I appeared in front of the quaint café with a resonating crack. My stomach churned as I looked up at the sign; 'A Cauldron of Coffee' was an old haunt of my school friends' back when we had just left Hogwarts. Every Wednesday we would meet at 10am for a drink and a natter; I only hoped that Remus had kept up the tradition - he had always been very sentimental after all.
I took a deep breath and marched towards the front door, squinting through the fogged up glass to try and spot him. As I entered the cafe, the warmth of the open fire washed over me. I ensured my coat collar was pulled up and my eyes were covered by an oversized pair of sunglasses to partly disguise my face.
I slowly crept around the many tables and sofas to try and locate my old friend, but to no avail. I scanned the room again despera-
"You've seen the Daily Prophet then?"
I started, spinning around only to be met with the screaming face of Sirius Black again. I grabbed the newspaper from a pair of large hands and threw it onto the table face down. Behind it sat Remus Lupin, looking as shaggy as ever.
"Yes, and once is enough thank you very much." I sighed. "You still come here then."
It was a statement rather than a question.
"Old habits die hard." he said with a wry smile. "You don't."
I took the seat opposite the haggard man. "No. It's too dangerous for me to be here. It was stupid for me to even come today, but I had to see you."
His eyes had never looked so weary. His cloak was frayed and his hair had grown far too long. My old friend looked well and truly tired.
"You had to see me after twelve years of almost no communication whatsoever?" He questioned; his tone wasn't accusing - he almost seemed too tired to be angry.
"It's been... difficult. I was in a bad place for a long time. Still am, I suppose." I replied. It wasn't a lie.
"So you're still with him then? Lestrange?" His brow furrowed.
I sighed once again. "It isn't as easy as just getting a divorce Remus. When you marry into a traditional pureblood family, you're in it for life."
"But you were going to leave him twelve years ago - once the war was over." Remus asked with a questioning expression. Of course he wouldn't understand.
"I was stupid and naïve back then. I thought I could do whatever I fancied without any consequences as long as I had Sirius. He always did bring out the reckless side of me." I sighed nostalgically as I recalled the invincible feeling I used to get when I was with him.
"So I take it you have children now then?" he asked.
"Merlin no! I've made damn sure of it too. I won't be responsible for fouling the earth with another Lestrange. Of course, he and his family aren't too happy about it... But enough about me! How are you? You look awfully tired Remus love."
He laughed gently but there was no humour in it. "Tired is an understatement. I've been working mostly as a muggle post man - nobody in the wizarding world wants the burden of employing a werewolf after all. Nobody wants to rent a house to them either, and I can't afford to buy anywhere." Remus replied solemnly. I couldn't help but pity my old friend.
"Remus if you ever need any money you need only ask-"
"I don't want your charity Addy." he interrupted raising a hand to stop me. "It's only for a couple more weeks and then I'll be back at Hogwarts. I ran into Professor Dumbledore a couple of months back and he offered me the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
My eyebrows shot up at this; it was very surprising indeed.
"Oh so I should refer to you as Professor Lupin from now on then? You do remember that job is cursed?" I said jokingly.
"Cursed or not, it will do for now. I'd rather have the job for a year than carry on delivering post like an owl. The early mornings are killing me. Now, are we going to discuss the real reason you came here? As I assume it wasn't for a long overdue catch up." he asked. Remus wasn't the type to beat around the bush.
I hesitated, not sure what to say now that I was actually here.
"Well... He's escaped." I hissed. Remus rolled his eyes exasperatedly.
"Yes, I think we established that when you first came in here."
"What if he tries to find me Remus?" I asked, my nerves flooding back after being pushed away by the reunion with one of my oldest friends. I ran my hands over my face, rubbing my temples in frustration.
"I hardly think he'll expose himself like that. He'll no doubt try to find You-Know-Wh-"
My hand slammed against the wood surface of the table.
"You can't honestly believe that bullshit? I was a 'Death Eater', was I not? Surely I'd have seen him at one of the meetings, or at least heard about him being there. Even Rabastan admits that the idea of Sirius being a Death Eater is ludicrous."
At this, Remus reached for the Daily Prophet and turned it back over. He gestured to the picture of Sirius, crazed eyes staring up at us whilst screaming wildly. He truly did look insane.
