~ Off-Color Courtships~
Written by: Oy! Angelina
Beta-read by: jkit10
* * *
It was the first morning after spring holiday and the Great Hall was alive with students enjoying their breakfast before a busy day of lessons that would soon follow. At the Gryffindor table, casual conversation between the 6th Years came to a halt as Arabella and Remus approached the table. Lily and James weren't certain if the couple would still be fighting considering how heated their exchange had been the night before and exchanged several cautious looks as a show of this. However seating themselves side by side across from the other 6th Year couple, Remus and Arabella appeared to be perfectly affectionate with one another. . . if not more so than usual.
"Morning," Arabella greeted as she poured herself a glass of orange juice while Remus busied himself with corned beef hash.
"Good morning to you," Gwen McGinnis retuned, "you were out so late last night I wouldn't have thought you'd be this chipper."
"Well I am so enjoy," Arabella replied simply.
"Would Remus have something to do with that?" Sirius pressed as he passed off the Daily Prophet he had been glancing at to Peter. Remus chose to begin eating rather than entertain Sirius's question.
"Not that he missed all that much," Peter commented as he paged through the sections, "you just kept playing those Muggle records Gwen, Cassidy, and Millicent pitched in for your birthday half the night until the 7th Years threatened to toss you from the highest point on the castle."
"By the way, girls, I LOVE your collective taste in music," Sirius grinned, ignoring Peter out of habit.
Cassidy waved off the compliment, not much of a morning person usually, while Gwen's expression lit up in delight as she beamed at Sirius.
"Really? I thought you'd fancy Muggle music if someone gave it to you," Gwen declared, evidently proud of herself.
"Their wonderful, I've even started to memorize a few by heart," Sirius assured, "out of curiosity, which of you picked out what?"
"Well, I contributed the classical music and jazz, Cassidy took a liking to the rock music, and Gwen has a thing for show tunes because she's a Muggle born and watches their teli on holiday," Millicent listed off.
"Well life's pretty bloody boring without magic, you know," Gwen snorted before returning to her breakfast. Sirius was about to resume his own shoveling of morsels when he raised an eyebrow over towards Arabella's section of the table.
"What's that on your neck, Arabella?" Sirius gestured with an amused grin to the girl's collar which was no longer covered by a thick curl of blonde. The other people seated around them turned and noticed the dark blemish on Arabella's throat that looked suspiciously like a bite mark. Sirius turned to Remus, grin spreading wider, "Something wild get at you last night?"
Remus wrapped his fingers on the table with a sour expression at his friend's suggestive inquiries until a sharp shove from Arabella forced him to refocus his attentions.
"Remus J. Lupin!" Arabella hissed with an embarrassed expression, "what on earth possessed you to bite me so hard?"
Caught off guard, Remus offered up a shrug with a defensive and flustered look.
"I reckon because you were moaning so loud when I did it," he replied as though it were obvious. Becoming suddenly aware of their audience, Remus joined his girlfriend in her embarrassment as the other members of their Year erupted into amused and awkward laughter towards his comment.
Ignoring their friends, Arabella began to rifle through the pockets of her robes until she produced a compact and began to generously apply some concealer to the recent topic of discussion.
"Well there's no way I can go on to class as I am now! I swear, Remus we might as well make up a memo to pass about since there seems to be little point in attempting to maintain any sort of personal life," Arabella fumed before glaring at Sirius accusingly, "And why do YOU always notice these sorts of things, you randy wanker?"
"Because I know what to look for!" Sirius laughed as though it were something to be genuinely proud of.
"Ignore him, Remus," Lily advised with a friendly smile, "you and Arabella a grand together. I really couldn't think of a better match, honestly."
Arabella and Remus smiled appreciatively at Lily before turning to one another with affectionate gazes. Peter furrowed his brow as he forked a slice of apple off his plate and chewed it thoughtfully.
"That's true, but Lestrange and Tudor are such an odd pair," Peter noted with a nod over to the Slytherin table, "I mean, they're terrors to everyone else under the sun but sweet as honey to one another. You'd think they wouldn't be able to switch gears like that, would you?"
"Why not?" Lily shrugged, not bothering to look at the couple in question, "after all, who says you can't be positively wicked and still love?"
"You'd think unadulterated evil simply wouldn't have the time for all those emotional trapping," James snorted while buttering his toast.
"Just because they're nasty to other people doesn't mean they can't be kind to each other," Lily reported, "You've seen them together. Not that I care for either, myself, but it's obvious by the way they get along that they really care about each other."
"I suppose," James replied indifferently, "I just hope they break it off. Couldn't stand the thought of what kinds of kids those two would raise."
Mundungus Fletcher perked up a bit a few spaced down on the bench as he leaned in towards the middle of the table and spoke down its length.
"You and Barty Crouch. He fancies Tudor," Fletcher interjected, obviously overhearing the older student's conversation, "he swears that she's the prettiest lass walking the corridors. I, of course, hold a different opinion on the matter but I was always a bit more on the ball socially than Barty tends to be."
"Well that says little for Crouch's taste in women," Peter shook his head, before glancing purposefully over to Sirius, "those Slytherin girls are bad news."
Sirius placed his fork down so he could devote all his energy into glaring at Peter. His expression made it very clear that he was less than pleased.
"You know, I'm starting to get a little tired you running your mouth off on this subject every time it comes up," Sirius decided.
Peter put his own fork down and met Sirius with his own challenging expression.
"Well, I'm far more tired of you running after silver and green skirts," Peter boldly returned.
Sirius pressed his lips together as a flare caught his icy eyes. Peter's demeanor showed he had no intention of backing down from his stance on the matter. Guessing there were few pleasant placed for this discussion to venture further into, James took it upon himself to play peacemaker.
"Come on, there's nothing new about these gripes, Mates," James soothed, "you're going to just have to accept a difference of opinion and get past this. Peter, tact withstanding, means well in all this Sirius, you know that. Just as much as Peter should know that he'd have better luck talking a Black Norwegian Dragon out of a fiery rampage than making Sirius back down from anything."
"He still shouldn't be carrying on like that," Sirius huffed.
"Just agree to disagree and be done with it!" Remus snapped irritably, growing tired with the back and forth, "bloody hell the both of you! Must you ruin everyone's meal with this nonsense. PETER, simply shut your mouth on the matter if you have nothing kind to say and SIRIUS must you take one every last petty argument offered up to you? The two of you, honestly!"
Sirius smiled at Remus as he leaned into his hand.
"Here that Peter? We'd best call it quits before Remus takes to biting one of us in addition to Arabella," Sirius joked.
Scowling, Remus returned to his tea with a curt upturn of his nose.
"Do shut up, Sirius," Remus evidently didn't find as much humor in the comment. Arabella simply shook her head with a marveling expression.
"All this from a simple comment the Crouch boy made. I'd pummel him for stirring up so much trouble if I could find any proper logic to back me up," Arabella traced the conversation with amusement.
Finishing a mouth full of eggs in a hasty swallow, Fletcher turned to Arabeall with a broad grin.
"Well it's not really fair to do that to old Barty, he's just suffering from a severe under appreciation for what makes for a good woman and is traditionally is so tight-lipped on all things that he can't be accused of starting anything with anyone," Fletcher defended his friend while he continued to smile, "Now this git in his House and Year, Gilderoy Lockhart, constantly carrying on with gossip that loud mouth is. I can't believe he actually mentioned to me in Charms that their House team is training up a new Seeker for the match against us in May. Not the sort of thing you broadcast to a member of the opposing team now is it?"
As it always did, mentioning Quidditch grabbed James's and Cassidy Kinkade's attention as they both stared at the 4th Year with a strong interest in his new conversation.
