10
Snow-Covered Village of Death
A thick heavy blanket of snow fell over the castle in the coming weeks, making Hogwarts look like a postcard for the Christmas Season. Hagrid had finished all of the Christmas decorations and now you could hardly walk ten feet in the castle without seeing another magnificently adorned Christmas tree or string of garland.
It was so beautiful it instantly put everyone inside the castle's walls into a permanently good mood. It was hard to be stressed or worried with golden ornaments and never-melting snowman around every corner. The teachers had even lightened our load on homework in preparation for the upcoming festivities. Lily especially seemed to be in great spirits. Saddened that we wouldn't all be spending the holidays together this year, she had kept all of us very busy with holiday themed activities, including making quilts, handmade Christmas ornaments and even snowmen on the grounds, a muggle activity that Marlene and I absolutely adored from the moment she explained it.
The holiday spirit even managed to thaw Landon's icy mood from Gryffindor's loss. He seemed to be a little more himself, something that I noticed brightened Mary's day. He was even in a good enough mood to call Marlene a tart when she wore thigh high stocking to dinner one evening. It seemed overall, everyone was in a better mood, even me. The general cheeriness of everyone in the castle made it easy to distract myself from the things I didn't want to think about. There was even a Hogsmeade trip scheduled for December 11th, something that relieved me to no end. It would be harder to let the anniversary of my parents depress me if I was busy in Hogsmeade. It was the last trip to the village we had before Christmas and I needed to use the time to purchase some last-minute Christmas gifts.
I had already ordered both Marlene and Mary the new Goblin Gang record from an ad in the back of the daily prophet, and Lily the newest encyclopedia of potions ingredients, but everyone else on my list was sorely lacking.
The trip couldn't have come at a better time. When I woke up that morning, I actively did my best not to think about what had happened four years ago. It wouldn't serve to help anyone. It would only make it harder for me to get out of bed. I could feel the eyes of every one of my dorm mates on me as I crawled out of my four poster, each of them knowing exactly what today was and hoping no one accidently brought it up.
"Morning!" Lily said brightly. Too brightly. I could see the worry creeping in around her "How'd you sleep?"
I rubbed at my eyes. "Alright. What about you?"
Lily's was watching me so carefully I was sure she was studying my behavior for key signs of an impending depression or a breakdown. "Good. Excited about the trip to Hogsmeade today," she said happily. "We can even get that gingerbread flavored butterbeer you and Marlene love so desperately."
"Merlin yes!" Marlene cheered from underneath her covers, where she was rolled as a ball.
"I don't know why they go mental over those things," Mary said shaking her head as she left the bathroom.
"Sounds good to me, Lils," I told her seizing the opportunity to slide into the bathroom before anyone else did. I just needed a minute to myself to prepare mentally for the day I was about to have.
I had already had the nightmares last night. Felt every horrible and wonderful memory come flooding back to me. I was going to do my best to not think about it. A feat that was becoming harder the longer I looked in the mirror. It really hurt to look at my reflection sometimes. The similarity of it to my mother was striking. We could have been sisters. There were subtle differences. I had my father's square jaw and arched eyebrows, and my mother had freckles strewn across her nose that had never made it onto my face, but that's where the differences stopped. Looking into the mirror was like a punch in the gut. Like a permanent family photo, I couldn't shove into a drawer and ignore.
I cleaned myself up as quickly as I could and then headed straight for my trunk searching for anything warm enough to wear to a trip to Hogsmeade. It was snowing again outside so I bundled myself in everything I could find; coats, mittens, scarfs, and a thick scarlet woolen hat Lily had knitted for me the Christmas before.
"Aw! you're wearing the hat I made you," Lily said, delighted. She traced the pom-pom on the top it with pride.
"Of course, Lily. You know I love this hat," I assured her.
Lily beamed as she wrapped her tan coat around her tighter. She managed to look beautiful despite the weather, wearing a cozy sweater dress with thick woolen leggings underneath.
"I hate dressing for the snow," Marlene sighed as I laced up my thick winter boots.
"Because you can't show skin or because it's cold?" Mary asked her, tossing on another coat.
Marlene stuffed a thick green sweater over her head. "Both. How am I supposed to look good when I'm wearing four layers of bloody clothing?" She groaned and tossed another jacket on over her sweater, looking miserable about it.
Mary shook her head at her. "Marlene, if you're breathing, you look good."
Marlene winked at her and tossed a striped hat, one that I was sure had once belonged to Otto Bagman, over her head.
I made sure to shove my money bag into my coat pocket before we left so I could buy presents and then waited for my friends to be ready, counting bricks on the fireplace to keep my mind from wandering.
We all finished getting bundled up in gloves and scarves and made our way down to the grounds, electing to snack on something delicious at Honeydukes rather than breakfast at the Great Hall. We had gotten a late start today and doubted we'd have made in time for anything other than stale toast anyway.
The snow was coming down in thick fluffy sheets when we made our way to the grounds, and we barely spoke as we hurried quickly to the village, shivering the entire way. The village was crowded with students today, but you couldn't tell who anyone was in such baggy clothing or through the lens of snowflakes.
"Thank god," Marlene said pushing into the first shop she spotted. It was a trinket shop with a stately, old witch behind the counter, and the air in there was thick and heated. It felt fantastic on my cheeks, which were already bright red from the frigid air outside.
"You think I would be used to this by now," Mary said shivering, "but I still hate the bloody cold. I'm moving somewhere warm the first chance I get."
"I went to Brazil once with mum and dad," Lily said dreamily. "It was warm all year there."
Mary shivered again. "That sounds perfect. Off to Brazil I go, then."
