Scars

Chapter Fourteen-Famous Relatives

The next week passes uneventfully, which I'm personally thankful for, while Lily and I keep my little talent our secret. We don't even tell the boys. I'm not sure how they'll feel about the chance and would rather not blow their minds without being certain. James writes his letter to his parents about my injuries and writes my bit in as well, then sends it off. We haven't gotten an answer yet and with every passing day, I get more stressed about it.

I check in with both the bowtruckles and the snakes which is weird, but it brings me some semblance of purpose while I still can't play quidditch. On Friday at the very least, I got to take that terrible sling off and can use my arm to cast and write. Pomphrey still expressly forbid any quidditch, including practice, as she took the accursed thing off me. Suffice it to say I'm a ball of stress with no way of dealing with it.

Fast forward to now with me simmering through potions angrily thinking about Sirius sucking face in the changing rooms with Monica Greene next period before the qualifying game.

"I want to ask what to do here, but I'm also afraid you're going to bite my head off." Remus murmurs to me and I look up from my strengthening solution to find his potion smoking.

"Oh, sorry, Remus." I slide over and turn the heat of his cauldron down, then add the salamander blood. "Stir until it bubbles," I mumble before going back to crushing my griffin claw. His eyes are on me as I grind the claw mercilessly and I glance over at him as I add the powder spoonful by spoonful. "What?" Remus' eyes widen as he shakes his head.

"Nothing. Just wondering if this is purely about quidditch or more about the back-up beater that'll be working with Sirius?" He poses and I hiss as my hand gets a little too close to the cauldron and skims the hot edge. My hand shakes before I suck on the sting with a look at Remus.

"We have to do what we have to in order to qualify for the finals. Besides, Sirius is entitled to do whatever he wants with whoever he wants." An image of him pressing Monica Greene against the quidditch pitch comes to mind with her hands in his hair and his hands definitely not above the waist. Cheeks pink with a mixture of embarrassment and anger, I raise my hand for Professor Slughorn. He materializes next to me and peers into my cauldron.

"Tis' perfect! Outstanding, Ms. Ackley!" He praises happily and I do my best to smile at him. "You're dismissed. And don't you or Miss Evans forget about our spring fling in a month or two!" Slughorn leans a little closer and lowers his voice. "Can't be without my favorite students!"

"I won't forget, Professor. Thank you." I slip off my stool and walk out with a pointed look to Remus who now has to finish his potion on his own. He rolls his eyes before he's out of sight.

"Arell, wait up!" I hear someone behind me and find shockingly bright red hair shimmering in the bright afternoon light as Lily hurries over to me. "Headed to the-"

"Library. Yep." I agree. Over the past week and a little more we'd been trying to track down our only lead on my parentage; Salazar Slytherin. The good bit is that his linage is very well documented, the bad part is that mine is not. We're working half-blind, but at least we're trying.

"Mind if I come with?" She asks with a glance backward at the classroom door as if afraid we'll be followed. Severus and Lily had been arguing more lately and while I know both are trying to preserve their friendship, neither is willing to compromise where they stand for it. They're at a stalemate and Lily knows it, but still has hope. I'm not sure if I'm more afraid of him giving in or her eventual explosion. Because I know she won't give in.

"Course you can," I tell her and she smiles gratefully, gingerly taking my previously injured arm and wrapping it around hers. "And I won't break if you touch me." I tug her so she runs into me and grin when she flinches. My arm feels good, just a little sore, but everyone has been extra careful with me.