Start of 4th Year
September 1st 1974
The sacred twenty eight are often call the aristocracy of the Wizarding World. The elite among elite. The most influential families on politics, culture, and customs. They strive for effortless and nothing short of perfection will be accepted.
Augusta Longbottom was no exception.
Augusta was sat in her high backed chair in the dinning room. The sun had just started to rise in the Irish country side and was beginning to peak into the old dinning room through the long windows on the right side of the room. Two chandeliers hung at either side of the room, the crystals glittering in the sunrise light. The chandeliers and the wood beam tapered celling both relics from before the statute of secrecy.
Her house elf, Dipsy, was still dwarfed by Augusta's height, even as she was sat down. Her dusty brown hair pin back with a Longbottom emblem French hair pin, not a hair in her sharp and harshly angled face. Her usual look of disinterest plastered firmly.
She wasn't mean, nor did she use barbaric methods, like some families, however she was strict. Her children were raised properly and with the correct values instilled in them. They were smart, driven, and loyal. Yet, she let them be themselves, as long as they weren't the family name or acting like talentless fools.
Her eldest, Frank Longbottom, her pride was sat next to her at the table. He was inhaling his food as if someone were about to take it from him. He was everything she expected of him; Gryffindor, powerful, straight O grades, Quidditch captain, prefect, pureblood girlfriend, and well liked. He was taller than even her now, inheriting her dusty brown hair and dark brown eyes.
Her youngest, Florence Longbottom, her joy was still asleep. She was nearly everything she expected of her; Gryffindor, power, straight O grades, on the quidditch team, and well liked. Florence now drew equal height to Augusta, and had inherited Fergus Longbottom's Irish brown hair and blue eyes.
However, unlike Frank who was confident and outspoken, Florence was unsure and soft spoken. But Augusta wasn't worried... Not yet at least. Florence was only 14, she still had time to grow up and be more like her brother-
"Florence! If you make us late I will hex you to Merlin come! Get. The. Fuck. Up!" Franks voice went booming through Longbottom House.
...So maybe not too much like Frank.
By the time Florence finally made it out of bed and to the dining room, Frank had finished eaten, gone for a run and was now doing push ups on the dining room floor, much to the bemusement of Augusta.
Before Florence could even step into the dark coloured dining room Frank spoke up, again, "well, well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence." Turning her head towards Frank slowly, Florence gave him her best 'what the fuck did you just say to me' look.
"Naw, did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed, Poor wittle Fworence."
There was a pause then a soft, "Alarte Ascendare."
Frank shot back a few centimeters, enough to knock him off balance slightly and almost fall flat on his face. "Hey! What the hell Flo!"
Florence only shrugged and plopped down next to Augusta, take a piece of toast from the centre of the table and taking a bite.
"Mum! Tell Florence off!"
Augusta sighed, "Frank, you are seventeen years old, ach fós tattling do dheirfiúr, amhail is dá mba mé aon súile. Go hionraic." She loved her children, truely she did, but dear Merlin could they both be childish.
"Yeah, Frank, tattling at your age is so silly. What would Alice say, hmm?"
For all of Franks bravado, Alice was his weak spot and everyone knew it, especially Florence, who loved to exploit it.
Ten o'clock roll around and Augusta was shooing Frank and Florence out of the oversized door, they were old enough to get themselves to the train without an incident. Hopefully.
The pair stepped across the boundary line at the edge of their property and Frank grabbed Florences hand, Apparating them to a Balfe Street. They made their way across the street and into Kings Cross station and began the walk through the muggle station to platform 9 and 3/4. Frank pointing at various things and making commentary to Florence, who nodded along trying to disappear into the crowd.
As the pair walked through Kings Cross Frank spotted the Blacks in front of them. Regulus looking as arrogant as ever, Sirius looking five seconds away from breaking the Statue of Secrecy, and Walburga-
"Walburga looks like someone put Hippogriff shit under her nose." Frank said.
"Frank, be quiet! She's like a bat! She'll hear you! and mum will be pissed if you piss of Walburga!"
"I'm just saying! You'd think after the multiple times she has done the walk to platform 9 and 3/4 she'd be able to keep her distant of muggles off her face- but nope!"
