Seventh Year, The Last First Day
Wednesday September 1st 1977
Morning had arrived, bearing no sign of Remus and Sirius. By the undisturbed state of their beds, it was apparent that they hadn`t returned during the night.
`Five more minutes,` James pleaded. `Let`s just wait five more minutes.`
`If they`re not here now, they`re not going to be here in five minutes,` Lily tutted and checked her watch again. `We truly need to leave - we`re going to be late at this rate. Train leaves in less than half an hour.`
`But we can`t just leave them.` James` eyes widened behind his glasses.
`They wouldn`t miss the train,` Lily replied. `Remus wouldn`t - at least,` she added. Sirius was a bit of a rogue card in that department.
`What about their stuff?` James raked a hand through his hair.
`We`ll take it with us – small effort.`
James looked like he might protest, but Peter interjected. `I`m with Evans on this. It`s their problem – why should we have to miss the train for it?` He looked quite annoyed.
Reluctantly, James nodded and agreed to leave for King`s Cross. Lily did understand his concern; she was worried as well. However, they could not miss their train under any circumstances. Not when it was her first day as Head girl!
*
In the austere light of morning King`s Cross Station roughly had the appearance of a deserted theatre. A stage during intermission, waiting for the actors; the narrow platforms as its wing; the trains as gargantuan metal props. Even the people looked like replicas of themselves; delicately crafted statues, purposely placed to resemble life.
There was a certain surrealistic quality about it; a feverlike waking.
It wouldn`t surprise Marlene if she were to rouse and discover that she`d been dreaming; her imagination was wild enough for it.
For the past couple of weeks, she`d been living in an impermeable fog – hidden, where nobody could see or touch her. As a fish transported from a small pond to the ocean, she felt as though she`d been yanked out of her safe enclosure - unfamiliar to the vast expanse of water.
Deliberately Marlene accelerated her gait and aimed for the barrier between platforms nine and ten. She closed her eyes and could feel herself sift through the bricks. Even after all these years, that crossing didn`t get any easier.
`Oi, watch out!`
`Och, I`m sorry,` Marlene mumbled and jumped aside as not to get hit by two students and their luggage carts.
`God! The nerve of some of these kids. I swear - those first years get more brazen every year.`
Marlene spun around. Like a brick through a window, her heart plummeted all the way through the flagstone floor.
Mary.
Yearning, such a tender word for such a gut wrench of a feeling.
Except for her birthday, she`d had no contact with Mary at all during the entire month of August. It had felt like the most sensible thing to do; to give herself some time to process; some space.
It had not been long enough. By a long shot.
`Reckon you`ve grown taller again,` Mary remarked, sizing her up and down.
`Maybe.` Marlene looked at her feet, flustered. She was far too aware of her own limbs.
`I`m jealous. Think I stopped growing at thirteen. Would be a lot more convenient to be tall like you - taller legs to stomp on annoying little lads.`
Marlene snorted and patted her luggage playfully. `Aye, but I`ve got my quidditch bat for that exact purpose.`
She could be polite in her sadness.
*
The platform was oddly empty. Seemingly less and less parents were sending their children to Hogwarts. Lily scanned the meagre crowd, probing it for her girls.
`Over here!` Mary was waving at her.
An instant relieve flooded Lily; her lighthouse had been spotted.
`Were they always this wee?` Marlene remarked after Lily had hugged her - indicating at the first years.
`I know,` Mary chipped in. `I swear they`ve shrunk.`
Lily nodded along distractedly. `Have you seen Lupin and Black?`
`No, why?` Marlene frowned.
`Ugh,` Lily sighed, rubbing her brow. `We lost them last night in London and we haven`t seen them since. They were supposed to go to a gig or something. Anyway,` she shook her head. `Has been one hell of a night and morning, I`m glad you two are here.`
`I`m sure they`ll turn up, love.` Mary said, squeezing Lily`s arm reassuringly.
The students were starting to queue onto the train. The girls joined Peter and Dorcas in their usual carriage, whereas James stubbornly insisted on waiting at the door. The platform was already packed with smoke and the mechanic creak of the wheels reverberated against the metal tracks.
`Fucking hell! Where have you two been!?` James` voice suddenly hollered.
