DISCLAIMER
All characters and Names property of their respective owners. That basically means I don't own any Of the Harry Potter people, because slavery is WRONG! Those with weak constitutions may want to leave the arena. Small parts may cause chocking hazard, not for children under three years of age; so Vo Do De O Do and Scoddy Woddy Do Da Day! Thank youLady Lloth
Lana Birch sighed with relief. She was back. For her fifth year nonetheless. And being in Gryffindor with the Marauders was always worth the trouble they caused. She made her way to her usual seat on the Hogwarts Express with a smile on her sun bronzed face as she thought about the coming year. What exciting adventures did Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry hold in store for the new fifth year? What mayhem would transpire? Whatever would happen, Lana was ready and willing to go with the flow.
Lydia Halliwell strolled silently along the corridor of the Hogwarts express. As a Slytherin fifth year she was not exactly looking forward to being the brunt of Gryffindor pranks again, and it didn't help that she was well...unpopular, even in her own house.. Hopefully she could find a relatively unoccupied compartment.
Lana was glad to find her usual compartment empty and when she had settled in, setting her owl down carefully, she reached for her one of her books and started to read, the silence peaceful.
Lydia found a cart with only one occupant, Shifting her owl to her shoulder she tapped softly on the door.
"Room for one more?" She asked cautiously.
Lana looked up from her book and smiled, trying to be polite. "Sure."
Lydia nodded and took a seat opposite her, opening a copy of Most Potente potions and falling silent.
"You're Slytherin right?" Lana asked after several silent moments, not looking up from her book.
"yes. and you're Gryffindor?" Lydia replied and asked in the same manner.
Lana nodded. "What's it like?"
She shrugged. "Quiet."
There was a chuckle in response as she looked over at the fifteen year old Slytherin.
Lydia looked up from her book, an eyebrow quirked in the Gryffindor's direction.
"Must be nice sometimes."
"It is. It gets lonely too, though." She said offhandedly, as though it didn't matter.
Lana raised an eyebrow. "It's lonely anywhere if you let it be."
She nodded. "Agreed. so what's it like being a Gryffindor?" she asked, trying to keep the bitterness in her voice minimal.
Lana chuckled. "Loud... but fun... for the most part. Sometimes it's a bit annoying, but things always manage to stay entertaining."
At precisely that moment the compartment door slid open and a handsome fifth year boy with black hair, his bespectacled friend, whose hair was jet black and stubbornly untidy, and two others entered the compartment. One of them was small, with mousey hair, a pointed nose and beady, darting eyes. The other was a bit taller, thin, looking a bit underfed. His hair was a light brown and his eyes were a warm shade of amber. He looked wan and tired, as though he had been ill for a long period of time. "of course it's entertaining. We're in it!" He announced, plopping down next to Lana.
"Hey boys," she replied, emphasizing the word.
Sirius and James grinned as Peter looked intently at the Slytherin, and Remus sat back in his seat, looking tired.
"This is..." Lana paused looking at the girl. "I never asked your name. Sorry. "
"ly-" Lydia was cut off by Peter Pettigrew.
"Lydia Haliwell, the potions freak." he said, eyeing her beadily. "She's in Slytherin, same year as us. And Snivviley."
Lana smacked the back of Peter's head smartly, glaring reproachfully at the smaller boy.
"Just because she's good at something doesn't mean she's a freak, Mr. What-does-a-sleeping-draught-do-again?"
Lydia snorted behind her book but remained silent as James and Sirius scrutinized her too. Lupin offered a wan smile.
Lana rolled her eyes.
"I like charms. Does that make me a freak?" Lana posed the smaller boy.
"Well. No.." Pettigrew said, backing down immediately. Lana chuckled looking back at Sirius and James.
"Lydia Halliwell, Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. And I'm Lana Birch."
"A pleasure." Lydia said softly, though she was studying them carefully. "Wasn't it you four who switched the bubotuber pus with the myrtlap essence in potions last term?"
An evil grin appeared on Sirius and James' faces. Remus on the other hand shook his head wearily and Peter gave an automatic chuckle, looking eagerly to James and Sirius, the obvious ringleaders of the little group.
"Yup," Sirius said proudly. Heard that went over quite well." He flashed what he seemed to think was a winning smile.
"No it didn't." Lydia said surly. "your little prank ruined my exam and cost me an OWL."
Sirius folded his hands together, a look most grave appearing on his face.
"I'm sorry." He said somberly. "Would you like one of mine?" he added, bursting into laughter with James, who ran a hand roughly through his hair, causing it to stand up a bit more.
