Self Introductions Again Ⅱ

There is a heavy silence in the compartment after Rowan's words, but she does not break the silence again as she takes a rather large and angry mouthful of her sandwich. She was most certainly not angry merely peeved at the entire unexpected circumstances. But more importantly, she was rather wary of the figure of James sitting in front of her.

From the very start, she would have argued that the figure sitting in front of her could not possibly be James, but someone else using the Polyjuice potion! All of James's reactions were off, but not out of character. The way he chewed was still him, but at the same time it was not. He had first subtly sniffed at his sandwich first to make sure it was safe to eat, and even now chewed slowly to make sure the sandwich was safe. Those were not the characteristics of James, but that of a wizard with plenty of enemies or a pureblood. And nor had she missed the fact that when fact that when she first entered the compartment his automatic reaction was to reach for his wand like a trained Auror that greatly resembled that of Alastor Moody.

However, the more she watched him the more she felt her heart plummet downward in her chest. It was a painful, suffocating feeling, but Rowan could not deny the fact that the person sitting across from her was indeed James. The way he still unconsciously tousled his hair, or his feet fidgeted or the very act of nose twitching when he ate something delicious and wanted to hide his reaction. And as much as she hated to admit it, but personality changes were not that uncommon after head injuries.

Unable to tolerate the heavy silence anymore, Sirius finally interjects, "Rowan that's not fair to James! Just because he cannot remember you or Severus, and I will admit is a bit more different than we remember, he is still James, who is our friend. And the Marauder's stick together!"

"I am not a Marauder!" both Rowan and Terry chimed in unison, before turning to flash each other a faint smile in agreement.

"You two basically are," Sirius said he rolled his eyes at them. "And if you are not officially, you certainly are honorary members."

Rowan crosses her arms over her chest in reply, while Terry loudly sniffs in answer. Severus wryly shakes his head, while James is still at having heard those words.

Why was Sirius saying those words in front of these Slytherins? Were they truly close enough to trust such secrets without fear of betrayal to them?! Impossible, it must be a prank! But James had a sinking feeling in his heart that was not the case.

Seeing Sirius scowling at her as he waits for an answer, Rowan finally answers, "Fine, I promise to treat him like before, but don't except anything else from me!"

Sirius lets out a huff but does not push Rowan any further. "Well, that's all I'm asking."

Rowan snorts in derision as Terry mutters, "Sounds reasonable," before taking another bite of his sandwich.

However, Severus looks worriedly at Rowan. He knew that James and Rowan were close friends. And even if his twin never admitted it, he knew that it must have hurt her enough to have said such cold words. But no matter how much he and Rowan wished differently, James did not remember them, and probably never would.

On the other hand, James remained silent during the conversation with his glance firmly on the compartment floor, and steadily eating his sandwich at a slow pace. He did not wish to argue nor comment on the awkward situation, and to be frank he was unnerved by Rowan Prince's gaze. It was not the color of her pitch black, indigo colored eyes, but rather her intense gaze that seemed to be trying to see through him. It was almost as if she suspected that he was not the James that she knew. And even he could not deny the truth of that statement for that was indeed the case.

Thankfully, Sirius finally drops the subject, and grumpily asks, "So, how's being a Prefect going?"

Rowan and Severus make identical grimaces that said it all. Terry snorts and arches his eyebrow at them. "I must admit I find myself surprised that neither of you have yet to murder anyone yet."

"It's been close," the twins said in unison.

Terry smirked wickedly in reply and says, "So, troublesome brats this year?"

Rowan and Severus merely let out identical sighs at the same time in reply as if to say, "Worse."

Sirius's face brightens up as he recalls a certain female now in power. With a lustful leer, he says, "So, I heard that the Head Girl is Matilda Madley? Any truth to that rumor?"

"Yes," Rowan mumbled.

Severus guilty glanced away. Severus may be in love with Lily for all intents and purposes. But he was not blind!

"Yes," Sirius said. "I'm so going to be getting detention with her!"

"You do realize that she can only assign detention and does not actually lead the detention, right?" Rowan arched her eyebrow at Sirius.

"Yes!" Sirius snapped. "I'm that much of an idiot, Rowan! I just want her attention for a bit, that's all!"

Rowan merely bites into her sandwich as Terry wickedly cackles, "If you're looking for pretty girls, Sirius, I have plenty of female cousins."

"No, thank you!" Sirius firmly declined after having learned Terry's cousins had Veela in them. He was not mad enough to try outrunning a crazy, angry female, who could throw fire!

"Suit yourself," Terry innocently shrugged with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

Glancing at the time, Rowan nudges Severus, before rising to her feet. "We still have duties to perform. We'll see you in the Great Hall," Rowan said as she departed first without waiting for a reply nor Severus.

"Rude," Sirius huffed at Rowan's rapid departure, while Severus handed Alchemy over to Terry, who happily reclaimed his cat.

"You should be used to that by now," Severus mumbled under his breath, before pausing to stare at James with mixed feelings before offering a sad smile. "Good luck, James," before walking out the compartment and closing the door behind him.

Perturbed by the gloomy smile directed at him, James turns to Sirius and asks, "What was that about?"

Sirius and Terry share an intense but brief stare, before finally Terry answered, "You'll know what he means when it's time. It is not my place nor Sirius's to say anything. Isn't that right, Siri?"

"Yes," Sirius replied through gritted teeth. "And don't call me that!"

Terry merely smirks in triumph, before turning over to coo to Alchemy, who happily purred back. Alchemy was not at all worried like the humans. Because he knew the actual meaning of life, which is being pampered and adored. That is why cats always tend to live better lives than most humans.