Lily stuck her head out of the window, trying to locate the source of this profanity. `Language!` she chastised. `You`re Head boy now, you should be setting an example.` Nevertheless, a sigh of relieve escaped her as she noticed Sirius and Remus running across the platform. Well – thank Merlin for that! They had a lot of explaining to do.
`I am setting an example,` James protested, hanging out of the train door. `Telling these wankers off.`
`Language!` Lily yelled above the shrill shriek of the train conductor`s whistle. `Honestly James, you really need to start growing up this year, you`re of age, and you need to start acting like it!` He could be such a child sometimes.
There was a shudder and the train set in motion.
Rolling her eyes, Lily retracted her head from the window. She jumped off the bench and marched along the corridor. The three boys were huddled together; Sirius was staring at his feet, looking ashamed; James had a mix of relief and utmost disappointment plastered onto his face; Remus just looked tired.
Lily scraped her throat and took a stance. `Potter,` she said, perching her hands on her hips. `We`ve got to lead the meeting.`
Instantly, James` face broke into a radiant smile. `Right you are!` He slapped a rather discombobulated Sirius on his back and bode his friends farewell. `See you later, boys.`
Lily turned on her heel and trotted towards the prefect`s carriage. James followed swift with long-legged strides.
*
The whole hustle and bustle of getting onto the train was significantly more chaotic than usual. With part of their group missing, it felt somewhat unbalanced. The girls were chatting spiritedly amongst themselves as they settled into their carriage. Consequently, the outnumbered Peter looked rather peeved.
As Lily left to lead the prefect`s meeting, Sirius and Remus entered the compartment - both looking rather rumpled.
`We thought you`d missed the train!` Marlene remarked surprised.
`You know me, McKinnon,` Sirius smirked and sat down with a flourish. `Like to make an entrance.`
`And now you`re dragging poor Remus down with you,` Mary snickered and extended a hand towards the latter. `Come and sit here, Lupin. I`ll protect you from that delinquent.` She patted on the empty seat beside her.
Peter had been looking disgruntled at his friends. `Where were you?` he pressed, sounding uncommonly aggravated. `You left me alone with Lily and James. I might as well have been a ghost.`
`Gig,` Sirius replied flatly. `Stayed out late. Didn`t sleep.` He flicked a sluggish hand and yawned, settling against the window.
Mary raised her eyebrows, looking like she wanted to ask them about it. However, both boys quickly closed their eyes and turned away from them. It surprised Marlene that Sirius didn`t want to boast about having been to a gig. It wasn`t very much like him; Sirius wasn`t known to be a modest man. Either they were lying, or they were exceptionally tired.
As not to disturb the sleeping boys, they lowered their voices as they continued their conversation. Marlene had little to tell and mostly kept quiet – enjoying being a silent participator. Mary talked at great length about her new waitressing job. Marlene felt bad that she hadn`t known about this new development in Mary`s life. Granting, it was a logical consequence of her own radio silence.
As the train began to move North to Scotland, the weather seemed to darken. Grey ominous clouds started to mushroom on the horizon, hanging low between the rolling hills. It didn`t take long for them to break and spill sheets of rain which clattered violently against the window.
The conversation had stilled and Marlene was staring at the blurry landscape. She wondered whether the others were feeling as melancholy as she was about this being their final first day. If they did, they certainly weren`t showing it.
Sirius and Remus were sound asleep – Sirius no more than a lumpy heap underneath everyone`s cloaks. Dorcas had stretched out on the bench and had put her head on Peter`s lap. The latter was absentmindedly tracing figures on her forehead. Such easy affection.
Bar for the sound of the rain and the wheels on the tracks, the atmosphere was almost eerily quiet. There were barely any students roaming the corridors, which was unusual. There was also still no sign of Lily and James.
*
Upon entering the compartment, most of the other prefects were already present. It was expected of the Head boys and girls to express some words of encouragement to the newly appointed prefects, as well as go over the most important rules for the first week.
`Right,` Lily started, looking around the carriage and smiling at the new faces who`d joined them. `Welcome everybody! I`m sure you`re all itching to get started – but, before we begin, are there any questions in advance – things that absolutely cannot wait until later?`
Some of the prefects shook their heads, others didn`t react at all. However, some of the Slytherins began whispering amongst themselves. Mulciber - who had inexplicably been appointed as Slytherin’s Head boy - just glared at her. Yet, none of them actually said something.
