In the past couple weeks everything had basically gone back to normal…well as normal as could be while you're in the middle of a power struggle between good and evil. Sirius had gotten over the whole my sister and best friend are having sex thing and basically just didn't talk about it or mention it or anything related. Now I just had to get James off my tail with Quidditch.
"James come on we've been out here for 4 hours," I groaned pushing hair out of my eyes while hovering above the ground where he had been standing drilling the team, "It's getting dark and we're all tired except for you."
"And what happens of you get tired during a game, huh?" He looked up at me.
"You can't be serious," I glared, "For one we have never complained during a game and I don't know why you would think that now. Two, if you keep putting us through these ridiculous practices we are going to want to support you very much on the field."
He sighed and looked up at his sluggish players, "Alright practice over good job guys!" He screamed over the wind that had started blowing 20 minutes in.
"Thank you," I gave a tiny smile and hopped off my broom falling the two or so feet to the ground and pulled my broom down with me. All of the others including the reserve players trudged into the locker rooms while I helped James gather the balls.
"I just don't want to let down the house, I want to do the best job I possibly can." He muttered locking in one of the bludgers while I did the other.
"We won the cup last year what makes you think we won't this year?" I helped him pick it up and we started walking from the middle of the field to the closet where it was kept.
"I just have a bad feeling about this game." Looking over I saw a prominent frown on his face, "It just feels like something is going to happen."
"Like…"
"Well it is against Slytherin," He looked over at me as we sat the trunk down.
Rolling my eyes I turned away, "I'll be fine, after all I'm the fastest flier here at Hogwarts."
"You might be fast but what if they gang up on you?"
"Then Madam Hooch will be there she is always particularly vigilant during the Gryffindor/Slytherin games. I'll be just fine." Smiling I reached up and patted his head then walked back to the locker room. Just as I was about to go in the door I hear him mutter something like 'I hope.'
oOo
Walking out on the pitch with the team the next day I had a huge knot in my stomach as I felt hundreds of eyes on me from the Slytherin stands along with all of the team who were just sitting in the middle of the pitch looking over at us. Madam Hooch made sure to emphasize the rules as we all faced each other and then the quaffle was up in the air and the worst game of my life began.
Almost instantly I was flanked by one chaser and one beater, I noticed them swerve out and work to come back in to smash me in-between and I quickly took off up into the sky. Since they weren't seekers they weren't used to going almost straight up like I was but Regulus definitely was and took off up next to me.
"If only I found the snitch," I voiced in my head but there wasn't even an opportunity to do that as the chaser cut me off and I had to turn only to be surrounded by the players as Hooch took off to try and break the whole thing up. I couldn't even concentrate on what was being said as I used the opportunity to drop down and race under the barrier that had been made just in time to see the other beater swing and the familiar crack was heard as the bludger flew at me just as another crack was heard behind and I knew the other had just hit the other bludger.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Roderick and the new beater Tony racing towards me as I swiveled the broom hoping to try and see where the other was going. Just as I got into place the first smacked into my shoulder and I heard the crack of my bones and pain shoot throughout my body as I knocked me off balance. Then other made contact with the lower right side of my back and I lost all balance and slipped off my broom I quickly saw the ground getting closer as I fell closing the 50 gap between where I had been and the ground. Closing my eyes I waited for the impact and hoped I would black out right after so I wouldn't feel all the pain.
Suddenly I felt my body slow but it didn't stop me totally and I still hit the ground with a loud thud on my broken shoulder which thankfully produced enough pain that I closed my eyes drifting out… but just for a couple minutes because when I came to the pain still throbbed, though, thankfully it wasn't anywhere near the pain of the Cruciatus Curse.
"We need to get her back to the hospital wing." Madam Pomfrey said quietly and I felt myself lift into the air. Trying to breath I waited until my body was laid down again before peeking open my eyes, "Oh thank Merlin," she rushed over. "Please try to stay awake even if it's painful…"
"Ok," was all I could mutter as I felt her cutting away my top to examine my shoulder better and I gritted my teeth as she ran her wand over it and things popped and crunched back into place. With my other hand I gripped tightly onto the sheets of the cot as the doors slammed open and in rushed the boys, Lily, Frank, and Alice. Instantly Madam Pomfrey stood up leaving me in a very painful spot where I could actually feel the bone poking against my skin.
