A/N: I totally failed on my new year's resolution to update this thing more often. I'm sorry!

I do not own HP.

Chapter 19: Tension and Cheese wire

Awkward would be an understatement. Awkward would be saying that the tension between the boys and the girls was just a little stupid thing that stopped them from having lengthy conversations, or made them sheepish when they walked passed each other in the corridor, or made them sit next to different people in class - Something that would blow over in a day or two.

That, however, is far from what the tension caused.

Silence reigned between them, and heated glares were exchanged. Whenever they did walk past each other in the corridor, either side would give the other a wide berth to avoid having to walk beside them. They sat on opposite sides of the classroom, and were never in the common room together.

All in all, they'd all blown the situation way out of proportion.

Sue had merely only a couple of weeks left in the country, and her two groups of best friends weren't even speaking to each other. She missed the laughs, the companionship, and the playful death threats.

Picking up her sketchpad, she sighed sadly, flicking through her drawings, noticing how they all were depicting her friends laughing, joking, and smiling together. She opened up a fresh page, pencil held ominously over the cartridge paper, waiting for a bolt of inspiration to hit her. It never came. Her friends were her muse, and when they weren't together, she just couldn't draw.

The common room was unnaturally empty. Usually, it would be her and the girls plotting revenge on the boys for something they'd done to them earlier that day, or just generally gossiping about life. Now, it was just her, snuggled against the cushions of the couch, staring at the blank sheet of paper, hoping that a sudden epiphany would strike her down. Either that or all her friends would come bounding through the portrait hole, declaring how idiotic it was to stay mad at each other.

"This is stupid," Sue exclaimed loudly to herself, closing her sketchbook with more force than necessary.

"You're telling me," Georgie agreed, leaping down the dormitory stairs from seemingly nowhere, a grim frown on her face. "It's like, a brick wall between everyone."

Sue turned slowly, watching Georgie appear with a slight nod of acknowledgment and a brief welcoming smile. Shuffling over, she allowed room for the distressed teen to flop down beside her on the worn couch, the comfort of a fellow friend lightening her somewhat darkened mood.

"I want a jack hammer to break down the brick wall," Sue huffed, head lolling backwards to the couch so that she stared blankly at the ceiling.

"Motion seconded," Georgie groaned, imitating Sue's actions and staring with her at the ceiling. "Hm, never noticed that before," She quipped, narrowing her eyes at a small crack running over the plaster.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while before Sue sighed loudly, and turned to her good friend, "Do you think they'll patch it up any time soon?"

Georgie slowly turned her head so that she could look at Sue's dejected eyes, "I dunno. They're as stubborn as each other. It could hold out for a while the way they're going at it."

"I was afraid you were going to say that," Sue sighed, curling her feet beneath her as her arms hugged a pillow over her stomach. "I want my friends together for when I leave…"

Georgie watched her friend in sympathy, eyes turning back to the ceiling as they once more delved into silence. She wanted to do something to stop all this madness; to help her friends get back together, and to make Sue smile. "What if," She began slowly. "We make them get back together?"

Sue looked to her friend in disbelief, "How do we do that? Lock them all in one big room until they eventually stop fighting and reach an agreement?"

"I was thinking we knock 'em around until they promise to calm down," Georgie shrugged, a mischievous grin forming on her features, tugging the corners of her lips up to the corners of her eyes. "But you're idea is so much better."

"Wait? What?!" Sue gawped at Georgie, the very idea of locking her friends in a room together unimaginable. But, it strangely intrigued her. At this point in time, she was willing to try anything. "Okay, I'll bite. How?"

"Well, this is what we do," Georgie shifted to face Sue, a grin still stretching her lips across her face in a very menacing manner.

o0o

"What's all this about anyway?" Robyn wondered aloud as herself and her two friends were ushered along the corridors by Sue; towards where, they had no idea.

"It's a surprise," Sue sang, her eyes glistening with a foreign mischief that truly worried her friends. Inside though, her stomach bubbled with a nervous uncertainty.

"Just a clue?" Lily asked with a flutter of her eyelashes, a concerned smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

"Nope, sorry, no clues allowed," Sue pursed her lips in a smile as she continued to lead her friends to what they were sure was their impending doom.

"This is stupid," Michaela stated, examining her nails with a bored frown. "You might as well just tell us. I mean, come on, we're just going to find out when we get there. You could save yourself the trouble."

