✧SO IT'S A FURRY LITTLE PROBLEM?✧

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Aria thought it best if they went their separate ways, but Rabastan didn't feel satisfied with his apology. Neither with how the ring was burning on his ring finger, it felt wrong.

He felt like he was just making fun of the gods with his declaration, hell they were probably laughing at the idea of him being celibate. The mere word was getting him anxious, what counted to actually being celibate?

What came with it?

"Merlin could you bloody breathe, I do not want to hear those thoughts."
"Gods then that explains it, I'm channeling you."
"Oi it's not like I want to hear you thinking about all that stuff either, and no to answer your question you can still perform any sexual acts you wish. You've already done it so what's the point, your promise is yours. You make the rules." Her clarification made it easier to breathe, but she still looked at him with the slight glint of hesitation.

"Then what was the point of the promise then?"
"For me? Personally the reason I promised myself at nine was because it was the first time I could feel involved with something, and there is absolutely no judgment in Sanctuary. When I was younger I needed that support...Your promise, whatever it meant, is up to you. But it sounds like you did it for me. I want it to be for you. To better yourself, I know you are a smart bloke Rabastan. You'll figure it out." All Aria wanted from him was to be a better person.

But how daunting was it that he was just itching to get a tattoo much like hers, but with a significantly different loyalty than Sanctuary.

One that was full of judgment and demanded support.

Rabastan assumed she would feel slightly embarrassed, just not downright regretful on the entire night.
Course he wasn't used to waiting, and thus expected much more than Aria was offering.

And surely talking about something so personal drew her away from his comfort, he would need to talk with Regulus or read up on the religion as he hadn't a bloody clue.

His soul couldn't fathom her treating him like this, Rabastan didn't want her to be afraid. Not anymore, so he took a giant leap of faith and allowed his left-hand attempt to hold hers.
His pinky inched forward in a gesture of asking.

Her vocal sigh just struck him further in the heart.

"You are the most confusing bloke I've ever come to deal with, and I witnessed my brother in love and then the next day file for divorce."

"Under the circumstances, we're both hopefully excused for reacting in such a way."
"Look Rabastan I'm not oblivious, you're the Slytherin Prince, and if you're finally listening to anyone and that being me...? You don't have to be an arse for people to like you."

"Like me? That's not what it's about love, it's about reputation." She stopped her pursuit to the library and looked at him fitfully, tilting her head after a counted passing two moments.

Then it hit him—His reputation did nothing for him now.

"Oh..."
"Hm, so we're on the same pace? What is a reputation even? Because at this point I cannot keep track of what people are saying about me."
"But you shouldn't be listening to them love."
"And perhaps you should start." Aria was like a pleading angel on his shoulder attempting to point him in the right direction, and thus he leaned in for a moment and kissed her forehead.

"At least someone finally knocked some sense into me...And I will find a way to apologize properly." Her eyes fluttered in confusion, she didn't want anything but she wouldn't put it passed his creativity to get something like the planner or in the realm of what she would favor.

"If you think that'll fix it, by all means I wish you luck...And until then I think it's best we take a break from one another. Just for a few days."
"Joining us in the library would only be confirming it, wouldn't it?" She shrugged her shoulders but then nodded slightly.

"I usually just lay low, and you're not one to do that. So I'll see you around." What Rabastan didn't realize was that she meant full invisibility and thus she wouldn't be seen until she wanted to.

Again there was no parting kiss and thus the two went their separate ways once entering the library. And when he had wanted to ask one last time if there was anything he could do now, or say to make her at least slightly better—He turned to see that she was completely out of his line of sight.

She disappeared.

With that, he made the commute to the back of the library where all the group tables were located, and he could surely hear his mates. Obnoxious as they were he smirked, this would at least boost up his mood if not for the next hour or two.

Regulus took one look and then returned back to his own work completely tuning them out at a different table. Seemed like he was still shunning them from what happened last night, but then the thought about how much Regulus knew was burning in the back of his mind that he had been the one to shush his group as he wanted this project done and over with.

So he could brood in peace.

Aria had caught sight of the boys—No not the Snakes, the Lions. And although she caught that a polite smile from Black was the most she was getting, as they were still slightly petty about their loss from yesterday.

She sat to join them anyway.

"Oh...Hey Wells." She grinned at James and rested her chin on her arched hands.
"Hello Potter. Black. Peter. How are you?" She questioned, and they nodded about though they were still slightly confused as to why she was sitting with them when the snakes were off in the other directions.

"Er, Remus is in the infirmary. Got the flu before the game." She blinked off towards Black and nodded, though she was fighting back calling them out on the furry little problem, she was confronting them on another issue. For now.

"Probably best he missed the game then, though I wanted to discuss something with you lot."

"Lestrange being an arse?" Sirius had been quick to ask, this wasn't the first time since her hair mishap that he asked her if she was alright, only in not in those words and more indirect to her boy.

If anything, they were indeed much more friendly with one another if Lestrange wasn't around...And better yet, even if Remus was absent. Much like now.

