Getting Wet and Remus's Chocolate Milk
Hey guys this is my first Harry Potter fanfiction, I've worked really hard on it and would love to hear your thoughts. This is set in the Marauders time, with an original character added because I really enjoy reading those stories. Her name is Scarletta and you can find out everything about her throughout the story. I'll try to update often as possible, as I'm on break at the moment so I should be able to be reasonably consistent with uploading new chapters for you to read. The first chapter is on their first day of Hogwarts, but Chapter Two starts in 5th year and the rest of the chapters will follow that timeline. I'll probably only stick to Scarletta's POV but if it changes to another character it'll say at the top of the chapter. Hope you guys enjoy it. Don't forget to leave your thoughts.
~1st of September 1971~ Platform 9¾~ Scarletta Adler POV~
Anxiety and excitement course through my veins as I gaze up at the scarlet red steam engine. This is it, my ticket out for 10 months of the year, every year for the next 7 years. It could either become an extension of my current restrictions, or a chance for freedom. I turn away from the train to look at my parents so we can say our farewells till Christmas. My mother runs her hand across my head to smooth my perfectly straight hair. "I'll miss you Scarletta," she smiles softly as she speaks, "Don't forget to write often, I know you'll make us proud, our little Slytherin." She halts her hand's movement and leans down to kiss me on the forehead; I smile up at her as expected of me, before turning to face my father. He places his hand on my shoulder, digging his nails in as he squeezes it firmly; the sharp pain doesn't even faze me anymore, I just hope that he didn't draw blood and it would only bruise.
"Make us proud Princess." He says sternly. I force a smile once more at my parents before turning away and walking towards my potential freedom.
I slide open the compartment door, "Do you mind?" I ask gesturing to the obviously free space in the compartment. I step inside and sit down pulling my feet up onto the seat with me before either could answer, I only asked out of politeness I was sitting here regardless. The two boys both turn to look at me and I get an actual look of whose compartment I sat in. Notorious Sirius Black's stunning grey eyes glare at me with a fierce hatred, while the other boy who I didn't know looked perplexed at Sirius's aversion to my presence. "Adler. Go find somewhere else to sit. I don't need your slimy snakeness following me around." I sigh internally, why do family names have to bring such a reputation with them.
"No. I'm sitting here thanks Sirius. Also it would be much appreciated that you didn't associate me with that Slytherin snake den. I don't actually buy into that blood purity shit that both our families preach." I smile and look to the other boy who had wild untamable black hair, he looked as if he was struck by lightning with how his hair stuck out in every direction. I raise my eyebrow at him, "Scarletta Adler, and you are?"
"James Potter and I understand you already know Sirius here," he grins and pulls out a pack of exploding snap out of his pocket and begins shuffling the cards. I nod and turn to look at Sirius again who looks deep in thought.
"So are we good Sirius? Or do I need to further prove my anti blood supremacist views?" He shakes his head and grins at me,
"Nah you seem alright, it'll be fun not being the only blood-traitor of our generation. Deal us both in James."
After playing exploding snap for a good hour, the compartment door slides open, the three of us look confused at the redheaded girl and greasy hair boy standing in the doorway. "Can we sit here please; we were just kicked out of our old compartment?" The girls voice is soft obviously expecting to be rejected. We all nod and they sit down in the vacant spaces beside James the Evans girl introducing them both. With the two additions to our carriage the air becomes awkward and tense. "Sooooooooo…" I drag the word out while drumming my fingers on my leg.
"What house do you think you'll be in? I'll be in Gryffindor where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad." James puffs his chest out proudly and pretends to hold a sword in the air. I smirk and shake my head at his antics. Snape however snorts at James's statement; I raise my eyebrows at him in surprise. "You got a problem with that Snape?" I say sharply.
"No if you'd rather be brawny instead of brainy,"
"Where are you hoping to go seeing as you're neither" Sirius retorted. God forget any of us three liking this Snape guy. Evans stands up glaring at the three of us and pulls Snape with her, "We're leaving" she states opening the door. "See ya Evans and you too Snivellus" James calls out to them a grin on his face. Sirius and I laugh as the two hurry away. "I love the name for the grease ball." I get out between laughs while Sirius reaches over and claps James on the shoulder, "Quality stuff mate." All of us grinning we continue our games of exploding snap and make idle conversation about Quidditch, pranking and Hogwarts. All talk of families was avoided by an unspoken agreement.
