So...I updated the "Summary," although I don't particularly like it, it'll do for now. Currently I'm procrastinating from doing my summer reading assignment or my film studies project, both seem equally unattractive. So, since I was in a good mood from my shopping trip (flip flops and pretty serpent green shirt from Pac Sun!) I decided to go ahead and update! Thanks to readers/reviewers,

XOXO

L.S.

6.5: Part Three - Hogwarts Life; Crimson and Emerald Collide

"Pass the chocolate ice-cream would you, mate?" Remus asked Peter before taking a bite of his double chocolate fudge cake.
"Mm...this was a great idea," James grinned happily, stuffing an entire slice of pumpkin pie into his mouth before continuing, "I told you today was going to be a great day!"
"That's disgusting, Prongs," Remus stated as Sirius laughed in amusement, staring at the crumbs that had flown from James's mouth.
"Lemon Meringue," Peter sighed heavily, taking a huge bite out of his own cake as he passed the ice-cream to his werewolf friend, "Yummy!"

Sirius shook his head and stood up, looking around for one of the millions of house elves in the kitchens to ask for a cup of pumpkin juice. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Vulpe stumble into the kitchen with an angry red hand print upon her right cheek and her wrist being cradled by her left hand.

"Vulpe?"

Vulpe's head shot up in surprise when she heard her name and dread filled her as well as worry. Instinctfully, she glanced behind herself - praying Rodolphus had not decided to follow her. After a moment of silence, Vulpe finally turned to Sirius with hesitance, noticing his mates in the background.

"What are you doing here?" Vulpe managed to inquire as she pushed the weight from her toes to her heels and back again in a smooth motion.
"Eating," Sirius responded shortly, gently taking her hand his own, "What happened to you?"
"Your brother - my brother - our brothers," Vulpe mumbled in reply, her gaze falling to the floor as she sighed deeply.

"Regulus? What did that little bastard do to you?" Sirius inquired with an infuriated expression upon his face, "I'm going to kill that little rat!"
"You can't," Vulpe informed him as she pulled away from him and sat on the stool that he had stood up from, "If you do, Rodolphus will know that Regulus wasn't lying and I'll be dead before you can say Avada."
"Wait...so Rodolphus did this?" Sirius motioned to her wrist, wincing at the sight before adding, "Why aren't you in the hospital wing?"

"Sure...I can see it now," Vulpe responded sarcastically, "How'd you get those hand shaped injuries, Ms. Lestrange? Oh...I fell down the stairs."
"Fine," Sirius huffed before turning to Remus, "How about some help here, Moony?"
"Of course," Remus stood, surprise written across his face as he took his wand from within his pocket.
"Grand way to meet your mates," Vulpe commented sarcastically to Sirius before adding to the others, "Vulpecula Lestrange, by the way."

James grinned happily, "James Potter, pleased to finally meet your acquaintance. Thanks for the great advice about Lily, you're a life saver."
Vulpe raised an eyebrow in amusement, but merely replied, "You're welcome."
"There," Remus said softly, letting his wand dropped to his side, "It'll be sore for a while, but the bone has been mended."
"Bone?" Vulpe repeated in awe before letting her head the table in exhaustion and mewing a muffled, "Ow."

Sirius tried to conceal a grin and rubbed her back, "It'll be okay, Vulpe. There are only two days left until Winter Break, that's plenty of time to hide you."
"Ugh...I wish," Vulpe responded with a groan before adding, "I've got major problems planned out for me for Winter Break...like meeting the Dark Lord. Do you think it'll be completely terrifying?"
"You're doing what?" The four boys exclaimed in surprise, their faces bore expressions of shock.

"Yes, I've been dying to tell you," Vulpe replied calmly, sitting up once more before turning to Sirius, "I'm going to this super exclusive ball - the annual Malfoy Assemblage. At the end of the ball, when the Ministry Officials and the 'less worthy' members leave, a Marking Ceremony will take place."

