Rumors (Adele sang it best)

“He… Is a stranger.”

He’d already finished his homework by the time the weekend rolled around. It was almost a month into the school year and it was already exhausting keeping up with everyone. Today Arcturus was sharing a cup of tea with his uncle, sitting in his office. Remus made him feel better about everything especially now because he had two classes that he not only liked but did well in. He liked potions but there was no way he would be winning over Professor Snape any time soon. That man had hated him from the beginning and he still had yet to know why. That wasn’t important as of now, he was enjoying some tea with honey in Remus’s office. Truly feeling happy for once. He’d always like a specific kind of floral tasting Earl Grey tea. In some cases it even smelled floral. The honey helped to make it just a tad sweeter. 

“You haven’t told your mother about what’s been going on, have you?” Remus broke up the silence, from a mere glance Arcturus knew he couldn’t deny anything. 

“I don’t want her to worry, I can handle this myself.” Arcturus didn’t meet his gaze.

“How are you handling this yourself?” 

“Ignoring everyone.” 

“Ignoring everyone can suddenly fix your problems?” 

“... Yes.” 

“Then I’ve failed you.” Remus set his tea cup down. 

“What do you mean?” Arcturus leaned back slightly, unsure of the current atmosphere. 

“You mother and I tried to teach you about– “ 

“Professor Lupin?” Harry had cut him off, standing in the doorway with his side bag. His eyes widened when he noticed Arcturus. “Oh, I didn’t know you were busy– “

“Nonsense, we were just talking. What can I do for you?” 

“Well, I was wondering if you could help me with something.” Harry looked nervous. 

Arcturus sat there and drank his tea. Ignoring both Remus and Harry, he took out a book and began reading it. Of course, he had to be interrupted by the boy everyone loved. The boy he was being accused of trying to kill. He wasn’t lying. The reason he hadn’t told his mother was because he just focused on ignoring everybody and pretending that it didn’t bother him. He was fine being alone growing up so it was no different than being alone now. He may just be thirteen but it wasn’t an excuse to not turn the other cheek. Arcturus left the office once he saw that Remus wasn’t completely paying attention anymore, already engrossed in whatever Harry was talking to him about. He didn’t have to talk to his uncle, he could just talk to him next week or see him in class. 

Passing Ronald Weasley in the hallway their shoulders accidentally brushed against one another and Ron seemed to jump at that. It wasn’t fear he could sense from the boy but instead courage. In the blink of an eye he was shoved and almost lost his balance. Watching Ron leave he swore he could hear his mouth moving but he couldn’t hear anything that came out of it. He didn’t shove Ron, did he? The last thing he wanted was for people to think he started hurting others. Regaining his composure he ducked behind a corner when he saw some other Gryffindor’s coming. That house of lions seemed to be so tight knit there would be no doubt that once Ron tells them Arcturus shoved him they would retaliate. Oh, what he would give to be in a house that accepted you, rather than a house that judges you. Then again everyone was. 

The next week in Remus’ office Arcturus was once again sipping tea and sitting with his uncle talking. Again, he felt comfortable. They never finished their conversation from last week. Arcturus was more closed off than usual, he would have this far off look or shut down. Remus was really worried about him. Setting down his tea cup he cleared his throat. 

“Your mother is worried, she wants you to return her letters.” 

“Okay, then just tell her that I’m fine.” 

“She wants to hear from you.” 

“You could have just told her that I’m okay, that you see me in class all the time.” 

“Are you really okay?” Remus asked. 

Arcturus didn’t answer. 

“Arcturus– “ 

“Like I said, I’m fine.” 

The last thing he would ever admit to his uncle was that the bullying was getting worse. The last thing he would admit to anyone was that he was weak and couldn’t defend himself. From all the whispering going around he heard a lot of people talk about the house of Black. A noble wizarding family that was ruthless and powerful. He was the exact opposite of ruthless, never once wanting to hurt anyone. Putting on a fake smile and taking another sip of his tea he avoided Remus’ gaze. He shifted in his chair and tried to think of something he could use to divert the conversation. 

“I… made a new friend– Met someone new today.” Arcturus knew there was no way he would ever believe the blatant lie of making friends. 

“And you actively talk to this person?” 

