"If we survive, I'll be surprised." -Noah Emerson.

Lalia was beginning to grow anxious. She barely saw Spencer anymore- not like she saw him on a daily, but she didn't even see a glimpse of him in the halls anymore.

Maybe his caffeine withdrawal was taking a toll on him.

"Are you going to eat that?" Marlene spoke, making bacon crumbs fall from her mouth.

Lalia's head snapped up and out of her trans. "Oh- uhm- no." She shoved her plate full of dim sims, and chips towards Marlene who took it instantly.

Remus eyed her from across the table with furrowed brows, "Are you alright?" He asked pushing his food around his plate with his fork now.

Lalia glanced at the Slytherin table, to see the absence of Spencer and his friends. Her stomach churned, as she wondered where they could be.

Her eyes drifted and instead she was met with the steely eyes of Lucius Malfoy, his eyes narrowed at her in a glare. Lalia scoffed, and raised her hand in a 'flipping him off' motion. She grinned, as she watched his face contort into a sneer turning back to his food.

"Fine." Lalia turned to Remus with a slightly stronger smile then before, annoying Malfoy always made her feel better.

But no one was buying it, "Fine, my Godric!" James rolled his eyes and turned to her with a smile. "Let's hang out, after dinner." James nudged her arm with her elbow.

"It'll be fun!" Sirius added.

Lalia nodded awkwardly, "Okay, sure." Her eyes darted back to the Slytherin table, where she saw a glimpse of Narcissa.

Narcissa looked both ways anxiously, slipping out of her chair silently and walking out of the great hall.

"I-I'll catch you later." Lalia stood abruptly, swinging her bag over her shoulder and rushing out of the hall after the blonde girl.

Where ever Narcissa was- or was going to be...

Spencer would surely be with her.

Silently, she indiscernibly sunk into the shadows that loomed against the Hogwarts walls.  Narcissa turned around abruptly, making Lalia duck behind the nearest pillar.

Her breath became ragged, as she peered slowly around the edge. 

Narcissa looked both ways, then continued to rush down the corridor with heavy breaths.

She watched as Narcissa made her way to the centre of the corridor, she looked both ways again as if she feared being seen.

"Lalia?" A soft voice came from behind her.

Lalia internally groaned, and flung around to see Sirius jogging towards her. "Are you okay?" He called, making a loud hiss escape her lips. Sirius' brows furrowed in confusion, "What are you-"

"Are you spying on someone?"

Lalia's eyes widened, her hand clapping against his mouth as she hissed again. "Shh!"

With her hand still clasped against his mouth, she peaks around the pillar again to see Narcissa gone. Her shoulders slumped, she turned around hand lowering.

Sirius grinned, "So you were spying?" Lalia pushed herself up and off the pillar, moving around him sharply. "It doesn't matter now..."

Sirius watched as she receded away, "Lalia where are you-?"

She huffed, turning around with a weak smile. Lalia clapped her hands against her knees, and bent down slightly. "Come on boy come on!" She said as if she were calling a dog.

Sirius' grin turned playful, and a tad cocky. "Am I your dog now?"

She shrugged, jogging backwards. "Guess so. Now hurry up! we've got a 'play date' to attend."

It was September 5th, that meant that the seventeen days they had to spare were now fourteen. And they were in full blown panic mode. 

Earlier that day Spencer sat in DADA, head rested in his arms. He was slowly developing minor sleep insomnia, due to constant fear and paranoia overtaking him.

Noah and Rab weren't doing much better. Noah had skipped a few lessons, just to catch up on sleep. Rabastan was slowly falling behind in his homework, and was no longer the top of the class. Narcissa's anxiety skyrocketed, which left everyone very worried.

So as they lay on the carpet of the room of requirement, they let their walls slowly fall. Narcissa during one of her worst panic attacks, had speedily walked passed the room of requirement and ended up discovering it.

So that's where they spent most of their time lately.

With the boys lounging about, and Narcissa weaving their initials into the emerald green chairs with silver thread, they felt calmer. That's what they'd decided to do in their spare time lately.

"You know-" Noah started, as he starred at the stone ceiling. "If we survive, I'll be surprised." Spencer snorted in response, and rolled on his side to face him. "Survive the pending war?"

Noah nodded, rolling over to face him. "Yeah. I mean. It's going to be bad... really bad Spence."

Rab let out a long exhale, "I'd say malicious, but yes- bad."

Narcissa was humming softly, weaving the silver in and out of the material. She clicked her tongue in delight she tied the thread off, biting the thread so it would snap and separate from the arm chair.

"Finished!" Narcissa chirped in a weak voice. She stood up, hands on her hips a weak smile grazing her lips as she admires her work. 

The room of requirement was decorated head to toe in Slytherin greens and silver.

Slytherin banners hung from the walls, with an ebony coloured closet in the corner. The carpet they laid upon, was round, and emerald green with a silver 'S' centred in the middle. 

Silver drapes hung in front of the window, creating a mysterious air about them. 

They even had a green fire embedded into the wall, with bean bags scattered in front of it. It truly felt homey to them.

The boys scrambled up, and stood beside her with proud grins. The four, deep green coloured arm chairs had their initials neatly woven on the side. The armchairs were situated in a semi-circle around the carpet, now personally customized to them.

The first chair had Narcissa's initials, 'N.E.B' with a small heart beside it. The second chair was Spencer's, baring his initials 'S.S.E', then with Noah's initials on the next chair 'N.G.E' and finally Rab's being on the edge, 'R.R.L'. It was perfect.

"It's perfect Cissa!" Spencer gave her a one armed hug.

"Very well done." Rab compliments, running his hand over the embroidery. 

Narcissa blushed deeply, as the boys showered her with compliments. "Thanks guys- I think we're going to need this place a lot more now."

The four plonked on their designated chairs, with Noah letting out a sigh. "Comfy."

"Did you hear what Lalia and Sirius did to the Prewett's." Narcissa asked, head arching back.

"Briefly." Spencer replied, "That they pranked the twins good, did the body binding spell on them."

"I was in the hallway when it happened, it was awesome!" Noah kicks his feet across one of the arms.

"Did they get detention?" Rab asked, picking up his bag and fishing in it for a book.

Narcissa lets out a chuckle, "No. They didn't get caught."

Rab pulled out an advanced Charms book. "How do you know it was them?"

Noah chuckled, "Isn't it obvious? the neon green painted banner? it's the same colour the twins tipped on Lalia."

Rab nodded, and hummed. Opening his book and flicking through the pages, "I think they charmed the paint with the 'silenco' charm, the Prewett's and Diggory haven't been able to speak for awhile."

"How long do you reckon it lasts?" Noah queried.

"That's what Madam Pomfrey is failing at figuring out." Spencer let out a laugh, as he thought of his cousin's rebellious behaviour.

At least it was a minor distraction from the poison ebbing away at their lives.

end chapter