Her arm was itchy, ears ringing as she carefully walked through the corridors, finally being back to classes after Slughorn decided he should to. Nora knew it wasn't because of her father dying, but also because of the high blood pressure he's had, taking some time at St.Mungos. Unfortunately all potion classes were canceled for a while; and it made Nora feel worse than ever.
Nora Black was naturally a nervous girl, however her nerves have been on high, experiencing odd things happen to her every now and then. She couldn't quite understand it, but the mains thing she kept saying, was someone was controlling her and doing these things that she normally wouldn't.
The cold breeze hit her cheeks as she made her way to the great hall for dinner, noticing all the decorations that were now properly hung up, amazed by all the lights. "Did you know the muggles have a Santa?" Said James, coming beside her with all his friends.
"What the hell is that?" She asked, looking at Remus who would know more. "A magic man that eats cookies and gives you presents." Stunned by this new information, Nora always had a secret fascination for the muggle world, and this just proved there's more they don't know.
"Saint Nicholas they call him." James told her, Pettigrew agreeing. "Did he go to Hogwarts?" Nora asked, "because if he's magic, then of course."
"Nora! Don't fall for it, it's a made up thing. They did the same thing to me." Sirius said, covering his sisters ears from their lies. Nora gaped her mouth open, sneering at their laughter, watching them high five another.
"That was very rude of you, dicks." She spat, Sirius nodding in a agreement, watching his sister whip her hair so fast it could cut someone, walking towards the slytherin table. Sirius stopped her for a moment, smiling at regulus, having the face that seemed like a favour.
"You two are going to Grimmauld yes?" He asked; both of them looking at each other. Nora knew there was only one other place to attend to on Christmas Eve, unfortunately staying at Grimmauld this year.
"Of course." Nora gritted, comfortably placing her hands on her hips. "Okay good, I have a box in my room—"
"Your room? Mother locked it from the inside, nobody can get in or out." Regulus informed, cutting off his brother, Nora looking at him. Although they weren't getting along; Nora saw a spark of sympathy in his eyes, squinting to make sure it wasn't a star that twinkled above them.
He really did have sympathy in his eyes.
She felt her body become warm, Sirius groaning and deciding to leave, needing to rethink his plan, Nora finally able to eat, sitting in front of Atticus. It had been a while since she saw him, smiling as she began to eat.
"You look dreadful Nora." Jumping at Pandora appearing beside regulus, Nora pinched herself to make sure this wasn't a dream, wondering where she came from. "It's just been a long day." She announced, Evan nodding his head.
"What did you and Dumbledore talk about?" Atticus asked, finally speaking. Nora didn't know if she was able to speak with the presence of pandora, regulus nodding his head. "Oh er, not much; mostly talked to James' father and moody— and guess what ?"
Leaning forward, Nora was lucky to not have the Gryffindors right beside them, taking a second to say it. "James, wants to be an auror. Do you know what the Aurors are going right now? arresting those who are death eaters!" She gritted through teeth; biting her left index finger, beginning to massage her temples.
"What?" Regulus gasped, looking at Evan with misery. "They also here because they spotted Theo and Damon here." She whispered again, giving them all the insight. "Fuck me." Evan said, noticing how they were indeed still here, roaming the castles.
"We have to be a lot sneakier, I also made terrible jokes so that didn't make it any better." Nora added, regulus not wanting to eat anymore. She didn't even begin to wait, needing to highlight all the things that went wrong, shaking her head.
Nora felt too warm, needing to leave this conversation, getting up and leaving the great hall, needing to clear her head, standing at the edge of the corridor before going outside to the courtyard. The snow was peacefully falling and melting, not sticking to the grass; but still very pretty to witness.
"Nora, none of this is your fault." Evan said, coming towards her. "Yes it is, everything that has happened in my life, had been because it's always my fault." She spoke, turning towards him.
"You didn't ask for this, you're trying to protect your brothers and I get it. Hell I'm also trying to protect regulus, and you." He expressed, Nora rolling her eyes. "You're only saying that because you fancy me."
"Maybe, but also because you've been the sister I've never had, a sibling like no other. You've known me since birth and i'm so thankful for you." Nora smiled for a second, letting him talk again. " We're all going through something scary but now isn't the time to dwell on the past or those we need, which is why the dark lord is going to know about potter or later."
Not you too Evan.
"I mean no offence when I say this, however it's something to definitely think about when we go home, he's going to want an update on your situation, what if he reads your mind?"
"Then I'm screwed." Nora said without hesitation, eyes softening as she hands went cold, not because of the coldness outside; but because of the goosebumps and cold wave that hit her like a ton of bricks. "Exactly." Evan said, scratching his
left forearm.
"I'm not sure I can do this."
James didn't raise questions when he watched Nora storm out, rosier trickling behind her, wondering what was happening to her. Except she never tells him the truth, he began to caught on after the way she lied with Nott and Avery needing relationship advice on parents; knowing damn well they could flatter anyone with the drop of a hat.
He was growing suspicious of Nora and the way she and her friends acted, especially after the way she sat with her father and Dumbledore; she dodged questions. No matter what; James had a feeling the spark in their relationship was fading, for Nora at least.
Walking back to the dorms, James heard mumbles that echoed, hearing two people argue. "Are you kidding me? She's just a girl Albus, you can't make her do that." It was his father, screwing up his face when he wished he saw the situation.
"Nora Black is essential to this organization Monty, think about it. She's still dating your son; wouldn't you want her on the right side of this war? She could be a death eater by the end of winter break and nobody would know except us to have her on our side."
James held his breath, panting a little heavier than he planned, stunned by the words that came out of Dumbledores mouth, hearing his pain in the words.
"You've watched this girl already go down the wrong path; not to mention she's taking care of regulus, Rosier and Bulstrode. That's her real family and you think you can just take her and leave the rest with the dark lord? Have you not see the pain in her eyes or the way she's already lost a brother, and not to mention her father? She's just a girl."
Stunned by the way his father was so passionate, their voices carried; James peeking around the corner, noticing them leaning on the wall as if it was a casual conversation.
"The dark lord waits for nobody Monty. And he won't spare Nora for her relationship with your son. Don't put your own feelings into this war, we won't win if you keep thinking like this."
James turned away from the conversation, his stomach and head hurting a little, wanting to talk to Nora about this, and yet he couldn't— he didn't want to, not fully understanding the obsession Dumbledore has towards her. His father was right, if he truly did care about her, he would've done something years ago for her, and it's a shame nobkdy took care of this girl before.
He saw the way Nora was losing her happiness, her mind in fact. All the bruises and cuts she's faced, sacrificing herself for Sirius to be where he is today. James saw how much she loved the boys that take care of her on a regular basis, wishing one of them was her actual brother. He didn't understand Nora completely but he did know things nobody else knew, and it was always there little secret.
Being only 17, he was quite young to know what love was, the infatuation he had on Lily Evans was quite different, but he couldn't help but wonder why his first crush lingered on his mind when he thought of Nora. James was beginning to compare Nora to Lily, and that scared him.
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don't you guys love canon stories? I sure don't, however I love suffering with writing these chapters. You have no idea how many times I've cried. I'm already up to ch.90, however with finals this week there will be no updates until FRIDAY! I know it's very long from now but I most focus on my studies as well.
if you want to, leave your theories for the next few chapters! I want to see what you're thinking about and how this story is going to go. see you all soon xx