☽☽☽
REMUS STAYED WITH ATHENA THE ENTIRE LAST WEEK, if the boy had alternate plans he'd abandoned them immediately. To Remus there was nothing more important than ensuring that Athena got better and in his mind he was the only one who could do this.
They sat most of the time in her room as she didn't feel like leaving her bed very often. Remus would read to her and try to get her to fall asleep. He bought some calming draught from the nearest magical pharmacy in an attempt to coax her into an actual sleep schedule.
She felt comforted when he was there. They would watch movies during the day and she started eating more at a slow pace. Since Athena had been neglecting a lot of her food it was hard to just start eating normally again but Remus didn't force her.
On the last weekend the sat outside for the day as Remus was concerned that Athena hadn't seen sunlight in a while. She'd been keeping her curtains closed due to sleeping during the day and her previous beautiful complexion had paled somewhat.
Athena still heard the voices in her mind a lot of the time but every time she did Remus made her write down in a small book what they were saying. Underneath he'd write something else that made her feel better somehow.
You're worth nothing
You're worth everything to me
Other than that they just talked. Athena had been surprised to find out the dark thoughts that Remus had experienced. He definitely held himself up a lot better than she did. While she had cut herself off and moped in her room, he had gone about his usual daily life with a smile on his face. She didn't understand how that was possible
Remus helped her pack towards the end of the holidays and she felt better about going back knowing that he'd be beside her. She kept the small notebook on her at all times purely so she could read the nice things he'd written. She'd come to find comfort in his handwriting, the tidy scrawl that contrasted her sloping letters so much.
Her parents were still worried, believing that Athena wasn't in the right state of mind to go back to school. The only reason they were lenient enough to let her go was because Aurora promised to look out for her and even then they were skeptical.
If only you were more like Aurora
But you're perfect the way you are
Athena decided to apperate to Hogwarts with her sister as seeing everyone on the train seemed like a kickstart back into reality that she wasn't ready for. Instead she would take it slow, Remus told her he'd explain that she wasn't feeling like herself (leaving out the more personal details of course).
With a faint pop the two sisters arrived at the end of Hogsmeade. Aurora turned to Athena in caution to see how she was taking this step. She smiled encouragingly before they began to walk in sync up to the castle.
"I want you to come see me every day ok?" Aurora told her, "not for long I just want to make sure you're alright"
"I'll be fine Rory, I've got Remus"
"That boy is an angel, don't take him for granted"
"Of course I won't" Athena smiled,
"You know I didn't think you'd make it back to school... when you wouldn't come out of your room I didn't know—"
"Rory I'm fine now" Athena nodded. It was a half truth, she was far from fine but she was a lot better than she had been which was a start.
"Take things slow, ok?" Aurora murmured, "if you need a day off take one"
"My exams—"
"Your well-being is more important"
"I never thought I'd here you say that there were things more important than exams" Athena smirked,
"Of course there are things more important... make sure you concentrate in lessons though because these exams are—"
"Sounds more like it" Athena interrupted, "I will pay attention Rory, I always do"
"Good" Aurora nodded, "right well the train should get here in an hour so until then you just go up to the dorm I guess".
"Where are you going?
"Teachers meeting, you can't come" Aurora stated.
"Why would I want to?" Athena frowned,
"I'll have you know they're actually rather—"
"Right I'm going"
Athena walked up the stone staircases towards Ravenclaw tower, keeping her head down and trying to imagine that Remus was beside her.
Everyone blames you
There are so many people around you who love and care for you
Athena held the book in her shaking hands as she walked slowly through the corridors. The voices kept coming but Remus' words came like an antibody through her mind warding them off.
Suddenly she collided with someone as she turned around a corridor. The book flew out of her hands and skated along the hall as she looked up to see Snape standing there looking annoyed.
"Watch where you're going you disgusting bitch" Snape muttered. Athena felt rage well up inside her as she barged past him and went to grab her book.
"Accio" Snape stated simply and the book flew out of her hands and into his.
"Give it back!" Athena yelled, panic slipping through her as she watched his eyes graze over the pages.
"You are amazing don't let anyone tell you different... what is this shit?"
"Give. It. Back" Athena growled as she lunged at him. Snape turned around so Athena collided with the wall still swearing at herself.
