Loquacious\\ Harry Potter Marauders

Three\\ Guidance

"Some people think that the truth can be hidden with a little cover up and decoration, but as time goes by, what is true is revealed, and what is fake fades away."
- Ismail Haniyeh

The day's slipped by painfully slowly, with the time seeming to barely pass until finally, the first week of school was over. Adelaide stood alone in the library, running her index finger over the cover of each book in the herbology section. Herbology was something Adelaide was not good at. She never had been and assumed, this being her seventh year, that she never would be. The first week had exhausted her, and her body was limp and tired. Finally she jabbed a finger at the leather bound book and slid it from its place on the shelf. Making her way to a hidden corner in the back, Adelaide sat down and sighed as she tried to concentrate.
Her mind wandered easily, though, and she found herself focusing on the week in Potions. Sirius had been her partner all week, and aside from their usual snide comments, half hearted insults and sarcastic flirting, there was something underneath it all.

Sirius had been.. Civilised and thoughtful.

Tuesday: He had smirked when she arrived, and told her she looked lovely. Adelaide had simply snorted in reply and opened her book.

Wednesday: He had actually smiled when she came in, nodded at her, and helped with the Potion. He only spoke when it was necessary or if she spoke to him. Finally, Adelaide couldn't take the silence and had turned to face him.
"What's got you so quiet today, Black? Too many girls on your mind?"
She would never allow herself to seem as if she actually cared, and as usual, hid behind a wall of sarcasm.
"Not at all, love. I just didn't want to distract you from the work."

Thursday: He had asked with genuine interest how she was when he sat down. She had asked him the same and he answered in detail about how tired he was; James had kept him awake singing David Bowie songs until two in the morning.

Friday: She asked how he was and he told her that he was spectacular. She had asked him why "spectacular" was the word and he had told her about the fact that the first week was over and now he and his friends could get down to the real fun. The two of them had then spoken for the whole class about their plans for the rest of the year, with only the occasional snide comment or sarcastic remark.

Now, Adelaide thought about Sirius and their constant jokes and remarks, coupled with their sarcastic comments and snide insults. The thought made her smile, and she let her black hair fall forward to cover the shy smile which slipped involuntarily onto her face.

"What are you doing here, all by yourself?"
A harsh voice asked from in front of Adelaide. She looked up, her smile dropping.

"I could ask you the same question, Potter."
She spat back at him. James rolled his eyes.
"Not that it's any of your business, Tanner, but I'm looking for a book to do with transfiguring animals."
"Into what?"

"None of your business."
He snapped.
"What are you doing here? Probably looking up how to become a Death Eater."
He added darkly with a quiet voice at the end. Adelaide rolled her eyes.

"Get fucked, Potter."
Adelaide snapped. James snorted and rolled his eyes.
"Not that it's any of your business but I'm looking up a book on herbology."
She explained. James made a "hmph" sound and walked away. Before he left, he turned over his shoulder with a piercing stare.

"You should leave Sirius alone, you know. He's got better things to do than listen to you flirting with him all through Potions."
He warned with a threatening voice and a hard stare. Adelaide ran her tongue along the roof of her mouth and pursed her lips, something she did when she was angry, and closed the book, standing up as she did.