Authors note:
So many apologies I must give!! I didn't think university would take up as much time as it did. Thankfully it is now summer (and I passed everything, whoohoo!) so I am able to write and write and write. I intend on completing this story, hopefully. But if not, well... you'll have to read to as far as I get before waiting until the next summer! Lots of love to my readers!
Shortish chapter, but I promise more soon!
The owlery was not the most pleasant room in the vast surroundings of Hogwarts. The floor, covered with straw, owl dropping and the remains of dead mice did not seem to disgust Melody as it usually did. She sighed heavily as tears dribbled out of her teary blue eyes. Owls hooted loudly, flying in and out of the openings in the roof. The bubbly persona she usually carried seemed to be smothered with darkness. Footsteps of someone rushing quickly caught Melody's attention. Kat rushed forward to her friend, already crying heavily. "Melly..." Lily followed suit, sympathy and honesty worry written in her sad green eyes.
The chubby girl just looked at the two girls who reached forward for an embrace. "Th-they're gone..."
No more was said. Nothing more was needed.
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"Are you excited for tomorrow, Kat?" Melly asked breaking the morning silence of the breakfast table.
"I think I may throw up."
"Oh you'll be spectacular! We all know it." Lily gushed happily.
It had been two weeks since the attack on the muggles. Things seemed to be returning to normal, but the sense of dread lurked in the thoughts of every person. Who would be next? When? Thoughts bounced around, but were countered by the cheery conversations held throughout the day. No one talked about death, it was not appropriate. Lily still had not gone out with James, but he hadn't been pushing the idea either. 'Potter's probably letting things settle for a while.' Lily mused as she took a passing glance at the boy. The scratch underneath his eye had faded and his grin seemed to once more captivate his peers. Lily wondered what went on in his head, but soon returned focus to Kat. The first quidditch match for Gryffindor was the next night, a friday, and Kat was sitting on jittery nerves.
The girl sighed, "I know I'm awesome but..." She giggled. "You're right, we'll kick ass!"
"That's the Kat I know and love."
A fourth year boy apprehensively approached James, his arm in a sling. As soon as James' hazel eyes landed on the image of the boy his toothy smile instantly turned into a deadly scowl; his jaw dropped.
"No fucking way!" He stood up dangerously. "What the hell did you go breaking your arm before the first match for!"
"Oh no!" Kat groaned.
The kid mumbled something incoherently, and looked away in shame. Slowly, he backed away and left the Great Hall. Lily and Melly glanced at each other, shrugging in confusion, but figured he must be a player. They scooched into seats closer to towards James.
"Where the hell am I supposed to find a keeper, now?" Hands flew up into his black hair in frustration. "Damned luck."
Lily rolled her eyes, thinking it wasn't such a big deal. "C'mon, what about Remus?" She suggested, "You told me that you guys played quidditch over the summer."
Sirius shrugged, "He's decent."
James shook his head, "He may be a decent keeper for two-on-two, but can he guard three rings against three chasers?"
"I can play keeper." Kat offered, "But you'll need to find another chaser then."
"Remus could maybe do that..."
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"No way!"
"Please, we have no one else!"
"I can't!"
"Why not?"
"I believe in you Moony!" Sirius added unhelpfully. "I even made a cheer!"
"A cheer...?" James was curious now.
"It goes like this:
Moony shall be our replacement HERO!
We shall win two-hundred to ZERO!
Something something MOONY!
Their team will commit MUTINY!"
"That's a terrible cheer. Also, moony and mutiny doesn't rhyme." Remus laughed, shaking his head.
"No kidding Sirius, that was horawful. Not just horrific and awful, horawful!"
"Hey, I made it up in two seconds, gimme some credit. Anyways Reemy, we don't have much choice. Please, please, please, pleeeeeease!"
"Fine, just don't ever say that cheer again." The brown haired boy rolled his grey eyes.
Sirius threw his hands into the air, as if expecting a high-five from the two other maurauders. Remus glanced at James and they both walked away, laughing.
"Don't leave me hanging!" Sirius bellowed. "You guys suck."
