Chapter five is here! Standard legal crap still applies. Please review!
Chapter Five: A Secret Revealed
Lily, Allison, and Jenny arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters for the eleven o'clock train. Lily was dressed proudly in her Hogwarts robes and Head Girl badge. She strode through the crowd with confidence, directing befuddled parents and their children to the proper loading areas. Allison and Jenny were affectionately teasing Lily behind her back. Neither saw Sirius as he crept stealthily behind Allison. With a whoop, he grabbed her waist and swung her around.
"Sirius, put me down!" she shrieked.
"As you wish," he grinned, setting her down with a kiss. "How are you lovely ladies doing?"
"Great," Jenny answered. "And you?"
"Just peachy, as always. I bet you're looking for Remus." Sirius stood on tiptoe, peering over the crowd of Hogwarts students. "Oy! Moony!" he yelled, waving. "Over here!"
Remus hurried, politely pushing past the swarm of wizards. He stood, smiling happily at Jenny, before lightly kissing her waiting lips.
"Hey Jen," he said. She wove her fingers through his. Remus squeezed her hand, beaming with pleasure.
"If Moony was smiling any wider, his face would split," Sirius commented despite a similar look on his face now that Allison had an arm around his waist.
Peter came struggling over, half dragging, half carrying his luggage.
"Why didn't you get a trolley?" Sirius asked.
"Forgot," he said.
With a bang, one of his suitcases hit the pavement, spilling his underwear onto the ground.
"Bloody hell, Wormtail," Sirius complained. With a light flick of his wrist, Sirius had the clothing back in the suitcase.
"Sirius!" Lily cried. "No magic out of school and no exceptions either!"
He laughed, tossing his head back. "How quickly you forget, Lily! I turned 17 yesterday. You're looking at a legal age wizard."
The first whistle blew, designating that the Hogwarts Express would be leaving the station in five minutes.
"Let's hurry and get our compartment," Jenny said.
"Er...James and I have to report to the prefect carriage. We have to brief the new prefects on the upcoming year and all," Lily said. "I'm awfully sorry."
"No hard feelings," Sirius said. "Meet you in the Great Hall then?"
"Of course."
Lily rushed off to find James. Sirius, Peter, Remus, Allison, and Jenny piled their things into the last compartment. Since their first year, they had claimed it as their own. Once they were settled in, Sirius flopped down beside Allison, his arm draped over her shoulders. Peter began work on his Potions essay, which he had characteristically left until the last minute to complete. Remus and Jenny sat close together, chatting quietly.
The final whistle filled the air. Students hung out windows, waving farewells to their parents. The train moved slowly out of the station.
"Our last trip to Hogwarts," Jenny sighed. "It makes me feel very old."
The Hogwarts Express had barely gotten underway when Lucius Malfoy and his girlfriend sauntered in. Malfoy was perpetually smug, his pale face full of self-admiration. On his arm was Narcissa Black, an equally fair skinned and conceited witch. Although she was Sirius' first cousin, no acknowledgement passed between the two. On the contrary, Sirius scowled.
"You're fouling up my compartment Malfoy," he said. "Get out."
"You should control your temper Black," Malfoy tutted. His eyes flicked over Allison. "I see you've stooped low enough to date a Muggle born. A pure-blood such as yourself should stay within our circle."
"Don't insult Allison," Sirius hissed, fingering his wand dangerously. "And don't tell me what to do."
Malfoy smirked at the sight of Remus and Jenny.
"It's a shame really," he said in a low voice. "A nice pure-blood such as yourself associating with such low persons."
"Shut up Malfoy," Jenny said vehemently. "You're the shameful one."
Malfoy watched her with lazy interest. Narcissa complained she was bored and the couple left without another word. "What a prick! Insulting you then calling you a nice pure-blood!" Allison said to Sirius.
"Malfoy wasn't talking about Sirius," Jenny said softly. "He meant me."
Allison's jaw dropped. Remus' eyebrows shot up. Peter dropped his quill. Only Sirius remained unastounded.
"I've known you seven years and you never told me!" Allison shouted.
