AMELIA BONES

              IT WOULD BE FINE, remus silently assured himself. thus far, most everyone who had found out about his condition had been understanding (most). and remus knew amelia to be a kind, logical, and understanding person; although they didn’t get off on the right foot years ago he now considered her a friend. surely she knew and understood. he just had to confirm it. it would be fine … or it wouldn’t and he would destroy their friendship before it truly even started. he tried to appear easy-going and casual — he just had to dutifully ignore the anxieties whispering in the back of his mind and prickling under his skin. 

he opened his mouth to speak, and when no sound came out he snapped it closed. great, he must look like a gaping fish — but how exactly did he ask someone ‘hey, do you know that i’m a werewolf?’ without accidentally revealing himself on the off-chance that she didn’t? this was much easier when his other friends had found out and just told him they knew. why didn’t amelia do the same? he was almost certain she knew — that incident in the library last year was only missing a flashing neon sign that read ‘i know you’re a werewolf.’ hopefully if he prompted her, even vaguely, it’d be enough to just get it all out in the open. at an utter loss of a better way to phrase his question, he simply found himself nervously asking: “…do you know?” 

Despite the placid smile that had been playing across her lips, Amelia’s mental state was anything but calm. Her mind raced with the possible ways that this conversation could go. …do you know? If he expected her to say it outright then he was sorely mistaken. She had no way of knowing whether or not Remus knew that she knew, and even worse, she wasn’t sure if what she knew was even correct. What if she was wrong and she what she thought she knew wasn’t what she thought she knew at all? Oh hello Remus, lovely weather we’re having. Just wanted to ask, you know, as friends do, are you a werewolf? No? Oh so I’ve just gone completely mad then and should be committed to St. Mungos? Right then! Lovely! I’ll do the paperwork myself!

Amelia mentally cursed herself. This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for that blasted day in the library! What was she supposed to do, not throw the book on werewolves across the aisle the moment Remus approached? And then what, not pass that off as a moment of clumsiness even though he had clearly watched her launch it across the library floor? Keeping her hand on the strap of her school bag (preparing to run away from this conversation), Amelia opened her mouth, her voice wobbly. She sincerely doubted how much longer she could keep this up. . . “Do I know about.. about what, exactly?” 

emmeline scoffed as amelia grabbed the jelly beans out of her bag. “i hope you’ve washed your hands, since you’ve been looking through all these dusty books and passing the dust onto my hard-earned jelly beans.” she looked around at the bookcases and tables surrounding them, frowning at the books amelia was standing near. “alchemy? no one really knows what alchemy even means! and how are we supposed to play games if you’re lugging all these around? this sets the tone for the entire year, you know.”

“My hands are not dusty. They’re clean, see.” Amelia waved her fingers at Emmeline, sticking her tongue out. Amelia picked through the remaining jelly beans in her hand, there was a suspiciously bright red looking one left, which could either be a strawberry one (her favorite) or a deceptive roast beef-flavored one (her least favorite). She popped the last Jelly Bean in her mouth, her face wrinkling. Roast beef. Ew. “Emmeline we’ve studied Alchemy. We know what it means! And they’re going in my bag, right next to my poster of Stubby Boardman. Leaving my hands completely free for me to enjoy the festival!” Amelia let out exasperatedly. “Speaking of. Can we go get something to eat before we play games? I need to get the taste of Sunday roast out of my mouth.”

ophelia grinned listening to how excited amelia was as she spoke about books. fi wished she had something she was that passionate about but so far she hadn’t really found that. “no no. you’re fine.” she said. “i love listening to things that people are really passionate about. i think i might get all three, then i know i’d have someone to speak to about the books when i’m finished.” she said, picking up the books. “though of course only if you’re interested in talking about them?” 

“You should! I truly believe that you’ll enjoy them all.” Amelia said brightly. She was always happy to share her love of books with... well, with anyone really. “Yes! We should absolutely meet up once you’ve finished them all. I’ve been dying to talk to someone about Decline of Pagan Magic ever since Professor Binns mentioned it once during a lecture on the Uric the Oddball. It raises so many interesting points.”

alecto stared at the other girl with an exasperated expression across her feminine features, shaking her head, “you’re not even reading? you’re just looking for things to read?” alecto questioned with a soft sigh, “amelia, that doesn’t make things better at all, i think it might even make it worse.”

At Alecto’s comments, Summer Amelia became Prefect Amelia - squaring off her shoulders, a gaze that was narrowed ever so slightly, and a sunny smile. “How else would people read books without seeking them out in the first place? But then again,” She shifted slightly, shifting through her bag for change. “I suppose taking initiative isn’t for everyone.”

Hestia shrugged. “I suppose not, I just wouldn’t be able to get any food.” It was something that could’ve been a joke. If she had said it with even an ounce of humor or emotion. Sadly she was incapable of joking around with people and didn’t even tried. When she did it was usually extremely uncomfortable for both parties. 

