Fourth Year, A world where there are Octobers
October 1974
The first rocky weeks of term were behind them, and with the autumn season being ushered in by falling leaves, the year began to bleed into its usual pace. This meant that, once again, the quidditch season was in full swing.
Even though Marlene did train throughout the school week - if her timetable allowed her to do so at least - the weekends were solely reserved for quidditch practice. She`d set an alarm to go off before dawn and sneak out of the dorm to get breakfast, trying not to rouse Lily and Mary in the process. Usually she`d wake up on her own accord, before the alarm went off, her biological rhythm used to the early mornings.
At breakfast she`d meet up with James and Peter, who were just as discipled when it came to training. At least James was; Peter got dragged along as usual. The other two marauders would still be in bed at this point. Marlene thoroughly enjoyed these early mornings alone with James and Peter. James was much more mellow without Sirius around; as Marlene had noticed many times before already.
They`d read the Daily Prophet, drink their coffee, and gorge on the thick porridge prepared by the house elves. Barely talking, sometimes exchanging a word or two between bites. As they sat at the oak wooden table in the Great Hall the sun would emerge above the horizon and it would start to get light outside. One of the perks of this time of year was that they didn`t have to go out in the dark yet. It would be a whole other story if they had to.
`You`re going out for quidditch captain next year, aye?` Marlene asked, swallowing a mouthful of food.
`Yeah,` James nodded, looking chuffed. `Really want that spot. Been dreaming about being captain ever since I can remember.`
`Neat.` Marlene nodded grinning.
Secretly she was glad that James would be trying out for captain next year. Though it was appealing to be captain and have total reign of the team, it was a position that she would gladly assign to him. James was a born leader, that was clear. She wouldn`t like to be in the centre of attention like that. Besides, she was certain it was a huge responsibility to care for a team like that.
After breakfast, they trudged down to the pitch in their flying kits, the morning fog rolling in over the grounds, leather boots making deep imprints in the dewy grass. The trees blazed in orange and red, setting fire to the misty sky. Birds sat atop the rafters, filling the quiet of the early hour.
They warmed up together before going into tactics; James drilling Peter ruthlessly. Marlene kept to herself, improving her swing, or practicing feints to get to the bludgers in time. It was rewarding to feel how much stronger she`d gotten ever since getting on the team in second year. Last year they`d barely won from Slytherin; both Black cousins being extremely strong players. Hence, they`d really needed to better themselves that year.
After an hour or so, Remus and Sirius would appear in the stands. Remus dragging along his books to do some homework. Sirius would try to do homework, but inevitably jump on his broom and join them.
Mary and Lily would also pop by if the weather allowed them to do so, sitting with Remus and Sirius. Mary enjoying the sun, Lily chatting with Remus or doing homework. Marlene would come an sit with them if she needed a breather.
`You need to lean into your broom more, when you take a swing.` Sirius said as Marlene landed on the stands, breathing heavily, her damp hair plastering to her face.
She glared at him angrily; Sirius kept giving her unsolicited advice. `I hit the bludgers nine times of ten.` she spit back. `Ten times, in my best games. Even Mulciber can`t manage that.`
`Don`t try to be better than the competition.` Sirius retorted. `You`ve only got yourself to beat.`
Marlene knitted her brow together, sighing. He was one to fecking talk. `Look, Black, if you think you can do better, we`re trying out for beaters on Tuesday.`
`Nah.` Sirius waved a dismissive hand in the air. `You beat me fair and square.`
`Two years ago.` Marlene reminded him annoyed. If she was going to do this, she would do it fair.
Sirius didn`t respond and stopped looking at her. Marlene shrugged and stalked off after giving Mary and Lily an exasperated look. If he was going to keep critiquing her, he might as well join the bleeding team.
Tuesday rolled around and Marlene woke up sick to her stomach. Though she knew that she was already on the team, the try-outs made her feel anxious none the less. It was always a gamble who would show up; one faulty player could let the whole fabric of the team collapse.
And worst of all, after today, there was the almost inevitable chance that she`d be a duo with Black. Obviously she knew it had been her own idea to put him on to try out for the team. But that had been in a spat of annoyance. She hadn`t thought it through clearly. Him being on the team would actually give him permission to piss on her.
