told herself.
"How about being friends?" she asked tentatively. This would help her reign in her own feelings, and, with any luck, suppress Sirius's man-slut tendencies.
"I thought we already were, love," he said, packing the bong. He tapped it, and it filled with water.
He gestured her towards it. The other students were following suit, and the room was filled with coughing and even more smoke than usual. Onclois just sat in the corner, looking into her crystal ball. It seemed she had gone ahead and helped herself before the lesson even started. Judging by her bloodshot eyes, anyway.
"Fair enough."
They passed the lesson, in true stoner spirit, talking about music. Mostly muggle music, although there were many wizards posing as muggles who were musicians. Most of the classical composers were, anyway.
"So, let me get this straight," Sirius said, eyes glazed. "You're not interested in me? Sensually? I mean, sexually? Although I suppose that applies as well."
Aife giggled and felt wholly carefree, but held to her resolve. "Nope!" She giggled a bit at the shocked expression on Sirius's face.
"So, you're gay?"
Aife smacked Sirius upside the head. "No, I'm not gay, you wanker, I'm just not interested in boys like you. Like I said, I wanna be friends." God knows I need them, she added in her head.
"Oh. But I thought..." Sirius looked as though this were a serious blow to his ego.
"Friends, Black." The plan had solidified a minute or two after she'd taken her first hit. The drug had, ironically cleared up her mind. She would be determined to remain friends with him. This way, he would always chase her if he did like her. And if he didn't, well, she wouldn't embarrass herself. Aife twirled her hair, smiling deviously.
"Friends don't call each other by last names, Aife."
Her heart melted a bit at her name on his tongue.
"Fair enough, Sirius."
Saturday, the day of the Gryffindor versus Slytherin match.
Aife awoke with butterflies in her stomach. She wished she could take a Calming Draught but it relaxed her too much, and could potentially impair her Chasing skills. She slid on the huge round glasses she kept in her nightstand. Thankfully, she had stopped wearing them in public by 4th year, determined to get out of her awkward phase.
Only an hour til the game, she thought, looking up at the alarm clock. Aife had to be at the field at 10:40, so technically she only had 40 minutes to get dressed and grab a quick breakfast. Ah well, sleep was important.
Underneath the glasses, she noticed a parcel with the words "for Aife" written in ink on the parchment in which it was wrapped. The words looked handsome, the penmanship of someone who was raised by nobility. Someone like Sirius! Her heart leapt at the thought, and she hurried to unwrap the package. Inside were a bunch of chocolates.
Maybe I'll just have these instead of breakfast, she thought, yawning.
Aife bit into one of the chocolates, finding it to be full off some sort of sweet goo. It complemented the white chocolate beautifully. This had to be the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for her. In an instant, she had finished over two thirds of the chocolates. Deciding not to give herself a stomach ache, Aife put her voracity on pause so as to take a shower and get dressed.
The shower had felt amazing, setting her skin tingling. Aife wished she had time to touch herself but the game was too soon for things like that. Still, she felt a bit frustrated when she got out.
Aife finished off the chocolates and headed down to breakfast. All the other 6th year Slytherins offered them encouragement, except Narcissa and Moko– they seemed unwilling to associate with people lower than themselves on the social latter. Aife managed a nervous thanks. Midway through pumpkin juice and a piece of toast, Aife began to suspect something was terribly wrong.
All her nerve endings seemed to have become incredibly sensitive. She could feel her thong pressing into her, creating friction. It was soon soaked.
Fuck, Aife thought. I can't play Quidditch like this. It must have been those bloody chocolates. Merlin, I am an idiot.
She hurried to the changing rooms. Who could've done this? Narcissa? This wasn't usually her style. It sounded like something a boy would think up. Aife couldn't think of any boys who disliked her.
Aife took a quick cold shower, but it barely helped. There's no way Slytherin team could replace a chaser before the game started. She would have to play.
Aife donned her windproof flying robes and arm and shin guards, as well as a helmet. There, now she looked ridiculously unsexy. It only helped a very tiny bit.
Ewell sized up his team, taking in all the members. He wondered how they'd come to have so many girls. Most teams only had one, rarely two. Then he remembered letting his girlfriend on instead of McCormick, despite him doing better in Keeper tryouts.
Ewell gathered them up, deciding on a few plays he wanted to try. "Don't try and get the snitch right away. If it appears Potter has noticed it, feel free to go get it, but we wanna be as high up in the running as we'd like, right?"
Aife's head was buzzing. Everything was buzzing. She felt as though she were in a desert, thirsting for pleasure which was barely within her control. Just remember to put the quaffle through the hoops, Aife thought weakly. That's all that matters.
