4

Creatures of Habit

The next three weeks passed without incident, just like every other September at Hogwarts.

The only change to the usual was our classes had suddenly become much more difficult and the teachers began piling on the homework in tons. Even classes like Divination and Care of Magical Creatures became exhausting. Marlene almost ripped off Sybil Trelawney's head off during our morning divination class, when she told her that she had seen she'd fail her exams later this year, and Peter Pettigrew spent days in a foul mood after he failed out first Transfiguration test of the year.

It seemed like every time we had lesson, we were assigned twice the amount homework we usually were. Before the week was over, each of us had a pile of work that would take most of the weekend to finish. Something I wasn't looking forward too. My time seemed to be spent more than it was ever before, already. I spent most evenings circled around the floor of the common room with Lily and Mary trying to stay on top of our homework. Lily and Remus seemed particularly exhausted, having to also accommodate prefect patrols into their time-table. I hadn't seen very much of Lily at all lately. She was kept very busy and spent a lot of free time with Severus in the library. Normally when she did this, I would hang out with Marlene, but that wasn't much of an option anymore.

Marlene had been a little colder to me the last few weeks and I had no idea why. But occasionally she would throw me dark glances or look annoyed when I spoke. I didn't know what it was, but I had a sinking suspicion it had to do with Sirius. Not that she ever spoke to me long enough for me to ask.

In addition to my increasing workload, I also had to continue my tutoring with Sirius. The last few meetings had gone exactly like the first. Sirius usually arrived late, tried to distract me with cheeky comments for fifteen minutes or so before I finally forced him to get down to business. After that, they were a little easier than I thought they would be. Once you stripped Sirius of the arrogant and sexually motivated comments, he wasn't terrible company. But it usually took so long to get there, I would end up getting irritated with him. Something that only seemed to fuel his constant commentary.

What was really getting annoying, was the constant talking and staring we would get from everyone else. For three weeks, every time Sirius and I were anywhere together, people whispered and pointed. Several disgruntled girls had flat out walked up to me in the corridors and asked me if I was seeing him. It didn't matter how many times I swore up and down on Hogwarts; A History that I wasn't, people didn't seem to believe me, and it was driving me crazy. Mary didn't notice it much, and Lily was just annoyed that it meant Sirius and James were around more.

"I don't get it," I complained to Amelia during Care of Magical Creatures on the third Friday of the year. "I'm tutoring him, why do people think it's anything else."

We were studying kneazles, which resembled normal house cats in every manner other than there razor sharp whiskers, so the class felt a lot like sitting in an old woman's yard. Professor Kettleburn had tasked us with removing their whiskers this period, and while it didn't hurt them, the Kneazles grew very annoyed if you tried, and it sometimes ended with a swipe of a paw to the face. Amelia was the only friend I had in the class. Mary and Lily had taken Arithmancy in favor of Care of Magical Creatures, and Marlene was in muggle studies. It was some of the only time I ever saw Amelia, being in different houses made it hard to have much quality time.

Amelia looked across the yard where the Marauders were crowded around a cluster of tabby-striped Kneazles, and shrugged. "I think it's just hard for people to comprehend that Sirius is spending so much time with a bird he's not shagging."

"It's not as if we're spending that much time together. We're just studying." I said scratching the kneazle behind it's ears. "Not to mention I couldn't be further from Sirius' type if I tired. He thinks I'm uptight. And anyway, he's shagging other girls. People must not think that highly of me, if they think we're involved."

"I'm just telling you how it looks," Amelia said. "It's not as if you two don't get along, either. You're not exactly fighting like you used too."

"We never fought," I told her.

"You never used to sit with him at dinner either. I'm not saying there's anything going on, but it's strange to see you two being…friendly."

Something hit me like a ton of bricks. "You don't think that's why Marlene's been kind of cold to me, do you? She's barely spoke to me in weeks."

Amelia made a face. "Honestly? Probably. You said she's had her eye on him, right? She might be jealous. If I were you, I'd make sure you told her that you're not interested. Make it clear."

I nodded, watching the brown kneazle in front of me.

Amelia smiled, raising one of her reddish eyebrows. "You're not interested, are you?"

