Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter… well, I don't.

BOOM!

"Crap!" I coughed and waved away the billowing smoke that ensued after my cards exploded. Yes, the Marauders and I were playing Exploding Snap.

"You lose," Remus laughed, punching me.

"Could you please keep it down?" Evans asked. She was diligently doing her Potions homework like a typical Head Girl. Tessie, who as sitting next to her, winked at us, then continued working on her Arithmancy.

"Yes, Lilyetta," James packed up the cards innocently as she glared at him.

"Don't call me Lilyetta."

"Of course, Lils."

"Don't call me Lils either."

"Whatever you say Lilianne."

"Don't call me your weird nicknames!" She snapped.

"Yes, Lily," he replied compliantly. "Kins," he muttered under his breath.

"I swear, I will give you detention, Potter!" she hissed.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," James put the cards away and took out his Muggle Studies homework.

"Well, mate, we'd better do it," sighed Sirius.

I grinned and took out my homework from the same class. We spent a few minutes starting our essay. Then I dropped my quill.

Thip.

"Oh my gosh, did you hear that? It made the cutest sound!" I winked at James when he looked at me questioningly.

Thip. Thip. Thip.

"Honestly, Carrick, just stop it." Under Evans' glare, I withered, and started writing again. Then I saw my inkpot.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.

"Really, Carrick?" I shot Evans an innocent look and put down my inkpot. Then I reached into my bag and took out my Muggle Studies textbook.

SLAM!

"Carrick, I swear, I am going to kill you!"


I collapsed onto the couch, worn out after a 'peaceful Saturday' spent running around the castle looking for my essay. Which, ironically, was on the Summoning charm.

"I am going to fail my NEWTs," I moaned, sinking into the pillows.

"Silky?" Peter asked timidly. I looked up tiredly and mumbled incoherently. "We gotta go."

I pulled myself up and saw the four boys staring at me. "Damnit," I breathed, "it's today, isn't it?"

"Don't worry Ell, we'll be fine without you," James assured quickly.

"Yeah, don't feel bad." Remus smiled at me.

"Well, okay, I guess. But gosh, I'm sorry." I drooped as the four of them left the Common Room quickly. Then I mashed my head into a pillow and groaned. How could I have forgotten about the full moon tonight? I sat up, staring into the fire. But they would be fine without me, I reminded myself.

I had not been friends with the Marauders my whole life. Raised as a Muggle, I came to Hogwarts as a shy, withdrawn first year. Only goodness knew how I managed to get into Gryffindor. It didn't help that the Slytherins chose to make my life hell. I rarely came out of my shell, and I didn't have any friends.

For five years.

In my fifth year, the four of them scouted me out and asked me to join them. I was their pity friend. The little girl who everyone felt sorry for.

As the year passed, I slowly became more and more outgoing before teachers quite frankly told me that they didn't recognize me. I also became an animagus that year - a black fox.

And I frickin didn't remember that it was a full moon. I didn't deserve their friendship.

"Ell." I cast the memories away and swerved around, staring at the person behind the couch.

"Tessie?" She swayed precariously and I jumped up and grabbed her shoulder. "Tess, what's wrong?"

She shook her head and tried to push me away. "I… I…" Her pale green eyes seemed to pass through me. Her face was contorted into a frightened look. "Professor McGonagall."

"Okay, girl, but what's wrong?" I looped an arm around her waist and led her out of the portrait hole.

She opened her mouth to say something, but instead, a scream came out. She collapsed, biting off the heart-breaking wail and started to shiver.

I wrapped my arms around her, trying to sooth her. "Professor! Anyone!" I yelled at the top of my lungs as the blonde-haired girl in front of me shook. "Please, someone come!" I heard footsteps come down a corridor as I rocked back and forth. She burst from my grasp and I fell down, my head hitting the wall with a resounding crack.

"What's going on here?" I was never more happy to see the Transfiguration Professor turn around the corner.

"Professor, get her to Madame Pomfrey!" I said in shock as Tessie arched her back sharply and shrieked. As the professor moved towards Evans' friend, I slipped out of conscience.


"You reckon she's alright?"

"Yeah, Pads, she only cracked her bloody head open, I'm sure she's fine."

"No, but seriously. Like, she'll be okay, right?"

"Did you even listen to what Poppy said?"

"Since when have I ever listened?"

"No important part of her brain was hit."

"Guys, I think she's waking up."

"Ell? Ell, can you hear me?"

"God, you boys are loud," I said drowsily, grinning to myself. I froze, remembering the events of last night. "Mates." I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain ran through my head. I groaned and fell back down, feeling the bandages wrapped around my head.

"Yeah, sitting up is not a good idea, Ell. How did you get in here, anyway?" Sirius asked nonchalantly.

"That's not important. Mates, where's Tess?"

"She's here in the wing," James answered quickly. "Lily's been asking to see her, but Poppy won't let her."

"Is Remus okay?" I asked.

"He's fine," Peter said, nodding.

"Get him over here," I said. "Poppy's taking care of Tess, right? She won't notice."

"Ell, can't this wait till-?"

"No," I cut over him, "listen to me. It might even be too late now."

After a few minutes of James helping Remus hobble over, I leaned up as far as I could. "How're you feeling, Moony?"

"Just exhausted as usual."

"You need to go to Dumbledore's office." I bit my lip, then started slowly. "If everything goes well, we'll have another addition to our monthly nighttime escapades."

The Marauders stared at me, not comprehending. The lightbulb flashed over Remus first.

"McGrath?" He breathed with wide eyes. I nodded.

A/N: Sorry to leave you here, dear readers. Reviews appreciated, as always.

Till next time, her Majesty, the Queen, Violet ^_^