I cracked a smile and wandered through the shelves, looking at all of the items laid out. There was a nice display of scarves that I thought Amelia might like. I picked two them up and weighed them in my hands when Marlene appeared very suddenly in front of me.
"We're supposed to be distracting you on this the little adventure of ours today, you know," she told me, bluntly. In a way that only Marlene could, without coming off crass. "Lily made sure Mary and I knew we weren't to leave you alone even for a second in fear you'd point your wand in your own face or something."
I almost snorted. That was so like Lily. She worried far too much. "Come on, Marlene. I'm fine. It's just going to be a weird day is all."
"I know," Marlene said encouragingly "I told Lily that, it's just you know, she worries. So, do I, for that matter. You're always so quiet about these things. The rest of us never shut up when somethings on our mind, and you're not like that."
I sighed, and Marlene wrapped a coat-covered arm around me. "It'll be okay, Meadowes. I promise. You've got us three."
"That's one of the only things that'll get me through the day," I reminded her, and picked up two of the scarves. "Now if you really want to be helpful. Which color do you think Amelia would like Violet or Orange?"
Marlene narrowed her eyes and stared at the two choices. "With her hair? Orange definitely, unless you want her to look like a bloody Ravenclaw." She wrinkled her nose as if she could imagine nothing worse. And I guess for a fifth generation Gryffindor, there wasn't an ounce of her that could imagine being in any other house.
"Orange it is," I smiled, dropping the other scarf on the table and glad we were no longer talking about me or my problems anymore.
I spent the first two hours of my trip, linked arm walking with Marlene while we picked out presents for her sisters, and I found a nice new silver teapot for Hagrid. Mary found a lovely set of Daffodil perfume for Julie, and Lily attempted to find something for her Petunia and gave up when she realized anything she bought for her in Hogsmeade would only anger Petunia more. Lily and Mary talked the entire time we shopped, not letting a moment of the conversation lull. I knew it was for my sake so I couldn't let my mind wander anywhere that would make me sad. I was grateful. It was hard to feel grief when listening to Lily retell the story of how she had spent a fifteen-minute conversation with Kevin Hannigan thinking that the Wilbourne Wasps was a band instead of a Quidditch team.
We had to huddle together every time we left a shop, attempting to hide our faces from the blistering cold and not bump into other groups of last minute shoppers. By the time we got into Hogsmeade, it was so crowded with Hogwarts students there was standing room only.
"Do you think Carmichael would be offended if I got him the reduced sugar, sugar quills for Christmas?" Marlene asked holding up a carton of them, "he's been looking a little chunky lately."
I laughed so hard I almost choked on the bite of pumpkin pasty I had in my mouth. "I'm going to go out on a limb and say probably." I told her.
Marlene shrugged and dropped them into her shopping bag anyway. Lily was filing through a box of chocolate frog cards for sale when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She looked up to find Amos Diggory standing beside her, looking dashing in a brown overcoat dusted with snowflakes.
"Oh, hi Amos," Lily said happily. Marlene's gaze flew up immediately at the mention of his name.
Amos grinned at our red-headed friend. "Hey Lily. I just popped in for some Coconut Ice when I saw you and I couldn't go without saying hello to you."
Lily's face turned slightly pink, and Mary, Marlene and I watched, completely fascinated. I had had an inkling that Amos liked Lily, but I didn't know he was this upfront about it. I couldn't help but feel excited for Lily.
"I'm glad you did," Lily said, smiling wider than I had seen her all day. "I forgot to thank you for helping me with that Transfiguration homework last week. That vanishing spell was tricky."
I almost choked on the bite of pumpkin pasty in my mouth. Tricky? Lily had mastered that spell second in the class. There was no way she needed help with it. She obviously liked Amos.
Amos flashed his perfect white teeth. "Don't mention it, spending an hour with you in the library is hardly a punishment."
Marlene was so shocked, she dropped the box of cauldron cakes in her hand. Lily looked equally stunned at Amos' words.
"So listen, Lily," Amos said quickly. "I was thinking maybe when we get back from the holidays you and I could do something together? Maybe the next Hogsmeade visit? I'd love to take you out for a butterbeer."
Lily looked like she was at a loss for words, and her mouth hung open in surprise and she stared back silently. Mary gave her a kick in the ankles to get her to speak.
"I'd love too," she said quickly, pink and smiley.
Amos beamed. "Excellent. Listen any chance you want to wait with me while I pay for this? I heard a great story from Odie Macmillan about Slughorn that I think you'd love. That is if your friends wouldn't mind."
Marlene was still staring at the two of them in utter disbelief, and absolute excitement.
"Of course, we don't mind," Mary said giving Lily an encouraging show forward.
"Excellent," Amos flashed us all a smile and Lily followed him over to one of Honey dukes check-out counters.
The second they were out of ear shot, Marlene rounded on us, completely shocked. "Can you believe that? Amos Diggory!? He's Quidditch captain of the Hufflepuff team and one of the handsomest boys at school. I am so absolutely in awe of Lily right now."
"I know," Mary said shaking her head. "Good for her. Amos is charming."
"You should have seen them last trip when we were at the three broomsticks," I told them. "He was all over her."
Marlene clutched at her chest, pretending to dab at fake tears. "I've never been prouder of Evans than I am right now."
Mary chuckled, shaking her head and picked up a large box value size carton of Fudge Flies looking on the back of them for a price.
"Do you think seventeen sickles is a little overpriced for these?" she asked me.
"Fudge flies?" Marlene asked, looking at the box in her hands. "Landon is obsessed with those. I didn't know you liked them too."
I saw Mary go a little pink in her cheeks and catch my eye nervously. Marlene watched, blissfully unaware. It took me only a second to realize that the box in Mary's hands were not for her. It was a Christmas present, for Landon.
