Chapter Two

It was a beautiful, cloudless, sunny summer day at Hogwarts. I had taken off my school robes and tied them around my waist, so that I was only wearing a white shirt (which had a few buttons undone seeing as it was so hot) and a school skirt. It may seem like I was wearing quite little, but compared to some other girls who were sashaying around the Hogwarts grounds like it was some kind of beauty pageant, I was practically dressed for winter.

My blonde hair was up in a messy bun, and my face was fresh from make-up, as usual. I was wandering the grounds trying to find a shady place to read my new book. The place was overflowing with students in their groups. I passed a group of Slytherin fourth-years who were throwing rocks at the giant squid in the lake. Around the other side of the lake, I saw a group of Gryffindor girls from my year playing a game of Magical Snap on the grass. Lily looked up and waved at me, Alice looked up and smiled, Mary looked up and scowled.

Ignoring the look of hatred I had just been shot with, I continued my search and finally found the perfect place. It was underneath a tree which was usually occupied, but this break, for some reason, it was not. I sat there, in its cool shade, and kicked off my converse. Leaning against the bark of the old tree, I opened my book and began pouring over the words inside. Within seconds, I was lost in its world.

Barely five minutes later, I had the intense feeling that I was being watched. I heard muttering nearby. I didn't need to look up to know that it was Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew. They were probably debating about whether to hex me or not, for sitting in 'their place'. Frowning, I turned the page.

Suddenly, I was surrounded by them. Potter and Black were much closer than I found comfortable. I knew exactly what they were trying to do: annoy me so much that I left. Still, I refused to look up from my book.

"So, Kammy," Black began, "Whatcha reading?"

"None of your business, Black."

"Ah, shame. I was looking forward to having an intelligent conversation with you about the laws and physics of magic described in your, what I call, 'book'."

"I bet your brain must feel as good as new seeing as you've never used it," I said, turning a page and continuing to read.

"When did you get such a sharp tongue, Jenson?" Potter asked, looking amused, "I remember you being a shy, sweet girl who sat reading in the corner … rather than under our tree."

"She grew up."

There was an awkward silence, in which I got quite a bit of reading done. And then James broke it.

"Look at Snivelly sitting over there with his slimy friends, watching Evans. What do you think about 'thanking him' for breaking off his friendship with my future girlfriend?"

"Prongs, I like your thinking," Black sneered.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake! Will you two idiots leave that other idiot alone for just one day? Potter, do you seriously expect Lily to come crying on your shoulder when she finds out that her ex-best-friend is in the hospital wing because of you?"

"Well…"

"You did! You complete moron!"

"Ok," said Black, smiling, "If you're such an expert on relationships, tell us what Prongs – that's James to you – should do to get Evans. And then we might let you stay here with us."

I slammed my book shut and leapt to my feet, fuming.

"You know what, screw you Sirius Black! And you, Potter! You think you're so good just because you're good looking! You think that the world is going to bow down to you just because you know a few more spells than most people, and can pull off a couple of phoney tricks on a broom! You want everyone to do what you say, when you say it, and if they don't then you jinx them! You're just a couple of arrogant, spoilt, egotistical gits … and you two are no better for encouraging them, and just sitting there watching like a pair of gormless gargoyles!"

All four of them stared at me, gobsmacked, mouths hanging open, eyes wide. And then Sirius's mouth stretched into a smirk.

"You think we're good looking and you want to screw me and Prongs?"

With another cry of frustration, I grabbed my converse and stormed off.

Exhausted and drained, I collapsed against the wall of the castle, sliding down it, where I hugged my knees. I was breathing heavily and quickly, and my cheeks were burning. I knew that my eyes would be almost florescent blue – they always got brighter when I was feeling some kind of strong emotion like anger, sadness or happiness. They were also threatening tears, but I bit them back. I was stronger than that. I refused to cry. Instead, I put my converse back on.

And then, just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse, I heard voices I really didn't want to hear.

"Well look what we have here, boys," chuckled the voice of Rabastan Lestrange. I stayed where I was, holding my breath, as still as a Muggle statue. Maybe he was talking about some other Gryffindor loner in a dark, secluded corner of the Hogwarts grounds.

But no, he was definitely talking to me. A minute later, several legs were directly in front of me. Rabastan Lestrange and his Slytherin cronies smirked down at me – including Severus Snape and Regulus Black.

"What you doing down there, Jenson?" Rabastan asked, suggestively. My head snapped up to glare him in the eye.

"Get lost, Lestrange. I am not in the mood for this."

"Ah," he said, "That's what she said."

