Double Double Toil and Trouble A Marauders Tale
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the Marauders, or Hogwarts. However, Alex, Nicole, and the other original characters in this story plus the story itself are mine.
4: Quidditch Tryouts and Kitchen Escapades
Alex's next couple of weeks at Hogwarts were good ones. The guys had apologized for kicking her out of their room and she was talking to them again. She was still a little upset about why they had kicked her out, but figured them apologizing for the actual act was good enough.
The first thing she did after they had made up was show them her Animagus form. They were thrilled and inspired, and after a weekend's worth of hard training, they were annoyed—"It's all about…" "Alex if you say 'focus' one more time I'll kill you myself"— but successful. James was the first to get it. He became an antlered stag. Sirius followed him by a couple of hours, transforming into a large black dog. It took Peter the longest, but finally after hours of work he managed to transform into a plump little rat.
After this accomplishment, the marauders could not focus on much of anything. Alex was yelled at more times than she could count for daydreaming in class; even Remus was having difficulty paying attention. As the full moon approached their nervous excitement grew, they would spend hours huddled in their corner of the common room discussing plans in whispered voices. Remus still voiced his doubts, but the others would not have any of it.
"Moony relax," James told him. "We're not going anywhere but the shack."
"Yeah," Alex agreed. "Besides, James and Sirius will be able to keep you in check, somewhat. Werewolves are only supposed to be harmful to people."
"What if I still know you're people?" Remus asked his voice so quiet they had to lean in too hear him. "I'm not myself when I…" he shuddered
Alex put her hand over his on the table. "Which is exactly why we're doing this," she said. "We've taken precautions Remus. If things go bad we can get out of there faster than you could blink."
Remus nodded, though he still did not look entirely sure.
Sirius stood and stretched. "Well we'd better get to bed," he said.
James nodded in agreement. "Yeah we want to be well rested for tomorrow."
Alex yawned, "What's tomorrow?"
The boys gave her quizzical looks. "Quidditch tryouts," James said, as Alex was getting up. She stumbled and swore.
"I completely forgot," she groaned, pulling away from Sirius, who had steadied her.
"We gathered as much," Sirius teased.
"Relax, Lexi," James said. "You'll do great."
"You always do," Sirius said, smiling at her.
"Thanks mate," said Alex, punching Sirius' arm affectionately. "You too," she yawned again.
"Alright, bed time," James said pointing to the girls dormitories. "Get."
Alex rolled her eyes. "I'm not the dog James," she said. "That would Mr. Fluffy Tail over here," she stood on her tiptoes to ruffle Sirius's hair. He scowled at her. Everyone knew Sirius hated people messing with his hair. Alex was the only person who could do so without more than a glare as punishment. Like always, she laughed it off.
"Night boys," she said, winking at them before sauntering up the stairs.
"Damn," James said, and Sirius gave a low whistle.
"Come on lover boys," Remus teased.
"Like you weren't thinking it," Sirius said as they headed up to their room.
"He's a pinball wizard. There's got to be a twist," Alex sang and danced her way down to the Quidditch pitch with Sirius walking beside her. James was already there.
"I think someone had too much sugar this morning," Sirius said, as Alex fell onto her butt. She had been spinning in circles and apparently gotten too dizzy.
She gasped. "Listen here Furry Britches," she said from her position on the ground. "There is no such thing as too much sugar."
"If you say so," said Sirius, pulling Alex to her feet.
"I do say so," Alex insisted. Sirius laughed.
Alex continued to sing and dance until they reached the field where James and was waiting for them.
"Good you're here," he said. "Hurry up and get changed. We're just waiting for Lauren and Jones."
"Aye aye captain," she saluted before dancing her way to the locker room.
James gave Sirius a stern look. "How much sugar did you let her have on her waffles this morning?"
"Let her? Like I could have stopped her if I wanted to," Sirius said also heading toward the dressing rooms. "Besides," he called back to James. "When is a hyper Alex ever a bad thing? She'll probably kill today."
