Chapter VII
"Rise and Shine sleepyheads!" Someone said as they tore open the curtain around Hermione's post and allowed light to filter in through. "It's another beautiful day at Hogwarts and what a day when it's the weekend! So get up and enjoy the morning sunshine!" She shielded her eyes from the glowing light and turned her glare to see a girl she barely recognized until yesterday's event came rushing back at her. The girl had light straight brown hair and soft gray eyes and a round face that greet her cheerfully as she pulled the rest of her curtains away. Hermione was asking what the time was as she tried to find her watch where she left it on the nightstand.
"It's time to wake up silly!" She said cheekily and Hermione, not getting the answer she wanted, turned to the other girl in the room, not able to find her timepiece. A girl with wavy chestnut hair shook her head and said, more like mumbled as she too was waking up, that it was six forty-five. Hermione very much wanted to smack the girl who had woken her up at this godforsaken hour.
Six forty-five on a Saturday, well of course she was used to getting up by five but this was totally different as she barely got any sleep last night and then hadn't been able to without thinking of everything that happened.
The girl with wavy hair, Serena that was her name Hermione remembered, looked towards her and thinking along the same lines of what she thought of the brunette, Alice it was, who was waking everyone up so damn early.
"Pay no attention to Ace, she just as lazy and wants to sleep in on the weekends like the rest of us but there's only two, no make that three things that gets her up: One, her very high metabolism to get sugar hype in her system and two, Quidditch practice. And let's not forget possibly number three, which should be Frank Longbottom…" Serena said in a tease while Alice, blushing to the very root, decided to throw a pillow to her head. Serena dodged it and threw one of her own back at her. Before this could ensure any further, Hermione got out of bed, grabbing a set of borrowed clothes from the McQueen twins and headed to the bathroom.
Might as well, seeing if I stay here, I'll be pummeled with feathers in this pillow fight. She considered her opinions wisely as she narrowly missed being hit by a free thrown pillow and closed the door and turned the shower on. When she emerged from the bathroom clean and changed and saw the room cover from head to toe with goose feathers and spells flying about went to go see if Keller was up but found surprising the curtains pulled back and her bed empty.
"We found it that way by the time we woke up and thought she must've gotten up earlier than we did." Serena explain with feather all over her along with a couple spell throw from the pillow fight and Ace with polka dots on her face as Hermione tried to figure out where Keller could've gone.
"She must be down at the Great Hall by now." Alice said with her hair violet and her nose got a little bigger. She and Serena called it truce and help clean up the mess and remove their spells on each other before walking out of the room and down the stairs to see the rest of the people already awake thanks to Ace who went and woke them first then the girls.
James's hair looked even messier in the morning and Sirius was yawning many times while Peter was squinty like crazy as he tried to blink back sleep. "Dammit Alice couldn't you wake us up later. Some of us like to sleep in on the weekend, thank you."
"Nope, sorry but everyone's got to be up and at them. Quidditch training is today so we best be on our feet! Come on Frank!" She said grabbing a brown haired boy who was blushing lightly as they took off outside the painting hand-in-hand.
"Up and at them indeed…we don't even have the field today until three. She must have wanted to really get some sugar in her system and hang with her 'Frankie-kin'." Sirius muttered while giving one more yawn, longer than the last ones before seeing Hermione and the rest of the girls coming down to join them. He noticed someone in their group missing as he look back up the stairs expecting the last person to show but didn't. He then turned to her, "Hey Sonja where's your cousin, Kell?"
She shrugged. "Beats me, that is what I'd like to know." She and the rest of the Gryffindor went down the stairs to the Great hall for breakfast. Apparently not many were up yet except for a few students and the staff members sitting at the staff table. Keller was nowhere to be found at the Gryffindor table, only Remus, Lily, Frank and Alice.
"Good morning Remus and Lily. Did Keller come down here by any chance?" Remus looked up at her and she noticed there were dark circles under his eyes and wondered if he had gotten any sleep last night.
But there hadn't been any full moon, not yet at least I think. Maybe he stayed up late, studying or something, she thought as he shook his head.
"No haven't seen her but listen, Dumbledore told us it's ok today to take you and your cousin to Hogsmeade to buy your supplies. All things will be charge to the school of course, that's what the Headmaster said." Hermione looked up and saw Dumbledore finishing a conversation with McGonagall and looked over to their table to her with a twinkle in his eyes and then went back to his discuss with another professor.
Keller must of talked to him this morning, she thought as she sat down and ate with the Marauders and everyone.
She watched how Lily was scolding James and Sirius and telling them to not gobble down their food without chewing or at least closing their mouths so everyone didn't have to see what they were eating, Sirius not listening to a thing she said, decided to have some fun by throwing a spell on one of the Slytherin's eggs and watched as he was having rainbow colored hair and singing 'Somewhere over the rainbow'. Remus was poring over the Daily Prophet and Hermione saw something that intrigued her about the article and asked him if she could see it after him. He handed it to her and she saw on the front a picture of the Dark Mark shining over a house.
Under the picture captioned 'Muggle Neighborhood killed by Death Eaters under He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Number of Deaths Rising, Ministry at a dilemma.' Phrases jumped out at her as she skimmed down, feeling her stomach twist and turned with what she read.
Many deaths to one muggle neighborhood, list of casualties are…the Dark Mark appearing in the sky…The Ministry has been informed that there are possible agents working for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named…wizards and witches are advise to trust no one outside their own circle…to keep watch in case of any dark suspicious wizards or witches are in the premises and report to the authorities and have them sent to Azkaban.
Hermione look towards Dumbledore to see what he thought and thinking of whether or not she should really tell him but he told her before of what he said about not saying anything of the future and set the paper aside, feeling she couldn't eat anything else as she felt sick from reading in the article.
After breakfast was over, she went to go and try to find her cousin again only to see a gathering of students right by the courtyard watching something outside.
"What's going on?" James said as he and Lily joined her side with the other Marauders seeing that something was up and wanting to know what the commotion was about. Everybody's curiosity perked as they tried to see over the bobbing heads to what everyone was watching.
She, wondering herself, moved forward past the crowd and saw Keller standing in the courtyard.
Dressed in black, wearing a pair of sweat pants and dark beater shirt, placing the tip of her fingers against a board and hitting her fist against it. Her face held nothing to be seen but her eyes were filled with determination and concentration as she ignored the crowd gathering but focuses more on the target in front of her.
