Chapter 5

Sirius

It was the week before the Christmas holidays and all through the castle, Peeves was engrossed in his new occupation, pouring hot brandy butter on the heads of any unsuspecting student. It didn't matter how often he was threatened by any of the Professors, the poltergeist was simply unstoppable. Sirius and James found this all to their advantage and managed to stay out of the line of fire by helping Peeves to find targets. Since all of the Marauders' enmity was towards the Slytherins, it was that house that often had students wandering around with sticky heads. Unfortunately, Slughorn found the whole business rather hysterical, causing further uproar amongst the Slytherin ranks.

It didn't help that the tensions of the outside world were slowly seeping in to Hogwarts itself. Although most students shied away from news and politics, it was hard to avoid the sober headlines, the disappearances, the sudden absences at dinner tables when someone's parent or relative was found tortured to death. Students with parents working for the ministry, especially, began to take on haunted looks.

"It's all just so frightening," said Lily softly to Marlene over breakfast three days before the school term ended. "Emmie got taken to Dumbledore's office last night. Her mother never came home from work. I don't know what to tell my parents. They are Muggles, what if…?"

"Oh don't say it Lils, don't say it. My mum told me to stay at Hogwarts this Christmas. They think it's the safest place. I've never not gone home."

Next to them Dorcas shook her head in frustration. "There's a war coming. I can feel it. How long can the Ministry just refuse to do anything? Who are these Death Eaters anyway? What a bloody joke of a name!"

Lily shushed her. "We don't know who's listening, Dorc. And what can the Ministry do? They can't even really identify who these Death Eaters are."

"Yeah? Let's go to the Slytherin common room, shall we? I bet half those bastards are on the waiting list."

Lily frowned. "Not every Slytherin…"

"Shut up Lils, " said Marlene, "even your Severus turned, didn't he?"

Lily stood up, tears coursing down her cheeks. "Sorry Lils, I'm sorry, let 's not fight." Marlene stood up and hugged her. "It's just so frightening, I don't know what I'm saying."

Sirius, just a few seats away, shakes his head with anger. Last night, he had dreamt of Bella's face, gloating, taunting him, pointing towards a line of bodies. He saw, so clearly, all his friends dead at the hands of his cousin. It felt all too real. He's taken out of his reverie by Remus reminding him they needed to head to their Potions final. He, James and Remus join Lily and Marlene on the way out. Peter, having not met the OWL result, waved them off and went back to the common room to prep for his Magical Creatures exam.

Soon, the Gryffs were standing outside the exam room with a cluster of other sixth years. Sirius glared at the group of Slytherins in front of him.

"Something in your eye, Black?" asked a large Slytherin called Mulciber.

"Yeah, something snake- like and nasty."

Remus placed an arm on Sirius. "Don't start something."

"Oh, don't start something? Hey let's start something, I got five minutes." laughed Mulciber twirling his wand.

"Mulciber don't be an idiot", muttered Severus, "we've got an exam."

Mulciber laughed. "Soon, exams won't matter. Only one thing really matters. And that's blood isn't it? Black knows."

Severus sighed and rolled his eyes. Sirius whipped out his wand. "Is that a confession Mulciber? Been out on any night raids, have we?"

"Oh, not yet, Black, but the time will come. Aren't you ashamed that you won't be? What a shame to the house of Black. I so feel for Narcissa and Regulus, with their blood traitor in you and Andromeda bearing the off spring of a mudblood."

The entire line of students tensed. Severus made to pull Mulciber away, but it was too late, Sirius' stinging hex had already caught him round the face. James and Remus had their wands out as well.

"Stop it you idiots. " said Lily, almost hysterical.

"Did you hear what that filth said?" thundered James.

"Just forget it for now, Slughorn will be here any minute. "

"Oh i don't need YOU stopping them from attacking ME, mudblood bitch." snarled Mulciber.

In a matter of seconds, three things had happened. Severus punched Mulciber in the head, whilst at the same time James punched him in the face. Yaxley aimed a retaliatory hex at Sirius and James, and Marlene sent a spray of boils in the general direction of the Slytherin contingent. Mary Carrow whipped back at the Gryffs with a series of burn hexes and in a moment it had become a free for all of magical and non-magical fighting.

"ENOUGH" boomed a deep voice and a wave of blue magic separated everyone. Standing over them all, looking murderous was the Headmaster. "You are all students here. And i will not tolerate such behaviour. Ten points from everyone. And you are all docked one point each from your exam. Kindly file in to the room where i will wait with you until Professor Slughorn arrives.

Chastened, and trying to deal with their cuts and burns, they went into the exam hall. All except for Mulciber who was concussed on the floor. "Take him to the infirmary, would you, Mr Snape? And then right back here, mind."

Snape levitated Mulciber's prone body, and tried to look back to see if Lily was all right. He caught only Remus' eye. In the great furore, somehow, no Slytherin had noted Snape's actions. In fact, few had and Remus was one of them. He nodded at Snape and mouthed "I'll check on her", before following his classmates in.

Snape, sighing, and feeling ever more that Lily would never be his friend again stalked off to the infirmary.

Sirius glowered at his seat. He felt the weight of his Pureblood family, their mania, now legitimised in a war that he could feel coming. But what could he do? He felt powerless. He felt eyes on him and looked up at the Headmaster. Grey eyes held piercing blue ones for a long time and he thought he saw a small, imperceptible nod.

That night, Sirius writes a short note and determinedly sends it on its way.

You have till Hogwarts is over, and then I am coming for you Bella.

Sirius.