𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒯𝓌𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓎

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"Why do Gryffindors ruin everything!" Sally-Ann slammed into her seat at breakfast one Sunday morning.

Sipping her water, Iris raised an eyebrow in amusement, "I think you meant to say, why does Harry Potter ruin everything."

Sirius Black had, to absolutely no one's surprise, snuck into the Gryffindor boy's dormitories. Again. Safe to say that at this point, no one really much cared. Except for how it almost sent the school into a lockdown and ruined the upcoming Hogsmeade trip.

Tracey plopped down next to Iris, rolling her eyes, "No one ruined anything. Hogsmeade trip is still on for Saturday. Now when Valeria gets here, tell her I drank the tea."

The tea being some herbal mix, Iris about nearly threw up anytime Valeria put it together in the morning, not even wanting to know what it was made of. It was one of the many new rituals Tracey was going through on her self-help journey. And one of the many new rituals Iris thought of as more of a punishment than a help.

Iris and Sally shared a glance, and the second Valeria and Jane settled into their seats shouted out, "Tracey skipped out on her tea!"

Tracey may as well have been stabbed in the back based on the look on her face. Like a stern mother who just caught her child feeding vegetables to the dog, Valeria turned on Tracey, "Do you know how many ingredients that thing takes? Now I'm going to have to make a whole new one. And now I am going to have to begin monitoring you."

Grumbling some more, she stood up, motioning Tracey to follow, "Come along, Tracey, if you don't drink it before nine, it throws off the whole schedule."

Begrudgingly getting up, Tracey glared at Iris and Sally, both of whom waved her off. "Go along, Tracey, it is of utmost importance," from Sally, and a "Should of let us lock you in the closet," from Iris.

As Tracey and Valeria left the hall, the three girls left behind burst into laughter, Jane shoving Sally as she attempted to scold the two girls. But no way to take her seriously as she laughed along.

The laughs were just fading as Theodore Nott appeared behind Jane, "Yaxley, we need to finish up that shared essay for McGonagall."

Iris readjusted in her seat, all joy from moments before chased out of her by the growing anger. And as she had been for the past month... she didn't even acknowledge his existence. Grabbing her water for another sip while Jane and Sally nervously shared a glance.

Forcing a smile, Jane nodded, quietly grabbing her things as she began talking about some research she had found... and Theodore, well, for a split second between Jane standing and her spinning to walk off, he glanced over to Iris Blackwell, of course.

It was quick, unnoticed, but it did happen. But it may as well not have as he simply turned away, following after Jane.

A moment of silence settled between the two remaining girls. Iris's anger waned.

"What happened between you two?"

Iris's jaw clenched. She sucked on her teeth, eyes darting through the room, settling for just a second on Remus Lupin before moving to Sally. Iris just shook her head, moving for her drink once more.

Sally-Ann was quick to catch on that no answers were coming at that moment. So, she switched subjects to happier places, "How are you and Cedric?"

Energy seemed to return to the space as Iris met Sally-Ann's teasing smile. Rolling her eyes despite the smile that grew on her own lips, "It's nice, he's just sweet and easy and definitely makes things more interesting…."

Sally-Ann jumped on the implication in an instant with a smirk, "So he is a great snog?"

Iris's face scrunched as she picked a grape to throw at the girl, "Snog just sounds like the side effect of a disease." Then she paused as the smile returned, "He is a great kisser though."

The pair lapsed into a quick moment of silence. Iris losing herself to her memories of her latest makeout session no doubt, her smile the faintest bit too disgustingly sweet to look at. Sally-Ann studied it, that smile. The way her newest friend seemed so... infatuated. With a boy she seemed to think was great and who she knew just by looking at him was all in... so it did bring one question to mind…

"Why haven't the two of you gone official yet?"

Iris blinked back to the present, her eyes flashing with a sort of horror, "No, no, no. Official isn't easy. Official means too much, becomes too serious and... trusting."

Sally laughed out, "Damn, poor Diggory. The way he looks at you, about to break his heart."

She was quick to shake her head, waving away the problem, "You forget I can read his mind, trust me, neither of us are taking it all that serious."

"Yet."

