Chapter 4: Halloween
Mary was hexed today. At some point Severus is confronted by the gang of Slytherins & co. in the monthly common room progress meeting; He is to stop playing around with filth. Potter hexed a couple of fourth-year Slytherins. Severus duels Potter in their defence. I am trying to calm my nerves, by sticking my head out of my dormitory window. There is nothing like cool cold air to calm the anger induced fire that has engulfed my head. This is the summary of my Halloween.
I woke up excited for Halloween. My hair was in a happy mess, and I was anticipating the special Halloween feast. The feast consisting of an eerie performance by the house ghosts…hopefully not Peeves like last year. I felt refreshed, after all the hard work the prefects and I put into decorating the Great Hall. Crouch Jr., a Ravenclaw fifth year prefect, had charmed the Great Hall ceiling and area above the tables, to change decorations in accordance with the time of day, so the decorations became scarier as the day wore on. Adding on each layer of decoration was tiring but fulfilling.
"Hallo-ween!" Marlene screamed.
I pull away my bed curtains, and face the excited blonde witch. She smiles creepily at me, cackling and widening her eyes as I continue to stare. Mary bursts out of the bathroom , curlers in hair, and bathroom robe tied tightly. Mary puts her hand on her hip.
"Trust you to disturb my bea-u-tiful bath time with your horrendous noise!" She laments.
"Trust you to disturb us with your bea-u-tiful hair…and face for that matter-"
"Oi!" I reprimand.
"-so plain without ze make up," Marlene continues unperturbed.
"Good morning everyone!" Emmeline interrupts in a sing-song voice.
Honestly, ever since she went on that Hogsmeade "date" with James Potter and his mates last week she's been irritatingly happy. I mean how can she even call it a date? He took his friends with him for Godric's sake, he's either sharing her or using her as bait to try and get to me. Well he failed. On the day, I happily spent the day in both Sev and then Mary, Marlene, and the stranded Dorcas' company. I was seemingly blind to the sudden acts of affection he bestowed upon Emmeline when I was around. Who yells out 'this is what a date with me would be like' after just displaying affection to his date he is currently on a date with anyways? How disrespectful!
"Good Morning" Dorcas finally mumbles.
I think she wanted a later breakfast…but we still had classes after all. Some of us have a shower, whilst other slip on their uniform and do their hair. In strange holiday spirit all fifth year Gryffindor girls go to breakfast together. The sun is even creeping out. What a lovely start to Friday. What a lovely start to Halloween.
As we enter the Great Hall, we all take in the decorations. Black paper origami-like bats flap around lazily across the ceiling, squeaking (we prefects had to record the squeaking sound inside each bat). I take in the early morning half cloud half sun, beaming with pride as I know everyone is admiring the handiwork of the Prefect's decorations. I sit down on the Gryffindor table, at the fifth year section, to the sound of frustrated whispers amongst the Marauders.
"Boring absolutely boring!" Black whispers fiercely.
"Hey! We worked hard! Trust me it'll get better by the end of the day. This is only a little warm up compared to what we have planned later on!" Remus whispers back offended.
"And you call yourself a Marauder?" Potter snaps, but not harshly, as he then puts his arm over Remus' shoulder and whispers in his ear.
"I know the Jinx you need for that…and then spell out the letters" Remus replies, shrugging his shoulders, in what signified nonchalance, but was really pride at making a suggestion.
Pettigrew leans across the table-
"Lily! Have you heard a word I've said?" Mary reprimands from across the table.
I look to Marlene for help but she comically shrugs her shoulder. I laugh heartily at her gesture, causing Mary to narrow her eyes and scowl. I plate some of the dark green waffles and squirt blood coloured golden syrup on to them. I take a savouring bite, amidst Mary's glare, and then put my fork down.
"I am most terribly sorry dear Mary, but I was far too busy enjoying the tas-" I start pompously in jest.
"Oh don't you dare! I know you were looking at the Marauders!" The I'm-not-going-to-call-her-that-word-because-I-don't-want-to-swear purposely said the last word loudly.
I quickly focused my attention on my food, analysing each waffle square, as I felt the eyes of all four Marauders on me.
"She was probably staring at Remus…They are quite close!" Marlene adds devilishly.
I could hear an annoyed groaning sound, followed by angry whispers, to presumably Remus, coming from the Potter seating area. I couldn't help but laugh. I look up, momentarily interrupting Mary and Marlene's conversation, and pipe up:
"Sorry Remus! I didn't mean to get you in trouble with Prat no.1. I was merely staring at the interesting space behind your seat, that's all" I must sound crazy.
"Your absolutely barmy, Evans," Black comments.
"When there's a face like mine to stare at…honestly" Potter complains returning to his breakfast.
Pettigrew shakes his head.
"It's alright, Lily!" Remus replies, smiling. I return his smile much to Potter's chagrin. Remus let's out a little yelp…probably elbowed, and I roll my eyes. Boys.
