A few weeks of peace went by, well, for Sawyer, that is.
Seventh and Fifth years were extremely nervous- besides George and Fred, that is, they were "chill about it"- for they had O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts up ahead of them. Hermione was the only one that had that much on her head, and Sawyer once checked her timetables for the exam- she had multiple exams at the same time- noting the necklace around her neck.
"You know, it's extremely hard getting Time-Turners, I'm surprised they've given it to you." Hermione seemed alarmed that Sawyer said it, but Remus entered the hall at that moment, and she excused herself from the table as she walked up to him.
"Good morning Sawyer," he greeted, not halting as he walked to the staff's table, "are you just coming to see my lovely face, or is there something you'd like to tell me?"
"Of course that seeing your face is a benefit, Remus," Sawyer told him, grabbing his arm. "But could we talk in private?"
"Is it urgent?" he wondered, glancing at the table.
"Not really," Sawyer mused, though in some ways Remus needed to know it, and he should've known it before, probably.
"Then let's discuss it after you exam tomorrow," Remus patted her shoulder.
"You mean, right before the third years' exam?"
"Err, right," Remus hummed. "Just drop by at my office tomorrow's evening, how about that?"
"Sure," she sighed. He'd know either way, and maybe it was a sign that she should've kept quiet. The centaurs were probably right, they shouldn't mess with what was already written in the stars. "Well, see ya."
Remus patted her shoulder, and she turned away, her heart squeezing in her chest almost painfully. She still cared for him too much.
Oliver was sitting at the table when she returned, setting down a roll with Sawyer's hand writing on it. He eventually gave in and allowed her to write down the subjects he needed for his N.E.W.Ts, and that surprisingly helped him study much more than the books did.
"Hi," he greeted her, scooting over and getting her a free space, much too small, but soon the rest of them scooted away, freeing a large enough spot for them not to squeeze. It seemed that Oliver and Sawyer became the most popular couple in the Gryffindor tower, and everyone were making sure that they had romantic atmoshpere at all times; it was ridiculous, and Ginny Weasley teamed up with Katie Bell and Lavander Brown to get them the sofa closest to the fire at the common room every evening.
"Heyo," she smiled, sitting down, kissing his cheek.
There was a short 'aw' coo, much like most girls of Gryffindor done these days half the time, that came from the Hufflepuff table as well.
Sawyer and Oliver both turned to look over at the group that cooed, and they quickly averted their gaze- quite comically, if Sawyer had to say so.
"I swear, this whole school are just a bunch of crazy people," Sawyer mumbled, making Oliver laugh as Fred and George sauntered over, calmer than anyone but Sawyer.
"You guys have your Potions exam today, don't you?" Oliver frowned as he watched them.
"Yeah."
"So why are you so calm? It's your OWLs." Fred shrugged, loading his plate.
"It's just OWLs, not like we're gonna do something that requires us having O in every subject."
"And what about your girlfriend?" George wondered, pointing at Sawyer with his fork.
"Hey, no pointing at me with sharp objects!" she warned him, as Oliver turned to look at her.
"Oh yeah, what's with it? You've been busy with my exams and didn't study for yours." Oliver seemed guilty, glancing at the neatly written paper in front of him.
"You're forgetting I've been helping students from pretty much year, I know pretty much every subject in O.W.Ls level, if not N.E.W.Ts."
"You're a nerd," Lee stated as he sat next to them, over-hearing the last sentence. "We all know that."
"Shut up Jordan," she told him, pointing her wand at him playfully.
"Should I take down points from Gryffindor, Ms. Wilde?" Snape's voice loomed over in his monotone drawl, and she turned to him, a flash passing her mind, making her stay silent for a moment. She was curious about his past, more so than his future.
"Certainly not, sir, I was just showing Lee my new wand, he hasn't realized that I bought a new one."
"You've shown him, get it away from my sight now."
"Yes sir," she grinned quite cheekily as he walked off, and the four looked between them for a moment.
"I'm pretty sure his hate for you is stronger than for most Gryffindors."
