Y6: I Solemnly Swear

Cara knew exactly how she had gotten stuck sitting in the Library with Lily Evans after classes; as to how Marlene, Dorcas, and Emmeline got dragged along was a wonder that would last forever. Scolding, yup. It probably was lots of scolding. The group of girls had pushed two tables together and strewn their stuff about haphazardly. As Lily worked with Cara, the other three did their studies individually.

Emmeline was leaning on the back legs of her chair balancing a quill on her lips when she noticed Remus walk in. As they made eye contact, the quill dropped and Emmeline slammed back on all four chair legs. Lily looked over raising an eyebrow and noticed Emmeline staring off. Following her gaze, she smiled at Remus. After the apologies, things had gone back to normal between the two.

As Remus went to a table far, far away, Lily called, "Remus! Come sit with us!"

The outburst of course earned her a choir of "Shhhh's!"

Remus hesitated as he looked at Emmeline's wide, frantic eyes. But as Lily continued to insist, he found his legs had chosen for him. Walking to the group of girls, he pulled up a chair to a spot farthest away from Emmeline in between Cara and Marlene.

"Are you studying for Ancient Runes too?" Lily said to Remus.

"Ancient—what? No, Lily, I'm not in that class," Remus frowned.

"Oh really? I thought this whole year, you—never mind! I just get so in to the class. For all I know, I sit next to the giant squid every day," Lily laughed.

Everyone giggled except for Emmeline and Remus. Both with their eyes down wondereing if the other was looking at them.

"So what are you studying?" Lily asked.

"Non-verbal spells," Remus muttered.

"You're studying non-verbal spells?" Cara rolled her eyes, "Aren't you just supposed to, ya know, do them."

"I mean you could," Lily shrugged but said, "but I find studying the theory makes it much better before you go head on and practice."

Marlene squinted her eyes, "Eh- I think Cara's right. You should just do them."

"But analyzing theories—" Lily had started but was interrupted by multiple popping sounds.

Looking across the room, the group noticed the other three Marauders stride in. Peter blasting miniature fireworks at the ceilings. Sirius and James egging him on as Pince begins yelling at them. Lily of course isn't surprised as the boys walk right past the yelling woman. Done with the fireworks, the marauders walk towards the table of sixth years.

"Bonjour," James sets his very nice bum on the table by Lily.

She huffs a sigh of annoyance but doesn't shoo him away.

"What are we studying today?" Peter smiled to the group.

Lily perked up and said, "Ancient Runes hopefully! But I'm helping Cara prepare for fifth year tests."

"Are they making her take the OWLs again?" Peter asked.

"No," Cara smiled, "Thank Merlin. It's basically an easier version of it. They said I did well last year, they just want to make sure I'm actually prepared to move on for next year."

"That's good," James smiled, "Nice of Evans to help you though. She must be in a good mood."

Lily had taken as a compliment but then frowned, "Wait what does that mean?"

"What does what mean?"

"That I must be in a good mood."

"Oh nothing," James chuckled as her eyes became daggers and her mouth a straight line.

"POTTER!" she yelled at him.

"Shhhh!" the students in the Library sang.

"You ought to keep your voice down, Evs," James gave her a wink and stood, "We actually wanted to know if you lot wanted to come to dinner with us."

"I'll pass," Remus said, "I just opened my book."

"Oh, we weren't talking to you," James smirked.

"Yeah, you don't have a choice," Peter said, "you're coming no matter what."

"I can't. I have to study," Remus sighed.

"Study later," said Pete.

"But I just came in here!" Remus protested.

"Stop complaining and let's go," James frowned, "Are the rest of you coming?"

Lily looked at the other girls as they began to stand, "I guess we can come back later."

"I think I've had enough actually," Marlene said, "Dinner then bed sounds like the plan."

The crowd walked out of the Library and in to the corridors. Not far along, Emmeline finally spoke, "You know, I'm not very hungry. I'm just going to finish studying in the Common Room."

Lily frowned, "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, no!" Emmeline reassured her with a cheery smile, "You go eat. We can work together later."

Remus gave her a glance and when Emmeline made contact, her gaze dropped immediately and she walked for the stairwell. Though the others thought she was going to the dorms, she decided she needed her fresh air.

As the group made their way to the Great Hall, Sirius Black casually fell to the back of the crowd. Cara stood talking with Dorcas when she noticed Sirius. She smiled at him and turned back to Dori. However, the girl had already moved several steps ahead of her. Cara turned back to Sirius with a gulp.

"Black," she smiled.

"Cara," it felt nice saying her name, like a bite of a sherbet lemon.

"Did you… did you want something?"

"Well, I guess I wanted to talk to you," he started off "I don't know how to be around you anymore. Every time I see you, it just feels awkward like I want to say something but I can't. I don't know what to say."