"You're telling me that this is the picture of an innocent man? He obviously turned against us in the end - perhaps turned double agent for Voldemort just as you were for the Order. How else do you explain Voldemort discovering James and Lily's location and the death of our friend Peter?" Remus said; he'd obviously gone over this theory many times in his head.
"No no no! Something doesn't add up. Are you forgetting the many years you were best friends? How long was it - ten years? You know he was far too loyal to betray us like that. Especially James, they were like brothers. Why do you think his animagus form is a dog? Because his most defining trait was his fierce loyalty to those he loved!" I whispered hysterically.
"If you thought all of this then why did you not try to appeal against his imprisonment?" Remus asked. Fingering at the edge of the newspaper as I stared at Sirius' mugshot, I smiled grimly.
"Of course I did. I fought for years to get him a trial but Amelia Bones wasn't having any of it - she had only just been given the position as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement after they demoted Barty Crouch, so I assume she was trying to assert her authority." I said all of this as I continued to pick at the corner of the Prophet. "It was difficult though, what with Rabastan having so many contacts in that department - which is why he avoided imprisonment. If anyone saw me at the Ministry he would be the first one they would inform, and I'd probably be six feet under."
Remus let out a heavy sigh, taking a sip of his lukewarm coffee that he'd previously forgotten about. I glanced at my watch and felt my stomach drop as I saw that I had already been here for half an hour.
"Remus love, I'm so sorry but I need to go. I've been here for too long already. I'll write to you. Please don't write to me first; if Rabastan were to open a letter from you I doubt I'd live to see another day." I told him sadly. He returned a weak smile in agreement.
"Of course. I've missed you Addy." He replied. My heart clenched at the use of my old nickname - I hadn't heard it in years. I reached for his hands that were resting on the table and gave them a comforting squeeze.
"Take care of yourself Remus. And good luck at Hogwarts - at least you'll be the one giving out the detentions rather than earning them this time!" I laughed weakly. He chuckled and gave my hands a quick squeeze back in return.
I stood up from my seat and held his gaze for a few more seconds, not wanting to leave him. I eventually broke away and made my way back to the exit of A Cauldron of Coffee.
I was relieved to find my house empty when I returned; my mother-in-law had a tendency of turning up unexpectedly.
I carelessly threw my coat onto the sofa, not bothering to hang it up. I followed suit, sinking down onto the underused crushed velvet sofa. My thoughts were scattered - I couldn't think straight.
Sighing, I patted the side of my coat to locate my wand.
"Accio diary." I said clearly. There was a fidgeting noise from the room directly above me, and I heard the large book fly down the stairs and into the room before it came to gently settle on my lap.
I ran my hands over the worn leather cover, not having read my old diary for many years. But if I was going to think of Sirius, I may as well make them happy thoughts.
I opened the cover to the first page, where in my swirly scrawl I had written 'Property of Adhara Avery - If you read this, I'll know about it - I will find you, and kill you.' I smiled as I noticed the drawing around the 'A' of my name. Of course, as soon as Sirius got his hands on this diary in seventh year he took the first chance he got to change the 'A' to a cartoon-like penis.
I turned to the first entry, which was 1st September 1976. The first day of my Sixth year at Hogwarts.
That four eyed speccy git James Potter is an arsehole. He not only hit Severus on the nose with a swelling jinx, but also tried to trip me up. I told him I'd hit him if it wasn't for the fact I didn't want to get his traitorous blood on my new robes.
I cringed at my own words, but looked back on that day fondly; it was the start of my relationship with the marauders. Of course back in sixth year it was a rather volatile one due to Sirius starting a vendetta against me after our detention together at the end of the previous school year. But it was a relationship nonetheless. I continued to read on and let myself reminisce.
October 1976
"Honestly, that red headed mudblood better watch her back." my fellow Slytherin Serena Rowle spat as she marched to the hospital wing with a bloodied nose after duelling with Lily Evans of Gryffindor house. I use the term 'duelling' very loosely; it was more Serena attacking Evans when her back was turned which resulted in her spinning around and retaliating in defence.
"I can't believe you let a muggleborn hex you." I teased, knowing it would only infuriate the hot-headed blonde further.
Serena scowled as she adjusted the tissue held to her nose as it continued to bleed.
