long time no see I've lost my corrector for a while, so this chapter's a bit ... well not as good as would like maybe, excuse me It's slighty longer that I expected, but you konw, this love stories ... XD after that, the Challenge will be more important (they'll calmed down a bit about their emotions), then enjoy !
> I do not own Harry Potter's characters ...
11. Hogsmeade Trip
The week preceeding the Hogsmeade Trip had been calm, except for the detention and a few incidents involving the challengers. Marpessa and Frank got themselves shut in the Astronomy Tower. And Rodolphus and Bellatrix were found inconscious, their skin covered with little purple pimples, in a cupboard of the third floor - not to mention that Snape was still bald. The fact that other people than the Marauders were involved in those incidents with the Slytherins quite disturbed the teachers. It had the great advantage to mix their investigations and the Challenge remained a secret yet. On Saturday morning, Amelia Bones had call a meeting the morning before the Hogsmeade Trip, announcing that the Gryffindors had the advantage for the month of October.
On Saturday took place the first Hogsmeade Trip of the year. Sirius was going out with the Slytherin girl who had given him the boys bathrooms' password. James and Euphrosyna were - of course - hand in hand, looking stupidly at the glittering orange Halloween vitrines. But James was not as radiant with joy as he used to be on his previous dates with the Grace, as he was looking forward to meet Lily and his Hufflepuff. Talking of Lily, Marpessa and Rose, they were escorted by the three boys and only Lily seemed to be happy - not only happy, but really delighted - about this triple date idea.. As far as they were concerned, Marpessa and Rose, grimacing everytime their eyes met, had a lot of trouble distinguishing their own Hufflepuff. They had to act drastically.
"I think I'm again hanging with yours, Rose", said Marpessa, when they entered Honeyduckes. "Well, can't really tell, in fact ..." she added, glancing at the two Hufflepuff boys.
They reminded her trolls, except that trolls were a lot more fun ...
"You know what ? We'll keep the one we have now, and we'll marked them", proposed Rose, deeply annoyed, a bit like if she was forced to assist a five History of Magic classes with Professor Binns in a row. Even the displays of hundreds of different Halloween candies could not cheer her.
"Brilliant ... " said Marpessa with no real enthusiasm.
Then, she raised her wand, touched slightly her Hufflepuff's cheek. A little red cross appeared on it. Rose's Hufflepuff cross was blue. None of the boys did even think of protesting ...
"What on earth are you doing, girls ?" asked Lily, her hands on her hips. She had appeared suddenly in front of her two friends. Along side came her Hufflepuff, his hands full of Bertie Bott's Every flavor Beans, Special and Limited Halloween Edition.
"Same thing farmers are doing with their cows", groaned Marpessa, her eyes rolling.
Rose sniggered, but her face became as stern as possible when her Hufflepuff took her hand in his.
In short, the only one that escaped the treacherous paths of love was Remus, and only Remus. Indeed, sitting with Peter in the Three Broomsticks, he was seriously thinking of making other friends, as his actual relationships seemed all to go crazy ...
For our friends, the trip reached its climax at noon, when Sirius, James, Remus, Lily, Marpessa, Rose, Euphrosyna, the Slytherin girl and the three Hufflepuff boys entered Madam Puddifoot's teashop at the same time. With all the subtlety he could manage, Sirius was checking Marpessa every two seconds, making sure the Hufflepuff hands wouldn't wander too far under the table. James and Lily glanced so often at each other, it almost seemed like they had been hexed. But everytime their eyes met, they pretended to gaze at the little lighted pumpkins floating everywhere in the teashop. Rose wasn't listening a word of what her talkative Hufflepuff boy could say. She was more insterested by what was in her cup of coffee, as she was trying to see the future in it. No sign of someone really interesting for now ... Finally, in his corner, Remus was quietly taking notes, trying to guess who was Sirius's girlfriend. But, the answer soon came all by itself ...
"Hey you ! You don't touch her, you prat !" screamed Sirius, jumping off his chair, his eyes staring straight at the Hufflepuff dating Marpessa. "I saw your hand slipped !"
"What ?" said the boy, extremely bemused, staring blankly at the furious Marauder.
He had just tried to grip a little more tightly that Gryffindor girl. He didn't even remember her name.
"I said you don't lay a hand on her or I'll kick your ass so badly you'll land on the Moon !" shouted Sirius, like an angry guard dog.
"What's your problem ?" asked another Hufflepuff, Lily's one. "Looking for trouble, are you ?"
"Hey you, no one rings you !" interupted James, ignoring a tea-splashed Euphrosyna. He had reversed his cup of tea, as he had stood up violently.
"No, Prongs ! Let me handle him !" yelled Sirius.
Now, James, Sirius and the three Hufflepuff boys were standing up, their wands out. Marpessa, a little taken aback, was relieved that her annoying and endless rendezvous took a wrong turn. The whole teashop was looking at the students, waiting in silence for the outcome of this strange scene. Even the skeletons hung on the walls seemed interested : their heads had raised a little. The fat and round waitress was staring at them with apprehension, worried about the possible estate of her teashop after a Hogwarts students fight. But, hopefully, Remus stood up and said calmly :
"We should all get out of here. I think it's just a small misunderstanding and a bit of fresh air -"
"Did we ask you something, Mr Know-it-all ?" snapped a Hufflepuff, the blue cross one.
"Oh well ..." sighed Remus, pulling out his wand.
