Chapter 10 – A morning in Hogsmeade
1st December 1980, the Library:
"Sirius?" Kathryn asked, aghast.
The boy looked up. "Oh, er, Kathryn. This... This isn't what you think!" He looked panicked.
"I didn't think you knew where the library was, much less study in it!" Kathryn grinned and dissolved into whoops of laughter.
Sirius groaned and went back to his Potions essay. "Yeah, well once in a while, I do bother."
Kathryn sat opposite him on the table. "I'm afraid I have some bad news." She looked solemn.
"What?" He asked without looking up.
"They got us down to do a duet at the Yule Ball." Kathryn explained. They had begun calling it that, rather than Christmas, because Kathryn had pointed out that it was a Christian holiday and they weren't Christians.
Sirius' head snapped up. "I knew it. Why didn't they tell us before? Y'know, ask permission?"
"Because they live to be annoying? I swear, I'm gonna kill Lily and James. Remus relinquished his part to James, y'know, because it was his idea after all." Kathryn groaned. "God knows what they'll decide on next year."
Sirius frowned. "What do you mean?"
Kathryn grinned. "Oh, yeah, that. Umm, visions an' all."
Sirius grinned. "What do you know?"
"Nothing. I mean you'll find out over the summer hols anyway. I mean, I can't wait to see their faces." Kathryn giggled.
"Aww, c'mon, you gotta tell me. I mean, it's concerning two of my best friends."
Kathryn laughed again. "Who would've thought there'd be the day when you called Lily Evans one of your best friends?"
"But..." Sirius began and stopped. He broke into a big smile. "Actually, that is kind of funny. But off the topic. Tell me!"
"Tell you what?" Kathryn looked innocently at him.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "What you know about Lily and James next year!"
The librarian, the famous Madam Pince, looked over to them. "Mr Black, Miss Orenda, if you can't be quiet, leave."
"Yes, Madam." Kathryn looked 'properly ashamed' of herself.
As soon as the woman left to tell off other rule-breakers, Sirius returned to his interrogation.
"Tell me!"
"No!"
Sirius sighed. "You asked for it."
He stood up and walked round to her side of the table. Before she could escape, he began tickling her. Kathryn desperately tried to keep her giggles under control, glad that they were in a secluded spot in the library.
"Stoppit, stoppit, stoppit!" She protested. "Sirius – please! I'll – tell – you!"
He instantly stopped. "Well?"
"You've gotta promise not to tell anyone, especially not them." Kathryn warned.
"Yes, yes, I promise."
"Good. Okay, James and Lily are going to be Head Boy and Girl next year." Kathryn grinned at Sirius' astounded face.
"You're JOKING!" He insisted.
"No, now finish your essay." Kathryn ordered.
Sirius grinned. "Already finished."
"Then why...?"
"Looking for a couple of spells for pranks. That's all." Sirius explained.
The boys' pranks could be truly evil. Kathryn thanked God she hadn't been on the receiving end of any – yet.
She rolled her eyes.
"So, Jamsie, Head Boy. Who'd've thought?" Sirius grinned.
"Sure as Hell no one else. 'Cept Dumbledore, obviously. Mind you, James has straightened out this year. And I haven't heard him ask Lily out once." Kathryn frowned.
"That's because he hasn't. What you said to him struck a nerve. He doesn't see the point in asking her." Sirius explained.
If he had expected a grin or laugh to this comment, he was sorely disappointed. Instead, Kathryn looked horrified.
"No, no, no." She murmured. "Please tell me he still likes her!"
"*Likes* here? He's bloody well in love with her!" Sirius replied.
"Oh, thank God." Kathryn sighed in relief.
"Why?"
"Now that I really can't tell you. Not until we're older, at least."
"Spoilsport."
"I know, ain't it wonderful?"
Sirius attacked his friend once more with the dreadful weapon of the tickles.
* * *
20th December 1980, the Great Hall:
Kathryn grinned. "Hogsmeade trip, today! I can't believe I'm finally getting the chance to go!"
"Why didn't you go last time?" Radella asked.
"I was in the Hospital Wing. Again. I spend way too much time there." Kathryn rolled her eyes.
"Ah, we'll have to take you to Zonko's. It's the best!" Sirius grinned.
"And Quality Quidditch Supplies." James added.
Kathryn blushed inexplicably.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked.
"I – uh – It's just, um, I've never actually flown before. I mean, my parents got me a broom, but I haven't used it." Kathryn looked down.
"You haven't?" Sirius and James both looked scandalised. Since both were on the Quidditch team, the idea of having a broom and not flying was incredible.
Kathryn shook her head.
Lily snorted then blushed. "Sorry. But even I've flown before!"
"I don't know if I have. It's just... I never had the chance. I mean, it's not like I intend to play Quidditch or anything."
"And how can you find that out if you've never flown?" Remus asked.
"Always the sensible one." Kathryn rolled her eyes.
"And the brainy one." Lily added.
"The one who makes sure the pranks go right." Radella continued.
"Which is why the teachers both hate and love him." Alura finished.
"Aww, Moony, you're blushing." James teased.
