Seers Secret ✧ James Potter

~Chapter 48~

Alina narrows her eyes at the boys across the hall. The full moon is tonight.

Remus looks awful.

She reminds herself that she really should brew him a Wolfsbane Potion—if she feels like it later.

She watches as Sirius tries to coax Remus into eating, but Remus turns away, his face pale and drawn. James and Peter hover close by, concern etched in their features. She imagines Sirius feels the same, though she can't see his expression from where she sits.

Her mind drifts to the vision she's had.

Peter is bleeding, injured during the full moon.

Alina fights to suppress the worry creeping into her chest.

"Your shields are strong," Regulus murmurs beside her.

She turns to him. He's been quieter than usual lately, like he's retreated into himself over the break and hasn't fully come back yet.

"I've been practicing," she replies, resisting the urge to glance back at the Gryffindors.

Regulus's eyes narrow as he studies her. "I can tell," he mutters, sounding faintly impressed. "I can't even read your thoughts when I try."

Alina's lips curve into a small smirk. She nods in silent thanks and drops her gaze to her plate.

Still, she resists the pull to look back at the boys.

Merlin, she hates her mind sometimes.

~~~

None of the boys are at breakfast the next morning.

Not one of them.

That's odd.

Usually, one of them shows up to bring back food for the rest. But today? Nothing.

"Why are you glaring at the Gryffindor table?" Barty asks, raising his cup to his lips.

"I'm plotting their deaths," Alina says flatly, beginning to pile food onto multiple plates.

"Need an accomplice?" Barty grins, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"I wouldn't trust you with the poison," Alina shoots back, throwing him a mock glare as she adds more food to the plates.

Barty gasps in mock offense. "I could handle poison just fine!"

"You'd probably poison yourself," Regulus mutters, not looking up from his plate.

"I would not!" Barty snaps, turning to glare at Regulus.

Alina smirks at their bickering and slings her bag over her shoulder. "See you tonight," she says, not sure if they even hear her over their playful argument. Balancing two plates of food in her hands, she slips out of the Great Hall.

Has she gone mad?

Probably.

No, definitely.

She berates herself silently as she makes her way to the infirmary. The halls are mostly deserted, with most students still eating breakfast. Her footsteps echo softly against the stone floor as she approaches the hospital wing.

When she arrives, she nudges the door open carefully with her foot, silently praying it won't creak. To her relief, it doesn't.

Alina's eyes scan the room until she finds them.

Remus is fast asleep on one of the beds, fresh cuts marring his face. Sirius sits in a chair beside him, also asleep, his head resting on the edge of Remus's bed. James lies sprawled on the next cot over, equally unconscious.

Peter is awake.

He sits upright in his cot, a bandage wrapped around his arm and a smaller one across his face. Alina freezes in the doorway, her heart skipping a beat. Peter isn't looking at her, though—his gaze is distant, fixed out the window.

Well, that makes things easier.

She slips fully into the hospital wing, but the door creaks as it shuts behind her. Peter's head snaps in her direction, his eyes going wide when he sees her.

Alina doesn't flinch. She makes her way between the cots, carefully placing a plate of food in front of Peter. Then, with a finger to her lips, she motions for him to stay quiet as she sets another plate near the others.

"Don't tell them I was here," she whispers, her voice barely a breath.

Peter blinks up at her, a flicker of something protective crossing his face. "You... know about Remus?" he whispers back, his voice hoarse as she nudges the plate closer to him.

"Yes," Alina says, a ghost of a smirk tugging at her lips. "But don't tell them I know. I've known for a while," she adds softly. "And I won't tell anyone."

Peter's face softens with a small, relieved smile. "I won't tell," he promises.

"Good." Alina's eyes flick briefly to James, still fast asleep, his features soft and peaceful. For a moment, her chest tightens.

She quickly looks away, her gaze settling on the bandage wrapped around Peter's arm.

Noticing her attention, Peter follows her gaze and shrugs lightly. "I'm alright," he says in a low voice. "Madam Pomfrey said I'll heal quickly." His smile grows a little wider, trying to reassure her.

Alina gives a slight nod in acknowledgment. "Goodbye, Peter," she whispers before turning on her heel and quietly slipping out of the hospital wing.