Secrets
“Well spit it out!” I urge.
“I thin-.” He paused mid sentence. “Do you feel that?”
“Feel what?” I replied.
“Like someones watching us.”
I pause to take a moment and look around us. Now that Regulus had mentioned it, it did feel like someone was close by. Then I saw it. A glimmer that no one would notice unless they had seen it multiple times before. It was only visible for millisecond but I reached out and closed my fist around where I had seen it. There was a quiet yelp and I rolled my eyes.
“What the hell James?.” I exclaimed.
“Uh, hey Cass, Reg, fancy seeing you here.” James said sheepishly.
“Are you following me?”
“No!”
“Then how do you explain the cloak, and the fact you’re here lurking around?”
“I can’t exactly.”
Reg was watching us converse as if it was a particularly interesting game of quidditch. He suddenly butt in.
“Potter, did you happen to hear what we were talking about?” Reg asked.
“Something about Dumbledore maybe? But after that I realized Cass was just talking to you so kinda zoned out. Also, how the bloody hell could you tell I was here?”
Reg and I both shrugged, honestly we couldn’t explain it.
“God you Blacks are weird.” James sighed.
“Oh I’m sure Sirius would like to know what you really think of us.” I scoffed.
“Sirius knows exactly how weird I think he is already. Thank you very much.”
“Ugh, it is too early for this. I’m going back to bed.” Regulus says, already turning his shoulder and saying the password for the common room.
“Wait, what about the thing?” I say, stopping him.
Regulus looks at me then pointedly at James.
“Later.” And with that he steps through the entrance and the stone wall is back in place.
“What thing?” James asks.
“Never you mind.” I respond, whisking off.
“Hey wait!”
“What?” I say, not bothering to stop.
“Where are you going?”
“The library.”
“Want any help?”
“You don’t even know what I’m doing there.”
“Well tell me then.”
“I. I Can’t”
James looks almost hurt by this but I have so much going on in my head already I don’t stop to think about why. I start to walk again but James stops me by grabbing my hand.
“It’s ok. You don’t have to tell me, but I do want to help, and I won’t take no for an answer.” He says with finality.
“Ok.” I say looking up into his eyes.
I start to walk again and realize James is still holding my hand, maybe I’m holding his too. Like I said I’m tired so who's really to say.
-
It is now after breakfast and James and I have been non-stop researching. I haven’t told him much and thankfully he hasn’t asked again. All I told him is that we need to look through records for any student named Tom from the last seventy-years, because who really knows how old Dumbledore is.
“I’m sorry Cass, I can’t find anything.” James sighs.
“Ugh me neither.” I say, pushing the books I was looking at away. “It’s like whoever this Tom guy is didn’t even exist.”
“Well I’ll let you know if I see anything.” James assures me.
I’m suddenly filled with so much emotion from the past few days and gratitude towards James for just blindly helping me that I surge forward and hug him. He tenses for just a moment and then eases into it, holding me tightly. After a few moments I let go blushing.
“Sorry.” I whisper, trying not to meet his gaze.
“C’mon let’s go find the others.” He smiles at me reassuringly.
We walk side by side in silence until James breaks it.
“Am I allowed to tell Sirius or anyone to keep an eye out for Tom?” He asks quietly.
“If you tell Sirius then he’ll start asking questions, I can’t have that right now James. I’m nervous enough just having you know this tiny detail” I frown slightly.
“I’m better at keeping secrets than you think.” He says in a serious tone.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask.
“Nothing, come on.” He finishes, grabbing my hand and leading me to the Fat Lady’s portrait.
-
We’re well into October now and we still haven’t found anything about Tom. Well actually we have found a few Tom’s who have went to the school but none of them seem right. Regulus, James and I have all been looking and doing our best to be secretive, unfortunately Sirius isn’t as dumb as he looks. On October 26th Sirius finds James and I in a corner of the library. I spot him out of the corner of my eye, quickly walking towards us.
“Shit, Sirius. James the books! He’s going to ask questions!” I whisper-scream.
“Do you trust me?” He asks quickly. Sirius drawing nearer.
“Yes. Of cou-.” Before I can even finish my sentence his lips are on mine.