"You mustn't be serious!" Lily groaned quiet loudly causing a group of Slytherins to shoot her dirty looks
"Please Lily," Gwen pleaded. "At least consider it."
The two girls were lounging on a blanket under the large tree next to Black Lake. They had their books scattered around them as they worked on their upcoming Defense Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Langoli.
"Fine!"
The red headed Gryffindor gave in, causing the other one to cheer at their victory. Which was only a short lived one as four Gryffindor boys came along; immediately souring Lily's mood even further.
"Merlin's beard! What do you want now Potter?"
"Don't be like that Evans, can't you play nice for once?" James, cocky smirk and all feigned a hurt expression.
Not falling for his antics, Lily opened her mouth to retort, only for Gwen to interrupt.
"Will you boys be attending the Quidditch match later today?"
Immediately the boys perked up, with smiles, they began into a serious discussion about the match. Gryffindor against Hufflepuff. It was supposed to be quite the match as the Hufflepuff team had drastically improved since last year, at least that was what the rumors had said. Remus, taking the opportunity, came to sit on the ground with the two girls.
"How are you today Lily?"
Flustered, she answered. "I'm lovely, how are you?"
Watching the shy and cute interaction between Lily and Remus, she was happy that Lily was at least friendly with one of the boys.
"Quite well," he glanced at their books. "Have you two finished your essays yet?"
Lily shook her head, "not quite, I think my conclusion is a bit shaky."
Remus, being kind, smiled, "if you would like, I could take the time to look over it if you wish for a second perspective."
Lily blushed, "I'd like that actually."
Turning away from the two, she caught James' eye as he beamed at her.
"Have you seen my cousin?"
James shook his head no, "I hadn't seen him since breakfast, he is most likely in his house."
She clicked her tongue in annoyance, "thank you." Grabbing a piece of parchment, she scribbled a quick note before she folded it and began to collect her things.
"Where are you off to? We are supposed to finish our essays for DADA."
She turned towards Lily, "I'm heading to the Owlrey as I have to go deliver something, and you have Remus to help review your paper."
"I'll see you later for quidditch then," Lily smiled.
Waving byes to everyone, she placed her last book into her enchanted purse as she began to cross the green.
"Darling, wait up!"
She turned to see Sirius jogging towards her, his curls bouncing from the movement.
"Did you forget to ask me something?"
He stopped beside her, "I just want to accompany you,"
Turning away to hide her face, she continued walking. "I'd love nothing more."
Her thoughts strayed towards the package she carried in her bag. It was addressed towards her Father, for him to send to her maternal grandparents. It was her attempt at kindling a relationship with them after the loss of her Mother.
Although she knew that it was silly to be so nervous about sending a package to her own grandparents. It hadn't stopped her from feeling anxious about what they would think upon their receiving of it.
"I'm excited to see which team will win today," Sirius' voice broke through her thoughts. "Frankly I believe that Gryffindor will win as the snakes aren't all that great."
Gwen tried not to smile at his sheer confidence and pride in his house' team. "You have yet to see Jack on the field."
"Your cousin right?"
She nodded, "my cousin Jack has been on a broom before he could walk."
Jack was the seeker for the Slytherin team. Although she had yet to see his match against Gryffindor, she had seen him play for years and he was spectacular on a broom. James and Jack often spent most of their time playing mock games of Quidditch with their Father' while her own would join.
She knew that James would obviously join the team but she wondered if Sirius would also join, seeing as though he held a real passion for the game.
"He might be good for a snake but I must protest that Lions are far more victorious as it is us who shall be winning this match."
"Care to make a wager than?"
This sparked Sirius's attention long enough for the two to stop walking, and face one another.
"How much?"
Gwen shook her head, "The loser has to not only be the servant of the winner but they must also plant a flag of the winner's team in their own house for everyone to see."
Sirius thought it over, before shaking his head. "On one stipulation,"
"Which is?"
"If I am winner, than you must be my charms partner for the rest of the year," he stated
Furrowing her brows, she wanted to ask why he needed her to be his partner for the year. Especially since he didn't care much for academics. Deciding to file the absurd request away for later examination, she kept quiet.
"Deal," she held out her hand.
He shook her hand.
The girls of Ravenclaw decided to have a small picnic on the green where they ate fruit. Olivia and Pandora had decided that they all needed some much needed girl time before the Quidditch game that would take place tonight.
