𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝐸𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

----------------------------------------

Iris passed by the rest of the Holiday just as she had begun it, in complete solitude. After the incident of the broom confiscation, Iris steered clear of the trio, finding that all of them were in the worst of moods. And so, the days flew by until the rest of the student body re-arrived.

Something Iris was all too excited for as she saw the carriages pouring in and rushed down to meet them.

Brushing her hands over one of the strange boney horse-like creatures that pulled the carriages, she searched the crowds of students heading towards the castle. She had just spotted a rather grumpy-looking boy and smirked when a voice from behind distracted her.

Eyes dragging from Theodore over to Cedric's boyish smile, she smiled back, giving him the okay to keep talking, "Have a good break?"

"Would have been better if I had someone to kiss under the mistletoe. Ronald and Harry are great, but…" she scrunched her nose, "both are hard passes for me."

Laughing, Cedric glanced over at his friends, who were all watching. Shifting himself to block her from them he turned the faintest bit serious, "Our family owl was busy sending gifts during the break… but I wanted to check in—"

Iris shook her head, "I don't want to talk about that." Realizing how… brass that came off, Iris attempted a smile to lighten the mood.

Cedric accepted it, taking a step away as he smiled back at her. His stupidly perfect teeth most certainly being back a rush of attraction on Iris' part. "Well then, we have an audience and your friends should be here soon… I wanted to also know where we were on a second date?"

Her smile grew the faintest bit more real, biting her bottom lip as she watched the golden boy before her grow almost nervous. She began to nod when an impressively loud shout interrupted, "Blackwell! Stop Flirting and get over here!"

Iris didn't even look back. Sally-Ann had a very distinctive shout.

Shooting Cedric one more smile, she began backing away, "We can talk details later. See you around Cedric."

Before he could catch himself, he waved bye to her already fleeting back, cringing as he turned back to his friends who most definitely saw that.

Approaching her roommates, Iris was pulled in by Sally-Ann, the girl interlocking their arms as she pulled Iris along. Valeria and Tracey on either side of the two. The group walked into the castle together. Sally-Ann filled in Iris on the plans for the night as they neared the dormitory.

"Jane and her family have not been on the best of terms since she started here at Hogwarts. And apparently, someone snitched to her parents about her hanging out with us."

Iris frowned, nodding as she took in the news, "The Yaxley's nightmare, I would guess. A muggle-born, two half-bloods, and a blood traitor."

Valeria scoffed, Sally, shooting her a look before continuing on, "Jane was out of it when we saw her on the train. Sat alone in a compartment. But she did agree to a girl's night. So we are all going to settle in and," she sent Valeria another look," calm down. Then we will enjoy the night as usual, no questions about her Holiday. She will talk if she wants to talk."

Iris nodded absently as they entered the bustling common room, chatter filling the room as everyone reconnected and talked excitedly about their holidays.

Scanning the room as she separated from Sally, Iris found who she had meant to approach earlier. Finding him already watching her from where he was trapped listening to the blond git Draco Malfoy, boasting about his grand party to a group of people had been at that party.