"Aiya!" She punched, her fist held firm and fast as she made contact then tried again with the tips pointed then strike and repeated the whole process, not caring of the pain that was going up from her curled fist all the way to her shoulder or the scrapping of her bruise battered knuckle against its grainy surface.
"What do you think she's doing that for?" One Hufflepuff whispered to a Ravenclaw that was standing right next to her. The Ravenclaw shrugged, "I think she's trying to punch a hole through."
"Well that's bloody stupid!" A Slytherin commented while his eyes remain glued on her as the sweats darken around the area her cleavage and she hit her fist once more against the block. "Anyone could tell that's stupid and ridiculous to try and hit a wood with one punch, unless you're a Gryffindor that is."
The Gryffindor turn their heads to give a cold mean glare at him while the other continued to watch. It was Hermione who broke it as she pushed past everyone and stood in front of them, Keller what are you bloody doing!
Keller spun around, her hair in a long braid swung like a whip with her sweaty bangs plaster to her forehead as she swiped it away with one hand from obscuring her eyes and saw her cousin and everyone standing there by the archway.
"Morning! Everything's all set, just getting some exercise. I'm almost finished here." She pulled her arm behind her back and gave a warm smile while stretching to everyone until her eyes fell on the Slytherin who made the snide remark. She let go of her arm and was still staring at the kid.
"And oh by the way," With fast reflex, faster than anyone imagine seeing, she punched the block with her other fist in one beat flat, causing not only a hole through but also hitting the rock behind it.
The crowd watched stunned as she pulled her fist out and everyone could see through the hole the rock cracking and some crumbling off to pieces as they tumbled to the ground.
She bent down and picked up one of the rocks, tossing it up and down in her palm as she walked towards them and stopped right in front of the Slytherin.
"Don't you dare make any more comments about the Gryffindor or anyone else ever again if you don't want your balls from ending up like this." And gave it a firm squeeze and opened it to let the pebbles fall from her hand to the feet of the ashen face Slytherin, watching the tiny stones fall, thinking what she could do to his own gentials.
"Now do I make myself clear or do I have to show you what I can do to the real ones." Without even a second glance, the boy ran faster than anyone ever seen and then turn their attention back to her. She smiled coolly watching the kid go then walked away herself, humming a catchy tune as she headed straight to the dorm to clean up. Everyone learned one important lesson from that moment:
Never get on the bad side of Keller Corvin.
"Do you honestly have any idea as to what you were thinking!" Hermione yelled as she and Keller walking towards the front gate where Remus and Lily were waiting for them to head over to Hogsmeade by carriage to buy their clothes and school supplies in town.
She apparently never thought she would be scolding her cousin in a state where half of her wanted to throttle her until she got the clear picture but now was not the time to think rational and calm. Already she felt like her nails were extending and sharp canines lengthening in her mouth. She had to stay calm before the change could go any further than it was and worse became worse.
But how could she when all she was already thinking how everyone was going to be talking about it in the halls or at lunch later when they got back and wondered if maybe someone brave or stupid depending on the latter or both would dare and try to arm-wrestle her and break their arm in the process. The same would be probably said of her if they questioned her as well but she would rather not make any comments to any people of this.
Keller wore a long red sleeve shirt and a black top over it with another pair of bellbottoms that she borrowed yet again from Serena and one of the McQueen twins, her trench coat in her hands as she carried it over her shoulder like some sort of gangster. She glanced at Hermione with a bored and tired expression as if this wasn't any new concern to her.
"Look I just went to get some exercise to clear my mind from a lot of issues ok. Woke up early, did a two hour run on that Quidditch Pitch, saw the headmaster coming by when I went to grab some breakfast and talk to him and he agree and I went to finish the rest of my workout. There, end of story, so can you please drop it now, I think you had been ranting to me since I was in the shower." She was in a fussy mood but Hermione was not one to drop something after having spent six years with two boys, one just as stubborn as the other and Keller was no excuse.
"Yeah but couldn't you have finished somewhere more secluded, like I don't know say a place where no one would have seen you doing that possibly! You could get yourself into trouble with what you did."
She rolled her eyes and stared at her like that was something that she should worry about.
"Oh yeah right, for what, doing a few punches and telling that Slytherin ass with what's coming to him if he didn't keep his fat lip shut, honestly, you worry too much and he'll probably keep his trap shut." She said and then with a sly smirk on her face, "and if he didn't take my warning seriously, well I was only fair enough when he had the chance."
And walked ahead of her before she could make any comments as they reach the entrance and saw Remus waiting by and talking with someone. Or so Hermione thought as they got closer and she noticed whom they were, hearing Sirius make a bark laugh while James was messing with his hair. Keller stop in her tracks, the smirk instantly fell off her face and replaced with a scowl and cold glare directed at one of the two unexpected people she wanted to see.
"What the hell are you doing here!" She hissed, her qualm already on the brink of scattering to the wind as she thought she was going to lose her cool at any second, seeing the annoying flirt that had been going at her like a goddamn hound after a bitch in heat.
"Ah hello Sonja and nice to see you again Keller, we thought we go to town and get a few supplies ourselves as seeing how someone was borrowing so much parchment and ink from me the other day." Sirius smiled charmingly over at her and winked. She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned, "It was only five set of parchment and a quill. I don't think I took a lot than that beside just some papers and ink thank you very much."
"Oh but I had five pieces left and lend it to you, so now I have to shop for more as I need them for classes on Monday." He said dramatically that made Keller want to shut him up but pretend to not care as she looked to their group and notice that Lily and one member of their team was missing. She should have asked where Lily was but instead, "Where's the rat?"
"E-excuse me?" James said and Hermione realized that to her utter horror that Keller just blurted part of the Marauder's secret without even thinking of her action. Even Sirius and Remus looked at her with surprised glances.
"I said where's the bloody—YEEEOOOW!" Hermione stomp on Keller's foot, harder than she did last time and watch as she turned to glare at her, "Goddamit what the fuck was that for! Again with you stamping on my goddamn foot, why I oughta—"
But Hermione covered her mouth quickly before she could spew anymore and said while struggling to keep her hand firmly over Keller's face, "What Keller mean is, to say about you know, um…" She was trying to think of a reasonable excuse while trying to keep Keller from screeching her head off, practically ready to spitfire curses at her and everyone. To tell the truth, she had none other than Peter really was a RAT, literally, in more than one-way. But didn't want to tell them that and luck was on her side as Lily arrive and told them that the carriage was here and waiting for them.
