The rain poured down relentlessly, in buckets upon buckets of icy water that turned the snow into slush, the mud into glue, and people's moods into glum. Marlene heaved a sigh as she weaved the feather of her quill in between her fingers. The whole school was stuck between the last Hogsmeade weekend and the last Quidditch match of the semester and the Christmas Holiday. Most of them didn't have anything to look forward to at Hogwarts anymore and in their anticipations time slowed, minutes became hours, days became weeks. They were all bored and it didn't matter how many Christmas lights were strung nor how cheery the carols they played over the intercom between classes; not even Peeves' parodies could cheer them up. They all wanted to go home.
It certainly didn't help that they had to endure an hour listening to a dead guy with the most boring voice in history, droning on and on about… what were they 'learning' about?
She looked over at Mary's fragmented sentences and realised that she wasn't the only one who had zoned out.
Marlene gently kicked the back of Eilidh's chair, being neighbours with Josie she was bound to know something.
Eilidh started and whipped around.
"What are we talking about?" Marlene whispered.
Eilidh turned back around to whisper to Josie.
"Lord Hal the vampire," Eilidh answered, completely turning her chair around.
"Who?" Marlene asked.
"I don't know. I'll nick her notes later. Listen," Eilidh glanced around the room. "I know how we're going to get back at the boys."
"They haven't done anything yet," Marlene murmured.
"I know bu-"
You could hear a quill drop in the room because of how instantaneously quiet it got, (if it weren't for Professor Binns carrying on, of course.) Remus in the back of the class choked on a snore, Potter next to him stopped rolling his inkwell, Evan Rosier crumpled up a note he was passing in Emma from Slytherin, Eilidh wiped back around so quickly Marlene got a face full of soft hair and a nose full of sweet perfume.
"Professor Binns," Professor McGonagall announced herself to the regularly oblivious teacher. "Professor!" she repeated when Binns continued to lecture. It wasn't until McGonagall was standing beside the podium did he realise that she was there. They mumbled to each other in a very teachery sort of way while the class exchanged curious glances and strained to overhear whatever snippets of conversation they could. Professor McGonagall turned on her heels and made to step down from the platform before -
"Mr Black! We've been through this in my class, I'll not tolerate it in Professor Binns's either. All four on the floor. Now."
Sirius, still balancing on the hind legs of his chair, rested the tips of his toes on the floor.
McGonagall raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips.
"What?" Sirius asked. "One, two, three, four. Four on the floor."
Marlene would not have thought it possible had she not been there to witness it but McGonagall's lips disappeared into a thin slit, her eyebrows met her hairline, as she stared even harder at Sirius. She was quite sure her glare could put him through a wall. Sirius, however, continued to look at her innocently confused, there might have been a twitch at the corners of his mouth.
"Detention Black, after dinner. And unless you plan on joining him, Mr Potter, I would stop threatening Mr Snape," McGonagall said. Potter straightened in his seat like any normal student would after hearing the harsh tone in McGonagall's voice being directed at them; he slouched down quickly in his chair, trying to make it seem like he hadn't.
"Would that be directly after dinner, ma'am or a few hours after. I'd hate to be late for our date," Sirius grinned, still leaning back in his chair.
"Directly after," McGonagall answered, ignoring the classes poorly muffled sniggers. Behind her, it looked like Professor Binns had already resumed his lecture.
"Looking forward to it," Sirius winked.
McGonagall did the McGonagall thing; pursed her lips and strode forward. Unexpectedly, she strode straight to Eilidh's desk. "Come with me, please, and bring your belongings," McGonagall whispered.
This seemed to come as much of a surprise to Eilidh as it did the rest of the class. In fact, the reassuring smile she tried to give Marlene as she passed was not at all reassuring.
Marlene turned around, got Sirius's attention, and tried to signal him to follow her out. However, he seemed to think she was asking him if he knew what was going on and simply shrugged.
Marlene huffed, waited until Professor Binns's back was turned, grabbed Mary, and made a break for it.
"What are you doing?" Mary hissed as Marlene carefully closed the door behind them.
"Why do you think McGonagall took Eilidh out of class?" Marlene asked.
"To discuss something probably. Like we could be doing in class," Mary whispered.
"You worry too much MacDonald," Potter said coming seemingly out of nowhere. Marlene froze for a second out of fear while Mary squeaked, trying not to scream, and grabbed onto Marlene's arm.
"He's right, 'snot good for your health," Sirius added, standing right beside Potter like they'd been there the whole time. The door creaked open and Remus slid through.
"Did Lily go to the toilet or something?" he asked. "I tried to invite her but I couldn't find her."
"She only goes to History of Magic when we have exams. Don't know why," Potter answered, cleaning his glasses off on his shirt.
