I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter Eight
Adeline sat in the bleachers with Remus, both reading a book on the highest rafter, waiting for the game to start as the stands began to fill. Peter and Sirius sat in front of them, Sirius leaning back against Adeline's legs as Evan sat beside her, Barty on his other side.
"Are you seriously reading at a quidditch match?" Barty asked.
"He's Sirius," Remus and Adeline said together as they continued staring at their books, Sirius snorting in laughter.
The stands filled completely and Adeline slid her book into her pocket, Remus copying her movements.
"Now, Adie, I know you aren't a fan of quidditch, so I'll explain the rules to you," Evan smiled.
"I know how quidditch works," Adeline told Evan, voice flat as the teams flew onto the field.
Reggie floated high above the Slytherin team, close to where the group was sitting.
"Let's go, Reggie!" Adeline cheered, causing the boy to turn and smile brightly in her direction.
"Whoop!" Sirius cheered along.
"Can't cheer for Reggie because precious Potter is on the field?" Evan asked Sirius, brow raised. "I thought Gryffindors were loyal?"
"Evan," Adeline warned, her voice low and threatening.
Evan looked to the field then, staying quiet. Sirius leaned against Adeline's legs again, arms resting on her knees as he looked completely at ease. Adeline and Remus could see how tense his shoulders were though. Adeline rested her hands on Sirius' shoulders, rubbing gently. Sirius hummed at the feeling and Adeline smirked, applying a bit more pressure and working on the few knots she felt there. Remus smirked before his eyes snapped to the field, the whistle blowing to signify the beginning of the match.
Sirius sat up straight, Adeline's hands falling away from him in the process. Adeline leaned back again, eyes on Reggie as he zoomed around the field quickly, eyes scanning the field and sky as he searched for the small golden orb.
"Excellent shot by James Potter! Ten points to Gryffindor!" the announcer yelled and Sirius cheered loudly, Peter and Remus joining in.
Adeline clapped slightly, eyes still on Reggie. Reggie caught her eye, giving her a smile before slowly floating over to her. Adeline heard a buzzing from beside her and turned her head slowly, seeing the snitch floating beside her. She held in her laugh as she looked back to Reggie. He floated closer, eyes on the snitch with an amused smirk.
"Why is Reggie coming down here?" Evan asked as Remus looked to Adeline and saw the snitch.
Remus bit his lip, holding in a laugh. Reggie reached them and waved his hand towards the snitch, watching as it bolted away from the group.
"Aren't you supposed to catch that?" she asked, finally laughing.
"We need more points first," he shrugged before flying back into the air.
"How long was it there?" Sirius asked, amused.
"Not long," Adeline smiled as the Slytherins began cheering.
"Ten points to Slytherin thanks to Emily Ronan!"
Evan and Barty cheered loudly and Adeline rolled her eyes at their excitement, clapping the same way she had when James had scored. As they game progressed, the Slytherins and Gryffindors became more determined and a lot more violent, penalty shots being given multiple times to both teams. Two Gryffindor reserves had been put in due to bludgers that Avery had hit. Adeline had gasped and tensed up when one almost hit James.
"I can't watch," Adeline groaned, hiding her face in Remus' shoulder. "Tell me when Reggie catches the snitch."
"How do you know Reggie will be the one to catch it?" Sirius asked, sounding offended for his house.
"Because he's been watching it since the start of the match," Adeline said, pointing to where Reggie was in the sky, his eyes focused as he stared at the stitch and waiting for the Slytherin team to make ten more points before going after the snitch.
"Oh," Sirius said, seeing the golden orb that his brother was watching.
Finally, Emily scored another goal. Reggie shot off, head stretched out as he flew towards the snitch so fast that Adeline grabbed Remus' arm and squeezed in fright. She may love flying, but she hated going at top speeds. She hated watching Reggie go so fast even more.
"He's done it! Regulus Black has caught the snitch! Slytherin wins!"
"Oh, finally," Adeline sighed before Evan pulled her into his lap.
A bludger hit the seat that she had previously been sitting, Avery smirking as he flew to the ground towards the team.
"Ass!" Adeline screamed towards him as the bludger rose back into the air and towards the box it was typically stored in. "I hate him."
"Wanna set him on fire?" Remus joked.