"Who doesn't like Fudge Flies," I told Marlene. "They're delicious," I lied effortlessly.
Marlene shook her head and turned back to the shelf in front of her like she thought we were mad. Mary flashed me a grateful smile.
Marlene looked at a display and plucked a bright red lollypop off of it and handed it to me. "How many Galleons would it take for you try one of these?" she asked mischievously.
I twirled it in my hands and noticed that in black swirly writing the label read "Blood Lollipops. Made with real blood."
"Not for all the Galleons in Gringotts," I said wrinkling my nose. "That's truly repulsive."
Marlene wiggled it in front of my face for a second and then spun around back to the display giggling.
"We should get a few for Krysten so she can give one to that supposed vampire boyfriend of hers," Mary said bitterly. I laughed so hard I almost snorted.
Marlene grinned. "I do love it when Mary's catty. It makes everything so much more fun," she said spinning on the display beside her.
As second later, Lily returned from the back of the store with a handful of something white and red. "I got us all peppermints!" she exclaimed happily, skipping over and handing a couple to each of us. "They're new and supposed to make your breath minty for twenty-four hours guaranteed. I thought they were festive, don't you think?"
"Very," I agreed, popping one into my mouth and feeling the minty flavor melt over my tongue.
Marlene actually moaned when she tasted it. "These are bloody brilliant. Where'd you get them? Gran would love them, and I suppose I have to get that batty old bird something for Christmas If I want to stay in the will."
Both Mary and I exchanged a look, knowing Marlene was only dragging Lily away to get a detailed report of everything Amos had said.
"Back over here," Lily gestured to the other side of the store, still a little pink and playing along. "I'll show you." She hesitated for a second and flashed Mary a careful look. One I knew meant for her to stay with me.
The tiny sweet shop was already crowded with Hogwarts students and a large group of first years had just pushed through the door, making it so that we barely had room to stand.
"Want to pay for these and then head outside?" I asked Mary. "I can hardly breath in here."
"Definitely," Mary nodded. We fought our way to the counter and Mary paid for the box of Fudge Flies with a tiny smile across her face.
"Did you notice Landon's been in a better mood all of a sudden?" she asked me as we headed back outside. The snow wasn't falling anymore, but the village was still covered in its thick white carpet.
"I did actually. I told you he'd snap out of it eventually."
She looked at the store across the street dreamily, "Yeah I hoped so. I'm thinking about talking to him after the holidays."
I could tell just from the look on her face, how excited she was at the possibility of moving things forward with him.
I was about to tell her what a great idea I thought that was when someone shouted something over me, silencing me in the process.
"Why, if it isn't the always delicious Doe Meadowes," Rabastan purred. I groaned loudly. I hadn't noticed that he was walking up the path towards us. Everyone was too bundled up to know who they were, and a moment ago he had looked like nothing more than a dark overcoat. If I had seen him, I would have left. I was not in the mood for a confrontation with Rabastan, today of all days.
He was walking beside Walden Mcnair and Sebastian Mulciber, and had his prefect badge pinned to the front of his dark, fur coat. I felt Mary instantly tighten beside me in fear, and I knew why. She hated confrontations with the Slytherins on a normal day, but Sebastian Mulciber scared her to her core. He was always shouting the foulest things at her in the hallway.
Rabastan grinned as he watched me getting flustered, the smile reaching all the way to his cruel, bright green eyes. They ran over me in a way that made me shiver.
"What do you want?" I hissed at him, making sure to take a step back so he was a good distance away from me. I slipped my right hand into my coat pocket and felt for my wand. I never liked to be without when I was anywhere near him.
"Watch your tone, Half-Blood," Walden warned, his eyes narrowing as he looked to Rabastan for guidance as to what to do. I wanted to snort.
"Half-blood?" I asked irritated, "Are you really trying to use that one as an insult now? Pretty sure that crosses the line from just ignorant to dumb as a troll."
"You know I love it when you're cold to me." Rabastan said smoothly, ignoring his companion. "You look so much lovelier with a sneer on that flawless face of yours, Pet."
I took a quick scan of the crowds around us. Every few feet were another cluster of people. Plenty of witnesses. I doubted Rabastan was stupid enough to try anything here, but that didn't stop the fear from pouring out of me in droves.
"Then I must look downright gorgeous in front of you all the time," I snapped, feeling my hand wrap around the smooth handle of my wand. One quick movement and I'd have it pointed right at him.
McNair rolled his eyes annoyed, and Mulciber was too busy sneering at Mary to listen to anything I was saying. Only Rabastan seemed further amused.
One side of his smile pulled up into a cocky sneer. He took a step closer to me and I backed up against the wall of Honeydukes, pulling my wand out of the coat pocket. Rabastan took the opportunity to take another step forward, boxing me in.
"What the hell do you think you're playing at?" Mary hissed at him. He ignored her, pushing closer to me, as Mulciber held his wand up to my friend. I could see the fear widening in May's eyes as she clutched her wand feebly in her right hand. It was enough to make me shake with anger.
"Back off Rabastan," I seethed, pointing my wand at him. I didn't know what I planned on doing with it, but if he tried anything I would hit him full force with the worst hex I could think of.
Rabastan rolled his eyes, and only then did I notice the wand ready in his hand. As a sixth year, he knew non-verbal spells. I had no idea what he was planning, and had to wait for the proper moment to strike. It was just like Professor Marchbanks' practical, Do I hex or shield first?
"One of these days, Meadowes," Rabastan purred, "you're going to be begging me to strip you of some of these layers." His left hand reached out to grab the collar of my white coat. He used it to pull me towards his chest, so close I could smell the touch of fire whiskey on his breath. Where he had managed to get that in Hogsmeade, I didn't know. Leave it to him, to break school rules even in the village.
