And There Were Always Two... - oc x r. lupin & oc x s. black

- 3 -

As Mavis sat down beside Black, she wished she'd drop dead. Not because of Black, but because of the idiot that sat behind him. James Potter, the bastard.

"Hey, Ashley!" James tapped her on the shoulder.

"Fuck off Potter."

"Don't talk to my mate like that," Sirius demanded.

"You, too."

Mavis had opted to never tell her sister a little fact about herself: the humongous crush she had had on James Potter.

Ashley and Mavis had lived in separate households for most of their lives, due to divorced parents. The first time they really met each other was on platform nine and three-quarters. Their parents were muggles, but each had a magical relative somewhere up in the family tree so they weren't completely oblivious.

Mavis had lived with her dad in Caithness, Scotland. Right by his majesty James Fleamont Potter's mansion. They had been childhood friends, best friends, and inseparable. They rejoiced when they both went to Hogwarts together and were inexplicably happy when they were both sorted into Gryffindor. Mavis thought they would grow up and marry each other. Oh! how the dreams of a ten-year-old girl can be shattered.

Lily Evans came along within days of their arrival at Hogwarts. She had her glossy red locks and sparkly emerald eyes. What did Mavis have? A mop of brown curls that looked like she was dragged by a truck for a couple miles and eyes the colour of horse shit. Mavis watched James drool over Lily Evans for a couple days and ditched him. That was that.

Mavis went off to get the ingredients for the potion from the store cabinet, fuming from her encounter with James and Black, when she bumped into Lupin.

"Ashley..." he said, staring at her face.

"Piss off," Mavis answered and went back to her desk.

She thought she would catch a spot of rest when Black dragged the cauldron over to his side of the desk.

"You forgot the worm root," he told her.

"Do I look like I care?" she asked, completely exasperated.

"No, but you also don't look like you want to fail potions."

She wanted to flip him off. She really wanted to, but Slughorn was at the desk just beside him.

"Give me back the cauldron."

"No"

"Give me back the cauldron. Give it to me!"

"No"

"Ashley, Sirius, behave," James said, reaching over his desk and wrapping his arms around the two.

Mavis took out her wand and stuck it right at James' throat.

"Remember what I told you? Fuck. Off."

Damn, Mavis was in a bad mood.

"Are you sure you're Ashley? Ashley's usually the nicer one, isn't she?" James asked, smirking.

Mavis wanted to punch that expression right off his face. Okay, maybe a couple times.

"No, it's me. Mavis. The girl who wasted her childhood running around with the likes of you," she hissed at him. "Now, kindly shove off before this wand does something I'm not accountable for."

James' mouth dropped into an "oh" and fell back into his seat. Sirius looked between them, obviously confused, but didn't say anything. Oh, the joy! She really hoped she could switch seats with Ashley soon, and sit next to the only tolerable Marauders: Lupin.

After what seemed like ages, the potion was brewed and the class was almost over. Mavis did much of the work, with Black interjecting here and there.

"Good job," Slughorn announced, clapping his hands together. "Please write a one-foot parchment on the use for this potion with your partner. Off you go! Have a nice weekend!"

Mavis was really glad that September second had fallen on a Friday and she wouldn't have potions until Tuesday. If only the curse of the group project had not been laid upon her, she would just write it for the both of them.

The two girls rushed over to their next classes, which were right next to each other. Mavis had Transfigurations, while Ashley had Defense.

"How's Lupin?" Mavis asked, nudging Ashley.

"Fine."

"I've always thought he was the cutest Marau-"

"-shut up, Mavs. I really don't want to talk."

"Okay."

Mavis observed her sister. Her brows were knitted together, and she looked in mental turmoil. Mavis hated to see her that way and she hated that she could help Ashley, but she hated most of all that Ashley didn't trust her enough to tell her why. To tell her what happened, so she could fix it.