They ran through the barrier together and started to make their way towards the train when Frank noticed James Potter and his mother on the platform watching him and Florence. "Right. Off you go Flo. Don't do anything illegal or inappropriate."
Florence didn't even bother responding and just rolled her eyes. Her? Illegal? Inappropriate? Frank had some funny jokes.
He gave her a quick hug goodbye, before giving her a push towards James, "It's just James, you've known him forever."
"Yes but I have seen him in so long! What if it's awkward!"
"Slán, Florence"
Florence gave Frank one more unsure look over her shoulder before making her way over to James and his mother. It was just James. No biggie. She took a quick breath to collect herself before reaching James.
Before Florence had the chance to say hello James spoke, "look who came back to Hogwarts."
"As if I would miss the chance to kick your ass in Quidditch." Florence responded, her first day stomach knot undoing slightly. James hadn't change. It's all going to be okay.
"We are on the same team!?" James protested.
"Florence, dear, how were your holidays?" Euphemia cut in, taking Florence by her arms and giving her dotting squeeze. James' mum was a lovely women who you couldn't help but feel safe with. "The Malfoy wedding must have been some affair!"
"They were fine thank you Mrs Potter, and the Malfoy wedding was quiet... something. However, slightly too many people for my liking. ...But between you and me-" Florence start lowing her voice and leaning closer to Mrs Potter, "people won't even sure if this wedding was going to happen. Y'know after Andromeda ran off, the Black's really start to keep in rank and stuff. We all thought she was gonna marry her uncle."
"Thats... nice to hear it went well... Now, off you two pop. On to the train quick smart or it will leave without you."
Florence said goodbye to Mrs Potter as she pulled James into a big hug, kissing his cheek obnoxiously. James wriggled out of his mothers grasp promising to write as often as possible before he and Florence headed together to the train chatting excitedly about the year to come.
"Oh and James, My Dear, if you are caught strutting around the castle at night one more time, you're father and I will bring you straight home!"
"MUM! Stop! me estás avergonzando."
"I should hope so. It is my duty as your mothers."
James sighed deeply as if he carried the weight of his whole family on his back, and bowed dramatically, as his mother started blowing kisses at him as he started to pushed Florence towards their compartment.
The train was the same as it was every year, narrow corridor, loud voices yelling over one another, and fireworks going off at random intervals. People greeting each other after the two month summer break. James and Florence made their way down the corridor, every now and again squishing up against the wall so others could pass.
"I didn't mean to just word vomit all over your mother- I just can't help it when someone asks me something, you know!"
"Mhm."
"James are you even listening to me?"
"What? Oh yeah. Mhm."
"Besides, it's not like it was some big secret."
"Mhm- Pettigrew! Lupin!" James called loudly, flinging the door to cabin 81 open.
Remus and Peter already deep into an argument about whether Professor McGonagall and Mrs Norris were friends. Pete, who was jetering with his hands insistently was firmly in the yes camp, and Remus, who wasn't even looking up from his book in the no.
"Morning lads!" James said cheerly slumping down next to Remus and kicking his feet up onto the seat opposite.
Florence sat down next to Peter and shoved James feet off the seat.
"James, you reckon Mrs Norris and Minnie in cat form would be friends?" Peter asked, without acknowledging James greeting.
"Oi, what about what I think Pete!" Florence interjected, with a silly pout, turning the corners of her mouth down for emphasis.
Peter gave Florence a confused look, "Eh, because I already know what you think, from when we had this conversation when we were eight!" Remus snorted in amusement, gosh, that conversation had disintegrated fast than usual.
James snorted, kicking his feet onto the seat and lying on his back, "nah, Minnie has far too much composure to befriend something as evil as Mrs Norris."
"Thank you James. See Pete, thats what I said."
Remus lowered his book just as the cabin door flew open with a loud bang.
"Gentlemen! The Marauders ride once again!" Sirius stood in the door way looking quiet proud of, in his eyes, his amazing entrance. He paused actually taking the time to look through the carriage, "and Florence.. for some reason?"
"Hey, where's your brother?" Florence asked.
A risking question, sure, it could technically set Sirius off. Maybe it's been a good morning-
"Dunno, he walk off with Snivellus already trying to crawl up his arse."
"Charming, Sirius. Ugh- at least it’s not Malfoy anymore." Florence shuddered at the thought.