"Get your hands of me," I shoved him forward, but his grip only tightened on me, turning into a steel trap on my coat. I felt such a real rush of fear course through me, I froze. I don't know why I worried like this when Rabastan was around. But jinxing him wasn't as easy as it was jinxing Narcissa or Elizabeth. The look in Rabastan's eyes was always so much more sinister.
"Would you just stop it?" Mary hissed loudly at him, still staring Mulciber's lazy wand in the face. "What has she ever done to you? Why can't you just leave her alone?"
Rabastan smiled. "Doe has never done a thing to me, that's sort of the problem don't you think, Mudblood? Think of all the fun we could have together if she lightened up a bit."
His callous use of the slur drained all of the color from Mary's face paralyzing her where she stood.
I lifted my wand and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
The wand in Mulciber's hand went flying to the ground and Mary took the opportunity to disarm Rabastan immediately. McNair hadn't been paying enough attention to do anything but look up.
Anger flashed across Rabastan's eyes for a second as he watched his wand go flying into a pile of snow at his right. It only lasted a second before he regained his composure enough to sneer back at me.
"I do love your form of foreplay," he teased, his right hand reached out to stroke my cheek. I flinched, and kept my wand raised, ready to inflict something worse if he came anywhere near me.
"HEY!" a loud voice shouted behind me. "What's goin on here?"
I hoped to merlin it was a teacher, coming to break this up before any of us ended hexed. Instead, I looked up to find Sirius and James, flanked by Peter and Remus. It wasn't exactly the authority I was looking for, but I wouldn't turn down their help if they offered. Rabastan and his friends were about to be outnumbered by Gryffindors. I had actually never been quite so relieved to see the Marauders before.
"Nothing that concerns you, Black," Rabastan sneered with the usual disgust and reverence that Slytherins gave Sirius. To them, he was nothing more than a Blood traitor.
It was bold, I'd give Rabastan that, but in my opinion very foolish. Sirius was every bit as attractive and talented as Rabastan was, but without the concern for breaking the rules that Rabastan had as a prefect. If it were to come down a duel, I'd place every Galleon in my money bag on Sirius.
Sirius raised an eyebrow at Rabastan. "You harassing a member of my house, isn't my concern? I always knew you were dense, but how do you figure that, Lestrange?"
Rabastan's upper lip twitched slightly. "Your house," Rabastan chortled, "What a joke that is in and of itself. And interactions between Doe and I have nothing to do with you. I suggest you leave and mind your own business, if you know what's good for you." Rabastan turned to his cohorts to see if they were supporting him.
"Only weak men make petty threats," Remus said softly. Mulciber cast him a dirty look.
Sirius didn't even look slightly phased. "From the look on Doe's face I'd say it's you who she wants to leave," he said firmly, "I wonder, do all the girls you try and seduce look that horrified? If so, you might want to take a hint."
"I bet that's why he's here, Pads" James added cheekily. "He's finally run out of unwilling participants in his own house and now has to force himself onto unsuspecting Gryffindors."
Sirius chuckled, looking highly amused by his mate's comment.
"As if the opinion of you two blood traitors matter to me," Rabastan snapped, "Both of you are a disgrace to your blood status. Potters always chasing after the redheaded mudblood, and well I'd be embarrassed to see a list of who you've let into your bed, Black. Bet there wasn't a pureblood among them."
"You've got that right," McNair chuckled.
James' face turned bright red, and he was shaking with anger as he pointed his wand at Rabastan. "What the hell is wrong with you, Lestrange?"
"You are such a Git, Rabastan," I spat.
Sirius looked calmer than James and I, but I could see his fist twitching by his side. "You know," he said in a strangely even voice, "For someone who's supposedly obsessed with blood-status you seem very eager to worm your way up Meadowes' skirt. Last time I checked, she was a Half-blood."
"Exceptions can always be made for a good shag." Rabastan smiled cruelly, casting a long look at e." Especially with a face like that. My father used to say her mother was just as pretty, until she fucked a mudblood of course."
That was all it took to set me off. There was no way to know if Rabastan was aware of what today was, or how bringing up my parents would enrage me. It acted like a sparked fuse, igniting a rage inside of me that I never managed to conjure when he was around. I just acted without thinking.
I raised my wand a cast the strongest stinging jinx I could muster. It hit him right in the cheek, turning it bright red as it swelled three times its normal size. It looked as if he had been hit full force by a 300 pound man. Rabastan stared back at me, utterly stunned.
"You bitch!" McNair hissed, while James and Sirius burst into loud laughter.
"Leave," I hissed at the three Slytherins. "Or what I'll do next with make that look like a party trick."
Mulciber's upper lip curled over his mouth, and McNair sneered at me. Rabastan rubbed at his cheek, looking strangely confused, as if he as trying to reconcile what had just happened. He picked up his wand from the ground, and moved to leave, never taking his eyes off of me.
"I'll see you around, Doe," Rabastan threatened coolly. "Maybe next time, we'll finally be alone."
"I wouldn't count on it," I said firmly, even though my insides were shaking so badly I could barely hold it together.
I knew Rabastan and how he operated. He wouldn't forget something like this easily. I knew I had to be careful from now on.
Rabastan, Mulciber and McNair cast one more fleeting, furious look at the group of us and then sauntered off down the snowy path back to the castle, to no doubt plan their revenge on every Gryffindor they passed along the way.
The second they were out of sight, I let out a breath of relief. Sirius turned me to looking shocked.
"I'll be honest. I thought you were overreacting about Lestrange," he said shaking his head incredulity. 'What did you do, slip him a love potion?"
I rolled my eyes. "Hardly. If I were going to brew a love potion do you think I'd use it on Lestrange?" I shook my head. "I'd pay a hundred Galleons to never have him look at me again."
