I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter Thirteen
"We have all the signatures," Adeline smiled, passing the page to Flitwick as Remus stood beside her.
"Wonderful!" Flitwick announced. "I have the perfect place for you all to practice. Just tell me when you wish to start and I will be there."
"Thank you, sir," Remus smiled before the two left the classroom, splitting off from each other to go get dressed for Hogsmeade in their common rooms.
Adeline, Reggie and Severus walked back into the main hall, people turning to stare at them as they walked. Severus blushed slightly, but Adeline and Reggie just smirked. Severus was in a black leather jacket, a long-sleeve grey sweater underneath with black jeans and black boots, hair pulled back in a ponytail. Reggie looked rather proud as he strutted beside Adeline, his brown leather jacket covering his black sweater, his black jeans fitting snuggly against his legs with brown leather boots to match his jacket. Adeline herself was in dark jeans, brown boots, and a white sweater that covered her white shirt beneath, her frizzy hair down for everyone to see. Her makeup was done in a way that made her blue eyes seem bigger and her lips red as blood.
Remus rolled his eyes as he joined them, quite a few girls staring after him in his dark jeans, brown boots, and oversized brown sweater. He took his place beside Adeline, Severus moving to Reggie's other side without thought. Lily went to Severus' side, looking him up and down slightly as she approached. Adeline and Reggie smirked when they caught the action and Adeline wished she'd been able to hold Severus down to put eyeliner on him earlier. Getting Reggie to paint his nails black had been easy enough, but Severus still refused any other changes to his appearance outside of clothes and hair, which Adeline had given him a potion for to make it less greasy from being around potion fumes so often.
The group found a carriage, riding into the small village together. James, Peter, and Sirius were waiting for Remus when they got there, all three staring at the three Slytherins and Remus when they saw them. Adeline sent a wink Peter's way before hugging Remus as he went to join them. Severus left with Lily, Adeline sending him a smile that caused him to blush before he was able to escape it. Reggie led Adeline to the bookshop, releasing her arm so that she could run inside and explore freely, Reggie staying by the door and smiling at her fondly as she looked through every aisle slowly.
Reggie ended up paying for her books before she got the chance to, leading her out of the bookstore and towards the Three Broomsticks. Once inside, Reggie ordered lunch for them both, sitting across from Adie at a table in a corner. Once their food and butterbeer had been delivered, Adeline and Reggie lowered their voices.
"What are you thinking for Barty?" Reggie asked.
"I don't want to use a potion," she explained. "He's probably on the lookout for it. I've caught him watching me at meals."
"Well, you can't just hex him in the halls," Reggie sighed.
"I'm thinking we go to Zonko's after this and see what we can find," Adeline smirked.
Reggie smirked back and the two ate their lunch before heading off. They entered the joke shop, spying Remus and his friends in one corner and talking quietly. Adeline and Reggie exchanged a look before going in the opposite direction of the four. Adeline looked through the items carefully, searching for a few different items. She grabbed several dungbombs, a nose biting teacup, and tempest in a bottle. Reggie smirked as Adeline bought her items, the four Gryffindors watching on in curiosity. Adeline hid her items in the bag that contained her books and the two Slytherins left the joke shop.
"Can we go to the music shop?" Adeline asked curiously. "I wanted to teach Sev a new dance before the Christmas ball."
"Sure," Reggie smiled.
"Do you want to run off and find your friends?" Adeline asked him, voice dropping slightly.
"Mother might just kill me if I left you unattended," Reggie whispered back.
"How would she know?" Adeline smirked.
"Probably them," Reggie nodded his head to Mulciber and Avery as they passed the two.
"True," Adeline sighed. "Is there anywhere that you want to go? We don't have to do what I want."
"I'm fine," Reggie shrugged.
After the music shop, the two headed for a carriage, climbing in and being taken back up to the school. Once there, Adeline left for the brewing classroom, checking over all of her potions before emptying out her bag. She set the dungbombs beside the others ones that she still had left over and the biting teacups with the others as well. The bottle of tempest she smiled at, already knowing it was the item she would use on Barty first. She just needed to find a way to make sure it only affected him.
Adeline carried the bottle with her for two weeks before she got her chance. Adeline did a slicing charm on the bottom of Barty's bag after charms one day, causing him to remain in the class after everyone else had already left, Flitwick included. She sent a silent apology to the professor before opening the bottle and throwing it into the classroom, closing the door behind herself before running after Remus, out of breath as she stood between him and James. The boys stared at her for a moment before they heard the yelling coming from the hallway they had just been in and the three took off running, dashing behind a tapestry as professors headed towards the charms room.
