As quiet, introverted Evelyn Berman agrees to spend her sixth year studying at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry, she is introduced to the school's adored Marauders.
From the moment she meets Sirius Black, there's something about the boy t...
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"Holly..." Evelyn muttered, waving a hand in front of her friend's distracted green eyes.
"Huh?!" Holly, startled by Evelyn's voice, jumped in her seat, earning some looks from the other Hufflepuffs sitting around the common room.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Evelyn apologized, observing the look of worry that panged her face. She was quite concerned at how flustered Holly seemed. The usually bubbly girl had been sitting quietly for the past couple hours, seemingly consumed by her own thoughts. "What's on your mind?"
Holly tried to look casual, but Evelyn could see her eyes becoming glossy as she spoke, "It's just— well, Remus, he... he's been acting a bit... off."
"Off?" Evelyn repeated, searching for more details from the girl.
"Haven't you noticed how drained he's looked recently?" Holly questioned, worry filling her words. "He seems miserable and, today, when I asked him what was wrong, he just said that he had a headache, but what kind of headache makes someone feel so terrible that they can hardly even make it up the stairs without collapsing?!"
"I don't know, I've had some pretty terrible headaches before," Evelyn said, trying to reassure her as best as she could. "I'm sure he'd tell you if it was something else, Holls. You and Remus talk to each other about everything!"
"I know... but the same exact thing happened last month, Ev," Holly pointed out, now whispering only loud enough for the two to hear. "Same time, same sickly look, same dreadful mood. Evelyn, I think h-he's... he's—"
"You think he's what?" Evelyn whispered, trying to pull the words out of Holly, who was struggling to speak them.
Holly suddenly turned away from Evelyn, shaking her head slightly as she grabbed the textbook next to her, sliding it onto her small lap. "It's nothing, I'm just being paranoid, that's all."
"Holls, you can talk to me—"
"It's fine, really,"
But, despite the pixie-haired girl's attempts, Evelyn was not fooled.
It was only when Holly stood up that Evelyn took notice of the title of her textbook.
Nocturnal Beasts and How to Recognize Them.
"What's up with the book?" Evelyn asked, "That's not part of our curriculum for DADA or Care of Magical Creatures this year."
Holly looked nervously at the book then back up at Evelyn's concerned blue eyes, "It's just a bit of casual reading, no big deal. I'm really tired though, I think I'm gonna call it a night."
"Yeah, me too," Evelyn said, hopping up from the couch, the light from the full moon flooding her eyesight.
Holly seemed miles away as the pair made their way to the dorm room, causing Evelyn to only worry more.
