five merrily, she went

✧

ACADEMICS WERE A BREEZE TO NADIA. Her father always said she had the mind of her mother – not that she could verify – so all her classes can easily. Charms were a simple flick of the wrist, Transfiguration required strong willpower, Potions a diligent hand. DADA she struggled with, because the examples Professor Campbell brough to class required a certain set of bravery she wasn't quite confident in.

         By no means was Nadia a coward. She feared, but only what was logical, but she was cautious. Decisions had to be thought through, especially when dealing with deadly creatures or magic. One wrong turn and you could be dead. But, though they required diligent thinking, she rarely found time to. DADA wanted quick decisions, reflexes primed to fight back – there was no time to dawdle.

         Nadia Greene knew books. She memorized answers, practiced her spells, and knew how to write an amazing essay. It was a point of pride – Nadia Greene the muggleborn (or half-blood? She didn't really know) knew magic. It was in her blood, infected her brain, and she knew more than any pureblood around. No one could say Nadia didn't deserve to be a witch; she earned her blood.

         A thud brought her gaze from her book to the boy across from her. Regulus was always put together. Noble and proud he stood, but sometimes, when they were away from prying gazes, she had the right to see him fall apart. The younger boy groaned. Nadia raised an eyebrow.

         "You good?"

         Regulus' eyes flickered up. He looked thoroughly unamused. "Fantastic. Can't you tell?"

         If she could count on Regulus to be anything, it would be sarcastic. Dry witted, quick lipped, and sarcastic Regulus Black whom she had known for years. Ever since he came of age and earned a seat at Hogwarts, struggling with his Charms homework. Nadia leaped at the opportunity to tutor someone – Professor Flitwick would surely give her a good recommendation for Prefect or Head Girl in the future – and there she met eleven-year-old Regulus Black.

         He wasn't eleven anymore. Fourth year suited him, the gangly boy growing into his newfound height, cheekbones becoming defined, and stare fitting his face instead of looking too old for a boy.

         "Thought I'd ask," she shrugged, "But, if you don't need any help, I could leave you alone..."

         Her voice trailed off, eyes flitting over to the entrance of the library. Regulus stared at her for a moment before caving. "Fine. I don't understand why Magical Theory has to be so difficult."

         It's not, her mind supplied at first, but she refrained from mentioning that aloud. She knew she was lucky to understand her classes without much studying. Part of it was academic inclination, other part determination to succeed. If she didn't study, she could pass fine. Average, unknown, cruising through school. But Nadia didn't just want to cruise; she wanted to soar.

         "What are you guys learning about?"

         "I couldn't tell you."

         "Come on, you must know – you've been to class."

         "Yeah, but that doesn't mean I've stayed awake. I mean, I thought Ghoul Studies was a bore, but this...? I can hardly stay awake."

         "Regulus!"

         "It's not my fault," he defended himself, scrunching up his nose. "Blame Northcott. He's the reason I can't stay awake."

         Nadia glowered at him. Regulus refused to be swayed. Eventually, she rolled her eyes, and the stalemate ended. "Education is important. Don't fall asleep."

         "You sound like my mother," he muttered.

         She frowned. Regulus didn't speak much of his family. She knew the basics; his parents held very high expectations for their children, doubling down after disowning their first son. Sirius was gone from his life, but Remelda was still there. They were very close, but she had never met Remelda herself. She had never met anyone important in Regulus' life.

         In some ways, she felt like his dirty little secret. Regulus hated her that first year, demanding she never tell a soul she was tutoring him. He was an incredibly difficult client and almost made her quit multiple times and ask Flitwick to find someone else to tutor him before laying down the law in the best possible way she knew. Still, even after that hatred turned into a tentative friendship, they didn't speak openly, nor did they intermingle friend groups.

         She studied with him, sometimes introduced him to muggle films, but it was always alone. Lucille and Loren never joined, neither did his friends. She didn't speak a word about him, and she was sure he never spoke about her.

         "I just think education is important," she stiffly replied. Her dad didn't understand what she was being taught, but always seemed proud when she explained her work to him or how she got top marks. School is the stepping stone for a good career, he told her growing up. Those were words to live by.

         "I suppose," Regulus mused, displeased with the notion, "Doesn't make it interesting."

