Charming Atrocities—Chapter 2

Follow the Yellow Brick…Staircase

A shadow crept quietly across the Gryffindor common room before ducking easily out of sight behind a thick, plushy, reclining couch.  It was late, midnight perhaps, and should that figure be caught, expulsion was a possibility.  Regardless, the form stood once more and, looking back rather woefully, disappeared through the portrait to roam the corridors of Hogwarts.

The next morning was a Saturday, for which the Marauders were glad.  For one, there were no classes, no nosy teachers, and thankfully, no unpleasant encounters with members of other houses (namely the Slytherins) but most importantly of all, it meant an entire day of searching.  And, with James' invisibility cloak it would be all the more easier. 

"C'mon, wake up, Prongs,"  Sirius tried quite unsuccessfully to nudge his best friend awake with his elbow. 

"Nbbfo," came the muffled voice, much too weary to care that what he'd said had made no sense.  Sirius was losing his patience.  He was much too intent on mischief that particular morning to care what wrath would fall upon him for waking a heavily sleeping James Potter. 

"C'mon, Prongs."

That time, Sirius was all but gentle, shoving James off the bed without remorse.  In a matter of seconds, the black-haired youth had risen, wand poised almost dangerously in his hand and looking ready to murder.  When he caught Sirius' eye, however, he fell back towards the floor in defeat.  "What time is it?"

Sirius spared his bedside clock a glance.  "Says time for mischief is counting down."

James wasn't much amused at his friends antics, and quite decidedly threw himself back into bed.  "Well that's too bad.  My head isn't quite as intent on being awake as you would think, dear ol' Padfoot."

"Fine then.  But I'm taking the cloak in any case."

James' head snapped up blearily.  He yawned once more before turning on his back and curling up his legs beneath him.  "What for?"

"James…what else??"

"You want to check the passages, again?"

A fervent nod signaled his answer.

"Then take Remus."

"I can't."

Sparing Sirius a glance, James let his eyes drift over to his friend's bed, only to see that it was empty.  Actually, it looked very much untouched.  Not that it meant much; Remus was quite a neat fellow.  "Out trying to work out some potion again?"

"No," Sirius began a bit uncomfortably, "he's sick again."

At that, James all but jumped out of bed.  "Is he at Pomfrey's?"

Scoffing, Sirius waved around an indolent hand, "When has he ever gone to Pomfrey's?  I reckon he's at St. Mungo's getting some better help."

James scratched his cheek absentmindedly.  All those absences Remus had…they were very odd—not to mention the fact that they always went unexplained.  "Peter?"

"In the library.  As usual.  Trying to get MacNair to help him out at Charms again.  Poor chap, not very charming is he?"

James chuckled somewhat dryly at his friend's ill attempt at a joke.  The truth was, Peter was always needing help one way or another—whether it was at Charms, or in Potions or even in Divination, which James and Sirius found bloody easy to ace.  That Trelawney was as much of a fraud as they were when it came to predicting futures, a little drama act on their part, and she passed them.  "Why doesn't that Evans girl help him out?"

"Lily?"  Sirius gave another shrug, "she did offer, but being that you and her have such a wonderful relationship, Peter thought it better to blow her off.  Nice move, that Peter."

When James said nothing, the other teen continued, "I'd keep myself down for a bit, Prongs.  Nearly half of Hogwarts saw you try and kill her."

James let out a low growl.  That girl made his burn sometimes.  She had such…nerve to try and second-guess all the time.  If there was one thing he hated was people who nagged him, and Lily was doing more than her share of that; hell, she was practically treating him like a bloody child that needed to be looked after.  "Say, James—it's been a while since you've…erm, been out hasn't it?"

Been out?  What?

Rolling on his stomach and cradling his head in his arms, James waited expectantly for his friend to finish.  "All the girls are practically at your feet, Prongs—say they want a taste of the 'Gryffindor seeker's magical hands.'"

James rolled his eyes at the obvious innuendo Sirius gave out but conceded to an amused smile.  Sirius tended to get a bit hormone driven every know and then…

"Genevieve le Monte."

"What about her?" James felt himself ask, pushing himself into a sitting position against his headboard. 

"Ravenclaw.  Very shy.  Your style to say the least, James."

"Are you trying to say I fancy shy girls, Sirius?"

A slight pause and a bemused grin later, "I reckon you do, Prongs."

James sighed.  He really didn't like where the conversation was going.  "And…?"

"Honestly, James—I think you're old enough to know how it goes—"

"That's not what I meant," James interrupted, light blush pecking at his cheeks.  "This Genevieve, what's she like?"