Sue blinked in disbelief at her friend. "The whole idea of a surprise is that you don't know what's going to happen," She stated slowly. Sometimes, that girl's ignorance amazed her.

"Hey, I recognise this corridor," Robyn exclaimed, her eyes swivelling around the moving portraits and suits of armour. "Are we going to the…" She paused, hushing her voice. "Room of requirement."

Sue stifled a laugh, "We might be. Like I said, I will say nothing until we arrive." She hoped Georgie was having as much fun as she was with her small herd of wizards…

…

"Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we going? Where are we… Ow!" Sirius rubbed the back of his head, shooting a glare at James as they followed a grinning Georgie through the hallways.

Along with Sue, Georgie was the only other one of the girls that the boys were talking too.

"I want to know just as much as you, but at least I'm not as annoying about it!" James cried out, eyes narrowing, but the smirk continued to tug at his mouth.

Ever since the fight with the girls, James hadn't been quite himself. He'd been quick to anger, and sour faced. Even his pranks had suffered. For his friends, it really was quite worrying.

Georgie rolled her eyes, but decided to continue to ignore the boys annoying behaviour; even though she found it hilariously funny and wanted to join in. But she mustn't stray from her task; Sue's smile depended on it.

"Maybe we get cake," Peter mumbled suggestively, rubbing his stomach as it growled hungrily. "I'd like cake."

"Do you ever not think about food, Peter?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow, amused at his friend's singular train of thought.

Peter looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking his head. "Don't think so. But I can't concentrate on an empty stomach."

Blinking in disbelief, Remus rolled his eyes, shifting his gaze so that he scanned the walls around him. He didn't like being at war with the girls; in fact, he himself was not, but found it easier just to go along with the rest of the marauders. He figured that it was only a matter of time before they were all friends again, so it didn't matter.

"It's the strangest thing, but I swear I've been down this corridor thousands of times," Sirius announced curiously, stroking an invisible beard.

"That's because you have," James smirked, sticking his hands in his pockets, rolling his eyes at his best friend.

Sirius dead panned at his best friend, "No shit Sherlock. I only live here. Did you not notice the sarcasm?"

James sneered before staring down at the floor. In truth, he hadn't noticed. He'd been so preoccupied of late, that he couldn't even pick up that hidden hint of sarcasm from a friend he was so close to he was practically a brother.

"James? Jamesie-poo? Prongs? Hey, earth to Potter?" Sirius waved a hand in front of the bespectacled males face, a look of concerned irritation in his eyes. "Is it nice on planet Potter?"

"Oh, yeah. It's free of all annoying dogs," James teased light heartedly, eyes averting so they didn't have to acknowledge the fact that his friend was actually worried about him. There was really nothing to be worried about; he was just a little distracted.

"Hey, guys, enough with the bantering, we're here," Georgie grinned, opening the door to the room of requirement, stepping aside to let them through.

"Why are we…?" Remus began.

"Nuh, uh, uh. All will be explained once inside," the young girl grinned, watching as the four marauders stepped through the door, their steps hesitant and unwilling.

"What the hell are you doing here?" A familiar female voice screeched as Georgie stepped through after the boys, shutting the door quickly behind her and standing guard in front of it.

"What the…?" Sirius exclaimed, eyes staring at Lily, Michaela and Robyn as if they were some sort of sudden hideous apparition.

Almost at once, all seven unknowing participants rounded on Sue and Georgie, the fury crossing their features evident. The two girls shrank, and Sue backed up against the door with her partner in crime, looks of innocence plastered across their faces.

"You two!" They chorused accusingly, similar glares on each of their faces.

"Before you string us up and burn us at the stake, maybe you should listen to an explanation?" Georgie suggested meekly.

The group mumbled short agreements, sending small glares towards each other before looking back at the girls guarding the door- their only exit.

"Truth is," Georgie began, searching for the right words.

"We're sick of this war," Sue inputted, biting her lip nervously. "We're sick of the not speaking, and the glares, and the whole stupid thing! We just want our friends back."

"And did none of you actually remember that Sue is leaving us in a couple of weeks?" Georgie raised an eyebrow at them all, and watched in satisfaction as they all hung their heads in shame. "She doesn't want to spend them like this! So, we've come up with a plan."

