I was finishing breakfast when I saw Marlene arriving with Mary. I looked at her and saw that clearly, she was avoiding my gaze. I felt a sting right in my heart at that. Marlene and I, we never really fought before. She was pretty simple to live with. She would always say what she wanted to say, without detour or else. Sometimes, that was vexing, but in the end, her honesty was much appreciated. I fought with Lily couple of memorable times. With Mary also, she could get highly emotional. But, never with Marlene, in more than 6 years of friendship. The problem was that I felt very helpless to try and make her feel better, even if nothing was really my fault. The fact that Sirius and me were trying a relationship wasn't the problem. The problem was Remus' reluctance to be in one with her, and she thought that was because of his still presents feelings for me. Was that true? But even if it was, what could I do about it? And here I was, naïve, thinking that everything was settled. After my ''conversation'' with Remus (to call those tiny sentences a conversation is a little exaggerated really) and the fact that he and Marlene were seeing each other for weeks... But as it seems, nothing was ''settled''. I was completely desperate. I was pulled out of my dark thoughts by Sirius.
- What are your plans today? He asked.
- Heum, this morning I wanted to go see Hagrid about the Devil's snare, with Peter, if he wants to come with?
- Yeah, sure, I haven't seen Hagrid in a while, Peter said.
- After lunch, I continued, as you know, we have Quidditch practice... Then... I don't know, nothing, I suppose, what about you?
- Damn, tonight I have plans with those, he said, pointing the marauders.
- We're busy bees, aren't we? I sighed.
- It won't take long, though, I think? Sirius turned to look at James.
- Oh no, not at all, an hour max, he said. We'll be done at 8.
- Great, you could come by later, then? Sirius smiled at me.
- Yeah, why not? I said, trying to look at Marlene once more, and seeing that she was focused on her plate.
Mary was looking at me, shrugging helplessly to say that it still wasn't good.
- All right, then, I'm done, Peter, coming with? I asked him.
- Sure, he said, getting up too.
After fetching some warm jackets and scarves, we headed in direction of Hagrid's hut, near the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
- It's my first-time visiting Hagrid, I told Peter.
- Oh, really? We come by often, Hagrid's a good friend of us, actually, he said.
- Great, he looks like he's fun to be around, I smiled.
- He is! All right, I'll knock, Peter offered. And, don't be scared of the dog, he's loud, but he loves everyone after smelling them, he added.
Indeed, as soon as Peter knocked, loud barks emanated from the hut before the door opened.
- Oh, hey, Peter ! How are yeh doing? Hagrid said.
- I'm great, Hagrid, I'm with Dorcas, here, he said taking a sidestep to let him see me.
- Hullo Dorcas, yeh two don' stay there in the cold, come on in! He invited us opening the door.
As I was entering after Peter, a very big brown dog greeted me by a big and slimy lick on the cheek.
- Oi! Rupert! Leave her alone, ye old flee bag! Hagrid laugh, pushing the dog gently away. Come, take a seat, I jus' bake some scones fresh out o' the oven! I'll serve you some tea, too, he finished turning his back on us.
I was about to take a scone, but Peter's hand flicked mine away. Surprised, I looked at him, and he was just silently gesturing me to not eat the scones, mimicking a poisoning of some sort. I chose to trust him on that one and dropped it. Hagrid turned to us with hot tea.
- Here, warm yerself with this, he said, giving us our cups. Take a scone, don' be shy! He added.
- Oh, thank you, M. Hagrid, but we just ate, you see, I tried.
- Please, yeh can call me just Hagrid, Dorcas, he said. So, what are yeh lot up to? He asked us.
- We're teaming up for this project in Herbology, Hagrid, and Dorcas said that you may help us about it, Peter explained.
- All right? And what is this about, this project? Hagrid asked.
- It's about Devil's snare, I said.
- Oh! Tha' bloody plant! Hagrid sighed heavily. It's always spreadin', yeh know, and it's startin' to take over all o' my wild mushroom's favorite spots! He finished, looking irritated.
- Well... I wanted to study them, for schoolwork, I said, a little shyly. I thought that you could just point me in the right direction? I asked him. I have Sprout's permission to venture a little in the Forbidden Forest, somewhere... I finished, searching my pockets for the authorisation.