We departed the train standing on the platform while the other students rush about around us. Just as I was about to ask an older student where we go a voice starts to yell "Firs' years! Firs' years this way!." A huge man stands at the other end of the platform holding a lantern in one hand and waving us over with the other. As we get closer he seems to get larger and I realize he must be a half-giant, my parents must be disgusted about that. We follow the stream of first years round the corner to a lake. "Four to a boat!" The man calls out, and we all rush to grab a spot in a boat. Just as I'm about to join James and Sirius in their boat a short mousy brown haired boy sits in down in their boat. Sighing I make my way over to the boat which holds Snivellus and Evans along with another small brown haired girl. Obvious looks of distaste at my presence cover their faces, I smile sarcastically back at them, "Isn't it just lovely to see you two again?" Evans scoffs and tosses her hair over her shoulder turning away from me. As the boat begins gliding across the lake I shift my weight so it's all to one side of the boat, the boat immediately tilts slightly, just a little more weight to this side and it'll tip. I grin, my companions in the boat unaware to the hazardous situation they're in. I look over at the boys boat which was next to ours and grin at them before I lean backwards just that little bit more causing the boat to flip over, depositing me and the rest of my companions in the water. I break the surface of the water and swim towards the boy's boat; I hold on to the side and grin at them. "Hey, would you mind giving me a hand?" Sirius laughs at me and they both pull me into their boat the other students moving over to give me space.
"You are insane," James declares laughing "But that was awesome, maybe Snivellus might actually be cleaned of the grease." We reach the shore and the boys exit the boat, I stumble nearly falling face first back into the boat when arms grab me and pull me onto the shore. I look up and don't recognize my helper, he was tall and his green eyes are aged and troubled. "Thank you," I smile gratefully.
"No problem, I'm Remus."
"Scarletta," I reply. We walk over to where the rest of the first years are and stand beside James and Sirius. I notice Hagrid walking towards us with Evans and Snivellus who are angrily complaining to him, I quickly school my features into ones of fear and innocence as they approach. "Sirius, act like you're comforting me" I mutter under my breath. He complies and puts his arm around my shoulders and rubs my arm in a soothing motion and I shiver violently, the guys all look concerned, good. "Adler!" Snape starts, "What the hell was that for!? Already out to get the muggle-born's are you!?" Sirius pulls me tight against him protectively.
"Why does everyone think I'm like that? I didn't do anything to either of you." I respond in a timid voice displaying hurt on my face. Hagrid looks concerned and uncomfortable with the situation, "Are ye saying ye didn't tip the boat?" I nod and lean into Sirius as I shiver, Merlin being soaked is not good for staying warm. Hagrid nods and turns around leading all of the first years into the castle. I drop the scarred innocent act and smirk triumphantly at Evans and Snivellus.
"And just so you two know I couldn't give a rats ass about your blood type," I skip past them the boys following behind me laughing.
We enter Hogwarts and walk up a set of stairs to stand in front of an uptight looking woman, must be McGonagall my brother mentioned she was the strict head of Gryffindor. She frowns at us when she notices that four of us are soaked to the bone. "Hagrid, why are a few of the students drenched? I take it wasn't Peeves again as only four students are wet," I school my face into one of innocence, not wanting to be outed now. She dries us with a quick spell while waiting for his reply.
"Uh, one of the boats tipped on the way over," he looks bashful under her scrutinizing gaze obviously that wasn't quite believable. She doesn't push the matter and launches into a speech on how we were to be sorted and our houses would be like our families. I tuned her out and looked around my year group trying to work out who would be my classmates for the next 7 years. She finishes talking and opens the huge doors in front of us leading us into the great hall, here goes nothing. I look around the hall as we walk taking it all in, the ceiling was beautiful it was enchanted to look like the sky above meaning thousands of twinkling stars looked down on us. We stopped in front of the long table at the front of the hall were the professors sat. An old battered hat was placed on a stool and McGonagall stood beside it, the sorting hat, it was unnerving that my future was being decided on by an item of clothing. The rip in the front of the hat split open and the hat began to sing, why is a hat singing that's strange.