In the span of two years, Sirius had gotten a lot taller and stronger and he`d have all the weight on her.
There was a migraine blooming at the end of the school day, and she dug her fingertips deep into her temples, urging it to disappear. They were seated in the quidditch stands, waiting for all the aspiring quidditch players to round up on the field.
`It`s going to be alright.` Lily offered, putting a hand on her shoulder.
`You`ve already got a spot on the team, Marls.` Mary joined in. `They won`t replace you. Truly.`
`That`s not what I`m scared about.` Marlene sighed, and lowered her voice. `It`s that fecking Black I`m worried about.`
Mary put a comforting arm around Marlene and put her head down on her shoulder.
`He can be such a massive nob.` Marlene lowered her voice as she stared at Sirius, who was chatting with James. `I`m just afraid that he`s going to take up all the limelight. He`s already giving me shite about my performance. Can you imagine having him on the team?` she rambled exasperated.
`Hey,` Mary took her hands. `Look at me, alright. We`re not going to let that happen. We`ll keep him in check.`
`And if Potter has any sense in that daft brain of his,` Lily added. `He won`t let Black muck up the team. Not if he wants to be captain next year.`
Marlene shrugged, watching as the players began to line up; memories from being in that same position two years ago flooding her mind.
`I better go down.` she said, letting go of Mary`s hand and picking up her broom.
She tried to look cheery as she joined the rest of her teammates, purposefully ignoring Sirius. James patted her back reassuringly.
Not much later the Gryffindor quidditch team once again had two beater; McKinnon and Black.
Marlene knew she shouldn`t feel angry or resentful towards Sirius for making the team. In all fairness, he truly was a good quidditch player and a brilliant beater at that. He had a certain fox-like finesse when it came to flying. His technique reminded her of those of his brother and cousin. He held himself to proper flying etiquettes, which made him lightning fast on the pitch. He absolutely deserved his spot on the team; even Marlene could not deny that.
So, in true sportsmanship, she shook Sirius` hand after the try-outs, welcoming him to the team. Though, from her side there was still little warmth to be detected, Sirius beamed at her, evidently chuffed to have made the team. James was over the moon and kept slapping Sirius on his back excitedly.
`We might have the best team yet, mates! This is going to great!` James grinned. `I`m sure you two are going to be a bloody spectacular team.`
`Aye,` Marlene grinned back through gritted teeth.
James and Sirius skipped off towards the changing rooms and left Marlene to be hauled along by her own friends.
***
A steady drum of music echoed through the stairwell up to the dormitories. The quidditch try-outs had been held earlier that week and it was common for the team to host a party in the common room to inaugurate the start of a new quidditch season.
Marlene hadn`t wanted to attend and Mary didn`t hold it against her. She also wouldn’t be jumping up and down with glee if she`d have to team up with someone who constantly bossed her around and gave her unsolicited advice.
Despite the loud noise, Lily was sitting on top of her bed, a book splayed open on her lap as she worked on her Charms essay. Mary was utterly amazed by Lily`s concentration. She didn`t even flinch when the music was turned up and the bass thudded piercingly through the door.
Marlene jumped up and stalked towards the door, her face contorted into a scowl. `Muffiato.` She tapped her wand against the door and instantly the noise was a lot less penetrating.
Instead of going back to the windowsill, where she had been seated before, Marlene disappeared into their shared bathroom.
`Lily.` Mary said, getting up.
The redhead didn`t look up from her book.
`Lily.` Mary repeated, a little louder, tapping her long nails against the wooden post of her bed.
`Hm.` Lily looked up, blinking. `Oh sorry, you were talking to me.`
`Yeah,` Mary replied quickly. `I`m going to go down for a bit. Won`t take long.`
`What`re you going to do?` Lily knitted her brow together.
`Just…need to take care of something.`
Without saying more, Mary left their dorm room, heading down the stone steps. Immediately she was met with the pungent smell of alcohol and the ruckus of laughter from the quidditch players. She scanned to common room, trying to locate her target.
`Oi, quidditch team only.` A burly sixth year came to stand in front of her.
`Oh, move over.` Mary sighed annoyed and pushed the boy out of her way.
