I am so sorry for never updating this on here! It's available on Ao3 which I've mostly been focusing on, but I'm going to try and get better about posting on here as well. Thank you for the reviews (from a long time ago) because they're really kind, I appreciate it.
CHAPTER FIVE
THIS IS A WAR
Birmingham, 1975
Grey ash drifts through the air.
It covers everything nearby, the street, the cars, the rubble—
A building nearby has been completely and totally obliterated, seemingly by a large explosion. Only enough is left to be able to make out the basic structure of the building, once grand and official.
Alice Davies steps out of the building through a gap in the wall. She is young, sweet-faced, with short dark hair and grey robes lightly covered in ash.
She turns back to take another look at the wreckage, sighing.
Then with a crack, four wizards apparate behind her in a plume of ash. She seems to have been expecting them, as she turns to greet them as the ash clears.
The first, Frank Longbottom, is a serious young man around her age with dark curly hair. At Frank's side is Dorian Dearborn, a greying, battle-scarred man. They both wear the same grey robes she does.
"Alice, you alright?" says Frank.
"I'm fine," she replies, casting Frank a fond look. Honestly, he's so bad at acting professional.
"What's the situation?" asks Dearborn.
"Nobody's here, sir... There's nothing left."
"Terrible business, terrible," says Eugenia Jenkins, the Minister for Magic. She is a slightly disheveled older woman with wispy white hair and black robes. Jenkins sneezes into a handkerchief.
The fourth man is her boss, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement: Harold Minchum, who takes in the scene with an intense focus, measuring the situation. Minchum is also dressed in black, but he is put together and his hair is neatly parted. The antithesis of Jenkins, thinks Alice.
"Have the Obliviators finished?" Minchum says.
"Yes, sir. The muggles in the surrounding area remember the explosion but not, well, the Dark Mark."
Minchum frowns at her. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
Frank jumps to her rescue. "I'm not sure where it started, sir, but it seems to have caught on. We couldn't stop the Prophet any more than we can with 'Death Eaters'."
Jenkins sniffles. "We ought not to give these hoodlums any more credibility than they've already been given. This has to be kept quiet as possible."
"All due respect, minister," says Alice. "But I should think we're dealing with a bit more than just 'hoodlums' here. And people will find out, one way or the other."
"People mustn't be given cause to panic, or things will only grow more desperate," Jenkins says.
Minchum turns to Dearborn. "I'm doubling auror presence in all major population areas. We need to start arriving on scene before these attacks happen."
Dearborn nods. "I'll inform Crouch."
"Thank you, Dearborn," says Jenkins.
Minchum's eyes flicker towards the Minister, then away. "Tell him I want flying patrols night and day, as well as Aurors on the streets."
"Yes, sir." Dearborn apparates away in a cloud of ash.
"Longbottom and Davies," says Minchum, and they stand to attention. "You'll be reassigned to London starting tomorrow."
"Yes, sir," Alice says, exchanging a glance with Frank.
"Luckily the muggles seem to be dealing with their own troubles," says the Minister. "Or else it would be a hell of a job trying to cover these up. As it is, their prime minister informs me they've got their own hands full with something called the 'I.N.A.'."
Minchum seems to be struggling not to lose his patience. "This is the third attack in as many months, Minister. They're getting more frequent. Don't you think it's high time we stopped worrying so much about appearances and more about fighting these 'Death Eaters'?"
She waves him away. "Now, Minchum, I should think I'd know how to do my own job better than you would, don't you agree?"
He looks as if he really doesn't, but holds his tongue.
"Finish up here," orders Jenkins. "Then report back and we'll figure out what to say to the papers."
She apparates away.
Alice watches the plume of ash caused by the Minister's sudden disappearance rise and fall, thinking.
It's breakfast in the great hall, and owls are swooping down to distribute the morning post among the students.
Up in the rafters, a handsome screech owl with a rolled-up newspaper in his claw ruffles his feathers, then takes off.
He spirals down, down, down to the Gryffindor table, where he drops the newspaper into the waiting hands of Peter Pettigrew.
Peter unrolls it and, without looking at the cover, opens it immediately to one of the pages near the back.
Next to him, Remus is looking at his eggs distastefully.
"Not hungry, Remus?" says James sympathetically.
"No, not really. I'm still a bit queasy, you know, it always takes a few days after a full moon for me to feel back to normal."
"As if becoming a werewolf for a night isn't bad enough," says Peter, not bothering to keep his voice down. His face is totally obscured by the Daily Prophet.
"Peter, shut up, will you?" James snaps, looking around in case anyone heard.
He doesn't notice the front page, but Sirius does, eyes going wide.
SO-CALLED 'DEATH EATER' GANG STRIKES AGAIN IN BIRMINGHAM, MINISTER JENKINS PUSHED TO RESIGN
Peter sets the paper down flat, revealing his guilty face.
"Oops. Sorry, Remus."
"No harm done," says Remus mildly. "I don't think anyone heard. And he's right, isn't he. The full moon's bad enough on its own."
"Well, next full moon's going to be better, wait and see," James says.
"Peter, give me that paper," says Sirius suddenly.
"What? Why?"
"Just give it here."
Peter passes it across to him, and Sirius closes it, displaying the front cover to all of them.
"Oh. Shite," Peter says, face going white.
"There's been a lot more attacks this year, hasn't there?" Remus says worriedly.
James reads aloud from the article: "'It's been five years since the first rumours of a shadowy wizard known only as the 'Dark Lord' began accruing followers and spreading his message of pureblood supremacy across the wizarding world. During these years, numerous disappearances as well as attacks on Muggle establishments have been credited to this man and his followers, who call themselves 'Death Eaters'. This past year the number of attacks has been steadily increasing, culminating in the latest on a Muggle courthouse in Birmingham at about ten p.m. last night. Around fifteen Muggles are estimated to have perished, though reports vary. Officials and citizens alike have started calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Eugenia Jenkins and the appointment of a candidate more suited to deal with this escalating situation, which some are calling a matter of national security—'"
He stops, looks around at his friends.
"Death Eaters?" repeats Sirius. "That's what these maniacs are calling themselves now?"
He looks darkly over at the Slytherin table, where Mulciber's gang is in close conference. Regulus sees him looking and holds his gaze, impassive, until Sirius looks away again quickly. He's not the only one staring, however— all eyes in the Great Hall seem to be directed towards that particular little group.