"Aww, shut up, Prongs."
"Manners, Remus, manners." Radella ribbed.
Everyone knew that Remus and Radella spent half their time flirting, though it was impossible to tell.
"I'm finished. I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall at half nine, okay?" Kathryn asked the others.
"Sure, Kat." Lily nodded.
"We shall await your arrival, Lady Mystique." Sirius gave a flourishing bow.
Kathryn smiled secretively and left the table, her loose, long hair flying after her in the absence of her robes (they refused to wear them at weekends).
"What was that smile about?" James wondered.
"Don't ask me, James, it's the same one Lily gives you every time she leaves." Sirius replied.
Provoking Lily's response of: "Shut it, Comic!" She, like the other girls, had latched onto Kathryn's nickname for him.
Upstairs in the girls' dorm, Kathryn was desperately searching for something she needed – her money. She was unsure as to where she had left the purse. When she finally found it, she slipped it into the pocket of her winter cloak, a bright crimson that went well with the dark jeans and black polo neck she had chosen as her outfit. Finally she slipped her wand into the loop of her cloak specially meant for carrying it.
The other girls soon appeared and she joined them as they chattered about what they intended to buy. Many were intending to buy dress robes and jewellery. Kathryn, being so good at Transfiguration, wasn't really bothered. She had soon learnt how to modify her clothes magically, and to make the spell stick.
At nine-thirty, Enchanted and the Marauders met for the trip to Hogsmeade.
"You look enchanting, fair ladies." Sirius bowed.
"I'd hope so, we have to live up to our name." Kathryn replied.
"But you don't really look all that Marauder-ish, do you? You look positively, well, smart, sort of." Lily added.
James grinned. "Smart-casual, I think is the term you desire, fair Flower." He copied Sirius' bow.
"Shall we go then?" Alura asked. She often felt a little left out, mainly because her other three friends almost seemed to have partners among the Marauders with whom they sparred. It left her with Peter, who she pitied, rather than liked, and could easily beat.
"Of course, Mademoiselle. Your carriage awaits." Sirius motioned to the doors.
"Oh, dear Lord." Alura rolled her eyes.
"Hey, 'Lura, how come Damion didn't ask you to Hogsmeade?" Lily asked. Alura had been going out with Damion Jackson, a Sixth-year Ravenclaw, for a month now.
"His Quidditch captain decided on today for a last before-Christmas practise. Stupid dolt." Alura snarled.
James grinned. "Ah, I may run my team ragged, but I do not cut into the best days of the year. Hogsmeade trips remain solely Hogsmeade trips."
(A/N: Sorry about lack of Quidditch. I've decided to have them all occur after Christmas. Mainly because I haven't thought of anything else to write about then!)
They climbed onto the carriage, laughing and joking as always. (A/N: Do they ever do anything else?)
As they pulled into Hogsmeade, the students separated. Peter disappeared to God-knows-where, Radella and Alura went for dress robes and Remus said he needed to visit a museum of some sort. That left the four Elemental Guardians alone. But they were all going to meet up for lunch at the Three Broomsticks.
"So, sweet ladies, where do you want to go?" Sirius asked.
"Quit it with the ridiculous nicknames, will ya? I mean, I'm not sure I qualify as sweet." Kathryn pointed out.
"You eat enough sweets." Lily pointed out.
Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Very funny. Okay, where to?"
"Well, I suppose the boys want to go to Zonko's and Honeydukes and Quality Quidditch Supplies, so why don't we get those over and done with? I am in serious need of last minute Christmas shopping." Lily complained.
"Ya think? I haven't got any!" Kathryn groaned.
"Well then, with only five days to go, you'd best start, huh?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just so tired." Kathryn sighed.
"Oh no, no tiredness. Remember what happened last time? You fell asleep and had another vision!" Sirius warned.
"Honeydukes, then. Besides, I think Paul'd appreciate that more'n anything else for Christmas." Kathryn grinned. "I was trying to get my homework finished."
"Should've known. For someone who can be a wicked-mean prankster, you're uncommonly devoted to getting your homework finished quickly."
"And lucky for me, I'm very good at writing fast. In fact, we all seem to get top grades and spend practically the least amount of time on homework. Isn't that weird?"
"Nah." Lily answered. "I guess it may well be something to do with being 'us'. We do need less effort to do the same things, but luckily, we put in plenty of effort, so we get top grades and more free time."
"Did that even make sense?" James asked.
"No idea." His friend replied.
They headed into Honeydukes, where Kathryn promptly bought a gift basket of chocolates for her brother and a box of chocolate frogs for herself. The boys were as excited as she, and even Lily let her hair down – after all, her sweet tooth was as bad as Kathryn's. All four left with bulging bags of sweets.
Next they entered Zonko's. Kathryn looked at the various products a little disparagingly, and then bought a couple of items for fun. She noted the boys buying some rather more unusual items for Zonko's – parchment and ink. She grinned, wondering if it might be to create the Marauders' Map. Then remembered they'd done it already. Maybe it was for something else.
Finally they went into Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"I love this place." James grinned.
