Chapter 22
LB
I was lying on my stomach on the carpet in front of the fireplace finishing my essay for Transfiguration when Moony walked in. He kicked of his shoes near the door and walked over. He kissed the top of my head before sitting down at his desk in front of me.
"Uncle Moony?" I asked, leaning on my arms to look at him. He looked up from the papers he had just taken out of his bag. "Draco invited us to celebrate Christmas or New Year's with him and Aunt Cissy."
"I don't think Lucius would invite either of us, cub."
I pushed myself all the way up until was sitting on my knees, the quill tucked behind my ear. "Aunt Cissy is leaving him, for real this time. So, it would be just Draco, Aunt Cissy and us."
"I would like to have you here for Christmas. Don't want to miss our tradition." He smiled, and I felt the same way. We always celebrated Christmas together, if it was just cooking together or eating out. "And I would like to see Narcissa again, but I don't think it's the right time for that. Especially with the full moon that just passed then. You can go for New Year's if you want."
"But what about you? I don't want to leave you." I looked up to him with large eyes. I was afraid he would feel lonely and rejected for leaving him, especially right after the full moon.
"I will be okay, Alec. New Year's is two days after the full moon. I'll probably just sleep the whole time since there are no classes."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." He smiled at me. That smile, I recognized had nothing but honesty behind it.
"Alright. But I'm coming with you on the full moon." I pointed out with my quill that I just had retrieved from my hair.
"Wouldn't have expected anything else." His smile still in place. "If you're finished, we should head to the club room, to set everything up."
"Almost done. Just need to -" I scribbled another three sentences on the parchment before rolling it up. "You'll look at it later?" I asked walking over.
"Of course. Now go change." He ushered me away as he took the parchment from me.
LB
I was wearing a faded pink training suit as I was walking around the room barefooted, checking to see all the mats aligned perfectly, leaving no gaps. I heard the third to fifth years walk in the classroom, and even though I said they shouldn't come, the twins appeared behind Angelina and Lee. They looked around the room with interest before their eyes landed on me and gave me a lopsided grin. When I saw the familiar blond head walk in, I pushed the last blue mat to the right place with my foot, before going over to the Slytherin group.
"Hey, cousin." I grinned as I watched him take of his shoes. He was now wearing a real tracksuit, not those fancy trousers that didn't give with your movement. I had written to his mother and explained the situation and the next day a neatly wrapped package arrived at the Slytherin table over breakfast. Draco had sent me a look when he read the card, but I couldn't help but grin at him. "Nice tracksuit."
"It's horrendous." He huffed, tucking his socks in his shoes. And he leaned closer when he stood back up. "But it's so comfortable." He whispered.
I couldn't help the burst of laughter that escaped from his confession. And even with the eyes that fell on us, Draco couldn't help the grin that appeared on his lips. I leaned against the wall next to him. "You're welcome then. Oh, and if the invitation still stands, I would love to come over for New Year's."
"What about Lupin?" He nudged his head towards the professor. I saw Remus ear twitch and I knew he was listening.
"He's not really a fan of New Year's."
"Alright. I'll write to mother. Then we can see how you can come over. But I have to warn you..."
"Yes?" I asked a little afraid of the answer.
"I usually have dinner with mother, and we stay up until late. But I asked her if I could have some friends over."
"Oookay." I drawled out.
"And to my surprise, she said yes. Maybe it's because of the divorce." He shrugged.
"So, I'll be surrounded not by one thirteen-year-old but several?"
"Well, yeah." He grinned. "It's not like I'm going to invite your friends. I'm not that reformed."
"Not yet." I snickered at his astonished look and pushed myself off the wall. "It's okay. As long as there is -" I looked over my shoulder, but Remus was engaged in a conversation with Harry and his friends. "Some booze, I'm good."
"I'll see to it." He smirked as he leaned back against the wall. I turned to walk away and bumped in Nott, who was one of the last ones to come.
"Lupin-Black, looking for me, are you?' His smug grin in place.
"You wish, Nott." I chuckled and patted his arm as I side stepped him. "You're ready for your utter humiliation?"
"Bring it." He smirked as he walked to the wall with the other Slytherins.
LB
"Hello everyone. Today we won't be duelling just yet, so you can place your wands in the basket in a minute. You can pair up again, if you don't have a partner, please come up to me. Please chose your partner now." The moment I finished the sentence, Nott was next to me and tapped my shoulder.