"You're so funny. How do you not have a girlfriend?" Adeline shot back, causing Remus to give her a small glare.
Adeline went to stand, but Evan held on. Adeline turned her glare on him and he gave her a wide smile.
"Let go," she told him.
"I'm quite comfortable actually," he stated. "Think I'll keep you here for a bit longer."
"Rosier," Sirius' voice was full of anger as he stared down at the third year that was refusing Adeline's wishes. "Remove your hands from my fiancé."
Evan rolled his eyes and let go. Adeline jumped up immediately, moving towards Remus. Remus pulled her close as Sirius and Evan stared each other down. Adeline grabbed Sirius' hand and pulled him away, Peter and Remus following closely behind them. They pushed their way through the crowd, making their way to the locker rooms. Adeline waited outside as Sirius and Remus went inside, going to retrieve James.
"Shafiq," Avery smirked when he caught sight of her, Mulciber walking beside him. "Come to congratulate us?"
"Or come to wipe away the tears of your Gryffindors?" Mulciber asked.
"A bit of both," Adeline rolled her eyes. "I'd tell you you're a good shot with the bludger but you did just try to kill me with one so I won't."
"That was almost a compliment, Shafiq," Avery stated. "I'm almost impressed."
"Can we start over?" Adeline asked, turning to face them fully. "Our families are close and I'd prefer not trying to actively avoid you during Christmas this year."
"You want to start over?" Avery asked, confused.
"Why would you want to do that?" Mulciber questioned.
"I'm the lady of one house and the future lady of another," she shrugged. "I figure I'd be a rather valuable asset for you to have, and vice versa."
"So, mutually beneficial?" Avery nodded. "I'm willing to give it a shot."
"As am I," Mulciber agreed.
"Nice to meet you," Adeline shot her hand out. "I'm Adeline."
Mulciber took Adeline's hand just as Peter, James, and Sirius stepped out of the locker room.
"We'll be seeing you," Avery told her before he and Mulciber walked away.
"What was that about?" Sirius asked, glaring after the two fifth years.
"Burying a hatchet," Adeline shrugged.
"You trust them?" Sirius asked in shock.
"Absolutely not," Adeline shook her head. "Are we ready to go?"
"I hear Rosier tried making a move on you," James smirked, throwing his arm around Adeline's shoulder and pulling her along.
"He's an idiot," Adeline rolled her eyes.
"Obviously," James scoffed. "Everyone can tell you're crazy about Sirius."
"I make it pretty well know," Adeline smirked as Sirius took her hand in his, both smiling softly to each other.
"They're disgustingly in love," Reggie groaned, joining them at Sirius' side.
"Quite," Remus agreed.
"Reggie!" Adeline shrieked, running at him and tackling him to the ground in a hug.
"Why?" he asked, as they landed on the ground.
"You did so well!" she yelled, kissing his cheek before pulling away. "Brilliant!"
The other four sat on the ground with them, Sirius and James piling on top of the pair. Peter sat slightly to the side smiling at the sight as Remus shook his head and simply laid his head on Adeline's shoulder.
"There's a party later tonight," Reggie told the group. "The Slytherins are hosting but people from all the houses are invited. It's in an abandoned classroom on the third floor."
"Our old room probably," Adeline smirked to Remus.
"Well, you all have fun," Remus sighed.
"You aren't coming?" Reggie asked curiously.
"Remy and I already had plans," Adeline explained. "Time sensitive stuff."
"What are you up to?" Reggie smirked.
"Long-con, little brother," Adeline smirked back. "Can't tell you until it's ready."
"Fine," Reggie sighed, rolling his eyes and looking to James. "You flew well today."
"I always do," James puffed his chest out slightly at the praise.
"Oh, Merlin. Don't give him any more compliments. His head's already too big to fit on his shoulders," Adeline joked.
James launched himself at Adeline, rolling her as he began tickling her sides. Adeline laughed loudly, pushing the boy away from her. She stood and took off running, all of the boys following behind her. They raced through the grounds, other students watching them curiously as they went. They reached the lake, collapsing under the tree there and all finding ways to lay on each other again, Peter laying his head on James' lap this time with James running his hair through Peter's hair.