- Oh, don' bother, I still don' know why the forest is forbidden for students, it's not tha' dangerous, and so full o' rare and interestin' specimens of the magical wildlife! He dreamily said.
- Oh, okay then, I said.
- Drink yer tea, I'll show ye where tha' little wicked thing is after, he added.
We drank our tea, refusing three times to eat the scones, after the third time he just drops it, but not before forcing us to put some in our pockets. Then, we got up and left with Hagrid. He went to show us the location of the plant's invasive talus and then left us to get to work. For now, we stayed at a distance from it and took notes, observations and sketches of it. Then we packed our things and left, agreeing to come back in a couple of days. As we were walking silently toward the school, I turned to Peter, still intrigued about what he said at breakfast.
- So, Pete, what was it about, earlier, when you said that your small size prevents Sirius to get hurt? I asked him.
- Oh, that... That was nothing, I was just defending myself from his teasing, he shrugged.
- I mean, is that very dangerous? I insisted.
He looked at me, and I tried to project something like charm on him, if that was a thing I could do.
- It's just, you see, I'm a little worried about you lot, I smiled, batting my eyelashes in what I hope was seductive and not ridiculous.
- I... Euhm... He blushed a little. Don't worry, it's not that bad, we're used to it by now... We've become good at patching ourselves up, he said.
- That bad, eh? I sighed.
- Well, we do venture with a werewolf, it's not exactly risk-free... He said, but, he's not alone in this anymore, and that's all that matters, he finished.
- You guys are amazing, you know that? I smiled at him.
- Well, especially the others, me I'm just trying to keep up, he shrugged.
- You did achieve to be an Animagus, didn't you? I would say that you're awesome too, I winked at him.
- I did, he blushed a little more.
- And I'm pretty sure that you have your role to play too, right?
- Yes, I do, if that weren't for me, that damn tree... He stopped himself, realising that he was talking too much, he turned to me with an accusatory finger pointed at me. Dorcas! Stop trying to get information from me! You know too much already! He laughed, nudging me friendly.
- All right, all right, I'll stop, I laughed, as we were arriving at the school's entrance steps.
We joined our friends just in time for lunch. Marlene was seated at a small distance from us, so clearly the time to speak to her hasn't arrived yet... Mary greeted me with a sad smile. We ate dinner pretty fast, as we were in a hurry to go to the Quidditch pitch for practice (We only had the pitch for an hour before Ravenclaw's practice).
As we were walking on the grounds, I thoughts about Sirius and me. Because, let's be honest, there was near to nothing different today than any other days, right? We didn't kiss, hold hands (except some intertwined fingers during breakfast) or anything. I was wondering if that was normal? Or maybe Sirius changed his mind. Maybe those things are different from a couple to another...? I was a little lost and/or a little depressed by my train of thoughts as I was arriving to the small building containing the locker rooms when I was briskly pulled out away from it by a hand taking me to the right.
- Go on, we'll catch up in two! Sirius said to James, as he was pulling me to the side of the building.
- Sirius? I asked, turning the corner, but I got cut right there by his mouth crushing on mine.
I felt my back to the wall as he pressed himself on me, deepening the kiss already. Well, that certainly made me scratch my ''He changed his mind about us'' theory. I slid my hands through his hair and marveled in the kiss. Moments later, his lips left mine and he pressed his forehead against mine.
- I've missed you, Fury, he sighed.
- Hm. I think that's mutual, I replied.
He took a step back to look at me.
- I just... I still don't know how to act, you know, with you, in front of Moony. I don't want to... Rub it in his face? He said.
- I understand, of course, I said.
- I'm not saying that won't change, though, we'll... See how it goes? He finished.
- Sure... Let's go back, Puppy? I smirked at him as I was saying the horrible nickname.
- Absolutely not, he said, taking my hand and pulling me from the wall.
- Isn't it what ordinary couples do? Calling themselves cute baby animals' nicknames? I asked, faking seriousness.
- Exactly, but we're no ordinary couple, are we? He said, smirking to me.
- I guess we aren't, I smiled, as we were entering the locker room.
