One Step Ahead part I | Sirius Black

Chapter 8

Gwen hums quietly to herself as she sits in the library. Dorcas sits next to her, Marlene and Lily sitting directly across from the Ravenclaw's.

Lily and Dorcas are scribbling furiously, scratching and rewriting on their parchment every few minutes. Arithmancy. Gwen would rather hang by her toes from the owlery than take bloody Arithmancy.

Marlene and Gwen are embroiled in quite the game of hangman, despite Lily and Dorcas' disapproving looks. Marlene draws a stick down the parchment, tutting quietly when Gwen whispers,

"P."

"You suck at guessing letters," Marlene sighs, drawing another line. The Veela frowns, asking quietly,

"Can I at least get a hint?"

Marlene grins and shakes her head, stifling laughter when her friend lets out a quiet groan of disbelief. She wracks her brain desperately, thinking of all the things that Marlene may try to trick her with. She suddenly gasps loudly and sits up straight from her previously slumped position.

"Bludger!"

Her table receives a few nasty looks from other studying students, especially when Marlene cries,

"How do you do that?! You didn't even guess a single letter right!!!"

"Shhhh!!" Lily hisses pointedly, flushing when more people look their way. Gwen rolls her eyes, fighting a smile at Marlene's pouting. The Scottish witch adds another tally underneath Gwen's name, making the scores 6 to 1.

"Um, guys?" Gwen glances up at the tone of Dorcas' voices she sounds nervous. Confused. Gwen quirks a brow in her direction, feeling the blood rush from her face when Dorcas whispers,

"Everyone is staring at Gwen!"

Lily and Marlene look up, glancing around the room. Every single boy in the library is looking in their direction, their eyes locked on Gwen. She grimaces at the dreamy gazes and goofy smiles, whispering shamefully,

"It's my...I'm not sure. It started happening over the summer. I'm still getting a handle on it."

Her friends all shared worried looks at her down trodden tone, Lily jumping to her feet and disappearing down the rows of books.

She reappears moments later in a flash of red hair, carrying a rather large book that hits the table with a 'thunk'.

Dorcas leans forward, watching eagerly as Lily leafs through the book, mumbling quietly to herself as she goes. Gwen pipes up, muttering quietly,

"I know that I have charm, I just didn't realize I could...do something with it. It's not like I have anyone to ask really."

Marlene's eyes flash with sympathy and she goes to say something comforting, but Lily interrupts her quickly, saying excitedly,

"Here, Gwenyth!"

Gwen scoots forwards, listening eagerly as Lily begins to read softly,

"It says here that Veela magic is still minimally understood but there are two schools of thought. That a Veela's charm is innate but exaggerated by singing or dancing...and that a Veela may choose to amplify and use it."

Gwen nods, mulling it over slowly in her head. She'd never really considered researching what her magic was like, how it was different. Her mother...there weren't many people she could ask for help. She sighs, asking quietly,

"Do you think Professor Flitwick would be willing to discuss it with me?"

Dorcas nods, her brows furrowed as she replies, "Of course. He might be able to offer some guidance, or point you in the direction of someone that can."