Chapter 11


LB


Almost a month after school started, and I haven't seen much of the other Gryffindors outside of class. I was so busy to study for my potion exams, my time was spend in the library or in the privacy of my own dorm. I've been talking in class more to the other houses, once they got over the fear of me being like Sirius Black. So, during charms, I did what I told Angelina and the others what I was going to do and sat with a Hufflepuff. Alicia still didn't talk much to me, but I gave her the space and time to come around.

"Can I sit here?" I asked a Hufflepuff. The boy turned away from one of his friends he was talking about and saw me pointing at the empty seat next to him. He nodded his head and I lowered myself to the chair. All the other Gryffindors were sitting on the other side of the room, facing me. "I'm Alec."

"Cedric."

I nodded. "Don't let me interrupt your conversation." I said as I took my book out of my bag.

"It wasn't that interesting." He said as he turned to fully face me. "So, are you adjusting nicely?"

"I'm getting there." I said as I twirled my quill between my fingers. "The whole inter house rivalry isn't my scene though."

"Mine either." He said as he leaned in his seat. "But what can you do?"

I smiled to myself as I looked down at my book. "I may have a plan for that."

"Here for three weeks and already planning to overturn Hogwarts?" He raised an eyebrow with a chuckle.

"No, nothing that excessive." I chuckled with him. "It's weird for such a large school to not have clubs you can join."

"Hm, Hogwarts used to have a lot of clubs actually." He said as he leaned on the desk, his head tilted to me.

"Really? What happened?"

"Don't know the details, but most of them got disbanded after a teacher attacked a student." My eyes went wide, and my mouth dropped open. "You'll catch flies." He grinned and closed my mouth with his finger. "But yeah, it was bad... But we had lots of clubs."

"Can you tell me about them? Like what kind of clubs and was it specified by house?" I asked as I pulled my parchment between us, my quill in hand. Cedric looked to Professor Flitwick who was talking to some other students. His eyes flickered to the Gryffindors across from us.

"Alright, if you're sure they don't mind." He gave a subtle nod to the other side of the room. But I didn't turn around to my fellow Gryffindors, so I didn't see the fixed stare of the twins.

"Why would they mind if I ask you about Hogwarts?" I shook my head laughing. "So ..."

"So, alright. We did have clubs that belonged specifically to certain houses, let's start there." He pointed his wand at the parchment and the four houses appeared on it. "And then we'll do the others."

"Great, thanks Cedric." And Cedric started to explain the clubs that Hogwarts used to have, sometimes stopping if the professor asked something or told us to perform a spell. After class Cedric introduced me to the other Hufflepuffs in the room, some more reluctant than others, before asking to sit with him next class. So, the start with Hufflepuff went okay. Now Slytherin and Ravenclaw, and to my surprise I thought that Slytherin was going to be easier, partly because of that Slytherin boy I sat next to in Ancient Runes. I was still thinking about how to approach the Ravenclaw students best.


LB


When I entered the classroom for Ancient Runes ten minutes early, I was the only one there besides Professor Babbling.

"Good morning, professor." I smiled as I walked up to her desk. "I've got you the information from our lesson plan at Beauxbatons, sorry it took so long."

"Oh, no. It is sweet for you to take the time. Thank you." She accepted the large back of papers. "And your latest paper was excellent, Alec."

"Thank you. I worked hard on it."

"I could see it. You even added things from next years' class, again." She said with a grin. "Go sit down, I'll put this away quickly." She said before she headed to the door behind her desk. After my third class with Professor Babbling, she started calling me by my first name, but I didn't mind. Professor Sprout did it, just a Remus with the other students. I took my usual seat in the classroom and placed my bag on the floor before laying my head on the desk, my hair spread around me like a halo. I was out late again studying, and I was getting a little overworked to be honest. But it was only a few more weeks before the OWL exam. I was so zoned out, I didn't hear someone come in the classroom. It wasn't until the chair next to me moved, I realized.

"Bit tired, Lupin-Black?" The boy's voice came next to me. I turned my head, but a black curtain of hair was hanging over my eyes. I was startled when the boy moved pushed my hair back with a grin.

"Not tired. I was just inspecting the desk, thoroughly." I said deadpanned.

"And did it pass your inspection?"

"It did, for now." I straightened myself and tucked my hair behind my ear. "I have a question for you."

"Oh, do you now?"

"It's a simple one actually."