Remus is poring over the article. "Things are getting really bad, aren't they?"
"I wonder if Jenkins will resign," says James thoughtfully. "She and my parents are good friends, I've met her loads of times."
Remus squints at the paper. "Says here the man slated for her replacement is er... Harold Minchum. Says he's got a more hardline stance on dealing with the Death Eaters than Jenkins."
"Maybe that's good then, I don't know," says James.
"'Minchum is quoted as saying 'This is a war, and we've bloody well got to treat it like one,'" reads Remus.
The concept of 'war' takes a moment to hit home on all of them.
"Do you reckon they knew it was going to happen?" says Sirius.
"Who?" asks James.
At the Slytherin table, a small group of students is all too aware of the eyes turned towards them, the fearful buzz of speculation that surrounds them...
As one, the group of Slytherins get to their feet, and led by Mulciber they exit the Great Hall, accompanied by a storm of whispering. They ignore the scrutiny.
Just as the Slytherins reach the door, Mary enters the great hall with Lily.
There's a long, tense pause as Mulciber looks at Mary, and Mary looks back with a slowly dawning terror.
"Get out of my way," says Mulciber.
She moves aside without a word, and he continues, cronies in tow. Severus is last.
"Hi, Sev," says Lily, trying for a cheery grin.
He only gives her a quick, awkward smile, not really looking at her and avoiding looking at Mary altogether. Lily sighs and they head to the Gryffindor table, where Cresswell is sitting, also reading the Prophet.
"Morning, Dirk," Lily says as they sit.
He looks at them, face filled with apprehension.
"Morning... you haven't seen yet, have you?"
"Seen what?"
He pushes the newspaper towards her, and Lily reads it quickly with growing horror.
"Christ, not again."
"Things are really getting bad," says Cresswell worriedly.
"'Minchum is quoted as saying 'This is a war, and we've bloody well got to treat it like one,'" Lily reads aloud.
"A war...I didn't sign up for a war," says Cresswell. "I didn't sign up for none of this. None of us did. I was just a regular boy from Leeds, all I wanted was to play football... now I've got to stay up worrying if it's my bloody dad's house that's going to be blown up next."
Lily bites her lip. "I'm sure that's not going to happen, Dirk. It looks like this Minchum is serious about shutting these Death Eaters down. With any luck he'll be able to stop more Muggles from getting hurt."
"We can't know that, though, can we?" he says.
"I s'pose we can't. What do you think, Mary?"
They look at Mary, whose attention has drifted far from the conversation.
She starts as she hears her name. "Sorry, what?"
"Lily asked what you thought about it," prompts Cresswell.
"Oh... I don't know..." Mary says absently.
Dirk and Lily exchange a worried glance.
"Aren't you going to have any breakfast, Mary?"
Mary regards the food before her. "What? Oh, no, I don't think so. I think I need to... I'll see you both in class later on."
She shoulders her bag and leaves.
"Alright, something is really wrong," Cresswell says, staring after her.
"We've known something's really wrong for ages now," says Lily.
He nods. "Ever since the Quidditch match."
"Well, I think it started before that, but yes. That's when it got really bad. Do you think its time we told a professor?"
"Yeah, maybe. Or maybe you could just ask your boyfriend."
"My boyfriend?" repeats Lily, uncomprehending.
The look in Cresswell's eyes isn't very friendly. "You know. Snape. This has to have been Rosier or Mulciber or one of them. He might've been in on it. Who knows, maybe they were acting out orders from these Death Eaters."
Lily flinches as if Cresswell has slapped her. "Oh, don't say that."
"Oh yeah? And why shouldn't I?" says Cresswell savagely. "We all know if that lot aren't Death Eaters already they will be soon enough."
Lily shakes her head. "Sev's not a Death Eater. No way."
Cresswell gives her an irritated look and stands up too.
"You're totally delusional. It doesn't matter though, does it? Either way, I find out your Snape's done something to Mary, I'll kill him, I will."
She can't think of anything to say.
"I'm going to see if I can find Mary. I'll see you later, Lily." He turns on his heel and marches away from her.
Lily stares after him, hurt.
"Good morning, boys!" says the Fat Lady jovially as they approach.
"Morning! And Mens Rea," replies Remus
"I always think that sounds like 'men's rear,'" says Sirius.
The Fat Lady giggles as she swings open.
"Yes, quite..."
Remus walks through, but before Sirius and Peter can follow him through, James grabs them both by the arm and pulls them backwards just before it shuts.
"What is it?" Says Sirius.
"I want a word while Remus can't hear, come on."
He leads the way to the tapestry. The Fat Lady peers down at Sirius's rear as they go.
"What did you want to talk about?" Peter says.
James leans forward conspiratorially. "We're doing it tonight. I don't want to tell Remus yet in case something goes wrong but everything's set. Tonight, we do the spell. Are you both ready?"
They nod.
"Yeah, I've been doing the incantation every night, every single one. And I've been making sure Sirius has, too."
James claps him on the back. "Proud of you, Pete, although to be honest with you I'm not sure the incantation is really necessary. I just thought— better safe than sorry, right?"
"You mean we might not have had to keep these horrible leaves in our mouths all this time?" Sirius says.
"I said I'm not sure. Besides, the leaves are part of the final spell. Best keep them in, it's just one more day after all. Alright, Remus has patrols this evening so we'll do it then, once me and Sirius get out of detention. Everybody clear?"
They nod again.
"Alright then. Go find Remus. He'll probably be confused so just... make something up. I'll be in the library double checking something until class."
As soon as they're gone, Severus crawls out of his hiding place behind some old crates. He peers carefully out of the tapestry before taking off after Potter.
Lily is alone near the entrance of the library, hovering a little awkwardly.
Severus comes tearing up, disheveled and in a great hurry. Lily perks up when she sees him.
"Sev!"
He looks at her, breathing heavily. "Oh. Hi Lily, look I really have to—"
"It's been ages since we've spent any time together, hasn't it? D'you fancy getting started on that potions essay with me?"
"What? Look, I haven't got time to talk right now, I'm in a bit of a hurry."
Lily's face falls in disappointment. "Oh. Alright then. But I just wanted to ask you if you knew anything about what might've happened to Mar—"
Before she can finish, he spots something in the library and interrupts her.