“Yes, I actually talked to him. It’s Neville Longbottom.” 

“I’m happy you’re making new friends!” Remus set his cup down, a smile stretching across his face. Arcturus’ jaw twitched. 

“He is not a new friend, I don’t have any friends.” 

“Of course you don’t. I’m glad you aren't shutting everyone out.” 

“Don’t tell mom.” 

“I won’t.” Remus would usually be lying but he held back the mischievous idea that was already forming. Something about the boy's face made him think that it meant something more. “I promise.” 

“You know how I can truly tell you not to break your promises?” 

“How?” 

“You’re a man of your word and reliable.” 

“You’re starting to sound like Dumbledore.” Remus chuckled. 

“It’s not bad if it’s true.” 

“How are you getting along in your classes?” 

“Still failing in potions.” Arcturus rolled his eyes. “Professor Snape tries to find the smallest reasons to take points from Hufflepuff. So much so, I can’t fathom a general figure of all those points together.” 

“Still with the petty vendetta.” Remus shook his head with a sigh. 

“Why does he have a personal vendetta against me?” 

“Oh, all because James and Sirius decided it would be funny to lead him to the shrieking shack on the night of a full moon. Of course, even though James saved him from his own prank he still hates him after all these years.” 

“Yeah, but it’s been years since that. While still mad?”

“Maybe you remind him of just how his life became torture.” 

“Do you think I’m related to Sirius Black?” Arcturus asked. 

“What? No, I don’t think you’re related to him. Your mother couldn’t even stand him during school.” Remus answered.

“You know who my dad is, don’t you?” 

“...No…” 

“Did mom tell everyone but me?” 

“Remus?” Harry was once again at the doorway and Arcturus looked away. 

Arcturus was out of the office before Remus could ask Harry what he wanted. Once again Harry Potter interrupted his time. Arms crossed over his chest he walked through the courtyard, catching a few looks he had a feeling he already knew what they were saying. Adjusting his bag and muttering to himself as he tried to fix his uniform. A student jumped in front of him and he stopped, staring at the lone Gryffindor. 

“I won’t let you hurt Harry!” 

“I’m not going to hurt him, I just got away from him.” Arcturus tried to step around but they wouldn’t leave him alone. Blocking his way. 

“You may have spared him for now, but I won’t let you feed him to Sirius Black!” 

“Oh. Okay, I see what this is about now.” Arcturus felt his wand in his sleeve but didn’t pull it out just yet. 

“Your evil plans end here.” The Gryffindor whipped out his wand, pointing it at Arcturus. 

“Oh, I’m quaking in my boots.” Arcturus mocked, shaking his hands around. 

“You better be.” 

A white shot of light came from the Gryffindor’s want and then everything was far blurrier than things were before. He couldn’t see the student in front of him or his environment around him. His wand dropped from his sleeve and he pointed it in the last direction he’d seen the other boy. He didn’t cast a spell until he felt he was completely sure that the boy was there. Instead his wand had fallen from his hand. 

“Now, all I have to do is get you to Dumbledore and explain to him that you are going to sneak Sirius Black into the castle.” 

“Pardon me?” Sev stood behind Arcturus. Neville was with him. 

“Good! You can help me get him there.” He pointed at Neville. 

“You aren’t going anywhere.” Sev stepped in front of Arcturus, catching the boy by the shoulder an arms length away. 

“He isn’t evil. He didn’t even do anything to you.” Neville had a slight frown. 

“Don’t tell me he’s brainwashed you. What kind of dark magic is he even using?” 

“He doesn’t use dark magic but I will if you don’t leave.” 

Severinus was tall thanks to genes from his mother, and intimidating but not because he was in Slytherin. He didn’t pull his wand out, he didn’t have to. Only glared down at the Gryffindor with a sneer on his face waiting for the boy to say something to him. His fingernails dug into the boy's shoulder and he looked positively terrified. Once Sev let go the boy went running down the hall screaming about how a Slytherin had hurt him and something else about Arcturus but he’d gotten too far to hear. 

“He used a conjunctivitis curse.” Arcturus was handed back his wand and messily tried to stick it in his robes. 

“How can you tell?” Sev asked. 

“I’ve read more books than you can imagine.” 

“As if,” The Slytherin scoffed. 