Close to the record player, evidently having a cracking time, stood James and Sirius, laughing loudly, both holding onto tumblers of butterbeer. They were turned away from her; Sirius` hair was pulled into a ponytail, his wand sticking out of it.
`Black, can I have a word.` She tapped Sirius forcefully on her shoulder.
`Macdonald!` Sirius replied, looking surprised by her sudden appearance. `Quidditch team only, I`m afraid.` he grinned smugly.
Mary rolled her eyes. `Yeah, then don`t hold your bloody party in the common room.`
She pulled Sirius along by his sleeve, leaving James marooned, looking befuddled as he watched them walk away.
`Come to congratulate me on my win?` Sirius asked cheekily, but he dropped his smile as Mary glared back up at him.
Ever since she`d stopped fancying Sirius, she seemed to have a lot more weight over him. She didn`t get flustered or nervous in his presence anymore. Besides, she was used to petulant little boys from years of having to deal with her younger brothers.
`No, not that.` she replied. `Though I guess those are in order.`
`Cheers.`
`No, I`m here to talk about Marlene.`
`McKinnon?` Sirius looked confused.
`You better be fucking nice to her, Black.` Mary pointed a long nailed finger in his face.
`I`m always nice.` Sirius grinned, tucking a strand of hair that had come loose from his ponytail behind his ear.
`I`m not kidding.` Mary bit back. `You`re always having a go at her. Always criticizing her on the pitch.`
Sirius was fiddling with the cuff of his sleeve, looking uncharacteristically nervous. He looked like a little boy who`d been caught.
`And I know you`re on the team now and all that, but if you dare to ruin this for her, Black, there`ll be hell to be raised.`
`I won`t…` Sirius stammered.
`If you bloody hurt Marls, you hear me?` Mary lowered her voice urgently. `You won`t know what hit you.`
`Did McKinnon ask you to talk to me?` Sirius asked.
`No, God no.` Mary replied, laughing lightly. `She doesn`t even know I`m here. She`d die of embarrassment. I`m doing this for my friend.`
`Right.` Sirius replied, his blue eyes big, staring at Mary with awe.
`So, anyway,` Mary smiled sweetly. `Glad we had this talk.` She patted Sirius` arm and walked away.
She gave a wave to James, who look at her quizzically, prior to heading back up to the dorm. Lily was still sitting in the same position she`d left her in, as if she hadn`t moved at all; back hunched over her text, red curls cascading down.
Marlene, by the looks of it, had just gotten out of the shower; her fair hair damp and her face flushed pink from the heat of the water. She was staring absentmindedly out of the window, her eyes glazed over as she bit down hard on her nails.
`Marls don`t do that, you`re going to make them bleed again.` Mary put a hand on Marlene`s shoulders, startling her.
`Och, sorry.` Marlene quickly pulled her hand away from her mouth, looking guilty.
`Don`t say sorry to me.` Mary replied. `They`re your hands. You need them.`
Marlene shrugged and Mary walked over to her bedside table, rummaging around in the topdrawer, looking for her nail polish and a letter she had still to send out.
`Here, I`ll paint them for you. Well…what`s left of them, anyway.` Mary plonked herself down next to Marlene in the windowsill. `Black or red? I also got some sort of pinkish colour, I think.`
`Erm, I don`t-` Marlene faltered and sighed defeated. `Black, I guess.`
`Good.` Mary smiled smugly. Sometimes Marlene gave in and let Mary use her as her personal make-up doll. `You can spell-check my letter to Darren while I do it.`
Marlene scrunched up her nose. `Why me? Lily`s spelling and grammar are way better than mine.`
`Yeah, but she wouldn`t want to read this one.` Mary raised her eyebrows meaningfully.
`Why?` Marlene looked at her distrusting.
`Because it`s dirty.` Mary grinned cheekily. `Well not all of it, obviously. But our dear Lil is still such an innocent little flower.`
`Huh?` Lily looked up from her book. `Did one of you say my name?`
`Go back to your reading.` Mary waved a dismissive hand.
`I am not innocent.` Lily mumbled, but did turn back to her textbook.
Marlene giggled and turned even redder than the shower had made her.
