Messalina Lucien was finally leaving the hospital wing after two and a half weeks of being cooped up in the pristinely clean room. It was exhilarating to think about being away from the powerful scent of herbs and Madame Pomfrey's wary eye. Messalina had had Remus, Peter and James take all her boxes of sweets up to their room since she wasn't going to be eating them and so packing her trunk up was a very easy affair.

Just as Messalina prepared to levitate her trunk so she could get back to the Common Room before breakfast started, someone cleared their throat behind her. Messalina turned just as she began to cough loudly and saw Madame Pomfrey.

"Miss Lucien, I wasn't expecting you to be up this early. It's only half past six!" Madame Pomfrey told her despite looking herself like she had already been up for some time. In her hands was a thick letter, Messalina's name scrawled on it sloppily. "Miss Evans brought this by for you after dinner yesterday but you'd already fallen asleep."

Messalina accepted it graciously, already knowing exactly what was in the loaded letter. Messalina held onto it, turning the dry parchment over and over in her hands. "Thank you Madame Pomfrey. Thank you so much for everything, you were so wonderful to me my whole time here."

"It was nice to have someone in here all the time, an empty wing is a great deal better than a full one but it can be a bit dull sometimes. I'm very impressed that you listened to me though Miss Lucien on the stopping Quidditch for the year at least. Not many students would have followed that."

"I'd like to feel better Madame and while I love Quidditch, I care about my health more." Messalina explained and the older woman nodded with a smile.

"That's a pleasant surprise Miss Lucien. Now off you go, I don't want you rushing around the castle. If you feel any worse or no better, you come back here Miss Lucien or you'll get worse." Messalina nodded and heeded the woman's instructions. Being sick was positively horrid.

Walking the castle in the morning was extremely calming. The smell of delicious food wafted from the Great Hall and there wasn't a soul to be seen since most people were still in their common rooms at six-thirty on a Wednesday morning. It was good to walk by yourself sometimes in the morning before anyone else was around to disturb you.

There was only a month until Christmas break and Messalina was very excited to see her brothers. They were moving into Messalina's future estate as well, having moved back in with their parents after the attack and Messalina wasn't leaving the estate once over break. She had already turned down offers from James and Sirius along with Remus and Lily. She needed time with her brothers and it would be good to be in their presence again while they weren't at training. It would also be a good time for her to find out more about the Order of the Phoenix.

The common room was empty apart from a younger student fast asleep on one of the couches and Messalina skirted past the boy, still levitating her trunk. Even though it had wheels, Messalina wasn't strong enough to carry a few heavy books let alone her trunk filled with clothes and books.

"Lina! You're back!" Lily cried when she saw Messalina open the door, hair and makeup already done along with being dressed in her uniform. Lily hugged Messalina tightly and Messalina had to resist the need to cough. She succeeded in it and smiled to herself as she placed her trunk on her bed. She rooted around inside for her Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Transfiguration books seeing as they were the only ones she would need all day and sat on the edge of her bed waiting for her friends to get dressed. While she waited, Messalina opened the letter which was really six pieces of parchment. She wouldn't get to read it though until breakfast.

"Thanks Lily for delivering this to the Wing yesterday, I'm sorry I was asleep I've been really tired lately. Madame Pomfrey said its a good thing but we'll see."

"Can you taste anything yet?" Marlene asked as she tugged on her shoes that were half a size too small.

"No, not-" Messalina began but Madaline Shatter emerged from the bathroom and cut her off.

"So Lucien, what did you and Sirius Black fight about last week? I heard it was quite the brawl."

"And I heard that it was none of your business Shatter. Now get the hell out." Marlene snapped and Alice pipped up.

"Madaline, Amos Diggory's outside the common room waiting for you." Alice Fortescue piped up as she entered the dorm. Shatter's eyes lit up and she ran out of the room after grabbing her books and hiking up her skirt. "Good to see you Lina, how are you?"

"A lot better thanks Alice. I'm not completely better but anything is better than how I felt on Halloween."

"It's a shame you missed the dance Lina." Alice told her as she threw her hair into a messy bun that somehow looked perfect.

"It is, you could have saved me from Hollister. Merlin, he's a bore." Lily informed her and Marlene grinned deviously.

"Gabriel and I had a fabulous time. We snogged in the empty classroom next to Binns' classroom for an hour and a half. We only said like twenty words to each other then went and snogged. It was my ideal Halloween dance." Marlene smiled at the memory before turning to Lily. "Hollister's been trying to chat up Lily for the past week and she can't get away from him."

"I thought that Hollister was perfect for you." Alice stated sadly. "You always said you wanted humble and serious."

"I don't know anymore." Lily grumbled before looking at Messalina. "But really what did you and Black fight about? The entire school's speculating."

