Sometimes all

a girl really

needs is someone

to hold her hand


Adhara hurried into the History of Magic's classroom out of breath. For the past thirty minutes, she's been hiding from Jasper. She made it her mission to never talk to the annoying bloke again—especially in public. It was as if it was his mission to embarrass her! Jasper could be amusing at times when they are alone but then once he knows he has an audience it's as if he turns into a James Potter 2.0—more maddening and louder.

The Hufflepuff made her way to her usual spot at the corner of the class room-third row. Zuri and Marlene leaning against her desk waiting for her. The looks they gave her was enough to show what their conversation was going to be about. She sighed. Adhara needed to focus for this upcoming quiz and didn't need the distraction. Thoughts of the letter Teddy and Andromeda sent her along with Jasper and Remus raced through her mind. She shook her head as if the thoughts would disappear somehow. Why am I thinking about Remus? Adhara was thankful that she had no classes with Gryffindor today so that she would have enough time to prepare herself for tomorrow.

"Knut for your thoughts?" Marlene asked when Adhara made her way to her table. A smirk on her lips as she watched the shorter girl pull out her text book and a fresh sheet of parchment. She had about five minutes until class starts. Adhara wondered how she could avoid the dreaded topic for the next five minutes. It seemed like an impossible task when it comes to two of the cleverest girls in front of Adhara.

"Just worried about this quiz," she lied which both girls saw right through.

"Says the girl who should have been in Ravenclaw if not for her kind heart," Marlene teased. "So, I want to know what that was about over breakfast." She crossed her arms and waited as if Adhara would do her bidding.

Adhara shrugged. "Sorry, but we all don't get what we want, love," she said.

"Said the wealthy pureblood," Zuri commented.

"Whoa, you sounded just like Sirius," Marlene added.

"We are twins," Adhara reminded the girls.

"So why has that Hufflepuff bloke been hanging around you lately," Marlene asked, going back to the main topic. This could be Adhara's moment to mention Jasper and his 'wonderful' qualities. But after what happened earlier, she's feeling a bit bitter and petty now.

"Just a bothersome housemate," was all she said.

"Must be an intuitive one since he figured out your…situation with Remus," Marlene said. Both Ravenclaws' smirk widened when Adhara's face reddened at the mention of the Gryffindor's name.

"W-w-what situation?" she asked, slightly afraid of what the answer would be. Adhara did not know what situation there could be with Remus. He's just a friend who she met through her brother. Before going to breakfast, she made it her goal to not think about a certain tall Gryffindor fourth year who hangs out with her brother. After talking to him in the library and leaving it flustered after talking about his redeemable traits, she ran to her room and listened to some Bob Dylan to get her mind off it.

"Come on," Zuri scoffed. "I only been here a month and I already saw the tension between you two."

"Tension?"

"You just blushed when we mentioned his name, too," Marlene pointed out with a smug grin.

"If you're going to tease me about him then I'm ignoring you like I am doing with Jasper," Adhara warned him.

"Jasper?" both girls said.

"The guy who has been harassing me this morning?" then it dawned on her. Adhara totally forgot that they are both in the same house. Too many thoughts have been going through her mind in the last thirty minutes that she forgot it would be hard to avoid Jasper since they are in the same bloody house.

"How did he figure out the situation between you and Remus?"

"As I said, there is no situation," she snarled back.

"I think the lady detests too much," Zuri winked at the Hufflepuff. Adhara frowned at them before decided to ignore them. That's her new motto. Ignore all her friends. They cannot say anything back if Adhara does not incriminate herself.

"Addie!" and speaking of the bane of her existence, Jasper ran through the door with a puppy-eyed expression. He pushed passed some people as he finally made his way to Adhara. She was shocked to see that his eyes remained on her instead of bugging out toward the two loves of his life. She really wished that Olivia came in first since there would not be an empty seat next to her. "Please forgive me," he begged with his lower lip jutted out.

Adhara's scowl softened. She is not one to keep a grudge and when he's not annoying he is fun to be around. The girl sighed and nodded her head. "As long as you promise not to mention what you read in that letter," she warned him.

He nodded vigorously. "Only when we're alone. Deal?" Adhara knew that this is as good as she'll get with Jasper.

Adhara turned to her back to Marlene and Zuri who was watching them with a curious expression. "Marlene and Zuri, this is Jasper Halifax. Jasper, this is Marlene and Zuri," she introduced them. She tried to hide her smile at Jasper's reaction to finally realizing who he's in front of.

