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Chapter Three: What Happened at Jenny's
The morning of Jenny's get together dawned overcast and cool. The warmth of August was quickly fading into the crisp days of September. Allison slept until eleven before showering and dressing. Shortly before noon, Allison Apparated to Jenny's house.
The McCall house was on the edge of Arsenal, nearer to a dark forest than anything else. It was a neat three story brick structure covered in a thick layer of enchanted ivy that had not grown in ten years. Mr. and Mrs. McCall were away working at the Ministry. Jenny's older sister Kate was in France as an assistant to the Head of Foreign Relations. Jenny was outside, sweeping the cobblestone walkway. Pixie, her gray cat, was busily launching himself at Jenny's swishing broom. Remus was sitting on the front stoop, chatting cheerfully.
"Bloody hell!" Allison slid across a wet cobblestone, very nearly tipping over.
"Oh hello Allison!" Remus called as Allison regained her balance.
"Hey Allison," Jenny waved.
"Hola everyone," Allison said. "Anyone else here yet?"
"Nope. Remus and I were discussing...er-"
"Transfiguring beds into cats," Remus finished.
Allison smirked. "How fascinating."
Two cracks split the air. Sirius and James bowed elegantly before their friends.
"Thank you, thank you!" James said. "Two people from two different locations, Apparating at precisely the same time in precisely the same place. Quite remarkable."
"We're heroes of the wizarding world," Sirius added importantly.
Remus smiled while the girls remained unimpressed. Still, Allison couldn't suppress the joy of seeing Sirius. His sleek black hair looked even nicer than usual, Allison noticed.
"I thought maybe we could play Quidditch, three on four," Jenny said by way of a welcome. "I've got plenty of brooms."
"That's seven people," Sirius said. "I know Peter's missing, but who else is?"
"Lily."
James, who had been playing with Pixie, looked up. "Lily?"
"Yeah and we'd all appreciate it if you lay off her for once," Allison remarked. "An idiot would take a hint. Lily's not interested in you."
James reddened a bit.
"Hey look," Remus said, attempting to loosen up the tense situation. "It's Lily and Peter."
Lily and Peter were walking up the drive, making small talk. Lily was holding a plate, which she offered to Jenny.
"My mum made biscuits," Lily said. "I hope you don't mind."
"Mm, not at all," Jenny said. "They look good."
Jenny took the biscuits inside, then bade everyone join her at the garden shed.
"We'll have to play with a Quaffle only, I'm afraid," Jenny said, handing each of her friends a Cleansweep. "Wouldn't want a Bludger bouncing around downtown Arsenal."
"Where'd you get all those brooms?" Sirius asked, looking into the small shed. It was stacked with Cleansweeps, Comets, and SkyFlyers of all models.
"Oh, my dad fixes them up and sells them secondhand in his spare time," Jenny explained. "Now who wants to be team captains?"
Sirius and Allison volunteered.
"Rawr," James teased. "A little rivalry."
"I get James and Jenny," Allison said quickly. "No offense Lily."
"None taken," said Lily brightly. "I'm afraid I'm not very good at Quidditch."
"Oh I'm sure you are," James said.
Sirius dubbed his team Three Animagus and a Lady while Allison opted for the Hogwarts Three. The teams mounted brooms and kicked off, Jenny with the Quaffle. She swerved past Peter and Lily, making for the goal, a gap between two tall oak trees. Allison flew ahead, Jenny passed, and Allison took an easy shot past Sirius' shoulder for 10 points.
"Thanks Black!" Allison shouted as she took a victory lap over his head.
Next, Peter took possession of the Quaffle. He passed to Lily, who would have lost control if not for Remus, who blocked Allison's path.
"Out of my way Moony!" she said.
"Move it Allie!" Sirius gave Allison an almighty shove, sending her off balance. With a squeal, she plummeted. James made a dive for her, but they were too close to the ground for him to reach her. With a heart-stopping thump, Allison landed, knees first. The six players flew to her side. Sirius was ashen.
"Oh my God, oh my God!" he cried, seeing Allison's still figure. "Allison!"
"Aw shit." Allison stirred painfully. "Sirius, I'm going to kill you."
Sirius helped her up. "Thank God you're alright."
"No thanks you to!" Allison screeched, shoving him away. "My knees are killing me."
Luckily, the soft grass had broken her fall, but her knees were still raw and scraped. "You should get a bandage," Jenny said. "I'll take you back to the house."
"Naw, it was my fault. I'll take her back," said Sirius. "I know where the bandages are in your house anyhow."
Despite her protests, Sirius took Allison in his arms and carried her to the house.
"I'm not going to forgive you for this anytime soon," Allison reminded.