"Did they happen to mention who they were using now?" James pressed, curious about what the Ravenclaws were plotting.
"I think they said her name was Atropos," Fletcher replied, "know her?"
"Ophelia Atropos?" Cassidy raised an eyebrow to James, "she's in our Year but I don't think I've ever seen her set foot on the pitch."
"I think you're right," James nodded thoughtfully, "I wonder what they think Gideon can do with a snitch that their regular Seeker can't."
"I'll ask Bronwyn Weaver about it, I think they're mates," Cassidy offered, "she might mention something on the subject."
James shook his head dismissively to this.
"No, that's alright Cass," James insisted, "I don't know what Ravenclaws planning to pull out of their hats with this, but I doubt it'll be anything underhanded. Odds are they just managed some strategy that they think will give them a tactical advantage. Should be interesting."
"All the more reason for us to snoop around, if you ask me," Fletcher crossed his arms.
"I see no need to stoop to spying like a bunch of Slytherin. We'll win on our own merits or we won't win at all," James countered, giving the final say on the subject, "besides I know we'll be brilliant regardless."
"I'm sure you will," said Lily as she kissed James on the cheek and rose from her seat, "we should probably be off to class."
"Yeah," James nodded as he joined Lily on his feet, glancing over to their friends, "you lot still finishing up?"
"We'll be along in a moment I suspect," Arabella guessed as she attempted to finish her glass of juice. The rest of the Gryffindors nodded along as they finished the last parts of their meal and began organizing their things for class. Hand in hand, Lily and James exited the Great Hall and headed off towards the Charms classroom.
"Sirius needs to learn to mind his own business," Lily shook her head, "he'll cause Remus to stop talking to him if he keeps prying in his and Arabella's relationship."
James just started to laugh in reaction to this.
"It's a guy thing, luv," James rationalized for his girlfriend, "in his own way, Sirius was paying Remus a compliment."
Lily's brow furrowed as she eyed James with a confused expression.
"So YOU'D be flattered if Sirius or anyone else for that matter started to broadcast out private life to half the Great Hall?" Lily attempted to follow along with the logic.
"Well, I imagine I'd be a bit upset, but I'd know it was meant in good fun," James went on, slowly realizing he had just trapped himself in a conversation he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to have a part in.
"What's fun about everyone knowing the intimate details of your relationship?" Lily demanded, her pitch rising into a sharp note, "I'd have been far more upset than Arabella had been if Sirius had dug into me and you like that."
"Why's that?" James wondered, it was his turn to look confused.
'Well I think it's obvious! It's nobody's business but ours concerning what we do or do not do when we're off and alone," Lily crossed her arms in a slight pout, "that wouldn't bother you at all."
"No, because I don't care what people think and, most importantly, I'm not ashamed about anything I do with you," said James as he mimicked Lily's posture.
Lily's expression grew most indignant as she gaped at James.
"I didn't say I was ashamed," Lily hissed.
"I didn't say you were either," James pointed out before adjusting his glasses and meeting Lily's eyes, "but are you. I mean, about last night."
Lily halted her pace as she glanced around the hall to see if anyone was investing interest into her and James's dialogue. Grabbing the sleeve of her robes, James tugged her off to an archway so they could continue their conversation while he worked his hand through his coarse mop of hair.
"I didn't say that either," Lily spoke in a soft but firm voice.
"I'm just . . .I'm just making sure," James breathed, "I'd hate to think you were just going along with something because you thought I wanted it. That's not what's important to me."
"James, it's not like we. . .slept together." Lily blushed a bit with her sentence.
"Yeah. . .but it wasn't just hand holding and snogging either," James muttered as he squeezed Lily's hand, "I just don't want you feeling like we did certain things too soon."
"I don't feel like that at all," Lily smiled reassuringly as she balanced herself on her toes so she could give her boyfriend a kiss on the lips. James appeared to relax a little bit in reaction to this gesture and nodded before leaning in to kiss her again.
"So we'll be having Charms in this dark corner then?"
Lily and James turned to look over their shoulders and spied Sirius smirking along with the other Gryffindors in their Year. Lily and James felt their cheeks grow hot as they stepped out from the archway and into the main corridor. James turned to his best friend with a more than grim look as they made their way toward the actual Charms class room..
"You need to find yourself a girl, Padfoot," James decided for Sirius, "you're spending far too much of your spare time as a voyeur and are due quite a bit of payback in the teasing department you know."
"Here, here," Remus joined from behind. Peter and Arabella weren't as successful as suppressing their disapproving looks on the subject as they were their comments. Fortunately, Sirius didn't seem to take notice at all.
"I don't think I'll give up my advantage, thank you kindly though for your concern," Sirius reported casually, still all smiles.
Turning to James, Lily had her own mocking grin to show off.
"Should be no problem for you though, James. After all, didn't you reckon you'd be flattered by all this attention?" Lily teased.
"Yes, yes, you were most right and I am most wrong," James muttered while rolling his eyes.
* * *
As soon as morning classes had finished up and the students were on break for Lunch, Remus found himself loitering midway between Gryffindor tower and the Great Hall. Arabella had scampered back to the dormitories to find a salve to put on her bruise. Remus had been asked not to accompany her for fear that Arabella would be forced to treat more marks. Left to smirk with James, Sirius, and Peter, Remus eventually found himself alone as everyone else decided to favor lunch over his company.
Brushing up on his Ancient Runes reading as he waited, Remus felt a presence lingering at his flank. Shifting his gaze, Remus saw Evan Rosier hovering a few paced off. Remus shut his book and restrained a low growl.
"Something I can assist you with, Rosier?" Remus asked shortly, vividly recalling the boy's joint comments with Tristan Travers the day before.
Rosier cleared his throat as his brown eyes shifted uncomfortably from behind his fair bangs. Watching a couple girls walk on, Rosier redirected his eyes back onto Remus.
"I just wanted to say that most of what happened on the train ride back wasn't about you or Figg," Rosier began cautiously.
"Odd, the conversation I heard would certainly beg otherwise," Remus countered with a frown, "as I recall you were pretty liberal with your low-blows."
Rosier put his hands into his pockets, evidently not sure of what else to do with them.
"I know, and I'm sorry about that. Truly," Rosier expressed, staring at the tops of his shoes, "It's just Tristan has been my mate since our first day at Hogwarts and he's gotten something of a nasty style of humor over the years. He can be a decent guy on most occasions but he's been running with Slytherin on the side and it's sort of making him act . . .a bit off-color."
"It's definitely making you act out of turn as well," Remus noted.
"It's mostly for show," confessed Rosier, "I guess I just don't want my best friend to clear out on me so I try and show I can be as bad as he is. Tristan is pretty friendly with Mary Tudor and Aaron Lestrange and you know how they feel about you and your friends. Ever since they've been on the outs in their House he's been trying to get on their good side . . . currying favor in a way Slytherins would like. It's nothing personal, just Tristan's poor idea of sport."
"Well I take it personally," Remus informed pointedly, "I don't care how insecure you are about your friendship with Travers. Especially when you think the only way you can keep it up is at the expense of others."
Rosier backed off slightly. It was evident that Hufflepuff wasn't much for confrontation and there was a possible amount of sincerity to his words. If Remus hadn't been so tightly wound with the rapidly approaching full-moon, he might have had a bit more sympathy to offer Rosier.
However, Remus wasn't experiencing a particularly generous mood at the moment.
"I know that's why I wanted to talk to you about all this. I just wanted you and Figg to know that Tristan and I don't have anything against you and I'll try to keep him more in line rather than impress him," Rosier went on awkwardly, "I'm not saying its nice or even an excuse, but I wanted to say that. . . well that I'm sorry about it."