"U—u-um," Jasper struggled to come up with a coherent sentence. Then his thoughts went back to who's attention these girls grasped. Merlin, he thought. He was not prepared at all and was already making a complete fool of himself. And not the good kind! Yes, there is a good way to make yourself look like a fool as long as the birds fall for his silly charm. Both Ravenclaws watched the boy with amusement, waiting for a response or greeting. This is my time, he thought. Jasper gave the girls his signature lopsided mile as he ran his fingers through his bedhead. "Merlin, you ladies made me speechless and that's a rare anomaly." Marlene and Zuri rolled their eyes as if they heard the pickup line before.

"What? You don't believe me?" he asked them as he leaned in a bit more over the desk. "It's true. I'm known as a chatterbox—

"—it's true," Adhara agreed, deciding to help him out.

"So, you must know the power of your beauty and brains that rendered me speechless," Jasper continued. This time he added a wink. Zuri scoffed but Marlene chuckled at the boy's flirting.

"I like you," Marlene said to him making the boy's grin wider and cheeks pinker. "You're funny."

"It is one of my most attractive qualities," he replied.

"Oh? You have more?" Marlene asked. Jasper nodded. Is she flirting back? He was ready to say a witty remark but then Professor Binns floated from the floorboards and appeared.

"I tell you more after class."


Lily did not waste any time in confronting Remus. As soon as he walked through the door into the Transfigurations class room, she linked her arm with his and lead him to his usual table. The rest of his friends following behind.

"I know you want to ask so go for it," he told Lily who tried to give him her most innocent look but failed.

"Do you know what that was over breakfast?" she asked, going right to the chase. He shrugged but he knew what it was. Remus knew that Jasper was poking fun at Adhara by reciting the very words she said to him last night. "Do you know who that guy is who keeps hanging around her?"

"A friend is all I know," Remus said. "He's becoming more of a nuisance." Lily's eyes widened at his admission. It's very rare to hear Remus say anything like that about anyone who is not his friend.

James cackled at his mate's displeasure of Jasper. "He's just sour because Jasper figured out that he fancies Addie in five minutes," he explained to Lily. Remus decided that ignoring his mate will be the best thing for him now since all they've done was tease him as he gotten flustered.

"Well, you are obvious," Lily teased the werewolf. Remus decided he had enough of being the centered of people's amusement, so he ignored them as he pulled a fresh sheet of parchment out of his bag.

"Aw, don't be mad, Remus, we're just teasin' ya," Sirius pouted. "It's not every day that we see our sweet ole' Remus flustered."

Remus disregarded him and led Lily to his table. "I'm sitting with you today," he told her. He trusted Lily to not tease him too much. James and Sirius does not know when to quit.

"On one condition," she warned him. "You have to tell me everything."

Remus sighed. They had about six minutes until class started. Maybe she can help, he thought. It might do him well to get a female's perspective on this.

"I think Halifax was teasing Adhara over what happened last night," he told her.

"You were with Addie last night?" she asked him. That's what she took away from this? Remus nodded. He was about to explain what happened when a sudden thought came to mind when he noticed Mary walk through the door with Alice.

"Does Mary fancy me?" he whispered.

"Oi, what about Addie?" Sirius lightly punched Remus on the shoulder. "One isn't enough?"

Remus reciprocated the punch back to Sirius. "Shut it. Haven't you noticed that's she's friendlier to me." He hated to sound narcissistic but it's true. Mary's been hanging around him too much lately. Remus would not mind if he didn't fancy Adhara and if she wouldn't have noticed.

Lily moaned. "I'm so sorry, Remus," she apologized. "I should have warned you but Mary is also my friend."

"They'll make a cute couple if it doesn't work out with Adhara," Peter commented.

"It will," James said as he shot a glare to Peter.

"Yeah, Remus is so goin' be my future brother-in-law," Sirius added.

If they weren't in public and with Lily, Remus would have told him that there is a law against marriage between werewolves and wizards/witches. Not like he's thinking of marriage at fourteen years old.

"So, hurry up and tell me what happened last night," Lily demanded Remus.

"Okay, so Remus was being his usual low self-esteemed self and like us, Adhara called him barmy," James said, bringing her up to speed.

"So, whatever Jasper was yelling was exactly what Addie said to him to show him why he's such a catch," Sirius continued.

Remus loathed how his cheeks became warm. He knew that he was face was pink, and judging by the look Lily was giving him, he was right.

"I think our plan is working," Sirius said with a smug smirk.

"Your plan?" she raised an eyebrow at the Pureblood.

