Back to Normal
After their detentions, the Marauders and the Trio of girls were all
friends again. This meant that it didn't take long for things in Hogwarts
to return to there normal state. The Marauders again started pranking their
fellow students. Snape and Malfoy seemed to be particularly favourite
targets, but then Slytherin was always a favourite target.
When the weather turned nice the boys would join them in the courtyard at lunch break. Although neither cool, nor rain seemed to bother Maia and Lenore. "Thank goodness for Dry spells." They often commented after returning to the school.
Easter was boring despite that giant pink bunny that hopped around the school courtesy of, guess who. Lenore hid every time she saw it, traumatic childhood memory. Although Sirius told her that he'd protect her, Len just laughed.
Len had not made it official that she was with Sirius, although the two were rather close. Maia and Remus had the same trouble. They were definitely into each other, but they still saw other people. Len believed that was one way the Maia told Remus, he wasn't paying enough attention to her. Lily and James were back to being their normal couplely selves.
Lenore unfortunately returned to her normal potion performance. Her most recent disaster caused the contents of the cauldron to become animated and start destroying the room. Worse yet, any inanimate object it touched was also animated; fortunately it seemed to require a set mass of object to volume of potion to occur.
After all the students were safely in the hall, Professor Drake began to berate Lenore. Lenore believed it to secretly be his favourite past-time. "Miss Nightshade, your complete ineptitude leaves me speechless."
"Good, That means you're not going to yell at me right?" Lenore asked hopefully. Alright, being around the Marauders had done terrible things for Len and Maia in their *timid* nature. For Lenore had never spoken to Professor Drake like this before.
"Pardon me???" He dared her. Lenore looked at him in the eyes. She knew she should back down, her logical mind told her that was best. However she heard a little voice in the back of her head, (that sounded strangle like Sirius) telling her to go for it. Len's mind won out and she held her tongue. "I don't believe that I have ever seen precisely that result from this potion in my life, nor have I ever read about it. If I didn't know that it was completely accidental on your part, I might think that you were an idiot-savant, or something. However I know better. You are hopeless! How you've managed to get this far astounds me. You are completely devoid of talent."
Lenore bit her tongue. Her eyes burned at him, she wanted to curse him. She'd never taken this kind of verbal abuse from anyone before. Maia noticed that Lenore's body stiffened, she knew this was a bad sign. If Drake didn't back off Len was going to snap. Heck, if Len came to the conclusion that she had nothing left to lose she would strike out.
"You are the worst stu--"
"Professor Drake." Came Dumbledore's voice from behind the students. He approached where Drake stood berating Lenore. "Why is your class in the hall?"
"That stup - Miss Nightshade, has caused yet another catastrophe in my class." Drake replied bitterly. Dumbledore peaked into the room and saw several cauldrons, books, quills, scrolls and the occasional bag running about biting and fighting with each other.
"Was anyone hurt?" Dumbledore asked seriously.
"No sir." Drake scowled at Lenore still.
"Then I see no reason to call it a catastrophe." Dumbledore replied. "Definitely a mistake, but not a catastrophe. Since, it's obvious that you students will not have any more potions lesson today, take this as a study period. Off to the Library." His voice was quiet, but commanding. The class rushed to do as he asked, wanting to get away from Drake as soon as they could.
Lenore turned and hurried to comply. Anything to get her out of the line of fire. "Miss Nightshade." Dumbledore called. Lenore froze in her tracks. She turned to face them.
"Yes sir?" Len asked hesitantly. She winced, she knew that she was going to get expelled.
"Follow me." Dumbledore ordered. "You too, Drake." He led them to his office, in silence. Lenore was fascinated by the gargoyle stairway. Once inside, he sat behind his desk. "Now then. I heard what was said before my arrival. I realize that Lenore can be trying Melvyn, but that is no reason to say those things to her. Especially, in front of your class! You will apologise now." His voice was soft, but could not be refused. Drake mumbled an apology to Lenore. Len thought that he acted very much like a child being forced to do something. "Drake." Dumbledore warned.