Kathryn felt a little daunted. Then she remembered that her brothers both had places on the team.
"Hey, Sirius, what d'you reckon for Joe and Joe?" She grinned, her nickname for the twins really annoyed them.
"Ah, good thinking. Broomstick servicing kits are always welcome." Sirius suggested.
She nodded her head. "Great! I know how much they dote on their brooms, and I think their current kits are about six years old and running out." She swiftly purchased two kits, one in brown, one in black.
"So where now?" Lily asked as they left the shop.
"So long as it isn't Gladrags, I don't mind." Sirius replied.
"Well, let's have a little look at some of the little shops. They have such cool stuff in them." Lily grinned.
"I like the way you think." James smirked.
"He likes the she looks too." Kathryn muttered to Sirius.
"I heard that." James and Lily retorted in unison.
"Now they're talking together. Mystique, what are we going to do?" Sirius mock-groaned.
"I don't know! It's awful!" Kathryn sighed.
"Are you two quite finished deciding how to ruin our friendship?" Lily asked, hands on hips.
"Why not call it a relationship and be open about it?" Sirius sniggered.
James rolled his eyes. "I knew that too much exposure to Kathryn turns you delusional."
"Hey!" Kathryn protested. "Leave me out of this!"
"Why? You're already in it!"
"Let's go in here!" Lily suggested.
They were next to a small shop called 'Celtic Desires'.
"Y'know, I don't remember seeing this before." James frowned.
Kathryn grinned as the others began brushing off snow. None had settled on her. The heat of fire that filled her body also meant that any snow that fell on her instantly melted and evaporated. So while the others were a little damp, she was steaming.
The shop itself was amazing. It was full of little trinkets and statues and objects that no one would notice in a big shop like Zonko's, but would in this sort of shop. All four felt like they were in a dreamland and instantly dove into the shelves of amazing things.
Kathryn gasped. A small locket lay in a crimson box. It was an oval shape, a Celtic knot in the centre, surrounding a crimson, rather than scarlet, ruby.
"Oh." She murmured.
"It's beautiful." Sirius observed.
Kathryn sighed. "And I can't buy it."
"Why not?"
"It's nearly Christmas. What if I get something the same?"
"It's an antique, Kathryn, you're not going to get anything the same. However," Sirius grinned, "now I know what sort of thing you like."
Kathryn giggled. "Thanks. Actually, I've still got to find a whole load of presents. One problem of having a huge family. And lots of friends."
"But good thing that you have five years worth of pocket money saved up for." Sirius grinned.
"Yep." Kathryn grinned. But she also knew how to get a bargain.
Lily was examining a small statue that she liked for her mother when she came across something that made *her* gasp.
"What's with girls and gasping?" James wanted to know, coming to see what she had.
A pair of emerald earrings lay in an ebony box. They were elegant and again, Lily felt drawn to them.
"Wow, Lily, those would look great on you." James observed.
She also heaved a sigh. "Unless you get them for me for Christmas, I'm not gonna get them."
"Talk about unsubtle hints." Kathryn's voice floated through shelves.
"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black." Lily shot back.
They spent nearly an hour in the shop. The boys had also noticed jewelled items that seemed to call to them.
Sirius saw a pendant. On a black cord, it appeared to be a gold salamander with diamond eyes. Kathryn watched this with interest.
James' find was a ring. It was large, very masculine, with a sapphire embedded deep into the metal, but whether it was gold or silver, he couldn't tell. Lily smiled knowingly.
By the time they left the shop, most of them had completed their Christmas shopping. They went into the next shop and finished it. But not before finding something very unusual.
"You are they." The old man at the desk murmured, his eyes alight.
"Pardon?" James asked.
"You are the Chosen Ones."
"I'm sorry, I think..." Kathryn began.
"Seer, do not think you do not play a part in the future because you did not see it. You play an important part. You bring his protectors back. Protect the Heir, Gryffindor's Heir. Only he shall defeat him. And protect the three others who play such parts as thee. Each of you have a correspondent, maybe the one you would think. Protect your Heirs, the Elemental Warriors." The man said.
"What?" Sirius breathed.
"Take this." He pulled out a box. It was a dark brown wood, simple, but carved with Celtic designs once more. Kathryn was wondering on a theme. "When each of what it contains shines out, all are dead and hope is gone. As long as one remains with only light of reflection, there is hope, there is protection. Keep it in the place he would least expect by being in the most obvious person's possession. But never let him know he has it. Each of you holds one of these. It shall contain your essence when you die, it is what will stop you from truly moving on. And until light has formed in each at the same time, any who lie dead will not truly be so."
He handed the box to Kathryn. And then a key. "Keep this, Seer. You are its living protector."
"What...?" Kathryn began to ask, but then they all fell back, into the snow. The shop was gone, but their purchases remained.
"We're late." James observed.
"Who cares?" Kathryn asked. "What is this?"
"Don't open it." Sirius advised. "Not until Dumbledore can be there. If it does something to us... well, we may need help."
"Good point." Kathryn sighed. "Now we've got to carry this all the way round Hogsmeade. It weighs a tonne."
