"Fifth Year"

•••••••••••••••••••

"Wow, the two of you are actually really cute."

Timothée and I turned around to face the owner of the voice.  There, in front of us, was a really pretty brunette girl with a big smile on her face.

Olivia Warren.

"Thank you!" I replied with a warm smile, after sharing a look with Tim. "And you're really pretty."

"Me? Mate, have you seen yourself? You're the definition of gorgeous!" She told me with a disbelieving laugh, before pointing between Tim and I. "It's honestly not fair how hot the too of you are!"

Wow, it's really hard to hate this girl.

"Alright, quick question and answer honestly." I started, sharing a look with Timothée. "What do you think of half-bloods and magical creatures?"

"Is this a test?" She asked me, nervously.

"Absolutely!"

"I don't understand why blood status is such a big deal. I mean if you have magic then you shouldn't be prohibitive from using it." Olivia told us, making a smile form on mine and Tim's faces.

"And magical creatures?" I asked, trying to contain my smile from her previous answer.

"I'm absolutely fascinated by them! The different species and habits just amazes me!" She gushed, making a grin form on my face.

"You, I like you. I demand that we keep her." I told her, before telling the last bit to the rest of the group.

Olivia let out a sigh of relief and sat down next to James and Sirius. We all continued to talk and joked a majority of dinner, before Lily eventually joined us.

•••••••••••••••••

I sat behind Sirius in Divination with Timothée next to me, and James beside Sirius. I was zoned out, doodling a picture of Pickett in my notes and tapping a steady beat with my foot.

"Nora, she's going to pass our table in a moment. Pretend like you've been paying attention." Tim whispered to me, to which I nodded and put down my quill. He chuckled quietly and shook his head at my antics, causing me to send a teasing wink his way.

"You're ridiculous, Lenora Scamander." He laughed quietly.

"You love it." I joked with a grin, noticing Sirius and James watching us.

"And you, unfortunately." Timothée, obviously having seen what I had, chuckled and placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Alright, Lovebirds, keep the PDA to a minimum please." Sirius asked jokingly with a smirk, sending James a look.

"Oh please, Siri, you're much worse." I laughed, jokingly rolling my green eyes at the long haired boy.

"So? That doesn't mean any of us want to see it." James scoffed bitterly, making me roll my eyes.

"James, you're being a prick again." I informed him with a sigh and a sharp look.

"Sorry, Norie." He sighed, his blue eyes softening from their glare.

"Forgotten, Jamie." I told the Potter boy with a soft smile.

I must have zoned out during Divination, because I didn't even notice when class was dismissed. I was so engrossed in my doodling, that  I didn't hear any of my boys calling me.

I was suddenly snapped out of my thoughts as someone abruptly drummed on my desk, making me jump.

I narrowed my eyes as Sirius' amused face, as he did it again. This time I playfully returned the action, drumming my hands on my desk beside his.

"You ready to go, Nora?" The long haired boy asked me with a grin.

The boys had made it a habit, after the incident with Bellatrix and her goons, to walk me to the Hufflepuff common room after our last class.

"Absolutely, Siri." I told my best friends with a warm smile.

•••••••••••

James POV:

The next morning during Quidditch practice, Sirius, the Gryffindor team, Peter, and I were all working drills out on the pitch.

During the two on one drills, I heard Remus yelling frantically from the stands. I looked over and saw that he had tears in his eyes and looked absolutely terrified.

Sirius and I shared a concerned look, before I stopped practice and the two of us landed our brooms. We quickly made our way towards the panicked werewolf to try and find out what was wrong.

"It's Nora! Something's happened!" He told us frantically, with tears still pouring down his scarred face.

My blood ran cold and my heart stopped at Remus' words. Clenching my jaw, I asked quickly. "Where?"

"The Care Of Magical Creatures classroom, but Madam Pomfrey is already taking her to the Hospital Wing! You both need to come quickly, there's no time to explain!" The Lupin boy stammered, before the three of us burst into a sprint in the direction of the Hospital Wing.

Sirius POV (this is new):

James, Remus, and I burst into the Hospital Wing, eyes combing the patient's beds for a glimpse of our best friend.

A small crowd surrounded the third bed on the far left. This crowd included: Madam Pomfrey, two nurses, Professor Sprout, and Professor Dumbledore.

I shared a look with the two other Gryffindors, before we hurried to the bedside that held our beloved Lenora Scamander.

James and I rushed to the left side of her bed, while Remus went to the right side. The adults that surrounded her bed, made room for us to be with our best friend.

My brown eyes started to blur at the sight of the closest thing I had to a sister in such a heart wrenching state.

"How did this happen?" James asked shakily after a few moments of silence.

"No one knows. You're friend Remus had found her bleeding out in the Care of Magical Creatures room. She appeared to have been there since the beginning of breakfast."

"And no one saw anything? No one hurrying out of that classroom during that time? Or heard anything?" I asked firing off questions in reply to Dumbledore's words.

"Nothing." Remus murmured, staring down sadly at Nora's unconscious body. "Not even a scream."

"Miss Scamander is lucky to be alive. If Mister Lupin didn't find her when he did, Hogwarts would have lost a dear and beloved student." Professor Sprout told us kindly, placing a comforting hand on Remus' shoulder.

"That she is, Pomona." Dumbledore stated calmly, before addressing the other adults. "Come, let us give Miss Scamander's friends a moment with her."

As the walked away, Michael Scamander, Lily Evans, and Timothée Lafayette burst into the room.

The redhead started crying at the sight of the Hufflepuff. "This is all my fault! If I had just kept my mouth shut, then she wouldn't be like this!"

We all gave Lily confused looks and my anger started to rise. She knew what happened to Nora and didn't tell Dumbledore?!

"Lily what the fuck are you on about?" James asked her, trying to withhold the anger that burned in his eyes.

"She was just trying to protect me!"