"What did you do?" Remus whispered the question as Adeline held her laughter in behind her hands.
She shook her head, unable to answer. James peaked out from behind the tapestry, closing the tapestry quickly and holding in his own laughter. Footsteps were heard on the other side of the tapestry, rushing pass them as the professors spoke frantically.
"Why would Crouch open the bottle? So irresponsible," McGonagall complained.
"Flitwick will have him cleaning his classroom every day for the next week by hand, I'm sure," Jameson, their defense teacher, answer her.
Once the footsteps were gone and the voices couldn't be heard, the group ran from their hiding place, rushing to the crowded hall. James pushed his way forward, the others following closely behind him. Once at the front, Adeline's eyes shined with mirth as she saw the classroom and Barty, both looking as if a tornado had hit them. Barty's eyes landed on Adeline as Flitwick continued lecturing him, the crowd of students laughing at his expense. She smirked at him before winking and walking away, taking Remus' hand and pulling him along as she went, making sure that Barty knew exactly why Adeline had done what she had.
Adeline wasn't anywhere near done with Barty's punishment. Two days later, Barty gasped as a teacup came to life in his hand, falling backwards in his chair as a girly shriek left him. The teacup persisted, trying to get to his nose. He vanished the teacup before sending a glare at Adeline, who simply raised her brow as she sipped from her normal teacup.
Barty set a dungbomb off in the Slytherin girls dormitory later that day, not realizing that Adeline didn't sleep there anymore. The girls in her year made sure he got detention for the next month with how loudly they complained. Two days later, Reggie blocked a hex that Barty had sent her way, glaring as Barty approached them. Barty glared at the two of them, wand out. Adeline raised her arm, blocking Reggie as he tried to step in front of her.
Reggie looked over his shoulder at Adeline before smirking and stepping aside. Adeline's wand was out and she had a small smile on her face. Barty raised his wand.
"Alarte ascendare!" he yelled, trying to throw Adeline into the air.
Adeline blocked the spell with a raised brow as other students turned, trying to figure out what was going on. Remus and Severus immediately rushed forward, being stopped by Reggie when they tried to intervene.
"Ebubilo!" Barty tried again, getting more frustrated as the spell bounced off her shield. "Slugulus eructo! Locomotor wibbly! Orbis!"
"Levicorpus," Adeline said boredly and Barty flew into the air, hanging upside down and dropping his wand in the process as McGonagall finally got through the crowd of students to Adeline and Barty.
"Mrs. Black!" McGonagall called.
"If any of you want to learn how to actually duel and how to protect yourself, join the Dueling Club! First meeting is tomorrow at two on the fourth floor!" Adeline called before waving her wand and dropping Barty, a satisfied smile on her face as she turned to McGonagall. "Did you like our presentation, professor?"
"Presentation?" McGonagall asked in confusion.
"Yes," Adeline nodded, trying her hardest to look innocent.
"Oh," McGonagall said before nodding. "Nicely done. Ten points to Slytherin and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow."
"And I you, Professor," Adeline smiled before taking Reggie's arm and walking away, her innocent smile turning into a smirk.
The next day, Adeline and Remus were in the large classroom at one, setting everything up. They had multiple landing mats set out, along with a table with water and a few snacks snuck in from the kitchens. There were practice dummies in various places. Adeline finished duplicating the defense book she had sown together, filled with spells that Remus and Adeline planned on teaching, detailed descriptions of each spell and how to perform them. Remus waved his wand and the books flew to the bookcase that he had set up for her.
Remus offered his hand, helping Adeline stand from the floor. She brushed herself off, moving easily in her jeans, boots, and faded t-shirt that had a muggle rock band on it. Remus himself was dressed much the same, his shirt having a quote from a muggle novel on it instead of a band. McGonagall, Flitwick, Slughorn, and Madam Pomfrey entered the room a few minutes before everyone else was set to arrive, Adeline giving them each a copy of the book she had created. All four seemed rather impressed as Remus explained exactly what the club would be focusing on, flipping through the book as he went.
At one-fifty, the room began to fill up, students standing in groups against two of the walls. Adeline and Remus exchanged looks at the sheer number of students that had entered the room. Adeline waved her wand, duplicating more books as Remus waved his own wand, causing the books to go to each of their peers.
"We made a booklet on the spells that were going to teach you with details on how to perform the spells adequately," Remus announced, causing all of the students to stare at him. "We're going to practice the spells before dueling each other. Most of you already know a few of these, but we still want to make sure you can perform them without issues before dueling someone. If you happen to do it wrong, someone could get seriously injured."
