Chapter Fourteen

Shit Happens When You're a Nosy Prat

The first Hogsmeade trip of the year was taking place the weekend before Halloween, which sent the whole castle into an excited uproar when the notices appeared in all the house common rooms. Emmeline shoved her way toward me through the crowd of Gryffindors clamoring around the board, a broad smile on her face.

"Hogsmeade tomorrow!" she said. "This is great! We can buy Halloween decorations and put them up in our dorm, and Honeydukes is bound to have some great stuff put out. I'm so excited!"

"I can tell," I said amusedly, allowing myself to be dragged to the Great Hall for breakfast as Emmeline chatted away about what we should do.

The Hall was buzzing when we entered, students from every house already planning out their Hogsmeade weekend, collecting friends and speculating on dates. I wondered vaguely if Remus would be going on a date with someone before shaking my head; I'd never seen him go on a date with anyone before, but I put an end to the thought when I felt the ugly stirrings of jealousy in the pit of my stomach.

We joined the rest of our friends and the seventh-year Gryffindors for breakfast, which had become a new custom over the last few weeks. I took my place in between Emmeline and Remus, unconsciously tossing my hair over my shoulder before I realized how ridiculous I must look.

Fortunately, and unfortunately, Remus noticed.

"Morning, Pipes," he said, passing me my favorite chocolate cereal without hesitation, his eyes pausing on me in puzzlement. "Did you do something different with your hair?"

"No," I said nonchalantly, twirling a curl around my finger that I had definitely modified with some potions to make bouncier and shinier that morning. "Why?"

He looked me over appraisingly, and I bit my lip before he shrugged and said, "I dunno. It just looks good."

"Thanks," I said, flashing him a quick grin and trying not to blush like I was some star-struck eleven-year-old again.

"Do you have any plans for Hogsmeade?" he asked, spooning a bite of porridge into his mouth and looking at me questioningly.

Ignoring the excited flutter of my heart, I shrugged casually and poured some milk into my cereal.

"Nothing too exciting," I said. "Probably just hanging around this lot."

I waved my spoon to indicate the girls and boys from my own year, and he nodded thoughtfully.

"Same here," he said, gesturing toward the Marauders and seventh-year girls. "We're likely to cross paths, though, so don't think you're free of us yet."

"Well, damn," I said sarcastically, snapping my fingers. "There go my hopes and dreams."

He chuckled, and I dug into my cereal, missing the way his fingers twitched nervously on his spoon as he eyed me carefully.

"Speaking of Hogsmeade," he said slowly, and I turned to face him so fast a nerve in my neck pinched, causing me to slap a hand to the offending area and make a weird face. "Um, are you okay?"

"Fine," I managed, flapping my other hand for him to continue. If this was what I thought it was…

"Er, all right," he said, and I wondered if I was imagining the strain in his voice. "So, about Hogsmeade… I was wondering if you would like—"

"Oi, Moony! Pass the pumpkin juice!"

I whipped my head toward Sirius next, suddenly having a strong urge to throw the pitcher at his stupidly perfect face as he smiled knowingly at me and winked.

You're dead, Black, I mouthed to him as Remus passed the pitcher, and his grin grew wider.

Bite me, he replied, and I flipped him the bird – naturally when McGonagall was walking right behind me.

"Miss Everlark!" she snapped. "I thought you knew better than to resort to crude gestures to get your point across! Five points from Gryffindor!"

She continued marching to the staff table, leaving me to glare at Sirius as he cracked up and snorted some of his juice.

Dead, I repeated, which only made him laugh harder.

Insufferable git, I thought.

"It's ten minutes to," Remus announced, checking his watch and standing from the bench. "We should get to lessons."

"Couldn't agree more, Remus," I said, getting to my feet with so much enthusiasm I accidentally elbowed him in the gut. "Oh, shit! Remus, I'm sorry…"

"No worries," he said, grimacing. "Blimey, Pipes, your elbow is bony as hell."

"Sorry," I said again, inwardly cringing at myself. Who was I? I was turning into some bumbling schoolgirl with a mediocre crush! Where was badass Piper? The suave and seductive witch who could get any bloke she wanted? What have I become?

"Walk you to class?" he offered, and I nearly combusted on the spot.

Old Piper, you are welcome to come back at any time.

"Sure." I nodded, making to follow him out of the Hall, but was halted by Becca's voice.

"Piper!" she said, looking affronted. "You were supposed to help me with my Charms essay! It's due today!"

Fuck. I had completely forgotten about agreeing to Becca's desperate plea for help the night before. Granted, she had asked me when I was already half-asleep, but I had hoped that was just a dream. Sadly, that was not the case.

