Disclaimer: HP, Not mine. That includes Hewlett Packard as well as Harry Potter. I basically own nothing!
Except Jayden Millsap and Kismet Vangley and Sirenity Cortez and Bryar Wood (though the city can take some credit for that last one...)
Oh. And I wish James Potter were mine, so there we go.
Chapter Eleven
"Wait just one minute," Jayden Millsap huffed loudly, holding up her hand and turning to a wary James Potter. "Why is Remus taking shelter? Is he afraid of the dark or something?"
"Or something," Sirius Black snickered behind his best friend James who then shot a glare over his shoulder.
Kismet Vangley lifted her head from where she was busy untying Bryar Wood from a chair to politely interject, "Stop joking around and answer the question, Black. I don't exactly trust Pettigrew of all people to keep my minion—I mean, friend—safe from harm!"
James threw his hands up in defense, "He's not bloody afraid of the dark! He's only… He has a skin condition that prevents him from being outside too long."
"Well the sun's gone down. What's his condition, anyway?" Jayden angrily threw at the boys, moving to help Kismet with the stubborn ropes.
Sirius and James exchanged a worried glance. "He's got spattergoit!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Never heard of it," said Kismet suspiciously. "And what the effing hell is wrong with this rope?! Were you two boy scouts or what!"
Both girls tugged with all their might, Jayden's face turning red with exertion.
Smirking at one another, James and Sirius settled in for the show. Conjuring up a couple rickety chairs, both boys sat back to enjoy the futile efforts.
Sensing the lack of help from the remaining males in the room, and wanting to be released sometime within the next century, Bryar spoke up, "Erm, Jayden? Kismet?"
Both angry witches turned to the tied up boy. "WHAT!" They shouted, earning chuckles from the peanut gallery that is two of the infamous Marauders.
"Well," Bryar informed patiently, "it may be of some use to use your wands. Might I recommend a slicing charm or maybe solvere antaruius to unbind me?"
In a moment of enlightenment, the girls' eyes met slowly. They gazed at the other over Bryar's head, disbelief written plainly on their faces. "Holy…" Jayden muttered, shaking her head as she stepped back to cast the charm.
"Thank you, love," he said brightly, springing from his former prison. He reached over to touch the redhead's shoulder, but she had quickly stepped away.
Blushing, she muttered, "Actually, Bryar, there's something we need to discuss." She looked away, seeing Kismet's nod of the head. "But not right now. I'll meet you in the Great Hall for breakfast tomorrow, alright?" He nodded in confirmation, his eyes somehow shining with understanding. She grasped his hand in hers and squeezed, turning away with a small smile.
"Alright, arses," she said in a mocking British tone, "get up! We have to save my slut of a sister."
-X-X-X-X-X-
"Cortez?" asked a hissed voice beside Sirenity's ear. "What are you bloody doing here?"
Sirenity turned briefly to her right, examining the blonde hair and dull grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. "Listening. Shh!" She said, turning back to the cloaked adults in the middle of the small circle.
"Oh for Merlin's sake!" she heard him exclaim under his breath. "Come on," he reached for her wrist. "We've got to get you out of here!"
With much more strength than she had thought she possessed, Sirenity yanked her arm away from Blondie and crossed it with her other. "I'm not going anywhere! I happen to like our society! I want to help!" she half-yelled.
Groaning inwardly, he turned back to the center where the speech was progressing. "Half-breeds! Mudbloods! Filth! We shall eradicate the threat to our society! To our world! Bring us the peace we've so long sought, and together, we'll be heroes to the rest of the wizarding world!"
The voice came from the center of the forest clearing, the moon shining down and illuminating tall figures in dark cloaks. The tallest, the one Draco presumed to be the Dark Lord, raised his arms in a victory stance as the students around him cheered. After the cries died down, only because he signaled for it, Voldemort began to point and single out each person to come forward, to be branded with the Dark Mark.
Bloody hell. I should leave, or they'll see my already-branded arm. He then glanced to his left, past his father and another Slytherin student, at Sirenity. Kismet would kill me if I left her behind.
Draco clenched his fists in frustration. Voldemort was now six people away from calling Sirenity forward.
Concealment charm! He thought, quickly and discreetly drawing his wand. After a muttered incantation and a quick wave, the mark on his left fore-arm had not vanished. It hadn't even faded!
"And now you, Narcissa Black," the Dark Lord muttered to Draco's right. Mum!