"Great let's get go then!" She said, grabbing her cousin's arm and pulling her other hand off her mouth, giving her a mean glance following after Lily leaving the three boys, still stunned and confused by what Keller said.
"Did you guys hear what I think I just heard or am I going deaf?" James was the one to ask that as he and the other two marauders were staring to where Keller and Sonja were joining Lily and walking together side by side. "Did she call Peter a rat?"
"I think she did." Remus said, pausing as he thought of maybe many reasons she might have call him that but none came in mind. The only possibility was that she knew what his form was and maybe more. Sirius was about to make a comment when a yell was heard and everyone realized that the girls were waiting.
"We might want to keep a closer eye on Keller and Sonja to see if they know anything else other than Peter being an illegal animagus." Remus suggested as Sirius and James nodded their heads in agreement. They made their way to the carriage where the girls sat on one side and the boys sat on the opposite. Remus thought best to try and make conversation with the two to see if they knew anything else but James beat him to the point, obviously going beyond thinking other than to get to the point.
"So may I ask why you called Peter a rat?" He tried to keep from getting suspicious about why Keller did call him that but she could sense it still and looked to her cousin from the corner of her eye. After Hermione had mind rant for making so many slip up and saying had to be careful had become a mental tug-o-war between them before reaching the carriage and came to an agreement where they would check on one another to keep from blurting too much information as to what they know.
By the way, how did you know that Peter was an animagus? Hermione question her before stepping in and Keller, knowing she was going to get another mind rant from her, sighed and explain as she prepared herself for it.
I read your mind last night while you slept. Couldn't exactly sleep so I went through your thoughts and saw a whole bunch of things you had learn at Hogwarts. Can't believe you went out with that guy, Victor Krum who couldn't even say your name right Hermy-own-ninny, I couldn't help but laugh at that one.
WHAT BUT THAT'S INVANSION OF PRIVACY! AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION VICTOR WAS HAVING A HARD TIME SAYING MY NAME OK!
Keller winced, even when she had put up all her defense but still heard her screeching yell and tried to ignore the throbbing headache, Jeez sorry cousin, can't you chill without biting my head off for one minute? Elder…you can really lay it thick on a person, even when you speak through our link… And Hermione sighed, knowing she should have known better as they did share a mind link and sleep was a time when one's defenses were down.
She should probably consider practicing Occlumency to keep Keller and maybe other's from invading her thoughts. After all with her and Keller from the future, all the events they know could be found and used for better or more likely for worse in the case if Voldemort found out and tried to use them for his own gain. She shuddered, scared at the thought what he would do to get their hands on them, probably torture before getting the information out. After all the man, no monster was a sadist who loved hearing muggles screaming and begging for their lives.
Once the boys finally arrive and took a seat it was James who asked the question of what she had started to regret saying. And here she hoped they would drop it. Now Keller was trying to think of an excuse for her sudden outburst.
"Well, you see his er…eyes gave me this impression of a rat along with his shrewdness, craftiness and seeing as how you guys are, my cousin and I have been making comments about each of you, based like an animal! Not like you know, just personality based and stuff, heh-heh…" This was the second, most stupidest excuse she ever said in her life and wanted to really slap her forehead for her idiocy.
"Oh really what about?" Remus stare at Hermione, wishing he knew what she was really thinking and couldn't help but feel his smoldering gaze and heat slowly rising to her cheeks.
She had to think of something quick before he suspects her further. "Well as you know it's been only a couple days and we got to barely know each other but you kind of gave us first impressions sort of. James although I don't know you well enough but heard a lot from the other students and Dumbledore himself, you're kind of the head prank ringleader along with Sirius here but there's more to you than what people might think. You're brave, courageous, like a lion but then there's also pride and being noble like a chivalrous knight which makes me think of a stag in a way as the most noblest creature."
"Really I thought so too." Lily said which caused James to blush at what his girlfriend said, "I always imagine you to be something like that. What else can you tell us?"
Sirius and Remus were intrigue now and were staring at the two and Hermione using her brain again said, "Well Remus is like a wolf, you know because his last name does mean 'Wolf' in Latin as 'Lupus' but you know, it doesn't always mean like that but still there's more to him than he seems, in my opinion. He's not only intelligent, loyal, determined…"
Handsome, sexy…Keller stated, counting off in her head and Hermione took a sideway glance to glare at her who didn't pay any heed, Shut it Keller or else! And continued before anyone noticed the small silent diversion, "But because he runs inside the pack in which you are the Marauders that you guys are." Now it was Remus' turned to go red and she couldn't help but blush herself, even harder as the blood came rushing to her face. Finally Sirius looked towards Keller with a cocky grin plaster on his face, waiting to hear what she had to say.
"What about you, what do you think of me Kell—" And before she could say anything, probably something that wouldn't be pleasant, the carriage lurched and the boys fell forward to the girl's side, making their faces fall right on their laps.
"Sorry a bump in the road!" The caddy called outside. James was watching as his girlfriend tried to fight the blush coming on but smile as she played with his hair and buried his face in her lap.
Remus was about to apologize many times in many languages to Sonja but the way she gazed at him made him forget what he was about to say and stare into her soft brown eyes and laid content in her lap.
Sirius didn't have any complaints with this as Keller seem frozen to seeing him look at her with those silvery-blue eyes and had to decide whether to slap him or stroke his long bangs from them.
Where in the name of the Elder did that come from? And why did I even think like that? That's something a stupid schoolgirl would think of this flirty Casanova! She put her hands on his shoulders and shoved him off hard and looked outside the window, trying to avoid all eye contact with him. Finally the carriage stopped and the boys pulled back, saying how sorry they were while the girls were red, except Keller who pretend that she wasn't amused just embarrassed but didn't want to show it and walk out.
Lily was going to take them shopping for clothes while Remus and the boys bought their supplies and said they would meet at The Three Broomsticks later once they got everything. Lily took her time to showing them all the shops and telling what each one was. Hermione knew it but Keller didn't as she listened in on what Lily said. They made it to a store called Gladrags Wizardwear where lots of clothes, whether latest muggle style or wizard wear were sold. The owner was a young witch who was engross in her Glamour Witch magazine before looking up and noticed Lily and them coming in when the small bell above the door tinkle, announcing their entrances.