Finding herself once more unable to approach him, she instead sent him a smirk. Running off after her roommates.

~~~~~~

Laughter rang through the air as Valeria recounted her very eventful break. Her mother was a muggle yet far more "witchy" than her father. Believed in the power of crystals and the stars and was very spiritual. Made finding out about magic easier but made for some eventful times.

Such as her mother sensing that Valeria was in much need of emotional reform and so spent her break going on a "spiritual journey." And now, she was the proud owner of rose quartz that sat proudly on her nightstand. Apparently, it boosts self-love and more importantly, romantic love, something that her mother seemed to think the four girls in that room needed help with.

Shaking her head Valeria allowed the laughter to quell, "You know, despite how crazy that woman can be, sometimes she seems to be onto something. I mean, we definitely all need some help."

She directed her pointed gaze to Tracey, who wasted no time snapping back, "You do not get to spin this back on me."

Sally-Ann cut in, "Actually, I think we—"

Jane shushed her, sending the flustering Tracey a soft smile, "Did you consider what Iris said right before the break?"

Silence filled the room as the music… piano… a kazoo… Billy Joel suddenly grew clearer. The girls all huddled on the floor except Iris, who laid stomach down on the bed, head propped up on her hands. Watching with vague curiosity as she awaited Tracey's answer. Watching as the girl picked at a thread on the blanket, she sat on, eyes darting about as she seemed to search the walls for her answer.

"I… I thought about it." She sighed, taking another second before looking back towards her friends, "I want to try, make a move… just…."

Jane moved closer to her, interlocking their arms and resting her head on Tracey's shoulder, "It's okay. At least now a part of you actually wants to do it. At the start of term, you never would have even had the thought."

Smiling weakly as she leaned her head atop of Jane's, she looked to Iris, "Just… does he think anything… about," she cringed back, "you know me?"

Valeria cringed back, "Sorry we weren't going to bring up the mind-reading thing, but it was talk of the train on the way out."

Iris shook her head, waving it off before sending Tracey a sorry sort of smile, "No, but, boys at our age are… horrible at emotions, to put it lightly. They kinda just snap when it comes to developing feelings. One second nothing, and the next, suddenly someone just takes over their mind. If it helps, Theodore doesn't have feelings for anyone…." She paused before adding an afterthought, "And it would probably help if he saw you as more than the quiet one with a crush."

Groaning, Tracey placed her head in her hands, embarrassment overcoming her, "Is that all he thinks of me?"

Iris winced as she nodded, the rest of the girls in the room finding themselves cringing back as well, Sally Ann even patting Tracey on the shoulder in an awkward form of comfort.

Valeria, however, frowned, nodding to herself abruptly as she shot up, rushing to grab parchment and one of Iris's pens. Plopping back down, she started writing furiously, making the girls all share a look.

But their questions were answered a moment later when Valeria began muttering, "Pathetic, this is all so pathetic. All depressed because some boy doesn't think about you, honestly. If I had to go through some spiritual bullshit journey, then so do you. You need this far more than me."

Finishing the letter with a flourish, she folded it up, holding it up to Tracey, "I will mail this home tomorrow, and my mother will send me all her good stuff by next week." Whacking Tracey on the head with the letter, she let out one, "We are going to fix you." Before whacking her again.

Rolling over to stare at the ceiling, Iris muttered, "I could do with some good stuff right now."

~~~~~~

The start of term was off to an excellent start when Iris arrived at Care of Magical Creatures to discover they were shifting focus from the flobberworms, all of which had apparently died.

Sad for the flobberworms,… great for the students.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

That first lesson back was actually enjoyable. Surrounding a massive bonfire, the only goal was to keep adding twigs to keep it going, providing warmth for salamanders that crawled onto the logs in the fire.

The lesson was fine, but Iris found herself with an unexpected problem. Theodore Nott was being weird, not to anyone else but Iris, but weird nonetheless. He would stare at her often, zoned out often. And his thoughts had quieted. His mind was blank most of the time, and his mood oddly sour.

Iris never liked when one's thoughts were quiet. It came from suppression of thoughts, not allowing oneself to think. Jane did it often, refusing to think over her problems and pains, so quiet thoughts as she chose to think of nothing instead of what would cause distress.

If she dug deeper, she could get into the parts of the brain still running rampant with whatever problems were being surpassed, but it was intrusive, and Theodore was one of the ones that could sense those intrusions.

So Iris ignored her moody companion, continuing on as normal. Even though she knew he paid even less attention than usual to her rambles.

But other than that, her week was normal. Go to classes, go to lunch, go to more classes, do homework, go to dinner… on and on. The routine setting back in.

A break did come through on the Thursday of that first week back. And it started when she walked into Remus Lupin's classroom a little before eight that night. Only to catch him just getting ready to leave, surprised when he ran into Iris, nearly hitting her with some packing case he carried.

Raising an eyebrow, she questioned him, "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

Motioning for Iris to follow him, he explained as they walked down the hall, "History of Magic room, I am giving Harry lessons on the Patronus charm."

"Not with a real dementor, right?"

"A boggart, use his fear to help him learn in the safest way I really can. Having to actually face it may help him along." Remus held up his case a bit higher.

