two sixth year surprises

✧

AS SHE ALWAYS DID, SHE COUNTED DOWN THE DAYS UNTIL SEPTEMBER FIRST. While she loved summer, and loved spending time with her dad since she didn't get to see him at all practically during the school year, she was terribly disconnected from that world. The majority of her year was spent at Hogwarts, and so that was where her life was.

         Her friends, her interests, and anything she liked to do on the weekends was there and not at home. She wasn't quite good at making friends until she met Lucille, so she didn't have any childhood buddies that she could spend time with, and though some shops always remained the same others redecorated or closed and others opened so everything felt new and she felt out of place.

         But Hogwarts never changed. Professors came and left, as did students, but the general atmosphere was always the same and she always knew what to expect. Lucille would be by her side, as would Loren, and Regulus would meet her in the Room of Requirement to watch Disney movies since he was terribly uneducated in the matter.

         Those things never happened at home, because Regulus was never allowed out of the house and never to the home of a probably muggleborn. That was simply against the law. Loren would come by and they would hang out a lot during summer, but his family also spent weeks away in France of Italy for vacations and Lucille's family didn't quite like her either. But they would be together at school, so school was what she always waited for.

         And when the fated day finally arrived, she was more than ready for it. Her bags had been mostly packed for a week, some final touches to go like her hairbrush and some of her favorite shirts, and her schoolwork completed long before September.

         She was ready – the only thing missing was her mother's old bracelet she always wore. She wasn't sure why she insisted on wearing it, her mother ran away from their home when she was young – too young – and had never been seen again. Though Nadia used to dream of her, and would leave a light on for her in case she came back in the middle of the night, nothing ever happened.

         It was always just a little girl being disappointed every night and her father picking her back up. But her bracelet – silver and plain – always stayed on her wrist.

         It shouldn't, she knew that, but she never had the heart to abandon it, so she wore it and reminded herself that her father gave it to her and even though it was her mother's, he was the one who gifted it to her. She was honoring and remembering him, not her, so she kept it on forever.

         "Ready to go?" her father gave her a kind smile, and she knew that he was trying to keep it all in because every year he held her tightly before she left for the train, tears in his eyes.

         It made her feel guilty for being so excited to go back, knowing that he didn't have anyone here when she was gone. He always had such excitement when she came home for Christmas and summer, and such sadness when he had to send her away again that the guilt poured into her gut and refused to leave. But he would tell her to stop feeling guilty for being happy at school, even though it caused him some loneliness. She comforted herself with the fact that this was her sixth year and after the next she wouldn't leave him alone anymore.

         "I'm ready," she confirmed, nodding her head and tightening her grasp on one of her bags.

         "Alright then. Don't want you to be late."

         He grabbed her trunk, tugging it along with him as she followed behind until they reached the car. Though wizards preferred flying, and never used such things as cars, but she always liked it more. Flying made her stomach sick, and poofing in and out – while useful – gave her a freight when someone else did it. But driving...driving was relaxing, and gave her time to think, and it was perfectly muggle in every way.

         Her dad turned the radio on, and she hummed along with the music as he began to drive to Kings Cross as she zoned out thinking about the year to come. She was a prefect, which meant late nights, but late nights spent with Loren so they wouldn't be unbearable. He always made her laugh, and would be a cheer at night in the dark. She would be specializing, because classic classes were over and she could choose every class she wanted, which meant no more Herbology for her.

         As they pulled into the station, once again her dad grabbed her trunk and she got her bags, nerves playing inside her along with excitement for her sixth year. It was hard to believe that time had flown so fast, and the eleven-year-old girl that started there had grown into her. It seemed like centuries, but it hadn't been.

         They got to platform nine-and-three-quarters, wherein she turned to her father and gave him the beginning of a teary smile. She hated the fact that muggles weren't allowed on the platform, only wizards, which meant she had to say goodbye to him before she even entered, leaving her alone, but he never said anything bad about it so she refrained from mentioning it.

         "This is your stop," he noted, eyes turning to her as he raised his arms, "Come 'ere."

         She practically ran into his arms, feeling them envelope as she crushed his ribs with her grip. This was always the worst part about Hogwarts. He chuckled before grabbing her arms and wheezing out, "Too tight, Nadia, let me breathe!"

