The Waiting Game▬RL 1

Expecting

The Great Hall was bustling with babbling students, all seemingly coming out of their winter depression. The sun was out and the snow was melting. Three out of four of the Marauders were seventeen; it was a good day. "We can finally get rid of our owl, now that we have Marshmallow."

"James, I already said that you will not be calling me Marshmallow. Makes me sound fat." Renny sighed, exasperated. Peter rubbed circles on her back, handing her a chocolate frog. "Thanks, Pete." She nibbled on the sweet as she checked over her potions essay.

"Snowflake?"

"No." Renny didn't spare a glance at her brother.

"Blizzard?"

"No."

"Renny, why don't you suggest one instead of vetoing all of mine?" James chewed on his lunch, narrowing his eyes at his sister. She shrugged, rolling up the parchment.

"You're making our birthday worse, Jamie. It was already bad enough that we have potions after this." Remus sat next to Renny, hearing her dig at her brother. The corners of his lips tugged upwards.

"Want some tea, Ren?" He grabbed a teapot and cup from beside him, pouring her some without an answer. "One sugar, yeah?" She nodded; a bit confused about the interaction. Remus didn't falter his movements.

"Sugar!" James exclaimed, standing up abruptly. He stretched his arm out pointing at the girl across from him. Causing people to look at him.

"What did you do to the sugar, James." Renee investigated the cup Remus just handed her for any sign of tampering. Remus leaned in to look in the cup as well. The girl flushed when she noticed how close they were.

"No, that's your name. Sugar. It works because you're so sweet and you—"

"Taste good." Sirius butted in, taking a seat next to the boy with glasses. He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her. Remus sent him a bored look.

"—Ew no, you can be added to anything and it makes it better. Plus, you like to bake." Renee hated the nickname, but she liked that it made James happy. Not to forget the compliment he added.

"Might be weird if you were to call me that around the castle Jamie, people would think you're into Pureblood supremacy." Her twin's face screwed up in disgust.

"All of our nicknames give a clue into what we are. So, maybe we could think of something like that." Peter suggested. Renee nodded in agreement, patting the youngest Marauder on the back.

"You make a good point Pete. I would like to propose; Hooters." James whacked Sirius upside the head, earning a few sniggers from the group.

✿

Renee Potter took her seat next to her best friend, tossing her arm around her. Dorcas copied down her work to finish the essay that was due this class. Professor Slughorn entered the classroom, writing down the work for today. Half of the girls in the room squealed. Renee glanced at Remus, having mentioned this potion on his birthday. What a coincidence to have to learn about Amortentia on her birthday. Remus met her eyes, sending her a small smile. Ren's cheeks immediately heated up, earning a nudge from Dorcas. "Love potions don't create actual love, just an intense infatuation."

"Yes, Miss Evans! Five points to Gryffindor. Amortentia is the most powerful love potion to ever exist. Now, this potion is extremely dangerous. But by the end of next year; for those taking my N.E.W.T class, you will be able to brew it. For now, you'll study this. Identify the characteristics and hand in a twelve-inch essay on Monday." Professor Slughorn explained, clapping his hands together and looking around the class. "Who wants to come see what they smell?" A bunch of arms flew up in the air, the only one that surprised Renee was Remus'. She leaned forward in her seat as Remus was chosen to smell it. Her palm supported her chin as her elbow rested on the table in front of her.

"I just say what I smell as it comes up?" Slughorn nodded enthusiastically, gesturing for him to go up. The swirling steam wafted into his nasal cavity as he inhaled.

"Chocolate... new books... and cinnamon mixed with vanilla." Renee's elbow slipped from under her chin and she stumbled forward. She kept her eyes on Remus as she rectified her robes. The boy looked back at her, distracted by the scent that he recognized as her own. The rest of the Potions went by quickly, students would walk up to the Amortentia as they pleased. Once it was over, Renee strolled up to Slughorn, asking to smell the love potion. Chocolate frogs, cedar, and leather. Never had Renee been this confused, she rushed out of the classroom and to the Hufflepuff common room.

✿

"Wasn't expecting you to be here, Potter." A voice called out, startling the girl who was sitting at the edge of the Astronomy Tower. "Calm down. Don't want you to off yourself." Regulus stated, sitting down next to her.

"Hey Reg," she greeted, "what are you reading?" The younger Black brother showed her the title of the book and she looked at him surprised. "You're studying Catholicism?"

"Don't tell anyone, but Muggle religion is very interesting." She nodded, and they sat there in a comfortable silence as he read. The only sounds are the wind and the flipping of pages.

Until the Potter girl remembered how it was likely that the boy next to her would be marked this year. "You'll be sixteen soon," Renny stated, looking at him. Regulus sighed and closed the book, putting it beside him.

"We already know it's happening Renee." The girl grabbed his hand, giving him a pleading look.

"You don't deserve it Reg—you know better, you are better than all of them."

"You don't know me at all."

"You're reading about the Muggle religion, Regulus. I know you enough to know that you are good. Don't go home this summer, come back with us. Mum and Dad would love to have you." She stammered, pulling him into her and wrapping her arms around him.

"Ren..." He let out a large breath. "You've already got an orphaned Black. I don't want to burden you with another." The Hufflepuff chuckled, pulling away from him and giving him a tired look.

"I would take in as many orphaned Blacks as I can. No child should have to go through what you and Sirius do. Think about it, okay? We have plenty of room." She stood brushing off the dirt.

"I read about a Saint and you remind me of her."

"You can tell me all about her this summer." She smiled and started descending the stairs. Leaving Regulus to his thoughts.