Sirius smirked.
"What's the smirk for?" She demanded.
"If everyone would be so kind as to hand me their belongings, I can store them in my dorm for the time being." Sirius explained.
"Thanks, Comic." Kathryn grinned.
"You're welcome, Tose." He replied, accepting bags from everyone.
He closed his eyes and disappeared. A couple of minutes later, he reappeared.
"Did anyone see?"
"Like anyone would see anything in this." James motioned to the blizzard they were surrounded by. "Let's get to the Three Broomsticks."
As Fate would have it, they were not 'late' as such. None of the others were there yet. So they chose a table close to the fire and ordered four Butterbeers to warm up. Even Kathryn felt chilly, and her cloak was soaked through.
"God, it's chilly." Lily complained.
"Well sit nearer the fire then." James suggested.
"Or maybe you could warm her up in your arms." Sirius sniggered.
Kathryn snorted, nearly choking on her Butterbeer as she tried to stifle her giggles.
James shot Sirius a dirty look. "You will pay for that. Mark my words."
"Yeah, but then I'll just tell Lily what you got for her for Christmas. Or Yule, if you prefer." He grinned at Kathryn.
"You looked?" James demanded.
"Nah. But I could. They're on my bed right now." Sirius grinned.
"Sirius!" James yelled.
"Geez, chill, Prongs, I was only joking."
The others soon arrived, looking cold and dishevelled, Remus and Radella even more dishevelled than the others.
James whispered something to the others and they burst into sniggers and giggles.
"What?" Remus demanded.
"Um, did you guys have fun?" Kathryn asked innocently.
"What? Why?" Radella asked.
"Well it does look that way." Sirius barely suppressed another snigger.
"What?" They demanded.
"Um, Della, you need to retouch your lipstick, just there." Kathryn gestured to all round her mouth.
"Remus, you've got lipstick on you. Care to elaborate?" Sirius asked.
Both went scarlet and began wiping their mouths.
"Um, okay. This is a little, uh, awkward." Remus stammered.
"Just spit it out." James ordered impatiently.
"We're going out." Remus 'spat out'.
"How long?"
"A couple of weeks." Radella revealed.
"Two weeks and you haven't said anything?!" Alura looked scandalised. "How did you keep *that* secret?"
"The same way I keep other things secret." She smiled at Remus.
"Does that mean she worked it out?" James wanted to know.
"What, that Remus is a werewolf?" Lily asked. "We worked that out ages ago."
Remus did a double take. "What, and you didn't – you didn't say anything?"
"Why should we? It's your business. Besides, it's not like it makes you any different. So you have a bad reaction to silver, slightly heightened senses and you turn into a rabid monster once a month. Big deal." Lily rolled her eyes.
"It's not like girls aren't monsters once a month either, is it?" Kathryn cut in. She smiled at Sirius. "I thought I'd get it in before you did, Solum."
"Solum?" Sirius looked confused.
"Latin for earth."
"Oh. Right. You really do have an obsession with Latin, don't you?"
"Uh huh."
"Well then, I'm just gonna have to call you Flamma, aren't I?"
"What's with you two and the nicknames?" Alura asked.
"It's fun." Sirius grinned.
"Well, at least they haven't started calling each other darling and sweetie and honey yet. That's gotta be a good sign, right?" Lily checked.
"What's your nickname for James gonna be, Lily? Sweetheart, dearest, husband?" Kathryn shot back.
Lily whacked her. James groaned and began whacking his head on the table.
"When will this teasing stop?" He asked the ceiling.
"When you two realise you're meant for each other." Sirius replied, and then looked thoughtful. "Actually, it won't stop then either. I'd say never is a better term."
"Then we'll just have to tease you and Kat, won't we?" Lily asked, grinning.
"Why are they my friends again?" Alura asked.
"Because they stop you from taking yourself too seriously." A voice behind her revealed.
Alura jumped up, turning. "Damion!"
"Yep, the one and only." He grinned, kissing her. "Liam decided that practising till we all had frostbite wasn't such a good idea."
"Damn!" James exclaimed. "There goes *that* plan, Sirius."
For members of rival teams, James and Damion got on quite well. Probably because they frequently thought Damion should be in Gryffindor, something he himself constantly wondered about.
"Planning our downfall again, Potter?" Damion asked.
"Always." James replied cheerfully, shaking his friend's hand.
"Heard the news?" Kathryn asked.
He shook his head.
"We have the very latest and greatest and most unexpected situation!" Kathryn announced grandly. "The very first Enchanted-Marauder couple!" She gestured to Remus and Radella.
The couple blushed.
Damion grinned. "Finally! Wondered when you two were gonna get together."
"Was it that obvious?" Remus asked, exasperated.
"Yes." All of the other answered in unison.
"So, what are we doing after lunch?" Alura asked.
Kathryn smiled. "I was thinking about maybe visiting the Shrieking Shack."
* * *
A/N: Ah-ha! Next chapter is good, believe me. Maybe I should make you wait... No, you'll be even crosser with me and you won't review. And I do love your reviews. I want more. More I tell you. More!
