Chapter 13: Rekindling Friendships
This summer has been a new experience for me. It's been a lot of nights with James in his room. Had become a pro at getting me to calm down after my nightmares had woken me. They usually revolved around my crazy aunt. But most recently, much to my dismay, they have a revolved around the death of my friends at the hands of Bellatrix, it's mostly James, Remus, and Sirius. Remus and I have been sending letters all summer. He was once again single asses for a little problem became a problem for his relationship. Lily was still seeing David happily, I might add, and still talking Severus. Sirius now felt a lot of guilt for what he did to Emmeline. He's tried very hard to get back with her but she continues to push them away as punishment for what he did last year.
James and I were laying in his bed doing the last of our summer homework. A headache starting to form in the back of my head so I slammed the book shut and rolled over onto my side to face him. James looked down at me and smiled, brushing my blue curls from my face. I took his parchment from him and shoved it to the floor with the rest of our stuff. I crawled onto his lap, straddling him. "Mm, I like this form of studying." James murmured as I lowered my lips to his. One of his hands locked in my hair while the snuck under my shirt and up to my breasts. I raised my arms and he lifted off my shirt. I wasn't wearing a bra and he immediately latched onto the breast. I groaned and James flipped us over pinning my to the bed. He kissed down my body and grazing over my breasts before moving down my abdomen. I gripped his shirt and pulled it off of him and tossing it to the floor. Just as he reached for the button on my Sirius' loud voice made us jump apart.
"James!" Swinging the door open. I immediately rolled away from the door to cover myself but James was a step ahead of me. He already moved to cover me from Sirius' view. He stood in the doorway wide-eyed. "You know, I think it's best if I wait for you downstairs rather than barging into your room."
"Good call, Sirius," James said sarcastically as Sirius closed the door. James turned over to look at me and I buried my face in the pillow. "C'mon babe, people are going to start arriving soon." He kissed my shoulder and got out of bed. I pulled my blue top back on and buttoned my jeans. James came to the bed, now fully dressed, and kissed my forehead. "Nymph, listen if you think that we are ever-"
"I initiated it, James." I reminded him. "I wouldn't have if I wasn't sure."
"We are still young, Nymph."
"I don't care." James smiles and wrapped his arm around my waist. Together we descended the stairs to see Remus and Sirius sitting on the couch with the map.
"Did you figure it out?" I asked Remus. We had been writing all summer and we have been able to keep it friendly. We mostly talked about the map but we had one rule. Never talk about our relationships.
"Finally got the last spell to work." Remus grinned. "The map is working. Give it a go."
I stepped forward and pointed my wand at it. "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good."
The words began to appear on the parchment: Messrs Moony, Midnight, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present: THE MARAUDER'S MAP. I grinned excitedly at the map. We'd done it. It took all summer and a lot of work, mostly on Remus' part, but we finally got it done.
The fire roared and Frank stepped through the fire. James quickly grabbed the map stuffing it into his coat pocket. Alice, Lily, and Emmeline all arrived shortly after he did. They all sat around the Potter's kitchen table when suddenly James stood.
"Okay, guys listen up." Everyone stopped their individual conversations and turned to him. "I know that last year wasn't what any of us expected. Things took a few unexpected turns and we kind of lost each other, but the war is coming. More people are dying every day and I know who I want standing next to me when the fight starts and it's you, all of you." I smiled proudly at my boyfriend who grinned right back at me.
"He's right," Remus said. Making me look up at him in surprise. He's looking directly at me. "We all have to forgive each other."
"They are right." Lily chimed in. "Everything isn't what we planned but it is what it is and we can't change it. Time to grow up and accept it."
"To a new year." I raised my glass, everyone following suit echoing my words.
Despite the renewal of our friendships over the summer, I found myself wanting to be alone when the school year finally arrived. I spent most of my time alone and in my spare time, I was with James. For some reason, I couldn't go back to the way it was before our friend group fell apart. It all felt so forced and awkward. I sat alone in the tower at Hogwarts. It was the one place that no one would come looking for me. I came here to study, but mostly to avoid any run-ins with Remus, Sirius, James, or Lily. My years at Hogwarts were not what I expected. These were supposed to be the best years of my life. The years where I was supposed to develop the closest friendships and become a great wizard. If that was the case, why did I feel so scared all the time? Why is it that in every year something horrible happened. I felt like my only choice now was to pull away from my friends.