The six stayed under the tree for the next few hours, laughing and joking with one another as the hours passed. As the sun began to sink over the trees of the forest, the group broke apart. Reggie headed to the dungeons to get ready for the party, James, Peter, and Sirius heading to their tower to do the same. Adeline led Remus to the hospital wing before heading down to the kitchens. She smirked at the sight of the Slytherins trying to figure out how to enter the kitchens, clearing her throat and showing them the trick with the pear before they all entered the spacious kitchen where house elves scurried around them.
Adeline packed a few small snacks for herself and Remus as the Slytherins bossed the elves around. She pat the head of any elf she passed gently in appreciation before heading out of the kitchen and walking out of the school to turn into her great raven. After turning into a bird and flying to Hogsmeade village, she sat outside the Shrieking Shack with the sack of food clasped in her talons tightly. A few minutes later, a window on the ground floor was forced open and Adeline flew in, turning human and passing the food to the still human Remus. He smiled gratefully before taking a minced meat pie and passing her the other. They ate in silence, neither really sure how to fill the silence.
"I'm making a potion to help with the pain," she finally announced when the sky had darkened.
"The potion helps," Remus shrugged.
"It helps, but it doesn't take it all away," she stated. "I don't like seeing my best friend in pain, funny enough."
"You could always wait to join me after I've turned," he offered.
"Or I could work on a potion," Adeline countered. "I'm not leaving you to turn by yourself."
Remus just gave her a fond smile before kissing her cheek. Adeline smiled back, resting her head on his shoulder as they waited on the moon. An hour later, the moon rose and Remus grunted in pain. Adeline stood to the side, watching with pain in her own eyes as Remus screamed in pain before a wolf laid before her. The wolf turned its head to her, breathing heavily. Adeline smiled gently and moved forward, petting his head. Remus leaned into her touch, his head lying on her lap as she pulled a book from her bag.
Adeline read to Remus for most of the night. When she had yawned a few too many times, Remus pushed her towards the mattress in the corner. She waved her wand, making the mattress more comfortable and large enough for the both of them. She climbed on and Remus curled around her, his wolf keeping her warm as the Autumn wind whistled through the house.
When Adeline woke, Remus was human again, the blankets wrapped around the two of them tightly. She turned in his arms, staring at his sleeping form. She brushed some of his hair from his face, noting how he actually seemed his age in his sleep, whereas when he was awake it was as if he carried the weight of his own existence too heavily on his shoulders. Adeline wondered how she could alleviate some of that weight for him as he slowly began to wake.
His warm eyes stared into hers, a small smile forming on his face. He pulled her closer and Adeline rested her head on his chest as they cuddled for a bit longer. When Remus head Madam Pomfrey walk into the shack, Adeline shifted and flew out the window that Remus opened for her by the bed. He just watched as she flew away, grateful for his friend.
"Remus?" Pomfrey asked gently, causing his head to turn to the open bedroom door.
"I'm okay," he told her.
Adeline's birthday was approaching quickly as pumpkins began appearing all over the castle. She stared at a few of the pumpkins, a calculating expression on her face.
"What are you planning?" Sirius asked as he came to her side.
"Nothing," Adeline smirked, turning to him. "We have a Hogsmeade trip on my birthday."
"We do," Sirius smiled as Adeline took his arm. "How about a birthday lunch with all of our friends?"
"All of them?" Adeline questioned with a raised brow.
"Yes. Even your precious Snape," Sirius rolled his eyes. "Sissy and Lucy are going to be there as well."
"So, you already planned this?" Adeline smirked.
"I will happily take credit," he smirked.
"Who actually deserves it?" Adeline asked.
"Remus mentioned that I may owe you a birthday celebration to make up for my broken promise your first year," Sirius admitted. "He helped me figure out who all to invite. Mind you, Reggie had to ask Snape for me, as Snape was ready to throw spells at me the moment I called for him."
"Do you blame him?" Adeline asked. "You've been cursing him since your first year. I'd be wary of you as well."
"You were," Sirius flinched, remembering Adeline's first year. "I should apologize again."
"No need," Adeline shook her head. "You've more than made up for it."
Sirius gave her a knowing smile as he took her hand with the engagement ring and kissed her finger. He smiled down at the ring before looking into Adeline's eyes. He pulled her close, kissing her gently for a moment before pulling away as the bell for classes rang.
