Chapter 18 - Lies
Erica had waited for Parker outside her common room but she hadn't came out, they were running late. That's when the boys walked to Erica.
"Have you seen Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Mione? No. Have you boys seen Parker?" Erica questioned.
"No, we're gonna be late for Trelawney." Harry shook his head.
"Lets just go." Erica sighed.
"We'll meet them somewhere." Harry shrugged.
"Its not like them, to be late." Ron commented as they walked.
"That's what I'm saying." Harry held his hands up.
"I mean, I get not wanting to go to Divination but bailing on us?" Erica crossed her arms as she climbed the stairs
"We can argue with them later." Ron nodded as they walked in the class.
"Exactly." Erica mumbled as she took a seat, hoping nobody would notice their lateness.
"Hi Erica." Neville waved.
"Hey Nev." She smiled at him.
"Where were you?"
"Waiting on Parker and Hermione." Erica sighed.
"Parker and Hermione who are... There?" Neville pointed to beside Erica, the girls getting their books out
Erica narrowed her eyes at the pair,"We agreed to meet up."
"We got here early." Hermione shrugged
"No one was at this table when we got here?" Harry blinked.
"Harry... We were here." Parker looked at them.
Erica stayed quiet, her arms crossed. Her and Parker always met up before class, that was their thing. And now her and Hermione made them late?
"I'm sorry, Erica." Parker took Erica's hand, "But look what I brought." She held out her rock from Egypt.
"Mhm." Erica nodded.
"I've been taking good care of him."
"You said we'd meet up."
"I know, Hermione wanted to get here early and the boys weren't up. So I met up with her and totally forgot. I'm sorry, we'll meet up tomorrow."
"Okay." Erica nodded, it wasn't what she wanted to say but she didn't want to start an argument.
"You are all in grave danger!" Trelawney shouted, waving her hands in the air.
"Isn't that welcoming." Ron muttered.
*********************************
Soon enough, they had rushed out of Divination and they began walking to outside to Hagrids class. It was the first class he must've had in years.
"That grim thing with Harry wouldn't have anything to do with Sirius Black, right?" Ron looked at everyone.
"Knowing Harry's luck.." Erica looked over at him.
"Thanks Er." Harry sighed.
"Its true, you have terrible luck."
"Tell me about it." Hermione nodded.
"She has a point, mate." Ron patted his back.
"Well, I'd rather not be in Divination, Ancient Runes is cooler." Hermione added.
"Ancient runes?" Erica raised a brow.
"That's on at the same time as Divination." Harry looked back.
"Is it? I'm not so sure." Hermione shook her head.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Erica asked, looking between her and Parker.
"Ancient Runes I'll be taking next year... Not this year." Parker shook her head.
Erica nodded slowly at Parker, something didn't feel right.
"We're gonna be late." Ron nudged the girls forward.
"I'm going." Hermione shook her head.
"God, this place has gone to the dogs." Draco scoffed,"Wait till my father hears that this oaf is teaching classes."
"Hey Draco." Erica smiled at him,"Did you have fun last night?"
"Shut up, Weasley." Draco warned.
"I hope it wasn't too hot for you." Erica continued.
"You little- " Draco got out his wand.
"Erica." Parker stood infront of her.
"What? I was just asking." She shrugged.
"No dueling here." Hagrid spoke as he arrived.
"Wasn't gonna." Erica mumbled.
"Are you okay?" Parker turned to Erica.
"I'm fine."
"So it was you that set his covers on fire?" Parker smiled.
"Obviously."
"I wouldn't expect anything less." Parker hummed.
"Right. Everyone calm?" Hagrid asked.
There were a few murmurs from the class, everything seemed to be settled now.
"Right. Ev'ryone follow me." Hagrid motioned for them to follow him.
Erica followed, keeping an eye on Parker and Hermione.
"Hagrid... What is that?" Ron pointed to the distance.
"That." Hargrid turned,"Is a hippogriff."
The creature got a closer. It had the upper body of an eagle but then the lower body of a horse. Majestic.
"His name is Buckbeak." Hagrid told them.
"Oh look draco, it's you." Parker pointed as Hagrid fed Buckbeak a ferret.
"Parker." Draco nudged her.
"It's cuter than you."
"I really wish someone would shut you up every now and again." Draco muttered.
"Right, who wants to go first?" Hagrid clapped.
Almost collectively, everyone took a step back. Well, everyone except Draco.