"It was all my fault, I'm useless... now that sounds more accurate"
"You fucking bat give it back" Athena yelled, the voices screaming in her head took a new route now as she stared at the boy.
Make him regret it
Punch him
Hurt him
Athena dived forward when she felt someone grab her arm and pull her back. She stumbled a few steps but not enough to see Snape flinch, she had gone to punch him and he'd been scared. She felt rather confident all of a sudden.
"Give it back you slimy cunt" the voice behind her called, Athena turned to see Kennedy there staring smugly at Snape who suddenly seemed more pissed off than ever.
"Or what Vulpes?" Snape stated in utter loathing.
"Give it back or I'll gouge your eyes out with a spoon and feed them to you" she smiled sweetly,
"Was that a threat?" Snape snarled,
"Are you dense?" Kennedy laughed, "obviously it was a fucking threat you greasy moron now give the book back or you'll be doing a food review on your own retinas"
Snape stood still for a moment before striding away and shoving the book hard into Athena's chest. She stumbled for a moment feeling winded before she turned to Kennedy.
"Have your threats always been that disgusting?" She asked,
"I like to be creative" Kennedy shrugged, "bashing brains is a fun one to use until people see it coming"
"Right" Athena nodded as she watched Snape stride away, his robes flying out behind him like some overgrown bat, "good Easter?"
"No, you?" The girl replied simply as they began to walk in sync down the corridor.
"Horrendous"
"Good to hear" Kennedy nodded, "I heard what happened to you, really fucked up—"
"How did you hear?" Athena asked,
"Asked your friends why you weren't around... they told me your aunt died"
"I found her" Athena nodded,
"They told me that too—"
"On an order mission" Athena interrupted.
"Really?" Kennedy raised her eyebrow, "they're making you do missions now"
"Voldemort made you do missions last year"
Kennedy winced at the name as she shook her head.
"He's a fucked up psychopath who's only personal connection is with a snake"
"What happened over Easter?" Athena asked quickly,
"Nothing it was boring... I was considering getting a cheese grater and shredding Snape with it just for the—"
"You're acting different" Athena frowned,
"Am I?" Kennedy mused, "how come?"
"You're acting more violent" Athena muttered.
"I've always been violent" she shrugged,
"Not that graphic" Athena shook her head, "at least not towards me"
"My filters broken" Kennedy drawled sarcastically, "sometimes being sent on a mission to kill someone really messes with a persons—"
"What does Voldemort want you to do?"
"Will you stop saying that?" Kennedy hissed,
"What Voldemort?"
"Yes Voldemort"
"What do you call him... the dark Lord"
"Shut it or I'll—"
"You'll what? Make me eat my eyeballs, grate me like some mature cheddar, choke me with my own intestines? Empty threats don't work on me Kenny"
"Right" Kennedy muttered, "thanks for the idea though... that intestine one—"
"Kenny!"
"What!" Kennedy snapped as she turned to her.
"What's he making you do?"
"He isn't making me do anything" she replied, "I failed killing Sirius so he didn't bother giving me anything else to do"
"You were so certain he was going to kill you... he told you he'd kill you and unlike you Kenny, Voldemort doesn't make false threats"
"How would you know?" Kennedy cried out, "you've never met him! You've never seen his dead read eyes or ghastly skin... his voice it's like ... it's like your talking to someone from hell... like Satan incarnate.... you have no idea"
"I think that he didn't kill you because he had another job for you" Athena replied simply, "so tell me what he's making you do—"
"Leave it" Kennedy snapped, "or I swear to Satan my threats won't be empty"
Athena watched as Kennedy stormed away feeling suddenly uneasy when something emerged in her mind.
Don't trust anyone, you're placing your trust in the wrong person
Dacre is pretending to be someone else?
he could be anyone
We should start asking questions that only we would know the answer to
"Kenny!" Athena called and the brunette turned around, "what was the first thing I ever said to you?"
Kennedy paused for a moment before she smiled slightly, "I like your bat... it makes you look cool... you were the first person to talk to me who didn't think I was weird"
Athena smiled feeling relief ebb through her,
"I stand by what I said" Athena replied, "you aren't so weird"
Kennedy scoffed loudly but seemed less annoyed as she strode away leaving Athena clutching her book in a desolate corridor.