“Let- Let’s just get him to the medical wing.” Neville stammered. 

“Yeah, Neville is being responsible. Unlike you.” Arcturus held his arms out, feeling around for the two of them. “I’d consider him an actual friend.” 

“What?!” Sev’s eyes bulged out of his head. 

“Is this how friends act towards one another?” Neville asked. 

“It’s how we act as friends.” Sev shrugged. “I don’t think it's all that bad.” 

When they’d gotten to the medical wing Harry Potter and his friends were already there. It must have been quidditch practice because Harry was still in his uniform. Ron looked to be pacing, Hermione rolling her eyes. She seemed to notice Arcturus, Severinus, and Neville. Hopping up from her seat and walking over to them. 

“What happened? There’s all this slimy puss on your eyes.” 

“It’s trick Hermione, he’s here to strike Harry down while he’s injured!” Ron was quick to jump in front of her. “Wait– Neville? What are you doing with these two?” His expression only softened slightly. 

“I was walking with Sev and we– well we found him with another student– “ 

“No doubt the other guy has nasty wounds, why’d you take him here?” Ron blocked their path. 

“The Gryffindor tucked tail and ran. Now, move.” Sev glared at Ron. 

“No! He doesn’t deserve to get better if he’s just going to hurt Harry!” 

“Ron, we don’t even know each other– “ Harry tried to say. 

“You’re just being optimistic.” 

“Keep a tight leash on your guard dog.” Sev could only muster a sarcastic smile. 

“I can just fix this myself…” Arcturus mumbled. 

“You can’t even see!” Hermione and Sev huffed. 

“Let’s just sit you down right– right here.” Neville guided the Hufflepuff to the other side of the room away from Ron and Harry, flashing an awkward smile at Hermione who shook her head. 

“I apologize on behalf of Ronald, he’s very… Protective of Harry.” Hermione chuckled awkwardly. Scratching the back of her neck. 

“What happened to Potter?” 

“A bludger hit him off his broom during practice. Ron was actually the one who got him here, I trailed after just in case anything went wrong.” 

“Normally, I see you off to the side minding your own business Granger. Do you even have an opinion about all this?” 

“About what?” Hermione asked. 

“The rumors.” Sev crossed his arms over his chest, keeping an eye on Arcturus and Neville. “The whole ‘Arcturus is a death eater stay away’ mantra that everyone keeps regurgitating.” 

“I don’t exactly want to involve myself– “

“So you think they’re true?” 

“No!” She tucked some hair behind her ear, nibbling on her thumbnail. “I just– I haven’t met him yet so I can’t make assumptions.” 

“You just don’t want to admit you think he is a death eater.” Sev rose a brow. 

“Okay, part of me does think that but the other part of me knows these are just lies. For now…” 

“Fine. I’ll trust you just this once.” He narrowed his eyes. 

Neville and Arcturus sat in silence. The black-haired boy didn’t touch his eyes but he did fidget with his tie, something to do with his hands and keep him from touching his face. Arcturus wasn’t one for small talk so he was content to just sit in silence. Small talk was just the precursor to having an actual conversation when you don’t know the other person you’re talking to. He didn’t have a book and preferred to have waited alone but he couldn’t complain. Trying to fix this himself would have gone worse. 

“After I saw you in the library I noticed we have herbology together.” There was a hint of a smile in Neville’s voice. “I can tell you’re not much of a green thumb.” 

“No, I’m not. My mother loves plants though. Absolutely no idea why that didn’t pass onto me.” 

“Since you’ve offered to help me with potions as well as charms I’ll help you with herbology.” 

“All I want is to just pass my classes this year and move on.” Arcturus stopped himself when he brought his hand to his face. “Thank you for the offer though.” 

“It’s not fair if you help me and I don’t return the favor.” 

“Sounds to me like you just want to help me to make yourself feel better.” The Hufflepuff sighed. “I’m fine with my grades as they are.” 

“No! This isn’t because I want to make myself feel better, I want to help you.” Neville pressed. 

“I don’t need help.” 

“I just– I think we’re starting to become friends and I don’t want you to just disappear on me like everyone else.” 

“We’re not friends.” Arcturus turned away even though he couldn’t see the expression on Neville’s face. 

