#bloomingevans

He had aimed for a low-key entrance, to avoid the stares of his classmates, even going as far as to ask that he go in alone, because a group of four was bound to be more noticed. Unfortunately, that was always difficult to achieve in Hogwarts and Remus could feel eyes burning a hole in the back of his head. He found the little cluster of empty seats alongside other seventh years and claimed the seat by Lily before any of the others could. “Can I borrow your notes?” he asked, not saying Hello or Happy New Year or Did you have a good Christmas?, trying to stick to something practical to avoid the reality behind it.

Every vision she had had for the past few weeks had been filled with fire and perhaps that’s why Brie was sat cross-legged on the floor of the Gryffindor common room, staring into the fireplace. She had never been so good at pyromancy, though. It was the one form of divination she had never successfully Seen anything in. But if all other forms only gave her fire, and she didn’t know where to start in interpreting that, then she really wanted to know what flames might give her.

Somebody sat down on the nearby sofa and Brie’s focus was successfully broken. She pulled her diary towards her when she turned to see who was there, even though the page it was open to stayed blank. “Oh. Hello, Lily. I was just--” She shook her head. Divination was considered by many to be a lesser subject, and an imprecise enough art that most didn’t understand her obsession with it and she wasn’t sure of Lily Evans’ opinion on the branch of magic. “Well, it wasn’t working anyway, so it doesn’t matter. I do hope there’s not been any more bad news?” She had felt more was coming, but when was anybody’s guess.

When: 18th March 1976, immediately after school and after this Where: The Prefects’ bathroom Who: Remus && @bloomingevans​

He had avoided spending too much time with anybody all day, a task made much easier by most of them thinking he had only just recovered from dragon pox. He had pointedly avoided looks from Sirius Black and walked away when James Potter had tried to corner him and told on Peter Pettigrew when he had scooted closer in Care of Magical Creatures to whisper to him. Between classes he did a fine disappearing act, from years of practice and getting to know each nook and cranny of the castle. At least they hadn’t yet got their Map to the point where they could charm it to show where people were.

The moment school finished for the day, for the weekend, Remus was off, walking briskly to discourage anyone from following him and wriggling through various passageways and detours so that his destination would not be obvious. Only once he was in the Prefect’s bathroom did he let himself relax. He didn’t turn on the taps but sat at the edge of the bath, fully clothed and feet dangling into the empty pool. Exhaustion creaked through his entire body following his days of inactivity and his heart hurt with the betrayal, the loneliness, the bitterness.

Werewolves couldn’t have friends, just as they couldn’t have jobs or lives or happiness.

His body shuddered with a silent sob, which turned into an audible gasp when the door opened. He felt even worse when his eyes fell on Lily Evans. What could he say to her? Hi Lily, sorry I’m sat here taking up the bathroom but not even using it. Don’t mind the fact that I’m crying, in fact, just ignore it. By the way, I nearly killed your best friend the other night! Perhaps he told you? Nothing came out except for half a whimper.

She had thought she was alone, at least for the time being, having timed things perfectly. It was one of the breaks she had in her day, usually meant for studying or homework or whatever else the professors wanted her to do at this time. But Dorcas didn’t want to do that, her mind was too preoccupied. Too focused on all the events that seem to suddenly be stacking up at an alarming speed. After talking to Marlene, the thoughts and feelings that seemed to erupt out of her were slowly starting to clog her up again. When did everything go to shit and why did it happen so fast? 

Yet, no one is ever truly alone at Hogwarts. There was always someone, somewhere, coming to ruin any semblance of alone time. Dorcas thought her spot was perfect, one of the many corridors that led outside, secluded enough that only a few would truly check there and she thought she had everyone’s schedules mapped. Dorcas hadn’t accounted for a certain Head Girl’s rounds and that she would be smart enough to check this place. Lily isn’t hard to spot, not when Dorcas has known her for so long and has been close to her. If her talk with Marlene was an indication of what a talk with Lily would be, she instantly began steeling herself for the worst.