The hat finishes up its song and folds in half as if it's bowing as the great hall erupts in applause for the weirdass singing hat, not that I was listening. Once the hall returns to silence McGonagall clears her throat and unfurls the scroll in her hands and begins reading out the names alphabetically. Shit my last name starts with A. My hands begin to tremble as the first boy is sorted; the hat is only on his head for a few moments before it calls out "RAVENCLAW!" Shit, my future is about to be decided for me by a hat. My parent's expect Slytherin, my brother expects Slytherin, I'm supposed to be put in Slytherin, but I can't. I don't want to know the consequences if I'm not, but I don't want to follow along with their blood supremacist views. I'm trapped. Totally doomed. Sirius grabs my hand and squeezes it tightly bringing me back to reality just as McGonagall calls my name. I breathe in deeply and step forwards my head held high, my panic concealed behind a well-practised mask. I sit down with grace as the hat is placed over my head dropping down past my eyes.
"Hello Miss Adler," the hat says "An Adler, very pure blood. I see you have been brought up with the same blood ideals, yet you disagree with them hmm, interesting, very unheard of for someone of your social standing. So where to put you? You could go in Slytherin as expected of you, you certainly are cunning and have the ability to manipulate someone to benefit yourself. Yet you never do it to be cruel. You definitely have a disregard for the rules, a little troublemaker really. You could do well in Slytherin, yet you don't have ambition quiet at the level that many of your fellow Slytherins have. Hmm, yet I'm not sure you could quiet fit, not with that brashness though. Not Slytherin I think stubbornly, I am not like my family. I can't live in that snake pit, I'll be eaten alive. "Well yes that is true, your anti-blood supremacist views would get you in trouble there, quite sad but true. You have a lot of bravery and courage Miss Adler; it does take a lot of it to stand up for what you believe in. And that impulsive nature you have only gives me one choice of where to put you. It'll have to be…. GRYFFINDOR!"McGonagall picks the hat up off my head and a walk to the loudly cheering red and gold table smirking. My nerves are a wreck inside I know that I will have to suffer the consequences of this forever but I'm glad I'm not sitting with my glaring relatives.
I turn to watch the rest of the sorting crossing my fingers for Sirius as the hat is placed on his head. He won't be placed in Slytherin I don't doubt that, he's been rebelling the pureblood mania actively his whole life, but I still send him luck. The hat calls out "GRYFFINDOR!" after about a minute and I stand up and cheer loudly along with the rest of my house. He walks towards me pulling me into a tight hug, "They're going to kill us," he whispers in my ear as I tighten my grip around him before shoving myself away from him so we could sit. I shove all my paranoid thoughts about the whiplash out of my mind. The next addition to Gryffindor was Evans then a girl called Alice. They sit down opposite me and I send them a smile but Evans just glares back at me, oh well I feel no friendship coming from her. Remus's name is called next and I look up hearing his name and watch. The anxiety he feels about the sorting is clear all over his face, interesting I could never let my emotions be so obvious for everyone to examine. The hat is placed on his head presumably debating between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor as he seemed book smart when we met. I grin when the hat places him in Gryffindor and stand and cheer again. He sits down on the other side of me than Sirius and I grin at him. The small brunette from the boat, Mary is also sorted into Gryffindor along with a blonde energetic girl, Marlene. Peter Pettigrew is sorted into Gryffindor too after a hatstall and James obviously is sorted into Gryffindor too the hat barely took a second for his sorting. No one else was sent to Gryffindor and Snape went to Slytherin as he preached he wanted on the train. Lily looks sadly over at him as he walks to the table on the other side of the room. I struggle not to launch into conversation with the boys as the sorting finishes up, I couldn't believe it we were all in the same house, at least I knew I had four friends.
