15
The End of the Season
" Why do we need so much stuff all of the time?" Marlene asked as they walked into Flourish and Blotts a few days later.
" We only need four books" Lily commented, " that's less than last year"
" But it's still four" Marlene said as they all grabbed each of the books they needed.
" You would complain if we only needed one" Doe told her.
Marlene shook her head, " You know what, Doe" she said running her hands over her hair.
Flourish and Blotts was crowded and they ran into several people that they knew. They bought their books and headed outside to where the apothecary Lily wanted to go to was.
" Is that the radiant Dorcas Meadowes I see?" a drawling voice behind them called.
Rabastan Lestrange came out from behind them. Trailing behind him was his brother Roldpohous.
" Go away, Rabastan" Doe said angrily.
His face drew out into a cold smile, " Aw, come on Doe, don't be like that"
" Seriously get lost" Marlene snapped.
" I wasn't talking to you McKinnon" Rabastan snarled venomously, " why don't you mind your own business, blood traitor"
Marlene narrowed her eyes angrily.
" Rabastan get out of here," Doe said, " I'm not interested".
Rabastan smiled and stroked the side of her face quickly, " We'll see"
Doe pulled away from him quickly, and watched as Rabastan left them.
" Such a creep" she said shivering slightly.
" He's certainly got a thing for you" Lily commented.
" He's disgusting" Doe said pulling my sleeves over my wrists.
They walked around Diagon Alley for a little longer, stopping to pick up some more quills and potions supplies. They were just leaving a potions shop when they began to hear screaming outside on the street.
" What the hell?" Marlene shouted as they walked out and saw the chaos that had ensued.
People were fleeing everywhere. Doe looked up to see a large dark mark hovering over the sky and a group of cloaked individuals hovering over a body.
They were death eaters.
" We've got to go" she said grabbing Marlene and Lily roughly by their arms and pulling them towards the leaky cauldron.
Lily was as white as a ghost and Marlene kept staring at the group, a motionless expression on her face.
She pulled them both into the leaky cauldron where many witches and wizards were assembled.
" DOE" her father's loud voice rang out. She saw him standing there. He was in his work robes, still on the job. He had a wildly angry expression on his face. Doe had never seen him look that worried before.
" Come on girls, let's go" he shouted quickly grabbing onto each of them and apparating quickly into their living room.
" Why were they there?" Marlene asked, " why Diagon Alley?"
Doe's father shook his head, " I don't know, I have to go back but girls stay here. Don't leave the house"
They followed his instructions and didn't move. They all just sat there, terrified. If You-Know-Who and his supporters could attack in Diagon Alley, they could attack anywhere.
It was pouring rain.
It wasn't the kind of tolerable rain that often happened in London. The light drizzle that fell from the otherwise sunny sky. No, this was the kind of torrential downpour that was so thick you couldn't see in front of you.
The sky was such a dark grey it was almost black, broken up only by the occasional strike of lightning or loud crack of thunder.
The rain was falling in such heavy sheets in slapped itself against the windows, sounding like wood slapping against the glass.
Doe and her father had to dodge the large drops of rain as they pushed her trolley into the confines of Kings Cross Station.
Doe had tried to make a case to him to let her go alone this year, seeing as she would be coming of age in November, but after the recent attack in Diagon Alley, he insisted on accompanying her onto the platform.
" Come on, I'll be fine" she said as we approached the space in between platforms 9 and 10.
" Just humor me" her father said putting his hand on her shoulder and making sure no one was looking at them before launching forward through the platform.
" I could have done that by myself" she told him as soon as they were on the platform staring at the scarlet train.
" Doe, if someone was attacked in Diagon Alley, it could happen anywhere" her father said sternly, " I'm just keeping you safe"
She sighed, " I know"
Her father smiled slightly, and pulled her into a hug, " I love you Doe, have a good term"
" I will, I love you too" She told him.
He smiled at her again before going back through the platform.
It was still raining, leaving a dark tinge on the usually colorful platform.
She noticed that there were a few more parents than usually. She assumed, that like her father, some of the parents were nervous about the recent events.
" Well if it isn't Doe Meadowes" Sirius said coming over to her with James.
" Hey Sirius" she said pulling him into a tight hug.
He laughed and pulled her in closer.
" Hey James" she said happily.
