iii. forming friendships

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CHAPTER THREE !
── "forming friendships"

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Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β Β  OLIVIA THOUGHT BEING associated with the Marauders should come with a manual. Surely spending this much time with four idiots would have lifelong effects. Her days often start with jerking awake and immediately rushing to the toilet before entering the heads' common room where the boys usually are. Breakfast and lunch would consist of forcing her to join them on the Gryffindor table before they head to their classes.

It's only now that Olivia is noticing how many classes she shares with them. It seems though they act like a bunch of brainless idiots, they do ─ surprisingly ─ have working brains as they all attend the same O level NEWT classes she does.

It seems as though Remus is more nervous about the child than the young parents to be, reading any and every pregnancy and parenting book he can get his hands on ─ the cover usually charmed to be inconspicuous. He often blurts out facts whenever necessary, something Olivia is extremely grateful for despite the fact that she'd never say it out loud. He'd also taken a hobby of leaving little notes and reminders for her to find.

Peter in his own little way, has found a way to help by running errands. Whenever Olivia needs anything, he's always at the ready to get it for her even if she only mentions it once. Olivia found him multiple times reading his own pregnancy books but his face to turn a deep shade of red whenever it's brought up and so she refrains from bringing it up.

Sirius seems to take up the job of being the group entertainment. Olivia often thinks that surely nobody can be that stupid then as if she had called for it, Sirius proves her wrong because he, in fact, can be that stupid. She's only just beginning to accept that it seems his constant jokes and sexual innuendos will be something she'd have to deal with now, yet despite all of his annoying quirks and the amount of times Olivia rolled her eyes because of his stupidity, she can also recognize the way he does his best to make sure she's comfortable or the way he immediately changes the subject as soon as it breaches family. There's a lot of things Olivia will never say out loud but nothing compared to her gratitude for Sirius Black.

And so that leaves James Potter with what Sirius dubbed as the "daddy duties" a term Olivia expressed distaste for but was immediately vetoed. He had taken to holding back her hair as she dealt with morning sickness, putting food on her plate ─ another thing Olivia had complained about but apparently James isn't a fan of her picky eating habits. He had also taken it upon himself to make sure she's no less than fifteen feet away from eggs at all times ─ what was once a favoured breakfast choice had turned into a one way ticket to the restroom. James, as advised by Remus, had also kept track of their little notebook in order to monitor the pregnancy.

It felt bizarre at first to be showered with so much attention out of nowhere, but she found the Marauders' company a welcome distraction from the train wreck that was her life. Her dresser was beginning to accumulate unanswered letters from her parents. She even avoided opening the letter since James continuously reminded her that stress was bad for the baby. The Marauders' constant need to cause havoc and noise was an effective way to draw her mind away from things she was too much of a coward to face.

She's decided that she wouldn't be going home at all. Her parents couldn't touch her while she was at Hogwarts and they could no longer touch her after she graduates seeing as she'd already be a legal adult. All the possessions she valued were with her already so she had no need to ever come back to that place. Olivia was going to do whatever she could to make sure her child never has to enter the gated entrance of the Manor she grew up in.

"So let me get this straight," the voice of Sirius Black pulled her out of her thoughts. Even in the library where she often spend her time, the Marauders had decided to follow her, though admittedly it was only her and Remus who actually spent their time doing homework while Peter nPz and James and Sirius goofed around till they'd be threatened to be kicked out of the place by madam Pince.

"You two," he pointed at James who was using his wand to levitate the paper plane he made and Olivia who was focussed on finishing her fifteen inch essay for Transfiguration. "Had sex as friends and now you're planning to raise my godchild as friends?"

Olivia wouldn't exactly say that she and James were friends. They were a little more than acquaintances that's for sure, but she wouldn't consider him as her friend.

Or maybe she just didn't know when the line of familiar strangers ended and friendship started seeing as she's never had one, but nevertheless, she nodded her head at Sirius' question. "That's one way to put it."

