Bruised Not Broken
The Reds, as Shadow and her dorm mates were known, named for the fact that all of them had some red in their hair colouring, and the marauders were still seated at the Gryphindor breakfast table. Only two members were missing, namely Sirius and Shadow, who were the current topic of the conversation.
"They just spoke to each other." Peter said, shocked.
"Wow!" Lily exclaimed, "Thank goodness! Shadows already got enough on her plate with her mom and all; the fight must have been killing her."
"What's wrong with her mom?" James asked.
Lily suddenly clapped a hand to her mouth.
"You don't know?"
"No, is something amiss?" Remus leaned forward in concern.
"No, nothing, just forget I ever said anything." She righted quickly.
If Shad hadn't told them, then she wouldn't want them to know.
"What's going on here?" James inquired.
"Nothing." Alice quickly responded.
"It's not nothing if something's wrong with her mom." Remus said.
"Look, there's nothing for you to be interested in, so you don't need to waste your time prying." Molly said decidedly.
"Then why are you being so secretive?" James pried.
The next Quidditch practise was in much better weather, it was sunny and warm; the change in the weather almost seemed to represent the change of attitude between Sirius and myself.
When Wood came out to meet us he seemed about ready to handle world war one.
"Right!" He called. "Ok, due to recent events I want to make sure that there are no issues between team members that will come into the game. So, if anyone has a problem that needs solving, step up and sort it out."
Without any hesitation I stepped up.
Wood looked like he'd just invited a Malfoy into his home.
I cocked my head at Sirius and gave a small smile.
"Want to answer that question yet?"
He scowled and gave an exasperated sigh.
"No."
"Is that the answer or the response?"
"Both."
"Fine."
"Fine."
Wood looked incredibly relieved.
"Well, anyone else?" He looked around. "No? Righ-"
Sirius stepped up. Wood's face fell, he sighed.
Sirius fixed me with a probing stare.
"Are you going to quit asking me a stupid question?"
"No, I like asking stupid questions, and the one I was asking wasn't stupid."
Sirius sighed.
"Fine."
"Fine."
Wood looked relieved again.
"Anybody else?" He looked around, "Great, next, if anyone would like to voice a lack of trust with a team member?"
No one stood up.
"Don't be shy, nothings going to happen to you."
Still, no one stood.
"Ok, lets do things this way. Every one close your eyes."
We did so.
"Now, anyone who has a lack of trust for a team member, raise your hand."
There was a shuffling sound. I didn't raise my hand.
"Now, if you raised you hand and you don't mind telling us who you have a problem trusting nod your head. Remember only I can see you."
Wood sighed relief.
"Yes?"
Sirius' unmistakable voice broke the quiet.
"I think I have a problem trusting you not to do embarrassing and idiotic things like this when we actually play a match."
There was a loud roar of laughter from the group. Every opened their eyes and saw Woods face going decidedly pink.
"Not to mention that he might distract us from our game preaching 'love, peace, and happiness'!" I exclaimed.
Sirius burst out laughing.
We grinned.
Wood was now completely red.
"What were you doing when you were all sitting down and stuff?" Molly asked me when I met them at the pitch exit.
I told them about Wood's encouragement speech.
"He actually did that?" Alice laughed.
"What's next, a self pride day?" Lily chortled.
Life went on as normal for the next few weeks, and eventually a month passed after Wood's 'happy family' day as it had been christened.
I was on my way to meet the Marauders, it was just before curfew, we were going to have a secret meeting. Tonight was important.. We all had chosen to come separate ways so as to be harder to spot and less suspicious.
I arrived at the room of requirement.
I was the last arrival; I always checked that no one was within a dangerous proximity, or onto us.
"Shadow." James whispered in greeting.
"Hi." I said to all of them.
"Hi Shad." Peter muttered.
"So, Siri, you going to answer the question yet?"
The Marauders moaned.
"I could always leave..."
"No!" Sirius yelped.
"Good to know you love that much."
Sirius glared.
"I meant the answer was no." He grumbled.
"So, shall we start?"
I sat with the Marauders for a couple of hours, perfecting their technique until we were all about to collapse. These evenings were always draining, they always required a large usage of natural magic.
Suddenly Sirius groaned.
We turned to look at him.
"I think that's enough for tonight." I said quietly.
"Amen!" James exclaimed, we were all exhausted.
Peter and James departed one by one.
As Sirius was leaving I grabbed his arm.
"How many nights are you practising?"
He frowned.
"One, why would I be doing any more?"
"Sirius, more than once a week is suicide you'll drain your power so much you won't get a hair, let alone a full animagus form!" I hissed.
"Who says?"
"Sirius, listen to me! You won't be able to do anything, not a charm, not transfiguration, eventually after your magic's gone, or if you do too much, the power will come from your body. I'm not joking, first small things will go, like you won't be able to hear properly, not that I'm sure you always do, but, anyway, then you won't be able to grip things, you can't breathe, eventually you will die."
"So what are you saying?"
I sighed.
"Instead of practising, come visit me. I need company sometimes."
He looked at me, my earnest stare digging into him.
"Ok."
I awoke first that morning.
Something was wrong, I just knew it.
Where was Alice?
She should have been back early this morning.
"Lily, Lily!"
"Hmm...What?"
"Where's Alice?" I hissed.
Lily sat bolt upright, now wide awake.
"She's not here? Something's got to be wrong." She jumped up and checked every where for her.
"Molly!" Molly jerked up. "Where's Alice?"
"She's not here?" Molly was still staring at the empty bed, trying to take this in.
"We have to find her before something happens." Lily said.
We got to Hogsmede before most students would even dream of being awake. The sun was only just grazing the tips of the nearest hills. 4:30, too late for Alice to be out, too early for anyone to see us.
We found the house, it was just out of town enough to be isolated, just close enough to be safe.
Molly made to knock on the door.
Just then we heard a scream from inside and a loud crash.
Lily looked horrified.
"Fuck it!" I said.
A second crash resounded as I burst open the door, we had left our wands in the carriage so brute force would have to do.
We charged up the stairs where the crying was coming from.
"Don't think you can get away now, bitch." A male voice said.
We arrived at the location of all the noise unheard ourselves; Terry was way too focused on his own work.
"What the-"He yelled.
Alice was curled up on the carpet, blood streaming from her face.
Lily and Molly grabbed her, and pulled her away from Terry.
He made to tackle them; I didn't falter for a single second.
Terry lay on his back. Black and blue marks spread across his entire body, the bruises starting in a sickly yellow. Blood ran from his nose and split lip, he clutched his useless left arm to himself.
Stupid bastard I thought as he lunged for me.
I grabbed his right hand and crushed the fingers, pinning him to the ground I could hear three of his ribs crack from my movements as I twisted to block an attempted blow from one of his legs. In an instant, he was helpless, Three broken ribs, broken arm, crushed hand, dislocated knee, nevermind the other damage.
I rose from beside the struggling bloody form.
Lily and Molly, who had returned to help me, after they had placed Alice in the car and retrieved their wands, gaped at the sight of Terry. He looked like a piece of butchers meet which had been partially been through the mincer.
"You could have used magic." Lily gasped.
"It's not like you need a wand." Molly said.
I shrugged, we left Terry looking like he'd been through a blender.