Lessons are fun and festive, with Charms being especially funny, as we try and make ordinary objects scarier in appearance. I win, as I give an ordinary glass cup the illusion that it's been dipped in blood, due to the detailed patterning I used when colouring it red, focusing on shades and such. Ancient runes proves comical, and even the chilly trip to the greenhouses is rewarded with the treat of teaching animated miniature pumpkins how to sing eerie songs. Naturally, the Marauders go a little further, by altering some of the song lyrics, but it was all in good fun…if not slightly inappropriate.
As we walk out to the greenhouses Potter runs up to me. Mary and Marlene refuse to save me and dart ahead. Sev is talking to Mulciber and Rosier, so he can't save me, even though he growls as he passes us.
"Lily…I just wanted to say sorry-"
"For what?!" I practically yell irritated, what has he got to be sorry for? His existence is his parent's fault.
"For-you know- what I said in the Great Hall"
I am taken aback. Is Potter being-
"It would be rather embarrassing to admit to everyone you were staring at me…It's okay" He pats my shoulder reassuringly; I slap it off quickly.
"You are unbelievable-"
"Now, Evans"
"Don't 'Now, Evans' me! You are so arrogant! I can't wait to see a bludger hit your head next week, it might just deflate the deluded notion you have, that everything revolves around you!"
I storm off. I can hear his faithful Marauders consoling him in the background.
"Next time" Pettigrew squeaks, that's the last I hear before I entering the castle.
I jog through the corridor and bump in to Sev, the same Sev I'm supposed to be meeting in the library now. Where is he going?
"Sev, where are you going?!" I hiss.
He first stares at me and then begins to glare.
"Where have you been? With Potter of course!" Sev hisses back.
"Oh! Please don't even start! You know I was hounded by him!"
"You could have walked away-"
"I DID!"
"Well I'm going to continue studying in my Common room" Severus replies coolly.
Honestly!
Severus rushes to his common room, checking his watch frantically. I have a feeling he wouldn't have stayed in the library long anyways.
Dorcas runs to me alarmed. Emmeline puffs behind her.
"L-l-l-lily…Mary…hexed…Imperio!" Dorcas manages to strain out. She grabs my arm, and we proceed to the Hospital wing. I wanted to run there, but was very reluctantly obliged to keep pace with those who informed me. They first proceedded with a regaining energy pace and then escalated to a fast paced walk.
I burst the Hospital wing doors open.
"Mary!" I choke, flushed, and then rendered teary eyed, by the image of Mary staring at the wall shaken, in the arms of a worried Marlene.
The Head Girl and Boy finish a conversation with Madame Pomfrey and leave. I glare at the retreating figure of Lucius Malfoy who I could have sworn was wearing a shadow of a satisfied smile.
"Who did this to you?" I ask.
"Now I believe there are too many people in the Hospital Wing, I'll have to ask you all to leave so I can properly focus on her."
"But-"Marlene, Emmeline and Dorcas begin.
"No, we should go." I say with finality.
They proceed to give her a hug and leave, with Marlene glaring at me for putting up less of a fight. I go to give the final hug. I press one ear against Mary's mouth, she instantly recognises the gesture.
"I don't know…him.Him." Mulciber.
I sift through my memories and find him talking with Sev and Rosier. If Severus is at all implicated in this…! His haste…
I bump into the Marauders on my way out.
"Is she okay?" Remus speaks up
"She's…She'll manage hopefully" I respond rather woodenly. Dark Magic. The Unforgivables.
"Do you know who did it?" I look Potter in the eye, "I mean did she say?" he adds, pressingly. I maintain eye contact, and then let it gravitate to all of the other Marauder's eyes. A collective groan and murmurs of ascent confirms they got the message I sent. I leave them outside the Hospital Wing and continue on my path to the common room.
"All that practise with old Severus here paid off!" Mulciber gloats, thumping Severus' shoulder gratefully.
"You are a good instructor Severus…Well executed Mulciber" Malfoy commends in his calm voice.
"You should have made her do something truly malicious, hex another student or some such" Bellatrix Black interjected.
"In due course…Regulus you should come and sit with us…listen to the words of your betters" Narcissa commands to a Regulus Black, who was hoping to sneak into his dormitory unnoticed.
"Cissy, always the recruiter!" Bellatrix laughs.
"I want to hex that Mudblood again!" Mulciber exclaims, toying with his wand.
"You don't want to draw attention!" seventh-year Wilkes warns.
"What is your obsession with the Mudblood anyways?" Severus asks, exasperated, "The same target, four times now, it's just going to get you kicked out, the first year Hufflepuffs will even predict it to be you!"
"You're one to talk!" Bellatrix cackled, "The way you follow that Mudblood Evans around-"
"Like a House-elf-" Mulciber is cut off with Severus' wand pointed at his neck.
"I've taught you some…but not all" Severus snarls.
"Ooo! What an interesting meeting this is turning out to be!" Bellatrix comments gleefully.
"Now, Severus raises a good point I am quite competent that all of you are studying diligently in preparation for the Dark Lord…" Malfoy nods to Ravenclaw Bartemius Crouch Jr. who is taking an impressive 12 OWLs, "and avoiding serious punishments" Malfoy pointedly addresses Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, who beam proudly.