Lydia scowled and rose from her seat, placing her book carefully in her bag, moving to the compartment door.
"It's been a pleasure, but I think I'll leave now." She muttered, a scowl on her porcelain skinned, pixie face.
Lana bit back a remark at Sirius.
"It was nice to meet you," she said honestly.
Lydia gave a deferential nod, her blue-black hair falling about her shoulders as she did so. She pretended the others in the compartment didn't exist. They would learn not to mess with her .
When she was gone Lana turned to Sirius, fighting back a laugh.
"That was rude!" She scolded, brushing her chestnut hair from her eyes as she glared at him, looking for all the world like a saber tooth tiger. He shrugged, seeming unconcerned.
"She's a Slytherin. No way you can trust her, probably cheated on that exam anyway."
"Doesn't mean it wasn't rude."
James shrugged. "She'll get over it." He said, supporting Sirius. Lana rolled her eyes, putting her bookmark in her book and setting it aside.
"So how were your summers?"
Sirius and James exchanges conspiratorial grins.
"Brilliant." They said in unison. "Padfoot spent the whole holiday at my place and Moony and Wormtail met us in Diagon Ally before we had to come here."
"Should I be worried by those looks?" she asked, turning to Remus.
He sighed slightly. "they have a bit more planned for Severus this year." He said resignedly, ignoring Peter's grin.
"They? You're not in on the game?"
"I'm not sure yet." he said quietly, gazing out the window.
"You okay?"
"I was sick not too long ago, just a bit tired." he assured her with a smile. "it's good to see you again." He added, his grin more heartfelt this time. She blushed a moment, though smiled back.
"Good to see you too. And glad you're feeling better."
James and Sirius snickered as Peter poked his mousy face into the corridor. "trolley's coming!" Lana raised an eyebrow at the two though said nothing.
"Pig..." she muttered, though made sure Peter didn't hear.
Soon they were all happily gorging themselves on pumpkin pasties and the like, speculating on what thy would do come start of term.
Lydia moved silently along the corridor again, trying to avoid the various groups and crowded compartments. Several chuckled as they saw her pass, though most seemed content to ignore her altogether. Several older seventh year Slytherins stopped her unexpectedly to talk.
"Hello." She said softly. She had not previously spoken with them much, they seemed to prefer their own company to any younger Slytherins. They were the most popular in and of their house, Tall, handsome and blond lucius Malfoy, his girlfriend; Narcissa Black, her sister Bellatrix and her boyfriend Rodolphus Lestrange and a few others she did not know. She thought their names were Nott, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Fifth year now?" the blonde haired leader asked. "All grown up..."
"Surprised I lasted this long, Malfoy?" She asked, a sardonic grin turning up the corners of her black painted lips.
"We look out for you... whether you know it or not," he replied coolly. She quirked an eyebrow.
"I'm certain you do, Lucius." She said darkly.
"You seem upset," Bellatrix put in, eying her shrewdly from beneath her heavy lids.
"I found the ones responsible for ruining my potions final." She said with a shrug. "I'm merely wondering how best to make them wish they were never born."
"Want help?" Narcissa asked with a wicked grin splitting her pretty face.
"Perhaps. I'm not sure yet. I'll let you know once I decide upon a course of action." Lydia replied, knowing better than to trust them.
"Who was it?" another in the group piped in.
"The marauders, of course." She growled."
"My little cousin, then?" Bellatrix asked, grinning more. Lydia's lip twitched.
"Oh, yes. Him and his charming friends."
Lucius cast her a knowing glance. There was another of their group who always had trouble with them.
"Consider it taken care of, Lydia.."
She raised her eyebrows. No one in slytherin gave a favor without expecting something in return.
"I can handle it." She said softly, face set.
"Oh believe me," Bellatrix said. "This one... is on the House," she added, chuckling at her own pun.
Lydia forced a sly grin but would be careful to watch her back.
"See you around, Lydia," Lucius said with a wave as they moved on down the corridor. The few others in the group waved at the fifth year, all having similar looks on their faces, as though they couldn't wait for something.
She nodded and murmured farewells to each of them, noting their expressions and logging away what pertenant information she could, resuming her search for an empty compartment so as to lay her own plans, both vengeful and defensive.
Most were occupied by chattering, excited students, except one at the end of the hall. She slid the door open and peered inside carefully.
A lone occupant sat with his back toward the door, potions books piled around. He seemed to be reading all of them at once.