February 2, 1977
"Moony!" James yelled at his friend across the library, causing them to both get shoved out by the librarian moments later. "Sorry mate." James laughed as they walked out.
"No worries. What's going on?"
"Have you done your job for the dance yet?"
"Yeah, I got the posters ordered, and gave them to Alice to put up." They walked by a poster. "See?"
"Okay, thanks."
"You okay James?"
"Yeah, just a little stressed. I need to make sure everyone is done their jobs. So unreliable. It doesn't help that everyone is doubled up on patrols, so they claim that they don't have enough time and can't get their jobs done. Just excuses... I mean I'm the Quidditch team captain, Head Boy, have a girlfriend who needs some time, and in seventh year studying for my NEWTs in my spare time. Some lazy fifth year prefect can suck it." Remus laughed. "Do you have a date?" James asked.
"Yes. Marlene McKinnon." Remus rolled his eyes at James expression. "It isn't like that. She needs a date. Mary's going with Prewett-"
"Gideon?"
"No Fabian. And Alice is with Frank, you're with Lily." James' grin grew substantially at that. "She asked, and I wasn't going to say no. Sirius is going alone, as he usually does for these things. I think I was her only option."
"Oh Merlin, Moony. You're no one's last resort." James rolled his eyes. Remus started to argue but James silenced him with a look. "Pity party over. She could have gone with Peter too."
"He's going with Bertha Jorkins."
"You aren't serious."
"No, I'm Remus. And yes, yes he is."
*
"Roiser!" Dorcas Meadowes yelled after the girl in the hallway.
Violetta stopped in the empty corridor and waited for Dorcas to catch up to her.
"Yes?"
"Just hoping you had some nicotine on you?"
Violetta riffled through her bag looking for her smokes. "What's new with you?"
"Nothing much," She took a smoke from Violetta. "Want to go outside and light this up?"
"Has James been hassling you about your job for this dance?" Violetta made small talk as they walked outside the castle, around the lake.
"So annoying."
"Man it's cold out here." Violetta rubbed her arms with her hands. "What's your job anyway?"
"Uhm, refreshments with Gideon... I think."
Violetta nodded, laughing slightly.
Dorcas nodded, smiling. "James isn't going to be too impressed if I don't know though, so it's not like I can ask."
"I think we were supposed to be done this a couple days ago." Violetta nodded.
"I think it was actually a couple weeks ago."
"You're right. The dance is next week hey?"
"Don't remind me." Dorcas put the smoke out. "I should probably owl Rosmeta or something."
"Do you have a date?" Violetta asked as they walked back into the castle and slowly made their way to Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"I think me and Gideon are going together as friends."
"Which means you're going to go, get drunk, and then shag each other after?"
"Pretty much," Dorcas laughed, "helps make up for the sick feeling you get from the, how would you put it, 'single-ness' at these events."
"At least you have a date." Violetta sighed.
"You don't? Now I find that surprising."
"I've been asked." Violetta laughed slightly. "Is it pathetic that a second year actually thinks that I would say yes?"
"Yes."
They laughed. "I'm going with Lestrange though, does he really count?"
"Puke." Dorcas made a face.
"Slim pickings."
"I suppose he is better than Snape."
"Only in looks my dear, and by how much really? I suppose he does wash his hair... but still."
"If you squint your eyes all night it probably won't even be that bad."
"As long as he doesn't try anything. I saw him snogging some trampy fifth year last week. I'm not getting a cold sore because of him."
Dorcas sniggered. "You mean another cold sore?"
"Fuck you."
"Love you too."
*
"I can't believe we have to go to this thing." Marlene made a face as she tried and failed again to make her hair sit the way she wanted it. "All I'm going to do is feel completely inadequate while babes like you walk around in your tight ass robes and your perfect god damn hair."
Lily smiled and rolled her eyes at the girl. If anything, Marlene was the prettiest one of them all. Lily walked over and snatched the hair out of the other girl's hand. "Let me help you, you silly girl."
She let Lily attempt something with her hair, but continued to complain. "I don't even have a real date."
"I'm sure Remus will show you a lovely time." Alice said kindly across the room.
"He's just so nice." Marlene muttered.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Lily laughed.
"I heard something... maybe he isn't as nice as you think." Mary bit her lip, pausing, debating something. "Oh Merlin whatever. I'm a gossip addict."
"What?!" The attention of the other three girls turned dramatically from hair and make-up to Mary.