"Which reminds me, when will we begin completing tasks within Hogwarts to aid the Dark Lord?" Crouch asks eagerly.
"It may be that we do not begin actively contributing to the movement until after our time here in Hogwarts…But I must stress the importance of excelling in your subjects"
We all nod, with varying levels of ascent-grudging or genuine- from the seated hopefuls in the Common room.
"Now, Severus," Severus leans in eagerly, "Your…relationship with that Mudblood is crucial to these next few days. Try and have it inform you about the other's progress. You and Rosier should leave together…Crouch you should follow soon to avoid suspicion" Malfoy instructs
"Now I don't want to miss-!" Crouch erupts
"I will fill you all in the next meeting. Head to lunch, keep your heads down, Severus remain vigilant." Malfoy responds with finality.
Severus and Rosier head out of the Slytherin common room, beginning a companionable conversation about the upcoming Quidditch match the following week.
"I am confident that Vanity's game plan will allow me to effectively crush the Gryffindors." Rosier boasts squeezing his fist for emphasis.
"Hmm" Severus merely replies.
As they turn out of the corridor leading to the dungeons, they are met with a spectacle. Two forth year Slytherins, Laughalot and Brutus, are suspended in the air, Laughalot laughing uncontrollably, and Brutus punching himself. A crowd has gathered but, as Severus and Rosier rush forth, it becomes apparent that the usual suspects are behind it. The insolent Marauders.
"No regard for school rules, Potter?" Severus snarls.
I rush forward angrily, towards the crowd that seem to already be dispersing. From the corner of my eye I see Severus and Rosier rush off to the Great Hall. I'll talk to Severus later.
"What's going on here?" I grunt through gritted teeth at Frank.
The Marauders attempt to slip away, but I lift up my wand in their direction, without even looking at them.
"The boys were just being a little-"
"Frank I really hope you didn't let them off easily!"
"The Mudblood's right!" One of the fourth-year pipes up.
"I'll hex your dirty self again…" Black trails off as he catches my glare.
"Okay, what happened…and how did you deal with it?" I ask calmly enough, but I'm just so irritated that my own housemates are out hexing random Slytherins, lowering themselves, when my best friend has just been hexed by Slytherins the same day! What makes us different from them?!
"Laughalot and I were walking to lunch…minding our own fourth-year business-"
"More like-"
"Black!" I yell
"It was Pettigrew not me!" Black replies amusedly.
I know it was Black and I'm not in the mood today.
"Listen, Evans please just listen to us-"
"No, Potter, because often you don't have anything important or useful to say!" I reprimand.
A silence ensued, followed by the fourth-year awkwardly continuing his story.
I take ten points from each Marauder, apart from Remus, who I'm not allowed to deduct points from. They of course protest. I don't even bother listening. I let their voices blur into background noise. My Halloween is officially ruined.
I go to the Great Hall. I eat lunch. I leave. I go to lessons. At some point, Remus tells me that I need to be fair. But where was Remus when all of this was happening? Why am I always the bad guy? Why am I the one who is always doing something wrong?
Mary returned from the hospital wing during dinner. She sits facing away from the Slytherin table. Marlene and I try and coax her into conversation, but she eats silently. We don't even appreciate the much scarier decorations that replaced the tamer ones. Okay maybe I glanced... I worked hard!Potter tries to smile at me from across the table, but I just scowl. He subsequently settles for a glare.
I clap obediently at what was actually a fantastic performance by the ghosts. Peeves was not there to ruin it, so it was rather flawless.
After dinner, Severus tried to talk to me as we leave, confidently mind you, in front of some passing Slytherins. I will interrogate him. Just not now.
I force myself to stay with Marlene and Mary in the common room. The Marauders managed to plan a ghoulish prank, which involved the spraying of a variety of Hogsmeade sweets in to the air, to anyone who touched the pumpkins scattered around the common room. I refuse to admit it was sweet- no pun intended. Mary seemed to lighten up considerably after this and began to speak more animatedly. She even called the Marauders over and thanked them. However, I curled up close to the window and didn't contribute more than 'hmm' to the conversation, I let myself sink into the world of Jane Eyre instead.
Now I'm in my dormitory awake. Not everyone is fully asleep, I know Mary is awake. But all the bed curtains are fully closed, apart from mine. I lean my head outside the window and let the cool cold air hit my face. I think of what happened to Mary. I think of Severus' suspicious friends and behaviour. I think of Potter's behaviour. I think of Black's behaviour and Remus' lack of action. My hair starts to ripple quickly in the cold night air. I feel like I'm fire, fighting a tide. A tide of Slytherins. A tide that are supposed to be my housemates: the Marauders. They could be a strong force for good.
Why do they resort to petty bullying?
No reason is provided to me by the night air.
I'm so disappointed.
I walk to my bed. I snuggle in tight. My pillow meets my head. And...Goodnight.
Author Note
Sorry, it's been a while. Holidays and all! I'm going to update my next chapter hopefully on the 14th of January, 15th lately. Enjoy and comment!