Amelia gave a small smile, shifting slightly from foot to foot. She wasn’t exactly sure what to say at Hestia’s remark, so she figured it might be better to move to a safer topic of conversation. “How are you enjoying the festival so far? Excited to be back at school?”

closed starter | @ameliassusan​

              DURING THE PREFECT MEETING, remus had caught himself stealing glances at amelia — certainly not intentionally, he was just nervous for the conversation he knew it was time they had. the thought had plagued him all summer, and he’d nearly written her countless letters, but never could quite find the right words. he still wasn’t exactly sure how he would ask without giving himself away if she really didn’t know. and yet, once the meeting was over and his fellow prefects started to disperse, he stood, wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers, and marched purposefully towards mia. it was now or later — maybe later wasn’t so bad — no, now: “hey–” he began, trying to sound casual. “can we talk…for a second?” 

Amelia had just finished a quick conversation with Lily regarding opening feast decorations, and was just packing up her schoolbag — taking her brother’s advice from the festival to heart, Amelia decided that she wanted to have a restful day before classes formally began. So of course, she meticulously planned her afternoon and evening to maximize leisure and laziness. Since the prefect meeting had ended with half an hour to spare, it meant that she had an extra twenty minutes (after factoring in the ten minute walk to Ravenclaw Tower) to relax!

Looking up from her things, Amelia was suddenly standing before Remus. The room had emptied out, and the two tenth-years stood alone in the empty classroom. Amelia was almost certain on what exactly Remus wanted to talk to her about, and she was utterly dreading it. Really, she’d almost prefer if he got down on one knee and proposed marriage right then and there. Ignoring the billywig nest that had begun to form in the pit of her stomach, Amelia was determined to appear calm, collected, and completely oblivious. “Of course! What’s on your mind?”

“Those are good,” Gabrielle gave a nod looking at her friend’s gathering. She was more grateful than she could say that her friendship with Amelia had stayed intact, despite what had happened between her and Edgar. Losing one of them in one fell swoop would have proven to be too much, she was sure.

“I am surprised that you did not find a way to bring it with you,” Gabrielle mused with a raised brow and grin, before side shouldering her friend. “Surely it would be better with an autograph?” Taking her flowers, she moved them closer to Amelia’s, tilting her head. “I think they go well together, non?”

“I’ve been reading up on floral magic, and I’m nearly certain that I can brew a potion that will stop the flowers from wilting.” Amelia turned to her suitemate, showing off the bouquet of blooms she’d been amassing for the past ten minutes. “Can you imagine having sunflowers at Christmastime?”

“Oh?” Amelia raised eyebrow at Gabrielle, before pulling a rolled up piece of parchment from her bag. “Who said I didn’t bring it with me.” In truth, that wasn’t the only thing Amelia brought for Stubby Boardman to sign, but that was something else entirely. Taking in the group of blooms before her, Amelia clapped her hands excitedly. “They’re perfect! They’re going to be perfect for the suite.”

emmeline had a big bag of jelly beans clutched against her chest as she picked the beans out and popped them in her mouth. she nearly choked on it, when she spotted a flurry of curly hair sifting through the book selection at obscurus, while already having several under her arm. emmeline marched up to her and scoffed over amelia’s lack of acknowledgement. with her free hand, she pulled one of amelia’s books away and stared at the cover incredulously. “really, amelia?” 

Pulled from her search, Amelia was startled when a familiar hand pulled the book from her hands, completely interrupting the internal debate she was having (on the one hand, she could always sharpen up her knowledge of alchemy, but on the other hand, she did have a similar book from the same author... choices, choices). Normally, if someone had pulled a book, any book, that she had from her hands without warning, Amelia would be shocked, confused, and a little offended. But, it was Emmeline, so she immediately got a pass.

“What do you mean really?” Dropping her shoulders dramatically, Amelia took a handful of jelly beans from the bag that her best friend was carrying. “They’re discounted, Emmie. I’m only so strong.” Amelia shot back, mid-chew.

Hestia nodded her head in agreement that she’d correctly identified what book she’d been looking for. “Oh really?” She said surprised at how cheap the books were. “Hopefully they don’t have to many good books or else I might  end up buying the whole bin.” 

“Oh but that wouldn’t be so bad, would it?” Amelia shot a grin at the other girl, clutching her chosen volumes close to her chest once she finished paying. “I’m sure there are worse things in the world than a few extra books on the shelves.”

“oh i was just asking if you had any recommendations.” ophelia said, looking at the books. fi loved reading and had a rather large collection of books, both of the magical and muggle variety. sure she had to hide the muggle ones from her family, but honestly that didn’t really matter to her. “you seem to have quite the collection with you and i’m always looking for something new to read.” 