         "I don't see why you're struggling with Magical Theory – you're brilliant at spells."

         "Yes, but that's casting. In the moment, I don't have to think about what I'm doing or the practical implications of them, but this class – there are times to think about stuff, and times to just do. Magic involves doing," he stated clearly.

         She frowned. "I disagree."

         "Of course you do."

         "Oi!"

         "You always like to think."

         "I just think it's good to think through my actions," she said carefully, "I don't want to choose wrong."

         Regulus rolled his eyes. "Not everything has a right and wrong."

         "But not everything has a good outcome," she countered, "I don't want to make a mistake based off one rash decision."

         "You're exhausting."

         "And you're procrastinating. Get to work."

         She tapped his textbook with a quill. He looked less than thrilled at the thought of getting back to work. "It's not due until next week," he said, "I could wait."

         "Would waiting make it any better?" she asked, amusement spreading through her tone as her lips quirked upwards.

         "No, but it would make me feel better now to not do it," he frowned, "You could help me Saturday."

         She shook her head. "Saturday's the Hogsmeade trip."

         "Yeah, but you can skip one trip, can't you? To help your friend?" Regulus batted his eyelashes.

         "You wish," Nadia laughed, "But I have a date Saturday. So, as you can see, my calendar is full."

         He leaned forward. "A date? You never mentioned anything about that."

         "I haven't seen you recently," she shrugged, unable to stop the smile forming on her face, "But yes, I have a date. And I'm not too excited about it to cancel. I could always help you Sunday?"

         "Quidditch practice," he shook his head, "Homework doesn't matter anymore – how are you going on it with?"

         "Remus Lupin," she smiled brightly. The Remus Lupin had agreed to go on date – with her! Nadia Greene! Lucille laughed at her reaction when Sirius told her the news, but she couldn't help herself. Remus Lupin had only been her crush for six years ever since picked up her quill she dropped.

         He had the right eyes – doe brown, totally dreamy – and the right nose, the scar he had on it added to his attractiveness. And Remus was smart. Not only that; determined. If Nadia was Goldilocks, then Remus was just right.

         "Remus, eh?" Regulus quirked up a brow, "How'd that happen?"

         She bit her lip. "Your brother, actually," she confessed, "We're both Prefects, and for whatever reason, Hogwarts wants to promote house unity so we've been paired together for watches. He agreed to set me up with Remus if I warmed up to him a bit more."

         "Ah," Regulus acknowledged, leaning back. She frowned, the good mood fading. He never quite mentioned what exactly happened between him and Sirius. Eleven-year-old Regulus quietly admitted a hero-worship for his brother, but fourteen-year-old Regulus was determined not to mention him.

         "Sirius."

         Nadia nodded. "Yeah, Sirius," she repeated, "It's not like we're friends or anything, though. Strictly professional."

         "Right," Regulus nodded, "Not that I've ever known Sirius to be professional..."

         She almost hadn't caught the last bit, as he muttered it under his breath. Still, she did, and a frown formed on her features. "Well, I'm always professional," she snipped.

         Regulus could have a million problems with his brother, but the moment he questioned her character, she snapped. Nadia Greene was poised and professional – not willy-nilly. She didn't slack off, she didn't crack jokes, she followed the rules. If Regulus knew her at all, he would know this.

         His eyes flickered to hers, "That's not what I meant."

         "But it's what you said."

         "I didn't mean anything against you."

         "It really felt like it though. You may not like him, but I have to work with him, so I will take advantage of the situation and attempt to have a positive relationship with him. I rather like not suffering."

         Her lips pursed, flipping to the next page of her book. Regulus and Sirius might be brothers, but they weren't friends, and that wasn't her damn problem. Regulus stared at her for another minute before returning to his work, conversation stopped. She found she didn't mind. Silence was preferrable to bickering.

✧

         "UP OR DOWN?" Nadia asked, grabbing a handful of her hair to show how it looked in both choices. Her eyes flickered to Lucille's through the mirror, watching her friend's contemplated face.

         "Down," Lucille decided, coming up to straighten Nadia's skirt, "You look cute."

         "Thank you!" she smiled brightly, "I got this jumper over summer. Thought I'd be good for a first impression."

