❝ you may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one ❞
in which the girl who hated many things found someone to fight for.
TEMPEST THATCHER ; HARRY POTTER UNIVERSE
MARAUDERS ERA - GOLDEN ERA
COVER BY @BonitaRogue
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chapter sixteen; the traitor's fiancée
"I THINK IT'S RATHER SWEET, ACTUALLY," TEMPEST THATCHER RESPONDED AS SHE LEANED BACK IN THE OVERSIZED CHAIR. Everything in Hagrid's hut was far too big for a human, but it was the cosiest home she had ever been welcomed into. Her hands were wrapped around a large mug of tea, and Fang was sleeping peacefully on top of her feet. "I remember when I had my first exams; I was just as stressed as them. It only gets worse, really."
"I jus' hope I do a good job fer them," Hagrid admitted, holding his hands out towards the fireplace so that he could warm up. It wasn't as cold outside as it had been previously, but there was still an evident chill in the air that urged everyone to bundle up. "It's my firs' exam too, an' I got to prove t' Dumbledore that I can teach another year."
"You'll be fine, Hagrid," Tempest assured the half-giant, smiling softly as he made an anxious hum in response. "Dumbledore trusts you more than anyone else in the world. And besides, you're a splendid teacher."
"You think so?" Hagrid asked, shuffling around a little to see Tempest nod enthusiastically. "Why, thank you, Tempest."
"It's quite alright," Tempest replied positively, before her mood dwindled a little. One of the only things that had been plaguing her mind was Sirius, and she felt the need to tell someone rather than keep it to herself. She hated keeping secrets, and this one in particular had been eating her alive. With the guilt that came alongside the pain of knowing he was innocent, she now tried to avoid every single conversation about him, which was hard to do when he was being hunted down and feared by every teacher and student.
"Somethin' on yer mind?" Hagrid queried as he plopped down on his great armchair, heaving a little as he reached for his own cup of tea. "You don't seem all that bright this mornin'."
Tempest's index finger tapped against the porcelain of her cherry red mug and her lips moulded together as she nervously decided what to do. She hesitated, before opening her mouth. "Hagrid, may I ask you a question?"
"Course," there was no reluctance whatsoever in Hagrid's tone.
"Do you..." she took a deep breath, "...do you think Sirius could be in-"
Before she could finish her sentence, there was a knock at the door that interrupted their conversation. Tempest's heart skipped a beat as Hagrid pushed himself up from his chair to answer, and she averted her eyes down to the ground, slightly defeated. The confidence she had been able to muster up was now dead and buried.
"Remus, how nice to see you," Hagrid chimed, and Tempest felt her stomach churn. She'd been trying to subtly avoid speaking to her friend for the past few days, and when she saw him she'd faked a smile and made an excuse to go somewhere else. She knew it was only a matter of time before he'd realise there was something going on. "I was just having tea with Tempest 'ere."