It was my family, that is working closely with the Dark Lord, that got people at the school hurt and even killed. We've been back in school for three months now and this system was working. No one had gotten hurt and my friends were safe and happy. If someone from my family wanted to get to me, to make a point that wasn't compliant then they could hurt me. Not anyone that I cared about. Three months like this and no one had been hurt, including me. The people I cared about most were safer without me.
I stood from my spot on the floor and moved over the window. I looked down at the yard where people were gathering for Quidditch practice. I had quit the team at the beginning of the year, much to James' shock. Yet, no one bothered to argue with me about my decision. I watched as James, Sirius, and Remus came out into the courtyard. The three of them were laughing as they surrounded a book which made me think that they were planning some sort of prank.
"They seem to be doing just fine without you," I turned around quickly to see Peter Pettigrew standing before me, pointing his wand in my direction. I reached for my wand but Peter screamed forcing me to jump, "Don't you dare!"
"Why are you doing this, Peter?"
He ignored me advancing forward. "Did you really think that you would be able to live a normal life, Nymphadora. The daughter of a blood traitor. You think that Dark Lord would let you join Dumbledore's side?" Peter hissed.
"What are you talking about?" I whispered, horrified.
"Your gift is special, Nymphadora," Peter's sounded demented. His voice sending shivers down my spine. "Come with me and put it to good use."
"Never." I hissed.
Peter sighed, looking a little dejected, "Then you have to die." I pulled out my wand but he already had his drawn.
"Expelliarmus," Peter shouted and my wand flew out of my hand. I glared at Peter as fear gripped me. I didn't want to die here. There was so much I hadn't done. That I hadn't told my friends.
"Peter, you don't have to do this." I pleaded.
"Locomotor Mortis." My legs locked under me and I collapsed to the ground. "Mortem Stimulus." The Stinging Hex. I screamed loudly as the pain spread through my body. Peter hovered me, his wand pointed directly at my face. I kicked him where the sun doesn't shine and shoved him off me. I stumbled towards the door my body weak from the hex.
"Reducto!" His spell sent me flying into the wall. Parts of the wall crumbled on top of me. I gasped for breath and my body ached. I coughed loudly as Peter came closer. He grabbed me by my throat and dragged me to my feet. "Last chance, Nymphadora." He smirked.
"Go to hell," I gasped out. He was cutting off my air supply. I grabbed his wand hand and twisted his wrist. He groaned in pain and his wand slipped from his hand. I kicked it away from us and punched him in the face. He stumbled to the ground bringing me with him. We scuttled across the floor both of us getting in a few good punches. We stumbled closer to the window that leads to the courtyard when he got his hands around my throat. He gripped my throat with all his might, I couldn't breath and my hands seemed to move in slow motion. I pushed against his face but it wasn't any use. My vision began to blacken and I knew that if I didn't figure something out I would be dead. Suddenly the door flew open making Peter's slacken momentarily. I coughed as air finally flowed through my lungs.
I shoved Peter off of me just as the man at the door yelled, "Stupefy!" Much to my horror, the spell hit Peter and out attacks on his sent him falling from the Tower window. I heard the screams of the students below but I couldn't focus on it. My vision was still blurry and my entire body was aching in pain. Bruises were taking form all over me, but most visibly around my neck. Blood trickled down my face from getting thrown into the wall. A man dropped down in front of me, but my vision was still blurry and my breath was coming out quickly. We'd killed Peter, I'd killed someone.
"Nymphadora," The voice belonged to Severus Snape. He sounded shaken and scared, but mostly concerned. He'd saved my life. "We need to get you to the infirmary."
My eyes began to close, "Thank you, Severus." I whispered. The last thing I registered was him picking me up off the ground.