The compartment door slid open. Three girls entered and launched themselves onto the seats available.
"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Lily Evanssighed. "It's the last time we'll be going to school on this train?" She paused. "You'll have to come anyway, won't you Tash?"
"Hmm," Natasha grunted.
"I'll sorta miss it though," Melody mused. " But-"
Before this meaningful conversation could get any further, the door opened yet again but this time, four boys waltzed in and sat themselves down.
"Your timings are always terrible," Melody grumbled. " We can never have any decent conversation with you lot around."
" What were you talking about then?" Peter demanded in his usual high- pitched squeak.
" We'll let you wonder," Lily trailed off.
" You were talking about us, weren't you?" Sirius nodded knowingly.
" There is a limit to boredom- we haven't crossed it yet." Natasha shrugged.
Sirius glared at her while Remus yawned. Lily, in a mid-laugh, suddenly jumped up.
" Damn,"
" What's up, Lils?" James frowned.
" Aren't head girls and boys supposed to be at the front compartment?" Lily asked unsurely. James sat up.
" Shit!"
" You better get going," Remus hid a smile. " There might be people trying to chuck themselves off the train."
" Hilarious." James made his way towards the door.
" I'll see you guys later." Lily sighed and followed. Peter got up too but was forced down by Natasha.
" You're not head-" Natasha stopped abruptly. She let out a gasp and her eyes fluttered shut.
" Tasha?" Melody sat up. " What the hell?!"
Peter, unnoticed, walked out.
*
"I-I saw stuff," Natasha took some time too come around.
"Um… Tash, you're sure you're feeling alright, "Sirius asked as if doubting her sanity.
Natasha shot him a look.
"Yes Sirius, I'm feeling fine, although you might have a point, after all, who, except someone who's flipped, hangs out with a bunch of guys who call themselves 'The Murderers'?"
" The Marauders." Sirius corrected her.
"Whatever."
" What did you see exactly?" Melody asked, shushing Sirius as he opened his mouth to retaliate.
" Um, this couple, with a baby. They- they seemed scared of something and-"
Natasha suddenly stopped.
" And?" Melody pressed on.
" I….I saw him. I saw Voldemort."
A silence followed this statement. Remus looked hard at Natasha.
" Tash, do you have any seers in your family?"
Natasha raised her eyebrows.
" Um, maybe, I don't really know most of my family."
" Well, maybe you got a vision or something like that…." Melody shrugged. Natasha looked startled but then scoffed.
" Yeah, right."
" Are you going to tell Dumbledore?" Remus asked suddenly.
" No, granddad has enough to worry with as it is." Natasha shook her head and looked out of the window.
*
The feast was eaten and the whole of the great hall looked expectantly at the Head Teacher. Dumbledore, taking his time, stood up and threw his long, snowy white beard over his shoulder. Natasha, as usual, pretended to be invisible and gradually sunk lower until only the top of her dark hair could be seen.
"Good evening once more. Another year has arrived bringing with it new challenges. Before I proceed with more important issues, I am bound by the law to pronounce the rules and regulations, which, as Mr. Filch has kindly reminded me, increases every year." The students let the usual ' first day of term' banter wash over them, until a more promising phrase attracted their attention. " You'll, I am sure, be pleased to know that the Christmas ball has been cancelled this year," Ignoring several somewhat rude gestures, he continued, " Instead, for the first time, I have decided, that we'll be having a New year eve's ball." And before giving the students time to react, he said, " Okay then, to your dormitories, chop, chop!"
*
In the girl's dorm
" First time we've had a New years ball," Melody lay down on her bed. " It's usually always Christmas ones."
" I know," Lily looked hard at Melody and Natasha. " Who do you want to go with?" This made Melody sit up.
" Lily, it's still really early," Natasha grinned. "We need to go through all of our choices."
Lily sighed and ran her hand through her red hair.
" I wish James would ask me."
" How about you ask him?" Melody asked.
" Are you mad?"
" Why?"
" Well the guy must ask the girl out." Lily stated as a matter of fact. " That's how it has always been."
The others rolled their eyes. It's was common knowledge that James and Lily fancied each other- James never really hid it. Lily, on the other, never admitted it- until recently.
" Look, the ball is, what, 3 weeks away," Natasha shrugged.
" We'll get decent dates by then."
" Comforting," Melody added dryly.
In the boy's dorm
" Another ball," Peter grumped. " What is the point of them?"
The other Marauders looked shocked.
" Wormtail, you have a lot to learn." James patted him on the back.
"Who do you want to go with, then?" Peter shot at him.
" Lily," Remus and Sirius said without looking up.
" Am I that transparent?" James looked worried.
" You could say that," Remus muttered while Sirius tried unsuccessfully to hide a laugh. "Anyway, " he continued, "Peter, any ideas on who you're gonna ask?"
