Her.

“It’s way too cold for October.” Sienna shook her head furiously, wrapping her scarf more tightly around her neck.

“It’s November tomorrow, and what do you expect from Scottish weather?” Remus chuckled at his sister, now struggling to pull on her hat.

The two twins were sitting high up on the Quidditch stands, watching James and Marlene practice.

“Not funny, Remmy. I could catch a cold.” Sienna pouted.

It always bothered Sienna that Remus seemed comfortable anywhere. It was probably because of his thousands of sweaters he wore religiously. And what bothered Sienna more is that he never let her borrow them, and her dad wouldn’t let her buy any because “girls shouldn’t wear boys’ clothes”. Whenever Sienna would think about that it would put her in a bad mood.

“I highly doubt that, Enna. ” Remus shook his head. “Look at James and McKinnon. They’re fine out in the cold.”

“They’re swirling around on their brooms, the crazy maniacs, so they’re not cold.” Sienna responded.

“Go on then, get on a broom.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then stop complaining.”

“Very rich, coming from you.”

“Oi! And it was your idea anyway.”

“Touché.” Sienna turned away, fake-annoyed.

Remus laughed. Sienna turned back around and lightly smacked him on the arm, and slouched back in her seat, pouting. But the truth is she was trying not to laugh as hard as Remus was already laughing. It was always better when it was just her and Remus. All her problems melted away.

It was Halloween night at Hogwarts. Every student was ordered out of the Great Hall for the time being, while it was being set up with decorations.

Sienna couldn’t figure out why they couldn’t just decorate it in one swish of a wand, and instead did it the muggle way, using ladders and string, but oh well.

The kids didn’t know what to do with themselves at first, but then Lily and Peter started a heated game of chess, and Marlene and James went off to Quidditch practice. Mary decided to stay in with Lily and Peter because she had to finish off some homework, so Sienna suggested to go and watch the Quidditch lunatics. Sienna invited Sirius to go with her and Remus, because if she was being honest, the over-the-top, annoying, dramatic boy was really growing on her. She hadn’t liked him very much at first, but now that she got to know him, she would consider him a best friend.

However, Sirius had sadly and - with no surprises - dramatically shook his head, and said,

"My sincerest regrets, dearest girl Lupin, but I am obliged to refuse, for I am beckoned to the presence of the venerable scholar who presides over our academic pursuits, and duty thus compels my attendance. Pray, fair maiden, ‘twas my lapse of recollection that left thy transfiguration homework unfinished, for the faculties of my memory did forsake me in that dire hour.”

Sienna glared at him with her signature ‘what-the-hell-are-you-doing’ stare, and after Sirius finished his very, very, very deep bow, (that lasted at least a full minute) she smacked him on the arm and asked for English.

“I need to go to McGonnagall’s office for detention, because I didn’t do my transfiguration homework.” He grinned.

And so, the group of friends set off in their different ways, Sienna and Remus sitting up in the cold watching their two friends sweat away.

“It’s strangely peaceful watching other people work.” Sienna pointed out, after getting bored of being fake-annoyed at Remus.

Remus laughed. “Indeed, dear Sienna.”

Sienna rolled her eyes. “You’re starting to sound like Sirius.”

“We spend a lot of time together!” Remus said, almost defensively. Sienna raised an eyebrow but didn’t pry.

She focused her gaze back on James and Marlene.

“James should really work on his aim with the quaffle.” She said after a while.

“Look at you being all Quidditch-y.” Remus chuckled.

“Don’t slag me for enjoying a sport, Remmy.” Sienna shook her head. “And if you must know, I am enjoying it.”

“You think you’ll try out next year?” Remus asked.

“I mean, why not. I can try. And I’ll already have Marlene and James on the team. They’ll get in straightaway, I just know it.” Sienna chuckled.

Remus laughed with her. They spent another few minutes in silence until they noticed Marlene and James making their way towards the ground, and off into the changing rooms.