Mary grabbed a hold of one of Marlene`s hand and started carefully painting the little stubs that were left of her nails, trying very hard not to get the polish all over her fingertips. Marlene`s hands were rough and ridden with calluses from quidditch, but, despite it all, her fingers were still long and elegant.
Mary suppressed a giggle as she looked up at Marlene, whose eyes widened as her eyes skittered feverishly across the piece of parchment. The reason that Mary wanted her letters to Darren to be spell-checked was partly because she liked to brag a little bit about her boyfriend, but mostly because Darren still thought she was attending some posh school, and it would reflect badly on her if her writing was complete rubbish.
By now, her mother had figured out how to reply to her owls, and Mary got letters back from home at regular intervals; mostly containing updates on how her siblings were doing at school. Jayden was barely mentioned, seeing as he was rarely at home anymore. But her other siblings frequently rolled by in the cast of characters mentioned by her mother. Another bonus of this new method of communication was that she could get news out to Darren. Mary would attach his letter to her mother`s, and the latter would pop it through his mailbox; which was barely any effort, as he practically lived across the hall.
Mary had started on Marlene`s other hand and out of the corner of her eye she saw Marlene distractedly lift her painted hand to her mouth, her eyes glued to the paper.
`Eurgh.` Marlene spluttered and gurgled as the polish touched her teeth, pulling a sour face.
Mary giggled. `Exactly the reason we`re doing this.`
***
It was still surprisingly warm for the end of October and it was no punishment at all to go down to the quidditch pitch on weekends and huddle up on the stands with her books and a large thermos of tea. Since it was still months away from midterms and the workload was still relatively doable, Lily permitted herself to spent part of the time in the stands just reading for leisure. October was the perfect time to reread Anne of Green Gables. The lovely nature imagery and cosy atmosphere of the book was meant for this time of year, she wholeheartedly believed.
`I`m so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers.` Anne says at one point, and Lily couldn`t have agreed more.
The gorgeous flaming trees surrounding the castle made a wonderful backdrop to the misty morning grounds. Fog rolling in from the forbidden forest, looming and temping. It was said that there were dark creatures living in these woods, but Lily wasn`t sure what to believe. Sometimes, she could see does grazing in the pasture just outside of the groundkeepers` cabin, carefully stepping around the humongous cultivated pumpkins. On some mornings, Hagrid would come out and feed them, a large dog prancing at his side, his grey fur reflecting the aquatic light.
Lily looked up at the blue, chalk streaked sky for a moment, shielding her eyes from the sun, watching the jays fly overhead. In her hometown in Yorkshire there weren`t that many birds due to the constant soot in the air, and she thoroughly liked the chattering of the little animals.
`Hi.` Marlene panted as she trudged up the stairs, broom in hand, forehead damp. `Got any water?`
Lily handed her a cooled down cup of tea, which she had neglected because she`d been so emerged in her book.
`Och, this is vile.` Marlene pulled a face, but downed the cup anyway.
`So?` Lily offered, putting a mark between the pages and shutting the book.
`So, what?` Marlene narrowed her eyes, still panting.
`How`s it going with, you know…` Lily raised her eyebrows and indicated to Sirius, who was gavotting about with James down on the pitch.
`Och, aye,` Marlene blinked. `Actually…I don`t want to jinx it, but he seems…nice?`
`Really?`
`Aye.` Marlene nodded. `He hasn`t said anything about my performance yet.`
`Huh.` Lily replied, feeling surprised.
`In fact,` Marlene peeled at the black polish on her nails. `He seems to, erm…`
`What?` Lily pressed.
Marlene sat down next to Lily on the bench, looking nervous. `Erm, like he fancies me or something?`
Lily snorted and started laughing, but when she looked at Marlene, she could tell she was being dead serious.
`Oh,` Lily replied stunned. `Really? What makes you think that?`
`Och, I don`t know.` Marlene faltered, looking unsure. `It`s strange really, seeing as he never paid any attention to me before or anything, but he tries to constantly get really close to me, or hug me or something…`
Lily frowned. This was indeed an odd development.