At these words, Peter blushed scarlet.
" Well… I…. I, you know, I'm kind of considering, you know, Melody," He gabbled. Remus sat up.
" Melody?"
" Yeah,"
"Um, any particular reason why?" Remus looked a bit shaken as he asked this question.
" Well, she's nice and I guess I like her."
" Right…"
James grinned at the pair of them.
" Looks like some people have fallen for the same girl…." He whispered to Sirius. Sirius nodded.
" This should be fun…"
The next day at breakfast, the girls were in deep conversation as the marauders came in. The guys looked over the hall before joining them in their usual fashion.
" Hello beautifuls," Sirius sat down opposite along with the rest of his friends.
" Hark, I hear Sirius's desperate sweet tones," Natasha turned to face them. " Had a good night's sleep?"
" Actually, not very good." Remus shook his head. " It was full moon, remember?"
" Oh, sweetie, was it okay?" Lily asked. The girls had gained the information of the werewolf business the year before. However, the guys had refused to take them along.
" The usual," Peter shrugged. Natasha suddenly leapt up.
" What time is it?" She panicked.
"Nearly half past- why?"
" Granddad asked me to see him- I can't believe I forgot." Natasha started stuffing her day's books in her bag. " I'll see you lot later." She walked out of the hall and in her rush, missed the Padfoot's eyes following her.
*
"Watch it!" Natasha yelled as she bumped into someone.
" Wha- Hi Natasha!" Natasha looked up. In front of her, stood a very greasy headed 16 year old boy.
" Hi Sna- Severus." She smiled.
"Haven't seen you around lately," Snape grinned. " Where have you been?"
" Um.. nowhere special…" Natasha said vaguely.
" You heard about the ball then?"
" Oh yeah.." Natasha hoped against hope that this conversation wouldn't go where she suspected it was going.
" Who are you going with?" And her hope vanished, replacing with the desperation that someone would interrupt this chat. And she didn't have long to wait.
" Miss Cole, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you," Natasha whipped around and saw Professor McGonagal, the transfiguration teacher, standing with her arm filled with parchments.
"Oh yeah," Natasha thankfully turned to Snape and said, " I've got to go, I'll talk to you later?" And without waiting for an answer, marched straight to her granddad's office.
*
" Sorry about the wait, granddad," Natasha sat down on the chair opposite her mother's father. " Why did you want to talk to me?"
" Can't a grand father care about the where-a-bouts of his favourite granddaughter?"
Natasha raised one of her eyebrows.
" What's wrong?" She said suspiciously. Dumbledore sighed.
" He's attacked again, Natasha,"
" Voldemort?"
" Who else?"
Natasha looked unnerved. She stood up.
" Has anyone done anything to even try and stop this?"
" It's not that easy, Natasha," Dumbledore followed her lead and stood up too. " But the main reason I called you here today is too tell you to be careful- you and all of you're friends."
" Um, why," Natasha looked hard at Dumbedore " I mean he isn't exactly about to attack us in here is he?"
" Hmm, well off you go then," Dumbledore gently lead her towards the door. " I'll see you later- and Natasha, please tell me anything funny happens."
" Um.. okay," With that she found herself outside her grandfather's office.
*
" So did you ask Lily then?" Sirius asked James during a potions lesson.
" No, not yet,"
" Well you better hurry up mate, she'll be taken otherwise."
James sighed.
"I know, I just can't figure out how to."
Remus looked up from his sizzling cauldron.
" How about, 'Lily will you go to the New Year's ball with me?'"
Peter laughed while James glared daggers.
" Who are you going with then, Moony?"
" Okay, alright, no need to get touchy." Remus smiled.
*
" James, there's Lily," Peter pointed to the girl with auburn hair.
" Ask her now."
" She look's busy…."
" James, don't be a prat," Remus rolled his eyes. " She's staring out of the window, doing absolutely nothing."
Sirius turned James around to face him. "James, if you don't ask her right now, then I'll ask her for you."
" Are you threatening me?" James looked genuinely scared.
" Yes."
" Fine, all of you just stay right here and I'll, I'll be back."
" Hopefully," Sirius muttered under his breath.
James strode up to the window ledge of where Lily was sitting.
" Hi,"
Lily looked up.
" Hi James."
James fiddled with his robe sleeve obsessively.
" Um… Lily," He began.
" Yeah?"
" I was kinda wondering if you'd, you know…" James gulped. " If you would go to the ball with me?"
Lily stared at him for a few seconds. Then she smiled.
" I'd love to James."
James blinked.
" You- you will!"
" Any problem?"
" No, not at all." He let out a sigh of relief. " Um I'll meet you in
the common room at about 7?"
" Yeah, okay," Lily shrugged.
