Disclaimer: I don't own the Marauders, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Dumbledore, the Quidditch World Cup, Exploding Snap or Pumpkin Pasties. All I own is Shane Spencer and the names of Mr. and Mrs. Potter (the latter was not mentioned yet).
Sirius Black
August 14th, 1977
The five weeks previous to Shane getting her wand from the Forest flew by. We spent many late nights in the dormitory with her, teaching her random spells. She was a natural with a wand. There was hardly a spell she couldn't overcome.
When summer struck, I found it hard to leave her behind in the castle with Hagrid, Dumbledore and Filch. Dumbledore and Hagrid weren't that bad, but Filch scared me a little. I knew I would miss her.
And when Peter and Remus came over for a few days a week after school was out, we all felt like a piece of the Marauders' puzzle was missing. We still had a ball, don't get me wrong. We just didn't have as much fun as we would have if she were there.
So, we sent her a letter. Lucky us, we got a reply the next day. The day after we got her reply, Remus and Peter had left and I wrote a response to Shane. She's been keeping tabs on us through me since then. Every once in a while, James would write something to her, but it was mostly just us two.
"Sirius, two more letters for you!" James yelled as he dragged himself into the kitchen. He tossed a dirty piece of folded paper at my head along with a bright white envelope. I, using my Beater reflexes, snatched them out of the air and looked at the familiar handwriting on the dirtier one.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" I asked as I flipped it over and pulled the string off.
"Look at this…" He slid a bright white envelope across the table. I grabbed it and stared, finally seeing what he was talking about. Inside the envelope was a gold and red badge, the words "Head Boy" sprawled across the top.
"Well, it's official." I said as I held it out to him. "Dumbledore's lost his marbles."
"I can't be Head Boy, I'm a Marauder!" He yelled, throwing himself into the chair beside me. He set his head on the kitchen table and groaned.
He began beating his head on the table. "Well, you could always use it to get closer to Lily." He stopped and glanced over at me, a devilish smirk forming on his face.
"You're right, thanks Padfoot." Then, he was standing and back up to the room we shared.
I smiled and opened the letter. The now familiar, emerald handwriting scrawled across the page. There were at least four paragraphs. Something exciting must have happened.
Sirius-
Well, I'm glad that your summer is going well. Of course, you didn't mention how much you missed me in your last letter. I know, I'm impossible to live without. But, you'll survive for another three weeks.
As to my lessons with Dumbledore, I'm progressing. For the past week and a half we've been working on transforming. It's harder than you and the others make it seem. I've gotten the nose of a dog, the legs of a cheetah and a bunch of other parts. Plus, I can now turn into a full rat. I'm the female Peter!
I spend half of my free time in the library, looking up spells to make everyday life a little easier. Dumbledore helps me with that every once in a while, too. I cast a mean Hair-Loss Curse.
The other half is spent in the forest with Sapio. He loves watching me cast spells. I don't get how someone saying Lumos can cause a Centaur to go crazy with excitement.
I'm guessing the school lists have arrived by now. A little birdie told me James was Head Boy. How does he feel about that? I heard Lily was Head Girl, so it can't be too bad for him. Oh, and tell him, if he wants to get on Lily's good side, that he has to settle down and be her friend first.
One more little piece of news. Starting in September, I'll be attending classes with you. At least, Dumbledore said I'd have several classes with the Marauders. There are a few I can't attend, like Care of Magical Creatures. Dumbledore wants to keep my… talents… a secret.
Missing you and all of your troublesome habits,
Shane
I smiled at the letter and folded it. I shoved it into the pocket of my jeans so I could write back later. Then, I looked over the bright white envelope. It was sealed by a red wax-stamp with the letters A.B. inside a circle. I immediately knew who it was from, seeing as I'd received a letter from the same person a year ago.
I pulled the seal off and opened the envelope, pulling out a thick piece of tag board and another, smaller envelope with a Quidditch seal stamped on the front. I opened the smaller envelope to find six tickets to the Quidditch World Cup. It was being held in Ireland this year.
I looked to the tag board and read my Uncle Alphard's small, scribbled handwriting.
Dear Sirius,
Having a good summer, my boy? Your mother's been on my tail for the past twelve months. I'm about ready to stun her.
