"Marley?" Asked James, dragging out her name, "Wheres your friend?"
"Which one?" Replied Marlene, knowing fine well who he was talking about.
"The red head," said James happily.
"She's off with her friend from Slytherin." James wrinkled his nose.
"Is she still friends with that idiot?"
"Yes James," sighed Marley, rolling her eyes. It was the first Saturday of the year and they were lounging in front of the fire. Marlene had a stack of books in front of her but didn't seem to be paying them much attention. She pushed her long blond hair out of her eyes and pulled it into a bun. "Where are your friends anyway?" She asked suspiciously, "Don't think I've seen you without them since we got here."
"Sirius and Peter are still in bed, Remus had to go home last night to visit his mum. She's sick."
"Oh, is she gonna be okay?" Marlene looked concerned, Remus seemed to be quite a quiet boy, who James and Sirius dragged with them everywhere they went, whether he liked it or not.
"I think so, he did look really worried though, he said he'd be back in a few days."
"Oh, hope she's okay." Marlene looked back to the books in front of her, "Have you done this essay for McGonagall yet?"
"Err, nope."
"Have you done any homework yet?"
"Nope," James grinned. Marlene rolled her eyes. "Hey Marley?" James sounded thoughtful and Marlene looked up to see his face rather serious.
"Yeah?"
"Why do you hate Sirius?"
"Wha- I don't- What do you- I- He's a Black James! You've heard about their family. They support all that dark magic and they hate people like us. You heard the howler he got just for being in Gryffindor!"
"Yeah but that's just it Marley, he's in Gryffindor! He's not like his family, he doesn't believe in that, he looked so depressed on the train because he thought he was going to be in Slytherin and he didn't want to be. He's just like us Marley. And I know his family sounds bad, but that doesn't mean he is, he's my friend Marley." James ran his hand through his already messy hair and looked at Marlene, his hazel eyes wide as he tried to make her understand. She could see clearly how much it meant to him that she get along with his friends and she sighed. Maybe she shouldn't have threw that text book at Sirius' head last night...
"I'll try, okay?" She said, "I'm not promising anything and I doubt we'll ever be besties but I'll be nice, okay?"
"Thanks Marley!" James grinned before yelling at the top of his voice, earning quite a few glares from sleepy students in the common room, "SIRIUS, YOU CAN COME DOWN NOW, ITS SAFE!"
There was the sound of someone barrelling down the stairs from the boys dormitories before Sirius rolled into view and dived at Marlene, wrapping her in a bear hug and squeezing her.
"Just you wait McKinnon, you're gonna love being friends with me!" Cackled Sirius spinning her around as she struggled to break free.
"BLACK! SET ME DOWN!" Sirius continued spinning much to the annoyance of Marlene and all of the other sleepy students in the common room.
"Any more bear hugs Black and I'll never speak to you again, got it?" Groaned Marlene holding her head when Sirius eventually set her back down on her feet.
"Aye aye Sir," Sirius mock saluted her, grinning from ear to ear, "Now I think it's time me and my new friend were heading to breakfast." He grabbed her arm, dragging her through the common room towards the portrait hole.
"It's almost lunch time!"
"Really? Okay then, let's call it a brunch date."
"James, help! Please!" Marlene and Sirius has reached the top of the stairs on the seventh floor and James was close behind, doubled over, laughing at them.
"I think I'll wait on Pete, give you two some bonding time," he laughed, waving as they headed loudly down the stairs.
Half an hour later James and Peter entered the Great Hall. James couldn't help but be amazed every time he saw the hall. The ceiling alone was enough to make him stare in wonder, as it reflected the clear blue sky outside. They scanned the Gryffindor table, looking for Sirius and Marlene.
"There's Marley," said James, nodding to a group of girls halfway down the table, "but no Sirius..."
"He's an idiot James!" James laughed at the look on Marlenes face.
"Aw what did he do?"
"An idiot," She was trying very hard not to laugh, James could tell.
"Marley?"
"He turned my hair blue James!"
James looked at Marlene strangely. He stood up and walked around her. "Uh, Marley, you might want to look in a mirror, cause your hairs still blonde cuz."
Peter laughed loudly beside them as Marlene glared at James before pulling her hair out of the bun it had been tied in to reveal the ends of her hair died an electric blue.
"He needs to practice the spell a bit," She said angrily as James howled with laughter.
"Brilliant!"
"James! You better find him and he better know how to change my hair back!" Screeched Marlene tying her hair back up to hide the blue.