"Sorry Lily, I've really got to go."
With that he leaves her there, dejected.
"Christ, what is it about me?" she says to herself, before sighing and walking away.
Through a small gap in a bookshelf, Severus can see Potter sitting on a table and frowning down at a book. He squints to try and make out what book it is, but suddenly, Potter spots something to his left, grins, and gets to his feet, setting the book down.
Severus shifts to try and be able to see what this is—
It's a girl, one he vaguely recognises as being in Lily's dormitory. She says something— Severus strains to hear— and he pulls her towards him and to Sev's surprise they start kissing.
Sev keeps watching, until someone taps him on the shoulder.
"What do you think you're doing?"
It's that Gryffindor chaser, Cresswell. He stands there, arms crossed, looking at Severus with venom.
"No, I wasn't doing anything, I wasn't—" splutters Severus, trying to hide the gap in the bookshelf with his body.
"What were you looking at?"
He shoves Severus out of the way and takes a peek. One second is all he needs to know what Sev was looking at, and he turns on him.
"You perverted little freak," he snarls. "This how you get your rocks off, is it?"
"No, it's not. I didn't know they'd start—"
"Just shut your fucking mouth."
Severus does, immediately.
Cresswell towers over him. "I were in here looking for Mary MacDonald. Have you seen her? You know, the girl you and your mates have been constantly tormenting. Know something about that?"
Severus shakes his head urgently, eyes going wide.
Cresswell doesn't look as if he believes him. "Right. I find out you've done anything to her, if you've even so much as looked at her funny, I'll beat the living daylights out of you. No need for wands, a good old fashioned muggle tussle'll do. See how your precious Dark Arts help you then. I ever catch you spying or anything weird like that again, it'll be the same. Now fuck off."
Severus scampers away as fast as he possibly can. Dirk leans against the bookshelf for a second, frowns, then peers through the crack again.
He grins, shaking his head, and leaves the library.
Mary sits in a stall in the girls' toilet, having a smoke. Haunted and shaky, she leans against the side of the stall with her eyes closed.
She hears the sound of someone coming in and she puts the cigarette out against the wall hurriedly. She stands up and lifts the lid so she can throw it in the toilet, then starts to unlock the door— but stops when she hears voices.
"His face was priceless, I never thought that wanker could look so shocked."
With a jolt of recognition, Mary realises it's Marlene. With another jolt, she realises how long it's been since she's really spoken to her best friend.
"Oh you'd be surprised what a wide range of expressions Corrin actually has when you get to know him."
They both laugh.
Mary presses her eye to the crack.
Marlene is leaning against a sink, sharing a cigarette and laughing with none other than Nicola Selwyn. Mary feels her stomach turn to ice.
"You're alright, really, McKinnon. For a Gryffindor," says Selwyn.
Marlene grins. "And you're alright for a Slytherin. You're just prickly on the outside is all."
"Well, can you blame me?"
"S'pose not. Still, I was surprised how different you both are from all the rest of your friends.
"Well, yeah. We only hang around with them because—" Selwyn stops, thinking it over. "I've no idea, actually. We just always have, ever since we were kids. And our parents were all friends before that."
Marlene frowns in distaste. "Oh, that's too weird, that is."
"Yeah it is a bit," says Selwyn. "Never thought about it much before, to be honest. In any case, anybody remotely sane would need charms to get through the pain of being around Wilkes and Avery all the time. Or that nasty little Snape."
"Yeah, my— one of my dorm mates is friends with him. Can't understand why, none of us can."
Nicola laughs. "What, the famous Evans? Yeah, we haven't stopped hearing about how much he wants to shag her since Avery found out about it."
Marlene looks taken aback by this and more than a little nauseated, but Nicola doesn't notice.
Inside the stall, Mary has to look away, fighting tears.
Nicola continues. "Don't see what all the fuss is about, personally, but every sick twisted little rat has to have his sick twisted little obsessions, I s'pose..."
The bell rings, and Nicola drops the cigarette in the sink.
"Well, I'll see you later then."
She touches Marlene's arm as she leaves, and Marlene turns to face the mirror.
Mary unlocks the door and comes out, eyes a little watery.
"What were you doing with her?" she demands.
Marlene gives a little shriek of surprise.
"Fuck, Mary! I—"
She immediately looks guilty, realising that Mary must have overheard it all.
"Oh, Mary, I'm... I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was just so scared you'd be angry at me like everyone else. I just couldn't bear it, I couldn't—"
"Save it, Marlene. Just... whatever it is, I don't care."
She starts to leave, but Marlene grabs her arm.
"Hang on, Mary, can I please just explain myself?"
Mary shrugs listlessly.
"Fine," she says.
"You know when I got thrown off the team?" Marlene says. "Nobody talked to me for days and days. Do you know what it's like to be the most hated person in all of Gryffindor? Even Lily was mad at me over something silly, I don't know. And after the match you were always off doing Merlin knows what."
At the mention of the match, Mary's heart gives a lurch.
"But Nicola and Shea were nice to me," continues Marlene. "Well, not nice, exactly. But they're honest, and they don't make me feel like I'm being judged all the time. They're not like the other Slytherins, not like Rosier or Mulciber at all..."
Mary stiffens. Suddenly, she can't bear to be in the same room as Marlene. "Just stop talking, Marlene. You don't know what you're on about."
She shoves her away, without much energy. It still takes Marlene by surprise.
"Just leave me alone," says Mary.
She adjusts the strap on her bag and walks out without even looking at Marlene again.
The charms classroom is a wood-paneled and multi-tiered room, in the centre of which is Professor Flitwick, standing on a pile of books to address his class— which is still settling down.
Marlene comes tearing in and flings herself and her stuff into a desk just as the bell rings.
"Cutting it a bit close, Miss McKinnon!"
"Sorry, Professor."
"Do try and manage your time a bit better, next time."
"Yes sir. Sorry."
Flitwick gives her a reproving look and continues. "Moving on, today we'll be covering the Confundus charm, which is an extremely complex spell that will doubtless make an appearance on your OWLs. Now the Confundus charm is part of a branch of charms that alter the state of the mind. Who can tell me what these are called?"
"Why don't you ask McKinnon, seeing as she knows all about it?" calls James.
Flitwick frowns, not understanding. "Miss McKinnon?"
