Last chapter with my corrector well, the story will be corrected anyway ...
It's the sequel to chapter 9 (or should I say 8 ?)
10. Arthritis and Oil
Sirius's tail wagging, he leaded the girls in a small path that he, James, Remus and Peter had made during their seven years of wandering in the Forbidden Forest. He knew it by heart and had took it no later than a week ago, during full moon. Marpessa's heartbeats were now absolutely normal and she was no longer breathing like she had been drowned in the Vanishing Cabinet. Rose was still peering everywhere in order to discover the truth about the Crumple-Horned Snorkack that was supposed to live in the Forbidden Forest. But maybe Thomas Lovegood was a bit weird, after all ... Maybe that was why he kept wearing those big pink glasses which, he said, were making him able to see through the walls. Suddenly, Rose's purple eyes fell upon something big that might be a Crumple-Horned Snorkack.
"Oh ! Marpessa, a Thestral ! There !" muttered Rose. "Hagrid might be near ..."
"D'you think this one's having arthritis ?"
"How could we tell ... ?"
The two of them had always been able to see Thestrals, at least, always since they were at Hogwarts. Both had seen Death a while ago. They did not really like to be reminded of it each time they saw Thestrals, while their fellow students saw nothing but thin air. Marpessa, who was living with her mother and aunt in the Muggle World, had seen her teenage cousin committing suicide when she was ten. On the other hand, in the Wizard world, a six years old Rose had seen her little baby sister die at birth in St-Mungo Hospital. The girls said nothing for a while, staring at the Thestral. As far as he was concerned, Sirius had not yet seen Death (though this would unfortunately happen), but, as a dog, he could smell the strong blood smell of the Thestral.
"Ah girls, found yeh !"
It was the familiar voice of Hagrid who woke up Marpessa and Rose.
"Yeh shouldn' have moved ..."
The Giant Gamekeeper was closely followed by a triumphant looking Lily and threeupset Hufflepuff boys.
"We were a bit lost ..." explained Marpessa.
"And this dog ?" asked Lily.
"Found it wandering ..."
Finally, Marpessa, Lily and Rose discovered how a Thestral could be relieved of its arthritis. None of them had gone on with Care of the Magical Creatures, so they had some little trouble with the cure. It was quite simple to understand : a bit of oil on the joints. But, in a more practical way, it was a bit like trying to wash a reluctant dog, except that a dog was less gigantic and less dangerous than a Thestral. Sirius by her side, Marpessa was distracting the Thestral with fresh meat as well as she was watching the dog beside her who was eyeing the steak with envy. In the same sime, Rose was pouring the oil on the Thestral's joints while Lily was refilling her friend's teapot with oil. The Hufflepuff boys were experiencing more problems than the Gryffindor girls, as only one of them could see the Thestrals. The two others, including the one feeding an invisible mouth, had turned in a delicate shade of green in the face. While the students were oiling the Thestrals, Hagrid was checking their hooves and their large wings. But it seemed like the Thestrals were perfectly well, as they proved by nearly eating of one the Hufflepuff. Hopefully Hagrid was able to stop them and the boy only had his robes ate, and a little part - but only a little - of his underpants.
It must have been around midnight when Hagrid and the students finally returned to Hogwarts grounds. Their detention over, none of them waste his time outside the castle, as they were so happy to see Hogwarts numberous lighten windows. After wishing goodnight to Hagrid (not like the Hufflepuffs who had fled as soon and as fast as they could), Lily, Marpessa and Rose walked up to the castle, along with Sirius who was still following Marpessa.
"I managed to get us a triple rendezvous at the Hogsmeade Trip !" announced suddenly Lily.
"Really ?" said Marpessa with absolutely no enthousiasm in her voice. Since when Lily cared about rendezvous ? That Potter boy had a really strong grip on her ...
"With whom ?" asked Rose, not interested either.
"The tree Hufflepuff boys !" exclaimed brightly Lily. "They're really cute, aren't they ?"
Sirius and Marpessa groaned together.
"Er ... " mumbled Rose, but then she smirked.
"What's so funny ?" said Marpessa throwing her friend a dark glare.
