Disclaimer: All ideas are based on characters and events belonging to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing.

Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 7: Exclamations

Olivia sighed, frustrated, and slammed her quill onto the table in the back of the library. What happened with Lucius kept playing over and over again in her head. She knew deep down that she did nothing wrong, that if he really cared about her he would accept her decision to wait until she felt ready. but she couldn't help but to be mad at herself.

"Olivia?"

Oh boy, here it comes. She looked up from the essay she had been attempting to finish to see Lucius standing just a couple feet off, looking at her expectantly. She couldn't help but raise her eyebrows at the apprehensive look on his face, "Hello, Lucius."

He closed the space between them and took a seat next to her. "We need to talk. About last night."

She knew it was coming, that Lucius was going to dump her and had been preparing for it all day but now that it was so close she could still feel the tears rising.

Lucius took her hand into his and kissed it, "I'm sorry, Olivia."

Her mind went blank. "What?"

Lucius sighed, "I was completely out of line and I realize that now. Last night, I just got so caught up in the way you make me feel that rational thought must have flew out the window."

Olivia was still staring at him with a blank look plastered on her face.

"I'll understand if you don't forgive me, but I just wanted you to know that I truely am sorry and that I...I love you, Olivia."

At his last sentence, Olivia's brain kicked into overdrive. Had he really just said what she thought he said? This was the complete opposite of what she'd been expecting. The tears started down her cheeks as she threw herself into Lucius' arms. He rubbed her back as she got her emotions back under control. "I love you too, Lucius."

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The next week and a half passed quickly and before the fifth years knew it, OWLs were upon them. Olivia wished all the boys luck with a hug and kiss on the cheek before her and Kiley arranged their supplies around the fire and started catching up on some homework.

"So, are you going to Lucius to Hogsmeade this weekend?"

"Of course, it's the final trip. I can't believe how fast this year has flew by."

"Tell me about it. I'm already nervous for next year, how pathetic is that?"

Both girls laughed. "I guess in a way I am too. Right now though, I'm just nervous I'm not going to get this History of Magic essay finished by tomorrow." Kiley nodded and they started looking through notes for something that would fit in their essays. "What about you? Any plans for Hogsmeade?"

"Nothing yet. Richard Milley from Hufflepuff asked me but I turned him down. I've still got a couple days."

"Waiting on anybody specific?"

Kiley blushed, "I don't know what your talking about."

Olivia proceeded to squeal, her essay momentarily forgotten. "Oh my gosh, you are! Tell me!"

Kiley blushed even deeper, "I will if it works out. I'm still not sure if he likes me or not yet."

Olivia looked definitely dishearted, "You can't just drop something like this on me and not tell me who."

Kiley stuck her tongue out. "Oh I can, and I am." Olivia threw her History of Magic book at her and the two shared a good laugh before settling back down to work on their essays. "How do you think the guys are doing?"

"Well, you know Remus is going to do amazing. And I believe both James and Sirius will both do really good. I'd say Pete will pass but who knows how well."

"Yea, sounds about like what I was thinking. When does Lucius take his NEWTs?"

"I'm not really sure, he doesn't really talk about it."

"So has everything been going ok?"

"Things have been amazing. I dread him leaving so soon." Kiley looked at her skeptically. She knew what had happened between Lucius and Olivia in the dungeons and had been worried about her best friend ever since. "Everything's fine, Kiles. I promise."

Kiley grunted in response. "Lets get these essays done so we can play some chess."

Two essays down and three games of chess later, Olivia and Kiley were sitting on the couch wondering where the Marauders were.

"Ten galleons says they forgot about us and went outside."

Olivia laughed, "They better not have, James said they'd come straight here and tell us how they.."

She was interrupted as an enraged Lily Evans came storming into the common room, muttering something about an insufferable git and a toerag. She passed them up and went straight up the stairs and to her dorm room.

Olivia and Kiley just looked at each other. "I wonder what that was all about?"

"Well, I'd say it's safe to say that my brother is either the insufferable git or the toerag she was going on about."

It wasn't long before the rest of the fifth years found their way back to the common room. The girls followed Lily's path and went straight to their room while the boys joined Olivia and Kiley. "So how'd it go guys?"