"Now Black is a strong Keeper, you three," Aide felt herself perk up at the name. "And his left side is usually his weakness. Keep it in mind. Yes, his left, not your left, Greengrass." Victor Greengrass was Wilkins replacement, until he his arm got better. Which would probably be in the next couple days. The timing couldn't have been worse. Greengrass was alright, but hadn't trained with them like Wilkins had.
Aife stifled a moan and wished for the comfort of the empty changing room shower. Or her dormitory. Or just about anywhere private would suffice.
Unfortunately, it was time to go to the pitch. She mounted her broom, and found that the issue became a lot worse with the broomstick between her thighs. Aife's breathing was ragged.
Miyo caught up with her and gave her a questioning look.
"Just tired," Aife said breathily.
Miyo seemed to accept this reason and patted her on the shoulder.
What seemed like moments later, they were up in the air, and Aife was trying hard to focus on the quaffle, but it seemed nearly impossible. A bludger nearly missed her head, and Aife was grateful for the distraction. Adrenaline shook her from lust and put all her effort into scoring a goal. She glared at Sirius while she did it. He gave her a confused look.
Ok, so it wasn't Sirius. At least, she thought.
Aife sent a silent prayer to Miyo to catch the snitch before Potter did. Speaking of, James was hovering somewhat nearby. He gave her a shit-eating grin.
"You bastard!" she shouted, but her words were whipped away by the wind. Which was just as well, considering a moan slipped out at the end of the statement. It seemed even anger couldn't keep her arousal at bay.
Aife and Regulus managed to score one more goal each before Miyo caught the snitch. At the very least, James wouldn't have much to gloat about.
Then again, Gryffindor had scored 11 goals, and Slytherin only 6. Still, they had won, and the Slytherin stands were cheering.
Aife quickly took a cold shower and changed. She'd deal with her problem as soon as she got to her dorm, but right now, Aife was thinking of an array of hexes to use on Potter. At least half of which were Dark Arts.
She found him outside the Gryffindor changing rooms.
"You absolute, bloody fucking wanker. You're a piece of shite, you–"
But she was cut off as Sirius pulled her into a nearby broom closet and gave her a cross look. Aife could barely register what was happening- but knew she did not care. She was dazed and everything was clouded with lust.
"You looked as though you were about to hex him, what the bloody hell was that?" he asked her.
"That fucker! He gave me a lust potion."
"Oh," Sirius took in her flushed face and parted lips. He swallowed heavily, "Oh."
"Sirius... please," she made eye contact, hoping he knew what she was asking. Potter was going to pay. But not before she did. With her virginity. To Sirius Black. Fuck.
He attempted to meet her gaze, trying to let his expression remain calm but not entirely managing it. "Are you sure you want this?"
Aife could barely speak except for a whimper. There was nothing romantic about this, a broom closet, but it was better than doing it herself. Then Aife remembered what she had decided. Friends. Friend only, with Black. Nothing more.
Sirius had gotten ready to kiss her, but Aife bolted with nothing but a soft apology in her wake. She had never felt so embarrassed and degraded. She sprinted to the dungeons, where she found a celebration party heavily laden with firewhiskey. She snuck a half-full bottle on her way up to the dorm, thinking that it would come in handy later. Aife would prefer not to remember the embarrassing events of tonight. Or being turned on by riding a broomstick. She was going to look up the Cruciatus Curse and use it on James. Well, not really, but perhaps slip him some potion to make his Johnson fall off, at the least.
Aife drew the curtains around her four-poster and cast silencing charms and a few which would make the curtains very hard to open. She hid the firewhiskey in her drawer and dug up an old sock. She transfigured it into something more appropriate for the occasion.
She flushed, never having used something like that before. But her lust got the better of her, and she slid it inside, uttering a sigh.
Miyo had mentioned a charm which would make the thing do the work for her, but without the incantation and wand movement, Aife had to suffice with the old fashioned way.
She reached under her jumper, caressing her breast and tweaking a nipple, pumping the device in and out. Aife groaned, realizing she wasn't quite satisfied and performed a mild engorgement charm on the ex-sock.
She slid it back in, gasping and moaning in pleasure. Why hasn't she done this sooner? Perhaps she should send Potter flowers instead. No, not after how it had hurt her quidditch performance.
Aife pumped it in faster and faster, using her fingers as well and finally came. Her body was seized by the orgasm and she felt a great rush of pleasure.