"Ah Miss Evans, how nice to see you again!" The lady at the counter said as she went over and hugged her and Lily returned the gesture. "Desira, I'm so glad to see you well. How's busy?"
"A drag, no one seems to come to shop anymore since he-who-must-not-be-named is lurking about with all his Death Eater." She whispered and shivered and Lily nodded her head in understanding. Keller looked to her queerly before Desira, the fashion witch look at the two of them, eyeing them closely. "Ah and these must be your friends, how do you do, I'm Desira, owner and fashion designer of Gladrags Wizardwear."
"I'm Sonja Lucian and this is my cousin, Keller." She introduced as Lily told her that they were shopping for some clothes and Desira's eyes glinted as she stared at the two girls before circling around them like a hawk.
Oh boy… Keller was now wishing she could back away to the door and run for some place other than here and Hermione couldn't help agreeing with her idea. Desira clapped her hands, calling everyone's attention to her.
"Well let's get cracking then, not a moment to lose! Lily take Ms. Sonja to dresser one and I'll take Ms. Keller to dresser two, we'll get you the right clothes right away pronto!"
She grabbed Keller's hand and dragged her away while she looked to her cousin like she was being kidnapped by a crazy psycho lady and felt that this day had just gotten weird for them.
"You need this, and this, and let's not forget this! And oh this will certainly catch any man's eyes with what you want." Desira was placing outfit after outfit into Keller's arms and she never thought clothes, so light and cotton-like would become heavy or annoying after getting a large pile in her arms. Hermione wasn't doing any better as it would seem Lily was just as much into fashion as Desira was as they were comparing from skin tone, eye colors to almost everything about them.
Man I don't know what will kill me, this pile of clothing threatening to topple over me or this woman who's driving me insane. Hermione hoped neither as she was finally pushed into a dressing room where she could change in privacy, without Lily or Desira to harp at her. She was very much thankful for that. She heard the door in the next block open and close, guessing it was Keller in the other room.
Elder I'll tell you, Mione that was very scary, Keller thought out to her as she try on a white shirt and green short skirt with brown leather boots. The boots she thought were all right, the skirt she wasn't so sure about as it didn't look to be her right color, the tan brown one would probably match better. I don't think I want to go through that experience ever again.
Tell me about it. Hermione tried on a canary yellow top with flowers printed on it but she didn't like it very much and took it off and try a different one. They try numerous clothes for almost over two hours, putting the ones they like in one pile and the ones they didn't in another. Finally, after seeing they had enough to last the entire school year, the girls came out dress in their normal old borrowed outfits and carrying their purchases to Desira.
The cost were pretty cheap thanks to Voldemort scaring people and having the companies to seem well almost out of business, it was the easiest sale they got, spending about a little less than a hundred galleons for both purchases. The girls exited the shop and shrink their shopping bags and stuff them into their pockets and heading off to the Three Broomsticks when Lily had an idea struck her.
"Why don't you change into your new clothes and surprise the boys." Hermione and Keller both looked at each other and shrugged. "Why not?" and took out their wands and transformed their attires to the ones they liked and picked in their mind.
Hermione's shirt transform into a white angel blouse, revealing her creamy shoulder and feeling the soft material like silk against her skin, dark blue denim jeans with an a gold-red phoenix swirling around her ankle. She wore threadbare beaded sandals and a scarf headband of transparent blue pulled back her hair and she had her pendant hanging out on top of her bosoms.
Keller had a white and red peasant blouse with a black corset that had embroidered buckles in front while the back was tied while wearing a velvet red Bolero jacket with slit on the side of her sleeves that flare out with markings.
A short black skirt that went past her calves, showing off her curves that could catch any guys' eyes easy and finally wore thigh high ebony boots. She had her pendant out too and was pulling long black gloves for the finishing touch and tossed her long hair to fall over her back, her skin translucent in the dark clothing that gave her an air of someone filled with mysterious and danger.
Lily whistle impressed at their choice of clothes, "Wow, you two certainly know how to pick 'em. Love the outfits seriously." Keller and Hermione check from top to bottom on themselves and then look to the other to see what they thought. "Not bad there, eh Sonja?"
"Right back at ya Keller. Love the outfit, Kell you look like whose, Merlin you could break hearts with yourself."
"Tu shad. Come on lets go see find the pub then!" They walked to the Three Broomsticks, catching everyone's eyes as they went in and search about for the boys. It wasn't until Hermione heard barking laughter and looked to her left and saw Sirius flirting with a young waitress who was giggling uncontrollable while Remus and James were talking.
The girls walked over and watched as they finished their conversation and turned around and their eyes widen and Sirius pull his attention away from the waitress to make some comment to James' attention was in a different direction and looked over his shoulder and saw the girls coming their way and stared at Keller the most. The way her outfit seems to scream 'hot', 'dangerous' and sexy' ran inside his head, watching her like everyone else there with as much the same reaction as the others
"Keller, Sonja, you girls, I mean, I…wow." Their mouths were hanging open as the girls took a seat, Keller in an empty chair by one end across from Sirius while Lily sat next to James on the left and Hermione with Remus on the right.
Remus couldn't seem to take his off of her as he looked from her outfit to her face that seem to glow in the dim lighting of the room. "You look really nice Sonja."
Nice was that the best he could come up with? There were a million things he had thought of saying but all that came out was nice? Maybe if he pretend to look to the ground interested she might not heard what he said. He hoped so. But she did and didn't seem to mind as she thanked him for his compliment and almost had to suppress the urge to kiss him on the cheek, which would have probably gotten him even redder than what he was now.
Not on a first date Mione…wait first date what the Hell! Hermione had a light blush tinting her face while she tried to think on why she thought that sort of thing.
Sirius didn't say anything really, he couldn't, for the first time he was at a lost for words with a girl who was sitting right across from him. Keller seem to taken his silence as a blessing and asked them if they gotten their school supplies and they nodded numbly but felt they couldn't speak while staring at the three. Hermione thought they needed something to break the ice and was in luck when the young waitress came to their table with six mugs of warm butterbeers.
