So, I was successful in my challenge. It only took me a week before me and Remus were fast friends. I think it helped that he's becoming really close the James and Sirius, who are already almost like brothers, and another Gryffindor first year boy, Peter Pettigrew, who they seemed to have adopted. I've been hanging around the four of them quite a lot as we try to make the most of the dwindling summer. I've also spent a lot of time with Ash (or Ash and the boys), who I spend most of my time with. She is honestly my best friend and a closer friend – already – than I could ever have hoped for in a lifetime.
We walk out of Defence Against the Dark Arts and headed out to sit by the great lake just to have a nicer place to spend our free period – just laughing and chatting as had become the norm. As we walk down to what had become our usual spot below a tree I can once again tell that something is bothering Remus. It's been bugging me all day but it's become more and more unmissable. I resolve that I'll ask him if he's all right after James has finished telling us the story about when he catapulted dungbombs into a muggle bully's room until he apologised to a boy he'd been teasing. Apparently, this was when he was six – and quite frankly I'm not surprised, yet it is a rather random story and I cannot help but think that he's only brought it up now because a certain redhead is walking behind us. I have to stifle a laugh at that thought. I may not be super close to Lily – although that's probably because of my friendship with James – but I can tell just how hopeless James' attempts are. Yet I can't help but think that they'll probably end up together. I'm no couple guru. It's just a hunch and the way that Lily doesn't look at James with pure hatred. There's a glimmer of acceptance of his existence.
Finally, we reach our spot and James has finished his "heroic" story. I plop down onto the floor with my bag beside me as my friends sit around me. Before anyone has the chance to start another ramble I turn to Remus, who is on my left, "Remmy, what's wrong?" I ask.
He seems taken aback by my question and a look of panic flashes across his face, but he regains composure quickly, "Nothing." He says with a smile that is painfully obviously forced.
"I know you're lying to me." I say sternly, "What's wrong? You know that you can tell us anything." I say, my concern growing as he looks at the ground in worry, "Please tell us, if anyone is hurting you – I swear."
"No! It's nothing like that." He says slightly flustered, "It's just..." He says before pausing, "Well, my mother is really sick and I have to go and see her tomorrow evening." I can hear the pain in his voice and it makes my heart break. This boy always seems so calm, so confident, so smart and here he is seeming so broken. I've not known him for long but I know that he'll be such a firm rock in our friendship group. I just want to hug him and make everything better.
"It's okay, mate," Sirius says as I hug Remus, who seems taken aback by my affection.
"Is there anything we can do, Remus?" Ash asks reassuringly, "We could get her some flowers or something?"
"It's okay," Remus mumbles, a bit freaked out about all of the attention.
"Just remember that we're always here for you, okay." I say looking into his green eyes.
"Thanks." He says smiling sadly. There's still pain in his eyes. But at least he's smiling.
"Do you want to hear another story about Tim?" James says hopefully.
Just as Sirius was about to protest and say something stupid, Ash interjects, "I think we've had quite enough of your heroics," I let out a small laugh at that, which earns me a glare from James, "for today, thank you!"
James pouts and I add, "Yeah, you better keep your stories for when Evans is around!" Sirius starts to make kissing noises.
"Shut up!" James says, smacking Sirius over the head.
Before the two can break out into a fight a gruff voice comes from behind us, "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" I look behind me to see probably one of the ugliest people imaginable (well, discounting my mother) physically, he didn't look horrific but the snobbish face and upturned nose just made him look disgusting and his pristine blonde hair. Who was actually ugly were the two oafs behind him, their huge, hulking forms looming behind their bratty master.
"What the hell do you want?" Sirius asks staring daggers at the trio.
"Just wanted to see where the smell was coming from." He sneers, "And I think we found it," He says obviously trying to make an impact, we however just continue our annoyed glares, "there!" He says smugly pointing at Ash "A mudblood and," His eyes cast over me, Sirius and James, "Some blood traitors."
My eyes turn to slits. First of all, how dare he insult me like that and second of all how dare he insult my friends! I can feel the anger bubbling inside of me as I restrain myself from screaming a spell at him, which wouldn't be a good idea as he's a sixth year so has an obvious advantage – especially because of his idiotic lackeys.
"Just piss off, Malfoy." James spits.
Malfoy takes out his wand and points it towards James' face, "Do you want to say that again?" He says revealing in his power.
"Piss. Off. Malfoy." James repeats, not even flinching.
The twitch of anger in Malfoys face makes me want to burst out laughing, but I know better. Grabbing my wand is a more natural answer and I take the beautiful Aspen masterpiece out and point it at the blonde.
The three of them just laugh and walk of muttering, "Pathetic."
The six of us immediately relax and start laughing. "Did you see his face?" Sirius giggles.
"He just got totally humiliated!" James laughs as Peter congratulates him for his stand.
"Trust the Gryffindors to do something reckless and stupid." I say, laughing, to Ash.
The boys all just turn to me and shout, "Hey!" And, "That's not fair!"
Once we've all stopped laughing Sirius gets serious (hehehe) and says in a King's English tone (as if he were a Victorian Gentleman), "Well my good fellows, don't you agree that these heathens deserve some payback?"
"What are you thinking?" James asks with an evil smirk.
~#~
Now I'm sat at the Hufflepuff table by Ash's side keeping one eye on my cereal and one eye on the door; occasionally looking up at the idiots sat at the Gryffindor table and rolling my eyes at them.
"Do you think this was right?" Ash whispers in my ear.
"Yes," I sigh, she's been nervous and reluctant ever since Sirius suggested the ideas, "They need to get off of their high horses and this'll knock them down a peg or two." I say, once more, "I'm not letting them talk to you like that and get away with it!" I add with a smirk.
"Sometimes, I forget how much like your twin you can be." She says faming a shiver of fear.
"Well, we have spent all of our life together!" I laugh.
"I guess."
Suddenly an angry shout ricochets into the room, "Here goes." I whisper, my excitement building. In storms three very angry, very pink and very glittery Slytherin sixth years to a chorus of laughter, which seemed to echo loudest from the Gryffindor table. The three boys from yesterday were covered in pink dye and sparkled like a little girl's bedroom, and I bathed in their humiliation. It was a harmless teaching method and I, for one, am totally for it. I can tell that Ash had also become more accepting as she giggles away beside me.
"Whichever punk did this is getting ground into dust!" Shouts one of the lumbering giants.
"Now Mr. Crabbe I cannot have you threatening my students." Dumbledore says from the teachers' table with a twinkle in his eyes and I could've sworn that he looked knowingly at me. He's omniscient, "But I think it would be best that I fix this." He continues waving his wand; vanishing all of our hard work.
"It was good while it lasted." I giggle – the image of the angry, glittery snakes still penetrating my brain.
Malfoy's gaze drifted over to the pair of us and then the Gryffindor boys and I try to act as innocently as possible, "I think he suspects us" Sirius mouths to us from their table.
"I blame you if they retaliate" I mouth back, smirking.
(1,473 Words)
Yay! Another chapter is up! And we finally have the fully formed Marauders group for this book (It took me long enough!). I am so in love with them all... like I'm getting serious attachment issues, like I'm not going to be able to let anything happen to these guys! But, y'know that's just me and my strange love for fictional characters (but as you're reading this you can likely relate). I'm absolutely loving writing this and I can't help but smile as the story unfolds before me and when I get an idea that I love. I hope that you are enjoying reading just as much!
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