Thank you so much Werecoyote and unlogicalfangirl, your reviews completely made my day. Werecoyote, thank you so much for the idea it perfectly fits with another one of my ideas and probably made the next chapter a lot more exciting.
After what seemed like the longest week in the history of weeks, Friday night descended upon Hogwarts cheering everyone. It found Remus Lupin, released from the hospital wing a few days before, watching entertained as Sirius Black wooed yet another gorgeous girl with Peter while James attempted to flirt with Lily Evans. Messalina Lucien was, however, getting in the bespectacled boy's way as she, McKinnon and Evans talked animatedly about the upcoming Halloween dance.
"Say Evans, seeing as no one else has asked you, go to the dance with me." James began to play with Lily's slightly curled hair but the redhead smacked his hand away almost instantly.
"This is the last time I'm going to say no, Potter. No."
"But you just said no," James grinned cheekily and Lily began to grind her teeth, Messalina gave James a look but he ignored it.
"Potter, get out of here now or I swear to Merlin I will castrate you and make you feed upon your beloved," She glanced down at his crotch. "Member."
At that James gave Lily a charming smile and retreated back to his laughing friends.
"How do you think's going to ask you Marlene?" Messalina asked the pretty girl who blushed and glanced over to where Benjy was talking to a few seventh year guys.
"Marlene! What the hell, you never told me!" Lily began to giggle and Marlene bit her lip, blushing.
"You want me to drop some hints, Marl?" Lina asked and Marlene shook her head vigorously.
"Oh Merlin no! I would rather die than have him know."
"I wouldn't just go up to him and tell him to ask you Marlene!" Messalina shook her head. "I am wounded that you would even think that."
"Lucien!"
"Lina!" Messalina looked over to the portrait hole and saw Kingsley Shacklebolt holding the door open to reveal Jenny, John Higgs' Hufflepuff girlfriend. She looked excited and beckoned the brunette closer.
"I will carry the shame you have made me feel to my grave, Marlene. I'll see you two later, do not make plans without me." Lily rolled her eyes at the brunette who hurried out of the Common Room.
"What's up Jenny?" Messalina asked as the pair walked down the corridor.
"John asked me to the dance!" Jenny squealed and Messalina gave her a look.
"You're going out Jenny."
"Merlin Lina, I noticed that! But he asked me in the most romantic way possible!" Jenny cried.
"And that is?"
"He picked me up from my Common Room and we went to this little alcove by the library where we always make out and he had the whole thing covered in all these pictures of the two of us and he said that ever since I said yes to going out with him, that I made him the happiest he had ever been and would I make him even happier and go to the dance with him. I, of course, said yes. Oh god, it doesn't sound that romantic but oh Lina it was, it was so romantic." She gushed and looked at the brunette almost ashamedly.
"No Jenny, that sounds wonderful. I'm so happy for you guys." Jenny smiled up at Messalina who grinned back.
"I needed to tell someone how wonderful it was. You see, my girlfriends in Hufflepuff like John alright but they can't get over the fact that he's a Slytherin. They all think he isn't sincere and is using me. I'm just so tired of hearing it!"
"Oh Jenny, I'm sorry that really sucks."
"But I've got you to talk to now. I mean you and Graham are friends now and that's almost as taboo as John and I going out."
"Just a few weeks ago, it would have been unthinkable for me, you know Jenny." Messalina murmured and the blonde stopped walking.
"But you're not now Lina, that's what matters. You know better than to judge an entire house. Not all seventy-four of them are the same, you realize that now." Jenny stated and Messalina nodded half-heartedly.
"Thanks Jenny, really."
"Have you forgiven Remus Lupin for whatever he did?" Jenny asked a few moments later.
"You're just a regular talker tonight aren't you? And kind of but I'd rather not talk about that if its alright with you."
"Of course Messalina, I won't pressure you." The pair continued on in companionable silence until they reached the Hufflepuff Common Room. "You can come in if you want, Lina."
"No that's okay. I'm tired I think I'm just going to get back and sleep. Goodnight Jenny, I'm so happy that you and John are together." Jenny beamed at her before entering the Common Room, waving at the Gryffindor who smiled in return.