Draco scoffed, "You're not dangerous at all, are you, you big, ugly brute?" He walked towards Buckbeak.
"Malfoy, be careful." Hagrid warned him.
"Draco, no!" Erica shouted to him, she didn't like him but he was putting his life at risk.
"Oh, bog off." Draco rolled his eyes.
"What-
That's when Buckbeak went on his back legs, striking Draco as he came back down.
"Its killed me! Its killed me!" Draco cried out as he fell, holdng his arm.
"Oh Draco." Parker sighed, shaking her head.
"Everyone, head inside." Hagrid sighed as he picked up Draco, heading for the castle.
"I'm dead! Oh! Oh!" Ddaco flung his head back.
"Get over yourself, nobody cares!" Erica called to him.
Draco glared at Erica before he dramatically 'passed out.'
"Oh no, he's dead." Erica sighed,"I'll cremate his belongings for him."
Parker laughed,"Come on."
"I'm coming."
As they were walking into the Great Hall, Seamus ran up to everyone at the Gryffindor table.
"He's been spotted! He's been spotted!"
"Who?" Ron questioned,"Who's been spotted?"
"Sirius Black, you dummy." Dean nudged him as they showed the paper.
Erica looked at the paper over Ron's shoulder and felt... Uneasy. She'd seen that face before... Was it just in another poster.
"He looks fucking scary." Seamus shivered.
"Where was he spotted?" Parker asked, leaning on Erica.
"Down at Hogsmeade." Dean sighed.
"He's getting closer to you Harry." Ron pointed.
"Don't worry, I won't let him hurt you." Erica assured him.
"Thanks Erica." Harry sighed to her.
"You're welcome." She smiled.
"Uh... Guys?" Neville looked at his timetable.
"Yes?" Erica looked up at him.
"We have DADA with that new teacher." Neville pointed at it.
"That's not too bad, he's nice."
"I just don't like the class. My ears still hurt." Neville sighed.
"Oh, well, I'll make sure you're okay." Erica told him.
Neville smiled at Erica and handed her a cupcake.
"Thank you!" She smiled.
"It is the kind you like- Right?"
"I like all cake." Erica nodded as she took a bite.
"I can bake some cakes for you." Parker nodded.
"Oh, okay."
"What kind would you like?"
"I don't mind." Erica shrugged.
"What about... Red Velvet?"
"That sounds nice." Erica nodded.
"Are you... Are you mad at me?"
"Of course not." Erica shook her head.
"Because I don't want you to be." Parker put her hands together.
"I'm not." Erica assured her, she was.
Parker looked over at Hermione before she looked down at her lap.
"Come on, we better go." Harry nodded.
"Going." Erica nodded as she got up.
Soon enough they got to class and when they got there... There was wardrobe.
"That's the lesson? An old wardrobe?" Ron asked.
"It's not the wardrobe, Mr Weasley, it's what's inside it what counts." Lupin knocked on the wardrobe door.
"Like people." Erica mumbled.
"Now, everyone in a line." Lupin clapped.
The students murmured as they all got into a line, Neville at the front.
"Oh, I don't know if I should go first-" Neville shook his head.
"Of course you should. Now, don't be scared. That thing is a Boggart and it will take the shape of what you fear most, so, think of a happy memory, your most happy memory and say 'Ridikulus'.
"This class is Ridikulus." Draco muttered.
Neville nodded and took out his wand as the wardrobe opened. It was... Professor Snape! He walked out of the wardrobe and began charging towards Neville.
"R-ridikulus!" Neville said the spell and... Oh dear.
Snape looked a state, now dressed in the clothes of Neville's grandmother. Everyone burst out laughing.
"Good job, Neville!" Lupin clapped.
Neville smiled and headed to the back of the line as Ron stepped forward, the creature morphing into a large spider.
"R-Ridikulus!" Ron stuttered out, pointing his wand towards the spider.
The spider was now wearing skates and struggling to stand up as it slipped around.
"Right, who's next?" Lupin chuckled.
Erica stepped forward and was suddenly surrounded by faceless people. Pointing at her, whispering.
"Ridikulus!"
That's when the people turned around, having masks on as some of them turned into puppets, others laughing and watching.
Erica smiled and headed to the back of the line with Neville and Ron. Now it was Parker's turn.
Parker took a deep breath and looked towards the wardrobe as the puppet show turned into figures with fuzzy faces, no one could actually figure out a face... But she could perfectly see a babies face.
