Liberosis (A Marauders Era Fanfiction)

Three

I just finished dinner with Reg and I make my way to detention in Slughorn's office. I debated whether or not to even go but I need something to occupy my time and sitting and listening to Slughorn prattle on for an hour while I do some meaningless task should do as long as his gossip is juicy enough tonight to not let my mind wander.

"Ah Miss Sterne right on time come in" he says. "Now I never expected one of my star students in here for anything not related to those five boys you always find yourself around" he says a moment to late to notice his mistake. He said five which includes Him. I wince but take my seat.

"I'm very sorry dear I did not mean- well never mind" he says seeing the look on my face begging him to end the reminder of him there. "Anyway tonight you will help me organize the potions cabinet. You are in luck too I thought of the perfect story to tell you to occupy our time, I know detention is supposed to be a punishment but one can't honestly expect me to sit around bored to death while supervising it" he says with a little laugh. "I thought I would tell you a story of your parents when they were students here" he says. This captures my attention.

"Really sir were you a teacher then" I ask.

"Oh yes dear I have been a teacher for quite some time now you flatter me thinking otherwise" he says laughing heartily. "Now your mother was one of my favorite students in her year, your father too wasn't the worst potions maker himself but he did fancy himself a jokester and while I always enjoy a laugh as I'm sure you know it could get a bit disruptive" He goes on for a bit about his wonderful sense of humor before turning his attention back to the story.

"So as I was saying your father and mother were both my students and I had always noticed your mother eyeing your father. I would see her staring at him in class and giggling with her friends when he caught her eye. Now as their teacher, and certainly a favorite one I thought it my duty to help them along" he says with a proud smile.

"I decided to change seating arrangements and who did I put together but your mother and father" he says. "Your mother seemed very pleased with that and while your father wasn't unhappy about it he was quite oblivious to your mothers feelings as she was kind to everyone and he was well liked by most. It was going to be hard to get them to actually get on with it. I decided to do a project on love spells verses true love where you would have to research both and come up with your own ideas on both with your partner who was seated beside you. I figured that would be a good way to have them spend more time together and not only that there time would be spent talking of love. I figured eventually they would come to realize how they loved each other in this project. And right I was. By the end of the semester they were dating and within a few years married. I always pride myself on helping along such a perfect match as your parents. Really lovely people." After this he went on about his amazing matchmaking skills and how many other couples he had helped on there way.

"Well dear our time is up I do hope that you enjoyed it but not enough to have a repeat are we clear" he says. I nod my head. I walk out of the classroom and wander about the halls for a bit. I make my way up to the astronomy tower where I find a boy I don't know smoking and ask to borrow one. He gives me one and lights it and we sit in silence a while.

"What's your name" I ask him after a little bit.

"Liam" he says. "You're Elena right" he questions although I can tell he already is sure of himself.

"Yep that's me" I say. I hope he knows me from our years here and not the recent incident I don't want to talk about.

"I thought so I've seen you at parties for years but you've always been surrounded by people" I glance at his tie Hufflepuff figures why he was to kind to bring up the thing I'm sure everyone here knows about me.

"Yep I always run in quiet a crowd" I say sending him a coy smile.

"Not lately" he says. "I don't mean to pry" he says after almost like he's sorry for stating his observation.

"Been keeping tabs on me" I ask flirtatiously.

"Maybe a little" he admits looking down at his hands.

"Well that's all right do you like me Liam" I say getting a little closer to him. He seems nervous but instead of answering he pulls my face close waiting for me to close the gap and I do.

-----

I get into the dorm late after my rendezvous with Liam. I try to be quiet not to wake the girls but it seems Lily is already up.

"Where have you been" she asks noting my disheveled appearance.

"With some nice Hufflepuff boy" I say smirking. I go over to my trunk and pull out a sleep shirt.

"I'm not joking this is a big deal your out after curfew apparently with a boy and you come back looking like this and after your behavior today I can only guess what you got yourself into" Lily says.

"We have very different ideas of big deals dear Lily now I'm tired let me sleep" I say after I've changed. I crawl into bed and ignore her annoyed huff.

-----

I make it to the Great Hall and take a chance sitting at the Gryffindor table. My chance does not pay off as Lily speaks up.

"Would you care to inform the rest of our friends where you have been every night this week or shall I say who you've been with" Lily says. I groan.

"Lily we've been through this it's not a big deal I'm simply expressing my emotions as you all so desperately have been begging me to do" I say looking for Regulus but not spotting him.

"Well then I will tell them" she says, "she's been at the astronomy tower every night with Liam Dowry from Hufflepuff and she comes back looking an utter mess" I glare at Lily.

"So what he's kind and he doesn't ask questions unlike you" I say. I notice Remus and Sirius glaring at Liam who glances up when he senses eyes on him then sends me a fearful look. I try to reassure him with my eyes before turning to the boys. "Lay off before you scare him away would you rather me find more questionable company" I ask "perhaps one of the arrogant boys that isn't afraid of you" I say. I finally spot Regulus coming in with James and make a break for him not sparing anyone else a second look. On my way to them I watch them exchange a few words before James makes his way to the Gryffindor table not sparing me a look as he passes.

"What's up with you and Potter" I say as I approach him.

"Since when did he become Potter to you" he asks as we walk out of the Great Hall together only stopping so he can snag some food from a table to spare us a trip to the kitchens.

"Since we haven't spoken in months that's how you refer to strangers is it not" I say.

"He's not a stranger he is one of your closest friends I know you are both going through a lot but I really think it would be good for you two to reconcile your differences" he says as we walk to the courtyard.

"In order to do that we would both have to speak to someone other than you for more than a few minutes which neither of us seem capable of at the moment now will you answer my original question please" I push.

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REGULUS' POV

I honestly don't know what's going on with me and James. He is grieving really hard and I'm the only person aside from his mom he is really talking to about it. That being said before Ollie's death me and him had began to get closer and I was starting to develop slight feelings. I know it's not right he's straight and grieving not to mention completely in love with my best friend. I'm not a fool I know that even though it pains him to be around her because of the reminder she is of Ollie he still loves her more than anyone else in this world. I know because he asks me about her. It kills me to have to report only bad news.

"Nothing more than letting him lean on me just like you" I say. It hurts so much to see everyone in such pain over Ollie's death and know even if indirectly it is my fault. I can't even say that to anyone because they all deny it but I know its true. Elena may think its her fault but anyone who thinks about it long enough can see its mine.

"Hmm I didn't know you two were so close" she says. I really do wish I was telling her the truth it would be so much easier to think of him as a friend.