Rumors (Adele sang it best)

“You and I have history, or don’t you remember?”

“Remus Lupin! Do not tell me you sat by while Arcturus was suffering at Hogwarts! So help me, if anything happened to my son I would come down there in a heartbeat!” 

Remus watched as the howler then tore itself to shreds. Arcturus was wide eyed, staring at his uncle. He set down his teacup and cleared his throat. 

“I told mom.” 

“Really? I didn’t notice.” Remus chuckled, scooping up the paper shreds and tossing them in a bin under his desk. 

“I uhh– I have a question…” 

“You sound unsure.” 

“Well… Why did Sirius Black do what he did?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Why did he– Well… Why did he offer up the Potter’s to you-know-who?” 

“Oh– “ Remus looked rightfully taken back by the question, he wasn’t prepared for it. 

“You don’t have to answer! It was just a stupid question– “ 

“I’m not quite sure, actually. Sirius was… He was their best friend. It’s unknown just what was going through his head when it happened. Or why he killed Peter Pettigrew.” Remus sighed and set his tea cup down, an unreadable expression in his eyes. 

“Peter Pettigrew is dead?” Arcturus’ eyes widened. “But I saw it– I saw him on the– “ 

“You saw him where?” Remus asked, his eyes narrowing. 

“...Nowhere! I saw him nowhere!” Arcturus corrected himself quickly. 

“Back to your question about Sirius, I don’t think I’m fit to answer it even though I was his best friend as much as James and Peter were.” 

“You all were best friends?” 

“Yes, our time at Hogwarts seemed to strengthen that bond.” 

“How do you even feel, knowing your former friend is a murderer?” 

“I– Why do you want to know?” Remus rose a brow, leaning forward. 

“Well… I guess I just never knew much about you before?” Arcturus smiled awkwardly. 

“You just want to know more about Sirius Black, don’t you?” 

“Yeah…” 

“I can only tell you limited information, I know as much as you do.” 

“Okay.” 

“He wasn’t exactly… popular…“ Remus was choosing his words carefully. “Sirius– Sirius was disowned after sorting into Gryffindor but everyone knew his family. We were all outcasts in a sense. A group of misfits.” 

“He was a Gryffindor?!” 

“Shocking, right?” Remus chuckled. 

“So… If he was disowned by his family then he’s no longer a Black family member?” 

“Not exactly, he kept his last name but lived with the Potter’s. For a while he and James acted like brothers. Some teachers even called him Mr. Potter.” 

“Then why isn’t he Sirius Potter?” 

“Because, adoption doesn’t exist in the wizarding world like in the muggle world.” 

“So… There is still a chance he’s related to me?” Arcturus asked. 

“Hold on, I didn’t say anything about that.” 

“You didn’t say it but it was obvious, I’m related to him through name and blood.” 

“But you’re nothing like him.” 

“I know I’m nothing like him, but to think that I would be born from the same blood as him might as well drive the final nail on the coffin. My struggling social life is basically already dead at this point.” 

“Your social life isn’t dead, there are plenty of people who still haven’t heard of Sirius Black.” 

“Yeah, the Daily Prophet is everywhere. I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.” Arcturus frowned, leaning back in his chair. 

“Sorry I’m late!” Severinus announced as he burst into the room with a smile on his face. “Professor Snape had to keep me after and scold me because he had to take points away from Slytherin.” There was soot covering his otherwise clean face. 

“What did you do?” Arcturus asked, raising a brow.

“I… May have accidentally set off one of the twins' prototype fireworks during class.” Sev played with his hands. “It fell out of my pocket! Someone stepped on the string at the end and when I pulled it exploded!” 

“Why am I not surprised?” Remus laughed and shook his head. “That sounds like something James and Sirius would do.” 

“You know who Sirius Black is?!” 

“We just went over this.” Arcturus sighed. “If you hadn’t been late then maybe you would know a thing or two like us.” 

“The last thing I want to talk about is that criminal. It’s all Draco ever talks about morning, noon, and night other than Potter. I swear, I hate sharing a dorm room with that bloke.” 

“You have to share a dorm with him? Don’t you know any other Slytherin’s?” Arcturus asked. 

“Well, there’s Flint but he’s two years older than me and has a dorm with the Quidditch team.” Sev shrugged, scratching the back of his head. 

“So your solution is to be friendly with Malfoy?” 

“No. It’s just… His dorm was the last available one this year.” 

“Harsh.” Arcturus snickered. 

“Oh please, it can’t be worse than you being avoided by your own house.” Sev rolled his eyes. 

“Okay, maybe not everyone.” 

“Not everyone?” Remus questioned. 