"Remus !" cried Marpessa, getting on her feet."Sirius ! James ! Who d'you think you are ? This is absolutely none of your business !"
"Right ! It's so typical of you, Potter !" added Lily, fiercily "Moreover, you've got your own dates !"
"Girls, let them do ..." muttered Rose, feebly. "It's starting to be fun ..."
They were now nine angry students, glaring at each other and ready to send varieties of jinxes and hexes. But then, the teashop door opened and a fresh wind brought new Hogwarts students. Lucius Malfoy, along with some others Slytherins - including Bellatrix Black -, entered Madam Puddifoot's Teashop with what seemed to be satisfaction on their faces.What could they be doing in a shop like Madam Puddifoot's teashop? It was almost like they had guessed a batlle was preparing between the Marauders and the Hufflepuff boys, and as the Slytherins would not miss a chance to make trouble ...
"New Challenge, Potter ? Against that ?" hissed Malfoy, sneering.
"Malfoy ... Find yourself a new girlfriend ?" asked James, nodding at Bellatrix. "Found her in a zoo, didn't you ? Even in such a place, you could have found better ..."
Malfoy, Bellatrix and James smiled coldly, as the others around them remained silent a while. Surpsingly, the Slytherins' interuption had calmed down the atmosphere and the Hogwarts students drawn all attention no more.
"Well, we'll go now !' exclaimed Marpessa, grabbing her Hufflepuff. "Oh !" she added, looking at him more closely, "It's yours Rose, his cross is blue."
She pushed the Hufflepuff towards her friend who could not achieve faking a faint smile.
"Thank you", said Rose, grimacing.
"Wait !" said Sirius, irritated. "We haven't finished yet !"
"We don't need your help, Black !" replied briskly Marpessa. "And I think you're busy today, Mr Womanizer !"
She left Madam Puddifoot's teashop with the good Hufflepuff, followed by Rose and hers. But Lily stood still in front of the Marauders, furious against James. Her face had taken a special purple shade, a colour only James Potter could make Lily Evans turn in. Before joining her friends outside, she took her Hufflepuff boyfriend's face in her hands and looked a it a second, wondering if she would dare ... then she kissed him impudently. James's mouth fell wide open, but not a sound could get out of it. His insides were burning and a sudden wave of rage would have made him kill the Hufflepuff, if only Sirius and Remus had not grabbed him firmly. Stunned, James watched Lily exiting the teashop, walking proudly, her face illuminated by a mocking smile that didn't suit her well. The Slytherins were sniggering in their corner ready to spread every sort of rumours about Head Girl Evans.
James had forgot all about Euphrosyna who was still trying to wash her dress, stained with tea. The Grace shouted at him a long time (something that sounded like a break-up), but James heard nothing and had to be evacuated from Madam Puddifoot's teashop by Sirius and Remus. He was now totally single.
The Hogsmeade Trip finally ended for Marpessa, Rose and Lily. They left their Hufflepuff boys at the entrance of the village and headed silently to the Castle. Each of them had a specific Marauder in mind ... The three girls were about to enter Hogwarts Castle when Marpessa saw the dark silhouette of a great shaggy dog sitting near the Whomping Willow.
"I er ... forget to lock my broom properly ..." she mumbled to her friends, leaving them swiftly.
She walked towards Sirius whose tail wagged at the sight of the young girl. She softly petted his head and asked :
"D'you want to go on the lake's bank ?"
He nodded with his large head and followed her with obedience.
"You still didn't tell me what was that letter about", said Marpessa, comfortably sitting on large and flat rock. "Bad news ?"
"As always", hushed the human Sirius, shaking his silky black hair. "Their Muggle-hating problem is even worst than it used to be. If only it's possible ..."
"Meaning ?"
"They really think Muggle-born wizards should be eradicated. What a family ..."
"Nothing new ..." sighed Marpessa. Her stepmother had expressed many times the wish to see her "eliminated". It wasn't even affecting her anymore, as her stepmother was also among the few witches and wizards that thought Muggle-Hunting should become a sport. The only thing Marpessa really hated about her stepmother was that she had poisonned all the childhood and teenagehood of Sirius. She would never forgive Mrs Black.
"True, but now, they actually have someone ready to er ... act ..." mumbled Sirius, scratching the back of his head.
"What ?" exclaimed Marpessa, her eyes growing bigger.
"It seems like they found some kind of dark wizard ..." he explained, still scratching hard his head.
"Lemme see this ..." she said, moving behind him. "And how come they share the news with you ?"
"They just wanted to tell me they'd consider me a Mudblood from now on." said Sirius grimly.
"Then we're two" said Marpessa, stroking Sirius's hair. "Oh, I'm afraid you'll need another flea collar."
"Oh no, I thought I got ride of these ... But I ... I don't know if I must consider their warning seriously or if it's just another one of their whims", muttered Sirius, grabbing Marpessa and making her sit on his knees.
"They can't eradicate the Muggle-born", she said, caressing his handsome face.
"Still ... This dark wizard story's souding ... disturbing ..."
"Then, we'll fight !" Marpessa was trying to sound as cheery as possible. She hated to see this sad look on Sirius's beautiful face.
"You're right", he said, smiling at her naive attempt.
He paused, gazing lovingly at her.
"That Hufflepuff block didn't touch you, did he ? 'Cause if he laid a single finger on you, I'll -"
But he was interrupted by a kiss and magically forget everything about Hufflepuff blocks.