Author's Note: I'm posting both Saturday and Sunday today, since its Easter Sunday tomorrow. So enjoy : )
A note on Lily and James: The first quarter of the story shows the strained relationship they've had for the past two years, giving us glimpses of how they both feel underneath. A life-threatening event in week three causes this to shift slightly, to the point where they start sharing secrets intentionally – if reluctantly. In case you were like… where are the shared secrets?
There will be plenty of Remus and Andy secrets in the meantime, and lots of Lily/James love/hate (mostly hate) action.
A note on Sirius: Sirius' plot/romance starts later than the others, just because the story is already pretty full at this point. Just like Sirius it will be fun, simpler than the others, and worth the wait. ; )
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Saturday April 23
- Andy -
Andromeda Black relished Saturday mornings at Hogwarts. At home, even if her father wasn't demanding she be up at the crack of dawn for one reason or another, it wasn't exactly safe to sleep late when your bedroom backed onto Bellatrix Black's. Bella often needed a test subject for a new hex she'd discovered, or was setting up a trap outside Andy's door to see if an intruder alert worked. Just being in the Black household was a risky business, but sleeping was even more so.
The Slytherin dorms were perfect for sleeping late – being underground, they had no windows. They were far removed enough from the rest of the school that no noise penetrated. There was nothing to interrupt a good beauty sleep.
So Andy was especially displeased when she heard Bella's gleeful cry breaking into her slumber this morning. Anything Bella was pleased about was usually not good news for anyone else. Andy paused, hoping this was a general glee, in which case she could go back to sleep.
While Bella might be the 'Queen of Slytherin', there were benefits to sharing the dorm with her fellow fifth years. Prefect Belladonna (Donna) Zabini had once risked Bella's wrath by giving her detention for disturbing her beauty sleep. And Anya Avery might not be the outright bully Bella was, but she didn't take a mite of crap from anyone, including Bellatrix Black. So Andy was safe, as long as Bella didn't call out-
"Oh Andy!" came the gleeful shout once more. "I have something you'll be so delighted to see!"
Andy resisted the urge to bury her head under her pillow. Bella would only torment her further if Andy made her climb the stairs.
"See what lucky Andy got," Bella crooned in her high carrying voice, and Andy could just picture her showing whatever it was to the crowd of Slytherins in the common room below. Andy tossed on some clothes and fixed her hair with a wave of her wand – a trick her mother had taught her before she started Hogwarts. Andy stalked down the stairs, refusing to let her sister know that she'd hurried.
Bellatrix was indeed surrounded by a small crowd, but that was hardly unusual. Bella had been titled the Queen of Slytherin when she was in fifth year, and had had a following of subjects long before that. What was ominous this time was how they were all leaning in to study something Bella held in her hand, faces creased with smirks and sneers.
"Oh, Andy!" Bella called, catching sight of her, wearing her predatory smile. Andy's heart skipped a beat. For something to make Bella this pleased, Andy knew it had to be bad. "Look what a charming young man gave me to pass on to you."
Andy's heart stopped dead. No. It couldn't be. Andy strolled closer, hands in her pockets, the picture of nonchalance.
"This had better be worth it," Andy drawled. "I was busy."
"Ah, but you'll want to see this," Bella assured her, eyes gleaming. Andy shoved through the crowd, elbowing Driana Pucey out of the way. Bella was holding a red rose, thornless, with a small note attached. Luckily Andy wasn't one to flush. She'd bet a hundred hippogriffs she knew who sent it, and why it had gone through Bella. Please let the idiot not have signed his name.
"So what?" Andy said, rolling her eyes. "It's a stupid flower. What's the big deal?"
"Do you know who its from?" Bella crooned, fingering the note, keeping it angled so Andy couldn't read it.
"No. What, doesn't it say?" Andy replied, her voice bored.
"It says," Bella said, eyes flashing dangerously now. She was coming in for the kill. " 'Page ten.'" Bella looked up at Andy. "What could that mean?"
Andy shrugged. She honestly had no idea. "Sounds like an idiot to me."
Driana Pucey rattled back down the stairs. Andy hadn't seen her slip off. And, Andy realised with horror, she was clutching Andy's book bag.
"Well, let's see if Pucey can't shed any light on the matter," Bella purred. Pucey, the least popular of the Slytherin fifth years, crossed the common room and handed the bag to Bella. Pucey had bad acne and was slightly overweight. Slytherins, cruel creatures that they were, had mocked her mercilessly since first year, which might account for her lack of confidence.
While Andy found no pleasure in such lowly behaviour, it wasn't like she'd stood up for Pucey either. There were only a certain amount of influence points in Slytherin, and while being a Black awarded Andy a higher number than most plebs, Andy's defiance in other areas caused her to spend more than she could afford as it was. Now, it seemed, she was about to reap the consequences of her selfishness.
Bella snatched up the bag, pulled it open, and riffled through it. Andy knew Bella would find what she was looking for. Andy had forgotten about the stupid kid's book Tonks had given her. She'd tossed it in there and hadn't given it another thought. Rookie move. She'd been too preoccupied with what he might do to cover her usual bases.
"Hmmm," Bella said. Never a good sign. The crowd stilled around her. "Andy," Bellatrix said, her voice low and dangerous. "Why do you have a muggle book in your possession?"
Andy shrugged and tossed her hair back from her face.
"I don't see how that's any business of yours."
Bella's eyes flashed.
"Oh don't you?" Bella thrust the book suddenly at Alecto Carrow, a seventh year underling. "Read it," Bellatrix hissed, eyes not leaving Andy. "Page ten."