☽☽☽
"So your uncle could be anyone?" Sirius asked, "anyone?"
"anyone yes" Athena nodded. She was sat in the dorms with Remus and Sirius. They were all sat on Remus' bed as Athena leant against the tall boys side.
"You're sure he isn't pretending to be Kennedy?" Remus mused.
"I thought for a moment it might be but then I asked her something only she would know"
"Good" Sirius sighed in relief causing Remus and Sirius to frown at him, "because it would have been weird if your uncle was hanging around with us... obviously"
"Well we should keep an eye out" Remus stated, "anything weird happens and we report back, ok?"
"Good idea... now we should get down to the quidditch pitch or James will kill us"
Athena nodded as she stood up, grabbing the small notebook off her bed. Remus smiled at her comfortingly, taking her hand as they paced out of the dorms.
"there you are" Lily smiled, standing up from the sofa. She was sitting alongside Mary and Peter who were seated rather close together.
"Ready to go?" Sirius smirked, "final match for Gryffindor ... this is it"
"Well we won't find out who's won the cup today" Peter pointed out quickly,
"Ravenclaw still have to play Hufflepuff"
"Yeah but if we win it sets things up nicely" Remus shrugged,
"Don't get your hopes up" Athena muttered,
"Stop being so pessimistic" Sirius rolled her eyes, "James hasn't been up at dawn every day training for nothing... this match is all he talks about"
"They're going to win" Lily smiled, "I know they will"
They walked down to the stands together. Athena had the book in her pocket but she refrained looking at it in front of everyone else.
somebody else will die because of you
you're not responsible for anything
Athena repeated the words in her mind as they walked out onto the pitch. Remus squeezed her hand as he looked down at her.
"you'll be ok?" he asked softly so the others couldn't hear.
"of course I will" Athena nodded, "now go do your commentary thingy"
Remus shot her a playful wink before lightly jogging over to the teachers stands where McGonagall was standing waiting. Gryffindor vs Slytherin were often the most anticipated games because of the house rivalries. The crowd was a sea of red and green and Athena was sporting a red Gryffindor scarf that she'd stolen from Remus.
The group sat in the stands and watched as the players made their way onto the pitch and Athena sat close to Sirius who fidgeted with the rings on his hands. Everyone was nervous, Peter was nearly shaking and Mary (who normally didn't seem to care much) was practically on the edge of her seat.
Madame Hooch blew her whistle and the players soared into the air. The game has begun.
"It's Potter with the quaffle, Potter passes to Meadows who... is intercepted by Black, bad luck... we have Nott with the quaffle, Nott to Black... and Black scores"
Athena felt her shoulders go slightly limp as she watched James ruffle his hair in frustration. They had to win this game. So far they'd won to Hufflepuff and lost to Ravenclaw which meant that they had to win this game by a good sum of points to have a strong chance at the cup.
"Potter to Smith who passes back to Potter... nasty bludger to the shoulder there but Potter keeps powering on, go on James!"
Lily cheered loudly and Athena could swear that James sped up with more determination in his vision,
"James scores!" Remus called loudly, "ten-ten"
Athena had never been so absorbed in a match as she watched the blurs of colour soar around. Marlene and Kennedy weren't sitting around waiting for something to happen, they were in the throng with everyone else, speeding, diving and darting while looking out for the snitch.
"Black with the quaffle passes to Nott who passes to Stephens... Stephens suffers a bludger to the back from Pringle... good one and it's Potter in possession, Potter streaking up the pitch and... He scores again!"
The stands broke into a cheer and Athena raised her hands high above her head to clap loudly. Remus even sounded enthusiastic today, he wasn't laid back with his feet up but instead bent forward watching every move closely.
"That was a fucking foul" Remus swore loudly causing McGonagall to yell at him, "sorry professor... penalty to Gryffindor for that nasty bit of cheating"
Dorcas took the penalty and scored through the left hand hoop, the keeper scraped the quaffle with his fingers causing everyone in the stands to gasp but the ball still flew through the hoop.
After forty five minuets each team took a five minute break to discuss and have a breather. By this point Gryffindor were very much in the lead by forty points and it seemed that only Kennedy catching the snitch would slow them down now.