"Yes, because I told him to be less friendly and more flirty," Sirius told her.

Lily scoffed. "Yeah, and she just threw herself at him," she rolled her eyes at the smug boy.

"I think we all had a hand in it," James said trying to simmer them both down. He slung both arms around Lily and Sirius. As soon as he done so, the redhead ripped his arm from around her as if she was on fire. Lily pointed a glare at him. "Aw, don't be like that. I thought we were getting along."

Lily stared at James as if he said he was quitting school and joining the werewolves in the forest. "As if. And don't act so familiar with me."

James jutted his lower lip and tried his 'puppy' eye look on her. And of course, he failed. Remus sighed. He knew he was going to hear about this later.


Quidditch season started next month. While Adhara rather be going to her weekly Wednesday meeting with the Magical Creatures Club or Potions Club, quidditch comes first.

Adhara loves quidditch right after her love for both bowtruckles and nifflers. But for the first time in a long time, all Adhara needed (and wanted) is to curl up on her bed in her bedroom—not her shared dorm but her bedroom at Grimmauld place and to think over her letter that her cousin sent her this morning. There were too many distractions today with both class and Jasper's constant ramblings over Marlene (Adhara thinks the boy stopped his crush on Zuri, too, since Marlene's the only one out of the pair to humor him). Luckily, her day could have been worse. She could have had classes with Gryffindor.

.Because by the start of the season this meant practice would be harsher this month because of new members. But because of Hufflepuff's lack of aggressiveness on the pitch, they were not the team to be beat even with Adhara's keen eyes on the snitch. This called for more tryouts. Hufflepuffs may not care much about aggressiveness and ambition over fair play like Gryffindors and Slytherins, but they do still want to win at the end of the day.

For the first time, when it came to quidditch, Adhara was glad that their practice was light. On a usual night, she would complain about how easygoing and lenient their captain was compared to one in Gryffindor. She would want someone to push them to be their best instead of letting her teammates get by with slacking off. If there was one thing that she had in common with the other teams, it was her drive to be better and actually beat the best.

Throughout the day, she did not have enough time to actually think over the letters Teddy and Andromeda sent her. Yeah, she zoned out of class but that quickly left her mind when Herbology came after History of Magic. Double Herblogy. She tried to distract herself when listening to Jasper ramble on about how glossy and stunning Marlene's blonde hair is.

Robin Davidson, their sixth-year Captain, realized rather quickly how out of it Adhara was. So, he assigned her to run laps around the pitch.

Adhara frowned. Running didn't require anything meaning she had the free time to think. She rather tortures herself with dodging bludgers.

At least she didn't have practice at 6 in the morning like the Slytherins.


"Why did we torture ourselves through two hours of that," Zuri asked her good friend, Marlene. Sports was never in the American's interest. Her brother love it almost as much as his boyfriend of four years. Luckily for him, his boyfriend had an adoration for the sport, too. Zuri could never see the appeal and never would like to. It also because she has a ridiculous phobia of heights and flying.

Marlene seemed fairly interest in it since she has her eyes on the dorky Halifax kid. It is pretty obvious for both Ravenclaws that he is smitten with Marlene since his ears instantly reddens when he looks, talks to, or is even at a five feet radius of the blonde Ravenclaw. Almost every guy reacts the same way toward Marlene, so what made Jasper any different.

"Because Halifax is an amusing fellow," Marlene responded, answering both of Zuri's questions. She huffed. The American didn't have time (or patience) for jokesters. Ever since she transferred to Hogwarts, it is as if she was a magnet toward the very people who avoided her (and who she also avoided) at her previous school.

And speak of the devil and they shall appear. The very infamous jokesters of Hogwarts sauntered down the hall as if all eyes were on them (mostly James and Sirius).

"Why, if it isn't the two most beautiful ladies in the school," Sirius smirked at the Ravenclaws. He even ran his fingers through his hair. Marlene called it Sirius' signature move. As if a fourteen-year-old needed one.

"Why, I wouldn't call us just beautiful," Zuri said.

"Even though we are," Marlene added.

"We're more than that," Zuri continued with narrowed eyes. If there was one thing she could remember what she learned from her mother (and grandmother), it would be that majority (all of them) of men would value a woman's beauty first (and sometimes solely). Zuri is not having that. "Ladies like to hear things that does not have to do with our looks."

"Like intelligence?" Remus guessed.

"Yes," Marlene nodded.

"Admirable and independent," he continued.

