Leaning against the towering, ancient oak tree that stood proudly beside the shimmering Black Lake, Gwen found solace in its sturdy presence. The sun-dappled leaves cast playful shadows on her face as she sat crisscrossed on the soft grass, engrossed in a captivating book. In her lap, a juicy apple awaited its turn to be devoured, while her discarded robe lay forgotten next to her, a symbol of liberation and relaxation.
Not far away, Lily ambled in a graceful, meandering circle, a book clutched in one hand and a delectable turkey sandwich in the other. Her carefree steps matched the rhythm of her heart, as she indulged in the serenity of the moment. Meanwhile, Severus mirrored Gwen's position, his presence barely noticeable amidst his hunched silhouette. His jet-black hair cascaded like a curtain, shielding him from the outside world as he delved deep into the pages of his own enchanted tome.
The tranquil atmosphere was a testament to the break between classes, a fleeting moment of respite from the demanding academic pursuits. It was an opportunity for these three friends to immerse themselves further in the study of potions, preparing diligently for an upcoming test. Yet, even in the quest for knowledge, the allure of companionship and lightheartedness beckoned.
Gwen, with a satisfied smile adorning her lips, finished her apple and raised an eyebrow playfully. "Can we take a break?" she asked, her voice filled with a mischievous hint.
Lily, closing her book and setting it gently beside her bag, nodded in agreement, her emerald eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Please?" she added, her voice carrying a touch of whimsy.
Gwen's smile widened as she stood up, stretching her limbs until they audibly popped back into place. Lily, ever the entertainer, took a step closer, her voice adopting a faux posh tone. "Would you like to have this dance with me?" she asked, extending her hand towards Gwen.
The Slytherin boy, Severus, raised his head from his book, a soft smile gracing his lips as he observed the playful scene unfolding before him. The two girls, now holding hands, twirled and danced with infectious laughter bubbling from their lips.
"You two are quite mad," Severus chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as he watched the giddy display.
The girls halted their dancing, their gazes shifting from each other to the raven-haired boy. Gwen pouted, her lips forming a delicate curve.
"Join us, Severus," she pleaded, her hand reaching out to him. "Please?"
A fleeting moment of hesitation flashed across Severus's face, but he ultimately relented. "I'm more content watching instead," he replied, surrendering to their shared joy.
The girls resumed their exuberant dance, their hands interlocked, while Severus observed their antics with a mix of amusement and fondness. Gwen, unable to contain her giggles, observed the Slytherin boy's silent presence, oblivious to the fact that their little trio was being observed from a distance by a group of four curious boys.
Nestled in the cozy embrace of their living room, Gwen and her mother sank into the plushness of the couch, their anticipation reaching a crescendo as they eagerly awaited the long-awaited return of her father. Two agonizing weeks had passed since he had been gone, but now, in the twilight hour, they sought solace in the whimsical world of late-night cartoons. Laughter spilled from their lips, mingling with the aroma of a mouthwatering dinner, as they revealed in the warm hues of the setting sun.
While the television cast its flickering glow, Gwen's eyes darted intermittently towards the door, their fervor burning like a relentless flame. She craved the sight of her father's triumphant entrance, clutching onto the anticipation as if it were a precious secret. In the heart of the kitchen, a tantalizing chocolate cake, born of Gwen and her mother's love, patiently awaited his return, its scent of cocoa permeating the air.
Time stretched on, each passing moment marked by Gwen's unwavering vigilance. She refused to let her gaze falter, her focus fixed upon the entrance that held the promise of her father's arrival. Fatigue began to encroach upon her, weaving its drowsy web around her consciousness, but Gwen resisted, determined not to miss a single heartbeat.
In those hazy moments, teetering on the edge of slumber, the familiar sound of the key turning in the lock jolted Gwen awake. Her eyes snapped open, instantly drawn to the door as her senses heightened. The click echoed through the silence, heralding her father's long-awaited return. With a swift motion, Gwen cast aside the blanket and sprang to her feet, her heart pounding with joyous anticipation.
Her father, draped in a flowing black coat, gracefully removed it and hung it on the rack, his eyes instantly meeting Gwen's eager gaze. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with a mixture of excitement and longing, as she clung to his legs, her small frame dwarfed by his towering presence. Tears welled up in her eyes, testament to the profound void his absence had left within her.
"Hello, my dear," her father greeted, his voice filled with warmth as he tenderly placed a hand on her head. A flicker of movement caught his attention, and he turned to see Gwen's mother, wide awake and dressed in her everyday attire, approaching them. With open arms, she enveloped both father and daughter in a loving embrace, their reunion embodying the essence of a cherished family coming together again.
Gwen's father adjusted her position, cradling her on his side, as he and her mother shared a tender kiss, their affectionate gazes locked. Lost in their own little world, they radiated a love that Gwen could feel deep within her soul, their bond unbreakable.
"I missed both of my girls," her father whispered, his voice overflowing with adoration, as he held Gwen close, his other arm wrapped securely around her mother, whose radiant smile mirrored the joy that filled the room.