"Hello partner." I rolled my eyes at him but didn't answer as Remus stepped next to my other side. My eyes went over the room as everyone was pairing up. I saw the twins together back against the wall, as their eyes were fixed on me. Their gaze was heavy, so I shifted my eyes away to see Ron come over, looking gloomy and a little afraid.
"Ah, Ron. The odd man out?" Remus asked, clapping the boys back and he searched the room. "Does everyone have a partner?"
"I don't have one!" A small, dreamy voice piped up. Some of the larger kids moved away to reveal the blonde girl from Ravenclaw.
"Luna, this only for third years and up." Remus said kindly, but I stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder and stepped forward.
"Welcome, Luna." I smiled. From what I've seen the past months, she didn't have many friends, or any for that matter. I couldn't let her go, maybe she can make some here. "I can't wait to see how you'll bring Ron down." I heard others laugh while Ron turned red as a tomato, and I saw the twins behind her with a grin of their own. "But just don't tell anyone I let you join, alright?" The girl beamed at me, before her eyes drifted dreamily around the room. "Come on, Ron." I nudged him. Ron looked lost from me to the younger girl, but I had a feeling she had her own way of battling her enemies.
"Alright, now that everyone's paired up, mister Nott here." I pointed my thumb at him. "Has volunteered to fight me."
"You got a death wish, Nott?" A Ravenclaw boy chuckled, and others joined in. Nott just stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
"We'll put the protective charms on him." Remus said and several groaned, which made me tut at them with a grin.
"Right, everyone, wands in the basket." Everyone moved around the room to place their wands in the basket before returning to their seats. "Okay, Emmett. Do you want to explain the steps or just see what comes at you?" I asked with a smirk.
"Do your worst." He matched my expression.
"You asked for it. Professor Lupin?" I looked to my uncle, and he nodded before placed the charms over Nott's entire body.
"Why are you doing it all over his body, professor?" Hermione asked.
"Because Hermione, I have no idea what Alec is going to do to mister Nott." He couldn't help but grin, his voice proud. Hermione's eyes twinkled as she looked to me.
"So, pull my hair, hard enough so my head pulls back." I said as I shifted to stand in front of him. "Today will be fine, Nott." I said as nothing happened. I heard another wave of snickers go around the room. Then suddenly I felt fingers weave through my high ponytail carefully. Once he had a good grip, he pulled hard, my head snapping back. I turned and grabbed the arm that was in my hair. With my free had, I pushed the palm of my hand hard up his nose. Nott stammered back and I kicked him in the groin making him double over. But Nott didn't give up, he grabbed my hand and pulled me down, pinning me underneath him.
"No." I heard Remus say, and I knew some people had come forward trying to help.
I grabbed his wrist with one hand, while the other grabbed his bicep. My foot swirled over his to lock it in place while my other leg took place between his. I lifted my hips and turn him to the right, making him fall over. I rolled further as I pinned him to the ground. His arms locked between my knees. I grinned broadly down at him, while the others clapped enthusiastically. First, I was afraid to see him angry for beating him. But nothing could be further from the truth. He looked at me with – adoration? His smile large, his eyes dark as they stared up at me. Maybe it was lust. The clapping died down, and in the corner of my eye, I saw the twins standing not far away, together with Harry and even Draco. They were the ones who had tried to intervene then.
"Alright, I give up." He yielded and I released his arms from my grip. "Salazar, that was amazing! And hot!" Several in the room laughed. "Alec, would you like to go on a date with me?" He asked, still lying underneath me.
My eyes went wide as I looked down at him, it wasn't the fact that he asked me that had surprised me, but that he chose this moment in front of more than twenty people, including my uncle, to ask me.
"How can I say no to such a worthy opponent." I smiled as I climbed of him and held out my hand to pull him up. I walked over to Remus smiling shyly, while Nott walked over to his friends beaming. I hopped on the desk and took big gulps from the water bottle.
"Right, uhm." Remus cleared his throat to gather the attention. "So, you can do the first part of the attack, up until Nott pulled Alec down. I'll come over to put the protective charms on you, because I don't want to see any nosebleeds or broken noses."