James smiled, " You know Doe, I blame you for delivering Sirius to me. He's been quite annoying"
Sirius grinned, " Oh come on Prongs, I annoyed Doe all summer" he said ruffling his hand on her head.
" It's true, he was downright irritating" she said with a smile.
" Here, Meadowes" James said grabbing one end of her trunk and lifting it into the bottom of the train, " we wouldn't want you to drop it like last year"
She blushed deeply remembering last year when being caught of guard by Remus, she had dropped my trunk onto her foot.
" Thank you, James." she told him, " I'm not coordinated enough for everyday life"
James snickered and lifted it up with ease.
" Are you doing okay?" she asked turning to Sirius.
Sirius rolled his eyes at her, " I'm fine, beautiful. Stop being such a mom"
" You promise you're okay?" she asked him again, pressing him further.
" Yes, Doe. I'm splendid. Floating on cloud nine" Sirius assured her.
She decided to believe him. He did look better. All of his injuries had disappeared and he was sporting a new glow that was probably due to the lack of stress at the Potter's house.
" Oh look. There's Moony" Sirius said nodding towards the platform where Remus and his mother had just appeared.
" 10 sickles he says hi to Doe first" James said to Sirius.
" I'm not joining a losing bet" Sirius said, " You know he will."
" Doe," Remus said walking over to her.
" Remus, Hi" she said.
Remus wrapped one of his arms around her and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
" Doe, nice to see you" Carol said pulling her into a quick hug, " rotten weather isn't it"
" Very inconvenient" she agreed.
She smiled to Remus, " I'll leave you in her capable hands. Have a good term"
Remus smiled back at her, " Thanks Mum. Love you"
Carol gave a fleeting wave and left.
Doe and Remus both walked back over to his friends.
" Padfoot! Prongs!" Remus greeted each of them.
He hugged each of them, looking thrilled to be reunited with his friends again.
" And here comes Wormtail" James said as Peter joined the three of his friends.
" James, Sirius, Remus" He said almost out of breath, " Were sixth years can you believe it?"
" We need to plan some serious mischief for this year" James said, " we haven't done any pranks in forever"
" We need something big" Sirius agreed.
Peter tensed up, " Should we really be discussing this in front of an outsider?" he said looking to Doe.
" Doe's not an outsider" James said rolling his eyes.
" She's with Remus, she's an honorary member" Sirius agreed.
" I apologize deeply, on behalf of my friends" Remus whispered to her. Doe only grinned.
" Don't" I told him, " have your marauder time, I've got go find my friends".
She squeezed his hand comfortingly and then started to walk away in search of her friends.
" See you boys" she said waving to the rest of the marauders.
" She" James said as she walked away, " is a keeper".
Laughing to herself, she searched the platform for any sign of her friends. She saw Marlene standing with what looked like all of her older brothers. Arguing with them loudly.
"... No, I don't care what Mom and Dad said, I don't need six escorts to get on the bloody train!" she shouted shrilly.
" Marlene, calm down" she said coming behind her and hugging her.
" They all came. How ridiculous is that?" Marlene asked her gesturing to all of her brothers. The six Mckinnon brothers were surrounding Marlene, looking like a very blonde Quidditch team.
" Don't complain," she told her, " I wish I had siblings.
" See Marley, " Klaus said, " some people envy you"
" Doe you're an only child you don't know what it's like" Marlene said shaking her head.
" Being an only child sounds great right about now" Lily said joining them.
" Lils" Marlene said excitedly pulling her into a tight hug.
" Hey there Lilyflower" Doe said.
Lily looked exasperated.
" You okay?" Marlene asked.
" Just Petunia? I know, what's new right?" Lily said with a sigh.
The rain began to pound louder on the platform, drenching some students who were standing close to the train.
" We should try and find Mary" Lily said looking around.
" Found her" Marlene said looking over to the front of the train where Mary was talking earnestly to Benjy Flitwick.
" Go Mary" Lily said smiling proudly.
" Well let's get a compartment and then she can join us when she's done" Marlene said a wide smile crossing her face.
" Promise you won't tease her" Doe said pushing Marlene slightly on the arm.
" Oh I won't" Marlene said her mouth curving into a devilish smile, " Well at least not too badly".
" HEY THERE MACDONALD" Marlene yelled at her.
Mary turned to her and narrowed her eyes angrily, waving her away.
