Dark storm clouds were baring down on the edge of the Forbidden Forest grumbling as they rolled, swiftly overtaking the sky. A sudden wind blew the trees violently causing the rustle of the leaves to sound strangely like the cheers from the stadium that Bella had heard earlier that day. She absently let one corner of her mouth turn up slightly thinking again of Rodolphus hobbling off the field needing the support of his teammates, then frowned as she thought of how she must try at all cost to avoid him now if she wanted to remain unharmed. Bella got a vicious chill as the wind lifted her cloak to swirl in the breeze behind her.
"We should get inside." Came Sirius' voice over her shoulder startling her from her troubled thoughts and causing her to gasp out of surprise. Sirius smiled, loving how she looked when angered, as Bella turned with her eyes narrowed playfully and her jaw set just as he himself would do when bothered.
"What's wrong with you today? You're not still upset about Lily are you? Cause I think that she's proven that we can trust her." Sirius said pulling Bella into an embrace, hugging her head gently to his chest and resting his chin in her soft hair. Bella let her arms slip around his waist noticing for a moment something in the inner pocket of Sirius' cloak. Bella turned her head up to look at Sirius giving him a grumpy look of dissatisfaction.
"I don't want to go back to the castle." She said in a breathy whine. Sirius smirked releasing her and turning quickly, he couldn't stand for her or any other girl to pout and loved calling them on it by not reacting to their charms and acting aloof.
"Suit yourself then." He said grinning wickedly once he no longer was facing her and beginning to walk away sure that this would infuriate Bella and cause her to follow. Bella stood holding a neatly folded bit of parchment that she had delicately pulled from Sirius' cloak inspecting it with a devilish grin.
"Oh Sirius how sweet, a love note for me?" She said, suppressing her giggles as Sirius turned around only to have the smirk whipped of his face and replaced by panic.
"Bella! Give me that you pickpocket!" Sirius said smiling but stress easily noted in his voice as he lunged for the parchment just in time for Bella to turn on her heals and take off running with Sirius only a few foot falls behind her. He was very close to catching her several times only to have her dart away just out of reach.
"I swear to God Bellatrix don't make me pull my wand!" Sirius said, his chest heaving, stopping for a moment to bend and catch his breath. This caused Bella to stop as well turning to face him only about ten feet away smiling beautifully at him, her face flushed and glowing. Bella slipped the folded piece of parchment into the waist of her jeans as Sirius eyed her with interest.
"If you want it, come and take it." She said in a taunting voice, her eyes glinting in mischief as she bolted through a narrow opening in the thick wall of trees and ivy that was the Forbidden Forest. Sirius barreled after her knowing that if he were to loose the Marauder's Map he was a dead man.
The interior of the forest was dark and hard to navigate but Bella flew deep into the thick of trees in only moments, Sirius dangerously close at her heels. Bella screamed as Sirius dove for her grabbing her about the hips and pulling her down to the forest floor. Dry, dead leaves crunched under Bella's body as she landed under Sirius' weight. Removing his black cloak with one hand and flinging it to the ground Bella lay beneath him panting to catch her breath her hair fanned out in every direction against the forest floor.
Sirius, supporting himself with one arm reached his hand into the loose denim at Bella's waist to reclaim the map, the act of this causing Bella to squirm in pleasure a huge grin appearing on her face and her eyes closing tightly against her excitement. Sirius almost laughed to himself to see her reaction, completely seduced by her childish attempt to keep him from leaving her. He tossed the map so that it landed in the black puddle of his cloak and quickly returned his hand to Bella's waist tugging at her jeans causing them to unfasten easily.
Sirius let the back of his fingers glide lightly across the soft contours of her stomach allowing the tips of his fingers dip into the delicate black lace of Bella's panties. Sirius leaned in allowing himself to feel her body tense beneath him as she expelled a sharp breath, the smile fading from her face. He let his lips graze her cheek lightly making his way to her mouth pulling back from her teasingly as she eagerly attempted to meet his lips.