Messalina glanced around the room and when she was content that no one was going to say anything, she told them what her uncle had told her about the marriage. She left out the fact that she would be very wealthy soon and her infertility.

"What a complete and utter toe-rag!" Lily cried when Messalina was finished and shook her head, her red curls bouncing prettily.

"What did Remus think of it?" Marlene asked, exchanging a not so secret look with Lily. Messalina blushed all the way to her roots and the three girls stopped what they were doing to get closer to Messalina since she had a tendency to whisper things when she was embarrassed.

"That he fancied me from the day he saw me." She mumbled making Alice and Lily squeal and jump up and down. "It's not that big of a deal you guys."

"That is so romantic." Marlene breathed and grinned at Messalina. "So do you fancy him again?"

"I wish I'd never broken up with him, it was over something stupid anyways." Messalina stated, picking up her books. "Are you lot ready yet? I'm hungry."

"Yeah, one second." Lily finished her mascara and picked up her books. "Let's go."

Messalina,

Gideon and I are terribly sorry that we can't come to Hogsmeade this weekend. We've got training with Moody and can't miss it even for your pretty face or to murder Sirius Black. That kid had better come nowhere near me or I don't know what I'd do. So tell the shit to keep to himself and don't even consider looking at you again or I'll kill him.

Anyways, that's up to you and all. I hope he bloody enjoys Operation Revenge seeing as he'll be the first and probably only person it will ever be used on. Too bad we couldn't have used it when Amos Diggory wouldn't stop touching your arse in your fourth year. There's a creep if I've ever seen one. I hope he gets some bimbo pregnant and he can't soar through the ministry or sleep with every girl at Hogwarts. Merlin I hate him and Sirius Black.

I can't wait until Christmas, twenty-nine more days before I see you. Enjoy Operation Revenge and please do send us feedback seeing as we are dying to know how exactly it works out. Bear, Bill and Charlie both say hi by the way.

Love,

Fabian

(and Gideon read this over my shoulder so him too)

Messalina grinned at the letter and flipped through the packet of pages. Each was filled with ideas fueled by pure anger and hatred. They had written it when Dolohov had announced to everyone that Messalina was in love with him and that was half of why she had been disowned. What a fun rumour. Messalina wasn't sure that she really wanted to use any of them on Sirius though without hearing the story but she felt like she had to do nothing. She couldn't go around making empty threats or no one would take her seriously.

"What are these?" James asked, looking over her shoulder. "Pranks?"

"Yes but most of these can cause serious harm. That's why we made it." Messalina grinned at her slight pun and scanned the pages again just as a familiar owl dropped a small box onto the table in front of her. "Oh hello Rommy, here have some toast."

Rather than just accepting the toast, the twins' new owl bit her knuckle and she swore loudly before shooing the bird away from her.

"And what's in there Lina?" Remus asked as the girl opened the box and removed a vial from it, putting it into her bag swiftly. Messalina flipped to the front page of the small packet.

"1. Place Laxative Potion from Aunt Muriel's stash into the drink of the abomination." Messalina smiled slightly at the thought and pulled the vial from her bag when she saw Sirius enter and sit down next to Benjy Fenwick. "Do excuse me for a moment."

"Are we going to let her do this?" Peter asked nervously watching as Messalina talked exclusively to Benjy and Sirius moodily pouring himself some pumpkin juice as he flirted with a fifth year. Remus saw Messalina open the vial and quickly yet discretely empty it into Sirius' drink. She laughed at something Benjy said before turning around and returning to her seat.

"We just did mate." James swallowed and stared at Messalina as she sat down next to him.

"Easy." She watched as Sirius took a drink from his goblet and the girl grinned broadly. "Ten minutes."

"Lina, I don't think you should do this." James stated as she plucked an apple from the bowl in front of them.

"And why's that?" Messalina questioned as she bit ferociously into the bright red fruit.

"Because maybe he did it for a reason. He probably didn't know what to say and just waited too long. I mean what would you do?" James asked and Messalina swallowed her chunk of apple moodily. She knew he was right but still she felt like she needed to do something to him and she just had.

"I don't know but I can't just forgive him James!"

"You don't have to forgive him, Lina, but you putting stuff into his drinks might not be fair." Remus spoke up from across from her and Peter bobbed his head in agreement.

"You could get into a lot of trouble for that Messalina. Merlin knows we have." Peter told her and Messalina stared down at the table.

"I'll stop but there is no way in hell that I'm going to forgive him." Messalina muttered just in time to see Sirius leaving the Great Hall as fast as he could without running. He was walking strangely and Messalina grinned at the sight.

The day went by horrendously slowly and by the dinnertime Messalina felt exhausted. Only two more days until the weekend and the Hogsmeade trip that she, Lily and Marlene were going on together. She couldn't wait, she had been cooped up in the castle for too long being treated fragilely.