"Uh... bewitchments," Marlene mumbles.
"Quite right. Now casting any of these on another person is considered a serious breach of consent, and for the most part should only be done in case of emergency. The Confundus charm, however, is useful to know precisely for that reason. Does anyone want to take a guess as to why?"
"Because Confunding isn't permanent?" offers Peter Pettigrew.
"Partly, yes. But it's generally a good way to disable an aggressor in a safe, non-lethal manner. They'll usually stop what they're doing and return to a blank, childlike state. Later, they may have a confused idea about what happened to them."
Cresswell raises his hand. "Sir? Is it possible a confundus charm could last a while? Like days, or weeks maybe?"
"Perhaps if it was an exceptionally powerful charm it could last over a day but no, one would have to keep reapplying it in order to keep the effect going. A lot of work, as you can see."
Cresswell thinks about it.
"Today we're going to be practising the Confundus charm," continues Flitwick. "Which you should already have an idea of how to do, but I will also be teaching you the counter charm so that I do not send you off to your next class a bunch of witless fools. This is 'Tempero' and the wand movement is like so."
He takes out his wand and demonstrates.
"Choose a partner and start practising. Come to me if you have questions. Remember, it is good form to ask your partner's permission before you cast any spells on them, especially ones that alter the mind."
The students pair off, leaving both Lily and Marlene partnerless. Flitwick approaches them.
"Miss McKinnon, Miss Evans, why don't the two of you work together today?"
"Great," says Marlene.
She picks up her bag and heads to where Lily is sitting. Lily gives her a small smile. Marlene does not return it.
"Hey, Marlene, how've you been?" asks Lily awkwardly.
"Absolute rubbish, actually, thanks for asking," says Marlene.
Lily retreats, uncomfortable. "Right, sorry. Er, shall we..."
"What, do the assignment?" Marlene says. "Confund me if you like, might be nice to not know what's going on for a few minutes."
Lily frowns at her concernedly. "Marlene, are you alright? I've been worried, you've been avoiding me for weeks."
"Maybe I just didn't want to hear whatever preachy thing you were going to tell me," says Marlene nastily.
Lily looks hurt. "That's hardly fair."
Marlene scoffs. "No, it's not. But life isn't fair, Lily, it's not all sunshine and rainbows and friendship."
"Christ, sorry for caring about how you were doing," mutters Lily.
Marlene shrugs. "I don't need you to care, do I? I don't need anything except to stop feeling so fucking awful all the time so go on, confund me already."
Now Lily is looking at her in alarm. "Marlene, calm down. You're not in any right state—"
"Stop being so... bloody sympathetic," snaps Marlene. "It's only going to get you hurt. Like with Snape, for instance."
"What's Sev got to do with it?"
"He... you know what, I don't want to talk about it. Just do the fucking spell already. Confund me, go on."
"No, I really don't think I should," says Lily firmly.
Marlene gets to her feet. When she speaks, it's a near-yell, and the whole class turns to look.
"Then what are you bloody good for, then, Lily? Eh? What are you good for?"
"Miss McKinnon!"
She storms out, forgetting her bag. Lily is left, shellshocked, her eyes stinging. Marlene has never spoken to her like that, not ever. Lily doesn't even think she's ever heard her raise her voice.
"That girl is a disaster if I ever saw one," she hears Potter comment.
"Leave it out, Potter," Lily snarls.
"She yells at you in front of the entire class and you're defending her? I really don't get you, Evans."
"Good," says Lily.
He's thrown by her answer, and has nothing more to add.
Lily stares at Marlene's vacant seat, then rests her head on her hands in despair, red hair falling around her onto the desk and obscuring her face. She doesn't even hear Flitwick coming up behind her.
"Miss Evans, are you quite alright?"
He peers up at her with kindness and sympathy.
She looks at him, wiping at her eyes. "Oh, yeah, sorry Professor Flitwick, I'm alright, I just—"
He pats her elbow. "Why don't you take the rest of the class off? Performing complex magic while upset is never advisable, and you can always stop by my office and go over the spells later if you like."
She looks at him gratefully.
"Thanks, Professor, I— I think I'll do that."
Lily stands, taking her bag— and after a moment's hesitation, Marlene's as well— and departs the room, ignoring all the eyes on her. She walks blindly down the hallway, then turns a corner and sits down in a little spiral staircase. She sets the two bags down, looks at them, and suddenly starts to cry, overwhelmed by it all.
After a minute, she grabs papers out of Marlene's bag and starts throwing them down the stairwell.
"Stupid Marlene..." she mutters as she throws papers, quills. "Stupid Sev... stupid Cresswell... stupid Potter... stupid, stupid, stupid Lily."
She looks at the disaster she's caused and gets up, picks them all up and tries to reorganise them into a messy pile.
"Oh, what am I doing, honestly..."
She shakes her head, and stuffs it all back into Marlene's bag. Feeling something inside, she stops and pulls it out. A pack of cigarettes.
Lily puts one between her lips and lights it with her wand. Exhaling a plume of smoke, she leans back against the curved stone wall and closes her eyes.
"I swear, one wrong word out of that little prick, one wrong word, and I'm going to break his face. He just needs to give me a reason," says Cresswell, savagely scraping crust out of a cauldron.
They're serving detention again, and everyone is hard at work scrubbing out cauldrons. The Slytherins and Gryffindors are sitting on opposite ends of the classroom, as far away from each other as they can get.
Cresswell glares over at Snape, who is talking animatedly to his friends about something and causing them to laugh.
"You'll hear no complaints from us," says James.
"Yeah, it might even break up the monotony a bit," agrees Sirius. "I don't understand why Filch has us scrubbing these out by hand when a Scouring charm would do the trick just fine. I mean, what's the point?"
"Sadism?" offers James.
"Alright, you may be on to something. Look, Cresswell, if you want to go over there and beat Snivellus up, by all means, but it may end badly for us. I mean, technically we're not outnumbered, but..."
Sirius tilts his head meaningfully at Mary, who has not listened to a word. She's scrubbing dutifully, with great focus.
Cresswell sighs.
On the Slytherin side of things, the mood is considerably lighter.
"No, I've no idea either," Avery is saying. "But Shea and Selwyn are always running off to do things on their own, aren't they? And by things, I mean he's probably shagging her brains out, isn't he?"