"You're not leaving this room until you've made up," Sue stated simply, looking at each one of them in turn. "And we mean it. We'll bring you food if you're in here for that long, but apart from that, you should have everything you need."

"So, good luck!" Georgie grinned, and the two girls left before the others could get a word in edgeways.

Standing outside the door, they both let out a heavy sigh.

"Well, that went well I thought," Georgie smiled, rubbing her hands together enthusiastically. "Should be friends again by dinner time."

Sue shook her head, breathing in deeply, "I do hope so."

o0o

Sirius stood quite still for a moment, frozen in place by the bold actions of his friends. "Oh, no way," He murmured, before running to the door and banging on the solid oak wood. "If you don't open this door, I'll break it down!"

"Sirius, you're fighting a loosing battle. They must have told the room not to let us out," Remus sighed, looking around at the cosy room they all stood in. "Which means, until we sort this thing out, or they come back, we're stuck here."

"Oh great," James groaned. "Oh, this… this is just peachy."

"Hey, it's not like this is gonna be a picnic for us either," Michaela spat venomously, folding her arms across her chest.

"You girls started it," James retorted childishly.

"Oh yeah, sure we did," Lily sneered sarcastically. "You were the ones that were bullying Snape. You were being the lowlife idiots that you always have been. Why can't you just grow up!"

"Grow up, she says," Sirius cried out, throwing up his arms in exasperation. "You were the ones being unreasonable."

"Unreasonable! You were torturing someone who, for once, hadn't done anything to provoke you," Lily retorted sharply. "You did it merely for a laugh!"

"Did you not hear what he called you?" James spat furiously. "He isn't worth the air he breathes!"

Lily shrank down slightly, shooting the two boys death glares that would kill a grown man. "It's no excuse for the way you acted," she growled.

"Even though I think Snape's a greasy, disgusting git," Michaela started. "I agree with Lil's. You guys were way out of line."

"Oh come on," Sirius cried out. "What are you? Judge, jury and executioner? We were only having a little fun!"

"Fun? Is that what you call picking on someone who was minding their own business?" Lily argued hotly.

Robyn sighed heavily, and took a seat on a beanbag that had magically appeared by her side. The arguments were starting to give her a headache, and she just wished that they would all forgive each other and move on.

"You know what," Remus said quietly, taking a seat beside Robyn. "I hate arguing."

Robyn smirked and turned to her friend, nodding in agreement, "I only argue when I really think it's worth it. This is just…stupid." She gestured to the arguing couples in front of her, noticing a worried looking Peter who stood beside James and Sirius.

"I should've stopped them once I knew what they were doing," Remus sighed regrettably, sinking into his seat.

Shrugging, his female friend sighed, "It was going to happen at one point or another. It was just a matter of time."

They fell into silence as they watched the two couples verbally batter each other, both sides seeming relentless- neither side looking as if they were going to back down anytime soon. It was going to be a long afternoon.

After a while, the two passive participants decided to put an end to the heated debate.

"Oi!" Robyn yelled from her seat, shooting Remus and apologetic look as he rubbed his sensitive ears. "Shut up for a minute!"

"Maybe it's time we calmed down and spoke about this like adults?" Remus suggested, raising an eyebrow at the now silent feuding pairs.

"I think that's beyond their capabilities," Lily pursed her lips into an angry frown.

"Hey!" Sirius started, before he was once more interrupted.

"None of that," Robyn snapped. "If we want to get out of here by dinner time, then we've got to sort this out."

"I say we sort this out quick then! I'm starved," Peter piped in, earning a glare of James and Sirius. He quickly decided that he would be safer with Remus and Robyn.

"How can we even talk to them when they're being so immature," Michaela sneered.

"Because even though you're all arguing like a bunch of three year olds, you've got to remember that you're all still friends," Robyn stated, folding her arms.

The four teens looked at each other sheepishly, but still with an air of uneasiness that meant at any moment an argument could be rekindled.

"Okay, good. At least now we have some motivation," Remus congratulated them wryly, breathing a quiet sigh of relief.

"Now, let's start by agreeing that this argument is completely stupid," Robyn stated with a raised eyebrow.

"Do we have too," James groaned, taking a step back from the heated glare he received from Robyn. "Fine, I agree."

"Yeah, whatever," Sirius huffed, rolling his eyes.

"Agreed," Lily and Michaela sighed simultaneously.