"Ah that's you Rosa!" Sirius said, turning his gaze to the waitress giving her a charming smile while the waitress flush red and headed back to attend her other customers. Everyone grabbed a mug and Sirius's raised his in the air, "To the three most gorgeous girls a guy could ever ask for."
The guys laughed at his joke while everyone followed suit in salute and even Keller as she look curious over to Hermione who lifted hers and drunk it. She almost choked the first time around when she swallow too quickly but was able to manage getting it down, then taking a smaller sip, swishing the molten gold liquid around her tongue and smack her lips, tasting it still warm and refreshing.
Hmm, not bad, actually quite invigorating. Hermione heard her as if she had drunken a superb wine and making comments on its fine taste and age. She couldn't help but agree. The drink was absolutely delicious and made her inside feel warm and seemed to heat every bit of her.
"Mmm that's the best beerbutter I ever tasted, wouldn't you say cousin…" Keller saying after taking another swing from more than one and feeling strangely tipsy and lightheaded, her whole body was like on fire and had to remove her gloves off and shrugging her jacket low as she got warmer. Sirius looked over at her, chuckling watching her down another, "Hits the spot doesn't it maybe you should slow down on them for a while."
"Nonsense, don't be ridiculous, I'm perfectly capable of holding my liquor because of my really high metabolism, my cousin here can too you know!" Keller didn't know what she was saying but she felt she couldn't care less if she was saying she was the bloody Queen of England. She was about to wave for another, her body swaying slightly and trying to stand still to catch the waitress's attention until someone from behind stuck an elbow into her backside and push her forward onto the table.
"Keller!" The glasses' toppling over, spilling everyone's butterbeer and backing away before they got covered in the mess and Sirius moved around the table and was by Keller's side in less than a second.
"You all right?" He asked as he was helping her up to her feet after she had slid off and hit the floor, "Should've listen and lay off the butterbeers." Just as she was about to say something about his comment and to let go, she look into his eyes and instantly regret it as another image flashed in her head. Great here I go again—
He was running, running to find that bastard he once called his friend. Running to find that traitor Wormtail, the rat!
When I find him, he's going to be sorry he dare ever double-cross us, our own friend indeed, that traitorous rat!
For months now, he had been tracking the goddamn prick as he searched from alleys to secluded dark places, a home befitting for the likes of him. Now all his hard work was paid off as he was getting closer to his quarry, seeing him in a crowded street and tried to grab him before he could escape his clutches again.
"PETER!" He yelled and managed to push past the people in his way just enough to reach Peter and spun him around to face him. The rat's eyes widen in recognition and show fear in their depth.
They should after what he did, betraying Lily and James to Voldemort, to think we were friends with him! He should have known better than to have suggested to James and Lily to switch him for Peter, thinking Remus was the one passing information to the Dark Lord. Should have had a clue as the rat seem always fidgeting about something during all those meetings.
"Siri-Sirius it's you!" Peter cried backing away, most people swerving away from him but some stop to see what was going on. "I can't believe it."
"Believe it Peter it's me!" His hands were clenched tightly around the wand, concealed in his pocket, away from muggles' sight. Now if he could get him stun and take him to the authorities then… Peter kept shaking his head, "I can't believe you Sirius. You-you out here after-after what you did!"
"WHAT I DID!" He shouted grabbing most of the people's attention but everyone else just kept walking around them, avoiding them at all cost.
"YES YOU, KILLING JAMES AND LILY FOR HE-WHO-MUSTN'T-BE-NAMED! YOU TRAITOR, HOW COULD WE BE FRIENDS WITH THE LIKES OF YOU WHO WOULD EVEN SOLD THEM OUT FOR THE LIKE OF HIM!"
What the bloody hell, what was he talking about? Just as tried to figure what he was saying, he saw too late, Peter holding his wand, his hand was bleeding and a finger was missing. Before Sirius could stop him, Peter cast an explosive spell, causing twelve muggles to be killed in front of his eyes and disappearing from sight, and where he had been was a finger.
Dear Merlin, what had he done! Before he could go tracking again after him, people were yelling, screaming, calling him a murder!
No he didn't, he didn't it was Peter! Peter did it! Soon out of the crowd came four-five auror coming at him, shouting 'Experillumus' and 'Stupefy'. The last thing he could think was how Peter could do this to them, his own friends…
Keller felt everything fall back in place and saw that she was once again holding Sirius's hands and let go, feeling all the warmth drain from her replace with cold dread and was backing away; everyone's eyes were on her and ran out of there before anyone could stop her.
"Keller!" She didn't stop, to hear her or anyone else shouting her name, pushing random people to the side to get out of her way and kept running. Oh elder, why did I have to see that? Her eyes were stinging and didn't know what it was but thought were her tears and refusing to cry them out as she ran out of the pub and out to the street.
Hermione was surprised as much as everyone to see her cousin react like that and leave so quickly. Sirius saw something on the ground bent down and picked it up. Her pendant, it must have fallen off in the collision and he put it in his pocket while he saw everyone head outside to go and find her.
They split up into pairs: Lily and James went to look through the shops and pubs; Sonja and Remus in the alleys and Sirius without anyone went to check in any hidden nook as possible.
Sirius hadn't a clue as he tried to think where best he would go if he wanted to get away. He wasn't sure why but the way she had stared at him; there was something in her eyes screaming of something that was filled with horror and pain, blurred images had came and gone through his head but barely could understand what they were. Right now they were unimportant as he went to go find where Keller could've run off. He had a hunch but it was just a guess, not logic thinking like Remus or tactic like James when it came to Quidditch but he had some idea he might head back to the school to get away from people here in Hogsmeade. He head to Honeydukes to the cellar when no one was watching and through the trapdoor to back to Hogwarts.
Keller didn't know how long she had been running as she stop to stand by the wall and try to think for a moment more thoroughly with what she was doing or where she was going. But all she wanted to do was to get away from here and everyone, including Sirius Bloody Black.
Why, why was this happening to her? She closed her eyes and tried to figure the reason behind it but came up with nothing. Every time she touched his hands and looked into his eyes she had visions of some terrible misfortune that almost made her feel in part like her own and hate to see what else was in store for him.
Why should I even care damn it? I don't even like the bloody jerk! And no his feelings aren't like mine, mine are different. Mine are nothing to me, nothing at all because… I cannot have any.