"I think it suits you," said Peter quietly.
Marlene raised an eyebrow before turning to look at James again, who recognised the look she was giving and knew it was time to make a quick getaway.
"I will do just that Marley! On my way to find him now. See you soon!" He then grabbed Peter by the arm and dragged him from the hall.
"You have to admit, it was funny!" Grinned Alice beside Marlene.
Marlene grinned back, "I know, I really wanted to ask him what the spell was!" She laughed.
"And Peter was right you know, it does suit you," added Mary. The girls laughed at the thought of Marlene platinum blond hair turned completely blue.
"So you wave your wand like this..." James flourished his wand in an over dramatic manner.
"Yep, and say Colovaria, but I haven't got it right yet, it's not working properly." Sirius threw himself back on the plush armchair he was stretched across, staring at his wand with more concentration than he had shown in any class so far.
"We'll get it," Murmured James, not really paying Sirius much attention as he waved his wand repeatedly. They had been sitting in the common room for several hours now, trying to work out why the spell Sirius had used to change Marley's hair colour hadn't worked properly.
"Bet Remus could work it out, he seems like a smart one doesn't he?" Groaned Sirius
"Yeah, hope his mums okay," Agreed Peter, who had been watching them from his spot on the floor in front of the roaring fire.
Suddenly there was a scream from the other side of the room and the three boys were shocked to see a girl, about third year, clutching her bald head wailing at the top of her voice. Sirius glanced at James to see him frozen, with his wand still raised. As the girl was dragged out of the common room by her friends, Sirius couldn't help but burst into peals of laughter. It didn't take long before James and Peter were in the same state, rolling on the floor.
"Mate! What did you do?" Gasped Sirius in between bursts of laughter.
"I was just trying the spell, I didn't do it on purpose!"
"Well you didn't do a very good job!" Laughed Peter.
"Yeah I can see that."
"Did you say the spell right?" Asked Sirius, eventually sitting up, still breathing heavily.
"Yes! Calvario, just like you said."
"It's Colovaria you idiot!" Cried Sirius, breaking down laughing again.
"Oh," said James, looking rather out out, "Well at least my spell worked!" Sirius stopped laughing and stared at James.
"Touché my friend touché."
"And if we get the colour changing spell, then that's two good spells we know," added Peter.
"Indeed," said Sirius grandly.
"Just maybe next time, we could practice somewhere other than the common room?" Suggested James.
"You're not practicing on me, if that's what you think, I'd rather not lose my head of perfect locks, thank you very much," cried Sirius, loudly clutching his hair around his face, causing the other two to burst out laughing again.
"Okay, what's your favourite...song?" The five first year Gryffindor girls were sitting in a circle in their dormitory.
"Oh, I dunno, but I really like the Hobgoblins, they're a new band and the lead singer is really cute!" Giggled Alice.
"Oh I've heard them, they're really good," nodded Emmeline.
"The what?" Asked Lily as she and Mary stared with wide eyes at the others.
"The Hobgoblins," said Alice slowly, "Haven't you heard of them?"
"No! We listen to muggle music," laughed Mary.
"Yeah like The Beatles," explained Lily.
"The Beatles? Like the insect?" Marlene wrinkled her nose.
"It's the name of the band," said Lily.
"Sounds weird," said Emmeline.
"So does the Hobgoblins!"
Once the girls had finished laughing, Lily spoke, "My turn to ask a question, so what's your favourite movie?"
"Movie?" Asked Marlene.
"Oh I've heard of them, isn't it where muggles appear on a sort of magical screen and talk and stuff?" Asked Alice.
"Don't tell me you've never seen a movie! Or been to the cinema?" Asked Mary incredulously.
She received three blank stares. "Oh we have so much to teach you guys!" She sighed dramatically leaning on Lily as they giggled.
"I'm sure we have just as much to teach you two!" Said Emmeline indignantly, "Honestly youse haven't even heard of the Hobgoblins!"
"Oh that reminds me!" Exclaimed Marlene, jumping to her feet, "We have to teach you all about Quidditch!" The other four groaned.
"I'm not really in to sport Marley," said Lily.
"But it's Quidditch Lily! Everyone loves Quidditch!"
"Not everyone," said Emmeline quietly, rolling her eyes.
"Aw not you too!" Cried Marlene.
"Calm down Marley, it's not like you can even try out for the team this year anyway." Said Alice. Marlene seemed to deflate a little.