         Lucille softly shook her head, walking away to brush her own hair. Nadia stood in front of the mirror, bringing her fingers through her hair to perfect it, criticizing her outfit. Saturday had come with the Hogsmeade trip, and while that usually meant a Honeyduke's run and butterbeer from The Three Broomsticks. Sometimes they would go to the bookshop, or Zonko's, but most times they didn't have the spare money.

         "You meeting up with Loren?" she asked, moving on from the mirror to lace up her boots.

         "Yeah, but Marlene McKinnon is tagging along," Lucille rolled her eyes, "I mean, I know they're dating, but they don't have to do everything together."

         "We've hung out plenty of times without Marlene there, Luc. Besides, it's one day, and it's Hogsmeade."

         "But I know they're going to leave me alone, and then I won't have anyone to hang out with. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy you finally got your date with Remus, but now I'll be all alone."

         Nadia gave her a look. "They're not going to leave you alone."

         "Yes, they are. Couples always do because they don't want some lame third wheel tagging along – and I'm the lame third wheel," Lucille stressed, pointing at herself, "Besides, I don't know what he even sees in her."

         Nadia pursed her lips to keep from smiling. Loren told her directly that he didn't care for Marlene in that way. She was sure they got along, but Lucille was right; Marlene McKinnon was not his type, and he definitely didn't see anything romantic in her. But this – seeing how frustrated Lucille was over Loren, she couldn't help but internally chuckle.

         "You aren't lame."

         "But I am a third wheel."

         "I think you're overreacting. I bet they'll hang out with you all day, won't step foot to go out on their own," Nadia wagered.

         Lucille rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right," she scoffed, "But fine. A bet you say? If I'm right, I get one of your sugar quills."

         "Not my sugar quills," Nadia frowned, backing up a little, "Alright. But if I win, you pay for my butterbeer next Hogsmeade trip."

         "Deal," Lucille brought out her hand.

         Nadia took it. "Deal."

         She moved away, grabbing her bag then heading to the door. "Now that that's out of the way, you ready to go?"

         "As I'll ever be," Lucille muttered, but caught up with her.

✧

         REMUS WAS WAITING in the Courtyard nearest to the path to Hogsmeade. He looked like home. A red sweater that was a little too big, ruffled hair, and an ease about him that Nadia had a hard time finding for herself. Leaning against one of the pillars, her breath caught as she looked at him.

         If there was perfection on earth, it existed in the form of Remus Lupin.

         Lucille nudged her, breaking her out of the trance Remus placed her under. "Bye," she muttered to her friend before walking up to Remus. He got up from the pillar when he saw her, giving her a smile that she couldn't help but return.

         "Hi," she breathed out.

         "Hi."

         Any word she could think to form got caught in her throat. She had never really spoken to Remus before. Sure, they sometimes talked during class, or about projects, but those were conversations that came naturally to Nadia. They weren't personal, and they existed in a sphere she comfortably lived in.

         Dating, however, was not a sphere Nadia knew well. Frank Longbottom took her out once in fourth year, but the squids of the Black Lake didn't take kindly to him. Ken Blumenthal brought her stargazing, but he just droned on and on about constellations, dominating the conversation before asking if she'd like to do it again soon. She didn't. A few others, but nothing that clicked, only one hit wonders that went nowhere.

         Remus cleared his throat. "I was thinking we'd go to Madam Puddifoot's, if that's alright with you?"

         No one had brought her there before. Of course, she knew it. The little teashop of Hogsmeade she had seen many couples go to. Lucille had Gregory Lynch bring her there last year, and her review was plain. It was nice, but she preferred the bustle of a tavern. Loren called it an easy date that chicks dug. That earned him a whack to the head.

         "I've never been there before," she told him, "But I'd like to go there with you."

         Remus smiled easily, laughed even easier, and it sounded like angels singing. Remus' hand found hers, and merrily she went with him. Any date with Remus Lupin was bound to be perfect...right?

         (Except it wasn't perfect. Madam Puddifoot's smelled too floral, and the tea too sweet. The treats weren't moist and the conversation didn't flow naturally. Remus introduced conversation with class, but when it ended, found nothing else to say. Nadia asked about his dreams, but he lacked a plan where she had too much of one. In the end, it wasn't perfect; it was disappointing, and by the time they finished at the teashop, their conversation had long since been dead.

         This so wasn't how Remus Lupin was supposed to go.)