Alecto cackled, showing the front page to the crowd. " 'The Snake and the Badger,'" she said loudly, cruel amusement in every syllable.
"Get to the point," Bella snapped, still trapping Andy with her eyes. Carrow's smirk slipped and she flipped through the book obediently.
"'And they were friends for the rest of their days'," Carrow read, showing the picture to the crowd again. "Awww. So sweet, with their little vests-"
Bella snatched the book off her, cutting off the mocking voice.
"Who sent it?" Bella growled, advancing on Andy. Andy stood her ground.
"Why, do you want a copy?" The swagger in Andy's voice annoyed Bella more than any witty comeback or feigned innocence could have done. Andy had spent years cataloguing the most efficient ways to infuriate Bella, as any younger sister worth her salt would do.
Bella ground her teeth, then tossed her head back. "So, it must be someone important to you, if you'd risk protecting him. Sinking to new depths, Sister."
Andy shrugged. "If I knew, I'd tell you. Or would I? Maybe I just like to see you shudder."
Bella drew her wand and the crowd retreated rapidly. Andy resisted the urge to dive for her own wand. Years of experience had taught her she wouldn't reach it in time, and if she tried, she would definitely be cursed. There was still a chance to talk her way out of this.
"Tell me," Andy drawled, "How is it that you didn't recognise the muggleborn who handed you that stupid flower? I thought you kept a catalogue or something?"
Bella's glare deepened. "I don't use brain space on the faces of stupid mudbloods," she said, "though if I'd known what this was about, I'd have cursed him to oblivion."
Andy studied her nails, determined not to show any relief. "Seems a bit late for that now."
Bella raised her wand, now pointing it directly between Andy's eyes. Andy wasn't worried. This move was for show. When Bellatrix Black decided to hex you, you never saw it coming.
"I'd be a bit more forthcoming, Sister, if you know what's good for you," Bella sneered, a few sparks escaping the tip of her wand. Again, Andy knew her sister's temper too well to be concerned by this. Bella kept a tight reign on her fury until she unleashed it all in a deadly fit of rage. She just wasn't there yet.
"Why do I need to know what's good for me?" Andy said, crossing her arms and staring Bella down. "I thought that's you were for, Sister. Why else would you go through my belongings?"
Andy glanced pointedly at her bag. "Or do you make a habit of going through people's dorms and bags?"
Now the crowd began to move uncomfortably. No one would put it past Bellatrix Black to be spying on all of them, to go through private notes or locked drawers. Bella gave the crowd the tiniest of glances, sensing the change in their mood.
"I only do what's needed to protect you, Andy," Bella said, her silky sarcasm cutting through the shuffling feet. "Heaven knows you've no social sense whatsoever. Associating with mudbloods, whatever would Father say?"
The threat was clear. Andy glared back at her sister. Bella would do it, too. Write and tell their father. Cygnus Black was less predictable even than Bellatrix. He might do anything from cutting Andy's allowance to removing her from school, not to mention punishing her properly once he got her home.
"Ah Sister," cooed a new voice. The slender blonde Narcissa Black, a third year but already nearly Andy's height, glided through the crowd. Narcissa had no need to use her elbows, the people parted like butter before her. "Andy can be an idiot at times, but surely she's learned her lesson?"
Bella's eyes flicked to her youngest sister. Cissy was one of the only people Bella cared about. Bella paused for half a second. Andy could see her eyes narrowing in thought. A sudden blast issued from Bella's wand. The crowd squealed, tumbling out of the way, but Andy stood firm, flicking a shield up just in time. Barely. Her ability to read Bella had saved her much pain over the years, but not all of it.
Bella cackled at the look of panic on Andy's face. Andy glowered, schooling her features back to boredom with an effort.
"Now she's learned her lesson," Bella said, lowering her wand. "Never forget, Sister, you may be a member of the Noble House of Black, but I am the heir. It's time you learned your place."
Bellatrix Black turned away, clearly finished with her little sister. Andy longed to throw an insult at Bella stupid rod-straight back, but she knew she'd been lucky already this morning. If her youngest sister hadn't intervened, Bella might have done something really nasty.
Cissy sent Andy a look that said exactly the same thing – one part disdain, one part pity. Andy kept her own features expressionless. It was always hard to tell whose side Cissy was on. It was possible that Cissy, their mother's favourite, acted only in the interests of Druella Black, intent of keeping both of her sisters alive, but with no deep affection for either of them.
Andy, now dismissed and ignored, had no intention of staying in the Slytherin common room a moment longer. She pushed through the crowd, using more elbow and knee than necessary, and ducked out into the hallway. The sooner Bellatrix Black graduated and stepped out of Andy's life, the better.
And, Andy thought, a cold rage boiling inside her, stupid interfering Mudbloods should be taught a lesson. The urge to find Ted Tonks and hex his toes off was strong, but Andy also knew, deep down and very reluctantly, that the urge would pass. First she would find the Marauders and try venting her anger is a less violent way. How noble of her, she thought to herself sarcastically. But if that didn't work, Andy promised herself, it would be toe-removal time.
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- Sirius -
"James, you're a slave driver," Sirius said, clutching his broom as the whole team did speed laps around the stadium. Sirius, not quite on the level of his teammates, grit his teeth and tightened his grip as they cornered sharply behind the goal posts. "Who puts quidditch practice on a Saturday morning?"
Sirius and James had gone to bed late last night and a still a bit drunk. James seemed to coast on enthusiasm when it came to quidditch, and had all but jumped out of bed at seven am. Sirius wasn't quite as devoted to the sport as his best mate, and he had a headache.
"It's because Evans tutors on Saturday mornings," Damian Catchlove called back, his voice mocking.