" Okay," James still stared at her.
" Yeah," Lily shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
" Right,"
" JAMES!!!" Sirius called from the other end of the room,
breaking James out of the trance.
" I'll see you later." James walked back to the others, beaming.
" She said yes, she said yes," He squeaked. Remus thumped him on the
back.
" That's it, let it out, let it all out."
" Remus," Sirius muttered to his friend so that Peter couldn't hear him. " Melody is here. I suggest you ask her now."
Remus eyed Sirius curiously.
" Look, don't argue, okay," Sirius muttered urgently. " Just ask her, before Peter does."
" Um.. Sirius…" Remus started.
" Look, people might think I'm dense, but I'm not really.. okay maybe sometimes.." Sirius shook his head. " The point is, that Melody is the kind of girl who won't mind going with Peter if he asked her. And I'm sure you don't want to be in that position, right?"
" Right…"
" So what are you waiting for?" Sirius pushed him forward. " I'm need to go now, so good luck."
Remus looked slightly wrong-footed. He took a glance in Sirius' retreating back . How did he know? Remus decided that maybe Sirius had a point. And the suspicion was confirmed as he spotted Peter taking a look towards Melody.
Right, he thought, It's now or never.
*
Melody spotted Lily and headed over to her.
" Hey!!" Lily jumped up and rushed over, grabbing Melody around the wrist. " Guess what?"
" I would tell you," Melody struggled to free herself from Lily's grip. " But, uh, you're sort of cutting off my blood circulation."
Lily ignored her and carried on.
"He asked me!!!"
" Sorry?" Melody looked confused.
" He asked me." Lily repeated.
" Who asked you what?"
Lily rolled her eyes.
" To the ball, James asked me to the ball!"
It took a while for this statement to sink in but after a couple on seconds, Melody's frown turned into a smile.
" Lily, that's great!"
" I know," Lily finally let go off Melody's wrist. " I was kinda thinking he'd forgotten."
" Don't be stupid." Melody sat down next to her friend. " I could always see it coming, really."
" Liar!" Lily gave Melody a playful push. " So who do you want to be asked by then?"
" I don't really know," Melody appeared to be in deep thought. "Anyone really- except for any of the Slytherins, Peter, or and of the other creeps I previously dated."
Lily laughed.
" You don't seem to be asking for much!"
" Well…" Melody shrugged. Lily's eyes suddenly widened.
" There's Remus."
Melody whipped around.
" Hi," Remus stood waveringly in between them.
" What's up?" Melody frowned.
" Um, Lily, can you excuse us for a minute?" Remus looked pointedly at her.
" Yeah, yeah, sure." Lily, getting the hint, walked off.
" Okay," Remus let out a huge sigh. " Um, Mel, uh, you know, the ball is coming up right?"
" Right.." Melody looked at Remus suspiciously.
" And well, will you," Remus paused. " Will you go to the ball with me?"
They stared at each other for a while, neither speaking. After a few seconds, Melody laughed. Remus, bewildered, looked around, unsure of what to do.
" What?"
" That's what you were so scared to tell me?" Melody choked.
" Um.."
" You idiot," Melody controlled herself. " Of course I'll go with you."
" Really?!" Remus looked shocked.
" Really."
They continued to stare at each other for a few moments, until Melody broke the silence.
" Um, this is really corny."
Remus laughed.
" Yeah."
" You better go and spill to your mates."
" I better go do that."
Footsteps behind them made them both turn around. Peter came over and stopped in front of Melody.
" Hi, Melody!"
Melody raised her eyebrows.
" Um, hi, Peter."
" So what about the ball?" He asked her cheerily. " You going with someone?"
Melody, wondered how to break the news. She decided to take the direct
approach.
" Um, yeah, actually," She tried to ignore Remus' silent laughter behind Peter. " I'm going with, um, Remus."
Peter smile faltered. Melody found herself feeling sorry for him.
" Um, look I better get going, things to do, you know." Melody lied. " I'll see you both later." With that she disappeared up to the girls dorm.
*
" Damn."
Natasha bend down to pick up the books that had spilled out of her arms in the library.
" Hi Natasha." She looked up and immediately wished she hadn't. Severus Snape was standing above her with a grin on his face. Taking, her time, she gathered up her books and stood up.
" Hey,"
" So who are you going to the ball with?" Snape asked as if continuing with the conversation from the morning. Natasha thought hard.
" Um… that's funny you know because, uh, I'm-" Before she could get any further, someone wrapped their arm around her shoulder.
" She's going with me."
Natasha froze as hatred suddenly washed over Snape's face.
" Is that so, Black?"
Natasha looked at Sirius, whose face wore an expression to challenge Snape's.
" Yeah, got a problem with that?" Sirius gave Snape a venomous stare.