“Yeah, uh– Someone decided to come back to the dorms.” Arcturus swished the honey colored liquid around in the tea cup, staring into it. He cleared his throat. “It’s not important– Honestly with everybody avoiding me it’s given me more time to read up on Unfogging the Future.” 

“That class is a total joke, I don’t get how you like it so much.” Sev pulled up a chair. 

“Well, it’s an elective I chose and Divination is very similar to muggle magic.” 

Woah, muggles can do magic?” 

“Yeah, divination actually started as a muggle thing. The person who discovered it was muggle born and didn’t know they were a wizard until long after they had developed their skill.” Arcturus couldn’t help but smile while talking, that smile creeping into his voice. 

“Seems like something you’re passionate about.” Remus himself smiled, pouring Sev a cup of tea. “Do you think you’ll be taking the advanced classes next year?” 

“Definitely! The class is so interesting and the Professor is really nice, although I hope she teaches the class next year.” 

“The only position that changes from year to year is Defense Against the Dark Arts.” 

“Wait– Does that mean you won’t be here next year?” Sev asked, his shoulders slumped. “Compared to the other teachers you are the best one by far!” 

“We’ll just have to wait and see. As much as I love teaching this subject I’m not getting my hopes up– but enough about that. It’s not anything for either of you to worry about.” Remus cleared his throat and got up. “Speaking of which, I have a class soon. I’m sure the both of you also have classes as well.” 

“Ugh, I have herbology. I don’t know why I even take that class.” Sev groaned. 

“I have… Divination.” Arcturus chuckled. “Despite sharing that class with Potter I also share the class with Neville.” 

“Ah, I’ve seen you and Neville around quite often. Is he also one of your friends?” Remus looked up from his desk, digging through one of his drawers. 

“Him? My friend? Pfft– As if. Anyway, uh– Divination is across the castle. I’ll see you later.” Arcturus got up and slung his bag over his shoulder rather quickly. 

“Hold on! Let me walk you! Anything to be as late as possible.” Sev gulped down the tea and moved to get up. 

“No, no. It’s okay.” 

Arcturus had left quickly, not sticking around to hear Severinus insist on walking him. 

“Are Neville and Arcturus friends?” Remus asked the Slytherin. 

“Totally. He just doesn’t like admitting it for some reason.” 

“Whatever the reason, I’m sure he feels honored to have friends like the both of you.” 

“He better be honored, it would be an insult if he wasn’t. Honestly.” 

“You know, I can tell you’re stalling because you don’t want to go to Herbology.” Remus couldn’t help but laugh, a smile on his face. “James and Sirius used to do the same thing. Stay and talk to their professors until class begins and then they would wander in the halls.” 

“I’m not going to wander in the halls.” Sev crossed his arms over his chest. “I just want to be a little late, actually.” 

“As much as I’d like to, I’m not going to let you.” 

“Yeah, I know. Figured I’d at least try.” Sev sighed but then his eyes sparkled. “Good thing I'm taking your class tomorrow morning! We can talk more then.” 

“Possibly, now go.” Remus made a hand motion to shoo Severinus from the room. 

“Okay, okay. I’m going.” 

Once the Slytherin was gone Remus sighed and opened up the closet in his room. At the bottom sat a black dog looking up at him with almost a human smile. Running a hand over his face he sighed and sat back down at his desk. 

“You know, that was very risky Sirius. Who knows if either of them had not only caught you but me as well.” 

“Well, Moony. I didn’t ask you to hide me in your closet.” The black dog had transformed into the wanted criminal, disheveled and standing in the empty classroom. 

“I didn’t know you were going to pay me a visit!” 

“Do I really have to let you know when I want to see my friend?” 

“We aren’t– Sirius, I don’t know if I can trust you or not.” Remus frowned. 

“I know, I know. I betrayed our best friends and did the most evil thing I could think of, but that’s something my brother would do. Not me.” 

“Your brother was nicer if I’m being honest.” 

“Take that back!” Sirius gasped. 

It was as if time hadn’t passed. They were arguing like old friends again despite the current circumstance. Remus glanced toward the clock and turned to Sirius. 

“You’re going to need to go back into the closet pads.” 

“Pads? You haven’t called me that in a long time.” Sirius couldn’t help but grin. 

“Just shut up and get back in there, I’ll let you out when school ends. That way you can sneak back out.” Remus watched the door anxiously. “Word of advice, stop sneaking onto the grounds.” 

“I do it because I want to see Harry.” 

“One day, this is going to put you in so much danger.” 

“I’ve gotten myself out of tough situations before.” 

“Do you– Are you Arcturus’ father?” Remus asked suddenly. 

“What?” Sirius laughed. “Wait– You don’t actually know?” 

“No, it may be mean but I only wanted him to think I did.” 

“I guess I’ll know when I see him.” Sirius shrugged. 

