warrior | sirius black

sixteen

Rosie saw Lily's troubled face and quickly went to reassure her friend. "But I'm sure that they're just overreacting, there's probably nothing to worry about. After all, Hogwarts is the safest place in the world," Rosie smiled, trying to convince herself what she said was true as well. Dumbledore had definitely increased the security in the castle as well as restricted access from Hogsmeade, which comforted Rosie greatly. Lily nodded and her mouth pulled out of her frown, but the gears in her brain continued to turn.

"My parents had me learn ciphers and codes over the summer, they figured it would be useful. I thought it was quite fun and interesting," Rosie added on, recalling how confusing it was at first.

"Really?" Lily asked, impressed that her family had gone to such lengths, but with what had happened the previous year, she wasn't that surprised. "Could you teach me?" Lily asked, thinking that it could possibly come of use in the future.

"Sure, it's not that confusing once you get the hang of it," Rosie grinned while spooning more roasted potatoes onto her gold plate.

"What's not that confusing?" Sirius asked, turning from his conversation with James.

"None of your business," Rosie huffed, setting the large spoon down and picking up her fork. Sirius frowned, the thought of falling into Rosie's favor during breakfast quickly vanishing in his head. 

James, who sensed his best friend's sadness patted him on the back, his feelings matching Sirius'. He knew better than to blame the girls, though. He knew that it was their own fault, even if he wouldn't admit it aloud.

Remus turned to Lily to ask him about their rounds that night, knowing that they'd have to take the dungeons that night. Neither of them liked making rounds in the dungeons; it was damp and extremely cold, even more so at night. The dungeons were always Rosie's least favorite place to do rounds when she had to. She remembered constantly bringing sweaters and shivers running up her spine. However, it was a good place to be alone with her thoughts.

Leaving her distracted state of mind, Rosie felt someone staring at her. Turning her head slightly, she saw Peter peering at her behind Remus. She offered a small smile but was only returned with him blushing a bright red and reverting his eyes back to his filled plate. Odd, she thought. Rosie had never been close to Peter but sometimes felt bad for him. It seemed like he was excluded from his other friends at times, but she knew that they all equally loved each other.

"Where's Marlene?" Lily asked Rosie, noting the lack of her freckled friend at breakfast this morning.

"Hmm, where is Marlene?" Rosie wondered aloud, recalling seeing her sound asleep in her bed a few hours ago.

"She said she would catch up with me when I left, but I guess not," Lily shrugged before turning back to her scrambled eggs and grilled tomatoes.

Remus, who saw McGonagall coming their way, straightened his postures and let out a cough, notifying his friends of the oncoming professor.

"Miss Winters," McGonagall said as she gave her a smile. She handed Rosie her schedule before turning to hand out the other's schedules. Rosie immediately took a look at her schedule, taking in her classes.

Monday:

Defense Against the Dark Arts 

Ancient Runes

Double Potions 

Tuesday:

Transfiguration 

Defense Against the Dark Arts

Free Period

Ancient Runes

Wednesday:

Charms

Herbology

Double Potions

Thursday:

Defense Against the Dark Arts

Free Period

Astronomy

Double Herbology

Friday:

Transfiguration

History of Magic

Double Charms

**Note: you will have lessons on Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in the evenings from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM. You will be escorted back to Gryffindor common room with the instructor from your lesson**

Albus Dumbledore

"You're not taking Muggle Studies or Care of Magical Creatures this year?" asked Lily after inspecting Rosie's schedule.

"I dropped them for a free period...I figured that it would be a little easier to have a bit more free time," Rosie explained, knowing that their teachers were not going to be kind with work this year. However, it was what she was expecting from NEWT level classes.

"We could do that?" Lily asked, a look of regret on her face as she stared at her filled schedule.

"Yeah, maybe it's not too late. You don't have Muggle Studies until tomorrow! Then you can spend that Free Period with me," Rosie suggested. Lily smiled at the thought and made a mental note of visiting McGonagall during lunch to discuss the change.

"Rosie, would you mind if I took a look at your schedule?" Sirius asked politely after receiving and reviewing his own.

"Sure, Sirius," Rosie agreed and handed him her schedule in exchange for his. Much to her surprise, yet not at the same time, she discovered that they had nearly the exact same schedule, the only difference was Arithmancy.

"You've got to be joking..." she mumbled under her breath.

"Well look at that, looks like we all basically have the same schedules," James smirked while looking up from inspecting everyone's schedules, Rosie's included.

"I don't think so," Lily disagreed, not knowing that James had Rosie's schedule sprawled in front of him. Rosie smiled awkwardly at Lily before gesturing to hers. "Well then..." Lily muttered.

"Well, boys. It's a new day and year, let's get our books and get to class," Sirius said as the four rose from their seats and went to go grab their books.

"Can you smell it? It's the smell of new pranks, detentions, and mischief!" Rosie and Lily heard James exclaim as they exited the hall, his fellow Marauders laughing at his statement. The two girls rolled their eyes before standing up to go collect their things as well.

"Think we're ready for this year?" Rosie asked Lily as they left the hall, her left eyebrow quirked.

"Are we ever?" Lily giggled with Rosie as they quickly ran up the moving stairs.

✯

edited: 06/02/2020