A/N: Thanks for the story alerts and favs! I really enjoyed the reviews the last chapter garnered, but would absolutely love some more! *wink wink* I have a pretty clear idea of where this is going, but if you have some fun suggestions, please don't hesitate to share. Enjoy!

Chapter 3 – Of Loyalties

Avoiding Sirius Black turned out to be more difficult than I had expected. Suddenly, the dark-haired boy turned up everywhere – the library, the quidditch pitch, the owlery, even the girls' loo. Granted, that last one was an exclamation of his endowments scrawled in lipstick on one of the stall doors, but still, it seemed pretending he didn't exist wasn't going to work.

It was with this frustrating conclusion that I sank into my seat at the Hufflepuff table in the Great Hall and reached for the orange juice. Spotting a Daily Prophet a few seats down, I snatched it from a first year's hand, ignoring her indignant protest, and began reading. I was halfway through an article on the latest muggle attack in Surrey when someone slid into the seat across from me. I looked up.

"Good morning," the curly-haired brunette grumbled before pouring a glass of milk and loading scrambled eggs and two pieces of toast onto his plate.

"What's so good about it," I scowled. "We have double charms today with the Gryffindors."

"True, but at least it ought to be amusing, what with Potter and Black there to provide entertainment."

I scowled even deeper at my best mate. "Max, you know very well that any class with those two will result in unwarranted detentions for innocent bystanders." At his raised eyebrow I continued, "Remember that time in third year when the entire Slytherin house earned detentions for a prank those wankers pulled?"

I snorted and shook my head. "How they convinced Slughorn that the Slytherins were responsible for charming their own common room red and gold, I'll never know."

"Oh yeah," Max's eyes lit up with admiration. "That was pretty brilliant. I've always wanted to ask them how they did it."

I looked at my watch before grabbing my bag and climbing to my feet. "Traitor. You're not supposed to side with them. You're supposed to side with me, your best mate, remember?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not siding with anyone, especially not with two blokes who'd just as soon grow me a tail as be my friend. No sense of loyalty, that lot." He watched as Potter and Black stood up from their seats at the Gryffindor table and signaled for Lupin and Pettigrew to follow them into the corridor.

"Finally seeing the light, are you?" I joked as we, too, headed for class.

Max punched my shoulder and laughed. "You're just afraid that I might join ranks with the enemy."

I frowned and looked away. He'd hit just a little too close to home. I flashed back to the night in the kitchens and felt fresh anger rise to the surface. I had been so proud to be sorted into Hufflepuff my first year. Practically every generation of my family had been sorted there, and never once did I imagine that others might look down on it.

But it became clear shortly into my first year that Hufflepuff was thought to house the students who were too stupid to be Ravenclaws, too friendly to be Slytherins, and too meek to be Gryffindors. I burned with shame the first time I overheard a fourth year Ravenclaw bemoaning his Hufflepuff potions partner to a friend.

"Can you believe Slughorn partnered me with Higgins? That idiot wouldn't know bezoar from bicorn if it put on pink knickers and danced a waltz across his desk," the stocky Ravenclaw moaned.

His friend patted him on the back sympathetically. "Try taking it as a compliment. Slughorn obviously knows Higgins is complete rubbish at potions. Maybe he's partnering you two to help the bloke out."

"If that's the case, it's completely unfair. I'm bloody tired of saving lost causes. Maybe I'll talk to Slughorn about it tomorrow during lunch."

His friend snickered. "Not much hope in that, mate. Slughorn always takes it easy on Hufflepuffs. Reckon he realizes that some things are just too complex for them to comprehend. They're about as bright as kneazlse, yeah?"

"That might be giving them a bit too much credit." Both boys laughed and rounded the corner, disappearing into the Great Hall. I followed slowly, my cheeks hot and my eyes teary. Was that how they saw all Hufflepuffs?

I scowled at the memory. I was no longer ashamed to be a Hufflepuff, but their derision still stung five years later. I felt a tug on my robes and noticed that Max had fallen silent. He gripped my wrist and pulled me to a stop in front of Flitwick's door.

"You know I'd never do that, right," he asked quietly, searching my eyes for understanding. "I know what that git said to you last week, and he was wrong. Just because we don't flaunt our cleverness or bravery like they do, doesn't mean we're lacking in them."

"I know." I waved my hand dismissively. "I'm fine." At his doubtful look, I swatted his hand from my wrist. "Honestly. He's an idiot and I'm far too intelligent to believe a word that he says." I strode into the classroom, Max hovering at my elbow like an overbearing shadow.

"Don't forget too beautiful to even acknowledge his existence," Max added with a teasing grin. He glanced across the room where Black and Lupin were arguing over who had to be stuck with Pettigrew. Potter was patting the round boy on his back, probably assuring him that neither boy meant to offend.

I nodded imperiously. "Indubitably."

As if Black had somehow heard us, he snapped his head in our direction and narrowed his gaze at Max. When Max smiled winningly, if condescendingly, at him, he arched is brow and turned away.