"I think you've said more than enough to me and Arabella," Remus replied coldly, "I'm sorry Rosier, but I need more than an off-hand apology to turn the other cheek."
Rosier nodded in response, obviously not all that surprised by Remus's lack of ready forgiveness.
"I thought those cracks about your . . . preferences would keep you cross on the subject," said Rosier with a shrug.
Remus tossed the Ancient Runes text he had still been holding onto the top of his school bag, so he could approach Rosier without anything occupying his hands. Rosier was more or less his build; a bit lanky in frame without much muscle to show for it but Remus certainly felt like he had the physical advantage.
And he was certainly feeling confrontational as he got right up into the Hufflepuff's face.
"Oh no, I have a fair sense of humor about myself and a large disinterest in public opinion," Remus corrected with a fixed stare, "but when you drag my girlfriend's good name through the mud I find myself capable of nursing a grudge for an incalculable amount of time."
Rosier and Remus stared at one another for a moment. There was something piercing and frosty in the Gryffindor's eyes that was enough to give Rosier a physical chill. The sort of eerie sensation one experiences when they realize how many lines they happened to cross in a single move with a single person.
"I see," Rosier replied awkwardly, "alright then. I think I'm going to be off then now that I've said what I have."
With a stiff wave, Rosier walked off towards the Great Hall to join the rest of the school.
"You do that," Remus encouraged, not at all put out to see the Hufflepuff go.
Feeling himself tense and agitated from the reminder of the incident on the train and the lame motivations that inspired it, Remus felt his teeth grinding on top one another as a show of his frustrations.
It was the same aggressive pull he had felt the night before during his discussion with Arabella. He had always been more irritable, more on edge nearing the full moon but lately, Remus found himself facing more difficulty in subduing the fiercer tendencies of his personality. Perhaps it was because he attempted to restrain so much of his anger all the time that Remus was finding himself more easily baited as of late.
Perhaps it was something else.
Whatever it was, Remus was seriously beginning to question if his control was threatening to slip and he was very weary of what the result of such a thing might usher in.
Just as his aggressive nature became more heightened closer to the full moon, Remus's sense became more acute.
The faint scent of Arabella's perfume wafted under his nose, alerting Remus to her presence soon approaching. As she turned the corner, Remus could spot the small spot of ink that was smudge discretely beneath her chin. If he strained, Remus was sure he might be able to hear the soft chime of the charm bracelet he gave her dangle from her wrist.
He prowled the hall, meeting her half way. Remus greeted her by leaning into the girl's radius and locking his lips to hers. He could taste the citric lingering of oranges from the juice she had consumed hours ago at breakfast. Dropping his mouth slightly, Remus flicked his tongue over the ink blotch, sharply tasting the less savory quality of that as well.
Forcing himself to end the kiss at the risk of drawing too much attention to themselves, Remus pulled away bringing his hand to Arabella's face to be sure he got the last of the stain marring it.
Her flesh felt infinitely softer. . .smoother beneath his touch.
"Sorry. . .you had something on your face," Remus breathed an apology as he kept his hand on Arabella, tempted to place the other upon her as well. Her cheeks and lips were flushed from the sudden passion of the embrace, she smiled as a show that she didn't seem to mind.
"Well, we better move along to lunch," Arabella recommended softly.
"We could . . ." Remus replied, not sounding as though he were particularly tempted by that suggested.
It sounded as though he was tempted by something else entirely.
* * *
As always, the atmosphere in Defense Against the Dark Arts was tense prior to the beginning of class. Positioning themselves on opposite sides of the classroom, the Slytherin and Gryffindor Houses attempted to ignore one another when they weren't interested in slinging insults back and forth. The sharp sound of the hinges from Professor Heilsing's office door called for the attention of the class as the formidable looking woman descended the stairs with her silver braid trailing behind her.
"Good afternoon Slytherins and Gryffindors," Professor Heilsing addressed the class as her steely eyes bore into her students as they returned the pleasantry through either sincere or feigned respect.
Her tone pierced the air like a keen knife as it always did, not for her distinct German accent but for the command that saturated her every word. As such Professor Heilsing maintained a level of respect and control over her peers that only fell short of Professor McGonagall. Pacing the room purposefully, Professor Heilsing grasped a long pointer stick as though it were her wand and she had every intention of wielding it.
"Well I certainly hope you're all well rested from your holiday because you'll be getting no breaks from here on out," Professor Heilsing informed in a matter-of-fact tone, "as you all know, the O.W.L.'s are a stone-throw away and the competition for the positions of Head Boy and Head Girl next year are looking very stiff."
Nearly all the eyes in the room rotated on Lily Evans, James Potter, Severus Snape, and Mary Tudor as both Gryffindor and Slytherin were acutely aware of how close each of their Houses were to having such prestige and sway over the rest of the school next year. Heilsing allowed thirty seconds for the class to get their supportive looks and harsh glares out of their system before she reclaimed their attention.
"If I can bring your attention to something more specific, I should mention that this year marks the end of all the theories and facts you will learn from me in the battle against the Dark Arts," Professor Heilsing announced, causing many ears to perk up.
"As most of you are aware, teaching was not my primary vocation. Before this, I worked with the Departments of Magical Law Enforcement and the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures for a decade and I consider my experience with sorcerers and dark creatures to be practical . . . very hands on. I have spent six years teaching you everything I can through books and examples. It's a valuable foundation, yes, but it is nothing more than useless fluff that will shrivel and rot in your minds if it is applied to nothing. To prevent this, your 7th Year will be most certainly demanding and most likely unpleasant."
Several students shifted uncomfortably in their chairs, obviously intimidated by Heilsing's outlook on their futures in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Your 7th Year will be a practical education. I will give you an appreciation of what those who would wield dark magics are capable of with an intimacy that I expect many of you will question and be uncomfortable with. However, things are rising to considerable power that must be recognized for the threats they are as well as the grim knowledge that none of us are immune to its grasp. Still, these are things for your 7th Year. Let us now discuss what we will be studying up until the end of this term."
Abandoning the front of the classroom, Professor Heilsing began stalking along the aisle dividing the desks in the room.
"As mentioned, your education up to this point in my lessons has been entirely theory. I will ask you to devote these final months to applying all that you have learned, everything that you have comprehended into something worthwhile," Professor Heilsing observed several students begin taking note of her words with parchments and quills.
"You, with the assistance of a partner, will select a relevant and ongoing crusade against the Dark Arts, approved by me, and deeply analyze the existing protocol for it. After you have an understanding for all the procedures implemented to combat your specified threat, you will isolate and scrutinize flaws within these systems and submit a new and more effective method of handling your problem. As I am giving you several months and my precious classroom time to complete this assignment, I will have exceedingly high standards of the final product. Questions?"
"For our partners, Professor, are we allowed to select them ourselves?" Peter questioned.
"I considered assigning you to one another however since I have such demanding expectations of this project I would rather you all work with someone you think will compliment your work ethic and not be an unnecessary hindrance in the final results of your work," Heilsing replied, "you are free to work with anyone of your Year from any House as you all have the same assignment, although I would encourage you to select someone from within your own House or the one that shares your session otherwise you will be working independent of your partner every time out class meets."
"Very well, I will give you one week to submit the topic you are pursuing and a brief summery explaining why you have selected it in one week. By the first class of May, I will require a complete citation of all your existing sources as well as one foot of parchment indicating the criticisms you will be addressing and the recommendations you are considering. The final product is to be on my desk by the first week of June," Heilsing specified for the class, "for the remainder of class period you will relocate yourselves to the library to begin searching for a topic. You are dismissed."