As the sixth year walked back to her common room, yawning every few feet she noticed that someone was walking rather quickly towards her. Messalina was extremely relieved that she had remembered to bring her wand after changing out of her uniform. Pulling said wand from her sweatshirt pocket, she continued to walk forward head high.
She hoped that it wasn't Antonin or any of his friends, while she was very curious about the investigation into her father Marcus' Gringotts account, she was not feeling an argument or duel. The week had left her exhausted and all she wanted to do was sleep for the next year.
She turned the corner and saw that it was two people who were jogging down the corridor. They were still too far away for her to make out anything except that their voices were very familiar.
"Lucien!" She stopped walking when she realized that it was Higgs who had yelled her name. The pair ran up to her and John looked distraught. "Have you seen Jenny?"
"What? Yes I just walked her to her Common Room." She stated slowly, watching as John instantly relaxed and leaned up against the wall. "What's going on?"
"C'mon Lina, we'll walk you back to yours but we've got to go now." Graham Pucey told her, grabbing her forearm tightly. John nodded and the pair began to walk, stopping though when Messalina didn't move.
"What in the bloody hell is going on?" She demanded and the pair exchanged a look. "Graham! What is going on?"
"Walk and talk Lina, okay? We don't have a lot of time." Graham practically begged and Messalina began to move apprehensively.
"There has been an attack." John began, looking over his shoulder. Messalina searched the boy's face for any indication as to where this was going but couldn't find anything except for the fact that it wasn't good. "On an exit from the ministry. At least five people died that we know of. Aurors are fighting his...his...his soldiers."
"I hope they kill the bloody lot of them!" Graham growled but Messalina hardly took notice. It was nearing nine-thirty and Messalina began to panic. Gwen Prewett had been keeping strange hours because of the heightened attacks on muggles. She was an obliviator and had always had strange hours but it had only gotten worse according to the twins. What were the odds that she had been leaving the Ministry at that hour? And what were the odds that Fabian and Gideon were among the fighting Aurors. Both situations were probably very unlikely, it was a Friday so Gwen had probably left early as always and the twins weren't even official Aurors yet. There was almost no way that they would be involved in the fighting.
"How'd you hear about this?" She asked breathlessly but hardly cared about the result.
"My brother works at the Portkey Office. He was leaving and saw the whole thing go down. We've got this enchanted paper that we can write to each other without the hassle to waiting to get them delivered. That's not what matters. What matters is that it seems like muggleborns and so-called blood-traitors were targetted. It just seemed like it would be a lot safer to get you two girls with other people and not by yourselves." Graham told her and Messalina nodded. She knew that there would be no point in insisting that she was a Gryffindor. She couldn't handle more than three people on her own and was grateful for any addition help.
Messalina didn't respond, all she knew was that she desperately wanted to get back to her Common Room. She was shaking and Graham had to have noticed, he was still clutching her forearm.
"Messalina, I know this is a lot to take in, but you need to get back to your Common Room. You need to be safe."
"And what about you two? You're dating a muggleborn for Merlin's sakes John! And we're friends Graham!" Messalina cried, suddenly nervous for them as well.
"We'll be fine Lina, we've got each other's back. Don't worry." John soothed and Graham flashed her a toothy smile.
"Besides, just look at our muscles," Graham flexed his arms, his muscles becoming prominent since he was wearing a black t-shirt. Messalina felt her stomach flutter and she rolled her eyes, feeling a blush coming on.
"You wish." She laughed at them and Graham feigned being hurt. She tried to convince herself that she was worried, that was why she felt like that but she wasn't sure that she could make herself think that.
They arrived at the Gryffindor Common Room just as the Marauders jumped out of the Portrait Hole. "Oh Merlin, Messalina we looked everywhere for you!" James cried and she gave him a small smile.
"Bye guys, thank you really," She told the two Slytherins who nodded and looked at one another. "Be careful will you?"
"We'll try Lucien." John said with a grin and she rolled her eyes.
"Graham."
"We will, I promise Lina." Graham assured her before looking at the four boys crowding the portrait hole. "Potter, Black."
John nodded at the Marauders also. "Pettigrew, Lupin."
"Bye guys, thank you." She called after them as the pair turned around and went the way they had come. John waved back at her without turning around but Graham grinned and blew her a kiss.
