Hello there lovelies! This is my first attempt at fan-fiction writing on this scale and I've been debating whether to upload this for a while, but I figured it was worth a shot! I hope you like it and if you have the time I would really appreciate it if you left a review telling me what you thought of it x
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters, with the exception of my OCs.
The Empire Strikes Black
Harper looked out at the familiar scene with a fond smile, sad that this would be her last year boarding the train as a student. Seventh year had creeped up a lot faster than she thought and with the latest reports in the Daily Prophet detailing the scope of the war at hand, she was feeling more apprehensive than ever about leaving the security of Hogwarts behind. The castle walls provided a somewhat sanctity against the evil gathering strength outside; an evil that had already penetrated the Slytherin ranks in the form of several sixth and seventh-year Death Eaters who got their kicks from picking off muggleborns such as herself.
She pushed her way through the crowds gathered on the platform; past the excited first-years, the anxious parents and the older students keen to unite with their friends after a summer apart. It was ten to eleven and the train would be heading off soon; the red steam engine roaring to life as clouds of steam billowed in its wake.
Having already said goodbye to her parents on the other side of the platform, Harper hoisted her trunk, albeit with difficulty, onto the train and set out in search of a compartment. Sidestepping a group of first years who were still loitering by the entrance, she was heading to the back of the train when a familiar voice caught her attention.
"You know the first years usually sit at the front of train, right?" Harper rolled her eyes, recognising the voice instantly. Sure enough, there stood James Potter. All 6ft 3 inches of him, leaning against the compartment door, hair ruffled, hands in his pockets and a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Ha ha very funny, I think I'm tall enough now not to pass for a first year thanks, James."
He chuckled and pulled her under one arm, the other grabbing her trunk and pulling it along with ease.
"Good to see you too, Collins," he laughed. "Good summer? Judging by the frequency of your letters I'd say you missed me quite a bit," he smirked. Still couldn't shake that arrogance.
"I'd probably chalk it more up to boredom, but whatever makes you feel good."
"Harsh," he pouted.
"But true," she teased, laughing as she followed him further down the train. "Have you seen any of the others yet? Remus is probably with the prefects, right? Lily never said but I'm guessing he got Head Boy, I mean he is the obvious choice."
"Yeah … about that," he tailed off. He stopped pulling the trunk and turned to face her looking decidedly sheepish; a word very rarely associated with James Potter. He was looking down at his shoes and fidgeting with a shiny gold badge in his hands, the letters HB clearly emblazoned against the maroon backdrop.
"OK, the snitch is one thing, James, but you can't just nick his badge on the first day, I would give it a week at least," she joked, expecting to see his usual trademark smirk.
"I didn't nick it," he defended. "And I didn't steal the snitch either, I borrowed it," he shrugged.
"It's not called borrowing if you don't return it, James, it's called a felony. But back to this," she gestured to the badge. "If you didn't take it, why do you have it?" she frowned.
"I have it because … because I'm … I'm Head Boy," he mumbled, shoving his hands back in his pockets.
"Is this a joke?" If it had been anyone else she would have felt bad for questioning him, but it was James. The kid's had more detentions than Dumbledore's had lemon drops.
"If that hadn't also been my initial impression I would be quite offended by that, Collins. I mean we all know I'm a poster child for good behaviour and moral righteousness; I'm diligent, polite …"
She looked up at him, eyebrow raised.
"Ok if it's any consolation I was as shocked as you are, I mean it doesn't exactly do wonders for my reputation. I don't know, maybe Dumbledore's finally lost it, he is old … no offence to him," he quickly added.
"Does Lily know?"
"Considering I'm still in one piece, I'm assuming she's still in the dark as to my recent appointment, although I'm not going to lie this could have its perks," he smiled, playing with the badge in his hands.
"You mean the fact that Lily will now be forced to endure your company rather than actively avoid it?" she countered.
"Well that wasn't quite the spin I was going for, but I figure the more time she spends with me the quicker she'll succumb to my charms."