Gathering up their supplies, the class began to partner itself off into relatively obvious pairings. Those who were already established couples such as Lily and James, Remus and Arabella, as well as Lestrange and Tudor agreed to pool their mutual resources without so much as a word to confirm it. The rest was expected to sort themselves out somewhere between the classroom and the library.
Filing out into the corridors, chatting between themselves, Severus Snape and Millicent Meeks were among the first of their peers to exit.
"I believe it would be to both our advantage if we collaborated on this assignment together," Severus recommended in his usual silky tone, "we would be assured a competent partner and I assume you are no more interested in having your marks suffer against someone else's slack than myself."
"That would be fine," Millicent's smile was a gentle as her voice.
"Hold up a minute, Snape," Sirius hollered after the Slytherin.
Severus's posture stiffened and his face sneered as he turned to face the other boy. However when he saw Sirius his expression became slightly alarmed and he grew so ridged Millicent thought his bones would crack.
"I'll meet you in the library," Severus instructed as he moved to meet Sirius. Millicent nodded awkwardly, obviously not comfortable with the idea of being caught between the usual tension Severus and Sirius's dueling presences always inspired. Wordlessly she followed the rest of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class towards the library.
"You forgot your book or whatever it is. And before you accuse me of stealing it or whatever passes for gratitude with you, I noticed it fall out from underneath your robes so you should probably check the stitch-work in your pocket lining," Sirius gruffly informed as he thrust a silver covered item in question at its owner, "out of curiosity, why does it say 'Endymion' on it?"
Wrenching the book so hard out of Sirius's grasp that he threatened to take a hand along with it, Severus burned a particularly venomous glare through Sirius.
"None. Of. Your. Business." Severus hissed in an icy tone before sweeping up the hall.
"YOU'RE WELCOME! Next time I'll just set it on fire or something else to spare us these little exchanges, hm?" Sirius's voice followed scornfully, before he turned to Winifred Wilkes who was one of the last to leave the class, "you see how he insists on being the Snape to my mongoose?"
"I don't see any halos dangling off your brow," Winifred observed, not entirely sure of what Sirius was talking about but guessed it was business as usual between him and her cousin.
Stomping around a bit but all together cooling off, Sirius walked along side Winifred as they trailed their class.
"You know, I think you and I should work together on this project," Sirius decided as he caught up to Winifred's pace.
"I would have thought you'd have pooled your efforts with Potter," Winifred stated evasively.
"James and Lily are combining their all-powerful brain power of Headboy girl hopefuls which leaves me quite eligible," Sirius explained.
"And myself entirely unimpressed," Winifred returned.
"Not even a bit?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Tragically I must decline. Traditionally I partner with Severus on these sorts of assignments," Winifred reported in her usual coy manner.
Never one to be daunted by the presence of Snape, Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on now, I'm about a billion times more fun than him and just a slot or two behind in marks," Sirius noted, "I'll be able to not only help you through our class work but we can study for our O.W.L's also."
"And considering our grades are based off academic performance rather than entertainment value, I should definitely pair up with Severus," Winifred smiled sweetly.
Sirius chuckled to himself while shaking his head.
"You're planning on making a chap beg for your company, aren't you?" Sirius guessed with amusement.
"I always do," Winifred shrugged indifferently.
"And you're boxing clever for it," Sirius nodded along, "still, I'm afraid he's taken Millicent on as a work associate this time around so it looks like you might have to settle for me."
Winifred chuckled. Flipping her dark layers over her shoulders, Winifred paused for a thought before turning to Sirius.
"Alright, I'll work with you on account of defult," Winifred agreed before adding a pout, "but you're going to cause me all sorts of trouble. Not as though I can pretend we're not associating if I'm joined at the hip with you for this assignment."
"Direct all complaints my way," Sirius instructed, "I'll handle them."
"Oh I'm sure they'll come along whether or not you're willing to accept them," Winifred stated, "looks like my in-House popularity is about to take a sharp decline."
"So if it's such a pain then why are you going to bother yourself with it?" Sirius wondered with a curious look.
"Haven't you heard? I can't be bothered with other people's opinions," Winifred smirked at the Gryffindor.
"Even your cousins?" Sirius pressed.
"I suspect he'll be a little too busy trying to topple Potter from the Headboy slot to care where I'm studying," said Winifred airily.
"Hope Snape's good at accepting utterly humiliating defeats at the wand of a loathed rival," Sirius grinned broadly.
"No, he's really not," Winifred admitted, "of course, that's to say he'll lose out to your friend."
"Oh he will, but that's really not our concern," Sirius held the door open for Winifred, allowing her to step into the Library ahead of him, "now, what were you thinking our project should be on then?"
* * *
Although the period for Heilsing's class was up, most of her students remained in the library to get a jump start on their assignment or get their nightly homework out of the way. After a repetitive amount of harsh looks and chiding remarks, Madam Prince finally demanded that the Gryffindor 6th Years scatter themselves to the four corners of her library so they would accomplish some work within it. The Slytherins jeered quietly to themselves from their own table but otherwise made no further scene.
The only parties oblivious to this minor even was Sirius Black and Winifred Wilkes who were gathering books off the shelves for their own research, Severus Snape and Millicent Meeks who were setting up a study schedule that would adequately accommodate their usual calendar, and Lestrange and Tudor who were still not speaking with most of Slytherin and were not spoken to whenever it could be helped by Gryffindor.
Sequestering themselves in a corner of the library, Mary Tudor and Aaron Lestrange ignored the hums of their peers milling about the shelves for books or the soft laughter of neighboring tables as their class began their prep-work for their assignment. Not particularly interested in starting right that moment, the Slytherin couple took the opportunity of their free moments to start their other class assignments while making snide comments about virtually anyone who wandered into their line of vision.
In midst of discussing how Gwen McGinnis's short height and common blood could have her easily confused for a member of the House Elf staff, Mary watched Evan Rosier and Tristan Travers approaching their table in the library, obviously intending on talking to them. Nudging her boyfriend so he'd take notice as well, Mary and Aaron typically attempted to be cordial with the two boys as they could trace pureblood several generations back and were usually inoffensive company to keep.
"Lestrange. . .Tudor. . . How are things?" Travers inquired as he sat himself opposite of the couple. Rosier claimed the seat next to his friend with a silent nod towards the Slytherin.
"Bloody wonderful, we're jumping through Heilsing's hoops so she doesn't have to be bothered with a lesson plan for the remainder of the year," Aaron muttered as he shut the book in front of him.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Travers nodded sympathetically, "you know she's just expecting us to write something she'd like since she used to work with the defense department in the Ministry of Magic. Like that's so impressive. Practically every other person is in the Ministry's employ."
"Exactly what I was thinking," Mary smirked approvingly.
She and Aaron had always maintained a casual relationship with the Hufflepuff boys and were proving to be a source of companionship while the bulk of Slytherin continued to ignore them. Knowing her House's ability to harbor a grudge, Mary expected that it would be a while yet before they gained anymore contacts than Travers and Rosier. In the meantime, Mary was making long-term plans concerning the pair. Both managed respectable marks and she suspected that a usefulness could be found in Traver's eagerness to gain their favor and Rosier's willingness to conform along with this.
"So, the rest of your House still giving you the silent treatment?" Travers questioned with all the tact Mary and Aaron would expect of a Hufflepuff.
"By and large, yes," Aaron chose to answer Travers rather than comment.
"Pity," Travers frowned to show his distaste, "can't imagine Slytherin is in proper working order if they're content to let Snape and Wilkes bossing them about."
"Most certainly not," Mary agreed bitterly, "but the more things change the more they stay the same."