1st December 1980, the Library:
"Sirius?" Kathryn asked, aghast.
The boy looked up. "Oh, er, Kathryn. This... This isn't what you think!" He looked panicked.
"I didn't think you knew where the library was, much less study in it!" Kathryn grinned and dissolved into whoops of laughter.
Sirius groaned and went back to his Potions essay. "Yeah, well once in a while, I do bother."
Kathryn sat opposite him on the table. "I'm afraid I have some bad news." She looked solemn.
"What?" He asked without looking up.
"They got us down to do a duet at the Yule Ball." Kathryn explained. They had begun calling it that, rather than Christmas, because Kathryn had pointed out that it was a Christian holiday and they weren't Christians.
Sirius' head snapped up. "I knew it. Why didn't they tell us before? Y'know, ask permission?"
"Because they live to be annoying? I swear, I'm gonna kill Lily and James. Remus relinquished his part to James, y'know, because it was his idea after all." Kathryn groaned. "God knows what they'll decide on next year."
Sirius frowned. "What do you mean?"
Kathryn grinned. "Oh, yeah, that. Umm, visions an' all."
Sirius grinned. "What do you know?"
"Nothing. I mean you'll find out over the summer hols anyway. I mean, I can't wait to see their faces." Kathryn giggled.
"Aww, c'mon, you gotta tell me. I mean, it's concerning two of my best friends."
Kathryn laughed again. "Who would've thought there'd be the day when you called Lily Evans one of your best friends?"
"But..." Sirius began and stopped. He broke into a big smile. "Actually, that is kind of funny. But off the topic. Tell me!"
"Tell you what?" Kathryn looked innocently at him.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "What you know about Lily and James next year!"
The librarian, the famous Madam Pince, looked over to them. "Mr Black, Miss Orenda, if you can't be quiet, leave."
"Yes, Madam." Kathryn looked 'properly ashamed' of herself.
As soon as the woman left to tell off other rule-breakers, Sirius returned to his interrogation.
"Tell me!"
"No!"
Sirius sighed. "You asked for it."
He stood up and walked round to her side of the table. Before she could escape, he began tickling her. Kathryn desperately tried to keep her giggles under control, glad that they were in a secluded spot in the library.
"Stoppit, stoppit, stoppit!" She protested. "Sirius – please! I'll – tell – you!"
He instantly stopped. "Well?"
"You've gotta promise not to tell anyone, especially not them." Kathryn warned.
"Yes, yes, I promise."
"Good. Okay, James and Lily are going to be Head Boy and Girl next year." Kathryn grinned at Sirius' astounded face.
"You're JOKING!" He insisted.
"No, now finish your essay." Kathryn ordered.
Sirius grinned. "Already finished."
"Then why...?"
"Looking for a couple of spells for pranks. That's all." Sirius explained.
The boys' pranks could be truly evil. Kathryn thanked God she hadn't been on the receiving end of any – yet.
She rolled her eyes.
"So, Jamsie, Head Boy. Who'd've thought?" Sirius grinned.
"Sure as Hell no one else. 'Cept Dumbledore, obviously. Mind you, James has straightened out this year. And I haven't heard him ask Lily out once." Kathryn frowned.
"That's because he hasn't. What you said to him struck a nerve. He doesn't see the point in asking her." Sirius explained.
If he had expected a grin or laugh to this comment, he was sorely disappointed. Instead, Kathryn looked horrified.
"No, no, no." She murmured. "Please tell me he still likes her!"
"*Likes* here? He's bloody well in love with her!" Sirius replied.
"Oh, thank God." Kathryn sighed in relief.
"Why?"
"Now that I really can't tell you. Not until we're older, at least."
"Spoilsport."
"I know, ain't it wonderful?"
Sirius attacked his friend once more with the dreadful weapon of the tickles.
* * *
20th December 1980, the Great Hall:
Kathryn grinned. "Hogsmeade trip, today! I can't believe I'm finally getting the chance to go!"
"Why didn't you go last time?" Radella asked.
"I was in the Hospital Wing. Again. I spend way too much time there." Kathryn rolled her eyes.
"Ah, we'll have to take you to Zonko's. It's the best!" Sirius grinned.
"And Quality Quidditch Supplies." James added.
Kathryn blushed inexplicably.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked.
"I – uh – It's just, um, I've never actually flown before. I mean, my parents got me a broom, but I haven't used it." Kathryn looked down.
"You haven't?" Sirius and James both looked scandalised. Since both were on the Quidditch team, the idea of having a broom and not flying was incredible.
Kathryn shook her head.
Lily snorted then blushed. "Sorry. But even I've flown before!"
"I don't know if I have. It's just... I never had the chance. I mean, it's not like I intend to play Quidditch or anything."
"And how can you find that out if you've never flown?" Remus asked.
"Always the sensible one." Kathryn rolled her eyes.
"And the brainy one." Lily added.
"The one who makes sure the pranks go right." Radella continued.
"Which is why the teachers both hate and love him." Alura finished.
"Aww, Moony, you're blushing." James teased.