In that moment, surrounded once more by the warm embrace of her parents' love, something she never thought she would experience again. Even if she lost her Mother, Gwen knew that no matter how long her father's absence, he would always come back to her. Gwen felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the beautiful moments life had bestowed upon them.
However….
The memory that played out before her couldn't stop Gwen from choking on the cry that threatened to leave her lips. Her eyes never once blinking, fearing that if she blinked the memory would disappear. The sight of her Mother, smiling, full of life as she held her Father and herself in the foyer of their Manor. Her chest aching from the memory, she felt a hand brush against her shoulder, causing her to jump and see Severus, frowning.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
Frustrated and positively overwhelmed, she firmly pushed him out of her head.
Returning to the present, Gwen fell out of her chair, sweaty, panting and with tears running down her face. Severus stood before her, and pointed at her, dropping it completely, he ran to her aid.
"You should have said it was too much!" He snapped
Waving him off, she used him to steady her balance. "If I want to master Occlumency then I need to push myself."
They had been practicing for weeks at night in an abandoned classroom in the dungeons. She was better at Legilimency, as she often practiced during the day with her classmates. But Occlumancy was the problem, she just couldn't hold onto her emotions. Not when she had several weaknesses, while yes, she was able to hide them. Several, she would eventually have to overcome.
Not when she was constantly reading about muggles and wizards alike, innocents dying at the hands of Greyback Fenrir. Her soft heart was weak in regards to innocents, it had been weak since Sirius and Regulus had been at odds with one another since his sorting.
"We're down for tonight, you need to get some sleep. We will resume in a few days." He cleaned up the room after picking hair and off the floor.
She shook her head, "no please Sev."
"I'm doing this for you," he explained. "You need sleep and I entered a sacred memory and I need a break as well. We will resume on Monday."
He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek, and then left her alone in the classroom. Containing a groan, she slowly exited the classroom and made her way towards her house as she needed to get back to her dorm before she was caught out of bed by Filch.
She messaged her aching forehead, ignoring the pins and needles that stabbed at her skull repeatedly. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the stone wall of the Castle, her eyes closed in an attempt to give her some relief.
She envisioned a large manor. One that mirrored her own home with high, impenetrable brick walls surrounding the large structure, the walls continuing high in the sky. Surpassing even the clouds that obscured her vision. This is what she was training to do. If she wanted to continue down her chosen path, then she needed to protect her body, her reputation, and her mind.
"Gwen?"
Turning her head, she saw a young Reggie, dressed in his silk green and black pajamas with his wand in hand.
"Reg," she mustered up a half smile. "What can I do for you?"
He took a moment to analyze her state of dress, he frowned even further, she looked as though she had been in a fight. She had hair clung to her forehead, blood dripping from her nose, her clothes were rumpled, and her knees red and scraped up.
"Are you alright?"
She swallowed a lie already on her lips. "I was training to learn how to dual properly, I hadn't realized how late it had become." Gwen paused, "What are you doing at this hour?"
Reggie grew uncomfortable, "I visited Madam Pomfrey for a cold."
Taking note of his rather obvious lie, she decided to check into it later. Not right when her head was still hurting and she was beyond exhausted.
"I do hope you will be well enough for this weekend," she smiled. "Please join me at the courtyard Saturday before the Quidditch game, I wish to speak with you."
Eager to leave the corridor before Filch found them, she didn't give him a chance to respond. "You best hurry back to your house before Filch catches you, he takes pleasure in harassing the First Years."
She left the silent corridor. Once she made it to the safety of the girls showers, she made quick work to wash up and attend to her wounds. Once she finished, she made it back to her dorm, where the girls were sleeping soundly, the only noise was Jackie's snores. Slipping into bed, she laid there, eyes closed as she fortified her mental walls.
Pandora and Gwen were walking through the corridor, after having left the Great Hall from a friendly game of Wizard's chess. The two girls were about to round the corner when they were rammed into, both girls falling to the floor.
"Merlin!" Barty snapped. Offering his hand to both girls, he helped them up one by one. "I do apologize for running into you, I had been running from Filch."
Barty finally grew wide eyed at her, "L–Lady Donoghue!"
"Hello," she smiled. "Is Filch still after you?"
He swallowed, wiping his hands on his trousers, licking his lips. "I had been with Evan and I believe that he is chasing after him as he is quite the slow runner."
Pandora smiled, "he is rather slow."
Barty turned his gaze towards her, his eyes glimmering for a brief second. "U–uh yes. Quite so." He cleared his throat, "I must apologize again for running into the both of you, it wasn't my intention."
Both girls shared a look, smiling as they turned their gaze back to the second year Slytherin. "No need to apologize Barty," Gwen offered. "I do have an appointment to keep, however, I will take my leave then."
Smiling, she waved the two off and made her way towards the courtyard to meet with Regulus.
"Corrupting my brother already?"
Barty nervously laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Actually, he is the one who dragged me into trouble. He thought it was a good idea to break into Filch's office to get his dungbombs back that he had confiscated earlier this week."
Smiling, she shook her head. "Of course he was. I must apologize then since it seems as though my brother is getting you into trouble."
Words escaped him, his tongue lax as he stared at the smiling girl, her cheeks rosy. He cleared his throat, "I must apologize for my lack of words, I just haven't seen your smile in so long."