" Looks like we better get out of here, or face Mary's wrath" Marlene laughed swinging her arms around Doe's and Lily's neck.
They walked towards the train, it was three minutes to eleven and the platform was almost completely clear. They climbed the small step ladder onto the train and walked down the aisle searching for an open compartment. A large compartment near the very back of the train had the door swung open. Inside were James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter who had already seated themselves comfortably inside.
" Doe," Remus said seeing her through the window, " You guys can sit in here, there's plenty of room"
She smiled widely and then turned to Lily, knowing Marlene wouldn't have a problem with it.
" Please, Lily? Please?" She begged.
Lily rolled her eyes, " Fine" and followed her into the compartment.
Thrilled that she had gotten Lily to comply without much hesitation, Doe seated herself in between Remus and Sirius.
She watched as Marlene sat in the corner next to Sirius. not breaking eye contact with him.
Doe rolled my eyes, bothered that they were both being so obtuse about their feelings towards each other.
Lily avoided the open seat next to James and squished herself between Peter and the sliding door, brooding slightly.
" Nice to see you too, Evans" James said rolling his eyes.
" Oh I'm sorry, were you looking for a hello?" Lily asked angrily, " because I don't associate with you"
Doe sighed, letting her head drop onto Remus' shoulder.
" You know I like you, Evans" James said almost angrily, "so why not stop prolonging the process and go out with me"
Lily scoffed, obviously angry " Not if it was between you and a Slytherin"
James let out an exasperated noise, " and we all know how much you love the Slytherins"
" I'm not even friends with Severus anymore" Lily snapped, " you made sure of that"
" I didn't force him to call you that" James snapped back.
Doe could feel her face burning. Even throughout what happened last year, she had maintained a friendship with Severus, which was unsupported by everyone except Remus, who even though didn't like him agreed with why she was.
" Guys maybe you shouldn't yell" Peter started.
" Hush, Wormtail" James said quickly, " Snivellus has always been rotten, you're just mad because I knew it first"
" You're so thick!" Lily shouted angrily.
The compartment door opened and a drenched Mary strode in, she stopped when she saw James and Lily's angry expressions.
Mary smiled, " Wouldn't be a new year at Hogwarts without a Lily and James row" she said taking the empty spot next to James.
" Why are you late, Macdonald?" Sirius asked changing the conversation.
" Oh yes, Mary. Do tell" Marlene said with a wide grin on her face.
" Be quiet, Marley" Mary said running her fingers through her wet hair. She avoided Marlene's suggestive look.
" Mary and Benjy" Marlene hummed.
" You and Flitwick?" Peter asked quietly.
" Yes, what's wrong with Benjy?" Mary asked indignantly.
" Well nothing…" Peter said staring at the floor, " I just didn't know you liked him is all"
Mary shrugged, " It's not like there's tons of options".
" Unless you're me" Sirius said with his signature smile. " then girls throw themselves at you"
Marlene frowned slightly.
Doe turned to Remus, " We have weird friends".
Remus laughed, " That we do"
" Oi stop it you two" James said tossing a book at them.
Remus grabbed it and frowned, " Hey this is mine".
James smiled, " I forgot to give it back".
Slowly, the train began to move forward. The rain was still pouring so deeply that all they could see through the windows was flashes of gray through the vicious drops slamming against the window.
Luckily, sixth year prefects didn't have to go to the meetings, so Remus, Lily, and Doe were able to remain in their compartment.
After the lunch trolley came by and they all bought food from the trolley. They were all too tired to talk much. Peter was sketching a quidditch match on some spare parchment and Remus had taken to playing with a piece of hair that had fallen loose from Doe's ponytail.
" Did you hear that Xenophilius Lovegood is dating Pandora Narlus?" Marlene asked the group.
" Xeno Lovegood?" James asked, " that guy's a loon"
" Well Pandora's pretty odd herself" Mary said.
" She's a year behind us isn't she?" Peter asked.
Mary nodded, " She's a hufflepuff"
" Ew" Marlene said shaking her head.
" Not a fan of our colorful companions are we, Mckinnon?" Sirius asked, his legs stretched out in front of him practically reaching the other side of the compartment.
" Not particularly" Marlene said.
" No hufflepuff hate, some of them are really nice" Doe told Marlene.
