I apologise for the delay, I've got the ideas there, but lack the time to spend on them that I want to. My goal is to be better!
Trouble
Doe woke up on the morning of the first Hogsmeade trip to the sound of her roommates arguing. Well, Sylvie was trying her hardest to argue with Arabella who was stiffly ignoring her as she braided her hair. She swung her legs off the side of the bed, catching the attention of Arabella who sighed in relief.
"Thank Merlin," she sighed. "Fawcett's trying to deafen me with her incessant shrieking."
"Shrieking!" Sylvie, did in fact, shriek. "I do not shriek! I just don't understand why you won't double with me and Henry. Sean's a lovely bloke."
Very quickly, Doe realised what this was all about. Sylvie had bagged a date with Henry Pickett the week earlier and it turned out the two of them had talked Sean Flynn into asking Arabella. She had no doubt that he did in fact fancy her, but Arabella had given no signs that she liked him as anything more than someone to debate Quidditch statistics with. Arabella had been flustered and defensive, turning him down bluntly before taking off. Sean had been left red-faced and down-trodden. Sylvie had been on at Arabella about it ever since.
"Flynn is a great bloke, I just don't fancy him," Arabella said finally, throwing her brush down and storming off into the bathroom.
Sylvie huffed in frustration. Doe shrugged her shoulders at her when she turned to her, as though asking for help. "She can't help it if she doesn't want to date him, Syl."
"But I don't get it! He's fit, and nice, and he likes the same things she does. She talks to him all the time anyway, what's so different?"
"It's different, though, isn't it? Liking someone to talk to and be their friend, and then liking them enough that you want to snog them. Just because she has a chat doesn't mean she's attracted to him like that."
The other girl crumbled, all huff and bluster rushing out of her at once. "I know that," she said. "I just want her to enjoy herself a bit more. All she ever does is either play Quidditch or talk about Quidditch. She's never even been on a date before!"
"And I like it that way," the bathroom door opened and Arabella stepped out, dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a Holyhead Harpies jumper. "I'm not interested in dating, Sylvie, and if I ever am, I'll sort it out myself, yeah?" To Doe she turned and said, "I'll meet you at breakfast," before leaving the dorm room.
Before Sylvie could turn back to her to lament their roommates romantic choices, Doe grabbed her clothes together and rushed into the bathroom. She took her time getting ready waiting until she heard the dorm room outside quieten before slipping through the door. The girls were gone, leaving Doe in peace to gather her things and walk slowly down into the Common Room. To her surprise, Arabella was waiting for her, legs propped up against the arm of a lounger and her head hanging upside down.
Spotting Doe, she scrambled to turn herself right side up, cursing under her breath all the way. Doe giggled. She stepped forward, grabbing Arabella's arm and pulling her to her feet.
"I thought you'd be at breakfast," she noted.
"I was," her friend nodded, "and then I finished and you still weren't down so I decided to wait up here."
Once again, Doe was struck by the strangeness of being close enough to someone that they considered her a friend. That they'd be waiting for her before starting their day.
"Now I know we have all day but I really want to go to Spintwitches. I talked Gwen into getting me a new beaters bat for Christmas and I want to pick out a good one," Arabella said as she fixed her hair, tightening the ponytail at the top of her head.
"Just let me swing by the Great Hall so I can grab some toast and then I'm happy to head off. I'll put up with Quidditch if you'll put up with me searching through Tomes and Scrolls," Doe ventured.
She laughed behind her hand as Arabella visibly deflated at the thought of having to spend any time in a bookshop but she put on a brave face and nodded enthusiastically. "And then a butterbeer, and a trip to Zonko's, and I do love the walk to the Shrieking Shack!"
For the first time, it seemed that Doe's day off was not to be spent entirely at her own leisure, but strangely, rather than grating on her nerves it left her with a warm feeling in her stomach as Arabella planned out their day.
The two set off for the Great Hall, deep in conversation, until they came to the Entrance Hall where a large crowd of students were huddled together, shouting and hissing.
"What on Earth," Doe whispered under her breath, startled as Arabella grabbed her arm and pushed forward, elbowing others out of her way, ignoring the offended glares that followed her, even as Doe tried to smile apologetically.
"What's going on?" It was Arabella, and she had dragged Doe to the edge of the crowd, next to Sylvie and Lottie who were watching the commotion wide-eyed.
"What else?" Henry Pickett rolled his eyes from next to the girls. "Black, Potter and co. versus Rosier and his crowd."
"Ooh, what started it this time?" Arabella asked curiously as Doe looked between the boys in concern.
