Alina Nightshade doesn't think much about James Potter. Only that he seems rather keen on being annoying.
James Potter thinks Alina Nightshade is a mystery all wrapped up in a very pretty girl. And he is keen on trying to be her friend.
James Potte...
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The last threads of sleep drift away as Alina's eyes focus on the familiar pattern of her ceiling, tracing each groove and mark she knows by heart. Rest, it seems, will evade her tonight once again.
Her body is tense, nerves taut as if on the verge of a vision. This feeling—the prickling unease—is irritatingly familiar. Even if she manages to fall asleep, she'll likely wake in a few hours—breathless, drenched in sweat, and haunted by yet another vision.
She slips quietly out of bed, letting the remnants of sleep dissolve into distant memory. Alina changes into a set of clothes, pulls on her shoes, and moves silently out of the dormitory.
As expected, the Slytherin common room is empty. She crosses through it swiftly and emerges into the castle's dim hallways, where low, flickering candles cast shadows along the walls. Her footsteps echo softly on the stone floor as she raises her wand, lighting the way toward the Astronomy Tower, paying no mind to the grumbling portraits lining the corridor.
Ascending the spiral staircase, she feels her usual distaste for the tower's endless steps. She's nearly at the top when she pauses, noticing a familiar figure by the railing.
Remus Lupin turns as she opens the door, his shoulders tense until he recognizes her. "Alina," he greets softly, his voice low and steady.
"Remus." Her voice matches his, calm and composed as she steps inside, closing the door behind her. He shifts, making room for her to sit beside him, though she takes a moment to ensure the spot is free of dust before she settles down.
They sit in silence, a respectable space between them as they gaze at the night sky. Alina's eyes trace the moon, noting its nearly full shape; just two days remain until the next full moon. Her thoughts drift to the Wolfsbane Potion she has been working on.
"I brewed a Wolfsbane Potion for you," she says, her tone detached as she continues to stare upward.
Remus's head snaps toward her, eyes wide. "W–what?" His voice falters, caught between disbelief and astonishment.
She turns to him, her blonde hair shifting over her shoulder. "I made you one last month, too," she continues evenly. "Did it help?"
He blinks, his amber-brown eyes—a color that reminds her of the rare, dark gems Pandora often keeps in her pockets—still wide with surprise. "How did you manage it?" he whispers. "The ingredients alone are... expensive."
"I stole them," she replies bluntly, knowing he won't protest or tattle. If anything, he'll feel bound to her by a debt he can never repay. "This month's potion should be ready just in time for the full moon."
Remus's shock slowly gives way to confusion. "Why?" he asks at last. "Why are you doing this for me?"
For a moment, she doesn't know how to answer. She can't explain the tug in her chest, the inexplicable urge to help.
