Thanks to my reviewer !
Disclaimer : I do not own any of the characters, except Marpessa, Rose Gwen and some others !
What's in italic are scenes from the past ...
3. Secret Challenge
"You said 'yes' without even consulting us !"
"You could have just jinxed Snape ! Now we're in big trouble !"
Frank and Marpessa were not very happy of being involved in the challenge without their assents. Back in the Gryffindor Common Room, far from any Slytherins ears, they reminded how vicious Bellatrix Black could be. Her idea was not trustworthy.
"A prank and fight challenge. No rules, except secrecy. We do whatever we want. And every month, we meet here to find out which team's winning. And then, at Christmas, we put together every month results and the winners gain full powers over the losers."
And James had agreed for the four of them ...
"It didn't even occur to you that this whole thing might just be a trap ? I mean, how can we trust these four jerks ?" demanded Marpessa, full of anger.
"I just thought it'd be fun", said James, "Besides, we're a wining team, aren't we ?"
"Egoistical git", muttered Marpessa, sitting in an old armchair, near the fire. She glared at James and Sirius - the two of them were comfortably installed in a sofa, yawning widely. She whished her look could kick some ass.
"Not convinced, Cauldwell, are you ?" said Sirius, giving her his you-can't-resist-me smile. "Just consider it. James and I, top of the school" - Marpessa and Frank sighed - "Longbottom, the Defence Against Dark Arts number one. I mean, if this lot isn't a dark one ... An you, the best student in Transfiguration, you should be able to turn them into dung, eh ?"
"Anyway, it's not like if we have a choice" said Marpessa.
"Or if we can stand those Slytherins ..."
"That's the spirit, Longbottom !" said James, his thumbs up.
Frank groaned something to himself and he was about to reply when Alice interrupted them.
"Er ... Frank, you said you would help me in Potions"
"Ah, true. I er ... I'm coming, dear".
As Frank was standing up, Sirius reminded him in a hushed voice, so Alice couldn't hear him "Don't forget our next meeting with the four slugs tomorrow". Longbottom nodded and waved at Sirius, James and Marpessa.
"Well, I'm going to bed. Enough for tonight !"said Marpessa briskly, grabbing her book Flying Fears.
"Remember to keep all that secret, Cauldwell", said James who smirked when he read the book's title. But he knew he couldn't tease Marpessa.
"Why would I keep this secret when you are going to tell that challenge story to Remus and Peter ?" she replied hastily.
"Hum, first of all because you're used to keeping our little secrets"said Sirius, grinning. He was looking at some sixth-years girls who giggled.
"And also because you're sharing your dormitory with Head Girl Lily Evans." concluded James who blushed just by saying Lily's name.
Marpessa gave them an exasperated look and, seeing Remus and Peter coming, urged to her room.
It was true : she was used to keeping the Marauder's secrets. She remembered it too well. It happened five years ago.
"Are you OK, James ? What happened ?"
It was one in the morning and James was lying on the floor of the Gryffindor Common Room. Deer horns had appeared on his head and there was fur spots on his skin. He did seem to be ready to faint at any moment and Marpessa had to bring him to the Hospital Wing. It was a bit hard to escape from Madam Pomfresh piercing look.
"What have you done, Cauldwell ?" she asked in an anger tone.
"Tried to make him shut up ... Used Silence Charm ... Missed my spell", had she mumbled, blushing furiously.
"Silly girl !"
Then the truth was obvious to Marpessa as she heard, the next day, Remus Lupin calling James "Prongs". She always knew that the Marauders were always up to something, whispering in a Common Room Corner, but she would have never guessed that they were attempting to become Animagi. Sirius had tried to make her forget all about that with a Memory Charm, but, as subtlety wasn't something he knew very well, she had the time to send him a good old Bat-Bogey Hex.
It was one of the secrets she was keeping ...
"Hey, Marpessa ! Where were you ?"
A funny looking girl was standing in the dormitories stairs. It was Andromache Rose Hastings (who preferred to be refered as "Rose") a witch who had bright purple eyes and shiny black hair.
"I had to go to the library ..." said Marpessa, hiding her Flying Fears. She did not really like people to know she had vertigo. They just thought she liked to scream while playing Quidditch.
"Alone ?"
"Why not ?"
"You had a rendezvous ! Tell me !". Rose let out a scream of delight.
"Sure" said Marpessa, rolling her eyes, "If you don't mind, I'd like to go sleep ..."
"Grumpy, I see. Didn't go too well with your lover ?", she said, raising a questionning eyebrow. She thought it made her look mysterious.
"Good night Andromache !"
"That is no name of mine ! Call me Rose !"
"Ok, Andromache !"
"Repeat that and I'll Disiluse you !"
Rose was able to Disiluse all things on Earth, including humans. In fact, the only thing she couldn't Disiluse was herself.
"A challenge against the Slytherins ?" said quietly Remus. He nearly never took part in James and Sirius games and he did not feel any peculiar fun at the idea of hexing Snape, but this Prank and Fight Challenge pleased him. "It should be easy enough. With our Map".
"And your Cloak !", said Peter, looking at James with glowing eyes. Maybe Sirius thought that Peter was sometimes disgusting, but James really liked to have a regular fan.
"And our Mirrors", said James.
"And girls", said Sirius.
"Girls ?" said the three others, bemused.
"It'll be good for girl business, this challenge ...",explained Sirius, "They just love it when we're doing pranks".
"We're supposed to keep this secret, Padfoot !" reminded Remus.
"It was just a little joke ... Anyway, you're right, Moony. I don't think Evans would be really pleased with that, don't you think Prongs ?" teased Sirius.
"You should think of a carrier as a humorist", groaned James.
"Well, you can't blame me if she's persisting on thinking you are a complete idiot. I've been telling her for ages that you're the edge of cool. But, for some unknown reasons, she also thinks I'm a complete idiot, so she doesn't take my words very seriously ... Maybe Moony could do something for you ?"
"Yeah as if she would listen ..." mumbled Remus. He was the most grown up Marauder but he had no real authority on James and Sirius.