"How do you know?" one of the Prewett twins shot back. Damian wasn't the most beloved of teammates, due to his superior nature, which his older brother Marcus had kept in check last year. Even the Princes of Hogwarts, only sixth years despite their popularity, struggled with Catchlove. The Prewett twins, on the other hand, were decidedly loyal to their captain.
"I asked her to tutor me," Catchlove replied, "thought I wouldn't mind a bit of that pretty little-"
"Watch it," his younger sister, Greta Catchlove, growled. Damian gave her a mocking salute.
"Can we focus here?" James called, clearly going for authoritative over grumpy, and mostly succeeding. "We're losing speed."
"That's because your buddy can't corner without slowing down," Damian said, almost flying up Sirius' tail.
"That's enough speed training," James snapped. Sirius slowed with relief.
"Gideon, Fabian, Sirius," James called, "grab a bludger and bat it between you."
"Just one?" Gideon called back.
"Yes," James said. Gideon snapped his fingers in annoyance. Sirius knew that the two official beaters trained with two bludgers when they trained alone. Sirius, only a reserve, wasn't required to train quite as hard as the other two, and he knew they did better without him. Fabian flew off to retrieve the angry black ball.
"Everyone else, we'll finish with a round of 'hot potato'." Everyone groaned. Except the youngest Catchlove sibling.
"I'll get the tennis balls," third year, Timothy Catchlove, their new reserve chaser, said immediately. He shot towards the ground.
"Why can't you all follow orders like that?" James said, only half joking.
"Because we're not all twelve," Greta answered.
"Hey!" protested Timothy, already back with the bag. "I'm thirteen."
"Barely," Greta said.
"Alright Timothy, start us off," James called. Timothy pulled out a tennis ball and chucked it hard and fast at Greta. Greta caught it neatly and tossed it to chaser Hattie Bell. Before the ball had left her hand, Timothy had tossed a second one at James. James passed to Damian and received from Greta, while Timothy introduced a third ball, which keeper Olivia Wood caught. Once there were five balls in play, Timothy dropped the empty bag back to earth. They now all had to throw one ball while being ready to catch the next one. With the concentration required, there was no time left to talk.
Sirius had to wrench his eyes off the spectacle to focus on his own task. Fabian had just hit the bludger, hard, sending it squarely through one of the goal posts. It took its time coming back, the heavy ball unable to change directions quickly. Gideon and Fabian waited impatiently, while Sirius narrowed his eyes in concentration. This was something he would have been able to do easily on the ground, but Sirius hadn't been born on a broomstick the way James and the Prewetts had.
The ball hurtled straight for Sirius.
"Yours, Black," said one of the Prewetts. Sirius gripped his bat with his hands and his broom with his knees.
"Try to relax your posture a bit," suggested the other Prewett. His voice distracted Sirius, who glanced sideways, losing a valuable second. The bludger was closer than he would have liked when he aimed at it. His swing was a bit off centre, just knocking the ball instead of belting it. It wobbled off a few metres before turning and trying to decapitate Gideon. Gideon swung hard, and it sailed through the centre hoop. Sirius frowned, face averted from the Prewetts.
Sirius' next few swings were better, but he would have preferred to practice without the Prewetts' helpful commentary, and without feeling he was about to fall off his broom every time his bat connected with the bludger. And his headache wasn't helping his accuracy. Finally James called an end to the practice.
Sirius descended with the rest of the team, who took James' lead in congratulating each other on a good session. Fabian locked away the bludger, Timothy collected the tennis balls, and Gideon took the brooms to the cupboard in the changerooms. Within minutes the team was dispersing.
"You know," Damian said, drawing James off to the side, though his voice was still very audible. "That new little blonde, Fortescue is it? She's a pretty good reserve. Nice find."
Sirius frowned. Trust Damian to be condescending. Sirius was the only other reserve, and Damian had never complimented him. Thought, Sirius admitted grudgingly, fourth year Elisabeth Fortescue was a talented chaser. Sirius was mostly on the team because James decreed it, and because chicks dug it.
Peter was scampering down from the top of the stands where he'd been watching the practice.
"Hurry up, Wormtail," Sirius called, "I'm starving."
"Wormtail?" Damian said. "What kind of nickname is that?"
James gave Damian his usual answer. "Ask no questions, be told no lies." Which was just as well, because Sirius wouldn't have minded an excuse to hex the eldest Catchlove.
"Come on, loser," Greta called to her brother. "Or all the food will be gone."
As Damian left, Remus arrived, followed, surprisingly, by Andy.
"What's up, Cuz?" Sirius said, trying to read her scowl. Ah the many scowls of Andromeda Black. This one seemed a bit more than angry, a bit less than murderous, with a touch of humiliation. So then, probably to do with family.
"Did your father threaten to make you take NEWT Potions again?"
Andy speared Sirius with her intense green gaze.
"Bella is a bitch."
"Okay… no news there," Sirius said. James and Peter joined him and they headed for the castle.
"Why don't Peter and I run up and get us some lunch?" Remus suggested, eyes on Andy.
"Why?" Sirius said. "We're halfway there."
James, who found Remus' pointed looks easier to read than Sirius, elbowed his friend in the ribs.
"Yeah, Moony, why don't you do that?" James said. "We'll meet you at the tree."
"I don't see why-" Sirius started, but dodging James' elbow again cut him off. "Whatever."
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A minute later, Sirius, James and Andy were sprawled under the shade of their usual tree by the lake.
"So, what's my bitch of a cousin done now?" Sirius said. He saw no reason to beat around the bush. James rolled his eyes at Sirius and pulled out his snitch.