Lily shot James a questioning look; he just shrugged his shoulders.
`Alright - if there aren`t any questions, I think we can crack right on with the meeting,` Lily said, deciding to ignore the commotion. `First of all-`
`Actually - we do have a problem,` Regulus interrupted.
There was an uneasy tug behind Lily`s navel. `Ok - and what might that be?` she asked calmly, trying not to display her nerves.
`We`ve got a problem with you.`
`I`m sorry?` Lily`s eyes widened as she stared at the younger Black brother.
All of the sudden, it was deadly quiet in the compartment; no one dared to breath.
`We don`t really approve of you being Head girl, Evans,` Regulus went on. `We don`t think that a…mishap like yourself should have such a high level of authority.`
Lily saw James grab for his wand; she signalled him to keep seated.
`Well, that sounds more like your own problem than mine.` Lily replied. `If you disagree with me being Head girl, you should take it up with Professor McGonagall or Dumbledore.` Her heart was beating a demonic rhythm against her ribcage.
`Well-` Regulus imitated her mockingly. `I don`t really fancy taking it up with them. We think that a filthy excrement like yourself does not belong in the position of Head girl. A girl like you should know her place.`
James jumped off the bench, drawing his wand. `Watch your mouth, Black,` he growled.
`Yes, that`s right,` Regulus laughed callously, still addressing her. `Let your bloodtraiter of a boyfriend fight for you.` He turned to face James. `Don`t you worry, Potter. Your reputation can`t possibly get any worse, so it won`t do you any harm to be mating with that filthy mudblood. Your death will be just as gruesome and merciless as hers. As will all of theirs – just you wait.`
Lily gasped and clasped a hand in front of her mouth.
Without further warning, James fired a spell at Regulus. The younger boy ducked and the spell ricocheted against the window. A couple of prefects screamed and pressed themselves against the sides of the carriage. Regulus drew his wand, though before he got a chance to use it, James fired a jelly-legs jinx at him which hit its target.
`Stop it!` Lily yelped.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Mulciber jumped to his feet and swung his arm, boxing James square against his face.
`Enough!` Lily raised her own wand, trembling with anger and fear. `Petrificus Totalus!` She petrified all three boys; they dropped to the floor like logs.
`Everybody out,` she ordered the prefects. They all left without protest – the younger ones clasping at eachother as frightened animals.
Quickly, she thawed James and helped him to his feet. One of his eyes was already starting to show the shadows of a bruise.
`Are you alright?` James asked as soon as he could move his mouth.
`What were you thinking!` Lily scolded him, still shaking. `Y`know what – never mind that. Help me with these two.`
Together they lifted Regulus and Mulciber onto the bench. As they did so, Lily`s eye fell on one of Regulus` forearms. His rolled-up sleeves revealed a mark on the pale white skin of his left inner arm; it depicted a horrifying skull with a snake protruding out of its gaping mouth.
The blood seemed to freeze in her veins and Lily almost dropped Regulus to the floor. Her eyes met James` and she knew that he was thinking the exact same thing.
He`d joined them.
*
`Need to use the loo.` Mary rose to her feet and left the compartment, quietly closing the door behind her as she went. Marlene stared after her, watching the rhythmic sway of her body.
Seeing Mary again was simultaneously much easier and much harder than she`d expected it to be. There was definitely a layer of uncertainty which had been peeled away. It was easier to breath around her in a sense. Some of the pretence had ceased to exist.
Yet, it was excruciatingly difficult having to pretend that she was doing completely fine; that nothing was going on between the two of them. None of her other friends knew about Mary; and Marlene would like to keep it that way. For now at least.
She had debated on whether or not to tell Lily. It was certain that Lily would be nothing but accepting and supportive. Still, she had decided to refrain from this for a while. At least until Mary was a heartsore of the past. Otherwise, she didn`t know what consequences it would have on the atmosphere in their dorm. Those four walls were close quarters.
After some time had passed, Mary slipped back into the compartment; there was a grave expression on her face. Remus stirred and stretched his gangly arms, rousing from his slumber.
