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Chapter Two: Chatterbox

"You know, I don't think you quite understand, Elsa."

I grumbled and rubbed my eyes, cursing as some of my mascara came off on my hand.

"Why's that, Charity?" I asked lazily. We'd been talking for nearly half an hour about her summer, which despite my best judgement I actually found myself curious about, but the conversation had since turned in a direction I didn't want to go in tonight.

I had sort of hoped with all that had gone on last year we could have one day without Voldemort and his merry band of murderers going on a killing spree.

Wishful thinking, I suppose.

"My grandmother says that bad things are happening out there. I know you saw the village! Yet here you are, lounging about in the common room with your husband-congratulations by the way," Charity quickly added, ignoring my expression, "while we could be doing something! We have to fight the Dark Lord!"

I felt myself go a bit red and shot James and Remus dirty looks as they did their best to stifle their laughter.

"Firstly, Charity, Remus is not my husband-"

"But the centaurs married you in the forest, Brionny told me!" Charity interjected.

"Well Brionny is a big fat liar, isn't she? Secondly, you are much too young to be fighting any dark lords."

Charity huffed. I'd never seen her so worked up and I was there when McGonagall told her Nargles weren't real.

That was a tizzy.

"I'm almost thirteen. I know you all think I'm crazy," she gestured to James and Remus," but I'm not. Things are happening. Bad things. I know they are." Her voice trailed off into a whisper. "I just want to stop them."

I barely noticed Sirius had joined us (although I imagined he'd been there quite a while judging by his expression) as he knelt in front of Charity.

"Believe me love, we all would."

Charity's eyes bulged as she looked at the man before her.

I'd never related more to the poor kid.

"But the most important thing now is that you go to school, so when you're older, like Elsa here, you can outsmart the Death Eaters!" Sirius exclaimed.

Charity smiled. "You're Sirius Black, aren't you?"

Sirius grinned. "In the flesh. Now you know it's awfully close to curfew and I am best mates with the Head Boy, so how about I talk to our dear Elsa here and see what we can do."

Charity looked down sadly. "Do I have to? Your friends are so nice, Elsa."

I gave her a light punch on the shoulder. "You'll make friends, too, Charity, just promise me you'll never change."

Charity twisted one of her braids. "They call me 'chatterbox' now, so I don't think so, but don't you worry! I'll never change a thing."

With that she left the Gryffindor common room, skipping as she went.

James and Remus were finally able to release the laughter they'd been holding in as she walked away.

"Married by centaurs, I love it," James said, wheezing.

I rolled my eyes. "Who let her in here anyway? I don't even know the password."

Sirius bit his lip to keep from laughing.

I threw a pillow at him. "You utter git! I had a whole speech for her tomorrow about making friends her own age!"

Sirius deflected the incoming projectile (I guess the tosser is on the Quidditch team for a reason) and just laughed. "Sorry, it was just too tempting! And she does have a point."

"About what, myself and Elsa's upcoming wedding in the forest?" Remus chided.

Sirius sat on the rug in front of the fire. "No, about fighting Death Eaters. We have to do something."

James sighed. "Like what, mate? Storm into their headquarters with the Jellylegs Jinx?"

"No, Sirius is right," I said. "This can't keep happening."

"We're still students," Remus pointed out. "We can't just leave school."

"Who said anything about leaving?" Sirius said. "You can't honestly think Dumbledore is up there in his office with his thumb up his arse?"

"Imagery, mate," James said, grimacing.

"Yeah, but what about the Ministry," Remus said, "surely they must be doing something? Aren't there Aurors out there right now?"

Sirius stood up angrily. "And how's that working out? People are dying left and right and you just assume the bloody Ministry has a handle on it?!"

"No one is assuming anything," I said calmly, rising to put a hand on Sirius's shoulder. He sat back down reluctantly, still glaring at Remus.

The one thing I've always known about Sirius, besides that he's good looking, of course, is that he's got what you might call a slight temper. Once, in third year, he was suspended from Quidditch for three games because he went after Hufflepuff's keeper for saying James hit him in the head with the quaffle on purpose.

Let me tell you, that was a highlight of my commentating career.

"Notoriously jumping to conclusions, I see," said a voice from behind me.

Before I'd even turned around I knew who it was.