Bella's playful energy was quickly transformed into heated desire her hands tracing the definition in his torso, finally dragging her fingernails roughly over his abdomen. Sirius body shuddered and pressed firmly against her, meeting her lips to at last fulfill the kiss he had so ruthlessly teased her with. There was an urgent passion between them that made it nearly impossible for the young lovers to catch their breath for the sexual energy that had been pent up to long to be controlled for another moment.
Sirius, adoring the feeling of her nails against his skin, let his own claws bare into her as he delved deeper into the black lace. Bella suddenly cried out, only not in ecstasy but agony, reaching up to grip Sirius' shoulder and wincing as her body jerked. Sirius sat up quickly, bewildered at this unexpected reaction as Bella lay on the ground breathlessly, her eyes fluttering open for the first time noticeably rimmed with tears.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Sirius asked, worry for her apparent in his voice. Bella sat up slightly, propping herself with her elbow and hissing in discomfort. She had slipped her hand over her stomach to try to press the pain away from the wound which she could tell had been reopened not having much time or attention to heal. Bella closed her eyes again, this time to center herself, there was now no way around Sirius knowing what Rodolphus had done to her. Finally, setting her jaw in stubborn confidence, Bella opened her jade eyes on Sirius gazing at him with a commanding presence in her that he had never noticed.
"Before we go any further I must be sure that you understand that there are certain aspects of my life which neither you nor I have any baring on. I have to know that I can trust you to be…discreet and not try to fight my battles for me. If for no other reason because both of our lives depend on it." Bella finished, her gaze unwavering waiting for his reply.
Sirius sat back on his knees eyeing Bella with anxious suspicion unsure of what to say, then as if light was suddenly shed on the situation Sirius reached down to pull Bella's hand away from where it rested low on her belly. In doing this Sirius noticed blood smeared on the palm of Bella's hand as well on the tips of his own fingers. In panic Sirius pushed Bella down and quickly pulled back the black lace garment that covered the wicked gash that had been made by Rodolphus.
"Oh my God…how could I possibly have done that?" Sirius sputtered in shock furrowing his brow then meeting Bella's eyes. "I didn't do that." He said quietly, with the same look of stress mixed with dawning comprehension on his face. Bella averted her eyes unable to watch the pain begin to well in him and hating herself for being the cause of it. Sirius' gaze darkened as fury was ignited inside of him, angry at her silence and the fact that she was injured and seemed to be protecting the assailant.
"Are you going to tell me what happened or give me another speech on how you need me to just sit back and keep my mouth shut about this?" Sirius asked coldly, trying hard to keep a handle on his anger. Sirius' tone made Bella's neck prickle in silent fear of what would come of this situation if she were unable to calm him.
"It's nothing Sirius. Please calm down. I don't want you to do anything rash." Bella said soberly trying to keep her voice level and firm.
"Calm down? It's nothing? You are really a piece of work Bella. Gwendolyn Black is certainly showing through in you today." Sirius growled at her. Before she could stop herself Bella had swung her hand to catch Sirius hard on the side of his face. Upset by her own action she jumped to her feet, her jeans still unbuttoned and began to storm off, tears of rage in her eyes. Sirius leaped up after her, furious at the entire situation, catching her arm roughly and forcing her to face him.
"I swear I will go into that castle and kill the whole lot of them, if you don't tell me everything that happened, right now!"
"What's it matter? Will it change anything?" She asked her voice becoming shrill.
"Yes! Because at least then I would know that you aren't trying to protect those bastards after they did this to you." Sirius could barely speak the words through his anger at the thought of the possibilities of what had been done to Bella, then letting her arm go with a jerk he turned and began to walk away. Terror suddenly surged through Bella, fearing what Sirius would do and what punishments he would have to endure for his actions against any of the Slytherin boys. She bolted after him grabbing his hand with both of hers and skidding to a stop, kneeling at his feet in pleading.
"Please don't do this! You can't! You don't understand!" She begged, her eyes full of fear.
"Why do you protect him?" Sirius yelled in angered astonishment.
"I'm not! I'm protecting you!" She shouted. "They are marked by the Dark Lord. If you touch them he will know and he will never rest until you pay dearly…if they don't kill you themselves…and they will Sirius. Don't you see it's like a trap. If Rodolphus finds out about us he will try to destroy you and how are you going to say that you found out about this whole situation? Will you tell him the truth? That you happened to stumble upon it while you had your hands down my pants?" Bella's chest heaved trying to convey her point but it seemed to be falling on deaf ears.