"No," Was all she said, "one by the bed all else stand at the end." All of them motioned for Sirius to go and I just closed my eyes wishing that they would hurry up. I let out a little whimper the pain increasing as I tensed my muscles and closed my eyes a couple seconds later I felt her begin working again and the bone moved but with another painful crack. I gripped onto the sheets again but this time a hand gripped onto mine and took hold letting me squeeze all I wanted.
Keeping my eyes closed I just figured it was Sirius, finally the pain in my shoulder subsided and her wand left my skin. Now all that was left was the pain in my back and for the first time in the entire period I attempted to move my feet and couldn't. Instantly panic erupted and I snapped open my eyes and prompt up on my elbows ignoring the dull throb in my shoulder and tried to moved again but couldn't.
"Why can't I move!" I yelled out and Madam Pomfrey rushed over with a potion.
"It damaged your spine," She said like it was nothing pouring the goop onto a spoon then forced it at me, "drink." Not caring what it tasted like I downed it, "Mr. Lupin help me turn her over." Snapping my head to the side I saw him sitting there and he unclenched my hand from his and stood up. Trying to take deep breaths I felt them pick me up and flip me over onto my stomach though I adjusted my top half turning my head to the side.
"Breath," I saw him come back into view and sit down on the floor beside me and ran his hand over my cheek. "It's all going to be fixed soon," Nodding I just looked at his face and he kept eye contact. Letting out a shaky breath I closed my eyes and he leaned forward kissing the top of my head.
I heard a loud crack and tingling started making its way down my legs calming my nerves a little bit. Opening my eyes I saw him wince slightly as another pop was heard and reached my hand up holding on to his.
"It appears that part of your hip took the hit too," Madam Pomfrey commented as I felt pressure build in my lower back and finally release and I felt everything including the pain. Letting out a loud groan I buried my face in the pillow and gripped tightly onto Remus' hand. "A couple more seconds Adhara," she tried to comfort me and I just nodded against the pillow as a bone popped back into place and then another each time I would tighten my hold on his hand and then release as the pain got a little better after each one.
Finally all of it was over and I could relax, "Is she ok?" I heard Sirius ask and felt a hand touch my foot a finger sliding over the center.
I quickly kicked the hand away, "that tickles."
"I think she's just fine, except for the cuts and bruises from the fall," Madam Pomfrey said. I turned around sitting up, examining my scraped up knuckled and I could feel the starch of a scrape on my cheek.
"Thank you," I smiled and she smiled back then walked over to her potion stores. Taking the opportunity everyone gathered around the cot the two girls sitting on the end as I tucked my feet up around me and Remus moving up on the side wrapping an arm around my back.
"That was bloody scary," Frank muttered and Alice gave him a dirty look, "it was!"
Giggling I just shook my head and looked around to my friends and realized they all were my friends since Peter wasn't here, "where is he?" I commented knowing that they would figure it out.
"No clue," Sirius shrugged, "he wasn't even sitting beside us."
"Oh well," I shrugged and lean my head on Remus' shoulder. "So umm what happened with the game."
"Well it's mostly still being discussed but I think they are going to be suspended from the season this year." James commented.
"Well then we have a good chance of winning the cup again," I smiled and James frowned.
"McGonagall thinks that's its best if you sit out this season."
"You've got to be kidding me!" I shot up looking at all of them who had slightly guilty looks. "No way is that happening, getting hurt is a natural part of quidditch."
"Getting hurt…yes…but getting ganged up on is not." Sirius scolded
"No," I shook my head and worked to get out of the bed.
"Sit down!" Madam Pomfrey yelled from across the room and I instantly stopped moving, "you've got to stay overnight." She rushed over and instantly my eyes flicked to Remus since it happened to be a full moon tonight.
"I can't," I looked over and her wide eyed.
"Yes you can and you will," she scolded.
"It's ok," Remus whispered into my ear slipping his arms around my waist.
"No it's not, I'm fine," I muttered back frowning.
"Miss. Black, I need to make sure there isn't any more damage and the only way to do that is by observing you." She walked over holding another potion bottle, "this will help with the soreness."
"I don't even have any soreness," I complained looking up at her and didn't noticed Sirius reach up and poke my shoulder which I jerked away from. "Ok there isn't much," I begrudgingly took the potion.
oOo
After staying in there for about 2 hours almost everyone left for lunch except Remus. Also for the past 2 hours I had been pouting because I couldn't go out tonight and possibly couldn't play quidditch this year.
