Chapter 3
Jolene heard about it all at lunch. Olivia had scurried up to her, hair and robes billowing behind. She plopped herself down opposite Jolene and picked up an apple. Although, instead of eating it, she passed it back and forth between her hands nervously. Many minutes passed this way, until Jolene had enough.
"Is something the matter, Olivia?" She sighed, without looking up from her Quidditch Encyclopedia.
"Edith got hurt in Defense Against The Dark Arts earlier. She's all right now, but Jo," She lowered her voice and glanced around, "She's in one of her moods." Jolene groaned.
"What happened?" She asked with trepidation. Olivia told her the entire story, at least what she's pieced together from Edith before she got that peculiar crease in her brow and inward look.
"I think it has to do with Snape and Avery. She got that look and ran away in the middle of talking about them" She concluded. Olivia leaned back, relieved. If there was anyone who could figure Edith out, it was Jolene. They were two very odd girls, but at least they understood each other.
"It probably does." With not so much as a good-bye, Jolene stood, grabbed her belongings, and hurried out of the Great Hall. There were two places Edith could be; in her bed or at the Library. She went to the former when something was especially puzzling to her and the latter when she needed to understand what that something was. She would be in the Library.
She arrived at the large double doors and took a deep breathe. If Edith truly was in one of her moods then she would need a great deal of patience so as not to punch the girl. She went inside and searched for her sister. It didn't take long; she was in a shadowy corner at a desk filled with books. She stood on tiptoes and peeked over the books to see her sisters head bent over a particularly large one.
"What're you reading?" Jolene asked cautiously.
"Words," Edith didn't look up from the pages she was leafing through, "Words," She scowled and turned another page, "Words!" She shut the book and grabbed another one.
"What's the matter, Edie?" Jolene asked quietly; she knew the answer, but Edith would be annoyed if she didn't ask.
"Between who?" Jolene sighed, sat down, and shoved some books aside so she could see her sister. Edith was downright mental. "A perfect world..." Edith murmured as she perused another book, "A new world...Whole...complete," She paused as though she had found something, then continued, "It burns. It always burns! 'Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love."
Jolene leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. Sometimes things happened to her sisters mind; maybe she needed attention, maybe she was bored, or maybe she really was insane. There was no pulling her out of her "Inner Sanctuary" as she had so lovingly termed it. You just had to wait.
"He had a tattoo! The tattoo! 'All of the perfumes in Arabia could not sweeten this little hand'." She seemed to come out of it then, snapping her head up to regard Jolene with lucid eyes, "It was the tattoo from my dream, Jo. It's important, I know it is, but there's nothing here! We're in a library and there is absolutely nothing of use to me!" She cried.
"Shut up, Edie. Madame Pince will come and make you leave." Under normal circumstances, that would be a great threat to Edith, but now her eyes took on a cold glint.
"I'll leave before she makes me." And that's what she did. She didn't even put all her books away. She must be in deep contemplation.
Edith led the way back to the Gryffindor Common room. Jolene was sure she was still focused on this blasted tattoo, and couldn't be trusted alone. She undoubtedly had some half-baked plan to get information, and Jolene wasn't keen on going to her sisters funeral. Edith typically didn't have very good ideas. Her Professors would understand. Thankfully, the trip to the common room should be safe. After learning very little at the library, Edith was in an almost sour mood. Edith had dreamed of that tattoo. It had haunted her, Jolene knew. All Summer Edith would wake up in a cold sweat and tell her of another dream, always involving that hideous tattoo.
They were nearing 'The Fairy Painting' when they came upon a group of Slytherins tormenting some small child. And, as Edith was in her mood, she strode forward, chin held high, eyes flashing.
"Leave him alone." Her voice was hard, and, quicker than Jolene could track, her wand was out, pointed at the leader of the group, Bellatrix Black. Jolene brought hers out, also, but wasn't about to verbally engage any of them. If Edith wanted to be the talker, that was fine by her.
"Oh, lookie here! Little Edith Carson. Heard you got sent to the Hospital Wing. Feeling better?" Bellatrix grinned wickedly as she faced Edith.
"What do you know of that?" Edith narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Only that it wasn't ickle Sirius that hurt you." She twirled her wand in her untamed black hair that had never seen conditioner. Or a comb. "You really should watch your back next time, half-blood. It could have been so much worse." She said innocently.
"Are you threatening me, Black?" Edith growled.
"Would I threaten you, Edie?" She gasped, "That wouldn't be very nice, would it?"
Jolene glanced at the boy they had been harassing; Peter Pettigrew. It was strange to see him separated from his friends. But it was even curiouser that he didn't look scared. Frightened, yes. But not scared out of his wits, as he should be. He saw her staring and ran down the hall. About time, she would have ran away ages ago, if she could.
"You need to leave, Bellatrix." Edith was saying, "You and your friends."
"Are you gonna make me, Edie-Bear?"
"Perhaps I will." She replied with uncharacteristic bravado.
Bellatrix looked about ready to cast an Unforgivable Curse, and everything seemed to freeze until Bellatrix broke it with her feral grin. She waved her hand and slunk away, followed by her four Slytherin minions that had just stood there cackling to themselves during the entire exchange. Edith watched until they had been gone, then turned to Jolene.
"What was that about? I was sure she'd hex me into oblivion." She asked quietly. There was a slight shuffling noise behind them and the girls turned to see Dumbledore walking down the hall.