"There are also quite a few younger students here," Adeline spoke up. "They won't know the majority of the spells in the booklets. We want older students to willingly help the younger students to get better."
"Adeline and I will be directing you during these sessions," Remus began speaking again, only to be interrupted.
"Why is it the two of you?" a sixth year Ravenclaw spoke up. "Why not an older student who knows more spells than you?"
"You can duel me for it," Adeline offered. "You beat me, you can teach."
"Deal," the sixth year smirked, stepping forward.
Remus stepped aside, smiling as he watched Adeline. Adeline led the sixth year onto a mat. The sixth year gave Adeline a slight bow, which Adeline returned before the two raised their wands. The sixth year shot out a silent stinging hex, smile falling slightly as the spell bounced off of Adeline's shield. They tried a few more spells before Adeline waved her wand and knocked the sixth year to the ground. She stepped forward, offering a hand to help the Ravenclaw stand.
"Thanks," the Ravenclaw said as he stood.
"No problem," Adeline smiled, stepping back. "Anyone else?"
A seventh year Gryffindor stepped up, smirking before shooting off a spell unexpectedly. Adeline swiped it away, glaring at the lion before shooting a spell back. The two volleyed back and forth for a bit before the ground opened beneath the Gryffindor slightly, causing his ankle to fall into the floor.
"What the bloody hell?" the seventh year yelled out.
McGonagall seemed as if she wanted to yell out 'language' before remembering it was student club and she was just there to supervise. Adeline helped the seventh year out of the hole, checking his ankle before sending him away.
"How about we make this interesting?" Sirius asked as he stepped forward, James at his side.
"Two against one?" a first year Slytherin asked. "How's that fair?"
"It isn't," Adeline told her.
"Worried you'll be beat?" James asked.
"She meant unfair for you," Remus called out, smirking. "Peter, want to help them out? They'll need it."
"I've dueled Shafiq before," Sirius rolled his eyes as Peter joined him.
"It's Black, actually," Adeline reminded him, smirking when Sirius glared at her. "You dueled me then. I'm a whole new me."
James shot a spell out and Adeline smiled as she knocked it away. The three began fighting against her, Adeline moving as she dodged spells rather than wasting energy throwing up a shield. She would yell spells, sending different ones non-verbally to confuse the boys. Peter fell first, knees turning to jelly and his wand flying away from him. James went next, being knocked backwards onto a mat and coughing as his back hit the mat. Sirius glared at Adeline before redoubling his efforts. Adeline spun around a spell before filling the room with fog, laughing when she heard Sirius curse.
She spelled her eyes, causing her vision to clear as if there was no fog, smirking when she saw Remus and the professors do the same. She waved to them before moving towards Sirius. She silenced her feet as she went before going behind him. She vanished the fog and placed her wand on the back of his neck, smirking when he froze up. He turned to her slowly, glare in place.
"I win," she smiled.
"Still using the fog spell I see," Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Still unable to deflect its affects I see," Adeline shot back before turning to the other students. "You'll be learning how to conjure and vanish the fog, as well as how to spell your eyes to be unaffected by it in the coming weeks. Any questions?"
Multiple hands went up and Adeline smiled as she skipped over to Remus' side. The first and second years went to a corner with a few seventh years to practice their class spells as Adeline and Remus directed the third through sixth years over wand movements with certain spells, helping them to relearn a few third- and fourth-year spells so that the movements were easier for them.
"It makes me think of how you taught Remus the tickling charm in charms our first year," Evan smiled.
"That's basically what we referenced," Adeline admitted. "We both have different ways of looking at spells that helped us to decided how to perform them."
"You'd be a good teacher," Evan told her as he caused a dummy to turn to dust with a reductor. "Have you given it any thought?"
"Not really," Adeline shook her head. "I kind of enjoy this though, so maybe I will."
"A teacher and a storyteller," Evan shook his head. "What would our parents think?"
"You remember that?" Adeline asked.
"Of course," Evan shrugged. "I do pay attention when you speak."
"I just didn't realize how much you paid attention," Adeline said before turning at the commotion in the corner, groaning when she saw Severus and James pointing wands at each other. "Excuse me."
Adeline ran over to the two just in time for spells to be shot off by both of them. She heard Reggie and Remus shout as she stepped between the two, being hit by both spells at the same time, blacking out before she even hit the ground. She woke again in the hospital wing, blinking as she tried to gather her bearings. Reggie's face appeared above her.
"She's awake!" he yelled and Adeline heard footsteps running towards her.