"I don't intend to have a conversation with him Bella, I intend to kill him no questions asked." Sirius snarled trying to wrench his hand away from her clawing grip.
"Sirius please! My master will torture and kill you just to punish me, and I can't bare to think of that." Tears began to roll down Bella's face as she refused to loosen her firm grip on Sirius' hand.
"You know I'm really beginning to wonder about your relationship with this Dark Lord! I'm starting to think that I am just a step in your preparation in becoming his concubine. How demented is it that you are just fine about this whole mess until I discover it for myself. What kind of mentally sick person goes to a Quidditch match and acts as though there isn't a problem in the world right after she's been assaulted?" Sirius said allowing his anger to take hold of him, a loud clap of thunder sounding as if on cue.
Bella threw Sirius' hand down with all of her force, standing up to push him hard in the chest, the tears still streaming down her face as she tore her sweater over her head to stand with only a shear camisole to cover her exposing the deep cut along her neck and collar bone as well as the dark bruises around her biceps and on her neck.
"Does this look like something I enjoyed? The only reason that I didn't tell you was because I knew that you would react exactly like this! I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in your case either! And if I did want my Dark Lord or Rodolphus or any of them, than why the hell would I be risking my neck wasting my time with you?" Bella screamed causing her to choke on her tears pushing Sirius again square in his chest. He grabbed her hands as the thunder rolled once more sounding much closer than before, and as he tried to pull her into his arms his expression much softer than before, Bella fought hard against him to no avail.
Sirius held Bella tightly against him not wanting to look at the marks that covered her, he shut his eyes and buried his face in her warm hair feeling the trimmers that ran through her body from her anger and tears. Bella finally ceased her fruitless struggle against him and pulled her hands up to cup her face as she let her sorrows spill forth becoming limp and causing them both to sink to their knees still locked in their embrace.
"He didn't do it you know." she moved her head so that he was forced to look into her now very bright eyes her face no longer strong but full of shame and embarrassment for her situation and the things that Sirius had said.
"His goal, I'm sure, was to free me from my virginity as he has threatened before…but he didn't. He was interrupted by Lucius, who sealed me in my room so that Rodolphus could finish the job after the game." Anger flickered in Sirius' eyes but he kept his composure without loosening his arms from around her.
"I would have killed myself or forced Rodolphus to kill me before I would have allowed him to take me." Bella said in her own defense, her voice shaking, tears still rolling down her wet cheeks.
"I love only you Sirius and I will never let anyone else touch me no matter who they are. I may have responsibilities to my family and to my Dark Lord, things that I hope you can understand are so far beyond my control that most of the time I'm the last one to know of them. The one thing that they can't control is my heart and whom I give myself to." Sirius relaxed his hold on Bella and let his thumb wipe away the tears from her very pale face more than hating himself for the things that he had said to her in anger.
"Bella I'm so sorry." He whispered against her skin as he leaned down to meet her forehead with a gentle kiss. "I should have been there to protect you…I should have always been there to protect you." Sirius let his head rest against hers realizing the dangers that she would face for the remainder of her life if she were to marry Rodolphus and continue on with the Dark Lord.
"Please don't…you could not help any of this. It's all my own fault. I should have never let this happen." She said this lifting her head to again meet his anguished eyes causing her chest to constrict in reaction to his obvious pain, all of her fears and doubts ringing menacingly in her ears.
"This has all been a huge mistake. I'm so sorry. I can't do this anymore." Bella struggled free of Sirius' grip, her eyes clinched closed against the flood of tears that were threatening to start again. Sirius let her go watching her in heartbroken amazement as she pulled on her thick turtle neck and securing cloak, then turning to swiftly blow past him without a glance, heading back through the thick darkening trees.
"How can you do this to me? How can you be so heartless? You can't possibly be the same girl that I fell in love with if you can just walk away from me like this? What did I do?" Sirius cried after her suddenly feeling a great painful hollowness in his chest that promised to consume him entirely if he did not return her immediately. Bella stopped, no longer able to see the path in front of her for the tears that were relentlessly gushing from her eyes, her heart screaming for her to return to his arms but her mind all the while telling her that no good could come of their involvement. I will be the key to his undoing, she thought in agony trying desperately to deal in reason.
