Chapter 5
In the Library
Peter and watched Maggie carefully from a table across the library. Maggie was writing her transfiguration essay and had been in the library most of the day. She looked up and he quickly ducked behind his quidditch book.
Maggie was very aware that Peter was there watching her. She wonders what is going on with him. He has been following her all day including when she skipped lunch to see if he would follow her. She knows something is going on and she is waiting to see what it is.
Meanwhile in the Gryffindor Common Room
Remus and James are sitting in the common room with Sirius. He is complaining about the amount of homework they have this week. They have been with him most of the day. He wondered where Pete was, but they told him he was catching up on homework. He got up and they did too. He looked at them strangely and said "Going to the loo. I'll be right back." They settled back down and tried to act casual.
Sirius did not notice anything was off.
In the Library
Maggie finally completed her essay and was looking for an interesting book about useful charms. She found one on concealment charms. Having decided she headed to the main desk to check it out and noticed that Peter had fallen asleep at his table. With a smile she quickly headed back to her dormitory.
In the Gryffindor Common Room
Maggie walks in and Remus looks up from his seat by the fireplace. She heads over to the girl's staircase. Remus intercepts her looking flustered. Stopping she raises an eyebrow. "Hi Remus."
"Hi Maggie." He responds.
They stand there in an awkward silence before Maggie moves to go up the stairs. Remus quickly steps in front of her blocking her way again.
"What is going on?"
"What do you mean?" He asks looking innocent.
"Why can't I go to my room?"
"Ummm… I need your help with something." Remus says while looking wide-eyed at James who looks panicked.
"Okay…can I put my things away first?"
"Yeah, but make it quick."
She heads upstairs and sets her bag on her bed. She looks out the window and sees the stars are peaking out from behind the clouds.
Once she is downstairs Remus breaks away from where he and James were arguing about something. He grabs her arm and pulls her quickly out of the portrait hole. They walk quietly towards the main entrance.
"Where are we going?"
"There is something I need to show you in the shack."
Confused Maggie follows Remus into the shrieking shack.
He takes her into the living room.
"What did you need to show me?"
"Just sit down. I will be right back." He turns and walks out of the room closing the door to the tunnel behind him.
She frowns but sits down. She waits for 15 minutes before she starts to get irritated. She gets up and goes to the door and it is sealed. She tries a few different spells, but it doesn't open. She starts pacing.
In the Gryffindor Common Room
James watched as Remus lead Maggie away wondering where Peter was. He should have been leading her to the 7th floor portrait of Barnabas the Barmy. They had set up an obstacle course in an unused classroom near there. The course was partner based. They were hoping to lock Maggie and Sirius in the room until they worked out their differences. The only problem is Filch is holding detention on the 7th floor in the corridor. Pete was supposed to keep Maggie busy until detention let out. This left them with few options.
Sirius walked back downstairs. "Where's Moony?
"Not sure mate…let's go look for him." James says brightly while heading to the portrait hole.
Sirius follows him and they head outside towards the whomping willow. Remus saw them coming and quickly ducked behind the tree out of sight.
"Why is he in the shack?"
"He said he forgot something in there." They walk quickly through the tunnel and the door is closed at the end. James opened it and waved Sirius in first.
Sirius glided into the room and saw Maggie getting to her feet looking cross.
"What-?" Sirius started to say when James slammed the door shut in his face.
He tried to open it, but quickly discovered that it was sealed.
He sighed and turned around. Maggie was sitting on the floor in the living room again.
"I guess they want us to talk." He said.
"I suppose so."
An awkward silence filled the room as Sirius sat down across the room from her.
"Are they talking?" James asked Remus. They both had their ears pressed against the door.
"I don't think so."
"Let's go find Pete and give them some time."
They sit quietly for a few minutes. When they both decide they can't take it.
"Listen Mags- "
"Sirius I- "
They both sigh.
"Mags I didn't mean what I said. I know that Cresswell isn't using you. He's a good guy."
"Then why did you say it?"
"I dunno." He says while running his hand through his hair. "I just don't like the idea of you and him or really anyone."
"Sirius you know you can't stop me from dating, right?"
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry I let that mess with our friendship."
"Me too. Think maybe we can talk about it before we explode our friendship next time?"
"Yeah. It's too quiet with you avoiding us. We haven't had a decent prank in ages."
"Maybe we can remedy that with a Marauder prank-a-thon after we sweat out our friends for locking us in here."
"What do you have in mind?"
James, Remus, and Peter head down the tunnel to the shack.
"I can't believe you fell asleep." Remus said exasperated.
"It's so boring in there!" Peter pipes up.
"Still, you had one job Pete." James agrees looking a tad annoyed.
"Shh. Let me listen." Remus says as they approach the door.
They all press their ears to the door.
"I don't hear anything." Pete says.
James and Remus look at each other concerned.
"Pete, can you squeeze in through that hole and see what's going on?" James says while pointing to a small hole between the wall and the door.
"I can try." Peter then transforms into a rat and just squeezes through the hole. When he gets in, he looks around and doesn't see anyone. He checks the other rooms, and they are empty too.
"Guys they aren't here!"
James and Remus quickly enter the shack and discover that he is right.
"Where could they have gone?!"
While they were looking around the shack worriedly, Maggie and Sirius slipped into the tunnel and took off for the whomping willow.
They had transfigured their clothes to match their surroundings and had pulled their heads into their jumpers to hide. They were overlooked and managed to get away.
Sirius laughs and says, "I think now is as good a time as any to practice your flying."
"I don't know Sirius. I really don't think I need to."
"We are overcoming hurdles tonight; besides they might find us if we stay on the grounds. We could fly for a bit and make them really run around. I will ride my broom so I can catch you if you fall."
Maggie hesitates but agrees.
They head into the forest and find a clearing big enough for her to spread her wings. She transforms and her dapple-grey fur glistens in the moonlight. Sirius looks at her impressed.
"It is still hard to believe that you turn into a Pegasus." He says while he summons his broom.
She nods her head in agreement.
His broom arrives and he mounts it. "Ready?"
She stretches out her wings in reply. She starts to move them in strong flaps. She lifts off the ground slightly as does Sirius though his movement was a response to the wind she kicked up.
"Faster!" Sirius calls to her.
She responds by flapping her wings faster. Then she lifts a bit more, but she doesn't feel like she is flying so much as hovering. With a sigh she lands on her feet and transforms back.
"I don't think it was working."
"Hmm… Mags do you trust me?"
This led her to where she is standing on top of the astronomy tower looking over the edge.
"I don't know about this Sirius…"
"I will be with you the whole time. If you don't fly, I will catch you."
"If you don't, I will haunt you and I promise to be worse than Peeves."
"Stop being dramatic." He says while rolling his eyes.
She looks back over the edge and he decides to give her a shove out of the nest.
She starts plummeting towards the grounds and quickly transforms. Her wings catch the wind, and she takes off.
Sirius cheers as he follows her on his broom.
On the ground James, Peter, and Remus are all staring at the Pegasus that just took flight off the Astronomy tower.
"We have got to get Pegs flying." James says in awe. Peter nods mouth open. Remus just watches wide-eyed.