I gave Amelia a knowing look. "You're joking, right? Tell me you're joking."

Amelia held her hands up defensively. "How am I supposed to know? It's not as if you regularly keep me updated on that sort of thing. Last you told me, you liked Prewett."

My face burned red and I busied myself with stroking the orange kneazle in front of me.

"So? I take it that you still do like Prewett then?" she whispered, wigging her eyebrows suggestively.

"I don't know. I barely know him," I said, my face still flushed as Gideon's handsome face flashed through my mind. "Let's change topics, how're your parents?"

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Good I guess. All they do is go on and on about Edgar and his achievements. Perfect Edgar and his twelve O.W.L.s prefect and Head Boy. Dumbledore even told them that Edgar was one of the best students he ever had the privilege of teaching. It's exhausting you know? I'll never live up to that. Not that they're all that concerned with me at the moment. Not with what's going on at home."

"What's going on at home?" I asked her. Amelia's face immediately darkened and she checked to make sure that no one was listening behind her.

"You know what's been happening with You-Know-Who right?" she asked. I gave a small, curt nod and she kept talking. "Well, he is recruiting. Every so often, some of his followers would stop by the house in the summer, trying to get my dad to join them. They know he's a good dueler, from working as a hit wizard. He's refused them so far, but he doesn't know how long that will last. He's afraid that might move onto other methods to motivate him." She shuddered a little and then turned back to me.

"And by other methods, you mean?"

Amelia dragged a finger across her throat. Her eyes were cold and dark, and all traces of a smile were missing from her face.

My hand flew to my mouth. "Holy Hippogriff, Amelia. I'm so sorry."

She shook her head. "Don't worry, I don't think they'll try it. We're Purebloods, after all. The only people they seem to be targeting right now are Muggleborns."

"Still. I hope nothing happens."

"Yeah, me too."

Amelia and I kneeled down and tricked one of the kneazles into rolling onto it's back. While Amelia's rubbed its furry stomach, I pulled out the whiskers, dodging a swipe of its clawed paw as I did.

There was an immediate hissing sound and all of the kneazles scattered as a black, floppy-skinned puppy tore through the grounds after them, on its tiny, chubby legs.

"Oh no!" Professor Kettleburn complained, "Not again. Hagrid! Control that dog!"

Hagrid had come bounding out of his house, chasing the tiny puppy, doing his best to avoid stepping on any of the tails of the kneazles, most of whom were now hissing and spitting. The puppy was chasing a particularly fast orange kneazle. It darted through Peter's open legs, and when the puppy came barreling through, it knocked Peter to the ground. James and Sirius burst into laughter, and Remus bent down to help him up.

Hagrid was doing his best to chase him, and failing. "Fang! Fang, stop chasin them kneazles! Someone grab that dog."

The puppy came tearing towards us, and Amelia grabbed him around the middle, lifting him into her freckled arms. The puppy woofed at her, and licked her face with its large tongue. Amelia made a face and handed him off to me, taking the sharp whiskers out of my hand. The puppy was sweet and nuzzled his fluffy head into my neck.

"Hi there," I whispered to him. "Aren't you adorable?" I rubbed him between his ears and he barked appreciatively.

Hagrid walked over to us. "Thank ya, girls. Blasted Pup's been doing that all day. Can't get enough of them kneazles. Stop it Fang." Fang had slobbered onto the end of my robes.

"He's so cute, Hagrid," I told him, stroking him again. "Did you just get him?"

"Over the summer," Hagrid said. "Was a gift from Dumbledore. Kind a him to do. Knew I could use some company. Speaking of which, you should come and have a tea with me sometime, Doe. Haven't seen you in a while. Bring Lily too, always liked that girl. Kind. Just like you."

"Of course," I told him. "I'll do that."

"Lookin' forward ter it."

I gave Fang one more appreciative pat and then handed him off to Hagrid. He tucked him firmly under his arm and then brought him back to his hut. As soon as the door had closed, the kneazles started to climb down from the trees.

"Like dogs to you, Meadowes?" James Potter asked, clutching a striped kneazle in his arms. They seemed to be rubbing all over him, and keeping a wide birth from Sirius.