"It's better this way Sirius." Bella managed to choke out through her sobs. "My feelings for you have become much to strong and they are only getting stronger. My Dark Lord must know of us by now, I am sure of it and yet he says nothing…his silence terrifies me." Bella trying hard not to turn back afraid that if she looked on Sirius all would be lost knowing she would never be strong enough to leave his side. Uncontrollably Bella's eyes turned to gaze back on the only boy they had ever loved as if in defiance of the rest of her body.
She had expected to find Sirius still kneeling on the forest floor but was shocked to see that he was only a breath away from her as she turned, her thoughts dissipating at the sight of him so close to her again. Her heart was pounding so fiercely that the sound rang in her ears and her head throbbed in unison with the quickening beat. Thunder grumbled in the now dark evening sky as the sounds of large heavy raindrops could be heard slapping against the leaves in the trees, at first slow and sporadic, then unleashing into a down pour so heavy that the forest was quickly drenched.
There they stood silent and facing one another surrounded by the loud pelting uncontrollable chaos of the world. The rain washing away the bitter tears from Bella's eyes and hiding any that may have escaped from Sirius. He reached his hand up to her neck pulling her slowly towards him. Completely disregarding her words Sirius let his lips touch down on her wet skin. Bella closed her eyes relishing the feel of his warm breath on her as he spoke softly.
"I won't pretend that I'm not completely in love with you Bella, I can't just turn my back like nothing has happened. It would be far worse to live without you than any punishment that your Dark Lord could inflict upon me."
"Please stop, you don't know what you're saying." Bella turned her face to allow her own lips to rest against Sirius' cheek, the wetness from the rain making her lips slide smoothly as they slowly connected with Sirius', kissing him as though it were the last time she would ever be able to enjoy such pleasure.
Rodolphus sat leaning lazily on his elbow glaring at the Quidditch coach as he spoke just wanting all of the ridiculous festivities to be over with. No one had ventured to as much as look in Rodolphus' general direction since earlier that day when he had returned from the hospital wing after having a few minor injuries healed.
Rodolphus had of course attempted to reunite with his imprisoned fiancée only to find her room empty with no trace of escape left lying about. He sat in the room for a long time mulling over the events of the day and the possible punishments that he could rain down on Bella once she was inevitably returned to him. These thoughts were merely distractions though for the true concern at the forefront of his mind was where and with who Bella was currently hiding.
It was maddening to Rodolphus that Bella was so revolted by him when so many other girls were ready to satisfy his deepest desires at the drop of a hat. He had spent the remainder of the day pondering his future bride and her whereabouts as he deflowered two second year Slytherin girls that had naively and excitedly excepted the young good looking Quidditch player into their dorm room.
Rodolphus now sat, stewing in his anger at Bella's audacity in not showing up for the feast, causing him to look like a complete fool in front of the devilish group of Slytherin boys that now surrounded him exchanging smirks and snide remarks. Ignoring the pathetic attempts of his housemates to humiliate him, Rodolphus let his eyes scan the Hall full of jovial conversation and smiling faces. His eyes fell on James who was sitting in a large group of friends laughing heartily as they ate and shared animated conversation.
Rodolphus scowled, his eyes darting to each Gryffindor in turn individually wishing slow and painful death on each of them. Lucius had just begun to say something to Rodolphus when he turned grabbing Lucius' forearm roughly, quickly gaining the attention of everyone at the table around them. Lucius looked at Rodolphus as if had lost his mind, which seemed very possible with the strange way that he had been acting since the match.
"Lucius, tell me that you see Black somewhere at that table." Rodolphus whispered sounding desperate, his eyes looking oddly tormented. Lucius not changing his expression of shocked disgust at Rodolphus' outburst slowly turned his head to search the Gryffindor table, then raising an eyebrow in annoyance he turned his gaze back on Rodolphus.
"Before I answer would you mind unhanding me?" Lucius said pulling his arm out of Rodolphus' grip.