"Aw, I knew there was a reason you're my favorite," Zuri commented causing the tall Gryffindor to flush a bit.

"Remus," Sirius whined as he jutted his lower lip at this friend. "You can't get all the birds."

"Yeah, save some for the rest of us," Peter teases.

"Yeah, you're not allowed to flirt with anyone besides Addie and that's final," James scolds him playfully earning a light glare from Remus.

Zuri would have helped tease the boy while also getting more information out of his crush on her friend but there was something else she had to deal with first. She faced Sirius with narrowed eyes.

"Black, this is your first and only warning," she said. Her expression calm and collected except for the ferocity behind her eccentric-colored eyes. "Call me a 'bird' one more time and I won't hesitate to hex and humiliate you like I did on our first duel match."

Sirius frowned at the reminder of his loss. It deepened when he heard James and Peter laugh (not bothering to cover it up. How true friends they are). "It's a pet name for my lovely Ravenclaws—who's mascot is, ya know, a bird," he covered up his blunder. It's been weeks since he's been trying to get on Zuri's good side and he's yet to get past her bad side. Just when he thought he got a smile out of her along with bantering over who's the best band, he screws everything up. But his goal will never deter. He may be annoyed with how much work he's putting in to get something out of Zuri, he still loves the challenge.

"Yes, because the name didn't give it away," Zuri rolled her eyes. She may not be confused about what her mascot being a bird but more on why the hell is it an eagle? They are not called the Eagleclaws. "But, nice try. Coming from you, I know it is an equal to calling us 'babes', 'doll', or 'chick' which is patronizing and demeaning. Call me Zuri or Picquery. I don't do nicknames—

"Okay, Zuri, you're getting into 'feminist mode', Marlene joked.

Zuri scoffed. "I do not get into a mode. That's me," she informed the group of stunned Brits.

"Whoa, I, uh, didn't mean to get you offended," Sirius said.

Zuri scoffed again. Of course, the smug boy wouldn't apologize or take it too seriously. This could help him the future with other girls. Instead of informing him of the second wave of feminism, she stayed quiet.

"Well, that was awkward," James said, trying to ease the tension. All the boy wanted to do at this moment was tease his friend on how he failed yet again with flirting with Zuri. But he'll save that once they get into their chambers.

"What are you guys doing just standing here?" So distracted about terminology of what to call girls/women, Marlene and Zuri forgot the sole reason they were waiting by the entrance of the pitch. The group flinched at the question. They all turned, facing the petite Hufflepuff who was watching them with skeptical eyes. All of them noticed how she avoided eye contact with Remus (he noticed, too).

"You're still here!" Jasper is a human-puppy. It was obvious to see it by the way he scurried over to the blonde Ravenclaw with his puppy brown eyes

"You were waiting on Halifax?" Sirius face scrunched up as if the girls was waiting on someone from Slytherin. As if the thought of these two girls waiting on this dork, was an impossible thought.

"Hey, Halifax is in front of you," Jasper yelled.

"Hard to ignore you because of your big mouth," Sirius commented.

"Hey, you're known for your pretty-boy looks and pretty words and I'm known for keeping the conversation going and brilliant fashion sense," Jasper grinned.

"Did you just call me pretty?" Sirius deadpanned.

Jasper shrugged. "Yeah, pretty by relation. I have to call you pretty since Adhara and Regulus are pretty." That made this conversation ever odder.

"You think my little brother is pretty?"

"You're missing the point," Jasper groaned.

"And what is the point?" James asked, baffled as well with this conversation.

"That Adhara is pretty," he said simply. None of them knew where he was going with this but Adhara did. She could read his mischievous smile easily. She needed to go now. And it is what she deserves for thinking she is sage from Jasper's teasing when Remus is around.

But alas, she was too late.

"Don't you think Adhara is pretty, Remus?" And right on cue, the tall boy flushed at the sudden question and the attention on him. It did not help when the female Ravenclaws smirked at his reaction and James tried to muffle his laughter but failed. I hate you, he thought to the grinning Hufflepuff.

"I…" Remus would have had no problem answering the question if there was not an audience of grinning fourteen years watching them. He wouldn't hesitate either if the girl of his dreams asked him instead of Jasper.

"You had no problem telling her that last year," James said reminding him what happened their third year in the kitchens.

"And a week ago," Sirius added, not helping.

"You guys are insufferable," Remus hears Adhara tell the three of them. The tall boy refusing to look down at Adhara, afraid to what expression she wore. "You don't have to answer that."

"Why? Because you're confident what he thinks of you?" Jasper asked. "Why Addie, I didn't know you were so vain."