"I say we get revenge on her and her little blood traitor friends. They need to be taught a lesson." she replied. I could see the cogs rotating in her head, thinking of a way of punishing the Gryffindor's. "We'll of course have to inform Mulciber and the others. I'm sure they'll want to join."
We reached the doors to the hospital wing and I watched as Serena stormed inside shouting for Madam Pomfrey. I followed her inside, unable to stop my eyes rolling at her drama.
"I don't know why you let the mudblood get to you so much." I sighed in exasperation.
At that moment the school nurse came bustling out of her office.
"Ah, nose bleed? Yes, come over here and sit on this bed while I whip up a remedy. Keep your head down while you wait." she said sternly. She didn't wait for an answer before disappearing again.
"Oi, Avery! You better not have been talking about Evans just then!" I heard a shout from the other end of the hospital wing.
I turned around to find the smuggest git in Hogwarts, James Potter, glaring at me. I couldn't help but chuckle at the furious expression on his face. I took out my wand as a precaution and surveyed him with raised eyebrows.
"Or what Potter? We were just saying it how it is. She's a mudblood." Serena piped up, unable to resist the provocation.
"Call her that one more time and you'll have more than a bloody nose you dirty Slytherin." he snarled at me. Serena and I exchanged smirks.
"Mu-"
A flash of blue light came streaking towards before I could finish. I slashed my own wand through the air to quickly deflect the spell and looked back across the room. To my surprise, it wasn't James Potter glaring murderously back at me with his wand raised, it was someone I despised even more; Sirius Black.
I couldn't resist rolling my eyes. "Here we go again, Sirius Black come to play his little 'pro-muggleborn' game. It's getting rather boring now, I must say."
"Nobody's playing any games here Avery. I'm simply sticking up for a friend of mine that you're insulting." he drawled.
"You're so insufferable. Always trying to play the hero aren't you?" I scoffed.
Madam Pomfrey chose to re-enter the room at this point; she bustled over to Serena and I with a goblet in hand.
"Here, drink this. It should stop the bleeding." she demanded. Serena grabbed the potion from her without a word of thanks and quickly downed the contents. She grimaced as she moved the goblet away from her face and held it out for Madam Pomfrey to take.
"Now, stay here until it completely stops. Here-" she handed me some more tissue for Serena "-take a seat on the bed and try to keep the blood off the sheets."
Madam Pomfrey then stalked over to the bed that Potter and Black were standing next to; I couldn't see who occupied the bed due to the curtain surrounding it. It was no doubt Pettigrew or Lupin.
"So, are the wedding plans all set out yet?" Serena teased, taking a seat on the crisp white covers. She grinned at me wickedly as I glared at her.
"No they are bloody not! Honestly, you'd think mother was trying to get rid of me; I'm only sixteen and they're already marrying me off." I replied, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. Rabastan Lestrange and I had been sat down with one another over the summer to be told we'd be marrying once we had completed our studies at Hogwarts. It was exactly as Black had predicted in detention last year - I'd thought perhaps I'd find a way out of an arranged marriage. I was obviously wrong.
"What do you think of him?" I asked her, my concerns making me seek some sort of reassurance.
"Well he's disgustingly rich and has some of the purest blood around so you'd be pushed to find someone better. And he's alright to look at, even if he does have the personality of a lamp post." she sniggered, "actually, a lamp post probably has more of one. Obviously my Marcus is ten times better, but he's mine, so keep your grubby paws off." She warned - I should have known I'd get no reassurance from her. Her nose continued to bleed as profusely as it had been ten minutes ago when she'd taken the potion.
"It doesn't look like it's slowing down does it?" As I held out some more tissue for her to bunch up under her nose.
"No - I remember when Marcus had a nose bleed like this after he had that duel with Diggory last year. It took a while to stop then too."
"Well in that case I'm going to dinner - want me to bring you anything up?" I asked, picking my bag up that had been unceremoniously dumped on the floor.
She scowled at me for abandoning her, but my stomach was growling from starvation. She'd do that same thing if she were in my position.
"Fine, bugger off. Bring me a plate of chips will you?"
I nodded and walked out of the hospital wing as I heard her scream "Madam Pomfrey, this rubbish potion isn't working!" I chuckled as I made my way through towards the Great Hall. Dinner was already under way as I took a seat next to Severus at the Slytherin table.
