Chapter Seven

Throughout the next week, the four Gryffindor boys left a trail of hot pink feathers wherever they went. It was quite entertaining to see them molting throughout the castle, though it didn't seem to have the effect that Lily was hoping for. Potter and Black, once they realized it was Lily who'd done it, kept up a near constant barrage of pranks on her and Severus. On her birthday, for instance, she spent all day thinking her wand was malfunctioning because they'd charmed her wand to conjure ducks whenever she tried to do a spell, any spell. Thankfully, McGonagall saw it at dinner and sorted it all out.

After that, Lily poured herself into getting back at them. She spent nearly as much time looking for new ideas as she did on her homework. But no matter how much she begged, I refused to help her with any more. "But, Tuney, they started it!" she protested hotly.

"And you should be the one to end it," I told her, then added quickly, "by not continuing it. Eventually, they will get bored. And you're going to get caught one of these days if you keep going. Do you want a detention?"

But all my efforts to dissuade her seemed pointless. She was now quite set in her utter hatred of Potter, and by extension, his friends. And so their vendettas went on, unchecked, until one of their harmless pranks turned otherwise.

It was late February when McGonagall found me in the library. "Miss Evans, your sister is in the hospital wing," she informed me quietly.

"What?!" I screeched, earning a glare from Madam Merryweather, which I for once ignored. "What happened?"

Professor McGonagall led me from my table, where I left my things with my friends. In the far corners of my mind, I knew they would take care of them for me, but most of me was too consumed with worry for Lily. "What happened, Professor?" I asked again, heading to the infirmary.

"There was an accident in Potions, it seems, and her cauldron exploded, splashing her with an Herbicide potion. Whatever made it explode interacted with the potion and turned it to a poison. Thankfully, Alice MacDougal is a quick thinker and knows the Augamenti charm. But Lily is going to have to stay the night in the hospital, just so Madam Pomfrey can keep an eye on her."

Thankfully, the library wasn't terribly far from the hospital, and I made it to Lily quickly. I found her already changed into pyjamas and chatting with her friend Alice. "Are you alright, Lily?" I asked, hugging her a bit desperately. Once I released her, I did a quick visual inspection, though I knew Madam Pomfrey was completely capable. But this was my little sister. I had to make sure she was alright.

"I"m fine, Tuney," Lily laughed. "Just a bit of a burn that Madam Pomfrey says will be gone by morning."

Professor McGonagall jumped in then. "Do you know what happened, Lily, when your cauldron exploded? Did you accidentally add something or-?"

The dark look on Lily's face stopped her. "It was Potter. He threw knotgrass into my potion," she replied angrily.

"And why would he do that?" Madam Pomfrey, who'd appeared at my elbow, asked.

To my surprise, McGonagall snorted. "Surely you've noticed the rivalry between Miss Evans and Mr. Potter, Poppy. I presume you may have done something to deserve this, at least in Mr. Potter's mind, Lily."

It was most definitely not a question, but Lily slowly nodded. "I may have Charmed his robes purple this morning," she started hesitantly, then quickly added, "but he Charmed my quill to only write swear words!"

It may have only been my imagination, but I could have sworn a brief smile crossed McGonagall's face, but it was gone before I could verify. "This has gone on long enough, Miss Evans. You and Mr. Potter will each attend a detention with me Friday and Saturday night, and hopefully you will have learned your lesson after that. Do I make myself clear?" Lily nodded morosely. "Good. I hope you feel better in the morning." Then she left, leaving me with a very grumpy sister.

Though McGonagall proved to be correct. It seemed that their detentions managed to create an uneasy truce between the two. Though the letter Lily got from Mum scolding her and the Howler Potter got from his mother lecturing him on the proper treatment of girls may have had something to do with it, as well. So thankfully, I didn't have Lily running up to me, either in tears or excitement, asking me how to do this spell or that to use on Potter and his friends. At least for the rest of February.

March meant Marly and her team were playing the Gryffindors, who were arguably the best team at Hogwarts that year. Jason Farley, Gryffindor captain and the other Chaser along with the Prewetts, had created one of the best lineups in years, and sadly, Marly was quite probably the only really good player on our team. "That just means you've got to catch the Snitch quickly," Lottie assured reasonably the morning of the match. "Catch it at the beginning, and then you don't have to worry about how many points we've got. And this way, we can watch and see if Fabian really does like you."

"But their Seeker is really good," Marly moaned, ignoring the part about Fabian Prewett. "Hammond is being scouted by the Magpies, Arrows, and Falcons. He's too good for me to beat."

She was looking a bit green in anticipation, so I took pity on her, cheering her up the best way I knew how. "Do you really want Max to beat you? You know he'll never let you live it down if he does."

That did the trick. Marly instantly straightened and began eating her toast with zeal. "There's no way I'm going to let Max beat me," she insisted between bites.

I grinned, knowing the fierce rivalry between the two siblings. They loved each other, of course, but they had to beat each other at everything. It didn't matter that Sam, their older brother in Ravenclaw, had already beaten her in November, so long as Max didn't.

