Chapter 12: Right There with Her

The day of Mimi's parent's funeral was dark and cloudy which matched everyone's mood (and outfits) perfectly. Mimi stood bravely at the front of the crowd next to her parents coffin's the wind blowing her dark hair back and whipping the edge of her black dress around her knees. She resisted the urge to shiver in the harsh wind and just stood staring straight ahead. She had no real feeling any more, no real emotion; she was vaguely away of the Marauders and the girls standing behind her but didn't process it. She noticed somewhat Lily collapsing into James's arms sobbing hysterically over the parents that had welcomed her so warmly. She recognized slightly the slow tears that were passing down the Marauder's cheeks but she didn't think about it. Everyone had sent their sorrows for her loss but she could barely react, she felt dead to the world as though she had died along with her parents.

"It's over Meems," Sirius said softly from behind her taking a strong sniffle. Mimi nodded and after placing flowers on the coffins she whispered one final good bye to her parents before turning away forever.

Mimi returned the school unable to think or feel. She was numb; she felt no pain or sadness. She was an empty shell of a girl who had lost someone who she loved more than life.

"Come on Meems," Sirius said his voice clogged and he led her upstairs to the dormitory. Mimi nodded and climbed after him. The boys got ready for bed chattering lightly, but Mimi just collapsed on the floor in her clothes in all unable to keep going. She was vaguely aware of being placed in a bed before she drifted off.

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Mimi rolled over in Sirius's bed the next morning and her head connected with Sirius's ribcage- hard.

"Bloody hell," Mimie said rubbing the throbbing bump forming on her head, but somewhere deep in her mind she relished the first pain she had registered in days. It felt as though she had just regained the smallest grain of sand of herself again. She closed her eyes and drifted back off to sleep.

"Rise and shine," Remus cried only an hour after Mimi had returned to sleep.

"Shut the hell up," James grumbled.

"Crazy werewolf," Sirius muttered.

"Morning Remus old pal," Peter said brightly.

"What the bloody hell are you doing up now?" Mimi asked buried underneath Sirius's armpit.

"Time for school," Remus told everyone.

"What's that?" Sirius asked.

"Where you learn," Remus said.

"Ahh so that's what McGonagall's always on about with her whole learning mantra," Sirius realized.

"There goes the light bulb," James said sullenly at being awoken.

"Sirius, my IQ just dropped 10 points," Remus said.

"Good bring you down to my level," Sirius said before forcefully shutting his eyes.

"GET UP YOU SODDING IDIOTS!" Remus cried and everyone instantly jumped out of bed- except Mimi.

"I have the day off to mourn," she said quietly and everyone froze and everything came flooding back to them, lost after their hours of slumber. Remus looked to James who looked to Peter who looked to Sirius and at long last somebody answered.

"Would you, er, like us to bring you some breakfast?" Peter asked and the Marauders gaped at his sudden insight into the situation.

"No thank you," Mimi said.

"Would you like anything Meems?" Sirius said catching on to Peter's theme.

"No," was all she answered before going back to sleep.

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The Marauders trudged back up to the dormitory during their free period that afternoon and found Mimi lying on Sirius's bed reading the back of one of his lotion bottles. They took in her appearance, which was quite horrific: matted hair, dark baggy eyes, peeling lips, and Sirius's boxers and an old Chudley Cannons t-shirt that belonged to James once upon a time.

"Oi, Meems. Er, how are you? You sure you don't want to get up, get dressed and shower maybe, hell even go for a walk?" Sirius babbled somewhat taking in his girlfriend.

"You know if you switch to Madame Marie's Magical Lotion you'll get much smoother skin than with this Lotion Potion crap," was the answer Sirius received.

"I'll make a note of that," Sirius said dryly.

"We brought you some food, Peter did eat half of the sandwich but we could always run down to the kitchens if you want more," Remus said offering a half of a chicken sandwich.

"Peter you can finish it," Mimi said looking at Peter. This was how the conversation went between the Marauders and Mimi until finally, they departed for class.

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Mimi didn't leave the boy's dormitory for a week straight and the boys decided enough was enough. Sure they loved her company but she did not go to meals, classes, or even walk out into the common room. People were beginning to believe she had gone missing. They needed to get her better for everyone's sake. They boy's soon put a plan into action.

Mimi grabbed her toothbrush and squeezed out a bit of toothpaste, before working it in circles across her teeth. She spat into the sink and suddenly the door burst open and Sirius strolled in.

"Hey Meems," he smiled as he walked over to the toilet.

"Hi Siwius," Mimi answered her mouth full of toothpaste and she frowned as he began unzipping his pants.

"Er, what are you doing?" Mimi said rinsing her mouth out.

"Using the loo, do you mind?" Sirius asked and began to pee.

"What? Oh merlin! I mean no of course not," Mimi stuttered at this overlap of privacy she quickly ran out of the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She didn't hear Sirius's slight chuckle as the first plan of action went underway magnificently. However, she did notice that this did seem to be a reoccurring event:

Mimi walked out of the shower and saw James attempting to comb his every unruly hair.

"Oi! James what the bloody hell are you doing here?" Mimi cried as she wrapped a towel around her.