"I'm sorry," Jenny said, voice even softer. "Only Sirius knew and I made him swear not to tell. We're second cousins by marriage. I've always been, well, ashamed of my lineage. Most pure-bloods are dark wizards. I thought you'd never befriend me if you knew the truth."
"But you're a Ravenclaw!"
"So? Mum's a Weasley and she was in Gryffindor and Dad's a McCall, one of the last pure-blood families in Ireland and he was a Ravenclaw too. Not all pure-bloods are in Slytherin. Look at Sirius. My family is marked as traitors to the pure-blood cause since they believe in intermarrying and Muggle-relations and everything that's sacrilege according to the Malfoys and their stupid lot. I know I should have told you earlier, but it's a part of me I hate and I'd rather pretend my parents were Muggle-born like I told you."
Allison opened and closed her mouth several times before settling on a very tense silence.
"Allison, I'm really sorry," Jenny pleaded. "I didn't mean to insult you or-"
"You should have thought of that earlier," she snapped. "I don't want to talk about it."
At that moment, a plump woman rapped on the compartment door, peddling a cart of sweets. Sirius opened the door and thrust a bag of gold at the woman.
"We'll take five of everything," he said, not wanting the woman to linger. Although Sirius was detached from his parents, he never seemed sort of pocket money.
The woman quickly counted the money then helped Remus and Sirius to load the contents of the trolley onto a vacant seat. Once done, she left with the remnants of her wares.
"Well? Eat it." Sirius motioned toward the huge pile.
"Not hungry," Allison said through clenched teeth, glaring at Jenny. "But maybe Miss I'm-Too-Good-To-Tell-My-Friends-About-Important-Details might like a Chocolate Frog."
Jenny leapt to her feet, face flushed. "I thought you wouldn't care! I thought you were good enough not to care!"
"That's not the point!" Allison shouted, jumping up and nearly upsetting the mountain of sweets. "The point is that you lied to us. Me, Peter, Remus. You lied. And that seems kind of important, don't you agree?"
Tears clung to Jenny's lashes.
"Since I'm not worthy of your company," she said slowly and softly. "I'll just go."
Head held low, Jenny hurried from the carriage. Remus rushed after her, still clutching the pumpkin pasty he had been eating.
"Jen, wait, Jen," he called, reaching for her arm.
"Leave me alone!" she snarled, slapping his hand away.
"No Jenny." Remus put a hand on her shoulder. "I want to help you."
"You can't possibly want to help me anymore," Jenny said despairingly. "Not after what I've done...and said..."
"I'd love you even if you were a troll," Remus said.
Jenny smiled faintly, but quickly frowned again. "Oh Remus. How will I ever get Allison to forgive me? Not that I deserve it..."
Remus embraced her. "We'll get it figured out. Now Sirius spent a load of Sickles on us so I suggest we eat those lovely sweets."
"Don't change the subject."
"Let's go back to the carriage at least."
"Yeah, so Allison can kill me."
Gently Remus tugged her toward the compartment. Grudgingly, Jenny followed. He placed a firm hand on the small of her back, pushing her in.
Allison promptly looked away as Jenny entered "So what were you saying about the Protean Charm?" she asked loudly.
"Nothing that I know of," Sirius said, popping a sizeable chunk of Cauldron Cake into her open mouth. Allison made a few muffled coughing noises before dryly swallowing the cake.
"Thanks for trying to choke me," Allison said, punching his arm hard.
"Ouch!" Sirius rubbed his arm. "Maybe if I had succeeded this stupid feud would be over. You, Jenny, should have told the others the truth and you, Allison, shouldn't put up such a row. The secret's out so kiss and make up."
Allison and Jenny stared at each other in stony silence. Suddenly, the corners of Jenny's mouth twitched. All at once, she was laughing hysterically. Allison's chest heaved and she collapsed beside Sirius in a mad bout of giggles.
"Ooo!" Allison gasped. "Wouldn't you love for us to kiss and make up."
Jenny howled with laughter. "Kiss and make up, huh Sirius??"
Allison staggered almost drunkenly to Jenny.
"I'm s-so-sorry," she said breathlessly. "I over...hahahaha...reacted..."
"N-n-o, I'm sorry," Jenny chuckled. "Really I'm the one to...hahahaha...blame!"
