A/N: Who is the best and kindest author around? Uh, me. Here's chapter 16 :)
"Oh, Merlin," Rachel groaned as she walked into the train compartment and fell in her seat heavily. "When the hell did summer end?"
"Good question," Marlene muttered.
"And, goodness, I feel so tired," Rachel said. "It's as if I was never gone."
"Well, on the bright side, it's our last year," Dorcas said. "After this, we're truly free."
"Except for," Rachel started dramatically, "Auror training."
"Yeah, that's why I'm not becoming an Auror," Marlene pointed out.
"Muggle Studies teacher, yeah!" Mary cheered.
Rachel laughed and shook her head. "Hey, where's Lily?"
"Didn't you hear?" Alice asked. Rachel shook her head. "She's Head Girl!"
"Wow, big surprise," Rachel said with a smile. She should've guessed. "And who's Head Boy?"
"James," Alice replied.
"No, seriously," Rachel said. "Who's Head Boy?"
"It's James, Rachel," Marlene said. "Dumbledore's truly lost his sanity."
"Well, I'll say!" Rachel exclaimed. "Oh, this is going to be a terrible year."
It was then that the compartment door was wrenched open to reveal an annoyed Lily with her red hair askew. She squished herself between Rachel and Dorcas and sighed tiredly.
"I hate first years," Lily seethed. "So. Much."
"Head Girl not amounting to what you expected to be?" Rachel asked with a pleased smile on her face. Now she could always say that at least she didn't have to deal with annoying first years when Lily told her she was lazy.
"And it's that much worse that Potter is Head Boy," Lily continued on seething, ignoring Rachel. "How'd that prat become Head Boy, anyway?"
"Doesn't matter," Rachel said. "Because you're bursting my eardrum, so shush and let me sleep."
Rachel lied on her bed late one night. The back-to-school festivities were rather tiring, but the week that followed was even worse. Rachel couldn't wait to just get some sleep. However, sleep was not her friend that night as she lay in her bed unable to fall into any level of slumber. She had other things troubling her mind.
Rachel sighed as her fingers ran over the parchment of the crumpled envelope in her hands. She could just barely see the outline of the envelope in the darkness of the dormitory, but she knew it was there and felt every crease as her thumb ran over it slowly.
With only a moment's hesitation, Rachel grabbed her wand from her dresser and muttered a quiet "Lumos," to light the tip of her wand. Her name written in Sirius' messy scrawl became visible and Rachel could only wonder what was inside.
Just as she was about to tear open the envelope, however, the door to the dormitory opened harshly. Rachel stuffed the envelope under her pillow and pulled aside the curtains of her four-poster bed. Dorcas came up to her and grabbed the sleeve of Rachel's shirt.
"Rachel, come on, Mary's been missing since dinner," Dorcas hissed. "I think she's in trouble."
"What? How do you know she's in trouble?" Rachel asked, her voice a hushed whisper as the two girls snuck out of the dormitory and the Gryffindor common room.
"I dunno, it's just a feeling," Dorcas muttered in response as they walked quietly through the halls, their lit-up wands guiding the way. "She's been getting a lot of dirty looks from the Slytherins. We all have, really, but Mary's the only one missing."
Rachel swallowed nervously. She definitely hoped that Mary wasn't in any trouble.
It was immediately after that thought that an ear-piercing scream echoed through the halls. Dorcas and Rachel exchanged looks of horror as the screams intensified. The two girls ran after the terrible sound, scared of what they might stumble upon.
And that was when they stumbled upon their worst fear.
Mary was crumpled on the stone floor, her limbs folded into her frail body so she was like a small lump on the ground. She writhed in pain as her assailant held his wand towards her. A cry of pain escaped Mary's mouth and anger surged through Rachel.
Taking aim at Mary's cowardly attacker, Rachel yelled, "Stupefy!" the attacker fell to the ground with a loud thud and in Dorcas's wand light, they were able to identify him.
"Mulciber," Rachel spat venomously. If one thought Malfoy was a disgusting prat, they need only be introduced to Jacob Mulciber.
Rachel looked away from the Slytherin student and quickly approached Mary. The petite blonde's face was tear-streaked and sobs of pain shook her body. Rachel hugged her close.
The rest of the early morning was a blur. Professors came to their aid, Mulciber served some punishment that was most definitely not harsh enough, Mary was taken to the infirmary, and Dorcas and Rachel were sent back to their dormitories.
And, obviously, Rachel couldn't sleep after that.
"Hola, muchacha!" Emmeline exclaimed as Mary awoke the next day. "And how are you feeling?"
"Definitely not my best," Mary muttered as she sat up in bed. "What on earth happened?"
Rachel sighed. "You were attacked last night by Mulciber. It looked pretty bad."
"Mulciber?" Mary asked incredulously. She crossed her arms angrily. "What did I do to that twat?"