"Sounds like you're plotting something," Rosier spoke up from his corner of the table.
"I'm always plotting something," Mary reported, "especially after such an . . . embarrassing turn of events."
"You shouldn't feel bad about that," Travers insisted.
"Oh, I wasn't referring to myself," Mary corrected darkly, "It's Slytherin that should be ashamed. Severus and his acquired taste of mudblood Gryffindors couples with Winifred's utter apathy towards aspiring to becoming anything more than a shadow will run our House into the ground if they're keeping the order."
Aaron took his girlfriend's hand and began to absently stroke the top of it in soothing motions.
"Don't let it concern you, my dear," Aaron interjected softly, "things always have a way of turning about."
Travers smiled while listening. Glancing quickly around them, he leaned in closer to the Slytherins.
"I might be able to lend a hand in all that . . . if you're interested," Travers extended smoothly, keeping his voice low so as not to risk their conversation carrying to unwelcome ears.
Mary and Aaron exchanged meaningful looks before redirecting their attention back onto the Hufflepuff, leaning in close as well to avoid attention.
"That all depends on what you're offering to us," Aaron negotiated, equally casual, "and what you're asking for in return."
"I can offer you information that will destroy his chances at becoming Head boy. He probably won't even be kept on as a Prefect with this little bit of news," Travers tempted vaguely, not willing to give up his trump cards straight away.
"And Winifred?" asked Mary with interest.
"Just a little something I can get my hands on that will have Wilkes in your pocket from now until well after graduation," Travers hinted.
Mary and Aaron looked at one another once more, apparently coming to some sort of silent agreement before they turned back to Travers.
"I'm curious, why don't you use this information yourself?" Aaron raised his eyebrow, "You could try to blackmail either of them yourselves."
"Slytherin's have a knack for these sort of dealings," Rosier commented knowingly.
"More importantly, we think that this would be more valuable in your hands than in ours," Travers went on, "and it also makes a nice gesture of good will."
"And how much will this gesture be worth?" Aaron negotiated.
"Nothing you can't arrange for," Travers assured with a friendly demeanor, "all I'm asking for is that you remember who your friends are when you get back on top of things in Slytherin and there's also something that would make Evan happy."
"Tristan . . .don't. . ." Rosier turned to his friend with a half glare, half plea.
Travers studied Rosier with a surprised look before softening up and tossing him an encouraging look.
"Don't be like that, mate." Tristan patted his friend on the back, "I'm just looking out for you, is all. Tired of seeing you mope about and you're too shy to do anything about it."
"What does he want?" Mary was obviously intrigued, although whether it was by Rosier's reluctance or Traver's information was entirely uncertain.
"He fancies Wilkes, has for a bit now but refuses to do a thing about it" Travers explained, causing Rosier to groan and scowl off to the side, "our problem is, if you bloody her up beyond repair in some intricate revenge, it doesn't do my boy here much good and I'll have spent two years having an earache for nothing. You understand our position in all this."
"I doubt we can come to an arrangement," Aaron replied in a very business like air. His expression was sour and cast in stone, "Wilkes humiliated Mary with her cousin and I'll be damned if I let her get off free and clear if I have the option of watching her hang."
Travers appeared slightly taken aback by Aaron's reluctance while Rosier dawned a new grim sort of look. Mary turned to her boyfriend, smiling sweetly as she placed a hand to his face to coax him into looking at her.
"You're always so protective of me, darling. It's why I love you so," Mary smiled as she stroked his cheek affectionately, "but it's alright, Aaron, I'll be just as content to own Winifred as I would be to destroy her."
An evident amount of disappointment appeared on Aaron's face but he made no verbal announcement of it. Nodding, he patted Mary's hand before looking back at Travers.
"Fine then, you'll have your end of things on our pureblooded words," Aaron committed himself and Mary to Tristan's proposition, "now, what exactly do you have on Snape and Wilkes?"
"Not here," Travers shook his head, "I don't want someone to overhear this and either beat you to the punch or tip them off. Meet us out by the greenhouses tonight half an hour before curfew. You'll get everything I promised to you then. Alright?"
Aaron turned his stormy colored eyes onto Mary, not wanting to agree to anything without first knowing her position on things. Her cold eyes shinning with dark amusement, Mary stared hard at Travers.
"That will be just fine," Mary decided with a small smile, "of course I have to wonder how you two managed to out finesse all of Slytherin in finding something exploitable about the black sheep of the House."
Rosier shrugged but looked a little bit satisfied with himself in spite of his distance from the conversation. Travers was far less modest about his recent acquisition and the arrangement it earned him.
"That's just us hardworking Hufflepuff boys for you," Travers matched the wicked grin, "getting our hands dirty so you don't have to."
* * *
Offering a brief knock and waiting for an invitation in, Lily stepped into the 6th Year girls' dorm only to find Cassidy and her Muggle Studies book resting on her bed. Everything was as Lily had been so familiar with when she had lived there. The polished four post beds, red tapestries against handsome stone was all the same except Lily noticed that the bed she had used prior to her being appointed to Prefect was now a communal resting place for the undetermined amount of cats Arabella kept. Cassidy must have noticed Lily's writhing eyebrow in response to the virtual overrunning of her former side of the room because the tall, black girl had a smirk quickly developing over her face.
"Bet yer loving that single room now aren't ye?" Cassidy wagered with a chuckle.
Lily only shook her head in reply.
"I came here to see if you knew where James was. He disappeared after supper and no one's seen him," Lily explained as she noticed how empty the room happened to be, "is he off with the other girls?"
"No. Millicent's off with Snape getting a jump start on their project, I think Arabella and Remus might be passing themselves off fer being productive somewhere about, and Gwen has been getting along pretty well with the Weaver girl in Ravenclaw. They have a few things in common considering they're both Scottish, muggle borns so they've been chatting a bit since Sirius's bash," Cassidy reported, "what do ye need them fer?"
"Nothing in particular, I was just curious," Lily shrugged as she stepped into the room, "feeling confident about the upcoming match?
"Always," Cassidy smirked as she tossed her book off to the side, "of course, I wish I was feeling as confident about the other things in my life at the moment."
"Anything the matter?" Lily asked with concern.
"No, nothing really," Cassidy shook her head with a sign, "I mean, it's the usual. Got O.W.L's on my mind amongst other things."
"What sort of things?" Lily pressed as she played the part of the good and intrusive friend. Cassidy released another, more reluctant sigh as she eyed Lily with a look of debate.
"I'm not sure if ye want teh really hear," Cassidy warned.
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't," Lily smiled encouragingly.
Tugging on her ponytail in an almost nervous gesture, Cassidy chewed her bottom lip before looking at Lily with an embarrassed look.
"I think. . .I might fancy some one a bit," confessed Cassidy. The words came slowly from her mouth like honey rolling off a spoon, "and I'm not all that sure what teh do about it since I've never really been interested in anyone anymore than in a casual sort of way."
Lily couldn't help but smile a bit.
"You make it sound like it's a problem," Lily noted.
Cassidy rolled off her bed so she could cross her arms with an expression of indignation properly.
"Of course, it's a problem, ye wonky redhead," Cassidy informed defensively, "it's not the same run around every other daffy lass has teh go through where their only concern is whether or not some thick lad has eyes fer them. Mines far more complicated."
Lily nodded in appreciation for Cassidy's situation but still retained her grin.
"I know your position is a little less conventional than most others, Cassidy, but EVERYONE thinks there love-life is more complicated than everybody else," said Lily gently.
"Yeah, well I think I may have a leg teh stand on in this argument," muttered Cassidy.
