Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction created sorely to satisfy my imagination. Harry Potter and anything/everything related to the books belongs to J.K. Rowling. I own nothing in this fanfic that might be recognizable as belonging to the canon of HP.

AN: I didn't intend this to take so long, but yeah. Here we are, months late.

So yeah, I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 39: Getting to normal

Sitting among my Slytherin classmates in Charms, my unwavering gaze was on Professor Flitwick as he went about giving a fascinating lecture. Every now and then I would look down, but only to make sure that the notes I was taking were legible.

But that was it. I didn't let my gaze linger around, not toward the inviting window that presented a wonderful sunny day or the new doodles on my desk probably made by a student earlier in the morning. I especially kept my eyes away from Lily or the Marauders less I fall incline to get distracted looking at them too. The tiniest distraction could throw me off the catching-up train, and if I wanted to have time to sit around doing nothing, if only an hour in which I could sit with Peter or Lily without a worry, I needed to use time in class entirely. Even if I was going insane.

Easter Holiday —or the couple of days I had of it— was good for me. It was a short time, really, but I was able to get back to my preferred routine. My studying habits were ever the same. I pushed myself into using a maximum amount of time for work, spending many hours away buried in books and my notes. And as for sleep, I was back to my normal four, maybe five hours a night, if possible. So far, I was harvesting the fruits of my hard labour. I didn't feel like I was drowning in my classes, even though I had only taken a handful of them since I got back.

Though, I did try to keep a window opened for distractions every now and then.

If I didn't, I risked getting kidnapped by James and/or Sirius. And even though that always proved to be a much needed break that I would refuse to give myself, it was a hassle. One second I would be studying in the Library, alone or with Lily, and the other I was levitating over my chair with a Marauder pointing a wand at me. It was more exhausting than embarrassing, though, especially the part where I had to fight against my skirt to stay in proper place.

Aside from spending resting time with Lily, and eating stolen snacks in an empty classroom with the Gryffindor boys, my days were consumed by studying. Nothing had changed. It was the same as before my tumble down the stairs, save that I didn't have Mulciber pestering my life. That was the best part of it, surely.

Technically, only a week had gone by since I got back, and though I was enjoying Charms at the moment, I wanted for it to end early. I had a Defence essay I needed to revise before giving up my free periods of the day to Madam Pomfrey. Normally she and I would have our daily meetings two hours before dinner, but since she deemed Defence Against the Dark Arts as a dangerous exertion, she separated our normal session to before and after class. It was a bother for me, but at least that gave me a free hour to do as I pleased before dinner.

Dinner that happened to be with the Slug Club.

A Slug Club that for the first time for me would be devoid of a certain someone that had enjoyed tormenting me.

And tomorrow was a Hogsmeade trip too! My week back was going to end up being amazing.

Anyway back to my health, so far I had been using my time with Pomfrey to force myself into taking naps. It had immense benefits and Peter was the one to thank for the idea. He'd been listening to me vent one rainy afternoon about my two wasted hours of the day and my wish to be able to study more, when he voiced out a perfect plan that was indication enough for me as to why he fitted so well with his group of friends. Peter offered me the idea of tricking the Hogwarts Healer in the best way possible. So, it went with me working to the wee hours of the night, and resting my tired eyes during time with Pomfrey. And nap away my two useless hours in the Hospital Wing. That way, she actually saw me resting, I didn't feel like I was wasting two precious hours of schoolwork, and I could work into the night in my dorm as I pleased without worrying too much on being caught on my lack of rest. Simple and massively effective. I wished I had thought of it last term when I was forced into the Hospital Wing daily as well. It was a wonderful plan, really, and it was reaping results. Currently I was only late on half the work given to do during the Holiday. Considering the time I was away from my NEWTs, it's bloody amazing. Surely, Peter deserved a nice gift.

Speaking of him, a note from him landed on my desk. It was timed wonderfully, Flitwick had turned around, and a bird made of paper perched at the edge of the desk, pecking the parchment in which I was writing. For a moment I thought about ignoring the bird, or grabbing my wand to set it on fire, but I knew it was from Peter, and he normally didn't pester me during class anymore(at my request), so I went against my previous resolve about distractions during class. I grabbed the bird without hesitation. It went with a fight, as it normally did, pecking my hand as I fisted it. I took my wand to mutter the reversing spell, and once the piece of parchment unfolded I went about trying to decipher Peter's messy handwriting.

Going to watch practice?

I looked up, knowing Peter's precise seat among the Gryffindors. He was slouched over his desk, staring back at me. I nodded my head at him as an affirmative to his invite; mostly because I wasn't going to bother writing the yes down and charming the parchment to fly back at him. That seemed like a waste of time. My gaze, uncontrolled for the moment, edged to Peter's side, where a certain Black stared at me like he wanted my attention. Leaning back on his chair and holding a dry quill, he gave me a smirk and a wink. Trademarks of his that never got old.

Giving my own smirk as an answer to his antics, I began to look away when my eye caught Lily. Her hair resting over a shoulder, her pointed stare was sorely on Flitwick. She didn't notice my staring, too concentrated sitting among her friends. Her beautiful profile reminded me of something.

Something I had been talking about with James the previous night, when without ceremony, I had been sidetracked, by force, on my way back to my dorm by said Gryffindor. I searched for him quickly, finding him seating on the desk behind Sirius with Remus. Like Peter, he was slouched over his desk, but unlike the rest of his friends, he was scribbling away like a maniac. I don't think he was following the lecture.

I smiled to myself.

Lily wouldn't appreciate my plotting, not with the workload we had, her Prefect duties and Slug Club later on, but it was for a good cause. I knew she would forgive and understand. Hopefully.

