"Time is up everyone. Please put your quills away and place your exam papers on the desk at the front please," Mr. Flitwick said.
The entire third year charms students stood up and shuffled towards the front of the Great Hall. Immediately after placing the parchment on the desk, each student felt a wave of relief pass through them. The last exam of the third year was completed. The Gryffindors (minus Lily, who was with Severus a mile away from James and Sirius), headed out to the beech tree on the edge of the lake. The sun was shining brightly, covering the grounds with a blanket of warmth and light. There wasn't a single could in the air and the sky was a vivid shade of blue. Slowly they each collapsed under the shade of the tree and watched silently as the Giant Squid floated around, its tentacles ripping through the flat water.
"Do you think it's possible to catch the squid?" Sirius asked suddenly.
Everyone looked at him, with one eyebrow raised. "Are you trying to get detention before the fourth year starts?" Remus asked, as the others laughed.
"No, I was just wondering if it was possible-" Sirius began.
"Let me check," Demi said. The others watched as she slipped off her shoes, socks, and tied her hair up. She walked to the edge of the lake and dove in.
"She's gone mad" James said, sounding completely certain of himself. The others nodded in tandem.
Ten minutes went by before Sirius stood up and took off his shoes and socks. As he was about to take of his shirt, Kiaria asked, "what are you doing?"
Sirius looked back at her, worry in his eyes. "She's been in there a long time. I'm going to see what's taking her so lo-."
"Hey guys," said a voice from behind Sirius' back. He turned around and looked at her. She smiled at Sirius before asking what he was doing.
"I was . . . I thought . . ." he stammered.
"Well, the squid doesn't want to be caught, I can tell you that," she informed the others.
"How do you know?" Peter asked, looking amazed yet frightened. Demi was a good friend, one of his best friends, but sometimes she scared him with her obscene amount of knowledge.
"It told me," she replied, drying herself with her wand and replacing her shoes.
"You spoke to it?" Frank and Alice asked.
"Well obviously. How else was I going to find all that information out?" Demi said, in an annoyed sort of tine. She was still shivering from her time in the lake as she sat down next to Sirius, who threw an arm around her shoulder.
"Enlighten me?" Sirius challenged.
"Well, I lived here for a majority of my life. I could stay in the castle talking to grownups so I spent time in the Forbidden Forest, the lake, and so on. I began to communicate with the creatures." She looked around at her friend's faces, filled with amusement. She felt Sirius shaking and turned to face him. His face was buried in his shirt and emerged from under it laughing.
"Just trying to imagine a young Demi trying to talk to unicorns," he said.
"Excuse me? Are you taking the mickey out of me?" Demi asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Well, in a matter of speaking-" Sirius began.
Demi shook her head stood up and grabbed her bag. "I have to go you guys, I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer and give Sirius the ass-whooping he so rightfully deserves."
"Where are you going? We're all here" James asked, looking around as Sirius did a head check.
"Well, I'm meeting Jeremiah-" she began.
James, Sirius, and Remus immediately stood up, "We'll come with you" they said simultaneously.
Demi buried her head in her hands and mumbled, "Oh shit." She looked up at them and managed an embarrassed smile. "No offence you lot, but seriously. Leave me alone. Jeez. James I get it, you're practically my brother, and you care about me. Remus, you're one of my closest friends and I know you've got my best interests at heart. Sirius, you're one of my best friends, in fact, you're more than a friend. I trust you with my life. But please, give me some space. I can take care of myself. After all, I got past Baldemort. Jeremiah Golde would be a piece of cake." They watched in silence as she ran up the lawn towards a group of fourth year Ravenclaws and hugged one of the taller ones.
"If he does anything to her, I'll kill him" Sirius muttered. James and Remus nodded, while the others looked at each other and mouthed "Sirius."
"Hey Jeremiah," Demi said, giving him a hug. She felt him hug her back, but weakly. She let go and faced him, "you alright?"