"Oh Merlin! Sorry Mimi," he offered but continued brushing his hair.

"Er… James? Would you mind?" Mimi asked tentatively.

"What? Oh sure no problem," James tossed his brush down and strolled out leaving Mimi quite shell shocked.

However, the last straw was the next when she was thinking maybe she could start her homework (Lily had brought it all faithfully everyday). She grabbed her potions book, parchment, and a quill and began making a dent in the 12 inch essay they received. She had plowed through about three inches when James burst into the room screaming triumphantly.

"Padfoot, my main man!" He yelled and Mimi looked up curiously.

"What's up Prongs?" Sirius asked walking out of the bathroom.

"Guess who I just saw snogging Amee Abbott!!" James said bouncing up and down on his toes.

"Amee Abbott? That hott- sorry Meems- Hufflepuff? Who?" Sirius asked.

"Moony!" James cried and just as he said it Remus burst through the door and tackled James to the ground.

"I told you not to bloody tell him! Or anyone," Remus cried pinning James.

"Ohh Moony I think its darling," James cried rolling over and crushing Remus beneath him.

"It's fantastic Moony old chap really," Sirius said laughing and the boys continued to have the loudest wrestling match Mimi had ever seen and heard.

"Dammit! Will you lot please shut your mouths?" Mimi erupted as her potions paper came to a halt. She gathered up her work stuff and glared at them all.

"You're being loud and obnoxious dimwits! Honestly, how can anyone get a moment of peace up here?" Mimi screamed at them storming over to the doorway.

"I'm going to the lib-" She stopped suddenly and her face morphed into one of great understanding.

"Nice try guys. You almost got me out of here," Mimi said and her eyes shone with tears. The boys froze and Remus and James untangled themselves. This was what they had been waiting for. They listened intently as she began to talk.

"I know I must be awful but… but I can't face anyone else," she said looking at the floor.

"How come Meems?" Sirius pressed her gently.

"Because nobody else understands. I don't want to be bombarded with questions about my parents and everyone saying sorry and feeling bad for me. I just want things to go back to how they were before and I… I don't know how to do that. But you guys know who I am and you make it seem like maybe it can be like before and maybe it'll all be okay," Mimi said and she started to cry now.

"I don't want anyone to see me like this I don't want anyone to talk to me like this. I just want you guys. I want my mum and my dad… I want life how it was before. Merlin, I miss them so much," Mimi said her head buried in her hands. Sirius pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.

"We'll help you out Meems, but in order for it to be like it was before you have to let it happen," Sirius told her and Mimi nodded against his chest.

"I know it does but I'm scared," Mimi said.

"We'll make it all better," Sirius reassured her and he felt Mimi nod again.

"So you want to try Meems?" He asked holding her at arms length. Mimi looked into his eyes and nodded.

"Yes."

"Alright babe, then get dressed," he instructed her and she pulled out a ruffled pair of jeans and purple sweater. She walked silently into the bathroom to change and even brush her hair before reappearing.

"Let's go down to dinner then," Sirius said. Mimi shrunk back a bit, but Sirius wrapped his arms around her and the rest of the Marauders encircled her as they opened the door.

"It'll be okay," Sirius whispered and they walked down the stairs. Everybody gaped slightly as they saw Mimi, a girl they had begun to think of as a ghost, but nobody said anything. Maybe it was out of respect or maybe it was because of the looks they received from the Marauders. Either way, Mimi was very grateful. She got through dinner, and although Sarah, Arabella, and Lily looked surprised to see her they didn't say anything about it. They kept the conversation light and fluffy and Mimi began to realize just how much she missed life.

"Lilypad I am so glad you've decided that you could start falling head over heels in love with me," James teased Lily at dinner. Mimi was aware that they had started going out, but she had the sneaking suspicion that they grew closer over her parent's death and that was why the reasoning was discussed at minimum.

"James the only thing that's going to fall head over heels is you if you keep saying that," Lily smiled sweetly back and eased the comment with a kiss. Mimi began laughing at the banter she had missed so. The Marauders turned and looked at her in shock they hadn't heard her laugh in weeks, but she continued laughing. She laughed until tears spilled down her face and she had fallen off the best rolling on the floor. She laughed and laughed until everyone joined in their sides aching from it all. Long after everyone stop though, Mimi continued. It felt so good to be happy to laugh again; TO FEEL AGAIN. Mimi felt herself be freed and that night in bed she rolled over to face Sirius.

"Sirius, you awake?" She whispered poking him softly on the shoulder.

"Yup. What's up Meems?" He asked giving her a soft kiss.

"You were right, it is all going to be okay. But, I am going to get him back for what he did to my parents, I owe it to them. My mum told me to always be happy, but I am telling myself to avenge her," Mimi whispered and Sirius looked at her and she looked back fiercely.

"I'll be right there with you then Meems," Sirius said and Mimi smiled.

"Thanks… for everything," Mimi said.

"I love you Meems," Sirius said.

"I love you too," Mimi answered and she snuggled up beside him and drifted off to sleep, but Sirius stayed awake. He grew worried at what Mimi had said about getting Voldemort back, but he would be right there with her. He'd always be right there with her.

A/N: Hey guys, sorry it took be a bit of time to update. REVIEW please