-X-X-X-X-X-
"Where is she?" called Kismet to the front where Sirius Black was muttering quietly to the mirror in his hand. Jayden nudged James when Sirius didn't answer. "WELL? Black! Where's Siren, you useless oaf!"
"Hush!" James spun on Kismet, holding his wand aloft as light, but pointing it at her all the same. Her eyes narrowed as she too drew her wand. "If Voldemort really is at Hogwarts, we all have to be silent or we and Siren will all be dead anyway!" he hissed before turning around.
Kismet quickly stomped around him to his face. With a vicious look, she responded in a low tone, "Listen to me, Potter, as I'll only say this once. This is your fault," his expression changed from anger to disbelief, "No, don't deny it. If you hadn't played that gods-awful prank on the three of us, my friend would not be marching into these trees with a psychopathic activist! So don't you dare tell me to hush when this is your doing!"
"Guys?" Jayden called from ahead. She had finally caught up to Sirius, who seemed the most worried about Sirenity, oddly enough. As sweet as it was, Jayden thought it may have to do with the fact that neither she or Kismet really knew who Vold-i-wart was.
"Coming," Kismet muttered before turning back to James. "Like I said, Potter. Your. Fault."
"Like I said, Potter…" he mimicked softly, sticking his tongue at her back. Thought she'd only say it once… that was at least three times.
After a few more minutes of silent trudging, the group came to a stop. Sirius began to whisper, "Wormtail. Wormtail, where are you, you slimy git!"
"That's no way to get me to respond, Padfoot," came a voice behind some bushes to their left. "At least say please, after all."
Jayden stumbled on a branch as she hurried to the source of the sound. "Pettigrew," she said when the boy popped up from his position. "Where's Sirenity? You've been keeping an eye haven't you?"
"Of course I have!" he said indignantly. Quickly, he lowered his voice further, "She's through there, in those trees. They're in a clearing. It looks bad, James." He whimpered, turning to his friends. "There's at least ten real Death Eaters, and the circle of Slytherins are, I think, receiving Dark Marks."
"What the hell is a Dark Mark, Black?" murmured Kismet dangerously.
"It's the chosen tattoo of Voldemort's followers," said Sirius. The ever-present scowl on his face deepened. "It's how he calls them to do his bidding."
Jayden's eyes closed and she took a breath, "Peter. Has… Has Siren…"
"No," he said immediately. "But get this; the blonde bloke you three showed up with is in there."
"Draco?" Kismet gasped. "Damnit!" She kicked a nearby tree, then turned back to the group. "What's the plan, then?"
Jayden sighed, finally opening her eyes to see Kismet staring boldly back at her, but watching as Peter's eyes flickered from Sirius to James and back again. Sirius's own gaze was on James as well, but James was staring at Jayden. Lovely.
"Um," she began, placing her hand on her forehead as she started to pace the ground. Sirius's and Peter's eyes watched her as well, and when she looked up again, everyone else stared at her expectantly. I hate being plan-person.
"Isn't it your turn yet?" she snapped at Kismet who folded her arms across her chest and smirked a bit. "Alright, then. Here's what we do."
-X-X-X-X-X-
"And, I don't think I recognize you," the Dark Lord stopped in front of Draco, holding his hand out expectantly. "Lucius Malfoy, any relation?"
"N-no, M-my Lord," Draco's future father stammered, swinging his long, blond hair forward to hide his eyes. "He is an exchange student from…"
Closing his eyes, Draco spat out the first country that came to mind, "Bulgaria," he opened his eyes to stare at the figure before him, "I hail from Bulgaria, lord."
"Promising school, Durmstrang. That is where you attended, yes?" Voldemort inquired, seeming almost polite.
"Yes, Lord Voldemort."
"Much more adequate tutelage. Enough idle gossip, hand me your arm," he commanded, red irises boring into Draco's own grey ones. Shuddering slightly, he extended his right arm, attempting to buy time.
"No, young one," the Dark Lord smiled charismatically, "I need the other one." A small chuckle ran through the ranks of students.
Taking a deep breath, Draco pulled back his right arm and placed his left wrist into Voldemort's grasp. Slowly, his sleeve was pushed up, and his arm was rolled—
"Stupefy, you slimy git!" cried a voice behind Draco. Immediately, Voldemort apparated to a spot ten feet away, safely behind his devoted Death Eaters. Students scattered, aimlessly taking cover within trees and behind bushes and large plants. The Death Eaters in the center pointed their wands at the source of the jet of red light which was a dark corner of the clearing next to a boulder. As Draco rolled to the ground, pushing his body to his left, he looked around for Sirenity who was nowhere to be found.