Iris nodded, taking it upon herself to insert herself into the lesson as she followed Remus into the classroom, already finding Harry Potter there. Shooting him a smile as she sat atop one of the tables, she teased at him, "Someone is eager."

Harry brushed off her comment and focused on Remus as he heaved the case onto the desk, answering Harry's question of what was inside.

Iris settled into her seat, bringing a leg up to hug as the other hung off onto the ground. Interest on Remus as he went into teacher mode, slowly explaining the Patronus Charm to Harry, who was much more interested than had ever been seen of him, asking question after question.

The Patronus Charm was essentially fighting with pure joy, a truly remarkable memory conjured into a shield, or if you are really advanced, a unique shape that the dementor feasts upon instead of you.

Remus turned to Iris as Harry seemed to understand the concept of a dementor, "Have you ever conjured a corporal Patronus?"

Smiling to herself, Iris took her wand out of her boot, twirling it as Harry leaned in, ready to see what he strove to do.

Closing her eyes as she allowed a memory to flow into her head, she said two words, "Expecto Patronum."

Out from her wand shot a stream of wispy silver, swirling through the air as a creature slowly formed. First at the four legs that slowly trotted around Harry and Remus, their eyes trailing it as the body formed, a tail at the end. And then, as it reached Iris's dangling leg, it sat, head fully formed.

A wolf starred down Harry and Remus, standing before Iris, strong and regal. A strange look of familiarity crossed Remus's face.

Looking to Harry, who seemed in awe, she cut in before his thoughts could carry too far, "I can't create a Patronus at all in the presence of a real dementor… you can know the spell… even be great at it…. But the charm is entirely dependent on you holding onto the absolute happiest memory you have." Waving her wand, the wolf faded away. Iris frowned as her eyes narrowed,

"Dementors suck the life out of everything, even the happiest of memories. You need a memory that can't be tainted, that you can hold onto. That is not just a great memory, but is a lifeline… because if you ever use this spell, that memory is all you have."

And so lessons commenced. Iris's eyes locked on Harry in his head. Preparing herself to monitor it all. To hear it all.

The first, a total failure of a memory, first broom ride, nice but Harry passed out in only a moment of facing the boggart, never would have worked against a real dementor. His parents' voices were getting louder, Remus… Remus paled at that.

The second wasn't any better, the memory of winning the House Championship. He heard his dad's voice. James Potter's voice, Iris glanced at Remus as Harry told him that bit of information.

The last well, the last was promising. The memory of leaving behind his Aunt and Uncle to come to Hogwarts. Too easily tainted by a real dementor- in Iris's opinion- but this wasn't a real one… and it proved true as Harry bellowed out the words. A silver shadow formed between him and the boggart, very little but still just as impressive.

Remus ended the lesson there, handing Harry chocolate as he tried to get another go at the fake dementor, feeling outstandingly proud of himself.

Eating in silence for a moment before a thought occurred to him, Harry asked a question towards the teacher, "If you knew my dad, you must've known Sirius Black as well."

He turned quickly, sharply, "What gives you that idea." Even Iris found herself shocked by the behavior.

Harry backtracked, hesitating, "Nothing— I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts too…."

Remus relaxed but suddenly in a hurry to get Harry moved along, "Yes, I knew him. Or I thought I did. You'd better be off, Harry, it's getting late."

And so Harry left, and the second the door closed behind him, Remus fell back into a chair. Face falling into his hands as he took in the past hour's events.