"But we still get flying lessons this year, they start this week actually, and we can still go and watch all the matches!" She said excitedly. The other four groaned again loudly, much to Marlenes annoyance. "Just you wait, you're going to love Quidditch!"
"SIRIUS! It's time! I get to fly again! Do you know how difficult the last two weeks have been without my broom? Do you?"
"Calm down a bit Jamesy, eat some toast,"
"Mmtooexshidedshiriush." James reply was muffled by the three slices of toast jammed into his mouth by Sirius.
"What was that?" Asked Marlene, sitting next to them with the other girls
"I'm too excited to eat Marley. It's Quidditch today!"
"Really? I didn't know! Did you Alice?"
"Had no idea." Agreed Alice shaking her head.
"Hadn't heard a thing about it," added Mary.
"Oh wait, I think I remember someone, saying something.." Started Emmeline.
"Oh, like a certain James Potter screaming it to anyone who would listen in the common room for the last three days?" James slapped Marlene on the arm.
"Okay, okay, no need to be mean, Merlin, Sirius did you know girls could be that mean?"
"You haven't met the girls in my family mate," muttered Sirius through a mouthful of cereal. There was a slight pause. Sirius hadn't mentioned his family since the day he got his howler.
"Aw, I'm excited too, I just don't feel the need to tell everyone, every minute of every day," grinned Marlene.
"No you just have to tell us every second of every minute in the dorm," said Lily, raising an eyebrow at Marlene, who blushed as James laughed.
"You can't judge me Marley! You're just as bad!" He cackled.
"Flying lessons aren't until later on anyway, we've got Herbology first," said Mary quickly before Marlene could argue back. That shut the other pair up quickly. Their faces fell.
"Aw but I wanna fly now!" Whined James.
"Tough luck," said Alice, "See you'se at the greenhouses."
Once the girls had left, the boys continued their conversation on Quidditch.
"Are you going to try out for the house team next year?" James asked Sirius.
"Hopefully! I don't really get to fly much at home. We live in London." He explained.
"Come to mine over the summer, we have a Quidditch pitch out the back." James failed to notice Peter and Remus' jaws drop at his statement.
"You have a what?" Peter asked.
"A Quidditch pitch. In our back garden." Said James simply. "You can all come around over the Summer, it'll be great!"
"Wow," breathed Peter.
Later that afternoon, the Gryffindors could be found on the Quidditch pitches, many, in the case of James, Sirius, Marlene and a few others, hopped around impatiently, waiting for the chance to fly again. Others, like Mary and Lily stood off to the side, hoping not to be noticed.
"Come on now, hurry up, take a broom and set it down next to you." A rather small witch with short, graying hair had come into view with a stack of what looked like very old broomsticks. "Well, what are you all waiting for?"
The students jumped immediately moving to lift a broom, standing awkwardly beside it, feeling rather silly.
"I am Madam Hooch," she introduced herself quickly, before continuing, "Now, stand to the left of your broomstick, extend your right arm over it and say 'up.'"
Many of the students looked at each other strangely, as they followed the instructions. There was a chorus of 'up,' and to the surprise of many, several broomsticks flew into their owners hand, including James Potters.
"How did you manage that?" Demanded Marlene as her broom rolled over at her feet.
"Try again, it's all about confidence." After three try's Marlene broom had flew up to meet her hand.
"Beat ya McKinnon, only took me two try's," teased Sirius grinning, much to Marlenes annoyance.
"Shut it Black." But she grinned all the same, just as excited as James to get back in the air.
"Oh it won't work Marley," cried Lily, whose broom had yet to twitch from its position on the ground. "Up!"
Marlene laughed, "Try to sound like you actually want it to move Lily," she said.
"But I don't!" Lily cried, "I hate heights! Up!"
"Well that was boring," groaned Marlene, as they made their way back up to the castle later on.
"I hate to agree with you, but even I thought flying would be more fun than that," said Mary, "And I've never even been on a broom before!
Lily laughed, "I'm just glad to be back on solid ground!"
"Me too Lily!" Agreed Alice.
"Hopefully next time we'll be allowed more than a few feet up in the air," said Marlene.
"There's a next time?" Cried Lily, much to the others amusement.
"Imagine that, a class Lily Evans doesn't enjoy!" Teased Emmeline.
"Like I said, I prefer my feet on solid ground."
"That's no fun Evans!" Came the voice of James Potter behind them, "Flyings amazing, you'll see!" He ran past them before she could reply.
"I highly doubt I will ever like the feeling of having nothing but a branch holding me up in the air," she muttered, while Marlene laughed loudly.
