Alright, first off I'm making a disclaimer as to some liberties I've taken with this story, because it is my story and I can do whatever I want. ::evil smile:: First, I've conveniently gotten rid of Wormtail because, frankly, I'm a lazy bum and don't want to write him in. The second thing is that I made Lucius Malfoy the same age as the marauders even though I know very well that he is, what, four years older? Something like that… But yes, I feel like writing him in so I am. All you hardcore canon people will just have to bear with me on this one. FOR I AM THE OMNIPOTENT AUTHOR!!! Mwahahahaha! ::ahem:: I also apologize most heartily for my really cheesy names of professors- I can barely stand them myself, I hope that you can just kind of overlook them.
This fic was entirely inspired by a song by the great Alice Cooper, ::bows head in reverence:: select lyrics of which will precede certain chapters of the fic. It's titled "Poison". Enjoy!
Poison
"I want to love you but I better not touch (don't touch)
I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I want to kiss you but I want it too much (too much)
I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison"
Chapter One- Bat Bogies
Before this day they had never really noticed her. Sure, James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin knew her by sight; she was in their House for goodness' sake. But could any of them tell you her name? Doubtful. That is, until today.
Today was the day that she hexed Lucius Malfoy.
The Gryffindors had Herbology with the Slytherins that day, never a particularly happy time; until today of course. Today was quite enjoyable for the marauders.
Everything had been going as normal as ever (they were transplanting dittany plants) and Professor Root was assisting a student at the far end of the greenhouse. Then, from out of nowhere, a hex was shouted and a commotion came about at the extreme opposite end of the greenhouse from the professor.
The marauders, who were situated about in the middle, turned their heads almost as one to see a girl from their own house pointing a wand angrily at Lucius Malfoy, who seemed to have strangely shaped winged things attacking his head.
"The Bat-Bogey Hex," Remus whispered amusedly. The three boys broke into a fit of raucous sniggers. Professor Root came running down the greenhouse in a tizzy, as he usually was.
"What is going on here?!" he demanded upon reaching the scene, and instantly seeming to measure it up. However, much to the marauders' disappointment the bell rang to signal the end of class. They took their time gathering their things and as they left, heard the girl, still glaring defiantly at Malfoy, sentenced to a detention.
"That was brilliant!" James exclaimed as soon as they had left the stuffy greenhouse and were back in the brisk September air.
"I haven't had such a good laugh since… God, I don't even know!" Sirius tried, though he was still too overcome with sporadic laughter to really think straight, the image of Lucius Malfoy's head being beaten at by his own nose excrement just too amusing.
Remus couldn't even speak for the hilarity of the situation; it had been a very boring day up until then.
As the boys sat down for supper they were still discussing the incident.
"If only we didn't have to leave so soon!" Sirius cried ruefully. Remus nodded agreement, smirking.
"Do you guys even know her name?" James asked. Sirius shook his head.
"No idea, mate! She's been here all five years, right?"
"I think so…"
"Lydia," Remus muttered.
"What?" Sirius and James both turned to him in mild surprise.
"Her name's Lydia Hayes," Remus repeated. "And yes, she has been here all five years. What?" he finally asked as James and Sirius wouldn't stop staring at him.
"How do you know that… and we don't?" James asked. It was common knowledge that Remus Lupin was not what you would call outgoing; he left that to his friends. Remus however, just shrugged.
"She's been in the library a few times," he said dismissively, turning back to his food.
"Uh-huh… So you've had snogging sessions in the library have you?" Sirius couldn't resist teasing. Remus's head shot up.
"Please!" he cried as if Sirius was crazy. He glanced halfway down the table to where the girl in question was seated and shook his head in disdain. "You're bonkers, Padfoot." With that he returned determinedly to his meal.
"Whatever you say…" Sirius said mischievously, though he knew Remus was telling the truth; he knew full well that Remus was not exactly the type for a snog in the library.
And that was the end of that… until they were in the commonroom later that evening.
Remus and Sirius were engaged in a voracious game of wizard's chess when James looked up from his book on Quidditch tentatively.
"You know, I've been thinking…"
"That's a surprise," Remus muttered, smiling and glancing at his friend sidelong as Sirius's bishop moved forward three spaces. James chose to ignore that comment and continue.
