Wristbands | Sirius Black [1]

Chapter One

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[Chapter One: Wristbands]

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      September the 2nd, 1978 was arguably, a good day. It was her second day back at Hogwarts and Aspen was content, all of her summer work was ready to be handed in and she was even a few minutes early to breakfast. Naturally. It was also her last year at Hogwarts, normally a factor that'd lead to several mental breakdowns in a row–it was her N.E.W.Ts exam year after all, but the severity of the fact had yet to strike her. According to Professor McGonagall, she had been doing great in her studies to become an Auror; her dream job. If she passed her N.E.W.Ts, she would be able to start her Auror training once her academia at Hogwarts ended. That's why Aspen was allowing herself to drift free before her classes started that morning. Drift free—also known as snacking-out on all of her favorite treats for breakfast.

"Eating ice cream and drinking coffee with six packets of sugar? What a healthy breakfast." Criticized Aspen's best friend Wendy, sarcasm deeply lacing her voice. The two sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, munching on the various foods sitting in front of them that fine morning. Wendy was a sweet girl, Aspen had met her in her second year when the brown-eyed girl had entered her compartment. She always looked out for her friends, even Aspen who purposely withheld her feelings. She was also very innocent. Everything was sugarcoated for her most of her life, much like Aspens pre-theatrociousmurderofhermother. Though if angered, Wendy Collins, the seventh year Gryffindor puppy, could and would bite.

Aspen shrugged, "Healthy? No. Tasty? Yes!" She took a bite of her chroma ice cream, a mixture of saltiness and sugary sweetness; like peanuts and lollipops mixed together.

"Don't you think it would be . . . better if you ate something more filling? Like eggs and toast or something?" Wendy asked, watching her best friend take a large gulp of her mostly-sugar coffee.

Wendy liked to be the mum Aspen lacked, and Aspen liked to utterly ignore her for that reason in particular.

Aspen nodded slowly, taking another lick of her ice cream whilst simultaneously shoving a banana muffin in her mouth, "'Or something'." Normally, this type of interaction would be taking place with their other friend Evelyn. Aspen always ate healthily, betraying the teenage trope of eating shittily and indiscriminately to try and stay in shape for the Auror program (if she was accepted.) But that day in particular, Aspen was taking a cheat day. The only cheat day she'd be taking in the foreseeable future.

"Okay, but if you die of a heart attack at age seventeen, don't say I didn't warn you." Her over dramatic friend warned, filling her own plate with a biscuit and a few pieces of bacon.

"Don't worry, if I die of a heart attack I won't be able to say anything." Aspen retorted, taking another bite of her ice cream. Her friend shook her head and began eating her own breakfast.