"Aww, shut up, Prongs."
"Manners, Remus, manners." Radella ribbed.
Everyone knew that Remus and Radella spent half their time flirting, though it was impossible to tell.
"I'm finished. I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall at half nine, okay?" Kathryn asked the others.
"Sure, Kat." Lily nodded.
"We shall await your arrival, Lady Mystique." Sirius gave a flourishing bow.
Kathryn smiled secretively and left the table, her loose, long hair flying after her in the absence of her robes (they refused to wear them at weekends).
"What was that smile about?" James wondered.
"Don't ask me, James, it's the same one Lily gives you every time she leaves." Sirius replied.
Provoking Lily's response of: "Shut it, Comic!" She, like the other girls, had latched onto Kathryn's nickname for him.
Upstairs in the girls' dorm, Kathryn was desperately searching for something she needed – her money. She was unsure as to where she had left the purse. When she finally found it, she slipped it into the pocket of her winter cloak, a bright crimson that went well with the dark jeans and black polo neck she had chosen as her outfit. Finally she slipped her wand into the loop of her cloak specially meant for carrying it.
The other girls soon appeared and she joined them as they chattered about what they intended to buy. Many were intending to buy dress robes and jewellery. Kathryn, being so good at Transfiguration, wasn't really bothered. She had soon learnt how to modify her clothes magically, and to make the spell stick.
At nine-thirty, Enchanted and the Marauders met for the trip to Hogsmeade.
"You look enchanting, fair ladies." Sirius bowed.
"I'd hope so, we have to live up to our name." Kathryn replied.
"But you don't really look all that Marauder-ish, do you? You look positively, well, smart, sort of." Lily added.
James grinned. "Smart-casual, I think is the term you desire, fair Flower." He copied Sirius' bow.
"Shall we go then?" Alura asked. She often felt a little left out, mainly because her other three friends almost seemed to have partners among the Marauders with whom they sparred. It left her with Peter, who she pitied, rather than liked, and could easily beat.
"Of course, Mademoiselle. Your carriage awaits." Sirius motioned to the doors.
"Oh, dear Lord." Alura rolled her eyes.
"Hey, 'Lura, how come Damion didn't ask you to Hogsmeade?" Lily asked. Alura had been going out with Damion Jackson, a Sixth-year Ravenclaw, for a month now.
"His Quidditch captain decided on today for a last before-Christmas practise. Stupid dolt." Alura snarled.
James grinned. "Ah, I may run my team ragged, but I do not cut into the best days of the year. Hogsmeade trips remain solely Hogsmeade trips."
(A/N: Sorry about lack of Quidditch. I've decided to have them all occur after Christmas. Mainly because I haven't thought of anything else to write about then!)
They climbed onto the carriage, laughing and joking as always. (A/N: Do they ever do anything else?)
As they pulled into Hogsmeade, the students separated. Peter disappeared to God-knows-where, Radella and Alura went for dress robes and Remus said he needed to visit a museum of some sort. That left the four Elemental Guardians alone. But they were all going to meet up for lunch at the Three Broomsticks.
"So, sweet ladies, where do you want to go?" Sirius asked.
"Quit it with the ridiculous nicknames, will ya? I mean, I'm not sure I qualify as sweet." Kathryn pointed out.
"You eat enough sweets." Lily pointed out.
Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Very funny. Okay, where to?"
"Well, I suppose the boys want to go to Zonko's and Honeydukes and Quality Quidditch Supplies, so why don't we get those over and done with? I am in serious need of last minute Christmas shopping." Lily complained.
"Ya think? I haven't got any!" Kathryn groaned.
"Well then, with only five days to go, you'd best start, huh?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just so tired." Kathryn sighed.
"Oh no, no tiredness. Remember what happened last time? You fell asleep and had another vision!" Sirius warned.
"Honeydukes, then. Besides, I think Paul'd appreciate that more'n anything else for Christmas." Kathryn grinned. "I was trying to get my homework finished."
"Should've known. For someone who can be a wicked-mean prankster, you're uncommonly devoted to getting your homework finished quickly."
"And lucky for me, I'm very good at writing fast. In fact, we all seem to get top grades and spend practically the least amount of time on homework. Isn't that weird?"
"Nah." Lily answered. "I guess it may well be something to do with being 'us'. We do need less effort to do the same things, but luckily, we put in plenty of effort, so we get top grades and more free time."
"Did that even make sense?" James asked.
"No idea." His friend replied.
They headed into Honeydukes, where Kathryn promptly bought a gift basket of chocolates for her brother and a box of chocolate frogs for herself. The boys were as excited as she, and even Lily let her hair down – after all, her sweet tooth was as bad as Kathryn's. All four left with bulging bags of sweets.
Next they entered Zonko's. Kathryn looked at the various products a little disparagingly, and then bought a couple of items for fun. She noted the boys buying some rather more unusual items for Zonko's – parchment and ink. She grinned, wondering if it might be to create the Marauders' Map. Then remembered they'd done it already. Maybe it was for something else.
Finally they went into Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"I love this place." James grinned.
