Rain

“I can’t sleep!”

“Try closing your eyes.”

“Okay.”

……

“It didn’t work?”

“No.”

“Try closing them with the intention of actually going to sleep.”

“Thanks a lot, Severus.”

Gabriel turned on his side and narrowed his eyes at the figure hunching over a book on the bed across from his. Severus lowered the potions book that he was reading through and looked at him from the corner of his eye.

“Why would you even want to sleep now? It’s only eight thirty.”

Gabriel laid back and rested his hands beneath his head. “I have a feeling tonight will be horrible.”

“Rounds.” He answered the question before Severus could voice it.

“Why would that be a problem?” Severus asked, going back to his book idly.

“I’ve been paired up with that bothersome nuisance, Potter.” Gabriel dragged his hand down his face in frustration. How did he get himself into this situation? It would have been better if Lily had insisted that he go with her. Even if she was trying to teach Potter a lesson, why did he have to suffer as well?

“Why don’t you just go alone?” Severus asked a little icily now that James had been brought up.

“I can’t. Everyone needs to be paired. Some sort of precaution by Professor Dumbledore I suppose. No one is to be out alone at night.”

Severus didn’t reply right away, and when he did, he just gave a noncommittal “Hm.”

Severus could be considered a good listener, even if sometimes he didn’t always seem attentive or didn’t reply very often. Most of the time, if it seemed he wasn't listening, it was because he was actually pretending not to. But it was little hesitations like these that caused need for concern.

Gabriel ignored the chill Severus’ behavior gave him. He’d been ignoring it for a year and a half now; turning a blind eye to every little slip of the tongue or veiling of a hidden meaning within his words. Hoping that one day it would turn out to have just been his imagination.

“What?”

When Gabriel realized he’d been staring, he shook his head and turned away from him. If Severus had something to tell him, he would be told in due time. That was something he had decided on along time ago.

“Nothing, nothing.”

Severus eyed him suspiciously. “When you say nothing twice it’s usually something.”

“Severus-” Gabriel ran his finger idly over the wrinkles in the sheet beneath him. “- if something was, bothering you, you would tell me right?”

“What do you mean?” he asked slowly.

“I mean like… a problem that you may need help with. You would ask… me right?”

“No.” Severus hesitated, like he was thinking before asking, “Would you?”

The question had seemed simple enough, but Gabriel knew from experience with Severus that it was anything but. He wasn't asking a hypothetical question.

Gabriel flipped back over to face him and smirked. “Touché. But all I was trying to ask was-”

Gabriel’s eyes followed Severus’ to the windows and he froze. Though he tried to maintain his mask of indifference, that fact that he was trembling in fear spoke volumes. Severus didn’t miss a beat and noted his reaction as he always did.

“Are you all right?” he asked in an equal voice, even though he saw the way Gabriel’s face changed with panic. He also couldn’t tear his eyes away from the window, Severus noticed.

Gabriel visibly sunk. He just couldn’t help it. He hated when it was like this. Why was it always like this? He couldn’t even form coherent words in his mind, so it came as a shock to him when he heard himself tell Severus that he was fine.

“Are you sure? What was it that you were going to say before?”

Gabriel finally tore his eyes away and turned to hide his face.

“Nothing,” he replied softly.

Severus was still looking at him long after he turned away. Some things were better if left alone; questions that were better if left unanswered. He knew this from experience, but unfortunately, his friend didn’t.



{}



Ten o’clock rolled round faster than James would have liked, in fact, he would have liked if it never came at all, not when he thought about the seizure educing hours he’d have to spend in Monte’s company. It was enough to drive him insane. He didn’t have time for this! What little precious time he had couldn’t be wasted like that.

When he had told the others about the new arrangement, Sirius and Peter looked surprised and Remus gave him the ‘it has to be your fault somehow’ look. It wasn't his fault though was it?

Sirius tried to cheer him up by telling him that he could use the time to investigate Gabriel and pinpoint his Achilles heel for future assault, but nothing could sweeten this deal.

James aimed his broom near the stands and dived into a smooth landing even though he was being pelted by rain. He had been restless the whole evening until it was not so subtly suggested to him that he should get some fresh air to clear his head. Flying always cleared his mind but it sure as hell wasn't working now.

He climbed off the broom huffily, and kicked the blades of grass beneath his feet. The sooner he got this done, the sooner it would be over. He under no circumstances allowed himself to think about how long he would have to put up with it. Hopefully, he will be able to convince Lily to change it back, by showing her how responsible he could be.

So broom in hand, he sullenly and very, very slowly made his way up to the castle. He was determined to keep himself in a bad mood. And even though he was determined to stay in his so called bad mood, he gently replaced his broom beneath his bed, because Cassandra wasn't the problem so there was no need to take out his frustration on her. He cleaned himself up and changed off.

By the times James had finished that, written his will and bade goodbye to his friends and the cruel world, it was ten thirty. Needless to say, he didn’t care. He wasted time on purpose, just to be late, just to annoy Monte.