LB
As he went over to every pair to cast the charm, my eyes scanned the room again. My eyes found the twins, who were standing at the same spot as earlier, right next to the spot I had pinned Nott down, right where he asked me out. The boys were whispering to each other a frown in place. I wiped my head off with a towel before hopping off the table and headed over to the twins.
"Are you guys ready?" I asked. They both jumped a little as I appeared next to them.
"Yeah." He said a little off. "But we don't have long hair like you do."
"Want to try it with me?" I asked, looking between them. "I'll go easy on you if you want."
"You don't have to ever go easy on me, love." Fred winked. Those boys with their flirtatious ways. First, I thought they liked me more than a friend, but then I saw they were like that with most girls. That was just the way they are. Not that I was ready back then to really date anyone serious, and even if I was, they were brothers, no, twins! How could you even think to choose between them?
I rolled my eyes at him, as George moved away, and I turned my back to him. Fred took a hold of my looser ponytail and gave it a pull. I turned and grabbed his arm before my free hand shot up, my eyes went wide in terror as my palm went up his nose and blood appeared everywhere. Fred stumbled back and fell to the ground. George and I were next to him in an instant.
"Fucking hell, Fred! Why didn't you tell me that Lupin didn't put the charm over you yet?" I pulled my sweater over my head and pressed it against his nose, leaving me in a black tank top. "George, grab my wand, please." I asked looking at the horrified twin. I saw several pairs stopped fighting and looked to us on the floor. "Everything's okay, just a nosebleed."
"Continue with the fighting." Remus said before kneeling on one knee next to me. "Everything okay, Alec?"
"Those idiots forgot that you hadn't done the spell yet." I grumbled, my faded pink sweater turning dark red. George dropped down next to me again and handed me my wand. "Thanks. I'll take care of it." I said the last part to my uncle.
"Hospital wing?" He asked.
"I don't think so, an Episkey should be enough."
"Right." He stood back up. "I'll go see to the others."
"Fred, I'm going to take the sweater away. I'll stop the bleeding first before the Episkey." He nodded behind the sweater. I pulled the sweater away and waved my wand over his nose, the bleeding stopped in an instant. I cast another scourgify over his face and my sweater making the blood disappear, from his face at least, the sweater still had blood on it. Maybe I can get it out the muggle way. "Now the not so fun part because it is broken."
"Do it." He gave me a short nod.
"Episkey." A sickening crack was heard, but his nose looked back to normal.
"I liked it better before." George grinned and let himself fall on his bum. I waved my wand and muttered the protective charm over them and stood up with my stained sweater in hand.
"I've put the charm on you. You can just grab each other's shirt for the exercise." I grumbled a little before walking away, not waiting for an answer.
The rest of the meeting went without a hitch. I checked on everyone except for the twins, Remus took my place to see if they did it right. When the meeting was over and everyone was starting to trickle out, Nott appeared next to me.
"I didn't mean to pressure you earlier." He said soft, his hand on my lower back.
"Pressure me?" I asked, turning a little to see him better.
"Yeah, for asking like I did, in front of everyone. It just came out."
I smiled at him. "I would have said yes even if you asked in private." I kissed his cheek before tugging on my shoes.
"Well then. Hogsmeade next weekend?" A smile back in place.
"Can't wait." I mimicked his smile and with a last wink, he headed out of the room.
When I tugged on my other shoes, I tucked my wand in my hair and looked to the bloody sweater with a frown.
"I'm sorry about your sweater." Fred's voice came from behind me. I closed my eyes, and breathed in deeply, before turning around.
"I'm not mad about the sweater, Fred." I rubbed my face tiredly; the twins shuffled their feet nervously. "You have no idea how much I could have hurt you! I could have gone for your throat which means chocking! This isn't something to go over lightly."
George took a tentative step forward. "We know. We were just excited to train with you." He finished his sentence with a hand on my shoulder. "We won't do anything stupid like this again, promise." He gave my shoulder a light squeeze.
"George is right. We learned our lesson. No more goofing around."
"Well, if you can promise that, then you'll can attend the next one." I managed a smile.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Fred smiled. "Are you coming to the common room?" George asked.
"No, I'm beat. I'm going to take a long shower and head to bed. I'll see you in class tomorrow." I kissed their cheeks before heading towards the door where my uncle was waiting.
LB
I guess many of you are waiting for Sirius to make his appearance? Well, it's coming soon! He will officially appear in Chapter 24!