A/N:
The fact that Selena's nickname is Quicksilver has nothing at all to do with the element Mercury (or the planet), or the personality trait of being mercurial. I just like that name, honestly.
This one is hasty- I think it's my least favorite (structure-wise). I've streamlined it because I want it to go a slight bit faster. And my goodness, I like the content, but I hate how I worded it.
I'm trying not to make it too lovey-dovey. I'm saving that for next chapter.
The Scribe's Resurrection
Part Two: Chapter Twelve
Monday, December 6, 1976
"C'mon, c'mon..." Sirius, tapping his fingers, glanced at the giant clock above Professor Flitwick's desk.
"You're awful," Selena whispered. "You're counting down for the full moon?"
"I am bored."
"Very nice, using Remus' affliction as a thrill."
"I don't like seeing him be that way- it's a guy thing. You wouldn't understand."
"You're going to do something stupid again."
"I never did anything stupid."
"Actually, mate, you did," James said loudly. "You keep tapping your fingers into my inkwell."
"Oh, great, my fingers are purple." He looked sadly at his index and middle fingers.
"I'll get it." Selena siphoned off the ink as Professor Flitwick announced the dismissal of class.
"Quicksilver, can you keep something for us while we're out?" James whispered as they all left the room. The four young men had adjusted to Selena's pace a long time ago.
"Sure."
"I need you to keep The Marauder's Map."
"I dunno why you don't just put it under your pillow or something. I'm going to be spending the night in your room anyway."
"Well, watch over it. Don't want that uppity Head Boy to get his hands on it. We've been working on it so long, and he wants to snatch it away."
"How do you know that?"
"He knows we're more advanced than him. But of course, he can't work it."
"How's it work?"
"You put your wand up to it and say, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,'" Sirius said.
"Which you four never are."
"Uh-huh." Selena turned the corner.
What happens if I don't say those words?"
"It'll give you a tongue-lashing like you deserve. It's only for marauding," Peter claimed. "And only for people who'll appreciate it."
"Don't forget you wipe it clean by saying, 'Mischief managed.' That's the most important thing. Or else a professor could read it." Remus shivered. "That would be just-"
"Dreadful," the four young men declared in unison. Selena chuckled.
"Hold the Howler," Sirius paused, brandishing his wand. "Act natural." They were on the marble staircase, on the way to dinner. This was perfectly normal for one of them to suddenly halt and ask the others to 'act natural,' so Selena stopped.
"Anyway, how was Herbology?"
"Someone spilled a trowel's worth of dragon dung in Newnan Pranby's schoolbooks," James said casually. "Right after he made a pass at Lily Evans. Strange coincidence."
"AHA! What is your problem, Snivelly?! Copying down pointers on how to be cool?" Sirius, towering over Snape, wrenched him from behind a statue. Snape spat at him. "Why you little-"
Selena sighed and moved on. She didn't want to see it. Remus walked with her, along with Peter and James.
"What, you're not going to taunt him?"
"I'm behaving myself." James ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm not watching because-"
"Because James isn't, I know." Selena finished Peter's sentence.
---
Selena stowed her journal and pulled out the Marauder's Map.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." The map revealed itself. "Oh, wow! They're bloody brilliant," she gasped as she studied the boys' crowning achievement.
The Marauder's Map was a simple piece of parchment with three dimensions. It magnified what was needed and seemed to be sensitive to the holder's wishes. Selena didn't have to look for her little dot on the parchment.
Dusk had settled on the Hogwarts' front when Selena spotted a strange speck near the Whomping Willow on The Marauder's Map.
"Severus Snape," she read. Selena's head whipped around, searching for the greasy-haired boy outside. She vaguely saw him. And there were a couple more dots on the paper.
"Remus Lupin... Sirius Black... James Potter... Peter Pettigrew." Selena watched Snape move closer to the Whomping Willow until he was right on top of it. If he went any further...
Selena violently heaved herself off of Sirius' bed, clutching The Marauder's Map, and slipped on her silver shoes. Selena tore out of the boys' dormitory. She watched the parchment carefully as she went.
Almost out of view, Sirius and Peter were well within the passageway of the Whomping Willow, but Remus was in the middle. James was behind, and Snape followed at a safe distance. The moon must be out now, Selena thought, running through the corridors.
"Mischief managed." Selena, in her flannel nightgown and robe, pushed the school doors open and went out into the December night.
