Second Year as promised! The highlights of 12 year old Sirius and Mila :)
"Meeting number 82, and first of the year, begun. How was everyone's summer holiday?"
Remus and Peter both said they'd had a nice one, Sirius shouted some obscene thing about his family from behind the door of the classroom the others were in, and Mila stayed silent. She would rather not talk about it.
"This year is going to be a good one, fellas. I can feel it in my bones," James said.
"Why?" Mila asked.
"Because, dear Mila, quidditch trials are this year, and as second years, we will be allowed to participate."
Now, that did stir some excitement for Mila. Like James and Sirius, who were good at practically everything, she too had a knack for broom-riding.
"Pass," Remus said, exchanging an amused glance with Mila. He was not a broom savvy as the others. Peter too.
"Pass," Peter agreed.
"Come on, guys, picture it! All five members of the Acrobatic Aromantulas on the Gryffindor Quidditch team!" James exclaimed.
Mila wrinkled her nose, "Veto on that name too." Remus and Peter nodded their heads in agreement.
James sighed, "Back to the drawing board it is. Regardless, Mila, you are trying out. And Sirius, so are you."
"I'll think about it." The others could barely hear him through the door.
"You know, Mila, don't you think it's time you got over this whole 'being in the same room thing'?" James asked.
Mila smiled, "I happen to like this arrangement. He can't see when I pull faces at him."
"But I can hear you!" Sirius protested through the door.
James shook his head. "Enough is enough. I'm sending you both on a reconnaissance mission. People trying out for quidditch will be practicing on the field all week. You are going to check them out."
Both Sirius and Mila proceeded to protest, but James shut them up.
"It's time all members of this group got along. Mila, Sirius, meet after school on the quidditch field. End of story."
Neither one of them were very impressed.
After a long hard day of new classes, Mila waited on the pitch stands for Sirius, huffing at the later he was as the minutes ticked by.
When he finally got there, they didn't exchange hellos, he just plonked himself down miserably on the stands. They began to watch out for any quidditch action useful to James.
Mila wanted to bark at him for being late, instead she settled with a simple question.
"Where were you?"
She didn't need to look to see that Sirius was disturbed. That was probably the least hostile thing she'd said to him since their falling out.
"I had stuff to take care off."
Bored, Mila let her curiosity roam free. "What stuff?"
Sirius hesitated. For two people that disliked each other, they knew a lot about each other through their escapades. He knew that Mila was clever, because she got good grades. He knew that Mila was fun, because she was often the one to come up with some of their best pranks. But they didn't know about the stuff that counted. He didn't know about her family, and she didn't know about his.
"My brother started this year," Sirius said, surprising himself. "I was showing him around."
Now that Mila thought about it, there had been a Black sorted into Slytherin last week. Only, Sirius hadn't said anything about it at the time, so she hadn't thought there was a relation. But what she was learning about the wizarding world, particularly with purebloods, was that most had some sort of relation. Last names were never a coincidence.
"How's he finding it?"
Sirius' answer was short. "Fine."
He noticed her rubbing her arm. "What's up with that?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing. Just Rosier giving me a hard time again."
A Slytherin in the year above had taken a certain dislike towards Mila, and she had no idea why. She had tried to hide it from the boys, knowing that it would just lead to a rather embarrassing 'revenge' plan, and she wanted to be able to take care of it herself.
Sirius looked slightly angry. "You should have told us. We- James would have helped you."
Mila frowned at Sirius outburst. "Ok. Sorry."
They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes. Now that the conversation had started, Mila felt the urge to keep talking. She never saw Sirius one on one, and even though she was perfectly fine with their mutual animosity, she couldn't deny that he intrigued her. She couldn't even remember how it had all started anyway.
Sirius was a hue of contradictions. He could be so cruel to her, but so kind to others. He was cocky, but there were times Mila could see he was unsure of himself. The only person she knew that Sirius wholly confided in was James. She wondered just how much there was to learn about Sirius Black.
Before she could begin to find out, she saw a group of giggling girls on the other side of the stand, looking directly their way.
She was getting used to the attention that Sirius and James received. Their 'fan clubs' trailed them everywhere, and often Mila was caught in the crossfire. Some didn't like that a girl was in the group, they saw her as competition. But what Mila hated even more, was when they thought she could be an ally. She sometimes spent a whole evening being plastered with questions about what the boys liked. If they had a girlfriend. If they had a crush.
She rolled her eyes as the giggles became louder, and was surprised to find Sirius smirking at her amusedly.
"It really gets to you, huh?" he asked.