"Peter's not coming?" Mary asked
"He said he was going to stay and take notes," Remus shrugged.
Marlene imagined that she could cut the tension that followed with a very dull knife.
"Well, let's go then. We can discuss theories on the way," Sirius said marching forward.
"Yes, sir," Potter saluted. Sirius grimaced at him over his shoulder. "That was weird. I'm never saying that again," Potter vowed and rushed in front of Sirius.
"Wait, where did you lot come from?" Marlene asked.
"History of Magic," Remus answered.
"Ha ha," Marlene groaned.
"Better question: Why did McGonagall take Eilidh out of class?" Sirius asked.
The took the long way to McGonagall's office for fear of running into her and discussed what little they did know of Eilidh's life that could lead up to this point. It was concluded, by the time the reached the bench outside of McGonagall's office, that this was the fault of Eilidh's aunt's failing health. They prepared to comfort a grieving friend. Again.
"Man, this year must suck for her," Mary commented, swinging her foot and looking at the office door as if she could hug Eilidh through the wood.
"Professionally," Marlene agreed which earned her a strange look from James.
"I think this year sucked for everyone," Remus said.
"Not everyone lost their father," Marlene reminded.
Sirius stood, took a few steps closer to the office, and said, "Are you sure we should even be here? Maybe she wants some time alone? To process or something."
"Sit down," Marlene ordered, not bothering to hide her irritation with him. His second guessing made her usually confident friend second guess everything and it was becoming intolerable.
Sirius glared at her, huffed, and sat down. Just in time for Eilidh to appear carrying a large box-shaped parcel.
"Hi," she said softly. McGonagall came out behind her, looked surprised at their being there, but otherwise turned a blind eye.
"Not fair, Nicnevin, we still have weeks 'till Christmas," Potter said, cheerily as he moved to take the box from her. "Oh, what the hell is in this?"
"Here. Leviosa," Eilidh waved her wand and allowed the box to float between them.
"I could've carried it," he told her.
"I know," Eilidh said, still smiling.
"What is it?" Sirius asked, tilting his head to examine the side. "Shaw?"
"My Grandparents on my dad's side," Eilidh explained. "They sent this and a letter explaining what it was to McGonagall - well the school. It's my inheritance."
"Oh," they said collectively in varying sympathetic tones.
"Erm, probably in the library," Marlene answered.
"Do you want me to get her?" Mary offered, already backing away. Eilidh nodded. "We'll meet in the Common Room."
"Come on, love," Marlene took Eilidh's free hand.
"You guys didn't have to leave class for me," Eilidh smiled at them.
"Any time," Potter shrugged.
"You'd do the same for us," Remus agreed.
"Do you want us to stay with you?" Sirius asked, stupidly. Marlene rolled her eyes and forced herself not to hit him.
"If you want to," Eilidh said.
"Of course we want to, we're friends," Potter said, more to Sirius than Eilidh.
"Yeah, we'll always be there for you if you need us," Sirius said, which granted him some forgiveness. "But if you feel crowded and want it to be just you and Lily, that's fine too."
Eilidh wore her expression that made Marelen was to scream out in frustration. She never understood why Eilidh had such a hard time expressing her feelings for such a vocal person. Marlene gently squeezed her hand for support.
"Erm, I'd like you to stay if you don't mind," Eilidh said, as shyly as Eilidh could. "James, I'd understand if you didn't want to. With Lily and everything."
"I can't be scared off that easily," Potter laughed.
So the five of them walked together to the Common Room, each wondering about what was in the box and how it would affect their already troubled friend. Marlene wished there was something she could do to help. All she could offer was her hand to hold and shoulder to cry on.
***Son of Whitebeard, any references to C.S. Lewis made in the previous chapter was accidental... I haven't read anything by him since elementary school so I'm very curious about what you found. TELL ME?! My baby Regie...
****Snuffles Bitch, the implication was entirely intentional, you've got a handle on Pevensie's character. Aw shucks ;)
*****Love Fiction 2018, thank you :D
******Merrick Whitlock, thank you :)
*******Jane Turnleaf, nah dude, I don't care how hot the girl is, James is a very focused, goal-oriented person and he will love Lily until the very end.
***WHAT'S IN THE BOX?! There was a show I used to watch with my friend and there was a mysterious box and the characters were all like arg what's in the box! and we thought it was hilarious for some reason. Anyway, this chapter reminded me of it and now I have to try and remember my facebook password so I can message her and figure out what show it was. I think it was Arrow but I'm not sure...
Sorry for the horrendous amount of typos that I'm sure there are in this chapter, I'm exhausted and haven't had time to do much of anything let alone edit. :/
Thank you for reading and all the other wonderful things you do *insert 2003 heart emoji that fanfiction stupidly blocks*
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Until next time,
XO