This seemed to have made her flush further.
Regulus dressed in formal attire, leaned up against one of the stone statues. He was twirling his wand with his fingers with great ease.
"Good afternoon Reggie," she smiled. "How are you fairing?"
He faltered, turning to her. "I'm enjoying it greatly…for the most part."
"Regulus, how are you fitting into Hogwarts? It must be quite a change from your home life." She paused, seeing slight fear in his eyes. "Is something bothering you?"
He faltered. Unsure of how honest he should be with her. However, he knew that he could trust her. From what he had overheard from listening in on Sirius, he had told Gwen about some of their upbringing and just how cruel their mother could be. She had been kind, compassionate and supportive of him so far.
Regulus looked thoughtful for a moment before responding, "I'm adjusting. Hogwarts is...different. But honestly, I prefer it here over being at home with my parents. At least here, I have the chance to make my own choices." He paused, suddenly embarrassed. "I do admit that I am scared that this is all a dream and I'm actually back at home."
Gwen nodded in understanding, knowing that Regulus had faced a challenging upbringing in his pure-blood family, where tradition and expectations weighed heavily on him. Sirius had given her some insight, as Pandora had explained that the pureblood families gave their children no privacy, no freedom, and no freewill.
She offered her support, saying, "I'm glad to hear that you're finding some freedom and support here at Hogwarts. If you ever need someone to talk to or if there's anything I can do to help, don't hesitate to reach out."
Regulus smiled gratefully, appreciating her all the more further. "How is my brother?" He looked bashful, turning his gaze from her further.
"Sirius is worried about you," she answered honestly. "He told me that you haven't answered his letters."
Regulus stayed silent for several moments.
"I understand that you feel as though you have disappointed him but please understand that what he feels has nothing to do with you, but your Mother, and your family."
The younger Black heir slowly turned to her, his eyes roaming her face in an attempt to read her expression. Yet even as he knew that she was telling him the truth, he refused to accept it. Why should he? His mother was only looking out for his future, his prospects, and his well being.
She must have seen his choice, as she breathed out. "You always have a choice. Do remember that Reggie."
Patting his arm, she gave him a warm smile, before changing the topic and asking him about the Quidditch game that would be taking place against Gryffindor and Hufflepuff later on.
Standing outside in the quidditch stand in the cool crisp September air made chills dance down her spine as Gwen pulled her scarf closer to her face. Today's match was Gryffindor against Hufflepuff as everybody was excited to see which house would win. Jackie and Toni had their bets on Gryffindor while Olivia was too busy huddled up with Harold to have a guess, while Pandora sat with a book in her lap as she huddled over it with her wand.
"Go Gryffindor!" Jackie shouted as she waved her flag urgently
Burying her face in her scarf, she watched as Hufflepuff had gained another ten points, putting them in the lead with 60 to 40. If Gryffindor wanted to win then they'd have to have their seeker, Sirius, to catch the golden snitch.
Zooming by, a Hufflepuff beater hit the quaffle into the goal only for the Gryffindor keeper to hit it back with his broom. Gasping, she watched as the ball headed right towards her but found herself frozen to the spot. Closing her eyes, she waited for it to hit her only to hear cheers. Slowly she opened her eyes to see a Gryffindor chaser had saved her from the ball. He had dark brown hair with blue eyes, he smiled at her as he hovered a few inches away from the stand.
"Are you alright?" He asked
Blinking, she stammered out a quick response "U-uh yes," she coughed "Thank you"
He smiled at her "My pleasure, see you around" Then he flew away on his broom
"Gwen!" Jackie began shaking her "Do you know who that was?"
"N-no" she kept her eyes on the boy as he zoomed across the quidditch field with grace
Snorting at Jackie's actions Toni pried her away from Gwen as she answered "That was Ryder McAdams, he's a third year."
She listened to Jackie and Toni talk about the boy but it was all background noise to her as she kept her gaze on the brown haired boy. Not even noticing that Sirius had caught the golden snitch, nor did she even notice how everyone was cheering around her as everybody erupted into applause. All she did was continue blushing as she continued reliving the moment in her mind as a giggling Pandora led her back to her dorms.
Sirius and James were on their way to the pitch for Quidditch practice, dressed in their uniforms, and brooms in hand. Slytherin's team had just ended their own as they passed by one another on the trail. Although the teams glared at one another, James only smiled upon seeing his cousin.
"Jack!"
The third year boy smiled, "James! Sirius!" He clapped their shoulders, with a large grin.
"Ready for this week's game?"
It had been two weeks since the first game between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. This week's game was Slytherin against Ravenclaw.
"Obviously," he snorted. "I have seen their new seeker and he needs more than just practice if he is going to catch the snitch."
Sirius snickered while James just stared at him amazed.
"Last I recalled cousin, you lost your last game as you failed to catch the snitch."
All three boys snapped their heads towards the young girl, dressed in black fitted trousers and a dark blue jumper. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her chin held high as she narrowed her eyes at him.
Jack rolled his eyes, "I'd love to see you take a round on the pitch."
"Flying is not one of my strengths," she noted. "You have known this since we were young."