The twins gathered their things, and went around the pitch and to the exist, to wait for their other two friends. When they came out, it was obvious they trained hard. Both were sweaty, breathing heavily, and were red in the face.

“Alright?” James grinned at the twins. They nodded back.

“Shall we go back to the common room?” Sienna smiled. “I reckon Sirius is done with his detention by now, and I’d hope Lily and Peter had finished their chess game.”

The kids walked back to the castle talking and laughing, and while they were passing the Great Hall, they looked inside just for a second to see the progress. Sienna could only catch a glimpse of a few Jack-o-lanterns and a few pumpkins, but it looked really pretty already.

As they were walking around a corner, Remus and James in front, Marlene and Sienna behind them, Remus accidentally bumped into Snape and made the papers he was carrying fall. It was purely an accident on Remus’ part, he was walking round a corner and just couldn’t possibly see Snape.

“Watch where-“ Snape started saying, but when he realised it was Remus he stopped in the middle of his sentence, and smirked. “You.”

“Yeah, it’s Remus.” James grinned. “Having problems with your eyesight, Snivellous?”

Remus kept a poker face - his expression was unreadable.

“No, Potter.” Snape spat. Then his smirk came back, and he said the next sentence slowly. “I think you better be careful this evening.”

Marlene frowned. “What does that mean?”

Snape whipped his head around to Marlene and turned his nose up as if she was something he would find under his shoe.

“Nothing that concerns you, Mudblood.” He took another look at all four of them, scoffed, picked up his papers, and turned back around from the way he was coming from.

Sienna stared at his back, thinking about what he just said. Her first thought was, what kind of 11 year old talks like that?! And then it turned into, did he just warn them? Did he know something was going to happen tonight? Or was he just trying to get under their skin? She shook off the thoughts. She just wanted to enjoy her Halloween with her friends.

—

“Oi! Chess freaks!” James grinned as he walked through the portrait first.

Lily rolled her eyes. “That is really insensitive, Potter.”

“I deeply apologise, dear Evans. Will you forgive me?” James bowed in front of her.

She just sighed and smacked him on the head with a nearby newspaper.

“Ow..” James was rubbing his head.

“Who’s hurting my man?” Sirius shouted coming into the common room, grinning.

“Lily was!” Peter squeaked.

“Snitch.” Mary laughed.

“Ugh. Why am I friends with you all?” Lily shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Because you love us!” Marlene chuckled flopping down into an armchair by the fireplace.

“Maybe Sienna. Maybe. No one else.” Lily smiled. Sienna laughed loudly, and blew an air-kiss to Lily.

Sienna came around the armchair Marlene was sitting on, and dropped herself onto the one next to it.

She looked over at Remus who was standing by the mantle at the fireplace, picking between two books.

“Rem!” She got the attention of her brother. She smiled and raised an eyebrow. Remus looked back at the books, seemed to pick one, and threw the other one at Sienna. She caught it, and grinned. Remus grinned back. Non-verbal communication never failed the twins before.

As soon as Remus and Sienna got their books, they didn’t speak to their friends for the next hour and a half, right until there was an announcement. Through Hogwarts’ walls came the sound of Dumbledore’s voice:

“Dear students, the Great Hall is adorned for the Halloween feast, and I extend a warm invitation to each of you to grace us with your presence. Please make your way down and partake in the festivities."

The group of friends all grinned at each other. Except Remus, who groaned because that announcement meant human interaction instead of reading.

Dumbledore’s voice was heard once again:

"There are enchanting activities awaiting you in the Great Hall for the Halloween festivities, which include the following: A Pumpkin Carving Contest using spells, Scary Storytelling, Fortune Telling, and a Halloween Dance, for 4th Years and up. The Professors of each activity will explain further. Thank you, and Happy Halloween!”

Sienna grinned even harder when she heard the pumpkin carving contest using spells, and turned to Remus, who grinned uncertainly back.

At the scary storytelling, James and Sirius exchanged looks, and Sienna just knew those two had already come up with a terrifying but hilarious story.