"I was wrong to beret you in front of your classmates." Drake said. Lenore didn't believe a word of it, but nodded. She figured that she was in enough trouble.
"Lenore, you may go." Len looked at Dumbledore shocked.
"You mean I'm not in trouble?" Len asked before she could stop herself.
"Do you wish to be?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well no. But- Never mind." Lenore replied brightly. Dumbledore waved her out, and she gladly fled the office. She hurried to the Library to find Maia. By lunch the entire school was aware of the animation potion. Len was being teased badly by mostly Slytherins until, the Marauders joined them. Sirius put his arm around her shoulders.
"It could happen to anyone." He told her. Sirius watched most of the others back off at his act. He smiled inwardly at their response. "Last game of the season, you going to be cheering for us?" The last quidditch game was scheduled to be Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff.
"Gryffindor has its own cheerleaders." Maia replied.
"Ahhh, but well at the risk of sounding rude to our girls. You're better." Remus smiled at her. They were on one of their off but flirting periods. The others shook their heads, why didn't the two of them just get together?
"We wouldn't want to make your cheerleaders feel bad." Len said. She had yet to move from Sirius' embrace, this didn't go unnoticed, by Sirius, the Marauders or anyone else watching them. "Besides, the anti-cheers are more fun."
"Would you anti-cheer us? When we're not playing Ravenclaw?" James asked defensively.
Len and Maia looked at each other. Then smiled and nodded, "Ohhh, yeah!!!" This of course resulted in getting the girls tickled, until they took it back. That night Maia hardly waited until they were alone, before starting in on the whole Sirius thing, again.
"I told you Maia. There is nothing going on between us." Lenore insisted, for like the millionth time. Shaking her head at the idea.
"Ohhh! Is that why you were all cuddled up to him?" Maia teased.
"I wasn't." Len replied defensively. Maia gave her the oh-really look. "I wasn't."
"Honey, you let him hold you for a good five minutes." Maia told her. "Now that's cuddling."
"No! Its not." Len insisted. "And it wasn't five minutes."
"Just admit that you like him." Maia pushed.
"Why are you so set on, me and Sirius together?" Len questioned. She knew her friend too well to know that this wasn't just idle banter. "You got a bet on it or something?"
"I just want you to be happy." Maia insisted. Lenore had the yeah-right face on. "Okay, so maybe Remus and I have a tiny wager going."
"What are the terms of the wager? And what does it have to do with Sirius and me?" Len demanded. Maia looked at her sheepishly.
"I bet Remus that you and Sirius would get together before the end of the year." Maia replied. "If I win, he promised to come visit this summer. So, please go out with Sirius just once more."
"Ahhh, no." Lenore replied. "I'm sure that he'll come and visit you anyway. You know that he's nuts about you?"
"No he's not. He's got wondering eyes." Maia sighed. "He's cute though."
"I'd have to agree on that point." Len replied.
"Hey, he's mine!" Maia replied territorially. "He's my wolfy." She said sweetly.
"Then why are you worried?" Len teased. Maia looked at her.
"He doesn't seem to want to be around me." She pouted. "I mean we've gone out a few times, but he always wants to cut it short. The only time he come around me is when the group is together." She sighed. "I don't get it."
"Well, here's an idea; ask him." Lenore stated. Maia rolled her eyes at her.
"I can't do that." Maia stated. "It makes me seem . . . I don't know, like one of those clingy girls."
"Maia, just ask him. He might have a good reason." Len suggested. "Besides I've heard that communication helps in a relationship."
"Oh, like you talk to Sirius?" Maia threw back at her.
"That's different. We aren't in that kind of a relationship." Len insisted.
"Come off it. Its sooo obvious that you to are totally into each other." Maia relied. "I mean I've never seen Sirius Black so hung up on one girl before. You realize that you're the only girl he's gone out with since the Ball?"
"That's because I'm the only girl that he's ever had trouble in getting." Lenore replied.
"So you're playing the hard to get game. To keep him interested longer. I get it." Maia replied.
