Chapter Three
It's common sense that if one wants the time to go by quickly they should do something and that was what I've been doing since I've been in Professor McGonagall's class. I've been paying close attention to whatever McGonagall had been lecturing, that included taking down notes and not letting my mind wonder off.
Of course that was a bit hard for me to do since I had three things that I've been thinking over in the last couple of days, one of them being quite important while the other two where just something that kept me interested. These things where: my upcoming Arithmancy exam, Sirius Black and that 'note' I had written not to long ago.
The only thing I needed to do about that exam was to study; I'm pretty much a good student in that class but one could never be so self-assured, right? Then there's that one person, who I've as of recently been thinking much more about; I was not quite surprised to find out through Crystal that he had broken up with some girl he had barely been going out with. Something like that should steer me away from him but somehow that didn't do the work, but why am I even thinking that far anyway? Then there's that note I had taped under the desk, I admit that I had been looking forward to my Transfiguration class just to find out. That's pretty sad, don't you think? Thankfully I'm the only one who knows about it so there's no shame to it.
The time has come where everyone could finally leave this classroom only to tread onto their next destination. But there was one last thing that I needed to do before going to my next class.
"You are aware that class has ended, right?" Crystal said as she stood up from her seat.
I was still seated on mine, and apparently writing something down from the book I had open infront of me. "I know, why don't you go ahead and I'll catch up"
"Okay... but you are aware that we are the last four people in the classroom, right?" Crystal clearly reminded me.
I nodded, still not looking up. "I know but I'll catch up. So shoo"
"Shoo?" she asked, but I knew it wasn't much of a question. "you should have been a bit more blunt m'dear" she said amusingly before walking down the row of desks. Apparently she had taken my hint.
After I watched her leave, I quickly picked up my belongings and place them inside my book bag. By this time I was practically the only one left, except for a girl who was speaking with Professor McGonagall.
I took this time to quickly walk beside the desk where I thought I taped the note but ended finding it wasn't the one, I was only off by two desks when I found the right one. I was a bit unsure whether the parchment I felt was the one I've written, but that thought was washed away when I saw a whole different writing. I didn't read it but quickly folded back to its original and walked toward the desk where my book bag was sitting, without stopping I picked it up and walked out from the classroom.
I had only stepped out from the classroom when Dale had suddenly made himself be known.
"What are you doing here?" was the first thing I asked as he joined beside me as I walked down the hall.
"No greetings?"
"Well, Hello!" I mocked, as I placed the folded parchment I had carrying inside my book bag.
"You certainly need to practice your greeting" he said with a coy smile.
I couldn't help but chuckle at this, but not in a rude manner, hopefully... "And I'm getting this from a youn'gun?"
"Who are you calling a youn'gun? We're only three months apart and besides there's no difference since we're both sixteen"
I looked up at him with a smirk, "Little makes a difference, besides..." I was saying as we turned a corner, "what are you doing here? Isn't your next class back from where we came from?"
He stopped, "Right, well I'm off"
I shook my head, "Yeah, off you go" I told him before I continued my way to my own class. Ravenclaws, they were supposed to be smart, right? Quite a question indeed.
Before dinner, I had escaped from my friends for the spot under the beech tree by the lake. Of course, I took my Arithmancy book with me so I could study for the upcoming exam. But this wasn't the main reason why I came (and wanted) to be alone. Besides, I wasn't exactly alone since there were a couple of other students spotted around the still-green grounds of Hogwarts.
After making myself comfortable, the weather wasn't exactly cold, I took the folded parchment from the pages of the book and began reading it.
Thanks. I never thought you'd actually found it. Your poem was quite good too, that's why I replied. It intrigued me. To tell you the truth I was absolutely scared someone would actually find it and think it was stupid or something. Still, I replied 'cause I somehow felt like we have something in common. It was your choice if you wanted to reply to the poem, but I must say it is much easier writing a letter than a poem someone might interpret the wrong way. Hope you find this... I'll end this with a fragment of a poem I once wrote...
The eyes of those who cannot see,
but the sound of a whisper can deceive...
P.S. If you reply to this I'll think about writing down the rest of it for you.