The two hugged, wiping away tears of mirth. Sirius glanced at Remus, shaking his head in wonderment.
"Bloody insane these women," he said. "Out of their bloody minds."
"What's going on?"
James and Lily entered the compartment with looks of bemused interest.
"Nothing," said Allison. Lowering her voice she whispered to Jenny, "We'll tell them later."
Sirius tossed James a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"Dare you to eat 'em all mate," he grinned.
"You're on!"
For the next ten minutes, everyone (including Peter, who had long since forgotten his Potions paper) watched James consume the contents of the box. Lily wailed that it was not an action befitting of a Head Boy, but nonetheless, James forged on through asparagus, milk, broccoli, dirt, grass, pepper, and a nasty brown one that James declared to be vomit when he stopped gagging.
"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes," said a cool female voice that echoed throughout the train. "Please leave your belongings in your compartment to be taken to the castle separately. Have a nice day."
Everyone except Lily and James were in their casual clothes. Trunks were pulled out from under seats and in a cramped flurry of black work robes, everyone dressed. Allison took the opportunity to knot Sirius' tie in a most maternal fashion. With a tug, she brought his face to her for a kiss. Jenny always felt a bit out of place with her blue and silver Ravenclaw tie. Luckily, any such feelings were dispelled as Remus helped her shrug on her new robes, allowing his arms to linger on hers. She kissed his nose, adoring the way his eyes glowed as she did so. Remus gave her a kiss on the cheek, then sighed, gazing down at his gold and scarlet striped tie.
"I can never get my tie straight," he mumbled, trying in vain to make it hang properly.
Jenny smiled. "Let me help."
With nimble fingers, she quickly had Remus' tie in order. Peter, whose own tie was askew, had his round face out the window.
"It's cold out. Looks like it might rain," he commented.
Allison and Jenny put on their thick cloaks and scarves (knitted in House colors) for protection against the cold. Lily debated whether to wear hers or not, but eventually decided against it, wanting her Head Girl badge to remain vividly visible.
The train slowed to a grinding stop at the dark Hogsmeade Station.
"Got to run," James said. "Meet you at the Great Hall."
Chapter Five: A Secret Revealed
Lily, Allison, and Jenny arrived at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters for the eleven o'clock train. Lily was dressed proudly in her Hogwarts robes and Head Girl badge. She strode through the crowd with confidence, directing befuddled parents and their children to the proper loading areas. Allison and Jenny were affectionately teasing Lily behind her back. Neither saw Sirius as he crept stealthily behind Allison. With a whoop, he grabbed her waist and swung her around.
"Sirius, put me down!" she shrieked.
"As you wish," he grinned, setting her down with a kiss. "How are you lovely ladies doing?"
"Great," Jenny answered. "And you?"
"Just peachy, as always. I bet you're looking for Remus." Sirius stood on tiptoe, peering over the crowd of Hogwarts students. "Oy! Moony!" he yelled, waving. "Over here!"
Remus hurried, politely pushing past the swarm of wizards. He stood, smiling happily at Jenny, before lightly kissing her waiting lips.
"Hey Jen," he said. She wove her fingers through his. Remus squeezed her hand, beaming with pleasure.
"If Moony was smiling any wider, his face would split," Sirius commented despite a similar look on his face now that Allison had an arm around his waist.
Peter came struggling over, half dragging, half carrying his luggage.
"Why didn't you get a trolley?" Sirius asked.
"Forgot," he said.
With a bang, one of his suitcases hit the pavement, spilling his underwear onto the ground.
"Bloody hell, Wormtail," Sirius complained. With a light flick of his wrist, Sirius had the clothing back in the suitcase.
"Sirius!" Lily cried. "No magic out of school and no exceptions either!"
He laughed, tossing his head back. "How quickly you forget, Lily! I turned 17 yesterday. You're looking at a legal age wizard."
The first whistle blew, designating that the Hogwarts Express would be leaving the station in five minutes.
"Let's hurry and get our compartment," Jenny said.
"Er...James and I have to report to the prefect carriage. We have to brief the new prefects on the upcoming year and all," Lily said. "I'm awfully sorry."
"No hard feelings," Sirius said. "Meet you in the Great Hall then?"