"I'm taking a break from the bloke, that's probably why he's pouting off behind me."
"Hm, he looks miserable. Well done."
"I should be telling you lot well done." She turned the table, eyeing all of them as she leaned back in her chair.

"'I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good'...That ring a bell?" The lads all straightened their backs in attention to what she said, and she bit her lip as she reached down into her satchel for the parchment.
"I meant to return it the other day, but Mr.Prongs—Wonder who that could be, was annoying and so I couldn't help but crack it." Sirius looked at it as though their whole world was crashing down, he assumed that Remus had it with him in his overnight satchel like usual after the full moon.

So how did Aria have it?

"Remus dropped it on his midnight excursion...I'm not thick and not daft darlings. Besides, you lot were all crowded at the whomping willow?" Sirius dropped his quill and crossed his arms as he too leaned back in defeat.

"What do you want Roswell?"
 "I don't want anything, but for gods sakes it doesn't take a genius to put two and two together. Calling him Moony and all that." The defensive side of Black had suddenly faltered, Aria didn't have a mean bone in her body so why would she want to tattle on Remus?

"Is he alright?" She questioned, and Potter was absolutely surprised.
"You're not...You don't..."
"Merlin I'm the orphan with metamorphic and legitimate abilities and an unhealthy obsession with potions...Does it look like I have any room in me to judge? Especially not Remus." The three of them looked one another suspiciously and nodded about, almost like they were agreeing with one another that it was alright to know.

"Wait...Legitimate?"
"Forget I said that one, the point is I really don't mind his furry little problem, is he alright?" Sirius had been the first one cave, and he elbowed Potter in response.

"He's fine, stress usually does him in and keeps him in the infirmary longer." She allowed herself to soak up the information, but then twiddled her thumbs as she felt slightly nervous in the realm of it all now.

Especially when she told Rabastan about her biggest regret.

"You alright Wells? You're looking a little pale."
"Yeah...You hear what Lowe's and Harper said about me yet?" She said, and for the gossip trop of the century, the three were completely unaware—And then wish they stayed unaware.

"That's vile."

"That's disgusting."

With Peter and James going back and forth with the comments, Aria looked to Sirius to see that he remained silent. And then cast a look over at Regulus who was studying alone. "My brother being a git?"
"No, he actually defended me when Avery and McNair were being gits, and I've had it up to hear with those girls."

James could recognize a breaking point, but Sirius beat him to question it.

"A very kind reminder that Eli isn't my father, not that I really told her the story. They both just assume he's my stepfather or something." The lot knew how awfully alone Aria felt at the mention of a family, and thus they made it their mission to prank the living lights out of them, though Aria claimed that isn't at all what she wanted to happen.

"Huh, ditches us for the Gryffindors. You'd think after yesterday she'd be all over 'Bas." Avery grinned, nicking his head to show that Aria was sitting and conversing heavily with the Gryffindors, and it almost escaped his mind had he not taken a look himself.

He could identify her anywhere by her tells, he's surely studied them and alas he wasn't able to make up any excuse.

"She says she needs space." Regulus turned in suspicion over it and smirked. Is that how she phrase 'fuck off'?

"Space? Am I hearing you right?... After you snog her for half an hour it's just what? Nothing?"

"There's more to it mate, and it's not mine to share." Rabastan was not about to ruin the last straw of patience Aria had with him by sharing what he was told. On any part of it.

"Blew it. Probably for the best, Jillian was asking if you're free but I said I'd get back to her. If you're interested of course." McNair remained silent as Rabastan mulled over the offer.

"No...I'm not interested. I pissed Aria off, and entertaining another gal is not going to win her back." McNair was starstruck, this did not sound like their friend.

"Win her back?" He breathed while Avery chuckled.

"No, Bas. It's just a first-semester fling, you'll both move on. I think you should take Jillian, take her to Hogsmead bide your time for a few weeks in her company and vola—Aria Roswell is out of your system." Regulus watched in complete awe as McNair and Avery piggybacked one another about their latest conquests.

So much so that he slammed his book closed and came forward to them.

"Merlin do you lot ever shut the bloody hell up?" He questioned, and the amused grins from everyone but Rabastan shown widely. "Come to join us and hear the juicy details? Take a seat little Black, we'll teach you the—"

"No. The problem is that you talked about this in front of Aria. Did you lot ever put together why she doesn't eat at the Slytherin table anymore? I doubt she ever will again now that you screwed it up 'Bas. Congratulations, because now she traded you for them." Regulus was beyond upset over it, but now it was starting to make sense.

Aria saw Avery and McNair less and less, and if she did she rarely talked to anyone other than himself or Reg. Unfortunately in the midst of his argument, she had left the Gryffindors and Reg followed after her to the classroom.

He was welcomed in without difficulty, though he wasn't used to her being so silent amongst his own company. It made him worry, so she just claimed she was tired of it all and just a big nap.

And he could agree that maybe that wasn't that bad of an idea.

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Date Posted: 04-18-2020

Time: 10:37

Words: 2249

I had a nervous breakdown over my stats exam and I thankfully managed to get an 80, bless the gods!

How's everyone doing with this online school, I'm not a stranger to online classes but sometimes I wish it was still in person.