It only took a few weeks for the team's elation to die. Of course, the lack of Quidditch practices simply encouraged the Marauders to begin some pranking. Most of it was against Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, but I was still worried. One day in the middle of January, James had gotten up on a chair in the middle of the Common Room and made an announcement.
"We're planning the ultimate prank against Slytherin, and we need all of you!" he called out to everyone in the room. Most of the older kids just smiled indulgently and went back to work, but everyone else crowded around him as he spoke.
I groaned and walked away, complaining aloud, "Why can't we just all get along?" Despite my claims that I was back to Gryffindor, I still liked most of the Slytherins. They all feared Bella's wrath, since she despised me, but Severus, Rabastan, Selena, and Annie would occasionally nod or smile to me in the halls. Even though Bella ruled the second years, Lucius Malfoy was respected by the whole House, and he still didn't mind me. That I liked, though I had the tendency to blush furiously whenever he approached.
I was snapped back to the present by Brianna Jorkins, tapping me on the shoulder. "Be careful about what you say," she muttered, staring pointedly at Shannon Helta. Shannon was glaring at me with that murderous look of hers. "Some people don't quite believe that you're as disposed toward Gryffindor as you say you are, and they'll use things like that against you."
I nodded my thanks and started out of the portrait hole, but Brianna followed me, still talking. "The only girls in my year are Shannon and Alice Gervere. Your name sometimes comes up, and they both believe that you're just a Slytherin spy. Shannon says that she sees her sister smiling at you in the halls, and you wink back, and Alice says that you're the most difficult player on the team. I told them that you aren't like that, but everyone's convinced. You could get in a lot of trouble that way, and you'd better be careful. Jason Lovegood and I are the only ones who actually believe your sincerity. You should-"
"I really can take care of myself, Brianna," I interrupted. "They can believe whatever they want, and as long as they don't attack me or anything over this, I'll be fine. But thanks anyway." I quickened my pace, and left Brianna alone in the corridor, at a loss.
Running to Hagrid's cabin's door, I knocked hard, trying not to think about Brianna's speech. "Come on in!" called out his cheery voice.
I came in, still breathing hard. "Hi, Hagrid. How are you?"
His eyes were concerned. "Yeh haven't visited in a while. I was worried that yeh might've started with the bloody Slytherins again."
I shook my head. "You also have something against them?" I asked incredulously. "Why does this whole world hate them except me?"
Hagrid poured a cup of tea for me, and another for himself. "I s'pose that's jus James and Sirius's influence on me. Though they are a tricky lot, remember."
I took a sip of tea and grimaced. "What are the Marauders doing here?" Now they were everywhere- on the Quidditch field, in the Common Room, and now, even in Hagrid's hut!
"Oh, they're also friends," Hagrid said gruffly. "Though if yeh ask me, they wouldn' mind bein yer friends, too. Specially Sirius. I mentioned yer name one time, and his face turned redder than this tea kettle."
I groaned. "That was probably after Quidditch practice. We don't get along on the field at all. It doesn't help that half the school is convinced that I fancy him, including Sirius himself." I winced as I remembered the conversation we had had on the pitch a few weeks before.
Hagrid smiled then. "Don't be too sure Sirius doesn't fancy you. His mates seem to think so."
I didn't like the way this conversation was heading, so I changed the subject and ended the conversation soon after. As I got up to leave, I noticed out the window that the Marauders were approaching the hut. I walked out, trying to appear nonchalant, but James spotted me.
"Oy! Magda! I didn't see you at the prank planning session."
I scowled. "I have no interest in your childish little games. This is school, not summer camp."
As they walked past me, I heard Peter mutter under his breath, "or maybe you just don't want your precious little Slytherins to be affected."
I spun around and grabbed him by his robes. "Excuse me? I didn't quite get that," I said, teeth clenched. Sirius held up a warning hand.
"Easy, Magda. He didn't really mean it. But we do have to know if you're planning to alert the Slytherins about this prank. I don't want to be planning this for months only to discover that it was all for naught."
My eyes flashed angrily, but then I thought up an idea to calm them down. "Here's the deal. I don't want four people to be affected. If you don't want me ruining your plans, don't touch them."
James nodded slowly. "That's reasonable," he said finally. "Who?"
I paused. This was going to be the hard part. "Annie Luvre…"
"Done."
"Selena Helta and Rabastan Lestrange…"
At Rabastan's name, Sirius looked unhappy, but Remus and he exchanged glances for a moment and he nodded at last.
Now was the name that I knew would be a problem. "Severus Snape."
James shook his head. "No deal. Snivellus is going to be the highlight of the joke."
I stood firm. "Then every Slytherin will be aware of what you're planning." Just because they couldn't stand each other didn't mean that I was backing down.
James looked a bit nervous for a moment, and then turned to the other Marauders. They began whispering among themselves, with Remus continuously shaking his head, and Peter agreeing to whatever James was saying. Sirius looked torn, but that didn't stop James from announcing, "Then you are hereby banished from Gryffindor Tower until this prank is completed. Longbottom will be changing the password, and no one will tell you the new ones. You have ten minutes to get your things."
I stared at him disbelievingly. After considering his words for a moment, I realized just how much power he had. I wouldn't go to a teacher, not after last time, and everyone who mattered answered to the Marauders. Lily or Emmeline would try to help me out, but they would be unable to fight James. He seemed serious enough that even Lily couldn't dissuade him.
"Nine," came James's sharp voice. "You asked for this. Drop Snivellus, and we'll let it go. Since no matter what you say, he'll be affected, you may as well just listen to me now and keep quiet."
But I had too much of that fabled Gryffindor stubbornness to let this go. I stomped slowly up to the Fat Lady, and gave her the old password. She frowned at me. I had given the wrong password. I was too late.
"Pssst!" I heard someone whisper. I turned around and spotted Lily, carrying my bags. "Sirius Black came up to the castle and told me what was going on, so I'd have time to pack your things. They are SO obnoxious!"
I nodded and took a bag. "Come on, I know where I can stay." We walked silently for a bit, and then I spoke up again. "Sirius told you…why?"
Lily shrugged. "He probably knew that if you didn't have anything, you'd get them in trouble. I just can't believe them! They should be in Slytherin, after the way they acted. And the way everyone just let them! Why did they decide to excommunicate you, anyway?" she asked curiously.
I sighed. "I threatened to tell the Slytherins about the prank if they didn't spare the ones who were decent to me. James balked at Severus's name."
Lily laughed. "Well, that's baiting Potter. You know that the Marauders despise Snape."
We had reached the Room of Requirement by now, and I paced in front of it, concentrating on my bedroom at home. When I opened the door, my bedroom awaited.
"Excellent!" Lily cried out. All of my books and clothes were there, and even my Muggle computer. I knew it wouldn't work inside Hogwarts, but it still felt like home. I glanced at my watch and frowned.
"It's almost curfew," I said quickly. "You'd better hurry back. Good night."
"G'night," Lily responded, and left. I looked around. Things could be worse, I realized. If I told the Slytherins that James was planning something, things would be worse. Maybe next time, I'd just keep my mouth shut…
