Chapter 15
LB
"Lupin-Black." I groaned as I turned my head. "Alec." The voice whispered in my ear. I shot up quickly, knocking my head against the person behind me. I turned quickly and saw Nott standing there with his hand over his nose, blood trickling down to his wrist.
"Oh, shit." I conjured a cloth and held it against his nose. I pushed him down in my seat and kneeled in front of him. "I'm sorry, Nott."
"My own fault, I shouldn't have stood so close."
"You should be glad I didn't pull my wand." I chuckled as I dapped his nose. His eyes were fixed on me as I looked to his bloody nose. I pulled my wand out of my shoe. "May I?"
"Are you going to break it?" He grinned behind the cloth. "Try your worst."
I smiled as I whipped the wand in front of him, the bleeding stopped in an instant. "All fixed. Just ... scourgify. That's better." I vanished the cloth. "Perfect."
"I'm perfect, huh?" His eyebrow quirked, matching it with a smirk.
"I didn't say that." I flicked his head. "My work is perfect." I grinned as I stood back up. "How did you get in here?"
"What? In the library?"
"What?" I looked around the room in surprise, thinking I was in my chambers. "I must've fallen asleep."
"You've been here since last night?" Nott stood up, standing close.
"I was studying." I frowned as I tried to recount what had happened.
"You have your exam today." He said placing his hand on my shoulder.
"Shit! What time is it?"
"Nearly eight. What time do you need to be there?"
"Nine thirty." I walked past him to put my things in my bag.
"You should eat something before." He said as he helped me pack. I smiled at him as he handed me the last book. "Why don't you sit down at the Slytherin table. You're all for mixing the houses."
"I-" I frowned as we walked out of the empty library. I rummaged in my bag and took out the large piece of paper, where names were already appearing on. The very first name: Emmett Nott. "You signed up." I looked up to him with large grey eyes, beaming.
"Can't pass up an opportunity to fight other students."
"That's not what it's for!" I gasped and slapped his arm.
"Too bad." He grinned. "I saw that you're the one who started it up, and that you'll be teaching."
"And Professor Lupin."
"And Lupin." He nodded and when we reached the great hall, he led me to the Slytherin table, again several eyes were fixed on me. "People will come to see you."
"I think everyone got past that." I said as I sat down next to him. The few Slytherins on the table, looked at us with a glare.
"Don't know about that. You ready?" He asked as he loaded his plate.
"Ready as I'll ever be. I know most of them by heart, but I'm just afraid of messing up. Of disappointing my uncle or even Snape."
He nudged me with his elbow. "You'll do great, now eat. We don't want you to faint during the exam." He said with a grin. I rolled my eyes at him as I slowly filled my plate, showing every piece I put on it. "Good. Oh, hey little brother."
I looked up to see a younger boy sitting across from us. He looked a lot like Emmett, but his eyes were a shade darker, his hair shorter and his face looked so much younger. Right after the boy sat down, Draco sat down next to him together with a dark-skinned boy. First, Harry caught me by surprise showing me the cloak, now Draco Malfoy. I was sure he had written to his mother about me, otherwise he wouldn't have taken a seat in front of me.
"Theo, this is Lupin-Black."
"Otherwise known as Alec." I interjected, and the older Nott shot me a grin, the boy nodded, and I turned to Draco. "Where are your bodyguards?"
"Grabbe and Goyle? Snoring probably." He said as he took a piece of toast. "And I don't need bodyguards."
"Are you sure?" I asked as I took the paper from my bag. "I don't see your name in here, guess you can't prove yourself." I challenged.
"Give it here." He grumbled and he quickly jotted his name down when I handed it over. I turned to the still unfamiliar boy next him.
"What about you?"
"I already signed up, Lupin-Black." He pointed at the paper. And my eyes stopped at his finger, Blaise Zabini. "Can't wait to crush you."
"You can try." I shrugged as I tucked the paper back in my bag.
"And try I'll will." The boy winked at me. Emmett next to me snickered at the young boy's flirting. I took a last bite of my toast and hopped up.
"I better get going, don't want to be late." I leaned down and whispered in Nott's ear. "Don't think I didn't hear you call me Alec, Nott" I straightened back up, and saw his stormy eyes on me. "Bye boys."