Avery laughs easily.
"I'd say lucky him, but the minute Selwyn opens her mouth she's suddenly repellent. Maybe if I could cover it, or shut it with spellotape... why do I get the feeling she'd be into that?"
They all laugh this time.
Mulciber looks across the room, then stands up and picks up his cauldron by the handle.
"Where're you going with that?" asks Rosier.
Mulciber doesn't answer, and crosses the room to where the Gryffindors sit. They stop talking at his approach, and he sets the cauldron down in front of Mary.
"Mary, I don't feel like finishing this one," he says. "Clean it for me."
There's a beat as the three Gryffindor boys stare at him, shocked, and then Mary pulls the cauldron towards her and starts scrubbing it. Satisfied, Mulciber goes back to his friends.
"Uh, Mary, what are you doing?" says Cresswell.
"Yeah, let him do his own work," says Sirius.
He tries to take the cauldron from her, but she clings stubbornly to it.
"Let go."
"Fine, I'll let go."
He does, and she resumes her cleaning. They all stare at her.
"Cresswell, Sirius, let's go get some more Skower's," says James meaningfully.
All three boys head to a nearby desk where a box of cleaning supplies marked 'Miss Skower's All Purpose Magical Mess Remover' sits.
"Alright, something is really, really wrong with MacDonald," James says.
Cresswell looks over at her worriedly. "I... I know. I have no idea what it is, ever since the match she's been like this... only Lily says it started before that, right after the protest."
"I bet you everything I own that Mulciber's got something to do with it," says Sirius darkly.
"What's Evans got to say about it?" asks James.
Sirius looks at him. "Evans?"
"They're mates, right? She's not stupid, she's got to know something's wrong. She could help."
Cresswell sighs. "Yeah, she knows, only I... sort of blew up at her this morning."
"Why'd you do that?" says James, confused.
"Not a good day for Evans, is it?" remarks Sirius.
"She wouldn't admit Snape might have something to do with it," says Cresswell. "Or that he could be one of them Death Eaters."
James shrugs. "Well, that's Evans for you. You really think Snape could've done something?"
"As far as I'm concerned, they're all guilty by association," snaps Cresswell.
James nods. "Fair enough. Alright, we've got to do something about this. On our own, I s'pose, since Mary's actual mates are off in their own bloody worlds at the moment."
But Cresswell is looking torn. "I don't know. Lily said we should tell a professor, and I'm starting to think she might be right. Whatever's got into Mary, it can't be natural.I thought she might've been confunded, but when I tried the counter-charm in class nothing happened. I think she might've been, I dunno, cursed or something."
"Tell a professor?" says Sirius, as though the notion is foreign to him. "Who should we tell? McGonagall? Dumbledore?
"Either one? Both of them?" says Cresswell helplessly. "I just— I just want her to be alright again."
James and Sirius look at him sympathetically.
"Right then. We'll go after detention, shall we?"
James claps his hand to his forehead. "Er... I don't think we can tonight. We've got... we've got something we really need to do."
"What, more important than this? Than Mary?"
James winces. "Not more important, but just... impossible to reschedule."
Cresswell shrugs moodily. "Fine. I don't need either of you with me. I'll take her myself."
"Sorry, Cresswell, it's just—" Begins Sirius, but Cresswell interrupts.
"Yeah, yeah, save it."
He takes a scoop of Skower's and returns to Mary, offering her some. James and Sirius watch them.
"I feel like such a prat," says James.
Sirius grimaces. "You and me both, but there's not much we can do about it, is there."
James sighs.
Remus and Lily are patrolling the seventh floor together. Remus has his wand tip lit and is holding it aloft, lighting the way down the corridor.
Lily is lost in her own thoughts, still a little subdued.
"Everything alright, Lily?" says Remus. "You've been quiet."
"Yeah... I'm sorry, Remus. I've just been having a bad day, that's all."
He nods understandingly. "Well let me know if there's anything I can do about it. Even if it's just to listen."
She regards him, touched by his kindness.
"Oh, thanks, Remus," she says. "I've never understood why you're friends with Potter and Black. You're much too nice for the likes of them."
He grins shyly. "Oh, well, if you were me you'd understand perfectly. They're the best friends I've ever had and and ever will have. They're more than I deserve."
"Why on earth would you say that?" says Lily, surprised.
"Nevermind, it... it doesn't matter," ays Remus hastily. "Is it Marlene that's upset you? She was a bit hostile in Charms this morning."
"Yeah, but it's also Mary, and Sev, and Dirk Cresswell, and even your stupid Potter."
He frowns. "I'm afraid I don't see the connection."
Lily sighs. "It's just, I've got to wondering... why do any of my friends like me? Do they even like me? Am I just the odd one out, weird Lily who always worries about things and is never any fun— oh, I don't know, Remus. Hogwarts is an awfully lonely place when none of your friends will talk to you."
Remus, alarmed by her outpouring, stops them and takes her hands.
"Lily, you mustn't think like that for a second," he says seriously. "Your friends love you. Everybody does."
She looks at him doubtfully. "Do they?"
"Yes, who couldn't? You're the best person I know, Lily. You're kind to everyone, even if they don't deserve it. And your friends love you, it's just..." He pauses, thoughtful. "It's something I learnt a long time ago. Everyone's got something going on, don't they? Everyone's got circumstances you might not know about. Just because someone's acting strangely around you, it doesn't necessarily mean it's got anything to do with you."
"But everyone, Remus? Everyone?"
"Who's everyone, then? Let's go through the list."
"Marlene, obviously," she says.
"Well, that's easy," says Remus. "She's been kicked off the team and has been having a hard time of it. Everyone knows that. She's probably just lashing out."
"Alright, Sev then."
Remus chooses his words carefully. "Well... I don't really know him, but it seems to me like he's got a fair bit going on at the moment too. I know you don't want to hear it, Lily, but maybe that is one friendship you ought to reconsider..."
"You're right, I didn't want to hear it," she says briskly. "Alright, next up— Potter."
"What's James done exactly? Other than be a prat as usual, I mean. He's not your friend, anyway, so it doesn't count."
"Alright, fair enough. Well, Cresswell then."
"Worried sick about Mary," says Remus. "He's fancied her since we were in second or third year, I don't remember..."
Lily frowns. "Yeah... and what about Mary?"
Remus looks at her, having no answer.
