Chapter Fifteen
Lyla POV
I stared at the rain making zigzagging pathways on the window. The whole world outside the glass was dim and dark clouds promised continued shadow. Professor Binns was droning on and on, blending with the rain to make quiet, hazy white noise. As much as I valued education, this class was dead boring. Pun absolutely intended.
Binns cleared his throat, the gravelly sound cutting through the fog in my mind.
“As fifth years, you are required to do a research project,” Binns’s voice remained monotone as he spoke. “Pick a famous historical place, artifact, or person which next month you will present a comprehensive history, explanation and lesson learned about said topic.”
A series of groans and sighs echoed around the room before heads fell back down upon desks and gazes returned to stare at nothingness. My attention, however, was captured. A research project. An excuse to dive deep into something that interested me.
I knew exactly what I would study.
***
The library was practically deserted when I arrived there after History of Magic class. I wasted no time in darting between tall, dark shelves, running my fingertips along ancient spines. I found what I was looking for on the bookshelf third from the west side windows.
Rowena Ravenclaw: The Tale of the Wise Founder and Her Coveted Diadem of Wisdom, the cover of the worn book shown up at me in silver backdropped by a faded royal blue and a drawing of a tiara.
Ravenclaw’s lost diadem. Fascinating.
A pair of arms wrapped around me, picking me up and spinning me around before setting me down. Remus Lupin stood between me and the bookshelf.
“Hey, Brains,” he smiled at me, his hands shoved deep into jeans pockets and a tattered brown sweater loosely hanging from his shoulders.
“Remus!” I cried, delighted. We’d seen each other on the train yesterday, but that was with a whole army of friends blocking any one-on-one conversation. “How are you?”
“Really good, actually.” He looked really good. I blushed at the thought. “You?”
“Perfect, as always,” I responded, flipping my hair over one shoulder with a dramatic eye roll. Remus laughed and I practically floated a few inches off the ground. “I’m researching the Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw for History of Magic.”
“Sounds fun.” He leaned over my shoulder to glance at the book I was clutching. “How are you going to get enough information? I mean it’s lost, and there’s not much concrete knowledge about it.”
“Lost things have a particular beauty surrounding them,” I responded, starting to head to the exit, Remus glued to my side. “The object might be lost to us, but it’s undoubtedly having an adventure of its own. Just because we don’t know an answer doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”
Remus titled his head, brows furrowing and eyebrows pinching. It was way more attractive than it should be.
“You’re right,” he said finally, nodding his head. “As usual. I wish you all the best in your endeavor.” He gave a small bow. I returned the gesture.
“Why, thank you.” We entered a long corridor, the rain now beating furiously on the window panes.
“Do you want to go to the kitchens?” Remus asked, glancing at me through honey colored bangs. “I’m an expert at marshmallow castles.”
“Will there be hot chocolate too?” I asked.
“Obviously.”
“Then lead the way.”
Remus reached out and wrapped his fingers around mine. He kept his hand there until we reached the kitchen, only letting go to throw a marshmallow at my head.
Iris POV
Over Winter Break it was easy to ignore the absence of my friend. Mel was forever running over to bake cookies or sleepover or gossip about this cute Muggle boy who had moved in across the street from us. There were one on one Quidditch matches in the frozen field behind our houses, and holiday shopping, and teasing Lyla about her love letters.
The three of us were a unit, and it reminded me of days long gone when this little town was the extent of our world and yet it was still more than enough for us. I didn’t need Regulus because I had them, and they were my ride or dies.
But now that I was back at Hogwarts, it was hard not to stand up a little straighter every time I saw a dark curly head dressed in Slytherin robes. I had yet to actually see Regulus, but Potions was tomorrow and I was bound to see him then. I had already made Liam swear to be my lab partner, cute girls or no. I just could not stand to sit alone while his Slytherin gang hovered around him in adoration.
I tossed and turned in my four poster bed as Mel slept soundly in the bed next to me. I couldn’t turn my brain off no matter how hard I tried. Knowing it was no use, I decided to at least go for a walk if I was going to be awake anyway.
Technically we weren’t supposed to wander the castle after hours but I knew all the quiet hallways and set off to get my mind off of certain high cheekboned individuals.
Without really thinking about where I was going, my feet led me up and up until I was at the entrance to Ravenclaw tower. I wished someone would happen to come by and let me in so I didn’t have to think about the stupid riddle.
No such luck. Instead, as the door handle chanted some cryptic rhyme at me, I took a coin from the pocket of my robes. At first glance, it looked like a sickle but upon closer inspection, the carvings on it didn’t match a normal coin.
I rubbed the face of the coin three times and the carvings smoothed away. Then I whispered my message over it, and the exact words I said were carved onto the face of the coin: let me in.
I rubbed the coin two more times to send the message to Lyla’s matching coin and hoped she was awake.
