Things had begun to quiet down in Gryffindor Tower as the end of the school year approached, and the summer holidays hid just around the coming corner. However, the same couldn't be said for outside of it. Allegra and her newfound friends quickly established a reputation among students and professors, but it wasn't good. Their idea of jokes often resulted in tears or things only the small group of girls had found humor in. Although they frequently ceased to find it funny the moment the same logic was turned on and weaponized against them, usually courtesy of the Marauders, occasionally Severus Snape had done so in defense of Lily and Isolde.
"You guys promise to write over the holidays?" asked Isolde, a gentle tone to her voice as she looked around her group of friends, from the boys who so often caused mischief and mayhem to the girls she shared a dorm with and would proudly call her found family. Sure, not all of them got along, but it was far better than the world war Isolde often found herself in with Allegra. Lily and James usually had disagreements, bantering back and forth in some form; James frequently pined after Lily, although she seemed content to ignore him in favor of her friendship with Severus.
Likewise, the other Marauders had also started to come into their own. Peter had discovered the terrifying world of romance and attraction. All four of them attempted to further their self-given assignments, having more success in one than the other. However, with the inclusion of (Y/N) and Marlene, they'd gain more confidence and eventually succeed where they'd previously failed.
"Who else am I going to pester?" asked (Y/N) with her usual mischievous grin. Plus, you know Joaquin is gonna send letters, too," she added with a ring of laughter falling from her lips. Isolde's cheeks heated up rapidly until they had a pink/reddish tint as she was reminded that her friends knew of her dating lifeāor at least the girls did.
"You can pester me," commented Sirius as he came to sit next to (Y/N). On the other hand, Remus had squished himself between (Y/N) and Marlene with a victorious grin upon succeeding. Marlene smiled sweetly as she reached for a bowl of her favorite jelly flavors.
"Save us all the nightmares and just date already," commented James, pushing his rounded glasses back up the bridge of his nose before pulling a folded piece of parchment out of his robes. "Wait, where's Lily? I thought she came down with you girls," he added once again, ruffling his hair as if to give the illusion he'd stepped off his broom moments before entering the Great Hall.
"Careful, James, your image is slipping," replied Peter, if only to poke a little fun at one of his best friends. Once again, he wore his favorite striped sweater, the one in Gryffindor colors, which James joked he took to every occasion in place of a date.
"What image is that exactly?" asked Marlene, a playful grin appearing across her lips before a bout of laughter escaped her. Even more so with the deadpan glare James threw in her direction, although a friendly smile cracked through when he could no longer uphold the serious persona. Of course, they would take the opportunity to poke a little fun, even more so when he'd take every chance to return the favor, particularly in the quiet moments throughout the school year.
"The poet?" questioned (Y/N).
"I was thinking the lady's man ... you know, the one with the terrible attempts at flirting," commented Isolde, a bright smile spreading across her lips, even more so with how fast James had turned his attention to her.
"Be serious, guys," began Remus, "Peter obliviously meant the bookworm image James has been working on."
"And here I thought it was the star Quidditch Player and Mischief Master one," voiced Sirius.
"You're hurting my feelings," declared James, "Peter clearly meant my tough guy image. I can't help but care for you lot, even when you are experimenting and regularly blowing things up."
"Come now, it's been months since anything exploded," replied (Y/N) with a slight chuckle. "I've been preoccupied helping your four with all your witchy needs and setting a few pranks and boogy traps off," she added with an unmoved grin on her lips and a sparkle in her sapphire eyes.
"Or in detention," replied Peter quickly, receiving another chuckle from (Y/N) as she nodded in agreement. Peter slowly regained his confidence after the fiasco with the Wicked Quartet.
"OW!" exclaimed Isolde as something collided with the side of her head. Looking at the tabletop, she was met with a tightly bound and screwed-up piece of parchment. Upon picking it up, she noticed it felt heavier than it should have been, having little doubt there was something in it, perhaps a stone or small rock.
When Peter scanned the Great Hall, a tiny trembling squeak left his lips. His focus locked on the group of girls who had been set on terrorizing the castle in a not-so-fun way. Although he'd yet to word it aloud, he'd still yet to get over Samantha's claim of them dating, nor had he been able to shake the rumors the rest of the girls had been spreading. Even worse, Peter had yet to determine what they wanted from him other than terrorizing him for their cruel entertainment.
He couldn't offer them anything; he wasn't popular like Sirius and James, bright like Remus, or unique like (Y/N). He was just another pureblood wizard, terrified of being alone and the brewing war. All he wanted was to spend his days at Hogwarts in relative peace, learn to be a wizard, and figure out what he wanted to do when he left education.
"You okay, Peter?" asked Joaquin upon joining the group, taking Lily's regular place as she was across the hall with Severus at the Slytherin table. There was little doubt the two would be making plans for the holidays, as they did every year before returning home for the summer. Joaquin had done the same with his friends in Ravenclaw, and there was little doubt Helena had done the same with her friends in Hufflepuff.
"I still don't get it," commented James, looking between two Wolffe siblings. He could see some similarities and shared features; everyone could, yet they were still so different. Joaquin was a well-rounded fifth-year student, popular and intelligent; he was the keeper for Ravenclaw's quidditch team and a school prefect now, too. Whereas (Y/N) was one of the most mischievous students to pass through the school, clumsy but brilliant for her age, a thorn in the sides of professors and students alike, but a brilliant chaser for Gryffindor's quidditch team, however (Y/N), had gained the nickname Bane of Hogwarts for a reason.
Then there was Helena, the one James still couldn't wrap his head around. Joaquin's twin, she was gentle, kind, and a loyal friend. Always willing to give advice. Like her siblings, she was smart and talented at potions and caring for magical creatures. Of course, she was a prefect and on the quidditch team, the seeker for Hufflepuff House. Helena was a friend to everyone, but that never stopped her from engaging in a friendly sibling rivalry with Joaquin and (Y/N).