Yes, Aife thought. I should really do this more often
Meanwhile, in the afore-mentioned broom closet
Sirius felt himself go stiff at Aife's begging, and immediately regretted asking her if she was sure when she ran out of the broom closet. Fuck, he thought.
Well, there was no help for it now. Sirius closed the door and put a couple charms on it before helping himself off to thoughts of Aife.
After he finished he sank into a sitting position. Did the girl really just want to be friends? Why was she being such a sodding tease? He felt anger, but it faded when he remembered the reason the last 30 minutes had happened. Sirius scourgified himself and walked as quickly as he could to Gryffindor tower.
"James!" Sirius roared as he stormed into the common room. Heads turned, but Sirius didn't care. "What the bloody sodding fuck was that?"
"I've never seen him get this worked up about quidditch before," Peter quietly remarked to Remus.
"I don't think this is about quidditch, mate," Remus had kept his tone low, but Sirius overheard.
"You're goddamn right it's not!" he said, pointing his wand up towards the dormitories. "Upstairs, now!"
James looked a bit bothered, but managed to still look cool. The four Marauders got upstairs and James immediately launched into an explanation.
"Look, mate, I didn't think it'd be that bad–"
"So you admit it? You, you bloody idiot gave her a lust potion, before a quidditch game. Knowing she was going to play? This is low. Even for you, James."
James flinched and recovered himself, "You're calling me low? You, the one who left me to Remus for a night to go chasing after that Slytherin bitch? You, who nearly got Snivellus killed and Moony exposed? You, who break every girl's heart you touch?"
Sirius glared at him with contempt. "If I'm so ruddy horrible, then why the hell," he raised him voice at the last word, "are you best mates with me?"
"I don't fucking know," James said with a glare, and left the dorm. Peter paused for a few moments, then decided it was best to follow James. Perhaps he hoped that he could be James's new best mate.
Remus let out a deep sigh and sat on his bed. "You really like this girl, don't you?" he said.
"I, I–" Sirius sighed and sat as well. "I don't know, Remus. She's different. She just– just wants to be friends. I've never had it happen before. Today, after the match, she was a mess." Sirius's expression had twisted into something between disgust and longing. "She– Aife –looked as though she was about to hex James, started screaming at him. So I pulled her into this broom cupboard and she begged me to– to take her. I asked if she was sure, and she ran out of there, tears pouring down her face." His voice broke. Sirius couldn't believe what he was feeing for the girl whom he'd known for only 4 days, if that. But there was something about her that had caught and held his interest. He found he couldn't let go. If it was friends she wanted, it was friend she would get, however painful it was for him.
Remus gave him a comforting look. "I'm sorry mate, I really am. James acted like a prat. Truth be told, he's pretty prejudiced about all the Slytherins. I think it really bothered him that you chose to hang out with her that night instead of us."
Sirius began to apologize, but Remus cut him off. "Hey, I already told you, don't worry about it. I'm glad you found a girl you like."
Sirius gave a bitter smile, voicing his worries, "But what if she's not special at all. What if we fuck and then I don't feel anything again, just like all those other times?" Sirius ached, thinking about it. He longed to feel whole, and he often did during those brief stolen moments with girls. But then the game was up. He had won and the prize got boring after a week or so. And the game began again. Anything to quench the hollowness. He laughed darkly. If James could hear his thoughts, would he ridicule him? James'd probably say he had mommy issues. Which, with a mother like Sirius's, he probably did.
Remus looked through his drawers and dug out a Dreamless Sleep potion. He tossed it to Sirius, who gave him a nod and a grateful look. Sirius stripped and downed the thing at once, climbing into his bed and drifting off to sleep at once.
Aife awoke late in the morning, feel content. The night before had been tumultuous, to say the least, but the newly discovered pleasure of masturbation had given her an afterglow. She wasn't quite as mad as yesterday, but still fairly ticked at James. Mostly because the whole thing had interfered with the quidditch game. Not to mention that embarrassing scene with Sirius. But yes, mostly the quidditch game.
Aife checked her planner and realized she had a "study" day planned with Miyo. Well, at least she'd get a chance to ask her about that spell. And figure out what hex to use on Potter.
She saw Potter at breakfast and gave him a murderous glare. Sirius didn't look too happy with him either.
"Did you hear?" Aife heard a third year gossiping to her friend. "Black and Potter got into a fight over a girl. Apparently she's a Slytherin, too."
Aife's eyes widened at the news. Was it even true? They'd fought about her? Breakfast disappeared a few moments later and Sirius got up to leave, not even glancing at Potter. Aife snuck out of the hall, trying to blend with a group of Ravenclaw 5th years. As soon as Sirius was mostly alone however, Aife tapped his shoulder.