The practice went well, James trying his best to kill us at work to make the most of the time allotted to us. After dinner, I went up the Common Room with the rest of the group, deciding, seeing Marlene sitting back there, that I would go straight to my dorm. Lily hesitated, then decided to follow me. We sat on our beds with schoolbooks, talking about Herbology and DADA assignments for a while.
- Lils? I said, as she was deeply unto DADA revision.
- Yeah? She asked, still looking at her book.
- Do you think... Is there a possibility that my friendship with Marlene is just... Over?
She closed her book and changed position from prone to sitting and facing me.
- It isn't over, Dorcas. She's just... She's not used to be... Second, when boys are involved. She's used to being the one in the easy position. The one where you pick amongst a lot of admirers. She's not used to be a consolation prize, to beg someone to love her. And, and this is a significant detail, it's the first time she really loves someone. Problem is, it's a one-sided love. You, right now, for her, it's like you have it all. You love someone that loves you back, but more important, you also got the love that Remus isn't giving her. For now, she's not able to see you without feeling the pain that comes with that dead-end situation. It's not your problem, Dorcas, nor is it your fault. But she needs time. And, if you want my opinion, she also needs to end things with Remus. It's unhealthy and it causes her pain...
- … I miss her... I said with a small voice.
- Of course, you do. She'll come around, eventually, but just give her the space and time she needs, allright? It's the only thing you can do for her at the moment.
- I understand, I said, still feeling a sting in my heart at the thought of it.
She got up and held her hand to me.
- Well, what do you say, we go wait for our men in their dorm? We could take a look around while we're there. She added with a wink.
- Oh! I could scout around to find out where he keeps his bottle of shampoo, I said, not so subtly raising my eyebrows at her.
- You're still planning to spike his shampoo? Even if he's your boyfriend? She raised an eyebrow at me.
- Hell yeah, I'm not passing on that chance for revenge! I laughed as we got out.
Sirius
- Allright, Wormtail, take this, I said, giving the Stink Pellet to the rat near my left foot. He will get out in a moment... I said, looking at the door leaving to Slytherin's Common Room.
I was hidden under James' invisibility cloak, doing part one of the plan with him, as the others were around the corner for phase two. The Slytherins were our favorites targets. Always there to help us to decompress, spend some frustration and stress on them. So convenient. Of course, it was against their will. But, nonetheless, I was grateful.
As the map told me, Vinny Bulstrode was getting out of the Common Room, and Peter took the given opportunity to sneak in.
That was my cue, I ran to the others, in the opposite direction from where Bulstrode was heading, to join the others and wait for what would happen next. I got off of the cloak and put it back in my backpack, taking my dragon scale gloves instead and putting them on.
- Any moment now, James said, wearing gloves too, as was Remus. There was a bowl at our feet, containing some pretty malodorant dungbombs.
- I hear screams! Remus said, taking a dungbomb and getting ready.
His wolf's senses were always reliable in those situations. We got animal's senses when we transformed, Remus had the advantage of super-hearing and super-olfactive senses developing days before his transformations... We imitate him, taking one dungbombs in both hands.
The door burst open, with students running out of their Common Room, coughing and cursing, followed by a green smoke. James had his arm in the air, waiting for our cue... Then we saw Wormtail skillfully crawling between the feet of the Slytherins, accelerating in our direction, turning the corner and passing us in his way out of this corridor. That was our signal. We threw our dungbombs in the direction of the group of students, before we ran in the same direction as Peter. We caught up on him on his way upstairs, as he opened a bag where we threw our gloves and the bowl and ran away, laughing and clapping. We were still hearing distant screaming.
Yeah, I know, that wasn't very mature, nor was it very elaborate, as far as pranking goes, but sometimes, we don't need something grand. Sometimes you just need to reek of a few snakes...
Dorcas
- Lily, still looking? I asked her nervously, as I was opening Sirius' bottle of shampoo, stolen from his suitcase.
- Yeah, hurry up before they come back, she said, still looking out from the door to watch for their return.
- I am! I said, taking a second to smell the shampoo, giving me great olfactive memory of Sirius' hair.
Right, focus, Dorcas, I scold myself. I took my vial, in my pocket, popped open the cap and pour the navy-blue liquid unto the mercifully opaque bottle of shampoo.
- Oi, they're coming! Lily whispered, closing the door and coming to sit on James' bed.