Cara raked her fingers through her hair, "Sirius, before we…talk… have you thought about what I said, ya know the last time we…erm, talked."

Sirius sucked his teeth and nodded, "I can't forgive myself. I want to, I guess. I just know that I won't be able to. But I don't see why we can't still be friends."

Cara sighed, "I told you before, I don't want you looking at me with your guilt."

"You don't have to," he shrugged, "I know now. I'm always going to feel guilty but that's a problem for the deep down part of me. When I'm with you, you make me forget about everything."

Cara blushed, "Can you not…"

"Can I not what?"

"Make me blush, it doesn't do me any good," Cara laughed lightly, "I feel like a tomato."

Sirius's eyes lit up, "I like making you blush, and I most definitely like making you laugh."

But that only made Cara laugh and blush harder. Lily had looked over her shoulder back to them and couldn't help but smile at seeing them together. As Lily swung her head to look back around, she caught James doing the same thing. When he noticed Lily looking at him, he smiled and she smiled right back. And when they took their seats in the Great Hall, Lily didn't mind that she was pushed down next to James because her best friend was finally happy laughing along with Sirius. And Lily couldn't stop the flutter in her chest just as Cara couldn't stop smiling. For once, something was finally going right for them.

….

The sun had been warm on her face, the cool air whirling around her. Emmeline tugged at the hair that was growing ever closer to her shoulders, she wondered why she had let it grow so long. The sky was growing in to a deep blue and as Emmeline looked over the edge, the few trees that decorated the grounds swayed. From the tower, she could peer in to the Forbidden Forest with a wonder of what lurked within.

The situation with her and Remus was nothing but awkward. She wasn't mad at him for getting back with Moira Toomey, the girl was kind to him. Emmeline on the other hand knew she was nothing but trouble. Even when she had him in the palm of her hand, she made him dance, played him like a game. And for all those years, Emmeline had been okay with it. Moira was an annoying try- hard, a revolting know-it-all; but Moira had also treated Remus with the love and respect that Emmeline had not done. The girl was pretty, she had Remus falling all over her like a love sick pup. It wasn't until Remus stopped being Emmeline's toy that she realized how much she cared for him. Of course, she fancied the lad, but before he had always been a second option. Not having him as an option at all was terrifying. And she wanted him back, but he wasn't hers any more. Perhaps he was never hers to begin with.

Emmeline could feel the frustration rising in her chest. She was such an idiot! How can you use someone like that? How could you do that to someone who means something to you? He deserves someone like Moira, someone who doesn't treat him like absolute shite.

As she closed her eyes, there was a dull ache that echoed through her body. Why didn't you tell him the other night how you felt, you ninny?

…..

Remus sat at the edge of the table with Peter blocking him from the group. While they all ate their dinners, he slid the Marauder's Map from his cloak pocket and onto his laps. Blocking his face with one hand so no one could see him looking down, he pressed the tip of his wand to the parchment.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he muttered under his breath.

As the black ink spilled across the page, Remus flipped the map open to the Gryffindor Common Room. He searched for Emmeline's name, but couldn't find it. In hopes that she had returned to the Library, he checked there. When he saw that she wasn't there either, a panic erupted in him.

…

Emmeline sat down leaning against the wall rolling her wand in her fingers.

She remembered the first time they talked. It was the second night as Gryffindor first years, the first night they both were caught up in the excitement. Emmeline had introduced herself to the boys first out of all the girls. Remus was the last one she greeted. She smiled as she recalled what a shy, awkward kid he was. He had mumbled his name and so the first few weeks she had called him 'Angus' convinced that was what he said. It wasn't until Lily corrected her that she even realized what an idiot she was. She had often heard the boys call him "Rem" and "Remey" before but she thought it was some inside joke.

Gripping her wand, Emmeline watched as butterflies flew out from the tip of her wand.

….

He found her on top of one of the towers. Her name and footprints remaining in a single spot on the map. Remus should've known she would go there. He recalled in third year, the night they spent up on that tower. It had started out lovely, a typical romance story: the girl runs off, the boy chases after her, the girl vomits on his shoes. Yes, very lovely indeed. He had found her passed out on the ground, her face littered with streaks of tears. When had woken her, she had screamed and argued with him. There was something in him that simply couldn't be mad at her, he couldn't just leave her there. So when he walked back to her, he wasn't surprised to see her unconscious. The night was growing colder and he was sure she would freeze. Unsure as to whether to carry her back to the dorm, he managed to lift her in his arms and find a warmer spot on the Tower. He struggled to sit down but he placed her gently on his lap. He held her close and couldn't help but run his hand through her short hair. They had stayed like that for two hours, he was unable to look away from her. When she woke again, she smiled up at him and snuggled even closer. That was when Remus first recognized his feelings that he had buried deep for her.

