Chapter Text
The next morning when I reached the great hall, Nott was waiting for me at the large doors. He was casually leaning against the wall, one foot placed against it. When he saw me arrive, he pushed himself off and walked over.
"Morning." He grinned. "Care to join me?"
"Sure." I smiled at him, when we walked into the great hall, my eyes fell to the Gryffindor table and I saw the group looking at me, but I walked towards the Slytherin table with Nott. "Good morning." I said to Draco, Zabini and the younger Nott, when I sat down across from them.
"Morning." Zabini smiled. "I've got to say, you certainly kicked Crabbe's ass yesterday. He doesn't want to come out of his room." He snickered.
"Should I watch my back?" I said with a grin.
"Salazar no!" Draco huffed. "I think he doesn't dare to come close to you ever again." He chuckled.
"I probably won't see him next week then. Boys and their egos." I rolled my eyes and chuckled as the other ones pursed their lips at me. "You guys are coming, right?" I asked, as my eyes drifted behind Draco and fell on the twins, who were looking at the boy next to me, Nott, with a glare.
"Wouldn't want to miss it. I volunteer to be your partner." Zabini winked at me.
"Sorry, that place is already taken." Nott said next to me. I slowly turned to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Is it now?"
"I think I volunteered right after class, remember?" His dark brown stormy eyes on me, his look was intense, and I had to push down the blush that wanted to creep up.
I licked my lips as I didn't pull my gaze away, I saw Nott's eyes flicker to my lips for a second. "I thought you said, you were going to think about it."
"I guess I made up my mind then." You could feel the tension rise between us, the other three Slytherins shared glances before Draco finally cleared his throat and we looked away from each other. I looked down at my still untouched plate, while Nott looked smug with his grin and leaned back. I started on my breakfast when the morning post came flying in. A large eagle owl flew over the Gryffindor table, but when it didn't spot me, he looked over the other tables until he found me. He flew over with one large stroke of his wings and landed between my plate and Draco's. He stuck out its foot. I untied the letter and gave the owl a piece of my bacon. The owl nibbled on it before flying back out of the great hall. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it was from the examination office.
"Is it something bad?" Nott asked as he leaned closer, but then he saw where the letter came from. He placed a hand over my trembling hand. "It's good news, trust me."
"I need to open this with my uncle."
"Of course." He said as he watched me stand up. I took the letter firmly in my hand and my eyes scanned the head table. Remus had seen me stand up and when I found his eyes, I gestured to the letter. He gave a short nod and stood up. I went to turn and walked out of the great hall but halted and leaned down.
"I'll find you later with the news, good or bad."
"Good news." He smiled and I kissed his cheek before walking out of the room quickly. In the corner of my eyes, I saw the twins stand up and go to follow me out, but I didn't turn around and changed into Loki the moment I was alone.
Five minutes later, Moony and I were sitting in our chambers, the letter on the coffee table in front of us. The twins had come knocking a few minutes ago, but Remus sent them away, saying I wasn't there. He didn't ask me what was going on, but I knew he had an inkling.
"Ready, cub?" He asked, looking from the letter to me. I took in a deep breath before I reached for the envelope. With a little shake in my hand, I tore the letter open. He placed a reassuring and grounding hand on my shoulder as I unfolded the letter.
Dear miss Lupin-Black
It is with my greatest pleasure to inform you that you passed your OWL Potion exam. With an Outstanding in both theory and practical.
I can't wait to see you at the end of this year with your NEWT exam. It was an honour to see you work and grade your potions and exams. I'm without a doubt sure that we will hear great things from you.
And in my professional opinion, I should say you should go celebrate this amazing achievement.
I further wish you and good day and an excellent year at Hogwarts.
Sincerely,
David Wilson
"You did it, cub. Just like I knew you would." He wrapped his arms around me, my arms circled around his waist, and my eyes scanned the letter again as I looked over his shoulder in disbelief. "We should celebrate." He pulled back with a large and beaming smile. "What about Belgian chocolates, some cider-"
"And a pass on my essay on Vampire bats?" I tried with a grin.
"No, can do, cub." He said and I pouted. "But we can go to muggle London during Christmas break to get your birthday present."
"Really? One or two?" I asked with large eyes.
"One for now." He squeezed my shoulder. "Go tell your friends, I'll get everything ready for the celebration tonight."
"You're the best." I kissed his cheek before I jumped up. "I'll go inform Snape too." With a last wave, I walked out of the room. Happy to see no red-headed twins guarding the door, I made my way to the dungeons. I nearly ran down the stairs and when I reached the door of the potions classroom, I pushed it open without knocking.
"Whatever the reason is, miss Lupin-Black." Snape drawled out, sounding bored. "You always knock first."
"Sorry, sir. I was too excited. I got my results from the exam."
That made Snape look up from his papers. His face was still blank and slightly bored, but his eyes were a different story. I walked over with my letter in hand and placed it in front of him. His eyes scanned the letter quickly.
"I guess I'll be seeing you in my seventh-year classes after the break, miss Lupin-Black." I knew I wouldn't get more than that from him, but it didn't matter. My smile was broad as I looked at him. "You still have two potions to catch up on. You can do them before break after classes or after break when you get back."
"I'll be staying at Hogwarts during break professor. Is it okay, I'd do it then?"
"That will be fine, let me know when you want to use the classroom."
"Thank you, professor." I beamed at him. Snape looked at me for another second before turning back to the papers in front of him. I turned and walked out of the classroom grinning. With a grin on my face and my head in the clouds, I walked into the empty corridor.
"Good news then." Nott's voice suddenly came next to me, and I jumped a little out of fright.