"Its fine," Remus smiled, sitting beside me on the cot.
"No it's not," I pouted looking down at my fingers knowing he was talking about tonight.
"Padfoot, Prongs, and Wormtail can keep me company," I felt his hand brush over my cheek and I flicked my eyes up looking into his.
"Well you should go eat you need strength for tonight."
"I'll be fine," He smiled leaning in and gently brushing his lips against mine making tiny butterflies flutter around in my stomach; pulling back I couldn't help but smile a tiny bit.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the door creak open to revel McGonagall and surprisingly Headmaster Dumbledore. Widening my eyes I sat up a little straighter and Remus looked behind to see what had gotten my attention and quickly straightened up too.
"I'm glad to see you're ok, Miss. Black," He gave that same small smile and a slight twinkle passed over his eyes. Never had the greatest wizard of all time spoken to me and to say I was a little shocked was an understatement.
I felt a slight nudge on my side as Remus signaled for me to talk, "Yes, I feel just fine."
"I see that you're doing well also Mr. Lupin," He switched his gaze to him though with a bit more serious look on his face.
"A little worn but yes," Remus replied and I switched my eyes to him glaring slightly since he had just lied to me then. As I looked over at him I heard Dumbledore chuckle slightly and felt a slight blush spread over my cheeks for acting like that in front of him.
"Well Adhara we have some things to discuss with you," McGonagall stated and I nodded. "We, as in The Headmaster, Professor Slughorn and myself feel that the Slytherin team should be prohibited from playing for the rest of the year," McGonagall stated.
"What about me?" I asked looking up at her caring more about that than the other team.
"I don't see a reason why you couldn't continue playing if Madam Pomfrey says you're alright," Dumbledore responded with a small smile.
"Thank goodness," I sighed relieved and tipped my head back against the bed.
"So they will be out all season?" Remus commented the ever responsible boyfriend.
"Yes," McGonagall assured him.
"Well what about around school? They aren't going to be overjoyed about that…" He responded.
"That is why we are going to bring in someone to escort you to and from classes for at least a few months," Dumbledore assured him.
"You don't have to do that," I tried to give a small smile but was dreading being followed around by some person.
"Yes," Remus muttered and I flipped my eyes to him glaring.
"It will only be for a little while and you will barely notice them," Dumbledore smiled and I let out a deep breath.
"Ok."
oOo
All too soon they left and also all too soon dinner came and passed along with visiting hours. I slowly watched the sun start to drop lower into the sky. Moving a chair closer to the window I watched as Madam Pomfrey made her way out of her office with her cloak.
"Come on Pomfrey, I'm just fine see…" I got up doing a couple hops around. "Please…" I pleaded walking up to her and she looked over me.
"You have been alright all day," She nodded, "and he has been a lot better since last year."
"Pleaseee," I whispered and her eyes softened, "I've done everything you asked all day counting the potions so please."
"Alright," she nodded and took off her cloak, "wear this and you know about the knot?" shaking my head yes she took and deep breath and turned her back signaling for me to go.
Smiling, I raced out of the wing, down the corridor to the stairs, down the stairs to the courtyard and ran all the way down to the Whomping Willow where he was waiting looking up at the sky. When he heard my footsteps he turned his head and though obviously didn't recongnize me with Madam Pomfrey's cloak on because he just stood there continuing to look up at the moon. With a small smile I kept the hood up and held up my wand muttering a spell to press the knot and the tree stopped moving around. Silently he made his way into the hole and I followed silently with a small smirk.
When we made it up to the room he just sat down on the floor expecting me to leave but as I leaned against the doorway the hood covering my face he looked up at me with a confused look. "It's going to rise soon," he mumbled signaling for me to leave. As I continued to stand there his face knitted with confusion. "I would leave if I were you…" I gave a small shrug and he got up off the floor walking closer.
I watched him slowly reach up a hand and untied the string as I tipped up my head. Slowly a smile came to his face and he leaned down giving me a soft kiss, "did you knock her out of something?"
"She let me go," I responded and glanced out the window to see the the moon rising. Nodding towards the window he turned his head and took a couple steps back as I discarded the cloak on the floor and transformed into an owl flying up to the ceiling. Closing my eyes I heard the popping and crunching along with the grunts.
"Stay with me Remus," I whispered into his mind, "remember that I love you."
"Keep talking," was all I heard back.