Minutes later, she neared the Whomping Willow, and she heard voices while glimpsing the clear, unobstructed full moon.
"HE'S A WEREWOLF!"
"SEVERUS, GET BACK!"
"Oh, dear God," she whispered, peering into the opening at the base. She heard a frightful, painful yell and someone else screaming. Selena thrust herself inside the throughway, and saw Severus being pulled along by James. James, upon seeing Selena, took her elbow and pushed her also out of the passageway.
"Are you okay?" James asked, looking carefully at Snape.
"I- I think so. ... He's a werewolf." Selena fell onto the grass next to Snape, touching his foot. No shoe adorned it, and it felt swollen.
"Why the bloody hell are you here?!"
"Don't act like you don't know," Snape said. "Your little friend set me up! You set me up too! You tried to kill me! You, Lupin, and that Sirius Black!"
"I did not. I knew nothing about this!"
"Yeah, right."
"I JUST SAVED YOUR LIFE," James roared. He took a deep breath. "You're delirious."
"His ankle's sprained," Selena spoke, getting to her feet. "I should take him to the Hospital Wing."
"Yes, do that. Make sure he stays there!"
"I'm telling Dumbledore!" Snape yelled. "Then, I'll tell the whole student body! They have a right to know-"
"If you do, I'll hex you to high heaven," James said through bared teeth. "You'll wish you'd never been born, you slimy, filthy git."
"I'll still tell Dumble-"
"Dumbledore knows, Severus! He had the Willow planted because of Remus!" Selena raised her voice. "And you want to tell the whole of Hogwarts in exchange for the satisfaction of ruining a person's life or revenge?! GET UP." Snape stayed where he was. "GET YOUR ARSE UP! YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY JAMES EVEN PULLED YOU BACK!!"
"DON'T YOU YELL AT ME, MUDBLOOD!"
"DON'T MAKE ME CURSE YOU!"
"TRY IT!" Snape tried to stand, but winced and fell back.
"No, you're not worth it," Selena said simply with a disgusted smile. "You're not worth it, and I don't hex people that're already hurt. Episkey. Now get up."
Snape stood, sneered at them both, and stomped towards the school.
"I saw you on the map." Selena said, holding up the parchment that had been stuck into her robe.
"Yeah. Thanks." James sighed. "I can't believe Sirius would do that..."
"I know. How else would Severus know?" Selena shook her head.
"Well, you better go back in. It's starting to snow."
"Alright. Have a nice night," Selena grumbled.
"Puh. Right." James retreated into the Whomping Willow's passage, leaving Selena in the cold. In his own fury, he hadn't noticed that she was crying.
Early Tuesday Morning, December 7, 1976
"I could flay you alive right now and feed you to a Manticore," Selena snapped. Peter and James were sitting with Remus on his bed, watching the two lovers have a go at it.
"Well, do it then, I don't care."
"Are you evil or something? How could you do that?"
"You didn't see me do it, so why do you care?" Sirius' face was getting hot.
"Because you used Remus for your own selfish purposes! He is not an accessory."
"What do you care what I use him for?"
"Because he's like my brother, that's why! And James had the decency to correct your stupid judgment. YOU COULD'VE KILLED THE POOR BOY, SIRIUS!"
"I DON'T LIKE HIM."
"SO WHAT! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO TREAT PEOPLE YOU DON'T LIKE-"
"WITH DECENCY AND RESPECT, I KNOW!! THAT'S SO HARD TO DO. I DON'T LIKE HIM, SELENA!"
"THERE'RE LOTS OF PEOPLE I DON'T LIKE!! BUT YOU DON'T SEE ME KILLING THEM OFF-"
"YOU'RE A WEAK GIRL! YOU HAVEN'T GOT THE STRENGTH TO-" After retracting her fist back and using the force of her powerful Beater's arm, Selena punched him across the face, earning panicked faces from the three other boys.
"Of all the words you can call me, I don't care which one you use, but don't you dare call me weak! I've been- I'm going through more than you'll ever know, and I'm stronger than you think. Don't call me weak, Sirius Orion Black," Selena huffed. She looked at his face and crimson liquid coming out of his nose. "I'm sorry I hit you, but you can't just screw over people like that. Especially your friends. What if he tells, Sirius? That could mess up Remus' whole future. And James risked getting killed himself. It's not like he could've turned stag in front of Severus. You must not have a lot of respect for Remus if you use him like that- you gonna hit me?"