Sirius smiled triumphantly at what he considered to be an assent by part of his tousled-haired friend.  "…have to admit I haven't been looking at her, Prongs.  Not my type…not my type at all—"

"Granted.  Your type only lasts one night, Paddy."

If he heard the comment, Sirius chose to ignore it, "She's good friends with Callista—gorgeous that one—and…"

James perked up curiously as Sirius trailed off.  "Yea?"

"Well…"

An unsteady glance from Sirius.  "Lily's best friend.  More or less."

James' expression hardened.  Lily Evans.  Was Sirius out to make his life complicated?

"I reckon it won't get to much then," James muttered, enthusiasm lost in the knowledge that he'd be courting a close friend of Lily Evans. 

"C'mon, Prongs," came Sirius' reassuring voice, coupled with an impish smirk for good measure, "it'll be all the better.  Can you imagine Evans' face when she finds out?  She'll have to swallow that pride of hers…"

(    *    *     *    )

"Hey."

Before Callista Bassanio could let out a shriek, a strong hand clamped down heartily against her lips.  "Shush…it's me."

Closing her eyes as she let out a low, held in breath, Callista opened them only to glare menacingly at the young man kneeling beside her.  Bloody…She had almost died of fright, she almost had…

"I could've hexed you into oblivion, Black," she warned, grim look fading somewhat at the wayward grin on the boy's face.

"No you couldn't've," came the remark, the voice decidedly cocky, "no one's faster than I am with a wand." 

Callista was near replying, when a loud cry broke through her thoughts.  She glanced cautiously over Sirius's shoulder, frowning a bit when she saw her bed-mate wriggling around frantically within the confines of her four-poster. 

"What's wrong with her?" the young man asked smoothly, breath landing teasingly against Callista's neck.  It was positively distracting.

"She…she has nightmares—"

Nightmares?

Sirius seemed distracted for a minute.  He lifted his head a few inches to look questioningly into Callista's eyes.  "What kind?"

She could've killed him…or Lily for that matter.  Callista could've shot the former for being so unperturbed by what was going on.  His lips, which had minutes ago been playfully nipping at her neck, were now curiously asking about her friend's sleeping habits.  She could've kicked Lily for having a nightmare at that precise moment, too, when, after years of being after Sirius Black, he had finally taken note of her.

"Just…just nightmares—c'mon, Sirius…"

But the boy's interest had been sparked.  He propped himself slightly from his position so that he lay flat on his back, staring absently into the canopy of Callista's bed as he toyed with a strand of his black, somewhat curly hair.  "About what?"

"Sirius."

Sirius smiled indulgently at the raven-tressed sixth year pleading petulantly with him.  He really wasn't feeling up to going about with his entire routine.  He didn't really feel like closing off all connections with her just yet.  "Just tell me, Cal."

Callista's heart skipped a beat at his newly-found nickname for her.  She didn't think she'd be able to hold back on him very long.  "Just, things."

"C'mon," Sirius persuaded, turning on his side to face her, running silky fingertips down the plane of her arm, an amused smile pecking at his lips, "things can mean a lot."

"…just..just—you know, about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named…"

At that information, Sirius abruptly stopped his careless ministrations and glanced suspiciously at the girl lying a few feet from him.  He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?

Callista complained almost childishly at his new interest for her best-friend.  "And, what're they about?"

"Go sleep with her if you're so interested," Callista began markedly, shoving Sirius clear out of her bed, tone rising hysterically.  Sirius looked at her then, irritated, from his perch on the floor, and motioned with his hands for her to quiet down.

"Hey…" Sirius crawled back into bed with her, pressing a soothing kiss to her cheeks, "I was just curious…I reckon it doesn't happen a lot, though?"

Callista, somewhat calmed down, but not at all satisfied by his explanation, gave a proud shrug.  As far as Lily was concerned, she wasn't going to be giving away any more information.  Not if it meant Sirius' attention was going to be drawn away from her.

Sirius frowned a bit with himself.  He should've gone about things more diligently.  He had practically gone about and shown an uncanny interest in a girl he usually mocked; not to mention that he'd done it while flirting heavily with her bedmate.  "I'll be leaving then, Callista."

"Fine."

Sirius raised an eyebrow at the cold tone that bid him goodbye.  Then, just as easily, he smiled.  Pressing a warm kiss to her lips, he made sure to pull away just as her arms were starting to come about his neck.  Sure that he had gotten her attention then, he flashed her a look that rivaled her earlier one in indifference

"No…" he breathed out, smirking despite himself, "you said you wanted me to leave, after all."

Hmn…Lily has nightmares…about Voldemort.  What could they mean?  Okay, I know there are some discrepancies as far as the original storyline goes (time-wise) but bear with us, Sirius may be a bit OOC, but then again, much about his teen-age character isn't explained…so--