𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄:
Pulling out the stick that are so high up their asses
(1971)

THE BOYS ENDED UP SPLITTING THE SANDWICH VIVIANE GAVE TO REMUS. They sure did express their delighted thoughts on how delicious the chicken sandwich her Mother made was, and it made Viviane quite happy that they appreciated her Mother's food as she did.

Introductions were made, of course. James and Peter have been neighbours since they were in their nappies. He even told Sirius and Viviane that his grandmother is Dorea Potter née Black, which means they're related. Viviane grimaced; it refreshed her mind how pureblood families are close.

It didn't help that Viviane actually recalled the Black family tree. Is James her third or second cousin? It's confusing because of the crisscrosses.

And that his grandmother was blasted off the Black family tree after marrying a blood traitor and never looked back.

Merlin, Viviane could feel a headache coming, so she took the small vial of white flower from her pocket her Mother had handed her earlier and placed a bit of oil on the side of her head as the fresh scent of mint and eucalyptus invaded her senses.

Remus sniffed beside her, looking at her curiously before Viviane silently offered him the small vial. Remus hesitantly took it from her, placing the vial just below his nose, taking a small whiff, and he instantly felt his nerves calm—he actually liked it.

Viviane smiles, "Keep it," she whispers beside him. Remus frowns, "Are you sure?" Viviane nodded in response as she looked back at Sirius, who was animatedly talking to James and Peter.

Sirius expressed how lucky James's grandmother was for fleeing the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black—he mimicked his Father's voice. He also expressed how adrenaline rushed into his veins when James's Mother, Euphemia, irritated the life out of his Mother, Walburga. James then added how Walburga and Euphemia had irritated each other since they were at Hogwarts.

Peter then told his own experience about receiving his Hogwarts letter. Well, he thought he would never receive his Hogwarts letter because of how slow-witted and dim he was.

Viviane noted how Peter has a terrible case of low self-esteem. The poor bloke must have been terrified. It's not like Hogwarts has entrance tests.

Viviane will probably ace it, but still. Anyways.

Then James and Peter looked at Viviane, with the girl furrowing her eyebrows. Is this a group sharing or something? Viviane never really wanted to talk about herself; it feels as if everyone knows every single thing about her since the moment of her birth is publicised by the Daily Prophet.

Viviane is the Daily Prophet's youngest muse—honestly, it's getting old and irritating, in her opinion.

"I'm not that interesting." Viviane shrugs her shoulders; it's true; she's not as interesting as her cousin, Sirius. Just last month, she was having problems with her identity; they wouldn't like to hear that even before she received her Hogwarts letter, her Father hired private tutors to teach her Hogwarts lesson from First to Fifth year.

When Viviane returns to the Manor for the end of their first year, she'll be in advanced studying lessons for the Sixth and Seventh Year.

Honestly, Viviane wanted to scoff, feeling irritated; studying at Hogwarts won't be as challenging for her anymore as learning it the first time. Basically, the lessons she'll be doing this year will just be refreshers.

Viviane is sure that the private tutors that her Father hired are much more strict and advanced than the Professors at Hogwarts.

"I'd like to disagree." Remus softly answers beside her, green eyes peering at her. Almost as if he's reading her like an open book. And Viviane isn't an open book; she knows she's difficult to read.

Nobody can understand her like her Mother and Weeny did. She built an exterior of what people wanted to see about her, and this is what Viviane only allowed them to see.

The perfect Hawthorne heiress. It's her unbreakable façade.

James nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah! I read your 11th birthday in the Daily Prophet. Seems interesting to me." He then adds, "Great photo, by the way." Peter agrees with him. While Sirius just observes his cousin's reaction to what James had said.

"Thank you," Viviane musters a smile. Viviane then fixes herself on her seat, poised and graced as always—like she was taught. Placing both of her hands on her lap. Thinking deeply about what she wants to say.

Viviane is used to impromptu answers; it's one of the things that her tutors taught her, too.

"Well, my Mother and Father are both sorted into Slytherin. And I think my Mother mentioned when she told one of her Hogwarts stories that she and Euphemia are great friends. They're both in Slytherin, right?" Viviane asks James, drifting the topic away from her and making polite conversation. Her tone was direct and commanded attention. Though a hint of warmth and comfort.