I turned back to the Professor, resolved on not missing a thing.

"Excuse me, Faraday," Someone interrupted the flow of Flitwick's voice to the inside my brain. The sudden interruption brought me back to where I was sitting, and as I turned to the side, I made sure my shoulders were as straight as possible. I was facing Mafalda, so of course I had to at least try to look as elegant as her. Not that I could, with her curled, dark hair free around her shoulders, her hand grasping a quill over a piece of parchment with lines of exquisite writing. I think she waited for me to say something, like acknowledge her in a more official way, but since I kept my mouth shut, she went on."We're having a study session in the Library after class. Do you want to come?"

I stared; I didn't even try to hide my confusion. What, just what? My thoughts raced all over her words, as I tried to process what they actually meant. Mafalda Bole, elegant and poise Slytherin that she was, was inviting me to go study, not just with her, but with the rest of our dorm mates, because she clearly said 'we' and that in her case included Gemma, Hestia and Gertrude.

Merlin's left sock.

My staring, unwavering and unabashed for the moment because of the abysmally large shock actually made her squirm in her seat! Composed Mafalda squirming because of me! Shit.

"No." The crude answer left me without a care in the world.

Her expression was somewhat comical, maybe I would had even laughed if I didn't prefer being silent in front of my housemates. Mafalda was uncertain with my answer for a moment, as if she hadn't considered that I would give it just like that. If it had been to Lily's friends Dorcas and Mary, I would have followed a courteous protocol, I guess. Say whatever truth or lie on my way into an acceptable excuse. But since I did neither, Mafalda was stranded facing my bad manners, and she even looked to Gemma, sitting on the row in front of us for I don't know what. Gemma, not entirely turned back at us, gave a gentle shrug and turned back to Flitwick. Mafalda did the same.

I looked at the Professor standing on his stack of books, listening to him, but not really hearing exactly what he was saying. I couldn't, not when the topic of my dorm mates trying to get on my good side was glaring at me with the intensity of the harsh sun.

For a long time, I had the hunch of what being known as Merlin's descendant would be like at school. Dumbledore and Merlin's portrait had taken the initiative of filling up my head with it since they first met me, and back then, I had silently enjoyed the idea, even looked forward to I guess that was still true, I was immensely curious to how things would be once my heritage was revealed. But it was uncomfortable for me; it was after all a double-edge sword. On one side, I enjoyed the uncomfortable shift that tripped my housemates to their was like back in September, when I arrived in school only that ten-fold. Not only was I a fellow pure-blooded witch from a prestigious family, I was the only known descendant of bloody Merlin, Prince of Enchanters and Slytherin royalty. And of course, to my housemates that merited an abysmally different treatment towards me than the cold regard I had come to get used to. I did enjoy the attention, the awkwardness my presence would surface in people. It was fun to see their flustered faces as they tried to be nice to me after months of glares and snide comments or like Mafalda, see them squirm as they waited for me to say anything to them.

But the fact of the matter, the crux of it all that sent all malice down the drain was that this fame was because of Merlin, and just him. My only part in the equation was that I was related to him, that was my only importance. And that was the other side of the sword, the side that faced me and I did not like one bit of it.

My housemates were treating me nice because of who I descended from, not because they liked me or anything. I hadn't done a thing deserving of reverence and respect so far, and that I was being showered with it now, in the circumstances that they were in, made my stomach tighten and my face scrunch up in frustration. It was maddening, to be hello'd at by kids that only ever looked at me when spreading rumours about Slytherin hate or dating gossip, mainly relating to the huge amount of time I spent with the Marauders and that one time I went with Sirius to Hogsmeade to win a bet. Having Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and even Gryffindors going out of their way to actually try to talk to me for absolutely no plausible reason aside because of Merlin, was truly enraging.

It had been better, I think, being a pariah than a celebrity, which I apparently now was in a way. The knowledge left a nasty after taste in my mouth

Flitwick said something about the next charm we were to study, and after instructing us to the page to read, he presented the Water-making charm. He went about with a presentation of the Aguamenti spell, levitating a large crystal basin from behind a stack of books, and then demonstrating the correct hand movement needed. Water erupted from his wand in a dazzling and refreshing display as it flew unto the basin at the same time as he spoke the basic information of the spell.

He had only said a sentence of it, when there was a soundless pop in my head. Slowly, and accompanied by a raging headache, my mind remembered everything there was to remember about Aguamenti.

I shut my eyes, tightly pushing my lids down in a vain attempt to have that pressure lessen the pain my blood-knowledge insisted on me. It didn't work, but at least once it was over, I hadn't trouble remembering what to write down as notes, as I had failed to hear Flitwick's detailed explanation.

"Remember the hand movement," The Professor said. "Right to left, smoothly. We will be practicing it on our next class."

With that, and an extensive essay to do assigned; class ended.

I took a bit of time getting up to leave, my fellow Slytherin rising around me, as my attention went to my notes. I had scribbled a couple of lines like gibberish, and it was only when I stared at them for a solid two seconds that I noticed that they weren't written in English, but in Latin. I had no idea what it said, though I figured it might be a corresponding spell or information or something to the Water-making charm. At that, I grabbed my book bag and pushed the parchment inside, ignoring the awkward folding it took. It wasn't the first time I had randomly written something down in Latin or some other ancient dead language, and every time it happened it frustrated me even more. I had considered a book and teaching myself the languages, but I hadn't the need for that when I had to review my Potions notes. I guess I could ask a teacher or even Merlin's portrait about it; however that wasn't something I wanted to do. My curiosity wasn't that interested or desperate.