Two minutes later the door to the common room was open and my sister blinked sleepily up at me.
”You’re lucky I have a small bladder and had to pee in the middle of the night,” she rasped.
“Thanks!” I chirped.
We padded across the dark common room with its arched ceilings and tall, narrow windows that filtered in moonlight. The fireplace had long burned out.
“What are you doing here again?” she asked as we climbed up the wrought iron spiral staircase that led to the girl’s dorms.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I answered nonchalantly.
“Moping over Regulus?” she asked, shooting me a knowing glance.
“Not moping,” I protested.
“Whatever you say,” she answered, pulling open the oak wooden door to her room. I saw Amanda sleeping soundly in one bed, and her other two roommates asleep in theirs’.
Without a word we both crawled into her bed. We shared a room at home, and shared a bed when we went to visit relatives so we were used to it. Besides, it wasn’t my first time up in Ravenclaw tower. Before I could get too comfy she whispered, “Clear your calendar for tomorrow. We’re having Sister Fun Day.”
“We have class tomorrow,” I reminded her.
“Screw class,” she whispered. My eyebrows shot up. Never in my life did I think I would hear those words come out of her mouth.
“What in the world have you done with my sister?” I whispered.
She just grinned maniacally.
***
Sister Fun Day ended up equating to a Spa Day. I happily skipped Potions and History of Magic, and Lyla showed real sisterhood by missing DADA, Herbology, and Transfiguration, her three favorite classes. Amanda had loads of lotions and potions and perfumes tucked away under her bed that were gathering dust and she happily donated them to the cause.
Arms full, we made our way to the prefect's bathroom, praying it would be empty. Given that it was the middle of a school, it was, and Lyla immediately charmed the door locked behind us.
We piled towels up by the side of the tub and turned the water as hot as it would go. Then we turned on every single spout attached to the giant, swimming pool sized tub. There were nearly forty and the room was so clouded by a rainbow of bubbles and fizzes and scents we could barely see each other through the haze.
Lyla grabbed her expandable book bag and produced two fruity drinks in self refilling glasses that we sipped as we slid into the murky water, our neon colored bathing suits disappearing into the bubbles.
It felt like silk on my skin and I immediately relaxed. I took another sip of my drink as she produced a record player (a record player for Merlin’s sake!) from her bag as well, and put on relaxing jazz. I sank into the suds with a sigh and laid my head back against the tile.
“Does this have alcohol in it?” I asked as I sipped.
She shrugged, happily. “Probably. It’s Bryant’s signature concoction and he refuses to spill the recipe.”
“Remind me to thank Bryant later,” I said.
We spent the whole day like that, giggling and drinking and dashing to the toilets on the opposite side of the room every hour or so. There was definitely alcohol in those drinks but it only added to the hilarity of the day. It was just what I needed, just what we needed, and it was perfect.
Remus POV
James was manic. He was screeching and sprinting around the dorm room like a madman.
“AHHHHHHH!” He yelled, his arms coming up to wave around his head like he was on an amusement ride.
“James,” I said. “It’s been thirty minutes. Please sit down.”
“I can’t! Oh I can’t, my dear Moony,” James cried, but he collapsed on the floor at my feet, hands clasped as if praying. “I’m the happiest man on earth. I swear to you, Moons. No one is happier.”
“I’m not saying anyone was, Prongs,” I said, setting down my book to pry my friend’s hands off my pant leg. “Get a grip.”
James’s eyes turned starry. “She said yes.”
“To what?” I didn’t really want to ask but I figured knowing the cause of the hurricane James was would help me calm it down.
“Being my girlfriend,” James sighed crumpling onto the floor, arms spread out like a starfish.
“But, James,” I frowned. “You were already dating.”
“Yes, but we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend,” James threw his hands over his heart. “I’m her boyfriend, Remus. Her boyfriend. Can you believe it?”
“No.”
“Neither can I!” James sat up. “Is this even real? Pinch me.”
Sirius reached out from where he was curled at the end of my bed and trapped James’s skin between his fingers, twisting sharply.
“Youch!” James ripped his arm away, rubbing purpling bruise spreading on his elbow. His discomfort didn’t last long.
“It is real!” He cheered, leaping back to his feet and bolting around the room again. Sirius and I shared a look before Sirius buried his head into my comforter to hide his laughter.
“Remus,” James bounded up to me, sticking his noise against mine. “We should go on a date.”
I pushed him back. “No thanks, mate. I’m taken.”
James rolled his eyes. “I mean a double date. You and Lyla and…me and Lily.” James twirled around.
Sirius met my eyes again, and this time it was my turn to hide my face, which I did by jamming my nose into the book I was holding. My snickers went unnoticed by my roommate who continued to dance around the room until Sirius wrestled him into bed well past midnight.