At the dance bit, Mary’s whole face lit up, but when Dumbledore said it was only for 4th years and up, she went glum again.

The kids (and a reluctant Remus) went down to the Great Hall, along with pretty much every other student. When they walked through the large double doors, Sienna’s mouth fell open.

The Halloween Feast at Hogwarts is entrancing. The whole Great Hall is transformed into a spooky atmosphere with numerous floating candles illuminating the room, their flames dancing in the air. Large jack-o'-lanterns carved with intricate designs and wicked grins are scattered throughout, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Pumpkins of all sizes and colors are used as decorations, some magically animated to move or change expressions. The long tables are set with orange and black tablecloths, and they are piled high with delicious Halloween treats. The enchanted ceiling makes it look like it’s taking place under a starry night, with the occasional ghosts popping out from tables and windows.

As the group of best friends were walking through the hall to get to the Gryffindor table, they were all busy either drooling at the sight of the food, or dropping their jaws open at all the decorations.

Sienna’s eyes traveled along a chain of little pumpkins, dangling from the ceiling, and her eyes fell on Snape, who was already sitting in his seat and wrapping something up in a bag. Sienna, of course, didn’t think anything of it. She was eleven, and he was eleven, what could she even think? As far as she knew, that was his bag of treats for Halloween.

The group of kids sat down at the Gryffindor table, and when everyone else in the Great Hall settled down, Dumbledore started speaking, saying that they were going to eat first, and then all the fun activities will be held.

Remus was already eyeing the food in front of him with hunger, waiting for the right words from Dumbledore allowing him to eat. Sienna couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her brother, so desperate.

As soon as Dumbledore finished his speech about the Halloween activities here in Hogwarts, Remus aggressively reached over for the chicken and knocked over the whole plate which sent Sienna into a fit of laughter. Remus sent her a look and she quieted down, but was still chuckling. James and Sirius laughed too, so Remus sent them the same look. Peter, instead of laughing, just picked up the plate and gave Remus a sympathetic look.

“I get it, Lupin. Always happens.” He said.

That sent Sirius into another spiral of laughter and now it was Peter’s turn to give a dirty look.

The rest of the girls didn’t even realise what was happening, because they had their backs turned, anxiously awaiting for the ghost handing out treats to come to them. The ghost had a bucket full of sweets trailing behind it, and when it was time to hand them out, he snapped his fingers and the bucket magically dumped candy into the child’s hand.

When Sienna, James and Sirius finally calmed down, the ghost was at the Gryffindor table and getting nearer the group.

The ghost came to the group, and handed out candy to Marlene, Lily and Mary. When he got to the rest five, snapped its fingers and none of the candy came out, he looked down into the bucket and sighed sadly,

“Apologies, I’m all out. I’ll go get you more, kids.”

As he was turning around, another ghost flew out from the ceiling and announced,

“No need, dear Nick! I have plenty! Here kids, enjoy.” Sienna recognised him as the Bloody Baron, who she’d met once before. He had bumped into her, or rather, flown uncomfortably through her, and Sienna had to teach him manners. He wasn’t a very nice ghost, so Sienna was surprised he was handing out treats. But there he was, looking extremely happy to be here, and Sienna supposed he might’ve gotten nicer.

The Bloody Baron started handing out treats to the group of remaining five kids, with a sly smirk. Once he got to Sienna — who was last in the group to get sweets — she stuck her hands out for him to dump candy in it, he shook his head, and whispered,

“Thank me later.” And flew away.

Well now Sienna was in a bad mood. She didn’t get any sweets, or any explanation as to why not. She was about to go after The Baron and demand the treats but quickly thought otherwise as her fellow friends and brother started choking on their own tongues.

“Whaf fe hell?!” Sirius exclaimed, his tongue swelling rapidly.

“Whaf waf in fis candy?!” James cried out, holding his incredibly large tongue with his hand.

“Hep! Hep!” Peter was falling out of his seat, choking on his own tongue.