Everything packed in my bag; I stood up, just at the right time to turn to Lily, who had walked to my seat to collect me from the Slytherins. She looked radiant, with her hair in a long braid over her shoulder as she stood by me. "So how was it?"

"I want to die." I said looking away from her. Her hand landed on my arm, and before I knew it, Lily Evans pushed me. It was a light shove echoing in the room with my friend's laughter, as well as me bubbling with a chuckle as I held on to my desk for balance. Trying to give a convincing glare, I watched her give me a wide smile and I couldn't be angry with her. , my merriment went down a little, as the past hours of class came back into my mind."You were right; my first Double Charms wasn't easy."

Lily nodded, her head cocking to the side as she pursed her lips in agreement, I guess. "I did pass Divination with an O."

Shifting my bag on my shoulders so the books inside it didn't hurt me, I took in a surprised breath."And you didn't go on to NEWTs? Lily Evans!" I said in a reprimanding tone to my friend, who looked at me like she wanted to push me again. That only made it better for me. "You have a gift, and now you're squandering it off with Charms and Potions."

She shook her head, chuckling like she didn't have a choice, which she didn't since I'm hilarious. With that, she grabbed my arm, pulling me to move.

"Where did Mary go?" I asked her as I let her lead me away.

Lily shrugged. "Off to her boyfriend, I'd imagine."

I let out a breath. "Ah yes, those things we don't have." At my words, Lily scoffed and it made me have to do the same thing. With that I pulled her closer, remembering my surprise plan with her involved. "I need to ask you a favour."

"For what?"

"Well," I began, but we were coming out the classroom then, and my eyes immediately spotted two particular mischief makers. "I'll tell you in a bit."

Outside the door, we met James and Sirius. They were sitting on a ledge, their backs to one of the nicer inner courtyards in Hogwarts, favourite by our year group as an outdoor lounging area. They watched us as we came out the classroom, and James in particular made it very clear to call me over. I obliged, mainly because he had kept it nice and quiet, and hadn't yet ran off his mouth with anything 'Lily-flower' related. I looked around as I made poor Lily stand in front of them. I held her arm tightly, in case she bolted. She liked to do that. "Where are Peter and Remus?"

James, almost sliding off his seat spoke up after very deliberately running his hand through his hair with meticulous messing up expertise."Running to the Library. Wormtail said something about coping Remus' essay, so he rushed after him."

I nodded, my eyes darting from James to Sirius and back again, both of them evaded my gaze. There was something going on that I didn't understand yet. Honestly, I hadn't had yet the inclination to ask, but the way things were heading, I was going to have to. The boys, particularly the ones in front of me, tended to get a little weird whenever I asked about Remus. I had noticed. I also noticed that Remus seemed extremely busy as of late. Peter had said the same thing the night before, when I made a comment about it, but it was left at that when he offered me a newly opened Cauldron Cake. I didn't say anything; for I totally understood if Remus was busy his Prefect duties and classes. Lily was the same and me too, minus the Prefect things. I completely understood that, so whenever I saw him go I couldn't say anything. And when I thought of it, I was surprised that I haven't really spoken to Remus at all since I got back. Not even to discuss schoolwork, which was strange to say the least. That was our thing. That and our connection through Morgana.

"Up for some Exploding Snap?" James asked me out of nowhere, though unsurprisingly, his eyes didn't stay on me.

"Cant," I told him immediately, not because the offer wasn't inviting. I had plans for the day, a full day ahead still, and I would be seeing him later on. Plus Lily held on to my arm, patiently waiting for me to be done with my friends so I could give her the attention she deserved. "We're off to McGonagall's office."

"Again?" James said sounding exasperated to me, though I didn't really understand why. Why was he that displeased by it and Sirius too? He reacted as the same time as his friend.

Sirius, who had been sitting on the stone ledge all this time, slid off to be next to James. "You were there yesterday. It's like the fourth time since you got back." He faced me off, looking down on me, not with ill intent, but because there was no choice; he was just taller than me. I didn't know what to take of what was happening, and I tried looking at Lily for help, but I didn't manage it. Sirius went on. Though he wasn't talking to me this time, he had turned to James. "I think Minnie is hogging the descendant of Merlin all to herself."

"I wasn't going to say it Pads, but I've been thinking it all day." Pushing his glasses up his nose, James assumed a somewhat conspiring scholar look, one that I wasn't too familiar with, coming from him. "Maybe she's having our dear innocent Birdie teach her all the good transfiguration spells that only Merlin knew. Taking advantage, I mean. You know how good Minnie is prying information."

Ever his partner in crime, Sirius agreed. "Mate, you're on to something."

I on the other hand, apart from staring both confused and amazed, spoke up before they went on or Lily finally lost it waiting. "It's the other way around." That got their attention, even Lily took a step back from me to stare. Her curiosity was enough to not seem entirely peeved at having James standing a person away from her. I went on to explain the truth, as I intended to do with my friends once my heritage was made public. "I'm imposing myself on McGonagall with the excuse that I'm related to Merlin. It's the only reason she agreed to have me on her NEWT class. All the teachers, really."

"I had wondered." Lily spoke for the first time, lowering her eyes when I looked at her. I would like to say that her cheeks were tingling with red, but since it would be with embarrassment, I ignored it. I looked down too, biting my lip; I would never want my friends to be embarrassed about admitting to wondering why I was getting it easy at school, especially since it was something that meant much to her.

The news were more shocking than I thought, as there was a moment of silence. I keep my head down, not comfortable with meeting any eyes.