"Er, she's right," I said apologetically to Remus. "Sorry; see you at lunch?"

He smiled graciously, and I relaxed. That was something I had always admired about Remus; he never demanded anyone's attention, and he was just so understanding. The bloke was so nice sometimes that I began to wonder how bad I must look next to him – probably like the Antichrist, but whatever.

"Later, Pipes," he said, walking out of the Hall and smiling at me.

I waved at his back like an idiot before turning around and trudging back to the Gryffindor table, hoping I could get him alone again before the day was done.

The universe, it seemed, was not on my side at all.

I was constantly surrounded by people today; Dorcas, Emmeline, and Becca seemed intent to stick with me like glue, and Benjy, JJ, Alfie, and Dom took it upon themselves to form some sort of bodyguard rotation throughout the whole day. I didn't know if they were doing it on purpose, or if Merlin himself was having a great laugh at my expense, but their constant presence meant that I could never find a moment alone with Remus.

Lunch was a noisy affair; Peter and Sirius got into a belching contest and picked Remus and me to be two of the judges (with Peter winning, surprisingly; the kid had some serious projection), and by the end of it, everyone had lost their appetites and gone to lessons early.

My only hope was after dinner, where I could possibly get him alone before going back to the common room. The whole thing was making me nervous; did he even want to go to Hogsmeade with me? Was he just trying to ask me something else? What if he didn't remember what he wanted to ask me? What if he changed his mind?

I was so anxious that I hardly touched my steak-and-kidney pie that night at dinner, instead poking at it half-heartedly and taking small sips of water, my eyes darting over to the boy sitting next to me the entire meal.

I was so intent on my staring that I didn't even notice someone tapping my shoulder until they cleared their throat quite loudly from behind me, and I turned to see Caradoc Dearborn, of all people, standing and waiting expectantly.

"Er, hey, Doc," I said hesitantly, recognizing him from the MAC; he was Oberon, after all, my counterpart in the play, and though I didn't know him all that well, I guess one could say that we were acquaintances. "D'you have a question about the play? Because Remus is right here, he probably knows more than me—"

I gestured to Remus, who was in deep discussion with Lily on his other side, but he wasn't paying attention, and Caradoc shook his head with a small smile.

"No, I don't have a question about the play," he said, giving me a small smirk, and suddenly I understood why he was a close second to Hogwarts' hottest bloke (behind Sirius, of course, but I would never tell the Marauder that – besides, he knew it anyway). "I actually have a question for you."

"For me?" I said blankly. "Er, yeah, shoot; what's up?"

"Would you like to come to Hogsmeade with me?"

I stared for a long moment, my mouth slightly agape. Caradoc Dearborn, the second most attractive bloke in the school, was asking me to go on a date to Hogsmeade with him. Merlin must be pissing himself right about now.

My gaze shifted to Remus beside me, who was still talking avidly to Lily and seemingly unaware that I had just been asked out right in front of him. The notion made me frown, and a stab of annoyance went through me, but I turned back to Caradoc with my answer.

"You know, I'd love to," I said, raising my voice slightly while still trying not to sound like a total bitch. New leaf, remember? "But I already have plans with somebody else. Sorry, Doc."

He seemed flabbergasted for a moment, as if he had never been turned down on a date before, but instead, he only gave me a charming smile.

"Of course," he said. "Understandable, really; I probably shouldn't have waited until the last moment, considering how popular you are."

"I'm not that popular, trust me," I muttered, shifting uncomfortably, but I flashed him an awkward grin. "Er, hope you have fun, though."

"You, too," he said. "I guess I'll see you next Wednesday for rehearsals. 'Night, Piper."

I waved before turning back to my pie, somehow feeling less hungry than before. I glanced at Remus again, but he still wasn't paying attention, and I sighed in frustration.

Universe – 1; Piper Everlark – 0.

I really shouldn't have gotten my hopes up on Remus asking me to Hogsmeade.

The morning of the trip dawned cloudy and overcast, the sky thick and dark with rain. I thought it suited my mood quite well, actually, and I got dressed in a huff, stewing in my thoughts.

I mean, how could I have been so stupid? Why would he want to ask me? Sure, we were friends and all, but there was absolutely nothing there besides the annoying one-sided attraction I had for him. I didn't even know where that attraction was coming from! He was cute as a kid, yeah, but now he was hotter than hell – it wasn't fair, dammit! Why couldn't he just look average, like Peter or something?

Okay, maybe that was a bit of a stretch – I often thought Peter looked more like a cross between a rat and a flobberworm these days, but my point still stood.

