It was late, and yet she couldn't sleep, staring off into the stars, sitting in the astronomy tower by herself, wondering what she has done with her life. She felt like her life has been flipped upside down when she entered fifth year, hoping to start a clean sheet with a rebellious twin brother and a younger brother who seemed more sad than happy.
She felt more alone than usual, wishing it she could go back and redo some things, Nora would do it in a heart beat. The only consistent thing in her life was the bickering with James Potter; and it stopped the minute he wanted to fake date her, still not truly understanding what he sees in her.
Lily Evans was his sunshine, Nora always felt like she was the moon, the stars, and everything in between. Someone to be unlikable to be loved by someone with so much courage, passion and love. She and James we're two opposites, the sun and the moon, happy and sad, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, a romance that was strictly forbidden.
It made her giddy whenever she thought of James, the way he was always gentle and caring for her, even if she was in a mood because of her brother. James always took his time with Nora, wanting her to not be claustrophobic, to be needed all the time.
She knew it bothered James, wishing he would kiss her and hold her hand in public, but it was hard for the two. She was dripping in guilt, not telling anyone about the two, solely because of being afraid of what people would say. Her grey eyes were her favourite feature of her, but it always gave away the emotion she was truly feeling.
The stars were peaceful, almost making her feel sleepy enough to stay asleep during the night, her eye lids feeling heavy. Winter had arrived, watching the snow trickle down in the moonlight, her arms covered in goosebumps due to the cold. Her pale cheeks felt a little bit of a breeze hit her gently, becoming almost pink.
Her thoughts were interrupted, the creaking sound of the wood making a noise, turning to see him with regret. Nora looked up, scooting over for him, both staring forward.
"I'm assuming you know James and Remus forgave me?" Sirius asks, fiddling with his sleeve. There came a time where Nora knew when to forgive and forget, but there was a thick line with friend and foes, Sirius was never a friend, but never a foe, just her brother. It made things more difficult, knowing Sirius and regulus were the only family she properly cared about.
"I do." She mumbled out, playing with the sleeve of her jumper. The threads were slowly being pulled out, not wanting to fiddle with it more, sighing out loud as she stared at the sun.
"Do you know how sorry I am?" Sirius asked. Nora knew she had a lot to say, turning to her brother, already looking at her. Nora took a second before speaking, Sirius ready to speak.
"I don't want to ramble, but I'm sorry o never saw you in the hospital— at least when you were awake. I'm a terrible brother for what I did to you, and Remus. There was anger, and clearly I shouldn't talk when I'm angry because it can really screw things up, especially to the sister who has loved me through all my screw ups...."
He said he didn't want to ramble.
Nora didn't mean to, but she caught him off, putting her hand on his shoulder, almost shutting him up. Nora had to figure out where she stood with her brother, staring into his eyes as he did the same, their emotions being the same.
Confused, a little scared, guilt.
"You visited me in the hospital?" She asked, coming back to the first thing she heard. "The first two days, poppy said you'll be in and out of sleeping because that's all you can really do. I wasn't allowed after because of my probation, mostly staying in the common room."
Her heart beat jumped, her eyes softening when she heard those words, coming to realization, wondering who would've left the roses for her; her favourite flower. Nora couldn't believe what she was hearing, lunging herself towards her brother as he sat there in shock.
"I needed to hear that." She mumbled into his shirt, clutching him a little. Sirius squeezed his sister a little more, it was rare for physical contact between the siblings; but they felt like they needed it for one or two reasons, sitting in silence for a moment.
"I needed that hug." Sirius whispers, pretending a tear didn't just roll down his cheek. Nora clenched her jaw, patting his back, unclenching his jumper, smiling at her brother. "Please don't ever make me not talk to you for that long. Two week's maximum." Nora told her brother, sniffling a little.
Sirius laughed; a smile lingering on his lips. "Deal." He snorted, watching the snow become heavier a little bit; coming down faster. Nora rubbed her eyes, coming tired, noticing Sirius yawn beside her.
"How'd you know I was here?" Nora asked; grabbing her brothers attention, wondering how he would know she would randomly be up in the astronomy tower.
"I'm your twin? I know you used to like coming here to watch the snow. Probably the best view for this." Sirius said, clearly lying. Nora hummed at that, both staring off into the view, the sky slightly lighter than other nights; not truly pitch black.
"Well alright," Nora hesitated, squinting her eyes at him. "Did you know there are clubs here?" She asked, her brother looking at her with concern. "You didn't?" Sirius held in his laugh, patting her arm.
"What club were you forced to join?" He asked, pressing his lips into a fine line to avoid his smirks. Nora frowned, looking at him. "I have to water the plants twice a week and then Lupin decided I should join his study circle for the younger kids, and Slughorn liked that idea."
Sirius snorted, earning a punch to the arm, gasping. "Oi, I wasn't laughing." He defended himself, clearly lying. Nora mocked him, rolling her eyes, her cheeks becoming more red with the coldness. "Least you'll be with Remus, he's good company." Sirius mumbled out, looking out towards the snow, a slight wind pushing it in their direction.