Already a blinding pain was building up inside her chest, staring right at the very core of where her heart was and growing immensely unbearable and uncontrollable by the second. She had to get out of here and fast, she couldn't take anymore of what was here and needed to leave. Before things got out of hand and became worse for her case and unleash what was inside. The very same one that had been released and didn't want to go through the horror again because of what could happen.
I don't remember exactly but dear Elder, I remember hearing those screams, finding blood all over the walls, the rooms, myself and feeling something inside crackling, laughing at me as I looked at the mutilated bodies around me.
She shuddered and looked down to her covered hands, remembering the crimson blood staining them and underneath her fingernails. She bit her lips and tasted her fear and hate through her own and was choking as the air seem to be getting thick in her lungs and became harder to breath.
I have to get back to the school and lay low for a while until I can get everything in control and see to it that this doesn't happen right here in front of the others.
She went to Honeyduke shop; the one Lily had pointed out and told her about having all kinds of sweets including some unusual ones like Cockroach Cluster and Blood-flavor lollipops. She noted to herself that she would maybe try one of those but that wasn't what brought her to this place. There was where a trapdoor in the cellar leading back to the school.
How she knew, she had seen in her cousin's memory last night everything from first to sixth year and in her third year she and her friends, two boys, one with really red hair and another who reminded her of James except with green eyes, were discussing a map, a map leading to different passageways and revealing who was on it, calling it the 'Marauder's map'.
One guess as to who might have made that map, she snorted as she recalled in more detail what they had been talking about. Her friend, the one who looked remarkable like James, said there was a trapdoor in Honeydukes's cellar leading back to Hogwarts.
She enter the shop, pretending to look mildly interest before heading to the cellar downstairs and found it and was lucky not to be caught as she went in and travel down through the long tunnel. When she got to the school, it was noon and lunch was being served and practically sure everyone was going to be there and that she could sneak upstairs to the dorm and stayed there but what was the point.
Her cousin would be returning soon and probably start asking questions as to what happened and she didn't feel like talking about them. Especially concerning the strange stirring emotions she was feeling.
It felt so confusing and alien to her and thought she shouldn't, she shouldn't be feeling anything for anyone anymore. She was not to be with fear for any person that would get in her way but now she wanted was to hide from the world and everyone.
Is that what you would do? Hide, curl into a little ball and be afraid, like a goddamn coward! An angry voice screamed in her head and she knew that was her master's, rising from the grave yelling at her.
Drake, her mother's old teacher and hers, taught her everything she needed to know and more, to guard your heart and void all personal emotions and masked them from the world around, to keep from letting her enemy get the best of her since five years ago.
Five long bloody years of endless torturous training…
If her teacher saw how she was acting, Drake would have instantly beat her or do something worse and told her to move her ass and start training until she was told to stop, which would seem like never.
She knew she couldn't run from them forever but she wanted to avoid them for the time being and plan something from telling other than the truth. The truth she thought she couldn't handle herself.
But first she had to keep her cousin from finding where she was. She shut herself from Hermione, severing the connection that had them link, feeling whatever last bit of her cousin disappear in a second later, no voices or anything. Her cousin would try that and find the link gone but once she did, she headed towards the grand staircase for the Gryffindor tower.
She walked down the hall and wasn't watching where she was going and bumped into someone rounding the corner.
"Oomph." Keller heard and saw a woman who had dark brown almost black hair that curl around a heart-shape face and brown doe eyes staring down at her as she landed on the floor. A kind smile appeared, almost familiar in her mind but couldn't exactly place it.
"Didn't see you as I was too busy writing something down and tend to forget to watch where I was going. I'm sometimes too lost in my own world it wouldn't surprise me if a hippogriff came flying straight at me without any warning, not that you are one, no offense." Her accent was crisp British but there was something else underneath it that she couldn't help but detect.
The woman extended her hand out to her, "Need a lift?" Keller took it, grateful that it wasn't Black giving her a hand but some other person, standing up before grabbing the red notebook off the ground and handing it to her. "Sorry." She said a bit sheepish, not knowing whom this woman was but guessing one of the professors she had yet to know.
"That's quite all right. Like I said, I wasn't watching where I was going, heading for lunch but why are you going this way instead of the Great hall?"
Keller wanted to retort that it was none of her business but something about her eyes seem to make her keep from saying those words as she mutter incoherent at first but a little understandable at the second try, "I wasn't feeling up to eating there because…" The professor raised an eyebrow. "Because, you and your friends had a row and wanted to blow some steam off by heading for your dorms?"
"No, just that I had some issues and wanted some alone time that's all." The woman nodded in understanding and patted her shoulder. "Ah I see, well how about you come with me then." She took her hand and led her to the second floor to her office. Keller looked about her in amazement as she saw the classroom she never been to with posters of creatures and dark wizards and witches hanging around and there were notes and agendas written about on the board.
"Now 'my classroom is your classroom'. Your haven for the time I suppose until lunch is over and I have to return to start setting up for third years on Monday." The teacher smiled as she pulled out her wand and conjured a tray carrying a tea set and a platter with some sandwiches and a bar of Honeydukes chocolate for dessert.
"I'm Professor Valerious by the way for the Defense against the Dark Arts but you don't have to worry too much just try to eat and relax." She soon left the room; Keller staring where professor Valerious had gone then went and grab a sandwich off the plate, having already eaten but her stomach felt empty again and took a small bite of it. For almost a moment she felt comfortable with this woman, at ease with her as if she were her mother.
Mother…Oh god, the memories of her parents came back and she could feel her heart wrenching at the thoughts of them lost forever from her because of what she did. She felt her eyes brimming with tears and this time couldn't hold them in as they course down her cheeks at the thought that now that she was back in time, her mother and father were alive now but not in hers and couldn't be allow to see either one of them. What she wouldn't have given to have them again? Life was so unfair.
Keller ate another sandwich, this one being roast beef while the last one was chicken, and gobble it down while thinking of something else to keep her mind distracted.
That woman, Professor Valerious looked noticeable familiar but where had she seen her. But that was clearly impossible; she had never met that woman in her entire life. Maybe she did but didn't know? She pushed it aside and grabbed a cup and poured herself some tea. She never was into the whole 'tea' thing but it wasn't so bad, wasn't like the butterbeer or pumpkin juice she had yesterday but still wasn't terrible and help calm her frazzled nerves.