Jack and James shared a devilish look, but Sirius looked between them, confused as he didn't know what they were talking about.
As Jack, James, and Sirius stood around, Gwen approached them with a determined expression on her face. She had actually come to see them with a purpose. As the murders in the paper continued to become more prominent, her fear grew, and she was desperate for their assistance.
Jack narrowed his eyes, analyzing the way she fiddled with the bracelet that adored her wrist, he was surprised by her sudden nervousness.
Gwen took a deep breath before speaking. "I've noticed that my dueling skills could use some improvement. I know you guys are the best duelers at Hogwarts, so I was wondering if you could help me out."
Jack snorted, "I never thought to see the day that my swot of a cousin asked for help from me. I kinna to remember this moment."
Sirius and James joined in on the snickering, but stopped when they saw her raise her wand towards them in a rather threatening manner.
James grinned mischievously. "Of course we'll help you, Gwen! We're always up for some dueling practice."
Sirius's eyes flickered with a mix of excitement and worry. Unbeknownst to his friends, he harbored deep feelings for Gwen. He couldn't bear the thought of accidentally hurting her during their training sessions.
However, not wanting to let his emotions get in the way of helping her, Sirius hesitated but finally agreed. "Alright, Gwen, we'll do our best to help you become a better dueler."
Gwen beamed at their willingness to assist her. "Thank you so much! I really appreciate it."
James' eyes lit up, "I know exactly where we will train as well! Sirius and I just found it a couple days ago. Been itching to actually use it."
Over the next few weeks, they dedicated their free time to training Gwen in various dueling techniques. Jack taught her about defensive spells and counter-curses while James focused on offensive strategies and wand movements.
Although hesitant at first, Sirius slowly grew more comfortable raising his wand towards Gwen as they practiced different spells and maneuvers together. His adoration for her made him extra cautious and attentive to ensure she remained safe throughout their training sessions.
One evening after an intense practice session in the Room of Requirement, Sirius found himself alone with Gwen as they caught their breaths.
"You're doing great, Gwen," Sirius said softly, his eyes roaming her figure to ensure he had not accidentally harmed her. "You've improved so much since we started."
Gwen smiled, appreciating his encouragement. "Thanks, Sirius. I couldn't have done it without all of your help and support."
Sirius glanced at her, a mix of affection and pain evident in his eyes. "You're welcome, Gwen. Just remember to stay focused during duels and trust your instincts."
As their eyes locked for a moment, an unspoken connection passed between them. However, Sirius quickly looked away, not wanting to reveal the depth of his feelings. Fearful of what she would find, fearful that she would be disgusted by them.
He cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. "U–uh anyway, I have practice to get to, would you like me to walk you back to your house?"
"Yes please," she paused. "As long as I am not keeping you from being late."
After gathering their things, Sirius made sure to step out, look around discreetly and once he saw that the corridor was empty, took her hand and helped her step out of the room.
Hand in hand, he led her back to her House in silence. He peered back at her, only to see her smiling to herself, humming a small tune and started to swing their joined hands.
He swore under his breath.
Merlin's beard, she was adorable.
September came and went. Juggling between learning Occlumency and Legilimens, studying, and practicing to duel, and Slug Club, Gwen was quite busy and hardly found the time to do anything more than sleep and eat. She had been scolded by Lily on numerous occasions for her lack of self care and negligence of health.
Throwing her bag onto her desk, she flopped down onto her bed, facedown, and allowed herself to sink into her bed. Her Herbology class had been canceled when a couple of first years had rummaged through the sleeping chinese chomping cabbages.
She had been grateful as she saw it as an opportunity to catch up on some sleep. She had almost fallen asleep too before the door was slammed open, banging into the wall and Jackie started rummaging through her wardrobe.
"No offense, Jackie, but can you please be quiet?" She plucked her face out of her pillow to stare at her. "Some of us desperately need sleep."
Jackie just blinked at her. Before going back to digging through her wardrobe, flinging clothes everywhere in the room.
"Daniel wants us to study together for charms and I need something cute to wear but also something that says effortless."
"Omg I know exactly the outfit would suit the effortless look!" Gwen jumped up from the bed, smiling wide as she cradled her pillow in her lap.
Jackie clapped her hands excitedly. "You're a lifesaver! What outfit?"
"What you are wearing." She deadpanned, causing Jackie to shriek in frustration and chucking one of her pillows at her.
Dodging the projectile, she flopped back onto her bed, loudly sighing. Her chances of catching up on some sleep were dashed in front of her very eyes. In the meantime, she thought about five different ways to torture Jackie tonight when she was asleep.
Luckily before she could hex the girl, Pandora walked in with Toni, standing in the open door, they looked at the state of their shared dorm. They both looked toward Jackie, who didn't even acknowledge them, before they turned to Gwen, who just waved them off.
"I do hope you realize that you will need to clean the dorm once you are done," Toni sighed, stepping around the small piles of clothing, to drop off her own bag as Pandora just used magic to gather Jackie's things and levitate them to her side of the room.
"Help me find an outfit and I'll be on my way," was all she said.
"Wasn't your explanation for bringing all these clothes so you could wear something new every time you saw Daniel?" Pandora smiled, she began to unpack her schoolbag.