"No, I'm not." Len commented. "I just . . . that is . . ." Lenore couldn't really think of any reason why she hadn't gone out with Sirius. He was smarter than he let on. He was fun to be around. He was cute. The only reason was that she was sure that she would just be another there-and-gone girl if she'd gone out with him and that thought hurt. "Okay, so I like him. You tell him, and I'll hex you with baldness."
"Promise. This is girl talk, I'd never tell." Maia assured her. "So, what are you going to do about it?" Len shrugged. "Ohhh, Len you need to figure this out. I know that he scared you, but he's been really sweet all year."
"I'll work on my Marauder, if you work on yours." Len offered.
"Deal." Maia agreed quickly.
Maia and Len unlike so many of their fellow students were always relaxed about finals. Those could be a combination of the fact that they knew that they had high enough marks to pass, even if they slept through the exam, and that they had already had the information in their heads. Besides that they had a knack for guessing what the professors would put on the test.
The Marauders suddenly started to appreciate them even more at this time of year. Being friends with two of the smartest girls in the school definitely had an up side to it when one was studying. Maia and Len noticed that it seemed that almost everyone wanted to pick their brains at this time of year. They found it funny.
"You know, it's strange that people who don't know that you exist, the entire year, suddenly want to be your best friend now." Len would often tease.
"I know." Maia giggled back. "I mean they come because we're smart, so why would they think that we'd be fooled be that?"
"Beats me." Len giggled. She and Maia like to set up *study sessions* in the courtyard during free periods. They may be nice enough to help their fellow students, but they didn't want to be cooped up inside to do it. "Maybe we should charge for services?"
"We'd make a fortune." Maia laughed back.
"Do friends get a discount?" Remus said softly in Maia's ear. Maia jumped, not having heard him approach. He smiled coyly at her.
"If we did, I think we'd suddenly become extremely popular." Maia cast back at him. "Is that why you became friends with us?"
"Actually, no. Just a fringe benefit." Lily replied. She and James sat in the shade by the group.
"Besides we became friends before we needed to take advantage of you smarts." James smiled.
"You were likely just planning ahead." Len teased. "It's alright, we'll help Lily teach you guys enough to pass. Just because we like Lily."
"Hey!?!" The Marauders tried to sound offended, but only caused laughter to erupt.
"So, did you guys hear yet? About Potions?" Lily asked. The Ravenclaws shook their heads *no*. "Seems he's making his finals . . . practical exams." She looked sympathetically toward Lenore. Lenore groaned, then whimpered.
"He hates me. He wants to be able to fail me." Lenore sounded dejected.
"Don't worry we'll think of something." Sirius comforted her. "Really, he can't make it anything more difficult than you've already done."
Len cast him a disbelieving look. "You do remember the damage I've managed to do right?"
"Hey, I think if you don't cause an explosion, you don't wound anyone, it should be considered a pass." Sirius teased. Len smacked him, and stood to leave.
"That's not funny. I'll catch you guys later." Len said heading toward the castle. The Gryffindors turned to Maia. Who shrugged, she knew were Len was headed, but didn't dare say.
"She's probably going to do potions review, she never brings those books." Maia offered, it was partially true. She didn't really want to lie to her friends, but she'd never betray Lenore's trust. "You know I think she's right about Drake hating her. He does seem to go out of his way to torment her. I mean did you guys have to do the pseudo-mort potion?"
"The what?" They asked.
"That was the one that Len messed up causing like have the room to be animated." Maia replied.
They laughed. "We heard about that." James commented. "It sounded hilarious, if we knew what she did wrong, we would have put some of that in the Slytherin common room."
"Yeah, and she would have been blamed." Maia replied. "But yeah, I think he wants to fail her."
"You have to admit that it would be safer for him if she wasn't in his class." Peter replied.
"Hello, I'm her partner. I know exactly how dangerous she is. I don't mind, much." Maia replied.
Lenore had intended to go to the Library, but she didn't. She didn't know where she was really, when she finally looked up. She looked about for any indicator of where she was. No windows to look out of, so that was no help to get her bearings. She looked up and down the hall, no stairs in sight. "Great I'm lost!" Len said to herself. "What a perfect day."