"Well," James began with a shrug, passing his hand through his hair like always. He met my eyes, and I couldn't help looking at him fondly. If admitting that I was getting special treatment at Hogwarts made me feel embarrassed, James Potter made it seemed like it was nothing to stress about. Something I had done until that very moment. "There's nothing wrong with accepting help."

I think I got carried away staring at James for longer than was necessary, or it felt that way once Lily cleared her throat. Maybe only a second had gone by. Sirius and James didn't look uncomfortable by having me staring at one of them for a long period. Then again, those two weren't the most conventional of boys I've met so far. Lily held a bit more tightly to my arm, making me turn to look at her. She seemed a tad bewildered, but I didn't understand if it was at me or what. She tapped her wrist as she still held on to me, and I knew what that meant.

"Right," I said to her then turned to the boys with a smile. "We're off."

My hour with McGonagall in her office was not the best, but it wasn't necessary the worst either. We went over the assignments I had given in so far, she made comments on how I needed to work on my wording, expressions and the like. Apparently, according to her, my work for Transfiguration was fine. She was pleased with my growth. Her one problem was that I had poor grammar skills and possessed the spelling level of as second year. And that wouldn't do if I wanted to go on to the last year of her NEWTs class.

And to that, I said that how was it my bloody fault that Hogwarts didn't offer a Grammar class or something of the like to help me write my stupid essays to fucking perfection!

McGonagall should be impressed with my poor writing; after all I could still do it even after a violent landing onto Diagon Alley, amnesia and a tumble down a huge staircase. My writing hadn't been such a bother before, why did she have to add it to my already humongous work pile?

I left her office feeling horrible, and to top it off, I couldn't blow off steam in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Not when Madam Pomfrey had made a show to Professor Ofina about my health and her practice methods.

At least Professor Ofina didn't seem to hold it against me, and graciously conjured a seat pushed under a window for me to watch the days practice when it began. The first half of class had been devoted to theory; trying to read the text book at the same time as Ofina insisted on giving her lecture. After the desks were pushed away, I watched in envy as my darling Hufflepuff partner, Missa Lufkin was left to fire her spells at the teacher. Once that was over, the teacher gave assignments when the time to end class arrived, and I added chapter reading and a roll essay to my to-do parchment list. Brilliant.

I left Defence on my own, to go meet with dear Madam Pomfrey, but as I went out I spotted a familiar face that resounded with me.

Graham Rowle waited among the Slytherin first years with his two friends for their Defence class to start. He appeared to be searching the crowd, as much as his small height allowed him to, but he stopped that as soon as he saw me. His blond little head was directly pointed at me and I waved at him a tad, trying to keep my bag from slipping down my shoulder with the weight it held, and Graham did the same back as I walked.

Anne noticed me, and waved too. Though I barely knew the girl, it struck me as odd that she was doing that. It took me a moment to realize she wasn't enthusiastically waiving at me like Graham, she was forcibly beckoning me to go to her. A bit confused, I went to them.

I couldn't blow them off that way. That would be plain rude to people that actually didn't mind me being around them. I had seen Graham, Anne and Markus loads of times since I got back, and they had been good enough to welcome me back with smiles. It was such a beautiful thing for me, to genuinely be welcomed back to school by members of my House that didn't feel obligated in doing so because I happened to be related to a famous Slytherin. They welcomed me because I was somewhat their friend. They bombarded me with questions, especially that Anne when they got a hold on me the first time I gave the Marauders a slip for a meal in the Great Hall, and I had given honest white answers to most of their question. By the looks of it, Anne seemed like she was about to shoot me with a hundred more as she saw me coming.

"I'm sorry, but I have to hurry to the Hospital Wing." I announced as I stood a couple feet away from Graham.

His hazel eyes widened as he stared up at me, looking alarmed. "Are you sick?"

I shook my head. But before I could talk, Anne interrupted me. "Never mind that, Graham." She said to her friend and then turned to me. For moment I was slightly offended by her rudeness, but she was so cute with her blonde hair and all, that I found it endearing. "Do you know the differences between regular wolves and werewolves? We already got tufted tail and human-like eyes."

"Werewolves are fifth year subject, aren't they?" I asked, though there wasn't a need, I already knew the answer. The trio exchanged glances as I stared around at them, watching each little face. There were secrets passing between them, secrets I wasn't privy to.

"We got detention," Graham after a moment of hesitation admitted, looking anywhere but at me and that made me smile. Poor boy was embarrassed. "Tonight with Hagrid. He's taking us to the Forbidding Forest to harvest leaping toadstools."

"And everybody knows there're werewolves in there." Anne finished as if it was a matter of fact, which in this case I knew it was, but she didn't. For her it should only be myth and legend. Or an elaborate hoax created by Dumbledore to hide the fact that it wasn't a hoax in the first place, as James had once wonderfully explained to me.

"You lot got detention?"

"Markus wanted to sneak into the kitchens the other night. We got caught by Mr. Filch." Anne had turned to her taller friend as she explained what happened, her voice rising to chilling temperatures as she glared blue daggers at poor Markus. "Because Markus doesn't know where they are."

Graham watched them with a pained expression, obviously having been witness to previous encounters like this one. My attention went back to Markus, who matched Graham's face as he whined. "I said I'm sorry, Anne!"

"I didn't take you as troublemakers." I said to try to alleviate the situation; though at the moment I didn't know if that was even possible. This was the first time I had seen the trio so tense around each other. Though, I wasn't worried much about them. The three were good friends, they would get over it sooner rather than later, so I went on with the werewolf information. "You're missing the detail about the snout. Werewolves got a short one than regular wolves."