" You going with him, Natasha?" Snape looked at her. Natasha bit her lip.
" Sorry Severus."
" That's okay, maybe some other time." Snape forced a smile before walking off. Natasha turned to look at Sirius.
" You are a life saver! Thank you so much." She gave him a small hug.
" No problem." Sirius grinned. " So, Miss Cole, who are you going with?"
Natasha smiled.
" I don't really have much choice now do I?"
" No." Sirius said simply. " I'll see you later."
" Hmm," Natasha sighed, self pityingly while Sirius went back to
the common room, proud of his days work.
*
" I can't believe we wound up going with the Marauders," Natasha, frustrated, shut her transfiguration text book. " There are god knows how
many other guys in this school, but no, we had had to go with the Marauders."
" They aren't that bad," Lily looked at Natasha, surprised. " I mean, sure, they can be a bit of a-"
" No, that's not what I mean." Natasha sat up on her bed. " It's just the fact that, they are mates, you know, I can't imagine what it would be like to go out with one of them. I know practically everything there is to know about Sirius, for a start. What would I talk to him about?"
" Fair point," Melody sat down on one of the armchairs. " But it's never stopped you two from blabbering about absolutely nothing before. You can do that again and if you ask me, you two make an awesomely cute couple."
"Compared to what? A hippogrif and a chipmunk?" Natasha asked glumly.
" Why are you so upset about this exactly?" Lily looked hard at Natasha .
" I'm not upset." Natasha rolled a piece of parchment and aimed it for the bin. It missed completely and flew out of the window. "Okay maybe I am a bit. It's just that Sirius and I have been really good friends for ages, I don't want to threaten that, you know. And besides, he didn't even ask me properly."
" What did he-" Lily began but Natasha put up her hand to stop her.
" Can we stop analysing my messed up love life please? Let's
analyse someone else's. Preferably not Lily's, as she doesn't have a messed up one. So," She rounded on Melody. " Spill. Lily says you were upset when you came up here after Remus asked you. Why?"
" What is this, the interrogation office?" Melody eyed Natasha nervously.
" Don't you change the subject! Answer my question."
" Jeez, you're even scarier than mum." Melody drew her chair back from Natasha. "Yes, I was upset-"
" Already on that train, honey. Why?" Lily asked curiously.
" I was getting to that." Melody sighed. " Peter asked me straight afterwards and he kinda looked sad when I refused."
Lily and Natasha shared a look. Melody spotted it and smiled.
" I know what you're thinking, that he isn't worth getting upset over. I know that. I can't help it if I've got such a busy body of a conscience can I?"
" You guys have such complicated lives." Lily yawned.
" Oh, rub it in." Melody laid down on her bed and soon tiredness got the better of her and she fell asleep.
*
" You asked Natasha?!!" James sat up as soon as Sirius had finished his story. " You asked the head teacher's granddaughter?!"
"Very funny," Sirius sat down on his own bed. " You should have seen Snape's face!"
" Is that why you asked her?" Remus looked at Sirius. " To get back at Snape."
" No, of course not." Sirius shook his head. " I wanted to ask Natasha anyway. The Snape business was a bonus." He suddenly remembered something. " Hey, Moony, how did it go with Melody?"
Remus smiled as James sat up once again.
" Why doesn't anyone ever tell me anything?" He asked indignantly.
"Shut up James." Sirius threw a pillow at him and turned to Remus. "What happened then?"
" She said yes."
" Okay, but, um we want details here." Sirius urged Remus on.
" Don't be so nosy." Remus rolled his eyes. " It'll get you into trouble one of these days."
" A bit late for the warning, Moony," James laughed. " So go on,"
" Well," Remus continued. " Peter went to ask her after me and-" He suddenly stopped talking. " Hey, where is Peter any way?"
They looked over to his bed- which was empty
*
"Lily, he might come any moment now, do you have some kind of a spell to hold him off?"
"James – I – there's a problem. My powers are gone."
"What! Well- well where are the others?"
"I can't reach them- nothings working. Can you sense them?"
"I tried earlier. No contact."
"What the HELL is going on?"
"Lily, sshh- can you hear that?"
"James, it's him."
"Go, go take harry and go upstairs. I'll hold him off."
"James-"
"Lily, don't argue. GO!"
There was a flash of green light and Melody awoke with a start, sweat pouring down her back. Her breath came in short jagged gasps, as she tried to calm herself down. She lay back down on her bed and turned to her side.
God, what a nightmare. She closed her eyes and tried to think of something happier to clamp shut the feeling of dread that clung to her like a leech. Her mind was swimming as faces and images from the dream kept flashing up. She took a deep shuddering breath and said to herself:
It's just a dream.
Just a dream.
*
A/N what do u think? Be nice and read and review!!!!!