"What? The fall or me carrying you."
"Both."
Sirius opened the back door, walking in sideways to accommodate Allison's injured legs. With his foot, he shut the door behind them.
"The bathroom's on the right," Allison mumbled.
"I know."
Sirius set Allison down on the bathroom counter. Inside the medicine cabinet, he found an assortment of bandages behind a few jars of suspicious looking liquids labeled as "pepper-up potion" and "stomachache potion." "Big bandage or small?" Sirius asked.
"Better be the big one," Allison said.
Sirius washed the raw areas clean before applying a cotton bandage.
"Nicely done Dr. Black," said Allison grudgingly.
"Not bad for a pureblood, eh?" Sirius rolled down her pants leg. "You'd think I was a Muggle, I'm so good."
"Yeah, right."
"I'm sorry Allie," Sirius gazed up at her tenderly. "Ever since school let out I've been trying to make amends with you, but I keep messing up. I suppose I'm not very good at anything that really matters."
"What do you mean?"
"I do well in school but when it comes to the things, and people, that matter most, I only end up hurting them," Sirius sighed. "You don't have to forgive me. I don't deserve it anymore."
"Don't say that," Allison scolded. "You do make me angry sometimes and you've hurt me, but I've always cared about you. You're a great person. Nothing changes that."
Sirius smiled faintly. "Thanks Allison. You're the most wonderful person I've ever met and that's a fact."
Quickly, he brushed his lips against hers. This time, Allison had time to respond. She threw her arms around Sirius' neck and kissed him. "Does this mean we're a couple now?" Sirius asked. "I want to know for the record so I don't go off snogging other girls."
"Yes. We are now a couple. So no kissing other girls."
"That can be good and bad," Sirius joked, kissing her blue hair. "If we don't get back out there, James is going to suspect we're making out in the bathroom."
"Dammit," Allison complained. "I don't want to go."
"I'll carry you."
"Fine."
Allison resigned herself to Sirius' strong arms. He toted her back outside, where Lily was arguing with James and Peter was watching with rapt attention as Remus and Jenny recited hexes and their affects.
"When is he going to make a move on her?" Sirius wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure, but I think Jenny's going to make the move first," Allison answered.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked, seeing Allison.
"Fine thanks."
Lily glanced at Allison, appraising her condition. She seemed satisfied as she returned to her argument with James. He was half grinning, watching her animatedly.
"Hey Jen," Remus said. "Tell Sirius and Allison what you told me."
"About the forest?"
He nodded.
Lily and James stopped fighting to listen.
"For the past month we've heard strange noises in the forest," Jenny began. "At first, there were crackling sounds. Those progressed to explosions. Once we even saw green sparks in the sky. Mum informed the Ministry but no one's come to investigate. Dad's quite worried and frankly I am too. There's talk of a wizard, a very dark wizard, by the name of Voldemort. He's supposed to be in England scrounging up supporters. There's talk of dangerous folk wandering the country."
"My dad reckons Voldemort's a nutter," said James.
Sirius was watching an ant crawl across his foot very intently. His ears had gone a shade of magenta.
"Something wrong?" Allison asked him.
"My dad and mum think Voldemort's the finest thing to ever come along," Sirius said, unusually quiet. "They've taken to calling him Dark Lord. I know all about Him. His supporters, they're called Death Eaters, are supposed to kill all non-pureblood wizards and Muggles too. Mum wants me to join his cause once I'm out of school but I won't." Sirius looked quickly at Allison. "My friends are Muggle-borns and halfbloods. I know the Ministry refuses to take Voldemort seriously, but I do. He's going to strike at the wizarding community. And soon."
There was silence, each person thinking.
"Well," said James. "I'm not going to wait for that thing in the woods to come get me. I'm going to check it out."
"Don't be stupid James," Jenny said. "It could be mad Muggles for all we know. Forget that I mentioned it at all. Let's get something to eat instead."
"We should check it out," said Sirius.
"Yeah, without magic, good plan," retorted Allison. "You men are all action and no logic sometimes."
Sirius and James rolled up their sleeves.
"We're going," James said. "Coming Peter, Remus?"
Peter looked terrified but he agreed. Indecision crossed Remus' face. "I...I guess I'll go," he relented.
"Aren't you going to invite the ladies, Mr. Sexist?" Allison asked.
"No. You might get hurt. Again," James replied.
"That settles it. I'm going." Allison walked forward laboriously, trying to ignore the sparks of pain that shot up her legs each time she stepped forward.
"I'm going too," Jenny said, gripping her wand.
"And me," Lily agreed.
James marched the group to the forest's edge. "Ready?" he whispered.
Everyone nodded, and they entered the forest.
