CHAPTER NINETEEN
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

     WINNIE SAT BY HERSELF at the Hufflepuff table. She ate some toast while she read through the newest copy of the The Daily Prophet. She needed to think on her own for a while, despite the fact that she could feel the eyes of her friends burning through her back at the Gryffindor table.

     "Hello," a voice said from beside her, causing her to jump and nearly drop her toast. Glancing over, she shook her head and let out a breath.

     "Didn't have to creep up on me like that, Amias," she replied, putting down the newspaper in her hand. Taking another bite of toast, she noticed his eyes dart toward the paper that she had placed on the table. They left the object as soon as he had looked down at it.

     "I...wanted to apologize for how I've been acting toward you," Amias began, one of his legs bouncing silently under the table. "I miss our friendship, we used to be so close, and I feel terribly. But what I said is still true."

     "I miss our friendship too, Amias. I don't understand why we can't be friends like we were," Winnie told him, putting her toast down to face him fully.

     "It's too dangerous, Winnie," he affirmed, running a hand through his hair. He had very suddenly gone much paler than he had been seconds previously. "I just want you to know why I can't see you or involve you in any of this. I'm sorry."

     "I don't understand, you're scaring me," she admitted, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

     "Just please, be careful. And make sure your family is being careful, too," he practically pleaded with her. It was so different compared to how cold he had been acting for so long now.

     "I need you to actually explain to me—"

     "I can't, I've already said too much—"

     "Well, hello and yes, it really is me if that is the question you're asking yourself," Sirius' voice rang out suddenly. Winnie looked up to find Sirius and Peter approaching at a casual speed, noticing his eyes on Amias when he spoke.

     "I hope we're not interrupting anything," Peter followed up apologetically.

     "Nothing at all," Amias hurried out, practically sweating at this point. He turned to Winnie. "Just remember what I said. I really am sorry. This is the last time we talk."

     And with that, he was up and gone. Winnie watched as he left, the mention of her family leaving a deep pit in her stomach. What did it all mean? If anything, she was more confused than she had been before.

     "Are you okay, Winnie? You're looking a little pale," Peter pointed out, looking toward her in concern. Sirius' gaze flitted between her and the spot where Amias had fled to in a mixture of confusion and concern.

     "I'm fine," she dismissed, looking down at her half eaten toast. "It was nothing, just some friends deciding not to be friends anymore."

     That was enough to make Peter stop talking. She grabbed her belongings and stood up, the other two doing the same.

     "Well, we were just heading out, wondering if you were doing the same," Sirius told her in a desperate attempt to act casual.

     She nodded and they all left the hall together. Her mind was still buzzing after the encounter, but Sirius' words quickly distracted her.

     "We're headed to the library, if you'd like to come. Looking up a bit of advanced magic," he said, looking over at her with his normal mischievous grin.

     "What do you two need advanced magic for?" she asked, smiling back. It seemed like Sirius was becoming more involved as a friend again, which made her heart soar. She still wanted to talk to him in private, but this was enough for now.

     "Oh, you know, charms and runes, all that fun stuff!" Sirius brushed off enthusiastically. Winnie raises her eyebrows at him but he just smiled, practically glowing.

     "Yes! We love those," Peter agreed, even more excited looking than Sirius was. Sirius nudged him in the side lightly and his face toned it down a bit.

     "Well, speaking of charms, I can't join you in the library today. I have to get to class," she answered, still quite suspicious of what kind of trouble they were seemingly about to get into.

     "See you later then, love." Sirius bade her goodbye without thinking much of it, and she told them both goodbye before heading to class.

__________

     After Charms class, Louise had an interrogation set up and ready for her.

     "So, have you said anything to Sirius yet?" she asked animatedly, as if she might die without the answer.

     "Not yet," Winnie replied with a sigh. She shifted the strap to her book bag uneasily. "I'm just...nervous. And I don't know why, I've never been nervous around him before."

     "Well, before you never kissed him, did you?" Louise pointed out rather obviously, but Winnie supposed she was right. Since that had happened, she had perhaps been putting more pressure on herself than needed.

     Sighing, Winnie agreed, "You're right. It's unfair to him and he'll end up thinking that I don't care."

     Louise gasped exaggeratedly. "Did you just admit that I'm right? That I, Louise Baker, am correct?"
Winnie rolled her eyes and slapped Louise's arm, while she mimed being extremely injured. "Oh, shut up."

     "I've been here for less than a second, but I guess I can shut up," Remus suddenly said from the other side of Louise. Winnie was so wrapped up she hadn't even noticed his arrival.

     "Take a guess who needs to shut up," she told him, rolling her eyes at Louise with a smile. He had a book in his hands that he was shifting around and that caught Louise's attention.

     "First, tell Winnie to get over herself and just snog Sirius for the rest of her life," she began, eyes still drifting down to the book. "That's a pretty hefty charms book you've got there, Remus, might this have something to do with the very super secret project you lot won't tell me anything about?"

     Remus laughed. "Winnie, go kiss Sirius for the rest of your life," he said. Then he turned to Louise. "I have no clue what you're talking about, Lou."

     Louise simply smiled a wicked smile and opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a loud yell and a hush from down the hall.

     Two Slytherin boys about their age were arguing a little further down the hall and the three of them stepped aside and hid themselves behind a corner. Winnie recognized them vaguely, remembering their names. Rosier and Mulciber.

     "...Surrounded by blood traitors. The mark will come soon enough..."

     "...More bothered surrounded by filthy mudbloods..."

     "Will you two be quiet? Someone will hear you!" a third voice chimed in and Winnie furrowed her brows and peeked around the corner. Amias. Louise yanked her back by the collar of her robes and nodded her head in the other direction.

     "You don't want to be anywhere near that lot," Louise said, not even looking back as they walked further away down the opposite hall.

     "I know that. I just used to know the other one," Winnie explained, trying to keep her tone level.

     "Not anymore you don't," Remus pointed out, glancing over his shoulder, all parts of his joking nature from before extinguished.

     "I guess not."