Because James smiled widely, responding. "Yeah! My Mum mentioned that too! Said they were Astronomy partners in their first year until the seventh year!" Viviane managed to smile–genuinely, this time, she had never conversed with someone so energetic and filled with enthusiasm, except for her Mother, Weeny, and, of course, Sirius.

Sirius grins as he finally sees the smile on his cousin's face, wrapping an arm around Viviane's shoulder, facing James and Peter, then Remus, "Well, I wish my partner in every class is this one, bloody intelligent she is!" Sirius boastfully brags as Viviane's cheek reddened, embarrassed. Swatting Sirius's arms.

"Stop it, Sirius!" Viviane glares at him, tone humble, "I just read and study."

Sirius scoffs playfully, resting his arm around Viviane's shoulder, "Liar, you're naturally intellectual. I won't be shocked when you get sorted into Ravenclaw."

Viviane had thought about that. It's true what Sirius said; she is naturally intellectual. All the lessons her tutors taught her were easy for her. She didn't struggle much.

"You know Slytherin is the house for me," Viviane tells him, rolling her eyes but with a soft smile on her lips. Crossing her arms to her chest.

Remus then joins in, "Why Slytherin?" James and Peter waited for her answer.

Viviane was about to answer his question, but Sirius took it upon himself to respond with an exaggerated tone, "Because for centuries, Blacks and Hawthornes are only sorted into Slytherin, it is our righteous passage. It runs in our blood and all the bullshit."

Yeah. He explained it well enough. Viviane nodded in agreement. "Father even told me that the hat didn't even need to be placed on top of his head before it screamed that he belongs in Slytherin." her Father is damn proud of it too.

"How about you, Sirius. What house do you reckon you'll be sorted into?"

Sirius chuckles, looking at Viviane, "Honestly, I'll ask the hat to sort me into Gryffindor to spite my family and ancestors." Viviane softly slaps his chest.

"Don't do that," Viviane warns. They both know what the consequences will be, but Sirius doesn't care.

"They'll be mad if you're sorted to Gryffindor?" Peter asks with a small voice, eyes seemingly terrified of a scolding. If he knew that, it would be more than just a scolding.

Sirius claps his hand together, a booming laugh escaping him, "Oh! Mate! They'll be enraged!" Sirius smiles at the thought.

"Fuming, really! If I get sorted into Gryffindor, our first family meal will probably be as awkward as a hippogriff shitting itself."

Remus snorted, and so did Peter and James. Viviane saw how much he got comfortable being around them. And Viviane didn't know why but it eased her to see him so loose, unlike earlier, stiff and shy.

"I'd pay galleons to see their mortified faces, really, if I do get sorted into Gryffindor, but I think Uncle Alphard will be really proud of me," Sirius adds, and Viviane agrees; Alphard will be proud; he favours Sirius amongst his other nephew and nieces, but Viviane would like to think that she is his second favourite.

"What houses would you like to be sorted into?" Viviane asks Remus, James, and Peter.

James is the first to answer, pumping his arm out, "Gryffindor, of course!" He exclaims. Peter nods, "I'd like to be in Gryffindor as well."

Remus then says, "Well—I'd like to be in Gryffindor, but Hufflepuff seems nice as well." nodding to himself as Viviane smiles. The houses suited him. Adding nervously, "My dad's a Ravenclaw, ergh, umm... my mam's a muggle—"

"You're a half-blood?" Peter asks, lips curling as he looks at Remus with furrowed brows and a look that Sirius and Viviane are familiar with, interrupting Remus and Viviane glaring at him.

Remus shrugged helplessly. Looking down at his fingers that he startled to fiddle on his lap

Viviane is fuming but doesn't let it show, "And it matters because?" Viviane leaned forward and looked at Peter, waiting for his answer, and Peter clasped his mouth shut when he looked behind Viviane, seeing Sirius, who was glaring at him. James pleaded with him with his eyes to stop and shut up.

"It really is sad that people's worth is defined by their blood status." Viviane comments, side-eyeing Peter as she crosses her arms to her chest. Leaning back on the foam.

"It really reflects how they are raised at home—poorly at that. I can't really blame them, though; I just hope that they can manage to pull out the stick that is so high up their asses. The world will be a much better place."

Sirius smiles widely, a chuckle escaping his lips, amused. "Very well said, Viv—" Sirius then looks at the three boys—trying to defuse the tension, "See, she's smart, boys." James laughs, agreeing while Peter stays silent; what Viviane said really struck him, and Viviane's mood turned sour now.

