Chapter 2: Unexpected Changing of Events
April wasn't in the library anymore though. She found herself flying on a broom outside. The only problem was she was so surprised at the change in scenery and the cold weather outside that she fell right off the broom.
She cursed inwardly, and outwardly, as she fell to the ground almost fifty feet below her. Frantically, she searched her uniform for her wand but when she got it out, it fell to the ground. "Damn it, I'm too young to die this way, I swore it wouldn't happen until I made World Team!"
That's what Sirius heard as he walked around the grounds, surveying the damage done to the Whomping Willow, which was in slings after some smart ass first year tried to get at it. He looked up in time to see April falling not too far from the tree, her broom already lying on the ground, and swore as he took out his wand and pointed it at her falling body.
"Locomotor mortis!" His wand slowly guided April down to the ground and when she hit the grass, he ran over and dragged her out of the Whomping Willow's range. "Are you bloody insane! What were you doing up there? You shouldn't be flying around like that unless you know how to, that's why we have a Quidditch pitch."
April was thankful for the help and all, but deeply insulted by what he said. "Excuse me? Look buddy…" She stood up and fisted her hands on her hips. She was standing directly in front of him and though the top of her head only reached his chin, she looked him square in the eye. "I don't know who you think you are but I'm not exactly a beginner flier okay? I've been flying for probably a lot longer than you have so I think you need to just back off, all right?"
Sirius was taken aback by the snappy retort. She seemed like such a small little thing with her trim figure and delicate features. But he now knew better and didn't feel at all bad about laying into her some more. "Oh you're a great flier are you? Then please tell, what were you doing falling fifty feet from one of the best broomsticks in the world? Did your daddy buy it for you and you wanted to try it out?"
He was just getting more insulting by the minute! "Did my daddy buy it for me? I can tell you right now that he certainly did not because my broom is locked up in the Gryffindor locker rooms thank you very much. And that broom lying on the ground is not my broom. And if I want to fall from fifty feet up in the air then I'll damn well do just that. It's not my fault I just appear out of nowhere and happen to find myself on some random broom!"
"Appear out of no where huh?" Now that was interesting, he mused. The girl must be completely crazy too. He decided to see if he could push a couple more buttons. "Well I guess that's a reasonable excuse for attempting to commit suicide."
"Suicide! Why in bloody hell would I ever try to commit suicide? I was perfectly fine with my life until I met you." She said "you" in a disgusted voice. "Besides if I wanted to commit suicide I would have fallen from much higher up or stuck a freaking wand to my throat!" She narrowed her eyes. Standing up, she snatched her wand from the ground. "You don't believe me do you? I really did just come from nowhere! Not even ten minutes ago I was in the library with July…" She stopped mid-sentence. "Damn it! Where's July? Sorry to cut this short but I have to go now. Good-bye and have a nice life."
Sirius blinked. Well then, he thought, she's just gone totally got off subject; I thought we were talking about broomsticks. He shrugged and caught up to her close to the front doors. "So I've never seen you around before."
April wasn't in any mood to deal with him. "Uh huh…" She kept walking towards the large oak doors so she could get inside and get warm. She had to find July too.
"But you must have been here for awhile, you seem to know your way around well enough. Or maybe you don't… You are headed for the library you know that right?"
April sighed and stopped, turning to face him. "You know you're awfully annoying. Are you going to follow me around like a puppy or leave me alone?"
Sirius grinned. "Well, you're just the little vixen aren't you? That's all of the thanks I get for saving your life?" He noticed her shivering and frowned. "You know, most girls wear cardigans or sweaters instead of just a plain blouse… It's kind of chilly outside today." He also noticed her skirt was shorter than most girls dared to wear it but he didn't comment on that.
April smiled in a sarcastic way. "Oh thanks I didn't notice. Who are you anyways?"
Sirius bowed formally, then held out his hand. "Sirius Black, loyal friend and best looking of the Marauders. And who might you be Vixen?"
"Don't call me that. My name is April Merriwether. Hey you're hurting my hand let go!" He had taken a firmer hold of her hand, squeezing a bit too hard for comfort.
"What did you say your name was?"
"Are you deaf?" She wrenched her hand loose from his grip and shook it, eyeing him warily. "April Merriwether. I'm looking for my sister, my twin actually. Her name's July…"
Sirius had gone shades paler when he'd heard the name and a bit more after hearing July's. It can't be, he thought astonished. "Is that some kind of joke? Because it's not in the least bit funny."
April stared at him; he had gone from pale to angry in less than a second! Then she sighed. "Yes. I'm lying," she replied sarcastically. "My name's not really April, I'm just joking because I always joke about who I am. Stop staring at me like that!"