"Marlene, now's not really a good time, so if you'd-"

She cut me off with a wave of her hand. "No, I want to help. You all have a point."

Am I hallucinating?

Marlene "not-my-problem" McKinnon wants to help people?

She seemed to sense my confusion and sat in my spot on the couch.

Rude.

"I know we haven't exactly been the best of friends, but I think this is bigger than all of that."

Seriously, somebody pinch me.

James sighed and sunk further into his end of the couch, propping his head up on his elbow. It made his glasses more askew than they were already. "Alright, so let's say Dumbledore does have a plan. What do we do, go up there and see if there's a sign-up table for the resistance against Voldemort?"

I went to join Sirius on the rug. The 7th-year couch was leaving a lot to be desired, so far. Perhaps we needed an ottoman or the like.

Although, in the context of a brewing war, I suppose it didn't matter anyway who was sat on the floor and who wasn't.

"Why not?" I said, suddenly more sure of myself than ever. "I think it's safe to assume bloody Albus Dumbledore isn't in cahoots with the Dark Lord."

"It's settled then," Marlene said, retrieving her bag and heading towards the staircase. "I shall see you all here at 8 sharp, tomorrow."

"Bloody hell," I said, as soon as Marlene was out of earshot.

Not that I'd care if she heard me.

"What's got her involved all of a sudden?"

"I suppose the same thing that's got us all involved," Remus said quietly. "Fear."

The first day of term was always one of my least favorite, partially because it meant the end of the blissful summer months devoid of schoolwork. This year was even worse since I'd promised Remus I'd do better in my classes.

And by 'better' I meant I'd pass.

I think Remus has a slightly different definition.

As is tradition now, I met him, as well as James, Peter, Sirius, and Alice in the common room to go to breakfast before class. As is also tradition, I was late.

"Elsa, darling, we were going to leave without you!" James exclaimed dramatically, slinging an arm around my shoulders. I noticed he'd shined his Head Boy badge.

I shook him off. "Don't you have, I dunno, duties, or something?"

James shrugged. "Not really. At least, I don't think so."

"Typical, Potter. Honestly, who made you Head Boy?" Lily said as she walked past our little gathering. "See you downstairs, Elsa, Alice!"

"Don't worry mate, Evans will come round this year," Sirius said. He gave James a pat on the shoulder.

Alice snickered, but was quickly shut up as James pointed out her boyfriend was graduated.

"Barely," I muttered. Remus nudged me with a disapproving look.

"Fine," I said. "Shall we?"

Peter didn't hesitate to follow Sirius and James through the portrait hole and I could hear them laughing steps ahead of everyone else.

I walked side by side with Remus, who was oddly silent.

"You alright?" I said, trying not to sound overly worried.

He gave a half smile. "Sure. Just close to the full moon is all."

I took his hand. "Well, if you're too tired to help me study, I completely understand."

Remus laughed and looked over to check I had my schoolbag.

"Not a chance."

We walked in silence to the Great Hall, which was bustling still, though it was a little late for anyone who wished to make it to their classes on time. I took at seat next to Lily, who was finishing up her toast, and downed a goblet of water, thankful that for once in my Hogwarts career, I wasn't hungover the first day of class.

"What've you got this year?" I asked Alice, who was devouring a particularly delicious looking chocolate biscuit.

"Same as you, you dolt," she said through a mouthful of crumbs.

Still a little touchy about good old Frank, I see.

"What about you, where are you off to?" I said to Lily.

That was a mistake, I realized, as she detailed every single class she'd be taking through the full year. I did, however, discover we had nearly everything together, except for Divination, which I now regretted taking in 6th year immensely.

However, most of what I ended up with was due to my nearly abysmal OWL scores. I managed only to skate by in Transfiguration, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Divination because Lily helped me so much, though I did receive an Outstanding mark in Charms. I ended up in History of Magic as well, if only because Binns rarely had enough students to fill a NEWT level class and I think professor McGonagall felt sorry for me.

With my luck up to that point, who could blame her?

"I'm off to Herbology, I'll see you in Potions," Remus said, giving me a kiss on the cheek after Lily finished her NEWT speech for the second year running.

"See you," I mumbled.

I went with Lily to Charms, but we did split up at the door since as a rule, I never sit in the front of the class.

Sirius slid in next to me at the last minute. "This seat taken?"

