The door for Seventh Year Boys was ajar when Sirius reached it, and he pressed himself flat against the wall next to it in case another Slytherin came barreling through. He inched closer, hearing voices, and peeked around the corner. The beds were empty as far as he could see, save for one where Mariah and Kurt were sitting up under the sheets, staring right at him. He shook off the awkwardness, with a shudder.
"I'll be right back," Kurt was saying, extricating himself from his sheets, but Sirius saw Mariah quickly pull him back.
"No, don't go," she said. "I mean…let's take advantage of this."
"Of what?" asked Kurt. Mariah gestured at all of the empty beds. Sirius rolled his eyes. Of course. He saw Kurt grin as he moved in to kiss her.
For a few awkward seconds, they made out on the bed in front of him while he stared in disgust. Then he saw Mariah's arm periodically waving around the air beside the bed, and he crept forward and touched her hand. Her eye opened for a split second glancing to where he stood, invisible.
"On second thought, you should probably go," she said quickly, pushing Kurt off of her. Kurt gave her a look.
"Um...okay then." Kurt eased himself off of Mariah and got out of bed, heading for the door. Sirius was relieved to see that he was wearing pants. They waited until the door had closed behind him, then Mariah pointed at a bed in the corner.
"That one's Rosier's. I checked his trunk while Kurt was going to the bathroom, but it could be underneath."
Sirius crouched down and bent his head to the ground to look under Rosier's bed. There were a lot of magazines, but no books in sight.
"Nothing," he said, struggling to get back to his feet with the cloak on. He stepped on it and it slid off as he stood. "Dammit-PANTS, JAEGER!"
"Wha-Sirius!" Mariah grabbed the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around her as she stood. "It was you!? I thought it was James! Or Remus or someone!"
"Why would that be any better!?" exclaimed Sirius. "Why aren't you wearing pants!?"
"You told me to distract him!"
"Not like that!"
"Well, I was afraid you might get caught!"
"We are getting caught!"
They both heard footsteps outside, and Sirius quickly dove under Kurt's bed, wrenching the Invisibility Cloak back on just as the door opened.
Kurt's books from what looked like his entire school career were strewn in haphazard stacks beneath the bedframe, piling almost to the mattress. Sirius wriggled further in to make room for himself, watching Kurt's feet approach the bed.
"They've got Potter and Lupin upstairs. Any idea why your friends were trying to break into our dormitories?" he asked sharply.
"I don't know, could it have to do with Alice Prewett, Frank Longbottom, and the six Muggle-borns lying unconscious in the Hospital Wing right now?" asked Mariah.
"True," said Kurt, and Sirius felt an urge to punch him. Rolling his eyes, he saw a familiar book spine out of the corner of his eye.
"Can you please tell your squad to go easy on them?" asked Mariah. "Please, Kurt, they're my friends."
"I'll see what I can do," said Kurt. "But first, let's see what you can do."
"Oh-"
The bedsprings dipped and Sirius bit back a curse as they smacked him in the head. He was trying to clear off the pile of heavy books stacked on top of Hellion Hexes as quietly as he could. A particularly heavy history book about the Goblin Wars slipped his grip, but a moan from Kurt masked the noise. Sirius gagged and took another book from the stack. The mattress hit him again. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then shoved another few books out of the way. He grabbed Hellion Hexes and shoved it into his robes, shimmying out from under the bed. He put a hand by his face as he emerged so he wouldn't see whatever was happening in the bed, and walked quickly to the door.
Just as he reached it, the door swung wide open, catching him full on in the face and sending him staggering backwards.
"Lovell, get up here!" said Avery.
"I'm busy!" said Kurt without moving.
"Whatever, mate, you're going to mess Sev giving those punks what they deserve."
"Fine."
"Kurt," said Mariah expectantly. Kurt made a disgruntled sound and threw back the sheets. Sirius was relieved to see that he was still wearing pants. Kurt followed Avery out of the room, swinging the door shut behind him. Sirius wrenched the cloak off as Mariah pulled a shirt on.
"YOU ARE THE WORST PERSON! THE WORST PERSON! WHAT WAS THAT!?" he hissed as loudly as he could without screaming.
"WHAT ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO!?"
"CAN'T YOU KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON FOR TWO MINUTES!?"
"YOU'RE ONE TO TALK!"
"WHA- I- THAT'S NOT THE POINT, WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!"
"You found it?" Mariah looked completely surprised. Sirius pulled it out of his robes and held it up.
"Uh, yeah!" he said pointedly. Mariah got out of bed and Sirius closed his eyes. "GOD-PANTS, JAEGER!"
"Oh-"
Sirius didn't open his eyes til he felt the book leave his hand. Mariah was looking at it.
"Was under his bed," said Sirius.
"I didn't think..."
Footsteps and voices were nearing. Sirius threw the cloak back on and tried to take the book.
"Give it here!"
"No," said Mariah.
"What are you doing?" hissed Sirius. The door opened and Kurt walked in.
"Severus is pretty manic right now, I don't think I can talk him down."
"What is this?" asked Mariah coolly, holding up Hellion Hexes. "Last I saw it was in my room. You know, right before it was broken into."
"That wasn't my fault!" said Kurt, his voice rising. "I was nowhere near it, I only heard-"
"So you're saying the Slytherins did break into my room. Did you laugh about it with them later so they wouldn't ostracize you?" asked Mariah.
"You know why I have that book? Because the others were getting restless. They were about to use it to..." He stopped.
"Use it to what?" asked Mariah. Kurt shrugged.
"I mean...you know boys and their porn." He tried to grin, but gave up at the look on Mariah's face. "Oh shut up, you know why."
"No, explain it to me."
"Ughhhh, look, I can't tell you. All I can tell you is that I took charge of it. I told them I'd keep it safe. It's in my hands now, you have nothing to worry about."
"I was attacked over break, Kurt, my friends were attacked, my father is MISSING- I'd say I have everything to worry about!" snapped Mariah. "Now what is this!?"
"When I say I can't tell you why, I am not being evasive. I am under a lot of stress right now, Mariah, stress I can't even begin to impress upon you. I am being watched by everyone. We all are. I promised you I would do everything I could to help your father, and I will, but I am stretching myself thin as it is protecting you."
They stood apart in silence. More shouting echoed down the hall and Kurt glanced back over his shoulder at the door.
"Look, there's not a lot I can do, Mariah. But if it helps, keep that book," he said. "Take it back, I'll tell them it got stolen." Kurt's name was called and he walked toward the door. "You'll probably want to get out of here. Looks like it's gonna get rough." He paused. "I'd like it if you stayed, but I'd understand if you didn't."
"I'll see you later," said Mariah slowly. Kurt left the room. She sighed and crossed her arms over the book.
Sirius suddenly appeared out of nowhere and she rolled her eyes.
"Jesus, Sirius, why aren't you gone yet?"
"Whatever, hang onto the book. I'm going to get you out of here past all the ruckus," he said, draping the invisibility cloak over her and tugging her out the door into the hall.