"Okay, so. I was going for extra transfiguration help the other night, clearly minding my business-"
"The other night?" Marlene scoffed. "How long have you known about this?"
"As I was saying, minding my business and I happened to stop before entering the classroom," Mary ignored the question and sceptical looks the girls were giving her, "and I heard McGonagall sharing some light conversation over some fire whiskey with Flitwick."
"Really?" Lily laughed.
"Yes, and you'll never guess who the topic was."
"Remus?" Marlene rolled her eyes. Mary, continued to ignore the girl.
"Our very own Remus Lupin. And what McGonagall caught him doing the other night wasn't very nice, if you get my drift."
"What?"
"So she caught him in a broom closet, with his trousers undone!"
"With who?!" Marlene asked, shocked.
"And you'll never guess with who!" Mary giggled as Marlene glared at her. "Sorry McKinnon, but stop being such a prat."
"I swear to Merlin, McDonald..."
"Violetta Roiser!" Mary half cried.
"What!" The other three girls yelled.
"Well it was obviously either her or Dorcas Meadowes, if you think about it. I mean, those girls could leave some of the few acceptable male species here for the rest of us." Marlene muttered after the shock had worn off.
"They aren't that bad." Alice defended as she turned back to her makeup.
"They're tramps." Marlene snapped.
"Just because you're still a virgin..." Mary teased kindly, smiling.
"Hush you." Marlene smiled despite herself.
February 14, 1977
Despite several panic attacks by James that this dance wouldn't work out, it began without a hitch. Except for one problem.
"Why is no one dancing?" Lily hissed to James.
"Because no one is dancing." He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor.
"I'm not very good James." She whispered into his ear as he put a hand on her back and filled the other with hers. "I wasn't raised in high pureblood society, I'm probably going to destroy your feet." He began slowly twirling her.
"Just follow my lead." He whispered back. "We'll start slowly and work our way up to faster."
"Kind of like that other time..." She wiggled her eyebrows at him in a suggestive way.
"Lily." He reprimanded. "Remember what I said-"
"'We don't talk about that in public'" She mimicked.
"You know it gets me.." He trailed off.
"Hot and bothered?" She offered, laughing.
He shook his head laughing as other couples slowly joined them on the dance floor.
She stomped on his foot and he winced. "Sorry! You know I was never very coordinated."
He grinned at her, "I remember our first kiss."
She blushed and stepped on his foot again. "Sorry, sorry!" She looked down and tried to watch her feet.
He pulled her chin up, so she was looking him in the eye. "My feet will survive Lily. I want to be able to see your beautiful eyes." He kissed her lips gently. And then grimaced again as she stomped on his feet. "No, no. Don't apologize." He started before she could. He kissed her again.
"How long do you think we have to wait before we can leave unnoticed?" Lily giggled when he pulled away.
*
"Did I tell you look lovely tonight?" Remus smiled at Marlene.
"Yes, you did Remus." She smiled at him as they sat at a table, sipping butterbeer. "Thank you."
"Would you like to dance?"
"No."
Remus raised his eyebrows at her.
"I mean, sorry, no thank you. Not to this song.. it's too.."
"Lovey?" He offered.
"Yes. Exactly."
"Who is he, Marlene?"
"What?"
"Who did you really want to come with?"
"Oh bloody Merlin Remus. I have the hugest crush on Gideon Prewett I could die."
"Er- isn't he here with-"
"Yes! Dorcas Meadowes and its utterly depressing because she's obviously going to give him more than what I'm willing to offer."
"I thought you had a thing with Benji."
"Screw Benji." She tried to dismiss it, but after several seconds she burst out, "Okay, he dumped me."
"What?! Any guy would be lucky-"
"Cut the crap Lupin."
"I'm serious. Why don't you go just go chat with Gideon?"
"Did you not hear yourself say that he is here with Dorcas bloody Meadowes?"
"I think uh... I don't think he has anything for Dorcas at the moment." They both looked over to the couple.
"I love how great my tits look in this dress." Dorcas twirled a bit beside Gideon.
"Yup, they're nice." He looked around distracted.
"Look Gid, if you wanted to be here with someone else you could have just said no to me." Dorcas rolled her eyes at his lack of attention. "And please just tell me if you aren't going to put out tonight, I'll begin my hunt for someone who is."
