Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
AN: This chapter jumps around a bit. Sorry if Sirius is a bit OOC here... yeah...
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Over the next two years, the three Marauders fought constantly for Annabelle's attention. They gave her little gifts, told her entertaining stories, and did pranks on anyone who crossed her in anyway. They didn't bother her when she was studying, in fact she and Remus even coaxed Sirius and Peter to study with them – or maybe they did so that Annabelle and Remus were never alone together.
James, in the seventh year, finally got Lily to go out with him after Severus had called her a 'mudblood'. Lily had gone to James, who had his arms open, and a shoulder to cry on. Meanwhile, their seventh year was almost over. Unbeknownst to Sirius, Remus, and Peter… Annabelle was growing tired of their fighting for her affection.
They were all great friends, and she was afraid that, if she chose one, the others would turn their back on her. So finally, she decided to narrow it down to two.
A week before the last day – their graduation – Annabelle sat in the Common Room with James, Lily, and Peter. Sirius and Remus were nowhere to be seen. Annabelle had her fingers combing nervously through her long, blond, brown, and purple hair.
"Peter… I'm sorry but… I don't think I really love you." To Annabelle's surprise, Peter smiled wide and rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Spotty, you think I didn't know? Hello, I'm competing with Sirius and Remus! Sirius, hot stuff of the Gryffindors, and Remus – one of the smartest people in the school! What am I compared to that? Besides, you're a cat, I'm a mouse," he smirked just a little, hands out in a what can you do about it gesture. "It'd just be wrong!"
Annabelle laughed, and hugged him. "You are amazing Peter."
James called down to them as he and Lily stopped snogging for once. "Do you guys want to take a picture of us all together before we run out of time?" "Yeah, it's a beautiful day!" Lily added. Annabelle and Peter smiled. "Sure!"
They went outside where Remus and Sirius were, apparently. Remus had a camera with him. "Ready?"
They stood together, and Lily took the camera. The order went like this: James, Sirius, Annabelle, Remus, Peter. Lily smiled "Marauders forever!" They all laughed at her tease.
Sirius snatched the photo from Lily. "And I shall keep it! Because I do the best ever-lasting sticking charm of us five. And it'll kill my parents to see me so happy with a bunch of Gryffindor friends!"
Remus smiled, looking at the picture. "And, this way, if one of us five dies in the war, we can use this picture to show our friends – or kids – who we were – The Marauders! Biggest troublemakers Hogwarts has ever seen!" They laughed.
...
It was the end. They had packed up their trunks, in a few minutes; they would be getting on the train. Remus and Sirius were waiting in the Common Room. Annabelle was dragging her trunk down the stairs. Everyone else had already left.
Annabelle stood there. She looked nervous. "So this is it guys."
Remus shrugged, "Well… since we'll probably all join the Order… we'll still all see each other."
But Sirius was impatient. "Listen, Spotty, we've got to know! We've all been mixed up for two years now, ever since that prank that went wrong! You know our feelings for you! Make up your mind!"
Annabelle flinched. "I'm sorry… You know I hate this! I just… whatever happens will happen, one of the reasons I love you both so much is that nothing could ever tear you apart… and… I just don't know how to put it…" "YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT, JUST DO SOMETHING!" Sirius yelled, stressed from time and waiting. He really didn't mean to be harsh.
They both started talking quickly about how it was fine and she could choose and it wouldn't matter, when she got overwhelmed – and kissed Remus.
Sirius stared in shock as they kissed. Remus's eyes widened in the surprise of the kiss. He was so sure that it would be Sirius.
Finally Sirius couldn't take it. "THAT'S ENOUGH DAMN SNOGGING ALREADY I GET IT!" They broke away suddenly, as if electrocuted.
Annabelle turned to Sirius, "I'm really sorry, it's just that-" "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HOW SORRY YOU ARE ANNABELLE! I COULD'VE MOVED ON IF THIS WAS WHAT I KNEW WAS TO HAPPEN!" "Sirius, give me a chance to – AH!"
Sirius and Remus froze in shock. Sirius had punched Annabelle in the face as he lost control.
She pinched her nose, eyes overflowing with tears that started to flow down her face. Blood was oozing from her nose.
Annabelle, her voice a little off and choked with tears, whimpered. "You broke my nose." It was not an exclamation, more like a soft note of surprise. She, now sobbing, grabbed her trunk with her other hand and ran out the door.
Remus was livid. He turned, confronting the still shocked Sirius. "What is wrong with you?!" Sirius was surprised to see tears in his eyes. "You don't get it, do you!? You wouldn't even let her explain! Did you even think that it could be things like that that she didn't want to have to deal with? Sirius, I'm not mad at you just… disappointed. Besides, you could've had your pick of any girl in any year in any House in Hogwarts, and you had to go after the one that liked me and Peter, two guys who fail epically when it comes to the opposite gender! Finally, a girl who liked us for us and one that we liked back? And you just had to tramp in, and then when you don't get your way, you punch her? Sirius, we may never see her again! And this is her last memory of you – punching her in the face after we both said we'd be good sports! That is wrong!" He grabbed his own trunk and left.
"Blimey… what did I do?"
...
Sirius stepped onto the regular compartment for the Marauders on the train. To his surprise, only James, Remus, Peter were there. Remus was reading a book, but Peter and James fixed him with legendary Marauder glares.
Sirius grimaced and sat down. "So where's Spotty?" he asked nervously.
Peter glared harder. "Why don't you tell us?"
Sirius frowned, looking at the floor. "I don't know what happened… one minute I was angry and the next she was crying…"
James started yelling at him, "You damn know what happened Sirius! Peter and I were about to meet Lily and get on the train when Annabelle runs into the Hall and starts sobbing and bleeding on Lily! The only things we were able to catch were 'Sirius' and 'punched' and 'broken'. You punched her in the damn face when she chose Remus! You broke her bloody nose, after you said it would be okay! So now she and Lily are riding home with Severus, because Lily wanted to say good-bye to him, and because Annabelle is afraid to be near you! But now Lily's staying there to keep Annabelle comfortable and she's trying to use 'Episkey' on her nose! Bloody good job Sirius!" he added angrily.
Sirius sighed, "I really don't know what happened. I never meant to hurt her I just… got frustrated and carried away."
Peter, frustrated, breathed heavily. "It's okay Sirius… we know you weren't thinking. We aren't really mad… just… I'm not sure if she'll ever forgive you Padfoot.
"We may never even see her again."
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AN: So, we see where the picture from the very beginning comes from! You know, the one Harry found? ;) Don't fret, my lovely readers! *passes out cookies* Just sit tight! So, the Marauders' time at Hogwarts is through. But this story isn't over juuust yet! ;)