"Cousin." Draco acknowledged with a nod. When I walked out of the great hall, I could hear him talk to Nott. "What was that about?"
But he didn't answer him, he just yelled after me. "Good luck!" I looked over my shoulder and shot him a smile before walking out of the room.
LB
"Cub, where have you been?" Remus was suddenly in front of me, looking frantic and worried.
"I'm sorry, uncle Moony." I said as he led me aside. "I fell asleep in the library."
He took in a deep breath. "It's okay. It's just the moon, I was so tired otherwise I would've come look for you."
"I know. I'm so sorry." I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him tight. His arms circled around me as his chin rested on my head.
"It thought something happened, with the dementors or ..." He didn't finish the sentence, but I knew what he meant. "But enough of that." He pulled back with a smile. "Let's get you to the classroom for the exam."
We started to walk towards the grand staircase, down to the dungeons when someone called out for me.
"Wait up!" I turned to see the twins, Lee and Angelina run up to us. "I thought we missed you."
"I'm sorry, but I really need to go." I glanced at my watch. "I need to be there in ten minutes."
"It won't take long, promise." Angelina grinned.
"We wanted to wish you luck." Fred said.
"And give you a good luck charm." George said as he pulled out a little box, when he clicked it open, there was a little green four-leaf clover pin in it.
"You guys didn't have to get me anything." I said with a beaming smile. Moony was standing next to me, looking at the box with a smile.
"We know you don't need luck." Fred said.
"But we felt like we had to do something to show our support."
"Even if that means you won't be my potions partner anymore." Lee grinned.
"You guys are amazing." I hugged Lee tight, before going over to Angelina to do the same. When I reached the twins, George put the pin on my robe. "Thank you." I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek, and then did the same with Fred. They both blushed with a large smile on their face. I stepped back next to Moony and saw him look at the twins with raised eyebrows, before he cleared his throat. "I'll see you in a few hours."
"Good luck!" The four of them chimed before Remus and I turned to walk down the stairs. We walked in silence until we reached the room where the examinator was waiting for me. Remus turned to me and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"Alexandra Fae Lupin-Black, you are going to be amazing in there. You are smart, driven and you worked so hard to get to this moment, to be this amazing, strong young woman. You are the best daughter I could wish for."
"Even with my shenanigans?"
"Especially with them." He smiled and kissed the top of my head. "Go show them what you're made off."
"I love you."
"I love you too, cub." With a last smile, he turned me, and I pushed back the tears that had formed and walked inside the classroom.
LB
By the time I was done with the exam, the room was hot and damp, the smoke was just starting to disappear. I wiped the sweat of my brow as I bottled the last potion and handed it over at the examinator. The first portion of the exam was theory, which took about an hour and a half. Now I just finished the practical part which took over two hours. I put the last bottle on the tray next to all the others. I picked up the tray and walked over to the examinator who had watched me intently from the beginning.
"Thank you, miss Lupin-Black." The examinator smiled. It was an older man, maybe mid-forties. He has black hair with grey streaks in it, his eyes dark blue, his eyes wrinkled as he smiled at me. "I don't know until I examined the potions and your exam, but it looks good, really good. From the way you work, it looks like you're a potion masters' already."
"Really?" I asked surprised, my mouth hanging slightly open.
"You're the most gifted student I've seen in years. But don't tell anyone I told you that, we aren't allowed to give you any indication if you passed or not."
"I'll keep my lips sealed." I pulled my fingers over my lips.
"It was a true pleasure seeing you work, miss Lupin-Black." He stood up from his desk and outstretched his hand, I shook it beaming. "You'll get the result by owl by the beginning of December at the latest."
"Thank you, Mr Wilson. Have a nice weekend."
"You too, miss. Good day." He nodded with a smile, and I stepped out of the dark classroom. To my surprise Nott was sitting against the wall, reading, his legs spread out in front of him, one ankle of the other.
"Hello, Nott. What are you doing here?"
Nott dropped his book as he didn't hear me come out of the classroom. He picked up his book and pushed it in his bag as he stood up nonchalantly, leaning against the wall with a Slytherin smirk.
"The Slytherin common room is in the dungeons, you know."
"Why aren't you in the common room then?" I tried to hide a smile as he walked with me.
"Who's to say." He shrugged. "How did it go? I thought you would be in there for at least another hour?"