Jackie groaned, "yes but now that we have been seeing one another, I have forgotten what he has seen me and what he hasn't!"
Begrudgingly Gwen just sat up from bed, leaning over to pick up her wand from her desk, she levitated a soft pink silk blouse, a monochromatic plaid skirt and a light black jumper to pair it with. "There you have an outfit he hasn't seen you in," she dropped it into her arms, not bothering to look at her wide eyes. "Get dressed and go or you will be late."
"Awe you do care!" Was all she said
"I never said I didn't," she retorted dryly. "You will clean and organize the dorm when you get back." With a flick of her wand, she drew the curtains of her canopy bed and placed a silencing charm on it to keep sound out.
"Do you think she is angry with me?"
Pandora shook her head, "she hasn't been sleeping much lately. She just wanted to get some sleep and you prevent her from that, she is just a bit agitated is all."
Toni smirked, "you'll have to deal with hell when you get back."
Grimacing, she just took her clothes, wand and her lipgloss off her desk and quickly left to change. Toni cleaned her area of Jackie's skewed clothes and dropped it on the floor in her area. "A nap actually does sound amazing right now,"
" I have to agree," she grinned.
Climbing into their beds, they drew their curtains and placed silencing charms over them. A habit that was adopted from Jackie's constant snoring throughout the night.
After catching up on some sleep and her mood becoming better. She sat at the Great Hall for lunch, Toni and Pandora had also joined her. They talked about classes before Toni had spotted Olivia.
Clicking her tongue, she gestured to the elder girl. "Look who is with a Hufflepuff."
The three girls turned to see Olivia, holding hands with Harold, a redhead with green eyes and freckles. They were facing one another, both their faces flushed as they stared at one another.
"Five galleons, that it was Harold who confessed their feelings to one another," Toni grinned.
Pandora rolled her eyes, "that is an obvious bet."
Gwen hummed, "ten galleons says that Olivia had confessed to him after being frustrated by his lack of initiative to do so himself."
"I'll second that bet," Pandora pointed her fork at her. "Gwen seems to know more about these things."
Toni just hummed. "Deal."
Olivia walked over, dressed in her uniform that was a bit rumped in some areas that were completely out of place for her. Smiley and giddy, she took her seat with them, humming a tune to herself, she made a plate for herself. Toni, Gwen and Pandora all shared knowing looks with one another.
"So Olivia," Toni started. "Were you just with Harold?"
She just hummed in agreement.
Gwen narrowed her eyes. She took note of her swollen lips, dazed expression, and the hickey on her neck that was concealed by the collar of her blouse had it not been for the slight movement of her leaning over to grab a goblet of pumpkin juice.
She blanched at the smell. Covering her nose with the sleeve of her jumper, she allowed Toni to be sly and beat around the bush for a bit.
"Judging by the hickey on your neck, does this mean that Harold confessed and has become your boyfriend?"
Seems as though she wasn't the only one to notice it.
Olivia spit her pumpkin juice all over Toni. The bright orange liquid drenching her once pristine uniform, blinking, she used her sleeve to wipe the liquid off her face.
Hiding the smile on her own face, she just transfigured a napkin and handed it to her.
"I take it as a yes then."
Olivia was in the middle of profusely apologizing but only stopped to blush profusely.
"He confessed after he had overheard Langley Fosner talk about wanting to ask me out in their common room."
Pandora turned to Toni, waving her hand out. "Ten galleons each Toni."
Grumbling, she sighed, pulling out her coin purse from the pocket of her robe. Taking the gold coins out, she handed each their due payment with a begrudging mutter.
"I should have known a gamble would have been made on my love life." Olivia sighed, before she started to eat.
Pandora and Gwen just laughed, while Toni left to clean up.
The term was going quite well for everyone thus far, especially for the four boys who were keeping up their grades. Gwen had even helped Peter with his school work during the summer to prepare him for the new term. Which was a blessing as the adventures that the others dragged him on during nightfall, would have surely had him failing.
James and Sirius were constantly either on the pitch practicing at Quidditch or practicing dueling one another. Remus and Peter often watched them practice Quidditch, as they often took it as an opportunity to complete their schoolwork.
However, the first to get sick this term was Remus.
Who was sitting up on one of the hospital beds, dressed in pajamas. He had come down with a terrible cold after staying in the shrieking shack where it was freezing. He had missed the last two days of classes due to his lycanthropy but now he missed another day because of a small measly thing called a cold.
Madam Pomfrey had given him a few potions, their empty bottle sitting on the bedside table next to him. Although he was pale and still a bit shaky, he was beginning to feel better as his fever had come down tremendously.
Lily walked over to his bed, her bag in hand. "So you are sick."
Surprised by her visit, he blinked at the redhead. "Umm…yeah. I'm sick." He paused, clearing his throat, "Hi," he said.
"Are you feeling better?" Lily asked.
"Trust me, I've felt worse."
Taking a deep breath, she dug around in her bag. Taking out a small journal of sorts, she handed it to him. "I've noticed that you were sick the last couple of days, so I made this for you so you won't fall behind in class."