Currently, Jackie and Toni laid on their stomach on the blacket giggling over Witch Weekly. Olivia rolled her eyes, in a playful manner.
"Do you ever think of anything other than boys?" she snorted
"I think of clothes and makeup," Jackie grinned. "If I recall, you've been spending a lot of time with that red head from Gryffindor."
"I believe his anime is Harold," Toni joined in on the teasing as she noticed that Olivia's face had gone a bright red
"I have no clue as to what you are talking about…"
Pandora chimed in, "What are you talking about? You have a box of notes from him in your trunk, and you gush about him in your letters to your Mum."
Gasping, Olivia grabbed Pandora by the shoulders and shook her, "Pandora! You were supposed to keep that a secret!"
Pandora, with a mischievous smile, replied "The jabberbee's told me to tell."
All the girls shared a look, smiled, and began to giggle.
Pandora was a funny girl. She believed in a great deal of things that she had sworn to see creatures that nobody else has. A lot of people wrote her off as weird or a bit loony. Which she thought was utterly ridiculous since Pandora was one of the kindest and most intelligent people she had ever met.
"She isn't the only one who has taken a liking to a Gryffindor," Toni giggled, all the girls snapped their attention to her in amusement
"It's not like that" Gwen chewed on her bottom lip as she stuffed a few green grapes in her mouth
"You spend an awful amount of time with Sirius Black, yes?" Jackie joined in on the teasing as they eyed the still blushing girl
"Sirius is my best mate and we have lots of fun together" slightly embarrassed by the suggestion in their eyes and tone about the rebellious young troublemaker
"You both are from pureblood families, there is a possibility that you guys would have an arranged marriage like these people in this magazine." Jackie waved the Witch Weekly in front of her, not realizing that her comment made Gwen grow quiet, Olivia took notice of this as she glanced at the younger and smaller girl.
"How about your obsession with that quidditch player? David yes?"
Jackie squealed loudly, "Daniel McCoy!"
Appreciative of the change in conversation, she shared a look with Olivia who smiled and then turned to the girls before them and began to tease the lovesick girl.
"Pandora?"
The young Rosier witch, a natural beauty with golden blonde hair with naturally rosy cheeks turned to her. Her bright blue eyes held a natural sparkle to them.
"Yes?"
"Your hair is beautiful," she complimented.
Pandora flushed, her hand running over her long golden strands she kept in a loose braid.
Gwen hadn't spoken often with the young Rosier witch, she spent most of her time in the Greenhouse with Professor Sprout or with her Slytherin friends. She had decided shortly after her talk with Sirius in the Astronomy Tower that she would take the time to get to know more about the other witch that shared the same blood as them.
Her rather arbitrary conversation with the Malfoy Heir has made her think more and more about the belief that the families clung onto. She genuinely wondered if Pandora herself might share a similar upbringing to what Sirius alluded to. If perhaps her family were a bit on the harsh side.
"Thank you," she finally spoke, her eyes flickering back toward her.
Opening her mouth, she was about to ask her the question that has been weighing on her but was interrupted by the sound of Toni's loud snorts of laughter. Deciding that it was a bad time anyway to ask, she filed it away for later.
Her ears were ringing from how loud the stadium was from the screams and cheers for either Slytherin or Gryffindor. The teams had yet to appear on the field. Gwen would never openly admit that she didn't quite understand why people enjoyed hopping on a broom and flying through the air to play a game that involved serious bodily injury.
It was one of her fears actually. Not quidditch mind you. But rather flying made her fearful as she feared that her being a bit clumsy would cause her to fall to her death.
"Are you cold?" Olivia shook her shoulder in an attempt to grab her attention. "You're shivering."
She flushed. "Not quite, I was just remembering something."
Olivia nodded, before she turned her attention back to the stands as they somehow managed to get even louder.
Gwen watched as the Gryffindor team flew out onto the quidditch pitch, smiling as they waved towards their peers. The ginger twins, Fabian and Gideon Prewett were the only faces she recognized from their team.
She smiled.
James and Sirius would surely be on the team next year as they were passionate about the sport. She had never seen Sirius play but she had heard from Remus that he was actually talented on a broom during their flying class with the Slytherins.
"—you think?"
"I'm sorry?"
Blinking, she turned to see that Jackie had been talking to her the entire time while she had been thinking.
