|| Black and White || (marauders era)

Nicknames and New Professors

I hesitantly knocked on the door of The Marauders dorm, Sirius stood beside me, staring at the door worriedly.

Sirius had carried me up the stairs, unfortunately for him, in order for me to be able to get up there.

A muffled voice could be heard from the other side of the door. "You can come in..." It muttered, and I gently turned the knob and pushed the door forward.

"Remus? It's Sirius and Avery." I spoke softly.

"Oh." Was all he replied, sitting up in his bed and sounding as if he were upset.

"You okay?" Sirius asked, staring at him.

"Yeah, my chest is just feeling a bit tight and I'm a bit queasy."

"You never go to the infirmary, do you?" I ask, looking at him quizzically.

"No. I don't like the infirmary. I prefer the muggle way of just letting it pass."

"Right, your a muggle, aren't you?" I chuckle softly at my forgetfulness . "All of this pureblood - muggleborn stuff doesn't really matter to me, so I guess I don't really pay attention to it all."

Remus smiles slightly, looking up at me. I stare into his hazel eyes, a whirlpool of kindness, with a hint of regret.

Sirius coughs lightly to get my attention. "We should probably let him rest for a while." He spoke gruffly.

"Yep, right."  I replied, before turning back to Remus. "Cya later Remus. Get better." I smiled slightly, before following Sirius out the room.

Sirius had a cold, dark aura to him. "Everything ok, Sirius?"

"Don't call me Sirius anymore. I need a nickname, a nickname only you can call me."

"Uh, ok."

"Choose one," Sirius said with a small smile, shoving his hands into his pocket.

"How about... Mr. Black?" I suggested jokingly.

"Never." Sirius replied, chuckling. "Cmon, be serious here."

"Ok, ok. How about... Siri?"

"Siri?"

"Siri."

"Hmm... Siri."

"Yes, Siri."

"Siri it is."

We laughed, before exiting the common room and heading towards our next class.

-=-=-=-

Later in the day, during dinner, Dumbledore silenced the students to announce something.

"As some may know, our care of magical creatures professor is currently unable to teach due to an accident with a troll. Luckily, my dear friend Mr. Newt Scamander has volunteered to teach you."

I stared at the man that stood beside our headmaster in complete awe.

"You might recognise his name from one of your study books, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He wrote it to teach wizards and witches how to take care of magical creatures and help them. Please welcome Mr. Scamander warmly to Hogwarts."

People clapped warmly in celebration of the new professor, as our old one tended to be rather dull at times. I couldn't help but stare at him- Newt Scamander! This the person I aspire to be, an inspiration. I felt a grin tug at my lips and Sirius chuckled, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"You sure are happy about his." He said with a smirk.

"Don't laugh at me, have you read his book?! It's amazing!"

"I kinda had too, it's our study book." He replied with another chuckle.

"Well, yeah, but- never mind, you're hopeless." I retaliated, although I only didn't finish my sentence as I couldn't find a way to put it together.

I sat at the table in deep thought until realising the great hall had completely cleared out - I was alone.

I quietly headed out the grand doors and into the hallway, only to meet eyes with a specific dark haired boy.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting out here for you? I nearly gave up and went back to the common room."

"What do you want, Regulus?" I asked with a scowl.

"No Reg? Don't you think you're being a bit harsh?" He asked, chuckling.

"Get to the point already." I kept a straight face at him, glaring slightly.

He sighed at my impatience. "Look, I'm sorry, for what I did..."

"Really?! Are you serious regulus?! Do you know how long it took me to get back on good terms with Sirius?!"

"I know, I know, just- is there any way I can make it up to you?" He asked me, his deep grey eyes pleading.

"Well-" I started, until I was cut off by a sour voice.

"Regulus? Why haven't you come back to the common room?" He asked.

Regulus turned to face him in surprise. "Oh, Avery-" yet he, too, was cut off when the boy saw me.

"So, Slytherin's 'perfect' little boy has been sneaking off to meet with a blood traitor?" The boy asked with a sneer

Upon observing him, I recognised this boy as the only other Avery in the school. A tall, intimidating Slytherin boy who knew how to make almost anyone fearful of him.

"Blood traitor? Oh right, that's what you sick people call pureblood wizards that know the definition of 'equal'." I growled, stepping towards him.

"Does the little girl really think she can stand up to me?" He asked, in a sadistically pitiful way.

"I can certainly try, you slimy git." I replied harshly.

At this, Avery's wand was brought out of his pocket and pointed straight at me.

"Hey! Put that wand back in your pocket, please!" A voice awkwardly called out from behind me, and both me and my attacker immediately turned towards it.

I tried my hardest not to gasp in shock and excitement. What? Newt bloody Scamander was walking towards me!

"Now, uh, what's going on here?" He asked, putting on a stern faces

"Avery was just getting a bit excited, Sir." I answered, glaring at Avery just as much as he was glaring at me.

"Right, I'll let you off with a warning. Go to your common rooms. If this happens again, I won't let you off as easily." The new professor huffed.

I turned to the way in which Newt had come, and Avery turned in the opposite direction along with Regulus, heading back towards the dungeon.

"Watch yourself, White." He growled, before heading off.

I was about 20 metres away when footsteps ran up to me from behind, and I turned to meet eyes with Newt once more.

"Is there a problem, professor?" I asked, as he slowed down until he came to a stop, just in front of me.

"Yes, actually. Are you any good with animals?"