Once Madame Pomfrey fixed the conjunctivitis curse and scolded him for not being careful enough she had pulled Severinus to the side. Sev left Arcturus’ bag on an empty seat in the waiting room so as soon as he left the medical wing he snatched up his bag and started walking away quickly, leaving Neville behind. The Gryffindor stood there dejectedly, Hermione putting a hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze. Sev watched his friend leave and saw how upset Neville looked even as he tried to mask it. At least for now he decided it was best to leave Arcturus alone. 

Thanks to the map he was able to get to the Hufflepuff dorms in the secret passages where no one could see him. The small dark tunnel was cramped but it was so much better than the corridors at the moment. He tried to shake off this feeling as he held the map close to his face, the tip of the wand illuminating it with a white light. His eyes were getting used to seeing again but he wasn’t going to take the recovery time, it meant sitting in a room with people who didn’t like him or people who just wanted something from him. Coming through near the kitchens he folded up the map and turned the light off on his wand. He didn’t mind the dorm room being near the kitchen, but it became awfully hot every night which is about the only complaint anyone ever had. Unlike what first years still believed they were not allowed to take food from the kitchens, he remembered the perfect lecture he was given two years ago. Even after the lecture house points were lost each and every day, they hadn’t won the house cup since he had arrived at school because of it. 

Stopping by the barrels just before entering the dorms, he tapped the barrel in the middle of the second row in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff; it had been used for centuries. This time around a barrel opened with a violent pop and drenched him head to toe in some type of liquid. Arcturus sputtered and gagged as vinegar squirted in his mouth. Now stinking and quite upset he trudged himself back through the hall, this time avoiding the secret passage. Everyone in the corridor knew to avoid him because of the vinegar smell now. He stomped right up to an older Hufflepuff talking to a Ravenclaw and Slytherin, anger bubbled in his veins. 

“Jennifer, you changed the passcode!” 

“What?” Jennifer turned around, her eyes widened seeing the boy drenched head to toe. “Surely you just tapped the wrong rhythm.” Her friends were trying not to laugh. 

“No. I tapped Helga Hufflepuff just like you said and I got blasted with vinegar from another barrel!” Arcturus snapped. He was letting his temper get the best of him. Others started to watch curiously, mostly younger students who were around. 

“Black, I don’t know what to tell you. That is the rhythm.” Jennifer scratched the back of her head. “Now, everyone knows so I have to change it.” She sighed. 

“No, no. It has changed already! This is just sabotage at this point! What happened to Hufflepuff being the house of caring and kind students who are loyal to their own?!” 

“Can you just calm down?” She took a step back from him. 

“What? Do you think I’m angry enough to curse you?! Do you think I’m going to turn you into a bloody toad or something?!” 

“Petrificus Totalus.” One of her friends uttered, shaking their head with a laugh. “Merlin’s beard, he was getting really annoying. I didn’t think prefects could change the passcodes.” 

“Hey!” Jennifer shot a look at her friend. “Unfreeze him!” 

“Nah, I like him better like this.” 

“You are impossible.” 

“Oh come on Jenny, you can clearly tell someone else decided to polyjuice into him so they could break into the Hufflepuff dorms.” The Slytherin rolled her eyes. 

“Well, I- I’ve never seen Arcturus mad before. I guess you’re right…” 

“Let’s see who this prankster is!” The Gryffindor girl cheered, pulling out her wand. 

“Miss Levinson, what exactly do you think you’re doing?” Saved by Remus, Arcturus couldn’t move but he would have been sighing in relief and thanking Merlin for having a single teacher to actually bother to care. 

“P- Professor Lupin!” The Gryffindor stammered. “We think he’s a first year playing pranks on Jenny– “ 

“You didn’t think to come to a teacher with this concern?” Remus rose a brow, he was absolutely livid. Part of him remembered when he was a prefect letting James and Siris bully Snivillus, abusing his power just to keep his friends around. 

“Well– “

“We were going to!” The Slytherin cut in. 

“Don’t think I believe that for a second Miss Maddox, unfreeze Mister Black, now.” 

The Slytherin swished her wand and Arcturus let out a breath he had been holding. He wasn’t angry anymore, but he was still soaked in vinegar. 

“Mister Black, I’d like to see you in my office.”