Blackinnon Fest 2024 | Day 6

Blackinnon Fest 2024 | Day 6

Word Count: 314

Prompt: Quaint

The man in the portrait casually leaned against the golden frame. He eyed Marlene suspiciously; his narrow, dark eyes followed the movement of her quill. He had raised his eyebrows and stretched his head to get a better view of her chart as if he could look straight through her. Like an exam invigilator, he hovered behind her, which sent cold shivers down her spine. 

Afraid to make a sound, she nudged Lily under the table and nodded towards the portrait. 

"Do you see that guy over there?" she whispered. 

"Who? Black? Yeah, he's been staring for a while," Lily shrugged. She had barely looked up from the paper to notice him. 

"Not Sirius," she replied loud enough for the professor to raise their head.

"Uhhhh," Lily looked intrigued, "already on first-name terms. Suddenly, he's 'Sirius'."

She mustered the four boys at the table conspicuously until Sirius and James caught her watching, and they had to suppress to burst out laughing in the classroom. 

The wizard in the portrait cleared his throat loudly and began walking up and down the painting. His shoes made a clicking sound with every step. That was when Lily finally noticed him. 

"You have another admirer," Lily giggled, "creepy portrait guy. Looks like Venus is totally in your favour this month." 

"Ms Evans and Ms McKinnon, five points from Gryffindor for chatting in class," the professor said without looking up from their newspaper, "I'm sure you are still missing the descending houses in your chart." 

"We were just talking about Venus in the 8th house, professor," Marlene replied seriously, which nearly sent Lily into a laughing fit, "we were wondering what impact Venus had on relationships." 

"Oh yes, interesting," the professor folded his paper, "Venus in the house of Transformation, Death, Possession and Intimacy. The time for passionate love, that new beginning after a breakup, the deep connection with each other." 

Lily raised her eyebrows and nodded in Sirius' direction. 

"But beware!" the professor continued, "it's also the time for the big mysteries in life, the time for lurking strangers in the dark and healing from hardship. Very well, Ms McKinnon 10 points to Gryffindor."  

"Very well, Ms McKinnon," Lily repeated mockingly, "thank you for sharing your love life with us." 

Marlene rolled her eyes and threw a piece of parchment at her, "Èist do bheul!"

"Oh, be quiet yourself. Now that you know you're in for passionate love, why not ask him out?"

"Only if you finally go out with that Potter guy," Marlene made a couple of kissing sounds. 

"Urgh, I'd rather go on a date with that creepy portrait guy; that mysterious stranger lurking in the dark." 

"Quiet! Or I'll take another 5 points off Gryffindor!" the professor warned them, and they spent the rest of the lesson quietly completing their astrology charts. 

When the lesson was finished and the girls packed their stuff, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter approached their table. 

Lily dove out of the way and left the room as quickly as possible, leaving Marlene alone with the boys. Sirius grinned obnoxiously with that air of haughtiness as he leaned against her table and blocked the way to the door. 

"I was wondering if you still need help with Venus in your 8th house", he smirked. 

Marlene shouldered her bag, crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. The other boys were already in stitches with laughter. 

"As it happens, Scorpio is the ruler of the 8th house, and I should know all about that." 

Marlene burst out laughing, "That's the quaintest pickup line I've ever heard!" 

Sirius raised his eyebrows, too, tilted his head and said, "But did it work?"