Author's note: Thank you for the reviews. it brings me joy when i get a new review. To answer your questions: anon, you are on the right track. I was thinking of having him be her tutor or maybe the other way around. Just give it a few more chapters.
"Music is my religion" -Jimi Hendrix
'Books
are proof that
humans
can work
magic"
Zuri clearly read this wrong.
At the description of Hogsmeade, she thought of it as a casual hang out with friends. Like the non-majs say when they want to go to the mall. But as she waited in the courtyard for Adhara, she noticed how wrong she was. Boys—besides the Slytherins—were dressed simple and casual. The girls on the other hand…
Dress to impress, she thought. That had to be the only explanation. The other one being happy to wear something besides Hogwarts' uniforms. Zuri did not dress for no formal occasion. It's not like she didn't have anything to wear. Bing the granddaughter of an ex-president required having an array of clothes for any occasion. But who was to impress here?
"Sorry to keep you waiting," the half-breed turned, watching Adhara jogging over. She didn't dress to impress either. Even when she will be on a 'date' with Thomas Higgs. While the Pureblood did not doll herself up with makeup and straightened hair, the dress was a different story. It was casual enough to pass but still elegant. A pleasant crème colored wrap dress with pink floral designs. Of course, being the conservative lady, the dress reached a few inches passed her knee.
Adhara frowned as she noticing Zuri's attire.
"I didn't know we were supposed to dress up," she stated the obvious. Zuri wore high-waist bell-bottom jeans with orange converses. The Animals black band tee tucked into her jeans.
"Is this American' fashion?" Adhara asked.
Zuri shrugged. "It's American non-maj's fashion." She always admired their street style ever since she befriended a non-maj-born in her second year.
"Oh, okay," Zuri watched as Adhara fidgeted. She rung her hands as her eyes darted around the courtyard.
"Is there something you need to tell me?" Zuri is not one for beating around the bush.
"Yeah," Adhara began. "I'm truly sorry. I know I said that I would spend the day with you but Thomas—
"—you're dumping me for your fiancée?" Zuri teased. She smirked when seeing Adhara responded with a pout.
"Would you like to hang out with us?" she asked the Ravenclaw. "You won't be a third wheel. My friend, Severus will be joining us."
She knew that she made the wrong choice. At first, she was quick to decline since it would feel more like her tagging along as a third wheel. Adhara was quick to tell her that Severus, her friend, will be joining so she didn't have to worry about being a third wheel. But there was one thing that Adhara left out.
Severus is just as antisocial as Zuri is. Yes, Zuri knows how to act the part as a charming young lady but she can't use it when the other said person is not willing to participate. Adhara, the sweet girl, tried to add her to the conversation but Zuri could easily see how putt off both boys was at the new member of the group. Severus clearly didn't want to be there but possibly dragged to join them by the Hufflepuff. Thomas Higgs, on the other hand, who she met at that moment was interesting.
He was all smiles and jokes but Zuri knew she saw something when Adhara told him that they are joining their 'date'. His hazel eyes stared—condescendingly—at Zuri's outfit. Zuri knew that this 'date' was just for appearances. Adhara gave her the low down last night. It's kind of hard to lie—since Adhara's horrid at it—when the American caught her having a row with her secret boyfriend. Zuri was more confused on why Adhara was quick to tell her about it. She thought the Hufflepuff would spill her woes to the two other gossiping Hufflepuffs but she chose the Ravenclaw instead.
The American was not usually this quick with befriending others. Especially on someone who is completely different—personality wise from her.
Even at Ilvermorny, she was so standoffish that friends didn't come easy for her. Maybe it was how cynical she was. Social cues were never her strong point since she was more annoyed by her classmates.
"Maybe we should go to Madam Puddifoot's," she hears Thomas suggest. At the mere mention of the tea shop, Adhara paled but soon realized that the older boy was joking. Or so she thought. It was obvious that Thomas viewed Adhara more than just a friend. Merlin, he even suggested them holding hands to make it look more real.
Zuri's amber brown eyes widened with wonder when she noticed Tomes and Scrolls.
"How about the bookshop?" Zuri recommended. It's been a while since she read a riveting book and she needed one pronto. She grinned when Severus and Adhara brightened over the prospects of buying a new book. Thomas, on the other hand, appeared as if she mentioned going to the Shrieking Shack instead. Adhara noticed, too.
"Just give us fifteen minutes," Adhara requested before hooking her arm with his and dragging him over.