"You're getting the Dark Mark?" Sirius inquired, a knowing expression upon his face and his eyes inquisitive as well as fearful.
"No... I refused on some small level," Vulpe informed him with a frown, "Rodolphus is infuriated and I think if Rabastan had known I was going to chicken out, then he would have too."
"So, if you aren't getting a mark, then why are you required to meet Voldemort?" James inquired with a curious expression upon his face.

"Customary for all of the prestigious families to meet their Lord," Vulpe responded with a shrug before she turned to Sirius once more, "Guess who is getting the mark?"
"Regulus," Sirius replied immediately with a look of contempt, "He was always a real pushover, the idiot should grow a backbone."
"Yeah...well, in the eyes of the Slytherins - he has one," Vulpe retorted, rolling her eyes at the thought before adding, "I don't know what I'm going to do when I face the creep."

"What do you mean?" Remus inquired with a curious expression upon his face as the others moved closer to hear the answer.
"Obviously, as we're still pretty young, Voldemort thinks it's a good idea to leave an impression upon each of us," Vulpe informed him with a grimace at the thought, "We have to chat one-on-one with the freak for a couple of moments."
"That's dangerous! He'll kill you," Sirius exclaimed, his fist clenched tightly in anger, "He supposed to be some great Legilimens master, he'll know if you're lying without a second thought."

"Thanks, Sirius, that was a real comforting thought you just provided," Vulpe informed him with sarcasm before pensively adding, "This is important - I do not want carnations of any sort at my funeral. Oh, and you had better not stutter when you're giving my eulogy, got that?"

"You're not going to die," James assured her with a grin, adding, "We'll just teach you Occulmency."
"I have two days, not two months Potter!" Vulpe retorted with a heavy sigh as she ate a piece of chocolate cake off of Sirius's plate, "Mm...this is good."
"Well then, if we can't insure your safety, then you can't go," Sirius announced with a determined expression upon his face.

"Brilliant, Sirius! I won't go to this thing, then I'll have every Slytherin and Death Eater on my tail while I have no where to go," Vulpe responded with sarcasm dripping from her voice, she frowned and adding, "I'm sorry, Sirius, I know you're trying your hardest. This is just one of those problems without a solution."

"If you're worried about having a place to stay, you can stay at my house," James informed her with a grin, "My parents love it when I bring friends over! Just ask Sirius, he's living with us now."
Vulpe raised an eyebrow at Sirius, "You're what?"
"Mum and I got into a spat at the end of summer - I moved out, Vulpe," Sirius told her with an apologetic smile, adding, "I'm moving out at the end of this summer - I just need to find a flat first."
"So, you can move in with us," James announced with a grin upon his face, "I owe you one anyway."

"That's completely insane," Vulpe informed them with an appreciative smile upon her lips, "No, no thank you, James. I appreciate the offer greatly, but I'm not willing to risk your family's safety while being a burden to them. I'll just...go to this party and I'll...meditate in my mind while I speak with this so called Dark Lord."

"Meditate in your mind?" Remus inquired with a curious expression upon his face, "Do you do that often?"
"Every time Cissy and Bella coordinate our outfits, it passes the time by," Vulpe answered with bemusement, "I don't see how that's of any relevance to my situation."
"Don't you see? If we can modify your meditation methods then you can preform Occulmency while you speak to Voldemort," Remus replied with a triumphant grin upon his face before he added, "Every problem has a solution."

So! There you have it. The Marauders have finally learned of Vulpe and Sirius's friendship and now Vulpe is meeting Voldemort! Of course the Marauders are all for helping her, well...except Peter who should have come off as shocked as well as hesitant, which was hard to portray considering he didn't have much dialogue or mention in this chapter.

I've also decided to leave Antonio Zabini (obviously, I have no idea what Blaise Zabini's father's name is or was, so I'm going with the first Italian sounding name off the top of my head - of course, it never says that the Zabini's are Italian) out of the story aside from brief mentions. Hope you guys enjoyed,

Chow!

L.S.