"Uh oh," Dorcas said, staring at me with raised brows. "You have the sexy sweater on."

I looked down and realized with some mild horror that she was right; the "sexy sweater," as it had been dubbed last year, was a red shirt that fit like a glove and (if I may brag a bit) showed off my cleavage quite nicely.

Now Becca and Emmeline were both staring.

"But you never wear that sweater," Emmeline said, frowning.

"Not unless you're trying to seduce some poor sap." Becca cocked a pierced brow, goading me into speech, and I threw my hands up in exasperation.

"I'm not trying to seduce anyone! I just grabbed the first thing out of my trunk."

Dorcas marched over to me and pulled my shirt away from my chest, her mouth dropping open when she looked down it.

"And you're wearing your date bra!" She pointed to me accusingly. "Who are you going to Hogsmeade with?"

"No one," I said, hugging my arms protectively over my chest in case anyone else tried to gawk at my boobs. "Why does it even matter what I'm wearing?"

"Because you're Piper the Viper, Buxom Beauty, Heartbreaker of Hogwarts!" Becca cried. "You're trying to impress someone!"

"Can't I just look good for myself?" I said, glowering at all of them and wishing they hadn't noticed my outfit. I was going to be wearing a coat over it, anyway, for God's sake!

"Are you, though?" Emmeline asked. She was watching me with those piercing eyes of hers, the ones that never missed anything and were far too shrewd for her own good.

"Yes, Em," I said, rolling my eyes. "Now, can we please go? I'd rather not deal with the crowds today."

The three girls shared a high-browed glance as I marched out of the room, but they followed behind me as I led the way to the courtyard.

I came down the girls' staircase just as Remus and the rest of the Marauders emerged from the boys', and my irritation flared when Remus gave me a friendly smile.

"Hey, Pipes," he said, his smile faltering a bit when he caught my glare.

I stalked past him without saying a word, annoyance and hurt battling within me. How could I have been so stupid, thinking he would ask me to Hogsmeade? Bloody git. I turned down a date with Caradoc Dearborn for him!

"Don't mind her," I heard Dorcas say behind me. "She's, er, having a bad hair day."

I rolled my eyes. They were all bloody gits, and I frankly didn't care if I was having a temper tantrum. I just needed to be alone for a while, until I had time to cool off and become rational again. It wouldn't take me long.

Hopefully.

"Whimblesby!" Filch growled when I entered the courtyard to get my name checked off on the list. His sunken eyes twitched at my presence, and his face got pale, which I normally would've found hilarious, but I couldn't find the humor in it right now. "Any funny business today, and I'll have you thrown out of this school faster than you can blink, brat!"

"Fascinating," I said flatly. "I'll make sure not to blink, then."

He seemed stumped by my comment, and I took the opportunity to dodge him, not in the mood for him to harass me about my name not being on the list, since it was, after all, entirely fictional.

I made my way into the tiny wizarding village alone, the briskness of the air invigorating me as I followed the familiar path. By the time I got to Hogsmeade, my fingers were numb, and my cheeks stung, and I headed into the first place I saw to warm me up, which happened to be The Three Broomsticks.

It wasn't as packed as usual, but I was earlier than most of the crowd. I could only see a few students sitting in booths together; the rest of the patrons were older witches and wizards, either those who inhabited the area or those passing through on errands. I made my way to the bar, where most of the empty seats were, and plopped myself down on an old stool with a sigh.

"Tough day, love?"

Madam Rosmerta had come over, flicking her wand to dry out a copper mug with a rag as she raised a dark brow at me. She wasn't that much older than me, having graduated only a few years before, but that was before my reputation had gotten around, so I didn't expect her to remember me. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure she had a reputation similar to mine – or maybe that was Bellatrix Black. Fuck, I hoped not.

"It's barely begun, and I already want it to be over," I said, smiling ruefully, and she nodded in understanding. She flicked her wand again, and a mug of butterbeer slid into place near my elbow.

"First one's on the house," she said, winking, and raised the mug she had been cleaning. "To long days."

"Cheers," I said, drinking deeply and letting the frothy liquid warm my fingertips. She moved off to help another customer, leaving me alone with my thoughts as I drank. Already, the guilt of how I had acted earlier was starting to creep in, but I tried to keep it at bay for as long as possible. Suffice it to say, I was rotten at dealing with my problems.

I finished my butterbeer and set my mug down, looking around for Rosmerta for a refill. The barmaid had disappeared, probably to fetch something from the back, and I sighed, my eyes settling on another pair staring back at me from the other side of the bar.