"I'm going to the magazines," Thomas said as soon as they entered the bookshop. Zuri and Severus both sauntered to the drama section.
Adhara didn't pay any mind. She shrugged before skipping off to the romance section. Of course, she's not going to the read the trashy romance that the older witches loved but a simple young romance novel. The bookshop also shelved popular muggle novels but she had to hide it if she brought it home.
"No surprise that you're in this genre," she heard behind her. Adhara didn't even flinch at the sound of a teasing voice. She turned with a grin on her face. Remus wore a matching smile as he looked down at her.
"What are you trying to say?" she tried to come off as offended but her smile never wavered. Her eyes looked around their aisle and for some unknown reason, she was glad not to see the rest of the gang. She didn't know why but talking to Remus without the company of her brother and James made her feel…relaxed. Both jokesters bring out an exasperated yet exciting emotion in the Hufflepuff but with this quiet Gryffindor, it was different. Yeah, they joked but they also talked which is more than she can say when she's with Fabian (all they do is either talk about quidditch or snog). Little did she know that Remus felt the same when he's with her instead of with his mates.
"That you seem like the girl who loves the idea of romance," Remus shrugged. "A handsome prince or wizard coming in to save you from the clutches of an evil wizard or a muggle."
Adhara scoffed and placed the book she had back into its original spot. "I have you know that I read other things." It was odd seeing Remus so...causal with her. A couple of days ago during Astronomy he was but this was different. He seemed at ease.
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Please, do tell." He leaned a bit into the bookcase.
"Um, well, books about magical creatures and…" she trailed off. Okay, so Remus was right about her but it's not like she will admit it.
"May I show the wonders of other amazing works?" he asked her. It is not like others have not tried this on her. Lily and Severus attempted to steer her away from the campy romance books but to no avail, they failed. She'll give Remus a chance as she done with the others.
She recognized Severus and Zuri on the further side of the drama aisle. Both enthralled by their reading that they didn't notice her.
"Both seem to be into the suspenseful kind, huh?" Remus noted. She knew that Severus favored 'crime' novels but this was news to her with Zuri's taste.
Remus chuckled when he noticed Adhara frown when she realized what aisle he led her to. "I'll recommend something…easy-going."
"It's not like I'm daft that I wouldn't understand the novel," Adhara told him. "They just bore me."
"That's why I'm going to pick a simple one," Remus clarified, "I think it makes it more…engaging when it's a muggle book."
"Why?"
"Because it's a world we never familiarized ourselves with," Remus shrugged. Adhara understood. To Remus, it may be simple for him since his mother is a muggle and he lived around it since childhood but for herself. It was just as foreign as reading ancient runes. "Here," he handed her a thin blue book. "It's American and written in the 1920s. If you have questions, you can ask Lily or me."
A golden pair of eyes stared at her from the cover of the book. The Great Gatsby, she read.
"My mum adores this book," he said sheepishly. "You don't have to buy it. I have my own copy in my room."
"What's it about," she asked him.
"Well…there's romance," he mentioned. "But it's more of a motif of social class and the 'American' dream."
"And the American dream was?"
"My mum explained that it was the rich lifestyle that lower class aspired to have," Remus said. "There's also a theme on gender expectations. When you think about it, it's the same as over here."
Adhara nodded. It sounded intriguing. She didn't miss the excitement in Remus' voice as he explained it without giving too much away. "Okay, I'll borrow your copy if you don't mind."
She was gifted with a grin. "Alright."
"Do you have any other recommendations?"
"I do but let's walk before we can run," he winked at her which surprise them both.
"There you are, Remus," James cried out. His arm going around the taller boy's shoulder. James then noticed who his mate was talking to and gave him an apologetic expression. Sirius and Peter followed.
"Thought you were on a date with Higgs," Sirius asked.
"I'm with Zuri and Severus, too," Adhara pointed out. The last thing she need was to start another row with her brother. She watched him bristled at the mention of the Slytherin. His gray eyes going past her and stopping at the two third years who were now speaking on whatever novel they had in hand.
"I'm going to go save my dear birdy," Sirius announced.
"Atta' boy," James clapped him on the back.
Zuri detected how Severus tensed when he spotted Sirius saunter over to them. She realized the tension between the pair. She closed her copy of Hounds of Baskerville as Sirius came closer.
"Well, if it isn't Zuri and Snivellus," Sirius proclaimed. "Is this snake bothering you?"
