𝔚𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔣 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 // 𝔍𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔰 𝔓𝔬𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯

FOURTEEN || We Need Time

March 9th, 1975

James didn't talk to me all day after I snapped at him. I spent the rest of that day regretting and overthinking things. It got to the point where I began to even consider breaking things off with James and going back to being loyal to my family.

No, what the hell am I thinking? James makes me happy, he's been wanting me forever and I want him, why would I give that up? But on the other hand, why would I give up my family, which can get me places in life, for a boy who's probably gonna end up breaking my heart anyway? No. He wouldn't...but nobody knows that, not even James Potter himself.

This afternoon in Transfiguration heavy rain collides with the window roughly, thunder booms above us, and the dark gloomy grounds light up as lightning strikes.

A storm on the day of the most recent, dark, and haunting news seems a little too, well, perfect-fitting.

This morning at breakfast, when post came, murmurs were heard around the hall. I wondered what could have been on the headline. I stood up and wandered over to Narcissa, where she was reading the paper, I read over her shoulder.

I soon realized what everyone was gasping about:

SEVENTEEN MUGGLES CAPTURED AND MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.
Last night was tragic for both the Muggle and Wizarding world. Seventeen muggles, ages varying from adults, teenagers, and young children, were taken from the streets of London in the darkness of the night, and found in the Epping Forest, only not their bodies were found. It was merely seventeen sets of human bones.
We believe this was the doing of a small pack of Werewolves, only  Werewolves don't hunt the streets of London where they are easily spotted. These beasts were on orders, their order-giver is not yet known, but we believe it to be Cygnus Black III. However, the mastery does not end there, Black is under yet another, higher, order, that of which we are not sure and have our best Aurors on the case. We have Cygnus Black on trial at the Ministry, and as of right now, he has not plead guilty.

I gasped, and stood completely statue-still. Narcissa didn't move either, I couldn't even see her breathe. I soon took notice of the students in the hall whisper and pointing, looking rather...odd. 

I locked eyes with James, he had a different expression than the rest of the hall, he looked less fearful and more...pitiful. This was much worse.

So classes today went horribly. Sirius and I had to avoid the looks and stares of our peers, poor Regulus I noticed seemed more pale than usual, and my sisters all seemed to have their heads down. Apart from Bellatrix, who walked around pridefully as if nothing better could have happened. Our father is being tried by the ministry right now for something very dark, and she's proud.

It makes me sick.

~
One week later

That article might have been the worst curse ever cast. Not only am I still getting looks from my peers, but the one who I care about has been avoiding me. James. If we're alone in a classroom he rushes out, if we're alone in a hall he nearly runs away, if we lock eyes even for a split second, he breaks it and leaves. It's driving me insane and I hate it.

But today things finally changed.

As students file out of the Transfiguration classroom, McGonagall leaves as well. As I gather my materials; Including my most recent test with a big red 25/100 at the top.

"Jeez, Stella, we may have to restart our study sessions," James comes over and eyes my test. I grab it and shove it in my bag.

"What do you want?" I mumble, securing my bag on my shoulder.