She sighed, "You should hear what they say in the dorms! It's Sirius this, James that. They're killing me. Thank Godric I share a dorm with Lily, she shuts them up quickly. She can't stand James anymore than I can stand you!"
He knew it was an insult, but he laughed anyway. One thing that was fun about their rivalry, was that they could say as many horrible things to each other that they wanted, and they knew the other wouldn't care.
"James doesn't seem to mind her," Sirius said.
"Yeah, I've noticed," Mila commented, a little bitterness creeping into her voice.
Before Sirius could question her about it, she continued. "I just don't get what they see in you! You're an arse, plain and simple. You're an arrogant rich boy, you're rude, and I'm not so sure your hair is even real."
"My hair?"
"Yeah." Mila was on a roll, "It's way too shiny. It's gotta be a wig, and even if it is real, that means you wash and condition way more than you should, which only further proves how full of yourself you are."
Sirius scoffed, "And what about you? You like attention too, don't deny it. You're always batting your eyelids, because you know it makes you look pretty. It's disgusting!"
Both were too angry to notice that they's just inadvertently complimented each other. Instead, they both huffed and watched the pitch in front of them, noticing some of the other second years who had started practicing.
Bertram Aubrey, a second year Ravenclaw, seemed to be showing some skill. James wouldn't have to worry about competing with him for a spot, he was in a different house. But he could prove to be competition in the long run, if they all made it onto a team in the end.
Mila didn't know if Sirius even liked quidditch, or if he was going to try out. He seemed to have a lot of other things on his mind, and was always busy doing something when Mila was with the other boys. Probably had a line of girls waiting for him, Mila scoffed.
He picked up on it. "What?"
"Nothing."
A couple more minutes and Mila was just about ready to bolt. It was too weird spending time with Sirius. And the girls hadn't gone away yet.
"Do you think we could just make up intel and report that to James? Surely he won't notice."
"This is James we're talking about," Sirius replied, "And the only reason he's not here himself is because he got detention for hexing Snivellus."
Oh yeah, Mila remembered now. She wasn't entirely sure what James' problem with Snape was. Sure, he was a little weird, but Mila had spoken to him a couple times through Lily and he didn't seem that bad. She especially didn't like the nickname they had given him; it seemed unnecessary. She tried to stick up for him where she could.
"His name is Severus," she muttered.
"I know what his name is, Lovett."
"Then why do you call him that?"
"Cause he's a loser."
Mila looked affronted. "Why? Because he's not as rich as you? Because he's not as high born?"
Sirius frowned, "I didn't say that."
Sirius had come to know that the only problem Mila had with James, whom she otherwise adored, was that he was wealthy. It was like it made her uncomfortable, and feel more than a little worthless. Sirius had often wanted to tell her that James would never care that she didn't have money, but he knew any reassurance from him would be taken the wrong way.
"We're not all like you, Black. We don't all have perfect families, and a perfect life."
He was teetering between anger and astonishment. "You really think my life is perfect?"
"I know it is. And I'm sick of you deciding I'm not good enough to be friends with you. What made you so.. so-"
"So what?"
"Hateful," she spat at him. "I'm leaving, you can tell James about the players yourself."
As Sirius watched her go he realised he may have made a mistake last year. He had distanced himself from Mila for James, because James liked Mila. He even had an inkling that Mila liked James back. Sirius would never want to upset James, but he had been foolish enough to think that he hadn't upset Mila instead. James was his true family, Remus and Peter too. Like it or not, at this point he should admit that Mila was a part of that family as well.
He had found that when you were determined to hate someone, it was easy to pick out their flaws. He had told himself Mila was loud, Mila was nosy, he couldn't trust Mila like the others. But really, none of that was true. It was just more excuses to avoid her.
She always seemed to have such tough skin, but it was clear his dismissal of her had gotten to her. Sirius Black suddenly felt very stupid.
"I'm telling you," James said, "Something's up with Remus. Every now and then he sneaks off, and goes missing for a whole day. I know he said his Mum was sick, but don't you think the timing is a little off."
"I don't know, mate," Sirius said, "Are you sure you're not just trying to make something out of nothing?"
"No way. Tonight, me and you, we're going to follow him. I just know he's going to sneak off again."
Wanting to take his mind off of his last conversation with Mila, Sirius agreed. "Tonight."
Mila knew she should go to bed, but she was all riled up from earlier on.
Stupid Sirius had upset her. She knew she shouldn't let him get to her, but the git had.
She knew Remus would be transforming tonight. She figured she would stop by the Whomping Willow, and see if she could hear anything without going inside. It would be too late to speak to him now, he would have already changed. But maybe it would comfort him to know someone was there.