He blinked, "that is very kind of you." Taking the journal in hand, he smiled, before handing it back to her. "Could you put this in my bag for me?"
He gestured to his school bag that was resting at the foot of his bed on the table. Doing as asked, she took a seat next to him. "Are you sure this is just a cold?"
"Yes, I'm quite sure."
Lily sighed, reaching out to take his hand in hers, squeezing it reassuringly. "You can talk to me, you know," she said, "I know the other boys are kind of rude and don't seem to care as much as they should... but... Well, Remus, you're sick a lot and I'm worried about you.
Feeling guilt for not being able to tell her the truth, he shifted a little on the bed nervously. "It was not my intention to make you worry... I appreciate it... Really. I'm okay, though."
Lily searched his eyes, smiled, and stood. "I must be going as I have class but I just came to check up on you."
Remus flushed, "thank you for thinking of me."
"Anytime," she smiled
Turning, she was making her way out of the infirmary only to run into Severus. He was carrying a crate full of potions. She immediately smiled, "oh my that is quite a lot of potions. What are they for?"
Severus nodded, "Professor Slughorn requested that I assist him by bringing these to Madam Pomfrey as she is running low in her supply."
"I hadn't realized that Madam Pomphrey received her potions from Professor Slughorn." Lily stated, thinking more on it, she wondered if Professor received his own ingredients from their Herbology Professor
Severus nodded, "what are you doing in the infirmary?" He narrowed his eyes, analyzing her for any visible injuries. "Are you hurt?"
Shaking her head no, she smiled. "I'm quite alright, thank you for asking."
Severus visibly relaxed at her confirmation.
"In all honesty, I just came to visit Remus."
His relief turned into suspicion, "why are you visiting him in the infirmary?"
"He's been sick, I came to give him all the work he has missed as well as notes so he will not fall behind." Severus just huffed silently, deciding to not say anything as he had other matters to attend to. However, Lily caught his irritation. "What is it th3 problem with that?"
"I didn't say anything."
Lily, angry, snapped. "You didn't have to say anything for me to figure out that you are irritated by my visit to Remus."
He just looked away from her, bored this time. "I have things to do, I don't have time to argue with you."
His clear dismissal pissed her off even more.
"Let me see if I understand this, you are upset with me for visiting him but then you want to just pretend as though you aren't and now you want to leave because you have other things to do?"
Severus hummed, adjusting the crate in his hands. "I have quite a lot on my plate at the moment, so yes, I do have better things to do than to stand here and argue with you."
Fuming, she became red in the face. "You mean sneaking off with your new friends?! Or how you and Gwen seem to be hiding something from me?!"
Never once did he even flinch. Since he had gotten better with Occlumency, it was easier for him to compartmentalize his thoughts and feelings. So while he did look bored and indifferent, it was quite the opposite, he felt guilt and a bit of shame.
Opening his mouth to apologize, she just shook her head and stomped away. Heaving a sigh, he figured that space would do both of them some good.
As September neared its end and would soon bleed into October, it hadn't stopped Sirius from noting one huge problem he had been having. Gwen was nowhere to be found these days.
Her lack of presence had been bothering Sirius Black as he had had enough and decided to hunt the young girl down himself. He was tired of only spending time with her during their lessons, with both her cousins there. Tired of seeing her rush out of class as soon as they ended. Although he had made a vow to protect her, Sirius was finding it hard to track down said girl as she was consistently busy.
He'd overheard from Jackie that she had been in quite the foul mood from the lack of sleep, a week prior. Which made him all the more worried. If she had been having nightmares, then why hadn't she come to his dorm to seek solace as she had done prior. However, due to a fight between Evans and Snivellus, Remus had stated that Gwen and Severus were often caught whispering amongst each other.
Not only did that piss him off but it made him quite jealous. As the sniveling seemed to see her more than him these days. She was his best mate, which meant that she should be spending her time with him.
Running a hand down his face, he wondered if what he was feeling was quite normal. Or if it was due to the strange way he felt around the girl since his possible discovery of his romantic feelings towards her.
Remus and Peter had added up to a stop, learners streamed around them, a couple elbowed them as they shoved by, telling them to move on.
Remus sighed, "Bloody hell," he muttered, "We really ought to be doing our homework…we have exams soon…"
He darted afterwards the other two into the dark, departing Peter by themselves in the crowd for an instant before he scrambled after them, squealing.
"Wait! Wait up!"
James placed a silencing charm over Peter. "Do you want to get us caught then?"
Peter just stared wide-eyed, before finally furiously shaking his head no.
The four boys snuck along down the corridor and round a corner, where they clustered around James as he pulled out the list of passageways they'd gotten from the little alcove in the Trophy Room passage and he muttered, "Lumos," illuminating the words on the page.
"We should've brought our map," Sirius pointed out
James grinned and reached in his book bag, producing the map and the quills they'd been using to create it. "I was thinking ahead," he said.
"You bloody genius!" Passing off the materials to Remus, Sirius grinned at him
Remus tucked the quills into his pockets and unfolded the map carefully. "So where are we off to, then?" he asked, looking over the map.