"That plan's not quite worked out for the last few years though has it?" she smirked.
James' infatuation with the redhead was well-known in Gryffindor and the harder he tried, the harder he was shot down. You had to admire the kid's perseverance though, he was like one of those weeble wobble dolls she had when she was a kid; the ones you would continually push down only for them to spring right back up again.
"Ever think of picking a new target? Setting your sights on a different … more … receptive girl?"
"No." He shook his head firmly, he wasn't going to budge on this one.
"Maybe somebody younger? You know, closer to your maturity level? I'm not saying rob the cradle but a fifth year maybe?"
"You know I can dock points, right?"
"We're in the same house."
His smile faltered slightly. "There's always detention," he countered.
"I'm also best mates with the aforementioned redhead."
"Yeah and look how well that's worked out for me. You've shared a dorm with her for years, you've had countless opportunities to paint me in a positive light and she still can't stand me."
"You know there's only so much 'painting' a girl can do, James? Picasso would probably struggle to improve Lily's perception of you."
"I don't know who that is," he frowned.
"It's not important, the point is maybe you should take a different approach. I'd start with the hair that seems to be the thing that really ticks her off," she joked, swatting his hand as it instantly sprung to the back of his head, ruffling his hair so that it stood on end.
"Don't take it to heart, the windswept look isn't for everyone," she teased. "On a more serious note though, shouldn't you be … I don't know … rounding up the prefects, looking out for first years," she trailed off, hoping to incite his sense of responsibility.
"Well to be fair, I did …" he started.
"People who actually are in first year, James. Not people who are only slightly shorter than national height average."
"What national average are we using here, Collins? House elves … goblins?"
"I will hex you, James!"
"I don't doubt it," he chuckled. "But you're right, I should probably show Evans how mature I can be. Set an example."
"I'd start by actually wearing the badge, not just shoving it in your pocket."
"Right. Good shout," he nodded. Setting down her trunk, he ruffled her hair affectionately and laughed as she frowned and slapped his hand away.
"Remus and the others are in the third carriage by the way, when I left Sirius was still recounting tales of his summer of fun. Apparently there have been quite a few new additions to his 'little black book,'" he laughed.
"I regret ever introducing him to that phrase," she frowned, slightly disgusted but hardly surprised.
"Right, I'm off. Wish me luck, if you don't see me at dinner just assume that I've succumbed to the wrath of Evans."
"I'll remember you fondly," she smiled.
"I appreciate that, Collins," he laughed, turning towards the direction of the prefect's compartment.
Continuing down the train she stopped by what was inarguably the loudest compartment and was confronted, as she expected, by the rest of Marauders and her fellow roommate, Marlene McKinnon.
"Hey there stranger!"
"Marls! I missed you," she squealed, pulling the blonde into a tight hug as she fell back into the remaining seat next to Remus.
"Well, look who decided to finally show! Good summer, Collins?" Sirius was lounging in his seat by the window, drumming his wand against his knee with one hand and ruffling his hair with the other. "I was just filling the others in on my summer exploits," he smirked.
"Ah yes, your summer of fun and freedom, James already gave me a taster. I'll take a rain check on the unabridged version, if you don't mind." Remus chuckled as Sirius winked at her, resting his feet on the seat opposite.
"Putting the new place to good use then, Sirius? Got round to actually decorating it yet?"
She'd visited Sirius once in the summer, not long after he'd first moved in. The flat was near the centre of London and he'd bought it with the money left to him by his Uncle Alphard; one of the only relatives Sirius actually classed as family.
"It doesn't need decorating, it has charm," Sirius insisted, looking slightly affronted that his 'palatial' flat was coming under such scrutiny.
"Sirius, please! Last time I was there the wall paper was peeling and there was a whole in the wall," Marlene countered, laughing as Sirius chucked a liquorice wand at her.
"That wasn't there when I moved in, I blame Prongs," he defended, muttering something about Firewhiskey and antlers under his breath. Best not to ask.
"Besides, it's lived in," he nodded firmly.
