January 2011

Gianah sat far away from Stephen at the Slytherin table, completely ignoring him during the first dinner of the resumed term; beside her, Tiana Nott listened to her friend talking and glared daggers at Stephen – who sat many seats away.

"So," asked Sam O'Brien, sitting beside Stephen, "What's the matter between you and Princess Weasley now, mate?"

Stephen shrugged, "Nothing– and don't call her that," he finished rather cuttingly.

"C'mon, mate," added Charles Abbott, his other Slytherin friend, "She didn't like you before the Holidays, but now it looks like she truly hates your guts," he glanced at where Gianah sat, amongst the fourth years.

Stephen stopped piling food on his plate and decided to tell them: "I threw gum at her hair at Christmas – she wasn't happy."

Charles frowned, "Why did you spend Christmas together?"

"Her grandma threw this huge party and we were invited," Stephen said as if that was obvious, "Her brother is married to my sister, remember?"

"Oh, that's true; Draco Malfoy's wife is you sister... wait–" Sam tilted his head, as if just realising something: "Isn't the Charms and Transfiguration assistant, your brother Nicholas, married to a Weasley?"

"Yes," nodded Stephen, "Nick is married to Gianah's Uncle, Fred; Lynne is their daughter."

"So your sister is married to Gianah's brother and your brother is married to her father's brother?" said Charles, frowning as he struggled to understand that.

Stephen nodded, "Yeah, why?"

"Your family and the Weasleys are very confusing," said Sam, shaking his head, "Lynne is actually your niece, right?"

"Yes," Stephen drawled.

"She's pretty," commented his other friend.

"She's into girls, Charles," Stephen rolled his eyes.

"Anyway," continued Sam, "You should've thrown gum at Weasley's hair earlier, mate."

"Why?" Stephen asked, confused by his statement.

"Now she might stop paying attention to you and start looking at us; some of us would love to get to know her better, you know," Sam winked at him.

Stephen tried to convey nonchalance, "Good luck," but as he glanced towards Gianah, sitting many seats away from him, and imagined her sitting beside one of his friends, holding his hand and letting him kiss her... Stephen felt something hard and cold sink into his stomach and uneasiness had him suddenly uncomfortable.

Hunger. He told himself. I'm hungrier than I thought.

And he proceeded to add a couple more pork pies to his plate, eating his dinner mostly in silence, trying to warm up the cold he still felt seeping into his body.

February went by with Gianah successfully ignoring Stephen – to his relief, for he was keeping his distance from her as well – doing so kept his friends away from her and he liked that.

Why?

Just because.

At least that was what he told himself.

March passed by with Stephen's plan of staying away from Gianah being a complete success – his friends still talked about her but none of them approached her.

And when Gianah and Tiana began to sit at the Gryffindor table for most meals, he thanked all the gods – magical and muggle alike.

House rivalry wasn't as strong as it had once been – and most students in the Slytherin House knew better than to make derogatory jokes about other Houses. Of course the occasional competition between Snakes and Lions still happened – especially in Quidditch days – but it wasn't unusual to see students sitting on other tables during daily meals.

For that reason, one Saturday morning, when neither Sam nor Charles wanted to go to breakfast, Stephen went by himself and, not wanting to sit without his friends at the Slytherin table, he walked towards his sister and their friends.

"Morning, Lily," he greeted, sitting beside her at the Gryffindor table.

"Morning, bro," she drawled, darting a glance at Gianah who was already glaring at him, "Are you... joining us?"

"Yep," he said, already putting together a sausage sandwich, "I'm hungry, and Sam and Charlie didn't want to come up, those lazy arses."

The four Gryffindors (Lily, Lynne, Sirius and Teddy) plus the other Slytherin girl (Tiana) just glanced at one another in awkward silence, fearing something might go wrong between Stephen and Gianah if anyone spoke or moved too fast.

"O-kay," Lynne said, sitting on the other side of Lily, feeling the tension between her cousin and her uncle, "I'm sure we can go a few minutes without blowing up anything, right?"

Stephen narrowed his eyes at her, knowing exactly what she was talking about but refusing to say anything. He darted a glance at the other redhead at the table, and in the brief second his eyes met her blue ones, Gianah shot him a glare.

Then she flipped her hair back, ignoring his existence and turning to Teddy, who was sitting beside her, "Have you finished your Transfiguration essay?"

"Yes," Teddy replied, still darting careful glances towards Stephen, as if expecting him to do something crazy at any given moment, "And it's just like you said the other day, Gigi: the Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration is a weak textbook."

"Right?" the girl snorted, "I mean, Repariforge and how to turn snails into teapots? Who doesn't know that already?"

Lynne nodded, "I can understand that a few years ago it made sense to have that textbook in the first and second years – for muggleborns didn't use magic at home; but now that they have started to be taught about magic since primary school, it doesn't really make much sense."

"True," agreed Stephen, to everyone's surprise, "If only we knew someone in the Ministry with the power to change that. Oh, wait–" he looked at Gianah with feigned surprise: "You're the Ministry's daughter! You could tell your father–"

"Why don't you tell yours?" Gianah retorted, folding her arms, eyes narrowed towards him, "He's the Headmaster."

