Chapter 185 - Cherry on Top (2/2)

”Severus invented it,” Rowan honestly confessed. ”It makes anyone listening in or trying to listen in on the conversation only hear a buzzing sound.”

”That's brilliant!” Lupin said in awe as the other boys echoed the sentiment.

”So, what is it that you all deem so important to discuss in private?” Rowan said with a frown.

”Well, I'm-,” Lupin started to say, before pausing to only do it all over again.

Exasperated, Rowan drily said, ”You're a werewolf.”

Everyone's mouth flops open as Sirius in panic shouts, ”I swear I didn't tell her, Remy!”

Lupin seems confused until Rowan rolls her eyes and says, ”I've known since our first year. We did study, the basics of werewolves you know. And anyone who knows you, personally, it is a rather easy feat to put all the pieces together.”

”Oh,” Lupin flushed in embarrassment. ”But why didn't you say anything?”

”It wasn't my secret to tell,” Rowan said with a shrug. ”I wasn't about to pry into such a delicate, private subject unless you were willing to share it first.”

”Huh, you're actually a good friend,” Pettigrew said in amazement as Rowan flashed him a scowl.

”Well, that makes things so much easier,” James said flashing her an award-winning smile.

Getting a very bad feeling, Rowan says, ”And what exactly is that?”

Lupin sheepishly smiles at her as James grins warmly back. ”In our independent research, we've at last come up with a feasible idea.”

”Which is?” Rowan said with a distorting feeling in her stomach of knowing exactly what it was.

”We'll become animagus!” James proudly declared.

Rowan rapidly paled at the reply. In all honesty, this was her fault really. She was the one who instigated them to study and learn they did. And now, they were more than an entire year ahead of the previous timeline.

”And how will that help, Lupin?” Rowan faked her surprise, which wasn't a total exaggeration given that they had indeed sprung this neat little trap on her.

”While in Animagus form, wizards are immune to werewolf bites!” Sirius eagerly chirped. ”But even better a werewolf won't attack them in that form either!”

”And you're going to what? Accompany Lupin every full moon, while in an Animagus form?” Rowan sarcastically said.

”Exactly!” They all said in unison.

Resisting the urge to slam her head into the wall, Rowan says, ”And how will you all, exactly go about to accomplish such a feat? Need, I remind you that the process is incredibly difficult!” Rowan is about to list the exact steps as she freezes at seeing their identical Cheshire smiles.

”Oh, no!” Rowan said. ”No, I'm not going to help you, four!”

”Please with a cherry on top!” Sirius begged proudly having learned that muggle expression from Severus.

”No, I'm not listening! La, la, la!” Rowan said as she moved to plug her ears.

”Please Rowan,” Lupin pleaded with a tired, hopeful gaze.

Cursing their hope-filled gaze, Rowan finally says, ”Fine, I'll help you.”

”I knew you would!” James said as he pulled her into a hug as Rowan struggled to get away from the brat.

”I said, I would help! Now, let me go, James!” Rowan snarled only for James to smirk and plant a great big kiss right on her lips. Everyone freezes including that of James unable to believe what had just occurred as he'd been aiming for her cheek.

They both instantly pull away as Rowan rather pale and hoarse says, ”Let us never speak of this incident again.”

”That's fine with me,” James solemnly agreed as they both actively avoided looking at each other, violently shuddering, and trying not to gag.

Clearing her throat, Rowans says, ”Before we start anything, you're going to need to convince Severus to help as well.”

”Why?” Pettigrew curiously piped in.

”Because I can't make the potion that is needed as it is far too complicated,” Rowan snapped. ”But Severus can. He helped grandfather this summer to make potions all the way up our seventh year. If anyone can do it, it'd be him.”

”I'll handle that detail,” Sirius proudly boasted as he thumped his chest in confidence.

”Then we'll see you in the library at our usual spot,” Lupin said with a kind smile. ”Thank you, Rowan for doing this. You didn't have too, but still, thanks again.”

”Right,” Rowan murmured, before hastily unlocking the door and fleeing lest she is coerced into anything else. Not that she had forgotten that James Potter had stolen her first kiss, but it wasn't very important in the scheme of things. Nor did she like him in that manner. It was largely uncomfortable, to say the least.