Len stayed were she was for a moment. "I came from this way. So if I back track a bit, I might see something familiar. Maybe even a picture could tell me." Len slowly started to head back the way she'd come. Nothing indicated were she was. Then the hallway split into four passageways. Len sank to the floor. "Okay, options are waiting here to be found; or try to wonder my way back."
Len looked at the passages in front of her. She truly had no idea as to which she'd used to get here. "This school is so big they'll never find me, if they even bother to come looking. I don't even know what floor I'm on. However if I continue to wonder, I might be taking myself further from help." Len rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes.
"This waiting sucks." Len stood up. She went to examine each of the passages from where she was. She found no difference between them. No draft, no markings, nothing to distinguish them. Len huffed. "Okay, relax. I can think my way out of this. Let's see what do I know that would help. North point, if I head north, I'll eventually get to the wall of the north tower or the wall that'll go down to the Great Hall. Unless I'm under the school then I could end up a good way north of the school. Appereaing is blocked in Hogwarts grounds, not to mention that I'm not supposed to be able to do that yet." She looked around again. She listened to the echoes.
She thought for a moment. She recalled reading a spell to tell someone blind where the ground was, and how far it was. But she couldn't remember the words. Then she remembered Bas telling her that if she was in doubt of a spell to just make the words Latin and concentrate on what she wanted. He'd said that it normally worked.
But do you think her mind wanted to co-operate in coming up with the Latin words? "Alright, then lets try this in English. Above or below, show me the way to go, to get me home." She tried, at first nothing happened. Then her wand started to spin and pointed to one of the halls. Len shrugged, it was the best idea she had, so she followed the way her wand pointed.
She continued to follow her wand through the halls for a good hour or two. She stopped, still recognizing anything. "How could I have been walking for like 3 hours or more before I noticed I was lost, this can't be working." Lenore took a good look around. She heard an echo from a hall behind her. She couldn't make out what it was saying, but after listening she thought that she could pick out the direction. Whoever was talking might be able to tell her how to get back.
Now why she didn't call was unclear. However, something in Len's mind didn't let that thought arise. She walked as silently as she could so as not to lose the sound of the voices. For some reason, the voices made her feel nervous, but that could have been simple because she was lost, thirsty and cold.
"That girl is dangerous Lord." A scratchy female voice called. "I see around her, trouble for your plans." Len froze in her steps. Now, these people were not the most likely group to get help from, she thought. But how and why were they at the school. Hogwarts was meant to be a safe place, despite the death-eaters roaming the countryside. "From her, from the Marauders. They will bring you doom."
"Those children?" A male voice replied. Len felt herself shiver, despite the silky tone of it. She had to see. After all they were talking about her friends. If they were in danger, she had to be able to warn them. Again the logical part of the brain, would have told her just to listen from where she stood, it was safer especially since she didn't know where she was.
"Do not trouble our Lord with that." Len knew that voice. Her mind stopped her in fear, before she realized to whom it belonged. "They are nothing. Your sight fails you crone." Len's eyes bugged out of her head as she looked into the room where they spoke. None other that Professor Drake stood their. She recognized the others to be death-eaters.
*Lord!!!* She swallowed hard. *Lord Voldimort, was here, at the school!* Len felt panic grip hold of her. *I have to tell Prof. Dumbledore.* She looked about, she noted the light of the moon filtering in. She followed the trail with her eyes, to a small tunnel that reached the night sky. *At least I've found a way out.*
"Silence fool." The silky voiced man ordered. Len heard Drake cry in pain as he collapsed on the ground. "She is more valuable than you've proven to be." Len realized she'd just witnessed a crutaious curse. She shivered at the thought of it.
Suddenly Lenore was lifted off the ground and a hand covered her mouth. *I'm so dead!*
Len was set down, in front of a group of Aurors. She was still restrained, and panicky, however calmed substantially when she realized who they were. They motioned for her to be quiet, Len nodded as best she could against the restring hand. One of the Aurors came down to look in her eyes. "What are you doing here, little girl?" The hand moved slightly from her mouth.
"I got lost sir." Len whispered. "I heard the voice, and thought that they could help me get out."
"Lost?" the man asked in disbelief.
