McKinnon

| CHAPTER FIFTEEN |

The Christmas holiday was too short for Sarai's liking, but she was definitely grateful to have her friends back at the castle. She sat with her two best friends at the Gryffindor table in January for breakfast. Dean was currently ogling the puzzle box Remus had given her for Christmas as he tried to have a go at the puzzle. Seamus himself was animatedly describing his trip to Italy with his parents and his chance to meet one of the star chasers for the Chudley Cannons. Sarai had told them all about her Hogsmeade trip with Remus, and the shady encounter Remus and Rosmerta had.
"Well, I heard Lupin was friends with Lily and James Potter wasn't he?" Dean said currently working on a piece of bacon. "Maybe that's what she meant it was probably hard for him to hear about it all."
Sarai tilted her head to think about it, taking that fact into account, "Yeah, but that wouldn't explain why Rosmerta looked like she was scared to talk to me."
"What about your Dad?" Seamus suggested, "I mean Lupin took you in when you were a baby because your parents were super close to him. He must have known your Dad well enough for him to dump you at his doorstep."
Dean elbowed Seamus at the sensitive topic, causing him to let out a small "ow." He said indignantly, "what? I'm right." He said pointedly to Dean before turning back to Sarai. "It would explain why Lupin wouldn't tell you who your Dad was, start of term. Maybe Madam Rosmerta knows who your dad is."
Sarai paused carefully at the thought, "Maybe, but even if I knew who my Dad was, that wouldn't really explain why Black hated him."
"Why don't you ask him again, Sarai?" Dean suggested, "I know it didn't quite go well start of term, but if you ask him with more of an open mind maybe he'll be more inclined to listen."
Seamus's head lit up at the idea. "Yeah!" He exclaimed excitedly, causing a few first years to look over at him from down the table. "You can ask him tonight."
Sarai shook her head. "Can't tonight," She said half-heartedly. She really did not think the conversation was going to go over well, either way. "Dad told me he's going to be helping Harry with his dementor problem. He's helping him get some practice in."
Seamus was still extremely invested into the thought of Sarai asking Remus about her father again. He could barely keep still in his seat, "Oh, go on. Sarai!" He said in the most encouraging voice he could muster up, "He's your dad, you have a right to know, donchathink?"
Dean once again elbowed his friend. It was coming across as Seamus wanting to know more about Sarai's dad than she did. "Ow."
"I'll ask later alright? Right now, I just want to get through classes today." Sarai quickly took back the Himitsu-bako from Dean, and began adjusting the dials absentmindedly.
The conversation was dropped, and the three continued the meal in silence. Sarai pulled on one of the pieces of wood sticking out from the puzzle box, and it allowed for sliver to open up in the top of the box itself. She blinked in surprise.
"Hey look, It opened a little bit!" She said, causing the boys to lean across the table to take a look. Seamus put his eye up to the small slot of darkness, and immediately flinched while crying out.
"OW!" He exclaimed while clutching his eye. "Something poked me!"
Sarai and Dean looked up at him in alarm. "Maybe its a charm on the box?" Sarai said, "It you try to see what's inside before solving the puzzle?"
Seamus glowered at the Hitmitsu-baku accusingly, before mumbling something incoherent. Sarai and Dean bit back their grins, as the three made their way out of the Great Hall.
"Well, see you." Sarai said bidding her friends good-bye, as she made her way to her Ancient Runes class.
She walked down the corridor, while fiddling with the puzzle-box. Curious as to what could have poked Seamus, she tried pulling on a slab of wood on the opposite corner, just to see the box seal shut again.
"Curious." She muttered to herself. From the corner of her eye, she saw someone fall into step with her, walking with her quietly. She looked up from the box to see Michael grinning at her. His blonde bangs were just barely covering his lime eyes.
"Did you have a good christmas?" He asked in greeting.
Sarai's face lit up, in seeing him, "Yeah it was great, Dad took me to Hogsmeade."
She stopped in her tracks to face him for a minute, causing him to pause as well,
"Wh-" Before Michael could continue, Sarai wrapped her arms around him and gave him a quick squeeze before pulling away.
"Thank you for the christmas gift, it was really sweet." She said, fighting the blush starting to form on her cheeks, as she looked down at the himitsu-baku in her right hand.
Michael beamed at her, face seeming a little flushed himself. "I thought you'd like it." he admitted, "Thank you, for the Wasp's jersey."
When Sarai, and Remus had gone to Spin twitches Sporting Needs, she had carefully selected a quidditch jersey for Michael. She had to get him something just as memorable as the cannister he had gotten her for Christmas.
"No problem," She said with a bright smile, as they made their way to Ancient-Runes.
The two had walked together through the corridors quietly, as they made their way through the crowd of students flooding the halls. Michael, however, seemed to be struggling to find words to say something as he kept opening and closing his mouth.
"Hey Sar--"
"Oy, Mclupin!" A voice called out from behind them.
The pair turned their heads to see Blaise strolling towards them. Sarai let out an irritable huff, that did not go unnoticed by Michael.
"Something wrong?" He asked quietly as they waited on Blaise to approach.
She was left no time to respond as Blaise reached them. "What is it now, Zabinski." Sarai asked crossly.
Blaise smirked at the attitude, "Oh don't be too excited to see me, love." He said, before his eyes flitted to Michael, who was now frowning. Sarai scowled at him. "I just wanted to see that box you're holding."
Sarai's attention went back to the Himitsu-baku in her hands. She clutched it protectively, "Why?" She questioned apprehensively.
Blaise rolled his eyes as the three began walking, "Relax, It's nothing bad. But that's one of those Japanese trinkets right? The puzzle-thing?"
Sarai slowly nodded, exchanging a look with Michael, "Yeah" after a quick pause, "What of it?"
"It's a rare find," Blaise explained, "My mum used to be obsessed with them. I've always wanted to see one." He stared at the box, longingly, "Let me have a go at it."
Sarai stared at him incredulously, "What, no!" She said, "We're not friends, Zabini. What makes you think I'd let you near this thing?"
Blaise threw his hands up in defense, "Hey, I thought you liked our little routine." He said in a cheeky tone, "I tell you all the things that is wrong with you and the rest of Gryffindors, and you stare at me open-mouthed, cause you know I'm right."
Sarai shot him a glare as they entered the Ancient-Runes classroom. "Shove off, Zabini. There's nothing wrong with me or my house. Now if you please," She said making a shooing motion with her hand, "Kindly, fuck off."
Blaise sniggered at her reaction as he went to find his seat next to Theodore Nott. Sarai rolled her eyes at the Slytherin's antics as her and Michael took their regular seats in the middle of the classroom.
"Honestly, I don't get his issue." Sarai muttered irritably. She shot a side-glance at Blaise who was whispering quietly to Nott, while looking at them. "I ran into him, once. and It's like he pops up everywhere."
Michael shrugged his shoulders, "So, do you two..." He glanced between her and Blaise, "You know, talk often?" He asked curiously. "Are you friends?"
Sarai made a face and shook her head furiously. "Absolutely not," She said offended he would even ask, "I can't stand him. He's so condescending, and automatically assumes he's better than everyone." She vented quietly to him, as the rest of their class entered the room.
She shot one last glare at Blaise before turning to face Michael fully. Michael whom had kept a frown on his face since Blaise had appeared, finally let a smile grace his face. "Good." He said in a relieved tone.
"You were about to ask me something earlier," Sarai observed, "What was it?"
At this Michael turned beet red and shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Erm--"
He was cut off by Professor Babble greeting the class.
"Good morning!"
Grateful for the interruption, on Michaels part. The pair turned their attention to the front of the classroom as the lesson began. Sarai was left curious throughout the class, but could hardly focus as she noticed how close Michael was sitting next to her. She could barely think as she felt butterflies in her stomach. Her thoughts were interrupted when a note was placed on her text-book from Michael. His neat handwriting was scribbled onto the parchment.

