Death's Favourite Bird

Chapter Two: Almost Entirelly Made Out Of Secrets

Nox was sitting at the Slytherin table and eating her breakfast, which consisted of a simple warm toast with some cherry jam. She was the only one at the table. It was far too early so she was sure no one would come to the Great Hall right now.

Her initial plan was try to delay telling Lily about her Summer for as long as possible. All that just because, truthfully, the only mayor thing that has happened isn't good at all and she was terrified of Lily's reaction.

Her plan was working for the time being and she was now sleepily munching on a piece of her toast and trying to keep her hair away from her face and in the bun on her head. It was already looking like a complete mess instead of a neat bun that Nox tried so hard to tie this morning. Instead of trying to fix it, though, Nox had decided to go along with it, at least until she's done with her breakfast.

Nonetheless, she was happy to feel free of the usual stares that accompanied her meals. That is, until the doors of the Great Hall opened and a visibly tired Remus Lupin walked through them and straight to the Gryffindor table, not forgetting to close the doors behind himself.

It took a few minutes for the sandy-haired boy to notice Nox and once he did, he wasn't sure what to do or how to act. The two have never really spoke to each other. Sure he knew a lot about her because of Sirius always complaining about her since Nox and Sirius tended to fight a lot, but he never really knew her personally, as a friend or a colleague.

It led to Remus knowing that her eyes weren't completely brown as many would say, but they were, in fact a reddish brown, even though one could only tell the difference if looking at them when it's a particularly bright day, otherwise her eyes would look black. Not brown or dark brown, but black. You wouldn't be able to separate her iris from her pupil, or so Sirius claimed. Why or how Sirius even managed to notice all of that, Remus couldn't quite understand, but he tried not to chuckle when his friend angrily described just how much the fact that her eyes seemed unique to him irritated him.

Remus also knew about her freckles, the ones that looked like fire and gold and were in complete contrast with her ghostly pale skin, which, of course, Sirius was never able to understand and always claimed to hate with every fiber of his existence. Just like her sarcasm, voice or the fact that she seems like she doesn't trust anyone. A true Slytherin, as Sirius once said.

Remus knew all of that, but he never knew the truth. In all honesty, she looked quite down to earth and pretty harmless right now. Fine, maybe not so harmless, seeing as her hair looked as if it's a pet ready to attack anyone who looks in any way threatening to or towards its owner, but she looked tired and sleepy and he felt the same, so at least he knew how to start the conversation. Besides, every story has something more to it than what is told, so why should this be any different? It was painfully awkward to sit in silence this morning.

Before eating anything, Remus stood up and made his way to the seat across Nox. Nox arched her left eyebrow in question and Remus smiled reassuringly.

"Good morning", he said and took a piece of still warm toast and placed it on his plate, before hearing Nox mutter a silent "Well, I'd be damned" and quietly laughing in reply.

"Yeah, I never really thought I'd be sitting here, either", he said, causing Nox to politely smile in response.

"In all seriousness, through, are you alright? You seem... I don't know..."

"Ill? Not well? I know that, but I'm fine. Just a little tired is all", she replied and he nodded in understanding before asking her "Then why are you up this early? You should rest"

"Really? Lupin, you do look like the nicest out of the lot, but did you really think I'd tell you right away?", she answered with a question and took another bite of her breakfast.