"How long have I been out?" she asked.
"Two days," Reggie told her. "We were so worried."
"We?" she asked before Remus and Lily showed up in her vision. "Oh."
"You need to stop stepping between them," Remus complained as Adeline sat up slowly, Pomfrey rushing over to her.
"Mrs. Black," Pomfrey sighed, waving her wand over her. "You were hit by a strong stinging hex and a blasting curse."
"Blasting curse would be Severus," Adeline sighed. "Taught it to him myself."
"Well, both mister Potter and Snape have detention for the next month," Pomfrey huffed. "You appear to be all clear though. If you have any pain, please come see me."
"I will madam," Adeline promised. "Thank you."
Once Pomfrey was gone, Remus passed Adeline a set of school robes. She waved her wand, causing her robes to appear in place of her hospital gown. Remus helped Adeline to stand, freezing when she looked to him and realizing she'd missed the full moon. The look he gave her was full of pain and she felt confusion, knowing that someone would have finished the potion for her. He shook his head, indicating he'd explain later.
"I hate when they do that," Reggie groaned.
"Do what?" Lily asked.
"Have whole conversations without speaking," Reggie sighed.
"We do that, too," Adeline pointed out with a smirk.
"Yeah, but still," Reggie shrugged.
"Whatever," Adeline rolled her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Time for lunch," Lily told her. "Are you truly feeling alright?"
"Yeah," Adeline nodded. "Let's go."
The four made their way through the school, a few people staring at Adeline as they went. Adeline could feel how tense Remus was beside her and her worry grew as they continued. Remus and Lily separated from them in the Great Hall, Remus sitting with Peter and James, Sirius nowhere in sight.
"They had a fight," Remus whispered to her.
"Who did?" Adeline asked.
"Sirius and the others. No one knows what happened, but this morning the three basically shunned him," Reggie explained. "He wouldn't tell me what happened when I cornered him after potions."
"Want me to try?" Adeline asked.
"No," Reggie shook his head. "He'll come to us or fix things with them eventually."
"Is Sev okay?" Adeline asked, seeing Severus sitting away from everyone else.
"He's been weird all day," Reggie shrugged.
"Him I'm going to," Adeline told Reggie, moving away from him to sit by her friend. "Hey."
"You're out of the hospital wing," Severus said, eyes growing slightly. "I need to talk to you."
"Okay," Adeline nodded.
"Not here," Severus shook his head, standing.
Adeline followed Severus from the Great Hall and into an empty classroom. Adeline watched as Severus wrung his hands, his knuckles turning white. The gesture caught her so off guard that she forgot to put up the privacy spells.
"I'm sorry about hurting you," he whispered.
"Is that all?" Adeline asked, sighing in relief. "I'm fine, Sev. No real harm done. I'm actually a bit proud of how well you performed the spell."
"It's not that," Severus shook his head. "I need to tell you something about Remus."
"About Remy?" Adeline asked in confusion.
"Yeah," Severus nodded, looking at his hands. "It's serious and I need you to just hear me out."
"Okay," Adeline nodded and Severus looked into her eyes.
"He's a werewolf," Severus stated.
Adeline was taken aback by the proclamation and Severus took her response as shook at the news.
"Black, Sirius that is, tricked me into following Remus to the Shrieking Shack through a tunnel under the Whomping Willow. I saw him transform and Potter dragged me away just when the wolf saw me. He pulled me away from there and took me to the headmaster. Dumbledore told me I couldn't tell anyone but I had to tell you, Adie. I mean, he lives with us! How could he keep that from us?" Severus paused as he stared at Adeline before realization overtook his features. "You knew."
"Sev," Adeline began.
"You knew! You knew and you let him live in your house! You let me move in, knowing he could attack us! How could you be so stupid, Adeline? He's a beast!"
"He is not!" Adeline argued.
"Of course, you don't think so," Severus groaned. "Werewolves are monsters, Adie! He could kill you! He probably killed his father!"
"I make his potions!" Adeline yelled, before taking a deep breath. "I make wolfsbane potions for him every month. I have since my first year."
"You've known since first year?" Severus asked in shock. "Is that why you're so close? Because you know his secret? Adie, that's probably the only reason he sticks around! He's using you for the potions and for a home!"
"Remus isn't like that," Adeline defended.
"He's just like his friends!" Severus argued. "He's just like those bullies! He's like Potter and Black who like to hex those they deem beneath them and you're too naïve and blinded by your love for them to see it!"
"So what if I am!" she yelled back. "Damn it, Sev. Remus has been my friend for years. He was my friend before I figure out his secret. He's a good person."