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The whole team was horribly nervous as they sat in the locker room, dressed in maroon and gold. James was giving a lame pep talk about trying hard no matter what, even if they didn't have their complete and proper team. Remus sat, white-faced on a bench. 'Who am I kidding? I haven't played since summer. This is going to end badly.'
In the stands, Lily and Melody sat with the remaining marauder Peter was looking especially nervous, shaking almost. "Everything okay Pete?" Lily questioned warm-heartedly, her red hair tied back into braids.
"Uh...yeah, I'm good. Say, I think I forgot something...I'll uh, be back."
"Forgot what? There's nothing you really need for a quidditch match." Melly inquired.
Peter shrugged and left his seat leaving the two girls on their own. "Look there's Kat!" Lily pointed suddenly, but her sweet voice was quickly drowned out by the loud cheering, and booing from Slytherins, as the teams made their way onto the field.
The match began fast, the quaffle being tossed from hand to hand, team to team, bludgers being whacked around, and the seekers, always scouting. Remus was doing a fair job, though on more than one occasion the quaffle was jumbled or fumbled out of his hands. James didn't let his friend down and tried to make up for the weaker player. Sirius was a beater and managed to knock a Ravenclaw girl off her broom.
"Sorry lass!" He cackled as she thudded to the ground.
The score was even, with ten points to each side. Kat was already furious with herself, however, for letting even one goal in. She circled the three hoops furiously as a player approached. He threw, and she dived.
"Ravenclaw Scores Again!" The announcer boomed.
James cringed, they couldn't lose this match. For the past years the Ravenclaw team had been doing poorly, it should have been an easy win. 'Stupid Mark Findley.' He groaned to himself as the other team scored again. 'Time to pick this up Gryffindor.' James quickly managed to get a hold of the quaffle from Kat and began to dart up the field. Sirius bellowed something indecipherable, but James figured he should duck. A large angry bludger zoomed directly past his head, causing the seventh year boy to take a precautionary roll on his broom.
"CRACK!"
The crowd gasped as the bludger seemingly turned itself around and threw itself into the back of James broom. Justin Feebly, a Ravenclaw chaser, took this opportunity to steal the quaffle. 'Shit, my broom is splintered!' It was harder to control now, though not impossible. James sighed in frustration, as Sirius knocked away another approaching bludger.
"Their beaters seem to be after you, mate." He bellowed.
"Odd!"
It was the only word James managed before the rocketing ball slammed into his back. He cursed loudly, barely able to hang onto his broom. He took a dive, and managed to escape the warzone of the bludgers. They were sent whizzing away in the directions the beaters sent them.
Catching a long pass from Remus, James managed to earn Gryffindor some points. He threw his fist up in happiness, but they were still behind in points. They wanted to earn as many as possible to get a higher standing then Hufflepuff who had already won against Slytherin.
The clouds suddenly burst open, showering the players in a heavy rainstorm. It became harder to see, but the teams played on. The voice of the announcer slowly becoming harder to hear as strong winds began to pick up. Having practiced in undesirable conditions, much to the teams dismay, Gryffindor was able to play hard despite the weather. On the other side, Ravenclaw seemed to be struggling. Gryffindor eventually earned back the points, even gaining a lead. However, James' broom was broken, his back was killing him and his glasses were spotted and impossible to see through. 'Please find the snitch soon.' the quidditch captain was flying lower towards the ground, hoping to catch a slippery quaffle, fumbled from someone's hands. Suddenly the pain struck him.
Someone was using the Cruciatus Curse on him again. It lasted only for a moment, but it was enough. James slammed down his broom, landing on the ground, panting heavily as the cold water poured down. It had been lifted almost as soon as cast, but his back ached even worse now. He looked up into the unviewable scene, and through the howling wind he heard the sound he had been waiting for.
"Oscar catches the snitch! GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
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"Good work Pettigrew," A voice approached from behind.
Peter jumped in surprise, quickly ditching his wand into his robes. He spun around and saw the cloaked figures. Suddenly jittery, and ashamed, he burst in an angry voice, "Why did I have to do this?"
"You know why."
"And now we know. You are one of us."