Finishing lunch, packing a couple sandwiches and the chocolate for later, she left the room, closing the door behind her and head to the staircases. She was glad to see no one around that she didn't want anyone to see her face still fresh from her tears, wiping them with the back of her hands and descended up the stairs.
When she made it to the fat lady and was about to say the password, someone beat her to it, saying in a voice she dread to hear again in her life.
"Lion's roar." The portrait opened just as Keller turned around to see Sirius standing behind her.
How did he—When did he? She pushed those questions aside as she went in follow by Sirius, hoping he would just leave her alone though she doubt that was to happen. She was heading straight to the stairs to the girls' room when he grabbed her arm.
"Wait!" She turned around, wanting very much to tell him to let go but saw what it was he had in his hand, her pendant. Keller reached up to touch her neck, praying it was a joke and that it was still hanging there only to feel her throat bare and naked without it.
How did? She took the necklace from him, waiting as if expecting him to be a trap where he would strike out at her like a cobra or another vision to come to play but didn't as she tried to place it back on, but had a hard time to find the hook and clasp together the chain and was unable to see in the back to see her progress.
"Let me give you a hand with that." She was about to protest but Sirius walked behind her and took the necklace from her fingers and went to clip it together himself, only noticing what was wrong.
"The clasp had broken, must have broke when you fell over. Reparo! See good as new." Keller turned and saw Sirius handing her the necklace, the clasp fixed and she took it from him, hoping not to touch his hands again.
"Thanks…" She said and placed it back on, the pendant dangle in front of her. She was heading to the room to lay her stuff down then wait for Sirius to go and for her to leave and head somewhere far more secluded to have some peace at last without anyone to bother her.
"Hey." She turned around to see Sirius looking at her with a look, not the cocky grin or flirty smile or whatever, but something entirely different, almost with concern.
"Yes?" She waited but he didn't say anything, "Never mind…just wanted to see if you were all right but seeing as you are and whatever, ok, I'll see ya!" and left. Keller stood there for a moment, confuse at what just happened before deciding it wasn't worth it and to forget it as she went to the room and drop her things off on her bed. She stared outside the window to see below Hagrid watering the giant pumpkins by his hut. She kept watching him until she came to a decision to go and see him and possibly talk with him about today.
Where could she have possible gone off? Hermione was on the verge of panicking as she tried to find where Keller was. They had checked everywhere twice with no such luck. Even the mind link was block and was guessing it was Keller's doing.
Oh where could she be? She and Remus had to call it quits with the others and wait for the carriage to come and pick them up. Sirius wasn't even back with them as they met at the agreed meeting spot.
"Do you think he made to stay and search for her?" James shrugged at Lily's question. "He might have or gone back to the bar to flirt with the other ladies there. Just kidding Sonja…just kidding." He said raising his hands up in defense as Hermione gave him a hard glare as she tried to figure out what could have been possible to happen.
Ok my cousin is missing and is not here, she left in such a hurry, didn't want to be found. Couldn't leave without a carriage unless…
Unless she knew of the secret passageway back to Hogwarts! Of course! Keller having read her memories, finding out about everything there was in her memories and must have taken the Honeyduke's trapdoor to the school.
Typical of her to do something that will have the marauders questioning her on her disappearance. She was going to be having another long talk with her as soon as they got back.
The carriage arrived, not a moment too soon and everyone got in, James sat next to Lily and Remus next to Sonja. "Sirius will come back at his own time so don't worry about him." Hermione wasn't but pretend she didn't know as the carriage started moving and she looked outside her window.
Remus was trying not to stare but his eyes always seem to move on their own accord to her side. He didn't know why but his senses seem to be on edge that made him both concern and strangely interested causing his body to stir but tried to pretend this didn't affect him and this was only happening when he was near her.
There was an intriguing scent on her that smelled like cinnamon and cloves that made his heart race and always seems ready to burst at any given second. The wolf inside was reacting to this in a way and had to bite his tongue to suppress the howl from his own lips. Last thing he wanted was for her to know he was a werewolf and freak about it. He looked towards James and Lily, watching them talking, their faces close together as if ready to give a kiss and envy them.
James and Sirius were always the hot shots, the players, the flirts while he, Remus was the quiet, bookish person that tried to keep them from getting into trouble and toe them in line but also causing half the mischief just to balance it out.
He look again to Sonja and noticed the way her eyes seem to dim from worrying over her missing cousin and he would have hunt all over Hogsmeade to see them change from cinnamon to milk chocolate when she was happy or thoughtful, his favorite kind of sweets.
Stop right there, Remus, you're making a comparison to her eyes like a candy, what's next her lips?
As if by mild conscious he watch her suck her bottom lips, making them shining and juicy cherry red. No not cherries, more like roses. She was so beautiful that he never thought of any girl like her before until now.
James, Sirius and even Peter had tried to set him up on numerous blind dates but it never worked out as he called it off because the girls were either too outgoing, annoying or dare he say it, dumb as a rock.
Merlin what had they been thinking when they set him up with that Melissa girl from Hufflepuff, Sirius idea as she was a hot with big breast but had no brains to boot. He had try to make conversation with her but all she cared about was her makeup and asking if her hair looked all right as a blonde, for the fiftieth time. That had ended in three hours, twenty-four minutes and five seconds, a new set record in his book.
However with Sonja, she was an amazing with their conversations over the time they been searching for Keller while making some small chance to get to know each other more.
He asked her questions, like why she didn't speak Bulgarian when she went to the Durmstrung school and told him she and her cousin been born in London and that the accent never left them and stayed even after her father and her cousin's found new jobs over there and moved when they were around ten.
When he asked about them, her parents, it seem to take a hard blow on her as she look away from him and realized he must of have hit a sore spot wishing he kept his mouth shut but she told them they died along with Keller's in an accident, never explaining what it was but he didn't question any further. He decided to change the subject and ask how she likes her classes so far, even if it was just one day.
"I thought they were quite well. Ancient runes I find fascinating, discussing about how the Norsemen though using the runes would invoke the gods like Odin or Thor by magic means would summon the rain only if the person was a wizard or witch but making the mortals believed to be the work of the gods."
He nodded as he thought the same thing. Sonja then told him what she had thought of Divination, "Can you believe that, seeing the past or future in someone's eyes, do you general believe in that sort of thing?"
