The Burning of the White Wisteria

CHAPTER 20: SECRET SPOT

Look at them. Having fun. Must be nice.

I pressed my fork into my mashed potatoes, feeling them squash from the pressure as Luci and Mara laughed from a joke they clearly found funny. I cursed under my breath, glancing over to the reason I was sitting here in the first place.

Abraxas didn't even spare me an apologetic thought as he talked animatedly with the other club members. Occasionally, his elbow would hit my shoulder, knocking me over with his brutish strength.

Ironic, isn't it? He protested against me sitting here so much last year and yet now I'm being forced to be here.

I flipped him off under the table, turning the other way and looking back at my best friends. They seemed to notice my staring and looked over at me too, waving at me animatedly. My frustration was legendary when they both waved me over.

I shrugged, gesturing towards my brother with an apologetic look. They both frowned and nodded before returning to their own conversation.

Of course, they would accept that excuse. I'd told them that Abraxas and I were trying to mend our relationship and that's why I'd been spending so much time with him. Not because he was worried I'd try to throw myself off a roof again.

I moved my eyes elsewhere, finding the Gryffindor table. Surprisingly, Sirius wasn't there. My boyfriend had been the hardest to convince out of everyone. He'd thrown an incredible fit when I told him I wouldn't be sitting with him for a while.

'Come on, babe, I never get to see you in the first place!' He had said. 'And now you're taking away this too? You've been so busy these days... I mean, I only ever see you during meals for Merlin's sake!'

Eventually, he too agreed. However, his words didn't mean much. Every time we met in the Great Hall for a meal, he sent me puppy eyes from across the room. Occasionally, he would have James pitch in too and the two of them would stare at me for the duration of the meal. It was incredibly hard to resist him-- especially when I'd much rather be there than here in the first place.

Also, he's incredibly hot. It's impossibly hard to say no to that handsome face of his.

Though, what was weird about today is that Sirius wasn't the only one gone from the Gryffindor too but his partner in crime was too. The lone Marauders at the table were Remus and Peter Pettigrew. They sat together in what seemed like complete silence, sitting and eating while Remus wrote on a piece of parchment. I was surprised to see him suddenly look up to meet my eyes. He waved sheepishly before he turned back, writing on his paper with a quill while his food sat abandoned on his plate. He sat noticeably hunched over, his body almost hugging the Gryffindor dining table.

Well, that's odd. I cocked my head, eyes narrowing as I tried to understand his behaviour. Sure, Remus Lupin is a relatively shy person but I thought that we had gotten closer this year. I mean, Merlin, he's dating my best friend. So why is he... Nervous?

"'Brax," I tapped my twin on the shoulder, "do you have a piece of parchment and quill on you?"

He met my eyes, a bit irritated that I interrupted his conversation with Aventus. "Huh, no?" He scoffed. "Did you forget all your manners all of a sudden?"

Ignoring him, I looked at Tom. "Tom?"

Tom gestured at Rudolphus. "You heard her. Get her a piece of parchment."

I was asking you. I rolled my eyes.

I slightly enjoyed the annoyance that formed on Rudolphus' as he dug for a piece of paper and quill, mumbling something under his breath. Quickly, he passed them over to me with a scowl on his dark-featured face to which I smugly returned a grin. "Thanks. Rather kind of you."