Genetics • Sirius Black

Chapter Eighteen: Of Course It Is.

After six days of pouting (and several lectures from Lily Evans on friendship), Severus Snape was finally cooling down. On the following Wednesday, he sat quietly next across from her in Great Hall.

"Morning Freya," Lily smiled brightly at the girl across from them.

"Good Morning Lily," Freya returned, her dark eyes flicking up from her homework. They then moved to her other friend. "Sev." Phase two of her plan was supposed to take place much later, the Daily Prophet did not even deliver their weekly mail till Friday, and she had used this week's content on her first attempt. But, still, she counted this as a success.

Lightly, Lily nudged Sev on his sides. "Freya."

"Oh, good morning Regulus." Regulus Black murmured so quietly only Freya caught it, and she sent him a look. He raised his eyebrow in innocence.

Since none of them were particularly adept at conversing, there was a long stretched pause of silence before Lily pointedly cleared her throat. The boy with the oil slick hair pressed his lips together, then barely glanced at Freya. "Your Laughing Potion was very well done."

"Thank you," Freya replied. "As was your Hiccoughing Solution."

With the curt nod of his head, Sev took a sip of his orange juice and Freya resumed doing her homework.

That was it? Lily thought to herself and opened her mouth. As soon as she did, Regs shook his head at her in warning. Pouting, she slouched slightly in her chair and wondered what those hour-long speeches were actually for. Defeated, she ate a piece of bacon. "Do you guys want to go to Hogsmeade this weekend?"

"As a group?" Sev asked lightly and Lily nodded. Unsuccessfully, Sev tried to hide his look of disappointment.

"I could use some new quills." Regs shrugged and looked to Freya. She gave a quick nod of agreement to Lily.

With a large grin, the redhead said, "Very well, then I'll meet you at the usual place on Saturday."

A stone dropped in Freya's stomach. "Saturday isn't good for me."

"We can move it to Sunday." Lily offered.

Sev's brows knitted together. "What is wrong with Saturday?"

The hair on the back of Reg's neck rose and slightly stiffen. Freya thought about her words carefully. "I have a prior engagement."

"With who?" He scoffed lightly.

"Sev," Lily said in warning, but he seemed to be rather upset already.

"It is simply a prior engagement."

"Of course it is." Cold and bitter, he pressed his lips together. "I have lost my appetite." He stood up and left the table, briskly walking down the hall. A puff of air left Lily's mouth, and Regs wondered if he could still get his quills that weekend.

***

Back to square one, Freya found this whole business more and more ridiculous. Classes were over for the day, and she sat in the common room pouring over advanced attack spells.

While Regs sat on the floor with a pained expression on his face as he did his potions homework. Finally, he gave up. "Freya." He drew her name out, and she didn't even look up. "What are you supposed to do after you add ground Occamy eggshells to liquid luck?"

"Stir slowly and then heat the cauldron." She flipped the page, still unable to find one that could have been the spell Barty had tried to use on her. "Then sprinkle powered common rue."