Kathryn felt a little daunted. Then she remembered that her brothers both had places on the team.
"Hey, Sirius, what d'you reckon for Joe and Joe?" She grinned, her nickname for the twins really annoyed them.
"Ah, good thinking. Broomstick servicing kits are always welcome." Sirius suggested.
She nodded her head. "Great! I know how much they dote on their brooms, and I think their current kits are about six years old and running out." She swiftly purchased two kits, one in brown, one in black.
"So where now?" Lily asked as they left the shop.
"So long as it isn't Gladrags, I don't mind." Sirius replied.
"Well, let's have a little look at some of the little shops. They have such cool stuff in them." Lily grinned.
"I like the way you think." James smirked.
"He likes the she looks too." Kathryn muttered to Sirius.
"I heard that." James and Lily retorted in unison.
"Now they're talking together. Mystique, what are we going to do?" Sirius mock-groaned.
"I don't know! It's awful!" Kathryn sighed.
"Are you two quite finished deciding how to ruin our friendship?" Lily asked, hands on hips.
"Why not call it a relationship and be open about it?" Sirius sniggered.
James rolled his eyes. "I knew that too much exposure to Kathryn turns you delusional."
"Hey!" Kathryn protested. "Leave me out of this!"
"Why? You're already in it!"
"Let's go in here!" Lily suggested.
They were next to a small shop called 'Celtic Desires'.
"Y'know, I don't remember seeing this before." James frowned.
Kathryn grinned as the others began brushing off snow. None had settled on her. The heat of fire that filled her body also meant that any snow that fell on her instantly melted and evaporated. So while the others were a little damp, she was steaming.
The shop itself was amazing. It was full of little trinkets and statues and objects that no one would notice in a big shop like Zonko's, but would in this sort of shop. All four felt like they were in a dreamland and instantly dove into the shelves of amazing things.
Kathryn gasped. A small locket lay in a crimson box. It was an oval shape, a Celtic knot in the centre, surrounding a crimson, rather than scarlet, ruby.
"Oh." She murmured.
"It's beautiful." Sirius observed.
Kathryn sighed. "And I can't buy it."
"Why not?"
"It's nearly Christmas. What if I get something the same?"
"It's an antique, Kathryn, you're not going to get anything the same. However," Sirius grinned, "now I know what sort of thing you like."
Kathryn giggled. "Thanks. Actually, I've still got to find a whole load of presents. One problem of having a huge family. And lots of friends."
"But good thing that you have five years worth of pocket money saved up for." Sirius grinned.
"Yep." Kathryn grinned. But she also knew how to get a bargain.
Lily was examining a small statue that she liked for her mother when she came across something that made *her* gasp.
"What's with girls and gasping?" James wanted to know, coming to see what she had.
A pair of emerald earrings lay in an ebony box. They were elegant and again, Lily felt drawn to them.
"Wow, Lily, those would look great on you." James observed.
She also heaved a sigh. "Unless you get them for me for Christmas, I'm not gonna get them."
"Talk about unsubtle hints." Kathryn's voice floated through shelves.
"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black." Lily shot back.
They spent nearly an hour in the shop. The boys had also noticed jewelled items that seemed to call to them.
Sirius saw a pendant. On a black cord, it appeared to be a gold salamander with diamond eyes. Kathryn watched this with interest.
James' find was a ring. It was large, very masculine, with a sapphire embedded deep into the metal, but whether it was gold or silver, he couldn't tell. Lily smiled knowingly.
By the time they left the shop, most of them had completed their Christmas shopping. They went into the next shop and finished it. But not before finding something very unusual.
"You are they." The old man at the desk murmured, his eyes alight.
"Pardon?" James asked.
"You are the Chosen Ones."
"I'm sorry, I think..." Kathryn began.
"Seer, do not think you do not play a part in the future because you did not see it. You play an important part. You bring his protectors back. Protect the Heir, Gryffindor's Heir. Only he shall defeat him. And protect the three others who play such parts as thee. Each of you have a correspondent, maybe the one you would think. Protect your Heirs, the Elemental Warriors." The man said.
"What?" Sirius breathed.
"Take this." He pulled out a box. It was a dark brown wood, simple, but carved with Celtic designs once more. Kathryn was wondering on a theme. "When each of what it contains shines out, all are dead and hope is gone. As long as one remains with only light of reflection, there is hope, there is protection. Keep it in the place he would least expect by being in the most obvious person's possession. But never let him know he has it. Each of you holds one of these. It shall contain your essence when you die, it is what will stop you from truly moving on. And until light has formed in each at the same time, any who lie dead will not truly be so."
He handed the box to Kathryn. And then a key. "Keep this, Seer. You are its living protector."
"What...?" Kathryn began to ask, but then they all fell back, into the snow. The shop was gone, but their purchases remained.
"We're late." James observed.
"Who cares?" Kathryn asked. "What is this?"
"Don't open it." Sirius advised. "Not until Dumbledore can be there. If it does something to us... well, we may need help."
"Good point." Kathryn sighed. "Now we've got to carry this all the way round Hogsmeade. It weighs a tonne."