I closed the bottle, put it back where I took it, closed the suitcase and hurried to sit on the bed, trying to look casual, winking at Lils. We heard laughing from the stairs before we saw the door open.
- Eeesh, man, I'll put those in the shower, it stinks like old putrid death in here, Peter said, holding a bag at arm's length and pinching his nose. Oh, hi, girls, he greeted us.
- Hey, rummaging through our stuff in our absence? James smiled at us, before kissing Lily's forehead.
- Well, rummaging through your stuff look less fishy than what you probably just did, she said, pointing to the bathroom, where Peter was clearly soaping evidences away.
- That? It was just Pete's old knickers, Sirius laughed, as he was seating himself next to me.
- I HEARD THAT! Peter said from the other room.
- You really think we're that stupid, don't you? I rolled my eyes at them.
- We really don't want you to know, actually, rectified Remus. Don't ask questions, we don't want to imply you unto anything...
- Not that ANYTHING happened, James innocently added, putting his arm on Lily's shoulders.
- So, NOTHING is perfectly washed, said Peter, winking at them, as he went back from the bathroom. Anyone's up for an exploding snap game?
- Those fools are killing me, Lily sighed, but with a small tender smile.
I was getting out of the castle, late that night, putting the marauder's map in my bag as soon as I closed the entrance's door behind me. James agreed to lend it to me, since I told him that I needed to circulate after hours this week.
Dorcas
Three nights earlier
- Oi, James, I need this map of yours! I demanded him, as he was tickling Lily on his bed.
- How so? He asked, turning his head in my direction.
- Yeah, how so? Sirius imitated his friend. I can take you somewhere anytime you want, he added.
- I need it to circulate after curfew one night, to go visit Venitia, I said.
I named the Devil's snare. I know I'm weird.
- Arf, you're spending nearly more time with that awful thing than with me, Sirius played the offended boyfriend.
Thing is, he couldn't care less about Venitia.
- Yeah right, as if you're not ALWAYS taken already by those blokes, I said, pointing to James and the others.
- But, Pete could go with you, then? Sirius suggested, clearly not interested in the matter already.
- Pete, a jolly visit to Venitia at night, are you in? I smirked at Peter, knowing perfectly well what his answer would be.
He come along most of the time, for good measure, or, as I was guessing, enough to prevent me to dump his ass off the team. He was unable to cover the disgust in his features and I just laughed at him about it. But, I have to say, he was helpful for the writing part of the assignment, so I was not complaining. His silence at my proposition was eloquent enough for an answer.
- That's what I thought, it'll be an evening rendezvous between me and Venitia alone, I concluded. So, James? I insisted.
- Yeah, fine, we don't need it those days, with Rem' transformation coming, we will stay low this week...
I took the map he threw in my direction, satisfied that I would have the occasion to visit the magic plant at night.
- You guys are unable to ''stay low'', I laughed at him. Thanks, James, I added.
- You'll be careful, right, hon? I know Venitia doesn't scare you, but it's a wicked thing. I should accompany you... Lily said.
- Don't you have a potion to attend to? I asked, knowing pretty well that she was to begin to brew Wolfsbane tomorrow night. Don't worry, Red, I'll be fine, I'm cautious enough.
She frowned a little at me, before her boyfriend efficiently stole her attention from me.
And I visited Venitia every night after that, but tonight was going to be different. It would be extraordinary, in fact. That was the real intention behind my borrowing of the precious map. While researching the Devil's snare, I read that the magic plant was blooming ephemerally during full moon, once a month. Full moon was tonight. I knew that tonight the boys were taking care of Remus somewhere hidden and safe, or so they told me, staying as vague as ever.
I wonder where they were. I wonder if my boyfriend was fine. Still weird, to call him that, in my head as well as out loud. It's been days, now, that I spiked his shampoo. Nothing. I asked Remus and he told me that Sirius often take James' shampoo. Apparently, shampoo stealing wasn't just a girls' thing.
Speaking of Remus, Marlene did end things with him. Since she still doesn't speak to me, it was Lily whom retell it to me. She told me tha Marlene said that Remus looked sad, but she thought that he was sad to not have been able to be more unto her than that, he said that he never wanted her to suffer. She answered by snogging the brain out of another bloke in his face. Well, classic Marlene...