"You're a Muggle-born," Rachel muttered hatefully.
Mary stared at Rachel. "That's why he attacked me?"
Rachel nodded.
"Well, that's pathetic."
"Ah, you're already up!" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed when she walked in. "Well, I'm sorry to bring such unfortunate news to you in the morning, but… I'm afraid you were a victim of the Cruciatus Curse, Miss MacDonald."
"What?" Rachel exclaimed, shooting up from her seat. "And Mulciber only gets a slap on the wrist?"
"He has been sent to the Ministry of Magic in London but, I'm afraid that nothing will be done," Madame Pomfrey replied sullenly. "We can't even trust the Ministry nowadays."
"Well, that's just splendid isn't it?" Mary muttered angrily.
"Mary, it'll be all right," Rachel replied quietly, squeezing her friend's hand. "He'll get what he deserves."
"A nice, welcome dinner is not what he deserves."
Mary was seething and angry and Rachel very well noticed. Mulciber truly was let go with a slap on the wrist and now he was back at school, ready to torment some more Muggle-borns. Mary was only displaying anger, but Rachel wasn't stupid. Rachel knew that Mary was scared and, truth be told, so was she. Mulciber was fairly dim, so if he could go around sending Unforgivables in anyone's direction, well, Rachel didn't want to know what someone like Malfoy or Nott could do.
"No, it's not," Rachel replied quietly. An idea suddenly sprang forth. "And I'm sure Dumbledore is fairly aware of that."
"To hell he is—he'd kick all the Slytherin prats out of school if he knew what was going on!" Mary exclaimed angrily.
"Mary, shush, my brain is working," Rachel commanded. It was then that Lily sat down across from Rachel, looking extremely tired.
"Hey there, guys," Lily greeted tiredly. "How're you feeling, Mary?"
"Angry," Mary grumbled in response.
"That's nice," Lily sighed as she leaned on her elbow and picked at the ravioli in front of her.
Rachel narrowed her eyes at the small group of Slytherin minions. "Lily, would you say that you have some sort of acquaintance with Dumbledore."
"I suppose," Lily sighed.
"Good, then you're going to get us an audience with him."
"Yes, all—WHAT?" Lily suddenly shot up. "Are you mad? Why on earth would I do that?"
"Yeesh, he's the headmaster, Lily, not You-Know-Who," Rachel hissed as she twisted spaghetti on her fork. "Don't get your knickers in such a twist."
"Why do you want an audience with Dumbledore?"
"Because I figure the old man is hiding something," Rachel replied, her focus on the Slytherin table steady.
And she was fairly sure she had a vague idea of what that something might be.
"Can you believe Dumbledore?" Sirius exclaimed to the rest of the Marauders. It was a stormy day after dinner and the four friends were spending the evening inside, not causing trouble for a change. "He just let Mulciber go!"
"Dumbledore didn't do that—the Ministry did," Remus replied.
"Yeah, but he could've expelled the twat," Sirius said angrily. "He's attacking Muggle-borns with the bloody Cruciatus Curse."
"And have the Mulcibers plus millions of other pureblood families with Ministry officials breathing down his neck," Remus countered. "Brilliant idea."
"What? Is he scared?" Sirius scoffed in reply. "This is stupid—he could attack you too, you know! Just because you're not pureblood and 'all human'," Sirius scoffed once more. "Those twats should consider themselves lucky. I would've guessed they would have arms growing out their arses by now, what with all the inbreeding."
"Hey, aren't you part of that inbreeding too, mate?" James questioned.
"Shut it, Prongs," Sirius muttered. "I just can't believe that Dumbledore doesn't want to do anything about all of these attacks on Muggles."
"Maybe Dumbledore's just not that aware," Peter suggested glumly.
"Oh, he's aware of it, all right," Sirius said. "I'd question the man's mental health if he wasn't."
"He seemed rather healthy last time I talked to him," James muttered.
And that was when it hit Sirius.
"Merlin, I am such an idiot!" Sirius exclaimed as he jumped up.
"And he finally admits it," Remus sighed.
"Oh, shush Moony," Sirius waved his friend off. "James, do you think you could get us a meeting with old Dumbles?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess…" James replied, not really paying attention. Suddenly, he looked up. "Wait, what?"
"Thanks, Prongs, you're the best!" Sirius exclaimed happily, running out of the dormitory.
"Well, now you've done it, Prongs," Remus sighed. "You've inspired him to cause trouble."
"Oh, Padfoot doesn't need inspiration," Peter said. "He's a natural when it comes to trouble."
Um, yeah. Rachel and Sirius having similar (possibly identical) ideas=not good.
-Favourite line?
-Grammar/spelling?
-Amelia solemnly swears she will greatly attempt writing longer chapters, okay? Okay.
Thanks for reading :)