Drawing his wand again, he instinctively pointed it at the rock the Death Eaters faced. Voldemort himself had vanished, presumably leaving his followers to clean up the mess.
"Blondie, I'm hurt," said Jayden as she stepped out from behind the boulder. "I've come to rescue you, fair maiden, and you've turned a weapon towards me." She smirked, keeping her eyes and her wand trained on the six grown Death Eaters.
Rolling his eyes, he quickly jogged to her side and faced the threat as well, "Where's Kismet?"
"How sweet is that? Kismet's the first thing on your mind. Can't say I approve, but at least there's loyalty in the relationship."
"So, Kismet's fine, then?" he asked impatiently, his wand hand twitching slightly. If only there was no immediate threat, I'd hex the wench.
Turning serious suddenly, she responded, "Yes. She's fine. They've got Siren but we have to get out of here alive for you to see her." Raising her voice slightly, she aimed her next words at the Death Eaters. "So, we doing a séance tonight, or what? Sorry, forgot my cloak of despair and tragic fashion sense."
"What are you doing?" Draco hissed, his eyes widening as a spell shot past them, forcing the two teenagers to take cover.
"Well, I'm… improvising?" she said, eyebrows raising. "Look, they've all gotten away by now, but we'll have to drag this a bit longer to give them time. Help me take out a few of the baddies."
And the night gets worse. "Alright, but how long until we can make our way out of here?"
"Um, few more witticisms and I should be good," she said with a sarcastic smile. When she stepped out again, though, her brow was furrowed in a worried line.
"Bloody bullocks and sodding shite! Tea and crumpets, eh govnas?" she called, throwing three jinxes and a hex behind Draco's shield spell, causing two Death Eaters to fall to the ground, stunned. He listened as she taunted the most feared wizards and witches currently in Voldemort's ranks. Bloody bird's nuts!
"Get her!" the largest of the Dark Lord's followers yelled, pointing a giant finger in their direction. "Grab the boy, as well! He turned on us."
The Death Eaters ran boldly toward the two teenagers, knocking aside Jayden's spells as they went and throwing their own hexes in as well. "Blondie, I think it's time to go." She said really quickly, grabbing his robes and yanking him into the trees behind the rock.
The two ran and stumbled through the underbrush, branches catching on their hair and faces and clothes. Once, a little farther from the clearing, Jayden actually tripped. Helping her up, Draco asked quickly if she could support her weight, and she nodded yes tiredly. "Yeah, yeah, let's just go!"
They ran for a long time after that with their breathing becoming steadily more labored before Draco realized something.
"One moment," he said tiredly, resting his hand against the thick trunk of a nearby tree. "Where exactly are we?"
"How should I know?" she wondered, placing her hands on her knees to hold her weight. "I don't live here."
"Shite," he cursed, scratching his head. "Do you know where Kismet and Sirenity went, then?"
"Somewhere in a nearby village. Hogshmeet or something," she shrugged. "I've no idea where that would be."
"I do, but not in relation to where we are currently. Let's just keep moving."
The two walked from then on, pausing slightly to attempt to catch a glimpse at the full moon. Jayden climbed a few trees, watching carefully for the Death Eaters they'd seemed to have lost. They came upon a small creek that Draco suggested they follow upstream. When the creek lead them to a larger river, they followed that as well, finally coming upon a small range of mountains. They paused briefly beside a crack in the side of one of the smaller ones, but pushed through a valley that cut through the center of them.
The valley turned into a dirt trail that widened as they passed an old rickety shack. Draco glared tiredly at the building before his eyes widened.
"That's the Shrieking Shack! We're in Hogsmeade!"
A smile lit up Jayden's scratched and dirty face. "Yay! We're in a hog's sheets! You know where we are!"
"Jayden, listen," Draco turned to her quickly, pushing her behind the shack and into shadow, "You need to tell me where they said they'd be. The Three Broomsticks? Honeyduke's?"
"I don't know—"
"There you two are!" called a male voice loudly. Draco and Jayden ducked further around the building, crouching down behind two wooden barrels that smelled of rum.
"Jay? Draco?" called a feminine voice briskly. "Get out here, or I'll hex the both of you!"
Jayden smiled immediately. "Kismet!" She cried, vaulting out from her hiding spot and running full speed toward the group. She quickly patted Kismet's head, to which her friend scowled, and turned to wrap her sister in a hug.
"Siren! I'm glad you're okay, whore!" she exclaimed, tightening her hold on her sister.