She snuck out of her dorm again, like all the times before, and walked the field towards the large tree. She was getting really good at leaving the castle. When you actually looked around, there were quite a few different ways to sneak out. She'd actually thought about writing it all down somewhere, so other students could have a bit of freedom. It was certainly useful information to have.
She was closing near the tree when she realised she was not alone. Three figures were ahead of her, getting closer and closer to the volatile willow. She wondered what in Godric they were doing, and if they really were as stupid as they appeared.
She quickly discovered that they were, in fact, as stupid as they appeared because she knew those figures very well.
James and Sirius were smart. She didn't know how they figured it out, but they managed to make the tree docile all on their own. Peter watched them, keeping his own safe distance. She was almost impressed, until she realised that meant the passage was clear for them to use.
Her eyes widened, and she called out to them to stop, but they had already slipped through. She got her wand out, trying to remember something, any charm, any spell, that she could use to protect the three knob heads who were about to get into more than they bargained for.
She began running, all the while calling their names. She knew she was catching up to them, she could hear their voices echoing in the narrow passage.
"Guys, wait, you have to stop!"
She was too late, she could hear screams further along. She ran until she reached the shack herself, the three boys were bolted to the floor, the only thing stopping Remus from grabbing them was the very same chain that had stopped him from biting Mila. She couldn't believe that thing was still holding up.
There was no time to be gentle, she pushed in front of them and shoved them back.
"You idiots! You absolute morons, we need to get out of here. Let's go!"
"Mila, Remus is a..a..a-" James stuttered.
"Yes, I know, which is why we have to get out."
Peter didn't need any convincing, he tore out of the room. Sirius was pale, but what struck Mila was how upset he looked.
"Why didn't he tell us?"
"That's not exactly a priority right now. Can we just get out of here, Black? It's not safe!"
Sirius snarled. "I'm well aware of that, but-"
He was silenced by a large snapping sound, one that Mila had dreaded since the very first night she'd stumbled in here. The chain, as thick as it was, was broken. Remus had grown in the last year.
Since Mila found out Remus' secret, she'd done a lot of research on wolves. She knew that the little ones were affected by spells. But they older they got, the more resistant they became. Mila hoped Remus fell into the former category.
She could see it before it was happening. Remus was heading right toward Sirius, ready to snap his neck in half. She was about to be very reckless, and for Sirius Black no less.
She jumped in front of him, her wand out the ready.
"Stupefy," she yelled out, closing her eyes and praying it would work.
She figured it did when she felt all her limbs still intact.
She opened her eyes, and saw Remus has slumped to the floor in front of her. She sighed deeply with relief, and turned to the boy behind her.
"Mila-" he started.
"Now will you leave?"
"Yes," James piped up. All action, he pulled his friends arm along with him. "Come on, Sirius, he might wake up again."
Mila followed along, silently berating them, and herself, for being so stupid. I could have died, she thought. And for a boy that hated her.
They ended up in the boy's dorm room, after Mila had run off to tell Madam Pomfrey what happened. She had seemed worried she might had damaged Remus permanently, but James had tried to reassure her that he would be fine. She said she would come back to explain everything.
James stared at his two friends, who both sat on their respective beds. Peter, silly bastard, had conked out from all the terror. His body couldn't handle being so scared.
Sirius, on the other hand, appeared to be in a state of shock. He kept mumbling things that James couldn't quite hear. He was about ready to slap Sirius just to snap the other boy out of it.
But James could understand, he was quite shaken too. Mila had jumped in front of Sirius like it was nothing. James knew that Sirius would do anything to protect his friends, even die for them, but James wondered now if Sirius would finally see that Mila shared that quality. That she cared about Sirius, even though they bickered all the time.
"She- she saved my life, James," Sirius whispered. James didn't even know if the twelve year old boy could comprehend it.
James sat down next to him, his added weight lowering the bed. "She did. A real Gryffindor, hey?"
He didn't really know what else to say. Neither of them did.
"Do you think she hates me?" Sirius asked, James was stunned.
"After what she just did, how can you think that?"
James had only seen Sirius look anything less than cocky once. And that was when he had been telling James about his family. But right now, he looked like the wind had been blown of him. He looked frightened.
"I've think I've been an idiot, James."
"I'm not disagreeing with you there, mate."
"I've been so rude to her, for no reason."
"I know."
"Sometimes I can't help it, sometimes she just riles me up."
"Sure."
"But then she has to go ahead and do something like this, and make me feel like an arse."
"You are an arse."
"She's an arse for making me feel like an arse," Sirius sighed. "Ok, I don't mean that, but I've been wrong about her, haven't I?"
"Yes, you have," James agreed. "I can't even remember why you two started fighting in the first place."