"Let's see," Andy said, lying back in the grass and leaning on her elbows. "She's a tyrant. And a sadist. Oh, and pure evil."
"Uh huh," Sirius prompted. "And specifically?"
Andy scowled at the clouds overhead. "She's stealing my stuff."
"I thought you'd have charms against that sort of thing?" Sirius said.
"I usually do," Andy snarled, more angry with herself it seemed.
"What did she steal?" James said, catching the snitch at arm's length without even looking. Andy was in no mood to appreciate his talents. In fact she was now avoiding James' and Sirius' gaze furtively.
"Oh ho!" Sirius said, leaning forward. "I smell a secret."
"Its nothing," Andy said, tossing her hair back from her face. "A note, that's all."
"A note?" Sirius repeated, his voice rising in glee. "Not a love note? A secret admirer perhaps?"
"What are you, twelve?" Andy hissed.
"Ah, and that my friend," Sirius said turning to James, "was not a denial. Oh look! Food's here."
Sirius jumped up to grab Peter's basket. He dropped into onto the grass. "Sandwiches and muffins. Good haul, I guess. Oh and chocolate cake. Now that's more like it." Sirius grabbed three of everything and settled back on the grass.
"Guess what?" he said to Remus and Peter once his mouth was full, "Andy's got a boyfriend."
"Sirius Black," Andy declared, "if you say that again, I will hex your balls off."
Sirius swallowed rather more cake than he'd intended. "Huh?" His voice was suddenly higher than usual.
"I will," Andy said simply. "Not only is that untrue, even if it were true, it wouldn't be any of your business."
"But you came here to vent, right?" Sirius said reasonably, forcing his voice down an octave. "And clearly this lover of yours is the reason you're so pissed with Bella. Or are there other super-secret notes you hold onto and don't toss into the fire? I thought all Blacks knew better than that."
"Maybe not," Andy said, leaning in conspiratorially. "I've been thinking, why has Bellatrix got that secret seventh year common room? Normally she's all about the adoration, being among her subjects, keeping them under the thumb. So why does she suddenly want her own space? What's she hiding?"
"Maybe it is love letters," James said doubtfully. "Maybe she's got a heart under all that blackness, and she's keeping them out of sentiment."
Sirius scoffed.
"Two givens in this world. The sun will rise tomorrow and Bellatrix Black will never fall in love."
Andy didn't bother denying this. Personally she wasn't sure Bella felt anything close to love for anyone.
"I'm telling you, its some sort of mission she's been given," Sirius insisted.
"What, by Voldemort?" Andy scoffed.
"It's hard to imagine what he'd want with a Hogwarts student," Remus said, frowning.
"Maybe what he wants is at Hogwarts," Sirius said.
"Yeah, like what?"
Sirius wracked his brains for a moment. "I dunno, something. Andy," Sirius said suddenly, turning to her, "you've got to find out."
"What?" Andy said, unimpressed.
"Yeah, you steal the note or letter or whatever it is, and then we'll know for sure. Bet you its just a love letter, though," James said.
"Well, if it's a love letter, Andy can read it to the whole of Slytherin House and get back at Bellatrix," Sirius said impatiently. "But trust me, its not a love letter."
"And trust me," Andy said, standing up, "that won't be happening. You know how I lived to my fifteenth birthday? By staying out of Bella's way."
"And is that how you want to live to your fiftieth birthday?" Sirius asked quietly, studying the icing on his fingers.
Andy was silent for a moment.
"If you want the note," she declared, tossing back her hair, "you get it. I'm keeping all of my fingers. That said, I have some toes to remove."
"But Cuz," Sirius said, his voice sympathetic, "you have such nice toes."
"Hufflepuff toes," Andy ground out.
"Ah ha!" said Sirius, looking up with a roguish grin. "So he's a Hufflepuff, is he?"
Andy just gave him the finger and strode off.
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- Lily -
Lily had finished tutoring her five students in Charms and hurried off to the first official prefect meeting of term. Prefect meetings were held in the staffroom, around the round table, though no staff were present. The door was open when she arrived.
The head girl and boy, Prisha Patil and Edgar Bones, of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff respectively, were sitting in the seats furthest from the door, at the head of the oval table. The Gryffindors had gathered in the seats down Patil's side of the table, with the Hufflepuffs opposite them. The Ravenclaws had arrayed themselves in the empty seats nearby. The seats nearest the door were left for the Slytherins, who always arrived in a group, and were always late.
Remus had saved Lily a seat near the head of the table. She smiled at him as she sat down, nodding to Frank Longbottom on her other side. It was nice to see Remus without the look of deep exhaustion he so often wore. This seat gave Lily a good vantage to surreptitiously watch the handsome blonde Head Boy. Edgar Bones was charming, intelligent and generous – and Lily was not the only girl with a mild crush on him.
Opposite Lily, Amelia Bones, Edgar's younger sister, was debating with him in furious whispers. Edgar, as usual, seemed to be simultaneously kind, firm and unruffled. Prisha, leaning over to listen in, frowned.
The Slytherins chose this moment to enter the room, led by seventh years Bellatrix Black and Lucius Malfoy.
Known as the 'Queen of Slytherin', Bellatrix Black moved like royalty, her eyes cold and a cruel sneer never far from her lips. Black chose the seat directly opposite Patil's. Malfoy took the seat beside her, opposite Edgar, his chin raised haughtily, giving the Head Boy a sneer as he sat down. The other Slytherins fanned out around them.
Prisha, unphased, began the meeting.
"Now that we're all here, we have several things to discuss."