"Nice spin, gearing up for a job at the Prophet?" she teased.
"As for the wallpaper," he continued, ignoring her mocking. "I have actually fixed that."
"By which he means, he's decorated over it with posters," corrected Remus.
"The same tasteful ones you had at Grimmauld?" she asked, eyebrows raised.
"No, sadly I had to leave those behind," he smiled ruefully.
Harper knew that his exit from the family home was not planned but it was not a subject that Sirius really liked to discuss in any detail. Or at all. All Harper had gleaned from James was that he had turned up one night, entirely unexpected, upset and looking like he'd caught the wrong side of a nasty hex.
"So you mean to say that the half-naked, bikini-clad Muggle girls will not be making an appearance at the new place?"
"It was a blow to me too, Collins. Though you never know, my mum might like a keepsake, proof I actually lived there. Let's face it, they're completely wasted on Regulus, if it's not got a Dark Mark stamped on it there's just no point," he laughed but there was a slight edge to it; it wasn't jovial, instead it was slightly bitter.
The relationship between the two brothers was fraught at best and Harper knew better than to intervene. There was no denying that they were polar opposites but Harper had always had a soft spot for the younger brother and she flinched slightly at the mention of the Dark Mark. He was better than that.
"So who wants to take a bet on how long it will be before Evans cracks and ends up with Prongs?" Sirius joked, clearly not wanting to dwell any longer on the subject of his estranged family.
"We make this bet every year, Sirius," sighed Peter. "When have they ever come closer to anything other than sparring partners?"
"That is true, but the increased proximity could help his case," reasoned Remus. "To be fair, I don't think her opinion of him could sink much lower."
"What do you think she'll say when she finds out about him being Head Boy? I haven't heard any screaming yet, got to be a good sign, right? Clearly she's not done away with him just yet" joked Marlene.
"Nah, Evan's smart, she'd use a silencing charm."
"Good point."
"I think this year's different though, she'll cave."
"Your O in Divination tell you that, McKinnon?" joked Sirius, shooting her a playful grin as she narrowed her eyes and frowned at him.
"Shut it, Black!"
"Oh back to Black now are we?"
"Well you know what they say, once you go black you never go back?" she teased, folding her arms as she leaned back in her seat.
"When it comes to me, McKinnon, they never say that I can assure you." McKinnon looked both affronted and amused, and, if you knew her well enough, a little jealous.
"Moving on from what I can only assume will be Sirius's latest catch line, anyone up for a game of Exploding Snap?" suggested Remus.
Smiling fondly as she looked on her friends, Harper wished she could freeze this moment. The war on the outside would quickly penetrate the peace on the inside, but right now, surrounded by her friends and heading for home, Harper felt safe. Hogwarts was sanctuary.
"Oh sweet Merlin, this cake is so good! It's like heaven in sponge form," enthused Marlene, happily tucking into the dessert, pausing only to take a quick sip of pumpkin juice. Harper couldn't help but laugh.
"OK Hogwarts is on fire and you can only save me or the cake, which one do you choose?"
Marlene stopped eating to swallow and frowned, deep in thought.
"You're actually thinking about this, aren't you?" joked Lily.
"The cake can't exactly move on its own, Lils! It's not like it has legs!" she defended. Picking up her fork again, she smiled innocently as she resumed demolishing the desert.
"Nice to know where your loyalties lie, Marls! I'll remember that next time you want to borrow my Charms notes. But moving onto a different topic, what is going on between you and Black?" Lily's head snapped up, equally intrigued as to the weird dynamic between the two Gryffindors.
"I don't know what you mean," sniffed Marlene, averting her eyes as she traced shapes in the icing with her fork. She shot a quick look to the end of the table where the Marauders were seated; James gesturing wildly as he explained some Quidditch manoeuvre to Peter as Sirius continued to shovel down food so quickly Harper was surprised if it even touched the sides.
"Oh please, don't give me that! It would take the sword of Gryffindor to carve through the sexual tension between you two; it's palpable!"