"Nobody knows, do they?"
"This isn't the way to the common room," Mary says.
Cresswell jumps at the sound of her voice; they have been walking in absolute silence down the second floor corridor.
"Uh, no, it isn't," he replies. "We're not going to the common room yet."
"What? Why not?"
"We just... we have to see McGonagall first, that's all," he says vaguely.
She sighs, accepting it. "Alright, then."
He looks at her worriedly, then takes her hand and they keep walking.
Peter paces back and forth nervously in front of a large mirror, waiting.
Finally, Sirius and James materialise out of nowhere, having pulled the invisibility cloak off themselves. Peter jumps.
"Blimey, you gave me a fright."
"Yeah, sorry," says Sirius. "Snape followed us up two floors, so we had to break out the cloak and a few evasive maneuvers to shake him off. With any luck he thinks we're heading to the seventh floor to meet up with Remus, though I can't believe he actually fell for that one twice."
"Did you get everything ready like I asked?" says James.
Peter nods. "What do you reckon you'll be? I shouldn't like to be a rabbit, I saw one on the lawn a few weeks ago and it was all cut up like someone'd taken a bloody great knife to it, ugh."
Sirius looks disgusted. "What? That's mental."
"Enough about Peter's rabbit, lets head in," says James impatiently, and he places a hand on the mirror. "Ostende."
The surface of the mirror glows and his hand passes through it. James enters the secret passage, with Sirius and Peter behind him.
Inside, is a dark, fairly spacious room with a small crawlspace in the corner leading off into further darkness. Three luminous chalk circles have been drawn on the wooden floor, and a cauldron sits bubbling between the circles.
"Alright, go on then," says James.
As they all step into their circles, Sirius conjures a small orb of light and directs it to hover on the ceiling directly above them.
James pulls his wand out and points it forward at the cauldron. The others follow suit.
"Amato Animo Animato Animagus," says James.
"Amato Animo Animato Animagus," they say together. "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."
The water in the cauldron glows bright white.
James looks around at them. "Alright, on three— one, two, three."
As one they reach into their mouths and pry free the mandrake leaves.
"Ugh, I think there's still a bit of my tea stuck on mine, hang on."
Peter wipes the remnant off, and they all throw the leaves forward. Slowly, carefully, the leaves glide down into the cauldron, and the liquid turns bright crimson.
"Looks like blood, doesn't it," says Peter.
"That's the point, Peter. Now focus."
They each levitate a little bottle. The bottles dip themselves into the cauldron and return to the owners, dripping a trail of what does look awfully like blood on the floor as they go.
James raises his bottle to them. "Well, here goes. Cheers."
They all drink the potion in one gulp, and toss the bottles aside.
They chant, voices rising to a shout: "Amato Animo Animato Animagus! Amato Animo Animato Animagus!"
A silent, blinding white light suffuses the room—
Remus is pleased to see that Lily looks a great deal happier now. They're both laughing about something, though Lily is laughing much harder.
"Oh don't laugh, it's true," he says.
"You're telling me you wish you were like Black?" Lily says, green eyes glittering with mirth.
Remus feels his face grow hot. "I said sometimes I wish. Can you blame me? He's so sure of himself, always doing whatever he wants, damn the consequences, and girls like him..."
"What are you on about? Girls love you, Remus. Honest."
"Oh, yeah, 'course they do." Remus looks away from her.
"Come on, what's not to like?" insists Lily. "You're quiet, kind, sensitive— girls love that. We only pretend to like the Siriuses of the world until we get a little older and wiser and realise it's the Remuses we've been looking for all along. Trust me, I'm a girl, I know these things. I understand people."
Remus grins, embarrassed at the praise but pleased all the same.
They round the corner and walk right into Severus Snape, who is striding determinedly with his wand out in their direction.
"Sev?" says Lily in confusion. "What on earth are you doing up here?"
He stops in his tracks and stares at her and then at Remus, eyes narrowing in dislike..
"I'm just... walking, that's all. What are you doing here, with him?"
The last word is filled with hate and suspicion.
"Patrolling, remember?" Lily says, rolling her eyes. "It's part of our duties, you know, as prefects? I don't understand why you're up here, it's past curfew and this is nowhere near your common room."
"We really ought to report you," says Remus, glaring. Why on earth is he up here, when things were going so well with Lily? He knows Snape wouldn't dare attack him in front of her, but he must be up to something.
"Just try it, you scar-faced freak," Snape hisses.
"Severus, don't talk to him like that," Lily says angrily.
He rounds on her. "Why are you defending him? You know he's one of them, you said it yourself."
"Oh, one of them, am I?" Remus says, looking at Lily.
She rolls her eyes. "Oh, honestly, he doesn't mean anything by it. Severus, just go back to your common room. We won't report you, but you ought to leave, now. You're being really horrible and I don't know what's got into you."
He's always horrible, Remus thinks bitterly.
"Got into me?" Snape says incredulously. "Here you are, walking around and having a laugh with the enemy, and I'm the one that's in the wrong."
Remus scoffs. "I'm not the enemy, and besides, you're the one who's skulking around after hours."
Snape seems to seize upon this thought. "Oh, but I'm not the only one, am I? Where's your friends, then, eh, Lupin? They're around here somewhere, aren't they?" He looks around eagerly as if expecting to see them hiding in a corner.
Remus stares at him. "What are you talking about? You're barking."
"Oh come on, Sev, we haven't seen Potter or any of the others all night," says Lily. "I think you're being a bit ridiculous. I was only patrolling with him, and besides you've no right to tell me who I can or can't be friends with. Especially seeing as you clearly don't care what I think about your friends."
He closes his mouth at that, though he's still glaring at Remus.
Lily sighs. "Look, Remus, sorry to ask but could you finish doing rounds on your own? I think I should walk Sev back to his common room."
Remus isn't thrilled by the idea, but he relents. "Yeah, go on then. I'll be alright by myself."
"Thanks, Remus. I'm really sorry."
She grabs a mutinous Severus by the elbow and marches them away. Remus watches her go a little regretfully, then sighs and heads the other way down the corridor.
No sooner have they disappeared than Sirius materialises in front of him, grinning widely.
"Boo," he says.
"Bloody hell, Sirius, you scared me. Where's—"
His question is answered as James and Peter come around the corner, blazing with excitement and triumph.