"Will this take long?" Black drawled, studying her fingernails. "I have places to be."
"Like where?" Amelia Bones, a fifth year Hufflepuff demanded. Edgar frowned at his outspoken sister but her hard stare was on Bellatrix Black.
"Oh, anywhere but here, really." Black shot her a dangerous smile. Several people shifted uncomfortably, but Amelia Bones didn't break the stare until Edgar cleared his throat.
"We'll start with patrols. Some of us have been forgetting exactly what is expected when-"
He cut off. Black had raised her hand, smirking condescendingly at the Head Boy. Lily was not the only one glaring at her.
"Yes?" Prisha asked in a falsely sweet voice.
"I want another vote on the theme for the end of year ball," Black announced. The Gryffindors groaned.
"I'm afraid that's impossible," Prisha purred, but her eyes were narrower. "We decided on The Secret Garden. We've already ordered the flowers and fairies and-"
"I think you'll find," Malfoy broke in loudly, "that no one wants a muggle-themed ball in the present climate." He sneered at 'muggle' and his lip curled at 'climate'.
"And what climate is that?" Lily shot back. Heads turned to her. Lily's glare didn't waver.
"Muggles are being taught their place out in the real world," Black said in her cold cruel voice, looking down her nose at Lily. "Why should we be lifting them up at Hogwarts?"
The Slytherins around her were nodding meaningfully.
"We're not voting again," Edgar said firmly. "We voted once. You lost. Deal with it."
"The Guidelines for Prefect Meetings state that disagreements should be solved with a vote," Parkinson said smoothly, holding up a copy of the guidelines.
"We already voted," Prisha told Parkinson, eying her with increasing dislike.
"People might have changed their minds," Malfoy said softly, looking around the room meaningfully.
Prisha scowled. "In the interests of moving on, we'll vote again. Hands up who wants to keep The Secret Garden as our theme?"
Lily raised her hand, as did all of the Gryffindors. Zipporah Smith and Amos Diggory of Hufflepuff shifted uncomfortably but did not raise their hands. Only half the Ravenclaws voted. Not a single Slytherin stirred. Edgar counted the hands calmly. If he was unsettled by the change in numbers from the last vote, he didn't show it.
"You lost," Edgar announced, no trace of relief wavering in his voice. "The theme will remain The Secret Garden."
Black's eyes narrowed. Malfoy's lips thinned.
"Don't think," Black said, her voice dangerously soft, "that the world outside these walls isn't watching. Where each of your loyalties lie will be noted."
"Is that a threat?" Remus asked in his mild voice, but his eyes were hard.
"It's a fact of life," Malfoy returned. "Things are changing. Either change with them or be left behind."
"Oh I see," Amelia Bones huffed. "Is that your ploy? You've scared people into siding with you-"
"Amelia," Edgar said firmly, but his eyes weren't on his sister. He was watching Black with a keen gaze. Black's expression was amused – and dangerous. The threat was obvious. For the first time Edgar looked concerned – but not for himself.
"No, she's right," Lily snapped, sick of the pretence, sick of the fearmongering. "You're bullies. You can't threaten us. What, you think Voldemort cares what we wear to the end of year ball?"
Several people shifted uncomfortably but Lily didn't remove her glare from the Bellatrix Black, Queen of Slytherin, haughty little-
"I think the wizarding world cares whether people are more loyal to muggles than wizards," Black said, her voice dangerously soft.
Lily opened to her mouth to snap back, but Remus put a hand on her arm. She glanced at him in surprise, but he gave only the tiniest shake of his head.
Black's piercing stare was now slicing straight at Lily. Lily glared defiantly back. She wasn't scared of Bellatrix Black.
"We voted. You lost. Either be quiet, or leave." Edgar's voice was final.
Bellatrix Black rose gracefully to her feet. "Soon you'll all know the consequences of your choices," she purred at the room. She swept out, followed by the entire Slytherin contingent.
"Good riddance," Prisha said lightly, turning back to the agenda, but no one was fooled. A cloak of uncertainty and unsettledness hung over them all as Prisha directed them back to patrol schedules and duties.
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After the meeting, Lily left with Emmeline Vance and Dirk Cresswell, the Ravenclaw seventh year prefects and the co-heads of the Charms club. Cresswell was often dry and boring, but he knew his Charms. Vance, on the other hand, had been the creative one, choosing Charms for the group to learn that were fun, useful or interesting. Lily had particularly enjoyed the charm that made objects flash different colours, or one that made cats sing different songs based on their mood. She'd yet to try that one on Tiger though, she didn't think he'd appreciate it.
Today, however, Vance was as solemn as Cresswell. The rest of the Charms club was already waiting in Professor Flitwick's classroom. Cresswell headed to the front of the room while Vance, looking tired and a bit peaky, sat off to the side. Two fourth year Ravenclaws exchanged very obvious looks – Cresswell's lessons just weren't as popular as Vance's.
Today they learned a Charm that made objects change colour to show temperature and humidity. Lily had to admit it was useful, if a bit boring. Usually Cresswell and Vance swapped halfway through the lesson, but today Cresswell continued, teaching them how to imbue a teapot with the desire to keep teacups full.
They broke into pairs to practice the two spells, helping each other as needed. Lily mastered both charms within minutes and she went around helping the younger students. Ollivander had made her charm too powerful, and her teapot was rather violent and persistent in its attempts, sloshing tea over Patil and breaking the teacup. Lily helped her to redo the spell at a lower velocity.
When everyone seemed to be doing well, Lily paused to survey the club members. She found herself joined by Vance.
"We always appreciate you helping the others, Evan,s" Vance told Lily, with a small smile – half her usual warm grin. Lily blinked.