"Maybe just a bit," Lily relented sympathetically, "so who's the potentially lucky girl?"
Another hesitant expression enveloped Cassidy's mocha features.
"Come on, Cassidy, it's cruel to bait me like this if you're not going to tell me who it is!" Lily teased as she approached her friend, "at the very least I'd like to be supportive of you through this if you want to pursue it."
"I fancy Wilkes," confessed Cassidy.
"Oh," Lily replied, not sure if she should have expected this or if it was alright to be slightly surprised, "If I may, why?"
"I don't know, I think she's funny and pretty off the top of my head," Cassidy shrugged, "she seems wicked enough teh not get bent out of shape fer everything I say but I also think she's a decent person underneath it all because of what she did fer Gwen and Millie back at Hogsmeade and the fact she's willing teh hang about a bunch of Gryffindors and Muggle borns in spite of her being Slytherin. Those things sort of say something about a person."
Lily felt as though she needed to sit down as she lowered herself onto Cassidy's bed. She was beginning to think that Cassidy had been on the ball when she insisted that her situation was a complicated one.
"Well, I guess the only other question is do you think she is . . . um . . . possibly interested?" Lily questioned, hoping Cassidy may have some basis to support her feelings. Wilkes seemed all right enough to casually socialize with but Lily had little idea about the girls preferences in dating, let alone her opinions of those who deviated from the norm. The last thing Lily wanted was to have Cassidy's personal life callously exposed by someone who found a twisted amusement in that sort of thing.
"Now that I don't know," Cassidy replied glumly, "I don't really see her being all that interested in guys usually, bit of a loner. She seems teh blow then off a lot, so that might mean something. That and I hear Slytherins can be pretty liberal on who's sharing a bed with them. And yeh know how I got those flowers fer valentines? Well, apparently Wilkes has this thing about sending flowers the people because plants have some sort of meaning they're supposed teh have."
"Still, she has been spending a lot of time with Sirius," Lily pointed out. Catching Cassidy's discouraged expression, Lily quickly added, "that's not to say you're wrong, Cassidy, it's just I don't want you to get hurt if it's not worth it. It's possible that Wilkes is . . . um . . . liberal and her and Sirius don't seem to be anything more than friends. I just think you need a little bit more to base this upon than speculations and interhouse rumors."
"Yer right," Cassidy nodded thoughtfully, before turning her eyes on Lily. Dawning a slightly embarrassed expression, Cassidy shifted awkwardly, "do ye think ye could, I don't know, investigate this a bit fer me?"
"Pardon?" Lily dumbly responded. It wasn't that she wasn't willing to help out her friend, but she was wondering why Cassidy thought she was the person to send on this fact-finding mission.
"Well, the only people who know about me are ye and James and I don't really want teh send him off and running on this. Yer smart and perceptive and popular so maybe if ye hint around ye might find something I won't. That and yer friends with her cousin so maybe ye can get something off Snape," rationalized Cassidy.
Lily wasn't too certain how friendly she was with Severus Snape these days and, even if she was sure, knew he wasn't the type to allow information to casually slip. As for asking about on the topic of Winifred Wilkes's preferences in dating, Lily was worried that she would inspire gossip for either Winifred's or her own reputation with that kind of questions.
Still, Cassidy was her friend. . .
"I'll see if I can find out anything," Lily agreed hesitantly, unsure of how she was supposed to manage this, "but I think we need to see what Sirius's intentions are as well. If he's more than casually interested in Winifred then things could get rather tense on the subject."
"Yeah, I don't want to be fighting with Sirius over a girl suave prat he is," Cassidy admitted before dawning a teasing grin, "Of course he lost out teh Potter when he had his eye on ye."
"You make it sound as though I were some trophy," Lily remarked dryly.
"Well yer all pretty and shinny," Cassidy laughed.
"Yes. . . lovely sentiments," Lily rolled her eyes with a smile.
"If yer looking fer Potter, sometimes he hangs out by the Pitch," Cassidy revealed, "it's a place for him teh be on his own since he's one of the few people with keys teh it."
"Thanks Cassidy," said Lily as she made her way out of the room.
Cassidy watched Lily leave before retuning to her book.
"No sense in both of us being alone . . ." Cassidy spoke to herself.
* * *
E ~ How was work today, if I may inquire?
S ~ Another day, another pile of paperwork that requires my pretty handwriting. First day back at classes today, how did they go?
E ~ To say they were unimpressive would be generous. I find this institute more dull with each passing day I am forced to attended it. I can almost understand why people like your brother and Potter feel the need to lash out. Anyone with better than average intelligence is bound to recognize that there is precious little left to learn within these walls.
S ~ You're only young once.
E ~ I never was young.
S ~ We all squander perfectly good opportunities.
E ~ Like marriage proposals from Malfoys?
S ~ He neither proposed nor was it perfect or good. Why are you bringing this up?
E ~ I'm not certain.
S ~ You shouldn't concern yourself about it. I don't.
E ~ You must be very confident in yourself to be so dismissive of families like the Malfoys. I imagine they do not take spurning very lightly.
S ~ I suppose the same comment could be applied to you. I very much doubt you'll be making any friends with Lucius as things are now.
E ~ I can afford to hide behind my mother for another year or so.
S ~ I wise plan. Your mother is a frightening woman.
E ~ Apparently not frightening enough it would seem. . .you know she will make it her personal crusade to destroy you if this got back to her.
S ~ Seems to be a common concern in this situation doesn't it? Are you having second thoughts?
E ~ No. I'm completely satisfied.
S ~ Are you being sarcastic? It's a little hard to infer from writing sometimes.
E ~ I'm being sincere. I don't care about what people thing and can even handle an witch as intimidating as my mother in my own ways. Still, you have more at risk in this situation than I. Unfortunately the vast majority of the world would like to assume I'm completely ignorant of everything transpiring, bewitched and enthralled under your feminine guiles.
S ~ I am the siren luring men upon my rocky shores.
E ~ Now I'll assume you're being sarcastic.
S ~ That or I'll have to invest in some rocky shores. . .
E ~ You're remarkably stoic. It's as though nothing a of this world intimidates you. I don't know whether to be impressed with you or deeply concerned.
S ~ I seemed to get along just fine before you started worrying about me, I think I'll be fine now.
E ~ Is that a hint?
S ~ You're so sensitive.
E ~ I'll assume no then. My partner for a project has arrived. I need to conclude this conversation.
S ~ I understand. Good luck.
E ~ Thank you, but I won't require any since she's actually on of my few competent peers.
S ~ 'She?'
E ~ Now who's being sensitive?
S ~ I suppose I can trust you just this once.
E ~ I'll write you again before midnight.
S ~ Alright. Goodbye then until later.
* * *
Shutting the journal, Severus placed it within the inner pocket of his robes before Millicent Meeks had completely reached his table within the library.
"Good evening," Millicent greeted as she seated herself across from Severus and began to arrange the contents of her bag on top of the table between them.
"Good evening," Severus returned with a nod as he reached for one of the books he had taken the liberty of pulling from the shelves earlier in the evening, "I'm assuming you're still content on project critiquing the classification of dark potions and their ingredients and the Ministries protocol for containment and use?"
"That's more than fine," Millicent smiled supportively.
Severus gestured absently towards the stack of books neighboring him.
"These are so secondary sources I've managed to acquire from the school library. I have a few more within my personal collection and will request my parents to obtain some primary references in the morning. In the meantime, I believe these tomes will provide a more than adequate basis for our proposal," Severus drawled as he thumbed the index of the book before him.