"May I escort you to Ancient Runes?" Sirius asked with a smile.
"Sure," Adeline smiled back, taking his arm again.
Adeline woke on her birthday to her dormmates laughing loudly. She rolled her eyes and wrapped her pillow around her head, trying to block out the sound.
"When do you think she'll notice?" Kathleen questioned.
"Give her a minute," Emily responded.
"Notice what?" Adeline questioned, sitting up and facing the girls but finding her feet trapped by her blanket.
She looked down and found multiple bouquets of flowers at her feet. She smirked and rolled her eyes, grabbing the note that was attached to one of the bouquets.
'A flower for every day that I've loved you. -Siri'
Adeline swooned as she stared down at the flowers. Emily took the note, reading it out loud to Kathleen.
"He's sweet?" Kathleen asked in shock. "I thought he was a bully."
"He can be," Adeline informed her. "We're working on it."
Kathleen stared at Adeline for a moment before sighing.
"I owe you an apology," she said.
"What for?" Adeline asked in confusion.
"For how I treated you on the first day of school," she stated. "I was rude when I shouldn't have been. You seem like the right sort and I shouldn't have judged you based on who you're betrothed to. I have no room to talk on that front. My betrothed has been in love with someone else since before I met him."
"You're betrothed?" Adeline asked. "To whom?"
"It doesn't matter," Kathleen shook her head. "Can we try again?"
"Of course," Adeline smiled. "Call me Adie."
"Call me Kathy," Kathy smiled back. "Do you need help getting out of bed? You seem a bit stuck."
"I would appreciate it," Adeline laughed.
Once Emily and Kathy had helped Adeline escape the flowers, she dried her favorite ones and weaved a few into her hair, braiding it for the day before dressing in jeans, a comfortable sweater, and her boots. Kathy and Emily walked with her to the Great Hall for breakfast, Adeline freezing when she saw what Sirius had done.
"No," she said, turning to escape only to find Remus standing behind her to block the exit.
"Sorry about this," he smirked, turning her back around and forcing her further into the hall.
The Great Hall had been decorated with floating pumpkins spelling out 'Happy Birthday Adie' as fake bats flew in a circle around the pumpkins. Multiple birthday songs were singing obnoxiously through each of the pumpkins, none of them on the same key or words. Adeline drug her feet as Remus stole her away from her dorm mates and forced her to the Gryffindor table where James and Peter waited for them.
"Where is he?" she asked once they reached the table.
"Here!" Sirius yelled, rushing over to them with a gift box in hand and falling into the seat beside her as the pumpkins and bats followed them to the table. "I'm here."
He passed the box over and Adeline rolled her eyes before opening it, finding snake earrings that matched her necklace and ring. She smiled before putting the earrings on and turning to Sirius. She kissed his cheek before looking up as the pumpkins stopped singing suddenly.
"Hey!" Sirius yelled before turning and finding McGonagall glaring down at him. "Oh."
"Mister Black, as much as I'm sure Miss Shafiq appreciates your kind gesture, I would appreciate it if you could at least make the pumpkins sing together," McGonagall gave him a disapproving look before walking away.
"I couldn't figure that bit out," Sirius admitted to Adeline once McGonagall was gone.
Adeline sighed, her face in her hands. Owls began arriving as they ate breakfast. Books and potions ingredients were opened and Adeline stared at the box from Tom in suspicion. Remus opened it for her, finding several dark books in a box. He closed the box and shrank it, slipping it into his pocket so the other boys wouldn't see it.
"Are you stealing one of her gifts?" Peter asked, having caught the action.
"Some people send her questionable gifts," Remus shrugged. "I take them to Flitwick for her so he can check for curses."
"Oh," Sirius sounded surprised. "Why would someone send you cursed objects?"
"Your mother sent me cursed jewelry my first birthday here," Adeline told him.
"That sounds accurate," Sirius sighed before going back to his breakfast.
"Who's this one from?" James asked, inspecting the final box.
Adeline took it, rolling it over in her hands and finding no name on it. She stared at it for a moment before waving her wand. The package glowed red and she sighed.
"Lovely," Remus took the box and added it to his pocket and leaving the table.