She shrugged, " I never said they weren't nice, they're just a little irrelevant"
" Maybe it's by choice" Remus said, " you can't be anyone's enemy if you're not on their radar"
" Good point Moony" James said.
" I have them occasionally" Remus said opening the book.
" Remember when Moony used to be more shy and quiet?" Sirius said longingly.
" Yes back before any dark-haired girls expressed any interest in him" James said with a smile.
" Oh be quiet" Remus said blushing red.
James and Sirius roared with laughter. Doe made eye contact with Remus for a minute and winked reassuringly at him.
He turned back to the book he had just opened, a smile on his face.
" Doe did you ever end up finding that Puddlemore United shirt you lost?" Sirius asked casually.
She frowned, " No I didnt. I can't imagine where it went either-" she stopped short seeing the grin on his face.
" You took it! I knew it, give it back" Doe demanded.
Sirius burst into a roar of laughter, " I have had it for a month now, I'm quite shocked it took you this long to figure it out"
" We are no longer friends" Doe said crossing my arms.
" Yes we are," Sirius said matter of factly, " you'd be lost without me"
She rolled my eyes, " You are so full of yourself"
" This is true" Marlene agreed.
" Sorry Padfoot, but they're right" James added.
Sirius just flicked the hair out of his face, " Well when you've got it….."
The rain made the trip feel longer than it was. When they eventually pulled into the Hogsmeade station it was still pouring rain. The carriages that took the older students to the students sat parked in the rain, small umbrellas propped on top of them. Seeing as they only sat four, Doe followed Mary, Marlene and Lily into the nearest one, and they all crowded under the umbrella, still getting wet from the water coming down on the sides.
" I feel bad for the first years" Doe said as the cart bumped down the Hogsmeade streets. If they thought this was bad, they couldn't imagine getting to the school drenched from the boat ride.
The carriages all pulled up to the gate, where Argus Filch was standing guard.
A ghastly pink umbrella with ruffles was held over his head, and in his hands he clutched a foul looking kitten, who did not look like it was enjoying being outside in the rain, even if under the cover of an umbrella.
They all ran to the front doors, stumbling into the castle and into the great hall.
They were all soaked, everyone who had avoided getting wet on the ride to Hogwarts was drenched from the run to the castle.
Doe looked up at the Great Hall sky. It was storming, every so often getting bright flashes of lightning darting across it.
" I am freezing" Marlene complained as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.
Doe nodded, " Me too".
She wrung her hair out. Her robes felt extremely heavy from the water they were drenched in.
" You guys look so uncomfortable" Emmeline Vance said from further down the table with the seventh years.
" Why did you get so wet?" Katie Spinnet, another Gryffindor 7th year asked.
Surprisingly none of the seventh years looked even damp.
" It's raining" Marlene said plainly, " Why aren't you wet?"
Katie smiled, " Oh we cast a water repelling spell. I think you'll learn about them this year"
Marlene waited until Katie turned back to Emmeline and rolled her eyes.
The Marauders walked in a minute later, soaking wet they sat down next to them at the table.
" Who's that bloke at the staff table?" Sirius asked Doe.
She looked up to see where he was pointing. Seated in between Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick was a tall red-haired man. He was large, he seemed to tower of Professor McGonagall.
His hair hung to his shoulders and he looked frightening in the leather jacket he was wearing.
" I dunno" Doe told him.
" Professor Gibbons is missing" Lily said, " look".
Sure enough the defense against the dark arts teacher, Professor Gibbons was not seated at the staff table.
" Good, " Sirius said, " he was a bloody awful teacher"
" He wasn't awful" Doe said, but truthfully, he had never really taught them anything.
" Maybe that's his replacement" Remus said gesturing to the unidentified red-headed man.
" Aw look the sorting!" Lily said pointing to the group of first years lined up at the entrance.
Doe looked up to see McGonagall placing the sorting hat on the stool and taking out the parchment containing the student's names.
The whole hall quieted to watch.
Each of the first years that approached the sorting hat looked terrified. Doe wondered silently if she had looked that nervous.
Some were sorted quickly, other's took longer. One boy, Benjamin Turtlebomb took almost five minutes of deliberation before joining them at the Gryffindor table.
When 'Zaxil, Thomas" was sorted into Ravenclaw, McGonagall picked up both the sorting hat and the hat and moved them away from the floor.
Professor Dumbledore stood up and was met with an uproar of clapping. Dumbledore smiled slightly.
