A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 4: A Newfound Fixation

Sirius snorted. "I mean, honestly, James. She's always been stuck-up and insufferable. You've known this for years. Why the sudden obsession? It's not like she's gone soft."

"She hasn't," James said quickly, his voice hard. "That's the problem. She's too perfect. Too composed. No one's that cold all the time unless they're hiding something."

Remus sighed, closing his notebook and leaning back in his seat. "Or, and hear me out here, she's just living her life. She hasn't done anything since winter break, James. No schemes, no plots. She goes to class, she talks to her little Slytherin circle, and she leaves everyone else alone. What exactly are you seeing that we aren't?"

"Moony's right, mate. She's living her life," Sirius added, gesturing vaguely. "Which, by the way, doesn't involve you. So why are you so fixated on her?"

James hesitated, his mind racing. He thought of the way Anastasia had stood by the lake a few days ago, her face turned toward the gray horizon as Regulus spoke quietly at her side. Or the way she'd laughed softly at something Lucius had said in the library, her cold exterior momentarily softened.

James glared at him. "I'm not fixating."

"Right," Sirius drawled, his smirk widening. "You're just observing her every move. Watching her in the courtyard. Following her down hallways. Totally normal behavior."

"I'm not following her!" James snapped. "I'm just—"

"Trying to 'expose Anastasia Gaunt for the fraud she is,'" Sirius interrupted, his tone mocking. "Yeah, we get it. You've been saying the same thing for weeks. Maybe months."

"I'm not obsessed," James snapped. "I'm just paying attention. Someone has to."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Fine. Keep playing Sherlock Potter if it makes you happy."

Remus gave James a knowing look. "Just don't let it consume you, mate. It's not worth it."

James didn't respond. He stared down at his forgotten homework, his jaw tight. He wasn't imagining things—he knew there was more to Anastasia Gaunt than met the eye. And he was determined to figure out what it was, no matter how ridiculous Sirius and Remus thought he was.

As the fire crackled softly in the hearth, James's gaze drifted once more to the window, the shadows of the castle stretching long under the pale moonlight. Somewhere out there, Anastasia was weaving her web, and he wasn't going to let her pull Sirius—or anyone else—into it without a fight.

The next day, James continued his silent observations. He watched as Anastasia moved through the corridors, her expression impassive. Students gave her a wide berth, their fear and respect palpable.

During Potions, he saw her working with Lucius Malfoy, the two of them exchanging quiet words. There was a moment when she smiled at something Malfoy said, a genuine, fleeting smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared.

In the Great Hall during lunch, he saw her with Regulus Black. They were sitting at the Slytherin table, engaged in what appeared to be a serious conversation. Regulus looked up to her with something akin to admiration, and once again, a rare smile touched her lips.

After dinner, he caught sight of her leaving the Great Hall and decided to follow. She headed towards the Astronomy Tower, a place he knew she often went to be alone. He waited a few moments before following, making sure not to be seen.

The Astronomy Tower was quiet, the faint whistle of the wind the only sound as Anastasia stood at the edge of the parapet, staring out over the dark expanse of the Forbidden Forest. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over her features. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe. The constant whispers, the stares, the suffocating weight of expectation—it all melted away up here, at least for a moment.