Flitwick was already waiting for him, taking the boxes and leaving the Great Hall. Remus joined them again, taking his spot beside Adeline and starting on his own breakfast. Once he began eating, Adeline did as well, looking through the ingredients that she had been sent in the process. She took the small vial of fairy wings and gave it to Tom's owl, sending it away without a thought.
Adeline joined her fellow Slytherins in a carriage to the village, opting to sit beside Kathy to get to know her better and ignoring the strange look Evan sent their way. The two girls spoke with Emily the entire trip as the boys spoke among themselves. Lily and Severus were waiting for them when they arrived and Kathy raised her nose at Lily, causing Adeline to roll her eyes and move to Lily's side instead.
She and Lily led the small crowd to The Three Broomsticks, the Gryffindors already there with Sissy and Lucy. Sissy stood when she saw Adeline, rushing to her and wrapping her in a tight hug. Adeline hugged her back, having missed Sissy in the past few months. She led Adeline to the table where Lucy gave her a smile and a gift.
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"Well, if you were to open it, you wouldn't have to ask," Lucy joked and Adeline smiled back.
She opened the box to find a beautiful set of pens. She looked to Lucy in shock.
"I know you prefer pens to quills," he shrugged. "Figured I'd find you some that looked better than the ones you have."
"He did a bit of magic on them as well," Sissy stated.
"I just thought of self-inking quills and charmed the pens in a way similar. These won't run out of ink," he explained.
"It's amazing," Adeline smiled brightly. "Thank you. I love it."
Adeline hugged Lucy and he smiled at the action. Once he was released, Sissy clapped.
"My turn," she announced, pulling a book from her pocket. "I'm sure you're tired of receiving books, but this one is from the Malfoy family vault. Lucius had to get special permission for me to steal it away. It contains potions the Malfoy family created that no one else has seen before. I figured you could try a few. No selling them as your own though. That's the one condition."
"Deal," Adeline agreed immediately, staring at the book hungrily.
"Take it," Sissy sighed and Adeline snatched it away.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Adeline said, opening the book the moment it was in her hands.
"Not right now," Lucy rolled his eyes while smiling. "Read it later. We came to spend time with you."
"Fine," Adeline groaned, placing the book in her pocket. "If you insist."
"I do," he told her. "Sissy has another announcement."
"Are you pregnant?" Adeline asked jokingly before seeing Sissy's face. "You are!"
Adeline hugged Sissy again.
"Only a few weeks along," Sissy told her. "We aren't telling anyone other than you few. Walburga and Bella don't even know yet, so don't go yelling it from the astronomy tower."
"Of course, not," Adeline told her, turning her eyes to the others.
"We won't tell," Sirius promised for all of them, moving forward to hug his cousin. "Congratulations."
After Sissy and Lucy had been congratulated by the group, every one settled down to eat their lunch. They wandered through the village for a bit before Sissy and Lucy bid them farewell, heading home so Sissy could rest. Adeline rode in a carriage with just Sirius back to the castle. She refused to admit if any snogging had happened when asked by Emily later that night, but her smile gave her away.
Before the Halloween feast was set to begin, Adeline whispered a few spells over the pumpkins on the Gryffindor table before leaving the Great Hall, not being seen in the process. She walked into the hall between Reggie and Emily, Sitting between the two. Once Dumbledore had given his speech, he clapped his hands and food appeared. At the same time, the pumpkins at the Gryffindor table came to life, singing Halloween songs loudly, dancing around the table and knocking food into the laps of many of the lions.
Sirius' eyes found Adeline's on instinct as he brushed bits of food off of his front. Adeline simply raised her hands, waving them as if she were the conductor of a symphony. She ducked as a handful of mashed potatoes flew towards her, hitting Barty instead. The Hall fell into chaos then, food flying from every table as the teaching staff just watched on, none of them able to calm the students.
Adeline pulled Emily under the table for cover, the two girls somehow not having any food on them. Reggie had snuck over to the Gryffindor table at some point and dumped an entire flagon of pumpkin juice on James before joining them under the table, trying to escape the boys wrath. Adeline saw her Gryffindors running towards their table and turned into a bird, flying out from under the table and out of the hall.