" Welcome back students! And to our new students, Welcome! I am so glad to see all of you here. This year will be an interesting one for Hogwarts. I know you would all like to enjoy the feast, but before you do, we have some news. Our beloved Professor Gibbons has decided to retire from his post as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and while he will be sorrily missed, we are happy to introduce Professor Bilius Weasley, who has joined us as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher"
Professor Dumbledore gestured to the redheaded man at the staff table who had just stood up.
Everyone clapped, and Arthur Weasley, a Gryffindor 7th year stood, clapping loudly and telling anyone who would listen ' that's my brother'.
As soon as everyone sat down and stopped clapping, the feast appeared on the table.
Most of the conversation in the hall was about our new defense teacher,
" I wonder if he's any good?"
" Probably not, they never are"
" Arthur must be pleased"
" I just really hope we learn something"
" And that he doesn't give too much homework"
Doe took a bite of the roasted chicken from her plate. She, like everyone else, hoped that Professor Weasley would be good. They hadn't had a good defense teacher in so long. Most of their learning came from out of the book.
Sirius had attracted quite the audience at their table, he was bewitching one of the chickens to dance. The first years were practically in tears.
" You know he may actually be 12" Remus said to Doe, shaking his head.
She nodded, " He has the maturity of a first year".
"You guys spent a lot of time together this summer, surely you think more of him than last year" Remus said.
She nodded, " He's more like he was before Hogwarts"
" I suspect it was dealing with his parents, that changes people" Remus said.
" Well I'm glad. He can be a really good friend" Doe told him.
Remus rolled his eyes, " I've been telling you this for months"
She grinned, " I'm stubborn".
Remus laughed, " Well that's for sure".
" Watch it Lupin" she said dipping her finger in the frosting of the chocolate cupcake in front of him.
" You have a problem"she said putting a dip of icing on his nose.
" I like chocolate, " Remus said sheepishly.
" Doe," Lily said. She turned to her.
" What's up Lil?"
" I don't want to worry you or anything," she said, " but Rabastan Lestrange is staring at you"
Doe followed her gaze to see Rabastan Lestrange, two tables away.
When he caught her gaze, he winked and waved at her.
Scowling, she turned back to face Lily, " He is foul".
In the front of the hall, Dumbledore rose again, and subsequently silenced the room again.
" I just have a few things to discuss with all of you before you leave. As I know most of you know. The recent attack in Diagon Alley have forced all wizarding locations to be more aware. The ministry has asked me to let all of you know, that now more than ever is the need to be more aware of your surroundings. Don't leave the castle alone, and report any suspicious behavior. But I must implore you to get a good night's sleep, for those of you have Professor McGonagall's class in the morning may be in far worse danger"
Everyone in the hall laughed and Professor McGonagall pursed his lips in a way to suggest that they would all be writing essays tomorrow.
" So welcome back students, I wish you all fantastic year" Dumbledore said brandishing his wand and allowing the large oak doors of the great hall to open.
Everyone got up and headed towards their common rooms. The new prefects directed the first years up the staircase towards Gryffindor tower.
Lily and Doe trailed behind them, climbing in the portrait hole right behind them.
" Would you look at this!" One of the tiny first years exclaimed looking at the massive common room.
Doe and Lily walked around them and climbed their staircase up to the sixth floor.
" We will be too exhausted to actually get to our dormitories by the time we are seventh years" Lily said opening the door.
" There you are!" Marlene exclaimed.
" What took you so long?" Mary asked.
Alice who was sitting on the edge of her bed waved happily.
" We got stuck behind the first years" Doe said taking her usual bed by the window.
Lily sat down on the one beside her.
" Do you realize we are sixth years?" Lily asked climbing on the edge of her bed, " Next year is our last year".
" I don't even want to think about that" Doe said falling back against her pillows.
" Guys, promise me we'll still be friends when we leave here" Lily said .
" Of course we will Lily, you can't shake us that easily" Doe told her.
" I don't know about you guys," Marlene said, " But I am being a bridesmaid in the Evans Potter wedding".
" HA!" Lily said, " like I would ever marry James!"
Marlene laughed and sat back on her bed.
" You never know Lily" Mary said with a wink.
Lily rolled her eyes, " Yes I do" and she climbed back onto her bed.
And with one flick of her wand, she extinguished the light.