"That's a good deal, Peter," James said chipperly, "You're great at poking people in the eyes with your wand. You should aim for Lestrange and make Meadowes pay up."
Peter shook his head. "No way, Lestrange would murder me."
Sirius shrugged. "Wouldn't worry about it Worm tail, from the looks of it Doe can fight her own battles. You want to let me know how you've never lost points if you could do a stinging jinx? Blimey, I'd use it all the time."
Mary snorted. "Well, therein lies the difference between you and the rest of us Sirius, self-control."
"But my way is so much more fun," Sirius pouted. "I think everyone would have a much better time if everyone were like me."
Remus shook his head vehemently. "If everyone were like you, Sirius. The world as we know it would implode."
Sirius waved him off. "Stop being so sensible, Moony. It leads to wrinkles." James snickered.
"So what are you two doing standing out in the snow?" Sirius asked Mary and I. "Besides hexing Slytherins and all?"
"Waiting for Lily and Marlene," I told them. The cold was finally starting to get to me again and I had to bounce up and down to keep myself warm. "But they better hurry up, because Rabastan has put me into a mood that only gingerbread butterbeer can fix."
"What a coincidence," James replied happily, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "We were just headed to the Three Broomsticks, ourselves. We should join you. I bet Evans would just love that, don't you think?"
I bit my lip to keep from laughing in his face. Mary hid her delight a little better with only a small smile.
"Can I watch while you ask her?" I told him. "I could use a laugh."
James shook his head. "Don't be negative, Meadowes. She's going to love the idea."
"Well here she comes," Mary replied excitedly. "Let's see shall we, Potter?"
Lily and Marlene had just emerged through the front door of Honeydukes, each of them clutching a striped bag full of treats. Lily's face was flushed with color and they were both laughing as they approached us.
Marlene's eyes lit up as she took in our guests and Lily's face drained of the happy color she had a moment before.
"Well, hello boys," Marlene said flirtatiously, twirling her bags in one hand. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Sirius smirked, and turned to James. "It's your time to shine, Prongsie."
James ran his hands through his hair and grinned at Lily. "Well, you see, McKinnon. We helped Meadowes and MacDonald out of a tricky situation with Lestrange and Co, and figured that that heroic display of courage and loyalty warranted a trip to the Three Broomsticks."
Marlene looked like she might squeal with delight. "Well, that sounds very reasonable, doesn't it?"
Lily didn't seem to be concerned with the butterbeer or the company. Her eyes flew to Mary and me, and her face looked terrified. "Rabastan was here?" she asked quickly. "Are you two alright? What happened?"
"Nothing happened," I assured her. 'He was a git, per usual, said something foul trying to scare us and then left."
"Don't forget the part where I selflessly defended you," Sirius added cheekily.
"Or the bit where you and MacDonald disarmed them," Peter added.
"My personal favorite tidbit was the stinging jinx you hit Rabastan with, followed closely by Sirius' insinuation that he can't seduce women. But of course, I understand why you edited the story for time, even if you made certain stylistic choices I wouldn't have." James said humorously.
Remus sighed softly, watching his friends with his usual amount of confusion and entertainment.
Lily and Marlene stared back at the three of them, slightly stunned. I guess, to them the situation would seem a little strange.
"You jinxed Rabastan?" Marlene asked me after a moment, looking delighted. "Little Miss Non-Confrontation?" I blushed a little, my usually pale cheeks flooding with color as I nodded.
"It was brilliant," Peter said quickly.
"Revolutionary," Sirius added.
"One for the books," Remus said.
James smirked. "I thought the poor bloke might cry."
Lily stared at me completely shocked. While she normally didn't advocate for using violence to solve a problem. She had spent the better part of a year trying to get me to do something serious about Rabastan, despite the shiny prefect badge pinned to her chest.
"To be fair," I added quickly. "He said some pretty foul things about everyone here. And my parents. I was lucky this lot showed up, or I might have done something worse." I gave the Marauders a small smile. What normally might have been a cheeky interruption, had really helped today.
Lily seemed to understand the weight of what I meant, especially today. She actually smiled about it.
"Well," she said evenly to the boys in front of us. "I guess it's a good thing you lot were hanging around."
It was probably the most civil thing she had said to the Marauders in the last few months. Marlene stared at her in complete disbelief, as Mary and I grinned. James looked like he was about to faint from the excitement of it all.
"So off to the Three Broomsticks then?" James asked quickly. "And you'll be joining us, Evans?" He looked like he was baiting her. Waiting for the moment that she would get irritated and tell him to shove it.
Lily cast a fleeting look and me and then smiled. "I suppose. You still want butterbeer right?" she asked the three of us.
Marlene's jaw fell open. "Have you been confounded or something?" she asked in disbelief. "If James imperiused you, blink twice."
"Hush McKinnon," James ordered, covering Marlene's mouth with one of his gloved hands. "Why are you trying to spoil a good thing?"
"If this has been officially decided can we head over?" Mary asked. "I'm bloody thirsty."
Lily nodded, ignoring the expressions of shock that crossed over everyone else's face as the eight of us made our way down the snowy path towards the pub.
I still couldn't believe Lily had willingly agreed to this, and it seemed neither could James. He kept throwing anxious glances at Lily every five seconds to the point where Remus had to tell him to knock it off.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Lily asked me as we reached the crowded pub. "I don't want you trying to be brave. If you're upset and want to get back to the castle at any point just tell me okay?"
I was overwhelmed with my desire to hug her. Lily was so exorbitantly kind sometimes. I didn't know what I'd do without her.
"I feel good, Lils. I promise," I assured her. "Unless you're trying to use me as an excuse to get out of having a butterbeer with the Marauders?" I raised a cheeky eyebrow.