He shook his head at her laughing and pulled her into a hug. Across the hall Mary grunted beside Remus and continued to nurse her drink. Remus frowned and sighed. "Meadows, this is exactly why I agreed to come with you. You're right, I did want to go with someone else, but she's playing hard to get." Gideon continued to look around over her head. "So if she continues to do that, and both you and I don't find anyone else to help us 'solve our problems'" He actually air quoted that with his fingers. "Then meet me in the Great Hall after the last song?"
She sighed at him, "Seriously Gid, if you know me at all you'll know if you give me free rein on this school I'm not going to be waiting there. One of these boys is going to leave their virgin date for all this." She gestured to her body.
His face twisted in thought, "you're right. Your tits do look too good in that dress." He shifted from his right to left foot, contemplating.
"Oh for the love of Merlin, Gid. I'm no one's fall back."
"Wait."
"Nope, that pause right there just lost this." She flipped her hair and walked away. "Good luck with your lady." She called over her shoulder.
"What do you make of that then?" Remus gestured over to where Dorcas had just left Gideon.
Marlene shrugged, her face twisted a bit in thought. "Hm..." She muttered. She stood and walked over to Gideon. Remus grinned.
"Hey Gideon."
"Oh, hey McKinnon, how's the dance going?" He smiled at her kindly, but continued to look around. His eyes suddenly lit up, and then darkened. Marlene turned to follow his gaze. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. Typical... Violetta Roiser had just walked in with Rabastan Lestrange. Tip-a-cal. Snape and Avery both had some poor, younger girls on their arm. Violetta looked fabulous, but dead bored.
Lestrange turned and grinned at his date. "Hey, I'm ready to leave whenever you are." He muttered suggestively to Violetta. She rolled her eyes.
"Get me a drink Rab?" She unhooked her arm from his and led the others to a vacant table. She looked up and her eyes landed on Gideon in time to see him bid a farewell to Marlene and begin walking towards her.
"Oh Merlin." She whispered. "I need to run to the loo." She announced to the table.
"I'll come with you!" Snape's date cried, now to be referred to as Girl A, Avery's as Girl B, grinning at the chance.
"I can make it on my own, thank you, A."
"A?"
"You can't really expect me to bother with your name, can you?" Violetta rolled her eyes as Snape leaned over to comfort his date after shooting her a unimpressed look. She stood and quickly made her way across the room, trying to get lost in the crowd.
She ran into Dorcas Meadowes, who grabbed her arm and wheeled Violetta onto the dance floor where they, despite the fact that they both were usually led and not leaders, managed to waltz around like the pure blood high society whores that they were.
"Am I the only one not getting any action?" Dorcas Meadowes muttered as she watched a couple of fifth years making out.
"The night is young my dear." Violetta spun the other girl with incredible precision before pulling her back in. Boys' eyes from across the room followed them. "For instance, I think Davis is coming over here, about to ask to cut in."
"His brother was way hotter."
"True, but most of the older boys were better looking than our year." Violetta laughed.
"How did we end up with such an unfortunate looking bunch?"
"Well, we did manage to get most of the hot ones above us before they graduated."
"Yes, but not Davis. He had that blasted girlfriend he loved or whatever." Dorcas complained.
"He was a rather hard nut to crack."
"Literally."
"Did you hear that they had a baby? A boy apparently." Violetta gossiped.
Dorcas was silent, her face calculating.
"What are you thinking so hard about Meadowes?" Dorcas dipped Violetta laughing a bit.
"Just trying to figure out how old I'll be when it's going to be legal for me to shag his son."
"You're terrible."
Dorcas shrugged and continued to waltz. "So what do you reckon? Think I could do better than Davis?"
"I personally never settle for the first wand that rises to attention for me, but that's just me." Violetta shrugged. "He is pretty good looking." She glanced over Dorcas' shoulder. "You better decide quickly, he's almost here."
"What about you?"
"He brought a friend." They giggled together.
"I suppose one dance wouldn't hurt..." Dorcas grinned.
"Slut."
"Whore."
They both turned as the boys reached them. "We'd love to." They said together.
Across the room at the refreshment table, Sirius walked over to Mary.
"Mary." Sirius handed her a drink as they stood shoulder to should at the refreshment stand.
"Sirius." He poured his own.
"So you're here with Fabian Prewett, eh?" Sirius glanced around the room as she turned to him, surprised by his question.
"If you're asking if he is my date, then yes, he is."
"Leaving with him?" He causally sipped his butterbeer.