Once again the cabin door flew open, with a second loud bang, this time it was Mary and Marlene.
"Salutations sluts and Remus!" Mary dropped herself down next to Sirius, taking up the last seat on Remus' side.
Marlene sat down next to Florence pulled her into a long hug, "Lily isn't going to join us because- well, she hates you lot."
Seven pairs of eyes landed on James Potter, who had been in the middle of running a hand through his obnoxiously shiny hair.
"What? What are we all looking at me for? She will fall for me one day, just you all wait"
As the clocks at the station clicked over to 11am the Hogwarts expressed started pulling out of the station, parents and students waving their final goodbyes.
About an hour into the scenic journey Mary let out a gasp and stood up on the seat to grab her bag off the metal railing above. The rest of the group looked at her with puzzled expressions, until Mary pulled out a deck of Uno from her beige bag.
It was now Marlenes turn to gasp. "Oh my god! Mary, Uno! You bloody genius!"
"What the hell is Uno?" Peter asked.
Mary and Marlene looked a Peter as if he had betray them, "um only the best game on the market!"
"My cousin from America brought it over during the summer and I've been obsessed ever since. I taught Marlene when she and Lily came over in August." Mary explain as she leaned over a clump of boys to reach the table stowed on the widow wall of the cabin.
Pulling out the table, Mary and Marlene set about explaining the rules of Uno to the other five, which was proving more difficult than originally thought.
Sirius and Florence were struggling with the fact the game had no magic involved at all, James was hung up on why it was called 'One' even though Mary explained that you finish after getting rid of your ONE last card, and Peter and Remus and kept trying to argue with the rules.
30 minuets later Mary was dealing the first hand of Uno.
"Right so, you all got it now?"
A chorus of yes could be heard, and they started playing. The more rounds they played, the more the group was starting to understand how the game worked. The more the group understood how the game worked, the more tensions were rising.
Cards were Incendio-ed, slaps were thrown, and friendships were breaking down before their very eyes.
Peter gave a draw two Marlene who threatened to hex Peters hair off if he did it again. Sirius put a plus four to Remus, and Remus did actually hex Sirius' hair off. His hair had to be grown back by Florence, who did an awful job because of how much she was laughing.
The group had been playing (playing, tormenting same thing) for around 3 hours when the trolly witch came around. The cards where swiftly packed up and replaced by an array of food off the trolly.
"Anything from the trolly, dears?"
Around 3pm Florence untangled herself from Marlene and excused herself, as she wanted to go find Lily.
Who they all knew would be with Snape, but it seriously shouldn't be a big deal-
James and Sirius immediately made several vomiting noises and pretended to faint of shocked at the mer mention of Lilys names, Peter egging them on.
And they wound why Lily hates them-
Even the implication of Snape had James and Sirius acting like a couple of first years who had just discovered they had free will. Florence left in a huff, but not before giving James and Sirius a scolding about being immature and needing to grow a set of morals.
"Honestly, I don't know why Florence still defends Lily's friendship with Snape. He is evil personified", Marlene sat up against the wall and stretched her legs across the seat Florence had once been.
James, Sirius and Peter let out a loud cheer.
Sirius got leapt off the seat and sunk onto the narrow stretch of floor between the seats, shaking Marlene's hand "Welcome! Welcome to the side of light!"
"Get off the ground Sirius, that's disgusting", Mary pulled Sirius back onto the seat.
"I'll give you 1 galleon if you can guess which house every first year is sorted into."
James, Sirius, and Peter look at Remus in utter shock.
"Remus John Lupin! In all my years-" Sirius started.
"-I have never had to deal with students gambling at school-" James followed.
"-I expected better for you Mr Lupin." Peter finished.
Remus slapped Sirius and Peter across the head and kicked James and Mary under the table.
"Hey! Wrong person, idiot! I didn't do anything!" Mary scowled and sulked her further into her seat.
"You gonna take the bet or not?"
At the moment, Professor Mcgonagall marched into the great hall followed by 60 or so wide eyed first years.
Florence smiled to herself, she remembered the overwhelming feeling she had, when she was first led into the great hall 4 years ago. It felt like yesterday, hell in some ways it was basically yesterday.