"Fine, I just didn't want to enrage the bodyguards," he explained, looking past her, at the boys.
Demi followed his gaze to the group she'd left by the lake. She sighed before turning to Jeremiah, "they're going to control themselves, I promise."
He laughed loudly, and the pair went for a stroll around the grounds, leaving both groups of friends behind. "So," began Jeremiah, turning to face her as they walked, "I want to know everything about you."
"Everything?" Demi asked, somewhat startled, yet amused. No one had taken this much interest in her, except for Sirius.
"Yeah. I think it makes sense. We've spent some time together, but we're always doing work and stuff in between. It's the end of the year, and there is a noticeable absence of schoolwork," Jeremiah pointed out.
"So, where do I begin?" She asked, hoping he wouldn't say the summer before her first year.
"Anywhere you feel comfortable," he replied, as the pair sat down by the Dark Forest.
"Okay, well. My name is Demitria Dumbledore, I dunno when I was born. I dunno who my parents are. I dunno what I am, in terms of ethnicity. I am 14 years old. My best female friend would have to be Lily Evans. I have a group of amazing friends, and we pull pranks, hang out in detention together. I live with the Potters. My favourite band is AC/DC and Blondie. I like muggle music over magical music. I love watching muggle movies and shows, and reading muggle books," she finished.
"Well, well. Going to have to compete with that, aren't I?" he remarked. Demi nodded and encouraged him to start. "Well, my name is Jeremiah Golde. I was born on the 19th of April. My parents are Jeremy and Nethvit Golde. I am Indian and White. I am 15 years old. I have a group of close friends. I play as seeker on Ravenclaw's team, I am an only child. My favourite band is Punkin Jus and Warlock to Shame. I have never been in detention, but with you as my girlfriend, I'm hoping that might change."
Demi's eyes opened wide, and her mouth felt like it had dropped a thousand miles, "wait-what?"
Jeremiah leaned in, placed his finger under her chin, shut her mouth, and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "Just the reaction I was hoping for."
Demi smiled slightly. She wasn't sure whether dating Jeremiah was a good idea. She'd flirted with him, but didn't expect too much to happen. She also felt like she was betraying someone, but she didn't know who. It felt like dating Jeremiah, might not be such a good idea. Nevertheless, she put her thoughts aside and focused back on the conversation at hand. "Well, if that was your way of asking, then I guess I'd have to say, yes."
Jeremiah jumped up and pumped his fist in the air, "she said 'yes'."
Demi looked up at him in mock horror, "so this is what James would be like if Lily said yes to him" she marveled. Jeremiah bent down and gave her another kiss before helping her to her feet and heading back up to the castle, where dinner was being served.
The pair walked into the Great Hall, holding hands, which subtly let the people in the school know the two were taken. Demi led Jeremiah over to the Gryffindor table, where the pair sat down with Frank, Alice, Lily, and Kiaria. Demi knew well enough (from her day's with Lockhart, or as the four boys called it 'the dark age') that having her boyfriend join them would be like asking for Voldemort to come to the Potters by invitation.
"So you two finally got together, huh" Kiaria said, as she poured herself a cup of water.
"Yep," Jeremiah said, popping the 'p'.
"And you won't screw this up?" a voice said from behind. Demi closed her eyes before turning around. She already recognized the voice as Remus'.
"Remus, relax, I got this under control," Demi sighed. She heard him move further down the table to where the rest of the Gryffindor boys were most likely sitting. She opened them again and looked at Jeremiah. "I'm so sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about. I guess, what with me and you being together and all, I'm going to have to learn how to make peace with them.
"That you are," Lily replied. "And you'd better be used to us as well" she added, gesturing to herself and the remaining Gryffindors. "We might not be as bad as that lot, but we sure can kick some arse when necessary" Lily finished.
"Well, you might not have a biological family, but nothing beats the one you've got here," Jeremiah said, turning to Demi.
"Yeah I know. I'm pretty thankful for them. Wouldn't change them in for a thing," she replied.