"Jay… you're crushing… my boobs…" Sirenity grunted, though rubbing circles in Jayden's shoulder.
"Sorry."
As Jayden released Sirenity, a flash of blue light engulfed Siren's body. "Oh crap…" she muttered, quickly catching her sister as she fell.
The group glanced around wildly, looking for the source of magic. Three adults were marching toward them, wands drawn. "That's the Death Eaters!" cried Jayden as she pulled at her sister's body.
"RUN!" cried James, lifting Sirenity's other arm to help Jayden. "Quick, into the Shack!"
The teens rushed into the building. Sirius, Draco, and Peter pushed some of the furniture against the door as Jayden laid her sister on the floor beside an old staircase. Lights and pounding came from the blocked doorway as the Death Eaters fought to enter the shack.
"What do we do now?" asked Kismet, crouching on the other side of Sirenity's limp form. "We're trapped, and they'll get in here eventually." Three voices answered her question.
"Let's go upstairs," came from Draco.
"Let's open the door and fight!" That was James.
"Let's just…stay here and wait for someone to rescue us?" Unfortunately, that came from Peter.
Jayden was still staring at Sirenity, stroking her sister's blond hair. "Siren, get up, please. I can't lose you, sis," she whispered, resting her forehead on the blond girl's cheek.
Kismet glanced at Sirius, expecting him to throw in some outlandish idea to add to the peanut gallery, but none came. Instead, he stroked his cheek and stared down at Sirenity in thought. Suddenly, his eyes widened minimally, and he too kneeled beside the girls. He waved his wand over the unconscious girl, muttering quickly in Latin.
When he was through, his shoulders sagged and the bickering between the three other males ceased. James placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder and tears rolled down Jayden's face.
"Is she—"
Quickly blinking, Sirenity looked up into the faces of her friends and her crush. "What'd I miss?" she asked, genuinely confused.
Laughing loudly in triumph, Jayden and Kismet pulled the girl into a hug. "Ow! My boobs!"
"Oh thank the gods! You're okay!"
"I hate you so much, how could you do that to us!"
"What was it they hit her with?" James quietly asked of Sirius.
Biting his lip, he responded, "Well, mate, I think it was a variation of what my mum used on me as a kid to get me to shut up when I cried. 'S how I recognized it, see? But…" his brow furrowed in thought, "She doesn't seem to be showing the usual side-effects of the counter curse."
"Oh yeah? What's that?" asked James.
Both boys turned to look at Sirenity who was petting Draco's hair, "Ohmygosh! It's so shiny! Look, Kissy, SHINY!"
Kismet fumed, her eyes wide in anger at the forbidden nickname. Jayden pushed herself back in disgust, frowning at a bewildered Draco. "Don't touch that," he said, pushing Siren's hand away.
"Wait…Kissy?" Peter chuckled, holding his wide stomach in mirth. He quickly stopped laughing at the brunette girl's glare.
"Don't even, Pettigrew, or I'll—"
BOOM!
The teenagers shrieked in surprise, whipping out their wands and taking cover as the front door, chest of drawers, and moth-eaten couch all flew into the room in pieces. Quickly hoisting themselves off the floor to face the threat, the girls cast the Protego charm as the boys fired off curses in quick succession. Still, the Death Eaters persisted, chasing the group up the falling staircase and into a bedroom. James aimed a reducto curse at the bannister and the top steps, causing the adults to fall to the floor below. He and Sirius quickly shut the door behind the group and turned to face the room.
Peter was the first to notice it. "Hey, isn't this where Re—"
Sirius clamped a hand on his friend's mouth as he looked around quickly, his wand still at the ready.
"Sirius?" giggled Siren, "What are you doing? Are you dancing?"
"Not quite, Sirenity," he replied, as Peter and James joined him in searching the room.
"Think he's downstairs?" whispered James as he pushed aside a curtain.
"Oh! Guys, here's the tunnel!" cried Peter, "We're saved!"
"Thank Merlin's left sweat sock," Sirius pushed his hair from his eyes, opening the door Peter stood beside. "Alright, ladies first."
No sooner had the words left his mouth that the teens all heard a growling sound from the door. Then, the aforementioned door burst open, admitting a very loud, very angry, probably very hungry werewolf.
"PUPPY!" cried Sirenity as she pointed in glee at the wolf.
"Not quite, Sirenity. That's a werewolf," replied Sirius almost patiently as he and James both changed quickly into their animagus forms.
"KITTY!" cried Sirenity…again.
"No, Siren. Just…Just no. Ferocious, life-saving dog," said Jayden as she shook her head.