"Maybe." She also scanned the room, playing his indifferent role as well. "I mean, I am his girlfriend."
A dark shadow momentarily crossed his face, "Since when?"
"Since he asked me not ten minutes ago."
"But you're still only a maybe?"
She shrugged. "Why do you ask?"
He shrugged, so she shrugged back again. She moved to walk away, and back over to her date, sorry boyfriend, when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back gently.
He whispered in her ear. "I have it under pretty good information that I'm better in bed then he is. Just so you know." She smirked at him.
"Good to know, Black."
"My offer stands." He tipped an imaginary hat at her.
*
"Hey Moony." James sat next to his friend, who was alone at the table.
"Hey Prongs." Remus grinned, "heading out?"
"Yeah..." He grinned sheepishly. "Give us a couple before you come up?"
"Sure, sure."
"We do have the silencing charm so don't worry, but... just give us a bit."
"No problem Prongs." He saluted James as he walked away. James' seat was filled moments later.
"Hey Lupin." Violetta hiccupped and sat down next to Remus. She waved away a seventh year Hufflepuff who had moved to presumably ask her to dance.
"Hey."
"Would you like someone to drink?"
"Someone?"
"Sorry, something?" She held up her flask.
He momentarily debated and then handed her his glass. She poured in a very liberal amount.
"Whoa whoa whoa." He grabbed it away and she giggled. She held up her hand again, stopping the Slytherin Quidditch captain who was approaching her from behind.
"How did you know he was coming over here?" Remus laughed.
"I got this skill. They always come around near the end of the night. I'm drunk and easy. A likely shag." She took a swig right from the flask. He shook his head at her.
"You might want to be a little less conspicuous about that." He eyed McGonagall a couple of tables away.
She slid her chair closer to his and angled herself so she could pour more booze into his glass. She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"How much have you had to drink?" He asked her, shaking his head.
"Enough." She hiccupped again and held her hand up again, attempting to stop someone from approaching her. Rabastan Lestrange didn't take that well. He came and sat beside her anyways, on the opposite side Remus was on.
"I'm leaving." He stated, not even giving Remus a glance.
"See you." She didn't turn to Lestrange, keeping her eyes glued on Remus.
When he went to grab her arm she finally turned to him. "What are you doing?"
"You're coming."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes."
"Actually," Remus cut in, "I think me and Violetta have to do a quick patrol before we head off to bed."
"What?"
Remus shrugged. "James was just here, told me himself."
"She's drunk."
Remus shrugged again. "She'll be in even more trouble if she doesn't do it."
Lestrange huffed away, clearly pouting.
"Thanks." She giggled, and then rested her hand on his shoulder. "Now how will I ever repay you?" Her hand moved slowly downward, causing Remus to jump slightly in his chair. She winked at him. "You're room?" He grabbed her hand and, as best he could, casually walked out of the room.
"Are you sure I'm not..." he trailed off, "taking advantage of you?" He whispered as they walked by some forth years who were otherwise occupied. She looked around quickly and then pulled his face into hers as she yanked him into a small concave in the wall.
"Not at all."
"One last hurrah?" Mary grabbed Sirius, later that evening, as he walked by the same concave that Violetta and Remus had been only a half an hour before.
"Where's your boyfriend?" He shot at her.
"I told him I was tired," She shrugged.
He grinned at her. "Yours or mine?"
Back in the Gryffindor Boys dormitory the mood was being ruined for everyone in the room because Sirius had forgotten to cast a Silencing Charm.
Lily was giggling into James chest as they heard the noises coming from Sirius' bed.
"Sirius?" James hissed, opening his curtains slightly so his voice was heard, after finally having enough.
Silence. For the first time that night.
"Mind putting on a silencing charm? You're kind of killing it for the rest of us."
"Er- Sorry mate." Sirius laughed slightly.
"Well that's embarrassing." Remus laughed to Violetta as she shook her head smiling, giggling a bit too.
"Just make sure I'm up before everyone else, I need to sneak out of here before anyone sees me."
He flipped her over and kissed her again, hardly listening to her.
*
"Merlin!" Violetta cried the next morning, waking Remus. "What time is it?"
"Uh- 8 30?" He said groggily.
"Bloody hell!" She sat up and looked around for her dress. "Bloody hell." She cried again as she held up the garment. "Walk of shame much?"
"Here." He tossed her a shirt from his trunk. "It's super old. It should fit alright."