Sirius' hand was in the air.
"Just do it. Do it and you'll see what happens to you. And don't you think I'd feel remorse when you bleed out all over the floor. And I won't do it with a wand, either."
"I wouldn't hit you." He put his hand down. "'Cause you're right."
"Great, you've had an epiphany. Whoop-dee-doo. It's not going to stick in that thick skull of yours. You're hardheaded, Sirius. What will it take for you to be decent to people you don't like?" Selena sighed. "I'm tired, and I'm skipping Ancient Runes to sleep. Remus, could you-?"
"Take notes? Sure."
"Thank you." Selena slammed the door shut behind her. Sirius sat on his bed and sighed.
"Sorry about last night, mate." He looked at Remus. "That was wrong of me."
"It's okay." After slowing the bloodflow of his nose, Sirius put his head in his hands.
Saturday, December 11, 1976
Sirius stared intently at Selena as she read her book. All week he'd been trying to engage her in conversation, but Selena was giving him the silent treatment. Through mealtimes, class, and in the common room, Selena had snubbed him. But now, they were in the library, so he thought he might be able to budge her. He wasn't having much luck. Selena left the library, glancing through the book she'd just checked out. Her lips were pursed shut.
"I'm sorry. Will you talk to me now?" An exasperated Selena exhaled heavily.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know. I just want you to talk to me."
"I've got nothing to say to you."
"Are you doing homework? You can't be doing homework. We have almost all the same classes, and I've got no homework."
"Sirius," Selena whined. "What do you want?"
"You. I am sincerely sorry for what I did."
"Honestly?"
"Sirius-ly."
Selena smiled and said, "Good, it's really hard to ignore you. How's your nose?"
"Might I say that your punches are worse than James' fury when one badmouths Lily. It hurt, but the bruise's gone."
"Oh."
"What're you reading?"
"A book on rune charms."
"Mm. Any good?"
"I guess. It's homework. I have to be able to tell the difference between all of the love charms. See that one right there?"
"Yeah."
"That's to make a guy fall in love with a girl. The girl wears it. Now, this one-" Selena pointed to another picture- "looks the same, but it's slightly different, and it's the opposite. To make a girl fall in love with a guy."
"And the guy wears it." They rounded a corner, dodging a ghost.
"Yes."
"So, if I wear that and activate it right, I'll get a snog with you?"
"You don't need a charm for that."
"Oh really?" Sirius raised an eyebrow and looked at her eyes. Seeing playfulness, he pulled her into the nearest deserted classroom with a devilish smile.
Sunday, December 26, 1976
Only thirteen people had stayed for Christmas. A blizzard had set in during Christmas dinner, and Hogwarts now sat in three feet of snow.
"What in the world are we going to do today?" Peter muttered. They had planned a giant snow war (girls against boys), but the flurry of white flakes outside prevented that. The snow still came down thickly.
"Do not worry, Mister Pettigrew! We shall have a good time." Professor Dumbledore overheard Peter's complaints, then busied himself with his pudding.
"Oh, the mail," Remus looked up. Artemis dropped that day's Daily Prophet in Selena's lap.
"Thank you," she called. Her owl hooted and soared back out of the Great Hall. Selena picked up the newspaper and read the headlines.
"Oh my God." She yanked Sirius' sleeve, and he looked at to what her finger pointed.
"Wow."
"What's up with you two?" James asked, grabbing his own copy of the paper. "Oh, man. Just yesterday, the Aubrey Residence was broken into by a group of Death Eaters. The whole family was massacred on Christmas Day, including some Hogwarts students and Carol Aubrey, a noted journalist for this newspaper. A team of Aurors found the house burned to the ground with a Dark Mark hovering over the scene. The Aurors believe that..." James trailed off, reading to himself.
"Poor Aubrey," Selena whispered with tears in her eyes. Sirius wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"That's horrible," Remus said. "And look! It was in the middle of a Muggle neighborhood... They had to wipe the memories of no fewer than twenty-seven people. Some Muggles show evidence of... Being tortured with the Cruciatus Curse."
"Death Eaters mean business," James said simply. He swore vehemently.
Selena's mouth was dry. She wasn't crying, only very scared. Sirius put a cup of water in front of her and watched her drink it down.