Lunch at the astronomy tower?

She smiled before looking up at him. He gave her a nervous smile, before she quickly scribbled something down, and shoved it towards him.

It's a date.

--

When class had ended, Michael had quickly bid her goodbye before rushing off to his next class. The pair had permanent smiles on their faces, throughout the class. Sarai could hardly think as she left the classroom, the smile never leaving her face. She fiddled with her puzzle-box again as she made her way towards her Transfiguration class.
"If you don't close your mouth, you'll catch flies you know."
And the light-hearted mood was over. Sarai rolled her eyes as she turned to face Blaise, who had fallen into step with her. "Why can't you leave me alone?" She asked exasperatedly.
"Astoria's taken an extended vacation with her family." Blaise said shrugging. "I'm bored."
Sarai snorted, "Gee, I'm so delighted." Sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Why don't you go bother someone else?"
Her casual stroll had turned into a brisk walk, in an attempt to lose Blaise. But he kept up with her pace casually. His long legs, making no effort to keep up with her. "Theo's got remedial charms." Blaise explained nonchalantly. "And it's so much fun, seeing you so irritated. Your emotions are always displayed so clearly on your face. You're easy to read."
At this Sarai glared at Blaise, "I'm not easy to read!" She said defensively.
Blaise snorted, "Oh, sure." He said in an unconvincing tone, "Tell it to someone else. I could see you and Corner making googly eyes at each other the entire class. It was gross."
Sarai stopped in her brisk stride and glared at him even fiercer. "Well then," She said angrily, "If you don't want to see it, then maybe pay attention, to the professor."
And with that she stomped away from Blaise, who was grinning from ear to ear. A low whistle came from behind Blaise. He snapped his head to see his best friend, Theo, come up from behind him.
"That one's got a bit of temper doesn't she?"
"Definitely."
--
After finally ditching Blaise, while cursing his name under her breath, she joined Dean and Seamus in the transfiguration classroom.
"Honestly," she said hotly, as she took a seat in between them."Why does he have to be so arrogant."
Dean and Seamus exchanged looks between each other, before Seamus piped up. "Um, Who?"
"Zabinski." She snapped as she took her textbook and quill out of her bag. She set the himitsu-baku on the desk in front of Dean for him to have another go at the puzzle, while she opened her textbook to the chapter they were to be going over that afternoon. "It's bad enough he can't even say my name right, but to make fun of me and Michael." She let out a frustrated sigh, before her face lit up.
"Oh!" She said excitedly, the blush returning to her cheeks. "Forgot to mention, Michael and I have a date this afternoon." She said proudly.
Dean and Seamus grinned at her. Seamus nudged her playfully, "Atta girl!" He cheered, while Dean gave her a fistbump,
"Told you." He said playfully.
"Just don't go too crazy on the first date."
---