I watched as Anne produced a quill and journal from within her robes to scribe down my contribution. The two boys leaned in each of her shoulders, I guess to confirm that she wrote right what I said, I don't know.

"But you needn't worry." In retrospect, I should have mentioned the bit about werewolves being tons more aggressive than normal wolves, for educational purposes. But I knew that was something that would have put them on edge. And though the Forbidden Forest wasn't a place of horror for me, for I knew of its secrets and was safe in the freedom it presented me, it wouldn't be the same for the three first years. I'm sure they must have heard all kinds of stories about the forest, truths and lies. "It's not a full moon tonight. Werewolves only come out during the full moons. You should be fine."

That hadn't crossed their minds apparently, though if you ask me it's the most important piece of information. However, since they went to me for the knowledge, my bet was that they didn't think to go to the Library and pick up an actual book on the subject.

"What you should really be worried of are acromantulas. Professor Kettleburn says the forest is filled with them." I, like the responsible upperclassman I was went on to say, watching their eyes dart back to me and widen. It was a second later that I realized my mistake and failure at trying to keep them from fearing their detention that I hurried to rectify myself."But I'm sure Hagrid will keep you safe."

I excused myself from them with an apology and a bit of regret for Graham, who looked like he wanted to ask something else, but I ran off. I had to get to the Hospital Wing for my second visitation of the day.

The hallway, ever crowded with fellow classmates getting to their respective classes wasn't a hassle to navigate this time.

My little conversation with Graham and his friends led me to think about Remus, the one werewolf I knew. How would he have handled sharing information of his curse to children scared of rumours based and caused by him? I'm sure he wouldn't mind what I said to the kids. It was something I would like to talk to him about, but I had no idea if I would get the chance to. He was running scarce these days. It still struck me as odd that I hadn't had a chance to talk to him or even be around him. There was a bugging feeling in my stomach, one I wasn't familiar with and that I maybe got earlier when I was talking with James.

As if I had summoned him with my mind, Remus Lupin walked by accompanied by another boy I didn't know. By the looks of the matching silver badges on their chest, the other boy was a Prefect too. Probably fifth year for I couldn't remember his name or face.

A smile broke on my face as I watched him, wondering if I should derail myself further from my inevitable appointment with Madam Pomfrey to speak to Remus. It did seem like a good idea, but I contended with not doing it. He looked busy, as busy as the rest of the Marauders had claimed him to be the previous night when we met in an empty classroom, or all the other times he gave us the slip for whatever reason.

Passing in front of me, Remus noticed me standing there, or felt my unwavering stare for he turned to look at me. I waved at him with a hand and a smile, pleasantly watching him go. The strangest thing happened. At least strange to me, who considered him my friend and with whom I had a special blood connection.

Remus didn't acknowledge me.

There was not a wave back or a smile or as familiar look. Nothing. He stared at me as if I was a stranger. He ignored me like one would ignore the stone columns lining the hallway. It made my stomach do a flip, and not the good kind.

What in Merlin's name was happening?

I tore open the package of a Cauldron Cake, the delightful smell intoxicating and offered it to Peter, who sat next to me. He took it without a word, not even looking at what he was reaching for, so I watched him grab at air a couple times before I moved my hand for him to take the cake. Without ceremony or manner, he shoved it completely into his mouth.

"Chew properly, Peter." I told him after I took a second to just watch him try not to choke.

He nodded thanking me, his attention still on the practice being exercised. Peter's eyes were behind a pair of omnioculars, that he was using to follow the flying Quidditch players. I watched him use the thing with a little envy, itching to use the omnioculars again. I was told they were a birthday present Sirius had gotten Peter a few years back. Peter had forgotten to pack them into his trunk when he left home for school and it was only recently his mother had gotten around to mailing them. They had missed the most Quidditch season, but at least Peter got them before the final. So far I thought of them as a marvel, and I couldn't wait for the day I would be able to buy one of my own.

I shook my head at Peter's antics, searching into his book bag for another Cauldron Cake. There weren't any books in his bag; therefore I had to dig under packages of chocolate frogs, sugar quills and other goodies to get to them. The Marauders never ceased to have supply of snacks when needed and I found that truly amazing.

Especially when I could have anything I wanted without having to lift a finger or spend money.

The package crackled in my hand as I tried to open it, causally looking up to the pitch to see the Gryffindor team zoom about. They were too far for me to recognize players or to read names. The smell of a freshly opened Cauldron Cake hit me tenfold again, and it was with a heavy heart that I twisted back in my seat, to offer it to Lily who sat behind me.

She sat with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, he book bag opened next to her, but ignored. With my attention on her, she was particularly concentrated on glaring at me. I, like any other witch or wizard, would have cowered at that ferocious expression, but if I was certain of one thing of my friendship with Lily Evans, it was that with as much power she had, she would never hurt me. Lily would only ever protect me. That much she had shown me before.

I offered the cake, but she declined.

"We have Slug club tonight, Faraday. Why are we here? Why am I here?" Lily asked for like the hundredth time since I had masterfully gotten her to the Quidditch pitch a while ago. It had not been easy, yet somehow I had managed it. And even more outstanding, she hadn't left yet either.

"I told you." I pushed the words out, only slightly bothered at repeating something she already knew. "James bet me ten galleons last night that I couldn't get you to watch him practice."

There was a heavy sigh behind me, but I didn't turn to look at my friend for that. I knew she didn't want to be there. It was the very last place she would want to be, even with her love for Quidditch and House pride, and I did feel bad for using our relationship to get money, but not too bad when I remembered it was James' money. I was sure that even Lily saw that as a good enough reason to not just scamper away. "And you accepted this ridiculous bet without thinking of the consequences this would have on our friendship?"

