𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 -𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙩 ʰᵖ

𝟬𝟰. ❝𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚❞

ROXANNE

"AND WHY DID you drag me into this utterly mad idea of yours, Celeste?" Roxanne asked, eyeing the huge Whomping Willow in front of them on this cold november day. The cold wind whispered through the air, causing the scarves wrapped around their necks to flutter in protest against the winter chill.

The past two months had been, awfully strange. if you'd ask her.

After their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, Professor Lupin requested a moment to speak with her.

"Roxanne, may I have a word?" Remus Lupin's request hung in the air, they had practised bogarts until it was Potter's turn — they never got to see what his boggart was, because Lupin stood in front of it, showing a big white ball?

"No thanks, professor," she briskly replied to Lupin, swiftly making her departure. Whenever he attempted to detain her after classes or stopped her in the corridors, she effortlessly brushed off his attempts. The encounters, thus far, occurred only when she was alone — a fact that brought her a sense of relief. Her friends, including her cousin Draco, remained oblivious to the connection between Roxanne and Remus Lupin, her godfather.

A similar occurrence happened at the start of the school year. Professor McGonagall called on her, along with Granger, Potter, and Avery, to join her before entering the Great Hall.

"Potter, Granger, come with me," McGonagall instructed as the two Gryffindors entered the castle. Observing Madelyn Avery and Roxanne walking in with the other Slytherins, she swiftly added, "Avery, Black, you two — come with me."

However, Roxanne proceeded to walk away without turning her head at the Head of Gryffindor House. She hurried into the Great Hall, seemingly oblivious to Professor McGonagall's call of "Black!" The professor made no further attempt to stop her, allowing Roxanne to continue into the hall unabated.

"Come on, Rose! It'll be fun." Celeste exclaimed with full excitement. The Whomping Willow stood tall and imposing, its branches rustling ominously in the cold November breeze.

"When you told me you had a surprise, I was picturing something a bit less life-threatening," Roxanne remarked, her eyebrows arched in playful scepticism. "I didn't sign up to be killed by a bloody tree."

"Don't be so dramatic, Rose — you look like Draco," Celeste remarked, her attempt at humour echoed through the air which met with a raised eyebrow from Roxanne.

"Comparing me to my ferret of a cousin? Now — you're crossing a line,"

"You must've heard it wrong,"

"Do not talk about Malfoy right now," A flicker of irritation crossed Roxanne's features as she responded , "before I might go and strangle him in his sleep."