Chasing Fire

School was great and almost to an end. Séraphine got caught up just in the nick of time and was meeting her marks. Atlas and Romeo were even enjoying their time in their new home away from home.

Now the week ahead was exam week meaning they would have to sit for HOURS in a class and do their exams.

She was particularly excited but also slightly stressed because she wanted to make sure all her bases were covered; i’s were dotted, and T/t’s were crossed. All the subjects, and all the topics in each subject taken care of.

Her roommates and her all had synchronized study sessions. But she became a tad bit paranoid because if she failed her parents—mother—would insist on pulling her out JUST to get her into etiquette classes again.

She could NOT endure that.

Uh-uh no way.

So she set up study times for herself on the weekends in the library.

Today, a Saturday in early May. She was in the library near her table looking for a book.

“You realize it’s a Saturday right Séra?”

Séraphine jumped almost a foot in the air when she heard the voice. She turned her head and saw Sirius.

“Sirius! You scared me!”

He laughed slightly, putting his hands up defensively.

“My bad, my bad. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to spook you.” He smiled, she chuckled and shook her head.

“Yes, by the way, I do realize it is Saturday. Do you? You’re here too!” She joked, her accent making the words sound funny but his family was from France so he was VERY familiar with it.

“Yes, because Lily told me this is where I could find you. I wanted to catch up.” Sirius sat at her table as she was sitting herself down too.

She chuckled and sat across from him. “On what?”

“How’s your experience here been? Having fun yet?”

“Loads. The girls are all nice and friendly. I have you as a friend, in person now, and the classes are so interesting.” She smiled, “also not to mention no snobs around every corner. How are you Sirius?”

“Fabulous! I’m happy you’re here and having a good time.” He gave a nod and she nodded back.

“Thank you,” she smiled and looked at her books before a thought crossed her mind. “How’s your friend, James? I heard he got hit by a bludger in the last game.” Last game of the season, luckily one of the other chasers scored for him in revenge for how the Ravenclaw team got James out.

“Oh yeah he’s fine, Madame Pomfrey patched him up, he had a broken arm and all but now he’s great.” He nodded. “That was weeks ago. Why you ask now?”

“I only just heard about it yesterday.” She chuckled and shook her head. “Glad he’s doing well.”

“I’ll let him know you asked. He’ll be happy to hear it.” He smirked knowingly. If anyone knew James Potter better than anyone it’s Sirius Black. And Sirius knew very well why James would love to hear that Séraphine asked about him.

Séraphine tilted her head giving him a curious look.

Why would he be happy to hear that?

“Okay then. So are you ready for the exams?”

“Of course! Remus makes us all study with him almost every day and night.” He laughed as he shrugged.

“Remus is the studious one I’m assuming?”

“Oh, most definitely, James is pretty studious on special occasions. Peter, he's not very happy about it, hates it. Then me,” he smirked the smirk she saw from him when they first met in person, at the feast. “I hate it, but I still pass, somehow.”

She rolled her eyes laughing. “Merlin, I should’ve guessed with how much you wrote about that in your letters.” 

He laughed, nodded and shrugged. “I know.” He smiled at her. “Seems you love it though, what happened to the: hates most rules, against her mother rogue, I started writing with two years ago?”

“This ‘against her mother rogue’ needs to make her mother let her stay. Staying means I need top grades and less detentions. So, this ending of the year and for approximately—at least—three months of next year will also be the period of ‘I can’t act up’. But after Christmas next year…” she chuckled and shrugged leaving the sentence at that as she looked at her books.

“Ooh, I, personally, can't wait.” Sirius chuckled and stood. “It was nice chatting dear Séra, but I must flee. I got the book I was looking for. See you around?”

“Of course, dear Siri.” She chuckled, she picked that nickname when they first started writing, 11-year-old her thought it was hilarious. He started leaving and she was waving at him.

He left and so did she after a long while. After she felt her studying was good enough. Put her books away and packed her parchments away and left. Making her way to dinner to the Great Hall, when she got there went to her friends.

“Ugh finally she’s done studying!” Marlene said laughing.

“How was this session?” Lily asked.

“You study more than Lily!” Mary chuckled.