Lily rolled her eyes. "I'd only ever do this for you. Remember that"
I beamed at her and entered the pub at a bit of a skip. It was so cold outside that the entire pub was completely crowded with people, both from Hogwarts and the village. There was dull roar of conversation that made it hard to hear anything from anyone who wasn't seated at your table.
As we entered, searching for a table, Sirius grabbed the arm of my coat and pulled me aside.
"Five Galleons Lily ruins this first," he whispered.
I grinned. "You're on. There's no way James will be able to be on his best behavior. He'll ruin it before we get our drinks." Sirius winked and turned toward the bar.
"Rosmerta!" he chanted loudly at the young barmaid, "I need your finest table for eight, please and of course, the pleasure of your company."
Madame Rosemerta looked up from the bar and flashed Sirius a cocky grin. She was young. Not much older than we were, with bright green eyes and a head full of curly blonde hair. Every male in the pub spent half their time there trying to get her attention, something Sirius and James had become experts at. Even Peter and Remus were staring at her like she was a witch weekly cover model. Marlene was looking at her with less interest. In fact, there was something a little cruel in her eyes, like she was sizing the barmaid up.
"Four girls, Sirius?" Rosmerta said shaking her head. "Isn't that a little much, even for you?"
Sirius beamed at her, and placed his hand over his heart. "Yes, it is. But don't you see? It takes four birds to fill the hole you've left in my heart, Madame."
"You've broken his heart, Rosie," James agreed.
Rosmerta rolled her eyes as she cleaned a fire whiskey glass. "There's a booth in the back that will fit you lot. Eight butterbeers then?"
"Seven gingerbread ones," Sirius said. "And I'll take a firewhiskey."
Rosmerta raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Oh, so you're now a seventeen-year-old fifth year?" she asked sarcastically. "I wouldn't boast about that if I were you."
Sirius nodded dramatically. "Yes, you missed my last birthday, and Merlin did that hurt me," he shook his head sadly, "That's alright though. I know how busy you are."
"Eight butterbeers coming right up," Rosmerta said pointing in the direction of the booth.
"Worth a shot," Peter said patting Sirius' shoulder. "One of these days she'll come around."
"Yeah when you actually turn seventeen," Remus added shaking his head.
Sirius waved them off as we took a seat in the crowded booth. The eight of us barely fit, but Marlene didn't seem to mind being shoved between Mary and Sirius.
"Puh-lease," Sirius said confidently. "Everyone knows Rosie wants me. It's only a matter of time."
"Isn't she dating that bloke who owns the joke shop?" Mary asked him, "Zelmer Zonko?"
"She is." Remus added, casting a specific look at Sirius as if he disapproved of his mate's callous disregard for her relationship status.
"Semantics," Sirius said leaning back against the booth, smiling confidently.
James nodded in agreement. "Beautiful birds always have someone. Until they have someone new."
"That's not always true," Lily told him, "sometimes people wait for people they actually care about, you know."
James grinned at her. "Of course, I know that. Why do you think I'm always waiting around for you?"
I looked across the table at Sirius confidently, and raised an eyebrow. I knew James would ruin this first. Sirius only shook his head, sure he would still win. Cocky, arrogant, bastard.
Beside me, Lily's mouth had popped open in surprise at James comment but she looked as if she had no idea how to respond. I guess that was better than making a furious retort.
"Rosmerta isn't even that pretty," Marlene said quickly, before a row could form between Lily and James. "People exaggerate her looks because she's a barmaid."
"Uh oh," James said. "Marlene's on the war path."
"Jealous McKinnon?" Sirius asked her wiggling one of his dark eyebrows at her.
Marlene snorted. "Hardly. I could take her now, and I've still got years to become even more beautiful." She fanned her perfect hair out over her shoulders and fluttered her eyelashes. It proved her point well enough. No matter how you felt about her on a personal level, there was no denying that Marlene was exceptionally beautiful.
"Baxter Thornbottle seems to think so," Sirius added with a chuckle. "he spent half of our Care of Magical Creatures lesson bragging about your broom closet session."
"Jealous, Black?" Marlene mocked him.
Sirius shook his head. "Impressed actually. You may be catching up to my number these days, Marlene. Although I do think you could do better than a Hufflepuff."
"I bet Lily doesn't think there's anything wrong with Hufflepuffs" Marlene joked, looking over at Lily with a mischievous grin, clearly thinking about Amos Diggory.
Lily flashed her a pointed look, clearly urging her not to bring that up. Not that I blamed her. I couldn't imagine what James would do with that information.
"I don't remember Baxter Thornbottle talking about Marlene in Care of Magical Creatures," Remus said, slightly confused.
"Well no you wouldn't," James added.
"Yeah you were off actually doing the assignment with Amelia and Doe," Sirius said shaking his head.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Remus said shaking his head. "Might I remind you that you copied that work I did? What would you have done if I hadn't actually done the work?"
Sirius' mouth stretched into a wide smile. "Copied Meadowes of course." He winked at me from across the table.
"Fat luck," Marlene chuckled. "Lily and Doe hate cheating. They're always going on and on about morals and ethics."
"So overrated," Mary added, siding with her blonde best friend.
"How dare we?" I asked sarcastically, looking at Lily.
"Attempt to be honest and good people?" Lily joined in, chuckling. "We should really be expelled at this point, huh Doe?"
"Indubitably," I said suppressing a laugh.
Sirius turned to James. "It's like Moony copied himself and put on a couple of wigs."
"I could do worse," Remus said confidently, flashing Lily and I a wide smile. "They're what? The best in the year?"