“You do know that if you ever encounter him he’ll probably rat you out.” 

“Merlin’s beard, don’t mention rats. They make my skin crawl.” 

They both heard voices echoing in the hall and Sirius turned back into a black dog, sitting in the closet and covering himself with one of Remus’ robes. 

“You’ll be free in about an hour or so.” Remus whispered as he closed the closet door. 

Arcturus sat down across from Neville and sighed. The Sirius Black thing had been eating away at him even more, now. It followed him around like a dark cloud and had him looking over his shoulder at whoever might try to “catch him in the act” which really just meant antagonizing him while he just minded his own business. Arcturus groaned and looked away when Harry waved at him, on the table there were sheets of paper and quills. 

“Normally I need help with magic, but I think I’m doing pretty well in this class.” Neville smiled shyly, his eyes were glued to the table. 

“Yeah? I’m glad you’re doing well here, though I am ready to help if you ever need it.” 

“Thanks, Arcturus.” 

“You– You don’t have to thank me.” Arcturus looked away, turning his head to face Professor Trelawney. 

“I think I have to, I mean you’re helping me a lot already as it is.” 

“Anyone would try to help if I’m being honest, I’m not that special.” 

“Technically, no one else is my friend so it makes sense why you would want to.” 

“You’re part of the Gryffindor house, what do you mean no one else is your friend?” Arcturus couldn’t help it when he laughed a little. 

“That doesn’t mean we’re all popular.” Neville’s face turned red,  he shrunk back in his seat. 

“Today my dears, you will be writing down and observing your dreams, at least as much as you can.” Professor Trelawney appeared in the doorway, blocking tardy students from entering the room with her arms thrown wide. 

Since the last class Hermione had taken this class from her schedule, there was no doubt she didn’t even like the subject because it wasn’t book savvy and most certainly never had the right answer. It was all about interpretation, and she didn’t seem like the type to enjoy interpretation. Looking down at the paper Arcturus stared at the blank page and the quill lying next to it, leaning down to dig through his bag for a pen because quills were the most insufferable thing to use he realized no one else was reaching for another utensil. 

“The quills at your tables are enchanted to encapsulate your subconscious, all you need to do is hold them and they will write on their own with your hand as a guide. Your subconscious flowing from your arm onto the paper through the ink.” 

“She has to be insane.” Neville muttered. “That sounds like nonsense.” 

“I think it makes sense.” Arcturus shrugged. “Basically, the enchantment allows us to write about our dreams without having to actually think about them. I’ve read a couple books about how the brain stores them in the subconscious where the conscious mostly cannot reach.” 

“What book have you been reading?” Neville’s jaw dropped. 

“Muggle psychology.” 

“Are you taking muggle studies?” 

“What? No, sadly it’s at the same time as one of my other classes. Next year, maybe.” 

“I still don’t get what we’re doing.” 

“It’s as simple as– “ Arcturus picked up the quill and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. His neck was extended and the quill had begun to write on the paper with his hand still tightly latched onto it. 

“Arcturus?” Neville jumped in his seat. Eyeing the quill on the table curiously he looked back at the Hufflepuff who looked unharmed by what was happening. 

“Alright, here goes nothing.” Neville spoke quietly, taking hold of his quill. 

A jolt had run up Arcturus’ arm like lightning when he picked up the quill on the table. The next thing he knew his vision had gone back and all he could hear were muffled voices around him. He could feel the pen writing in his hand but other than that he couldn’t feel anything else throughout his body. For a second a white light flashed in his vision and he found himself inside the place of his childhood. When he was younger he often visited his grandmother at Grimmauld place. Back then, when he was just a child Kreacher scared him. For some reason the house elf made him very uneasy. Why was he dreaming about his childhood? 

Then he saw the door. 

He’d locked it away deep in his memories because, like each time he and his mother visited Grimmauld place, he could hear his grandmother and his mother arguing. That wasn’t why he locked it away but he never paid attention to the arguing unless one of them had mentioned him. This specific memory was locked away for a specific reason. 

As he approached the door with the letter R.A.B. adorned on the front of it he’d pushed it open and as he fanned away the dust from his face something had jumped out and wrapped around his legs knocking him over. When he cried he felt like his lungs were trapped, like something was choking him in the conscious world. Tears slipped from the corners of his eyes and he tried to let go of the quill but he couldn’t. 

Suddenly the image changed and he was faced with the boggart from Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The gangly figure of Sirius Black was smiling at him with arms opened wide. This mad glint in his eyes. He couldn’t hear the words but suddenly the room became a lot smaller. It was like a nightmare was forming before his eyes. Did he really have a nightmare last night? When Sirius Black embraced him he finally snapped out of it and the quill had stopped writing. There were tear stains on his face and he looked around almost in a daze. Wiping the ickiness from his skin he looked down at the parchment, the words tightly packed together but were ultimately unreadable when it got to the end of the page. Flipping it over he noticed that the quill had scribbled the rest, barely legible. 