Throwing another grape at Sally, Iris let out a loud, "Shut up." Before the two dissolved into laughter once more.

~~~~~~

Remus Lupin knew Hogwarts. He knew Hogwarts so well he could close his eyes and just let his feet carry him anywhere without even an ounce of trouble. At a point in time, Hogwarts was more his home than his actual home. Boarding Schools were funny like that... you tend to spend more time there than in the place you were supposed to call home.

Hogwarts was easy to make into a home... and getting lost in the old comfort of it was even easier. Embracing the familiarity, the same smell of the library, the same cackle of the troublemaking poltergeist, the same breeze that disturbed the Whomping Willow.

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But it wasn't always comfort Remus felt when he walked the old halls or when he entered onto the same paths he once did. At times he could hear the ring of his old friend's laugh, he could smell the most recent dugbomb he helped set off, he could feel the pretense of his lost companions all around him. After all, these were the same halls he once ruled... the same paths he once walked. So many memories that had turned sour through lives taken too early.

Some days were harder... some near impossible... some were filled with so much conflict on how he should feel.

Specifically, days like just then... when he caught an all too familiar pair together.

He was just walking out of the Entrance Hall... wanting to go off toward the lake to enjoy his free time before dinner. And it happened so quick...

Walking out the door, spotting the back of a boy with messy black hair. A flash of a person rushing past Remus, their own dark hair blurring in his vision.

The flash of a person called out one lone word, voice strong and masculine, "James!"

The boy with the black hair turned, his glasses coming into view as he stopped to let the approaching boy catch up. The two share a quick exchange and then a laugh.

Remus shook his head as he snapped out of the memory. Recognizing that the messy black hair was not James but Harry. Recognizing that the blur of brown hair was not Leonardo but Iris.

It was an easy mistake, really... A Potter and a Blackwell... these younger versions so very similar to the boys Remus had once walked Hogwarts with. They made for the most conflicting moments. Both these children such raw memories of people that Remus had lost. But both also their own people that brought a new joy to his life.

It was a conflict between being reminded so intensely of the lives lost. But also the fulfillment of being able to witness them live their lives.

He tried not to get lost in their similarities to their parents. Tried to let them be their own people, separate from his old memories... but sometimes they did just make it impossible. Their parents were just so ingrained in each of them... not even just in appearance.

Harry Potter carried himself like James, with the same strut in his step. That same streak for trouble and the sass that spilled out. And he was beyond caring for those he loved, willing to put his life on the line... putting himself in danger for others to have even just a small bit of hope to get away.

James Potter died trying to give Lily and Harry even a small bit of hope to escape.

Iris Blackwell was Leo in just about every way he could see... more time with him had shaped her into her father's daughter. The same air about her... that almost suffocating nature that one really just had to adjust to. The same excitement for adventure and the temper that burst out. And she was beyond closed off to those that didn't know her, a sort of barrier between her and others... closing herself away in every attempt to live a normal life.

Leonardo Blackwell spent much of his life unable to connect with those in his life.

Remus' plans for going to the lake were forgotten as he watched the Potter and the Blackwell. Trying so hard to just see them as Harry and Iris. But almost wanting to get pulled into the fantasy of two of his closest friends being back and just a quick walk away from joining in old conversation.

Eventually, he found himself deep in the old memories once again, seeing that blur of dark brown hair notice him. A familiar wide smile... that same perfectly American smile showing. Only ever the top half, a clear sign of genuine happiness. They walked towards him, an all-so-familiar deep voice calling a greeting, "Moony."

Walking towards him was a tall boy, muscular, long hair bouncing as he walked—

"Uncle Moony?"

And snapped back to reality he was. Before him, not a boy... but a girl.

Iris with a frown and that all-knowing glint in her eyes. The telltale sign that his longing for his old friends had not been unheard by her. Nothing is hidden from one who can hear thoughts as if they were actually spoken into existence.

"Imagine seeing him anytime you look into the mirror. Same eyes, same hair... even the same damn nose."

Remus took a deep breath, collecting himself from his moment. Blinking a few times as he firmly reminded himself just where he was, what year it was, who was really standing before him.

Part of him wanted to promise that things would get better for her... that someday her own existence would not be a constant reminder to herself of what she had lost... but that felt like an empty promise coming from the man who saw his friends in their children. So, Remus could only smile weakly and do what he did best...

Just be there, so hopefully, with the help of another, the grief could fade, "Want to join me at the lake?"

He did have to think how sometimes being there for her... was really just him needing someone there for him.

~~~~~~

There is always something magical about bookstores. The scent of the paper from books, old and new, a hum in the air as people silently go about their browsing, rustling the pages, fingers rubbing against the spines. The mazes of shelves growing darker as you get sucked in. Eventually, losing yourself in them, time seemingly fading away. Hours feel like minutes when you are lost within the maze of stories.

At least Iris and Valeria both seemed to see it that way. The other girls couldn't see the appeal as they followed after the two girls through the shelves. Praying that both girls would finally just make their final choices and pay, ultimately allowing the group to move on to better things, such as lunch.

It only took one too many snide remarks from Sally and far too many sighs from Jane before Valeria chased them off, "Okay, I am almost done, just another 20 minutes at the most. Just leave us and go order. We will meet you there."

And off they went, finally leaving the two bookworms to finish their browsing in blissful peace.

Iris had finished her own shopping quite some time ago, paid and the whole ordeal for three new books, so she just followed after Valeria. Eyes still carrying over every spine, reading every title. Still picked up a new book from time to time as the minutes slowly stretched on, glancing over covers, over the first pages, but ultimately they all ended back up on the self.

Ultimately she did pick up just one more, a split-second sort of decision as she followed after Valeria towards the register.

Placing her books down with a quick smile to the cashier, Valeria finally felt up to conversation, "Can't believe you turned down Diggory. I mean, you'd be doing the exact same thing with him now. And not like you would have really missed out on anything with us."

Iris shrugged, watching the worker count up the books, "He doesn't enjoy it, and it's amazing how he just goes along with things just because he is that nice. But bookstores and just shopping in general just bore him." She paused, "Kinda wish he would be less, 'go along with thing to be nice.' Wish he would drag me to a Quidditch game or just say no when I suggest doing something he won't enjoy."

"Oh, so Diggory isn't Mr. Dream man?" Valeria reached to grab her money.

Pushing herself in front of Valeria, Iris handed the cashier her book and placed some gold coins on the counter. Sending Valeria a quick "Late birthday present" to ward off the incoming glare.

Then as she awaited her change and for the books to be bagged, she clarified, "Diggory is pretty perfect... just everyone is going to have their holdups."

Taking the bag with a smile, Valeria thanked the worker. Digging through the bag as she and Iris walked out. Pulling out Iris's book, she eyed it curiously before passing it off, "Don't you already own a copy of War and Peace?"

Blinking as if she herself just realized what book she had bought, "Oh yes," she added it to her own shopping bag, "I just thought..." She trailed off. Iris herself just seemed to realize just why she had bought the book. Her fist clenched her bag just a bit tighter.

Valeria nodded, catching on, "Old habits die hard, right? Sure he'd like it if you want me to hand it off?"

Iris shook her head, rejecting the offer, and with that shake expelling any growing anger. Putting on a smile and fixing up her mood as they walked into the Three Broomsticks. Being summoned by their very obnoxiously loud friends. The Butterbeers maybe not completely free of alcohol.