"Are you alright, Vance?" Lily asked. Vance smiled again, this time a closer approximation of her familiar smile.
"Just a bit tired. NEWTs are coming up, you know?"
Lily nodded sympathetically, but couldn't help wonder if this was the whole truth. Vance was not only clever, but was usually more laid back about her studies than her fellow Ravenclaws. Vance was one of the reasons Lily had joined the Charms club last year. Before that it was headed by the previous Ravenclaw prefect, a girl who was one part dragon, and no parts sunshine.
"Well, I think they've all got it," Vance declared. She signalled to Cresswell who stepped in to close the session. Lily watched Vance pack away her own things, frowning. This was not the enthusiastic same Emmeline Vance of last term. Had something happened? Lily didn't get a chance to say anymore, however, as Vance swept from the room before Cresswell had finished speaking.
Lily headed back to the common room for her regular Saturday evening revision session with her friends, complete with chocolate frogs to the winners of each round of rapid-fire questions. She put Vance out of her mind – Lily knew she wouldn't want anyone prying into her own business, so she wouldn't stick her nose into Vance's.
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SUNDAY April 24
- Remus -
For the first time in their history at Hogwarts, the Marauders had skipped lunch. Lying on the floor of the dorm before them was the completed Map. The four boys sat around staring at the little labelled dots as they swarmed out of the Great Hall, lingered in corners, or floated down hallways.
"It's brilliant," Peter breathed.
"We're brilliant," Sirius corrected him.
"We're geniuses," James said, eyes glued to the Map.
All of the Marauders had explored the castle, finding every secret tunnel, passageway, nook and cranny. James and Peter had kept perfectly scaled sketches, while Sirius had perfected the charm that caused the parchment not only to insult intruders but to take on the Marauders' personalities as it did so. The password charm had been Sirius, while the complex layers of tracking charms had been the combined brainchild of James and Sirius. And Remus had worked tirelessly at solving the problems caused by the complexity of the Map's charms interacting with each other.
But now, they'd finally achieved the impossible.
James' eyes were, predictably, scanning the Map. Remus was sure he was trying to locate Lily, until James poked the parchment hard.
"Careful!" Sirius said, false-wounding in his voice.
"It's Snape," James said, removing his finger a distance from the Map so they could all see.
"Where is that?" Peter said, squinting.
"You dolt, it's obviously…" Sirius trailed off. "Where is that?"
"It's near the dungeons," James said.
Remus peered closer. "It's inside a wall… wait, I know that wall. That's where I lost Snape Friday night."
"Are you kidding me?" Sirius said, outraged. "Snivellus Snape found a secret room we don't know about?"
"Bet he's up to something dastardly," James said, exchanging a meaningful look with Sirius. "We'd better go and help him see the error of his ways."
"And get lunch on the way?" Peter said, as they all stood up.
"No time for lunch," Sirius said briskly. "We've got a slippery Slytherin to catch."
James picked up the Map, tapping it with his wand as he did so.
"Mischief managed," he said, and it went blank.
.
.
Ten minutes later the Marauders had crowded into the dead end hallway where Remus had last seen Snape. They were well past the entrance to the Slytherin common room, and the place was deserted.
"How do we get in?" Peter said, as they stared at the blank stone wall.
"There's probably a password or a trigger switch," Remus said, running his hands over the stones as he spoke.
"Let me see the Map," Sirius said. James handed him the blank parchment. Sirius tapped it with his wand.
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."
"Or Snape is," Peter said with a chuckle.
Sirius peered at the Map. "Its no use," he said. "I can see us, but we're just standing here."
"What did you think would happen?" Remus said.
"Well, the map shows how to get into the secret tunnels, doesn't it?"
"Only because we told it that," James said, shaking his head.
"So Snape's on the other side of this wall, doing Heaven knows what, and we can't reach him?" Sirius said, throwing up his hands in frustration.
"No one said that," James said, eying the wall ponderously.
"I know that look," Peter said, almost twitching in anticipation.
"So do I," Remus said sharply. "Don't do anything stupid, James."
"How come you never warn me not to do anything stupid?" Sirius said, rounding on Remus.
"Because you never give me a chance," Remus replied, still watching James.
"Meh, you're no fun," Sirius said. "Whatever you're thinking, James, just do it."
James pulled out his wand and pointed it at the wall.
"On second thoughts," Sirius said, but too late.
"Bombarda!"
The Marauders all jumped backwards as the stones blasted inwards.
"Are you crazy?" Peter shouted at the same time Sirius whooped,
"Nice one, Prongs!"
"You could have killed someone!" Remus said, trying to peer through the dust into the room.
"Only Snape," Sirius said, unconcerned. Then he called, "Snivellus! Are you in there?"
James waved his wand in a slashing motion and the dust settled. He and Sirius met at the hole and walked into the room beyond together. Remus followed with a reluctant Peter.
Inside was a small round room. In the far wall was a small fireplace with a cauldron bubbling over it. In the centre of the room, beside a small workbench, was Severus Snape. He was glowering at the Marauders, wand in one hand, trying desperately to wipe dust out of his eyes with the other.
This explained at least why neither James nor Sirius had been cursed soundly as they entered the chamber.
"Oh, Snivellus, fancy seeing you here," said Sirius, keeping the tip of his wand trained on Snape.
"What have you been cooking up, eh?" James said, crossing the room but keeping his wand pointed at Snape. Remus, who was also aware just how slippery a creature Snape was, added his own wand to the party.
"Now what is that?" James said, sniffing the potion. "It smells like broom handle polish, and roast beef and… is that strawberry shampoo?"