Lily smiled widely at Remus, and I turned back to Sirius. "See? Now Remus is clearly my favorite Marauder." He rolled his eyes.
"If this is what it means to be a prefect, no wonder we were never chosen," James said to Sirius. "They whole lot of them are barmy."
I sighed. "For the five hundredth time this year, I am not a prefect," I reminded them sternly.
"Dumbledore's biggest mistake, let me tell you," James said shaking his head. "You're every bit as annoyingly principled as Lily and Remus, and I truly mean that."
"That's probably the kindest thing he's ever said to us," Lily chimed in.
"I'm going to take that as a compliment," I nodded, taking off my gloves.
"I don't doubt it," James said shaking his head.
Madame Rosmerta interrupted the conversation by flitting over and conjuring a floating tray of gingerbread butterbeer. Her turquoise high heeled boots announcing her arrival before she did.
"I can always count on you two to order these," she said looking at me and Lily and she passed them around. "Always hounding me about keeping them all year. I swear last year, Lily was first in line to get one."
I actually moaned as I took the first sip of mine. They were that good. Lily was staring at hers as if it was the most precious potion she had ever brewed.
"They're too good to limit to just December," Lily assured her, clutching the warm mug in her tiny hands.
"Honestly," I added. "You'd make a killing if you sold the stuff all year. You could open a storefront in Diagon Alley selling just these and make enough to retire. I'd even invest in that."
Rosmerta laughed. "You are always the same you know that. A silver-tongue to match that silvery hair of yours. Between you and this one," she pointed at heavily manicured finger Sirius. "I'm never not smiling. There must be something in the water up in Gryffindor tower."
"Oh, come on, Rosie. What about me? I'm just as charming as these too. I even brought you my favorite snitch. Don't I always make you laugh?" James asked, ruffling his hair again.
"Probably just from looking at you," Lily added with a smile. James frowned at her, but it was hard to deny the tiny smile that lingered. It wasn't Lily's usual form of tearing into him. Instead this felt more lighthearted, almost like teasing, and James noticed, flushing.
Rosmerta chuckled. "Nothing better than a fiery redhead." She smiled at Lily, and turned on her heels back to the bar, clicking against the stone floor as she did.
The second she was gone, Sirius rounded on me. "Trying to steal Rosmerta out from under me, Meadowes?" he asked cheekily.
I fluttered my eyelashes at him. "Why? Worried she'd choose me over you?"
Sirius' face suddenly became very serious. "Nope. I'd give every galleon in my Gringotts vault to watch that."
James and Marlene laughed so hard, butterbeer came spilling out of their noses. Peter snorted and knocked over his entire mug onto Mary's lap, while Remus and Lily's jaws fell open. Mary quickly moved to vanish the puddle of butterbeer on her skirt, casting a dirty look at Peter and his denseness as she did.
"You're foul, Sirius," I told him, shaking my head.
"Yes, I am," Sirius said, "But I am also loaded. You should really consider the offer."
I cracked a smile. "Stop trying to make what Rosmerta and I have cheap and meaningless."
Remus groaned. "Look what you've done to her, Sirius. You are corrupting her."
"I am not," Sirius assured him. "She may hide it better than I do, but Doe is just a depraved as me."
I snorted into my butterbeer. "Right. I hate to break it you, but Salazar Slytherin wasn't as depraved as you are, Sirius."
"Hey!" Marlene shouted humorously. "I am the slag of this friend group. If anyone is attempting a romantic tryst with Rosmerta, it will be me. Depravity is my middle name."
"I forgot about that," Mary chuckled, "Marlene Depravity McKinnon."
"What can I say? It's a family name," Marlene said, causing everyone in the booth to burst into loud laughter.
It was strange to see all of us sitting her together enjoying a drink. If someone had told me yesterday that we would be doing this, I would have thought they were barmy. But I couldn't hide how comforted I felt by the whole thing. Even Lily, seemed to be enjoying herself, with the Marauders.
It made absolutely no sense and I didn't mind one bit. It seemed to be the perfect antidote to the depression that came with today. The whole time we had been sitting here, I had been too distracted to think about my parents or their death even once. A rarity for me, considering it had been repeating on a loop every second since I had woken up this morning.
I almost thought I ought to thank Rabastan. If it hadn't been for his foul obsession with me, or his heinous comments about my parents. I never would have been doing this right now, sharing a butterbeer and a laugh with my housemates and friends.
I would have been content to stay here like this for hours, escaping the endless dread and grief I knew would be waiting for me when we headed back to the castle, especially tonight when I tried to close my eyes. I was already mentally preparing myself for the inevitable nightmares; the usual images of my parent's funeral interwoven with happy memories we used to share, and images of Aubleus' face.
"Did you guys here about what happened with Scarlet Kellman and her backfiring wand?" James asked happily, drawing me back out of my thoughts. He looked excited, no doubt about to launch onto one of his thrilling tales.
"Let me guess," Marlene said quickly. "You lot were the ones who made it backfire?"
James grinned, opening his mouth to speak when a scream drowned out anything he was saying. A young woman, clearly a shopkeeper in the village had burst into the pub, her wand drawn and her face screwed up in fear as she screamed. Everyone in the pub immediately silenced, as the young woman continued to scream. I noticed she wore Madam Malkins robes and had a an enchanted tape measure floating around her neck.
"Deidra, what's wrong? What is it?" Rosmerta asked coming to her side, frantically trying to get her attention as she screamed. Everyone in the pub was staring at her, particularly the older witches and wizards, the ones who no longer went to Hogwarts.
"It's Beetie!" the frantic witch screamed. "He's…. he's…. dead!"
Rosmerta gasped and the witch broke into hysterics. "I went to his house by the mountain and found him dead inside! That mark was hanging over his house. His mark, You-Know-Who!" The witch screeched again. "Death Eaters in Hogsmeade!"