"I'll give you half?" I twisted again to look back at her, feeling playful with the whole situation. "Come on Lily! This is hilarious. Use the omnioculars; see the stupid look James has on his face right now."

"It's his normal face." Peter said putting the omnioculars down for the first time since he had finished showing them off to me. His eyes squinted like he hadn't understood what I said. At that I gasped, completely caught off guard by his comment and stunned into amused silence. Of course I found it hilarious, especially coming from Peter, who I'm sure didn't mean it as a joke.

"Who would had thought, Pettigrew beat me to it." Lily sounded amused, still ticked off, but it gave me hope that she wouldn't hold any sort of grudge toward me. So I moved to sit sideways on the stall, to stop giving her my back, not that it was my fault, she had chosen to sit there.

It was a while before Lily spoke again, and in that time, I concentrated on watching the practice, for lack of a better thing to do. Peter, though his attention didn't move from behind his omnioculars, did not relent from commenting on every move the Gryffindor team made, exclaiming in awe.

"Tell you what Faraday, you keep your hard earned money," She said edging forwards in her seat, looking at me strangely. To be honest, the glint in her eyes kind of reminded me of James the previous night, when we made the bet. "But in exchange you have to do something for me."

Her words were intriguing, especially when it meant I was going to have ten galleons in my pocket. Though I couldn't ignore the flip my stomach did. I didn't know if it was good or bad. "Yes?"

"Pull your bun apart and keep your hair down for the rest of the weekend."

I took in Lily's words. For the moment it was the two of us, Peter was too engrossed in the practice to even notice that I wasn't paying attention to him. My hand went up to the back of my hair, not quite reaching the tight bun I liked having at every waking hour. The idea of taking it down wasn't strange, but it didn't necessary sit as normal to me. It seemed like a hassle, really. "I have to study tomorrow. It'll get in the way."

"Then you'll push it behind your ear, like this," She gave me an example, pressing a delightfully long and straight strand of her red hair behind her ear.

I didn't think my hair would be as complaint as hers, especially since I had no experience dealing with it. I slept with it down, and ran under the moon with it free, but in those moments it wasn't really something that I paid attention to.

Maybe I should have asked, but I figured that Lily wanted me to be uncomfortable. She had a mischievous glint in her green eyes, and it wasn't hard at all to read. Lily knew I found my hair to be a hassle; that I insisted on wearing it up to keep it from my face while I studied. But, she wanted revenge from me using her to win a bet, and I guess I shouldn't be stubborn in complying. This was my fault in the end.

Deliberately slow, but in no way delicately, I pulled my bun apart and left my hair to fall down my shoulders. It wasn't as long as Lily's or as straight, but she seemed pleased to see it down if the smile on her face was any indication. I passed my fingers through it, to comb it a bit. I tried smoothing it, but I must had looked like an idiot because Lily went on ahead to help me do it for a while.

"How do I look?" I asked Peter. At some point he had torn himself away from the Quidditch practice to see what we were doing. Or maybe what I was doing. The last time I pulled my hair down was back when I met the rest of the Marauders. Coincidentally, this time as well I was freeing my hair at the demand of someone else.

"Very p-pretty." He said, after a full minute of staring and going back to stare up at the practice. The stutter was a good sign for me; Peter did it whenever he was nervous. Though considering that he once claimed to fancy me, it might not be a good thing after all.

The wind blew, and my hair went all over the place and all I could hear was Lily's unrestrained laugher at my expense, most likely. After that mess was cleared away from my face as best possible, I ignored Lily, and went searching again in Peter's bag of sweets.

"He's doing the Dionysus Dive!" Peter exclaimed jumping to his feet, the omnioculars glued to his face as he followed in detail what was happening. My attention, grabbed at the last moment, flew to the pitch, just to see one of the Gryffindor players, I don't know which –probably James by the sheer agility of the move– do a strange flip and twist to the side as a goal was taken. Even from our distance it looked exclaimed something else, but my attention was lost as the Quidditch team united in formation, and swooped by in their mock playing. I followed them for a bit more, until I became irritated at fishing blind for the cake I wanted sand tearing it open.

I took strands of hair out of my mouth; the damn things were getting in the way as I ate my delicious treat. As I tried in vain to keep myself from eating my own hair, a bludger got particularly close to our spot on the pitch. The sound it made against the wind was telling of its coming, not that I could notice it from far. The only reason I realized it was coming our way was because a certain Beater got in the way.

With a fast swoop from Sirius and the power of his arm, the bludger was sent flying to the other side of the pitch in an awe inspiring display of speed that began with a thunderous smack as the beater's bat collided with the ball. It made me jump in my seat

Peter celebrated next to me, standing with a jump as he yelled in triumph at what he witnessed. The outburst shook the stun out of me. I wasn't to react like Peter in the slightest, though I couldn't kept a solid surprised chuckle from escaping me at the whole thing, and I did look behind me to see what Lily's reaction had been. On her face rested one of those annoyed glares she normally saved for a certain Gryffindor.

Sirius came to us, lowering his broom to be on our looked beyond pleased at the reaction he had gotten from Peter, who had stood up to perch against the pitch's railing close to him.

"That was bloody brilliant, Padfoot."

"Thanks." On Sirius' face starched a wide smirk as he looked from Peter to me. I smiled back at him, but said nothing. If Sirius Black wanted compliments from me, he should had appeared at any other moment I wasn't preoccupied with eating my favourite sweet. My lack of praise, didn't discourage him at all, he looked as smug as ever whenever our gazes met. Sitting back on his broom, he huffed once and then stared pass me. "I see Evans is here."