And slowly a whole quarter of the Gryffindor table descended into madness as James and Sirius were screaming at the top of their 11-year old lungs, Peter was running around like a headless hippogriff, Remus was busy examining the candy wrappers while trying to keep his tongue from obstructing his breathing, Lily was watching all of this with extreme horror and concern, and Marlene and Mary both had looks of worry mixed with a bit of delight at the hilarious sight of their friends trying not to choke.

Peter bumped into a group of third years and they all fell like dominoes in their seats, all the way until a strong sixth year stopped the human-fall. Only at that point did the staff notice the chaos, and McGonnagall had to hurry the group of choking children to the hospital wing.

“I’ll come with,” Sienna told McGonnagall, then turned to the unaffected girls and said, “I’ll be back. Enjoy!” And ran off following McGonnagall and the four boys.

As she was hurrying out the hall, she glanced at the Slytherin table, and saw Snape sitting in his seat, smirking slyly, still wrapping something up. She stopped in her tracks to watch him, and when he noticed her, he held up his hands to show a candy being packed up in a wrapper identical to the ones that made the four boys almost die, and stuffed it into his pocket.

Something in Sienna’s mind clicked, and she knew. Snape looked back up at her and just grinned an incredibly disgusting grin.

Sienna’s eyes widened, and the realisation quickly turned into anger. Who does Snivellous think he is, almost killing innocent boys?! What did they ever do to him anyway?

She couldn’t do anything to him right now, so she just scoffed and hurried behind her dying friends and brother to the hospital wing.

—

“It was Snape.” Sienna told the boys.

They were on their way back to their dorm, after a very long hospital visit. Madam Pomfrey took about an hour trying to bring their tongues back to normal size, and now all the Halloween activities in the Great Hall ended. The kids were all devastated, which just added to the already angry moods they were all in.

“I knew it! That slimy git.” Sirius exclaimed.

“He probably coated the candy in something. He’s the best at Potions, not counting Evans.” Peter pouted.

“Do you think he was getting back at Remus for punching him?” James asked thoughtfully.

“That was weeks ago!” Sirius exclaimed.

“Lily tells me he’s still salty about it.” Sienna shrugged. She looked over at Remus who hadn’t spoken yet. “You alright, Remmy?”

“Fine.”

Sienna rolled her eyes.

“You guys go ahead.” She told the boys.

“Are you okay, Lupin?” James asked at the same time as Sirius protested with, “Are you sure? We can stay and talk.”

“He said he’s fine, and I’m sure.” Sienna said. She used her serious face - the one her father always uses whenever she does something he doesn’t like.

James shrugged and ushered the boys in front and they all speed-walked up ahead so they couldn’t hear the two twins anymore.

Sienna waited for the boys to be completely out of earshot and continued walking slowly next to Remus.

She knew how to handle him. Stay quiet, and let him talk first. If you get impatient and demand answers, you’re not going to get any.

“I could’ve stopped it.” Remus finally says.

“What?”

“I smelled something different with the candy. I could’ve stopped it.” He shook his head.

Another perk, (if you could call it that) with having lycanthropy is that your sense of smell skyrockets. Sienna found that out the hard way — when they were 7 and she was trying to be sneaky with eating a cookie without Remus knowing. But he smelled the cookie and caught Sienna red-handed. Sienna always thought having an amazing sense of smell was like a superpower, but Remus just saw it as another con that came with being a werewolf.

“What are you on about?”

“Sienna, I smelled that there was something on the candy. I smelled whatever potion it was that Snape used without even me knowing. If only I pointed it out.”

“Remus, it’s not like anyone died. It’s fine.”

“Yeah, but someone could’ve.”

Sienna shook her head. “You can’t beat yourself up about something that’s already happened. Look, yes there was an uncomfortable few minutes of choking, but no one actually got hurt. It’s over now.”

Remus didn’t respond, and Sienna saw that as a victory. They walked the rest of the way to their common room in silence.