The girl being asked and spoken to laughed. “It was good, I think I’ll take a break tomorrow, the exams are the day after and my brain needs a rest.”

“YES! It does, you should take a break, we’ve been tellin’ you that.” Marlene said, nudging her arm.

“Well now I am!” Séraphine chuckled and started putting the food on the tables onto her plate. “How was your day?”

The girls were all still laughing before they answered. Lily first “mine was alright, spent the day with Severus in Hogsmeade.”

“Oh, how is he?”

“Very well thank you Séra.” Lily said, smiling.

“I slept in.” Marlene said smiling and the other girls laughed. “Then I walked around the Quidditch field.” She nodded. “So not much special.”

“I spent the day in Hogsmeade as well. Went to Honeydukes and then went to The Three Broomsticks.” Mary said. “Dorcas was there too so I hung around with her.” She smiled “though that Mulciber kept on badgering us, so she hexed him to send him away.” She sighed and shrugged. “But other than that, I had fun.”

“He’s still botherin ya?!” Lily said angrily “I’ll have to ask Severus to ask him to stop-”

“No! Lily, you and I both know it’ll only do more harm.” Mary said, narrowing her brows. “I can handle it, Dorcas hadn’t a hard time, so I’ve got myself.” She said nonchalantly.

Séraphine looked at Mary and tilted her head seeing the sadness cross her face at the whole situation. “He sounds like a tosser,” Marlene taught her that word and honestly, she loves it. “Pay no mind to him,” she said reassuringly, “I’m sure you could do anything against him.” Mary chuckled and gave her a wink, smiling.

“Reckon I could.” She smiled wider. “Thank you Séra.”

“Aucun problème” She smirked laughing as well.”
(No problem)

“Well as well you know we all have ya back so never fear we’ll beat him senseless if need be.” Marlene swung her arm around her friend, and they all laughed.

“Yeah, know y’would Marls, had to hold you back last quidditch game because you almost killed that Ravenclaw, McClaggen wasn’t it?” Lily laughed.

“Oh yeah, that was fun, he’s a tosspot anyways, has it comin to ‘em.” She smirked a bit.

“Now that isn’t a way for ladies to talk now is it girls?” Sirius almost yelled from his spot over towards them.

Marlene rolled her eyes. “I bet Jamesy over there would agree had to have his arm in a sling for a whole week, didn’t he?”

James nodded and with a mouthful answered. “I agree-” He said some food spurting out as he turned when he saw Séraphine watching him he stopped, averted his eyes as if he’d just seen the sun, and gulped it down as he coughed as he nodded. “I-I agree.” He coughed again and Sirius clapped his back. “He’s a jerk,” came out as a rasp but he got it out at least.

Séraphine couldn’t help but laugh a little at the whole thing yet curious as to why he acted the way he did.

“Exactly my point!” Marlene yelled. “Thank you!” She looked at her food after that and started eating and James opened his mouth to speak but another glance at all of them, a lingering one at Séraphine and he stopped, turned away quickly, and continued eating.

Strange.

She made a weird look towards him and shrugged. She just looked back at her food and ate, no need to worry over him when there’s more important things going on.

Exams the day after tomorrow.

She needs to make sure she just stays focused on what’s at stake. Staying here where she actually likes people, where she has friends. That’s all that matters right now.

Three days later; Finding out their grade's day:

“Séraphine!” Lily said, shaking her awake. The girl being shaken pushed her away.

“Noooo! Go away, it is unholy hour” She groaned. Atlas at her head meowing too at Lily trying to wake her.

She huffed, laughing, “the grades are up!”

Séra’s eyes opened immediately. “Oh Merlin!” She jumped sitting up and moved out of the bed. The cat protested again but the girl patting his back lightly didn’t listen.  “We have to get moving! We have to!” She was still a little delirious from sleep so she got a head rush and slowed down. “Not too quickly though-” she slowly walked to the bathroom.

Lily laughed and grabbed her shoes as the other girl ran around getting dressed. The French girl was obviously very stressed about this. Which she had every right to be.

“Oh I hope I got good grades and I get to stay.” She said repeatedly trying to pull on her socks and fixing her shoes.

“With how much you studied, if you get bad grades, I’ll be shocked.” 