That look didn`t seem to be bearing any good news. Marlene straightened and furrowed her brow. `What`s up?`
`Just saw Lily,` Mary spoke in a subdued voice. `Something happened in the prefects carriage,` her eyes shot towards the sleeping Sirius. `James and Regulus got into a fight. They`re both ok, but it got quite nasty, by the sounds of it … Regulus was saying some really crazy stuff. Lily was really shaken.`
Marlene swallowed and gathered her voice. `He`s one of them,` she whispered, indicating at Regulus. `The Black family are you-know-who`s strongest supporters, everyone knows it.` She`d heard her mother and Danny talk about it after one of their meetings.
`Sh,` Remus hushed them, shooting an anxious glance at Sirius. `We don`t know what that was about. It could be anything.`
They all knew that that was a lie; there was only one thing that this could be about. Yet, Marlene bit her tongue. This only confirmed what she`d been suspecting for a while; they were infiltrating Hogwarts.
By the time they arrived at the station, the rain had reduced to a mere drizzle. They didn`t get a chance to talk to Lily or James, seeing as the pair needed to usher the throng of first years towards the boats.
Uncommonly quiet the rest of their group set off towards the carriages. The only one of them seemingly still in a good mood was Sirius – blissfully unaware of what had ensued on the train.
The air was strung with a general unease; as if something evil could happen at the drop of a hat.
*
All throughout the laborious sorting ceremony, Mary tried to grab Lily`s attention and will her to reveal what had occurred on the train. Yet - she was unsuccessful in getting a response. Lily stubbornly kept her eyes directed at the front of the Great Hall, applauding loudly as the first years were sorted into their respective houses.
`Lily,` Mary tugged impatiently on her robes. `Stop ignoring me. Tell me what happened.`
`Quiet,` Lily shushed, still not looking at her. `Watch the ceremony.`
`Leave it, Mary,` Marlene whispered, similarly urgent.
The boys were equally as enigmatic. James was supporting a knocker of a black eye, whilst the rest of the marauders were pretending not to notice it. Granting, Sirius truly seemed to be oblivious; he looked as cheerful and brazen as ever.
As the row of tiny first years diminished, Mary tried her best to obey Lily`s orders. However, it was difficult to focus on the irksome procedure as her attention was constantly torn towards Snape, who was glowering at them uninterruptedly. His gaze was fixed on the back of Lily`s head as though he were trying to set fire to her hair with his mind. It was glaringly obvious that he`d heard about her involvement with James. That venomous look was drenched in jealousy and contempt.
Next to Snape sat Mulciber, looking equally as scornful. The snarl on his lips send shivers up Mary`s spine, chilling her to her deepest core. That diabolic look in his eyes was saying more than words ever could.
Finally, after an undetermined - though seemingly endless - amount of time, the sorting ceremony came to an end and Professor Dumbledore announced that dinner was to be served.
Right at that moment, the large wooden doors to the Great Hall flew open and Regulus Black entered. Instead of rushing to his seat, he took his sweet time to saunter across the room - regally traversing between the four house tables.
All the while, everybody stared at him with mouths agape. This didn`t seem to bother the younger Black brother. On the contrary, he loftily stuck his nose in the air and slowed his gait as if he were parading in front of a court of servants. As he arrived at the Slytherin table, a couple of students rose to shake his hand, or simply stood to gawk at him. There were chilling signs of admiration present on their faces. Some even looked mildly frightened.
The entire hall seemed to be holding its breath and sucking its stomach.
Mary shot a quick look at Sirius. The brazen grin on his face had melted and his skin had turned an ashy grey. She wondered what it would be like if one of her siblings were to be acting like this. Mary and her siblings didn`t always get along, though at least they weren`t on opposite sides of a war. Thank God for that! She didn`t know how she would cope.
After the disruption, the feast resumed in its usual order. Nevertheless, there was a palpable tension in the Great Hall. Conversations were hushed and Mary could see Lily and James squeezing each other’s hand underneath the table.
Mulciber hadn`t stopped glaring at Mary. Every so often, without breaking his stare, he whispered something at Barty Crouch, who`d snicker in response. Though small and weedy, Crouch had a terrifying quality about him. There was something incredulously malicious in the way his features moved.
`Let`s not loose eachother, alright?` Mary said as their pudding was cleared.