Chapter Three: What Happened at Jenny's
The morning of Jenny's get together dawned overcast and cool. The warmth of August was quickly fading into the crisp days of September. Allison slept until eleven before showering and dressing. Shortly before noon, Allison Apparated to Jenny's house.
The McCall house was on the edge of Arsenal, nearer to a dark forest than anything else. It was a neat three story brick structure covered in a thick layer of enchanted ivy that had not grown in ten years. Mr. and Mrs. McCall were away working at the Ministry. Jenny's older sister Kate was in France as an assistant to the Head of Foreign Relations. Jenny was outside, sweeping the cobblestone walkway. Pixie, her gray cat, was busily launching himself at Jenny's swishing broom. Remus was sitting on the front stoop, chatting cheerfully.
"Bloody hell!" Allison slid across a wet cobblestone, very nearly tipping over.
"Oh hello Allison!" Remus called as Allison regained her balance.
"Hey Allison," Jenny waved.
"Hola everyone," Allison said. "Anyone else here yet?"
"Nope. Remus and I were discussing...er-"
"Transfiguring beds into cats," Remus finished.
Allison smirked. "How fascinating."
Two cracks split the air. Sirius and James bowed elegantly before their friends.
"Thank you, thank you!" James said. "Two people from two different locations, Apparating at precisely the same time in precisely the same place. Quite remarkable."
"We're heroes of the wizarding world," Sirius added importantly.
Remus smiled while the girls remained unimpressed. Still, Allison couldn't suppress the joy of seeing Sirius. His sleek black hair looked even nicer than usual, Allison noticed.
"I thought maybe we could play Quidditch, three on four," Jenny said by way of a welcome. "I've got plenty of brooms."
"That's seven people," Sirius said. "I know Peter's missing, but who else is?"
"Lily."
James, who had been playing with Pixie, looked up. "Lily?"
"Yeah and we'd all appreciate it if you lay off her for once," Allison remarked. "An idiot would take a hint. Lily's not interested in you."
James reddened a bit.
"Hey look," Remus said, attempting to loosen up the tense situation. "It's Lily and Peter."
Lily and Peter were walking up the drive, making small talk. Lily was holding a plate, which she offered to Jenny.
"My mum made biscuits," Lily said. "I hope you don't mind."
"Mm, not at all," Jenny said. "They look good."
Jenny took the biscuits inside, then bade everyone join her at the garden shed.
"We'll have to play with a Quaffle only, I'm afraid," Jenny said, handing each of her friends a Cleansweep. "Wouldn't want a Bludger bouncing around downtown Arsenal."
"Where'd you get all those brooms?" Sirius asked, looking into the small shed. It was stacked with Cleansweeps, Comets, and SkyFlyers of all models.
"Oh, my dad fixes them up and sells them secondhand in his spare time," Jenny explained. "Now who wants to be team captains?"
Sirius and Allison volunteered.
"Rawr," James teased. "A little rivalry."
"I get James and Jenny," Allison said quickly. "No offense Lily."
"None taken," said Lily brightly. "I'm afraid I'm not very good at Quidditch."
"Oh I'm sure you are," James said.
Sirius dubbed his team Three Animagus and a Lady while Allison opted for the Hogwarts Three. The teams mounted brooms and kicked off, Jenny with the Quaffle. She swerved past Peter and Lily, making for the goal, a gap between two tall oak trees. Allison flew ahead, Jenny passed, and Allison took an easy shot past Sirius' shoulder for 10 points.
"Thanks Black!" Allison shouted as she took a victory lap over his head.
Next, Peter took possession of the Quaffle. He passed to Lily, who would have lost control if not for Remus, who blocked Allison's path.
"Out of my way Moony!" she said.
"Move it Allie!" Sirius gave Allison an almighty shove, sending her off balance. With a squeal, she plummeted. James made a dive for her, but they were too close to the ground for him to reach her. With a heart-stopping thump, Allison landed, knees first. The six players flew to her side. Sirius was ashen.
"Oh my God, oh my God!" he cried, seeing Allison's still figure. "Allison!"
"Aw shit." Allison stirred painfully. "Sirius, I'm going to kill you."
Sirius helped her up. "Thank God you're alright."
"No thanks you to!" Allison screeched, shoving him away. "My knees are killing me."
Luckily, the soft grass had broken her fall, but her knees were still raw and scraped. "You should get a bandage," Jenny said. "I'll take you back to the house."
"Naw, it was my fault. I'll take her back," said Sirius. "I know where the bandages are in your house anyhow."
Despite her protests, Sirius took Allison in his arms and carried her to the house.
"I'm not going to forgive you for this anytime soon," Allison reminded.