"Yeah, he is." Nora smiled, looking at her brother, sensing something from him, not wanting to say anything, continuing to look at the snow.
"Winter break is happening soon, are you and Reggie going to Grimmauld?" Sirius asked, rubbing his arms. Nora bit her lip, staring in shock of what to say, reacting to nod her head. "Probably, or we might see the updated Malfoy manor."
There is no updated Malfoy manor.
"Yeah, I'm going to stay with James again, his mum makes the best cookies." Sirius added, a warm smiling appearing on his lips. Nora nodded with a little bit of a smile for her brother, trying to not be annoyed at the fact he never apologized for leaving so abruptly.
Nora pushed that thought towards the back of her mind, patting her brothers back, pretending that didn't sting. "So you're okay with Potter and everyone else?" Nora asked, almost wanting confirmation from the incident.
Sirius nodded, a small smile forming on his lips, quite happy. "You were last on my list." He said with the tone of accomplishment; looking at Nora. The brunette tried to not be touched by that, biting her inner lip with tension. Not sure how to respond with that.
"I'm glad you apologized, wasn't sure how long we could go without us bickering." Nora humoured, cracking her knuckles.
Although they apologized, Nora knew she and Sirius never had heart to heart moments with one another, not wanting to overstep that boundary as she took that as her cue to stand up.
Reaching her hands out for Sirius to grab them and stand up, the two siblings looked at each other, nodding. "Well, I'm going to go to her, plus it's getting cold." Nora awkwardly said, patting Sirius on the back before she left.
Walking down the stairs and making her way out, Nora hoped nobody would also be out, looking both ways before she walked, not realizing what would be in front of her. Being held up after her head hit someone's chest, Nora apologized as she saw Nott stand before her with concern written all over his face.
"Are you okay?" He asked, fixing her hair. Nora looked at the lad, wondering what he was doing up, knowing it could've been close to one in the morning. "I'm fine— why are you up Nott?" Nora asked, squinting her eyes a little.
The lad almost seemed scared to answer, clearly up to something. Nora worried this would come back to winter break soon approaching, her life going to be on the line for summer break, staying silent.
"I was going to the hufflepuff dorms, if you're so interested in my life." Nora could tell he was lying, in relations with a Ravenclaw, looking him up and down in his pyjamas with messy hair.
"No you're not."
"No I'm not." He sighed out, crossing his arms.
"Then what are you doing?" She asked again, putting her hands on her hips. "I was going for a smoke, this whole D.E thing is stressful." He wasn't lying that time, his eyebrows bushed together, he had definitely been drinking too.
D.E, death eater; a name the Slytherins ( those who knew ), decided to say, bounding together and knowing some of them didn't have a choice. Nora accepted the fact Nott and Avery only say things to protect her, especially when they know her parents won't, almost feeling bad.
"Is smoking fun?" Nora blurted out, curious. Nott smirked at the girl, ruffling her hair. "You're too young." He said, patting her right cheek. Slightly offended as Nott thought to walk her back to the dungeons, Nora was however touched by that gesture.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Nora asked, Nott putting his arm around her shoulder. "Because little Nora, I always said I would take care of you, and just because I put on a face towards the others, doesn't mean I would ever harm you and Atticus."
Nora couldn't take the lad seriously, knowing he was too drunk to know what he was saying, switching the roles so she would take him to sleep, soon making it back to the dungeons.
Saying the password and going in, Nora scoffed at Nott. "You are going to sleep this off Nott. You can't drink on a school night. You're going to make it a habit." She told him, going up the boys stairs to the dorms, finding his room number.
"But that's the fun of it Black, don't tell me you haven't had a sip yet." Nott laughed a little, opening his door. Nora stood at the doorway, watching Nott give a little way goodbye, not phased by the snores around him, sleeping faster than she could say quidditch.
Shutting the door and seeing some of the other doors open, Nora turned, Atticus rubbing his eyes. "Was Avery drunk again?" He asked, leaning on the doorframe. Nora shook her head, explaining how it was Nott this time.
"I guess it's getting worse for them." Atticus shook his head in disbelief. Nora agreed with her best friend, walking closer as she saw some of the other boys in their year snore away.
"We'll be okay though, don't think we won't be." Nora told him, patting him on the shoulder. "Have fun on your date with McDonald, do you want me to help you with an outfit tomorrow?" Atticus nodded; almost being a little sad.
Walking back to her own dorm and laying in her bed, Nora wondered if being a death eater would mean she wouldn't be able to see James ever again, realizing she hasn't talk to him in a while, wondering what was going on with him.
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short chapter for today, only because I wanted Sirius and Nora to have a good apology, with a twist of Theodore Nott being drunk. I honestly really want to rewrite ( a lot ) of the beginning chapters, however I want to continue the journey of my writing being better ( or attempting to ). If there are any mistakes, point them out cause it was 2am when I wrote it.
See you soon!
-t:)