I was pretty excited about that moonlight blooming stuff. It was said that the plant was dreading sunlight and fire light, but moonlight was fine. And the full moon was producing big dark purple flowers on it, if the books were saying the truth. I bring my camera, planning to capture the moment. I wanted to use the black chamber of the school to make a big animated portrait out of it to present to the class when Peter and I would do our presentation. I was thrilled about that brilliant idea and was sure that we would gain extra grades for the effort and originality. Yeah, I sometimes was a sucker for good grades. Especially when I wanted a futur career that bad.
It was eleven o'clock at the moment, and I was going down the trail toward the Forbidden Forest, casting a Lumos as I was getting farther away from the lights of the school. As I looked up, I saw that the full moon was already high in the sky, covering everything with a white-blue aura. I thought about the boys, surrounding a werewolf somewhere, trying to make that moment a little bit less horrible for Remus.
Speaking of them, there was apparently a big dungbombs' crisis down the donjons, for a big bunch of Slytherin's students, couple of days ago. Clearly, that was what they were doing before joining us, that night... McGonagall wanted to throw them directly unto detention, but she couldn't, because there wasn't any proof whatsoever, to her big disappointment. They were professionals' pranksters, after all.
I was getting closer to the spot where Venitia was, I was looking for her, wand pointed to the dark edge of the Forbidden Forest in her direction. I got a glimpse of purple as I was searching. I came closer and here it was. It was even more impressive than on the books' illustrations. There were big purple and pink bell-shape flowers, literally growing under my eyes, under the dim light of the moon. I dropped my backpack on the ground, searching it to get my camera.
- Nox, I whispered, for my wand's light to die out.
I was hoping that the moonlight was sufficient, because any light other than the moon would stop the blooming, the reason why I turned my magical light as soon as I got closer. I verified that the flash was off on my camera, then took a picture. I took more of them, something like forty, before I heard it. A wolf's howl. I didn't know there were wolf in that part of the country...? That howl gave me the creeps. I decided to put my camera back in my bag and just not to linger. I heard a creak and a rustle of bush and my heart made a big jump in my ribcage, making me stagger backwards.
Unfortunately, that was in direction of Venitia, because I felt her roots wrapping themselves quickly around my ankle, making me scream from the surprise, as it made me fall on my behind.
- Where's my stupid wand? I groaned, trying to keep my cool, knowing that panicking would be to sign my own death's warrant.
Because, let's be honest, I kind of was in bad posture, alone in here, in the dark, without my wand, tangled in a Devil's snare. Merlin, that would be a really stupid death. I really should have thought about bringing someone with me. I must try to stop to act alone like this... It was kind of difficult to manage to stay calm at the same time as I was nervously groping on the floor with my hand to find my wand. Venitia was finding my attempt at relaxing not very convincing, because she grips harder on me, as I was more and more frenetically trying to kick her off. At that moment, a moonlight ray revealed to me the location of my wand, very near me. My fingers closed on it seconds after. I sighed loudly in relief before I raised it.
- Lumos solem, you bitch! I recited, aiming the plant who was trying to choke me.
There was a very bright light who escaped from my wand, chasing away the plant from around me. I got up and quickly take a few steps away from it. I saw the incredible blooming flowers beginning to turn black and falling pretty quickly. A shame. Then again, you shouldn't try to kill me, stupid magical plant...
- That was VERY NAUGHTY, to try to kill me, Venitia! I exclaimed to it, getting back my contenance, now that I was out of danger.
Or so I thought I was. There was another howling. I forgot about the first one, while I was fighting for my life against Venitia. Is that me, or it sounded like it was closer? Like, much MUCH closer. Like very close. Too close. I froze, my pulse accelerating. Was it the shouting or the light that gave away my position in those woods? I heard a ruffle closer to me and turn to look were the sound came from. There, a little farther, something like 20 feet away from me, in a moonlight ray, somewhat like a scene's projector lightning the star of the show... There was a werewolf standing and looking at me.
Crap, is that Remus? I thought, feeling like freezing water was poured all over me. I wanted to run. I knew that was what I should be doing. But it was like my feet were made of steel, and so I just stood there, like a stupid fool, petrified on the spot, and looking at him.