"What? The fall or me carrying you."
"Both."
Sirius opened the back door, walking in sideways to accommodate Allison's injured legs. With his foot, he shut the door behind them.
"The bathroom's on the right," Allison mumbled.
"I know."
Sirius set Allison down on the bathroom counter. Inside the medicine cabinet, he found an assortment of bandages behind a few jars of suspicious looking liquids labeled as "pepper-up potion" and "stomachache potion." "Big bandage or small?" Sirius asked.
"Better be the big one," Allison said.
Sirius washed the raw areas clean before applying a cotton bandage.
"Nicely done Dr. Black," said Allison grudgingly.
"Not bad for a pureblood, eh?" Sirius rolled down her pants leg. "You'd think I was a Muggle, I'm so good."
"Yeah, right."
"I'm sorry Allie," Sirius gazed up at her tenderly. "Ever since school let out I've been trying to make amends with you, but I keep messing up. I suppose I'm not very good at anything that really matters."
"What do you mean?"
"I do well in school but when it comes to the things, and people, that matter most, I only end up hurting them," Sirius sighed. "You don't have to forgive me. I don't deserve it anymore."
"Don't say that," Allison scolded. "You do make me angry sometimes and you've hurt me, but I've always cared about you. You're a great person. Nothing changes that."
Sirius smiled faintly. "Thanks Allison. You're the most wonderful person I've ever met and that's a fact."
Quickly, he brushed his lips against hers. This time, Allison had time to respond. She threw her arms around Sirius' neck and kissed him. "Does this mean we're a couple now?" Sirius asked. "I want to know for the record so I don't go off snogging other girls."
"Yes. We are now a couple. So no kissing other girls."
"That can be good and bad," Sirius joked, kissing her blue hair. "If we don't get back out there, James is going to suspect we're making out in the bathroom."
"Dammit," Allison complained. "I don't want to go."
"I'll carry you."
"Fine."
Allison resigned herself to Sirius' strong arms. He toted her back outside, where Lily was arguing with James and Peter was watching with rapt attention as Remus and Jenny recited hexes and their affects.
"When is he going to make a move on her?" Sirius wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure, but I think Jenny's going to make the move first," Allison answered.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked, seeing Allison.
"Fine thanks."
Lily glanced at Allison, appraising her condition. She seemed satisfied as she returned to her argument with James. He was half grinning, watching her animatedly.
"Hey Jen," Remus said. "Tell Sirius and Allison what you told me."
"About the forest?"
He nodded.
Lily and James stopped fighting to listen.
"For the past month we've heard strange noises in the forest," Jenny began. "At first, there were crackling sounds. Those progressed to explosions. Once we even saw green sparks in the sky. Mum informed the Ministry but no one's come to investigate. Dad's quite worried and frankly I am too. There's talk of a wizard, a very dark wizard, by the name of Voldemort. He's supposed to be in England scrounging up supporters. There's talk of dangerous folk wandering the country."
"My dad reckons Voldemort's a nutter," said James.
Sirius was watching an ant crawl across his foot very intently. His ears had gone a shade of magenta.
"Something wrong?" Allison asked him.
"My dad and mum think Voldemort's the finest thing to ever come along," Sirius said, unusually quiet. "They've taken to calling him Dark Lord. I know all about Him. His supporters, they're called Death Eaters, are supposed to kill all non-pureblood wizards and Muggles too. Mum wants me to join his cause once I'm out of school but I won't." Sirius looked quickly at Allison. "My friends are Muggle-borns and halfbloods. I know the Ministry refuses to take Voldemort seriously, but I do. He's going to strike at the wizarding community. And soon."
There was silence, each person thinking.
"Well," said James. "I'm not going to wait for that thing in the woods to come get me. I'm going to check it out."
"Don't be stupid James," Jenny said. "It could be mad Muggles for all we know. Forget that I mentioned it at all. Let's get something to eat instead."
"We should check it out," said Sirius.
"Yeah, without magic, good plan," retorted Allison. "You men are all action and no logic sometimes."
Sirius and James rolled up their sleeves.
"We're going," James said. "Coming Peter, Remus?"
Peter looked terrified but he agreed. Indecision crossed Remus' face. "I...I guess I'll go," he relented.
"Aren't you going to invite the ladies, Mr. Sexist?" Allison asked.
"No. You might get hurt. Again," James replied.
"That settles it. I'm going." Allison walked forward laboriously, trying to ignore the sparks of pain that shot up her legs each time she stepped forward.
"I'm going too," Jenny said, gripping her wand.
"And me," Lily agreed.
James marched the group to the forest's edge. "Ready?" he whispered.
Everyone nodded, and they entered the forest.