“Ophelia — Hi!” Amelia said excitedly, turning to her house’s intrepid Quidditch captain. “Sorry, just a bit preoccupied. But I’m so happy that you asked - of course I have recommendations.” Amelia began sifting through the bin of books in front of her, periodically pulling out a volume ever few moments or so. “Well, really for anyone, I recommend Decline of Pagan Magic by Bathilda Bagshot. It’s such an interesting historical account, and really, every witch and wizard should know about our origins. Oh! And there’s Extraordinary Trials in History. I know the title might seem a bit droll, but it really does explain so much about our justice system. And hmm... Dreadful Denizens of the Deep. This will make you never want to step within 10 kilometers of the coast. I could rarely sleep a wink after reading this one. There’s a chapter on Ramora’s and —” Amelia gave the girl a sheepish glance. “I’m rambling, aren’t I?”

              IF AT THE BEGINNING of last year, someone had told him that he’d light up and smile at the sound of amelia greeting him, he very well may have guffawed in their face. but still, he was glad that their dynamic shifted from antagonistic to friendly — it made prefect rounds much more enjoyable. “you wound me,” he stated, placing a hand over his heart. his grin didn’t do much to sell his ‘pain’. “it was relatively uneventful–” save for his full moon transformations, of course. the most recent of which happened just 3 days prior; he still had a few scratches on his knuckles and arms that he tried to hide by slipping his hands into his pockets. “saw some friends, read some books. about the same as my life during the school year, minus the classes. how was yours?”

Even though she was rolling her eyes, there was little that could stop the smile that had spread across Amelia’s face. Briefly turning to pay for her things, Amelia gave an unaffected shrug. “I almost wish I had something to rub in your face, but my summer was unbearably boring. When I wasn’t entertaining my mopey, recently single brother I was just working at the Wizengamot.” Slipping her purchases into her bag, Amelia gave Remus a sideways glance. She had noticed the way he hid his hands in his pockets, yet shelved it in her mind — that was a conversation for another day, if she ever did get the courage to have that conversation. Instead, she’d turned on a teasing grin. “I can tell you all about the intricate legalities of Leprechaun Gold though. Really riveting stuff. I’m sure you’ll be on the edge of your seat.” 

alecto carrow didn’t particularly like, or care for, amelia bones in the slightest. but, seeing the brunette with books sitting around the fair. with a skip in her step as she dropped into a seat next to amelia with a curious gleam in her eyes. “this is why we could never be friends,” alecto informed the raven haired girl with a sigh, a frown on her features as she gave her opinion to the other girl, “we have all this around for a short period of time, and you’re studying? amelia please, you’re already one of the most boring people i know the names of.”

Well, thank Merlin and Morgana for that, Amelia thought at the younger Carrow’s comment. And even though her mind ran with the things that she could say to the ninth year, Amelia held her tongue. She was a prefect after all, and it wouldn’t at all be very prefect-y to give an itemized list of why you don’t like a particular person in the middle of a fairground. And the weekend before school, no less. Astoria gave a shrug, continuing to parse through the bin of discounted books before her. “I’m not studying, I’m looking for new books to read. Some people enjoy that sort of thing, Alecto.”

Edgar snorted, and accepted the cauldron cake without further argument. “Sorry,” He said, before biting down into the pastry. A few crumbs sprinkled down to the floor below, just barely missing the leg of his pants. “I got distracted getting ice cream. There was this whole–” He waved his free hand, “explosion thing, outside. I had to stay and watch. Plus Andromeda Black was there too, so we spoke for a bit too.” 

Warily, he glanced at her. “Yeah…I ran into her earlier today too. It was…” Wrong? Not at all the way it was supposed to be? “…weird. We don’t know how to talk to each other anymore.” 

“You’re never without an excuse, are you Eddie?” Amelia sing-songed, knocking her elbow into her twin brother’s side.  She leaned back and closed her eyes, soaking up the afternoon sun. And even though she’d never admit it - Edgar did have a point. There was plenty time to read theoretical alchemy texts during the school year, and it wasn’t like she had an infinite number of pre-term summer carnivals left. “How politician of you.”

Amelia sat back up, looking up at her brother. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Were you being difficult, Edgar?”

                HE SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED to find amelia among the books. and yet it made him huff out a soft laugh, shaking his head in amusement. “studying already?” he teased playfully. “i know you’re a dedicated student, but this is a little-” he stopped when he got no response and frowned. “…amelia.” at her soft hum and quick glance, remus realized she wasn’t even listening; he rolled eyes with a sigh. “and here i thought i was interesting enough to hold a conversation with,” he remarked dryly. 

Hearing her name, Amelia’s ears perked up. And after the sarcastic comment, Amelia had no doubt in her mind as to who had approached her - “Remus!” Amelia turned, laughing. If you’d told Amelia that a year before that she’d actually be pleased to see Remus Lupin, of all people, she probably would have had you admitted to Madame Pomfrey. “Sorry, but someone had to let you know what an awful conversationalist you are. I’m only sorry I hadn’t done it sooner.” She teased. “Only kidding, promise. How was your summer?”