I started, my eyes widening some when I saw who was looking at me. He couldn't have been more than a few years older than me, but he was strikingly handsome – oh, who am I kidding, this bloke was bloody beautiful. Hotter than Sirius Black and Caradoc Dearborn combined. Wavy black hair, dark eyes, chiseled features like they were carved from marble – holy shit. And he was staring at me.

Trying to keep my cool, I merely arched a brow at him, a silent question: Can I help you?

He smirked, and a dimple appeared in his right cheek. Sweet Merlin. He pointed a finger to the empty seat next to me, asking a question of his own: That seat taken?

I shrugged casually, pulling on a curl and averting my eyes. If he was smart, he would come over anyway, and I hid my smile as the stool next to me scraped on the floor, the man settling in with a grunt.

"I hope you don't mind," he said, and his voice was almost better than his looks: smooth like ice but sweet like honey. "I couldn't help but notice you when you walked in."

"Oh?" I said in a bored tone. That's right, Piper, do your thing. "And why's that?"

He smirked again, and my body began to tingle with a different sort of heat that was much different than the effects of the butterbeer.

"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, love, but you're the prettiest witch in this place," he said, and though internally I was screaming, outwardly I just smiled blandly.

"Is that so?"

He tilted his head, raking me over with those dark eyes of his.

"I think you know so," he said, and I actually smiled.

I only hummed in response, catching a drop of condensation that rolled down my mug as he drank next to me.

"So, are you going to tell me your name, or are you going to remain a mystery?" he said once he had swallowed his drink, and I looked at him with a mischievous smirk.

"As much as I love mystery, I'll take pity on you," I said, and he chuckled. "I'm Piper."

I held out my hand, and he took it, the skin of his dragonhide gloves pressing into my palm. I tried not to react as I caught a glimpse of his gloves, but I knew instantly from the richness of the material that he was loaded. I mean, I had dragonhide gloves, but those were for school, and they had been bought secondhand. This bloke probably never had to buy anything secondhand.

"Rabastan," he said, smiling, and my own faltered a bit at the name. Rabastan. Hadn't I heard that somewhere before? Why did it sound so familiar?

"Did you go to Hogwarts?" I asked, and he nodded.

"Indeed. I graduated several years ago, though."

He didn't elaborate, and I nodded slowly, still trying to place his name and face.

"Well, what brings you to Hogsmeade?"

He shrugged, taking another sip from his drink.

"Business." He turned and raised an eyebrow at me. "You?"

I suddenly hesitated, not wanting to tell him I was still a student. I mean, I'd be seventeen in February, but how weird would it be if I told him I was still in my sixth year?

So, I only winked and said, "Pleasure."

He chuckled, his laugh low and throaty, sending pleasant chills down my spine.

"Well, Piper, I hope your visit is pleasurable," he said, dropping a few Knuts and Sickles on the bar as he stood, and I tried to hide my disappointment that he was leaving so suddenly. He smirked at me again, and I honestly felt my knees weaken. "Mine certainly was."

"Maybe if you're lucky you'll see me again, Rabastan," I said, smiling coyly, and his eyes glanced over me appreciatively.

"That I do hope," he purred, raising my hand to his lips and kissing it softly. "Until next time, Piper."

And with that, he departed the bar, leaving me staring after him like a drooling dog.

The whole conversation with Rabastan had completely taken me out of my bad mood, and I leaped from my seat, suddenly itching to find Dorcas and the others and tell them about the sexy, dark stranger I had met at the bar. It was so cliché, and the looks on their faces would be priceless.

I pushed my way out of The Three Broomsticks and back onto the now-bustling high street of Hogsmeade, beginning to trek up the road to see if I could find any of my friends. My eyes locked on a head of black curls, and I frowned, recognizing Archie's mop of hair as he made his way up the street, walking briskly with someone beside him. I thought it was Sirius for a wild second; the silky dark hair was the same, after all, but my eyes narrowed when I realized that it wasn't the older Black, but the younger.

Sighing, I followed them, planning on wringing Archie's scrawny little neck. I had told him to stay away from Regulus Black, and now here he was, prancing around Hogsmeade with him, the little ponce. Regulus Black was nothing but bad news, and if Archie thought he could get away with hanging around the slimy git, then he was sorely mistaken.

The two boys ducked into an alleyway behind the Hog's Head, and I paused in my pursuit, frowning. What the hell were they doing there? The Hog's Head was like the sadder, sketchier version of The Three Broomsticks, and students usually steered clear of it like the plague. Then what were they doing?

Deciding there was only one way to find out, I crept down the alleyway after them, ducking down behind some crates where I could hide while still keeping them in view.