Snape's glare, if it was possible, intensified. Remus, eying Snape warily, joined James at the cauldron.
"Oh, this is silly," Sirius said. "Stupify." Snape fell to the flagstones like a sack of potatoes.
"Was that a good idea?" Peter said nervously, now edging his way into the room. Sirius shrugged.
"Well with any luck he's about to be expelled, so who cares?"
"He'd hex us without a thought normally," James added, still sniffing the potion. "Do you want to imagine the kind of curses he'd hit us with now, given half a chance?"
Peter shuddered.
"Yep," Remus declared, "Felix Felicis."
"The luck potion?" Sirius said in disbelief, striding over. All of the Marauders stood looking at the silkily bubbling golden liquid. "What, no poison?"
"Apparently not," Remus said thoughtfully.
"But there must be something else here," James said, now circling the room. "Why would he need to make this in secret?"
"Well, it's a regulated substance," Remus said, sniffing the potion and smelling chocolate, jasmine and fresh paper. "School rules say he has to register that he's making it, to ensure no one uses it to cheat on exams or quidditch or anything."
"Quidditch!" James said, outraged. "Bet that's what the slimy git was up to."
"Does Severus Snape seem like the sort of person who cares about quidditch?"
"No, he's the lowest of the low," James said, "but the other Slytherins-"
"Are all in Bellatrix Black's pocket," Remus finished for him. "And I doubt she cares about quidditch either."
"Then what's it for?" James said, staring at the potion.
"Who cares?" Sirius said. "It's against the rules right? So let's bust Snivellus for it and be done with it. I'm ready to start a Snape-free life, aren't you?"
"We'll have to go to Slughorn," Remus said. "He's Snape's head of house."
Sirius groaned. "Slughorn's not going to expel him."
"Would you rather go to McGonagall?" Remus pointed out.
"No," Sirius said quickly. "Slughorn it is." Both Remus and Sirius knew that Slughorn might ignore James' blasting in of the wall, but Professor McGonagall would be a different story altogether.
"I'd rather go to Dumbledore," James said.
"Do you know the password to his office?" Peter asked, prodding Snape with a finger.
"No," James admitted.
"Fine. So you and Remus go and get Slughorn, and we'll wait here."
"Why us?" James said.
"Well, obviously you need Remus," Sirius said. "He's the prefect, and even Slughorn won't believe either of us about something like this."
"Yeah, so why are you staying with Snape?" James said hotly.
"Because I got in first."
"I think you should both come with me," Remus said firmly. "Peter can stay with Snape. He's stunned, its not like he needs two guards."
"And what if other Slytherins come looking?" Sirius demanded. Peter shrunk at the thought.
"We'll be quick. And I'd rather not leave either of you alone with an unconscious Snape."
Grumbling and leaving behind a trembling Peter, the other three Marauders set off for Slughorn's office. Sirius' enthusiasm grew as they got closer, and Remus began to have a bad feeling about the whole thing. Or at least, his sense of dread deepened further.
But, surprisingly, the whole thing went smoothly. James knocked. Slughorn opened the door. He caught sight of the three of them and beamed.
"Potter, Black, Lupin, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Well, let me first say, we've found a beautiful specimen of Felix Felicis, Sir," James began.
"Felix Felicis, you say?" Slughorn said, smiling. "One of my favourite potions."
"Indeed, Sir," James said earnestly. "But a restricted one, am I right?"
"Well, yes, but if certain NEWT students wanted a pass to make it…" Slughorn peered around at them, perhaps remembering that neither Black nor Potter took his NEWT Potions class.
"And what if someone was making it without a pass?" Sirius demanded. Slughorn fixed his gaze on Sirius.
"That would be a very serious infraction, indeed, my dear boy."
"Well, one of your students did just that," Sirius told him. Slughorn took a step back, hand on his heart.
"Well I never. But how? Making secret potions – its not something you can whip up in your bedroom."
"We'll show you, Sir," Remus said, deciding this would be the best tack.
So, a few minutes later, Sirius and James led Professor Slughorn into the little secret room. At James' pointed looks and small but sharp gestures, Remus had slipped ahead to revive Snape. First he mended some of the wall and added a door, knocked off its hinges, transfigured to make it look like they'd merely pushed their way in. Feeling pleased with his quick thinking, Remus pointed his wand at Snape and said,
"Rennervate." Peter ducked behind Remus as Snape stirred. But no sooner had Snape sat up and reached for his wand, Slughorn's voice was heard in the corridor.
"A bit forceful, were we, boys?" Slughorn said, motioning to the destroyed door.
Snape gave Remus a look of deepest loathing. Then Slughorn was in the chamber, picking his way over the larger stone fragments.
"Ah, Severus," Slughorn said, disappointment clear in his voice. "Let's see what we've got."
Slughorn crossed to the fireplace. He stirred the golden potion with his wand.
"A perfect Felix Felicis," he declared, as droplets jumped like goldfish across the potion's surface. "Liquid luck. And unauthorised brewing is banned, Severus, as I'm sure you're aware." Slughorn turned back to face Snape. Snape was glaring at the floor, fury etched in every line on his face. "I'll have to confiscate it, of course, and inform the Headmaster."
"Will he be expelled, Sir?" Sirius asked, failing to hide his glee.
"No, I don't think so," Slughorn said, frowning at Sirius. "A first time infringement of this sort, from an obviously inquisitive and talented student. Its not like he was brewing a poison, Black. But a detention and loss of house points, will unfortunately be inevitable."
Either Snape had expected this outcome, or this wasn't the main source of his fury, as his face didn't change at this news.