As I finished reading this for the second time, I couldn't help but smile. I was actually quite thankful that this person had taken his time to respond to what I've written, a silly gesture I suppose.
I took out the extra parchment as well as my quill and ink and began writing a response.
I reread what I've written, making sure that everything was just as I wanted it to be; it was out of my character for me to be putting something into another without knowing the result. I suppose I was just doing this because I was in no hurry to write a reply. Besides, who would know?
After Arithmancy class, and after taking the exam which was surprisingly easy, I've been
looking forward to Transfiguration, not because of its subject and much less about the people, I think, either way it was because I needed to do something before the class started. And that something involved the letter, as I would now call it. But first, I would have to separate myself from Alice, which wouldn't be so easy. Sure, I could go and say that I needed to do something that I've forgotten but they all knew I wasn't some irresponsible person so inventing such excuse wouldn't work. Unfortunately, I made myself predictable.
"...So he has started calling you Belle"
I stopped in my tracks as I turned to her, we were walking towards the lavatory which fortunately happened to be close by Professor McGonagall's classroom. "Belle?"
She slowly nodded, "Yes, why the surprise?"
"Why all of a sudden?" I asked as I continued my steps. "we've known each other for a while now, so I suppose if shortening names where to start, that'll be back then"
"You still don't get it do you?" she asked, "you still can't understand the little gestures, the interest, the ev-?"
I stopped, again as I turned to her with a not so amused look. "What are you getting at?"
She smirked, as she walked past me towards the door that would lead into the girl's lavatory, "You're a smart gal, you can figure it out"
I knew what she meant, but that couldn't be.
"You know what, I have to go and uh do something..." I instantly replied, obviously trying to get away from such talk.
"Fine, but keep that in mind" I heard her say as I made my way towards the classroom. Well, that certainly was the perfect way for me to ditch a friend for the time being.
Transfiguration class wouldn't start for another fifteen minutes, and I was pretty sure people wouldn't be in class… yet. So I took this time to walk in, find the desk, tape the letter (with new tape of course), and walked out and all this happened without a single problem. Hopefully, that's how it'll be from now on.
"Sirius Horatio Black–"
"WHAT have I said about second names?" I said.
"That they are strictly confidential," replied Peter.
"Exactl–"
"But on special circumstances we're aloud to use them," interrupted Remus smirking.
"Like what special circumstance?" I inquired.
"You owe us a hundred galleons each, mate," said James.
"Why would I owe you three losers such a ridiculous amount of money?" I asked not really knowing what they were talking about.
"That bet we did about a week ago," said Remus. "About you and Ashley?"
"What about it?" I saw James roll his eyes. I really didn't know what they were on about.
"You are back with her!" Peter nearly shouted.
"I am?" that was seriously news to me.
"YES!"
"Why didn't I know that?"
"You're not back with her?" asked James raising an eyebrow. "You solemnly swear?"
"I solemnly swear I'm not back with Ashley," I said. "I'm with Alicia, her crying got to the point were it annoyed me and I had only spent one night with her."
"You mean you broke rule number two?" asked Peter. "I mean, you actually crawled?"
"I did not crawl!" I exclaimed indignantly. "I never said I was going to stay with her."
"When are you going to break up with her?" asked Remus. "Today? Tomorrow? Next two minutes?"
"Last option," Remus, Peter, and James looked at each other.
"Fifty galleons each I'm never going back to her," I said before they could utter a word.
"I love bet world," said James.
"I bet you will after you all have to pay me a hundred and fifty galleons each," I replied taking my Transfiguration books and walking out the portrait hole.
"Uh-huh," they all muttered following me.
"You don't believe me?" I asked over my shoulder.
"Who does?" Remus muttered under his breath.
"I heard that," I said rolling my eyes.
"Damn that stupid canine hearing of his." said James.
"Well he is a dog," said Peter matter-of-factly.
"Thanks for reminding me, Peter," I said as we all sat down at Gryffindor table for lunch.
"Sirius!" I heard a voice say behind. Alicia. I looked down the table and saw Ashley staring incredulously at me. Why did girls have to be so complicated?
"What?" came my flat reply as Alicia sat down next to me.
"What's–" she stopped abruptly. "Oh, no Sirius. You're not breaking up with me are you?"