"Oh big word for you," she teased.
"I'm serious, are you two seeing each other or what?"
"No! It's not like that! We just got a bit closer over the summer, that's all! He's not that bad when you get to know him!" Harper frowned, clearly unconvinced.
"I know that, but you're a lot better than just a fling, Marls. I mean let's face it, the boy may as well have a revolving door on his bed the amount of girls he goes through! Doesn't that bother you?" She wanted her friend to be happy, but Sirius wasn't exactly known for having lasting relationships.
"He's not as bad as he makes out and I'm not like the other girls, I know what I'm doing. I'm not getting attached, we're just friends," she insisted, casting another furtive look in Sirius' direction, except this time he caught her eye, winking as she blushed slightly.
Marlene turned back to the two girls in front of her. "Things will probably be different now we're back at school but … I don't know, it was just so easy in the summer," she sighed.
"By the sounds of it, he was just so easy in the summer," laughed Harper, holding her hands up as Marlene glared at her. "OK dropping the subject now! What about you, Lils? I see Potter's still in one piece."
"For now."
"Come on, Lily! Give him a chance, once you deflate the ego a bit he's actually really sweet!"
"I'll take your word for it, what about you? You've been probing us about our love lives, anything going on with you?" she asked, looking smug at having turned the tables.
"Drop the eyebrow, Evans, it's not a good look … and no, my love life, as you well know, is non-existent. I am the human version of white Crayola crayon"
"Not getting any action, huh?"
"Nope, guess we can't all have the James Potters of the world chasing after us," she teased, laughing as Lily rolled her eyes, frowning.
"I wouldn't worry, guys are weird," assured Marlene, eyeing Sirius again.
"Yeah they're a regular Nancy Drew mystery, Marls."
"Who's that?"
"Never mind," she laughed, shaking her head. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Marlene came from a different world to her and Lily.
Finishing the last bite of cake, she swung her legs round off the bench and took a last sip from her goblet. "Not that I wouldn't love to stay and chat further about the complexities of the male species and my failure to entice them, but I'm going to head to bed. I'll see you in the dorm," she chuckled.
"OK, we won't be long," smiled Marlene, obviously relieved that the twenty questions on her love life had ceased. For now anyway.
Making her way down towards the door, Harper waved at the boys as she passed. "Sweet dreams, Potter!"
"Night, Collins! Remember to put in a good word for me, yeah?"
She laughed, shaking her head fondly. "I'll try."
Squeezing her way past a couple of second years, she took the first left and headed up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. Making her way along the third floor, she kept head down as she rounded the corner and collided with something solid. Or someone.
"I am so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going and …" she gushed, blushing as she was met with a familiar pair of grey eyes that were so different from his brother's.
"Regulus … hey … I was wondering when I'd run into you … not literally though," she laughed nervously, the colour in her cheeks darkening as she realised she was rambling.
"It's fine, no harm done," he smiled awkwardly, gripping her shoulders lightly as she steadied herself.
"So … did you have a good summer?" she asked, trying to fill the silence.
"I've had better, you?"
"Yeah it was alright thanks, glad to be back though," she smiled.
"Yeah, it's nice."
"You going to stretch yourself to more than three syllables or are we just sticking to short and succinct?"
"Sorry," he chuckled, fixing his gaze on his shoes.
Why was this so uncomfortable? They had spoken numerous times: in the library, at the Slug Club, why was he now being so evasive?
Harper remember Sirius' earlier insinuation that Regulus had taken his appreciation of the Dark Arts to the next level and she eyed his wrist suspiciously.
"Look I should probably get going, I have to meet Rosier. I'll see you around, Collins."
"Yeah, sure. Don't want to keep Rosier waiting." She smiled but it was forced, slightly affronted to be playing second best to Evan Rosier.
He nodded, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly as she stared back at him, watching as he turned away and headed off in the direction of the Slytherin common room, stopping briefly to flash her a small smile before he turned and carried on.
She was pretty sure even Nancy Drew would struggle to riddle that Black brother out.