Sirius was right. Alex was on fire all day. She and Sirius had become the team's Beaters again, James, Lauren, and Colin Jones (a seventh year that was surprisingly not bitter about James being captain) were the Chasers, Chelsea shocked everyone and became the team's new Keeper, and Jackson Bingham 4th year, was their returning Seeker.
"We're going to have the best season ever!" Alex said happily, as they returned to the castle. "Isn't that right Sirius?" she slugged his arm.
"Ouch!" he winced, rubbing the spot where she'd hit him. "It's not bad enough that you hit me with the bludger now you have to go punching me as well?"
"Are you still griping about that? I was supposed to knock you off your broom. That was the point of the drill," said Alex. "It's not my fault you weren't willing to hit a girl."
"We were the last two left," Sirius said. "You didn't have to knock me off anymore."
"I had to teach you a lesson," Alex insisted.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Okay Alex lesson learned. I won't ever be nice to you again."
Alex laughed.
"Oh yeah right," James said. "You couldn't handle one day of her being mad at you. You'd never be able to alienate her completely."
"And you could?" Alex asked him, attempting to sound teasing, but she could not help but look a little offended.
"Of course not," James stated simply. "You're my star Beater, and I'd miss your random dancing too much."
"Good," Alex grinned. "I'm glad someone appreciates my dancing," she glared at Sirius.
"I have no problems with your dancing," he told her. "It's your singing that bothers me," he laughed, barely ducking in time to dodge the slap Alex had aimed for the back of his head.
"There is nothing wrong with my singing," she claimed.
Sirius smirked at her. "You just keep telling yourself that."
"I will," Alex affirmed, glaring.
"Play nice you two," said James. "I need you alive."
"He was insulting my singing!" Alex whined, as Sirius said. "I don't think it's possible for her to play nice."
Alex stared at him. "Oh I can play nice," she said giving him an alluring look, "Just not with you."
Sirius had no witty response, much to Alex's delight, and they spent the rest of the trip up to the Gryffindor tower in silence as Sirius and James pondered their most recent glance at this side of Alex they had never seen before.
These thoughts were set aside however when they reached the common room. A group of giggling fourth year girls was standing just inside waiting for Sirius. They swarmed him as her crawled through the portrait hole.
"We saw you at tryouts today," one said. "You were amazing," As the others sighed their agreement Sirius glanced at Alex over their heads. She rolled her eyes at him and then joined Bex and Remus by the fire.
"Enjoy the attention mate," James said patting Sirius on the back. He then ruffled his hair and walked up to Lily who was doing her homework in the corner where the Marauders usually sat to scheme. Sirius saw Alex scowl at this before his attention was fully on the girls around him.
"What does he see in her?" Alex asked, watching James smile charmingly at Lily. She wasn't falling for it and appeared to be telling him to go away. "She's—"
"A bossy know it all," Remus sighed. "So you've mentioned Alex… Multiple times."
"I'm sorry," said Alex. "I just can't stand that about her. She doesn't deserve his attention."
"Who does deserve his attention?" asked Bex. "You?"
Alex glared at her. "Don't go twisting my words around. I didn't say I was interested in having his attention…" she said, "because I'm not," she added as Bex opened her mouth to speak. "I just wish that the girl he does fancy was a bit more appreciative, and less of a control freak."
Bex sighed heavily.
"What?" Alex snapped.
"I don't think you're addressing the real problem here," Bex told her, ignoring Alex's strong glare. "Say I believe that you're telling the truth and you don't fancy James—"
"I don't fancy James," Alex growled, getting frustrated.
"Well you're obviously jealous of his attraction to Lily," Bex persisted.
"No," Alex said. "I don't like his attraction to Lily because I don't like Lily. I'd feel the same if you took an interest in someone I didn't get on with."
"Last year I dated David Rushforth and you didn't seem to care."
"The Ravenclaw with the stuttering problem? Who said I hated him?" Alex asked.
"Alright bad example," Bex admitted. "But I still think you're jealous."
"Urgh!" Alex groaned clenching her fists in anger. "Moony will you talk some sense into her!"
