Pragma // s.b.

14

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Fall at the Hogwarts castle created an air of mystery and excitement that was unparalleled. Leaves began to turn deep reds and oranges and fall off the trees, creating beautiful views from the circular windows all around the Hufflepuff common room. Classes became harder and drinks became warmer. I spent most of my nights with a hot mug of apple cider and homework, either in the common room with Skye and Maggie studying or with Remus in the library.

    Olivia and Quinton were the new hot couple, and while I appreciated love, I did not appreciate the amount of PDA in the common room. They were beginning to rival Amber and Tanner for the amount of time spent making out in the common room. Maggie, Skye, and I enjoyed mocking them and reassuring ourselves that being single was way better than having to deal with an annoying guy all the time.

Potions class was becoming much more bearable now that Sirius and I were on good terms. In fact, I found myself almost looking forward to it. Sometimes I realized I was counting down the hours until I was back in the basement at Sirius and I's desk. Ever since our conversation, he had been putting in effort in class, always volunteering to get up and get the ingredients, or reading the directions out for me so I didn't have to continually look back down at the book.

We talked throughout the whole hour and a half class as well. I learned that he was the only Gryffindor in his family, everyone else was in Slytherin, including his younger brother who was the same age as Ro. I didn't push him to talk about them, I could tell it was a sore subject. He told me about his friendship with Remus, James, and Peter. I told him about Liv and the rest of the girls. I told him about how it was growing up on a farm with one muggle and one magical parent. I told him that I wanted to travel around the world and didn't want to be stuck in one place the rest of my life, that I couldn't see myself being tied down. He told me he felt the same way.

I found myself running into Lily more as well, usually with Potter. Sometimes after class, she walked with Maggie and I around the grounds and we laughed and talked. Life was good, and very different than it was when the year first started. If you had told me that I would be friends with this specific group of Gryffindors I would have laughed in your face. I didn't regret it though, I felt good. I felt happy.

With all that in mind, I found myself waiting outside of the Gryffindor common room with a chocolate eclair in hand for Remus one evening. He had approached the Hufflepuff table at dinner and asked if I wanted to study with him after we finished eating. I happily agreed. Groups of red clad students brushed past me on the way to their common room, carefree and happy that it was Thursday and the week was almost over.

"I'm telling you! I think I've finally cracked her, she said she would think about going to Hogsmeade with me!", James' voice drifted down the hall and I looked up to see the foursome strutting down the corridor. I shook my head, causing my hair to bounce lightly. It fell in soft curls around my face, Amber had insisted that I let her practice a hair curling spell on me because I "had the longest hair and it wouldn't work if she tried it on herself". "Oh, hey Carter", called James as they got close enough to see me standing by the wall. "Potter", I smiled back.

The four boys stood facing me, and I surveyed their faces. The amount of overall pranks in the castle had gone down exponentially since Sirius and I had become friends. Lily said it's because he didn't want to do anything to ruin the second chance I had given him. I wasn't sure if that was true, but I didn't care

"Where did you get those?", Peter's eyes were trained on the treat in my hands. I let out a tinkling laugh and held it out to him, "Kitchens". He tentatively took it and sunk his teeth into the sweet pastry, sighing as the flavor melted onto his tongue. Remus laughed, making eye contact with me and raising his eyebrows as if to say, "Sorry about these idiots". I winked at him and ran my hands through my hair. "How in the world do you manage to knick so much food? We've been trying for years to sneak into the kitchens and can never even find the entrance!", James threw his hands in the air, almost knocking over Sirius.

Sirius. I hadn't looked at him this whole time, but when I did, I was severely taken aback. He wasn't wearing his robes like the rest of us, just a loose black v neck that was cut low enough that I could see the array of tattoos dispersed across his chest. My eyes widened and I forced myself to look back at James. "If I told you, it would ruin all my fun", I said with a coy smile. Sirius laughed and I glanced back at him. He grinned lightly at me and I smiled back at him.

"Oh come on! You gotta tell me!", James said, grabbing my shoulders and shaking them. The smile couldn't have left my face even if I wanted it to. "Come on, Remus, let's go", I giggled. "I'll get you to tell me one day, Briony Carter!", James called as he pushed through the portrait and entered the common room, followed quickly by Peter who said a muffled, "Thanks for the eclair", his mouth full of creme.

The portrait swung closed and I looked over at Remus, saying, "That was supposed to be for you, but how was I supposed to say no to him?". Remus let out a laugh and glanced over at Sirius, who was lingering in the hall, his eyes trained on a painting of a zebra. "Would you like to join us?", Remus said slowly, and his eyes narrowed as if he were trying to figure something out.

Sirius turned around and faced us with a false look of confusion, "Me?". I shared a look with Remus, then walked closer to Sirius so I had a better view of the painting. We stood next to each other, and I suddenly realized just how much taller than me he really was. I smelled something new mixed with the smoke, peppermint. He looked down at me, but I kept my eyes trained up on the zebra. "He's probably not interested in something as boring as studying", I shrugged, looking back at Remus who rolled his eyes at me, smiling.

"You think?", Sirius turned towards me and crossed his arms. "I just assumed you had a date or something", I looked up at him and wriggled my eyebrows up and down. It was no secret that Sirius was quite the player around the castle. Maggie's cousin was a 7th year Ravenclaw that had gone out with him when she was a 5th year and he was a 4th. The stories she could tell.

Sirius' cheeks tinted pink and he leaned forward, propping one arm on the wall above my head. "Jealous?", he smirked. My breath hitched. I think I was starting to see why so many people saw in him, especially when his muscular, ink covered chest was fully in my vision. "I thought I already told you that smirk is much less attractive than you think", I smiled widely, my dimples showing. I heard Remus snort from behind me. "Shut up, Mooney", Sirius scowled, but then looked back down at me and cracked a smile.

"I'll go study with you", he slung his arm around me, "But you have to promise to bring me some of your contraband food in class tomorrow". "Deal", I nodded, and reached back, flinging my arm around Remus' waist. He smiled crookedly, and the three of us made our way down the corridor, attracting many stares, but not caring one bit.