"He's not there, is he?" Rodolphus said looking past Lucius his gaze now falling menacingly on Narcissa who sat quietly on the opposite side of Lucius.
"What does it matter to you if he isn't here?" Asked Lucius not understanding the importance of the fact. Narcissa could feel Rodolphus' cold eyes on her as she listened breathlessly to the discussion.
"Who is the only other person missing from the feast tonight Lucius, and let me give you hint they both share the same last name." Rodolphus said hatred dripping from his voice as his dark eyes once again met Lucius' now comprehending the implication.
"What a slap in the face. Are you going to just sit back and let her make such a fool of you?" Questioned Antonin from across the table with a smug smirk on his face. Rodolphus shot him a disdainful look but didn't answer.
"I say that we gather a little search party for the two missing students and maybe question some of their closest friends concerning their whereabouts…if you catch my drift." Lucius gave Rodolphus, who was looking severely pale, a reassuring look as an evil smile formed on his face causing the boys around them to grin with excitement of the impending mischief. James smiled brilliantly as he made his way up to Gryffindor Tower from the hospital wing where he Solace, Jacob, Gideon, Fabian, Remus, and Peter had been visiting with Alice who was unable to attend the feast. They all felt bad that Alice had done such a spectacular job in the match against Slytherin only to be injured by the Lestrange's in the final moments of the game, keeping her from the days festivities.
The boys were all glad to see their teammate Alice, who perked up excitedly the moment that the group had entered, making Dr. Dashid smile warmly to see the rowdy bunch of Gryffindor's come to cheer his patient. She had been extremely gloomy the entire day and it had made the elderly doctor sorry to see the disappointment in Alice's face as his last patient had left, leaving the infirmary oddly quiet for the first time that day. Now watching the boys gather around her bed laughing and embracing her gingerly, his heart was lightened. They came with their arms loaded with sweets from the feast and they all sat for a long while recapping everything that Alice had missed before finally being chased off by the doctor who promised that he would release her the following morning.
The boys made the trek back up to their house feeling extremely full and ready to sprawl lazily around the common room savoring the grand day reliving their victory as well as devising new plays after noticing the flaws in the Slytherin defense. It was getting late and the group kept their voices hushed as they made their way up the stairs heading towards Gryffindor Tower.
"So…did anyone ever figure out where Malfoy was during all the action?" asked Solace with a sly smile.
"Come to mention it I don't remember seeing him through the whole game, you sure he was there?" Fabian managed through a yawn as he stretched, running his fingers through his over grown blond locks.
"That's because the great coward avoids you and yer club at all cost." Grinned Jacob turning to walk backwards while addressing his Beater. Fabian smiled as the boys laughed quietly around him.
"Next year it's my turn to wield the club, it's to damn bad Malfoy won't be here for me to smack around." Said Jacob slicing the air with an invisible bat.
"Ah don't cry Jacob you'll still have Antonin to bust up next year." Said Solace causing Jacob's smile to grow bright.
"Ya know James yer a mad man if yer actually letting this one talk ya into makin him a Beater. Mark my words, there's a reason I made him Chaser. Yer gonna have more fouls than you'll know what to do with." Solace said to James who was keeping pace next to him as Jacob shot daggers at his friend. All of the boys fought hard to keep their laughter low as James sent Jacob a reassuring grin.
"I just wish I could have seen Rodolphus' face after he saw that you had the snitch, James! God that must have been priceless! Did he look like he was gonna cry?" Asked Remus, smirking wickedly with Gideon as the boys again chimed in quiet laughter rounding the corner to Gryffindor Tower.
The boys all slowed their paces becoming quickly quiet as they realized that they had just unknowingly stepped into a group of Slytherins who seemed to be causally hanging about the hallway outside of the Gryffindor common room. James and Remus were immediately on guard dropping their hands to their sides preparing themselves for a confrontation as Solace strode confidently forward, the first to voice his discontent at the presence of the group. "What's the deal Malfoy? Come to seek my advice on how to captain a winning Quidditch team?" Solace said in a wicked tone usually reserved for taunting opposing team's players on the pitch. Lucius met Solace's glare with an evil smirk.