"I thought we came to an agreement?" she asked Jasper. "You broke it and so now, I refuse to talk to you."

"What! I thought this agreement was about your letter. This had nothing to do with teasing you about our flustered lion," he whined.

"I'm leaving," she said. Adhara was about to turn around before a hand stopped her. She prayed to the heavens that it was not who she thought it would be. She sighed in relief when she saw it was Marlene.

"How 'bout Remus walk you to the Hufflepuff's door?" she gave Adhara a sickly-sweet smile.

"I'm not going there," Adhara said slowly.

"Oh, then it won't hurt to still have some company," said Jasper. He linked his arm with Sirius (much to his displeasure). "Sirius and I will be escorting Marlene and Zuri to their chambers."

"And Peter and I…uh, have other plans—that does not involve Remus," James lied. And before Adhara could call them out on it and deny the company of Remus without sounding mean each pair quickly scurried off leaving them two alone.

What the hell is going on?

"Um, I can go somewhere else. I don't have nothing else to do," Remus said, reading the atmosphere around them. Adhara finally looks at him and Remus tried not to blush at the sudden eye contact. He gave her a nervous smile. She gave one back.

"It's fine. I was just gonna wonder around the halls and think a bit before curfew started," she explained. "So, I don't think I would be good company."

Remus shrugged. "I'm okay with silence."


"You can let me go now," Sirius said as he shoved the Hufflepuff off him. His mind still reeling from the information that the boy said earlier. He didn't know if it was to transition to Adhara and embarrass (and help) Remus. Sirius eyed the boy skeptically. Jasper might not be a poof (but what he said about Regulus was in need for more questions) judging by the way the boy smiled at Marlene.

"Aw, and I thought we were becoming the best of pals," Jasper said, not fazed by Sirius' attitude.

At least one good thing came out of this. Jasper got him more time with Zuri. Sirius knew that possibly wouldn't have another chance alone with her. It would better to do this now in front of the goof.

"Zuri," Sirius called out to her. He heard her sigh before giving him her attention. Sirius loathed how nervous he becomes when she does so. He snogged a good handful of birds—girls—lately but all he felt from that was simple satisfaction. "I apologize for calling you a bird. Didn't know it offend you since no one else bites my head off when I call them that." He just had to muck up his own apology.

"That was a shitty apology," Jasper just had to say something.

"Stop. He's trying," Marlene mutters to the Hufflepuff.

"So…do you forgive me?" Zuri didn't say anything yet. He eyes remained on as if she was sizing him up. Waiting for any tell that shows that his apology was insincere.

"Yes, I do," she finally said. "I apologize, too. I came off a bit too strong. It's just…my grandmother taught me to speak up strongly when it came to things like this."

"Well, I could see why with the position was in and how women were treated in that day," Marlene commented.

Both boys furrowed their eyebrows in confusion.

"Zuri's grandmother was, I think, the second woman and first black president of the Magical Congress," Marlene explained with a smug smile as if it was her grandmother they were talking about. "So, you can see why her grandmum passed down some knowledge on how to deal with certain men to get them to look at her seriously."

"Thank you, Marlene, for telling them," Zuri said sarcastically. "Now you know how I feel when it comes to calling me certain names." Sirius nodded. He also made sure to later look up the Picquery lineage to find out more about her upbringing (ugh, that's his mother's side coming out of him).

"Since Siri here is a Gryffindor, he may unconsciously treat you like a damsel since those lions love to be the hero," Jasper joked causing Marlene to giggle. Giggle! Since when has Marlene giggle? Zuri and Jasper watched with wide eyes.

Marlene noticed that Jasper's shirt was a bit damp and his hair was dripping wet. "Was someone in a hurry?" she asked as she pointed to his clothes. "Couldn't dry yourself off."

"Hey, I wanted to catch up to you," Jasper said. His grin widened when he sees Marlene whip out her wand and cite a drying spell on him. "My hero," he winks at her.

"Gryffindors aren't the only ones who can be one," she said.

Ugh, Sirius moaned. Since when had Marlene been so cheesy and all blushing when she flirts? He glanced at Zuri who was also staring at Marlene as if she was imperiosed. "Are you doing anything this weekend?" he asked her.

"Just going to Hogsmeade."

"With anyone?"

"Yes, with your sister actually…," she paused when she noticed Sirius' mood changed, "You can join us. She's going to bring her betrothed so I don't have to third wheel them."

"Brilliant."