“What the fuck just happened?” Arcturus asked under his breath. Looking around, others were waking from the trance the quill had put them in. When Neville woke he’d gasped and fallen out of his chair. 

“Are you okay?!” Arcturus stood up and helped the Gryffindor to his feet, realizing he shouted he sat back down in his chair and looked down at the table. Ignoring the peering eyes watching him. 

“You even wrote on the back? I had enough to fill just one page.” Neville chuckled awkwardly, scratching his neck. “Maybe my dream doesn’t have enough substance…” 

“I don’t think how much you’ve written matters.” Arcturus muttered, wiping at his face.

“Were you crying?” 

“No.” 

“Oh… Okay.” Neville studied his face for a few moments longer, he swore he noticed the tear streaks running down the boy's face. 

“Now, once everyone has something written down you will switch with your partners.” Trelawney demonstrated by giving Arcturus Neville’s paper and Neville Arcturus’ paper since they were the closest table. 

“Shit.” 

“What was that?” Professor Trelawney asked. 

“Oh, nothing.” Arcturus forced a smile on his face and looked down at the parchment. He looked at Neville through his eyebrows, leg bouncing under the table. 

Neville inspected the paper with a blank face but when he turned the parchment over he couldn’t contain the concern on his face. It was just scribbles near the end. Looking up when he felt eyes on him he smiled and flipped it to the front. 

“There’s nothing bad about it, at least not until I actually read it.” The Gryffindor reassured the Hufflepuff. 

“It’s okay if it's bad, I can handle bad things.” Arcturus brushed away the reassurance. 

Upon reading the parchment that Neville had written he suddenly felt like he was cheated out of a good dream. It wasn’t fair that Neville got to dream about his friends– Why was his name written down here? Furrowing his brows he held the parchment closer as he carefully read the rest. Arcturus couldn’t help the way his face flushed. He was used to Severinus announcing they were best friends to anyone he ever meets but Neville… He didn’t expect Neville to ever consider him a friend, especially because he might be related to a murderer. Staring at the parchment the words started to get blurry as tears obscured his vision. All he was thinking was that it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that someone so nice was stuck with him. That someone so kind didn’t know who he really was. That someone so wonderful could call him a friend. 

As soon as class had ended Arcturus left in a hurry, pushing past students. He was almost running down the hall but then Sev hooked an arm around his middle and pulled him into an empty classroom. 

“Hey, hey. Why are you running? What’s wrong?” Sev held him by his shoulders. 

“It’s not fair… None of this is fair!” Arcturus couldn’t hold back the tears again. 

“Not much help, but okay, I’ll work with it.” Sev pulled the Hufflepuff into a hug, holding him tightly. “It’s all going to blow over eventually.” He could only assume Arcturus was upset about the rumors again. 

“No– Neville thinks I’m his friend.” Arcturus mumbled against Sev’s robes. 

“Why are you crying about that?” Sev pulled him back with a smile on his face. “That’s so silly.” 

“I’m evil, and mean, and bad things are going to happen.” 

“Oh my– you’re just letting those rumors get to you.” Sev pulled a handkerchief from his bag. “Wipe your face before you lose reputation points.” He joked. 

“Asshole..” Arcturus mumbled as wiped the tears from his face. 

“What? I’m being honest, you’re letting people tell you who you are.” Sev planted his hands on his hips. “That’s the simple honest truth.” 

“I don’t deserve friends.” 

Sev slapped him across the face. 

“Ow! What the hell was that for?!” Arcturus barked. 

“To set you straight, obviously. You were talking like a crazy person a few moments ago.” 

“You can’t just slap me!” 

“I just did.” 

“Dude, that seriously hurts…” Arcturus rubbed his cheek. 

“Yeah, well don’t say something stupid again.” Sev rolled his eyes. “Seriously though, why were you crying?” 

“Neville thinks we’re friends.” 

“Okay? What’s wrong with that?” 

“He is the sweetest– No kindest– No– “ 

“Okay, okay. I get it.” Severinus cut him off. “Why is it a bad thing? You’re not evil.” 

“My family is.” 

“So what? Screw your family! Who cares!” 

“I don’t want to be anything like them, but I’m scared I’m exactly like then.” 

“Sheesh, you really need to find out who your dad is. This is just sad…” 

“Shut up.” Arcturus shoved him playfully, a hint of a smile on his face. 

“You smiled! Hah! I won!” 

“That wasn’t a smile!” 

“It totally was! You can’t lie to me.” 

“Ugh, I hate you.” 

“Love you too!”