Sirius remained silent at that. He knew why. It was another thing that made him selfish. Being cruel to a girl because he didn't want to lose James was selfish.
James could see the resigned look in his friends eye. "You know what that means, mate?"
"What?"
"You owe her one hell of an apology."
Mila didn't make it to the boy's dorm until the very early hours of the morning. She chuckled when she saw that Peter was fast asleep, and noticed the other two boys had dozed off too. Though to their credit, they looked like they had at least tried to stay awake.
She coughed, hoping one of them would wake. Sirius did, and he when realised James was asleep on his shoulder, he shoved him off to wake him up too.
James was awake in an instant and gazed at Mila expectantly. "Well?"
She smiled. "I guess I better tell you from the beginning."
She explained what happened all those months ago, the boys couldn't believe she'd known for so long and hadn't told them.
"It wasn't my secret to tell," she explained, and Sirius could understand that perfectly.
"So, you told us off for trailing Remus, but that was the same way you found out too?" James questioned her.
She laughed, the past nights events appearing to have no effect on her. "Ok, ok, I'm a hypocrite."
"No, you're just as nosy as us. Plain and simple," James said.
A more serious note struck Mila. "Guys, you are ok with it, right? I know Remus has been worried-"
"Of course we are," Sirius assured her. Mila met his direct gaze with confusion. Something about him seemed different, more open.
"Good. He always says that wizards hate werewolves. I tried to tell him that none of you would care, but he wouldn't listen. I just wish there was some way we could help him."
Sirius perked up. "Maybe there is."
"What are you talking about?" Mila asked. But James whacked his friend in anticipation, seemingly catching on.
Sirius continued. "Werewolves can't be around humans, but they can be around other animals. I know we don't learn about it until next year, but in theory an animagus-"
"Could be around Remus when he's transformed," James finished, "Brilliant."
Mila didn't get it. "Animagus? What is that?"
"Transfiguration," Sirius replied, "We transform into animals."
"Wait, we can do that?" Sometimes the wizarding world could do Mila's head in.
James answered. "Most people don't. But it is possible. I've never heard of anyone the same age as us doing it. But, come on, we're the three best students in the year, plus Peter-"
"Thanks-" Peter grumbled.
"- And if anyone can do it. We can!" James exclaimed.
There was no changing James mind once it was set on something, but Mila was intrigued by the idea. Transforming into an animal, now that would be something. And if it meant Remus would be less alone, she was up for anything.
She grinned. "When do we start?"
They talked a little more about it, until it was time for breakfast. They decided they wouldn't tell Remus about becoming Animagi, not until they were sure they could do it. It was for the best.
The boys wanted to see Remus before breakfast, to let him know they knew and that they were ok with his secret. Sirius had asked to speak to Mila first. She was more nervous than she cared to admit, wondering, since their last conversation, what on earth he could possibly want to talk about.
The pair of them stayed behind in the boys room. By now Mila had gotten used to the smell. It really was a sty in here, the only exception being Remus' corner of the bedroom.
She waited for him to say something, but he seemed as nervous as her.
"Uh, Sirius, are you ok?"
He blinked. "I should be asking you that?"
She frowned, confused. "Why?"
"Lovett, you saved my life last night!"
"Oh, that. I'm fine, no big deal." She had been scared last night, but there was no way she was letting him know that, not when it would give him more ammunition.
Sirius looked on at her sadly. "It is a big deal. Saving someone is a big deal."
She searched his face, waiting for the hidden joke she was so used to. But there was no joke to be told here.
"Sirius, I-" she coughed, "- I would have done it for the others too. It's ok."
"But you did it for me. And I want to say thank you. And… I'm sorry."
This definitely wasn't the Sirius she was used to. "You're sorry?"
He nodded, wholeheartedly. "Sorry for everything. For trying to get you kicked out of the club. For all the stuff I've said to you. All of it."
It was a pretty eloquent apology for a twelve year old, but he was raised intimately with formal language.
She smiled at him, something she hadn't done since the first time they met. "Me too."
He smiled back tentatively, unused to the affection she seemed to pour onto everyone else in her life.
"James and the others," Sirius said, "They're my family. And you are too."
She couldn't help it, her smile broke into a full out grin. The only thing she'd have ever wanted was a family to love. One who loved her in return.
"You are too."
James cleared his throat. "Alright, meeting number 83 of the Marauders. Peter?"
"Present."
"Remus?"
"Present."
"Sirius?"
"Present."
"And last, but not least, Mila?"
Stood next to Sirius, she gave her response. "Present."
"Perfect!" James said. "Any objections to the new club name?"
Mila smiled. "None at all."