How are all of your little friends? I hope James is doing well. And, while thinking about you and your friends, I had an idea.
Enclosed in this letter are six tickets to the Quidditch World Cup. I was intending to go with a few of my colleagues, but your grandmother has fallen ill and I must stay home to look after her. There should be enough for you and all of your friends, plus James' parents for supervision.
Enjoy the match,
Uncle Alphard
I grabbed the tickets, both envelopes and the letter and quickly stood from my spot. I ran through the living room and over to the stairs, taking them three at a time.
"Hey Prongs!" I yelped as I threw open the door to our bedroom and ran inside. I jumped on top of him and held out the tickets. "Look at what my Uncle Alphard sent!"
He grabbed the slips of smooth paper and stared at the symbol on the top. "Quidditch World Cup?" He yelled.
"What's going on in here?" We looked at the door to see James' dad, Alex.
Alex was older, but looked younger than most wizard parents. He had unruly, jet-black hair, just like James. In fact, James resembled his father a lot. They had the same cheek bones, the same chin and the same ears. There were really only two differences in them. Alex didn't wear glasses and had blue eyes, instead of James' hazel.
"My Uncle sent tickets to the Quidditch World Cup, can we go?" I asked, jumping off of Prongs and getting on my knees in front of him.
"Sirius, they're your tickets." He said, grabbing my elbow and pulling me to my feet. "Do what you want with them."
"Alright!" James yelled as he stood up and raised his hand. I hit mine against his.
"The match is next Friday." I said as I looked at the tickets in my hand. "I have two tickets left after I take away the four for you, me, and your parents."
"So, it's a choice between Moony, Peter and, if Dumbledore will let her, Shane."
I nodded in agreement. "I'll go write each of them." Then, I was sitting at the desk, my hand writing a mile a minute.
It was Wednesday, two days before the Quidditch game. The day before, Moony had shown up with his mum. Today, Shane was supposed to show up. Peter had wanted to come, but his mum had fallen ill and he decided that she was more important.
So, Moony, Prongs and I were sitting in the living room, engrossed in an intense game of Exploding Snap. I kept taking eager glances out the window, hoping to see the familiar brown hair, gold eyes and pale skin that belonged to (it had been decided and made official earlier in the summer by the Marauders) the fifth Marauder.
"She'll be here soon enough, Padfoot." Moony said, setting one of his many Exploding Snap cards on the table.
"I know that." I said, following in suit.
"Then why do you keep taking nervous glances, just in case?" Prongs asked, a smirk on his face.
"Simple, I miss her." The two stared at me, their eyes wide and their jaws hanging slack. "What?"
"You… miss… her…?" Moony asked, putting all of his cards on the small table we were sitting around. He set his hands on his knees and smiled at me. "Oh, I knew it was only a matter of time."
"Don't get the wrong idea." I growled, tossing one of my cards at him. He dodged it and grabbed one of his own, throwing it at me in return.
"Guys, mum won't be happy if her living room's scared for life." Prongs yelped as he jumped up from his chair and grabbed the cards from the dark-blue carpet. "And I'll be the one to get in trouble because Moony's a guest and you're giving them tickets to a Quidditch game." He glared at me.
I just smiled at him and began to clean up the cards. Moony's hands joined in and, soon, the cards were in their package.
As I stood, I took another quick glance out the window. Nothing was there. I sighed and pushed my chair in, walking over to my favorite armchair and throwing myself into it. I watched Prongs walk into the kitchen, and saw a flash of blue out of the corner of my eye. I looked back out the window to see two people, one tall, thin and old. The other, medium height, thin as well and young.
"Shane!" I yelled, jumping from my chair and racing to the front door. I threw it open and out of it, not even bothering to close it as I ran out. I stopped for a second on the porch and stared at her.
"Sirius!" She yelled as she saw me. I smiled and ran towards her.
"Shane!" I yelled as I gathered her in my arms and hugged her as tight as I could. I spun around and squeezed her tighter.
"S-Sirius…" She grunted. I sighed and let go of her, a huge smile on my face.
"Shane?" She looked past me. I turned and watched as Moony and Prongs came running out. I couldn't help but to feel a little jealous as she ran straight to Moony. They were closer, I knew that. I'd even thought that they were soul mates once.