She turned human once she was out of the hall, breathing heavily at the quick escape. She laughed when she saw students finally running from the hall, all covered in food. She hid in the shadows, waiting for Sirius to appear. When he did, she pulled him away from Peter, James, and Remus, pulling him close and kissing him. He pushed her into an alcove and pressed her against the wall, kissing her roughly.
"You're covered in food," she laughed.
"And now so are you," he smirked back, looking to where their bodies were pressed together.
"My eyes are up here," she told him.
"I'm aware," he growled out before moving his lips to her throat.
He kissed down her throat and to her chest, kissing any bit of skin he could reach. Adeline arched into the press of his lips, biting her lip to hold in the moan she felt trying to escape. Three knocks sounded outside of their hiding spot and the two separated, breathing heavily.
They joined the others in the main hall, the three boys giving them knowing smirks. Adeline rolled her eyes before rushing over to Severus' side when she saw him, walking with him to the dungeons.
Somehow, Flitwick had known she was the person behind the pumpkins and she'd received detention for a month. James and Sirius had pulled some sort of prank and ended up in detention with her, escorting her to and from each night. Snow fell across the Scottish countryside as December approached. Adeline opted to skip quidditch games that Slytherins weren't a part of in order to escape the cold, sitting by the fire in the common room to read or speaking to the portraits that hung by it instead. The main portrait she spoke to seemed to have been a troublemaker during their time at Hogwarts if the spells he explained to her and the hidden passageways that she discovered through him were anything to go by. It was these passageways and spells that Adeline was using the day before Christmas break was set to begin, Walburga and Orion telling the three to stay at the castle for the holiday as they would be too busy helping Sissy after her miscarriage.
Adeline stared the Fat Lady down as she waited for her Gryffindor boys to sneak out of the common room under James' cloak. The portrait swung open and Adeline smiled smugly at the portrait as she huffed under her breath.
"I see feet," Adeline told them when she looked down.
"You try fitting four growing lads under a cloak," James complained, pulling the cloak off of them.
"How many of you fit under there without your feet showing?" she asked with a roll of her eyes.
"Three," James smirked.
"Three?" Peter asked. "Which three of us fit under there exactly?"
"Okay, here's what we're going to do. James, Sirius, under the cloak. Peter, take my hand. Remus take his other hand and James hold Remus' shoulder," Adeline demanded.
"She's rather bossy," James complained but otherwise did as he was told.
"You listen so well," she smirked before looking to Remus and Peter, taking the latter's hand. "I'll teach you all this charm later."
After casting disillusionment charms on Remus, Peter, and herself, she began leading them through different passageways until they reached the third floor. Adeline found the statue of the one-eyed witch and tapped it with her wand, whispering out a spell and causing a trap door to appear.
"Go," she whispered to Peter, removing the charm she had placed over him. "One at a time."
Once Peter was through, Adeline waited a few moments before tapping Remus' head and sending him through. James and Sirius appeared beside her, James following Remus when Adeline nodded to him. Sirius kissed Adeline's head before sliding down the trapdoor. She followed after, closing the trapdoor in the process. Reggie caught her as she descended, Severus giving James an unsure look from his spot beside Lily.
"This way," Adeline told them. "Some of you may need to bend a bit. Lumos."
Wands lit up and Adeline led the group through the passageway and into the storeroom of Honeydukes, the cellar covered in boxes upon boxes of goods. Adeline climbed out, offering Lily a hand once she was clear. Once they were all in the cellar, Adeline walked up the steps, peaking out to be sure no one would see them come out. She opened the door slightly, still staring out as she waved everyone through, exiting the cellar last.
They left the store and ran to the outskirts of the small village, all laughing as they did. Once they were a good distance from the village, Adeline called for Tiffy and Wobky. The elves appeared immediately, smiling brightly as Adeline bent to pat their heads.
"Ready?" she asked everyone.
Once everyone had confirmed that they were prepared, Adeline sent Severus, Lily, Reggie, and Peter with the elves. Wobky and Toffy reappeared a moment later, holding their hands out. Remy and Adeline took Wobky's hands as James and Sirius took Tiffy's, all disappearing and landing in Adeline's foyer. Adeline waved her wand, checking the wards and the house for intruders. Once everything was clear, she smiled and turned to Lily and Severus.
"Welcome to Shafiq Manor."