They've been wandering the halls for ten minutes. Silence. It would have been a comfortable one if it was not for the tension in the air. Not really between them but mostly surrounding Adhara. Remus knew something had to be up. Maybe it was about the letter she received over breakfast? He peered down at her. Her face scrunched up in thought. Eyebrows furrowed and eyes narrowed at the path ahead of them. Adhara sighed for the sixth time.

He wanted to ask what's troubling her thoughts. Remus thought they were close enough that she would tell him but there would always be this awkwardness between them (with the help of their friends). Instead he asked, "May I carry your bag for you?" Adhara flinched as if she forgotten she had company. She flushed.

"Um, it's not heavy," she said instead of declining him. Remus decided not to wait for an answer. He pulls the duffle bag from her shoulder and pulls it over his shoulder. Adhara was right. It was not that heavy, but why let her carry it when his own hands are empty.

"You really are a Gryffindor, huh?" she asked.

"Did the uniform give it away?" he teased earning a smile from the Hufflepuff. "Did you confuse me for a Hufflepuff?"

Adhara shrugged. "You could be one," she told him.

"Oh?"

"Yeah! Hufflepuffs are not as bad as they say," she said. "It's not just a house full of those who don't belong. I think you would be a perfect addition."

"Do tell why," Remus said. That was the first time he heard this. If anything, if it was not for Gryffindor he would have been placed in Ravenclaw. And seeing how bookish and not fun that house is, he's glad the sorting hat saw some Gryffindor traits in him.

"Well, you're kind and patient," she said easily.

"Is that all it takes to be a Hufflepuff?"

"How about being open-minded and dependable…a loyal friend," she said with a small smile. At least she's smiling, he thought. Adhara looked up at him. "You have your Gryffindor traits, though."

Remus put a hand to his chest and let out a sigh of relief. "That's good. I was starting to think I was sorted into the wrong house."

"Not the first time that happened," she shrugged. Her expression went solemn. "I think a lot of people in Slytherin are not meant there like I know a lot of other people in other houses are not meant for it either because they possibly begged the hat to sort them somewhere—anywhere—but Slytherin."

"How'd you figure that?"

"I think Regulus was meant for Ravenclaw," she said. She looked up at him. Eyes wide and a bit vulnerable. "Please don't share this but he told me the hat was about to sort him into Ravenclaw but he begged it to put him in Slytherin. He thought he was doing her family a favor since Sirius and I was placed into the 'wrong' house." When her brother confessed that to her, she couldn't imagine any other house but Ravenclaw for her younger brother. Yes, he's driven and ambitious but he's also a deep thinker. Regulus' room is filled with books. He's a clever boy who always had to find out how and why a certain spell or potion works a certain way.

Adhara chuckled. "Sorry, I've been thinking about my brother among other things," she admitted. "He's been quite angry with me since I've become friends with Jasper." Regulus had no problem with Olivia (a half-blood) since she's from a less prominent Pureblood family—blood traitors—but still Pureblood. It helped that the young girl didn't bring much attention to herself like her cousin, Jasper, who demanded attention.

"Yeah, Jasper..." Remus sighed. "He's quite the character." More of a nuisance but he doesn't know how Adhara would feel if he insulted her friend/housemate.

"Yeah," Adhara agreed with a fond smile. She may be a angry at the boy but the mention of his name would always but a smile—and she hated that. Ugh, it sucks being mad at a mate. Remus must have read her face since he chuckled.

"It sucks being mad at a friend?" he voiced out her thoughts. She nodded in agreement. "I understand. Happens a lot when you hang around James and Sirius for majority of your day."

"Ugh, I know what you mean. I get in a row with Sirius about once a week."

"Yeah, we know something is up when Sirius doesn't sulk and whine about you guy's fight," Remus joked but it was still the truth.

"We're that predicable, huh?"

Remus shrugged. "So…um, why are you mad at Jasper—if you don't mind me asking?"

Adahra growled (that's the only word that fits what Remus heard from her) in response. "He's just—ugh—how can he look so adorable yet so annoying! He's like this adorable crup that my aunt has. He's so cute and seems harmless, but then once a muggle or muggleborn is around, they show their true colors—

"—I doubt Jasper is like a crup of all dogs," Remus chuckled. "Considering his family are 'blood-traitors'."

"Okay, fine you're right. He's just a like a regular dog who causes a ruckus," Adhara pouted.

"And you think Jasper is adorable?" he asked with mirth.

