a/n: another chapter! i trying really hard to just get this shit over with lolol. published november 20, 2016
"So how was Remus?" Darcy asked the morning of going to King's Cross. She pushed her heavy cart, trying her hardest not to run into the no-Majs that were constantly swarming the place.
Ophelia's lips turned downward. It was three days after since she left to take care of him. "He's not doing well. I don't have the area of space to release him with me without humans around."
"Oh," said Darcy, "does that mean he's been scratching himself more often?"
A light sniffle came from Ophelia's mouth. Darcy had no idea that it would strike such a feeling so she was quite the rest of the walk to Platform 9 3/4.
"Philly," said Darcy when they came across a brick wall that only said Platform nine, "Where's nine and three quarters?"
The Weasley's plus Harry and Hermione had caught up with the two.
"You just go through the wall right here," sadi Ron who was poijting at the same wall she was in front of.
Darcy threw a look of disbelief at the Weasley's and Ophelia. "For real?"
Ron, Harry, and Hermione looked around the place, chatting unconspiciously as they pushed their carts through the brick wall and disappeared. Darcy's eyes widened when Ophelia started pushing her through with Ginny and the twins.
"But--whoa!" Darcy squealed, her eyes scanning the very different terrain of the train station.
"Amazing, isn't it?" said Ginny, holding tight to her elbow. "Everyone's got the same reaction."
"It really is!" Darcy replied, staring amazingly around.
They walked several more steps. Darcy took notice of the familiar faces, and the odd glances that were given back to her--or most likely Ophelia.
"The trains boarding, loves!" Mrs. Weasley said, shoving off Ginny and Darcy forward to the nearest train door. "I'll go get the man to put your luggage away--oh Ginny! Ron's got Pig, right?"
"Right, mum," Ginny agreed, pulling herself onto the train
"Fred, George, take good care. Don't do anything stupid."
"Yes, mum," they said, following Ginny.
Ophelia turned over to Darcy, brushing off her shoulders. "I'll see you at Hogwarts, alright?"
Darcy nodded, glancing around her more feverishly. "Alright."
"I'm just going off to see Remus at the Three Broomstick, so I won't be there to greet you."
This time, Darcy really got the feeling that there was something going on between Ophelia and Remus. She boarded the train, trying her hardest not to run into to anyone.
Every compartment seemed to be full, except for a boy that she caught that was sitting by himself. Her eyes narrowed, realizing that this was Neville Longbottom. Quickly, Darcy opened the compartment door and pushed herself inside.
Neville looked shocked, with his cactus right by his feet.
"Hello!" said Darcy, "Did I scare you?"
"Oh, uhm," he stuttered, "no..."
Taking a seat across from him, Darcy stared intently at him. He was very frightened, maybe because she had Slytherin robes?
"Well, I'm Darcy--"
"Darcy Black," finished Neville, eyeing her suspiciously. "My gran talks about your aunt a lot..."
Raising an eyebrow, Darcy says, "She does?"
"She's quite interested in the Black family, really," said Neville, though it was a meek attempt to make conversation. "Always said that Sirius wouldn't kill muggles, because he married one..." His cheeks flushed again.
"Oh well," Darcy said stiffly, "I don't believe he was ever with You-Know-Who. Like your gran said, my father married a muggle...Hey, what is that?"
Neville glanced over at his plant, that looked like a cactus but had boils instead. "Mimbulus Mimbletonia," he said, "gran got it for me. It's very rare."
It wasn't very interesting, Darcy only tried to make conversation with him.
"Hey, Neville," she said lightly. Darcy thought that this moment may be right... "I know what happened to your parents, and I just wanted to say I'm so sorry..."
Neville's face became a shade redder, and he began to scoot farhter way. "I appreciate your kind words, Darcy, but I don't want to-to t-talk about it."
DArcy stood, already knowing that Neville didn't like her very much, especially since she was Slytherin. "Oh, I understand," she hastily said, carrying her bag. "I just wanted to come in...and say that..." She opened the latch for the door and stepped out.
"And, Darcy!" Neville called out. "Please don't tell anyone. Please."
Darcy caught the look of sadness that overcame his chubby face. "I'm sorry I brought it up, Neville. I won't tell a soul."
. . .
It was when Darcy saw the woman giving out candy, and Ron was there trying to pick a few candies that she knew she was in the safe. Making her way behind the lady, she finally caught Ron's attention.
"Where've you been," he said, giving the lady a few galleons. "Mione's been worried that you were caught by the other Slytherins."