"Y-yes sir, from Hogwarts." Len replied suddenly very fearful. Len was suddenly stunned, and oblivious to what happened.
When the weather turned nice the boys would join them in the courtyard at lunch break. Although neither cool, nor rain seemed to bother Maia and Lenore. "Thank goodness for Dry spells." They often commented after returning to the school.
Easter was boring despite that giant pink bunny that hopped around the school courtesy of, guess who. Lenore hid every time she saw it, traumatic childhood memory. Although Sirius told her that he'd protect her, Len just laughed.
Len had not made it official that she was with Sirius, although the two were rather close. Maia and Remus had the same trouble. They were definitely into each other, but they still saw other people. Len believed that was one way the Maia told Remus, he wasn't paying enough attention to her. Lily and James were back to being their normal couplely selves.
Lenore unfortunately returned to her normal potion performance. Her most recent disaster caused the contents of the cauldron to become animated and start destroying the room. Worse yet, any inanimate object it touched was also animated; fortunately it seemed to require a set mass of object to volume of potion to occur.
After all the students were safely in the hall, Professor Drake began to berate Lenore. Lenore believed it to secretly be his favourite past-time. "Miss Nightshade, your complete ineptitude leaves me speechless."
"Good, That means you're not going to yell at me right?" Lenore asked hopefully. Alright, being around the Marauders had done terrible things for Len and Maia in their *timid* nature. For Lenore had never spoken to Professor Drake like this before.
"Pardon me???" He dared her. Lenore looked at him in the eyes. She knew she should back down, her logical mind told her that was best. However she heard a little voice in the back of her head, (that sounded strangle like Sirius) telling her to go for it. Len's mind won out and she held her tongue. "I don't believe that I have ever seen precisely that result from this potion in my life, nor have I ever read about it. If I didn't know that it was completely accidental on your part, I might think that you were an idiot-savant, or something. However I know better. You are hopeless! How you've managed to get this far astounds me. You are completely devoid of talent."
Lenore bit her tongue. Her eyes burned at him, she wanted to curse him. She'd never taken this kind of verbal abuse from anyone before. Maia noticed that Lenore's body stiffened, she knew this was a bad sign. If Drake didn't back off Len was going to snap. Heck, if Len came to the conclusion that she had nothing left to lose she would strike out.
"You are the worst stu--"
"Professor Drake." Came Dumbledore's voice from behind the students. He approached where Drake stood berating Lenore. "Why is your class in the hall?"
"That stup - Miss Nightshade, has caused yet another catastrophe in my class." Drake replied bitterly. Dumbledore peaked into the room and saw several cauldrons, books, quills, scrolls and the occasional bag running about biting and fighting with each other.
"Was anyone hurt?" Dumbledore asked seriously.
"No sir." Drake scowled at Lenore still.
"Then I see no reason to call it a catastrophe." Dumbledore replied. "Definitely a mistake, but not a catastrophe. Since, it's obvious that you students will not have any more potions lesson today, take this as a study period. Off to the Library." His voice was quiet, but commanding. The class rushed to do as he asked, wanting to get away from Drake as soon as they could.
Lenore turned and hurried to comply. Anything to get her out of the line of fire. "Miss Nightshade." Dumbledore called. Lenore froze in her tracks. She turned to face them.
"Yes sir?" Len asked hesitantly. She winced, she knew that she was going to get expelled.
"Follow me." Dumbledore ordered. "You too, Drake." He led them to his office, in silence. Lenore was fascinated by the gargoyle stairway. Once inside, he sat behind his desk. "Now then. I heard what was said before my arrival. I realize that Lenore can be trying Melvyn, but that is no reason to say those things to her. Especially, in front of your class! You will apologise now." His voice was soft, but could not be refused. Drake mumbled an apology to Lenore. Len thought that he acted very much like a child being forced to do something. "Drake." Dumbledore warned.
"I was wrong to beret you in front of your classmates." Drake said. Lenore didn't believe a word of it, but nodded. She figured that she was in enough trouble.
"Lenore, you may go." Len looked at Dumbledore shocked.