She threw it over her head and grabbed his pants from the night before. "Do you mind?" He shook his head and yawned again. She ripped open the curtain, grabbed her 6 inch high heels and was going to bolt for the door when she froze.
"Roiser?" Lily was standing there, in the middle of the room, stretching her arms above her head, dressed similarly to Violetta. Lily's tired face turned to shock.
"Evans." Violetta's face flushed.
The curtains pulled open on the other side of the room and Alice poked her head out of Frank's bed. "Lily? Violetta?"
"Alice?" Lily laughed slightly at her friend's bed head.
Frank's head soon joined Alice's and they pulled open their curtains and slowly climbed out of bed.
"I'm starving." Alice laughed slightly.
"I'm traumatized." Violetta muttered under her breath as she sat back on Remus' bed and began slowly putting on her shoes, realizing there was no reason to hurry, she was clearly not getting away without witnesses.
Remus sat up and grinned at her, "So much for being stealth." He whispered in her ear.
Then Sirius rolled right out of bed. Literally. He was a tangle of sheets as he swore loudly and rubbed his elbow. "Bloody funny bone."
Mary's messy head of hair popped out of the red curtain laughing. "Merlin, that was graceful Black."
"Mary?" Alice and Lily both cried loudly.
Sirius held his head on the ground. "Quite please."
"Oh bloody hell." Mary blushed.
"Since when has this...?" Lily asked, flabbergasted, motioning to Sirius on the floor and Mary on the bed.
"It isn't." Mary hissed as she attempted to pull the covers that Sirius was still tangled in, up to her chin.
"Well, well, well." Everyone's heads whipped around towards Peter's bed.
A string of swears flew out around the room. Bertha Jorkins was standing with not a hair out of place, robes perfectly crease free and a smirk on her face. "What do we have here?"
Everyone stood staring, frozen.
"Head Girl? In the boys dormitory? At this ungodly hour? Dressed," She eyes up Lily's attire, "so inappropriately?" She turned her gaze to Alice. "And the Gryffindor prefect too. Merlin, I've heard things about the Gryffindor girls but I never thought they were so, rebellious. Or easy for that matter. Especially those in, what should I say, authority positions?" Her eyes widened in forged innocence, "and Mary McDonald? Not the virgin everyone believes, are you? Fabian would love to hear about this." Mary's eyes narrowed at the other girl. "And last but certainly not least," her eyes flickered to Violetta Roiser, "Roiser." Violetta stiffened. "It's been a while, darling."
"Jorkins, you pathetic cow, you wouldn't dar-" Violetta started. Standing and walking towards the girl.
Bertha Jorkins cocked an eyebrow. "Wouldn't what, darling?" She said it in the same sickening sweet voice she was trying to pull off.
"Mess with me. Mess with us."
The other's eyes darted back and forth between the two girls, like they were watching a tennis match.
Violetta grabbed Bertha's arm and shoved her into one of the chairs strung around the room, covered in boys clothing.
"Ew! There are boxers on here!" Bertha cried as Violetta leaned over her, putting her hands on the arm chair, trapping the other girl. Violetta waved her wand and ropes sprung up instantly, binding the girl in place.
Bertha shouted out, helpless.
"What are you doing?" Lily cried from behind, drawing her own wand.
"Look." Violetta turned, looking menacing. "You don't have any idea what this girl is capable off. She's a life ruiner. And she'll ruin yours too." Lily looked sceptically at her. "What do you think is going to happen when it gets out that the Head Girl is screwing the Head Boy, in his off limits to girls, dormitory? They'll throw you a party? Help you shine your lovely badge?" Violetta turned back to the bound girl. "We only have one real option."
"We aren't going to kill her!" Lily shouted.
Violetta rolled her eyes. "Memory charm you over-reacting red head."
"What!" Several voices yelled.
Alice stood. "No way."
"We have to." Mary said quietly from behind, wrapped in a sheet. "She'll go spouting out everything. She'll ruin everything."
"She's not capable of doing that, are you Bertha?" Alice turned kindly, looking at the girl.
"No, of course not."
Violetta rolled her eyes and looked unconvinced.
"We just tell her what the repercussions are for her actions, I'm sure she'll understand." Lily said sympathetically to Bertha, who nodded vigorously.
"What exactly, do you think the repercussions are?" Violetta shot back.
"We'll make her life a living hell if she won't accept our negotiations." Lily said simply.
