Her Single Rose (Remus Lupin)

Eighty

Aries skipped dinner that night. Immediately regretting tearing up her designs, she used a spell and repaired them, not that it did much good from the smeared pastels and ink

She walked quietly down the halls, not knowing where exactly she was going but letting her feet wonder along with her mind.

A sound fell from above the stair case to the second floor. Music maybe? The closer Aries got, the more she was able to hear the song. She walked around the corner and there were Honey and Ben along with the rest of the band humming along to a song.

Honey noticed Aries and nodded her over, "oh hey, long time no see." Ben smiled up at her from where the others were sitting.

Aries shrugged, "what's all this? Shouldn't you all be at dinner?" She asked sitting down beside a boy with two drum sticks.

"Shouldn't you be at dinner too?" Honey retorted, Aries only shook her head at that.

"We were actually just practicing a song, wanna be the audience?" One of the boys asked.

"What's it about?" Aries asked, crossing her legs out in front of her.

"You were actually my inspiration on this one. It's called Home. You said something about it and it just kind clicked in my head." Ben explained and set his fingers on the strings.

"Home, A place where I can go
To take this off my shoulders
Someone take me home" Ben sang, glancing at Aries waiting for a reaction, which he soon got.

Aries eyes furrowed as she listened to the lyrics.

"Home
A place where I can go
To take this off my shoulders
Someone take me home, someone take me" Honey sang until the blonde across from Aries began to rap.

"Look, I didn't power through the struggle
Just to let a little trouble, knock me out of my position
And interrupt the vision
After everything I witnessed, after all of these decisions
All these miles, feet, inches
They can't add up to the distance
That I have been through, just to get to
A place where even if there's no closure, I'm still safe"

The words brought Aries into her own mind this time. Remembering every moment she tried to do the right thing. Tried to keep herself safe. Tried to keep others safe. Attempted to get help when she knew it was a risk. And then everything sort of just...free falling.

"I still ache from trying to keep pace
Somebody give me a sign, I'm starting to lose faith
Now tell me: how did all my dreams turn to nightmares?
How did I lose it when I was right there?
Now I'm so far that it feels like it's all gone to pieces
Tell me why the world never fights fair?
I'm trying to find" The rap ended as Ben and Honey shared the last verse.

"Home
A place where I can go
To take this off my shoulders
Someone take me home" Honey looked over at Aries, who seemed to be very lost in thought.

Only the gentle poke from the brunette drummer broke her from her thoughts, "You got all that from that one word?" Aries asked curiously.

Ben shrugged, "it wasn't just the word, it was how you said it. Hogwarts isn't just school for any of us. It's like a second home. When we leave, it feels like a piece of us stays, and when we leave home, it feels like we're gaining that piece back." He admitted.

Aries scoffed jokingly, "you have a gift Crawford. You all do." She spoke, hiding the shakiness in her hands. How powerful the lyrics recalled her own past and life.

"Was that a compliment?" Ben gasped playfully placing a hand on his heart.

"Never again." Aries teased, earning a few chuckles from the band as she stood. "Don't let Remus or Lily catch you out here after dinner is out. They both have prefect duty tonight." She warned.