"Of course."
Lily rushed off to find James. Sirius, Peter, Remus, Allison, and Jenny piled their things into the last compartment. Since their first year, they had claimed it as their own. Once they were settled in, Sirius flopped down beside Allison, his arm draped over her shoulders. Peter began work on his Potions essay, which he had characteristically left until the last minute to complete. Remus and Jenny sat close together, chatting quietly.
The final whistle filled the air. Students hung out windows, waving farewells to their parents. The train moved slowly out of the station.
"Our last trip to Hogwarts," Jenny sighed. "It makes me feel very old."
The Hogwarts Express had barely gotten underway when Lucius Malfoy and his girlfriend sauntered in. Malfoy was perpetually smug, his pale face full of self-admiration. On his arm was Narcissa Black, an equally fair skinned and conceited witch. Although she was Sirius' first cousin, no acknowledgement passed between the two. On the contrary, Sirius scowled.
"You're fouling up my compartment Malfoy," he said. "Get out."
"You should control your temper Black," Malfoy tutted. His eyes flicked over Allison. "I see you've stooped low enough to date a Muggle born. A pure-blood such as yourself should stay within our circle."
"Don't insult Allison," Sirius hissed, fingering his wand dangerously. "And don't tell me what to do."
Malfoy smirked at the sight of Remus and Jenny.
"It's a shame really," he said in a low voice. "A nice pure-blood such as yourself associating with such low persons."
"Shut up Malfoy," Jenny said vehemently. "You're the shameful one."
Malfoy watched her with lazy interest. Narcissa complained she was bored and the couple left without another word. "What a prick! Insulting you then calling you a nice pure-blood!" Allison said to Sirius.
"Malfoy wasn't talking about Sirius," Jenny said softly. "He meant me."
Allison's jaw dropped. Remus' eyebrows shot up. Peter dropped his quill. Only Sirius remained unastounded.
"I've known you seven years and you never told me!" Allison shouted.
"I'm sorry," Jenny said, voice even softer. "Only Sirius knew and I made him swear not to tell. We're second cousins by marriage. I've always been, well, ashamed of my lineage. Most pure-bloods are dark wizards. I thought you'd never befriend me if you knew the truth."
"But you're a Ravenclaw!"
"So? Mum's a Weasley and she was in Gryffindor and Dad's a McCall, one of the last pure-blood families in Ireland and he was a Ravenclaw too. Not all pure-bloods are in Slytherin. Look at Sirius. My family is marked as traitors to the pure-blood cause since they believe in intermarrying and Muggle-relations and everything that's sacrilege according to the Malfoys and their stupid lot. I know I should have told you earlier, but it's a part of me I hate and I'd rather pretend my parents were Muggle-born like I told you."
Allison opened and closed her mouth several times before settling on a very tense silence.
"Allison, I'm really sorry," Jenny pleaded. "I didn't mean to insult you or-"
"You should have thought of that earlier," she snapped. "I don't want to talk about it."
At that moment, a plump woman rapped on the compartment door, peddling a cart of sweets. Sirius opened the door and thrust a bag of gold at the woman.
"We'll take five of everything," he said, not wanting the woman to linger. Although Sirius was detached from his parents, he never seemed sort of pocket money.
The woman quickly counted the money then helped Remus and Sirius to load the contents of the trolley onto a vacant seat. Once done, she left with the remnants of her wares.
"Well? Eat it." Sirius motioned toward the huge pile.
"Not hungry," Allison said through clenched teeth, glaring at Jenny. "But maybe Miss I'm-Too-Good-To-Tell-My-Friends-About-Important-Details might like a Chocolate Frog."
Jenny leapt to her feet, face flushed. "I thought you wouldn't care! I thought you were good enough not to care!"
"That's not the point!" Allison shouted, jumping up and nearly upsetting the mountain of sweets. "The point is that you lied to us. Me, Peter, Remus. You lied. And that seems kind of important, don't you agree?"
Tears clung to Jenny's lashes.
"Since I'm not worthy of your company," she said slowly and softly. "I'll just go."
Head held low, Jenny hurried from the carriage. Remus rushed after her, still clutching the pumpkin pasty he had been eating.