"You know what my memory is for the charm…it's you laying beside me that's my happiest memory." Suddenly I heard footsteps and then paws and hooves racing up the stair and flipped my head to the side. "Stay with me…" I said as Sirius and James raced through the door. "Get Back!" I yelled at them and they quickly took a couple steps back looking up at me, "don't look at me idiots." Turning my attention back to Remus I spoke only to him, "it when you were laying beside me in bed and you looked down and brushed the hair out of my face. Remember?" I just saw his head nod slightly before another loud pop was heard and he face started changing form the last thing to happen. "That's my happiest memory, you are my happiest memory and always will be. You make me the happiest person alive." I looked down and the transformation finally completed and he stood in the middle of the room breathing heavily.
"You were mine too," he whispered back into my mind and I smiled on the inside and swooped down to the floor beside him signaling to the guys that everything was fine.
"Why wasn't the willow moving?" Sirius asked looking between us.
"I stopped it when I came up here with him," I replied.
"Oh ok, we just thought that Pomfrey wasn't out or something," James commented saying why they raced up here so fast. "Wait how did you get out?"
"Oh I just knocked her out and stole her cloak."
"Really?" Sirius asked happily with a dog type smile on his face.
"No Padfoot," I laughed inside, "she allowed me to come with some begging."
"Should've snuck out," he laid down on the floor looking up at us with his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth.
"Sorry didn't get that gene to just want to get in trouble." I remarked. "Umm where's Wormtail?"
"Right here?" he piped up and scurried around the corner and made his way in between James and Sirius. Smirking inside I snapped at him and he went underneath James as I laughed not only in my head but in a kind of owl like purr.
"Just joking," I said to him but he stayed underneath James legs. I felt something nudged my head and looked up to see Remus standing there with sad eyes, sighing I turned back to Peter, "I'm sorry Wormtail I was just joking I would never eat you."
"Alright," he squeaked and slowly walked out taking his original spot in-between them. Rolling my eyes I just stood beside Remus as they entered into a conversation, bored I started bobbing my head to the sides and grooming my feathers.
"What in the world are you doing?" Sirius asked sending out a barky laugh.
"You guys were boring me," I stopped combing my talons through my feathers and looked up at them.
"Oh excuse us," James laughed.
"You're excused," I bobbed my head.
"Ha ha soooo funny Wings," he commented.
"I know I'm hilarious."
oOo
The next morning I was to come up to Dumbledores office to meet my new guard. I knocked soundly on the down and heard a 'come in' behind it but the door opened by itself. Walking in, I saw Dumbledore and a slightly familiar blonde standing behind the desk. Scanning my memory I realized it was Marlene McKinnon she has graduated about two years ago from Gryffindor.
"Hello Adhara," Dumbledore smiled pushing his spectacles up his nose, "I'm guessing that you know Miss. McKinnon here."
"We're acquaintances," I smiled at her even though I felt sorely about the whole thing.
"Please sit down," He nodded towards the chair and Marlene moved in too sitting in the chair beside me. Once we were settled he began, "So how this is going to work is Marlene has her own room close to the Gryffindor common room and will meet you outside of the dorm every morning and class until you go to bed. Adhara you are to tell her whenever you are leaving the common room since that is the only place you will be without Miss. McKinnon. At meals she will sit up at the staff table with the rest of the professors and will leave whenever you are done, understood?"
"Understood," I pouted like a little child but didn't care, it was like I was losing my freedom and if I was going to be treated as a child I had the right to act like one.
"This is how you will communicate back and forth," He held up two pieces of paper and handed on to Marlene, slowly he traced his wand over it and I watched as ink appeared and then disappeared reappearing on Marlene's. "All you have to do is think what you want to say and run your wand over it then say or think to send."
"Is this really necessary?" I sighed reaching out and grabbing the paper.
"Yes, Miss. Black I believe it is," Dumbledore replied and I just gave up all hope. "Now if you're all set you both may leave." Nodding I got up and was followed by Marlene as we exited the Headmasters office and the staircase entering the corridor.
"Wait Addie," Marlene said as I continued walking, "this is what you like to be called, right?"
"Yeah," I smiled turning around to face her.
"Ok, good well I just want you to know that I'll try to stay back and be invisible. I could tell that you don't like this much."
"Yeah it's not top on my list but that's actually what I wouldn't like, for you to just follow me around." I smiled, "I'd like to be friends and talk if that's ok."