"Seek!" Sputtered Gideon in brash laughter, "As if he could." Lucius let his gaze land threateningly on Gideon causing him to fall silent then as if Gideon were unfit for him to look upon Lucius switched his focus back to Solace.
"Actually Wood, I am here on Hogwarts business. It seems that a few students have gone missing this evening, and as I would hate for anything…unfortunate to happen to them I have taken it upon myself to hunt them down." The attention of the group was suddenly drawn to two boys who stood with their backs pressed flat against the cool stone wall. Frank and Benjy looked back towards their group of friends in panicked relief their faces slightly bruised and their hair and cloths disheveled. They were guarded on either side by the hulking masses of Byrum Goyle and Luther Crabbe a set of huge and menacing Slytherin sixth years that were known for their strong-armed tactics under the command of Lucius.
The tension had become suddenly thick in the dim wavering light of the hallway as Remus turned to note that the Fat Lady had fled from her portrait and would most likely be going for help. Rodolphus stepped forward from the shadows, the flickering torchlight causing his face to look possessed the fire reflecting to clearly in his eyes.
"So Lupin, you wished to see my face? Well…here I am." A smile played on Rodolphus' lips but his tone was cruel as his eyes glared into Remus' looking like a viper ready to strike. To Remus' side Jacob had noisily unclasped his house cloak preparing for a fight his eyes locked on Antonin who moved slowly at the back of his group a look of chilling elation on his face, waiting for his moment to meet Jacob in battle. James feeling his heart pounding in worry for his friends quickly spoke up. "What's the problem here Lucius? Certainly you didn't come to pick fights with student's trying to enter their house." James' voice was commanding as he met Lucius' eye without fear.
"Like I said Potter, I am here looking for missing students…maybe you'll be so kind as to help us. Where is Sirius Black?"
"What do you want with Sirius?" Asked Remus his voice hard and his eyes moving from Rodolphus to Lucius watching for any false move.
"Let's just say he's taken something of mine and I plan to see that it's returned." Answered Rodolphus coolly, never letting his eyes falter off of Remus. James smiled and laughed to the amazement of his friends causing Remus to shoot him a questioning glance.
"Are you sure she belongs to you?" James asked, glaring at Rodolphus, a smug all knowing expression on his face. Rodolphus lunged forward at James sending everyone around him into a frenzy of action as he yelled through gritted teeth.
"Tell me where they are or I swear I'll kill you Potter!"
Rodolphus' hands were just grasping to clutch the front of the t-shirt James wore under his house robes when he was knocked sideways into Lucius from a solid blow to the face. James jumped back as he watched Remus, who had completely abandoned his wand inside his cloak, grab Rodolphus roughly by the collar pulling him back to let his fist slam hard into the Slytherin's jaw once more. Frank and Benjy both yelled in excitement to see their friend and prefect so effectively pummel Rodolphus as they darted away from the huge but slow forms of Crabbe and Goyle. Their cheers were barely audible for the shouting and scuffling of the full-blown brawl that had suddenly erupted around them.
Jacob had pressed forward so quickly at the start of the fight in the attempt to catch Antonin that he banged hard into Warren Wilkes throwing him to the floor leaving him for Gideon to kick hard in the stomach. Jacob caught Antonin in the stomach with a swift blow as Antonin connected flawlessly with Jacob's eye. Infuriated, Jacob crushed Antonin's body against the stone wall and grabbing a fist full of the boy's now tangled long brown hair he slammed Antonin's head repeatedly into the solid surface.
James having just laid Olis out with a heavy hit to the nose, heard Solace gasping his name in a hoarse breath. He turned quickly to see Solace struggling to break free from Lucius who had caught him about the neck with one arm and was attempting to reach for his wand. James sprung forward only to see Solace elbow Lucius several times in the gut forcing him to break his grip and crumple to the floor. Regaining his breath Solace met James' eye.
"Not me! Jacob! Get Jacob!" Solace yelled just in time to have Goyle plow into him trying to fend off the duel assault coming at him from both Frank and Benjy.
"How's that you ugly fucking goon?" Frank screamed as he smacked the large boy on the head with an iron sconce that he had freed from the wall. James turned his attention to stare through the seething group of fighting boys to see Jacob relentlessly beating Antonin who although still conscious was extremely bloody in the face and staggering as he tried to defend himself.