He couldn't help it; he had to ask. "You err… You wouldn't happen to be a Veela would you?" He winced when her gaze shot daggers at him.
"Yes I am. Partly. And what's it to you?" She didn't like people making comments about her being a half-breed.
"I can't believe this. This is either some sick joke or it's really happened… All these years… You need to come with me right now. What house are you in?" He wanted to make sure this wasn't some absurd hoax the vixen was playing. He took her hand and started dragging down various hallways.
April struggled to keep up with his long strides; she was almost running. "Gryffindor, what's going on and why are you yanking my arm out of its socket?" When she found herself at the portrait of the fat lady, she beamed. "Someone I recognize! Hey what's up Fat Lady?"
The Fat Lady simply stared at her and blinked, looking to Sirius. "Your friend needs some help Mr. Black. Password!"
"Hog swash." Sirius replied, and dragged April through the portrait hole when it opened up.
"How come she looked at me like that? We go back a long way, we're best pals! You can let go of me now I promise I won't go running off." She snapped it out, sick of being pushed around by some kid she didn't even know. But she took one look around the common room and stopped dead in her tracks, Sirius tried to tug her but she shook her head no.
"What's wrong now?" His tone was impatient, but when he saw her shocked expression and the color leak off her face, he frowned, patiently waiting for a response while she surveyed the room.
"I… I don't know anyone here… Are you sure, this is the common room? The Gryffindor one?" She swallowed, taking another look around and not noticing anyone who remotely resembled any of the Gryffindors she knew.
Sirius was still frowning when she fixed her worried gaze on him. "You'll understand soon enough… Well after we do anyways." He took her hand, more gently this time, and led her to the grandfather clock. He pushed it aside and beckoned April forward.
"We?" She hesitated only a minute before stepping forward and through the grandfather clock's opening.
"We, meaning myself and the other Marauders. You'll meet them soon enough, though I must say I'm quite surprised you don't remember." He grinned. "We had some good times back then in first year."
April blinked then glared. "We never had any good times, nor will we ever have any good times."
"That hurts Vix." He laughed when she snarled at the nickname. "You're just a little spit fire aren't you? Don't be shy let's go we don't have all day."
April purposely dragged her feet just to spite him and grinned. "I don't seem to be able to walk that fast; so sad. HEY!" She felt her feet leave the floor and found herself being carried over Sirius' shoulder. "Put me the bloody hell down now!"
"Just helping because you complained about your walking disability. Ah here we are." He carried her through a doorway into a large empty classroom. He set April down at a desk and she sat on it. "Featherweight, that's what you are."
She ignored what she thought might be an insult. "So why are we here… Alone." She blinked and looked around. "This place is crawling with bugs and it's really rather disgusting."
Sirius laughed. "I'm liking you more by the minute. You don't mind the bugs, or you shouldn't. They're not going to bother you trust me." He walked to the old, dusty desk and wrenched open the top drawer. He took out a little mirror and said something to it that April couldn't quite hear or make out. He put the mirror back in the desk and sat on top of it facing April. "This is pretty cool."
"Why were you checking yourself out in that mirror? And talking to your reflection… That's only a bit conceited." She said it with no emotion and for some reason is made Sirius roar with laughter.
"That James' job not mine!"
"James who? You're confusing me more every time you talk. Maybe you should just stop altogether."
"Sticks and stones love," Sirius winked and decided to answer her question. "James Potter of course. He thinks he's the best looking out of the four of us but- what?" Her face had gone pale again and the way in which it could go from flustered to pale in mere seconds awed him.
"J-James Potter?" Her voice was shaky; she couldn't help it though. Now the name Sirius Black popped into her head, though she couldn't completely remember where she had heard it before. But James Potter, that was something she knew very well. She did play quidditch with his son after all and James Potter wasn't alive anymore. "That can't be… James Potter's dead."
Sirius' expression hardened quickly and he leaned forward. "He can't be dead I just talked to him in that mirror. It's how the Marauders communicate to one another…"
April shook her head, her eyes wide and unsure. "No, that can't be right… James and Lily Potter were both killed by Voldemort twelve years ago. James can't be alive; it's not possible. How old are you exactly Sirius?"
Sirius was still looking at her intently when he answered carefully. "Sixteen, I'm a sixth year just like you are. Now back to James-" He stopped when the door opened and three more boys walked into the room. He looked back at April sharply. "We'll finish this later." Quick as anything, his expression softened and he grinned sneakily at his three friends: James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. Sirius introduced April to them one by one.