"Get what?" questioned Remus, allowing curiosity to get the better of him. Although he soon understood the comments when he followed James' line of sight, as it flicked between Joaquin, (Y/N), and the passing Helena Wolffe.
"(Y/N)'s a metamorphmagi; she's naturally more clumsy, curious, and mischievous," answered Joaquin, remembering how proud his parents had been of each of them, his mother especially, considering none of them had turned out like her side of the family. "Our parents neutered it as they encouraged us to be who we are. Although, mom always said the mischief comes from dad's side of the family," he laughed, recalling the back-and-forth comments and banter between his parents growing up.
"What do your parents do?" asked Sirius, not believing he hadn't asked before, even more so when he was sure Marlene, Isolde, and Lily would have already asked at some point. He knew it was unusual for affluent pureblood families to do anything in the way of a career; sure, they'd volunteer sometimes, but nothing more. His own family was proof of that; his vile mother so often rattled around the house shouting about one thing or another while his father attempted to write some book he'd been working on for years if only to stay out of his mother's way.
"Mom's a potions master; she has a shop in Diagon Alley," replied (Y/N); her mother's potions were simple household ones, most of which were of her own making; occasionally, she'd sell the recipes for the potions. Her business was booming and kept her happy. "Dad is a Magizoologist; he travels the world in search of them," she added, a bright smile coming to her lips as she remembered the bangs and puffs of smoke coming from the basement when her mother was working on a new potion. Every time her mom would shout up, she was okay when something inevitably exploded. Likewise, her father always came home with stories of his adventures to tell.
"That explains a lot, commented Peter. "You know, we should all meet up sometime during the holidays," he added, changing the subject back to the holiday plans. His eyes lit up as others agreed. Joaquin glanced at Isolde, whereas Remus, Sirius, and James voiced their agreement in various ways. Marlene was quick to agree, as did Isolde, if only so she didn't have to spend the summer stuck with Allegra more than she had to be. After some thought, (Y/N) eventually agreed, although she commented that it would have to be around the plans her parents likely already had in place.
"Good idea," replied Isolde, a soft grin coming to her lips as she gently nudged Joaquin, confirming she'd be happy to spend more time with him. "You lot can swear me in on your secret plans," she laughed. "Lily, too, if we can ever get her back."
"Secret plans?" asked Joaquin, quickly finding his little sister again, just in time to see her ruffle Sirius' fluffy hair. However, her rebellion didn't prevent him from playing with her ever-changing locks. Instead, the pure-blood wizard flicked it several times before ruffling hers with a playful grin of his own.
"I think they mean the mischievous ones?" replied Remus, knowing several plans were in place to cause more havoc and chaos during the following school year if only to keep up the reputation they'd built up over the years. There was little doubt old Filch would be grumbling about it, and the Quartet would be targetted some way or another, along with the odd Slytherin and anyone else that wandered into the firing zone, whether they were students or professors.
"Sure, it wasn't the laughing potion and biting quill one?" voiced Marlene, seeing utter confusion pass over James and Peter's features. Their identical expressions at least pulled chuckles from Sirius and (Y/N) when they finally paid attention.
"Am I invited to your pathetic little pity party?" asked Allegra upon waltzing over; her hazel eyes of judgment soon landed up Joaquin, curiosity alight in them as she tried to work out if she'd seen him somewhere before. As she determined whether she liked him or not. Soon enough, she reached to retrieve the balled-up parchment she'd tossed at Isolde earlier. She'd hoped to transfigure it into something Isolde was terrified of, but it hadn't worked out that way. Instead, she'd missed every attempt to hit the balled-up parchment.
"Who's the Pumpkin Head?" asked Isolde, turning her attention to Allegra's friends, only to see them dealing with the bitter consequences of their terrible actions. One had been hit with the pumpkin head charm, while two others dangled upside down as if an invisible like was holding them in the air. Another two struggled to move with jelly legs. The last one wasn't fairing any better, as her front teeth were growing larger by the second.
"Process of elimination, I'd say dear pumpkin head was Ulrica," replied James, laughing shortly after. Even more so when the students who were hand-picked to be prefects and the head boy and girl had seemingly looked the other way except for a few who appeared to give helpful advice to the students brave enough to retaliate against the group named the spawn of satan.
"Snape and a few of his Dark Arts buddies being prats again," growled Allegra, missing Joaquin's quiet snigger; he knew the aforementioned group of Slytherin boys weren't entirely responsible, at least not for all of it. Before Allegra could question what was so fun or make any more rude remarks, she was hit with two shimmering sparks, one white and the other a bright blue. The white spell locked her legs together, causing her to tumble over, whereas the other was by far the worst, in Allegra's opinion, a singing charm.
"Joaquin?" called (Y/N), as she attempted to contain her laughter, even if she failed miserably.
"I'll admit to the pumpkin head one," replied Joaquin, holding his hands up shortly thereafter, if only to rub his ears. Allegra's singing was terrible, even with the charm meant to improve it. "But the rest I'm surprisingly innocent of," he added, pointing over to the Slytherin table where Severus was with Lily; near them were Masion and Regulus giggling among their shared group of friends as they pointed to the wicked group of girls.
"I guess you two rubbed off on Mason and Regulus," Marlene commented softly. She found her little brother's actions sweet, although she believed she should protect him. Nonetheless, he seemed determined to get a little justice for her and those in the group of third-year girls who had gone out of their way to bully.
"I'm so proud right now," said Sirius, although he was unlikely to say so in front of his parents. He would, however, tell it to Regulus before the train home reached London.