He was supposed to meet him on the third floor and the floor and walls of Hogwarts never seemed to interesting to James in his entire life as they did now. He took his time to admire them all. From every portrait, to the tiny cracks on the ground.

Luck must have been on his side because as soon as he got to the stair case, it shifted and he had to wait a good five minutes before it returned. No problem though, he was in no hurry.

When he finally made it to the meeting spot, he saw Monte standing with his hands in his pockets, waiting for him. James smiled evilly. Monte would probably be pissed that he made him wait so long. Served him right for getting them into this.

“Monte. Been waiting long?” James walked up to him innocently and braced himself for the ferocious attitude he knew was coming.

“It’s not a problem,” Gabriel replied quietly.

James blinked. “What?”

James’ mouth opened wide. What??!! He couldn’t believe his ears were screwed on right. He walked a little ways behind Monte who didn’t even spare him the decency of looking at him before walking away. It was definitely not the reaction he was looking for. It surprised him.

Wasn't the other boy upset? He knew he would have to be! Maybe he was just pretending not to be. He could play it cool as well though he had to admit that Monte was doing a damn good job. It was completely throwing off his attack mode. He would make him crack. Maybe Sirius had a point about making the best of this time.

He jogged a little until he was beside him and gave him a dirty look. Still nothing!

“What’s your problem?!” James had lost his cool -if he ever had it- and snapped at the irritating boy beside him.

Gabriel stopped and exhaled. “Does it look like I have a problem,” he asked. He didn’t even raise his voice!

“Yes. It does. You’ve had less personality than usual!” James folded his arms. Why was he so angry about this?

Gabriel cocked his eyebrow, or at least tried. “Right.”

“Right? That’s all you have to say?”

“What is it that you want from me?”

“I want you to be normal and actually say something!”

“Humph, I imagined you would be pleased if I stopped talking to you.” Gabriel sighed and turned away.

“Yeah, well…” you imagined wrong. “Just, forget it, you’re right, I don’t care. Let’s just hurry up and get this over with.”

James huffed and made no more attempt to talk so they continued in silence. He wasn't bothered by this at all. He knew full well that this time would have been un-enjoyable, he had come with that expectation. So why was he bother- No, he was not bothered!

Monte was completely quiet, save for the little sniffing noises he made every once in a while. James tried with all his strength; including the strength he put aside for grueling times, like when Lily ignored him, to stop himself from looking at the boy out of the corner of his eyes when he figured he wasn't looking, but he was failing, and miserably.

There was just something, not normal, about Monte tonight. Was he imagining it, or did Monte look, sad?

But he didn’t care, of course.

The night was passing by uneventfully, and he was relieved, although he was hoping to run into Lily. But that was something that could be taken care of tomorrow. Right now, he just spotted a sneaky little couple who were looking more like conjoined twins by the minute.

Monte didn’t look the least bit interested, which was fine by James because he didn’t need his help anyway, so he stepped up to handle this one himself.

He crossed his arms and tried to look as intimidating as he could. He cleared his throat loudly, but the couple was so enthusiastic that they didn’t even take notice of him.

He leaned in closer. “I said, AHEM!”

The girl shrieked, pulled her shirt close and stepped closer to the boy who not so discreetly, wiped his mouth.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here? What exactly do you two think you’re doing? Other than… the obvious?”

The boy, which he noticed was sporting the Slytherin colours, fired up. In fact they both looked peeved to have been interrupted. “What does it look like we’re doing,” he snapped. James pretended to wipe his face.

“It seems to me like you children are out after curfew doing less that respectable things and mouthing off to the Head boy. And would you fix you shirt please?” he directed at the girl. “You’re hardly equipped to have it opened anyway.”

She screeched and opened her mouth to retort but James cut her off with a hand.

“-And because I’m in such a pissy mood,” he threw a quick look over his shoulder. Gabriel was leaning against the wall with his chin in the palm of his hand. “Twenty-five points from Slytherin.” That should get him.

“What! You can’t do that!” the boy cried, clenching his fists.

James’ eyes were still on Monte, waiting for the reaction that never came.

“Don’t start with me or it’ll be detentions for two weeks. Back to your respective houses now!”

They mumbled and grumbled but stomped off without further protest. James raked his hands through his hair and glared.

“Okay Monte, five more minutes and we can call it a night.”

Gabriel nodded and James stifled the urge to claw him to bits. He doubted he could handle five more minutes. It didn’t take a genius to know that something was wrong with him. He was moping around and it was extremely irritating.

The less set backs the better. All he wanted to do now was to get back to the common room. Too bad that another set back just snuck from inside an empty classroom and was trying to tip-toe away.

“Hey!”

The boy broke into a run and, rolling his eyes, James took off after him. He didn’t get too far, with James’ long legs he caught up to him in no time and held him back from the scruff of his collar. He recognized the spiky blonde hair and thin face.

“It wasn't me! I swear I didn’t do it!”