He said he didn't as he found it hard to see ones own past by just looking through someone's eyes, but he hadn't complain as he got the chance to hold her hands and look into those beautiful gorgeous eyes of hers. Those brown eyes had showed so much compassion and intellect and felt there was something hidden behind them he felt a strange connection.
He didn't know what it was until last night when he had the strangest dream but forgot it that morning. All he could remember was starting up in bed, his sheets covered in sweat, sticking to his body and his voice hoarse from screaming.
Screaming Sonja's name? Lily hadn't heard him as the room had a silence charm but when she saw him this morning she asked him what happened and ask if he got any sleep. To tell the truth, he barely did and the memory of it was a blur and couldn't recall what the dream was, only it was something he wished he hadn't.
Sonja was turning around and noticed him staring at her. He turned away, his cheeks turning red as he tried to hide it away with his hair falling in his face, saying he was sorry but Sonja placed her hand on his, cool like morning dew and soft like silk that touched his rough, callous hands. Hands in which turned to claws and scratched and scarred his body whenever he transformed.
But the touch was enough to make him look into Sonja's eyes and think how beautiful she was, just like the first time she fallen in his arms.
Like a fallen angel…how he wanted to feel not just her hand but to kiss her all over, hearing the sweet moans of love and desire and never let her go. But knowing her for just only a day or so and already wanting to kiss her. Great now he was turning into some kind of pervert and not just any pervert, but a pervert werewolf! Finally the carriage stopped and they were back at Hogwarts.
"We'll wait and see if Sirius or Keller or both of them show up, you girls go on ahead." James told Lily as she and Sonja made to head to Gryffindor tower. Sonja took one last look behind to Remus before following after her. James noticed how Remus was staring to where the girls disappear and said, "You like her, don't you?"
"What?" Remus asked, shaking out of his thoughts and turning to see James give a mischievous glint in his direction. Oh no, he didn't like that look; it was the 'look' that he and Sirius had when they had an idea and planning it for some poor sap, for example himself.
"Oh come on, I notice the way you looked at her throughout the whole ride back here and don't try to deny it. Face it, you like Sonja."
"James!" He growled before they heard a familiar voice from behind them, "So Moony likes Sonja, figures. Remus and Sonja, sitting in a whomping tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Remus with a wolf cub carriage!" Both James and Remus turned to see Sirius stroll over to them and placed his arm on Remus' shoulder.
"Padfoot!" Now the master pranksters were together and they were giving him a calculated stare. He tried to find a way to avoid this and asked where Sirius had been, taking a momentary distraction off him towards Sirius as James was curious as well.
"I took the passageway from the trapdoor in Honeyduke and made it here and found Keller at the fat lady portrait. I was giving her back her necklace and—"
"WHAT SHE WAS HERE!" They both yelled at him and Sirius winced and covered his ears. Once the ringing died down, he nodded, "Yeah she was here and up in the girl's dorms."
"Well at least one problem is solved. Keller founded, check. Any clue as how she got back here, not checked." Remus made a mental checkbook inside his head and wrote possible ways she got here before they even did.
Sirius named one of them. "I think she took the passageway as I did." Now this caught both of their attention. "How could she have known that when she doesn't even know herself? It took us five years and with the marauder map to find that secret tunnel and she just came in about two days ago!"
"Yes now that you mention it, it seemed that Sonja knows more about Hogwarts, not like someone who hasn't been here before, but someone who has. And do you remember what she said with her cousin after meeting Lucius."
"Yeah Keller called them Slutherins, boy that was a good one." Remus was shaking his head, "No Sonja said 'I rather wrestle with the giant squid'. Now how did she know about the squid then?"
"Dumbledore could have told them?" But now there was some note of suspicion in their heads as they walked to Gryffindor tower and tried to see if Sonja or Keller were up there. Mary was walking down from their room and Sirius caught her arm before she left.
"Hey Mare, are Keller or Sonja still up there?" Mary flushing in the arms of Sirius Black but not hearing his question but Serena did as she and Alice came down, both with their broomsticks in hand, "Nope not up there. You guys must have missed them as I saw Sonja heading across the grounds to Hagrid's hut or something. We got the field in fifteen minutes so better hurry up." That was all they needed to hear as they went back down the stairs.
Hermione hoped her guess was right as she made her way to Hagrid's and knock on the door. Hagrid opened it, seeing Hermione standing there and open it all the way for her, "'Hello Sonja, nice to see you 'gain. Your cousin's 'ere by the 'ay and was having a nice chat you' 'now."
She walked in and saw that Keller was indeed there, sitting on a stump like chair, holding a bowl size teacup. She didn't drink it but held the cup in her hands, peering inside the cup, staring at her reflection as if expecting something to pop right out to her. She heard the door opening and turned her head slightly and saw Hermione by the doorway and gave a small nod to her.
"Hey cousin, see you found me, didn't surprise me how long it would take you to find me." She said as Hermione took a seat next to her. Almost instantly, their mind link and she started ranting inside her head.
…And furthermore what were you bloody thinking cousin, what were you doing? Are you trying to get us caught or something?
"I didn't have anywhere else to go, I wanted to get back here without a problem and I did, that's that."
By taking the secret passageway! Merlin that's dangerous, you could get yourself in trouble for that.
"How so?" Keller felt a headache coming on and was rubbing her temple in agony. God what she wouldn't give for a fucking aspirin right now? Hermione was finally able to calm down, thankful to see Keller again, before speaking to her in a gentle voice, "Just don't ever do something like that again ok? Remember Dumbledore wants no one to know when we're from and nothing to change in the timeline or the consequences could be dire."
Keller smiled wryly, "All right I'll try my best to make no more slip up ok, but you might want to watch my back because you never know what I might do whether it's stupid or reckless or both maybe if I feel the need to just go off somewhere again."
"Sounds like what Sirius would do huh?" Keller's smile had diminished and turns into a frown and looked at her with glowering eyes.
"Don't you ever say his name! Don't you ever bring him up to me ever again! The last thing I want is to hear is him, Sirius Black!" And before Hermione could figure what she was so angry about, storm out of the hut. Hagrid came back in after leaving them alone while he finished tending the pumpkin patch and looked to Hermione to see she was the only one sitting there, looking almost shock and confused. "Bli'mey 'hat 'appened?"
"Apparently, I don't even know Hagrid." She said looking towards where the half-giant stood and where Keller had exit the room, angry over something that had to do with Sirius Black.