"We never agreed to making you the godfather, Pads." James said with a wicked grin.

Both Olivia and Remus groaned. The godfather talk was something they've been hearing a lot from Sirius. He was determined to convince James and Olivia that he was meant to be the godfather of their baby whether as a plea or an outright demand. And while Olivia often dismissed him with nothing but a roll of her eyes, James loved to antagonize him and found amusement in hearing him go on and on and on about why they should pick him.

"Don't get him started, Prongs. Please I'm begging you," Remus said exasperatedly. He, like Olivia, had more than enough with Sirius' endless rants.

Both James and Sirius ignored him as the Potter boy continued to smirk while Sirius glared.

"First of all, I've been your best friend since first year," Sirius started making Olivia roll her eyes once again in an attempt to tune him out as she always did. "As soon as you stepped into Hogwarts Express that dreary day the first of September, year 1971, our paths were meant to cross."

"Poetic," James commented. "I specifically remember you calling me an idiot after I accidentally bumped into you while fixing my trunk."

"You are an idiot, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Own up to it!" Sirius said cheerfully.

Olivia turned to them both with raised eyebrows. "And they say idiocy isn't contagious."

Sirius smirked at her. "You're just jealous, Livvy. I got to James first before you did. I'm always going to own a part of his heart."

"You're getting real deep there, Padfoot." Remus remarked casually without looking up from his work.

"First of all," Olivia started. "Don't call me Livvy. And second, gross. You can have Potter all to yourself if you want."

"I don't remember you saying any of that when we made little Jimbo." James wiggled his eyebrows.

"For the hundredth time, Potter. We are not naming him Jimbo!" She said, her voice raising as she glared at him. She knew James is only trying to poke fun at her but she absolutely hated the name. It sounded too simple in her ears. There's absolutely no way a child of hers would ever be named something like Jimbo. "We're not even sure if it's a he."

James smirked, happy with the reaction he got out of her. "Well, I'm not calling my baby an it so let's assume he's a he for now."

"Or a she or they. Literally anything but Jimbo," Olivia told him, returning to her homework with one last eye roll, her favourite thing to do. She wondered if her eyes would ever roll to the back of her head with how much she keeps rolling them each day β€” more now that she spends so much time with idiots like Black and Potter.

James checked his wristwatch to see that it was a little over five in the afternoon, thirty minutes before the Gryffindor quidditch team was supposed to have their training for their game with Slytherin.

Truthfully, James was finding it a little hard to balance being head boy, the quidditch captain, attending his classes and submitting the required assignments, talking to Minnie and continuously exchanging letters with his parents about what he plans to do after schoolβ€”in regards of his future career and his baby, pranking and spending time with his friends, and making sure Olivia was absolutely comfortable at all times, but he would never say that out loud. The most amount of sleep he got nowadays was four hours, seeing as the only time he ever had to figure out quidditch strategies and write letters to his parents was late at night when he was sure Olivia was safely tucked in her bed.

James figured his fatherly instincts were kicking early with how protective he's been getting between the past three weeks.

"Sirius and I have to go to quidditch practice," he informed Olivia. "Will you be okay with Remus and Peter?"

Olivia refrained from rolling her eyes again. It was a question he often asked whenever he needed to be away from her for more than thirty minutes. It was starting to get ridiculous how protective he's getting, but Olivia would never say that to his face. She knew he was as new to this as she is and is only doing what he thinks he needs to do, no matter how annoying it was getting.

"Yes, Potter, I'll be fine. Go play with your broomstick."

"We'll be back before dinner," he said before he and Sirius stood up to leave.

Remus simply nodded, still very much focussed on his homework and Olivia did the same.

They spent another hour working on their school work before Olivia felt her stomach twisting. Suppressing a groan, she muttered something about going to the loo before racing to the nearest restroom she could find. She found herself kneeling on the toilet bowl, once again emptying her stomach's content. Usually morning sicknessβ€” or afternoon and evening, really it doesn't choose a time and is equally as annoying β€” was easier with James holding her hair back and rubbing her back. She had been annoyed at first as she never liked being touched but she found the action soothing after a few times.

