Chapter 33: The Details

"…and then, he said he wouldn't be able to make it to the next Hogsmeade trip because of a 'family emergency.' Again." Priya threw her hairbrush onto her four poster in frustration. "Ariadne, do you think he's messing with me?"

"Priya, this is Remus we're talking about. He doesn't have an ungentlemanly bone in his body." Ariadne was focusing on weaving the top half of her hair into a braid, which would then be intricately wrapped around her head.

"You're right, but, I don't know…I just can't help but feel like I'm missing something. Like there's a puzzle piece I don't have, and if I did, everything would suddenly make sense. But he's hiding it from me."

Ariadne made a mental note to herself to speak to Remus about disclosing his secret to Priya. Of course, it was very risky, but if they intended to become more serious, then he should be able to trust her.

"I know. Remus has always been a bit mysterious. Kind of closed-off about his family, and things like that. Don't take it personally, 'Riya. He'll come around eventually."

"Thanks, Ari. You always know the right thing to say." Priya buried her face in Ariadne's shoulder.

"Group hug!" announced Sophie, so that she could join in the display of affection as well. Ariadne almost fell over from their combined weight.

"Okay, okay, I love you both too," said Ariadne, hastily extricating herself.

"Ariadne, can I borrow some of that detangling solution you always have hanging around? My hair never recovered from that botched human Transfiguration lesson that was supposed to make it grow."

'Sure Priya, it's in my trunk."

Priya was silent for a few moments as she rummaged through Ariadne's things, but when Ariadne expected to hear a "Got it, thanks!" she only heard silence.

And then a small flask was shoved accusingly under her nose. "Explain."

Ariadne looked down. It was a deep purple concoction she had been brewing and administering to herself for the last few weeks. A contraceptive potion.

Ariadne decided that the best way to handle this was to play it cool. "You didn't honestly think I wasn't going to be safe, did you? I have way too many NEWTs to complete to take any chances."

"It's not THAT Ariadne—of course you're going to be responsible—but why didn't you tell me?"

Ariadne sighed. "Because honestly, Priya, it's not any of your business."

Ariadne hadn't meant to hurt Priya, she was just channeling her characteristic directness. If Ariadne wanted her private life, well, private, that was her prerogative.

"How long has this been going on? When did it happen?" demanded Priya. Sophie was now crowded around Ariadne too, eyes large and earnest.

"Aren't you even going to ask me who the lucky guy is?" said Ariadne wryly.

"Goodness, Ariadne, I'm not daft. Well, actually, maybe I am. I should have been able to tell from all those sultry looks you two keep exchanging across the Common Room. I just thought maybe you were still holding off. For some reason. If Sirius Black had been looking at me like that, I would have jumped his bones last term."

Sophie had figured out that this meant that Ariadne and Sirius were sleeping together and was now bouncing around the dormitory squealing.

"Well, I suppose I finally arrived at the same conclusion," said Ariadne, trying not to smile.

"Are you holding back a smile? IS ARIADNE MORRIGAN SMILING?" Priya practically bellowed, now brandishing the flask the flask at her.

"Careful, Priya, I need to take another dose of that at the end of this week," interjected Ariadne.

"Oh right, sorry," she said, putting it down carefully on Ariadne's bedside table. Next thing Ariadne knew, she was sitting on her own bed, with Priya and Sophie cross-legged at the foot, staring at her expectantly.

"So?"

"So…?" for once, Ariadne didn't know the correct answer.

"So, tell us everything! How did it happen?"

"What's it like dating a Hogwarts' heartthrob?" asked Sophie dreamily.

Ariadne folded her arms. "Okay, let's get one thing straight…again. We are NOT dating."

Priya brushed aside the technicalities with a gesture of her hand. "Okay, call it whatever you want, Ari, dating, shagging, seeing each other, friends plus some extra, it doesn't matter. We all know you're going to end up together in the end." Ariadne frowned. "Just tell us the details."

"Is he as good a kisser as Catherine Whipple says?" asked Sophie.

"Definitely," answered Ariadne automatically. "Better."

"Is he better than that Ravenclaw who was using you for answers to the Arithmancy homework?" asked Priya.

"Infinitely better," replied Ariadne, shuddering at that unfortunate episode of her life.

"Is Sirius the only person you've gone all the way with?" asked Priya thoughtfully.

"No. Arithmancy guy too, regretfully."

"What about the pretty Hufflepuff? Marina?"

"We didn't get quite that far."

"I liked Marina," said Priya.

"I did too, but neither of us was looking for anything serious."

Priya and Sophie snickered. Ariadne only belatedly realized why.

"So…anything else you urgently need to know? Or can I leave the interrogation?"

"Do you love him, Ariadne?" asked Sophie in her sweet but penetrating way.

Ariadne was taken aback by the question. "No," she said, stumbling a little and annoyed at herself for it. "No, Sophie, we're just hooking up."

Priya was smirking just a tiny bit and Sophie looked disappointed.

"Sirius is fit, and attractive, and smart, and admittedly, rather good at magic, and clever, and believes in doing the right thing—but it's not like that, we're just friends right now."

Priya shrugged and got up to finish doing her makeup, though Ariadne swore she heard her hum to herself, "Whatever you say, Ariadne," under her breath. Sophie was still staring at Ariadne, but she looked happier now.

"What?" asked Ariadne, trying not to be snippy.

"I'm just imaging your wedding in my head."