"Lay it on me then." He leaned back in his chair, his arms behind his head.

"What's your name? We've been sitting next to each other over three weeks, even talking on occasion but I don't know your name. And you know mine, it's not fair, is it?"

"Fair? What's fair in this world." He said absently. "What is in it for me? If I tell you?"

"Why should something be in it for you? You know I could easily ask the professor."

"But you didn't, you asked me." His Slytherin smirk in place.

"I regret it already." I turned in my seat.

"Wait. Alright, if I tell you, could you help me with the essay for next week? I'm stuck at third part of the translation from the pyramids in Egypt."

I frowned as I looked back to him. "You're serious?" I asked surprised when I saw the look.

"Am not asking for the fun of it, Lupin-Black." He scoffed. "Being seen out with a Gryffindor." He huffed, but I knew he didn't mean it. His tone wasn't hurtful or resentful. And he just said Gryffindor, nothing about Sirius Black. I looked to him for a long moment, the room silent until the other students walked in.

"Alright, I'll help you. Tonight, at the library?"

"Sure, after dinner."

"So.." I drawled out with a grin. "What's your name? Or should I call you Slytherin boy for the rest of time?"

"Nott, Emmett Nott."

"Nice to finally meet you, Nott." I couldn't help to chuckle that escaped from my lips with the look he gave me. "You call me Lupin-Black."

"Fair point." He shrugged and turned to the other Slytherins that had come to sit down at the desk next to him, ignoring me for the rest of the class. But it didn't matter, one step closer at breaking a Slytherin. There was actually another Slytherin that I was thinking about approaching, but first Ravenclaw. But how? I needed an in with one of them. So, during dinner when the others were talking about quidditch my eyes scanned the Ravenclaw table. There was an eccentric looking girl with long blond hair sitting alone, reading a magazine upside down. Feeling my stare, her eyes fluttered up and gave me a smile before looking back down. The girl was younger than me, only twelve or thirteen maybe. Maybe it wasn't the best choice, so my eyes scanned further until someone nudged my ribs.

"Oi, could you not break my ribs, verdomme."

"What was that last thing?" George chuckled, as Lee murmured an apology.

"Nothing, speaking a language none of you understands has its values." I grinned. "Why was I attacked just now?"

"Those two wanted to ask you something." Lee said nudging to the twins in front of us.

"Yes?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We were wondering if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with the two of us." Fred asked casually.

"I can't, I'm sorry. Otherwise, I would've loved to go with you."

"Aren't you interested in seeing the village?" George asked.

"I am, but I'm already going with someone."

"Who?" The three boys asked. Angelina leaned forward to look past Lee to me, even Alicia seemed a little interested.

"Harry." I stated, picking up a potato with my fork.

"Potter!?" The twins exclaimed loudly.

"Yes?" Harry asked not far away from where we were sitting. I looked to Harry's confused face and couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up, Angelina and Lee joined in quickly.

"Sorry, mate. Wrong Potter." Fred called to him. Harry frowned a little before shrugging and turned back to Hermione and Ron. He was probably already used to the twins' antics.

"Why are you going with Harry?"

"Because I asked him to. I wanted to talk to him, about his parents."

"And you couldn't do that another day?" Fred grumbled a little.

"Why does it matter who I go to Hogsmeade with? It's just a town. We can all go together the next time, if you really want to."

"Ignore them, they probably just wanted to take the glory of showing you around." Angelina said, but the way she looked between the twins afterwards, she didn't really know why they acted like that.

"Alright, next time then." George smiled before turning to Alicia. "You want to go with us, Alicia?"

"Can Katie come with?"

"Sure. Then we have ourselves a double date." George grinned and Alicia chuckled as she threw a piece of bread at him.

"Don't push it, Weasley."


LB


After dinner, I said goodbye to the others, who all grumbled a little as I once again wasn't going to join them in the common room and headed to the library. When I entered the large and silent room, I saw Emmett Nott, sitting at a table next to the window. He was leaning back in his chair, his eyes closed as the sun shined on his face. His wavy light brown hair was falling over his eyes, and he reached his hand up and ran his fingers through his hair. He had his sleeves rolled up; his muscles visible for everyone to see. That was the first time I really looked at him, and I must say, he wasn't bad to look at. I walked over to him silently and thought how I was going to get him out of his daze. With a hard bang or ...