Usually, Olivia would never allow herself to be sitting on the bathroom floor but she no longer cared as she leaned on the cubicle walls to catch her breath and wipe her mouth clean. She hated morning sickness with passion. Or would it be considered afternoon sickness now? It seems nausea isn't choosing a time to be a pain in the arse.

She was washing her mouth with the running water when three other Slytherins entered, two older girls and one younger boy.

The girls were probably around fourth year to fifth year while the boy was obviously a first year. She wondered what a boy was doing in the girls restroom but she knew she couldn't judge seeing as James had been inside the place far too many times because of her.

The two glanced at her but upon seeing her Slytherin tie, they seemed to think that it was okay to continue what they were doing.

"Tell us, Mudblood, how did you trick the hat to get into Slytherin?" One of the girls sneered, pushing the boy on the shoulder causing him to fall to the ground, making Olivia look up.

One thing about Olivia was that the hat did not even consider putting her in Gryffindor. She wasn't brave. She's never been brave. She never faced things head on, including her feelings. When faced with conflict, her first instinct was to turn around and walk away. Olivia Kinsley is a coward and that was a fact she accepted long ago.

The whole Kinsley Family are cowards.

Her parents hid behind a mask and did their cruel actions in the safety of their manor because they can never allow the Wizarding World of who they truly are. They can never face the consequences of their actions. Amara ran as soon as she could β€” she was still running. She didn't want to choose so to get away from it, she left. She didn't want to be put in a place where she'd have to choose between what she believed in or forever being subjected to their parents' wrath. Samuel followed. He was too scared to do what was right so he allowed himself to be used. Everyday, he listened to orders he didn't want to do because he's too scared to even try and fight for what he really believed in. Maxwell was the only one who hadn't been a coward. Maxwell never hid who he truly was, he never ran away from things he needed to do, he chose a side and put a stand. He fought. Maxwell was brave and unfortunately, that was what had gotten him killed.

Olivia was a lot like Amara. Wasn't it her plan to run and hide as soon as she graduates? Like Amara, she could turn a blind eye and keep walking. That was who she was. She doesn't want to fight or help the helpless, what she wanted was to get away.

But maybe she'd been spending far too much time with the Marauders that their courage rubbed on her, because this time, Olivia didn't run.

As soon as the girl pointing her wand at the little boy, Olivia faced them and with a swift movement with no words uttered, the girl's wand was flying through the air.

Maxwell's voice whispered in her ear. "Make a stand, Livvy. You can't keep letting them do this. We have to fight."

Stupid Maxwell and his stupid righteousness. Even from the grave, he told her the things she doesn't want to hear.

"What are you doing?" The girl cried in anger, glaring at Olivia.

"Do you know how disgusting it is to hurt someone who can't fight back," Olivia fumed, anger lacing her voice. "Next time, pick someone your own size."

"He's a mudblood," The other girl explained as if that was supposed to make everything okay.

"And yet he's already twice the Slytherin you two will ever be. Salazar Slytherin valued blood purity but he also valued justice. You put his name to shame."

"Your blood traitor friends rubbed off on you, Kinsley." The girl sneered again, raising her wand and pointing it at her.

Anger filled Olivia and before she knew it, her wand was raised and the two girls were flying backwards.

"Come on," she said to the small first year boy and led him out of the restroom, leaving the two Slytherin girls to try and pick themselves up.

Once they were out, she turned to the little boy who seems smaller and skinnier than most 11 year olds. "Are you okay?"

He merely nodded, his head hanging low. She could still be crying. Olivia didn't see the point of crying. She found it a display of vulnerability but just because she's incapable of handling her emotions correctly and ended up bottling them inside till she finally explodes doesn't mean that she encourages people to the same.

