Chocolate Covered Strawberries [Remus Lupin]

𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚢

Jasmine let out a quiet 'oh' looking away from the boy in front of her. She guessed that Tom was the other student always hanging around William, but now she wasn't certain why all of a sudden Gabriel was being nice to her and talkative. She became weary because of the thought that this might be one of William's games again and he's just pretending.

Jasmine backed away slowly. ''Um I have to go but it was great talking to you.'' She chose a polite response despite the situation.

''Right. Goodbye Jasmine, I hope I get to talk to you again soon.'' Gabriel offered her a small wave, that stupid smile still not falling off his face.

Jasmine made a face that was a mixture of confusion with a small smile. Then she abruptly turned around and left the hallway, not once turning her head around to check if Gabriel's behaviour changed at all. Only when she was at a safe distance away she realised she was supposed to leave the other way as she was now walking away from the kitchens. She stopped, let out a sigh and grabbed the courage to go back again to the same hallway. Luckily Gabriel was gone and she safely made it to her destination.

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It was a cosy evening in the warm coloured Hufflepuff dorm a couple of days later. Robyn was sitting on her bed with an opened book on her lap, reading the story out loud. Jasmine was right next to her, with her head leaning on Robyn's shoulder and closed eyes. This was definitely one of her favourite pass-time activities. Doing nothing basically, but listening to Robyn read out of a book. Of course, it was a bonus if the book was good, which in tonight's case it was.

''Do they fall in love at the end?'' Jasmine asked opening her eyes.

Robyn stopped reading and she dropped down the book. ''Who?'' She asked.

''Jo and Laurie.'' Jasmine gestured to the book in Robyn's lap.

Robyn flipped the cover, showing the front page which stated the title. 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott. They were about halfway through the book and it was Jasmine's first time listening to it as Robyn barely got it as a gift for Christmas.

''I'm not spoiling the ending. The best part is the anticipation of what's going to happen. The ending isn't everything about the book.'' Robyn answered with a teasing smile.

Jasmine scoffed lightly and raised her head off Robyn's shoulder. She looked from Robyn's face to the book and back again. ''Come on, I know you've read it already, probably in the first day since you got it. Just tell me please!'' She whined a little.

Robyn chuckled at her best friend's behaviour and simultaneously shook her head. She marked the page they left off and completely closed the book, before placing it down on the ground beside the bed. Jasmine let out a sound of protest at the action, wanting to hear more of the book.

''If you want more, read it yourself.'' Robyn joked leaning back on the headboard.

Jasmine narrowed her eyes at the darker brunette, who burst out laughing. Both knew well enough Jasmine was not the one for reading. Isla jumped up on the bed, her green eyes wide and playful wondering what all the commotion was about. Robyn didn't hesitate to pick the cat up and cradle her in her arms. Jasmine stared straight forward with an emotionless face. She was playing with the quilt in her hands as her features remained blank. It has been a few days since she was at the Hospital Wing, which also meant it was that same amount of days since she last talked to Remus. She had plenty of time to think about everything, but it still wasn't enough. She knew no matter how many times she'll go over the fact that Remus told her this big secret, she knew nothing will help with her understanding if she doesn't talk to him. A hand waved in front of Jasmine's eyes and she blinked a couple of times to start listening.

''Hey, you zoned out there again,'' Robyn said. ''Are you alright? Lately, you have been doing that a lot.''

Jasmine looked to her right to be met with a concerned face of Robyn. She sighed through her nose and looked down at her hands. At first, she shrugged her shoulders but she knew that won't be enough for Robyn so she told her.

''I don't know, I just have a lot on my mind I guess,'' Jasmine said quietly.

Robyn furrowed her eyebrows as she was not used to seeing her best friend bummed out about anything. ''Such as?'' She asked, even though she knew she shouldn't pry for information.

Robyn tried to tell Jasmine time and time again that sometimes it would feel better to talk about stuff, to let it out of yourself. Some progress was made through the years but Robyn knew, Jasmine still kept most of the stuff to herself. In that very moment, Jasmine wished nothing more than to tell Robyn everything. About the kiss, about the secret, about Remus, but she couldn't. So she chose again to speak of the more recurring problems.

''It's just William. I don't know what's going on but he's acting weirder than usual. And now I have his friend Gabriel to deal with too. I can't wait for the seventh year when he'll be gone.'' Jasmine admitted.

Robyn nodded, knowing all about Jasmine's encounter with Gabriel already.

Jasmine stood up from Robyn's bed and walked to her own. She picked up an open letter that was laying on her quilt and frowned at it. It was from her father, telling her the same thing William already told her before that there will be consequences if she's going to keep sneaking out after curfew. She hasn't responded to the letter yet and she knew, she'll have to soon, but she just didn't have the energy to do so at the moment. She looked back at Robyn who was still observing her and decided to change the subject.

''You have been very quiet about Sirius. How's that going?'' Jasmine asked with a small smile and sat at the very end of her bed facing Robyn.

Robyn looked up from her hands and stopped messing around with the quilt. ''Oh you know, same as usual.'' She shrugged and smiled for only a second. 

Jasmine drew her eyebrows together in slight confusion at the vague reaction. Last time she saw them together they were sitting in one of the large window sills smiling about something, while Robyn was telling a story. They looked really happy. And if she would just cling on the words she would've believed her, but Jasmine knew Robyn and her facial expressions told everything. The pair never talked about one another to friends except if they asked them about it. It was known that they have something but none were sure what and they didn't specify it either. Everything looked like a mystery and no one but Sirius and Robyn knew what was going on.

Jasmine picked up a thick cardigan and put it over her t-shirt before putting on some shoes as well. Robyn watched her with furrowed eyebrows. ''Where are you going again? It's almost midnight.'' She asked.

Jasmine grabbed her wand as well and turned around to her best friend. ''Out. Probably to the kitchens.'' Her answer was vague, without further explanation of why.

Robyn knew it was rare that Jasmine actually came to the dorm after dinner and slept. But as of lately she noticed Jasmine was out almost every single night and she had absolutely no idea what was going on. It made her a little bit suspicious but she trusted her friend well enough to know that if something serious was going on, Jasmine would tell her. Jasmine cast another glance on the room, searching if she forgot anything to take with. Then she smiled at Robyn and exited the dorm. 

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Introducing the new character:

Chance Perdomo  as  ⇨Gabriel Fawley⇦