McGonagall rolls up her scroll and walks to her seat as Dumbledore rises holding his hands in the ear to ensure we remain silent. "Thank you for your patience. Welcome back to Hogwarts, I hope you are all ready for another year of learning. For those new students and those of you who need reminding the Forbidden Forest is of course Forbidden and out of bounds. Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that no magic is to be done in the corridors and that there is a list of banned items hanging outside his office. Now please enjoy your dinner and settle into your houses. Wizzpop, Dung Beetles, Fizzbee." As he finishes his last word plates and plates of food appear on the tables and I grin spotting roast potatoes. The boys pile their plates high taking some of everything and shovelling food into their mouths as if they've been starved. Not wanting to know if they would go as far to talk with their mouths open I start talking to Marlene who had sat across from me, while I steadily made my way through a mountain of roast potatoes. After all of us had eaten till we were all more than comfortably full the plates vanished, just as quickly as they had appeared.
We follow a loud snobby prefect up to the Gryffindor tower, staying clear of the Slytherin house as the rivalry would result in a brawl. We reach a portrait which we're informed by the Prefect is known as the fat lady and is the entrance to the Gryffindor common room and dorms. "The password is Balderdash, remember the password and check the notice board for when it changes," he tells us while ushering us in. "This is the Gryffindor common room, Girls dorms to the right, Boys on the right. Your dorms are all on the lowest level and your rooms will move up a floor as you progress to the next year level. So first years bottom floor downstairs and when you're in seventh year you'll be at the top of the tower. Be warned boys can't go on the stairs to the girls dormitory, so don't try. Be good, behave don't lose us points we want to win the cup this year. If you're struggling ask an older classmate, we're all happy to help. Now off to bed you've got class tomorrow." He walks away to sit with some upperclassmen and all the first year girls except me and one of the guys walk down the stairs to their dorm, Remus, James, Sirius and I linger in the common room, seemingly permanent smiles on our faces at the thought of being in Gryffindor.
"I'm going to go catch up to Marlene, maybe make friends with the other girls in my dorm. Meet you guys down here tomorrow so we can walk to breakfast tomorrow?" I ask, wanting to prolong the time before my confrontation with my brother, or my cousin. They all nod,
"Yeah sounds good to me" James says before racing off to his dorm dragging the other two behind him. I roll my eyes as they shove each other round playfully as the race to get to their dorm before the others. I walk down to my dorm, feeling the tense air as silence falls over the room as soon as I open the door; I feel wary eyes of the two brunettes on me obviously expecting a prejudiced git. I look around the room, spotting my bed which thankfully is next to Marlene's, the only one who's happy about my presence. Evans glares at me put out by my presence and I can tell that we're not going to get along anytime soon. "What a lovely welcome," I mutter to Marlene as I open my trunk which is placed on my bed. She snorts in reply to my comment,
"Yeah warm and filled with hugs and kisses," she rolls her eyes obviously thinking her dorm mates are being ridiculous. We finish unpacking and say good night before climbing into our beds shutting the curtains around us. I closed my eyes tightly hoping sleep would reach me quickly before I started overthinking everything again.
I groan in frustration as light attacks my shut eyelids; I roll over trying to hide from the light that insisted I wake up. I'm still using up sleep time god. I swear into my sheets as my shoulder is shaken roughly, "Adler! Get up now! Black and Potter are yelling down the stairs and walking the whole of Gryffindor up! Get up! NOW ADLER!" Evans yells at me. Merlin red calm down, don't be so pissy. I smirk into my pillow as I've already managed to get on her nerves without even being awake. I roll over onto my back submitting myself to the woes of the morning, opening my eyes.
"And why is this my problem? Just tell them I'll be there soon and that if they leave without me I will make their lives hell as pay back." She glares at me and doesn't make a move to relay the message. Merlin really? I roll my eyes at her stubbornness, "They aren't going to stop yelling unless you tell them, and they will just get louder. I'm not going to tell them to shut up and this will happen every single day without fail for seven years. Unless...You go and give them my message." I smile sweetly at her as I get up, hissing at the coldness of the floor. She turns and leaves in a huff. I look around the room seeing that all the other girls have left, well shit I must be running late, oh well. I grab my uniform and make my way to the shower. I stand in front of the mirror trying and failing to tie my tie. I sigh in defeat and leave my tie hanging loose around my neck and run up the stairs to the boys. "I am here! No need to worry and cry over my absence any longer boys," I grin and walk over to them, Sirius shakes his head at me
"Can't tie a tie? Or just being lazy?" I smile sheepishly as he gestures for me to stand still as he quickly ties it for me.
