Chapter 2
The next morning Margot found herself on the cool dungeon floor. For a few precious moments the previous evenings events remained forgotten , almost too soon they all flooded back destroying her cheerful mood. Groggily she got up and began to make her way to the Great Hall. She cared very little to see her housemates, but the biting sensation in her stomach said otherwise and she was all too keen to listen.
From the towering marble stairs Margot could hear the buzz of chattering students. Any other day she would have burst into the room pompously, but today she found herself rather frightened to do so.
"Miss. Boggs!"
Margot spun around to see her head of house, Professor McGonagall briskly striding over to her.
"Yes ma'am?" she replied
"I have been searching this castle high and low for you Miss. Boggs! The Headmaster wishes to see you immediately."
"Yes Professor." Margot said meekly not daring to look into the woman's eyes.
In her seven years at Hogwarts, Margot never once visited the Headmaster's office. Contrary to Sirius and James who'd claimed it as a second home. In remembrance of this she smiled slightly. Her being summoned to his office now left her with mixed feelings. Excitement at entering the lair of the most brilliant wizard of the time, and fear as to why she was here at all. Surely it wasn't over her sleeping in the dungeons. It couldn't be. The spiraling stone staircase finished taking her upward leaving Margot before a great wooden door. She knocked. Almost immediately, a tall official looking man in brown robes and a tan tweed suit stood before her. He looked no older than twenty three and had tousled brown hair that was quite comical against his businesslike demeanor.
"Let her in Perkins." Came a loud gruff voice, that caused Margot to wince.
"This was Miss." Perkins said directing her toward an armchair.
The room was filled with many people few of whom Margot recognized.
On her right sat James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Each other them averted his gaze when she looked his way. A reaction that disheartened her greatly. On her left sat a hearty old man in red robes. His arms rested comfortable atop a protruding belly. The Minister of Magic, Darrel Winkley. Beside him stood Perkins who was jotting feverishly at a small piece of paper. Surrounding him and the Minister were two tall muscular men in black robes armed with their wands. Before her at a desk cluttered with strange objects Dumbledor tented his hands and gave her a warm smile.
"Good morning Miss. Boggs. I hate to attend to such unhappy business at such an hour, but unfortunately this needs to be seen to at once." He said softly "Last evening one of your peers, a Miss. Delia Conrad was found dead near the dungeons."
Words failed Margot, leaving her is a state of silent shock. For several moments the who room stayed like this. Not a sound reached her ears. Before her Dumbledor eyed her curiously turning his wand around in his hand. Finally the silence was broken by the gruff voice of the Minister.
"Miss. Boggs....tell us dear, what you did yesterday."
Nodding to him she began, "I went to Hogsmead with Remus." her voice quivered as she carefully chose her words. "he sort hinted feeling for me and I got uncomfortable, so I left and went back to the castle. On my way to the common room when I found Sirius and Delia together." She heard Sirius fidget in his chair as she said this " I was upset so I ran to the dungeons. After that I remember waking up there this morning."
Every eye in the room was on her as she finished. Sirius' voice came slowly from her right.
"After Margot left, Delia and I got into an argument. She went after Margot to apologize, after that I didn't see either of them till now. She killed Delia don't you see! Who else could have done it she a guilty."
After saying this he stood up his chair flying from under him and turned on Margot. "Was it that bad?! Did you have to kill someone?! You bloody..... "
"Quiet!"
Sirius silenced. Dumbledor stood at his desk breathing heavily, but quickly returned to his peaceful demeanor and sat down.
"I believe that the boys must find this difficult to hear. Perhaps they are having trouble containing their emotions. If they could please step outside?"
They each gave Dumbledor a reproachful looks as they left in a single file line. Once the door closed behind them Dumbledor spoke again.
"Now, though the evidence all points to you. I highly doubt this heinous crime was your doing. I believe you'll agree with me Minister."
"What do you mean? I'm not trying to pry but who else would have done it?" Margot said
Dumbledor paused for a moment as if contemplating the correct way to phrase his reply.
"I do not wish to discuss how we know it wasn't you Miss. Boggs. There are bad things arising in our world and that is all I wish to tell at this time. Am I correct Minister?"
She turned to the Minister as he nodded in recognition to Dumbledor's worlds.
"Now, Miss. Boggs you must be feeling wretched. Why don't you head off to your dormitory now and get some rest."
Margot nodded weakly and left.
Outside the doors the marauders eyed her with disgust. Desperately she searched them for comfort but failed dismally. Silently crying she trudged through the never ending corridors. Margot's brain became a cluster of regret, remorse, and anger. The previous day's happenings were suddenly irrelevant. She could not longer bear this weight.
As she arrived before the fat lady, Margot found herself once again dreading her entrance into what she knew was a bustling common room. Already Margot could feel their piercing stares. Word traveled quickly within the walls of Hogwarts.
She entered quietly, hoping to reach her dormitory unnoticed, but to her dismay she received the reaction she'd expected. Screams of hatred swam through the crowd desperate to leave their scars upon her untouched flesh. Never before had she experienced this kind of rejection. Near the dorm entrance Margot encountered the housemates she wished to avoid most. Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter sat in a small half circle between herself and the steps. Their eyes followed her like daggers. All except Remus. His expression showed pain, confusion, but also forgiveness. He noticed her gaze and she quickly averted it out of fear.