The Tale of the Marauders - Halloween and Firewiskey

Halloween

October was nearing the end, with fast winds yet bright brilliant sunshine still gleaming over the castle grounds. The once green leaves were now different shades of brown, orange and yellow and Halloween was fast approaching. One of the most important days in the wizerding calendar. There was an unnatural buzz in the air with the Halloween dance just days away.

Wednesday evening had arrived far too quickly and James was doing his Potions homework with Minerva.

"How come everyone's got dates except us?" James erupted.

"Us? You're including me in this?" Minerva answered.

"Well me, you and Sirius" James replied "anyway who's everyone else going with."

"Why do you expect me to know everything" Minerva said glaring at him. "Ummm… Remus is going with Amelia Bones from the second year, you know in Hufflepuff? She's the one with red hair, very pretty." Minerva added. "Peter is going with Bortha Jorkins. You know in the third year? Bit plain if you ask me." Minerva seemed to like to comment on everyone they talked about and quiet often what she said was true.

"So has Sirius asked you yet, I mean he likes you" James said.

"Yes but that doesn't mean I like him, in that way, I mean" she fell silent, looking in to the common room fire.

"What? I thought you liked him?" James looked at her stunned. Did this mean he had a chance with her? 'Cause there was no chance with Lily. He was so confused at how his heart skipped a beat whenever he saw Lily and Minerva.

"Me like him? Yeah right, I like someone else but you don't know him" Minerva said not looking at James as she said the last part. James considered his words carefully and how best to approach his next question.

"You're a girl right" James said as if it sounded like a question Minerva looked down and replied. "On last checking I still was so yes"

"Do you well, only if you want to, you don't have to but...?"

"Ummm…" Minerva said looking up at him in interest.

"Do you want to" James began but Minerva cut across him.

"You know it's my birthday on Halloween" she said looking slightly happier "But seems like Sirius has completely forgot. First year he's actually forgot; not that I care of course" Minerva added casually. There was a long pause in which James looked at her but Minerva still looked in to the fire.

"Minerva, do you want to go to the ball with me?" James asked. His heart was beating so fast he thought it would explode. She looked at him in a loving kind of way and said "Yes." She now had a wide smile on her face and she practically jumped on him and gave him a big hug. James heart skipped a beat and his stomach did a summersault.

Thursday came and went and last lesson was double Potions with Professor Slughorn. He tended to walk around the class examining the contents of their cauldrons and would often stop to chat to the more gifted students in the class.

"It's a pity you're not in my house, I have all your cousins and your brother's coming up next year is that right?" Slughorn asked pompously not waiting for an answer from Sirius, he continued "It's Regulas right I just hope I get him" He sighed as if he was a collector that had been denied a piece from a rare and valuable collection. Then Slughorn headed over to the other side of the classroom to talk to Lily and Severus Snape.

"I hate that boy." James snarled looking in Snape's direction.

"So do I. He's an idiot! I don't understand how Lily can be friends with him." Sirius continued backing up James statement.

"Do you guys mind? Some of us are still friends with 'that boy' even if you don't like him." Minerva said angrily.

"Yep and why do you guys hate him so much? What has he ever done to you?" Remus said, quickly not meeting Sirius' or James' eye as he said this.

"The fact that he's alive" James said savagely.

"Well there has to be a better reason than that." Peter turned around in his seat grinning at them.

"Class pack away and just leave when you're ready" Came the booming voice of Slughorn. Everyone cleared up and left the classroom gradually.

"Severus, Lily, wait up" Minerva called after them and rushed over to join them.

By the time the rest of the class had left the classroom Minerva, Lily and Severus appeared to be deep in conversation, so Sirius, James, Peter and Remus waited at the other side of the dungeon corridor. Lily left and glared at James and Sirius in disgust. This left Severus and Minerva continuing their conversation. James was filled with rage but stopped himself for Minerva's sake because he knew that no matter how much he loathed Snape she would never allow him to hurt him in anyway 'well unless he deserved it' he thought. They both looked over in James and Sirius's direction and Snape pointed said something to her. Minerva looked at him and punched him on the arm in a friendly sort of way. Severus went through the door at the end of the corridor in a hurry.

"You're not going with him are you?" Sirius asked as she approached them.

"No of course not, he's going with Lily to the ball and no I'm not going with you. I'm already going with someone" she said smugly, looking at Sirius then to James.

"Then who are you going with?" Sirius asked.

"That would be me" James said looking at Sirius "Sorry mate. Do you want me to ask Mary for you?"

"Yeah that could work. She's not plain. You wouldn't suit plain girls and on the plus side she has black hair and brown eyes and I know how much you like girls like that" Minerva said in a matter of fact tone. They all turned to her and said "Shut up."