"Yeah, it's just old grudge."
They knew better than to question it any further by that point.
::
Two wizards came through the castle doors, followed closely by Sawyer, who was dead-set on speaking with Minister Fudge. One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin back mustache. Sawyer recognized them as representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, because the very old wizard squinted toward Hagrid's cabin and said in a feeble voice, "Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this....Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?"
The black-mustached man was fingering something in his belt; a sharpened axe.
"Excuse me?" Sawyer hurried past Harry, Hermione and Ron. "Minister Fudge?"
"Dear Merlin! Amanda Wilde?"
"Sawyer Wilde," she corrected, offering a hand to shake, "her daughter. She died during my labour," she lied so easily it almost worried her, almost. "I have something to discuss with you, if you could please make some time?"
"Of course, of course, Amanda was a childhood friend of mine, you know. Her mother, your grandmother, was second cousin to my aunt. We're somewhat of a family!"
"I've never known!" Sawyer said in fake-surprise, rolling with him. "Have you got some free time for me then, please?"
"Of course, are you done with your exams for the day?"
"Yes, my last exam was this morning," she smiled, thinking about the great Care of Magical Creatures exam, and he nodded.
"We have quite a while until the appeal's starting, then let's go ahead and discuss it. Would you mind if I checked with the Dementors in the mean-while?"
"Of course not," she smiled, the two starting to walk, "it's actually about the centaurs, see..."
::
"So it's settled," Bada smiled widely, "they're giving us more grounds."
"Yes, I told you, you could count on me," Sawyer grinned. "I think you should know it's probably temporary, but as long as Fudge's the minister─"
"That won't be forever," Bane spoke bitterly, "and then we'll have our grounds reduced. Again."
"By the time Fudge's out of his job, I'll be a Seventh year, and the plan would already be starting to set motion, I'm certain you could survive to that point."
"I suppose," Bada sighed, and the three turned to glance at the rest of the centaurs, who were standing back. "Thank you Sawyer, I'm glad we've met."
"I'm glad to know you too, Bad," she grinned at the centaur. She took liking in him, he was hot-tempered and quite funny, "okay, tonight's the full moon, so it's happening. I'm gonna play it up a bit against myself, I'd hate to see him die."
"He won't die, he'll have his soul taken away."
"Which is the exact reason I can play it up," she winked at Bada, who laughed, as Bane shook his head with a smile. "I'm dropping off at the werewolves' territory to grab that stupid cat of mine, anything I should let them know about the new territories?"
"No," Bane sighed. "Tell them to meet us at the neutral territory, the new territory assignments by Fudge interfer with their hunting habits, we'll have to change up the borders a bit."
"Tomorrow, mid-day?" Sawyer asked, starting to walk off.
"Thanks Sawyer!" Bada nodded as she waved, starting to trail back to the pack. The moon was starting to show behind clouds, the North star shining brighter than the rest. Sawyer paused for a moment, tracking the second star to the right, sighing into the soft evening breeze.
She never did too well on the broom, which saddened her, since she always loved flying. That's why she enjoyed the lesson about Hippogriffs the year prior, and why she was excited for Sixth years' course of Care of Magical Creatures. She could always fly on Ace though, she supposed.
Sawyer shut her eyes, sighing again, before proceeding in her trail, soon meeting Meeko half-way, followed by Agambir, who was about to take watch.
"Agambir, the Centaurs are looking forward for meeting you tomorrow to discuss borders and territories, at neutral ground, of course." Agambir seemed wary of the idea, "don't worry, I already discussed it with Bada and Bane, and I have their word that they will not harm any of you. If they do, they'll lose quite a bit, so make an effort, for me? They're doing it because the Ministry assigned new territories for the forest, and it interfers with your hunting grounds. They're meeting you half-way, Ag. So make an effort?"
He howled a bitter agreement, making Sawyer grin, ruffling up his fur.
"Remember the big picture, okay?"
He howled back something quite similar to Okay, and she grinned, walking off.
The big picture.
Too bad it was almost too complicated for even Sawyer herself.