"To make the spell more powerful is 'Lumos Maxima,' Marley, not 'Lumos Maximillion,'" yawned Lily pointing at a line about halfway through the paragraph Marlene was writing. They were sitting in a corner of the common room, well after most people had gone to bed, while Marlene tried to finish a charms essay for the next day.
"Arghh, I don't care anymore, I'm too tired," said Marlene, throwing her quill down and leaning back in her chair.
"I told you to finish it last night," began Lily, but she stopped when she caught the look on Marlenes face, "Aw come on don't give up yet, you're almost done. I haven't stayed up half the night, just for you not to finish it!" With a groan, Marlene lifted her quill and for a while the only sound was the quill scratching the parchment.
"Shh, hurry up,"
"Shut up Pete, you're gonna get us caught again!"
"Stop pushing me, I'm going." With a thump, the portrait hole swung open and four boys fell into the common room in a pile.
"Shh, you're gonna wake the whole tower," Hissed James, but his words weren't very effective as he started laughing loudly at Peter and Sirius trying to untangle themselves on the floor while Remus stood off to the side.
"So much for keeping quiet," said Lily, rolling her eyes. She hadn't spoken loudly but the girls were tucked away in a corner and the boys hadn't noticed them so the sound of Lilys voice made all four of them jump a foot in the air.
"Merlin, are you trying to give us a heart attack?" Gasped Sirius, as Peter clutched his chest.
"Where were you guys tonight anyway?" Asked Marlene, ignoring Sirius.
"We were-uh," James glanced at the others for help.
"See, what it was-" started Sirius, before trailing off.
"That Quidditch lesson today was really boring," said James, "So-"
"James Potter, if you are about to say that you went flying and you didn't ask me to come with you, you are in big trouble!" Said Marlene loudly standing up and waggling her finger at James, ignoring Lilys attempts to shh her.
"It's a good thing you didn't come really," said Peter, faltering as Marlene turned her stare on him.
"And whys that?" She demanded.
"Well we got a bit excited and forgot it was so late...and quiet," said Sirius awkwardly.
"And you didn't listen when I told you to shut up," added Remus, speaking for the first time.
"Yeah well, that didn't sound like much fun."
"And you can't expect us to race around the Quidditch pitch in silence," said James, as though speaking the obvious.
"Get on with it! What happened?" Demanded Marlene.
"Well turns out, McGonagall was out patrolling in the castle..."
"You got caught?" Squealed Marlene, laughing.
"Again?" Said Lily in disbelief.
"Uhh yeah." Said James sheepishly, "Looks like we're back in detention on Saturday."
"Honestly," sighed Lily, ignoring Marlene who was still laughing, " That must be your tenth detention since we got here, and we've barely been here two weeks!"
"Only our ninth actually." Grinned Sirius happily.
"Well mine and Sirius' ninth," said James, "Peters had five and I think Remus has only had two!"
"That's not a good thing James!" Said Marlene, although the effect of her words was lost under her laughter.
"Sure it is, me and Sirius have a bet going, first to 100 wins 10 galleons," Marlene and Lily simply rolled their eyes. "Anyway, Remus would have just as many if he hadn't had to go home last weekend, he missed out on us getting caught in the dungeons by Filch."
While the other boys laughed, Remus suddenly looked very awkward before mumbling something about being tired and disappearing up the stairs before anyone could stop him.
The others stared after him for a minute before anyone spoke.
"You know, he's really dead on, but say one thing and he clams up and starts acting all weird," said Sirius shaking his head.
"Maybe he's upset about his mum, you said she was sick right?" Asked Lily quietly. The others murmured in agreement. "Anyway, he's got the right idea, it's late, we should all be going to bed."
Meanwhile, up in the boys dormitory, Remus sat quietly on his bed, the drapes drawn tightly, so as to not let in any light. He was terrified to admit it but he was really starting to have fun at Hogwarts. And he seemed to have made friends. He had never had any friends before. Not that James, Sirius or Peter would still be his friend if they ever found out where he really went last weekend. After a few minutes, he heard the door open and the others came in, talking and laughing. They didn't pay him any attention, probably thinking he was already asleep. But sleep didn't come easy to him and despite the fun he was having, his sleep was almost always plagued with nightmares of what his new friends would say if they found out his secret. He was glad the other three boys in the dorm were heavy sleepers. It was less likely that they would hear him tossing and turning at night.
A/N
It's another chapter...three weeks later..
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