"I'd like to do the humpbacked witch," James replied, "But I reckon there's probably a ton of people round it right now trying to get into the common room." He peered 'round the corner of the bend in the corridor they'd ducked down, listening for the sounds of anybody on the stairs but it sounded as though everyone might've gotten past those by now.
"It's too bad we couldn't see where people are on the map, that would be dead helpful," Sirius said, "Imagine if we could see where Filch was all the time. It would be much easier to prank people without having him breathing down our necks."
James hummed, "that is something we can think about later." He paused, "all right, let's get to exploring before we are caught."
Before any of the boys could say anything, they heard the familiar sound of a squeaky lantern and the scuffs of boots.
Peter squeaked, "We're going to get caught!" He whimpered, "if we stay here much longer Mrs. Norris is sure to sniff us out and will get detention and lose house points!"
"Hold onto your knickers Peter," James answered, rolling his eyes. "Bloody hell, how are you a Gryffindor, being such a coward?"
"I'm not a coward," muttered Peter moodily. Crossing his arms over his chest, he sulked.
James and Sirius shared a look with one another. It was at times like these that they remembered just how cowardly he was, just how sensitive and easily pressured he was.
"Follow me," Remus took charge by leading the boys away from Filch and into a tunnel nearby that they had never seen before.
"You holding out on us mate?" James looked around the tunnel
Uncomfortable, he shrugged. "It's not like that," he mumbled. "This is the way that leads to the Whomping Willow."
James and Sirius immediately stopped exploring and snapped their beards towards Remus. Who avoided their gazes, in fear they would see him as a monster. A monster, he thought he was.
"No wonder it smells of dog," Sirius wrinkled his nose but that didn't stop the huge smile on his face. "Merlin, you need to burn a candle in here."
Peter laughed nervously as he avoided touching the walls. James saw this and decided to bring it up later, without Remus around.
"Do you want to put the tunnel on the map?"
Remus hesitated, the ink on his quill, slowly but closely beginning to drip down. the quill hovering over the Whomping Willow. "What if this ends up in bad hands?" he asked, looking round at the others. "What if we lose it and someone else figures out how to get in here and I'm found out? What if it's on a night with a full moon and I... I attack someone?"
"Then best hope it's Snape," Sirius joked, causing Peter to stop sulking and begin laughing along with him. Once again, they sought the momentary distraction. It did help relieve Remus' worry.
James put his palm over Remus's hand. "Remus, mate…we'd never let that happen, mate, alright? We'll guard the map. And if anyone ever tried to get down here… we'd stop 'em, alright? We'll protect you."
With a toothy grin, James smiled at him. His fair tanned skin, freckled face and dark brown eyes looked at him with sincere and compassion. Two feelings he was growing more and more accustomed to since meeting his friends.
After he charted down the tunnel and its secret passageway, they all turned to exit. As they walked back, Remus caught sight of James and Sirius in front of them, who were laughing and singing quite terribly at the top of their lungs. They should have surely been caught by now. Yet, all Remus could think about was the fact that he couldn't have wished for a better group to be mates with.
Stepping out of the tunnel, Sirius was the first one to step out. Only to see Gwen, sweaty and exhausted, still in her uniform with her face close to Snivellus, as they whispered with one another. They both smiled at one another before Gwen had ducked out of a dark alcove, where Severus stood, watching her intently.
"Did you see that?" Sirius whispered, watching as Snivellus turned and headed straight for the dungeons. Most likely back to his house as it was passed curfew.
He narrowed his eyes on this.
"Yeah," James also stared after in disdain.
The four boys didn't comment on it yet as they needed to get back to their own house, before Filch caught them or worse Mrs. Norris. Sirius wouldn't admit it but the thought of Gwen being that close in a small space with that greasy git made him feel disgusted and irritated. A familiar feeling that he recognized as jealousy.
Gwen took pride in the fact that she was visually perceptive. Especially in the fact that she took notice in the change of pattern in regards to Sirius, Jamie, Peter and Remus. She wouldn't admit it aloud but she was a bit nervous due to them following her around. During one of her training sessions with Jaime and Sirius, she took notice that Sirius had started questioning her about many things, such as her whereabouts and who she was hanging out with lately.
He was practically glued to her at the waist throughout the day, even going as far as to wait for her as she went to the girls' lavatory. She just hoped that maybe Sirius wouldn't be dumb enough to stay up, in the halls outside of her tower waitinging for her after curfew. She was growing rather close to having a breakthrough as she had been practicing during the day on other students.
With her wand in hand, she slipped on her robe over her loose cotton shorts and a plain black t-shirt before creeping out of her dorm. Once she saw that Sirius wasn't waiting for her outside of the Ravenclaw Tower, she breathed a sigh of relief as she slowly made her way down to the dungeons. Casting one more look behind her, she saw just the empty corridor, she entered the room.
"Are you ready?"
He took notice of her distracted state, "is something the matter?"
"No, I just thought that I saw something out in the corridor, it must have been the trick of the light however."
Shedding her robe, she set it aside, before taking her seat in the chair. Severus stood before her, his wand in hand.
"Are you ready?"
She smiled, "yes, I'm ready."