`Ugh, it`s just confusing.` Marlene mulled, still peeling at her nail polish. `I feel like he`s making fun of me. Becau- Shite, I need to get down.`
The quidditch captain blew his whistle, calling all team members towards the pitch again and Marlene sprinted down without finishing her sentence. Lily peered down from the stands at the little red robed figures, and indeed, she saw Sirius patting Marlene`s back as she joined him, bat in hand. They were too far away for Lily to make out their facial expressions, but Marlene did look in her direction, shrugging her shoulders almost unnoticeably.
Just as Lily wanted to open her book again and resume reading, she was joined by another person, this time Remus. Her stomach made a flip and she smiled up at him as his tall statue blocked the sun. He dropped his bookbag to the ground and sat down net to her, massaging his hip with one of his hands.
Lily nervously shifted back and forth on the bench, shooting quick glances at Remus. Mary had told her that if she wanted Remus to notice her, not only as a friend or study partner, she would need to make more of an effort to get his attention. What Mary meant by that exactly was still a mystery to her.
So, instead of acting like James, and throwing herself at his feet, she had been making very subtle hints that she liked him. Though, maybe a little bit too subtle, since she wasn`t getting anything back from him.
Mary also said that she needed to spent more one on one time with him.
`So…` Lily started, unsure where she would take her sentence. `Have you- Have you got any plans for the weekend?`
Remus shrugged, not looking at her, starting to pull some books from his bag. `Just homework, probably,` and after a pause, `You?`
`Hm-hm, same.` Lily hummed and nodded. Why was it that when it came to Remus she was at such a loss of words? She had not trouble at all the be very vocal when it came to every other boy. Why did her mind suddenly go blank when it came to the one boy she actually wanted to talk to.
It appeared that Remus was already starting to disappear into his book, and to prevent this Lily kept spewing words.
`I`m going to the library after this.` she stated. `Erm, would you… would you like to come?`
`Yeah, sure.` Remus nodded. `Was headed there anyway.`
Lily smiled and nervously rolled and unrolled the hem of her skirt.
`Macdonald and McKinnon coming along too?` Remus asked, eyes fixed on his Care of Magical Creatures book.
`No,` Lily replied, feeling her cheeks turn red and was glad Remus wasn`t looking at her. `I thought… just us two this time.`
`Alright.`
`Good.` Lily smiled smugly to herself. She was glad he wasn`t asking for an explanation. That was set then, they would go to the library; alone.
Not all that much later, the two of them were headed to the library. Lily felt nervous, but she concealed this by rambling on about their Runes essay, barely giving Remus any time to talk. Which wasn`t all that different, since Remus didn`t talk that much anyway.
Just as they turned a corner into the wing the library was situated at, she got the sudden and urgent feeling that they were being followed. Strangely enough she`d had this feeling earlier that week, also when she had been together with Remus. Jerking her head back, she looked at the corridor, it was deserted, save for some tiny first year students.
`What`s wrong?` Remus asked.
`No, I just…` Lily trailed off. `Never mind.` She waved a dismissive hand.
They walked on, but Lily couldn`t shake the feeling that a pair of eyes was boring into her backside.
`Sorry, Remus, but I need to check something.` she said and quickly turned on her heel. `You go ahead. Take my bag, will you.`
She speedily pranced back through the corridor, scanning her surroundings. And sure enough, when she turned the corner she was just in time to see a familiar fluttering robe disappear behind a pillar.
`Severus!` she called out.
Looking caught, the black-haired boy appeared, scuffing his toes on the flagstones.
`Were you following us?` Lily asked, knitting her brow together.
Severus didn`t respond, but scowled. It was the first time in weeks they had stood face to face like this. They still hadn`t made up since the summer holidays.
`Why would I be following you, Lily?` Severus replied, drawing out his words.
Lily peered at him though her lashes, trying to make out what was going on behind that stony exterior.
`Well, right.` she said, unconvinced. `Because, if you`ve got something to say to me; there are other ways, you know?`
Severus looked at the floor, but didn`t say anything. Lily shook her head, he wasn`t going to break; not now at least.
Quickly she resumed her way to the library and joined Remus. He`d already claimed their usual desk and Lily was glad to just draw up to the table.
The afternoon was pleasant, not much different from when Mary and Marlene joined them, though, maybe a little more quiet. They didn`t talk about Severus at all.
///