"That would be wonderful actually," Marlene smiled and we continued walking towards the Great Hall were breakfast was going on.
"So umm I'm guessing that Dumbledore filled you in on the situation," I commented and she gave a nod.
"I basically know just that and your classes, but tell me a little more about yourself."
"Well I'm sure you remember that my brother is Sirius and our best friends, James, Lily and Remus who happens to also be my boyfriend now. Also recently I've gotten a lot closer with Frank Longbottom and his girlfriend Alice who is also my roommate."
"What about that other guy, the one always following you four around?" She looked over at me motioning her hand in hope of remembering.
"Peter," I suggested and she threw her hands up silently saying that was right, "umm he's still friends with the boys and pretty much the rest but I've had a bit of a falling out with him."
"Alright so I've been wanting to know about James and Lily, is he still following her around?" She laughed slightly.
"Well he's trying not to push her to much now he's grown up a lot along with my brother." Nodding she thought it over in her head.
"Well it doesn't seem like much has changed," She gave a small sarcastic giggle.
"Nope nothing at all," I laughed as we walked in the door to see that most were gone except the Marauders, Lily, Frank and Alice. "I'm guessing that you all remember Marlene McKinnon," scanning over their faces they all recognized her and nodded slightly giving their hellos except for my brother who just had a small crooked smile. 'NOoooooo way he is not going to hit on her,' I thought glaring at him as he caught my eyes. He switched his face to an innocent one just before greeting her and I sat down beside Remus who placed a sweet kiss on my temple.
Just as I started picking up a piece of toast Marlene started drifting away towards the staff table, "Where are you going?" I looked up at her.
"To eat breakfast," she grimaced slightly looking up at the teachers who probably weren't going to offer the gossip she wanted about the school.
"Why don't you eat with us?"
"Dumbledore said to eat up there," She frowned.
"Marlene there's hardly anyone here and there's a seat right there," I pointed to the seat right across from me beside Lily.
"I guess it would be alright," she smile returned slightly as she sat down and we began discussing what had been happening around the school.
oOo
"Happy Birthday!" All the girls crowded around my bed and I sat up with a wide smile on my face rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. When they had adjusted to the light I looked over all of them who had presents and Lily and Alice who held out a moderately sized iced cake.
"Thanks," I smiled my voice a little scratchy. It was a week after Marlene had joined us and she blended in perfectly with the group but even with that people still whispered, some just curious, others cruelly wondering why I'm so special. "So what's on the agenda for today?"
"Well basically just a normal morning and then there's the party in the common room at 8." Lily filled me in as I gathered the presents in front of me and Lily moved the ones from others up onto the bed.
"Yeah and McGonagall is letting us stay up until 2 since it's the weekend," Alice smiled.
oOo
I was the last person up in the dorm. Strictly informed by Lily not to come down until informed to go and for one last time examined my outfit which was my favorite suedette mini with tiny geo cutouts and a scalloped edge. Along with that I slipped on a loose lace trimmed chiffon top and tucked it in loosely before adding a couple of varied brown braided strands to tie around my waist as a belt. Standing up I smoothed out the skirt so it hit just above my mid-thigh and added a pair of platform dark brown, almost black, strappy heels. Pleased with the outfit I walked over to the mirror and examined my softly tousled curled hair and minimal makeup with just a bit of eye make-up bringing out my grey eyes and a soft pink gloss.
Just as I ran my finger over my lips to smooth out the gloss there was a knock on my door and Lily popped her head in. "You look amazing," She gave an almost motherly smile.
"Well so do you," I returned it, though I doubt it had that motherly feel.
"Ok well I've been informed to come get you now," Just like that she pulled me out the door to the top of the stairs where I could here James talking. "Wait here until he announces it," abruptly she raced down the stairs before I even got a word of the question I wanted to ask out.
"When am I supposed to know," I muttered to myself eyebrows furrowed but it was quickly answered…
"Now for the people of the night, two of my best friends, please welcome, Sirius and Addie Black." James announced.
'Really James,' I thought rolling my eyes as I stepped down the stairs. Glancing over at the other staircase I saw my brother had a wide grin enjoying the drama. Giggling softly I just shook my head as I stood on the floor and Remus walked up next to me taking my hand and placing a soft kiss on my lips.
"Happy birthday you two," James said from the middle of the room where a dance area was set up and sparks set off above our heads as the room erupted in applause.