Chapter 107 - Stupid, Sirius! Ⅱ (1/2)

”Weird,” Rowan muttered as Severus glances over at his sister staring out of the compartment window.

”What is?” Severus asked as Lily turned out to gaze out of the window as well. Rowan merely points in Sirius Black's direction. ”That's just Sirius,” Severus said as he peered in the direction his sister was pointing at.

”Oh! I see what you mean, Rowan,” Lily commented. ”You're right, it's a little bit weird.”

”What is?” Severus exclaimed in frustration.

Rowan rolls her eyes and says, ”Look at the boy following behind Sirius.”

Severus gapes at seeing an almost identical, younger version of Sirius. ”Is that his younger brother?”

”Regulus Black,” Rowan replied as she sat back in her seat. ”He should be starting as a 1st year this year.”

”Well, isn't that nice,” Lily said a bit wistfully.

Severus is flustered for a moment unsure of what to say, but luckily, he is saved by the compartment door opening. ”It's an utter madhouse out there!” Terry Greengrass exclaimed as he stepped inside.

”Here let me help,” Rowan said as she took Alchemy's basket from Terry's hand.

”Thanks,” Terry gratefully said as he and Severus shoved his trunk into place. Wiping the sweat off his silky, pale brow, Terry says, ”Is it just me or are there a whole bunch of awful brats this year?”

”Terry!” Lily chided, ”It's just 1st years. We were 1st year's last year too!”

”Last year,” Terry impishly corrected her earning him a roll full of Lily's eyes.

”I for one couldn't be more in agreement,” Severus loftily said as he took his seat next to Lily.

”Really?” Rowan said with a raised eyebrow as Terry snickered and took his seat next to Rowan. ”Because I recall quite a different tale about nerves and-.”

Severus hastily leaps to his feet and places his hand over his sister's mouth. ”Okay, okay, you win,” Severus nervously said as Rowan smirked.

Quickly removing his hand lest his sister bites him, Severus scrambled back into his seat and wisely changed the subject. ”Anywho, what do you think Sirius's younger brother is like?”

”Sirius has a younger brother?” Terry gawked.

”A 1st year, he looks just like him,” Severus replied.

Terry shudders with horror and says, ”Ye gods! And I thought having, one Black was overkill as it is!”

Lily rolls her eyes and says, ”He doesn't look that bad! And he seems to be awfully nervous by the looks of it.”

Terry stares back at Lily in disbelief. ”I'll believe it, when I see it,” Terry mutinously muttered. ”If anything, he'll be a scary monster too!”

”Who's a scary monster?” Sirius asked as slid the compartment door open, having only heard the last of the conversation.

Terry pales as Rowan hides a smile but still comes to Terry's rescue. ”Oh, just the new Defense Against the Dark Art's Professor.”

”Really?” Sirius asked still appearing unconvinced.

”Didn't you hear? Professor Stricken drowned during the summer in his own bathtub,” Rowan casually added.

Sirius fake shivers and says, ”Poor guy,” before glancing up at Rowan. ”Anyway, come with me, Rowan!”

”I'm not going anywhere with you,” Rowan wisely said earning nods of agreement from Severus and Terry.

”I don't mean like that,” Sirius said with a roll of his eyes.

”Like what then?” Terry said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

Scowling, Sirius ignores the question and says, ”My younger brother is convinced that he'll end up in Slytherin-.”

”He will,” Rowan interrupted.

Sirius paused and glares at Rowan but is unable to contradict her given that she had accurately guessed everyone's houses the year before. ”That being the case, he wants to know what Slytherin is like. And seeing as you've just clearly stated that he will be a Slytherin, the least you can do is tell him what it's like,” Sirius pointedly suggested.

”Sure, I don't mind aiding a fellow house member,” Rowan replied as she got to her feet.

The compartment is oddly silent as Sirius rather bewildered says, ”Really?”

”What you don't think I would be willing to lend a hand?” Rowan asked as everyone shook their heads in reply.

Rowan purses her lips and grumbles, ”I'm not that bad!”

”Oh, but you are,” Severus mumbled under his breath.

Rolling her eyes, Rowan says, ”Do you want my help or not?”