Rems was glad to see that Adhara didn't become flustered at the question. At least he knows that she does not harbor any feelings for the boy and does not see Jasper as a romantic interest. "He has his moments. Like when he's around Marlene. It's as if no one else is around. It's quite adorable."

"So, uh, you never answered the question," he said, going back to the main subject. Adhara furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to think why Jasper was brought up in the first place.

"Because of what happened over breakfast," she said. "You had to witness him trying to embarrass me." Her cheeks became pink as she thought about this morning. As if she wanted to recall the humiliation of everyone hearing Jasper tease her over breakfast. She furrowed her eyebrows. She couldn't understand why her friends are teasing her constantly when it comes to Remus and she does not want to contemplate more about it. It may cause revelations she is not ready to answer. "He also read my letter," she added.

"Letter?"

"Yeah, I sent one to Andromeda about…" she trailed off. This topic was more for talking with your girlfriends then your male buddy. Yes, Adhara confided in Remus but not about her love life if she could help it.

"About?"

Adhara stopped abruptly. Her thoughts going back to its original issue. Fabian.

Remus watched the short girl as she frowned and have an inner monologue with herself. Her eyebrows furrowed as she whispered silently. She paced back in forth. Remus thought she must be having an argument with herself on if she should explain to him about what happened in the letter. He was only half correct.

Remus was about to stop her from pacing to calm her down, but then he heard rumbling against the wall. With amazement, he watched as a door just appeared on the wall. What surprised his more was a sign that hanged on the door.

Adhara.

Her name was written in a beautiful cursive handwriting.

Remus' eyebrows shot up when he read the sign. He turned to the shorter girl after she gapsed in shock. "That's the door to my bedroom," she admits before—without warning—whipped open the door. Remus followed her inside and did not bother to hid his amazement. They just walked into a beautiful grand bedroom.

"Merlin," Adhara observed the bedroom as if she was afraid a ghoul may appear. "This is my bedroom," she tells him.

"Your bedroom?" he repeated as he surveyed the room. If this happens to be a replication of her bedroom then maybe he should respect her privacy. But curiosity got the best out of Remus. He walked past Adhara and stopped at the center of the room. For some reason, he expected the bedroom to be bleeding Hufflepuff pride with yellow and black adorning it. The walls were painted an entrancing navy and sky blue—in swirls that reminding Remus of "The Starry Night" by Van Gogh. He stared up at the ceiling to see the constellations. The walls must have been magically altered since he noticed a painting of a wizard on a broom moved on the walls as it chased a snitch.

Cute, Remus thought. He walked toward the bookshelf to see an array of different textbooks on magical creatures and autobiographies of famous quidditch players. This whole bedroom screams Adhara. He chuckled when he noticed a large photo of the children of Black. He assumed that this picture was taken about five years ago (more or less). A younger and adorable Adhara and Regulus stood in front of the camera with a smile before a younger Sirius tackled her into the snow. The three of them laughed and waved at the camera.

"Merlin," Adhara said again. "It looks exactly like my room," she said as she whirled around the room looking at every detail of the bedroom. She stopped as she faced Remus who was watching her with an amused expression. She gasped before hiding her face with her hands. "Ugh, I don't know why but I'm embarrassed that you're in my room," she admitted.

Remus chuckled and walked toward her. "I won't look anymore. Sorry if I am seeing your room without permission." The werewolf ignored his nervousness as he pulls her hands away from her face. He didn't bother pulling his hands from hers. His face grew warmer the longer he lingered his touch on hers. Remus' shy smile widened when he noticed Adhara's expression and she kept her hands in his. "It is a lovely room."

"Thank you," she muttered. "It's kind of creepy how much it looks like my room."

"I wonder what this room is," Remus asked. "And why it's a replica of your room."

Adhara nibbled on her bottom lip as she went into deep thought. "I…was thinking how much I wanted to be in my room…somewhere comfortable," she said more to herself than to him. "And then this room came up."

"Maybe it create a room you wish for," Remus guessed.

"We should try that out," Adhara said. Remus was about to leave with her in toll (his hands still holding hers), but she stayed planted. She then started to realize that her hand was holding Remus. With a nervous smile, she retracted her hand from his.

"Not yet," she pleaded. "How 'bout I get comfortable. It's been a while since I've been in my own room."

"It's only been a month," he teased.

"A long month." Remus followed her as she made her way to the navy-blue velvet loveseat sofa that was at the foot of the queen-sized bed.

"It feels weird that you're in my room," she said after he sat next to her. "Only my parents and brothers been in it."

