Half a Life Without You

Chapter 5: Meeting the Marauders

Everly's POV

The sounds of carefree laughing gently stir me awake. I can hear it lightly echoing through the room and can't help thinking what a vast improvement it is when compared to waking up to screams. Above the obvious merriment a voice whispers loudly…" Bloody hell Prongs do shut-up you're going to wake her up!"

"I rather thought that was the point Pads? After all you have been talking about her all morning", an amused Prongs retorts.

I can hear Prongs proceed to mockingly repeat some of what Pads apparently said before I was awake. "Mate, you'll never believe it I met an angel…she's so beautiful, she has the loveliest blue eyes, she's got the softest voice." The sing song mocking is abruptly interrupted when I hear what I'm sure is the sound of a pillow being smashed against someone's head. "Ouch! I'm only joking Pads." Prongs laughs sounding slightly muffled.

A smile spreads across my face as I try to smother my own laughter, without a doubt these are much better sounds. Happiness flows through me when I hear another giggle, and possibly another pillow hitting someone. My smile gradually dims as a smidgen of concern over what I just overheard filters through my mind. Pads aka Sirius Black cannot have crush on me, but what if he does? I frown at my wayward thoughts.

I jump in surprise when Madam Pomfrey unexpectedly pokes her heard around the privacy screen. She smiles brightly and briskly pulls a table over, "good morning. "I brought you a nice breakfast to begin your day… I expect you to eat it all." She adds sternly while propping the pillows up behind my back.

Wordlessly I grab a piece of toast from the plate and bite into it. She nods at me with approval and leaves me to enjoy my breakfast. I sit back peacefully eating, the warm morning light trickles across the bed warming the blankets. I soak it in enjoying the moment, allowing all my concerns to drift away.

My thoughts eventually stray to him, and I wonder if he's still in the bed next to mine. The memory of his captivating black eyes float through my mind, I sigh with longing, eager to see him again. Then another memory comes along and ruins it …me…staring at him like a dummy, unable to talk. I lightly slap my palm over my face and shake my head, "ugh" I softly groan into my hand with embarrassment. "I'm an idiot." I grumble.

Madam Pomfrey suddenly appears from behind the screen again, "Everything alright dear?" she inquires looking me over with concern. I jump again at her sudden appearance.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I tell her reassuringly, while thinking she needs to start wearing a bell to warn people of her approach.

"Wonderful, are you up to visiting? The boys are eager to meet the girl who helped look after them last night." She looks at me expectantly, waiting for my answer.

My breath catches, and I can't help wondering if Severus will be one of the boys. "Sure, I just need to get dressed and then I'd love to meet everyone." I reply with a smile.

"Of course, your…clothes…have been laundered and are folded in the drawer". Her obvious distaste over my clothing is not lost on me, "I'll have to speak with Dumbledore about getting you some proper attire during your visit with us, but until then your… um…muggle… clothes will have to do. Take your time, I'll let them know you'll be over soon." She says briskly grabbing my empty food tray and disappearing around the screen once again.

Giddy excitement fills me at the possibility of seeing him again, my earlier embarrassment pushed to the side. I throw my legs over the side opening the drawer to pull out my… muggle… jeans and black t-shirt. I put my jeans on and then reach for my t-shirt but freeze when I look at it…fuuuuuuuck! How could I have forgotten about this? Across the front written in bold letters are the words I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD, the back is no better, little footprints march around the words MISCHEIF MANAGED. Oh my God! What am I going to do? This is from the Marauders map, and the actual Marauders are just feet away, I flop back on to the bed throwing my arms over my head, and then I start to silently shake with laughter, tears gather in the corners of my eyes. My breath comes out in gasps as I try to choke back the hysterical laughter, my ribs hurting now with the effort to stop. Of all the things to worry about my wardrobe wasn't on my list. I envision myself trying to explain Harry Potter merchandise to the boys, when another thought thankfully pops into my head, I'll just turn it inside out! Finally, with my laughter under control I flip the shirt inside out and to my relief it works! You can't even really tell it's not made this way; it looks just like a plain old black shirt with the tag easily hidden behind my hair. Pleased with my improvised outfit, although silently vowing to burn it later, I make my way out from behind the screen and walk toward the now silent boys watching my approach with curious stares.