"What's that in your hand?" She asked softly, just now noticing the round glass he was holding.

Hesitantly, the little boy showed it to her. It was a round glass that showcased a beautiful scene of two lovers ice skating. The trees and their surroundings were covered in what was supposed to be snow. Tiny snowflakes fell on the couple, making the scene look more beautiful and magical.

"Is it a muggle artifact?" She asked. She's seen something similar before but usually, the figures would be moving.

The boy nodded timidly, allowing her to get it from his hand.

Olivia shook the globe, watching as snowflakes rained on the couple. "It's very beautiful."

"Like you," the boy mumbled, cheeks turning a bright red.

Olivia laughed softly at his admittance. "Thank you. What's your name?"

"Lucas," he mumbled.

"My name is Olivia and let me tell you something, Lucas. Those two are idiots. Don't listen to anything they say. Or anything anyone says, okay?" She told him softly, lifting his head to meet her eyes. Olivia always did have a weakness for children. "The hat made you Slytherin for a reason. It doesn't make mistakes. Salazar Slytherin would be proud to have you in his house and I'm proud to call you my housemate. Your blood doesn't define who you are."

The boy's eyes turned glassy again and Olivia feared that she might have overdone it or said something wrong. Just as she was about to take it all back, Lucas let out a sob before throwing both arms around her, burying his little face on her neck. She rubbed his back soothingly and allowed him to cry.

It took a while but finally, Lucas pulled away and started wiping his tears away. Olivia handed his snow globe back. "What were you doing before those girls bothered you?"

"I was about to go to the library to do my homework," he said, sounding a little bit more cheerful. "But they took my book and my quill and parchment."

"Coincidentally, my friend and I were doing our homework in the library as well. I'm sure they have a copy of your book. Would you like to join us?"

He nodded his head cheerfully. "Can I?"

"Of course," Olivia said. "My friend won't mind."

Olivia took his hand again and together, they walked back to the library where Remus is starting to worry. Imagine the surprise on his face when she returned with Lucas who looked tiny in his much too big robes.

"Lucas, this is my friend Remus." Olivia introduced the two as Lucas took his seat beside her. "If you have questions, just ask him. He's really smart."

"Hello," Lucas greeted timidly, giving Remus a small wave.

"Hey." Remus said, though his voice sounded still confused. "How's your day, Lucas?"

Lucas looked down, and Olivia was sure that he was thinking of those bullies. "S'okay."

Remus turned to Olivia as if wondering where the hell did she get a kid from, but Olivia just shook her head. "Lucas is studying with us, if that's okay, Remus?"

The boy nodded. "Of course."

After borrowing the book Lucas needed, Olivia helped him with his homework. He was working on something as simple as Wingardium Leviosa and was supposed to write a seven inch essay about it. Olivia was teaching him the wand movements and proper incantation when James and Sirius returned.

Unknowingly, it's been more than an hour since she met Lucas and it was time for dinner already.

A newly showered James raised an eyebrow at seeing the little boy at where he previously sat. "Why is there a tiny human here?"

"Potter," Olivia scolded. "Don't be rude."

"You do realize, Prongs, that you're about to have a tiny human of your own?" Sirius mused as he took his previous seat beside Remus.

"His name's Lucas," Remus told them. "Those idiots are James and Sirius, Lucas."

"Hello," Lucas greeted them with a smile, sounding much more cheerful than he did earlier.

James watched the kid warily, wondering why the hell he was practically clinging to Olivia. He turned to the girl again. "You're supposed to be in the Great Hall right now."

"I lost track of time." She shrugged. "I was helping Lucas with his homework."

"We should go there now," James said. "You're not allowed to miss a meal."

"Yes, dad." She said with a roll of her eyes.

"Kinky. Unfortunately, it's not my thing." He smirked, obviously proud of himself for that one.

"James!" She scolded again, covering Lucas' ear.

"There are little ears

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