Like me, Lily had remained silent, though obviously not for the same reasons. She did not look pleased with the new arrival. But then again, that wasn't surprising.

"Faraday won the, um, bet." Peter said.

"I can see that." His friend told him, turning to place a steady stare on me, that should it had been from anyone else but Sirius, it would had made me squirm in my seat. "Prongs doesn't know whether to be happy or pissed. Though, I'll admit it makes for an interesting practice. His normal drills are dull."

Lily spoke up, her voice harsh in a way that made me think it didn't suit her. "He can fall off his broom for all I care."

Sirius and Peter stared at my friend, the last whimpering at the sight of her, because those green eyes of her were fierce as ever.

"She doesn't mean that." I said for I felt like something needed to be put after her comment for it not to feel as harsh as maybe Lily had intended. I don't know. Although she was a firecracker in many situations, Lily wasn't mean.

Lily had taken his attention for a moment as they appeared to glare at each other for half a moment, but it was back on me when I turned back to listen to him speak. Sirius did not seem particularly bothered by the Prefect's words against his best friend when I stared at his handsome face. "I expect you to buy me something nice in Hogsmeade tomorrow."

I scoffed loudly at his nerve, but it wasn't in a bad way. Money, when acquired was meant to be spent and I couldn't help grinning up to him. "Whatever you want, Sirius," His face lit up when I said 'you want' in an almost childish way. "It's yours."

"Nice hair." He pushed up, leaving with a playful wink and looking very pleased with himself.

The broom zoomed away, and I stared at his form up until he returned to his teammates at the other side of the pitch. One of the players put up his arms as the Beater approached, and even from the distance, and without the omnioculars, I knew that must have been James. It took only a handful of seconds for the Gryffindor team to begin another formation, and at that I lost interest.

"Will, will you buy me something too?" Peter asked me, once he returned to his seat next to me. Behind us, I could have sworn I heard Lily sigh.

"Anything." With that I bit into what was left of my Cauldron Cake.

It didn't take much longer for the practice to end, and Lily was such a wonderful friend to me, that she stayed till the end of it. I was surprised.

Peter, Lily and I waited for the Quidditch team to exit the back stalls, and when they did, James and Sirius wasted no time to join us to walk to the castle. There was elated talking as we went from the boys, and Peter made sure his friends knew that he had seen every single movement they had done during practice. It was delightful to see him so animated.

I walked next to James. He had looked extremely confused at the state of me, hair loose and in a mess thanks to my inexperience and the windy weather. But between that, his fluster over Lily's presence and my insistence of being paid, he was displeased. He promised to give me the galleons the next day. Which suited me well. Hogsmeade was going to be wonderful now that I was to have money to spend. Content with my friendship with James Potter, I stuck myself next to him as we walked to the castle with Peter talking nonstop. It was the only way I could think of keeping the Quidditch Captain from speaking to Lily.

She came a few steps behind Sirius, almost making me think that she was dragging her feet. Maybe she didn't want to be seen with the Marauders.

Every time I looked back to see if she was still there, I would have to look pass Sirius, who at moments almost hid her completely from my view. His resting bored look would break with his trademark smirk whenever I motioned for him to move so I could look at Lily before complying with a sidestep.

Once inside the castle, we stopped by the grand staircase, where Lily was going to part from me to go get ready for Slug Club, I planned to do the same to the Gryffindor boys but closer to the Great Hall. Like I always did. It was a surprise, when we got there, to see Remus coming down the stairs with a fellow classmate. The fact that it was a surprise to see him out of nowhere, even if it was the second time that day, struck me as odd. Remus Lupin was my friend; it shouldn't feel odd to see him outside the class.

My gaze was unwavering on him, as I watched him come down and see his friends. His expression lit up at the sight of them, until he saw me next to James. Our eyes met and it was as if he was doused with cold water. His opened faced closed over in less than a second, and any smile I might have had growing on my face at seeing him died.

Like earlier today, my stomach flipped, constricting my throat with dread. Something was going on and something in me had been refusing to acknowledge it, but now there was no escaping it.

James called Remus over, but he shook his head.

"I have patrol." He said back. With that answer, Remus hurried away from us, my stare fixed on him as he did so. I thought hard, trying to figure out what had I done wrong, but for the life of me I couldn't figure it out.

"That's not true." Lily said next to me, making me jump slightly. I hadn't noticed when she walked to me. "Spinnet and Thomas have patrol tonight."

He lied. He lied to us, or he lied to me. Why would he do that with Lily standing there? Did he not notice her? Lily knew the patrolling schedules by heart, everybody that knew of her were certain of that. Remus must have not seen Lily walking behind us and lied. I looked around, my stare going from James next to me, to Peter and Sirius. They all had different expressions, obviously; however one of them caught my attention particularly. I had caught James looking at the direction Remus left, his eyes soft behind his glasses, and his face set in a slightly, I would dare say, disappointed expression. Lily's words ran around my head as I stared, feeling worst with every passing second. Remus' cold shoulder and the realization of it stuck me hard, if was as if my forehead was struck by lightning, and a shiver entered my body from there to my feet and then back up again. I didn't need a concrete reason to know that this was my fault, and as the words left my mouth, they left a bitter aftertaste. "He's evading me."

"No, he's not." James said turning his face to me instantly, his words delivered too fast for me to believe them. I stared at him, like I had done earlier; taking every detail I could see. He swallowed hard, and his hazel eyes flashed from looking down to me, to the side, where I was more than certain that Sirius stood at the moment.