"You mean I'm not in trouble?" Len asked before she could stop herself.
"Do you wish to be?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well no. But- Never mind." Lenore replied brightly. Dumbledore waved her out, and she gladly fled the office. She hurried to the Library to find Maia. By lunch the entire school was aware of the animation potion. Len was being teased badly by mostly Slytherins until, the Marauders joined them. Sirius put his arm around her shoulders.
"It could happen to anyone." He told her. Sirius watched most of the others back off at his act. He smiled inwardly at their response. "Last game of the season, you going to be cheering for us?" The last quidditch game was scheduled to be Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff.
"Gryffindor has its own cheerleaders." Maia replied.
"Ahhh, but well at the risk of sounding rude to our girls. You're better." Remus smiled at her. They were on one of their off but flirting periods. The others shook their heads, why didn't the two of them just get together?
"We wouldn't want to make your cheerleaders feel bad." Len said. She had yet to move from Sirius' embrace, this didn't go unnoticed, by Sirius, the Marauders or anyone else watching them. "Besides, the anti-cheers are more fun."
"Would you anti-cheer us? When we're not playing Ravenclaw?" James asked defensively.
Len and Maia looked at each other. Then smiled and nodded, "Ohhh, yeah!!!" This of course resulted in getting the girls tickled, until they took it back. That night Maia hardly waited until they were alone, before starting in on the whole Sirius thing, again.
"I told you Maia. There is nothing going on between us." Lenore insisted, for like the millionth time. Shaking her head at the idea.
"Ohhh! Is that why you were all cuddled up to him?" Maia teased.
"I wasn't." Len replied defensively. Maia gave her the oh-really look. "I wasn't."
"Honey, you let him hold you for a good five minutes." Maia told her. "Now that's cuddling."
"No! Its not." Len insisted. "And it wasn't five minutes."
"Just admit that you like him." Maia pushed.
"Why are you so set on, me and Sirius together?" Len questioned. She knew her friend too well to know that this wasn't just idle banter. "You got a bet on it or something?"
"I just want you to be happy." Maia insisted. Lenore had the yeah-right face on. "Okay, so maybe Remus and I have a tiny wager going."
"What are the terms of the wager? And what does it have to do with Sirius and me?" Len demanded. Maia looked at her sheepishly.
"I bet Remus that you and Sirius would get together before the end of the year." Maia replied. "If I win, he promised to come visit this summer. So, please go out with Sirius just once more."
"Ahhh, no." Lenore replied. "I'm sure that he'll come and visit you anyway. You know that he's nuts about you?"
"No he's not. He's got wondering eyes." Maia sighed. "He's cute though."
"I'd have to agree on that point." Len replied.
"Hey, he's mine!" Maia replied territorially. "He's my wolfy." She said sweetly.
"Then why are you worried?" Len teased. Maia looked at her.
"He doesn't seem to want to be around me." She pouted. "I mean we've gone out a few times, but he always wants to cut it short. The only time he come around me is when the group is together." She sighed. "I don't get it."
"Well, here's an idea; ask him." Lenore stated. Maia rolled her eyes at her.
"I can't do that." Maia stated. "It makes me seem . . . I don't know, like one of those clingy girls."
"Maia, just ask him. He might have a good reason." Len suggested. "Besides I've heard that communication helps in a relationship."
"Oh, like you talk to Sirius?" Maia threw back at her.
"That's different. We aren't in that kind of a relationship." Len insisted.
"Come off it. Its sooo obvious that you to are totally into each other." Maia relied. "I mean I've never seen Sirius Black so hung up on one girl before. You realize that you're the only girl he's gone out with since the Ball?"
"That's because I'm the only girl that he's ever had trouble in getting." Lenore replied.
"So you're playing the hard to get game. To keep him interested longer. I get it." Maia replied.
"No, I'm not." Len commented. "I just . . . that is . . ." Lenore couldn't really think of any reason why she hadn't gone out with Sirius. He was smarter than he let on. He was fun to be around. He was cute. The only reason was that she was sure that she would just be another there-and-gone girl if she'd gone out with him and that thought hurt. "Okay, so I like him. You tell him, and I'll hex you with baldness."