"Hey Sev." I greeted, shovelling a load of sausages on to my plate.
"Where've you been?" he asked, not looking up from the potions book propped up in front of his against a jug of pumpkin juice.
"Hospital wing." I replied, spooning a lump of creamy mashed potato on to my plate and drizzling thick gravy over the top. He finally looked up at me with a questioning expression.
"Not for me; Serena decided to pick a fight with that mudblood Evans from Gryffindor." I answered. I saw his jaw twitch - of course, they used to be friends.
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure Evans came off better than Serena did." I reassured him. He nodded in acceptance and didn't question why I seemed fine about his old bff hexing my friend.
I use the word 'friend' very loosely. We're Slytherins of course - we don't make friends because we like one another, we make contacts that we think will benefit us in some way. Serena does my head in most of the time; obviously I care about her but mostly her bad temper and constant drama are a nuisance. But her family have close ties to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures (something that I hope to build a career in after Hogwarts), and dear lovely Marcus Nott is my cousin, which means she has to keep me sweet if she ever has any hopes of marrying him.
We ate in silence for the remainder of dinner - Severus isn't a man of many words, which is why I liked him so much. Once I'd ate my food at lightning speed (I really was starving), I grabbed a spare plate and stacked it high with chips for Serena.
"Right then," I said as I stood from the wooden bench, "I'll see you in the Common Room later Sev, I'm taking this to Serena."
He nodded, "why are you bothering?"
I shrugged - I'm not entirely sure why either.
"Guess I'm not ready to go back to the Common Room just yet - Rabastan told me earlier he wants a 'chat' and I'm trying to avoid him at all costs." I scanned the faces along the Slytherin table and relaxed when I saw he wasn't there.
As I walked along the deserted stone corridor to the Hospital Wing, I heard hushed voices approaching.
"Can we not check the map-"
"SHUTUP Padfoot!"
I watched as Potter, Black and Pettigrew all turned the corner ahead and caught sight of me. I smiled sarcastically and gave them the finger, continuing to walk past them with my head held high. So it was Lupin in the hospital bed earlier - I felt a stab of disappointment; he was the least foul of the lot.
"So you and Lestrange are getting hitched?"
I paused, glancing back to see that it was Black who had spoken.
"See you in the Common Room, mate" Potter said with a smirk as he ushered Pettigrew down the path that I had just came from. Black waved and turned back to me.
"Did your mother never tell you that it's rude to eavesdrop?" I asked, an eyebrow raising challengingly.
"Let's not talk about that old bat." he brushed off, but I took my chance to make a dig.
"Ah that's right; you're mother doesn't love you does she?" I teased spitefully, sticking out my bottom lip in mock sympathy.
"My mother doesn't love anyone or anything. I expect you two would get along, you're both very similar in that sense." he laughed emptily. I saw him stuffing something in to his pocket as he leaned against the wall.
"Like what you see?" he smirked. I scowled at him as I took a chip from the plate I was carrying - they were starting to get cod.
"Is that this map you were whispering about with your boyfriends earlier then? Anything I should be interested in?" I asked casually as I looked up at him. His face dropped from the pompous smirk that he was wearing previously.
"Did your mother never tell you that it's rude to eavesdrop?" he mimicked. He grabbed for a chip but I was too fast and swiftly ducked out of reach.
"Sharing's caring Avery." he said, still eyeing up the plate. I snorted in response.
"Who ever said that I care?" as I again ducked the plate away from his wandering hands.
"I can tell by the look in your eyes." he said as he grinned. Why was he grinning at me? Stop grinning at me!
"Stop grinning at me." I said aloud this time, eyeing him suspiciously. "You're being weird, why aren't you being your usual prick self?"
"Well I can't exactly be my 'usual prick self' to a pretty girl can I?" he asked, stunning me for a moment. This was very suspicious.
"What are you up to Black?" I asked, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. I backed away as he stepped forward, a mocking glint in his eye.
"Nothing at all Avery! Just because you're a Slytherin doesn't mean I can't find you fit." he winked and took my surprised frozen stance to swipe a chip from the plate.
He turned away and sauntered down the corridor, leaving me standing in the corridor feeling utterly confused.
A/N: Feb 2016 - Rewrite