Chapter2: The dog that barks will not bite
While the train traveled to the station of Hogsmeade, the team had fun. Becca thoroughly enjoyed her meal and the special forest berry tea her grams packed for her. Becky's friends always appreciated the creative ways she could avoid getting overloaded with sugar intake.
"I wish I could eat homemade mom's food all the time" gave April sound to her desires, already fed herself with some dose of homesickness, though they were still a bit far from the school.
Becky held some bit of salt against the girls complaining about how expensive the food trolley was on the train, she wished she could stuff whatever she craved without thinking trice and being on constant alert all the freaking time.
"Shut up, you can buy whatever the heck you lay your eyes on" said Becky, while turn to the next page in her freshly picked book. She was reading a Beatrix Potter story, rejoicing over the companionship of Peter the rabbit in his blue, adorable coat. Becky was a huge fan of Beatrix Potter – her friend circle often joked about how she might have been related to the infamous wizarding family, the Potters, where James Potter came from.
She did not mind, also she was glad if she could avoid interfering with the Marauders, as they were not the nicest person towards her.
"Oh, whom I discovered, Paddy! Here is our little Sugar Plum Princess" a familiar laugh and the noise of the opening door caused the girl trembling.
"No, please, Merlin, not them again" she prayed to the great wizard, but those laments weren't answered. The four boys entered.
" How are you, Becky?" at least, Remus Lupin sounded genuinely interested in his formal question. He behaved the best in his group, mostly trying to shape his tribe towards acceptable manners; hardly succeeded yet.
"I was fine until I heard Potter" her tone mixed with anger, her small hand curving into a fist towards the topic of their conversation.
„Why? I hadn't done anything bad. Still scared of sweet things? How can someone hate them?! If someone dislikes sweet candies, that person is ugly on the inside" he claimed the statement, creating small teardrops in the corner of Becky's eyes.
April stood up and slapped him in the face. „Get out! Right now, before I curse you into pieces, and you can never ever lay your eyes on Lily Evans. Say goodbye to little Harry Potter you are dreaming of."
The boys drew their attention towards them, while Sirius replaced the sandwich Becky left next to her.
"Okay, do not exploit, little volcano!" told James, before they left the cabin. Becky chew her lunch in anger, wondering why it tasted so sugary, it was not like grandmothers…
"Becky! Oh no, it is late…" Remus tried to notify them to be careful around the mischievous friends of him.
„I am so sorry. Are you okay?"
"Oh, they put sugar into it!" cried Becky. Luckily, she had her insulin nearby, so the girls took care of her. She closed her eyes meanwhile the process, she hated needles so much.
"I'll talk to Professor McGonagall. This needs to be reported, they've could kill you!" Remus hugged Becky, his soft touch filled with guilt.
"Please, they will mock me more, leave it" she begged, but Remus pretended to not hear the girl's pleads. He left them behind in search for the head teacher of their house. Gryffindor would not be proud of them, he thought in pure disappointment.
Bullying a girl suffering a nearly incurable illness is not fair. How could he name them his friends after a mock like that?
He found McGonagall talking to the driver of the train.
"What's wrong, Mr. Lupin? Did the boys something horrible again?" she asked. They rushed to the cabin where the girls sat, trying to give first aid for Becky.
"It's untolerable, minus 50 points from Gryffindor and detention for the boys who were in the incident. I will send an owl to Madame Pomfrey, to visit her before the ceremony." she said. The professor stayed by their side in case it gets worse, while Remus informed the Potter-Black duo about their punishment.
The blood run from the face of Sirius, causing his face's paleness.
"I did not mean to… oh, the shit, if I knew what I was doing!" he tried to get back to the girls to apologize, but Remus blocked his way.
„Stop! You've created enough trouble! Why do you always have to tease those who do not think like you two? If it gets worse, do you get, it, you could end up in jail or expelled. We are fourteen years old, don't you two think it's time to start growing up?" he scolded them, giving voice to the emotions stirring up in his chest.
„We're sorry. I make sure to apologize properly to Becky, thanks for being or best friend, Remus. Where would we be without you?" they reunited after the prefects regular before the term meeting, where the news were shared.
"McGonagall said your punishment will be spent in the Plant house, accompanied by the Herbology Teacher, Professor Sprout." they exchanged a stare at each other. The young professor at Hogwarts was known for her firm and strict nature, despite it the students adored her wisdom and caring for the children under her hands.
Sirius did not speak any word until the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station. He was deepening into his actions, analyzing it in his mind. He worried about the Hufflepuff girl, Rebecca Bakers, he did not mean to be mean to her, it seemed to be just a little joke around. Killing her would mean Azkaban for him. He shivered, as the cold breeze of summer evening gently caressed his skin under the sleeves of his robe.
"Have the kitten bit your tongue?" asked Remus, petting his shoulder. „It's okay to be guilty of your wrongdoing. I was hoping to get your understanding, it is bad to mess with others' health."
"I got it, Remus, you can stop pretending to be my father. To be honest, you'd be a great parent someday. The future child of yours will be lucky to land in your family." he laughed nervously.
"Thanks. Paddy. Tell me how the apology went. She's there, about to catch a carriage!" he pointed towards the quartet of the Hufflepuffs, among them run Becky too. The Marauder gathered his strength and in his head already fabricated the perfect speech of excusing himself for his unacceptable manner a few hours before.
But the girls reached their carriage, so he changed his mind to postpone the apology for a better occasion where it could sound proper and decent, not in a quick rush. That wouldn't be believable.