         Laughing a little, she let him go and he gave her a kind smile. "Sorry," she apologizing, "I'm just gonna miss you."

         "I know. I'll miss you too, but it'll be alright. We'll make it through the year," he promised her and she smiled at him again. Howard Greene was an absolute optimist, always looking on the bright side that summer would come again rather than the dark side which told him that he would be alone for another school year again.

         She gave him another hug, hating the thought of her father coming back from work to an empty house again for another school year while she got to be with her friends and never had to be alone. It was hard to find quiet time at Hogwarts, after all.

         "Oh, don't be sad, darling. You've got so much to look forward to! You've got your fancy badge to be a prefect, and your friends are gonna be there," he tried to cheer her up but she shook her head.

         "But you won't be there."

         He softened. "I know I won't, but I'm always here if you need me – just one letter away."

         "That's too far," she whined, pouting her lips a little.

         "You'll be alright," he reiterated, "You'll forget about me the moment you get on the train. You'll be okay."

         "What about you, though?" she asked him and he sighed, as he always did when she asked that question, on the same platform every year.

         "I can keep myself busy. Now, come on, don't worry about me. You've got to catch your train," he motioned to the wall she was supposed to go through but she shook her head again.

         "I've got some time still."

         "Well, just in case, you better go on ahead," he paused, eyes watering as he looked at her, "I love you, Nadia, have a good year."

         He brought her into another hug – their final one – and he held her tightly and kissed her forehead. "Love you, too," she echoed before letting go, taking her trunk from him and sending him one last look before racing into the wall only to appear on the other side, finally seeing the Hogwarts Express.

         She wiped away any stray tears, putting the worst part behind her, and moving forward. Getting her trunk on the train, she moved through throughout it, looking for an empty compartment since she knew her friends were still saying goodbye to their families.

         Finding one, she went inside and sat down, getting out a book she carried and beginning to read it to pass the time. It didn't do her away good because soon enough, the door opened and with a huff, Lucille fell into the seat on the other side, giving her a look.

         Nadia blinked, "Well that's certainly an entrance."

         "My mother was driving me crazy. Fixing my hair and straightening up my shirt as if anyone cares what I look like on the train!" Lucille ranted, shaking her head.

         Laughing, Nadia shook her head. "What a nightmare," she agreed before standing up, "Now give me a hug. I haven't seen you in such a long time."

         Though she rolled her eyes, Lucille did as told and the two friends embraced each other. "You saw me a few weeks ago but whatever."

         "And a few weeks ago is forever ago," Nadia continued, when they split, they sat down again and she asked, "So how was your summer anyway?"

         Lucille shrugged. "Fine. Mum kept trying to get me to meet some family with a son my age."

         Nadia wrinkled up her nose, "You're only sixteen."

         "I know! Apparently that's old enough to start thinking about my marital future. But I managed not to get out of meeting him, though it probably just means they'll spring him on me at Christmas," Lucille rolled her eyes just thinking about it, and Nadia nodded along with her pain.

         Every time she heard about Lucille's parents it made her even more appreciative of her father, though she wouldn't tell her friend that just in case.

         "Well, at least you'll have all of first semester to prepare," Nadia said, trying to be at least a little bit positive.

         Her friend made a noise of disagreement before ultimately nodding, so she took that as a good sign. "You know, I heard that Loren started dating Marlene."

         "McKinnon?" Lucille nodded, "Really? I was not expecting that..."

         "I wasn't either, but I saw his family about a week ago at a dinner and they were bringing up how Loren was dating someone. They didn't look very pleased, though."

         "I just didn't think that Marlene would be his type," Nadia blinked, "I mean – he's never taken a drink in his life but we all know what Marlene does on the weekend..."

         Lucille shrugged. "It's her life, but I agree. Just didn't seem like his thing, but whatever works for him."

         The train began to move and they jolted a little, laughing as they had to catch themselves. From the movement, Lucille's head moved to a different angle where she saw the badge that Nadia had put on prematurely.

         "Oh, right! You're a prefect, congrats!"

         "Thanks," she touched the badge, smiling with pride shining in her eyes, "I really didn't think I was going to get it."