"Where did you come from?" I asked, eyes wide, as I looked around the corridor. Nott just clicked his tongue, and I slapped his arm with pursed lips.
"Fine." He chuckled. "Our common room is just there." He pointed behind us.
"Oh." I said slowly looking back to him.
"Want to see it?" He said, it looked like he blurted it out, his eyes a little wide.
"Are you sure? You don't seem convinced yourself." I snickered.
"It's just... as far as I know, it's been years since a Gryffindor stepped foot in there."
"But I'm not just any Gryffindor, am I?" I smirked at him. "Come on, show me." I held out my arm and he looped his through it as we made our way to the common room.
As I was sitting cross-legged on the dark green couch in a fairly empty Slytherin common room, I thought to myself what Moony would think about me in the Snake's lair. He had been to the common room of the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws, but he never managed to get into Slytherin's, but seeing his relationship with Snape I could understand why. Nott went to his room to get something to drink to celebrate my grades. Draco was sitting next to me, while Blaise and Theo sat on the two armchairs across from the coffee table. Draco looked around the room quickly before turning back to me with a crease between his brows.
"Alexandra..." He started slowly. Draco was the only one who used my full first name, and I still was getting used to it. "I was wondering..."
"Yes?" I asked when he didn't finish his sentence.
"Sirius Black. What do you know about him?" I saw the two other Slytherins look up from the schoolwork with interest.
"Not much, why? Your mum is his cousin, doesn't she-"
"No." He shook his head. "She doesn't talk about him. My father... he doesn't want to hear his name in the house. Which is weird because-" He stopped. I frowned as I looked around the room, Draco suddenly seemed nervous like he spilt something he wasn't allowed to say.
"Can you give us a moment?" I asked Blaise and Theo. They looked from me to Draco before they walked to their dorms. I put a Muffliato charm over us to give us some privacy. "No one can hear us now," I said as I sat a little straighter. "Draco, is this about the fact that Lucius is a – a death eater?"
Draco's eyes went wide as he looked at me. "Was. He was one." He shook his head as he looked down. "But the thing is, you would think he was glad back then, that he helped You-Know-Who out. But he still acts like he's the worst of the worst."
"What are you saying, cous?"
"That we don't know the whole story. That –" He stopped when Nott came back with a bottle of fire whiskey and the room started to get crowded. I looked at Nott, who looked confused between us. "Never mind." He mumbled and I reached my hand out to cover his.
"You have quidditch practice tomorrow, right? I'll meet you after behind the pitch, we can talk there freely." He contemplated it for a moment before giving me a nod. I lowered the charm, and the noise of the room crashed our ears.
"I brought some fire whiskey." Nott grinned, shaking the bottle in his hand.
"I can see that." I looked at him with my own grin. "Are you going to pour me some or just stand there shaking it?" I asked and saw Draco move from the couch and walk to his dormitory.
"Alright, alright... Don't get your knickers in a twist." He said with a lopsided grin. He plopped himself down next to me and conjured two glasses.
"My knickers are just fine, thank you very much." I huffed as I took a freshly filled glass. Nott's grin turned into a smirk as he leaned back. "You know..." I said as I leaned closer to him. "I find it strange that none of the Slytherin's don't call me out anymore, or gossip about me. At least not in an obvious manner."
Nott stirred the glass in his hand as he looked down at it. "You made a name for yourself now; your name isn't just tied to an escaped prisoner of Azkaban. You earned respect from others since the duelling club, and the crazy ass show of your Patronus on the quidditch pitch."
"Maybe." I frowned. "But it was before all of that." Nott downed his drink and turned into his seat to face me directly. His face only centimetres from me.
"Lupin-Black." I could smell the fire whiskey on his breath like he would smell on mine probably. "Malfoy's your cousin. Ever since he kind of "accepted" you, or didn't hex or curse you, they accepted it. They don't want to be in his bad graces."
"But he's only a third year."
"That may be, but his father has a high position in the Ministry. And you know Malfoy's favourite catchphrase –"
"My father will hear about this." We said at the same time, and I couldn't help but laugh. My head fell on his shoulder while my shoulders shook with laughter. I heard him chuckle near my ear.
"And-" He said as I pulled back. "Having a Nott at your side is a good thing too." He winked.
"Oh, I have you by my side now, have I?"
"You could have." His eyes turned a shade darker as he looked at me. The way he looked at me, it looked like he was drowning in my eyes, just like I was with him. I swallowed as I saw him lean down slowly. His lips were only a breath away from mine, but before our lips could touch, the door of the common room flew open with a large bang. Nott and I jumped apart and looked over the back of the couch. Crabbe and Goyle came in their hands covering their noses, but the blood that came from it was falling down fast. Nott being a Slytherin prefect, which I only found out when I was sneaking around the castle as Loki one night and saw him patrolling. I asked about it the next day, but he just pointed out I didn't pay much attention to his robes because most of the time the badge was neatly pinned on them.
"Crabbe! Goyle! You're ruining the carpet!" He shouted as he walked over to the boys. I rolled my eyes at him because of that statement. "What happened?"
"Don't know. There were some cupcakes on the stairs-"
"And you ate them!?" He shouted in disbelief, and everyone in the common room was snickering, including me. "And why come here?! The hospital wing now!" He pointed back to the door. He looked back and said with a much lower and softer voice. "I better go with them, those two get lost more often than a first year."
"I'll come with. I probably should find the others to tell them the news." I jumped up from my seat and rounded the couch.
Nott looked at me before a smile slipped on his lips. "Can't say no to that, can I?" He gestured for me to walk out of the common room first and we steered the boys in the right direction.