"Suppose he heard us?" Max asked as he opened his charms book and pulled out a quill and some parchment.

"Doubtful, unless he has the hearing of a dog." I also opened my book and dug through my bag for parchment and quill. I heard a bark of laughter from the direction of the marauders. No doubt the boys were planning something. I just hoped they would leave the rest of us out of it.

Flitwick rushed into the room just as I found my quill in the bottom of my bag. "Good morning, class. Pass last week's homework forward, then turn to page 233 in your books. Today we will be covering Obedience Charms. I will need a volunteer to demonstrate the first charm. Any takers?"

When no one raised a hand, Flitwick chuckled. "Come now, it won't hurt." He waited. "Still no one? Alright, let's see," he gazed around the room. "Ah, Miss Jones, would you kindly join me at the front of the class?"

It clearly wasn't a question. I inwardly groaned as I rose from my seat and walked to the front of the room. I pulled my wand out of my back pocket.

Brandishing his own wand, Flitwick cleared his throat, "For the Factum Obsequium charm, the caster will employ the following wand movement." He flicked his wrist upwards before looping a figure eight at the top and ending with a flourish. "It is imperative that you speak the incantation clearly when you begin the upwards wand movement, otherwise the spell will rebound upon the caster with disastrous results. Once you have cast the spell, you may implore your opponent to do whatever you wish."

Shelby Trimble's hand shot into the air. She didn't wait to be called on. "But professor, that sounds an awful lot like the Imperious Curse, and that's forbidden."

Flitwick nodded. "Excellent observation, Miss Trimble. Obedience Charms are similar to the Imperious Curse in that they both deal with mind control. However, they have one important difference. Can anyone tell me what that might be?" He asked.

Surprisingly, it was Black who raised his hand. "The Imperious Curse doesn't give you a choice in the matter. If the caster told you to jump off a cliff, you'd do it without hesitation, unless you were trained to throw it off." He paused at Flitwick's encouraging smile. "An Obedience Charm differs in that the caster can only suggest that its receiver do something. In fact, most Obedience Charms have a counterspell."

"Wonderful answer, Mr. Black. Ten points to Gryffindor for such a concise answer!" Flitwick clapped his hands. "Obedience Charms most certainly have counterspells. In fact, their counterspells can be used mid-charm, meaning a person under an Obedience Charm can cast a counterspell if they are able to recognize that they are, indeed, under a spell."

Climbing onto a stack of books, he wrote the counterspell on the board. "Parco Obsequium has a simple wand movement, not unlike the Accio spell you learned in fourth year." He raised his wand and traced a backwards P followed by a wonky S in the air. "Got it?" He ignored the hand in the back. "Good."

He turned, wand raised, to address me, "Now, you'll feel a slight tingling in your fingers, but it's nothing to worry about. Then, you will feel a sensation of peace that will most likely encourage you to forget your troubles and perhaps even your surroundings. However, the important thing to remember about Obedience Charms is that there is always a way to break them. Simply acknowledge the spell and perform the counterspell."

I nodded nervously. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Max giving me the thumbs up. A movement behind Flitwick caught my eye. Black had leaned forward in his seat to stare interestedly at the demonstration. I darted my gaze back to Flitwick in time to see him cast the spell.

The ends of my fingers tingled before I felt a sudden calm wash over me. I sighed happily and let the wave of stillness lull me into complacency. I felt warm and safe. I blinked slowly at Flitwick before turning to the class. "I don't see what the big deal is," I sighed. "I feel rather pleasant, actually."

Max grinned at me from across the room. "You look all flushed and happy. Like you've had a good snog."

"Oi, how do you know what she looks like after a snog?" Potter asked, sniggering. Black elbowed him in the stomach.

I was so relaxed that I couldn't even muster a glare in his direction. I turned back to Flitwick and smiled, slightly confused. "What were we doing again?"

A couple Gryffindors snickered. Flitwick smiled gently. "Miss Jones, why don't you take a seat?"

I started for my chair before he interrupted, "No, not there. How about my desk?"

"What a fantastic idea, professor. I've always wanted to sit in your chair." I skirted his desk and sank gracefully into his seat. "Lovely," I sighed once again.

"Come on, professor, when are we ever going to want someone to sit down? Show us something useful!" a voice shouted from the back.

"Useful, indeed," Flitwick pursed his lips before addressing me once again, "Tell me, Miss Jones, who is your closest friend at Hogwarts?"

I spoke without thinking. "Easy. Max Caulfield."

"Your biggest rival?"

"Terry Bristol." At the mention of the headboy's name, a few people laughed.

"Now, would you please stand by a classmate you consider an enemy?"

I rose and walked steadily towards the marauders, coming to a stop next to Black's desk. He looked at me with a mixture of surprise and disdain. I crossed my arms, the calmness pervading my mind lifting slightly.

"Now give him a hug, Miss Jones. It is time to let bygones be bygones."