"He's a beast!" Severus yelled.
"The wolf is a beast," Adeline corrected.
"He is the wolf!"
"He is not!"
"He's a werewolf, Adeline! They are one and the same!"
"He takes his potions," Adeline tried. "He wouldn't have hurt you last night."
"How are you so sure that the potions even work?" Severus questioned. "It's not like you spend full moons with him. Oh, Merlin. You do, don't you?"
"I do," Adeline nodded. "We spend it in the woods at the manor and in the shack here. I typically read to him until he falls asleep."
"What if he had forgotten a potion? He could have killed you," Severus said, disbelief on his face. "Or worse, turned you."
"Between Remus and me, there is no way he'd forget his potion," Adeline rolled her eyes. "Have you met us? We're the two most organized students in this school. Even more than the Ravenclaws."
"He is a beast," Severus insisted.
"He is a good man," Adeline shot back.
"He used to watch as Black and Potter hexed me!" Severus argued.
"Does he just watch now?" Adeline asked.
"They haven't tried anything lately," Severus shrugged. "Dueling club was the first time."
"So, you're holding his past actions against him instead of talking to him about it and now you're looking for any excuse to write him off because you're afraid of him?" Adeline asked.
"Of course, I'm afraid of him. Aren't you?"
"Yes," Adeline shrugged, taking a moment to think over how to word her next statement. "Of course, I'm afraid of him. I'm afraid every month that I messed up the potion and will get hurt or killed. I'm afraid that he'll grow immune to the potion due to taking it for so many years and the wolf will take over at random."
Adeline took a deep breath before continuing, her voice softening.
"I'm more afraid of the pain he faces from turning without the potions that I make him. I'm more afraid that he'll be alone in his transformations as he was for so long before. I'm afraid of seeing my best friend drowning in the guilt of what the wolf has done in the past, knowing that he himself would never hurt anyone," Adeline explained. "Remus is a good person. He's an amazing friend and I am lucky to have him. He would do anything for me and I him. We look out for each other. That's how it works."
"You're mad," Severus shook his head. "I can't believe you let me live with that beast and didn't at least warn me. It's a good thing that you and Remus have each other as friends, because you and I aren't anymore."
Severus stormed out of the room, ignoring Adeline as she called after him. She went up to the room she brewed in and sat in the corner. After a few moments, she stood and began Remus' next round of potions, nodding when she saw that the wolfsbane and the advanced pain potion had been drunk. As she finished the first bit of the potion, Remus entered the room and Adeline sat back, stretching her aching back from having leaned over a cauldron for so long. She turned to Remus, seeing anger and pain on his face.
"Remy?" she asked, confused. "What's happened now? Severus told me what happened last night."
"I know," Remus nodded. "I heard."
"You heard?" Adeline asked, confused.
"You didn't put up silencing charms," he explained, voice low.
"Did anyone else hear?" Adeline asked, panic in her voice.
Remus just shook his head, looking down at his feet as he took a few deep breaths.
"Are you upset about what he said?" Adeline asked, voice soft as she reached for him.
"I don't care what he says!" Remus yelled, pulling away from Adeline. "It's you I'm cross with!"
"Me?" Adeline asked, confused.
"You're afraid of me," he said, betrayal on his face. "You say that you know I won't hurt you and you do all of these things to try and show me that you trust me, but you told Snape that you're afraid of me!"
"What?" Adeline asked in confusion before remembering the conversation. "What all did you hear?"
"There wasn't much to stick around to listen to after you told Severus how you truly felt! I left before I could hear you call me a beast with him!" Remus yelled, angry tears in his eyes.
"Remy, no. You didn't hear what I said after," she tried.
"Don't try to make something up now to make yourself look better!" Remus yelled. "I don't want to hear it! Sirius was right! You just keep me around for potions experiments and protection on full moons! You don't care about me! You never did!"
"Remy," Adeline gasped. "Sirius is wrong. You're my best friend."
"You probably aren't even muggleborn," Remus scoffed. "Probably made it up for some sob story along with how your mother treated you."
Adeline took a step back in shock, hurt on her face.
"Go learn from your dark lord. Teach the Slytherins on your own, that way you can teach them the darker spells like you want to. Just know that I'll be teaching the rest of the students how to defend themselves from you," Remus growled out before turning and leaving.
Adeline sank to the floor, letting out a loud sob once the door slammed shut. She cried into the night, falling asleep on the floor. The next morning, she groaned, her body hurting from the stone floor. She pulled herself into a chair, deciding she would go see Pomfrey about that potion, hoping she could convince the matron that the pain was from the two spells rather than from crying herself to sleep on the cold, hard ground.