And that was enough for me to make assumptions. I took a step closer, not that it was needed, he was already close as it was. "You know what's wrong with him. Tell me."

"I don't know!" His answer was not convincing. Not that I would believe him even if it was.

"Tell me James Potter or I'll—" I struggled to figure something to say off the top of my head. Looking around in half a circle, my eyes met with Lily. She had a frown on her face as her eyes danced around us. She seemed confused, and of course she was. I was confused too.

"Or what?"

"I'll have Lily hex you."

He flinched at the mention of his dear Lily-flower, and there was graveness to his expression. Lily hexing him wasn't anything new, but I instigating it was. As was the idea of hurting him. Which was mainly why I volunteered someone else to do it for me. James looked from me to the Prefect girl, weighing the truth of my threat, and came back to me almost smiling. "You would not."

I turned to Lily, looking into her gorgeous green eyes.

Though I didn't say anything, I pleaded with my gaze, or at least I thought I was doing it. It took a while of staring, a moment I would say for her to react. She shrugged, pushing a hand within her robes and pulling out her wand. Without a word, Lily pointed it at James.

My heart skipped a beat at the whole thing of it, my cheeks hurting when I couldn't keep away a satisfied grin.

Wand pointed at him, James put his hands up, pushing past me to get away from Lily and hide behind Sirius. Peter moved to take James' previous spot, and I felt him grab my arm, but I only gave him half a glance. My attention was consumed by following James, as he was followed by the pointy end of Lily's wand, even behind Sirius, whose mischievous smirk made him look like he was enjoying the outcome of this grave situation more than he should. But that wasn't surprising coming from him.

"I'll tell you, Birdie." Sirius said, his shoulder shaking either with amusement or because of James for he had placed his hands there to direct his friend against his assailant. My attention directly on him, all previous humour slowly left his expression. "Moony didn't take well that you're related to Morgana."

"That makes no sense, Black." I heard Lily saying.

But it did make made perfect sense. How hadn't I realize it before? It was the most obvious thing in the world. I had heard, in the span of months all sorts of talks and comments of Remus absolutely, irrevocably hating his curse, both from him and the rest of the Marauders. Since I was in on their darkest and most fun secrets, I was also allowed to hear those conversations. I never said anything, I never knew what I could possibly say, but I had made a mental note to not mention the real details of my connection to Remus' curse to the boys. In a way, I never thought it necessary, none of them had really asked. But with the news, clear and crisp in the Daily Prophet didn't hold back, and Remus, a good student, a Hogwarts Prefect and ever hateful of his affliction and wanting to be rid of it, had most likely researched whatever book he could find about Lycanthropy. I'm sure Morgana's name would prop up without needing to step into the forbidden section in the Library. And with whatever limited knowledge he had, Remus Lupin, I'm sure wouldn't want to be my friend anymore. Hence avoiding me, even if I was with his only friends. Even if it meant lying to the people that care the most about him. All to get away from me.

My mind was reeling, as my body had stilled instantly, almost as if I received a Stunning Spell to the chest or I was dosed with ice water.

"That's it." How I managed to push out the words I don't know, but that helped me snap out of my thoughts, and I was able to shake the shock away. A deep breath left me, something awful settling on the pit of my stomach as a gush ran inside of me, pushing all the blood in my body down to my feet. I was vaguely aware that Peter was still holding to my arm, and I moved so I would be the one holding to him. My knees were weak at the prospect of losing one of the few friends I had. One with whom I had so much in common, like studying and Morgana. Why couldn't I think of anything else? "He must hate me."

"He doesn't, Faraday." Peter told me close to my ear. I didn't even realize how close I had put myself to him. His voice had been soft, the kind I had only heard him speak to me when the rest of the boys weren't present, and I appreciated that. Though, I still shook my head. How could I believe him when my gut squirmed violently? Peter pressed. "It's true."

"Listen to Wormtail," James, the hilarity of the previous moment ruined masterfully by me, stepped from behind Sirius. He pushed his specks up, as he spoke, his voice a mixture of exasperated concern to me, thought for the life of me I couldn't figure to who the exasperation or the concern was directed to. "Remus doesn't hate you; it's just hard for him to accept it."

"Accept what?" Lily asked in the background, she was ignored. What would she think of what she was beholding?

My eyes were glued to the ground, every thought in my mind agonizing, though all reaching the same conclusion. Normally, my way of dealing with things was to ignore them until they went away. Something that had failed with the Marauders, however that wasn't important. Ignoring what was going on with Remus wasn't an option, not when I was getting in the way of his life. I had to find him. I had to talk to him.

I took a step away from Peter, and there was a shuffle of moment. He made a move to stop me, but it was Sirius who got a hold of me before I bolted. Somehow, he was next to me again, one arm draped behind my back, as he held on to me, one hand griping to each of my upper arms. He wasn't brusque; I could barely feel the pressure, but maybe that was because I had more pressing matter to attend to than complain about being handled by Sirius Black. No, I had to concentrate on Remus."I have to talk to him."

"No," James had taken a step closer to me when I moved, standing in front of me looking down with that endearing caring and responsible look that I had once thought strange in him. With him there, all my possible escapes routes were closed. "You should give him time, Faraday. That's what he needs."

I understood what he was saying, but I don't think I would follow that up. The idea of Remus evading me, hating me because of Morgana was horrible. It was her blood that connected us, the reason why we had even become friends. And it was devastating to even wonder what was to happen. I found myself biting my lip as I looked up at James. "What if he never forgives me?"

James stared silently and after a moment he shrugged; nothing he could say could make me feel better anyway.

...