"What the bloody hell do you wa–" He looked up in her face. "Oh. It's you."
"Yeah," She said blandly, not willing to meet his eyes. "It's me."
"Look, I wanted to apologize about what James did," Aife began to protest but he continued, "No, really, I know it may not be my place, but it wasn't right. In fact, I didn't think James would ever do something like that."
Aife's expression softened a bit. Who'd have thought, Sirius Black was being sweet. "Thanks for saying that. I hope you know that I'm still going to hex his dick off though."
Sirius shivered at the thought, but quickly recovered himself. "I suppose that'll stop him being such a wanker." He grinned at the word play.
Aife cracked a smile as well.
"When can I see you next?" he asked.
"Well, I'm busy most of today," Aife was planning on bringing her art supplies to the hidden turret of Gryffindor tower and painting the view. October at Hogwarts was truly beautiful. Even the Forbidden Forest didn't look so spooky with multi-colored leaves.
"How about Monday, after classes? I'll meet you in the library? Hell, I'll even help you plot against James."
"Truth be told, I was probably gonna do something today, but I've no doubt he'll retaliate. So feel free to help me come up with part two of the plan, then."
"Sounds good."
They walked in comfortable solve for a little while, laughing at the painting of randy wizards dressed in women's burlesque garb who catcalled Sirius.
"Well, this is my stop." Aife said, when they reached the 4th classroom to the left of Gryffindor tower.
Sirius looked confused. "What're you doing there?"
"Oh, just studying. You know, the regular stuff."
"Ah, I see. Meeting a boy, then?
"No, I wish," Aife said jokingly. She relished the way Sirius's eyebrows shot up. "Just taking some alone time." It was technically true, painting was her alone time. Solid, if she showed Sirius that turret, he'd probably take some tramp there.
"Well, I'll see you later." Aside gave him a quick hug, and Sirius felt a bit punch-drunk. She didn't look back as she hurried into the classroom with blazing cheeks. There was the stone zest demon in the corner. It had sky eyes and said, "Hello friend. Do you have some delicious spirit for me today?"
Aife grinned and took out a small silver knife. She cut a small strand of hair from the base of her neck.
"What's your name?" She asked, on impulse.
"You may call me Rangiku. And you, my child?"
"Aife Sullivan." She gave a wry grin at how Irish her name was. Perhaps she should look into the Irish pureblood clans. Then again, it easily could've been a muggle last name from her father.
Rangiku stuck out her tongue for the lock of hair and Aife placed it on. The sight was slightly poetic. Rangiku lapped it up and stepped aside from her backing (a stone wall with images of geishas and kanji writing) to show a 4 foot tall oval opening. Aife was lucky to be thin, or else she'd have had a harder time slipping through. Rangiku padded back to her perch and Aife whispered "Lumos" for lighting. The corridor was mossy stone, and it gave Aife a pleasant feeling to know that she was the only one who knew of the hidden turret.
Aife had brought up some furniture (shrunk and then unshrunk) in September. She had discovered the passage late last year through an odd combination of events. Miyo had cursed in Japanese while they were studying and the creature had awakened, peeking up its head and blinking lazily. Miyo had been facing away from the corner as hadn't seen.
Aife was only just beginning to trust Miyo at that time, as Miyo had (like her sister) been a minion of Narcissa. But that's a story for another day. So Aife waited until Miyo had left and spoke to the cat demon. Who apparently, once awakened (Aife used the only Japanese she knew to say hi– Konichiwa) spoke perfect English. She had felt very stupid for a few seconds before it unfroze and demanded to be fed a lock of hair, which Aife did, on a whim.
Nowadays, Aife occasionally slept in there. She had found a charm to spell the windows to make it look as though this turret was empty. It was extremely useful. She had also put repelling charms surrounding it. It was, at its core a muggle repelling charm, but slightly tweaked and much more difficult. Aife felt proud that she could produce an extremely powerful one. Charms and Transfiguration were here two best subjects, closely followed by Astrology.
Divination briefly covered Astrology, and most Astrology students had to have Astronomy, as a prerequisite. Aife had felt so proud of getting an Acceptable in the astronomy OWL, considering how bad she was at Arithmancy (which was half of Astronomy). It had all made her head spin, but she was glad to be an Astrology student. They were going to do their Religions and Astrology unit soon, which Aife found frankly fascinating.