Darcy shrugged and said, "Got caught up." She wiggled her way through the lady, excusing her intrsion and finally got into the cart with Harry and Hermione. She took her seat by Harry, who was writing a letter.
"For Sirius?" Darcy asked, pulling on her Slytherin robes. "I suppose you guys found out," she said to Hermione and Ron.
"Sure did," drawled Ron. He popped a few pieces of candy into his mouth.
"By the way," said Hermione, "how was Ophelia and Remus? They're doing okay?"
Darcy nodded and pulled her feet closer to her chest. "Doing just fine," she mumbled, trying her hardest to keep wake. She didn't realize how tired she was.
. . . .
1974
From here on Fourth
_________________
This was the year that changed for Ophelia and Sirius Black. It was the first year that they were planning to stay at the Potter's house after school ended. Ophelia was much more happy, and she was more confident when mentioned about her family.
"Blood traitors," Ophelia mocked in her most shrill voice at the Great Hall during Study Hall. "That's what you two are! Bastard and traitor, oh I should've known!"
James cracked up, his eyes watering as Ophelia's hair into a white blonde like Walburga's. "I love when you do that thing with your hair," he said, picking up a strand of hair. He'd been doing that as a habit, and Ophelia didn't mind.
Ophelia focused on changing her hair to a light brown. "I know you do, princess," she teased back, whacking his hand from her hair. "Sadly, I'm a prize way outta your league."
James mockingly gave her a look of offence. "But I'm a princess!" he defended. "I think I'm in your league!"
"I wouldn't go around saying you're a princess, James," warned Sirius from across the table.
Ophelia shoved James' shoulder playfully, her hand brushing his. He looked alarmed, since Ophelia never really showed this much affection with him.
"How's Remus?" Ophelia asked, though she stayed silent when Professor McGonagall came by to check on the four.
Peter was the first to respond. "He's doing okay. Ms. Pomfrey said he'd be back tomorrow, if he wanted to."
Ophelia nodded and squeezed James hand from under the table.
Over the summer, James had become increasingly involved in Ophelia's family. He's asked numerous times how she was doing through letters. Even sent her some gifts, like cookies that his mother had made. Sirius tended to ask why she was writing so much, and her excuse was: "I'm writing a manuscript for the ministry."
"What're you writing about?" he asked, quietly sneaking into her small room.
"Muggle-borns, half-bloods, and pure-bloods. Experiences from a girl in a pure-blood family."
Sirius peaked closer at the paper she writing on. It wasn't a story, but a letter. "Oh really?"
Covering her letter, Ophelia glared at him, her hair tainted a slight pink. "Go back outside, Sirius. I'm sure the little muggle kids are bored out of their minds when your not around."
Sighing, Sirius jumped onto her bed. "So you've been writing James," he taunted, rolling around and meeting her surprised yet annoyed face. "He's been sending me letters too--can't stop talking about your 'beautiful, precious hair'."
At that comment, Ophelia's cheeks flushed red. "He said that?"
"Yeah. Plus, 'I'm worried about her'...blah, blah, blah, 'you guys should come over next summer'."
"Oh really?" Ophelia said, dropping the feather she had. "I'd love to go to the Potters..."
. .
A few weeks spent into fourth year, and Ophelia and James were already more suspicious as they were when they first sat down at the Great Hall. Ophelia found it hard to not stay close to James, and he found it lovely to touch her hair.
"I can't wait for summer," whispered Ophelia, as she opened a book for animagus'. She snuggled closer to James, pulling a part of her blanket over to him. It was getting chilly by the Black Lake, a place they liked to spend their time alone.
James laid his back on a trunk of tress, his arm wrapped around Ophelia. "Mum and dad are curious to meet Sirius and you," he mumbled into her hair. He took notice that it began to tint with pink. It was a clear sign that she was a little flustered.
"I'm sure they'll love you," said James. "I can't wait to take you away from Walburga and Orion."
Ophelia glances up, her eyes kind and curious. She smiled shyly, and placed a hand on his hair. "I wouldn't mind, really. Maybe I'll publish a book about my family."
"Yeah, Sirius told me about that. Said you were trying to cover up writing a letter to me."
"You two really are like brothers!" Ophelia said. "Always telling each other everything."
"Aren't Hufflepuff's like that, though?" James counter-argued. "Loyal and honest!"
Ophelia elbowed James and straightened herself. "Everyone's loyal to something, James," she pointed out. "Like Sirius and I, we're loyal to you and Remus and Peter."
published november 20th, 2016