Thursday, March 17, 1977
"Merlin, this potion is hard to make," Sirius mumbled to himself.
"Yeah. Keep it cold, keep it cold. I hate cold." Selena had her wand out, constantly jetting out frozen mist. She was in a bad mood.
"It's the Ashwinder eggs," Sirius said.
"I know that. I just don't understand why we have to make Amortentia." Selena grumbled.
"It's a love potion."
"Yeah."
Selena was not having a very good birthday. Of course, one would not expect her to, as it was one year to the day that she had been notified of her parents' deaths.
"Adding the maidenhair... Okay, turn up the heat." The icy mist turned to bluebell flames.
"Oh, there we go... Mother-of-pearl sheen." Selena peered into the cauldron, catching a whiff of it. She began to feel overwhelmingly sleepy. She had smelled this before, but where? All Selena could think of was happiness and comfort and warmth.
"Yep. And spirals."
"Bravo, bravo! Miss Riviera and Mister Black, bravo! The second to brew Amortentia! Now, what do you smell?" Professor Slughorn clapped his hands as a few other students turned to them, scowling that they hadn't finished their potion.
"Hmm. Spearmint, mostly," Sirius stated. "Spearmint, car oil, and food. All my favorite foods."
"And Miss Riviera?"
"I- I smell the earth being rained on for the first time in a long while... And then, then..." Selena sighed; her mind fuzzed over, like she was falling asleep. "I smell a forest. It's a strange thing though, because I've smelled it before, and it wasn't in a forest. It's a very earthy smell. It's making me tired."
"Good, good. Put a vial of that on my desk. Full marks for both of you."
"Thanks, Professor." Sirius turned to Selena. "I'll give it to him. You look hazy."
"Okay." Selena, head on the desk, snuggled into her arms. Sirius came back, sat next to her, and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Having an okay birthday?"
"No." Selena pulled up her head.
"Maybe you'll change your mind when you see where we're going tonight." Sirius put his forehead to hers, and she sniffed trace of that Amortentia again. Selena realized instantly where she'd remembered the smell.
"Maybe." Sirius resumed his normal position in the chair next to her. The aroma faded.
"You're of age now!"
"Yup." Selena hesitated for a fraction of a second, then voiced something that had been bugging her. "You said you'd by a house when you turned seventeen-"
"Yes. I'm already deciding between three."
"That's nice." Sirius nodded.
"Hey, did I tell you that my Uncle Alphard passed away this month?" Selena gave him a sympathetic look.
"I'm so sorry," she started. Sirius held up his hand.
"Wait. Anyway, my favorite uncle, he always was. Older than Dumbledore- died in his sleep." Selena's boyfriend seemed unaffected by his favorite uncle's death, probably because Uncle Alphard wasn't murdered in his bed.
"Oh."
"But, anyway, that's not it. He left me his entire fortune!"
"Really? Why would someone give gold to you?" Sirius glared.
"Because apparently I'm his favorite nephew."
"That makes sense."
"And because I'm such a wonderful person."
"Of course."
"I'm using some of it to buy a house. I couldn't believe that he gave it all to me. None to my brother or my mum- his sister. Now I dunno what to do with myself."
"I know the feeling." Sirius had succeeded in steering her mind away from her parents, but now with the subject of inheritance, Selena thought of Mr. and Mrs. Raphael Riviera again. Sirius noticed her change of mood.
"So I decided that this summer I'm going to get that tattoo." Selena chuckled.
"Okay. I'll watch. Have you decided what you want yet?"
"Well-" She half-listened to him gab about different images that he might be inked on, and then where he would put them. Selena nodded, but his tattoo speech could not hold her attention.
Head cupped in her palm, Selena sat with a faint smile on her face, reflecting on just how much she adored that grey-eyed boy; she wondered if the cauldrons of concocted Amortentia had infested her brain, filling her with amorous feelings. However, when they left the dungeons to go to lunch, Selena noted that she still felt the same way.
Friday, April 22, 1977
"This feels just great- we're of age, we've just passed our Apparition test, we've got no homework, and we're on holiday..." Peter lazily stretched out his legs.
"Yes, Peter. Now hush," Selena whispered. She, riveted by the spectacle on the other side of the common room, was sitting on the couch backwards. The young woman observed the intrepid, handsome James and the unaware, attractive Lily with interest. She leaned forward on her knees as James' lips moved.
"What's he saying?" Remus asked.