"I know someone who won't be very happy about that ..." said Rose, sniggering and winking with no subtlety.
"Potter has already his reddish dumb girl !" said briskly Lily.
"Yeah ... and this relationship of his has nothing to do with the fact that you're suddenly interested in three Hufflepuff empty blocks ?"
"She's right, Lily", said Rose, "You're acting weird, aren't you ? I've seen it in my cards, but I'd never thought you'd start arranging rendezvous because of Potter ..."
"You have a problem with him and you should settle this with him ..."
"And not involve us ! We could have other plans, couldn't we ?"
Marpessa glanced at Rose, making sure this "plans" weren't concerning Sirius and her. But Rose had became slighty pink in the face and she choked.
"Plans ?" repeated Lily, looking suspiciously at her friend. "You didn't have a rendezvous already, did you ?"
"No, no, I just er ... "
"You just what ?" asked Lily, very softly. After all, even if Potter had the strange talent of making her go crazy, Lily really cared about her friends. And Rose seemed to have something important on her mind.
"MaybIwouliktoasomeone ..." mumbled Rose.
"Oh ! She would have liked to ask someone", translated Marpessa, smiling gently at a blushing Rose. "Remus, isn't it ?"
"Yes ..."
"This is so cute ! Lupin's the only sensed Marauder", said Lily.
"Right", said Marpessa, scratching Sirius behing his ears, so he did not groan at Lily. "And you, you'll have to keep your mouth shut about this Remus affair", she added in hushed voice to the shaggy dog.
"Still talking to the dog, Marpessa ?" asked Rose, a little exasperated. "You know, he doesn't understand you."
"What did you say, Miss-I'-m-looking-for-Crumple-Horned-Snorkack-in-the-middle-of-the-Forbidden-Forest-without-warning-my-friend ?"
"Ah well, no one's perfect, not even me."
"So, rendezvous tomorrow ?"asked Lily, still not giving up her idea. "Anyway they already agreed."
"Where were you, Padfoot ? You've missed the prank of the year ! Remus and I managed to turn Snivelly bald ! Not a single hair resisted our jinx ! And Madam Pomfrey's still not able to make new hair grow on his beautiful shining head ... Unfortunately, Filch caught us and we got a double detention, but it was worthed it !" exclaimed James, when Sirius, in his gorgeous human form, entered the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Moony, Moony, you're becoming a bad guy, aren't you ?" said Sirius, in a mock tone of disappointment. "I don't know if I'll still hang out with you ... What would my mum say ?"
"It's his fault, you should know ! He said it was a simple Stumbling Spell !" said Remus, pointing James accusingly. "So, where were you this evening ? Concluding with a fan, again ?"
"Spying, and you two should be really happy about that !" said Sirius, clapping his hand and sending his friends a glittering you-would-be-desesparate-without-me smile.
"Hey, don't smile at us like that, we're not girls ..." groaned James who had never really achieved to make girls sighing with one of his smile. "And what's that story of spying ?"
"I followed Head Girl Lily in the Forbidden Forest ... You know, she had a detention because she was whispering sweet words to you, remember ?"
"Sort of ..." mumbled James through clenched teeth.
Even Remus couldn't help but sniggering.
"She has a rendezvous with a Hufflepuff block tomorrow."
"You're kidding !"
"No I was there, I swear !"
"I don't really understand why you followed her", said Remus, his eyes narrowing, "You usually have better things to do than spying James's love of his life."
"Moony ! Hush !"
"Yeah, you're talking too much, bad boy !" snapped Sirius. And he turned around, so Remus could only see his back (still, very beautiful for a back), while he faced James. "Wanna know which Hufflepuff block's going out with your Head Girl, Prongs ?"
During James and Sirius chat about Lily, Remus stood up near his friend, thinking hard. Sirius had a girlfriend, no doubt. This would explain his lack of flirting, his frequent disapearances and his interest for Lily, and especially for Lily's friends. Remus smirked, looking at the fire burning. He was delighted and he muttered to himself : "Wanna know which Lily's friend's going out with Padfoot ?". James would have understood this too, if only he was able to control himself when things turned around Lily Evans.