"Oh boy," whispered Sirius, "Here we go."

"OR you could both say something–" said Lily, trying to stop a fight from ensuing at the breakfast table, "In fact, we could all say something to them!"

"Yes let's," said Sirius, nodding vigorously, "If I have to write another essay about one of The Five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, I'll go mad."

"Ugh," groaned Tiana in sympathy, "And what about that transformation formula McGonagall can't seem to stop talking about?"

Lynne spoke, mimicking the Professor: "Intended transformation is directly influenced by bodyweight, viciousness, wand power, concentration, and a fifth unknown variable," making her friends laugh.

"Unknown variable," said Teddy, rolling his eyes, "If it's unknown how the hell will I know?"

"Aah, stop complaining, Mr Metamorphmagus!" Sirius casually draped an arm around Teddy's shoulders and pulled him closer, "McGonagall will give you a ten just for breathing in her class."

"She adores you," added Lily with a smile to both boys.

The others around them all rolled their eyes at their clear display of adoration.

Then Lynne picked up Tiana's glass and the girl tried to stop her from drinking it, but the redhead sipped it anyway, instantly making a face and groaning in disgust: "Ugh, strawberry juice, Ti!" she fake-gagged, grabbing a glass of water and taking a large gulp, "Disgusting!"

Tiana chuckled, "I tried to stop you, Lyn. I know you don't like strawberry juice," she handed her another glass, "Here, this is white grape juice – your favourite."

"Yes! Thanks, Ti," Lynne smiled, picking up the glass and sipping.

"Knowing a lot about my niece, aren't you, Nott?" said Stephen with a sly smirk.

And Lily kicked him under the table.

"Ouch!– what was that for?" Stephen exclaimed, angry.

"Don't," Lily ordered, pointing a finger at him.

But Stephen decided to ignore her: "Don't what? I'm just pointing out that she's been paying attention to Lynne's tastes! Not even I knew her favourite juice was white grape! Why would Nott know that?"

Tiana blushed red and stood up, leaving the Great Hall without another word.

"You just had to be an arsehole, didn't you?" growled Gianah.

"Why can't you keep your stupid mouth shut, Stephen?" added Lynne angrily, standing up to follow Tiana and smacking Stephen on the back of the head as she passed behind him.

"Bloody hell," he groaned, coughing as he nearly choked on his food because of her smack, "Why the fuck is she upset?" he asked his sister.

"You didn't have to embarrass Tiana, Stephen," Lily explained.

"Embarrass her? Why would she be embarrassed?"

"Ti likes Lynne," said Teddy, as if that was obvious.

"Yes, I know," said Stephen, "They're friends."

"No, Teddy means that Ti really likes Lynne," said Sirius, hoping his friend caught his meaning by his emphasising of the words.

But Stephen still looked at them with a confused expression.

"ARG!" Gianah exclaimed, standing up, unable to restrain herself anymore: "Honestly, Snape, if you were any slower, you'd be going backwards!" and she also left the Great Hall.

Lynne found Tiana sitting outside on one of the benches in the Entrance Courtyard.

"Hey, Ti," she said, walking close to the dark-haired girl, "Let's go inside, it's freezing out here."

But Tiana didn't move, the blush in her cheeks half from the cold, half from embarrassment.

"What is it?" Lynne asked, sitting beside her in the frozen wooden bench.

"I didn't like how Stephen mocked my..." the girl hesitated, blushing redder, "Knowledge of you," she bit his bottom lip, clearly nervous, "I like you, Lyn."

"I like you too, Ti," Lynne said with a smile, laying her hand on top of Tiana's on the other girl's lap; and it was her turn to blush when Tiana turned her warm gloved hand up and intertwined her fingers with Lynne's cold ones.

"Oh, no. You're not wearing gloves!" Tiana gasped, quickly picking up both her hands and covering them with hers.

"I left mine in the Great Hall."

"We have to go pick them up," said Tiana looking up from their hands to her face and letting out a sigh, "Is Stephen still there?"

"Probably," Lynne said, standing up and pulling her along, "Just ignore him," she took a step closer to Tiana and moved a lock of hair behind her ear, "There's nothing he can say that would ever stop me from being your friend."

"Same," whispered Tiana, smiling sweetly.

Lynne smiled back and they didn't let go of each other's hand as they walked to the castle.

Weeks later, in one April evening, Lily sat on the grass under a tree by the Great Lake reading a book and watching Teddy and Sirius playing stone skipping.

The boys laughed, playfully shoving each other and trying to make the other miss.

She smiled at their antics, finding it impossible to focus on her reading when they were being so cute. She closed the book and just watched them.

"No!" Sirius exclaimed, "Eight? That was impossible! You charmed that rock!"

"No, I didn't!" laughed Teddy, "It's not my fault you're rubbish at this!" he playfully shoved Sirius.

Sirius carefully chose another rock to throw and moved to a position he believed would make him be very precise but his rock skipped only twice on the Lake's surface and then sank.