I smiled, thankful not to be stuck next to anyone dreadfully boring as professor Flitwick drolled on about advanced locking charms. "You ready for tonight?" I whispered.

Sirius nodded. "I think so. You?"

I shrugged. "I suppose, but what if Dumbledore isn't doing anything?"

"Then we'll convince him to do something."

"Well, I hope by 'we' you mean you. I don't think I've ever even spoken with the Headmaster."

Sirius tried to stifle a laugh. "I have, loads of times. Though it's usually Minnie who gets to deal with us."

"Speaking of us," I said, "where's Peter?"

Sirius leaned closer. I tried not to think about how close his face was to mine.

I'm happily taken, thank you.

"With Dorcas Meadowes, over there," he gestured. "Poor lad thinks he's got a chance."

I eyed Dorcas, who to be honest, suited her name. "I dunno. Stranger things have happened. Look at me and Remus."

"Oh come on," Sirius scoffed, "Remus is way prettier than her."

I smacked his arm lightly. "Are you thick? I meant me."

Sirius opened his mouth to respond, only to be cut off abruptly by Flitwick.

"Black, Lestrade, it's only the first day of term! I won't have a repeat of last year's class," Flitwick said, ignoring Sirius' pleas otherwise. "Detention, both of you."

Sirius groaned next to me.

"Actually, sir, it's DeLestrade."

Probably serves me right I earned a double.

After a particularly painful Transfiguration class spent mostly under the watchful eye of Remus after I told him that I had already earned myself a detention, I headed up to Flitwick's office to report in. I met Sirius on the way up to the fourth floor, completely alone, which was a bit strange.

Since around third year Sirius has never been without a girlfriend. And while the Hogwarts dating pool is fairly small, it had apparently been diverse enough for him to never have gone out with the same girl twice, save for Marlene McKinnon, who in my opinion doesn't count anyway.

Of course, pretending she doesn't exist hasn't worked yet, but a girl's got to try, doesn't she?

"So, is the famous womanizer Sirius Black finally given up?" I said jokingly as we walked down the seemingly endless corridor to the Charm's classroom.

Sirius smirked. "Never. It is only the first day, love."

"I know, I know," I said, hoisting my bag up higher on my shoulder. I really hoped we weren't writing lines, I was already behind on homework and had brought it with me. "What about you and Marlene?"

Sirius looked down. "Nah. I think it's over for good. After everything last year, I just don't think we could ever work it out." He paused for a moment, like he was debating something.

"You know, I may have a big mouth, but you know we're friends, right?" I said, touching his arm lightly.

Somewhere in the universe, 5th year me is absolutely pissing herself.

I had long dreamed of the day when Sirius Black would even look at me, and although things were never going anywhere romantically, it was still a rush just to be trusted.

Especially with a fat mouth like mine.

"You can't tell anyone. But you know the baby wasn't even mine," Sirius said, sounding more indifferent than anything. "Marlene only told me it was because she thought the father wouldn't stay. She wouldn't even tell me the bloke's name. S'pose it doesn't matter anyway."

I stopped just short of the Charm's classroom. "You're serious?"

I could tell what was coming.

"Never mind, don't answer that. Let's just hope we've got something easy tonight."

Sirius laughed. "I do miss smelling like trophy polish."

I pushed open the door the Flitwick's classroom and was surprised to see Professor Dumbledore there, speaking in a hushed voice with Flitwick.

"Ah. Mr. Black, Miss DeLestrade. I was just telling Professor Flitwick how much I needed two willing students to dust my bookcases."

Sirius and I exchanged looks.

"Of course, sir," I said, suddenly very suspicious.

We followed Dumbledore in dead silence all the way to his office, where instead of dusting, we were told to sit.

I did, hesitantly, wondering if this was the time I finally got expelled.

Though, for once, I hadn't even done anything.

Did Dumbledore know I was already cheating in Transfiguration?

Was that grounds for expulsion?

"I imagine that you two are wondering why I have called you here," Dumbledore said, taking a seat behind his desk.

Sirius shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Well yeah, sir, have we done something?"

Dumbledore had a look in his eye I couldn't quite place.

"Indeed, Sirius, you have not done anything yet, but I am hoping you both will."

A/N: Thanks for reading, and please review! I would love to get some feedback on this, good or bad. I'm so rusty writing anything and I could definitely use the help!

xx Val