Sirius smirked.
"What's the smirk for?" She demanded.
"If everyone would be so kind as to hand me their belongings, I can store them in my dorm for the time being." Sirius explained.
"Thanks, Comic." Kathryn grinned.
"You're welcome, Tose." He replied, accepting bags from everyone.
He closed his eyes and disappeared. A couple of minutes later, he reappeared.
"Did anyone see?"
"Like anyone would see anything in this." James motioned to the blizzard they were surrounded by. "Let's get to the Three Broomsticks."
As Fate would have it, they were not 'late' as such. None of the others were there yet. So they chose a table close to the fire and ordered four Butterbeers to warm up. Even Kathryn felt chilly, and her cloak was soaked through.
"God, it's chilly." Lily complained.
"Well sit nearer the fire then." James suggested.
"Or maybe you could warm her up in your arms." Sirius sniggered.
Kathryn snorted, nearly choking on her Butterbeer as she tried to stifle her giggles.
James shot Sirius a dirty look. "You will pay for that. Mark my words."
"Yeah, but then I'll just tell Lily what you got for her for Christmas. Or Yule, if you prefer." He grinned at Kathryn.
"You looked?" James demanded.
"Nah. But I could. They're on my bed right now." Sirius grinned.
"Sirius!" James yelled.
"Geez, chill, Prongs, I was only joking."
The others soon arrived, looking cold and dishevelled, Remus and Radella even more dishevelled than the others.
James whispered something to the others and they burst into sniggers and giggles.
"What?" Remus demanded.
"Um, did you guys have fun?" Kathryn asked innocently.
"What? Why?" Radella asked.
"Well it does look that way." Sirius barely suppressed another snigger.
"What?" They demanded.
"Um, Della, you need to retouch your lipstick, just there." Kathryn gestured to all round her mouth.
"Remus, you've got lipstick on you. Care to elaborate?" Sirius asked.
Both went scarlet and began wiping their mouths.
"Um, okay. This is a little, uh, awkward." Remus stammered.
"Just spit it out." James ordered impatiently.
"We're going out." Remus 'spat out'.
"How long?"
"A couple of weeks." Radella revealed.
"Two weeks and you haven't said anything?!" Alura looked scandalised. "How did you keep *that* secret?"
"The same way I keep other things secret." She smiled at Remus.
"Does that mean she worked it out?" James wanted to know.
"What, that Remus is a werewolf?" Lily asked. "We worked that out ages ago."
Remus did a double take. "What, and you didn't – you didn't say anything?"
"Why should we? It's your business. Besides, it's not like it makes you any different. So you have a bad reaction to silver, slightly heightened senses and you turn into a rabid monster once a month. Big deal." Lily rolled her eyes.
"It's not like girls aren't monsters once a month either, is it?" Kathryn cut in. She smiled at Sirius. "I thought I'd get it in before you did, Solum."
"Solum?" Sirius looked confused.
"Latin for earth."
"Oh. Right. You really do have an obsession with Latin, don't you?"
"Uh huh."
"Well then, I'm just gonna have to call you Flamma, aren't I?"
"What's with you two and the nicknames?" Alura asked.
"It's fun." Sirius grinned.
"Well, at least they haven't started calling each other darling and sweetie and honey yet. That's gotta be a good sign, right?" Lily checked.
"What's your nickname for James gonna be, Lily? Sweetheart, dearest, husband?" Kathryn shot back.
Lily whacked her. James groaned and began whacking his head on the table.
"When will this teasing stop?" He asked the ceiling.
"When you two realise you're meant for each other." Sirius replied, and then looked thoughtful. "Actually, it won't stop then either. I'd say never is a better term."
"Then we'll just have to tease you and Kat, won't we?" Lily asked, grinning.
"Why are they my friends again?" Alura asked.
"Because they stop you from taking yourself too seriously." A voice behind her revealed.
Alura jumped up, turning. "Damion!"
"Yep, the one and only." He grinned, kissing her. "Liam decided that practising till we all had frostbite wasn't such a good idea."
"Damn!" James exclaimed. "There goes *that* plan, Sirius."
For members of rival teams, James and Damion got on quite well. Probably because they frequently thought Damion should be in Gryffindor, something he himself constantly wondered about.
"Planning our downfall again, Potter?" Damion asked.
"Always." James replied cheerfully, shaking his friend's hand.
"Heard the news?" Kathryn asked.
He shook his head.
"We have the very latest and greatest and most unexpected situation!" Kathryn announced grandly. "The very first Enchanted-Marauder couple!" She gestured to Remus and Radella.
The couple blushed.
Damion grinned. "Finally! Wondered when you two were gonna get together."
"Was it that obvious?" Remus asked, exasperated.
"Yes." All of the other answered in unison.
"So, what are we doing after lunch?" Alura asked.
Kathryn smiled. "I was thinking about maybe visiting the Shrieking Shack."
* * *
A/N: Ah-ha! Next chapter is good, believe me. Maybe I should make you wait... No, you'll be even crosser with me and you won't review. And I do love your reviews. I want more. More I tell you. More!