"Ugh! I give up!" Sirius exclaimed throwing his hands up and walking away from the lake.

Teddy walked beside him, laughing and nudging him with his shoulder, a smug smile on his face.

Lily watched them walking towards her, it was clear Teddy was the champion of the day.

"By Sirius' pout I can tell you won again, Teddy," she said teasingly.

"I'm not pouting," complained Sirius, sitting beside her on the grass.

Teddy sat on her other side, smiling at her, "I did win, Siri is a lousy loser."

"Am not!" said Sirius, picking up a bar of chocolate from Lily's bag and ripping the packaging open, threatening with an evil smile: "Keep that up and I'll not share my chocolate with you."

"You always say that and you always share," said Lily, reaching out a hand, palm up.

"You get chocolate, love," said Sirius, giving Lily half of his bar.

"Hey!" complained Teddy, suddenly kneeling on the grass in front of Lily and jumping on Sirius, wrestling him to the ground, trying to steal his chocolate – both of them laughing, their ridiculous scuffle making her laugh as well.

"Fine! Fine!" laughed Sirius, "Take my chocolate!"

"I'm not leaving you without, Siri," said Teddy, sitting up on his calves and giving half of the chocolate back to Sirius.

"It's fine, Teddy, there's more in the bag. I got three bars."

"What? If you got one for each of us why are you making us share?"

"Because sharing is fun!" said Sirius, looking from Teddy to Lily.

"It sure is," she nodded, kissing his cheek and then Teddy's, motioning the latter to lay his head on her lap – something he immediately did – and she ran her left hand through his hair, making him hum happily.

"Hey," complained Sirius, "I want some of that!"

"He won the rock skipping; the winner gets some love first."

"Fine," Sirius rolled his eyes, his hand joining Lily's in the gentle caress of Teddy's soft brown strands, "But I want some next."

"Of course, Siri," said Lily, laying her head on his shoulder as they both caressed Teddy's hair and enjoyed their shared chocolate.

April 22nd

In that beautiful chilly morning, in the girls' dorm, up in the Gryffindor Tower, Lynne slowly woke up, stretching on her bed, suddenly feeling her foot hit something. She sat up on the bed, already smiling as she imagined what she'd see.

Presents!

That Friday wasn't just like any other Friday – it was her birthday and, as usual, her family never forgot to send her gifts.

She ripped open the packages and smiled at each item she revealed; there was a new sweater from her Grandma Molly, her favourite sweets from her dads, designer maryjane shoes from her Aunt Liz, a bag from Zonko's from her Uncle James (with a note: "Don't let your dad see this!"), and a beautiful golden bracelet from her Grandma Flor.

"Happy birthday, dear niece!" exclaimed Lily, jumping on Lynne's bed as she was opening the last gift.

"Thank you, auntie," she replied as they hugged.

"Did you like the bracelet?" asked Lily excitedly, "I helped mum pick it!"

"It's beautiful, I love it!" Lynne replied, showing she had already put it on her right wrist.

"Ooh," exclaimed Lily as she rummaged through the boxes and bags of presents, "James sent you Zonko's pranks! Let's give the creepy-crawler one to Stephen!"

"Yes– but not today! If we do that today, my dad will know someone gave it to me! But in a couple of days..."

"Yes!" whooped Lily.

When the two Gryffindor girls walked out of the Fat Lady's portrait, Lynne smiled at who was already standing in the corridor waiting for her.

"Morning, Tiana," she greeted.

"Happy birthday, Lynne!" said the beautiful dark-haired Slytherin, handing her a small package.

"Thank you," Lynne replied, pulling the younger girl into a hug, before opening the gift and gasping: "Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children? How did you get this?" she asked in obvious excitement, "It's not supposed to be out until June!"

"My mum found a way," Tiana shrugged, "She sent me a copy and I asked her to get you one too – so we can read it together!"

"Of course! That'll be awesome, Ti!" she hugged Tiana again and put the book in her schoolbag.

"Let's go to breakfast?" Tiana invited.

"I'll wait for Sirius and Teddy," said Lily, "But you two go."

"Of course you will wait for them," commented Lynne, making her aunt blush, "Come, Ti," and she pulled the girl towards the stairs, intertwining her fingers with hers.

"What would you like for your birthday," Tiana asked as they walked downstairs, "If you could have anything?"

"Anything? Hm..." Lynne said, falling silent and thinking for a while, "I know!" she suddenly exclaimed: "I wish I could take you to Hogsmeade."

"What?" Tiana nearly missed a step in the moving staircase, "But only– only third years and up can go to the village, Lynne."

"I know."

"Neither one of us can go."

"Yet," Lynne added, "But once we can, will you go with me?"

"Yes, of course. I'd go anywhere with you," Tiana said, blushing.

Lynne smiled, thinking that had to be her best birthday ever.

Note: Aw aren't they cute? Lynne with her "older for her age vibe" and Tiana so innocent and sheltered. Aaaah, I love them!

And you heard Sirius: sharing is fun! (wink)

Oh, and Gianah's line about "going backwards" is actually one of Draco's from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.