Chapter 4

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. -Anais Nin

A.N. To everyone reading this, sorry about the wait for a new chapter. Finding it hard to manage my time right now, however I have not given up on this story. Please be patient I know it is a bit slow right now. Comments and constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. I'm just another writer with a big dream. Hope you enjoy this chapter, I know I enjoy writing them.

-Maggie's P.O.V.-

We all managed to make it to the third floor without getting caught. Helena was putting a locking spell on the door, along with a silencing spell so that no one passing by could hear us.

"I know that your all probably wondering why I called this meeting." I started once we all sat down. Nobody said anything and I took that as a sign to continue.

"Firstly, I'd like to thank you all for being so nice to me while I've been in the hospital wing. Without your help, I wouldn't of ever been able to catch up on my work."

"You've only been there for a night, all the work we helped you with was stuff that you put off until the last minute." Helena said

"Still, I really appreciate the help-"

"Is that why you called this meeting? To thank us? We have the chance of getting into so much trouble every time we come to one of these meetings." Helena said cutting me off.

"Will you just shut up and listen?" I said, she opened her mouth to reply but decided against it. Smart girl.

"Secondly, I'd like to point out that what happened wasn't Bree's fault. We're both responsible for what happened."

"I agree" Helena said. This was a first.

"Thanks, so if everyone would stop blaming her for-"

"I said I agree with you. You are both responsible for what happened. One of you should have gotten a prefect or teacher."

"That would leave only one of us to duel the Slytherins."

"There should not have been any duelling! That's not how we handle situations."

"We didn't have a choice!" I shot back.

I understood Helena not wanting to admit she was wrong. I'm sure she truly believes there should have been a prefect or teacher

there, but it's not like we could have found one in time. There's no telling what those Slytherins would've done if we would have

taken the time to find a figure of authority.

"I'm not the only one who thinks it was foolish to duel, Bridget agrees with me i'm sure." Helena said, eyes pleading for Bridget

to confirm what she said.

"I think we should all just agree to disagree." She said calmly.

"Fine."

Helena remained quiet, i'm sure she would have loved to continue this argument but thankfully she didn't. It was quiet for a bit, so

I decided to start the conversation again. I was the one who called the meeting after all.

"So, anyone got any interesting stories?" I asked once we sat down.

"I was the first one to vanish my snail in Transfiguration." Helena said.

"I know, I was there. Remember?" I said and rolled my eyes. That's when I noticed that Bree was just sitting there, looking

stunned. I realised that she hasn`t said anything since we got here. Something must be wrong.

"That reminds me" Bridget said "Regulus asked me to help him with his Transfiguration homework."

"Really? What d'you say?"

"I told him I can until Christmas break."

"Wow, I never knew you were interested in the other Black."

"It's just studying Maggie, some people actually want to get good grades." Helena said

"Oh, please. He's just trying to get close with Bridget."

"By asking her for help with his Transfiguration?" Helena asked perplexed. "Not everyone had a hidden agenda."

"Whatever, I won't say I told you so when he asks her out." Maggie said, dropping the subject.

"Why are you so quiet?" Bridget asked. Bree looked up as we all turned to look at her. She seemed troubled.

"I have something to say, but I don't want anyone to freak out. Okay?" she seemed to have been talking to all of us, but I got a

feeling that she was talking to Bridget in particular.

"Alright" Bridget said a little nervous.

"Tell us." I said

"Well, it all happened when I was eating dinner." She said with all attention on her. She sighed, whatever it was she seemed to

have trouble saying it. "You see, I, well-"

"Just spit it out already!" Helena said, she was never known for her patience.

"James Potter asked me to be his girlfriend."

Suddenly, the room fell silent.

"And I said yes."

"WHAT!" we all cried, although I'm pretty sure Bridget was the loudest.

"I thought he sought after Lily?" Helena said

"I thought you sought after Remus?" I said

"It's complicated. I'm not supposed to tell anyone this so you must promise to keep it a secret."

"We won't have to, once a girl dates a Marauder the whole school knows." I told her

"Not that, you see, James and I aren't really dating."

Silence.

"Am I the only one confused?" Helena asked

"He's trying to show Lily that he won't always be chasing after her, and that other girls are interested in him and he won't always

turn them down." Bree explained.

"And you're interested in him?" Bridget asked

"No, he's just a friend. Which is why he asked me this favour. He doesn't have a lot of friends on the female side. They all end up

developing feelings for him. He didn't want to hurt anyone by using them, so he asked me to play along and pretend to be his

girlfriend."

"So, let me see if I got this." I said trying to understand. "You and James Potter want to convince everyone that you're dating. So

that he can make Lily jealous?"

"And to show her that he can be a gentleman." She replied "Don't give me that look Bridget, he can be a nice guy."

"What do you get out of this?" Helena asked what I'm sure we're all wondering.

"Nothing, I'm just doing him a favour."

"I think this is ridiculous" Bridget said

"You knew we were friends, why is this so hard to understand?"

"I comprehend it quite well thanks, I just think this is stupid. He`s an ass." Bridget spat back.