As the brunette walked towards the Great Hall, her mind on the weekend and being able to sleep whenever she wanted, a large group of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw girls turned the corner. Messalina moved out of their way without a second thought but instantly frowned when she noticed that the entire group was glaring at him.

"Can I help you?" She snapped as a few of the larger ones blocked her path. Impatiently, Messalina crossed her arms and tapped her foot around the ground as her eyebrows rose of their own accord.

"Sirius is angry because of you." An Asian girl spat and Messalina laughed harshly at her.

"I'm sorry, did I look like I gave a shit because I don't. Now get out of my fucking way before-"

"Before you what Lucien? Set your pet twins on me? I don't think that's going to happen." A tall blonde snarled and Messalina rolled her dark eyes.

"He's just a boy," She pointed out and a few of the girls looked at her in disgust.

"Sirius Black is not just a boy. He's a brave and powerful man who-" Messalina cut the acne covered girl off with a loud snort.

"This speech is really captivating and all but I've got better places to be." The sixteen year old pushed past two of the larger girls who had blocked her path and moved slowly towards the Great Hall, her head held high and a smirk on her face.

She made it there a few moments later and plopped down beside Peter, promptly grabbing a plate from the stack.

"We were starting to think you weren't coming to dinner Lina." Peter stated as he ripped his dinner roll in half, smearing butter on it.

"Ran into some of Sirius' fan club." She explained and James shuddered. Ever since he had had a dream in fifth year of Sirius' fan club (yes it was an official thing) popping up everywhere, from underneath doors and inside trunks, James had been terrified of the fourty-so girls.

"Oh Merlin, I'm surprised you survived." He spoke once he realized that he could speak without his voice quivering. Merlin they freaked him out.

"Yeah, especially after all the rumors I've heard." Remus pointed out and Messalina rolled her dark eyes.

"Graham told me in Transfiguration that a few of Sirius' fan club had discussed sacrificing me to the gods to please Sirius. Merlin, that entire lot is insane." She drawled as she bit into a bit of steamed potato.

"Have you thought about what you're going to do?" James asked, his attention split before the brunette sitting diagonally from him and Lily and Marlene who had just come into the hall.

"Don't ask her out James!" Messalina hissed, leaning forward so that only the three boys could hear her. "And no, I've got no bloody idea! My uncle sent me the contract last night but I haven't opened it yet and I sent Operation Revenge back to the boys after Transfiguration. It's a shame because it was a true masterpiece."

"What do you mean don't ask her out?" James asked, running a hand through his hair.

"I mean exactly what I said. Don't ask Lily out or call her yours. You're not dating and she wouldn't belong to you even if you were!" Messalina informed him and smiled at Lily as the two girls walked by.

"Alright Lina, don't get your knickers in a twist." James put his hands up and Messalina rolled her eyes.

"So what are you doing on Saturday?" Remus asked, trying to sound casual and he succeeded in doing so to everyone except James and himself.

"Lily, Marlene and I are going at ten. I doubt Marlene'll stick around for long though, seeing as her and Gabriel are practically attached at the hip." Messalina drawled, looking down the table in disgust as she watched the Hufflepuff feeding Marlene. "That is utterly revolting."

"I'm going to have to wash my eyes out after this." James grumbled as he stabbed at the chicken on his plate.

"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Messalina asked as she yawned.

"Evans. I'm beginning to doubt her love in me." James muttered and Messalina glanced in front of her at Remus. Merlin he looked attractive tonight. Messalina shook the thought from her head and looked at James again.

"Quit asking her out! Stop calling her yours and for Merlin's sakes quit tormenting Snivellous!" Messalina informed him, her eyes feeling heavy.

"Will that get her?" James asked hopefully and Messalina looked down the table at a laughing Lily Evans.

"No guarantees but it'll get her to not complain about you all the time."

"It can't hurt to try it Prongs." Remus told him and the black haired boy nodded thoughtfully.

"She talks about me?" James asked after a moment and Messalina groaned.

"Complains and yes but that's all I'm telling you. She is my friend after all."

Of course when Messalina fell into bed an hour and a half later, she was wide awake. After a half hour of flopping around in bed, Messalina slipped out of her bed not bothering with putting on a pair of pants or a robe. It wasn't like there was going to be anyone in the Common Room anyways, the last of the voices had stopped around the time Messalina had prepared for bed.

Snatching the thick folder off of her bedside table that held the contract, Messalina slipped easily from the room and down the cool steps. She threw herself onto the couch in front of the fire unceremoniously and saw Sirius sitting in an armchair beside the fire almost immediately. Neither of them said a word, Messalina crossing her legs indian style so she could study the papers and Sirius glaring at the fire in front of them.