Soon enough, her captain collected her with the rest of the team as we wished them good luck. Nic and Danae joined us later as we made our way to the pitch. "Do you think they have a shot?" Danae asked.

Lottie laughed. "You must be joking! Marly may be fantastic, but the rest of them are rubbish. Hufflepuffs aren't really known for their athletic prowess."

"Hush that traitorous tongue," Leslie scolded, but her grin told us otherwise as she settled in behind us.

"Everyone knows that the Hufflepuff team has been at the bottom of the roster for the past ten years," Nic supplied. "And until Marly is made Captain, I don't really see that changing."

Lottie and I exchanged a quick grin at his words. Not so very long ago would Nic have referred to Marly as McKinnon, and he never would have said anything as encouraging as to predict she'd make Captain someday. He really was making progress.

We saw Lily, who waved excitedly before settling in with her friends. After all, my House was playing hers, so naturally we couldn't sit together like we did at every other match. And Evander stopped by, though we quickly and jokingly jeered him back to his Housemates, saying we couldn't be seen with someone wearing a Gryffindor scarf.

And then, the two teams flew out, with our little group cheering raucously when Marly's name was called. Madam Hooch had both Captains shake hands, then, once everyone was on their brooms, threw the Quaffle up, and the match began.

Instantly, Farley snatched the Quaffle, passing it just as quickly to Fabian. Jordan, one of Hufflepuff's Beaters, managed to knock the Quaffle from Fabian to Abbott, one of our Chasers, who just as quickly lost it to Gideon, and that was the last time the Quaffle was touched by a Hufflepuff for the rest of the match. Jordan and his fellow Beater, Marks, did a fairly good job of detracting the Gryffindor Chasers, but our Chasers were utterly terrible. And our Keeper wasn't much better.

After forty-five minutes, the Gryffindors were up one hundred and forty points to our zero, and it was rather depressing. Not to mention embarrassing. This was the worst game I'd ever seen, and I felt terrible for Marly. Then, just as Gideon scored again, Lottie grabbed my arm. "Look! Look at Marly!"

"She's seen the Snitch!" Nic added, coming out of his seat in excitement.

It really appeared that she had seen it. Marly was zooming across the pitch, angling down as she flew toward the Gryffindor goal posts. But the Gryffindor Seeker apparently saw it, too, and he was much closer.

Jumping out of my seat, I gripped the railing in front of me, willing my friend to go faster. "C'mon, Marly, you can do this!"

And then, the impossible happened. Somehow Marly managed to get in front of the other Seeker, cutting in front of him to force him off course. As he went veering to the left, Marly's hand closed around the Snitch, ending the game.

Lottie's arms went around me and Nic, screaming her head off. "She did it! She caught the Snitch!"

I joined in the cheering, while Nic merely grinned and shook his head at our antics. "But they tied," Danae interjected, sounding confused.

"Who cares? Marly caught the Snitch!" I cried, then dragged my friends down the stairs to our right and onto the pitch.

Marly spotted us from the air and immediately landed next to us. "You did it!" we all kept cheering, and she laughed, still caught in the exhilaration of success. Then her teammates came over and joined our little circle, with Jameson, her captain, sobbing with joy.

"Nice catch, McKinnon," a voice said, and we all turned to see the Prewetts, as well as Max. "That was a spectacular catch," Fabian added.

"Eh, it was alright," Max corrected jokingly.

"Thank you," Marly told Fabian, ignoring her brother. "You lot were pretty good, yourselves."

"Even though Max here didn't have anything to do," Gideon said. "Did you enjoy your nap?"

"It was rather delightful. I feel like I could play another match today," he replied with a grin, ignoring the glare Jameson was now sending his way. It was just another proof that the McKinnons could ignore anything unpleasant if they wished.

"Yes, well, the rest of us actually played, so I think you're just going to have to wait until next time," Gideon told him. "After all, between me and Fabian, we scored more than one hundred points."

"Aw, quit showing off. We all know you're the best Chasers in Hogwarts, no offense, gents," Max said, aiming the last part at the three Hufflepuff Chasers, who simply glared at him, then headed to the changing room in defeat.

"And you didn't lose to Max. Congrats, McKinnon," Nic said, giving Marly's arm a congratulatory nudge.

"What? You just had to make sure you didn't lose to me?" Max asked, rather peaved, which started a heated argument between the two siblings. The rest of us ignored them with an ease that came from much use.

"So, are you lot headed into Hogsmeade this afternoon?" Fabian asked us, glancing over at the McKinnons. When we all nodded, he continued. "Wonderful. We should meet up for lunch. That is, if Max can stop arguing long enough," he said, nearly yelling to his friend.

"What?" Max complained, breaking from his argument briefly.

"We're meeting them for lunch. You can argue then," Gideon told him, dragging him from the rest of us. "We'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks in half an hour," he tossed over his shoulder to us.

Once the three Gryffindors were out of earshot, Lottie gave a squeal. "I think Fabian really likes you!" she told Marly excitedly. "He was absolutely looking your way when he asked if we were going into Hogsmeade today."

I agreed, and Nic shrugged noncommittally. But Danae wasn't so sure. "I mean, yes, he was looking at Marly, but it didn't seem like he fancies her. It was almost…" she drifted off, but Lottie rode right over her.