"I love them," I said, an eyebrow raised. "Why?"

James turned back to Sirius, with a sly grin on his face. "I reckon you might have a shot with this one, Padfoot."

Remus gave him an annoyed sigh.

"Honestly?" Remus asked darkly "Why not just spell it out for her?"

Sirius looked annoyed. "Shut up, Prongsie. It's fine, Remus. I wouldn't worry about it. He didn't really say anything."

"Easy for you to say!" Remus shot back.

"What are you lot talking about?" I asked them, feeling as though I was missing something.

"Nothing," James said smirking. He scratched the kneazle happily, while Remus removed its whiskers.

From behind him, Sirius eyed Amelia. "Eh, Bones? That's quite a name. Anyone ever make jokes about- "

"All the time," Amelia answered before he could. "They're about as clever as jokes about your name."

"Then they're downright brilliant, aren't they?" he winked. Amelia rolled her eyes.

She turned back to me. "I fully apologize for the suggestion I made in our previous conversation."

I chuckled. "That's okay, Amelia. I forgive you."

As class ended, the rest of us helped gather the kneazles and put them back in their cages. Amelia said goodbye and then we separated, heading off to our own common rooms. I followed a few feet behind the Marauders, keeping my distance. While we walked, I watched them hex a Hufflepuff third year for absolutely no reason. When we got through the portrait hole, they disappeared upstairs to their dormitory, still laughing about it loudly.

The common room wasn't very crowded for a Friday afternoon. Most people were still in classes, Professor Kettleburn had let us out early. Gideon and Fabian Prewett were sitting on one of the couches with Krysten Morris and Nora Tenenbaum, playing with a sneakoscope. And a few fourth years sat crowded around the fireplace. Marlene was sitting on one of the couches, looking slightly bored and a little annoyed as Caradoc Dearborn talked her ear off. When she saw me, her eyes brightened for a moment and then darkened as if remembering she was mad at me.

I figured now was the perfect time to talk to her. I couldn't stand having Marlene mad at me any longer, especially for something that wasn't even true. I approached the couch and smiled at them.

"Hey Caradoc," I smiled at him. "Would you mind giving Marlene and I a moment? I need to talk to her about something."

Caradoc looked slightly crestfallen but smiled anyway. "Of course. Wouldn't dream of interrupting you and Marley. I'll be over there with Krysten Morris is you need me, Marlene."

Marlene gave him a half-hearted smile, and looked downright relieved when he walked away. I took his seat beside her.

"Thank you for that, he wouldn't stop talking about the trip he took to Egypt this summer. I've never met a person who could make a vacation sound so dull."

"Glad to be of service," I chuckled, wrapping my arms around my knees. "Do you mind if we talk for a minute?"

"Yeah, sure."

I took a deep breath. "Look Marlene, I know you've been a little weird to me lately, and I think I know why." Marlene's face was unreadable.

"I know you like Sirius," I told her. "And I would never do anything that would hurt you, Marlene. You're my best friend. I'm tutoring Sirius, that's it. We're just friendly. Nothing else, okay?"

Marlene looked at me for a minute and sighed. "Merlin, I'm so sorry, Doe. I don't know what I was thinking. It's just you two were so friendly, and I don't know I just sort of started to think you two might get together, and I…well I got jealous. It's no excuse. I'm sorry."

She reached around to give me a tight hug. "It's okay, Marlene. I'm just glad you're not angry anymore."

Marlene grinned. "I have so much to tell you. I just overheard Krysten telling Nora that Carmichael, yeah, my perfect brother Carmichael just landed himself in detention for sassing Professor Marchbanks. Makes me like Marchbanks even more."

She looked really pleased.

"And let me guess, you're already writing to your mum?" I asked nodding at the parchment and quill that was open in front of her.

Marlene smiled mischievously. "I mean, she is his mother. It's her duty to know what's going on with him. Trust me, if you had siblings, you'd understand. I've got to love them, but I also have got to get them in trouble."

"A duty you're not shirking I see."

"Of course not. I have excellent follow-through."