"Well, what with Peter being in Germany now and everything… he left more of an empty space than I thought the little bugger would."
"What are you suggesting?" Sirius asked, quirking an eyebrow, then studying the chess board as Remus's rook put his king in check.
"I'm suggesting we get to know this Lydia girl better!" James shouted as if they were daft. Remus looked at him sharply.
"No," he said instantly. Sirius and James both looked at him in surprise at his sudden severity. Remus looked carefully at the chessboard as he said slowly, "I just don't think it'd be a good idea, that's all. I mean, what with… things… being as they are…" He shot each of them a pointed look and they understood.
"She wouldn't have to know, Remus," James said seriously.
"She'd find out! I mean, you guys did," Remus retorted obstinately. "I just don't think it's a very good idea."
"What's so bad about it?"
"It's so… manipulative! You can't just go about saying, 'Oh, I think I'll make friends with you so- there. Now we're friends'; it just doesn't work that way."
"Oh, come off it! Anyone with the guts to hex Malfoy is worth checking out, at least."
"What do we really need her for, James? I mean, honestly…"
"I don't know Remus," Sirius said contemplatively. "I think the marauders could do with a bit of female input…" He smiled deviously. James rolled his eyes but grinned.
"Not that female…" Remus muttered.
"I'm going to have to go with Remus there…" James said reluctantly.
"Aw, shove off, James, I know who you'd like to have in the group and let me tell you- it's never going to happen," Sirius scoffed, referring most obviously to the red-haired Lily Evans. James scowled but knew he was right.
"Okay, fine then… I agree with Sirius," he said subjectively.
"Agree with me, agree with him- make up your mind, James!" Remus said irritably.
"Why has this got you so bothered?" Sirius asked, carelessly moving his king and unwittingly backing it into a corner.
"It's nothing…" Remus said, poorly feigning indifference. "Checkmate."
"Well I say it's a ruddy good idea," Sirius said with finality. "James?"
"James agrees wholeheartedly," he answered, staring hard at Remus, who was looking between the two of them. Finally he threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Alright, fine!"
"You won't regret it, I swear!" James said happily.
"Well, I'll find out soon enough- here she comes," Remus said, jerking his chin towards the portrait hole, which was opening to allow a certain black-haired girl back from her detention.
"Oy, Lydia!" Sirius hailed, making the girl stop halfway to the girls' dormitories. She looked around curiously and saw Sirius waving her towards them. She went hesitantly, then stood before them awkwardly, waiting for them to speak.
"Detention go alright?" Sirius asked affably. Lydia looked at him a moment.
"Yeah…" she answered unsurely. A brief pause, then she said, "Good-night," and walked quickly to the door to the girls' dorms and disappeared up the stairs.
"Well…" Sirius said, blinking at her quick exit.
"Not very friendly, is she?" James asked, looking back towards the door Lydia had gone through.
"She's shy," Remus said, as if this took care of absolutely everything. When James and Sirius looked to him, expecting him to elaborate on his explanation, he simply said, "You guys wouldn't understand."
"Maybe not…"Sirius said slowly, "but she's not going to get away from us that easily!"
James nodded enthusiastically and Remus sighed and turned his eyes to gaze listlessly out the window upon the Hogwarts grounds bathed in the eerie half-moon light.
As soon as the doorway was shut Lydia about sprinted up the stairs, leaning against the door as she reached the actual dormitory.
That had never happened before.
Although she had several friendly acquaintances at Hogwarts since she'd arrived as a first year five years ago, she had never deluded herself with being acknowledged by any one of… those boys. They were inseparable and untouchable. And yet Sirius Black had just spoken to her. And James had seemed friendly. But Remus… She didn't think he liked her very much; she saw him quite often in the library but he had never so much as looked at her, at least not as far as she knew.
But still, James and Sirius… Perhaps she did have a chance of- dare she say it? –getting to know them…
As soon as Lydia's brain entertained the notion she remembered her awkward exit just a few moments ago and groaned inwardly, climbing into bed. She had a feeling that that would be pretty much the last time she'd be speaking with any of them; she never had been very skilled at making mates.
But she was wrong.