"Brilliant, because we agree too," Robyn smiled, looking from Remus to Peter, who both nodded in their support.

"Now, one at a time, tell each other why you're arguing," Remus told them, folding his hands over his stomach.

"What makes you the all knowing mender of broken relationships?" James asked incredulously, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, we're the only ones not ripping out each others throats," Robyn said nonchalantly, covering her mouth as a yawn rippled through her body. "So do as you're told Jamesie-kins."

A twitch from his eye told Robyn that James was silently itching to jinx her, and she decided not to push him any further. A duel right now wasn't really the best idea, especially if it ended with either one of them getting their asses kicked.

"Please?" She added for good measure, flashing a sincere smirk.

"Ladies first," Sirius turned to Lily and Michaela grimly, a look of surrender in his eyes.

o0o

"So, do ya think that they've sorted things out?" Georgie asked lightly, swallowing a mouthful of crisps from the crumpled packet of cheese and onion held in her hand.

"It's been four hours," Sue reasoned, mostly with herself. "Even they can't be going at it for that long."

"You underestimate them," Georgie nodded solemnly, shoving another handful of crisps into her mouth and chewing loudly.

"And you are a noisy crisp eater," Sue pointed out as they neared the Room of requirement, the large oak door peering at them ominously from the other end of the corridor.

"Touché," Georgie acknowledged her comment with a small bow of her head and a broad grin.

Sue's hands began to clench and unclench in fearful anticipation as she turned back to her path; she had no idea why she was so nervous. Maybe she had underestimated them? No, she hadn't. Her friends would be friends again by now, she was sure of it.

"You ready for this?" Georgie raised an eyebrow, her hand clasping the door handle in readiness to open. "Or shall we just push gruel through the door?"

"No, let's do this," with pursed lips, Sue gestured at the door, and watched it open with a nervous chewing of her cheek.

At the laughter that suddenly met her ears, Sue smiled, and even Georgie peered round from her hiding place behind the door. It may be cliché, but a happy tear rolled down her cheek at the scene displayed before her.

The seven teenagers sat in a rough circle, each on their own bean bag or chair, chatting animatedly and laughing with each other loudly. They were so immersed in their conversation; they didn't even notice Sue and Georgie enter until they announced their presence.

"'Ello, 'ello. What do we have here then?" Georgie smirked, rocking back and forward on her heels, hands clasped smartly behind her back as she shoved her empty crisp packet in her pocket.

"I'm so glad you lot have settled your differences," Sue smiled happily, bounding across the room to another chair that had suddenly appeared next to the group.

"Yeah, no thanks to you two. Up and left us like that," James teased, a mock pout crossing his features as Georgie also joined them, jumping onto an orange bean bag.

"What James actually means is, thanks. We wouldn't have come together like this otherwise," Lily smiled, standing and giving both her friends a warm hug.

"It's just so beautiful," Sirius sniffled, wiping pretend tears from his eyes.

"God, we're a bunch of saps," Robyn laughed, earning a pillow in the face from Sirius.

"Saps, we are not," the pillow thrower said proudly. "We are the cheese wire! Well, Sue and Georgie are the cheese wire, but still…"

"What is it with you and cheese?"

"I don't know…" He shook his head. "I just don't know."

"Sorry, cheese wire?" Michaela injected incredulously.

"Yeah," Sirius replied as if it was the most normal thing on the planet. "You know, like when people say 'you could cut the tension in here with a knife'. I just, changed it to cheese wire. It sounds so much better."

The group blinked stupidly at him.

"What?!"

"Your logic amazes me," Remus smirked, and watched as James threw another pillow, this time at his cheese-obsessed friend.

"Aw, bless," Robyn grinned patronisingly at the raven haired male.

Sue looked around at her friends with a wistful smile; enjoying every note of laughter and every teasing insult. "I missed this," she turned to Georgie with a broad smile.

"Yeah, me too," her friend agreed with a similar smile, dodging an awfully thrown pillow.

o0o

A/n: And there we are. Sorry for the rather bland chappie, it gets better in the next one. Don't ask where Sirius' deep dark obsession with cheese comes from…Because I don't know, lol. I hope to get an update in sooner than last time (I always say this, maybe this time it might come true?).

A BIG thank you to everyone who's stuck by this, whether you've reviewed or not. You are my muses!