"Thanks you lot. Maybe your right Fang, she seems like a nice girl. I'll go ask her myself" and Sirius hurried off towards the Great hall.

"James, I wish he would stop calling me that. I'm not that fond of it. I'm so glad everyone else calls me Minerva." James smiled at her as they headed to the Great hall as well.

Friday was lazy and many people didn't get up till lunch time.

At five o'clock everyone went up to their dormitories to get ready for the ball. Sirius wore crimson dress robes, Remus wore emerald green and Peter wore navy blue. James opted for a traditional black with red detailing.

Soon they all made their way down to the common room. It looked extremely odd seeing a load of different colours instead of the usual mass of black. Sirius made his way over to Mary who was wearing light pink dress and had her hair perfectly straitened. Standing in the corner of the room was Minerva, she kept pulling at the bottom of her black dress and touching her hair to make sure it was still in the same place. Her hair was set in to small ringlets that shaped her face, she looked very beautiful.

"Hi," James said "you look nice." Minerva looked up at him

"Thanks I thought I looked a bit… ummm… girly. I hate wearing dresses"

"No you don't look too girly, you look really nice." James said trying to comfort her.

"You think?" Minerva said giving a weak smile.

"Yeah! By the way happy birthday, what did you get?" James said clutching her present that was in a box in his pocket.

"Well I got this necklace from Remus." pointing at the golden hart shaped locket round her neck. She opened it and showed James the two tiny pictures that were already put in it; one was a picture of Remus and Minerva a week after they first arrived at Hogwarts, and the other of all of the first year Gryffindor. Lily and Mary were giggling with a bunch of other Gryffindor girls, James and Sirius had their arms around each other's shoulders smiling up at them, Peter was standing in the corner of the picture deeply immersed in a book and Remus and Minerva were standing in the middle of the picture smiling and laughing. As James looked at it he was filled up with happiness.

"Umm Bellatrix got me this charm bracelet, Peter got me a book about vampires and Remus also got me a book on werewolves. Lily got me this ring" she pointed at the ring on her finger.

"And what about Sirius" James asked.

"He didn't get me anything, but Minerva, my Aunt." James looked at her puzzled, he still couldn't get used to the fact she called Pr. McGonagall by her first name or that she was related to someone who was the complete opposite of her, she noticed the puzzled look on his face and then continued.

"Ok, McGonagall got me book called 'Quidditch Through the Ages' it's the new updated version with info and all the newest broom releases and most recent league tables in England and Ireland." Minerva said.

She checked her watch "Oh look, it's nearly seven. We had better go down to the entrance hall" Minerva grabbed hold of James' hand and they ran through the portrait hole and down to the entrance hall, which was now full. They stood on the stairs looking down in the direction of the dungeons. James caught sight of Remus standing next to a redheaded girl wearing a white dress. She had her hair in a tight bun at the back of her head. James guessed that this was Amelia Bones. Minerva had been right, she was very pretty. The dungeon door opened; all the Slytherin's emerged and they all were wearing black. Next came Slughorn who was accompanied by Professor Swooly. She was wearing a dark purple dress and her blonde hair was hanging round her face, this made her look angelic.

"Wow! Swooly looks hot!" James said not thinking

"I thought you might say that." Minerva said turning to him and grinning. "I helped her pick it."

"Really I would never have guessed?" James replied smiling at her.

Minerva turned her back on the scene and leaned back resting her arms on the balcony behind her.

"I hate dances; I could be doing much better things with my time"

"Oh sorry am I too boring for you?" James said sarcastically

"No, it's not that, I just… Sirius has pretty much ignored me all day and the only time he did talk to me he was hating on Snape. He didn't even wish me a happy birthday." She looked really angry, then turned and looked at James "We have been friends for years and he doesn't even wish me a happy birthday, some friend he is. What the hell is wrong with him James? What is his big problem?"

"I don't know" he answered not meeting her eye, knowing the answer to the question, some guys just acted very odd at time, especially to the ones they liked.

She looked around and then looked down "Sirius is coming over." She was now playing with her hands and fiddling even more with her dress. Minerva looked up with panic on her face she grabbed James and kissed him and he kissed her back not knowing what else to do. They then parted and looked around to see a very shocked Sirius looking at both of them. He clutched Mary's hand as if he needed something there for support. Minerva then grabbed hold of James hand and dragged him past Sirius, giving him a very smug look. They both proceeded down the stairs holding hands and joined Remus and Amelia.

"Minerva seriously, what was all that about?" James asked

"I am so sorry! I didn't know what else to do, and I panicked" she replied looking down at her feet. Remus looked up the stairs looking at where Sirius and Mary were, he then looked back at Minerva.

"I'm guessing he still hasn't wished you a happy birthday?" Remus said looking slightly amused.

"No he hasn't." Minerva replied just as the doors to the great hall opened.