When James changed, Sirenity gasped, "DEER!"
"Actually, I think she's spot on with that one," replied Kismet as the girls and Peter yanked Siren and Draco toward the tunnel.
James butted heads with the werewolf, pushing him through the door and off the landing onto the floor the Death Eaters had fallen to. He and Sirius quickly changed back into their human selves, and looked toward the girls.
"I call Sirenity!" came Sirius's reply.
"Jayden!" said James at the same time.
They both turned back into animals and allowed the girls, and Peter in his own animagus form which was that of a rat's, to clamber onto their backs. Sirius had a bit of a hard time carrying Sirenity, but eventually he bore the weight.
As the only two left in the building with a rampaging werewolf and murderous Dark Lord followers, Kismet turned to Draco.
"Well? Can't you turn into an animal?" she asked with her eyebrows raised expectantly.
"Not quite, sorry," he replied, tugging her by the wrist into the dark tunnel after their companions.
"Great."
-X-X-X-X-X-
Finally making it through the tunnel and to the base of the Whomping Willow, Kismet punched Jayden's shoulder abruptly as she tried catching her breath.
"I'm so… turning… you both… in for… bestiality."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you, Prude," Jayden replied with a roll of her eyes.
Eventually, the tired teens trudged from beneath the now-stilled Willow and Peter volunteered to inform Dumbledore of the incident. James then decided that they should all go, as they'd just be pulled from bed anyhow.
Slowly, oh so slowly, they almost crawled up four moving staircases and sat at the base of the Headmaster's office, lazily calling out candies to the gargoyles.
"Fizzing Wuzzits."
"Best Drooble's Blowing Gum."
"Bee's Wax."
"Purple Nurples."
"Not a candy."
"Twizzlers."
"RED VINES! Ohmigod I miss Red Vines!"
"Sirenity, it's not going to be—"
The gargoyle slowly began to spin upward, taking the staircase with it.
"You've got to be kidding me," grumbled Kismet.
"I'm not even surprised," replied Jayden as she shook her head.
"I hate life," murmured Draco. "It isn't even fair."
Sirius clapped his hand jovially on Draco's shoulder, "Chin up, chap. You've got a lovely bird, we're all alive, and Dumbledore always gives out lemon drops. Nothing else can go wrong tonight."
-X-X-X-X-X-
"WHAT!" They all cried, throwing their hands to their sides as they stood together in outrage.
"DETENTION! You're off your rocker, Dumbledore!" cried Sirius as he folded his arms.
"My apologies, Mr. Black. Perhaps you'd care for a lemon drop?" inquired Headmaster Dumbledore, polite as always.
Sitting down and tugging James and Kismet to do the same, as they were the only ones still standing at this point, Jayden said, "Professor, we just escaped seven Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. I fail to see how any of us deserve detention. I mean, maybe we don't deserve awards or a banquet, but come on man! We're heroes!"
"Miss Millsap, while I am very grateful the seven of you are alive, I believe you told me there were six Death Eaters," he smiled, looking over his half-moon glasses at the assembled teenagers. "And I do believe your story, no need to worry about that. I've sent ahead for the ministry to search the woods and the Shrieking Shack for the Death Eaters. However," he paused, looking around the room to include everyone present, "your involvement in this…incident could have been avoided easily if not for your drawn-out prank war. Therefore, I believe it very prudent that ten points each be awarded to Gryffindor and to Slytherin, but also that you all serve two nights' detention for putting each other in harm's way."
Jayden huffed, crossing her own arms and mimicking Sirius's slouch.
"Is there anything else of which I should be informed? James, Sirius, Peter?"
The three boys glanced at the other hesitantly, Sirius finally nodding to James who sighed. "Actually sir, I think it prudent to check on Remus as well. He wasn't…feeling well, and I don't know if he made it to the Hospital Wing in our absence."
Dumbledore nodded his head thoughtfully, smiling at James. "Thank you, I shall see that it is done. You all must be exhausted. Might I suggest a quick jaunt to the Wing and then off to bed?"
Sensing a dismissal that was not, in Jayden's opinion, very subtle, the group rose to their feet, thanking Professor Dumbledore and exiting the office.
"Blasted old codger," she murmured to herself as she watched Sirenity shoot flowers from her wand with a dazed smile.
A/N: It's not the last chapter, there's one more to go. I'd say stay tuned but I really don't update often, do I?
Once again this story is dedicated to ToxicXLullaby (Or however her name is spelled these days). See you tomorrow, Puzzle.