Marlene nodded and let herself be grabbed as the two of them started to move through the horde of bodies - following the boys in their wake. As Head boy and girl, Lily and James had more duties to attend to before they could head to the tower. Mary didn`t like it one bit that Lily wasn`t joining them. It was a good thing that James was with her; he wouldn`t let anything happen to her.
There was a silent trembling in Mary`s limbs as they move through the hallways - dodging a myriad of other students. People were keeping their heads down and huddling together in groups or pairs – eager to get to their respective common rooms. Mary kept glancing over her shoulder to see if someone was following them.
`What`re you looking at?` Marlene asked.
`Do you see Mulciber - or that Crouch kid?` Mary whispered.
Marlene shook her head. `What`s going on? Why would they be following us?` Her eyes were full of concern.
`I tell you when Lily gets back.`
They didn`t fancy residing in the common room, seeing as everybody else was equally as uneasy. Their trunks and other belongings had already been brought up to their dormitory. Upon entering, they were greeted warmly by Cat; the feline jumped on Mary`s lap before she`d even settled.
It was gruesome having to wait for Lily. Marlene was pacing up and down the length of the dorm, picking at her nails and chewing on her hair. It was actually quite annoying, though, Mary had too much compassion for her to say something about it.
Finally, Lily came back from her duties. `Oh good, you`re both here,` she said, locking the door behind her.
Mary instantly pounced on her. `What on earth happened on that train - are you alright?!`
`I`m fine, I`m fine.` Lily shook her head. `At least I think I am – it doesn`t matter. It was just-`
`Why`s James got a black eye?` Marlene interrupted. `Did you tell him to put something on it? There`s-`
`If you let me finish, I`ll tell you.`
`Sorry.`
`No, it was just-` Lily swallowed audibly and frowned. `There was a fight – some spells were thrown around. Mulciber hit James - that’s why he`s got that eye. He`s fine though – says it doesn`t even hurt. But erm…Regulus was saying some really horrid things. Apparently some of the Slytherins have got a problem with me being Head girl, because – well, because I`m muggle born.`
`What!?` Mary`s eyes widened. `That`s outrageous!` Cat let out a startled squeak and leapt to the floor.
`Yeah,` Lily bit her lip and looked at her hands. `Said that I should know my place and such. Honestly it didn`t even really bother me that much. I mean – they say stuff like that all the time.`
Mary and Marlene both nodded in agreement.
`He was going on and on about some sort of collective we. It was – I don`t know, it was a bit chilling actually. And then, erm…when James wanted to jinx him, he said- well something that I don`t really want to repeat. Anyway,` Lily shook her head as if shaking off a thought. `Had to petrify all of them so they wouldn`t do any more harm to each other. But then, when we were lifting Regulus to his feet we saw…erm, on his arm, something-`
`A tattoo.` Mary interrupted.
`Yes,` Lily looked up from her hands. `How`d you know?`
Mary swallowed; she had to tell them now. `I saw a similar one on Mulciber. He- he went to look for me. During the summer.` As she said it she could feel the fear rushing back. `At the pub.`
Marlene took a sharp intake of breath. `He did what?`
`He`s figured out where my family lives and wanted to scare me - or something. He`s, erm, he`s been bothering me for a while - actually.`
`Fecking hell,` Marlene said. `Why didn`t you say something before?!`
Mary looked at her feet and shrugged. She didn`t really know why she hadn`t told them. Maybe she`d been too embarrassed to tell them how frightened was. It didn`t suit her to be frightened; she liked to believe that she was fearless. Or more so: she liked others to believe that she was fearless.
`Anyway,` Mary tried to divert the conversation. `I saw something on his arm as well.`
There was a short silence.
`He marking them,` Marelene spoke suddenly. `You-know-who. I heard mammy talk about it. His closest followers, they get this- this mark – or tattoo – which grants them some sort of status or something.`
`Does this mean that Regulus has joined-` Mary was looking for the right world. `Well – that creep.`
`It does look like it.` Lily said.
`God, but he`s only…what? Sixteen?`
`Something like that, yeah.`
`Shit.`
`That must be hard for Sirius. No wonder that the boys were acting weird.` Mary picked Cat off the floor and held the squirming beast close to her chest.
They all fell quiet again; nobody quite knew what to do or say.
`This year is going to be different, isn`t it?`
`I`m afraid so.`
///