Chapter 30: Like Nothing We've Ever Done Before
Ariadne began gathering up her books and notes to leave. James, Sirius and Remus merely looked at her for a few moments, confused by her utter lack of response to their pronouncement. Finally, Sirius spoke up. "Where the hell are you going, Morrigan?"
"The library," responded Ariadne, without emotion.
"You're not even going to ask us about how we're planning to become Animagi?"
"Or threaten to report us to McGonagall?" asked James in disbelief.
Ariadne stopped organizing her sheafs of parchment for a moment and looked at them with a tired sort of exasperation. "Look, I really don't have time for any elaborate Marauder pranks right now. Between the Transfiguration project and studying and all this plotting against Yaxley, I have my hands full. Perhaps you should take a second look at your priorities as well." She got up to leave.
"Wait!" Sirius grabbed her wrist. "Morrigan, this isn't a joke."
She impatiently shook him off, feeling increasingly frustrated, and though she hated to admit it, a little hurt. "I didn't know that inducting me into the Marauders was just a clever way to make me the butt of more of your pranks," she said, beginning to lose her stiff, emotionless veneer.
"Ariadne, listen to me. We've already got the Mandrake leaves. We're going to start them soon."
Ariadne allowed herself to sink back into the couch, as if processing this information had drained her of the energy to remain standing. "You're not saying you're actually serious about this?"
Sirius, seeming to know that she would trust the hard, cold evidence of books more than anything else, unwrapped a volume he had stored in his bag, with brown paper concealing the title. It was The Sorceress of Avalon, a medieval account of the life of Morgan Le Fay, normally kept in the Restricted section of the library. Ariadne had frequently perused the book and knew it well. She knew, for example, that it included multiple chapters detailing the process by which Morgana learned to become one of the earliest known Animagi. Sirius handed the book to her and she gripped the familiar thick leather binding.
"Are you insane?" she hissed.
"To a rational observer, it would seem so," answered Lupin wryly.
"Morrigan, we've been over this. It's not insanity, it's just a little risk to keep things exciting," said Sirius, his eyes glimmering with spark now that he had her attention. "Nothing worth doing doesn't involve breaking a few rules."
"I can actually think of many things worth doing that don't involve breaking any rules. Such as, not getting expelled from Hogwarts, not violating restrictions on underage use of magic, and not going to Azkaban for the rest of your life," said Ariadne.
"You consistently underestimate our intelligence, Morrigan. We're obviously not stupid enough to get caught," said Sirius, crossing one of his legs over the other.
"You consistently overestimate yours. Keeping a Mandrake leaf in your mouth for an entire month? Going out in the middle of a lightning storm? How are you possibly going to do all of this without a professor or anyone else noticing?"
"The same way we're illegally brewing Polyjuice Potion in the potions classroom right under Slughorn's nose," responded Sirius with a smirk.
"This is different."
"You've said that every time we propose another scheme for the improvement of ourselves or of Hogwarts, and yet..."
"And what, Black?"
He leaned back into the sofa and folded his arms with an air of satisfaction. "And yet, you're still here."
"I think there might be something else besides Marauder plots keeping Morrigan around," snickered James, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Ariadne shot him a withering look, then turned to Sirius. "This is on a completely different level of insanity. This is advanced magic well beyond what most N.E.W.T.-qualified wizards even dream of. This is risking permanent deformity or death, if it goes wrong. This isn't just breaking some school rules, it would be breaking the highest wizarding law. This is—"
"The most epic Marauder adventure yet. Like nothing we've ever done before," concluded Sirius, eyes gleaming.
"Is this about proving yourself? Or trying to impress me? What in the world could impel you to—" Ariadne's eyes landed on Remus, who was staring down at his knotted fingers again. Then she understood.
"Where do you go during your transformations, Remus?" she asked quietly.
"Out to the edges of Hogsmeade. The run-down hut they're calling the Shrieking Shack," he responded.
"And I don't suppose your planning to register yourselves?" asked Ariadne, now directing the question at Sirius.
"That would defeat the purpose, love," murmured Sirius.
Ariadne was silent for a moment. Then she grabbed a piece of parchment and began scribbling on it rapidly. "What's this?" asked Sirius as she handed it to him.
"Required reading," she answered briskly. "I'll get a few more from the library this evening. And don't even think about trying to haggle for some Quidditch match or party or any nonsense like that. This was your idea." She gathered her bag and books again to leave.
"So I take it this means…you'll help us?" said Sirius.
"There's no way you're pulling this off without my help," said Ariadne by way of answering. "In fact, it's beyond any of our capabilities individually. But with me, and all of our talents combined, we may just be able to do it."
"And does this mean you'll not only be helping, but…participating?"
Ariadne gave him rather condescending look. "Why would I do all the work for none of the benefit?"
She got up and swept through the portrait hole. Sirius was examining the booklist she had left him. In the bottom left-hand corner, like an unrelated note from before, was neatly printed Tomorrow. 8pm.