"Thanks," I mutter embarrassed at my incompetence.
"Now can we gooooo!" James whines "I want food, I'm wasting away!" Remus laughs at him and shoves him out of the portrait hole, causing James to stumble and nearly fall on his face. We all laugh at him before running down from the tower to the great hall, food calling all of our names.
We enter the great hall and my gaze shifts over to the Slytherin table meeting my older brothers eyes, he glares at me but there is a gloating triumph in his eyes, I feel my hands start to shake and my face pale, oh Merlin what did he do that he'd want to gloat about. Sirius places his hand on my shoulder steering me towards our friends, "Ignore him, just breathe and ignore him," he whispers as we sit down with Remus and James who are already shoveling food into their faces eagerly. I heed Sirius's words and put it out of my mind for now reaching for some toast.
"You waste away yet James? Or are you going to live to see another meal?" He glares at me,
"I wouldn't of had to worry if you had gotten up earlier but instead while you slept away peacefully I started to shrivel and die." He then continues to devour the food on his plate.
"Of course James, couldn't possibly have that happen could we." A collective gasp comes from the first year muggle-born's as owls fly into the great hall, delivering mail to various students. I curse when I see the family owl headed for me, and another owl beside it carrying a bright red letter. Of course Walburga sent Sirius a howler, she seemed awful whenever I had the displeasure of seeing her. Sirius pales slightly as the owls land. Snickers erupted from the Slytherin tower when Sirius takes the red letter from the owl. "Here goes nothing," he mutters as he breaks the seal on the letter.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!" Her voice screeches out from the howler, the rest of the hall is silent except from a few snickers from dickwads finding Sirius's predicament amusing. Mary who is seated next to Remus slaps her hands over her ears wincing at the amplified volume of Walburga Black's voice. "HOW DARE YOU EMBARRASS THE FAMILY LIKE THIS YOU UNGRATEFUL SPAWN! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE NAME OF BLACK! YOU SHALL FIX THIS YOU FILTHY CHILD! I SHALL BE WRITING TO DUMBLEDORE SO HE CAN FIX THIS AND PUT YOU IN SLYTHERIN WHERE YOU BELONG! YOU ARE A DISGRACE SIRIUS! LEARN TO BEHAVE!" The letter then proceeded to burst into flames landing as a pile of ash on the table narrowly missing Sirius's plate of food.
"Well that was lovely, I'll be sure to thank my mother for her kind words and not ruining my breakfast with ashes," He rolls his eyes and takes another bite of his bacon, seeming unfazed by the letter. The rest of the student body realizing that the entertainment had passed and returned to their loud chatter. I take the letter from my owl and tuck it into my robe pocket, planning to read over it later in private. I grab a piece of bacon off James's plate and feed it to my family's owl before it flies off. His mouth drops open just staring at me in shock and horror.
"Shut your mouth James, you'll catch flies."
"B-but you...you just...You took my bacon. What the...You took my bacon.."
"Yes I took your bacon and I fed it to the owl get overrrr it." I roll my eyes at him and lean over shutting his jaw by placing my fingers underneath his chin and pushing his jaw closed. "Deal with it James," the dumbfounded look doesn't leave his face as he places an arm protectively in front of his plate,
"My Bacon, not the owls, mine" I roll my eyes at his dramatics, I lean over to grab myself another piece of toast and seal myself a death sentence. My arm brushes against Remus's glass of chocolate milk sending it spilling onto his chocolate chip pancakes, oh shit. I stop and slowly look at Remus,
"Sorry?" I offer meekly, as his face morphed from amusement to deadly calm as he looked at his soaked plate to me. I slowly stop smiling as a muscle in his jaw twitches, oh shit shit.
"My chocolate. You ruined the chocolate!" I quickly step away from the table and back up holding my hands up in surrender. Sirius stifles a laugh as Remus slowly walks towards me an evil amusement glinting in his eyes as he steadily stalked his prey, the prey that so happened to be me. He charges towards me and I spin round and sprint out the large hall doors, my laughter ringing out behind me.
The next chapter begins in 5th year. Hope you guys like it so far. Don't forget to fav and review.