"Well, I've never been in…um, a girl's room," Remus said sheepishly. His eyes went to her walls. "It's quite fascinating."

"Thank you," she said. "You should have seen it two years ago. Talk about Hufflepuff Pride. I don't know why I changed it but Sirius helped paint the wall—

"—wait, Sirius painted this," he gaped. She nodded

"He's pretty artistic," she commented.

Huh, who would have thought, Remus thought.

"So, are you feeling better?" Remus knew that he might be going into a touchy topic. She seemed out of it for the whole day until this room appeared. But once they walk back to their dorms, nothing woud have changed. Remus would like to at least fix that (he's also a nosy bugger but oh well).

"A change of scenery helped a bit," she sighed. "But that doesn't mean my problems are gone."

"Was that problem Jasper?" he asked.

Adhara groaned. "Ugh, he's not really the problem. Well, more like a nuisance. He's aware of the problem."

"It's good to talk it out with someone," Remus commented.

"Yeah, I did so with Andy—Andromeda," she said. "But that was no help," she pouted.

Remus waited. He didn't want to insist like a nosy bugger (which he is). "Anyone else? Lily may be a good one to talk to."

"Yeah, but we can hardly have time to talk without Reg turning his nose up on us," Adhara said. The Hufflepuff finally lifted her eyes from her fidgeting fingers to his eyes. They locked eyes for only a few seconds before she said, "Do you mind if I vent to you?" she finally asked, her voice small.

Remus turned around on the sofa by crossing his legs and facing her. He nodded. "I would like to think that we're close enough for me to help you out with your problems."

"Well, it's kind of a taboo subject between us," she confessed with a guilty smile.

Remus knew exactly what that meant. "Fabian?" he guessed.

"I'm that predictable, huh?" Remus shrugged. "Still want to talk about it?" she asked.

"Yeah, I will let my personal feelings go and help," he promised.

"Okay," she exhaled. Remus leaned in. "I feel like we're having girl-talk," she giggled. "Sorry, I subjected you to this."

Remus shrugged. "I'm your friend. That's why I am here."

"Okay," she said again. "I'm having doubts…about Fabian."

And like that, Remus believed in a god (okay, he knows he's being dramatic but he really wants to hug her). "Oh?"

Remus listened. He listened to Adhara explain the letter that her cousin sent her.

So, Sirius and Lily were right, he thought.

"I guess…I don't really need to talk about my feelings since I've been thinking of that a lot today," she explained. "I guess, I'm just…depressed. More about how I changed myself for him. That I wasted a year on this when I don't even feel 'Mwah!' about him, but instead it's more like 'meh'. I mean, he's still a good snogger, I guess. Not like I have any comparisons. But we don't talk as much. It's as if he wants a physical relationship and I'm not comfortable with that and—

-Adhara," Remus yelled over her. "Slow down."

She looked down at her shaking hands. Adhara tried to calm down but her mind was reeling with—she froze when she felt warm hands slip into hers.

"Calm down," he requested. His voice calming. She nodded and exhaled slowly. This is different. Instead of indifference or nervousness, Adhara felt comfort as they held hands. Yes, she's still a bit nervous especially with the way Remus is looking at her and how good his hands felt in hers. She stared at their hands. The teasing from her friends from earlier about Remus returned and made her want to rip her hands away. But Remus tightened his hold one of them while the other one went to her wrists. "Your pulse is quick. Calm down, Adhara."

Her face warmed. What did Remus expect. He's holding her hand. The only other people she held hands with were family members and Fabian (sometimes). It didn't help with Remus staring at her and sitting so close.

"Maybe…I'm thinking of breaking up with Fabian," she finally said. "And…ugh, this is stupid. I feel bad about thinking that."

Remus laughed. "Stop," she whined. Adhara tried to pull away but he kept his grip on her.

"You should not feel bad," he said. "It happens to plenty of people. It's not your fault. Plenty of people fall out of-," Remus paused. He refused to say she was in love with Fabian. "—relationships. It would be good to end on a good note and tell him why you want to split up." Adhara nodded at every word the werewolf said. Remus felt as if he could be an actor with how well he's doing with not appearing excited about their break up.

"You know, Remus…" she trialed off as she looked at Remus with a soft smile. "…you're a good friend," she said, reminding him that he's in the 'friend-zone'.

"That's what I'm here for," he shrugged.

A/N; Sorry for you guys waiting for a month! Hopefully we'll get it moving with Remus and Adhara. Drama will happen in the next chapter and hopeuflly progress with Sirius and Zuri. Please review and tell me your thoughts!