"No, but it seems like this lion is?" Zuri said. Sirius took it more as a joke than an insult completely oblivious about Zuri on the defensive with the pale bloke. She's only known Severus for about twenty minutes but from the four minutes they spoke about Sherlock Holmes, she concluded that he's a rational, droll, and cynical boy. And that's all she needs when befriending someone (Adhara is an exception). It also helped when he was resistant to her 'charms'.
Sirius' eyes narrowed at the sight of her band tee. "The Animals?"
"You better not start bad mouthing or I will put you in your place," Zuri warned him.
Sirius snorted. "I need to know who they are before I can be 'put in my place'."
She raised an eyebrow. "How do you call yourself British when you do not know The Animals?"
"Did you forget I'm 1.) a wizard and 2.) a child of a purist family who condemn muggle anything." That raised questions from the witch. Adhara doesn't mention her family so this was news to the American.
"I guess I must educate you in the phenomenon of rock music," Zuri sighed.
He scoffed. "I know rock music. I know the Beatles and Rolling Ston—
"—no offense to the Beatles but—
"—you better not say they're overrated," Sirius warned her. He recalled tackling Remus last year when he said how their music was too exaggerated. They agreed to disagree much to his displeasure.
Zuri shrugged. A playful smile on her full lips. "Not overrated but not 'The Best'. There are other genres that are universally amazing."
"Like The Animals?"
"Well, they are awesome but there are others," she explained. Their banter made Severus leave them be (they didn't notice) and have Adhara and the others circle around them.
"What are you both fighting about now?" Adhara asked them.
"She said The Beatles are overrated," Sirius cried out to James who now was staring at Zuri as if she said she is a purist.
"I did not," she rolled her eyes. "I just like The Animals better."
"They are pretty amazing," Remus commented.
"Thank you. Someone who knows good music."
"Remus doesn't count," James said. "He has no good taste in music."
"Look, I didn't call them horrible. I like some of their music but not all. Like I like some of The Animals' and not all." That didn't sit well with the pair. "The Animals I like is because I enjoy R &B—
"—which Remus also enjoys," James pointed out.
Adhara looked up at the werewolf. "What are they arguing about?" she whispered to him. He leaned down. "Britsh rock bands."
He saw how she deflated. She must listen to only music made by wizards and witches. "I can let you listen to a few albums so you can know what kind you enjoy in muggle music."
"Thank you," she nodded with a smile. "All my roommates ever listen to is Two Birds and the Fiesty Witches."
"Next thing ya know you're gonna say you hate The Who," Sirius predicted.
"Stop being a drama queen," Zuri scoffed. "I like The Who."
"But you don't like the Beatles?"
"The Who are more…"
"More what?"
"Innovative? Yeah, I would like to say more free-spirited," she said.
James looked at her as if she grown another head. "You haven't listened to all their albums," he guessed.
"Two or three is enough for me," Zuri said with a shrug.
Sirius shook his head with disappointment. "I can't even." He then turns to his sister. "I must educate you so that these two—," he points at Remus and Zuri, "-do not taint you with their taste of music."
James furrowed his eyebrow, confused on why Remus is so giddy as he searched through his trunk. The werewolf pulls out a small worn out blue book and hurried out of their room. James followed, of course, to see Remus meet up with Adhara outside of the entrance.
"Tell me what you think when you finish," he requested.
"Will do," she said before leaving. Remus watched her go with a faint smile before turning back to the portrait-hole. "Ah! What the bloody hell? Why are you sneaking up behind me?"
"Not my fault you were caught checking Addie out?" he teased. "So you're flirting with books? That's not stepping two, Remus."
"To hell with step two," Remus said. Step two was not his favorite. It was simple but humiliating to his pride. Lily thought it was a great idea. It consisted of asking Adhara for help in potions (which he is only average at but want to be up to Oustanding by the end of the year). She would accept it but that doesn't mean he wants her to see how horrid he is at potions. He would like her to see the best of him.
It was Monday in Charms class when Adhara ran up to Remus clutching the blue book to her chest. Her face red as if it was ready to combust. Her brother, of course, worried about her but she waved him away and handed it back to Remus.
"You finished it?"
"It is a short book and hard to put down," she explained. "We're going to have to talk about this book and I can't do it in five minutes before the class start."
"How about at six? Remus always goes to the library around that time," James answered for him.
"Um, sure."
"Okay, then. It's a date," James grinned.
A/N: I know i said two or three weeks but what the heck i couldn't stop writing. This is more of a filler so sorry about that. There will be more progress with Remus and Adhara. Please excuse Zuri's comments for those who are offended.