She waited until the late bell had rung before waving her wand, dressing herself and fixing her hair and makeup before standing. Slowly, she made her way to the hospital wing. Once there she gave Pomfrey a pitiful smile and the matron pushed her into a bed, giving her a pain and sleeping potion without waiting for an explanation. Adeline was kept asleep by the potion, making it impossible to fight off the nightmares that plagued her dreams. Remus and Sirius called her horrid names as Walburga tortured her in almost everyone. In others, Remus seemed older as he walked past her, acting as if he didn't even know her as she called after him desperately.
The next day, Pomfrey released her, giving her a sad smile as Adeline left the wing. She went back to the classroom, checking her potions and deciding to take another day, not caring if she got detention for it. She wrote in her journal to Remus, telling him what was really said between herself and Severus, telling him to ask Severus if he needed proof.
She wrote Tom after, telling him how the dueling club went before turning back to Remus' section of the journal, staring at it and trying to will him to respond or at least read the message. Through the next week, Peter and James shot Adeline glares, telling her that Remus had told them the conversation he'd overheard. She wrote to James, explaining what had really happened, just for him to throw the journal at her the next day, sneer on his face. Adeline slipped the journal into her bag for safe keeping before walking out of Charms, ignoring Flitwick after he called after her. She went into her brewing room, watching the cauldrons without really seeing them.
The next day, Evan approached her.
"Hey, Adie," he smiled.
"Hey, Evan," she smiled back. "What's up?"
"Well, since there's no dueling club this weekend because of Hogsmeade, I was wondering if you would want to go to Hogsmeade with me?"
"With you?" Adeline asked, confused.
"We can stop dancing around each other, Adie," Evan smiled to her. "Reggie already told me that the two of you don't have romantic feelings for each other. I've made it very clear how I feel about you and I think you feel the same way."
"What way?" Adeline asked, feeling irritation creep in.
"We like each other," Evan provided. "Like, like each other."
"No," Adeline shook her head, before heading towards the Great Hall.
"What do you mean, no?" Evan asked, grabbing her arm and turning her to face him.
Adeline's brows rose and she looked to his hand on her arm before looking to his eyes. Her eyes flashed back and forth a few times before he got the point and released her with a nervous smile.
"Come on, Adie," he sighed. "Don't cause a scene."
"I'm not causing a scene," she told him. "You asked me on a date. I gave you an answer. You chased me down."
"Adie. I know you like me. Why are you being like this?"
"Let me make this Vertiaserum clear for you. I do not have romantic feelings for you. I never did. We haven't been close in years now so I'm not sure what signals I could have possibly been giving you by keeping my distance from you. You are betrothed to my dormmate, so I'm not sure why you aren't asking her on a date rather than me."
"Because it's you, Adie," Evan grabbed both of Adeline's arms when she tried to turn away again. "We're Adie and Evan. I tell you history stories and make you laugh. You teach me potions and make me blush."
"Remove your hands from me," Adeline growled out, feeling bruises forming from how hard he was gripping her.
Evan stared at her for a moment before letting her go, his face going blank before anger took over his features. Adeline turned and walked into the Great Hall, a few people staring at her as she went.
"So, you'll be the Gryffindor whore, but the moment a Slytherin looks at you, you run away?" Evan called after her loudly, causing everyone in the hall to turn towards them.
Adeline froze mid-step, setting her foot back. She slowly turned her head to Evan, brow raised. He was breathing heavily, staring at her in rage.
"Say it again," she told him, voice dangerous as she stared him down.
"You're a whore, Adeline Shafiq!" Evan yelled before a blast of light knocked him off his feet.
Adeline watched as Sirius walked into the Great Hall, anger on his face as he stared at Evan, who was picking himself off of the floor.
"It's Black, actually," Sirius said, voice a growl as he repeated Adeline's words.
Adeline grabbed an apple from the Hufflepuff table and left the hall, rolling her eyes as she went. Sirius followed after her. Once they were in an empty hall, Adeline turned to him.
"What the hell was that?" she asked.
"I was defending you?" Sirius sounded unsure.
"Oh, now you defend me?" Adeline scoffed.
"Are you actually mad at me right now?" he questioned. "How?"
"Do you want the list?" Adeline asked. "It's a rather long list of grievances!"
Sirius grabbed Adeline's arm and dragged her into an empty classroom, throwing up privacy spells before turning to Adeline.
"Go ahead," he waved his hand.