“Well you never know.” The girl said, fixing her tie as she grabbed her bag and walked out the dorm, bidding her beloved feline by and following Lily to where the grades are, hanging in the common room. The boys were surrounding their side of the list and the girls theirs. “Oh- there’s a lot of people.”

“It’ll slim down soon, promise.” Lily assured as she heard Marlene yell.

“I PASSED! Could’ve done better but I PASSED!” She yelled pumping her fists as she left the group some other girls and boys not too far behind.

Séraphine even heard Sirius get excited.

“MOONY I PASSED!” He yelled and Séra saw him jumping into the taller boy who laughed. “Very good Sirius, told you, y’could do it.”

Even she saw James and Peter laughing and celebrating. James’ laugh, she couldn’t help but notice that one out of all the others. It was loud, but soothing. It seemed he had a laugh that could fill your heart even when your day was dark, his laugh was hearty and warm and inviting.

Somehow. Some way. This laugh, his laugh, is the best laugh she has ever heard.

“Oh our turn!” Lily said, grabbing her friend’s hand. They went to the front where the paper is and both took a look.

“We passed. WE PASSED!” The girl said her French accent was ringing as she yelled jumping up and down. “I PASSED I GET TO STAY HERE!!” She giggled and Lily smiled widely, hugging her.

“Oh this is great! It’ll be so fun! We should all celebrate!”

“We could go to Hogsmeade, have a few rounds of butterbeer? Heard that’s what a lot of kids are up to.”

“Let’s go! Wait, can you go to Hogsmeade Séra? I don't remember if you’ve even gone or heard of your form having been signed. If you’re going to go with us you’re going to have to have had permission.”

“I have permission, Dumbledore sent a permission slip to maman and Papa a week after I came in.” She smiled. “I can go with you all.”

“Yay! We should start down now!” Marlene said, smiling wide and pulling Lily and Séraphine’s arms. The brunette and the redhead laughing at the blond’s strength and persistence.

“Ladies, I have a proposition!” Sirius’ voice rang as he appeared next to them Marlene stopped and looked at him.

“What?” She asked confused, raising a brow at him and Séraphine saw Remus, Peter, and James walk up beside Sirius. 

Are they all always together? Honestly they remind me of Marionette, Adrianna and myself…

“We all would like to join you all, on your trip to Hogsmeade.” Sirius smiled and pulled James forward. James seemed nervous and had his eyes down. “Wouldn’t we Jamie?” Sirius said, patting his friend’s back.

James glared at him and moved away, looking at the girls, specifically Séraphine, he put on a smile. A very, in her opinion, cute smile. “Yes, we would if you all don’t mind us asking right, Remus?” He jabbed his elbow to the boy he was referring to.

Remus coughed and pushed James forward slightly. “If you don’t mind. I for one think it’d be fun.”

Now in unison they all looked at the smaller, round boy, the last of them and again in unison said “Pete?”

“I do too.” He said shyly.

“No-” Marlene was about to say with a joke but Séra stepped up towards Peter smiling.

“Oui, you may join us, I heard you all passed too so you deserve a celebration, right?” She chuckled, “might be fun.” She shrugged and looked at her friends. “Right? A day for fun, yes?” She looked at them all.

Lily gave her a look then looked towards the boys. James and Sirius are ringleaders of trouble; they always seem to start something; Remus and Peter seem to just get dragged into it. So, of course the redhead has her doubts and hesitations about them joining their celebration. But the newest to the friend group seemed to think it was fine and they are celebrating her staying so what the hay right?

“Fine, only this once.” She said and then her, Mary, and Marlene started walking Lily linking arms with Séraphine who waved the boys to follow James started first with a wide smile. Sirius smirked and whispered something to Remus who chortled loudly looking at the boy who started first.

“Lily, do you think they’ve something planned?” Mary asked quietly.

“Knowing them, absolutely. Just stay alert.” Lily sighed as they kept walking and Séra couldn’t help but wonder if the boys were up to something.

“Maybe just the benefit of the doubt for one day, yeah?” Marlene asked as they left the common room and went down the steps.

A collection of “Fines” left every concerned girl’s mouth and then they all reached the Entrance Hall.