"Emmett." I whispered in his ear as I had walked behind him and leaned close. The boy shot forward, his eyes wide and his wand in hand, but not raised. "Oh, did I scare you?" I asked innocently.

"Startled, maybe." He said leaning back in his chair. I chuckled as I rounded the table and took the seat across from him. I took my books and parchment out of the bag and placed them between us, just as he leaned forward, his brown eyes stormy. "I like how you said my name like that, Lupin-Black."

"Well, it was a one-time thing, Nott. Since you keep calling me by my last name." I clicked my tongue and sat cross-legged on the chair again.

"We'll see about that." He said as he took his homework out of his bag. I glanced back to him as he reached for his bag. I actually liked the way he reacted to me, to me saying his name like that. Gods, what's wrong with me. It's a boy you barely talked to, and then there was... We should really talk about everything, because this was getting too hard. I was probably just being pulled in by his looks, nothing more. I could deal with looks, I did it before and this certainly won't be the last time.

"Alright." I said as he took out his essay. "Let me see what you got so far." I outstretched my hand and gestured to give it over.

"Don't ruin it."

"The only thing I could do to it, is make it better." I said with a smirk worthy of a Slytherin. "Who has the best grades in class?"

"School only started three weeks ago; I have time to beat you."

"Good luck with that." I said as my eyes scanned the paper.

"You know." He leaned forward, his head only inches from me. "I understand why the hat took so long to decide. Especially between our houses, you would fit in perfectly in Slytherin."

"Is that the reason you talk to me?" I asked looking up. "Because I've never seen you talk to anyone outside of Slytherin."

"That may be one of the reasons." His Slytherin smirk in place.

"You know, this is the first time I ever heard you talk so much" I smiled, not looking up and crossed something on his paper.

"That's- hey! What did you just do." He nearly yelled as he tapped his paper.

"I fixed a mistake."

"I don't make mistakes."

"Oh, another one." I grinned as I crossed something else.

"You're making this up, scoot over." He stood up and dragged his chair over to me and planted himself right next to me, our knees bumped against each other. "No, no that was right. That means cow."

"Here." I handed my book over without looking up. "Check it."

He grumbled something inaudible as he flicked through the pages. "Oh, goat."

I bit my lip trying not to laugh at the Slytherin boy's reaction. I took a loose piece of parchment and drew two runes on it. "See." I said as I pointed with my quill and the runes. "Just one tiny line makes a difference." I turned my head to look at him, just as he did. Our eyes locked, our noses just an inch from each other. I turned back to the essay as I cleared my throat. "Look up this one, that was your second mistake."

We worked close together for an hour. There wasn't much to adjust really. Nott was really good Ancient Runes. He really could beat me in class if he wanted. We finished his essay and the one for the next week before we packed up our Ancient Runes. Nott stood up to leave the library, but when he saw I didn't move he turned back around.

"Aren't you leaving?"

"I have to study for potions."

"We don't have any homework, do we?" He asked a little worried that he might have missed the announcement.

"No, but I have my OWL exam in a few weeks, and if I pass and can join the seventh years for the NEWT's this year."

"Nerd." He said but I could hear the teasing in his voice. I smiled softly as I concentrated on the book in front of me. I was startled a little when I felt the chair move next to me and Nott sat back down.

"What are you doing?" I asked, glancing sideways at him.

"Sitting."

I rolled my eyes and turned back to my book. In the corner of my eye, I saw him shuffle his seat to the other side of the table again and he took out a book on transfiguration and a large piece of parchment and started to work. We worked like that until the lights of the library dimmed, a sign it was closing in ten minutes. I stretched my arms above my head, my shirt shifted revealing me stomach. When I lowered my arms, I saw Nott's eyes quickly change direction.

"I should get back."

"Yeah, me too." He said as we both started to pack our things. We walked out of the empty library together and I was surprised that he took the same direction as me. We walked in silence in the empty corridor and when we passed the large staircase, he stopped, looking confused.

"Don't you need to go that way?" He pointed up the staircase.

"Why should I go that way?"

"Isn't the Gryffindor tower up there?"

"It is." I said evasively, and I saw the boy get frustrated.

He groaned. "Then where are you going?" Then his eyes widened. "Or do you have a secret rendez-vous with someone?"

"No." I laughed and then turned the tables. "What is in it for me if I tell you?"