         Lucille rolled her eyes. "How could you not? You follow like every rule in the book!"

         "At least that's what they think," Nadia giggled, "I mean. I knew it was gonna be Loren who got it, but I just didn't think I was up to his level."

         "Well, at least you thought one thing right; you're not on his level, you're above it," Lucille giggled at her and she shook her head though her cheeks burned with the little compliment.

         "Thanks. I'm really excited, though," Nadia added.

         Lucille nodded. "You've been wishing for this since you didn't get Head Girl – of course you're excited! I'd be a little concerned if you weren't."

         "Oh, shut it," Nadia playfully kicked her.

         "Alright, alright, but seriously – isn't there a Prefects meeting soon? Loren was saying that it was the whole reason he wouldn't be sitting with us."

         "Shit!" Nadia cursed, standing up, "You're so right! I completely forgot about it! Sorry, but I've gotta go."

         Lucille waved off her apology. "It's alright. I'll just go sit with Heather and Natalie."

         "That's a fate worse than death. I'm so sorry."

         "Go!" Lucille said instead of responding to Nadia's statement, though she did laugh at it.

         Nadia nodded, grabbing her bag and racing off to find where the meeting was held, looking through the compartments before she saw Loren's face turning towards the window. She stepped inside, glad that it looked like she wasn't the only one who had forgotten as more seats were available before sitting beside her friend.

         "And here I thought you'd be here before me," Loren whispered to her, a smirk in his eyes knowing that Nadia had forgotten, which was very unlike her most times.

         "Shut it. I was catching up with Lucille and it slipped my mind," Nadia hissed at him, which only causing him to throw his head back in laughter.

         "I just can't believe that you – Nadia Greene – forgot about this! I mean, you've wanted this more than me!"

         "Maybe so, but you were also waiting around for it," Nadia turned it back on him.

         Loren shrugged, not disagreeing with it at all. "I just like having positions of power and exclusivity. It's the whole reason I've been sucking up to Slughorn these pasts years."

         "Ugh," Nadia rolled her eyes thinking about their professor, "Did it work?"

         "Course it did! I've guaranteed my place in the Slughorn Club now! It just means another year of Potions which'll be a bore, but I can handle it," Loren smiled proudly at her.

         "Well, good for you. Wish I had the ability to stand his bullshit for long periods of time like you, maybe then I'd also be in it."

         "We're allowed to bring dates sometimes, I'll take you," he promised.

         She raised an eyebrow. "And not your girlfriend? I heard you started seeing Marlene."

         He blushed a little. "It's not what you think, so stop giving me that look. Marlene's just helping me keep my parents off my back, because you know they didn't like anything about her. It's not because I actually like her or anything."

         "Oh? So who do you like?" Nadia raised an eyebrow.

         "I'm not answering that question," Loren turned away from her, shaking his head a little. She would have kept pestering him for information is McGonagall hadn't officially started their meeting as a few stragglers came in.

         She looked around at the other houses' prefects. Lily Evans made sense for Gryffindor, as did Clarissa Holloway for Slytherin. The others were a bit iffy, but she supposed they worked as well.

         The meeting went on, Nadia zoning in and out, until McGonagall said, "Starting this year, to promote unity with other houses, you will not be paired with the other prefect from your house. Instead, you have been assigned to another partner."

         Nadia sat up in alarm, eyes widening because she was fully expecting to spend her time with Loren – had even prepared for it. Why would she think it could be anyone else? Loren was the other Ravenclaw prefect, so why would she prepare to spend time with anyone else?

         As she looked around the room, others began to whisper as well, not enjoying this idea either. Loren was the only one who looked a little positive about it, but that was probably because he got along with everyone.

         McGonagall began to list everyone's partners and Nadia felt her heart speed up in her chest. This was not what she was expecting at all. "Lorenzo Donavan and Clarissa Holloway."

         She felt her heart drop from him. Everyone hated Clarissa Holloway, or at least didn't like her very much. Even Loren didn't look pleased about this idea anymore, locking eyes with Clarissa who began to assess him.

         She waited for her name to be called, even more fearful now because of what happened to him, and then –

         "Nadia Greene...Sirius Black."

         Her head had never snapped faster, finding her eyes on the disgraced son of the Black family.

         Fuck.