He didn't bother looking up because he knew he didn't need to monitor Millicent's contribution to their assignment. She held the 4th highest position for Marks in their Year and the 7th highest out of all the school. Entirely dependable and seemingly content with near any arrangements, Severus knew that he would be expected to make grate accommodations for Millicent's partnership anymore than he would have to carry her through the workload.
"I took the liberty of holding preliminary meetings with Professor Brewsteem to discuss her knowledge of dark potion ingredients and how they are to be managed after supper . . .before I came to meet you here," Millicent reported as she produced a section of parchment, "I made a list of anything she said that sounded interesting and she was kind enough to provide a list for us to cross-reference with our project. I intend to meet with Professor Sprout to discuss both magical and non-magical plant components that might be used in such potion work as well as Professor Heilsing since she might be able to offer some unique insights considering her prior occupation."
Severus nodded approvingly, content to see that their working relationship was progressing as he had anticipated it would.
"Impressively thorough, Miss Meeks," Severus praised, causing Millicent to blush as she appeared to have a habit of doing whenever anyone took notice of her presence.
"Well I was simply following your lead," Millicent modestly deflected, "I also would like to be helpful considering you asked me to be your partner."
"I find you to be a capable and trustworthy associate," said Severus simply.
"Still, you are under consideration for Headboy and I'd like to make sure you won't become too distracted because of all this extra work," Millicent nodded with her usually pleasant smile.
"Your concern is appreciated," Severus replied, "may I inspect Professor Brewsteem's notes for myself? I'm interested to see if she bothered to be anymore comprehensive than she cares to be in her mediocre excuses for lectures."
Millicent's smile grew slightly awkward, as it tended to whenever she listened to other people's insults. While few ever bothered to ridicule the soft-spoken Gryffindor or her inoffensive presence, Millicent always seemed uncomfortable when conversations turned negative. Just as she never spoke ill of anyone, Millicent said nothing to correct Severus's comment on their professor as she passed him the folds of parchment.
"Um. . . certainly," Millicent offered before pulling a book to her, "I believe I'll make sure our Professor was careful to mention all the potions each ingredient is applicable to."
Severus said nothing but nodded as he studied Brewsteem's list. As he had expected, the woman only bothered to list commonly known dark potions, most of which were mild poisons and other elementary concoctions that amused unimaginative malcontents. Certain he would disregard Brewsteem's interview entirely as a source, Severus decided to glance over the notes Millicent had taken just to be sure that the doddering potions mistress didn't actually possess some wisdom when speaking to his partner.
Staring at the composition of elegant, looping strokes, Severus noticed a familiarity to Millicent's handwriting that he had never been aware of before.
It was the same as his anonymous letter from Valentines Day.
The letter and mystery he had all but abandoned in light of his recent preoccupation inspired by his House's infighting and liaisons with Aurora Black.
Having difficulties processing the idea that Millicent Meeks had any sort of sincere feelings for him, Severus was pulled his eyes off the timid Gryffindor's writing to steal an inspective look of her. She was busy with a chart but, aware of his eyes, glanced up to smile politely before returning to her work. Severus numbly returned his eyes to the notes before him so as not to provoke any awkward questions on the girl's part.
Grappling with the idea that the shy and gentle Millicent Meeks who seemed far more suited for Ravenclaw than the brash crowd within Gryffindor, the sort of girl everyone liked or respected just a little bit, was some how fond of him, Severus folded up the noted to compare them carefully against the letter he had received which was secured safely in his room.
Attempting to occupy his thought on something constructive, Severus was as unsure of how to handle this situation as he was on how he should feel about it.
* * *
"So here's where you've hidden yourself after dinner," Lily called out across the Quidditch Pitch as she finally found her boyfriend, "I thought I was going to have use a location charm to find you."
James was seated in the center with his school bag and all his books positioned carefully around him. The silvery light of the moon washed the field but James had summoned a few additional orbs to dance around a provide some additional illumination. It appeared as though James was binge-studying all his lessons at once, shifting his head like a pendulum between two books. He as so absorbed in his work, Lily wasn't entirely certain that he had heard her speak to him let alone notice when she was right upon him.
"James, what are you doing?" Lily questioned.
"Hmm?" James paused long enough to glance quickly to at Lily before resuming his work, "Oh, yes, I'm just gearing up for O.W.L.'s. Professor Heilsing reminded me of how I can't afford to slip up even a bit on my marks if I want to earn Headboy. Not with Snape being right along side. And you know he's not going to let up a bit."
"I hope this doesn't become a new vicious rivalry with Slytherin, usually things settle down a bit after we play them in Quidditch," Lily frowned, "why are you studying out here?"
"Because I doubt there's a single quiet space elsewhere in the castle," James shrugged, still dividing his attention between the various subjects.
Lily watched James thoughtfully. She had never seen James embed himself so deeply into his studies before. James was brilliant and did take his classes seriously, but Lily had always thought James was the type that just absorbed knowledge through osmosis or something of the like. Studying was almost a waste of his time in most cases once he had listened to a few lectures on a theory and read up on it in a text.
This made Lily wonder why James was so content to waste his time.
"Don't you think you're overdoing it a bit?" Lily observed gently, "after all, we have two months before any really pressure is on us and Headboys are chosen not only for their marks but how well they carry on with their peers and handle responsibility. I think you don't need to become quite so invested just yet, James."
"Never thought I'd hear you advising me to slack off," James chuckled still reading.
"I just thought you'd be running the team into the ground with Quidditch," Lily commented.
"I will be tomorrow and many days after that. I just wanted everyone to have a chance to get back into the swing before I make them demons on broomsticks," James rationalized, "in the meantime, I'll get a jumpstart on my lessons since Heilsing's assignment will pick up soon and I imagine the other Professors will have their own pet projects to toss on the heap."
"It sounds like you're planning on keeping yourself pretty busy," Lily noticed form the timetable James was outlining for himself.
"It appears that way," James nodded over his book.
"Would you like me to keep you company then?" Lily offered while lowering herself to the ground.
"Actually, I think I need to just be on my own for a bit," James requested softly, "I'll visit with you before lights out. Right now, I just need to finish looking over this."
Lily reversed her motion so she was fully upright once more. Her green eyes fell upon James with obvious concern.
"Okay," Lily agreed, straining to keep her voice casual, "I guess I'll see you then."
Making her way off the Pitch, Lily dared a glance over her shoulder.
"Something's not bothering you, is it James?" Lily questioned.
James turned to Lily, forcing a smile onto his lips.
"What could possibly be wrong?" James asked back.
"I wouldn't know," Lily shook her head, "you just don't seem your usual self."
"Maybe it's just and off-color time of year," James offered before returning to his books without another word.
Lily took this as her hint to leave James be.
* * *
It was half past eight when Mary Tudor and Aaron Lestrange found their way out to the Castle greenhouses. They anticipated that Travers and Rosier most likely intended to show earlier than nine and since Mary and Aaron were fond of keeping the quaffle in their pitch the couple made it a point to be the earliest to arrive.
It was just good business.
"Do you think we can trust Travers and Rosier?" Aaron questioned in a low voice, not wanting to risk being caught by Filch or Professor Sprout and then having to explain their presence within the Greenhouse. The air was muggy and thick with numerous fragrances. Aaron was tempted to loosen his tie in reaction to the humidity but would rather be stifled than ill-groomed.
"I think we can trust them not to set us up," Mary said softy, "of course I suppose the real question is if they have anything worth selling to us."
"Hufflepuffs have been known to exaggerate," Aaron nodded as he brushed a curl of bang back into place, "I'll be impressed if these boys come out to be half as clever as they think themselves to be. Traditionally the only thing more dense and useless than a Hufflepuff is a Mudblood. Merlin help the pathetic waste if they happen to be a Mudblood Hufflepuff."