Remus watched Alex carefully. "I think Rebecca may have a point," he said. "You don't seem upset about all the girls hovering around Sirius, and you certainly don't like any of them," Remus pointed over her shoulder to where Sirius was enthusiastically telling the fourth years a story about a prank he had once pulled with James.
Alex was sure she'd been a part of it too, but he seemed to be leaving that out. Her stomach did a flip as she watched, and she suddenly felt like her head would explode any minute. 'Thanks Remy,' she thought sarcastically 'that really cleared things up. I feel so much better. I'm glad to see that both of my best mates have traded me in for pretty girls.'
Aloud she said. "I'm not happy about it if that's what you're suggesting."
"It's not," Remus said calmly.
Bex nodded. "We just think you need to give some thought towards your feelings about James."
That was Alex's breaking point. She stood up, no longer caring if she made a scene. "What feelings?" she shouted. "There are no feelings therefore there is no thought to give! James is my friend. Sirius is my friend. WE ARE JUST MATES! That's the end of it, so stop suggesting otherwise!" Alex stormed out of the common room ignoring Bex and Remus calls to stop her and Lily's petulant reminder that students were not allowed to wander the castle after dark.
Alex did not know where to go. She meandered around the seventh floor for a while, before deciding she would visit the kitchens. She had just started down a flight of stairs when she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
"I can't believe you made her mad again," she heard Sirius say from around the corner.
"It wasn't on purpose," Remus protested.
"I should hope not!" James exclaimed and they turned the corner now in the hallway above Alex. She could see them as they came closer, but they didn't seem to be aware of her.
"If she's angry at me for what you said…" Sirius let the threat hang.
'I'm not' Alex considered saying. 'I'm mad at you for the same thing I was last time: Choosing those slutty girls over me, your mate.' She thought better of it though. They would take that as a sign that she had feelings for Sirius other than just friendship, same way Bex and Remus had with James. She would just go down to the kitchens, get a snack, let off some steam and when she saw them tomorrow act as if nothing had happened. Yeah that would work.
She turned to head down the stairs before James, Sirius, and Remus found her, and ran right into Colin Jones. He caught her and somehow managed to keep them both from falling down the stairs.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Alex muttered, trying to keep her voice down so the guys wouldn't hear.
"That's alright," said Colin as he released her. "I didn't even realize you were there. It's just as much my fault as it is yours," He smiled at her.
Alex smiled back nervously looking up at him. Even though he stood a step below her, he was still a good two inches taller than she was. His eyes were a clear blue and his almost curly hair was dusty brown in color. He was definitely one of the best-looking guys in the entire school.
Colin just continued to watch her, as she stared dumbly back at him.
"Well, um," Alex stuttered trying to regain her composure. "I should probably…" She pointed down the stairs past him.
"Oh of course…" Colin stepped aside so she could pass. Surprisingly he seemed just as flustered as she was.
"Sorry again," she said as she continued down the stairs.
"No worries," he said, and then, "So where are you going, if you don't mind my asking?"
Alex turned back to look at him wondering if he would get her in trouble. He was the Head Boy, it was a wonder he had not already punished her for being out of bed.
"I promise I won't get you in trouble," he said as if he would read her mind.
She laughed. 'What the hell,' she thought 'I could use the company.' "I was on my way down to the kitchens for a snack, and maybe to hassle the house elves for a bit of butter beer. Care to join?"
Colin looked impressed. "You know how to get into the kitchens?"
"Of course," Alex smirked. "Where do you think the guys and I get all that food when we throw our crazy parties?"
"Never really thought about it," he admitted, but agreed to join her.
They spent the walk down to the kitchens discussing Quidditch, and Gryffindor's chances at winning the cup.
"I was worried," Colin admitted. "That with both Ward and Bennett leaving our team this year would suffer. Instead, I think we are actually better. Potter's sister is a good flyer."
"Not a bad shot either," Alex said. "And Chelsea… I had no idea she'd ever played Quidditch, but she's outstanding,"
"Indeed," Colin agreed.