Jackie just smiled before responding with nothing and turning back towards the stadium as Slytherin had just flown in. Her cousin, Jack, smiling in his green and silver uniform, his arms spread wide as he rode his broom.
She rolled her eyes.
Arrogant toad.
Even though she had made the bet with Sirius Black, she still didn't care much for Quidditch. The sport had never interested her like her family wanted it too. Even her Aunt Euphemia adored the sport as she always prepped for their trips to the Quidditch World Cup. She attended as she loved spending time with her family even if she thought the game was rough for her taste.
She pulled out her Charms textbook, plopped back down into her seat and started to read as the commenter began to rattle off the introduction of the game.
"Bloody hell," she muttered, annoyance coursing through her veins as she watched the Gryffindor Seeker catch the Snitch, securing the win for her team.
With a score of 170 to Slytherin's 150, she couldn't contain her joy. She glanced at her cousin Jack, who looked like he was about to explode with anger as he descended to the ground on his broom.
Earlier that day, Sirius asked for them to meet after the game in the courtyard.
As she left the Stadium, the cheers faded as she walked farther and farther away. She spotted Remus walking with Headmaster Dumbledore towards the Whomping Willow.
She couldn't help but wonder why he wasn't in the Infirmary like he claimed to be the day before. Was Remus up to something? Her cousin James often pushed Remus to his limits when it came to following the rules, but he was the one to keep the boys in line. She knew there had to be an explanation for this odd behavior, and she planned to get to the bottom of it the next day.
As she walked towards the courtyard, she noticed that the full moon was barely visible in the sky, and the chilly Highland weather reflected the change in season as winter approached. Despite the cold, she hugged herself in an attempt to warm herself while she waited for the gloating Gryffindor that would surely act like a an arrogant dog.
"Tonight's game was proof enough that Gryffindor is the superior house of Hogwarts," he chuckled.
Gwen rolled her eyes, "you beat Slytherin, you have yet to beat the other houses."
Sirius scoffed, "Like Puffs would win."
She shivered, "can we just hurry up? I'm a bit cold here."
Realizing that she was in fact cold, Sirius felt guilty as he shrugged off his jumper and threw it towards her. "Take it."
Opening her mouth to argue, he shook his head. "Just take the damn thing."
"Thank you," she quickly tugged the jumper over her shirt, Sirius' warmth still radiating off the fabric.
"Monday, Thursday and Friday are days that you will tutor me."
Gwen still didn't quite understand why Sirius wanted her to tutor him as he was fairly decent in the subject. However, she knew that this was a Black she was talking to. Which meant that he had some time of an agenda that he had worked this bet into. I.e her being apart of the plan unofficially.
"Fine, and the other part?"
Sirius smirked.
"It's for a rainy day sweetheart,"
It unnerved her the way he said it, but she couldn't find herself to care too much as she just wanted to get back inside the castle.
Thankfully, Sirius accompanied her to her House before taking off towards his own to join in on the celebrations. Once she entered her dorm room, she didn't miss the large grin on Jackie's face seeing the scarlet red and gold jumper that she wore in comparison to their House colors.
"No need to ask where you went after the game"
She rolled her eyes, "I don't kinna your meaning." She got on her knees as she got into her trunk.
"You know exactly what I mean," she leered from her bed, abandoning the Teen Witch magazine.
Gwen rolled her eyes, "Don't you have an innocent boy to stalk?"
"He is studying in his dorm room," Toni walked into their dorm in her own pajamas. "She came back sulking."
"TONI!" Jackie had thrown her pillow, barely missing Toni by centimeters across the room where it landed on the floor with a soft thud
"Maybe you should ask Daniel for some lessons as your throwing arm is absolute garbage."
Jackie gasped, "Accio pillow!" as soon as her pillows were in hand, she drew her curtains closed with a huff.
Gwen and Toni traded looks with one another. "Goodnight Toni,"
"Goodnight Gwen," she climbed into her own bed and grew her curtains closed.
Pulling out her pajamas, she hesitated as she enjoyed the warmth of the Gryffindor jumper. Deciding that sleeping in the jumper would have no negative connotations, she stripped out of her clothes and dressed in her shorts and jumper before climbing into her own bed.
Grabbing the same textbook from earlier, she closed her curtains and began to read with the use of "Knox".