"There he is, just the man we wanted to see!" says James.
Remus looks at them bemusedly. "What's going on?"
"Not here. We'll show you, come on," Peter says, beckoning.
Mary stares down at her lap, silent.
"You're saying you think she's been cursed?" says Professor McGonagall, nostrils flaring. "This is an extremely serious allegation, Mr. Cresswell."
Cresswell looks anxiously at Dumbledore. "I know it is. But... but look at her. Something's just not right. Please—"
Dumbledore looks at him gravely. "All of Mary's professors have reported decreased performance in her classes. Rest assured, we intend to take the matter seriously.
Professor Richter rounds the desk and takes a close look at Mary.
"Mary, how are you feeling?" he says.
Mary looks up at him nervously. "I... I don't know. I'm not sure what's going on."
"That's alright," Richter says gently. "Don't worry, you aren't in any trouble. Now, I want you to think carefully about the past month, alright? Can you think of anything strange that's happened, anyone who's tried to hurt you or anything like that."
Mary struggles, opens her mouth, closes it. "No, I... I can't remember, I'm... I'm sorry."
Richter sighs. "It's alright. It's not your fault. If anything occurs to you, don't be afraid to speak up."
She nods.
"Mr. Cresswell, what can you tell us about this?" McGonagall says. Dirk has never seen her look so worried.
"Well, ever since the protest there's been a couple of Slytherins who haven't stopped giving her a hard time. Rosier, and Mulciber. There's others, too, but it's mainly those two."
The professors all look at each other.
"Why didn't anyone say anything?"
"That's hardly the issue, Minerva," says Richter.
"No, but if we'd known—"
"We still might not have realised the extent of it," says Dumbledore. "Children can be cruel, teenagers even more so. We all learn to ignore it, after a while. Please continue, Mr. Cresswell."
Dirk nods shakily. "Right. Well she was jumpy before, that's what Lily says, but things didn't get really bad until the match. Lily says Mary just disappeared from the stands and didn't return until late that night, and she was... different. Like something had happened."
Richter leans forward. "Different? How so?"
"Well, like this, I suppose? She's just... not all the way there. She's not herself. The old Mary would never have taken an insult lying down, would she, but tonight in detention— well, it doesn't matter, the point is—"
"What happened in detention?" says McGonagall sharply.
"Well, Filch had us scrubbing out some cauldrons by hand, right? So Mulciber walks over, drops his cauldron in front of Mary and tells her to clean it. And she just does it, without a word."
The professors look at each other again, this time with alarm.
Finally, Richter speaks.
"When I still taught at Durmstrang, I would see this sort of thing all the time. This is what happens when you teach children dark magic without making sure they understand the consequences."
"What are you on about? What dark magic?" Cresswell says in alarm.
"Yes, Gerhard, do enlighten us."
"I may be mistaken," says Richter. "But it looks to me as if Miss MacDonald has been Imperiused."
"Imperiused?" repeats McGonagall faintly. "That's ridiculous, there's no way any of the students—"
Richter's moustache bristles. "Like I said, I've seen it before. It's the reason I left Durmstrang, because I alone wished to cut the Dark Arts from the curriculum."
"And Hogwarts is the better for it," says Dumbledore. He looks at Mary, very carefully. "Miss MacDonald will be kept in the hospital wing under observation, with wards around her that will alert Madam Pomfrey instantly if they are intruded upon. Mr. Cresswell, you will need to write me a list of approved visitors. Keep it short, and make sure everyone can be trusted."
Dirk nods, mutely.
"For now, I ask that you do not tell anyone anything we have discussed here tonight. We will be investigating this matter to the fullest degree. Rest assured, Mr. Cresswell, this will be dealt with."
McGonagall's hand has flown to her forehead, as if she might faint. "Albus, if it is the Imperius curse the Aurors might have to be involved…"
"We don't know exactly what's going on yet, Minerva. Go wake up Slughorn and bring him to my office to discuss his students."
She nods and leaves the room, looking shaken.
"As for you, Mr. Cresswell, you should be proud of yourself. I know this can't have been easy, but you've proven yourself a good friend to Mary, and a good man. Tell your classmates that the rest of their detentions for the term are cancelled."
"Yes, sir. Thanks. Will she—"
Dumbledore smiles at him, kindly. "Mary will be alright, now. You can come and visit her in the hospital wing in the morning if you like."
Cresswell nods and gets to his feet.
"Don't worry, Mary. I'll see you tomorrow," he says. He kisses the top of her head, and looks up to see Dumbledore regarding him sadly.
"Good night, Mr. Cresswell."
Sirius, James, and Peter stand before Remus, grinning in anticipation.
"Alright, what's this all about?" Remus says, looking around. They've led him into an empty classroom. Outside the window, he sees the moon— barely a sliver in the night sky.
His friends look at each other, then— they transform.
First Peter, into a small brown rat. Then Sirius, a handsome black dog wagging its tail furiously. And finally, James, a regal stag.
Remus is floored, at a loss for words. "You... you did it. You did it! I can't believe— but—" he stammers.
Sirius runs up to him and pushes his nose affectionately against his leg. Remus strokes his shiny fur, laughing incredulously.
"You mad, brilliant bastards," he says feverishly as they transform back.
Peter shrugs his now-human shoulders experimentally. "I still don't see why I'm a rat while you two are big animals. Hardly seems fair."
"Are you joking?" James says. "Do you realise the places you could go without anyone noticing you're there? I think you got the better deal, mate."
Peter looks cheered. "Yeah, you're right!"
"It'll come in handy for pressing that knot on the willow, won't it?" says Sirius thoughtfully. "I'm always terrified I'm going to get clobbered while I'm doing it."
Remus is gripped by sudden uncertainty. "I just— how do we know I won't just attack you anyway?"
"Everything we've read about werewolves says they don't attack other animals," James says. "I s'pose you might try and have a nibble off of me but if it comes to that, Sirius will protect me, won't you Sirius."
"Never doubt it," Sirius says.
James grins. "So there you have it, then. Next full moon, Remus, all the Marauders will be running around on four legs. Not so different anymore, are you?"
Genuinely touched, Remus thinks he might cry of happiness. "I still can't believe this, I mean... thank you." It seems to be the only thing he can say, but James waves him off.