"I don't know," Mary drawled lost in thought, "I think there's something interesting about those two. Travers has enough ambition to make him productive but knows his place enough not to exceed his station faster than he's earned. Probably the only reason he wasn't sorted into Slytherin, that sense of camaraderie."
"What about Rosier?" asked Aaron.
"He seems content to allow Travers to twist his arm so hard you can practically hear the snap," Mary shrugged.
Aaron frowned as he went on to inspecting his fingernails to be sure that they were even in length and well-manicured.
"That certainly doesn't offer me much confidence in him," Aaron confessed, "for all we know he's too weak stomached to handle anything too trying or he'll turn on us the first time it suits him."
Mary smiled affectionately as she pat Aaron on the back.
"Rosier's a follower through and through. His type are easy to recognize because you can see the utter lack of fight behind his eyes. He'll fall in line and soon will be having as much fun with it as the rest of us are," said Mary confidently, "he and Winifred would make a splendid, spineless pair of shadows . . . assuming he provides me with enough incentive not to turn her hollow little head into a conversation piece."
Aware of some approaching footsteps, Mary and Aaron stepped off to the side and watched from behind a support beam to see who was entering the greenhouse. Catching a glimpse of Travers and Rosier walking amidst the flowerbeds, the two Slytherin's stepped out to greet their host.
"I hope you don't mind that we're a bit early, but you'll understand if we were a tad eager from your teasing conversation earlier on," Mary broke the silence with her husky voice.
She smiled with satisfaction as she watched Rosier and Travers jump at the sound of it. Recovering his composure as quickly as he could manage, Travers nudged Rosier to follow as he approached the other two occupants of the greenhouse.
"Not at all," Travers smiled, "in fact, I very much doubt you'll mind if we skip the usual pleasantries and I just give you everything you'll ever need to keep a tight leash on Winifred Wilkes.
Reaching into his cloak, Travers produced a thin book and passed it into Mary's hands. The cover was a dark leather with peculiar patters on it. Papyrus pages were sandwiched between them with the edges slightly damp and muddy.
"Her diary," Travers reported, "I found it in here just before spring holiday. Apparently Wilkes hid it by the roots of a particularly wicked breed of plant that doesn't like to be replanted. Not a bad location for safe keeping since Evan nearly lost his doing it."
"Last time I offer to get extra points for Hufflepuff by surprising Professor Sprout with some gardening," Rosier rolled his eyes.
"It's certainly worth a few scrapes and bite marks in hindsight though, right mate?" Travers pointed out before returning his eyes to the Slytherins.
"It's blank," Mary observed in disappointment and anger as she flipped through it.
"That's what we had assumed initially but it turns out that it's enchanted," Rosier corrected, "everything in it is kept under lock and key by Winifred's persona so you'll have to convince her into giving up the information. I was lucky she'd even tell me that her name was Winifred so we could figure out who it belonged to."
"She's bound to notice that it's gone missing," Aaron warned.
"Let her notice. . . let her wonder . . . let her worry," Mary breathed as she grinned over the possibilities, "do you know what secrets this book may hold? Not only about Winifred, but Severus, his family, maybe even half the school knowing how much snooping that girl does about Hogwarts. This could be everything you've wanted to know about all the things people never wanted to be known."
"Provided we can get it talking," Aaron frowned before turning to Travers, "this book doesn't have all that much sway over Wilkes if we can't figure out a way around its defenses."
"Already thought of that," Travers assured with a smug grin, "my brother works in the ministry classifying sentient books. He told me that enchanted diaries are rare and very well-guarded because it's like the author himself is living in the pages. If you know the author's personality well enough you might be able to find a way into convincing it to tell you things. If that doesn't work, my brother told me to start doing damage to the book, it's like physical torture. Of course that's going to piss it off a whole lot and you might not catch as many flies as you would have with honey."
"What assurances do we have that the book won't lie?" Mary questioned.
"It's can't. The book can only say what's been written in it. It can omit passages, yes, but unless it's a book of lies you're assured at least some half truths," Travers assured.
"Not as though I can't see though Winifred's usual smoke and mirrors," Mary shrugged before smiling to Aaron, "I think I'm about to have my spirits rather lifted."
"That's marvelous news, precious," Aaron murmured, before turning to Travers, "now, what about Snape?"
Travers turned to Rosier with an expectant look. As though acting on cue, Rosier pushed himself off from the flowerbed he had been resting against and addressed the pair of Slytherin.
"A 2nd Year in our House was in the Hospital Wing in late January being treated for appendicitis. Madam Pomfrey had left him to make a quick stop over to Professor Brewsteem for some primrose thorns to add to the his medicine when he overheard a conversation between Snape and Serpen Nott," Rosier explained.
A look of extreme interest was embedded upon both Mary and Aaron's faces as they waited for Rosier to continue. Travers smiled to himself with a continual amount of satisfaction and confidence.
"Wilkes, apparently, had convinced Snape that she pushed Nott down the stairs but Nott refuted it. We don't know who actually sent Nott on his tumble, but the thing worth mentioning in all this is Snape threatened Nott into passing it off as an accident, which, as we all can guess would be a gross undermining of his duties as a Prefect," Rosier finished.
"Well isn't that interesting," Aaron commented with a nasty grin seizing his lips, "I'm sure we can twist Nott's arm enough into confessing the whole thing. He probably wants Snape out as Prefect as much we do. All the boy needs is a proper nudge and he'll be singing the song that will get Snape sacked in no time."
"Severus has been a naughty boy," Mary smiled contently as she turned her cold eyes on Travers and Rosier, "you gentleman, on the other had, are proving yourselves to be wizards worth keeping on good terms with."
"Just keeping good to our words," Travers rationalized professionally.
Travers gave an encouraging nod over towards Rosier. Both appeared to be more than happy with the way their little arrangement had panned out.
"Don't worry. We'll keep up ours," Mary assured, "you boys have earned yourselves high marks with us this evening and as a show of good faith I'll pass along any information that might be useful to you Rosier once I crack open Winifred's diary. Perhaps there's something she mentions in here that can help you dance your way into her fancies."
Rosier crossed his arms and attempted to keep his expression as blank as he could manage so as not to show the Slytherin's just how tempted he was.
"If you happen across something, I'd appreciate it," Rosier admitted in a casual tone.
"Of course. Friends do favors for other friends," said Mary.
"Anymore favors you can think of?" Travers questioned.
Aaron's face lit up as though he had been waiting for someone to ask that all evening long.
"Let's see what we can do about Potter and Evans," Aaron decided.
Travers glanced to Rosier. Neither of them had a particular problem with either James Potter or Lily Evans. In fact, aside from certain people in Slytherin, most of the school either really liked or were respectfully indifferent of the golden pair of Gryffindor. Travers wasn't sure how keen on this new development Rosier would be but found himself somewhat intrigued by the challenge of bringing down the two.
Exposing Wilkes and Snape had been relatively simple. After all, it was obvious they both had skeletons in their closet, the only hard part was finding out where the closets were. With Potter and Evans, Travers didn't know if either had any exploitable weaknesses but they would be most interesting to find. . .
. . . or invent.
"Yes, let's see what we can do," Travers smirked.
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Check out my most recent story, Allocations, which is kind of a supplement to Pensieve. It's just a one-shot story about the Sorting Ceremony for all the MWPP era characters, Canon, Original, and a few that we haven't really gotten to know yet . . . I'd like to do more like Allocation but I need some inspiration. Can you guys think of any back story you want to hear about but doubt it will make it into the main Pensieve storyline? I guess this is your chance to challenge the creativity of Oy! Angie!