James rushed forward grabbing Jacob almost getting a bloody nose from Jacobs's reflex to strike anything coming at him. James had ducked the blow just in time for it to land on Solace who had scrambled to assist James knowing all to well how rough the task of separating Jacob from his victim would be. Just then a deep booming voice could be heard along with heavy pounding footsteps running towards the action.
"What's going on here? Have you all lost yer minds?" Yelled Mac, charging up to the group, grabbing Rabastan roughly by the back of his collar and pulling him away from his brutal assault on Fabian as he stomped to the center of the cluster of boys now frozen in their movements. He glared around at them, his blue eyes darting from face to face causing the majority of the scrappers to avert their eyes in shame and respect for their Quidditch coach.
The Fat Lady had just reentered the portrait completely out of breath her hand perched dramatically on her large fleshy bosom as she slumped against the frame.
"Oh thank Merlin, you've stopped them." She gasped, closing her eyes and opening a feather fan with one hand and fanning herself franticly.
Macalister stood tall amongst the boys with his solid lean build dangerously deceiving to the amount of strength and power he possessed. He ran a rough callused hand over his chin weighing what should be done with the better part of two of his very own Quidditch teams. Glancing down, Mac grimaced, snatching the sconce from Frank's hands causing him to jump slightly, then looking around to see that he had everyone's attention he spoke sounding angry and disappointed.
"Now what in the name of the founders am I supposed to do with the lot of you?" Mac growled, grabbing Remus' chin and turning his head to peer at the darkening skin around his eye and shaking his head in disgust.
"Unbelievable! I should turn you all in! Have you kicked off the Quidditch teams! Have yer bloody badges confiscated, if not worse…" Mac hissed. "Solace! Lucius! What kind of leadership do you call this?" Lucius held his head high his lip bloody and swollen and a bruised gash on his cheekbone.
"I call it leading my men into battle." Stated Lucius calmly, calling up smiles and snickers from his cohorts. Mac eyed Lucius intensely, his speech starting off slow and turning into a roar.
"Ah…well then maybe you should try that on the pitch next time instead of in the blasted hallway to Gryffindor Tower!" The boys all flinched as Mac spat these words an inch away from Lucius' face. Then pulling back, his face suddenly calm and taking on the characteristics of a drill sergeant pacing as he glared at the company of boys.
"Well I don't intend to sacrifice MY Quidditch season because of this ridiculous incident, so you can all just keep yer mouths shut about it…do ya understand?"
"Yes Sir!" The boys all answered in unison, amazed that they would get off so easy.
"But don't think fer a minute that yer getting off easy!" Their faces fell as they braced themselves for the punishment to be handed out.
"I'll be callin my own detention…at 5 am…to run the grounds…and you'll all be doing that everyday for the next two months come rain or shine! Are we clear?"
"Yes Sir!" Answered the group, this time a distinct grumble of distaste in their voices.
"Now get out of my sight!" The boys began to quickly shift to head off only to freeze in their tracks at hearing Mac begin to speak once more.
"And don't even think about headin ta visit the good doctor. There's no need to go disturbing anyone at this hour because of yer own stupidity, I hav no sympathy for scrappers! I want you all back in yer houses in five! Now GO!" Yelled Mac causing the boys to break immediately leaving the hall empty in a matter of moments. Mac sighed to himself as he shook his head looking down the hall towards the Slytherin boys who were just slinking out of sight. He suddenly smiled and chuckled to himself his eyes sparkling brightly.
Peter burst through the opening to the common room quickly startling several of the girls that had been sitting by the fire wondering what the missing boys were up to. The girls had been giggling when Peter entered the room and all looked up with smiles. Before anyone was able to greet Peter who had come out of the scuffle unblemished the rest of the troop piled in behind him looking ghastly as the portrait hole swung shut.
Ellie gasped dropping her teacup as she rushed to Solace whose nose was now bleeding profusely on to his torn shirt. She grabbed up the corner of her robes and dabbed at the blood holding his chin and eyeing his face in deepest concern.