"I find taking walks in the less frequented corridors to be beneficial to the constitution, don't you agree?" He asked, eyes twinkling behind half-moon glasses, "I imagine they realized there are strict rules against hexing other students into oblivion." He smiled down at Edith, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe there is a young man that particularly wishes to speak with you, Miss Carson." And he was gone. So Bellatrix left because she saw Dumbledore. At least she was afraid of someone.
"What boy wants to talk to me?" Edith looked afraid now. It was no secret that boys had always found her attractive, but no more attractive than any other girl. It wasn't because of her looks, either. Sure, she was pretty, at least Jolene thought so, but beautiful? Not really. Her nose was too big, her eyes too small, her complexion too red, and her body too curvy. And Edith knew it. She was constantly wearing eye makeup to make them look bigger and trying different soaps to get rid of the redness and impurities on her face. Jolene was convinced boys liked her because of her personality, the one she wore, anyway. She acted brainless around most people, only those she was friends with knew it was just for laughs. She was a convincing actor, and she'd rather be funny than sincere and seen as a nerd. Those were her own words, the ones she'd only tell Jolene. Four boys had asked her out in the past two years, and that was four too many.
"Edith?" A tall, blonde boy walked towards them from the direction Dumbledore had come, "Can I speak with you?" It was Remus Lupin, James' friend. Although, he obviously wasn't there to ask Edith to Hogsmeade next weekend, he didn't have that nervous, hopeful, mooning look that was all too familiar to Jolene. The look of a person who loves someone they shouldn't, but still wakes up to every morning hoping that they would be loved in return. The look of a person who would do anything for a love that will never be. Edith didn't know this look, and would therefore be unable to identify it, so she undoubtedly thought he was romantically interested in her.
"Jolene can here whatever you have to say." Edith asserted. She had fallen out of her mood the moment Dumbledore mentioned a boy. She was back to her persona; sweetness and air. Remus stepped closer and Edith stiffened and stepped back.
"Sirius said you were interested in the Snake Tattoo." He said. Ediths' eyes flashed to him in surprise and skepticism.
"I'm sorry, Snake Tattoo? That sounds kind of scary." She giggled.
"It's just a tattoo, Edith. Nothing special. Avery makes up these stories all the time, I'm sure. It's nothing to worry about."
"I'm not worried." She pouted, "But, I don't think I believe you, either."
"It's the truth, Edith. Whether or not you believe me is your choice."
Jolene always did her best to never talk to people, and it had worked out so far, but she was getting bored with this conversation and had a herbology class that she needed to get to.
"Uh, Remus?" They turned toward her, "Edie and I really have to go. Class time, and all." Then she turned and practically sprinted away. She was outside and almost to the Greenhouses when she slowed down. He had almost spoken to her. It was too close. She dug in her bag for a chocolate frog to console herself. At least it was Remus, she thought as she walked and nibbled on the candy, he's talked to me before. Imagine if it was a stranger! She was at the greenhouse now, and went inside for a no doubt fascinating time with magical grass.
An hour and a half later, she emerged before the rest of her class. She always hurried to put her things away and didn't speak to anyone on her way out so she's have a five minute head start on the waves of student masses departing to wherever normal people go after school. Jolene always went back to the common room to relax. As she made her way through the castle she allowed her thoughts to wander. They never went far, always landing on the Gryffindor chaser with unruly black hair and hazel eyes. She wondered if he'd be in the common room. Maybe she'd talk to him. Maybe, just maybe, he'd finally notice her. Her heart seemed to leap at the thought and she reminded herself to breathe.
Walking up to the portrait of the fat lady, she whispered the password, 'Jubybells', whatever those were, and stepped into the spacious, cozy common room. The Marauders were all gathered around the fireplace, Remus talking to Edith-they must have walked back together-with Sirius occasionally butting in, while James regaled Peter with stories of Lilys' beauty and sweetness. Edith smiled as Jolene drew closer and sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Jo, can you believe it? Remus has read 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', too! We were just talking about the effect it has had on pop culture. Sir Percy really was the first Superhero, you know." She exclaimed enthusiastically while Remus nodded and actually grinned.
"What's a superhero?" James snapped out of his Lily-dream and moved closer to hear.
"I've seen them, they're annoying pricks in tights." Sirius answered moodily. Truthfully, he's only seen a picture of one at Kings Cross Station, advertising a movie.
Oh, not at all!" Edith corrected. Great, Jolene thought, Here she goes again, "Superheroes are people set apart from common life. They have extraordinary powers to protect the people they love from harm. They could fly or be very strong or see through walls, but the thing that make people love them is their character: their goodness and mercy. They are kind, they are selfless,they're willing to die for people they don't even know and they fight on the side of good and right even when there's no hope of success. Superheroes are the best of humanity." She finished and blushed and ducked her head. "I mean, they also wear tights." She amended.
"Gentlemen, I've had an idea." James declared, standing up in front of the fireplace, "We shall become superheroes." Edith and Remus looked at each other and laughed.
"The Marauders as Superheroes? What is the world coming to?" Edith said, still laughing, "Although you do already have a name for your super-team."
"'The Marauders: Great and Powerful Superheroes, sent to save civilization as we know it'." Remus replied, "It has a nice ring to it." Edith giggled.
"Truthfully, I think I'd rather trust my safety to the Joker." That sent them into a fresh bout of laughter while Jolene smiled and looked on, James and Peter looked downright confused and Sirius glared into the fire murderously.
"Well, lads, I think I'm going to go down to dinner." He stood and pulled James and Peter out behind him. Edith looked at Jolene as if to ask, what's his problem? But, Jolene just shrugged and motioned for Lily and Olivia, studying at a nearby table, to come to dinner with her, Remus and Edith.