"Promise. This is girl talk, I'd never tell." Maia assured her. "So, what are you going to do about it?" Len shrugged. "Ohhh, Len you need to figure this out. I know that he scared you, but he's been really sweet all year."
"I'll work on my Marauder, if you work on yours." Len offered.
"Deal." Maia agreed quickly.
Maia and Len unlike so many of their fellow students were always relaxed about finals. Those could be a combination of the fact that they knew that they had high enough marks to pass, even if they slept through the exam, and that they had already had the information in their heads. Besides that they had a knack for guessing what the professors would put on the test.
The Marauders suddenly started to appreciate them even more at this time of year. Being friends with two of the smartest girls in the school definitely had an up side to it when one was studying. Maia and Len noticed that it seemed that almost everyone wanted to pick their brains at this time of year. They found it funny.
"You know, it's strange that people who don't know that you exist, the entire year, suddenly want to be your best friend now." Len would often tease.
"I know." Maia giggled back. "I mean they come because we're smart, so why would they think that we'd be fooled be that?"
"Beats me." Len giggled. She and Maia like to set up *study sessions* in the courtyard during free periods. They may be nice enough to help their fellow students, but they didn't want to be cooped up inside to do it. "Maybe we should charge for services?"
"We'd make a fortune." Maia laughed back.
"Do friends get a discount?" Remus said softly in Maia's ear. Maia jumped, not having heard him approach. He smiled coyly at her.
"If we did, I think we'd suddenly become extremely popular." Maia cast back at him. "Is that why you became friends with us?"
"Actually, no. Just a fringe benefit." Lily replied. She and James sat in the shade by the group.
"Besides we became friends before we needed to take advantage of you smarts." James smiled.
"You were likely just planning ahead." Len teased. "It's alright, we'll help Lily teach you guys enough to pass. Just because we like Lily."
"Hey!?!" The Marauders tried to sound offended, but only caused laughter to erupt.
"So, did you guys hear yet? About Potions?" Lily asked. The Ravenclaws shook their heads *no*. "Seems he's making his finals . . . practical exams." She looked sympathetically toward Lenore. Lenore groaned, then whimpered.
"He hates me. He wants to be able to fail me." Lenore sounded dejected.
"Don't worry we'll think of something." Sirius comforted her. "Really, he can't make it anything more difficult than you've already done."
Len cast him a disbelieving look. "You do remember the damage I've managed to do right?"
"Hey, I think if you don't cause an explosion, you don't wound anyone, it should be considered a pass." Sirius teased. Len smacked him, and stood to leave.
"That's not funny. I'll catch you guys later." Len said heading toward the castle. The Gryffindors turned to Maia. Who shrugged, she knew were Len was headed, but didn't dare say.
"She's probably going to do potions review, she never brings those books." Maia offered, it was partially true. She didn't really want to lie to her friends, but she'd never betray Lenore's trust. "You know I think she's right about Drake hating her. He does seem to go out of his way to torment her. I mean did you guys have to do the pseudo-mort potion?"
"The what?" They asked.
"That was the one that Len messed up causing like have the room to be animated." Maia replied.
They laughed. "We heard about that." James commented. "It sounded hilarious, if we knew what she did wrong, we would have put some of that in the Slytherin common room."
"Yeah, and she would have been blamed." Maia replied. "But yeah, I think he wants to fail her."
"You have to admit that it would be safer for him if she wasn't in his class." Peter replied.
"Hello, I'm her partner. I know exactly how dangerous she is. I don't mind, much." Maia replied.
Lenore had intended to go to the Library, but she didn't. She didn't know where she was really, when she finally looked up. She looked about for any indicator of where she was. No windows to look out of, so that was no help to get her bearings. She looked up and down the hall, no stairs in sight. "Great I'm lost!" Len said to herself. "What a perfect day."
Len stayed were she was for a moment. "I came from this way. So if I back track a bit, I might see something familiar. Maybe even a picture could tell me." Len slowly started to head back the way she'd come. Nothing indicated were she was. Then the hallway split into four passageways. Len sank to the floor. "Okay, options are waiting here to be found; or try to wonder my way back."