Violetta shook her head. Lily turned back to the girl. "What do you want?" She asked the other girl simply.
"To be untied would be a nice start."
"She's going to black mail us until we won't give in anymore." Mary muttered. "I'm predicting this."
"She isn't capable of that." Lily repeated Alice's words.
"She slept with Peter to get in this dormitory this morning to find out exactly what the Marauders got up to last night. She's capable of anything." Violetta cried.
"I resent that!" Peter huffed from his bed, where he had been hiding from the wrath of the girls.
He was silenced by one look from Violetta.
"Why are you so worried about this?" Lily turned to the Slytherin.
"I'm worried about him." She cried, turning to Remus. "And I can't believe that Mary is the only one sane enough to understand this. This girl is evil. Am I the only one with a self preserving bone in my body?"
"What about him?" Lily asked, ignoring the jib.
"Don't you know who my brother is? What he'll do if I'm caught with a Gryffindor? What he'll do to that Gryffindor?"
"I'm not too worried, I know what you've said... and I think I'll be okay." Remus shrugged.
"Bloody brave Gryffindors." She muttered under her breath. "If you aren't scared," she turned to back to Remus, "what about for your family?"
"What family?" Peter asked, not noticing Remus' panicked expression and arm signals from his hidden place on the bed.
"His mom?" Violetta said like she was talking to a three year old.
"His mom died three years ago." Peter said in the same, patronizing tone.
"What-?" She whipped around, murderous glare in her eye. She didn't ask anything though, much to Remus' relief, she didn't want to draw anymore curiosity out of the gossip hound dog then she already achieved.
"Fine. Then I don't really care if Bertha goes shouting this in the Great Hall. It's not like I have a reputation to uphold. I'll just tell you now, I warned you. Let me know how this goes for you all."
She stormed out the door and the other's turned to look at her. Lily waved her wand and Bertha was instantly freed. Bertha grabbed her own wand from the floor and began twirling it in her hands."I would like 50 galleons."
"What!" Everyone yelled simultaneously.
"Each." She walked out backwards, holding her wand firmly in her grasp. "And don't think I don't want Violetta's share. So that's..." She counted them with her spare hand, not wavering her wand. "450."
Their jaws dropped. "You can't be serious?" Remus sputtered. She shrugged, unbothered.
"Peter too?!" Mary's mouth was still open.
"It's not my fault he can't get it up."
"Too much information." Sirius muttered, still holding his head.
"I think a week should be long enough," She smiled sweetly. "I mean, JP," Lily snickered despite herself, "you have that trust fund, and Sirius, I heard about you moving out. You're obviously not hurting too bad for cash. I think that is completely manageable. I'll see you in a week. Too-da-loo." And she closed the door behind her.
"What. The. Hell. Peter!" Mary lunged at the boy as soon as the door closed behind Bertha. "You idiot!" She began punching him in various places. Frank had to pull her off.
"I can't afford this, guys." James said, standing beside Lily. "My parents left specific instructions to the bank, I only have access to a set amount until I graduate." He looked sheepishly around, "It's all pretty much gone. I only have," He pulled out a money bag, "20 galleons."
Sirius sighed and slowly stood from the ground. Everyone covered their eyes.
"Clothes Black!" Lily cried as she wheeled around to save her retinas.
He smirked and wrapped his lower body in the sheet. "'fraid you'll see something you like, Evans?" She scoffed.
"Well I just bought that apartment. And well... I got this motorcycle..." Lily turned back to him, surprised. He grinned, "I don't think I'll be able to return it see..." He ran a hand through his hair, "I've made some, er, changes."
"What sort of changes?" Mary asked, suspiciously.
"Not worth talking about right now." He tried to look innocent.
They ignored other questions they had. One by one they emptied their pockets.
"Okay so together we have..." Alice did a quick double check. "83 Galleons, 4 Knuts and 19 Sickles."
"I say we stick with the original plan." Mary offered.
"Yes, we kill her." Sirius groaned from his position over the toilet.
"No you twat, a memory charm." Mary yelled to him in the bathroom. "If we pay her it's just going to go to more and more. These people never go away."
"They don't?" Remus asked.
"Not in the movies."
"Movies?" Remus questioned.
"Never mind." Mary rolled her eyes. "We need to talk to Violetta."
"What? Why?" Lily asked, surprised. "I don't think we need her back here, trying to boss everyone around."
"Because she knows how to deal with people like this. She practically is people like this."