James, who plopped down on the couch between the two girls, grumbled, "During OWLs or after?"

Olivia looked at him confused, "What're you going on about. Jamie?"

Sirius was the one to answer as he took a seat in the floor, leaning against Olivia's legs. "Well, during the test went good. We all think we passed though Peter thinks he tripped up a few questions. After the test however, wasn't as pleasant. We had a run in with Snape, Evans got involved and she actually verbally abused Prongs after he took up for her. All in all, I'd say it was a nice little disaster."

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Lily paced back and forth through their room as she ranted, "Ugh! The nerve of him! The nerve of all of them!"

"Your right, Lily, but your going to have to calm down before you wear a hole in our floor." Scarlett grabbed Lily's shoulder and led her to her bed before pushing her down onto it.

Tears were starting in Lily's eyes. "I expected things like this from Potter and Black but not Severus."

Abigail sit on one side of Lily, "Come on, Lils. You had to at least kind of been aware that he was capable of this. I mean, he was put in Slytherin for a reason."

Lily shot her a glare, "Your not put in Slytherin for being dark, your put in Slytherin for your ambition."

"Yea, and people that ambitious will do whatever it takes to achieve their ends, hint why there's so many dark wizards that come from Slytherin."

"I know, I get that. I just..I don't know. I thought Severus was different."

Scarlett sat on the other side of Lily and the two girls worked on comforting their friend.

"I swear, Scarlett, I don't know what you see in Black."

Scarlett blushed slightly, "I'm not sure, Lils. Its just that I've come to realize that there must be a lot more to Sirius Black than what he lets the whole world see. You can sometimes see it in his eyes when he's not really paying attention. I want to know that side of him. I want him to let me in."

Lily looked thoughtful for a moment. "I guess. I mean, he can't always be an obnoxious pig..."

All the girls laughed, relieved that the tension had finally been broken.

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The Marauders, along with Kiley and Olivia, decided to spend the remaining part of the day, before supper, at the lake. The girls were quick to shed their socks and shoes and let their feet hang into the lake. The boys, however, took their socks and shoes off and dove right in. Sirius swam back near the water's edge and splashed some onto Olivia, who in turn raked her hand through the water and sprayed him in the face.

Sirius sputtered the water from his mouth, "Mhm, lets see you do that again, little girl!"

Olivia laughed and repeated her action instantly but Sirius was waiting this time and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the chilly water with him.

While Kiley laughed from the edge, Olivia's first reaction was shock. Her black hair was plastered to her face and into her eyes but she held her position, treading water. Sirius swam to her and swept the hair away from her face, still laughing, "I'm sor.." He didn't even get his apology halfway out before Olivia put her hands on top of his head and pushed him under the water.

He came back up sputtering. "Haha, take that!" He tried to glare at Olivia but when he saw the outrageously large grin on her face, he couldn't help but laugh along with her.

Remus smiled at the two of them as he pulled himself back onto the edge to sit beside Kiley, who grinned at him. "Never boring with those two around, huh?"

Remus laughed, "You know, I don't think I've ever heard a truer statement."

"So, are you glad that OWLs are over?"

"Definitely. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from me. I'm pretty confident that I did well."

"I'm sure you did, Remus, your the smartest person I know."

Remus blushed at the compliment. By this time, Olivia and Sirius were in an all out splash war and James and Peter were taking bets on who would drown first. "I'm not that smart. People just assume that because I read a lot."

Kiley nudged his shoulder, "I don't believe that for a second."

Remus started to respond but ended up with a mouthful of water, compliments of the war raging in front of them. He sputtered until his lungs was free of liquid while a, "Sorry, Moony!" was all he got before the battle resumed.

Remus looked at Kiley, who was currently almost rolling with laughter. He had never really paid attention to how pretty she was. How her red hair fell beautifully around her face to land at the small of her back and how her eyes sparkled when she laughed. Before he even thought about what he was doing the words were coming out his mouth, "Will you go to Hogsmeade with me?"

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Author's Note: Sorry it took so long, I've had lack of internet issues. . Please review and let me know what you think. -PJ