"Jen, wait, Jen," he called, reaching for her arm.
"Leave me alone!" she snarled, slapping his hand away.
"No Jenny." Remus put a hand on her shoulder. "I want to help you."
"You can't possibly want to help me anymore," Jenny said despairingly. "Not after what I've done...and said..."
"I'd love you even if you were a troll," Remus said.
Jenny smiled faintly, but quickly frowned again. "Oh Remus. How will I ever get Allison to forgive me? Not that I deserve it..."
Remus embraced her. "We'll get it figured out. Now Sirius spent a load of Sickles on us so I suggest we eat those lovely sweets."
"Don't change the subject."
"Let's go back to the carriage at least."
"Yeah, so Allison can kill me."
Gently Remus tugged her toward the compartment. Grudgingly, Jenny followed. He placed a firm hand on the small of her back, pushing her in.
Allison promptly looked away as Jenny entered "So what were you saying about the Protean Charm?" she asked loudly.
"Nothing that I know of," Sirius said, popping a sizeable chunk of Cauldron Cake into her open mouth. Allison made a few muffled coughing noises before dryly swallowing the cake.
"Thanks for trying to choke me," Allison said, punching his arm hard.
"Ouch!" Sirius rubbed his arm. "Maybe if I had succeeded this stupid feud would be over. You, Jenny, should have told the others the truth and you, Allison, shouldn't put up such a row. The secret's out so kiss and make up."
Allison and Jenny stared at each other in stony silence. Suddenly, the corners of Jenny's mouth twitched. All at once, she was laughing hysterically. Allison's chest heaved and she collapsed beside Sirius in a mad bout of giggles.
"Ooo!" Allison gasped. "Wouldn't you love for us to kiss and make up."
Jenny howled with laughter. "Kiss and make up, huh Sirius??"
Allison staggered almost drunkenly to Jenny.
"I'm s-so-sorry," she said breathlessly. "I over...hahahaha...reacted..."
"N-n-o, I'm sorry," Jenny chuckled. "Really I'm the one to...hahahaha...blame!"
The two hugged, wiping away tears of mirth. Sirius glanced at Remus, shaking his head in wonderment.
"Bloody insane these women," he said. "Out of their bloody minds."
"What's going on?"
James and Lily entered the compartment with looks of bemused interest.
"Nothing," said Allison. Lowering her voice she whispered to Jenny, "We'll tell them later."
Sirius tossed James a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"Dare you to eat 'em all mate," he grinned.
"You're on!"
For the next ten minutes, everyone (including Peter, who had long since forgotten his Potions paper) watched James consume the contents of the box. Lily wailed that it was not an action befitting of a Head Boy, but nonetheless, James forged on through asparagus, milk, broccoli, dirt, grass, pepper, and a nasty brown one that James declared to be vomit when he stopped gagging.
"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes," said a cool female voice that echoed throughout the train. "Please leave your belongings in your compartment to be taken to the castle separately. Have a nice day."
Everyone except Lily and James were in their casual clothes. Trunks were pulled out from under seats and in a cramped flurry of black work robes, everyone dressed. Allison took the opportunity to knot Sirius' tie in a most maternal fashion. With a tug, she brought his face to her for a kiss. Jenny always felt a bit out of place with her blue and silver Ravenclaw tie. Luckily, any such feelings were dispelled as Remus helped her shrug on her new robes, allowing his arms to linger on hers. She kissed his nose, adoring the way his eyes glowed as she did so. Remus gave her a kiss on the cheek, then sighed, gazing down at his gold and scarlet striped tie.
"I can never get my tie straight," he mumbled, trying in vain to make it hang properly.
Jenny smiled. "Let me help."
With nimble fingers, she quickly had Remus' tie in order. Peter, whose own tie was askew, had his round face out the window.
"It's cold out. Looks like it might rain," he commented.
Allison and Jenny put on their thick cloaks and scarves (knitted in House colors) for protection against the cold. Lily debated whether to wear hers or not, but eventually decided against it, wanting her Head Girl badge to remain vividly visible.
The train slowed to a grinding stop at the dark Hogsmeade Station.
"Got to run," James said. "Meet you at the Great Hall."