The game picked up again. Gryffindor scored again shortly followed by Regulus scoring with a new found fire lit within him. No one in the stands talked, they only cheered, gasped and swore every time that a bludger was hit or a goal was scored for the wrong team.
Athena had her hands gripped on the stands in front of her as her eyes followed each player in turn. James was the leader of the team and would go down in Hogwarts history as being one of the best captains. His skills with a broom were unmatched even by Regulus who was notorious for being good with ducking and darting.
Watching him was a universal experience of wonder and appreciation. He soared around like he owned the pitch and every time he did something mildly impressive, Lily would cheer louder than everyone else. Evans was his biggest fan.
Just as everything seemed to be going perfectly for Gryffindor, Athena noticed Kennedy break into a new speed. Everyone's eyes followed her and soon it seemed obvious what was happening.
"Vulpes has seen the snitch!" Remus called loudly with a tone of fear in his voice. Every player, even James, turned to see the brunette girl streaming across the pitch with her ponytail flying behind her.
Marlene had caught on quick and was following her but not fast enough. Kennedy soared upwards with the snitch as it desperately tried to get lost again but Kennedy wasn't going to let it out of her sight. Right now she was a predator and the snitch was her prey.
The two girls soared around like bullets, Marlene only just an inch behind. Everyone was holding their breath as Kennedy reached out her hand with the snitch bouncing around her fingertips.
Just then, for a split second. Athena saw it. Athena saw her pause, her deliberation. Kennedy faltered slightly and the snitch danced out her reach. Athena frowned at the small moment of confusion that had taken over the girl. As though her competitive spirit had been lost.
Kennedy's slip was the gain of Marlene who sped forward and grabbed the rogue golden ball in her grasp. Athena watched as at the last moment, Kennedy had turned and stared directly at the stands. She didn't look annoyed as Marlene took the snitch that should have been hers, she looked proud. As though this had been her intention.
The stands burst into a cheer. Sirius grabbed Athena's hand and pulled her to her feet as he yelled happily at the top of his lungs. Athena yelled too, waving her other hand madly as Marlene soared to the pitch.
"Come on!" Sirius yelled as he dragged her down the wooden steps and onto the cleaner cut grass of the pitch. James was crying with happiness again which seemed to be a running theme with him winning.
"If Hufflepuff win the next match" James panted, "then we win... we could fucking do it"
Lily beamed as she pulled him close to her, the boy that cared so much about quidditch was finally seeing his dreams come true.
Athena wanted to celebrate with everyone else but her eyes landed on Kennedy. Nott (who had become the captain of Slytherin after Mulciber left) was yelling at her rather harshly however the girl was just standing there smiling.
Athena darted out of the way of the cheering Gryffindor's and approached at a safe distance.
"I know you did that on purpose" Nott spat, "you could have easily caught that snitch"
"I have no idea what you're talking about" Kennedy replied simply.
"It's because of that Gryffindor you're fucking isn't it" Nott growled,
"Me and a Gryffindor?" Kennedy smirked, "you've officially lost your mind Nott"
The captain went to retaliate but then seemed to think better of it as he noticed Madame Hooch staring his way. Nott stormed off the pitch leaving Kennedy to see Athena standing there.
"Congratulations" Kennedy smiled as she walked over, "I'm sensing another Gryffindor win in the works"
"He's right" Athena frowned, "you could have easily caught that snitch... you did that on purpose"
Kennedy just shrugged as she stared somewhere behind Athena's shoulder, "I didn't do it for you if that's what you're thinking"
"I wasn't" Athena muttered as she turned her head to see where Kennedy was looking. There were so many people laughing and cheering in a group that Athena couldn't tell. She turned back around ready to ask Kennedy what she meant when she realised the girl had gone.
"Sneaky motherfu—"
"You ok?" Remus asked as he approached, placing a hand on her shoulder,
"I'm great" Athena replied, "we won"
"You're not even a Gryffindor" Remus laughed as he slipped his arm around her and began to walk back over to the cheering group.
"I'm an honorary Gryffindor" Athena smirked in response,
"That you are" he just laughed simply.
☽☽☽
A/n
Words - 3374
Published - 16th February 2021
I've been on top form
today for actually
having inspiration
to write
+I don't want to
finish this act because
that means they won't
be in Hogwarts anymore :(