See You Again

-𝕏𝕏𝕏𝕍𝕀𝕀𝕀-

She quietly and quickly got ready. Death had informed her that Grimmauld was currently empty, and she had a small window of opportunity to sneak in. Everyone was on their way to dinner, which gave her the perfect opportunity to sneak away through the one-eyed witch passage. However, as always something has to happen with her damned Potter luck! As she turned the corner she bumped into none other than Barty. Guess this Potter luck isn't all bad... 'I believe the Great Hall is the other way, my little lion.' Ignoring the little blush that she could feel heating up her cheeks. 'Yes, I'm aware. However, I - have been given an opening to get the locket. So, I'm currently sneaking out.' 'The locket? A - Already. Where?' He croaked out a bit nervously. 'I'll explain later Barty, promise. But I really gotta go and don't worry I got the coin.' Acting without thinking she quickly gave him a light kiss on the cheek. Once she realized what she did, she quickly squeaked out a 'Bye!' and left as fast as possible.

Barty stared at the spot that Ara just stood in moments ago. Hand to his cheek and a silly goofy smile on his blushing face. In a daze, he made his way to dinner still holding his cheek as he took his seat next to Regulus. Who in turn eyed him curiously. 'What's the matter with you?' Barty replied back dreamily, 'I ran into Ara... she kissed my cheek.' Regulus rolled his eyes as Severus snorted and Lucius jabbed his fork into his steak a little harder than usual. Regulus then looked at the Gryffindor table, 'Where is she? Wouldn't you two have entered together?' But Barty, was too busy dazing off. As Regulus went to take a sip of his juice and Severus, impatient as ever, repeated the question. 'Barty! Pull yourself together and tell us where she is!' 'Oh. Um...  She- she went after the locket.' Regulus instantly choked a little on his juice, before saying a bit too loudly. 'What!?' Sending quick apologetic nods to those around them, he quickly turned to Barty trying his best not to panic, 'Are you sure that's what she said? That she was going after the locket.' Barty nodded his head hesitantly, face full of confusion.

Sirius was conflicted. He sat with Remus, as James sat beside Ara during class. Ever since they saw her memories and learned the truth about who she really was, Sirius couldn't stop observing her. He had a feeling that there was something... she was leaving out. Something that he should have pieced together. Something important. It was like it was on the tip of his tongue, and yet, he couldn't figure it out. His future self... loved her unlike anyone he's ever loved before. He still wasn't sure in what way exactly, he was a little scared to look too much into it and find out. James was already so protective over her, and completely adored her. Which is why he was so worried about the bad feeling he had in his gut. He just felt like something was gonna happen to her. And he couldn't let that happen... James would be crushed! So would Remus! Even he would be devastated if anything happened to her!

They lost sight of her after their last class of the day, but figured they'd just find her in the Great Hall. However, she wasn't there. They found their seats making sure to save her a spot and waited but still nothing! Then he heard his brother's voice, louder than usual. Loud enough to carry over to the Gryffindor table. Curiously, he looked over at him to see him questioning Barty about something. To the untrained eye, he looked perfectly normal. However, Sirius knew his brother and could see the slight panic his brother was trying to hide. He felt his stomach drop. What was going on? Regulus turned his head and they made eye contact, though instead of ignoring it like usual whenever it happened... he quickly nodded his head towards the door. Getting the hint, Sirius quickly mumbled an, 'I'll be right back.' To James and Remus, before promptly leaving the Great Hall. A few minutes later, Regulus walked out, who immediately grabbed Sirius and pulled him into a private alcove nearby. He shot off some privacy spells before looking at him and saying, 'We may have a slight... problem.'

'Slight problem?' Sirius asked curiously, with a little head tilt. Regulus put on a pained expression, 'Ara.. went after the locket.' 'Is that why she isn't here? She never told us. She -' Regulus cut him off, this time allowing some of his panic to show. 'Sirius! The locket is in Grimmauld.' Whatever Sirius expected to hear, it was not that. 'WHAT!!?' He shouted in panic. 'Ah. Great! You see the issue.' Snarked Regulus. Sirius sent a quick glare at him, which Regulus chose to ignore. 'How the bloody hell does she even think it's there!?' Questioned Sirius more to himself, though he caught Regulus's slipped guilty expression, before resuming his neutral mask. 'Regulus... Why does she think the locket's at Grimmauld?' Regulus averted his eyes to the floor before mumbling, 'Because it is...' So quietly, Sirius would have missed it - if it weren't for his Animagus' hearing. 'How does she know that!?' Sirius asked fuming. Regulus looked at him guiltily, 'Because I told her...' He mumbled out. Before Sirius could shout at him, Regulus quickly cut him off, 'I didn't think she'd go alone! I thought we'd come up with a plan!' 'Did we not just literally watch the same memories where she had to do all of this ALONE!!!' Bellowed out Sirius. 'Yea... that was a miscalculation on my part...' Regulus whispered.

Sirius paced back and forth pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to calm down his racing heart. Then he was hit by a blood chilling realization, 'James. He's gonna lose his shit once he finds out!' Regulus snorted half heartedly, 'Wait till Barty finds out. He's damn near in love with her.' Sirius whipped around so fast, he almost lost his balance, 'WHAT!?' 'Did I say that out loud?' Regulus whispered wide eyed. 'Anything else I should know!!?' Sirius narrowed his eyes at Regulus, who was doing his absolute best to look literally anywhere else than at Sirius. 'You know you can't keep secrets from me Regg, I can read you like a book.' Regulus sent him a glare, but knew that he lost the second he made eye contact with Sirius. 'Dammit! Lucius may also have a possible thing for her. And the Diary is at Malfoy Manor but we haven't told her yet... we're waiting -' He quickly clamped his hands over his mouth. 'Waiting for what!?' Regulus shook his head. 'Reggie! Waiting for what!?'

Luckily, Regulus managed to keep that secret in, as none other than Peeves showed up, giving him a quick escape route. It was up to Ara to tell them about the price! He just hoped they could find a way to talk to Death before she destroyed all the Horcruxes.