"For Merlin's sake!" I cried, jumping to my feet, "Will you gits just leave me alone! I've had enough of this! I get away from one gang of imbeciles and run right into another!"

They chuckled; Rabastan's laugh was the loudest and most dangerous of them all. Knowing that that laugh was not a good thing, I slipped away, trying to be as invisible as possible. But he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him. He pulled me over with such strength that I fell into his chest. He was very tall; I had never felt so small in my life. His fingers were gripping my wrist with so much pressure that my hand was going numb.

"You're hurting me," I gasped. He just sneered down at me, his eyes glinting menacingly. I started to struggle, but he just wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me even closer to him, tighter. It felt like my spine was going to snap. The Slytherins laughed. "Let me go!"

"I'll consider it if you kiss me."

I gagged.

"Are you serious? Remind me again, Lestrange, will old Voldy be a guest of honour at your brother's wedding? I'd rather drink out of Moaning Myrtle's toilet than kiss you!" I said with as much venom as I could manage. He growled. I needed to get away now.

"Well in that case, I'll just have to make you."

Suddenly his lips were crushed against mine. I fought with all of my strength and will to get away from him, kicking and hitting and scratching, but he smiled against my lips and kissed me harder.

There was a bang and Lestrange broke apart from me, hurtling backwards into the crowd of Slytherins behind him who had been laughing coldly at my torture.

"Get away from her, Lestrange," hissed a voice.

I spun around and there were the Marauders, standing with their wands drawn like some kind of superheroes. Potter and Black stood at the front glaring at the Slytherins, and Lupin and Pettigrew were close behind them, all looking furious.

"Oh, what's this?" Lestrange sneered, "You been cheating on me with these twits, have you, Jenson?"

"Get lost, you bastard," I spat, also drawing my wand and pointing it at them.

"Well, well, well," sneered Regulus, "Looks like my brother's been giving you a few lessons in attitude." He sent Sirius a sickening wink.

Rabastan turned to him with a smirk, "She's hot when she's feisty."

A blur of red erupted from the end of my wand and shot him square in the chest. He fell to the ground, stone still. The others looked at him and then looked at me, in shock. Then they all simultaneously drew their wands and pointed them at me.

I gulped.

"Kamara! Get over here!"

I took a deep breath, still staring at the Slytherins, almost frozen in shock.

Suddenly, a pain shot through my body and I fell to the ground, landing with a thump on the stone ground, unable to put my hands out to lessen the impact. All of my muscles had stiffened and I found myself unable to move, lying face-up in between the worst enemies in the school.

Immediately, the Marauders started firing spells, so rapidly that within minutes the Slytherins had scattered. Once they were gone, the Marauders cast the releasing spell on me and I could move again.

Gasping for breath, I started to stir. They rushed over and helped me sit up.

"Are you ok?" asked Potter and he seemed genuinely worried.

I groaned, "I think I broke my bum bone." It was an exaggeration, but it did hurt like hell.

"What was my retarded brother doing to you?" Black asked, his voice rough with anger.

"Nothing. It was Lestrange that got all perverted," I said after a hesitation.

"So that brainless git was cheering him on like a gormless gargoyle while Lestrange snogged you?"

I scowled at him, "Gormless gargoyle is my insult and yes, that's exactly what he did. And feel free to go hex Snape."

"So you're saying that we can do that prank on Snivelly now?" asked Potter hopefully.

"Go for it."

"Yes!"

Lupin held out a hand for me. I stared at it before getting up myself.

"Why do you guys always have to get involved with everything?" I asked, a tone of annoyance slipping into my voice.

"Oh, so you'd rather we just left the Slytherins to molest you?" Black said, sarcastically.

I grumbled, "I had it under control."

"Really?" laughed Black icily, "It definitely looked like you did … if your goal was to get pregnant."

I slapped him.

"Don't. You. Dare-"

"Miss Jenson!" snapped the stern voice of Professor McGonagall, "That is most definitely not the kind of behaviour I have to come to expect from you!"

I stared at her, aghast. Where had she come from? And why did she have to appear now rather than a few minutes ago while I was getting harassed? Then the Marauders wouldn't have caught me in such a pathetic state, and had to save me.

"Potter and Black, I can't say I'm surprised to see you in trouble once again, but Lupin, you are supposed to be a Prefect! And you Pettigrew, would do well to learn not to follow the crowd. All of you – detention, in my room tomorrow at eight – and hurry to class; you're already ten minutes late!"

I practically ran to Potions in my attempt to get away from the Marauders. Unfortunately, they also happened to be in that class. But I took comfort in the fact that this was the last potions lesson of the year. Three days and I'd be on the train back to London, to spend the summer with my family. I couldn't wait.