"Solace what happened?" she asked in a soft tone as he smiled and wrapped his arms about her thin waist.
"Nothing Ell, just a bit of a misunderstanding. Don't worry I'm fine." He smiled and leaned in to kiss her causing her to pull away quickly, scrunching up her nose and clinching her eyes closed, giggling and shaking her head no as she pushed against his chest refusing to kiss him for the blood. This caused the grim mood to lighten immediately as the boys moved toward the fire helping one another along as they began to recant the whole scene, their excitement growing as their smiles all returned though now bruised and bloodied.
The girls parted gazing at the group in astonishment.
"You all need to go to the hospital wing." Lily exclaimed, an expression of concerned bewilderment on her face unsure why they hadn't all gone straightaway. Gideon huffed, grimacing in annoyance.
"That would be too easy! Damn Slytherins, I hope one of you broke Malfoy's nose."
"What?" Lily piped in disapproval, "Lucius did this? But…he's Head Boy…he can't…" Lily was interrupted by Solace.
"He can't throw a punch ta save his life, that's what he can't do." The boys all laughed as Jacob peered around his sister to look at Solace's bloody nose with his own extremely swollen black eye.
"Oh yeah? What'cha call that then?" Jacob flicked a finger towards Solace's nose, grinning evilly. Solace smacked Jacob's hand away with lightning reflexes.
"I got this from you ya madman." Solace grumbled with a grin.
Marlene swooped into the center of the room carrying a First Aid kit that she thrust open quickly dividing up the gauze and bandages and procuring a flask of Madam Marlo's Quick Mend Tonic. Once she had set each of the girls to work on trying to tend to the worst of the wounds she turned to Remus, first looking at him with her brow crinkled in a disapproving manner then unable to fight her warm smile strode casually to his side.
Remus gazed at her cautiously from the large worn velvety chair that he had collapsed into poking at his busted lip, trying to look at it to gauge the amount of damage. Marlene scooted in next to him leaning in to inspect his injuries.
"Let me." She said in a motherly voice, pulling Remus' hand lightly away from his mouth as she bent close dabbing lightly at the cut on his lip.
"You look a mess." She said with a short laugh. Remus just starred up at Marlene hypnotized by her attention and dotting on him. Without warning he gently grabbed her shirt pulling her into a sudden soft kiss that made him wince in pain from his injury.
Lily roamed about the room for a moment a bit unsure of what to do as she looked for a patient to assist. Her eyes finally fell upon James who was sitting in the coroner of the thick leather couch, his head tipped back and his eyes closed. To her relief his injuries were minimal unlike Fabian who was currently being soothed by two pretty blond seventh year girls Abby Richards and Brooke Wetherby, both fussing to be unable to see his lovely green eyes due to them being swollen shut.
Lily rolled her eyes in disgust as she sat hard against the arm of the couch looking down at James. He smiled without opening his eyes causing Lily to smile and blush.
"You don't look so bad." She said slyly as his lashes parted smoothly reviling his sparkling gray eyes.
"Thanks, neither do you." He grinned. Lily smirked in reaction as she leaned in pushing James' glasses into his hair, lightly touching a small bruised cut on his cheekbone. A loose strand of Lily's amber hair fell grazing James' neck sending a shiver running through his body. Lily turned his face absently towards her as she blew gently on the cut to sooth it from the bubbly sting of the tonic. James breathed deeply closing his eyes and enjoying every moment thoroughly knowing that it would pass all to quickly.
Lily smiled loving James' uncontrollable attraction to her and feeling merciful she let her lips press against his forehead setting his glasses gently back down to rest on the bridge of his nose. Suddenly laughter emitted from Abby, Brooke, and Fabian next to them causing Lily to sit up quickly turning bright pink.
"Oh don't stop he deserves it after the day he's had." Commented Fabian with a wide smile grasping James' shoulder and giving him a good shake. Lily looked a little unsteadied for being noticed lavishing her attention on James whom still smiled beautifully up at her.
"It's late I must get some sleep." She said as she slipped off the arm of the couch, her heart pounding hard as she made her way off to the girl's dorms. James turned and shot Fabian a grumpy look.
"If you didn't already have two black eyes." He said partly kidding.