"Nah mate, it's what friends are for. I'd do anything for you lot. And I know you'd do anything for me. That's what makes us the Marauders."
Remus feels as though his heart may just burst.
"I s'pose we'll all need nicknames, then, won't we? Just to be fair. Peter, you can be Wormtail."
"Don't I get a say?"
Sirius ignores him, thinking. "I'll be... Snuffles."
"Padfoot. Less stupid." Says James.
"Fine. What about you?"
James considers it. "I think... Prongs. Shall we make it official?"
He pulls out the map, and grabs a quill and ink from a nearby desk. Remus watches him write above the title, in flawless script:
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, purveyors of aids to magical mischief-makers, are proud to present...
He embellishes it a little, then steps back to admire his handiwork.
"Looks good, doesn't it. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs."
Sirius nods. "Sounds good, too."
They look at each other, triumphant.
Remus taps the map with his wand.
"Mischief managed," he says.
"You don't have to walk me all the way there, Lily, honestly," Sev says.
She smiles at him, shivering a little. It's quite a bit cooler down in the dungeons. "No, but I want to. I'm glad we've been able to talk, it seems like we hardly do these days."
"Yeah, I know. And I'm sorry I've been so distracted and everything, there's just a lot going on."
"You're my best mate, Sev," Lily says. "Maybe my only one at the moment. Whatever's going on, whatever's wrong— I want you to know I'm on your side."
He looks at her, unsure what to say.
"How precious," says Avery, looming suddenly out of the darkness.
He and Mulciber are leaning against the wall in front of the common room entrance.
Lily stiffens at the sight of them. "Bollocks. Suppose that's my cue to leave."
"Hang on a second Evans," drawls Avery. "A friend of mine told me an interesting rumour about you the other day."
"Oh yeah, and what's that then?" Lily says coolly, crossing her arms.
"He said you're still a virgin."
Lily turns red, completely thrown. "I'm— what?"
Avery and Mulciber laugh at her, and she glares.
"You're repulsive."
"Is it true?"
"Avery, shut up," says Severus, drawing everyone's attention.
"But since you and Severus are such mates," says Avery slyly. "I'd be only too happy to help you out with that little problem. As a personal favour. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt... much."
Avery and Mulciber laugh again. Severus wishes he could strangle Avery right then and there.
"Don't make me hex you," Lily snaps.
"Ooh, scary. I was only joking, Evans, no need to get so worked up about it."
"Will you just leave it, Avery?" says Severus angrily.
Avery looks like he doesn't want to, but Mulciber tilts his head significantly and he stops.
"Fine then," he says curtly. "You coming inside?"
Severus nods, casting Lily an apologetic look. She says nothing to him, holds her head up high.
"Birthright," says Mulciber to the brick wall, and the door opens. The three boys enter into the common room, and the door swings shut behind them.
Severus stares hatefully at Avery, who notices.
"What?"
"Nothing," Sev says quickly.
"You look like you want to curse my bollocks off. Calm down, Snape, I was only having a laugh." He grins and heads for the dormitory. Sev's palms curl into fists at his sides.
"What a—"
Mulciber fixes him with a glare and the words die in Sev's throat.
"A what, Severus? Avery's a pureblood wizard, of far superior parentage than you, might I add. And what's Lily Evans? Only a Mudblood. So, it was just a laugh. There's nothing more to it. Don't test my patience."
Without another word, he leaves. Severus stands there, staring after him.
Lily, still fuming, makes her way across the Entrance Hall— Cresswell is waiting by the hourglasses. He spots her and hurries to her side.
"Lily!"
She turns. "Oh. Hi, Dirk."
"Mary's in Hospital Wing."
Her eyes go wide with panic, all her anger forgotten. "What? Why? What's happened?"
"No, nothing's happened," he says. "It's just, well, I did what you said and went to McGonagall and Dumbledore about it. They're keeping her under observation, that's all."
Lily relaxes. "Oh. Oh, that's good, then. Do they have any idea what's happened?"
He hesitates a little, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Uh, no... no, we're not sure yet. Well, they think it's some sort of curse, only they don't know what... uh, well, anyway... I was going to visit her tomorrow if you want to come with me."
She softens, smiling at him. "Alright. Thanks, Dirk."
"Yeah," he says sheepishly. He grins, too— an apology.
She hugs him, tightly.
The professors watch as Madam Pomfrey helps Mary into a bed, handing her a potion and murmuring something in her ear.
Dumbledore heaves a sigh.
"I had really hoped, despite everything, that the war would not reach Hogwarts. But it seems to have found a foothold all the same."
"I just don't understand how students could have learned such magic," says McGonagall fretfully. "Children, Albus."
"Most children have parents, do they not?" Richter says.
"Well, I don't know," says Slughorn nervously. "I think we're all getting a little ahead of ourselves."
McGonagall looks at him, nostrils flaring. "Are we, Horace? It's students from your house, after all… Albus, you don't think they're..."
"Involved with Voldemort?" Dumbledore says neutrally.
They all flinch at the sound of the name.
"At the very least, they must have sympathies," says McGonagall. "We all saw what happened at the protest. We all read the Prophet this morning. How could we have let such hatred fester..."
"It's not our fault if the children of supremacists and terrorists turn out that way themselves," says Richter.
"No, but they're still children. I can't fathom this, it's beyond comprehension."
"The nature of war forces children to grow up far sooner than they should," Dumbledore says.
He shares a glance with Richter, loaded with meaning that only the two of them understand.
Slughorn peers over at Madam Pomfrey, who nods. "Yes, well, it looks like she's asleep now— shall we?"
They approach Mary's bed and raise their wands, silently pulling currents of magical energy out of the air to form a shimmering mesh curtain around her bed. The mesh glows brightly, then fades, leaving only a glowing ring on the floor.
Dumbledore turns to Madam Pomfrey. "Poppy, tomorrow Dirk Cresswell will bring by a list of approved students. You must alter the charm to let them through, although I encourage you to question every one of them closely before doing so. We can never be too careful."
"Yes, of course."
"If anyone tries to breach it, either physically or magically, the charm will alert you. And it will also tell us who it is that has disturbed the wards."
Madam Pomfrey nods.
"All we can do now is keep an eye on the situation, and hope it doesn't escalate. This has been a long night. I suggest we all try to get some rest."
He casts a last glance at Mary's sleeping form before leaving.