"Nice to see your Ravenclaw brain works, darling," I blew a kiss in her general direction. She stood there glaring at me for a couple of seconds before turning on her heel and making a mad dash for the Great Hall exit.
"Sirius, I truly love watching the different ways you break up with your girlfriends," said Remus. "First Ashley, whom I might say didn't take it very well. Now, Alicia, who, I might add, is going to be bawling her eyes out again for everyone else to pity her… way to go man!" said Remus shaking his head.
"Remus, you seriously need to get laid soon, mate," he threw a brownie Peter was eating in my direction but I dodged it easily, I guess Snape didn't have the same reflexes.
"Hey, I was going to eat–" complained Peter but his rant was cut short by Snape's angry voice.
"Then you should've put it in your mouth where it belongs," said Snape.
"But, Snivelly," I said mockingly. "Brown is such a good color on you! You should really think about making it your new color of choice, 'cause black… well, it is associated with me and you don't really like me that much do you?"
Snape's lip curled before he went back to sitting at his table. They guys all laughed as we took our stuff to go to transfiguration.
We made it to the class room in record time since we were late.
"Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, Mr. Pettigrew… late, as usual. But I'm mildly surprised in you Mr. Lupin," said Professor McGonagall… such a nice teacher we've got ourselves. "Well sit down… or are you waiting for an invitation sent by owl post?"
We all sat down trying to muffle our laughter… well, all except Remus. He absolutely hated being late.
I never thought I would say something like this but today McGonagall's class was absolutely boring. I didn't know if it was truly boring or I just didn't find the point of the whole thing. I think I'll go with the latter, 'cause I am not really paying attention to anything she's saying anyway. So I just sit here contemplating my shitty life. Very entertaining actually, considering I have just realized that I've kissed over fifty girls in the last three years. What a playa… okay, so that is good in a circle of friends were you can blab on and on about how you don't kiss and tell and well… whatever. I don't think I've ever kissed a girl I have really truly liked. Kind of pathetic, but hey, I'm sixteen. I have plenty of time to truly like girls, truly break their hearts, truly get my own heart broken, and truly fall in love… I'm starting to sound like a girl… well, more like a selfish, ignorant boy… yeah that sounds better.
I suddenly remembered something. Transfiguration. Letter. I touched under the table and sure enough there was a letter taped. I could only hope it was not the same one I had written. After further inspection I realized it wasn't so I opened it.
"What have you got there?" asked James trying to pry it out of my hands.
"Move over, Potter, it is absolutely none of your business." I said hastily putting the letter inside my bag. James kept struggling to get it, but what he managed was to get us everyone's attention and a week worth's of detention from McGonagall for refusing to tell her what we were fighting about. Way to go, Prongs!
I sat later in my room and read the letter.
I have no idea why you would bother to think that someone would think your poem is stupid, besides why should you care? You should be proud, well not exactly proud, but grateful with what you were given with. Unlike me, it comes and goes. Either way, I do agree with your statement of something so 'simple' being interpreted the wrong way.
On a different note, I would like to say that you were right in saying that I had the option to reply but why make it sound like it were bad? Personally, I think this to be quite interesting, hopefully you don't think I'm odd but why am I even writing that when you don't even know who I am? Yes, that's the fun part don't you think? For all I know I might be corresponding with a first year, which would be a bit odd of course, doubtful, but nonetheless odd. I'm a sixth year, just to let you know. It's up to you whether you'll like to divulge what year you're in.
I'm pretty sure that if I kept going, I'll make this into quite a letter and that will bore you to death and that'll be no good. But before I end this, I would like to say that I really like that second sentence of the fragment of a poem you had written. And since I've replied, I would look forward for the rest if you have the chance.
I read the letter about three more times before I made up my mind about what I was going to write back.
"Sirius?" said James poking his head through the door. I put the letter in my pocket before turning back to him.
"We have detention in five minutes," he said. Perfect, now I would be able to put the letter under the table.
"Coming… Coming," I said trying to sound bored and casual. But I smirked as soon as James' back was facing me.
A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews! Keep it up! (now I feel like a cheerleader...) Hope liked this chap and if you're bored you can read the rest of my fics and Nocturnal007's