"Dunno. Can't hear him. Lily's smiling."
"Good sign," Sirius said.
"Oh!" Selena sat back on her haunches.
"What?"
"He kissed her. Aw... She's blushing... Oh, wow, they've left." Selena flipped back over and faced her friends; she absentmindedly rubbed her left leg.
"His good behavior has served him well." Remus chuckled.
"He deserves a sticker or a button. We should make him one."
"I suppose Lily will hang around with us now, like Selena does," Peter mused.
"I've always hung around you four. It's not because I go out with Sirius."
"Come for the mischief, stay for the hotness known as Sirius Black," Sirius commented, wiggling his eyebrows. His remark earned him a playful shove from Selena.
"Right, right."
"No, honestly, I'm a great catch."
"Newnan Pranby thinks he's a great catch."
"Yeah, well, on that scale of 'amazing blokes girls can choose from' that ranges from one to ten, he's a three, whereas on the same scale, I'm infinity."
"Somebody's got a bit of a big head."
"Don't be jealous that you're a million, Moony."
"What's James?" Selena asked.
"Same as Moony here."
"What'm I?" Peter asked, chomping on a cupcake.
"You don't want to know, Wormtail. But, hey, you're higher than Pranby."
Wednesday, June 1, 1977
The boy's dormitory door creaked open, and it revealed a redheaded young woman.
"James? Oh, hi, Selena. Have you seen James?"
"The boys went out gallivanting. You know them."
"Ah. Can I wait with you?"
"Sure." Lily closed the door behind her and sat next to Selena. Selena pointed to Frank. "Shh."
"So this is where you go." Selena gave Lily a questioning look. "Some nights I get up for a drink and you've gone out. Do you go to meet Sirius?"
"What? No. I come here in their dorm when they're not in it."
"Oh. 'Cause I thought you might have been, you know... With Sirius." Selena, puzzled, stared at Lily. Then it dawned on her.
"No! Oh, no." Selena started laughing. "No, we haven't done that yet."
"Oh. Erm, can I have some of those?" Selena nodded and pushed the box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans towards her friend. "Thanks."
Selena placed her head on the glass of the window and looked out to the Whomping Willow. That tree and the full moon above it were the reasons why the boys were absent.
"James invited me over for a weekend over the summer."
"Really? Did he tell you where we're going?"
"You're coming too?"
"Yes. You see, we all decided a while ago that we were going to do something this summer, before school ends. Because... Because we don't know what'll happen when we all leave school."
"That's true."
"And we want to make memories. Together. James vowed we'd have the happiest time of our lives before..." Selena trailed off.
"Before what?"
"Before something happens to us with You-Know-Who out there..." Selena cleared her throat. "James invited me, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. And you, of course."
"So it's not very special that I'm going," Lily grumbled.
"It is, actually," Selena reassured her. "You're one of the people James wants to remember. You don't see him inviting Marie Bain, do you?"
"True."
"James has a very good sense of who's important to him. You're one of the people he needs."
"Where're we going?" Selena smiled.
"I'm not allowed to tell if he hasn't told you."
"Right..." Lily trailed off and glanced out the window. "Where are they?"
"Dunno."
"When're they getting back?"
"Dawn," Selena answered immediately.
"Does Frank ever stop snoring?"
"Hahaha, no, not until around four. Yeah, I've counted. After a while, you don't even notice."
"That's got to be a long, long while." Selena laughed.
"I guess."
"Does he mind that we're here?"
"No. He's well-tuned to the fact that I stay in here sometimes. He wakes up at six and leaves while I'm asleep."
The girls stayed quiet for about a half hour, then Lily spoke again.
"You five are really good friends, aren't you?"
"Yes. They're the brothers I never had."
"D'you think- d'you think they'd be good friends with me too?"
"Of course."
"Good- I always wanted brothers."
Selena beamed at Lily.
"Shwee." Twinkles flew out from under Remus' bed. Her babies followed. She and her family had taken to sleeping there or the wicker basket next to Selena's trunk.
"Oh. These're your Garland Fuzzies, right?"
"Yes. Got 'em Christmas my first year."
"They're cute..." Panache, pleased he had a new spectator to his antics, began performing tricks. Lily laughed when Dash got caught up in the moment and, in his zeal, accidentally pushed his brother Panache to the ground. Panache fell onto the floor with a light tap. Flash sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.