“Charlie!”

Charlie had tried to scramble away when he was caught but now that he knew who had caught him he looked thankful.

“Oh, James, it’s just you.”

James released him. “What do you mean it’s just me? What are you doing running around this late?”

“Nothing,” Charlie said, smiling innocently.

“Then why’d you run?”

“I was afraid to get caught obviously,” he replied in that rude tone that James rather disliked.

“Yes, but why?”

Charlie gave him that dull look that screamed ‘I’m tired of this’.

“Don’t give me that look! You should be glad that it was me who found you. Again. Anyone else and you wouldn’t be this lucky.”

“Lucky? Does that mean that I don’t get detention,” he asked hopefully.

James thought about it for a moment. There was nothing wrong with a little youthful mischief as he liked to call it.

“Depends.”

“On what?” Charlie asked skeptically.

“Whether or not you’re willing to tell me what you set up in that classroom you just came from.”


{}



Gabriel counted every second from the time James had left him to wait. He had gotten up to five hundred and seventy-six. Counting was safe, counting calmed him down and helped him to focus his mind on a task and left no room for distractions. Distractions being the wide and seemingly endless variety of windows in this damned school.

The rain…

It had caught him off guard, that was all, but it was enough to ensure another sleepless night. So much this soon? It was only his third day back at school and he felt like he had only managed a couple hours sleep combined.

Gabriel was nearing six hundred second count, when the most peculiar thing invaded his senses. It was so strong that it knocked the wind out of him; a powerful scent, coming from inside the closed confines of an unused classroom.

The familiarity of it and the situation at hand left no room for hesitation when he pushed up off the wall and stalked over to it. He couldn’t believe it. Was his mind playing tricks on him? It had to be but…

“Monte, don’t open that door!”

James was running- jogging leisurely- up the hallway but his protests fell of deaf ears. Gabriel’s hand closed around the handle, not noticing that James had allowed himself a safe distance between them.

“Monte, I’m warning you,” he repeated slowly, taking a few steps back to be cautious. It was no use warning him though because the fact was, he just wasn't listening. He had blocked out everything, every sound and anything that wasn't the enticing blend of coconut and mango.

Gabriel’s shaking hand hovered over the door knob for a fraction of a second before he flung it open. The inside was not what he’d expected. What had he expected? Whatever it was, it certainly didn’t include the gushing river of red ooze that poured out from inside.

He was literally swept away by the amount and force of it. He tried to get a grip but ironically enough, the over crowded school, let him down. He tried to keep his balance, his arms flailing, his feet making screeching sounds as he skidded on the slippery floor, but eventually he fell. Hard.

Every time he tried to get up, he just slipped again. He must have looked extremely idiotic because somewhere behind him, James’ nasty laughter reached him. However, it was cut off instantly went he smacked into something, which sent him and it crashing to the goo covered ground.

“Lily!”

Gabriel only realized he fell on the thing- which was now indentified to be Lily- when her hands pressed on his chest to try and alleviate some his body weight which had her pinned. He raised his head to look into her stunned face. She was strangely quiet, almost as if she had stopped breathing.

“I’m sorry,” he told her quietly, and then let his head fall to her shoulder with a sigh. He was dreadfully tired. That smell was…

“That’s alright,” she replied breathily, but that wasn't the worst of it. The red gunk that he was covered with, the same one that his hands that were at either side of Lily’s head were in, seemed to be an adhesive that was solidifying. They couldn’t move.

James, seeing their awkward landing, was having none of it. He stepped around corners to avoid being stuck himself.

“Told him not to open the stupid door, but do you think the stupid git would listen? No,” he was mumbling. When he was close enough, a little red in the face, he withdrew his wand.

“Liberatio.” James pointed his wand at Gabriel’s hands, and then the area surrounding him and Lily. Gabriel rolled of Lily, and she let out a rush of air. James was by her side, and helped her to sit up.

“What was that?” she asked, holding still for James to perform the unique spell to clean her up.

“That, was a very unfortunate accident that could have been avoided if a certain Jackass had listened to me in the first place.”

They both automatically looked to where Gabriel was sitting with his head in his lap. James was sneering and trying not to laugh when he thought about the pompous boy flopping around like a fish.

Their eyes met for a minute and James thought he had finally gotten to him! He definitely wouldn’t take that. But he was wrong. Instead of Monte looking angry, ( he would even settle for aggravated in this case) he just looked about ready to break down. His eyes were shinning and he casually swept the hair out of his eyes.

“Gabriel,” Lily whispered.

So, she had noticed it as well.

“What? It was just a little prank!” James snapped at Gabriel. Why the hell is he acting like this!

Gabriel didn’t answer him. He got up and left them, without a single word.

“Come, on. Let’s clean up the rest of this,” Lily ordered after she and James exchanged confused glances.

James nodded, making sure to stand behind her so that she wouldn’t see him staring after the boy, that sullen expression all that his mind would allow him to see.