I stepped closer to Black's chair. He rose quickly and backed away. "Oi, this isn't fair!" I wrapped my arms around his middle and rested my head against his shoulder. "She may be under a spell, but I'm not!" And just like that, the calmness dissolved and I remembered that I was bespelled. I heard Flitwick begin the charm again, but I shoved Black aside and cast the counterspell.

Flitwick dropped his arm as the full impact of the counterspell hit him in the chest. "Well done for your first time, Miss Jones! Aside from Mr. Black's slip of the tongue, I have no doubt that you would have thrown off the charm in no time."

I glared at Black, daring him to contradict Flitwick. He only smirked and sat back in his chair. I joined Max at our table, barely listening to Flitwick give out instructions for the practical part of the lesson. Max gave me a sympathetic look before pulling out his wand and motioning to the front of the room. "Suppose you try it on me this time. You've probably had enough of this charm for a while."

I laughed but raised my arm and cast the charm. Pretty soon the room was a flurry of activity. Charlotte Lansdowne was singing the latest Sirens hit at the top of her lungs, hitting a right note every three or four verses. Patrick McDermid was chatting up a lamp in the corner while his partner stood nearby clutching his side in laughter. Even Remus Lupin had succumbed to the charm. He was currently on all fours howling at an invisible moon.

Before long, class was over and everyone was back to their normal states. Flitwick cleared his throat and tapped his wand on his desk. "Listen up, listen up. Your assignment for this week is to write a foot-long essay on the positive and negative uses of the Factum Obsequium charm. This will be due next week. I advise you to use the library for further information on Obedience Charms. Your textbook will not be sufficient enough research for your essay."

The class groaned. I traded unhappy looks with Max, knowing that this would affect our quidditch practice schedule. Finally, class was dismissed and we left the classroom, intending to return to the common room to relax until our next class. We had only reached the first staircase when I heard a shout behind me.

We spun around and saw a group of Slytherins pointing their wands at a much smaller group of Gryffindors. In the middle of the two crowds were two students rolling around on the floor. I charged towards them, completely ignoring the potential danger I would be in if hexes started flying. I pulled the handsome Slytherin off the boy he was pummeling. That's when I got a good look at the other boy's face.

"Never would have pegged you as a coward, McNair. Too scared to face me in a fair fight? Needed to jelly-legs me first, huh?" Sirius Black sneered, wiping blood from the corner of his lip.

The Slytherin made to lunge at Black again, but I pulled out my wand and held it to his throat. "Don't even think about it. Just turn around and head back to your common room."

He lifted an eyebrow and sniffed, "Or what?"

"Or I'll make sure Slughorn knows how you've been getting O's on your potions essays,"

"You wouldn't," he hissed.

"Want to take that chance?"

He glared at me for a long moment. I held my breath, wondering if he would call my bluff. Don't get me wrong, McNair cheated just as often as he breathed, but even I wasn't foolish enough to turn him in for it. Retribution would be painful—and probably permanent.

With a growl, he spun around and signaled for his cronies to follow him. Moments later, the corridor cleared, leaving just Max, the marauders, and me. I stuck my wand back into my pocket and nodded at Black, "You okay?" I asked gruffly.

He didn't answer, just turned and stalked off. Lupin shrugged, "Don't mind him. His ego's just a little bruised. He'll get over it."

"That was brilliant, Jones," Potter chimed in. "Barmy, but brilliant."

Max threw an arm around my shoulders and hugged me to his side, "Yeah, that's Luce. Barmy, yet brilliant. Now you know why I keep her around. She's an excellent bodyguard."

Pettigrew and Potter chuckled at my glare. Lupin smiled softly before thanking me once more and dragging his friends down the corridor and after Black.

Max grabbed my hand and led me towards our own common room. "You sure are something, Jones." I sent him a quizzical look. "Sticking up for Black, even after what he said to you the other night." He shrugged. "You're a better person than I would be in the same situation."

I looked down at our entwined hands, wishing not for the first time that I felt something other than friendship for Max. He was exactly what I should want, always saying things like that, but try as I might, I couldn't muster up any emotion warmer than friendship for my best mate.

"Don't sell yourself short. When push comes to shove, you'd do the same. I think that's why we were sorted into Hufflepuff. We do what's right, even if it's not easy." I squeezed his hand before letting go and entering the common room. Max followed.

"Maybe you're right." He sighed. "But it'd still be nice to be cunning or brave every once in a while. But then, I suppose we'd be in Slytherin or Gryffindor, yeah?"

I reached up and ruffled his hair. "As if we'd sink so low."

He smiled warmly and sank into a chair by the fire, pulling out his charms book to get a start on his essay. I followed suit. Minutes later, as I watched him nibble on the tip of his quill in thought, I wondered if I really believed what I had said. If given the opportunity, would I choose Slytherin or Gryffindor over Hufflepuff? Unbidden, an image of Sirius' sneer flashed in my mind.

Would that have made any difference?

A/N: Don't forget to review!