Len looked at the passages in front of her. She truly had no idea as to which she'd used to get here. "This school is so big they'll never find me, if they even bother to come looking. I don't even know what floor I'm on. However if I continue to wonder, I might be taking myself further from help." Len rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes.
"This waiting sucks." Len stood up. She went to examine each of the passages from where she was. She found no difference between them. No draft, no markings, nothing to distinguish them. Len huffed. "Okay, relax. I can think my way out of this. Let's see what do I know that would help. North point, if I head north, I'll eventually get to the wall of the north tower or the wall that'll go down to the Great Hall. Unless I'm under the school then I could end up a good way north of the school. Appereaing is blocked in Hogwarts grounds, not to mention that I'm not supposed to be able to do that yet." She looked around again. She listened to the echoes.
She thought for a moment. She recalled reading a spell to tell someone blind where the ground was, and how far it was. But she couldn't remember the words. Then she remembered Bas telling her that if she was in doubt of a spell to just make the words Latin and concentrate on what she wanted. He'd said that it normally worked.
But do you think her mind wanted to co-operate in coming up with the Latin words? "Alright, then lets try this in English. Above or below, show me the way to go, to get me home." She tried, at first nothing happened. Then her wand started to spin and pointed to one of the halls. Len shrugged, it was the best idea she had, so she followed the way her wand pointed.
She continued to follow her wand through the halls for a good hour or two. She stopped, still recognizing anything. "How could I have been walking for like 3 hours or more before I noticed I was lost, this can't be working." Lenore took a good look around. She heard an echo from a hall behind her. She couldn't make out what it was saying, but after listening she thought that she could pick out the direction. Whoever was talking might be able to tell her how to get back.
Now why she didn't call was unclear. However, something in Len's mind didn't let that thought arise. She walked as silently as she could so as not to lose the sound of the voices. For some reason, the voices made her feel nervous, but that could have been simple because she was lost, thirsty and cold.
"That girl is dangerous Lord." A scratchy female voice called. "I see around her, trouble for your plans." Len froze in her steps. Now, these people were not the most likely group to get help from, she thought. But how and why were they at the school. Hogwarts was meant to be a safe place, despite the death-eaters roaming the countryside. "From her, from the Marauders. They will bring you doom."
"Those children?" A male voice replied. Len felt herself shiver, despite the silky tone of it. She had to see. After all they were talking about her friends. If they were in danger, she had to be able to warn them. Again the logical part of the brain, would have told her just to listen from where she stood, it was safer especially since she didn't know where she was.
"Do not trouble our Lord with that." Len knew that voice. Her mind stopped her in fear, before she realized to whom it belonged. "They are nothing. Your sight fails you crone." Len's eyes bugged out of her head as she looked into the room where they spoke. None other that Professor Drake stood their. She recognized the others to be death-eaters.
*Lord!!!* She swallowed hard. *Lord Voldimort, was here, at the school!* Len felt panic grip hold of her. *I have to tell Prof. Dumbledore.* She looked about, she noted the light of the moon filtering in. She followed the trail with her eyes, to a small tunnel that reached the night sky. *At least I've found a way out.*
"Silence fool." The silky voiced man ordered. Len heard Drake cry in pain as he collapsed on the ground. "She is more valuable than you've proven to be." Len realized she'd just witnessed a crutaious curse. She shivered at the thought of it.
Suddenly Lenore was lifted off the ground and a hand covered her mouth. *I'm so dead!*
Len was set down, in front of a group of Aurors. She was still restrained, and panicky, however calmed substantially when she realized who they were. They motioned for her to be quiet, Len nodded as best she could against the restring hand. One of the Aurors came down to look in her eyes. "What are you doing here, little girl?" The hand moved slightly from her mouth.
"I got lost sir." Len whispered. "I heard the voice, and thought that they could help me get out."
"Lost?" the man asked in disbelief.
"Y-yes sir, from Hogwarts." Len replied suddenly very fearful. Len was suddenly stunned, and oblivious to what happened.