Alex smiled; it was surprisingly easy to talk to Colin. Apart from the Marauders, most guys that talked to her recently just kind of stared dumbly or tried too hard to make conversation.
They reached the fruit bowl painting that was the entrance to the kitchen.
"We're here," Alex announced, smiling.
Colin looked around for a door. "You're joshing me," he said.
"I'm not," replied Alex. "Close your eyes."
"Really?" he asked and she nodded.
"I can't have you knowing the secret entrance," she told him. "You might tell someone else and they'll tell someone else and so on and so forth. Before you know it the entrance will no longer be secret."
"You don't trust me?" Alex grinned and shook her head. "Alright" He covered his eyes and Alex quickly tickled the pear. It giggled slightly and the painting swung open.
"Through here," Alex said, grabbing Colin by the arm and guiding him through the door. "Okay you can open your eyes now."
Colin did so and laughed. A swarm of house elves had gathered around them. He accepted a cream puff from one and said to Alex, "For some reason I thought this would be harder."
"They're house elves," Alex said. "What did you except?"
"Not for them to be offering me trays of every dessert imaginable," he confessed.
Alex laughed. "You don't have a house elf do you?" she asked.
Colin shook his head. "My mom prefers to do her own cooking and cleaning. Do you have one?"
"Three; Bitsy, Jeet, and Diz," Alex said. "If you ask they'll get you just about anything. Could we have two butter beers please?" she demonstrated, addressing the nearest elf.
"Of course miss," he said. "Anything for you sir?"
"Ham sandwich," Colin said uncertainly. The house elf nodded and disappeared. In less than a minute, he returned carrying the two butter beers, another house elf trailed behind him with a whole tray of sandwiches.
"I forgot to mention." Alex said, laughing at the look on Colin's face. "You have to be specific about how much you want. Otherwise they get carried away."
"I can see that," Colin said, chuckling slightly as well.
An hour and several butter beers later Alex and Colin had finished the sandwiches and decided that they should probably head back to the common room.
"I can't believe we haven't done this before." Alex said as they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. "We've been on the same Quidditch team for three years, and never had more than a five minute conversation until now."
Colin shrugged. "You've always had James or Sirius hovering around you."
"You don't like James and Sirius?" Alex asked, confused.
Colin laughed at the look on her face. "I've no problem with Sirius or James," he explained. "It's the glaring at me when I try to talk to you that I'm not fond of."
"Oh." Alex felt a bit giddy, but blamed it on the butter beer. "Well good night Colin."
"My friends call me Cole," he told her.
"I'm your friend?" Alex asked.
Cole smiled. "I'd like you to be."
Alex blushed she didn't know what to say. Luckily, she did not have to think of anything because the Fat Lady chose that moment to speak.
"Are you going to keep me up all night?" she asked angrily. "Or are you going to give me the password so I can go back to sleep?"
"Hobgoblin," Colin said, looking rather like he wanted to kill the portrait. They climbed through the portrait hole into the common room. There were still a few people up, Bex and the marauders (minus Peter) were sitting closest to the fire, and several sixth year girls were sitting at one of the couches, gossiping. These girls glared at Alex when they saw she had entered with Colin. Bex also gave her a funny look and nudged James, who had dosed off next to her. Sirius straightened as well and turned to look at Alex.
"I suppose you're going to join them." Cole said sounding disappointed.
Alex sighed. "I probably should," she told him. "Otherwise they'll think I'm angry at them."
"Are you?" he asked.
Alex ran a hand through her hair. "No… Yes… Maybe…" she sighed again. "I don't really know," she admitted. "Do you want to join us?"
"I'd better not," he said. "Your boyfriends don't look pleased."
That made Alex smile. Sirius and James certainly did not look happy. "Neither do your fan girls," she teased, "and they're not my boyfriends."
"And I couldn't care less about my fan girls. You sure you don't want to wander the castle a bit more?"
Alex smirked. "Good night Colin."
"Call me Cole," he insisted.
"Good night Cole," she corrected.
"Good night Alex," he responded. "Tell you're boyfriends I say hi."