In hindsight, following them was not one of my better ideas. After all, shit happens when you're a nosy prat, and I happened to be the nosiest prat in the world. Still, it had been a really fucking stupid idea on my part, and actions always have consequences.

"Archie, I'd like you to meet someone," Regulus was saying in his flat, cold voice. "Archie, Rabastan – Rabastan, Archie."

My mouth dropped open when I saw Rabastan emerge from the shadows, the same Rabastan I had flirted with in The Three Broomsticks not even ten minutes ago. What the hell was he doing here?

I watched Archie and Rabastan shake hands, a creeping sense of unease beginning to tingle up my spine.

"So, this is the Mudblood who wants to join the cause?" Rabastan said, looking to Regulus for confirmation, and the younger Black nodded.

"Don't call me that," Archie snapped, and Rabastan looked back at him in amusement.

"Apologies," he said, not sounding very sorry at all, and I shivered at how different his voice had become; cold, flat, emotionless. "We Lestranges typically have very few dealings with Muggle-borns."

I clapped a hand over my mouth as a gasp escaped me, but luckily, none of them seemed to have heard me.

No wonder why Rabastan's name had been so familiar – he was Rabastan Lestrange, brother of Rodolphus Lestrange, who, last I heard, had married Bellatrix Black. He was a Slytherin through and through, and my unease grew as they continued to talk.

"Well?" Regulus said. "What do you think?"

"I think he's a fool," Rabastan said, and that was one thing I could agree with him on. Archie bristled at the man's comment, but Rabastan went on. "What use would the Dark Lord have of a Muggle-born?"

"Anything," Archie said. "I could be a-a spy or something—"

Rabastan laughed, and my blood ran cold. Archie was trying to join up with the Death Eaters, I realized with a sickening feeling in my stomach, and Rabastan was one of them.

"The Dark Lord does not require your services, Mudblood," Rabastan said. "Now, run along with your boyfriend before I show you what the Death Eaters do to scum like you."

"He's not my boyfriend," Regulus said quickly. "C'mon, Rab; you've known me all your life. Would I ever bring you someone who I thought would be useless? Archie has skills we could all use in the future."

"What, like sucking our cocks?" Rabastan said nastily. "You're pathetic, Reg; both of you walk away, or else I'll tell your dear mother what kind of filth you've been hanging around with lately. Now, go."

There was a tense moment of silence before Regulus sighed, grabbing Archie's shoulder and dragging him back. "Let's go, Archie."

The two boys stalked out of the alleyway, and I pressed close to the wall behind me, trying to stay out of sight. My heart was in my throat, my stomach churning, but I would deal with my brother and that snake later. Right now, I had other concerns.

Drawing my wand, I stepped out from behind the crates and faced Rabastan Lestrange, my anger seeming to blur him at the edges a bit. He didn't seem surprised to see me, only smirking.

"Dashing to see you again, my lovely Piper," he said. "Did you enjoy your eavesdropping?"

"Stay the hell away from my brother," I snarled, pointing my wand at him, and he sneered.

"Your brother was the one who wanted to meet with me," he said. "Your anger is misplaced, love. I was just following orders."

"Go," I said. "Go back to your precious Dark Lord before I send word to the Ministry and let them know what you are."

"You dare threaten me, Mudblood?" he hissed, his eyes flashing. "I should make you get on your knees like the filth you are and shove my cock down your throat—"

"Lovely image, but no thanks," I said, my wand hand beginning to shake. "Go."

"Very well," he said, a predatory smile stretching his mouth grotesquely as he stared at me. "But I'd tread carefully if I were you, Piper Everlark. You Mudbloods aren't as safe as you think you are, especially at Hogwarts."

He made to leave before turning back to me with a hungry gleam in his eyes.

"One last thing," he said. He pointed his wand at me before I could blink and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!"

I went down like a board, having no time to react and throw up a shield, my limbs locking and my jaw cementing together as I landed on my back, staring up at the sliver of sky above me.

Rabastan stood over me, a sneer marring his handsome features as he nudged my stiff body with his foot.

"Let's leave a little message for Dumbledore, shall we?" he said, raising his wand, and if I had any use of my mouth at all, I would've used every curse possible on him. "Nothing to ruin that pretty face of yours or this wonderful body…" He knelt down and ran a hand along the side of my ribcage, his fingers brushing the underside of my breast and making my skin crawl. I was back in the library, saw the table, saw Aubrey…

I wrenched myself out of the flashback, not having time to focus on such things. Rabastan tapped his wand on his chin, pondering before his face lit up with an idea.

"Yes…" he murmured. "I think this would send a message quite well…"

My fear spiked as he pointed his wand to me, and said, almost lazily, "Crucio."

And I felt myself break.