I had always envied Marlene and her family. Having five siblings seemed like a dream to me. She was always brimming with stories about what she and her sisters had done over the summer, or the antics her brothers got up to at Christmas. I had always wanted a family like that. That's what I had always thought I was going to get. When my parents told me, I was going to have a little brother, I was elated. I never thought they'd all be dead, before he was even given the chance to be born.

Marlene had taken to finishing her note to her mom. "Does the phrase 'biggest disappointment to our family since Aunt Fredericka' sound too harsh to you?" she asked absentmindedly.

"Perhaps a tad," I told her.

Marlene sighed and dragged the quill though her last time, chewing on the end of it while she tried to come up with a substitute. I played with the end of my ponytail while she did.

"Doing homework?" a voice asked in front of us. "Surely, you birds have something more interesting to do on a Friday night?"

It was Sirius. He and the other Marauders had reemerged from the dormitory and were standing over the backs of the armchairs in front of us.

"It's not homework," Marlene told him. "I'm ratting on my brother, if you must know."

Sirius chuckled and plopped himself down in one of the armchairs in front of us. "That's not much more interesting." James took the armchair beside him, and Remus and Peter made themselves comfortable on the squishy rug beside them.

Marlene raised an eyebrow. "Well it doesn't look as though you have any real interesting Friday night plans either."

James shook his head. "Not exactly. We couldn't think of a blasted thing to do to be perfectly honest. I can't wait until Quidditch practices start up again. Remind me to pester you're ebrother about that McKinnon, and we've already hexed a Hufflepuff, and Snivellus isn't around, so we're pretty bored, I'd say."

"Do you have to seek out Severus all the time?" I asked him. Sirius groaned, and James rolled his eyes.

"Ugh, Meadowes don't tell me you're a Slytherin lover like Evans," he said darkly.

I shook my head. "No. I don't particularly like him either, but I just don't see why you have to constantly start things with him. You know it infuriates Lily to no end."

"Well for starters," Sirius said. "It's fun."

I gave him a pointed look and he winked in response. "But why do you do it? What's he ever done to you?"

"He exists," James snapped, slightly annoyed. "Look I don't know what Evan's had been telling you, Doe, but Snape's not some innocent victim, bullied by the Marauders. He starts half of these things himself. You should see how he treats Remus and Peter."

Remus blushed a little. "He isn't my favorite person in the world."

James continued, "He's always running around doing some kind of some dark magic. Like with that defense practical."

"Yeah!" Peter piped up. "He wounded James!"

"I'm not saying Snape is a blameless victim, but I also don't think you guys should seek him out for trouble either," I told James.

"Agree to disagree," James shrugged. "Still don't understand how Evans can stand him enough to be his friend."

"I don't really think inter-house friendships work out that well," Marlene said, shrugging "I mean between rival houses anyway, like Gryffindor and Slytherin. Other than Jones and Vance, when have you ever seen it work out?"

"Vance and Jones, don't count," Remus said. "They're the exception, not the rule."

Emmeline Vance and Hestia Jones were both sixth years. While Hestia was in Gryffindor with us, Emmeline was a Slytherin. The two had become best friends in their first year, and challenged everyone's notions about inter-house friendships by staying that way throughout their entire time at Hogwarts so far. Except for mealtimes, you never saw Emmeline without Hestia.

"And Emmeline's barely a Slytherin," James pointed out. "Have you talked to her? She's a much more of a Ravenclaw."

"Only Slytherin I'd strip down to my skivvies for," Sirius chuckled. "Have you seen that girl. Merlin, she's good-looking."

I noticed Marlene's eyes narrow when he said that. I squeezed her wrist encourigingly.

"Dragon dung," James said. "You and I both know you wouldn't turn out a night with Sabrina Zabini."

Sirius shrugged. "A night maybe. That bird is clingy."

'More or less than Amy Bentworth?" Peter asked, staring up at Sirius as though he were the most interesting person in the world.

"Less. The Giant Squid sucks up less than Amy Bentworth."

"You two are reprehensible," Remus said shaking his head.

"I second that," I said agreeing, with him. Remus smiled.