"Ridikulus!" Parker pointed her wand.
That's when the the strange figures became... Recognizable, people she knew, smiling at her. No baby in sight. Parker nodded happily before she ran to the back of the line.
Next up was Harry and the smiling people became... A dementor that started attacking Harry.
Lupin's eyes widened, running in front of Harry and pointed his wand. Using the spell and the dementor turned into... The moon.
Lupin fired Ridikulus at the moon and it flew around the room as a ball on before he locked it in the wardrobe.
"I think that's enough for today." Lupin sighed,"Read up on the chapters including Bogarts."
The class nodded and broke off murmuring as they left the class.
"What was that about with Lupin?" Parker turned to her friends.
"The moon?" Hermione raised a brow.
"Why would someone be afraid of the moon?" Ron rolled his eyes.
"Be nice, Ron. Maybe he's scared of the night." Erica shrugged.
"Like the shadows?"
"Maybe, you never know."
"Hm." Ron crossed his arms,"Harry, don't you have a game today?"
"Do I?" Harry blinked, it completely slipped his mind.
"You're- You're late." Parker checked her watch.
"Sh- I'll see you later!" Harry hurried off.
"That boy." Hermione sighed.
"Oh well, we'd better get going." Erica skipped ahead.
*********************************
"It's pouring of rain." Ron groaned as they walked to the quidditch grounds.
"A little bit of rain never hurt anyone." Erica shrugged.
"I'm due getting a fear of rain." Ron added.
"It's just water." Erica rolled her eyes.
"I don't like being wet." Ron sighed, getting his umbrella up.
"Get over it."
"Who's got your knickers in a twist?" Ron pointed.
"Nothing Ron, you're just being over-dramatic."
"It could be worse, you could be in it." Parker shrugged.
"Exactly, Harry does the others are flying in it, no umbrella." Hermione pointed out.
"One day I'll be in it. Just watch." Ron smiled proudly.
"Not before me." Erica shrugged.
"You're gonna try out?" Ron turned to her.
"Yeah." Erica nodded,"Why so surprised?"
"It's just... Not something I'd imagine you doing."
"Scared you'll lose to me?" Erica smirked.
"Of course not." Ron chuckled.
"Yeah you are."
"Oo~ Ron's scared." Parker smiled.
"I'll have you know I'm very good at Quidditch." Erica hummed.
"You're good at flying." Ron shrugged.
"You're doubting me."
"Show him who's boss." Parker hummed
"I will."
"Shush, its starting." Hermione pointed.
Rom sighed and everyone turned their attention to the pitch as the players flew up. After a while, they saw the snitch flying past them.
"That was close."
"Erica, who are you cheering for? It's Hufflepuff and Gryffindor." Parker nudged her.
"Can't I cheer for both?" Erica raised a brow.
"I mean- Yeah." Parker nodded.
"Thats what I'm doing."
That's when there was a crash of thunder, lightning striking down.
"Where's Harry gone?" Hermione looked up.
"They can't have gone up there?" Ron squinted at the grey clouds above.
Harry was seen flying past them into the clouds, Cedric chasing after him.
"It's gonna be close." Erica nodded.
"Is that allowed? To go out of the grounds?" Ron turned to them.
"Probably not but who's going to stop them?" Erica asked as lightning struck again.
Parker squinted and looked up,"Someone's... Harry's falling!"
She was right. Harry was tumbling down from the sky at a high speed as his broom floated away. Dumbledore quickly casted a spell and Harry fell slower until he landed on the ground.
"Well, that was... Eventful." Erica sighed.
"Let's go see him." Hermione quickly ran off.
The others nodded and ran after her
*********************************
Later on that night, Erica decided to go back to the passageways. She needed answers.
She knew he was familiar, it had to be him! And she knew where to find him... Almost exactly where he was before.
"Miss Maria, nice to you again." Padfoot smiled.
"Padfoot, I know." Erica sighed.
"Oh... Good. I can drop the act. Hello Weasley." Sirius leaned against the wall.
"Fancy seeing you here, Mr Black."
"You haven't told on me, right?" Sirius raised a brow.
"I would've told my best friend, y'know, because we tell each other everything." Erica shook her head,"But we're not best friends."
"You... Aren't?" Sirius blinked.
"She's been lying to me, I know she has." Erica crossed her arms.
"And who is the best friend?"