She sighed as she finally reached the top. There were three rooms, one underneath (a spacious cavern which could be used for spell practice and potion making). The light in the cavern came from Amanita Muscaria Candenti, which emitted a pleasant red glow. Aife had, however, cast little spheres of light to float around her while she practiced her potions work.
Even after 6 years of Hogwarts, she still found magic amazing. Even before that, she had discovered that she could perform small bits of magic. Aife was never really sure what to make of it. She was conscious of it, but could rarely do magic on purpose. The one exception was telekinesis. Aife was particularly good at making things come to her, and had got it fairly down pat by fourth grade. Only things nearby though.
The top of the tower had a very high ceiling, and Aife had charmed clouds to hang in the peak of the turret. At night, a small, bright moon would appear to cast light. It had been a difficult bit of charms work. Aife would probably have to renew the charm in a month or so, but it was staying longer than she had expected so far.
She found her painting perfectly dry. With a nervous excitement, she chanted the incantation: Dorias Amum Vitae. She saw herself spring to life. The painted her blinked.
"You're me, aren't you? How odd."
Did she really sound like that? Aife thought.
"I know what you've been thinking about lately," she said deviously. It seems this painting decided have a bit more Slytherin spirit than the real Aife.
"What've I been thinking about?" Aife was slightly amused.
"Sirius Black. You guys would be so cute together."
Aife groaned. "I think something in the spell went wrong. I'm not nearly this irritating."
"Perhaps your subconscious is?" The Other Aife suggested helpfully.
"I guess so. The sorting hats did put me in Slytherin, after all."
The Other Aife smirked. It made her look like a little elf with her pale Scottish freckles and long sloped nose. The Other Aife almost looked delicate when she kept a straight face though. Aife figured she must have painted herself in a flattering light.
She idled away an hour or two before going down to Myrtle's bathroom.
Neptune had apparently escaped from her dorm, because she greeted Aife, meowing loudly.
"What's wrong, baby?"
Neptune meowed louder, in a whinier key.
"What?"
The cat gave a single long meow and quickly trotted away. Aife followed, since it was the direction she had to go in for the toilets anyway.
After a long walk, Neptune had led her to a crowd of students. Aife picked up her cat, who was light enough to jump on her shoulder and cuddle into her chest. In fifth year, Aife had been disappointed when she hadn't grown nearly enough breast while all the other girls in her year had. She had found a potion, a difficult brew, to enlarge breasts and grow breast tissue. Aife had made sure it was an irreversible one, not wanting to be disappointed when they shrunk back to normal. Imagine the surprise when they grew into double Ds over night. They had occasionally been a burden, but Neptune loved to nestle around her neck so she kept them. She had shrunk them every morning, making the spell weaker and weaker, so no one would question why she suddenly had breasts overnight.
Currently, her breasts were a mixed blessing. It was difficult to get through a
the crowd.
Aife jostled herself into the 4th row and saw some writing on the wall. It appeared to be blasted out of the stone. She couldn't make it out from back here, but she got the impression something bad has happened. She turned to a student near her.
"What happened?"
The girl, a 4th year Hufflepuff, just pointed at the wall.
Aife squinted.
"The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened."
endnote/ Yes, I know. *Gasp*. I know the time frame isn't right, but I'm doing it anyway. In the meantime, can you guess who opened the Chamber of Secrets? Don't hold your breath for a response though, I'm not about to give away my ending. The opening of the Chamber 50 years ago still happened. And this is... about 18 years since then? Yeah that sounds about right.
chapter word count: 6,350
Also, here's a copy of Aife's schedule. I thought it would be helpful.
Aife's Classes and Schedule:
Astrology
Runes
Divination (semester one)
Muggle Studies (semester two)
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Transfiguration
Charms
Herbology
The classes are 50 minutes each, with a 10 minute break in between. Lunch is an hour including breaks.
Breakfast at 8am. Classes begin at 8:30am and end at 3:30pm
Schedule:
Monday: Astrology, Transfiguration, [FREE], /Lunch/, Divination, [FREE], Charms
Tuesday: Herbology, Transfiguration, [FREE], /Lunch/, [FREE], Runes, Charms
Wednesday: Astrology, DADA, DADA, /Lunch/, Divination, Runes, [FREE]
Thursday: Astrology, Transfiguration, DADA, /Lunch/, [FREE], [FREE], Charms
Friday: Herbology, Herbology, [FREE], /Lunch/, Divination, Runes, [FREE]
If I get 5 reviews on this, I'll draw Aife and make a deviantart, post it on there, and tell you my profile. There's a good chance I'll do it anyway, but really, reviews make my night ^_^