A boy with unruly dark hair and glasses is the first to speak, "Hi, I'm James" his hazel eyes sparkling with mirth. Gesturing his hand towards Sirius he begins introducing everyone, "This is Sirius, who tells me you two already met last night" ignoring the glare from Sirius he smiles and points to a pale boy with dark blonde hair and three scars across his face, "This is Remis". Remis gives me a small wave and a shy smile before James moves to the last boy, "Last, but not least is Peter" Peter also waves and smiles at me, but something about his smile creeps me out and I really don't like the look in his eyes when he glances at me, I shudder and look away.

"I'm Everly. It's really nice to meet you all" I say before adding a little wave of my own. I look around and notice Severus isn't here. "Wasn't there another boy here last night?" I question hoping they'll know where he is.

"Yeah, the bastard was gone before we got up. Probably off somewhere plotting." Sirius fumed.

I frown at Sirius not appreciating his remarks about Severus. "Sorry love, I didn't mean to snap. There's a lot of history there and I shouldn't have made you uncomfortable." Sirius apologizes. "Forgive me?" he questions hopefully and raises his hand to me.

I place my hand in his, "You're forgiven" I say reassuringly. He flashes me a brilliant smile squeezing my hand. "You can sit next to me." He says and shifts over to make room next to him on the bed. I can feel my cheeks warming as I sit beside him. The others quickly pull up chairs and then the questions start flying in.

"Are you a transfer student? Why are you in the Infirmary? Where are you from? Do you have a boyfriend? They all blurt out simultaneously. I blush at that last question I'm pretty sure Sirius asked.

My thoughts whirl as I think of the best way to answer their questions, what should I say, it's not like I've had time to prepare a cover story yet. Breath, just breath. Here goes nothing. I take a deep breath before responding, "I'm here to discuss a possible transfer to Hogwarts, but unfortunately I got… sick… once I arrived. My… parents… are constantly moving, I doubt I've been in one place long enough to call somewhere home. Lastly, no…I don't have a boyfriend." I answer, careful to avoid eye contact with Sirius as I answer the last question. I seriously need to talk more with Dumbledore about my cover story. "Tell me more about Hogwarts, if I'm to transfer here I'd like to know more about it." I say before they have a chance to ask anything else.

Over the next hour they all happily launch into a variety of stories about their time at Hogwarts, I couldn't remember the last time I laughed so much. No wonder they were notorious for their antics. Soon the conversation falls to quidditch, Sirius, James, and Peter were currently having a good-natured debate over the best position to play. Remis sits back watching with amusement while shaking his head at them.

Without warning a pain flares up in my chest radiating through my arms and then down into my legs, the pain steadily starts growing and a cold sweat breaks out across my forehead. I look up seeing the three boys still happily arguing before my eyes met Remis's concerned ones, "Everly, are you ok?"

All talking immediately stops, everyone's attention now focused on me, "I think I just need to lay down for little bit" I whisper and begin to stand. "Everly…" Sirius starts to say something, but as another wave of pain spreads through my body I can't hear him anymore and feel myself falling.

The burning pain sears through me increasing in waves with every breath, it feels like a thousand hot knives are cutting me everywhere. I distantly hear someone screaming in agony, then I realize it's me…I'm the one screaming.

I feel myself being lifted into strong arms and surprisingly my pain begins to lessen. I'm carefully placed onto a bed; the arms begin to pull away and my pain instantly starts to come back. "No, don't leave me!" I yell weakly.

Those same strong arms are quickly wrapped tightly around me again and the pain starts to ease once more. "Stay" I whisper shakily.

"I've got you, I'm not going anywhere." A deep voice replies, and my heart leaps.

"Thank you" I sigh before passing out.