"Parker, Parker Malfoy." Erica leaned against the wall.
"Malfoy, huh?" Sirius nodded slowly.
"She always tells me everything and I always tell her everything, thats how it works... Apparently not anymore."
"Do you think she has a reason to? Maybe it's to protect you."
"Why would she need to protect me from anything?" Erica looked away.
"Some best friends do. Heck, I used to all the time when I was young. But my mates never stopped being my best friends."
"There's nothing to protect me from." Erica was being stubborn now, she didn't want to believe she was wrong,"She knows how I get about my routines."
"I'm sure she's not meaning to disturb them." Sirius sighed,"Why don't you talk to her?"
"Because she'll just lie to me like the first time brought it up." Erica shook her head,"She wasn't in class, she made me late for class waiting on her, and then when I looked at the empty table I sat at, she was there."
"Like she just appeared?"
"She did! And then she lied to me and said she'd always been there. I may need glasses but I know what I saw."
Sirius thought for a second before he looked through the peephole,"This your Malfoy."
Erica sighed and peeked through as well,"That's my Malfoy."
Parker was fiddling with a necklace as she sat on her bed. Beside the bed there was a picture of Erica and Parker.
"I can see you love each other. Platonic love is the best." Sirius chuckled.
Erica hesitated. She did love Parker but... That's what made the lies hurt more.
"She'll tell you when she's ready. I assure you, Erica."
"But it hurts, Sirius. I know something's up and she's really bad at lying too." Erica sat down.
"I understand." Sirius turned to her.
"There's just... There's a lot going on right now thats making me stressed and this is making it worse."
"I hope everything works out for you."
Erica nodded slowly,"Yeah.."
"Besides I'm here... For now." Sirius told her.
Erica looked at him,"Thanks. I've really needed someone to talk to about this."
"It's getting late." Sirius pointed to the full moon.
"But I don't want to go back to my dorm, Hannah might still be awake." Erica sighed.
"Who's Hannah?"
"She's not a very nice girl."
"I'm sorry." Sirius sighed.
"Dont be, I'll be fine." Erica assured him.
"Tell you what, see if Hannah is asleep. If she is, head to your bed but if not then you can come back here." Sirius held out his hand to pull her up.
Erica took his hand as she stood up,"I will."
"Goodnight Miss Weasley." He waved.
"Goodnight, Mr Black." Erica waved back as she walked off.
*********************************
The next morning as Erica was walking into the Great Hall to see Neville, she was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Erica!" Parker called her over.
Sh- Erica had been trying to avoid this. It's not like she could pretend Parker wasn't there so she turned, seeing her with Blaise.
Blaise smiled and waved slightly.
"What's up?" Parker walked over.
"Nothing." Erica shook her head.
"Okay... Look- I was gonna bake those sweets that I told you about. You wanna come?"
"I-I-I'm gonna do work in the library on- school work that I have, so I cannot come now. Hi, Blaise." Erica fiddled with her hands.
"Hi Erica." Blaise hummed.
"Erica, please."
"What?"
"Are you drinking coffee again? Because we talked about this and we said we weren't gonna-" Parker began.
"It makes me jumpy." Erica told Blaise before looking around,"I- I have to go. Away."
And with that, she hurried off.
"Oh." Parker sighed.
"Seems like she's in a hurry, is there any homework due today?" Blaise asked her
"No." Parker shook her head,"She's mad at me."
"Erica doesn't get mad at you, why would she be mad at you?" Blaise raised a brow.
Parker watched Erica turn the corner,"Mione and I... We're doing something for McGonagall, but it's a secret."
"And you haven't told her?"
"I haven't told anyone." Parker admitted.
"You know her best." Blaise shrugged,"But from what I've seen, she likes knowing things."
"She does and I feel horrible for not telling her." Parker held her head.
"She'll get over it, she can't hold a grudge forever." Blaise patted her shoulder.
"Yes she can." Parker pointed,"Think if I leave strawberry puffs in her room she might... Feel a little better?"
"It's Erica, she'll be happy if you feed her. Like a pet cat."
"Little kitty." Parker hummed.
"Just don't say it to her face, she'll get out the claws." Blaise joked.
Parker laughed,"I'm gonna go meet up with the others, we're going on the Hogsmeade trip."
"We can meet up there if you want." Blaise offered.
"Yeah, maybe." Parker gave a smile.
Blaise smiled at her before he waved and walked off.
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