"Speaking of Slytherins," Marlene said. "How's that brother of yours, Sirius?"

"Petulant and whiny as ever," Sirius said. "I swear he's got his head shoved so far up our mother's arse, I bet they share one brain now." It looked like he wanted to say something else, but shrugged.

The door to the portrait hole and Lily rushed in. Her face was white as a ghost, and behind her Mary was practically shaken, a far gone look draped across her features. Whatever was upsetting her was obviously important, because Lily didn't even stop to insult James or his comrades before plopping herself down in front of Marlene and I, wide-eyed. James' smile reached up to his eyes as he watched Lily, thrilled that she was willingly in the same space without shouting.

"Did you hear what happened?" Lily asked immediately. Mary curled up silently on the floor beside Peter, her face frozen in concern.

I shook my head. "No, Marlene and I have been here. What's up?"

Lily chewed on her bottom lip. "It's Gemma Fairview. Everyone coming out of last lesson just saw her screaming in the entrance hall with Professor McGonagall. Apparently, her whole family was murdered this morning. Her parents, siblings and everything. All because they were muggleborns."

I gasped, and Mary squeezed her eyes shut tighter.

"So it's..Him then?" Marlene asked quietly. Lily nodded, "Yeah. They said they found the Dark Mark hovering over his house. That's his mark."

Sirius let out a low, saddened whistle, and Lily shot him a dangerous look.

"This is terrifying," I said, burying my chin on my knees. "You-Know-Who is a lot stronger than they're letting on. How is the ministry letting this go on? They can't keep letting attacks like this continue."

"My dad says they're trying," James said. "He works in the Magical Catastrophes office. But the problem is that it's not as if everyone wants this guy gone. He's got the support of a lot of older Pureblood families. It's hard for the ministry to take him down, when people are fighting to keep him strong."

"He's like Hitler," Lily said quietly.

"Who?" James asked. Lily shook her head. "He's a muggle. I wouldn't expect you to know about him."

"It's disgusting," Remus said shaking his head. "How anyone could honestly believe blood status has any merit or meaning,"

"Try telling that to people like my parents," Sirius said, slightly annoyed. "The Blacks have spent the last century convinced being pureblood makes them royalty."

"But acting on it?" James said shaking his head. "That's a whole other kind of evil."

I couldn't help but think of my mother's family. The Greengrass' had believed that so heartedly, they had raised a son who could senselessly murder his own sister, for betraying those beliefs. People like that, would have no problem exterminating an entire kind of wizard.

Lily had grown increasingly pale, and Mary eyes still remained closed. I didn't blame them for being scared. Both Lily and Mary were muggle-borns. They spent half of their time at Hogwarts dodging insults from the same Slytherins whose parents were probably publicly praising You-Know-Who. They were completely on board with his intent to destroy muggleborns.

"I mean, Lily and Mary are some of the best in the year," Remus added, "and they're muggleborns. It makes no sense."

Lily offered him a small smile. "Thank you, Remus." Her voice was still tiny and terrified.

"Someone's going to stop him," I assured Lily. "The Minister or Dumbledore."

"Yeah," Lily said wistfully. "I hope so."

The news of Gemma Fairview's murdered family spread around the castle like wildfire. Gemma had left the school, to be with some distant cousins, and it left most of the students to talk about it freely. For the entire weekend, you couldn't even round a corner without hearing a group of people of talking about it in quiet, hushed voices. But it wasn't only Gemma they spoke about. The brutality of it all had caused most people to panic. You-Know-Who was always a whisper before, something talked about it quietly or in quiet whispers around the fire. Now, it was everywhere. Students talked both terrified and amazed of the reach that this terrifying wizard had. I did my best to steer clear of the conversations about it. Lily and Mary became absolutely terrified at the mere mention of it, so Marlene would often sit with Sirius or James to discuss the more intimate detail, and I would stay with Lily and Mary. It wasn't as if I minded, Gemma's tragedy was a constant and painful reminder about my own family. I tried to keep us busy, spending as much time as I could out of the common room, and away from the clusters of gossiping students. The four of us spent time on the grounds, finishing potions essays in the chilly fall air.