Helena and I just sat there shocked. It wasn`t often that Bridget lost her temper, and to her sister ?

"Please, promise me you won`t say anything." Bree asked her

"You know I won`t. I just wish you would have more sense than being a part of James` moronic plan."

"We won`t say anything either." I added while looking at Helena for confirmation.

"No, we won`t." She said "However, I do think we should be getting back."

"We just got here." I said

"I know, but I don`t want to be tired for tomorrow. I have a lot of studying to do, besides, Bree has Quidditch try-outs."

"She`s right" Bree said and with that they all got up.

"Fine, but i'm only agreeing with Helena because I want you to make the team."

-Bridget`s P.O.V-

The weather started cooling off as we sat in the stands, watching my sister try out for seeker. I looked over to where James was standing, the wind was messing up his black hair, not that it was ever combed. Merlin I hated that guy.

"Here to watch Bree?"

I looked over to my left, pass Maggie and Helena, where Remus and Peter stood. They came to sit next to us to my displeasure.

"We thought we would show our support" Helena replied.

"Why is Sirius trying out, Isn`t he already on the team?" Maggie asked

"James thought it would be unfair to others if he didn`t make his best friend try out." Remus replied.

"Oh" Maggie said. I knew she came here for Bree, I just wish she would stop staring at Sirius.

"She`s doing pretty good" Peter said as we watched Bree fly after the snitch.

"So what exactly determines if they make it or not?" Helena asked.

"James is looking for skill, but whoever catches the snitch will get the advantage." Remus said.

As he said that I noticed Bree flying towards the goalpost.

"I think she sees it." Maggie said

"I don`t know" I muttered as I watched my sister.

Bree turned her broom around sharply, that`s when I realised she was just distracting the other seeker.

"Smart move" I said.

We all started cheering when Bree caught the snitch. I knew she could do it.

"C`mon, let`s go congratulate her." Maggie said

"You guys go ahead." I said

"Aren`t you coming?" Maggie asked. They all looked confused.

"You`re still mad about her and James." Helena said

Remus gave me a funny look at Helena's comment.

"No" I replied wishing that his friends would just leave, what do they care if I go or not? "Well, yes. It`s not that though, I promised Regulus that I`d help him with his homework."

"We`ll tell her you had to go then." Maggie replied, although I could tell she was didn't approve of me not going to congratulate Bree. I suppose I could go and say a few quick work to Bree, but then I'd also have to deal with James and probably a few other Gryffindors, who I'm sure wouldn't want a Slytherin around them when they celebrated.

Truth is that's the reason why I told Regulus that I would help him study after her tryouts. I wanted to see if she would make the team, I wanted to support her. After the news she dropped on us last night though, I didn't want to see her. I knew once she saw me she would know that I still think she's making a huge mistake being part of James' plan. I just needed time to process things, so this morning at breakfast, I told Regulus to meet me in the library.

"Thanks, I'll see her later to congratulate her."

I walked away from the group and headed towards the castle. There weren`t as many students outside as last weekend. Probably because of the cold weather.

Once I got to the library, I noticed Regulus sitting at the table closest to the door. He had his books on the table already, and once he saw me he gave me that cool smirk he's so good at giving.

"Sorry if i`m late" I said once I sat down, taking off my scarf.

"That`s fine. I`m just glad you made it." He said as he looked at me with his grey eyes. I tried not to stare but they were very compelling. I looked towards the bookshelf once I felt my cheeks heat up. I wasn't used to being alone with a guy before, maybe if a teacher paired me up with one in class, but not like this. Not when I know the guy has a crush on me. Brianna wasn't the only one hopeless when it came to dating. That was a quality we both shared.

"So what are you having trouble with?" I asked quickly. Trying to focus on studying.

"Switching spells"

"Well, it just so happens that I'm an expert."

Regulus just smirked.

"I know, that`s why I asked for your help. Mulciber told me you were top of your class."

"Mulciber told you this?"

"Yeah, although I think he was just saying that to get me to ask for your help."

"Why would he do that?" I knew Mulciber; everything he did had a hidden agenda.

"Because, he knows I like you."

Merlin this boy was forward. Regulus just continued to stare at me, I looked away again but then he placed his hand on mine. It was warm.

"I told you already, I`m-"

"Not interested." He said cutting me off "I know, I know. I just thought I'd try again, I couldn`t stop thinking about you over the summer."

"You`re a year younger than I, Regulus." I said, even though I knew that didn`t really matter. If I wasn`t interested in Evan Rosier I`d probably date him.

"So what?" he asked "I come from a good family, Bridget. I can take of you."

I gave a cold laugh. That was not something a girl likes to hear when she considers herself to be independent.

"I can take care of myself." I said pulling my hand out of his, I don`t know why it took me this long to remove it.

"That`s not what I meant."

"I think you can finish your homework without my help." I said as I got up and walked away from him.

"Bridget, wait-"

"Find someone your own age."

That was all I said before leaving the library.

A.N. SOooooo, what do you think? I had to add Regulus to the story, I feel as if he's been almost forgotten since he's a Slytherin, but he is still Sirius' brother.