"It went well, finished early as you can see."
"When do you know the results?"
"By the beginning of December."
"Good thing you started the duelling club, so you have a distraction."
"Yeah, let see how many people have signed up." I said as I rummaged in my bag and took out the parchment. My eyes scanned the parchment that was filled with names. "Wow." I gasped softly. Nott leaned closer to look at the parchment with me.
"You think the classroom is going to be big enough?"
"I think so, depends on how many more sign up." I turned to look at him. "Now I'm starting to feel nervous."
"You? Nervous? I didn't think I would see the day." He grinned and I went to slap his arm, but he caught my wrist gently. His eye caught mine and we stared at each other, his eyes darkening. We were both startled when a throat was cleared, we tore our eyes away and looked to the other side of the corridor. There stood not only my uncle, but also Lee, the twins and Angelina. Nott lowered my hand softly before letting go. My eyes were fixed on my uncle with the full moon tonight, I didn't know how he was going to react. But Nott sensed the tension and rocked on his heels.
"I'll see you later, Lupin-Black." He winked. "Lions." He nodded to the five Gryffindors standing there as he passed. When Nott was out of sight, I walked closer to the group still standing there like they were frozen. I touched Remus's arm, and he snapped out of it.
"Sorry." He muttered as the rest looked at us confused. "How did it go?" He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and led me up the stairs.
"Great. I'll get the results in about four weeks."
"We have a surprise." He said as he looked at the others behind us. I looked over Moony's arm and saw them smirk.
"Another one?" I raised an eyebrow.
"This one is for all of us." George pointed out. I pursed my lips as they led me out of the castle. We walked in silence until we stopped at the black lake. The moment we stepped onto a dark patch a grass; a warming spell was in effect. I saw a large blanket with picnic baskets and blankets sprawled around it. As Angelina sat down, she pulled me down with her. The others all took a seat around us, except for Moony.
"Aren't you joining us, professor?" Angelina asked.
"No, I'm sorry. I have – work to do." He said evasively.
"I'll see you before dinner."
"Take your time."
"I'll see you then." I said again as my eyes were locked on him with a serious gaze. He gave me a somber smile before he headed back to the castle.
"Uhm, so what was that about?"
"We promised to celebrate tonight, good or bad."
"No, not that." Lee shook his head. "Nott."
"Oh." I said slowly as everyone watched me. "He just came from the Slytherin common room." I lied because I knew they weren't fans of Slytherin students. "And we bumped into each other."
"It looked more than that." I glared at Lee, before my eyes flickered over the others. Angelina looked intrigued, while the twins looked... I don't know... disgruntled? Annoyed? Confused?
"You all know that we have Ancient Runes together. We get along." I lifted my shoulders a little. "I'm not looking for anything right now. It's only been a few weeks since the break-up."
"You and what's his name broke up?" Fred asked. I looked to him and George who both looked surprised.
"His name is Jack." I gritted out. "We did. I told you, didn't I?" I frowned not knowing if I actually told them or just Angelina. "But since he's been my friend for ages, I would like that you call him by his name."
"Sorry." Fred muttered. "And I'm sorry you broke up."
"It was inevitable really. I love him, but being away from each other…" I shook my head. "But let's talk about something else, alright. How's training going?" The twins looked at me for a few seconds before they started diving in into Wood's new strategy.
LB
A few hours later, I left them to go to Moony. Just like I thought, he was pacing in our joined chambers. I touched his shoulder lightly when he faced me again.
"There are a lot of students out there. Why don't you put a disillusionment charm on yourself, and I turn into Loki when we're outside the castle. And I brought some games for us to play, even Scotty." I took the bag from the floor and slung it over his shoulder. By the mention of the name Scotty, I saw his eyes turn to the ones of the werewolf. "Hold on, Moony." I squeezed his arm. "Let's go."
"Good thing it's the weekend, so you won't have to miss class tomorrow." Moony finally said after we were walking to the exit for the last five minutes.
"Yeah, now just hoping the others won't come on calling for me tomorrow."
"You know, if the wolf – if Scotty is calm, you can take a nap, cub."
"I don't know." I fidget with my sleeve. "We'll see. If I do, I'll sleep right next to you."
"I think he would appreciate that." He rubbed my shoulder.