Her words had an instantaneous effect. Everyone in the pub ether went frigid and silent or erupted into fearful screams. The older witches and wizards raced to the door, to investigate, while Rosemerta let the frantic, screaming witch cling to the front of her robes.
"Nobody move!" hissed Professor Sprout, diving out of one of the robes with Professor Kettleburn at her side, both of their wands drawn. I hadn't even realized they were here. "I don't want a single student to leave the pub!"
Professor Kettleburn darted through the door of the pub first and Professor Sprout turned back to Madame Rosmerta. "Rosmerta, no one leaves! Do you understand me? And do not let a single person in this door unless they are a student, Hogwarts staff or an Auror!" Professor Sprout demanded.
"Of course," Rosmerta nodded, standing guard at the front door of her pub. Professor Sprout nodded, clinging to her patchwork hat as she apparated and disappeared from the pub.
All around the Three Broomsticks, Hogwarts students began anxiously whispering to their companions, and drawing their wands. Two booths away, a couple of first and second years looked ready to faint. I didn't blame them. Death Eaters here, in Hogsmeade? And they had killed someone. The thought sent a spike of fear down my spine. I wasn't the only one.
Mary had frozen in her seat, her hand still clutching her butterbeer mug as she stared off where Professor Sprout had been a moment ago. Lily's eyes were lit with a strange mixture of fury and fear, as she scanned both Marlene and I's faces for any sign of emotion. Mary kept shuddering, terrified.
"Death Eaters?" she muttered quickly. "Here? In Hogsmeade?"
"Don't worry," Marlene assured her. "The Professors are on it. No one's coming in here. By now the ministry has been alerted and is doing something. We're safe in here."
Mary didn't look even slightly comforted.
"How did this happen?" Lily asked quiet and scared. James eyes flashed to her immediately, his bottom lip quivering as he watched her face fill with fear. He looked as if he almost wanted to comfort her, but worried what her reaction was. He must have decided not to do anything and just watched her carefully instead.
"I don't know," James said softly. "I don't know how anyone could be this sick."
Marlene's face was screwed up in frustration and she shook her head gently. "They warned us, didn't they? Everyone said this was getting worse. They've been recruiting all summer, and all those muggleborns were getting attacked and killed all over England." She sat on her hand looking miserable. Beside her, Mary's hands were shaking.
"Why isn't anyone doing anything about it?" Remus demanded. "How do they have this much reach?"
"I thought the Aurors would have put a stop to this already," I said shaking my head. Another death. Someone senselessly slaughtered just like my parents, all because of blood status.
"He's powerful," James said silently. "A demented, lunatic, but people say he's one of the greatest Wizards they've ever seen."
"How powerful?" Peter asked, his eyes wide and strange. "Can that be true?"
"Dumbledore's the greatest Wizard in the world," Lily said firmly. "He'll do something to stop him. Just like Grindelwald. He has too."
"I don't know," Sirius said carefully. "Something tells me this is different. Grindelwald was just a criminal, someone skirting the lines for his own sake. This You-Know-Who, is different. He's starting this twisted revolution, calling for genocide in a world where people like my family already have strong opinions about blood-status. He isn't just one man with supporters. It's like he's building up an army."
It was some of the most profound commentary I had ever heard about You-Know-Who, and it surprised me to hear it coming out of Sirius' mouth. It was enlightening, deep and well thought out. I didn't think Sirius had been capable of being that deep or insightful. It seemed out of character.
"An army?" I asked him curiously. "You don't think this is going to become a war, do you?"
Sirius nodded gravely. "Unfortunately, that's exactly what I think."
The weight of his words settled in the air for a moment.
War.
If he was right, and this situation turned that serious, it would completely disrupt our world. We would be plunged into an unrecognizable magical community that constantly put us in danger. I couldn't imagine a reality where the streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley turned into a battlefield. War meant casualties, and loss of life. If this was true, my future had suddenly become a lot more dangerous. Aurors were the only people in our world that could keep the peace, who could stop this. I would be putting myself in harm's way every moment of my life.
I realized it didn't matter. That was exactly what I wanted. There was no one better suited for that. My principles and unwavering dedication to what was right, would be needed. I would do whatever I could to make sure all of this stopped. No matter what it meant risking. You-Know-Who had to fall.
No one said anything else for a few minutes, and the pub became so silent you could hear a pin drop. Rosmerta hovered near the front door, anxiously looking through the tiny window any time she heard even the slightest sound.
After another half hour, a tense and snow-covered Professor McGonagall storde through the door with Hagrid at her side. Both looked worn and grave.
"All students are too return to the castle immediately," Professor McGonagall ordered, "You will follow Hagrid or myself and do not stop."
Lily exchanged a quick look with me as we gathered our bags and headed out of the pub, with the others. We followed the line leading for Hagrid, and as we did we saw the village was completely empty. The snow was still falling, but there wasn't a single person left in the village besides the lines of students following the other Professors back up to the castle.
I heard a second-year gasp, and then several others join in. I followed their eyes and felt all of the breath leave my chest.
Hovering in the air above the houses closest to the mountain, was a large smokey mark. It was giant green and black snake sliding in and out of the mouth of an open skull. You didn't have to know who it belonged to or what it signified to know the context of it. This mark screamed death.
"What is that?" Lily asked as we stared at it.
"That's the Dark Mark," James answered solemnly, not taking his eyes off of it. "That's His mark."
You-Know-Who's calling card. His mark of death, hanging in Hogsmeade.
"Keep er…moving, everyone!" Hagrid said firmly ushering us back to the path to the castle, desperate to get everyone to stop looking at it.
No one said anything the entire walk back.