The Slytherins seemed very haughty about what had happened to Gemma. Every single one of them strutted around whispering about You-Know-Who and Blood- Purity. It got to the point, where mealtimes seemed more like a rumor mill than anything else.

On Sunday afternoon, I asked Lily to join me for tea at Hagrids. I had promised him I would visit, and Lily had always liked Hagrid. She seemed excited about it, lacing up her jacket and trudging down the grounds with me to his hut.

"It's good to do this," Lily agreed. "Better than being stuck up in that common room, listening to everyone going on and on about poor Gemma."

I nodded. "Yeah. Plus, I haven't had tea with Hagrid in a while. It's rude of me. He's done so much for me over the years."
We sloped down the uneven ground to Hagrid's house. He was outside when we got there, talking in an earnest voice to Gideon Prewett. Gideon was holding a kneazle in his arms, affectionately stroking it behind the ears, while he listened intently to whatever Hagrid was telling him.

I could feel my cheeks turning pink as we walked towards the house. I should have known the Gideon might be here. He was always down on the grounds with Professor Kettleburn or traipsing out of the Forbidden forest with Hagrid, in search of some magical creature. Gideon's arms were covered in bites, scratches and burns; relics from the creatures he had studied over the years.

Gideon smiled brightly when he saw us walking over and Hagrid waved a large, round hand.

"Ello Doe! Lily! Jus give me a second to grab something for Gideon ere, and we'll have our tea." Hagrid wandered back into his house, leaving the three of us outside on the grounds.

"So, how are you?" Gideon asked me, "this whole Gemma Fairview thing is awful isn't it?"

Lily wrapped her arms around her chest, watching the forest instead of participating in the conversation.

"It's terrible," I agreed, chewing on the end of my lip. "I know how she feels. Losing your parents is the worst thing in the world."

Gideon slid the kneazle under his arm. "I can't even imagine." He shook his head. "I remember back in my second year, when that whole thing happened with your parents. You were so brave about it, even for a first year. Very Gryffindor of you."

"Well, thanks, Gideon. That means a lot."

Gideon smiled back. "No problem, I meant it." His mouth opened as if he was going to say something else, but before he could, the door to Hagrid's hut opened and Hagrid emerged with a dark brown vial.

"That should do it, I reckon." He said handing it to Gideon. "Give em half the bottle and they should be so tired they won't realize yer taking their whiskers."

"If that worked, why did Professor Kettleburn have us chasing them all across the grounds?" I asked Hagrid.

Hagrid chuckled. "Ter get yer lot to learn something, I'd guess. Gideon here's advanced enough not to have to worry about that. Best student I've ever seen with them creatures." Gideon smiled behind Hagrid's back.

"Thanks Hagrid, I'll bring back the rest when I'm done," Gideon told him. "See you around, Doe. And you too, Lily." He waved one freckled hand and then turned back to the castle, with the kneazle still under his arm, his red ponytail slapping his back as he walked. The second he was out of sight, my stomach unknotted itself.

"Nice ter see you two," Hagrid said, pushing open his door. "Feels like it's been ages. How've you been?"

"I've been better," Lily said nervously, taking a seat with me at Hagrid's massive wooden table. Teacups the size of small bowls were sitting in front of us. "Have you heard what's been going lately, with Gemma Fairview."

Hagrid frowned and took his kettle off of the stove. "I did. Not the first time this has happened. Been hearing stuff like fer a while now. Especially this summer. It's been getting dark."

He looked at Lily's solemn face and changed the topic immediately, "Anyway, I'm sure it will be fixed soon enough. Dumbledore's…well he's working on something."

Hagrid seemed to sense that Lily was nervous about it. He cast a quick look at her and then me and then effortlessly changed the topic. "So, how's that friend of yours, Lily. Er...Snape is it?"

We spent the rest of the afternoon with Hagrid, catching him up on our classes and friends, and listening to him tell us about the unicorn breeding he was trying to get done. The topic of You-Know-Who and Gemma Fairview didn't come up for the rest of the day, something I was grateful for. I had a dark feeling that before this year was over, we'd be seeing a lot more.