"Of course he fancies her! She's fabulous, and gorgeous, and a bril Seeker. He fancies her." And that was the end of the discussion. Once Lottie made up her mind, it was truth. Of course, she never bothered to ask Marly if she fancied Fabian.

After Marly's quick shower, we headed down to the village, Nic grumbling the whole way. "Why do we have to meet up with the Gryffindors?" was a near constant complaint.

"So Marly can get her first boyfriend," was Lottie's answer, every time.

The other boys were already in the pub when we arrived, and had saved a table for us. It was one of the biggest tables in the place, but still not big enough for all eight of us. Lottie, of course, arranged it so Marly was sitting by Fabian, but I somehow managed to sit next to his twin. And then Nic squished in next to me.

Quite considerately, the boys had already ordered for us, and Madam Rosmerta brought it to us shortly. I had to admire her gracefulness as she skirted tables and customers with a tray full of foaming butterbeers, another tray floating behind her full of food. And she somehow didn't spill a drop. And all four boys seemed more than a little entranced with her curves. "Thanks, Rosmerta," Max said with a wink. "You're fantastic."

"And you're a terrible flirt," she laughed. "Try again when you're a bit older."

The rest of us burst into laughter at the sheepish look on his face, before he joined in, too. "You can't blame a bloke for trying," Max replied easily.

"And you can't blame me for turning you down," she shot back. "Max, I've known you since you were a toddler. You might want to try someone who hasn't known you quite that long. Especially one who hadn't already left Hogwarts when you were born. I'm friends with your auntie, for Merlin's sake. Try someone a bit closer to your own age, yeah?" Then, with a smile and an answering wink, she turned and disappeared into the crowd in her pub.

"You actually know Madam Rosmerta? That wasn't just talk?" Fabian asked in awe.

"Of course. Why else do you think she gives me a discount, my good looks?" Max replied.

"That's obviously not it," Marly answered. "No, Rosie's been best friends with our Auntie Clara since Hogwarts. And Clara would bring us into the pub when she would watch us sometimes, so Rosie loves us and gives us discounts. That's why I always order whenever we've come in."

"I'm never coming here without you," Lottie promised. "I always knew there was a reason why we're friends," she added with a sly grin.

"You wound me! You only want me for my connections," Marly moaned dramatically.

"Of course. After all, I am the most devious Hufflepuff ever," Lottie declared proudly.

"Yes, you're terribly devious," Nic deadpanned. "Which is why I had to be the one to get you out of detention with Flitwick last week for being late."

"Well, I did say the most devious Hufflepuff. It's not like you can expect me to be all that devious, just the most out of our House. And thank you for getting me out of that detention. I don't know what Mum would have said if I'd gotten a detention."

The three Gryffindor boys looked at Lottie in amazement. "You've never had a detention," Fabian stated in disbelief. At her agreeing, if slightly confused, nod, he continued, "Ever." Again, she nodded. "How can you not have had a detention in three years?"

"I've never had a detention, either," I spoke up, then immediately blushed when all attention came back to me.

"Never. No detention whatsoever?" It was Gideon who asked me, causing me to blush even more.

"No," I said, shaking my head.

"Have you ever even lost House points?" he queried, looking torn between amusement and shock.

"I don't think so," I answered, though I knew good and well I hadn't.

"Of course not. Pet's usually the one to get us House points in classes. I'm the only rebel one of us who's actually had a detention," Marly told them. "You've never had a detention, either, have you, Danae?"

"Oh, I have," she answered breezily. "McGonagall gives them often enough when I start doodling in her class instead of paying attention."

The boys laughed, but Gideon's attention was still on me. "So you've never broken any school rules, never been out past curfew, skived off class, nothing?"

From somewhere deep inside me, I managed to pull a bit of bravery out. "I happen to like following rules. I'm not a reckless Gryffindor like you boys. I am quite content following the rules," I told him, jokingly looking down my nose at him.

He simply grinned. "One day," he whispered to me, sending shivers through me as his warm breath tickled my neck. "One day, I'll get you to break a rule or two."

Only Nic seemed to see my blush, but I ignored his rather pointed looks and threw myself into the conversation. Though I did find myself getting rather distracted whenever Gideon's arm would brush mine, or his leg would bump into mine. And it may have been my imagination, but he seemed to pay quite a bit of attention to me, asking me questions and whatnot. But I convinced myself it was only my imagination.

Until we were walking back to the castle. "Gideon was being awfully considerate of you," Danae said in my ear.

"He was merely being polite," I replied, trying to squash the hope her words had caused to spring up.

"I don't think so, Pet. I think he fancies you," she argued quietly.

But before I could rebut, Gideon slowed down to walk next to us. "So, girls, do you think the Cannons have a chance of winning any matches this season?" It was rather hard to ignore Danae's knowing smirk after that.

AN: I know it's a bit late, but here's the next chapter! I hope the vision of the tiny Marauders molting hot pink feathers for a week makes up for it a bit. Thanks for all who've followed/favorited/reviewed. Those little emails make my day!