Messalina skimmed the lawyer language and laughed out loud (a rather manical sound to be honest) when she reached her father's description of her. She is a very obedient girl, so young Mr. Black will have no troubles keeping my daughter in line. Messalina is also ill frequently leaving Mr. Black to do whatever he pleases seeing as she is relatively weak girl. Not that she'll have any problems birthing heirs, she has recently taken her fertility test and her healer says that Messalina will most likely be completely able to give birth to as many child as young Mr. Black wishes. When it comes down to it, Messalina is the perfect wife for any pureblood.

"You weren't what I expected." Sirius whispered faintly, his voice raspy. She looked at him with inquisitive eyes and he continued, never lifting his eyes from the fire. "The way your father spoke of you, you'd think that you never spoke or did anything. That you were a wallflower who would be a slave to me. I didn't want that, Lina. I didn't want you. I didn't and still don't want to get married."

Sirius looked up from the fire when he finished speaking to gauge her reaction. She wasn't smiling at him but she wasn't glaring at him either. Messalina looked thoroughly worn out. She patted the couch beside her and the black haired boy was over and sitting beside her in a few seconds.

"Sirius why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell anyone?" She asked, searching his face for an answer.

"I didn't want to believe it at first-we were only 11 at the time Lina. I thought that my father would realize that I wouldn't need to marry or that your family would decide to not treat you like a piece of property. You got disowned and we weren't exactly friends and I was too bloody relieved to tell anyone. I began to think of it as a dream, like it never happened because no one brought it up ever again and you had no idea. Merlin Lina, I'm so sorry." Sirius found that once he started talking he couldn't stop. Everything came out in a jumble of words that he was confident made no sense whatsoever but Lina didn't seem to care. She laid her head on his shoulder and curled her legs up so that they were beneath her but her bare knees touched Sirius' thigh.

"It's okay." She breathed after a moment, staring into the fire. "I'm sorry that I overreacted and that I put a laxative potion in your pumpkin juice this morning." Messalina said the last part fast but not too fast and the womanizer groaned and shook his head, his hair tickling the side of the girl's face.

"I ought to kill you for that! I was so close to sealing a date with Bethany Molta but you just had to ruin it," Messalina laughed at him and whacked him on the chest.

"You've got to agree it was a good one though."

"Yes very-" Above them there was the sound of someone frantically rushing down the stairs and after a moment a breathless Peter emerged from the boys' dorms.

"Padfoot, Lina!" He gasped, trying to get his breath back. It was rather sad seeing as a sprint down the stairs wasn't that much work.

"Peter what's going on?" Messalina asked, standing up with a worried look on her face. "What happened?"

"Moony got a letter from his dad," Peter paused to breathe and Messalina began to tap her foot nervously. "I don't know what it said but he started to cry and we can't get him to talk. Prongs said that we should see if you could figure it out."

"Wormtail, he probably wants to be left alone." Sirius told him but Messalina was already going up the stairs in just one of Fabian's old t-shirts and a pair of underwear.

Remus was indeed in a crisis by the looks of things. All of the curtains around his bed had been pulled and the framed picture of Remus and his mother at their house in the country was missing from its spot on his bedside table. Cautiously, Messalina approached the bed.

"James!" Messalina hissed at him which made him stop pacing frantically. "You are not helping! Go downstairs or go to bed! You can't keep doing that!"

Slowly, the brunette pushed aside the curtains on the werewolf's bed and very nearly got a wand to the eye. "James leave me alone!"

"Rem, it's Lina." The wand was put back almost immediately and Messalina opened the curtain a bit more. Remus had indeed been crying and he wiped his tears on his arm quickly.

"W-what's up Lina? What are you doing here?" He tried to sound alright but his voice was hoarse and Messalina climbed into the bed with him before shutting the curtain once again. James had stopped pacing and was sitting on his bed staring at Remus' bed.

"Rem, it's okay." She whispered and Remus pulled the covers aside, allowing her to get in bed beside him. "You don't have to tell me. I just want you to know that whatever it is, whatever, that I'll still be here for you okay? I'll still care about you and I'll still be your friend. It's going to be okay, whatever's going on we can get through it together."

Remus didn't move or say anything for a little while but once he began to cry again, the werewolf put his head on Messalina's shoulder and she rubbed his back slowly. "Oh Merlin Lina." He muttered when Messalina began to fall asleep.

"I'm here, Rem. It'll be alright."

"No it won't." He murmured into her shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Remus didn't answer her question but merely sank lower into the bed so that his head was on the pillows rather than her shoulder. Messalina followed so that they were face to face on different pillows staring at one another.

"It's my mum. S-she's got cancer. Dad says she's only got a few months to live and I can't see her until Friday night. I'll be gone every weekend." He whispered and Messalina felt her heart breaking as Remus moved forward to hold onto her. He was holding her rather tightly in his arms but she didn't object, she couldn't. It felt good to be cuddled up with Remus, she realized before deciding that thinking of getting back together at a time like this made her a horrible person.