James Potter and Sirius Black were taking point, Remus behind them looking halfway between exasperated and angry. He hadn't yet drawn his wand like the other two but Doe had seen enough over the last five years to know he was quick on the draw when the situation called for it. Peter Pettigrew was even further back, eyes darting between Potter and Black in anticipation, and a bit of hero-worship. Doe didn't have the energy to question the revulsion she felt at his presence. Rosier was standing surrounded by his friends, smirking smugly as he toyed with his wand. At his side Mulciber and Avery narrowed their eyes dangerously while Snape hovered behind them like some overgrown bat.
"Not sure," Henry said, "One minute we're all heading out to the carriages, next thing I know this lot are arguing again and wands are drawn." He nodded towards Sylvie. "I'm just waiting for her to be over it so we can get going."
He looked so put-upon that Doe felt a little sorry for him. Sylvie was staring starry-eyed at Sirius Black and Henry had certainly noticed.
"You better watch your back Potter," Rosier sneered. "The Potter name won't be able to save you for long."
James laughed, loudly and brightly, seemingly unconcerned as he elbowed Sirius in the side. "Hear that Pads, Rosier thinks he's scary now that he's made good with the big boys."
Sirius laughed, sounding more like a bark than anything else. "Too bad for him, Malfoy and Lestrange aren't anything to write home about either," he said, referring to two sixth-years Doe had just noticed. Lucius Malfoy and Rabastan Lestrange were standing just behind the fifth-year boys watching the commotion, seemingly disinterested, though Doe noticed the tightening of their eyes as Sirius insulted them.
Lestrange stepped forward then, placing a hand on Rosier's shoulder and speaking quietly into his ear.
Evan nodded his head and smiled. "How right you are, Rabastan, no need to waste our time on these bloodtraitors." he looked around the gathered crowd then, stopping when he saw Doe and narrowing his eyes cruelly. "Besides, the scum will get what's coming to them, all of them."
This part, Doe knew he directed at her, and it seemed others did too. Potter and Black both looked over to see who he was talking to and Arabella and Henry both stiffened at her side. And then Rabastan Lestrange looked at her too, running his eyes up and down her inquisitively before settling on her face and settling there. When he saw her looking he winked minutely, causing Doe to direct her gaze to the floor, scared by the sudden beating of her heart and the shortness of breath that came over her. His gaze was cruel and his dark eyes empty of any warmth. Rosier, she could handle, but there was something about Rabastan Lestrange that made her want to run far away and hide. All of a sudden, Arabella's hand slipped into hers, squeezing gently and pulling until Doe was hidden behind her friend's larger frame. She was unable to see him then but she heard the quiet laughter that erupted at Arabella's movement. Doe didn't want to think about what that meant.
Before she knew it the crowd was dispersing, Henry leading Sylvie away with her arm wrapped up in his, the other Hufflepuff's not far behind them. Doe and Arabella waited behind.
"Are you okay?" Arabella asked her.
Doe conjured a shaky smile. "I've never been afraid of Rosier."
"Lestrange was looking at you."
"Was he?" Doe feigned ignorance. "I hadn't noticed."
Arabella narrowed her eyes but let it slide. "Sure thing," she said. "Hey, come on, if we want a carriage we better get a move on."
By the time they did get out to the waiting carriages there was only one left, though a little occupied. A squirrely looking third year was huddled into the corner fiddling with his blue and bronze tie. He startled as Arabella opened the door, letting herself in and thumping down in the seat across from him.
"Alright, mate," she nodded to him.
He was so surprised he didn't respond.
Doe tried to smile at him but on catching her eye he shrunk back even more. The three sat in awkward silence all the way into the village, the boy avoiding looking at the two girls, and Doe and Arabella sending each other bewildered and panicky looks.
When the carriage finally stopped the boy dashed past them out the door and was gone up the path and out of sight before Doe and Arabella could even put their feet on the ground.
"I didn't know we were so feared," Arabella mused, looking just a little proud.
Someone behind them scoffed. "Don't worry, Barbary's scared of his own shadow. The only person he'll talk to is Kirley Duke in Gryffindor."
Doe turned and was surprised to see Regulus Black, a fourth-year leaning against the wall behind them. Arabella eyed him warily. He was quiet, nothing like his brother, but his reputation based on his social circle preceded him. Regulus was the typical Black pureblood that his family expected. Doe knew of his family through stories from her mother when she was younger; the Selwyn's and the Black's were close to one another and shared the same ideologies, and there had even been talks of a betrothal between her and Alphard Black at one point. According to her mum, neither were too disappointed to have escaped their fate.
Arabella hummed at Regulus. "I suppose you know everything about everyone then," she said airily.
Doe tugged on her arm, but Arabella ignored her. Regulus shrugged. "I know enough."
"Oh yeah?" Arabella narrowed her eyes. "So I guess you know why your friend Rosier has it out for Doe then?"