…..

The night was deepening and the cold air was no longer welcoming. Emmeline rose from her place and took one last look out on the grounds. The night was not very pretty to Emmeline, it was too dark and too scary. The trees looked like giant monsters waiting for you. The lake was a pitch black that contained dangerous, nocturnal beasts. The gamekeeper's hut let smoke rise into the air in deep foggy swirls. As she backed away from the edge, she admired the night's first stars then she headed for the staircase.

As she jogged down the stairs, her feet made quiet clapping noises. But when she heard the voices, she stopped dead in her tracks.

….

When her footsteps began moving, Remus followed her every move. She was heading back down the staircase surely on her way to the Common Room now. He frowned as he saw her stop and when she didn't start up again, his chest fluttered slightly. He moved the Map so that the bottom of the staircase was in view. Lurking at the bottom were four pairs of footprints. Above them read the names of Godfrey Goyle, Narcissa Black, Lucius Malfoy, and Severus Snape. Not one of those names sounded pleasant.

Remus hid the parchment as he stood, the table looking at him. He gave a look to James and then raced out of the Hall. James, Sirius, and Peter all stood mildly confused. But as Remus darted off, the other three knew to follow him.

Lily was blown away by their quick leave. Knowing something had gone very wrong she turned to the girls, "Let's go."

As the four girls made their exit, the eyes of the student body followed them. Professor McGonagall stood from her place at the professors' table. The Headmaster hadn't even looked up from his plate.

….

"Are you sure she's up there?" an icy voice drawled.

"Yes," said the clear voice of a woman, "we followed her from the Library."

"Tell me again, Black, why did you attack this girl?" this voice was different from the first male voice. It was slicker, more bored.

"We thought she was one of them," the girl said.

"No, you thought she was one of them," this voice was deep, husky. Emmeline recognized it and a trickle of fear seeped through her.

"But you agreed or why would you have thrown a curse?" the girl protested.

"You said she was the Evans girl," the deep voice barked.

"You were going to attack Lily Evans?" the slicker voice said darkly.

Emmeline wondered if she could back up the staircase but wither way she was trapped.

"Yes!" the girl said, "It turned out to be her little friend."

"So why are you dragging us into this?" the slicker voice grumbled, "This was to be your task, we're done."

"Because if she remembers anything then we're all screwed. All of us who are The Young Knights."

"Then go up and get her," drawled the first voice.

"Are you right behind me?" the girl asked.

"I'd rather be nowhere else," the boy drawled.

Emmeline quickly stepped back onto the Tower, she struggled to find a place to hide. Shoving a gargoyle to the side, Emmeline hid behind it. She heard their footsteps as they greeted the night air.

….

Remus's feet could not take him faster. He didn't have to look behind him to know that the other marauders had followed. James who had the longest strides of the three managed to catch up to Remus as they climbed the staircase of the third floor.

"Mate, what is it?" James huffed as he ran alongside Remus.

Remus shoved the map at James, "Astronomy Tower."

As James continued running, he glanced down at the map. He understood the panic and picked up his pace.

James called back to the boys and wasn't surprised to Lily Evans and her friends closing a gap between them, "Wands out!"

Lily frowned at him but did as he said.

…

"Narcissa, I don't see her," the slick voice said.

Emmeline was trying to control her breathing but as nerves and fear ran through her body, she found herself gasping for air. Narcissa Black. She was a Slytherin. And she was here to hurt her.

"She has to be here!" Narcissa bellowed.

Emmeline listened as the footsteps spread out.

"She could be hiding," said the deep, scary voice that Emmeline recalled from the night she was attacked.

"Obviously, you blubbering fool," the slick voice said.

"Watch your words, Snape," grumbled the deep one.

Severus Snape and Narcissa Black. If she died tonight, at least she knew the name of two of her killers. Emmeline debated on peeking out to see if she could see who the others were.

Plucking up the courage, Emmeline gulped and leaned her head out from behind the gargoyle. Far away she could make out Godfrey Goyle, another Slytherin, searching behind statues for her. Emmeline snapped her head back in and leaned against the wall. That's three of them: Snape, Goyle, and Black. There was one more somewhere.

Emmeline kept quiet as she poked her head out from the other side of the gargoyle. At first, she could see no one in the night. But something moved in the distance and Emmeline recognized the unmistakable silver blonde hair of Lucius Malfoy.

And before Emmeline could go back to hiding, she was thrown in to the deep shadow as a body loomed over her. Looking up, Emmeline's eyes watered as Narcissa Black smiled down at her.

"There you are," the words were cold and eerie sending a deep chill crawl up Emmeline's back.

A/N: hello, hope you enjoyed. More to come on Wednesday!