Iris frowned, letting her shoulders relax as she approached the man, pulling out a chair next to him. Just being there. As sometimes, that is all people need when overcome with emotions. Just someone to be there.

~~~~~~

Iris hummed a tune, watching as the snow danced through the air from the other side of the window. Her hand on her book, running her thumb up the pages in the bottom corner, the sound of the rubbing against the pages nothing short of annoying. And the actions horrible for the already well-worn book, the corner becoming ever more bent.

Every now and again, her eyes would drift over to Theodore, her humming seizing for a moment but then picking back up as her gaze returned to the window.

There was an impending sense of Deja Vu. They had been here before, in the library, at this table, Iris's attention on a storm outside, Theodore engrossed in a book. And well… something just felt… strange.

Trying to push away the strange feeling, Iris tried starting a conversation, "Valeria is sending Tracey Davis on this big self-help journey. Had her mom send her all these weird candles and rocks…."

Nothing.

Glancing at her table mate yet again, she continued, "Amazing how no-maj always seem to have the right idea about things but never fully pull through. Even the strongest of crystals are nothing but slight mood boosters without being correctly used. Might feel a sense of calm for all of about two seconds."

Absolutely nothing.

Iris prided herself on getting Theodore to talk. Whether that be prodding with the correct conversation. His slight annoyance for Tracey's crush on him, talk of the no maj, talk of something magical. Or maybe just through sheer annoyance. Humming songs to herself, running her thumb over the pages of her book, constantly glancing his way.

At least one thing in the past hour they have been sat there… hell in the past week, should have worked. And yet, he had just been quiet. Suddenly the expert at ignoring her. Seems break did him well.

Sighing, Iris returned to her humming, seizing her creasing of the book's pages as she instead began tracing the letters on the front cover.

Silence was annoying, at least to Iris Blackwell. But she at least had his head to find comfort in; when he read, he made some noise in there.

"Lupin is a werewolf, correct?"

Iris tensed, thrown back into reality as she shot her attention to Theodore.

Yeah, this situation was growing more and more familiar…

Biting back her jerk reaction, Iris instead scoffed, "First time you speak to me all week, and it's to confirm something you already know is true." Iris rolled her eyes. At least it was something from the boy. She settled back to looking out the window.

Until…

Her gaze was back on Theodore, eyes going dark, "What was that?"

Theodore didn't even seem to think about it as the words tumbled out of his mouth a second time, "Can't believe some monster is allowed to teach." Nonchalant, as if a fact of life.

Iris bit down on her tongue, a puff of air leaving her in sheer disbelief. With the situation. With the boy. Maybe even a bit with herself. Anger choosing through her veins, Iris stood, going to make her leave as she muttered, "Bigot."

That got his attention; shooting his head up, a sneer grew on his face as he spoke, "Excuse me?"

Big mistake.

Halting, Iris rounded on the boy, slamming her hands onto the table, her dangerous eyes as she stared down the boy. But besides for a flinch, he held his ground, staring her right back.

Bigger mistake.

"I called you a bigot!" Lowering her voice, she leaned in closer, "A fucking bigot Theodore Nott. It is all you are, and I can't believe myself for even putting up with it this long."

He scoffed, "Who knows. I mean, mudblood was overlooked by you plenty of times. But I call a werewolf, a savage beast, a monster, and suddenly you lose your mind."

"Then why haven't you run to your father yet. Is it," she laughed dryly, "is it because you can't actually be saying that chocolate lover Remus Lupin is anything but a goddamn saint." She laughed again, "Wait, no, of course not, it's because you know he is still a great teacher. You can overlook the prejudice towards him because it benefits you.

Her hands threw up in the air as she circled the table, "Everything suddenly makes so much sense. Just like how Blackwells can't be blood traitors because you all need us to raise your own status, you overlook what you believe to be a safety hazard for your now benefit."

Clenching a fist and mustering the darkest glare he could manage in the ever more suffocating air of the room, he bit right back, "And you aren't just as selfish? Let me remind you that while you are hiding out here playing ordinary school girl, there are people who believe you are dead. Responsibilities, huge responsibilities that you are running away from like some coward.

He scoffed, the following words tumbling out, "Imagine how disappointed Leonardo Blackwell would be to learn that he gave his life for you to be here."

Everything stopped.

The silence is overwhelming.

Theodore's eyes widened the moment the words left him, but it was too late to back down.

All he could do was hold his breath for several excruciatingly long seconds as he stared at the back of Iris's head.

…

Iris walked towards him slowly, leaned down, and calm as ever gave her last words, "You are just like the rest of them, feel like the perfect little pureblood son yet, Nott? Maybe father will finally love you, huh?" She paused, "Never so much as look at me again."

Theodore let out one cold, "Glady."

Iris gave him one last cold stare before grabbing her book and striding off…

The air seemed to come back into the room as she did, allowing Theodore to take a deep breath as he threw down his book… jaw clenching as he surpassed the thoughts that tried to break through.