Chapter 5: Never Have I Ever

Cori sat on a chair with her knees pulled up close to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She watched the steam swirl up from the steaming cup of hot chocolate in front of her. She was to return to Hogwarts today and she was worried. The attack had only been a couple weeks ago and Cori was scared that the Death Eaters would come back and hurt the kids, her kids. Because all of their parents had died in the battle, Cori had been dubbed Lady Pendragon. She was now in charge of all of the children and their affairs. It was as if she was ignoring her duty as the legal guardian by leaving a bunch of kids under the age of eleven home alone. The family business had been left to her as well. Here is the thing. Her family owned Zonko's, but it was just a front. In the back was a whole collection of both muggle and wizard weapons, including extra wands. The Pendragons worked for the ministry doing hits under the radar. In the world of bounty hunters, they were some of the best. And now that the adults were dead and buried, everything was left to Cori. She had already received permission to leave school every weekend to manage the shop, it may just be a cover-up for their weapon stash, but it was still a good form of income.

"Cori." Aiden's voice broke her out of her thoughts. Aiden was the second oldest in the family and would be in charge while she was at school.

"Yeah?" asked Cori, her voice dull and emotionless.

"Your portkey is about to leave and you need to say bye to everyone." His voice was devoid of emotion, and it was one of the scariest things that Cori had ever encountered and she had faced Voldemort. Aiden used to be a very bubbly and happy person, full of energy and always wanted to do something. After the battle, he had begun to put his energy in to his training and he hadn't smiled since.

"Alright kiddo. Let's do this." Cori stood up and walked over to him. Her bright blue eyes met his emotionless brown ones. "It's going to okay. We're going to be okay. Let me see that sexy smile one more time before I leave." he gave a weak chuckle and a tiny smile. "Well that just won't do, now will it?" She tackled him to the ground and tickled him mercilessly. It wasn't long before the rest of the kids had joined the two and created one giant dog pile. It was moments like these that showed that things were almost back to normal. Almost.

"Hello Lady Pendragon. It is nice to see you back in one piece." Dumbledore said without looking up.

"Well, not quite one piece." Cori replied, motioning towards a scar running across her cheek.

"I have heard that some boys find battle scars to be enticing." A twinkle appeared in Dumbledore's eyes as he said this. Cori choked on her own spit, this was a really awkward conversation.

"Well I will just be going sir. Goodnight."

"Goodnight m'dear." Dumbledore watched her go, feeling pity for the girl. She was only sixteen and was already in the heart of the war.

"I thought Dumbledore said that Cori was coming back today. It is already ten and she isn't here." It was as Sirius said this that the portrait hole opened with a bang.

"I'm back bitches!" It was Cori.

"CORI!" the rest of the marauders rushed towards her and tackled her in a group hug.

"Where have you been?"

"You didn't write!"

"You were just gone!"

"You could have been dead for all we knew! (A/N: this is just Molly Weasley's rant with the wording slightly changed to fit the situation)

"Calm down. I'm here now aren't I? Bask in my greatness!" Cori stood tall, with her arms spread. Yup, Cori was back at Hogwarts. The boys fell to the ground bowing, deciding to play along with Cori's act. "I am sure that all of you have missed me for I am your greatest leader. You, no doubt, had no idea how to survive without my guidance." She knelt down in front of Sirius, "tell me child, were you even able to feed yourself?" Sirius mad the mistake of looking her directly in the eye. They both began to laugh hysterically. Their laughing was contagious, and soon all of the Marauders engulfed each other in a hug. "I missed you guys! OOOOHH! IDEA!" Cori squealed, "I'm going to go get the girls and we can all catch up together!" James' eyes lit up at the idea of getting to see his Lily-flower. "SEE YOU IN YOUR DORM!" she ran up the steps to the girl's dorm.

"'ello beautifuls." Cori said, leaning against the doorframe. Her friends looked up in surprise.

"CORI!" They all rushed over to her.

"What happened? Why didn't write? You should have seen the boys! They haven't pranked anybody! Not even Snape!"

"Hehe… sorry 'bout that." Cori said sheepishly, tucking her hair behind her ear. Gasps were heard around the room.

"Oh my merlin! Sweetie, what happened to your face?!" Lily asked pushing her way through the other girls so that she could get a better look at the long scar across her face.

"If you think this is bad, you should see the other guy." said Cori with a chuckle. "Anyways, the boys invited us all over for a game of never have I ever." Cori said, changing the subject, "Let's go!" She grabbed Lily and Jessica's hands and ran off, the others following quickly behind.

"The aim of the game is to be the last person with shots in front of you, if you take all of your shots, or get drunk before your shots are gone, you lose, simple as that."

"I say that we play a little more risqué. The 'nevers' have to be crimes that you could go to jail for, or just something really bad." Everyone glared at Sirius. "What I just want to know who has committed the most felonies and seen the most creepy shit."

"Fine, whatever. Ten galleons that the girls don't take any shots." said James, throwing some money in the middle of their circle. The girls looked at each other and grinned, "we'll take that bet." they said in unison. They waved their wands and summoned 10 galleons each and threw them in.

"Good luck mate." Chuckled Remus. He knew full well that Cori had committed a few crimes such as underage drinking and underage driving (not at the same time of course). It had been and amazing summer.

"Me first! Never have I ever done drugs!" Alice said, curious about the results. No one took a shot of firewhiskey. "ugh."

"Never have I ever stolen something." Cori laughed as she downed a shot.

"Merlin's beard! What did you steal!" asked James, watching as the five girls divided his money between them, Lily politely refusing the money.

"That is between the minister and me." said Cori with a wink.

"Very funny, seriously though, what did you steal?"

Cori looked him dead in the eye, "I'm not kidding." They all stared at her.

"Ahem. Never have I ever driven a car illegally." Cori and Sirius took a shot.

"I don't want to make anyone drink!" complained Lily when it was her turn.

"Then say something completely outrageous."

"Ummm… Never have I ever… ooh! Never have I ever killed somebody!" said Lily. Cori stared at her shot glass. It glowed red, showing that she was to take a shot. They all stared at her, mouths slightly agape. She rose the glass to her lips and downed it. What do you do when you find out your best friend has killed somebody? Well you keep playing your game of course!

Sirius cleared his throat, "ahem… never have I ever had a drink underage." Everyone but Lily drank.

Peter, being the oblivious one that he is, said "Never have I ever been face to face with Voldemort." Cori was the only one to drink. She then stood up and left the room without a word. Sirius jumped up and ran after her.

A/N: TA-DA! I UPDATED ON TIME! SHIT! MY LAPTOP JUST BROKE AND IT IS NOW ALL CAPS. FML. SO DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE NEXT CHAPTER IS ALL CAPS. SOB. PLEASE MAKE ME FEEL BETTER AND LEAVE A REVIEW! AND I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY CHARACTER PROFILES SO FEEL FREE TO LEAVE ONE. =D