Several minutes ticked by in mostly relative silence, the only sound was her labored breathing. With her eyes closed shut, she focused on maintaining her walls. She had informed him last time to not be gentle either. If they wanted to become superb Legillemens then they needed to be able to do it under severe duress.
Severus never hesitated to step in front of her, his back facing her as he stood before whoever had walked in.
"What in Merlin's beard are you nosy lot doing down here?"
"Why are you in an abandoned classroom?"
Recognizing the voice, she peeked from behind Sev only to see the four boys standing in the doorway, confused and agitated. Standing from her chair, she placed a hand on the arm that was keeping her behind him.
"So you were following me."
Remus and Peter already looked guilty, which meant only one thing. This whole plan was Jamie and Sirius' idea. Crossing her arms, she stared at them. Turning to the source she found James, Peter, and Sirius standing, confused and slightly dazed. With an annoyed sigh, she turned back to the boys to see them confused at what was going on
"Sev," she called out. "I apologize for my cousin and my friends."
"Don't apologize for us!" Sirius snapped.
Sev just shook his head, a sneer on his face as he glared at James, who just glared back at him. "Cut it out, the both of you." She warned. "Why are you following me?"
Remus, being the voice of logic and reasoning, finally spoke up. "We spotted you with Severus last week," he paused, looking towards the Slytherin. "Sirius and James thought that perhaps he was courting you in secrecy."
Growing wide eyed, she just gaped at them. Severus also gaped at them. Neither one of them knew what to say.
"I think it's safe to say that you guys aren't dating…." James mumbled
"C—courting?!" Gwen sputtered as she felt her eye twitch at the thought of dating Sev. "Merlin's beard, you lot are surely dim! You honestly thought that Severus and I were dating? Are you four out of your bloody minds?!"
"Told you they were morons," Severus snorted once he got over from being shocked by their ridiculous accusations.
None of them even bothered to defend themselves. Ashamed and guilty, the four avoided looking at the girl, who had fire in her eyes as she glared at the four of them.
"This is my fault Sev," she sighed. Turning to him, she just saw him, expressionless staring at the four boys. "They've been following me around, won't even give me a moment's peace. I never thought they would have followed me here."
Gwen pulled him into a hug which prompted him to hug her back, as he wrapped his arms around her as well, the tension left his body as she pulled him close to her.
"I'll allow you to take care of them." He paused, "I'll owl you for further details."
Nodding, she watched as he picked up his robe and wand, gave one nasty glare with a matching sneer and left the room.
"I'm disappointed in all of you," was all she said before she picked up her own robe and wand.
Walking past them, she ignored them as they tried running after her. Angry and hurt, she fought tears as she made it back to her house. Yet the entire time, all she could focus on was how betrayed Sirius had looked. Ignoring her concern for him, she flopped back into bed and hoped that Severus wasn't angry with her.
The next morning, she had stepped out of her house, dressed in her uniform and ready to head to the Great Hall. Only to find Sirius standing there, also dressed, as he yawned.
"Why are you here?"
He turned to her, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wanted to apologize."
She narrowed her eyes at him, "I'm still rather upset with you in regards to last night."
"Will you allow me to explain?"
Standing across from each other, Gwen blinked. Unsure of what to do or say, she maintained her calm and collected composure even though she felt angry and hurt underneath.
"You have thirty seconds to explain," she stated.
"I've been following you because Jackie had let it slip that you weren't sleeping well, weren't eating either and you were becoming distant. I've been worried and thought that perhaps you were having nightmares again and didn't want to admit it."
Gwen, stunned, blinked again.
I'm all honestly, she wasn't expecting him to say that. She was expecting a more pitiful explanation such as he was jealous of Severus or he was worried that she was spending too much time with other people. She hadn't thought to consider that he was just being genuine and truly was just worried about her well-being. As usual.
"Why didn't you just ask me then?"
Sirius rubbed the back of his neck, "you haven't really given me a chance to ask you. You're constantly running to and from places. It's hard to keep up sometimes."
There was truth to his words. She was constantly running off but it was because she had a lot to do. She hadn't really stopped to think about her friendships and how her absence was affecting them.
Her heart wavered. She'd be ignorant to admit that her compassion and kindness was a weakness at times. This being one of those times as she stared up at him with empathy. She found it hard to be angry with him, not when he looked genuine and honest. Especially since he hadn't ever given her a reason to be in trustful towards him.
"You should trust that if something was going on, I would tell you." She paused, taking his hands in hers, she looked up at him. "I apologize for not considering your feelings. That doesn't give you the right to follow me around as though I am committing a crime or to just accuse me of courting someone when it is completely innocent."
Sirius stared. His lips turned into a frown, his voice barely a whisper. "I apologize for not trusting you to come to me. I am afraid that if I don't protect you, something tragic will happen and I am sure to lose you."
Flushed, she smiled. "You will never lose me, you have my hand in yours to always hold."
Bringing both her hands up to his lips, he placed chaste kisses on each. "Lovely hands that they are, I refuse to ever let go of them. Not unless you wish for me to do so."
"I never will wish for such an offense."
They stared at one another with flushed faces and shy smiles, still holding hands.
"Can I walk you to breakfast?"
"I'd love that."