"Make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble." I turned to see Dumbledore in his normal, royal-blue robes. He was smiling past me, watching as she and Moony began to converse. "She's been so bored lately. Peeves is her new best friend."
I smiled and stared at her. "I can see how that could be possible." I said, making him chuckle. "I'll keep my eye on her, but I can't promise that there won't be trouble."
He nodded. "That's all I can ask of you." He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Shane!"
Her eyes moved over to Dumbledore and she quickly ran over to us. "Yes, Professor?" She asked, brushing her hair out of her eyes.
"I must be on my way." He said, setting a frail hand on her shoulder. "Enjoy the match, and bring me back Special Edition Chocolate Frog, will you?"
She nodded. "Goodbye, Professor." Then, the old man was gone. "He has too big of a sweet tooth." She said, reaching for the trunk that was left sitting in the middle of the road.
"Let me help." I said as I grabbed the handle out of her hand. She smiled and we began to walk back towards the house, her trunk trailing behind me.
"The Quaffle's up!" Shane giggled as she threw a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean into the air. I watched it, swiveling my head back and forth before catching the bean in my mouth. I laughed, Shane, Prongs and Moony joining in.
"Bludger!" I yelled as I threw a bean from my own box at her. It hit her right below her eye and bounced onto the green carpet on the floor.
"Remind me what a Bludger is." She said, a large smile on her face.
"The small, brown balls that Sirius hits with the tiny bat." Moony said with amusement in his voice. His eyes shone as he stared at her.
"They aren't just balls!" I said, defending myself. "They're unregistered death-traps!" Everyone was laughing at me. Shane had slid off of James' bed and was rolling on the ground, gripping her side. "Oh, shut up you nitwits!"
Sooner or later, they all got a hold of themselves. It took Shane longer than everyone else, but she stopped. Then, she went straight for the Pumpkin Pasties that were in James' lap.
"I'm shocked, Shane." James said as he set the box beside her lap. "Just half an hour ago you were reciting every player on the American Quidditch team, and you just asked what a Bludger was."
"That's because I spent nine hours staring at a piece of paper with their names and positions!" She yelled at him. She took a huge bite out of one of the Pasties and chewed vigorously. A gulping sound came from her as she swallowed. "And I'll be supporting them, thank you very much."
"Well, everyone else is going with Ireland." I said, standing up and grabbing the Pasties. "And you don't need anymore sugar."
"Awe…" She whined, crossing her legs Indian style. "But I like Pumpkin Pasties…" Then, the softest, saddest noise came from her chest. It was like a puppy. I watched as her eyes swelled and tears slipped out of the corners. Her face was straight. I think it was the first time I'd ever seen her without some sort of smile. More of the soft noises came, and everyone was staring at her.
"For God's sake, Padfoot! Give her the damn Pasties already!" Prongs yelled as he stood up. He ripped the box from my hands and held them out to her.
"Th-Thank you…" She whimpered as she enclosed her frail, pale fingers around the edges of the box. As soon as the treats were in her lap, I saw her pale lips curl on one end.
"No…" I said, my eyes wide.
"Ha, you guys are so gullible!" She laughed, standing up. She had the Pasties under one arm and a mischievous smirk on her face.
"You mean you were acting?" Prongs almost yelled, standing up again.
She smiled over at him, all traced of impish behavior gone from her innocent face. "You of all people should've known, James. Shane Spencer doesn't cry." She said, holding firmly to the box. "Plus, I've been in at least three movies, acting isn't hard for me anymore."
"I'd call you a lying cheater, but I'm too proud of you." I said, wiping fake tears from my cheeks. She smiled.
"Well, I'm going to bed." Shane said, stretching the arm that wasn't holding her favorite treat. "See you all tomorrow." Then, she left the "boys' room" with the box of Pasties I'd bought for my enjoyment.
A/N: School's going well for me. My Language teacher thinks I'm a genius. But, this does not concern the story at all, it's just me gloating to my readers. I'll have even less time to write, soon. And it's all because of basketball season. Oh, and I just had a new development with the plot! Regulus Black is going to play a rather big part in Shane's life. I've pretty much got the entire thing playing in my mind now. And, lately, I've only been getting reviews from two people! I NEED YOUR ADVICE! Please help me!
R&R