"Well, now, boys, I think it's time you were heading off. Snape and I will need to see Professor Dumbledore, and I need to sort out this potion."
There was a gleam in his eye that Remus didn't quite trust, but there was nothing else for it. The Marauders traipsed out of the dungeon and, with silent consent, headed off to the kitchens for some well-deserved late lunch.
"I know it's a shame Snape won't be expelled," Remus said as he tickled the pear in the portrait of the fruit bowl, "but at least now we know what he was up to."
Sirius and James were both looking uncharacteristically downcast.
"Do we?" Sirius said, slumping down at the first long table in the cavernous kitchens. "Why would he be making Felix Felicis of all things?"
"Who wouldn't want it?" Peter said, taking a seat beside him. House elves were weaving in and out around the boys wordlessly. The Marauders were frequent visitors to the kitchens and the elves prided themselves on knowing the boys' favourites.
"Yeah, but this is Snape we're talking about," James said, grabbing a plate of cookies and eating three.
"Thank you," Remus said to a house elf who placed a whole cherry tart in front of him. Remus cut himself a slice thoughtfully. "We're assuming Snape was up to something nefarious. What if he had a different use for liquid luck?"
"Oh hell no," James said, going rigid as a thought occurred to him. "He wants to win back Evans."
Sirius scoffed. "I'm sorry mate, but you're obsessed."
"Yeah, but so's Snape," James said, his eyes still horrified.
"Why not a love potion, then?" Peter said.
"Because he'd want real love," James said. It looked like he was forgetting to breathe.
"No amount of luck potion would get Evans to fall for Snape," Sirius declared, finishing his first piece of potato bake and going back for the other half a dish.
"You think?"
"Yeah, no way. Evans has a brain and Snape is an outed mudblood-hater."
"And anyway," Remus said, "Snape doesn't have the potion anymore."
"Doesn't mean he won't try again," James said, unconvinced.
"Will you relax?" Sirius said, looking a lot calmer himself with about a dozen potatoes in his stomach. "We got Snape in deep trouble, we finished the Map, and you'll win over Evans and protect her for the rest of your long, kinky lives. Happy ending. Now, are you finishing those cookies, or not?"
James shot Sirius a glare, wrapped a protective arm around his plate, and munched more fervently.
.
.
- Lily -
Sunday was Lily's favourite day of the week. Lily did enjoy her Saturday routine – tutoring sessions in the library, required reading in the common room (while the quidditch team finished practice), and Charms club in the afternoon, followed by an intense study session with her fellow Gryffindor girls to complete the week's homework. However Sunday was Lily's day off both people and schoolwork.
The day began with some early morning leisure reading in the library – when she had the whole place to herself. Then she grabbed a picnic lunch from the helpful house elves, strolled around the grounds while the morning warmed up, before visiting the magical creatures in their paddocks.
Today Lily had shared her picnic with three sunbaking knarls and an imperious kneazle, who thawed after Lily let him lick the cream off her scone. When the sun had disappeared, Lily had visited the nifflers in the barn, who'd been overjoyed to see her, get some pats, but mostly to follow the light from her wand around the barn.
Now, restored by her time alone, outside, and with an array of magical creatures, not to mention a late but spirit-nourishing dinner of salad and lasagne, Lily returned to Gryffindor Tower. As soon as she stepped through the portrait hole, Lily knew she wouldn't be remaining in the common room. Black and Potter were exuberantly celebrating, with a ceiling full of fireworks and an ear-splitting karaoke performance. Eying them suspiciously, Lily headed for the relative quiet for her dorm.
"Have a good Sunday?" Greta asked from her bed, where she was reading a quidditch magazine. Lily's fellow Gryffindors were accustomed to Lily's disappearance on Sundays by now, even if Greta found it odd and mildly offensive to be excluded.
"Just lovely," Lily said, wandering over to her own bed and flopping across it. "You?"
"Homework," Greta said with a shrug. "And listening to Potter's rendition of 'When the Cannons won the Cup'."
Lily winced. "Yeah, I heard. Anyone know what they're celebrating?"
Greta merely lifted her magazine higher.
"No, only that they've been doing it loudly for the last three hours," Mary said, looking up from her History of Magic textbook. Mary was the only person Lily knew who read that book for fun. Mary was going to be a Historian (or work in muggle-relations, but her father didn't think that was a real job, so they didn't really talk about that).
"And it's certainly not quidditch," Greta said darkly. "James is becoming obsessed. He made us do all of our hardest drills yesterday. I swear if we don't win the quidditch cup he might drop out of Hogwarts or something."
Alice looked up in shock. "Over a quidditch match?"
"My dear Alice," Greta said soberly, "you obviously don't appreciate the importance of quidditch."
"Hey, I'd rather keep my place at school whether or not you guys win, if you don't mind," Lily said, digging through her trunk for a new set of pyjamas.
Greta shrugged. "I see where you're coming from. But you're still missing out."
"Well, at least he hasn't bothered you over the weekend, Lily, has he?" Alice said. Lily was a bit pleased that she cared.
"No, I've managed to avoid him so far. But if he's a stupid git in classes again, or if he refuses to leave me alone, I will hex him."
"Atta girl," Greta said, flipping shut her magazine and pulling her own pyjamas from under her pillow.
"I thought you said I should be nicer to him?" Lily said, frowning.
"One, he's being a slave driver in training, so my care factor has gone down," Greta said, perching on the end of her bed. "And two, I'd pay good gold to see you hex Potter, so if he deserves it, let loose I say."
"If he deserves it," Alice repeated. Greta shrugged and Lily smirked.
"We'll see."