"No problem, Lina. Stay safe!"
"What?" Messalina snapped at the four boys.
"Be safe Pucey will you? For me?" Sirius asked in a high-pitched voice, fluttering his eyelashes and clutching his hands in front of his chest.
"Oh Lina, why don't you just shag me right here right now?" James imitated who she imagined was Graham, pulling up his shirt so it looked like he was wearing a t-shirt.
"Fuck off." She growled and tried to push past them but they wouldn't move.
"I've practically abandoned all the people like me in favor of some slippery snakes. I know where I'm supposed to be." Sirius imitated her once again, fluttering his eyelashes and clutching onto James' shoulder. "Take me back to your mansion will you Pucey? I'm scared."
Messalina scoffed at the pair and turned to Remus who was standing with his mouth open at his friends. She nodded and glared at him. "I thought so. Fuck off Black."
She shoved past them roughly, sending James to the floor and Sirius fell back a few steps. Lily and Marlene looked over to see a fuming Messalina nearly push a first year down in her attempt to get upstairs. It looked like she was about to cry and they watched as she took the steps to the dorms two at a time. The pair turned to see the Marauders enter and Lily glared at James Potter with an intensity he hadn't seen since the previous year. Marlene and Lily hurried after Messalina and made it to their dorm just in time to see her throw herself onto her bed.
"Lina what happened?" Marlene asked as she went to the brunette's bedside. Lily closed the door to the dorm softly and sat on Messalina's bed, rubbing the crying girl's back. After a few minutes Messalina sat up and looked at the pair.
"Am I a horrible person for being friends with Graham and John?" She murmured and Lily instantly shook her head.
"Merlin no Lina! They're good people, they're not bad. I'm very proud of you for looking past the fact that they're Slytherins. That's a very hard thing to do especially when all the other houses tell you that they're bad people. John's with Jenny Marquette afterall and no one can be with her if they're a bad person. She's too good." Lily soothed and Messalina nodded, wiping her tears on her sweatshirt sleeve.
"Now if you were friends with Mulciber, we might have a reason to worry." Messalina smiled at her two friends before laughing softly at Marlene.
"Thanks guys, I'm being so stupid."
"Lina-" Lily began but Messalina cut her off.
"There's a fight going down at the Ministry, Graham told me. Voldemort's men attacked an exit from the Ministry. At least five people are dead and there are Aurors there fighting them. And I'm crying about being friends with Slytherins." Messalina looked like she was going to cry again, Marlene and Lily looking at one another with wide eyes.
"He's sure?" Marlene asked, her voice filled with fear.
"Yes, 100% Marls. They attacked people leaving." Messalina buried her head in her hands.
"That's the first open fight. What do you think it means Lils?" Marlene asked, sitting fully on Messalina's bed as the redhead followed suit.
"They're brazen, that they have enough members to risk some. I don't know but it's the opposite of good that is for certain." Lily murmured just as someone began to approach on the stairs. They could only tell because everyone below them fell completely silent, which was never a good sign.
There was a rap at the door and Messalina lifted her head. "Yes?"
The door opened to reveal Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore, both looking exhausted. "Ms. Lucien can you come with us?"
Messalina instantly felt faint as she climbed off the bed, tears already beginning to run down her face. Neither of the adults said anything and she followed after them, looking back at Lily and Marlene who were still sitting on her bed with their mouths open. Messalina walked down the stairs and felt completely disconnected, wondering who it was in her family who had died. It couldn't be anyone, no one had asked permission to leave her life. The Common Room was still silent when Messalina walked slowly past everyone, tears running down her face. Remus Lupin sat on a chair, his potions book completely forgotten in his lap. His mouth was wide open and eyes widened in shock.
They stopped after exiting Gryffindor's Common Room and Dumbledore turned to her. "I would imagine that you will not want to waste time walking to my office when I can tell you here. Three of your family members were on the receiving ends of very nasty curses. Your brother Fabian and your mother will most likely recover fully. Gideon on the other hand, he may not be as lucky. I can take you to St. Mungo's immediately if you wish."