She cannot believe that James is friends with a blood supremacist.

Viviane scoffs, glancing at Remus, who is looking at her gratefully. A voice distracted her from her bitter thoughts: "Anyone wants anything from the trolley?" Viviane stands up excitedly from her seat, opening the compartment doors. She felt someone's eyes on her back.

Viviane then lists off, containing her excitement to herself, "Two cauldron cake—" Sirius clears his throat beside her.

Viviane then repeats, looking at Sirius, "Four cauldrons cakes, a pack of Sherbert lemons, six chocolate fro—" Someone tapped her shoulder, seeing James peering up at her with a cheeky smile, "Pumpkin pasties?"

"Fine—" Viviane sighs heavily, "Two pumpkin pasties, please." The woman behind the sweets trolley nodded as she handed the sweets Viviane listed with her passing it along to the boys.

Luckily, she had galleons with her. Closing the compartment doors, Viviane has a satisfied look on her face as she sits back down beside Remus.

"Thanks, Viv," Sirius tells her as he takes a bite of the cauldron cake she gave him.

"Pumpkin pasties are the best. Thank you, Viv." James comments—Viviane smiles when he uses the nickname that Sirius uses. While Peter unwraps the chocolate frogs, creating a mess. She turns to the side, facing Remus, giving him a cauldron cake.

"You should try it. It's my absolute favourite." Viviane tells him softly with a smile that Remus decided he liked seeing her smile at him like that. Remus nods, taking the cauldron cake from her hand as Viviane waits for him.

Remus takes a bite as the fluffy chocolate cupcake with chocolate filling a mouse whipped cream fills his mouth. It's delicious, and he wondered why he had never tried it; it's basically chocolate heaven.

Remus decided that it's now his favourite too.

Remus nods, smiling as he tries to cover his chocolate-covered teeth, "They're bloody good." He tells her, and Viviane giggles, handing him a tissue he accepts, wiping his mouth.

Then Viviane takes the pumpkin pasties, breaks it in half, handing the other half to Remus—he accepts as Viviane turns to Sirius, asking him to buy another cauldron cake, and with Sirius bargaining that he can get another too, Viviane agrees, giving Sirius some galleons as Sirius catches up with the trolley.

Remus had never been treated with kindness and such gentleness before. Well, his parents did, but he never expected it from Viviane—a wealthy pureblood that grew up with their beliefs. Honestly, Remus thought that they were a bunch of snobs with their posh accents.

But Viviane, Merlin, it was unexpected for a girl as pretty as she is to give Remus time off her day. And actually willingly sit beside him, like he isn't a dangerous creature or a disgusting half-blood like Peter expressed with his tone—he expected that from her or Sirius, but Peter, not really.

A prejudiced attitude didn't really suit him. Remus thought to himself. He remembered that none of them knew what he was or his condition.

And it should stay like that; he didn't want to ruin the friends he had already made. He never really considered having friends with a Hawthorne, Black, and a Potter.

Oh, Remus really thought back to think about what he had done to have friends like them. He believes he hit the lotto and that he conversed with friendly and respectful purebloods. Something crept inside him, like a reminder that he could potentially hurt them, and it scared him to death.

He looked at Viviane, who was delightfully enjoying the pack of Sherbet lemons in her hand. It scared him shitless at the thought of hurting the first person that treated him like a normal person.

And he actually felt a pull to her like an invisible string. He prayed to Merlin that it wasn't what he was thinking.

It won't be known to him until he's fifteen, but it added more to his anxiety and worry. He needs to distance himself from Viviane because he knows that if she's around him.

Then he would not want to be near her. He knows how the bond works; he reads every available book about it. Studied it. Digested it. Imprinted it in his mind.

Remus sighs to himself as Viviane scolds Sirius that he bought the whole box of cauldron cakes. But she wasn't really mad—he knew that because her eyes looked fondly at Sirius.

Then a smile eventually went to her lips, her chubby cheeks showing as she huffed, opening the box of her favourite sweets while Sirius and James snatched cauldron cakes from her, stuffing their faces.

Viviane frowned and took her wand out of her pocket, waving it in the air as James and Sirius uncontrollably went into a fit of laughs as they wiggled in their seats. Peter looked at them confusedly.

Viviane laughed too—a contagious laugh that Remus couldn't help but laugh along with her.

And Remus thought this was really going to be difficult for him.

Author's Note:
— -lunatichale reading this chapter: