Seventh Year, Autumn
Saturday September 24th 1977
In a hurry, Marlene laced up her boots and threw on a jumper. It was a rare occurrence that she missed her alarm and she couldn`t believe that her body had chosen to do so on this particular day.
Almost tripping over her own feet, she left the dorm and thundered down the stairs into the common room. A couple of first years stared at her - looking absolutely terrified by her sudden appearance.
As she clambered through the portrait hole, Marlene passed Lily and Mary.
`Hey! I thought you were already at the pitch?` Lily remarked, sounding surprised.
`Well, I ain`t, now am I?` Marlene called over her shoulder, prancing down the second set of stairs. There was no time to stop and chat.
It was a good thing that she`d already secured a spot on the team, otherwise she could have said goodbye to that dream. Marlene ran over the lawn and practically skidded through the mud towards the centre of the pitch.
As expected, the try-outs had already begun.
Wheezing, she sided up next to James. `Sorry, sorry, sorry, I`m late,` she said, bending over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath.
`It`s fine,` James waved a dismissive hand. `We`ve barely even started. They`re just warming up.` He pointed towards the goalposts where a group of red-robed students was flying laps.
Sirius was splayed out on a lawn chair, smoking a fag – in true fashion. Remus was sitting on the edge of the chair, reading, and every so often taking a drag from Sirius` cigarette. Merlin knew where they`d found the chair.
`McKinnon,` Sirius smirked at her rumpled appearance. `You look dashing.`
`Aye, at least I`m assured with the knowledge that I can`t be looking like more of an eejit than you do with that deathtrap dangling from your lips,` Marlene remarked sweetly.
`It`s rock-and-roll darling,` Sirius said, taking another drag.
Remus chuckled, not even looking up from his text.
`So is dying a premature death,` Marlene raised her eyebrows.
`Touché.`
Marlene flicked her eyes skywards.
`Reckon that`s my cue to leave.` Remus rose, supporting himself with one hand on Sirius` leg.; it was almost imperceptible, but the hand lingered longer than necessary. This was the umpteenth sign which added to Marlene`s suspicion that something more than just friendship was going on between the two of them.
Sirius stared after Remus - eyes like hungry dogs straining on their leashes.
Marlene smirked to herself and trained her eyes on the aspiring players. From such a distance, it was hard to tell whether there was any real potential between the candidates. They would only be trying-out for a chaser and a keeper today, no beater; she was stuck with Caspian for yet another year.
Her stomach gave a low rumbled and Marlene realised that she`d missed breakfast. `Has anyone got something to eat?` she asked. `Anything at all.`
`Reckon Wormy`s got some pasties and sandwiches,` James said, cocking his head. `He should be up there somewhere.`
Without a further word, Marlene marched in the direction of the stands. Peter saw her approaching and waved as she mounted the wooden slats.
`Hiya Pete,` she greeted him. `James said you got pasties?`
Peter nodded and produced a paper bag from his coat pocket. `Here you go.`
`Och, bless ya,` Marlene grinned and took the bag from him. `Seen anything good so far?` she asked as she sat down on the bench.
`Hard to tell,` Peter shrugged. `Some certainly seem to have had classical training, though.`
Marlene took a bite from one of the pasties, trying not to get crumbles down her front. `Why don`t you ever try-out?`
`Hm,` Peter shrugged and looked at his feet. `Dunno.`
`You almost know more about quidditch than Potter and Black combined.`
`Yeah…` Peter mulled, staring at the pitch. `But - it`s not the same, is it? They`re them and I`m y`know…`
Marlene squinted at Peter. No - she was not sure if she knew. However, she didn`t dare to ask him to explain what he meant. Consequently, they sat in silence for a while.
`Alright, well - cheers for the pasties, need to get going again.` She offered Peter the bag and jumped to her feet.
The try-outs had started in earnest now; the keepers were up first whilst the chasers watched from the stands. James had ascended into the air and was taking notes as the aspiring keepers were instructed to bar the quaffles from going through the goalposts.
`Scoot,` Marlene instructed and shoved herself next to Sirius on the lawn chair.
`Oi, are you trying to seduce me or something!` Sirius huffed, pulling his robes free from underneath her. `I`ll let you know I`m not interested.`
`Don`t worry,` Marlene teased, feeling bold and wanting to test her theory. `Lupin`s gone.`
Sirius went pale and gaped at her. `How`d you– how`d you know?`
Marlene grinned shyly and shrugged. `I didn`t – but you`ve just confirmed it for me. I just knew something was going on between the two of you.`
`Is it that obvious?` Sirius whispered, looking alarmed.
`No, I-` Marlene began, feeling sorry for him. However, her eye was torn towards the goalposts. `FECKING HELL!` she exclaimed. `That was a tight safe!` The keeper who was manning the post had practically feinted to the side to keep the quaffle from entering.
`Merlin, McKinnon,` Sirius contorted his face. `You almost burst my fucking eardrum. No need to give you a whistle.`
`Shut up - you`re not on the team,` Marlene replied. `Who`s that?`
`How should I know? I`m not on the team – remember?` Sirius whinged, still rubbing his ear.
It didn`t take long after that for the keepers to descend to the ground. James talked to them and shook one of their hands. He and the person whose hand had he`d shaken started to head in the direction of Marlene and Sirius. The new keeper was tall and muscular and strode over the pitch with purposeful strides; a long dark plait swung back an forth behind their back.
`Alright, mates. This is our new keeper: Yasmin Patel,` he said, looking very pleased with himself. `If one of you can make sure that she gets a locker? I need to head back now.` He clapped Yasmin on her back and jogged back to his broom.
`Hi,` Yasmin said taking off her helmet. `Looks like you`ll have to make do with me.` She had a strong brow and captivatingly dark eyes.
Marlene hastily jumped out of the lawn chair; her knees felt like taffy. She extended a hand for Yasmin to shake. `Marlene McKinnon.` Why on earth was she shaking her hand? `He`s not on the team,` she gestured limply at Sirius.
The girl took her hand, smiling amused; she had a small gap between her front teeth. `Yes, I know.`
`Aye, of course,` Marlene nodded, still shaking her hand. She couldn`t remember ever having seen Yasmin in the hallways or common room. If she had, she surely would have remembered. Right?
`I think you can let go of her hand now,` Sirius said, still reclining in his chair. `She needs both of them as keeper.`
Embarrassed, Marlene dropped Yasmin`s hand. Luckily, Yasmin was seemingly unperturbed. Marlene glared at Sirius who was staring at her with an unmistakable twinkle in his eye.
To avoid any further humiliation, Marlene quickly accompanied Yasmin to the changing room and showed her how the lockers worked. During this, Yasmin told her that she`d been in India with her parents over the summer and had returned just in time for start of her sixth year. To this, Marlene`s only responses were: oh wicked, cool, aye, cool. The words were not wording how she wanted them to word; she was making an absolute fool of herself!
Yasmin took out her plait and ruffled her hands through her thick waves. As she flipped her head upside down, Marlene noticed a large mole on the nape of her neck and she became very conscious of their proximity in the narrow space.
`I`ll leave you to it then,` Marlene said and quickly left the squat little building with clammy hands and a dry throat.
`So-` Sirius raised his eyebrows as she returned. `Turns out I`m really not your type.`
Marlene cringed at the recollection of what she`d said to him in Cornwall at the bonfire. `Not a word,` she mumbled, shaking her head.
Defeated, she plonked down next to him. She absolutely couldn`t believe herself! Here she was, barely over her feelings for Mary, her chest still a tender bruise, and already crushing on another lass. It was as if her heart sought suffering.
***
Monday October 3rd 1977
Whilst scraping the last dregs of porridge from her bowl, Mary studied the picture of her new baby sister – all wrinkly skin and chubby wrists. Atalyia had been born the previous Sunday in the middle of the night. The post from London had been delayed, and as an unfortunate result, Mary was finding out a week after the event.
She would forever curse the lack of electricity and telephones at Hogwarts. So much frivolous magic; and ostensibly no regard for people whose families were not magical!
`Oooh, she`s lovely!` Lily cooed as Mary showed her the photograph.
Mary raised her eyebrows sceptically. Frankly, she`d always thought that newborn babies looked rather creepy and ugly. Granting, it could just be her own overexposure to them.
The letter and photograph had been sent to her by Gabi who`d been there to assist during the birth. Luckily, there had been no major complications. Still, their mother was no longer the youngest. Gabi had confided in her letter to Mary that she would spent the first few weeks at the flat - under the pretence that she missed living in London. Their mother rarely accepted any help and would surely have refused the offer if she`d put it any other way. Macdonald women were stubbornly independent - to a fault.
There was a nagging sensation of guilt in the pit of Mary`s stomach – like a saw cutting at her intestines. Previously, she`d always been there to look after her younger siblings whenever there was a new addition to the family. It felt strange not being able to see her baby sister until Christmas time; Atalyia would have grown a lot by then.
Neatly, she tucked the picture back in the envelope and stuffed it into the pocket of her robes.
There was a box underneath her bed in which she kept a collection of postcards, letters, and photographs which were sent to her by her family. This one would make a nice addition. Only on rare occasions did Mary allow herself to look through the box. The collection of memories made her homesick and gloomy. It was easier to keep them stowed away down there.
`Did you see Marls this morning?` Lily asked, putting her copy of the DailyProphet to the side.
Mary shook her head and took a sip of her tea - leaving a red ring of lipstick on the rim. `Nope, reckon she went flying before classes again. Mental - even more fanatic than Potter.`
Lily snorted and raised her eyebrow, taking a sideways glance at her boyfriend.
Ever since they`d had the try-outs, Marlene seemed to be more diligent than ever to train. It would have concerned Mary if Marlene hadn`t appeared to be more cheerful than she`d been all term. So – maybe her absence this morning was a good thing.
Whilst everyone had been opening and reading their respective post, Remus had seemingly been absorbed in a letter. Remus rarely got any letters and appeared to be absolutely chuffed with this particular one. After he`d finished with it, he exhaled audibly, smiled, and slid it into his pocket.
`Who was that from?` James asked - voicing Mary`s own curiosity.
`A friend from St Edmund`s,` Remus replied.
Sirius looked up, locked eyes with Remus, and smiled as well.
Subtilty, Mary exchanged a glance with Lily, checking whether she`d been the only one to have noticed this mysterious exchange. She hadn`t: Lily looked equally as befuddled.
Then, Remus said – seemingly as an afterthought, `Marc Bolan died.`
Shocked, Mary put her cup down on the table. `Oh no!` she exclaimed in chorus with Lily and Sirius.
`Who`s-` James began.
`The singer from T. Rex.`
`Oh yeah!` James nodded knowingly. `Wasn’t that the muggle band you two were obsessed with in first year?`
Mary kissed her teeth and flicked her eyes to the sky. `Bloody purebloods.`
`Oi,` Sirius elbowed Mary in the ribs. `That`s really crap news, though.` He looked genuinely crestfallen. Then his face suddenly brightened. `Hey, I know what we should d-`
`No` Lily injected promptly. `I know that look, Black!`
`What?` Sirius pouted pitifully - looking like a sad dog.
Lily shook her head determinedly. `No parties.`
`Oh come on,` Sirius nagged. `Evans, it`s for-`
`I`ll tell you what I told James,` Lily replied, crossing her arms in front of her chest. `Birthdays are fine, but not during exams, and not this early in the year.`
`Prongs!?` Sirius yapped pleadingly. Mary felt almost sorry for him – almost.
James scrunched up his face and looked bashfully at his hands. `Sorry, mate, did agree to that…y`know Head Boy and everything…`
`Betrayal!` Sirius jumped up from his seat, glowering at James. `Treachery! Treason!`
Mary took another gulp from her tea - enjoying the show. There was no need for a telly at Hogwarts when she had the Sirius Black Theatre Company as a means of entertainment.
`All right, calm it down,` Lily tutted, gesturing Sirius to sit down whilst rising to her feet. `I`m letting you have your birthday, aren`t I? Leave James alone.`
It was still unreal to hear Lily call James by his first name. She`d been calling him Potter for as long as she`d known - and loathed - him.
`You off?` James inquired, gazing up at Lily.
`Potions,` she nodded. `I want to get there early to ask Slughorn something.`
`I`ll walk you,` James rose willingly, took Lily by her hand, and bode his friends farewell.
Wistfully, Mary stared after the couple. They looked so comfortable and happy together. It just worked. There didn`t seem to be any doubt that they were absolutely destined for each other; she didn`t need to take Divination to see that.
Sirius was scowling at his toast, making faces at the marmalade. `Can you believe that?` he grumbled.
`What?` Remus asked.
`Prongs not wanting a party?`
Remus pursed his lips thoughtfully. `Well, it is quite early in the year…`
`This time last year he`d have been all for it.` Sirius pouted and knitted his brow – looking like one of her little brothers whenever they didn`t get their way. `It`s her.`
`Oh dear,` Mary snorted. `I know what`s wrong with you, Mr Black.`
`There`s nothing wrong with me,` Sirius replied defensively. `I`m the same as I ever was, it`s-`
Mary didn`t let him finish his sentence. `Exactly! You never change,` she cocked a knowing eyebrow. `You`re jealous.`
`Pfft.` Sirius crossed his arms and looked the other way. `As if I would be jealous of him.`
`Not of him,` Mary fussed. `You`re jealous of Lily. She`s taken your best friend away an now you`re feeling neglected, right?`
Sirius` face went slack and it took him a minute to look at her again. His dismay couldn`t simply be from James not wanting to throw a party. That much was clear as a bell.
`No,` Sirius then said stubbornly. `I`m going to Potions.` He practically stomped out of the Great Hall. Sometimes it felt as though Sirius didn`t have a clue that other people could actually see him; that he wasn’t able to hide all of his feelings, no matter how hard he tried.
`Honestly,` Mary sighed. `You agree with me, don`t you, Remus?`
Remus merely shrugged in reply.
Christ! If both of them were this emotionally closed off, it was no wonder that they were constantly bickering.
*
Friday October 7th 1977
If anyone in the castle had thought that the death of Marc Bolan could have gone unnoticed, they had been wrong. By the end of the week, someone had charmed all of the portraits in the school to start belting out `Ride a White Swan` whenever someone walked past them.
Some might have though it to be disturbing or distasteful. However, Mary thought that it was absolutely brilliant. Nothing better to irk the pure-blood wizards than some muggle-music buffoonery!
There was one person in particular who was absolute over the moon by this musical development: Sirius was practically chasing his own tail.
`Who`d you think did it?` Peter asked eagerly during breakfast.
`I don`t need to think, I know.` Sirius said, looking pleased with himself.
`Who?`
They put their heads together above the table.
`Prongs, obviously!` Sirius whispered. `Probably trying to make it up to me, about the party.`
`Blimey,` Mary said, frowning. `James? By himself?`
James was the last person whom she had thought to have done this. It was unlikely that he was even aware that Sirius was upset with him. Sirius, himself, certainly wouldn`t have told him. Besides, a couple of days ago, James didn`t even know who T. Rex was.
Mary noticed that Remus had fallen silent and was chewing on the inside of his mouth, scowling. And, at that moment, Mary knew that - for whatever reason - this act of kindness had been done by Remus. No - kindness wasn`t the right word…
Mary kept studying Remus; the way he looked at Sirius. Lord, the way he looked at him! This wasn`t kindness; this was a full-blown romantic gesture; this was love. There was no other way to put it: Remus was in love with Sirius. Whether Sirius was aware of this, she did not know. If he didn`t even notice that Remus was the one who`d charmed the portraits, the obvious might be going unnoticed as well.
***
Friday November 4th 1977
Autumn had arrived, shortening the days, lengthening the nights, and bringing along consecutive weeks of unfaltering rain. Consequently, the vast stretching Hogwarts grounds were in a constant state of slippery death.
The last dregs of Sirius` birthday party were percolating in the common room; the last guests were hanging on by their last threads. The turntable was still playing, though, the only person still up and dancing was Mary; she was twirling around with her hands above her head, tipsily humming along to a Nina Simone song.
Sleepily, Lily rested her head against James` knee, closing her eyes for just a moment. She knew that she shouldn`t fall asleep there; classes would start in just a couple of hours.
They were discussing possible options for their prank on Slytherin. Thus far, the ideas had not been very promising. Lily, Mary, and Marlene had pulled better pranks at eleven than some of these suggestions.
Christopher, the only non-seventh year still awake, was taking avid notes. However, Lily wasn`t so sure whether the drunken ramblings of her friends were of any real value.
`I think there`s something to the colour changing idea,` James mumbled, raising his goblet drowsily.
`Nah,` Sirius mulled, shaking his head slowly. `It`s too obvious.` The birthday-boy had had more to drink than any of them, yet he was exceptionally well composed.
Lily had to agree with Sirius on that one: a colour changing charm had very little merit. `Besides,` she said, lolling her head backwards against James. `What do we change? Their robes?`
`Their whole dormitory!` Mary chirped eagerly, swinging her hips back and forth. It was amazing how much energy she still seemed to possess. `Complete makeover! Bright pink!`
Sirius` face turned wry. `Why pink, though?` He strung his bottom lip between his teeth. `Some people might like pink.`
`Ha!` Marlene snorted. `On your own, Black!` She was hanging upside down in an armchair with her legs dangling over the back. Her fair hair swept the floor like a mop and her eyes were fixed on Mary.
`How would we get hold of their robes, though?` Peter asked, staring at his beer bottle, picking at the paper label. `We had the same problem in first year, remember? With the itching powder?`
Marlene furrowed her brow, making her upside-down face look like an angry little moustached man. `How did you sneak in?` she asked. `You can`t have perfected an invisibility spell by the age of eleven...`
Lily looked expectantly at the boys, waiting for an answer. Indeed – how had they managed to do that?
`Ask us no questions and we shall tell you no lies, McKinnon,` Sirius said enigmatically, giving her a sly wink. `Anyway, we`ve decided not to do it.`
`You decided,` James said pointedly and took another swig from his goblet.
`It`s my birthday,` Sirius replied, pouting.
`Not anymore, it isn`t.` Peter grabbed a couch cushion and flung it at Sirius.
It didn`t take much for a proper pillow fight to break out in the common room. James chased Lily dopily, throwing her over his shoulder as he deflected the missiles. Eventually, he gently put her down on the couch. Dizzily, Lily nuzzled her face into his warm shoulder.
`Right,` Marlene laughed. `I`m off to bed.` She put her hands on the floor and nimbly flipped off the chair. It took her a moment to find her bearings; she wobbled and brushed her jeans.
`Noo,` Mary sulked and grabbed Marlene by her middle, spinning her around on her axis. `Don`t go, Marls, dance with meee!`
Marlene wriggled herself loose from Mary`s prying fingers and faltered backwards, flashing her a tight-lipped smile. `I`m sure one of the boys will oblige,` she replied cooly. `Night all!` She waved and bounded up the stairs towards the dormitories.
Puzzled, Lily stared after her. There had been a tone of annoyance in the way in which Marlene had dismissed Mary. It wasn`t new for the two of them to bicker and get on each other`s nerves. Marlene was often scornful or reprimanding of Mary`s social life; and Mary could be vicious if she pleased to do so. Still, they had always been the best of friends.
Nevertheless, this year, it seemed as though a rift of some kind had sprung into existence. Even though neither of them had said anything about it, Lily was rather sure that something had transpired between the two of them in Cornwall. Maybe even before that.
`I think I`ll go up, too,` Christopher said, already halfway there. `Don`t decide on anything without me, though!`
Lily yawned. `I really don`t think anyone`s going to formulate a plan tonight. See you tomorrow, Chris.`
`Night!` Christopher gave them a small wave and gawkily hobbled up the stairs.
Mary had turned glum and turned off the record player, halting Nina mid-sentence. `If no one want to dance with me. I s`pose I better get some beauty sleep too.` She sighed and rubbed her coal-rimmed eyes.
Peter gulped down the last of his beer. `And me.`
Lily started to rise to her feet. `And me-` she said sleepily.
However, she didn`t get far: James grabbed her hips and pulled her back onto his lap. `Don`t go yet…` he murmured into her ear, enveloping her in his arms.
`Mmm…` Lily hummed, closing her eyes and letting herself be cocooned. It was so nice and warm and her bed was all the way up the stairs. Too far away. It could wait.
`Absolutely obscene,` Sirius scolded them. `Well, if that`s the way this party`s going. I`ll follow Wormtail`s example…` he paused. `Coming, Moony?`
`Yep.` Remus hoisted himself off the couch and swiftly followed his friends.
With satisfaction, Lily stared at the remnants of the fire. The flames were licking playfully at the logs, crackling softly, illuminating the mess of the party. She, for one, would not be the one to clean it when morning came.
`I do need to go upstairs sometime,` Lily mumbled, leaning back against James` chest.
James left a trail of little kisses down the nape of her neck – as little butterflies perching on her skin. `Yeah…sometime,` he replied, planting a kiss behind her earlobe.
It was a shame that they didn`t have a room of their own. If they wanted to sleep in the same bed, Lily would have to content with sharing a room with the rest of the marauders. Quite frankly, she didn`t really fancy that. Being in a relationship made her realise how little privacy there was at Hogwarts. You couldn`t go anywhere without being seen!
`Hey, can you answer me something,` Lily said, sitting upright and turning to face James.
`Anything,` James replied without missing a beat.
Lily chuckled at this complete lack of hesitation. `How did you get into the Slytherin common room?` she asked. `I mean – how do you get most places without being seen? Marls certainly had a point with that whole invisibility spell thing.`
A small smile quirked at the edge of James` lips. `Alright,` he said, repositioning himself. `But you have to promise me you won`t tell anyone.`
Lily cocked her head as if to say: `When have I ever told anyone anything I wasn`t supposed to.`
`Right – well, I need to get something first,` James gently let her glide of his lap and hurried up the stairs before she could interject.
Not even a minute later, James silently swept into the common room again, holding a frumpy bundle of cloth in his arms.
Absolutely discombobulated, Lily kept seated, staring at James. In all honesty, she hadn`t expected her inquiry to succeed and now she wasn`t all that sure whether or not he was playing a cruel joke on her.
`Ready?` James asked, unfolding the cloth, which appeared to be a cloak of some kind.
Lily nodded – not sure what to expect.
With one swift movement, James swished the cloak through the air and put it around him. The moment he did so, his body disappeared completely.
Clasping a hand in front of her mouth, Lily stifled a gasp. James had turned into a floating head; he had become invisible! Those boys had been in the possession of a proper invisibility cloak for all these years!
`Neat, right?` James` head grinned at her. `Family heirloom.` He donned the cloak and cast it over Lily. `Seems only fitting you try it as well.` The insinuation wasn`t subtle.
Lily looked down at her body - only to see that it wasn`t there anymore. `Well…` she faltered, stunned. `That…certainly explains a lot.`
///