Tears still running down her face, Messalina nodded hurriedly. She grabbed his forearm and hardly felt a thing as they apparated into the fourth floor of St. Mungo's Hospital. Healers were running here and there but Dumbledore led Messalina into a room that held Gwen. Samuel nowhere to be seen and Messalina hurried forward to hug Gwen who was lying awake in her bed. She smiled slightly at Messalina who noticed instantly that a lot of her hair was singed off and half of her face was sagging.
"Oh Gwen, are you ok? What happened?" Messalina asked while Gwen smiled at her.
"I was leaving and then fire and hexes were everywhere. They say I'll be out of here as soon as they can find out what's wrong with my face. I'm so happy you're here Messalina but please go to your brothers. They're in far worse of a shape than I am. Samuel's with Gideon."
"Mrs. Prewett, please drink this and your face will be right as rain in a bit." A healer came in and Messalina hurried over to the room next door where Fabian was. His face was covered in small pink scars and he smiled at her weakly.
"Lina, you're here." He murmured and Messalina smiled faintly down at him. She sank down onto the bed, tears beginning to run down her face once again.
"I'm here Fabe, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." She assured him and he grabbed her hand weakly.
"Promise?"
"Oh Merlin yes." They stayed together with her holding his hand until he fell asleep. Feeling slightly traitorous, Messalina let go of his hand and braced herself to see Gideon. As she skirted from the room, Gwen with her face nearly all better and Samuel entered.
"Gideon's in 32 if that's where you're going. I'm trying to see to it that they're in the same room." Gwen told her and Messalina nodded, not really listening.
"Ok Gwen."
It was a short walk to Gideon's room in which she was shaking like a leaf. Messalina was not sure that she could face Gideon if he was in a terrible way. She felt positively horrible about it but the thought of Gideon lying in a bed dying made her want to turn tail and run. She forced herself to enter the room in which Gideon was indeed lying on the bed completely still.
She sank onto the chair beside him and stared at him. Messalina knew she shouldn't be staring at him like she was but when Messalina went to take her eyes off of him she found she couldn't. The side of his face was covered in gauze so she couldn't be sure what had happened but there was a large tumor-like lump on his shoulder nearly the size of a quaffle. She blinked at it and saw that almost his entire torso was covered in bandages. His left eye had a patch over it and Messalina grabbed his hand only to find that the bones were not where they should be.
"He's a strong one," A woman stated and Messalina stood up as if to shield him. The woman was in her forties, with a few graying strands of hair put up in a bun. "Not everyone could handle this kind of damage."
"What happened?" Messalina whispered as the healer brought a cart to Gideon's side. It was stocked with all different kinds of potions and cures, many of which the healer was pouring into glasses.
"The better question is what didn't. There were numerous explosions on the Auror's side, he was on the receiving end of the Cruciatus Curse at least four times and to finish him off there were three stunning spells to the chest. He's in for a long recovery. Mr. Prewett, it is time for you to wake up." Gently the woman shook him awake and he began to panic, unsure of where he was.
"LET ME GO!" He began to try to fight the woman off but Messalina grabbed onto his arms and he relaxed, staring at her in surprise.
"Did they get you too?" He asked, glaring at the woman.
"Gideon, we're at St. Mungo's." He seemed to remember and stopped trying to fight her off.
"Lina, oh Merlin. How's Fabe? Mum? I saw her there. Did you get her out?" He beraded her and she nodded to all of his questions.
"Don't worry Gid, Fabe's okay he's a few rooms down. Mum's going to be just fine, she's getting released in a little while," Messalina made eye contact with the healer who pointed to the allotted potions. "Gid, you're hurt pretty bad. You need to take your potions to get better okay?"
Gideon did as she told him, the healer handing him all the potions which he took surprisingly well. Messalina knew how terrible they must have tasted but he took it like a champ, shotgunning them and only wincing after a few.
"Thank you Mr. Prewett." The healer gave the redhead a smile before leaving the room.
"My first real Auror fight, huh Lina?" He grinned at her cheekily and Messalina burst into tears promptly causing Gideon to panic. "Oh Lina it'll be okay stop it. Quit crying! Lina stop it!"
"I'm going to kill you for scaring me like that, I hope you realize that." She stated through her tears but Gideon didn't hear, he had fallen back asleep.
Thanks for reading, please review!