Precognition

4th year chapter 5: a golden moon

The first day back after Christmas (for most students who had gone home) was filled with emotional hellos as they saw their friends for the first time in weeks.

However, there was definitely an interesting new development.

For their first Defence against the dark arts lesson after Christmas break, they introduced a new student.
Orpheus Baird.

Orpheus Baird was an unusual specimen. He was a transfer from Ilvermony, his parents - pure bloods- believed that Ilvermony was allowing him to practice music instead of magic.

Orpheus was a musician, and a good one. In fact on his first day a few students had gathered round and watched him play the lyre.
He did take a liking to a certain student. Orpheus was a ray of sunshine in a bottle, a blonde with blue eyes who was sickeningly happy. Had taken a liking to Artemis Black.

He practically followed her like a lost puppy, acting like her shadow. Whenever Artemis was, Orpheus was nearby.
And even more surprising was her attitude toward him.
Everyone had expected him to come away black and blue, however it seemed that she enjoyed his company.

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Ava hadn't seen much of Artemis since her return from Christmas break, she'd been spending countless hours a day studying- or so she claimed- and was far too busy for her friend.

For Remus' birthday that year he decided that he wanted to go to the three broom sticks with his mates, although he would have to pay.

Upon entering the pub he noticed two unusual things:
Artemis Black, staring intently at a corner of the room -which on further inspection was where Orpheus was playing some muggle instrument- and Ava sat next to her, smiling at her friend.

Sirius shot Remus a glance, wiggling his eye brows as he did.
"Looks like she's third wheeling, why don't you go make it a double date." James patted remus on the back, pushing him in the direction of the red head.

"This was our plan all along, who better to spend your birthday with than your future wife?!" Sirius whisper yelled, forcing remus' face to durn a deep red as he made a grasping attempt to correct Sirius.

But before the boy could even turn to his friends James let out a small gasp.
"Fuck, lily is outside I think she's waiting for me- see you!"

And with that James ran off to meet Lily, presumably for a date.
Peter and Sirius simply left without a word, both shooting him knowing glances and pointing in the direction of the oblivious girl.

"Oh Remus! Hey Happy Birthday!" Remus was pulled out of his thoughts by the cheery voice luring him over to the table, like the a siren- and he fell victim to her song.

Remus slipped into the booth, sitting down next to her with only a small gap between them.

Remus nodded in the direction of Artemis, who hadn't actually realised his sudden appearance.
Ava motioned for him to come closer, cupping her hand over his hand and whispering into his ear.

"She's so in love with him it's mad! If they don't get together I want you to kill me!" Ava made a sound akin to squealing and began to kick her feet, which didn't quite meet the floor.

Remus narrowed his eyes and followed Ava's finger to where Orpheus was playing, not realising how close their faces had gotten until he felt her hair brush against his cheek.

"Oh I almost forgot!" Ava spun her head round to face Remus, who received a mouthful of hair as a result.
She shot him a toothy grin before reaching under the table and pulling a box wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string out.
She handed him the box and gestured for him to open it.

He obliged, patiently and carefully tearing open the paper. Once he got past the paper he opened the lid of the box and revealed- an assortment of items.

Remus cocked his head and gave her a confused look.
Ava nodded at him to continue opening the box, clasping her hands together.

Remus revealed the contents of the box, a chocolate frog, two bottles of butter beer, a card and a gold necklace with an emblem in the shape of the quarter moon.

"Now I know jewellery is strange, but look" Ava pulled her own gold necklace out from under her shirt and showed him the sun emblem.
"They're matching- and I know it's weird to have matching jewellery but you don't have to wear it." By the time she had finished her scurrying speech, Remus had already tied the chain around his neck, fiddling with the gold moon.

It was fitting, very fitting- and somehow didn't bring him as much discomfort as it usually would have.
He smiled at her, thanking her repeatedly and telling her she didn't need to do all of this for him.
"Well Sirius asked if we'd made any plans for your birthday and I told him no so he told me I'd see you and I thought it would be nice"

So Sirius had set this up.
Sirius knew something was going on and had definitely put more effort into this plan than half his homework assignments.