Chapter Two
Lorraine Jenkins, better known as Raine, loved her best friend dearly, but by Sunday Sara Cloudburst was pushing her luck. Since telling Sara about who was going to be her new tutor for extra lessons, all Raine heard was that every part of Sirius Black was in fact god-like. Of course, she did notice how handsome he was and that nearly every girl, including her usually normal best friend, had entertained fantasies about him.
"Stop it!" begged Lorraine. "Please, I know that the entire female world would love to get into Sirius's bed, but frankly, all I want is to pass transfiguration. That is all."
This little outburst was followed a few moments of silence between the friends. Thankfully, the common room was nearly deserted tonight as it was Sunday, and sensible people would be getting a good night's sleep before classes the nest day. Raine was usually among those, but tonight she had been cornered near the fireplace, due to Sara's dying need to hear about her encounter with Sirius one more time.
Lorraine couldn't understand why Sara, a very pretty girl with softly curling long blonde hair and deep chocolate brown eyes, couldn't just walk up to the infamous Black and demanded to be wooed. Then image of a shocked Sirius being propositioned in the middle of the great hall by her shy friend made Raine giggle out loud.
"And what's so funny that you can't share?" asked Sara.
"Nothing," said a straight-faced Raine.
"Agrrr, Lorraine..."
"Shhh! And don't call me Lorraine, only my mother does." Raine motioned with her hands for Sara to lower her voice, least she wake up the entire Gryffindor house.
"You are unbelievable. First you tell me the barest details about the whole interlude with Sirius Black..."
"It was more of McGonagall telling him to teach me!"
Sara waved her hand as to dismissal that information. "Now you won't even tell what you're laughing at. Fine. Our friendship is already cracking with the new development of yours."
"What development?" asked a very confused Raine. "What are you talking about!"
"Sirius Black!" bellowed Sara, so loudly that Lorraine was sure not only the whole of Gryffindor heard, but the rest of the school as well. Lorraine was rooted to the spot and stared dumbfounded at her friend, who was unsuccessfully trying to regain her composure.
"I'm going to bed," muttered Sara, thoroughly embarrassed.
Lorraine couldn't do anything more than stare transfixed at the staircase leading to the girl's dormitory.
"Did someone call my name?" An amused voice came from behind Raine, causing her to spin around quickly to note the arrival of, naturally Sirius Black, but also of Remus Lupin, who looked uncomfortable, and a confused Peter Pettigrew.
Sirius folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the other corner of the fireplace.
"It is all your fault!" retorted Raine before thinking. "Why couldn't you have been born ugly or something?" With that she flopped back onto the couch, crossing her arms in a huff.
The quietest of the Marauders, Remus laughed as he picked up the comment quicker than the rest. He walked over to the couch with an outstretched hand and offered it to Raine.
"Hello, my name is Remus, Remus Lupin," he said as Lorraine shook his hand nervously. "That is Peter." He gestured to the small figure. "And of course, we all heard you know Sirius Black."
"I don't know him at all," Raine informed Lupin, glaring at Black as if it were entirely his fault. "I'm just being tutored by him, and believe me, I don't find it a thrilling prospect."
"So it's actually true," squeaked Peter. "You really to have tutor someone."
Black looked for a moment like he was going to pounce on Peter, but instead he walked over to where Remus had perched himself on the opposite couch to Lorraine. As he came nearer he seemed a bit embarrassed.
"Don't worry Padfoot," said a smiling Remus. "From now on, when you say that you are tutoring a girl we will all believe you, and not think that you are really taking her to the astronomy tower for..."
With his perfect aim Sirius hit Remus with a pillow before he could finish the sentence. "Don't listen to my dear friends," Sirius told Raine, glowering at the two of them. "They are quite insane." All three laughed at Black. "Anyway," he continued, trying to bring order. "I need to have a word with you, mmmm..." He looked at her waiting to fill the gap.
"Raine." She supplied him with her name.
"I thought it was Lorraine?" put in Remus.
"Only when my mum or my best friend Sara are annoyed at me."
"I see," said Remus quietly.
"Hullo," Sirius said, waving his hands in the air. "Tutor speaking."
"Not such a great tutor if you can't remember her name," voiced Peter from behind.
Raine choked on her laughter as Black gave Peter the death glare while Remus chuckled. For such formidable figures throughout Raine's time at Hogswarts, this trio of Marauders were quite normal. In fact, they didn't seem that threatening at all, but then they never were when they choose you as friend and not foe. This revelation cooled Raine's happiness at talking to the boys, and her confidence shattered at talking to practical strangers. She shrunk back into the shadow of the couch and wished to be forgotten.
As the conversation about Peter's lack of tact came to a close, Sirius remembered why he had dragged Remus away to find Raine.
"Lovely as it is to discuss the misfortune of others I needed to talk to you, Raine," Sirius said as he turned to face his responsibility. Nonetheless he was meet with an empty couch with no sign of Raine anywhere. "Where did she go?" Sirius scanned the room just in case she was hiding in the shadows for some strange reason, as if she were a Boggart or a half-blood. "Great, now I have to catch her at breakfast to tell her about the change of times. Why would she run off like that?"
"Perhaps not all girls are charmed by your blatant sex appeal," mused Remus. "Have you ever thought that she might be shy?" Sirius shook his head and brushed irritably at the dark strands of hair in his eyes. "Firstly, you didn't even remember her name, or give us a detailed description like you usually do, which might point out that she keeps herself to herself most of the time."
"Well, she'll just have to get used to being pestered by me then," said a fed up Sirius. "I never wanted to tutor her anyway."
"Why are you?" asked Peter.
Sirius shrugged to avoid answering. "I told you, McGonagall thought that even with my reputation as troublemaker, she believe me to be the best choice since Moony is a prefect and James is Head Boy. And she clearly hoped it would make me grow up. Hah."
Remus smelt a fib a mile off, but let is pass, as Padfoot would tell them if and when he wanted to. Changing the subject he spoke again, "Where is James? The meeting with prefects finished over an hour ago, and tonight is the night to think of our prank. I think we all need one."
Peter heartily agreed while Sirius turned very quiet and slightly red at the collar, of course this did not escape the attention of a werewolf. Oh dear, Padfoot has done something!
"I think I last saw him trying to convince Lily Evans to take him seriously again," squeaked Peter as he brought out a bag of Berty Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
"Why does he try so hard with Evans when he can have nearly any girl in the school?" enquired Sirius.
"Maybe because he loves her?" Remus looked taken a back at Sirius' low perception of James' feelings. "Wait 'til it happens to you."
"It would have to be a shapely blonde, tall, long legged and with startling blue eyes before I'd even think of committing," answered Sirius. "Do you know any?" Padfoot's desperate face searching both Peter and Remus as if they were hiding such a girl in their pockets made the two laugh.
At that moment the Fat Lady portrait swung upon and in disarray James Potter came wandering in, his face flooded with relief as he spotted his comrades. "Sorry for being late," said a very apologetic James. "But Lily wanted to brainstorm for the Halloween decorations. And I really couldn't say, 'Sorry, Lily, the love of my life, but I have an appointment to cause mayhem for this Halloween feast. Could we make it tomorrow?' "
Again laughter erupted into the deserted common room and for the time that night Sirius thought about his own dilemma about teaching a girl who prefered isolation and dark places to joining in with the crowd. Well, Sirius thought smugly, I like dark places too, just for another reason.