Doe choked on her own tongue. "Arabella!"
Again, she was ignored. Regulus was quiet under her friend's intense stare. "Hmm, I thought as much," Arabella continued. "So why don't you do us a favour and go back to your arseholes friends and tell them to keep their cryptic threats to themselves."
Abruptly, she turned her back on Regulus, took Doe by the arm and marched the two of them away into Hogsmeade's main street. At her side, Arabella was mumbling under her breath. By the furrow in her brow, Doe assumed it was nothing nice.
"I really wish you'd said something before about Rosier," Arabella said finally as they walked arm in arm past the shops and groups of other giggling students.
"It just never seemed that important," Doe said, "and I was prepared for it by mum you know?"
"She knew Rosier would be making threats?"
"Well it's not like he or anyone else has spent the last five years hinting that they want to off me and my mum and dad," Doe replied. "That's a fairly new one."
Arabella shook her head. "They're bloody awful, is what they are. All this blood purity nonsense is just shite."
Doe nodded and hummed. "Doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon though. Dad reckons more and more people are going to their creepy pureblood meetings, and they're getting more and more dangerous too. Just last week he arrested five people for muggle baiting."
"Disgusting," Arabella said, wrinkling her nose. "Anyone that comes to me talking that bollocks will get a right hand."
"Arabella Jones, star beater and willing to punch dickheads, you may just be the girl for me," someone called from behind them.
They spun around, still arm in arm, and saw that the four Gryffindor boys had apparently been behind them, having just come from the direction of Zonko's. It was Sirius who had spoken and he winked at Arabella, causing her to roll her eyes at him exasperatedly.
"He bloody wishes," she hissed under her breath, tugging Doe along. "Sod off, Black," she called back.
James laughed loudly and slapped Sirius on the back in mirth. "Looks like she's immune to your charms, eh Padfoot?"
Sirius smirked and flipped his hair out of his eyes. "Give it time, Prongs, I'm irresistible."
Next to Doe, Arabella stiffened as she listened to him go on, and her face grew redder. She nudged her in the side and whispered to her to let it go. It was what he wanted after all. Then all of a sudden Arabella's mouth fell open and she whipped around, startling The Marauders who had been on their tail, the four of them stumbling back. Peter fell onto his back, groaning as his head thunked on the ground.
"Wotcher Jones, you nearly killed Pete!" Sirius cried as Remus Lupin knelt down beside their friend.
Arabella ignored him and tried to duck behind Doe, which didn't work as she was easily a head taller than her and more athletically built than Doe's fragile frame.
"I think you've dodged a hex there, Pads, she's barmy," James said, watching Arabella freak out, wide-eyed.
"What are you doing?" Doe asked her, bemused, spinning around.
"He's right there, I don't want him to see me!" Arabella seemed like she was trying to shrink in on herself and Doe turned around to see Sean Flynn chatting with Henry and Sylvia ahead of them. "They're going to ambush me, I just know it."
"Great bloody balls of Merlin," Doe sighed, "You really think she's thought it through that much?"
Arabella nodded furiously, fair hair swinging dangerously in its braid. "Sylvie's devious. I've said since day one she should have been a Slytherin."
"Sylvia Fawcett?" Sirius asked, coming to stand beside Doe. "She's pretty fit."
Doe shrugged. "She'd say yes if you asked her out."
"Is that right, Meadowes?" Sirius said, glancing at her. "What about you? Would you say yes?"
Arabella scoffed. "She's got a bit more sense than that."
Sirius swooned, holding his hand to his forehead, and sighed. "Even after I saved her life?"
"Even then," Doe chimed in, frowning at him. "Are you always so dramatic?"
"Yes," came the dry voices of all three of his friends. Sirius huffed, as though wounded, and pouted. Doe shook her head at his dramatics.
"Have a nice day, then," she said, turning away from the four and to Arabella. "Shall we hide in Tomes & Scrolls until they're out of sight? Sylvie will know to look for you in Spintwitches, you'll never escape."
Arabella gasped. "This was all a part of your plan, wasn't it? Books and studying instead of my precious Quidditch! I see right through you now Meadowes."
"Of course not," Doe said, feigning confusion. "I'm just looking out for you, don't want to run in to anyone unexpectedly, do we?"
"Yeah, yeah, I suppose we'll go with that one," Arabella sighed, looking sadly over at the crowds who were heading towards the Quidditch shop.
"Oh cheer up, Bells, we'll go there today, I promise. Promise, promise, promise!"
The two girls headed off, Arabella reluctantly, but Doe chanced one more look back at the Gryffindor boys, making eye contact with Sirius as she did so, the boy winking at her roguishly before turning back to his friends, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as they leaned towards each other conspiratorially.
Review please. See you soon!