Emmett looked stunned at me for a split second before that smirk appeared. "Definitely a Slytherin." He stepped closer, so our chests nearly touched, and I had to strain my neck to look at him. "What do you want?" His eyes dark.

"Hm." I hummed as I thought it over. "I don't know yet."

"What about a favour, no questions asked."

"You want to know so badly?" I chuckled. Nott reached his hand up and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, not saying anything just still with the grin. "Alright." I tried to pry my hand between us for him to shake, which wasn't easy seeing as we were standing so close. "You have a deal."
His eyes twinkled, not wavering from mine as he shook my hand. "There was no room in the fifth- year corridor, so I have my own chambers with my uncle."

By the look on his face, he didn't expect that. "Really?"

"Yes." I stepped passed him and started walking, with two long strides he caught up to me. "We have a sitting area, kitchen and two bedrooms."

"And where –" He started to ask. But we had just reached the chambers and the door flew open, Remus glaring at Nott. "Oh, hello, Professor Lupin."

"Emmett." He nodded. Moony's eyes didn't waver from Nott, who tried to look unaffected, but I knew better. My uncle's glares could be deadly.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Nott. Goodnight."

"Night, Lupin-Black." His eyes came to rest on me before he walked away.

I pushed Moony back in the room and closed the door behind us. The room was dark, except for the light at Moony's desk. "What was that about?"

"I could smell the sex from here!" He snarled.

"Sex? You're mad." I chuckled, then I turned concerned. "You're taking the wolfbane potion, right? Tomorrow is the full moon."

His shoulders slumped. "Yeah, I'm taking it. But you know how it is when it's nearly time."

"I know." I said sadly and pulled him in for a hug. "You go to bed, you need your rest. And don't you argue with me, Remus." I added quickly.

"Fine, fine." He smiled. "I'm going to bed, mum."

I flicked him on the head before he disappeared in his room. As I walked over to his desk, I let my bag drop on the couch. I cleaned up his desk putting his papers together, when I saw the corner of a picture tucked in a folder. I glanced to the closed door of his room before sitting down and took the photograph out. It was a picture of Remus and … Sirius. When they were still at school, and from the way they were sitting on the couch together, it looked like more than friendship was going on between them. My fingers grazed Remus's young face.

"Oh, Moony." I whispered. My eyes found Sirius, the likeness was disturbing to say the least. If people would see us next to each other, they will have no doubt that we were related. When I heard a scuffle in his room, I tucked the photo back in the folder and turned out the light. With a wave of my wand, I lit on the fireplace.


LB


I was rereading the letter my friends from Beauxbatons had send me, when someone suddenly whispered my name. Within a second my wand was drawn, and I looked around the room, before my eyes fell on the fireplace when I heard someone snicker.

"Jack!" I called out and dropped to my knees, to the head of my boyfriend...? I don't know what to call him now. "What is your head doing here?"

"Speaking English to me now, schat? Als het moet." His accent thick. "I wanted to talk to you."

"I wanted to talk to you too, I was thinking about you just now, actually. How did you know where to find my fireplace?"

"I took me a few tries." He chuckled. "Scared some kids along the way too."

I smiled at him, and I wished I could reach out and touch his cheek. "I miss you and your craziness."

"I miss you too." He smiled and was silent for a beat. "This isn't working, is it?" His voice sad.

"No, it isn't." I tear escaped my eye. "I wished so hard for this to work, but it's too hard, Jack."

"I wish I could come over to you, but they'd put a block on flooing to another country. I want to hold you so badly."

"I love you." I said as more tears rolled down.

"Ik hou ook van jou, schat. Maar vergeet niet." He suddenly said in Dutch. "Eerst vrienden."

"Voor altijd." I answered with a teary nod.

"I should go before they figure out what I'm doing." He said looking back. "Can I write to you? In a few months when we have time to process."

"You better send me a letter before Christmas, or I'll climb through the fireplace to smack you on the head." I chuckled as I wiped my tears away.

"It's a deal then. Bye, Alec."

"Bye, Jack." And with a little pop, he was gone. I crawled back on the couch and wrapped my arms around my knees pulling them close as I fell asleep crying.


LB


Translation

Verdomme = Damn

Schat = babe, love - name of endearment

Als het moet = If I have to

Ik hou ook van jouw, schat = I love you too, babe

Maar vergeet niet = But don't forget,

Eerst vrienden = Friends first.

Voor altijd = Always/Forever