"Oh, thanks for the permission," she rolled her eyes, taking a bite of the apple before frowning as she realized she'd grabbed a red one instead of a green.
"Wrong apple?" Sirius asked with a smirk that disappeared when she chucked the apple at him.
"You're a selfish, spoilt brat, Sirius Black!" she yelled.
"I'm a selfish, spoilt brat?" he questioned. "Have you looked in a mirror?"
"I know what I am!" she yelled. "I own up to it! You on the other hand think you're so high and mighty in your red tower while Reggie and I have to protect ourselves in a snake den! Then you get mad that we have fangs to protect ourselves with!"
"Oh, stop being dramatic," Sirius scoffed.
"You were always jealous of mine and Remus' relationship! You told him that I was using him for potions experiments and that I was using his werewolf for protection!" she continued. "You broke my heart and you left Reggie to pick up the piece of the Black heirship when you decided to drink yourself into oblivion at a ball! You didn't just leave the Black heirship behind! You left him, too!"
"Are you mad for him?" Sirius asked.
"Of course, I am! Someone needs to be and we both know he loves you too much to not forgive you, even though you aren't the least bit sorry!"
"I am sorry!" Sirius yelled. "I am sorry for leaving him!"
"I'm not the one you need to apologize to for that!"
"Yes, you are! I left him which means you had to marry him!"
"You turned Remus against me!"
"I don't know what the hell is going on with you and Remus!"
"And you told Severus how to follow Remus to the Shrieking Shack!"
"He wasn't in danger! Remus takes his potions!"
"It wasn't your secret to give away, you selfish prat! Did you even stop to think about how Remus would feel? How scared he would be if someone else knows now? It was his secret and you just gave it away! That wasn't for you to do!"
"Well, I… Um…" Sirius stumbled over his words, but Adeline didn't give him time to think.
"You showed up at my house on the night that Regulus and I got married! Why? Because you needed to see me one last time after tearing my heart into pieces? Why? Hadn't you done enough? Do you even realize how much it hurt to wake up and find you gone? Then we get back to school and you won't even look at me! Like you're ashamed of me!"
"Merlin's beard, Adeline, I'm in love with you!"
"What?" she asked confused.
"I've been in love with you since we were kids. It's only ever been you. It'll only ever be you."
Sirius grabbed Adeline's face, kissing her roughly. Adeline whimpered for a moment before melting against him. Sirius turned Adeline, trapping her between his body and the wall. She arched her back, pressing herself against him, causing him to hiss slightly before his lips moved down her neck. He began nibbling on the spot below her ear that always made her gasp, smirking when she did just that.
"Siri," she whispered his name like an oath.
"Adie," he whispered back, kissing back up to her lips.
The two jumped apart as the bell rang for first period, both panting for breath.
"We can't do this," she whispered to him.
"Why not?" he asked, voice just as soft.
"Because I'm married to your brother and you've broken my heart so many times that I can't tell when you're telling me the truth anymore," she said, tears running down her cheeks.
Sirius reached his hand out, whipping her tears away. He kissed her cheeks and her forehead before stepping away. Adeline closed her eyes and listened as he left the room, the door closing gently behind him. Adeline opened her eyes to find the room empty. She sank to the ground, tears coming freely. She pulled out her journal, writing to Remus but knowing he wouldn't respond. She told him about the wedding night, confirming what he probably had guessed, and what had just happened with Sirius. She told him that she was sorry, that she missed him, that she wasn't afraid of him. She poured everything into the journal, tossing it aside when he didn't respond immediately.
At lunch, Reggie found Adeline in her brewing room, sitting beside her on her cot.
"What happened?" Reggie asked.
"Simple answer? Evan asked me on a date and got upset when I said no."
"What's the long answer?"
"I told him that I've never once been interested in him romantically and he called me a Gryffindor whore. Sirius hexed him for it and I ran off."
"I mean, do you blame him for thinking that you liked him?" Reggie asked.
"What?" she asked, looking at Reggie as if he'd grown two heads.
"You used to flirt sometimes," Reggie offered.
"In first year, like twice," Adeline defended. "We were eleven."
"Okay, fine, but a lot of people call you the Gryffindor whore so I'm not sure why you're so upset with him for it," Reggie shrugged.
"Wait, what?" Adeline asked, standing up.
"What?" Reggie asked. "I thought you knew."
"No, I didn't know! Why does it excuse him calling me it though just because other people do?" Adeline questioned, feeling angry.
"I don't call you it, so don't be mad at me," Reggie stood as well, arms held up in surrender.
"No, you just think I shouldn't be upset when Evan calls me it after I tell him no to going on a date," Adeline pointed out.
"Well, you led him on a bit," Reggie shrugged.
"How?" Adeline yelled the question. "How in the hell did I lead him on?"
"Like I said. You flirted."
"We were eleven!" Adeline repeated. "It was three years ago! I was in a whole relationship with Sirius and I got married to you in that time, so I'm not sure when I seemed even remotely available!"
"Why are you mad at me?" Reggie asked, looking defeated.
"Because you're defending someone that called me a whore!"
"It wasn't okay that he called you a whore," Reggie rolled his eyes. "Is that what you want to hear?"
"Get out," Adeline told him.
"What?" Reggie asked, confused.
"You heard me. Get out. I'm done with this conversation. I don't want to speak with you anymore," Adeline told him, turning away.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Reggie grumbled as if left the room.
Adeline pulled out her wand, locking the door and throwing up privacy spells. She sank onto her bed, laying down and pulling a blanket over her head. The next few weeks dragged on for Adeline. She helped to teach the younger Slytherins their syllabus for charms and defense while teaching the older students newer spells or even reteaching them a few spells they already knew. Remus, Peter, and James had taken to teaching the other houses, Slughorn disappointed when he saw the division amongst houses again, but always being available for Adeline on her day using the classroom.
She sent Remus his potions by owl on the next full moon, watching from a distance as he took the potions.
The longer Adeline thought over everything, the more angry she became. She was angry at Sirius for leaving her, breaking her heart over and over again. She was angry at Remus for not even attempting to hear her out and for automatically believing the worst of her. She was angry at him for calling her a liar as well about the truth of her birth. She was angry at James and Peter for leaving her so easily, throwing her away like trash. She was angry at Barty for hurting Remus and Reggie, mad at Evan for calling her a whore, mad at Reggie for defending Evan. She wasn't mad at Severus, though.
She began writing Tom more, telling him she had had a falling out with all of her friends and with Reggie. She hadn't given exact details for obvious reasons, just half truths. She explained all of the anger she had and not knowing what to do with it.
'Use it.'
'What do you mean?' she asked confused.
'The anger. Use it. Use it in your spells during your dueling clubs. Show everyone that Adeline Black is not one to be toyed with.'
'That's… not a bad idea, actually.'
'I happen to be brilliant, I'll have you know.'
'I've noticed.'
'You'll do well to remember it. I have a few spells for you to practice.'
Adeline went to the dueling room two hours before the Slytherins were set to arrive. She practiced the spells Tom had sent her, destroying multiple practice dummies as she went, her anger sparking out as she went. When she ran out of spells, she simply struck the dummy with pure magic until it was completely obliterated. She stood there, breathing heavily as she stared down at what remained of it, half of her hair having fallen out of the messy bun on top of her head as her chest heaved. She jumped when she heard applause behind her, turning to find most of the Slytherins just watching her.
"Is this what the Dark Lord has been teaching you?" Avery asked, a wide smile on his face.
"Most of it," she gasped out. "Last bit was just anger."
"I don't even know most of the spells you used," a seventh year spoke up.
Adeline looked to the first and second years, seeing them stare at her in a mix of wonder and fear. She gave them a soft smile as she waved her wand, correcting her appearance. They seemed to deflate slightly at the action, seeing Adeline looking more herself than she had previously.
"You can teach us that?" a third year asked hesitantly.
"I don't think Slughorn would like that," Adeline shrugged. "Speaking of, where is he?"
"He said to tell you he has a staff meeting and won't make it today," Mulciber told her. "So, no teacher to tell us no."
Adeline stared at the Slytherins, looking to the quiet ones who she knew had probably joined because other houses had picked on them simply for being snakes. She looked at her house mates with new eyes, seeing them as scared children who needed power to protect themselves from what the other houses, and what the rest of the world, would think of them. She decided then that they were hers to protect.
"Okay," she nodded, a smirk forming on her face. "Let's get started."
The next weekend, Adeline told Slughorn that the dueling club was just going to be quiet studying for the next few weeks and she would tell him when they would be picking up spell work again. He smiled, granting permission to continue the club without his presence. Through the entire month of October, every Sunday from one to five, Adeline showed the Slytherins spells to truly protect themselves, spells to cause their opponents thoughts to turn to mush, giving them the advantage to attack. She taught them how to use runes when casting spells to make the spell stronger. She taught them how to case a crowd to know who would actually be dangerous and to attack at the first sign of someone coming at them.
She didn't know that she was actually training some of them to be better Death Eaters one day.