Even being raised in and amongst magic, they mystics of Hogwarts never wore off. The floating candles that never go out, the roof being enchanted to look like the night sky. There was no place like it. Not even in the most ancient manor in all of these islands could rival Hogwarts mystique.
The marauders turned and looked at each other conspicuously, as Mcgongall unrolled her parchment.
They're gonna do it, their professional attention seekers-
"Aarons, Lucinda."
The marauders looked at each other again to see if they were really going to take Remus' bet.
"Hufflepuff!" Sirius shouted.
"Slytherin!" James yelled.
"Dumbasses, she's obviously a Ravenclaw."
"Sure Pete, whatever you say"
Mcgonagall placed the sorting hat onto Lucinda's head, as the group held their breath. The hat sat for a minuet, taking its time with its decision.
"RAVENCLAW!"
The sorting continued and the marauders continued to yell out their guesses for each new student. Sirius managing to get it wrong nearly every time, James having slightly better luck, he managed to guess around 50%.
Pete on the other hand, guesses every single house correctly.
"One galleons thanks Remus."
"Yeah alright, I'll give it to you back in the dorm room."
"How is God's name did you manage that?" Marlene questioned, stabbing her fork in Peter's direction. Peter merely shrugged and took a sip of water.
Dumbledore made his way to the podium sitting at the front and centre of the hall. His beard had grown longer yet again over the summer, it was also looking more grey and less white. He looked out over the sea of chattering children and cleared his voice.
"Another sorting complete and another year at Hogwarts beginning, some of us-", he looked in the marauders direction with a twinkle of gaiety in his eye, "-more enthusiastic than others. My hope for you all this year, is that you will take care of each other and remember you will never be alone with your friends close by. Now, enjoy the feast!"
Food appeared on the plates running down the centre of the table and everyone filled their plate to their hearts content.
Mary had started a conversation with some of the 5th years sitting near her about Uno, she seemed to have made it her mission to get everyone in Hogwarts to play at least on game of Uno that year.
The feast drew to a close and the 5th year prefects got up to lead the 1st years to their common rooms. The rest of the students took the opportunity to settle back into the castle, moseying back to their common rooms. Make sure that Flich hadn't blocked over any of the good make-out spots, or Peeves hadn't wrecked yet another corridor.
James and Sirius had run off ahead off the group to claim their beds in the dorm. The same beds they had slept in for the past 3 years. The beds that they literally carved their initials into.
Professor Mcgonagall had asked Remus to come talk to her in her office and Peter had gone with him.
Marlene didn't want to take the moving stairs, as it made her want to puke, so Mary, Lily, and Florence agreed to go the long way and use the back stairwell. As they walked down the hallway the portraits were buzzing around and whispering to each other. They had barely been back at school for 6 hours and the portrait gossip train was already in full swing.
"I wonder what thats about?"
"Funny you should ask that Miss Mcdonald."
Nearly Headless Nick appeared behind the group causing them to jump. Nick, as lovely as he was, had a terrible habit of just appearing and joining into conversations out of thin air.
"Florian Parkinson and Christine Beaufort were caught making out in a broom cupboard before the sorting ceremony!"
"Catch yourself on, they were not!"
"I assure you Miss Longbottom, I tell you nothing but the truth. Now back to the common room you four, I can hardly keep you out here for Mcgonagall to find."
The girls bid farewell to Nick and continued on towards their common room. When they got there, they saw Alice Fortescue was standing out the front, talking to The Fat Lady, to give the password to stragglers.
"Leones spiritum. Be careful when you go in, Dingus and Dumbass have been sending things fly around the common room." She said and The Fat Lady swung open.
Lily was the first to enter the lively common room and no sooner than she had a cushion flew at her head and hit her square in the face. Lily bent down to pick up the offending object and glanced around the common room to find who throw it. Her eyes landed on a very sorry looking James Potter.
"Potter! Are you seriously incapable of growing up or are you destined to be an immature idiot for your whole life!" She snapped, holding the bright red cushion out like a piece of evidence.
"Lily, I'm so sorry! I though it was Florie coming through the door! I never meant to hit you. I'd never do that to you! I promise!" James ran a hand through his hair, looking very much like a wounded puppy.
Lily sighed annoyed and looked James dead in his eyes "So, just because you weren't aiming for me, that makes it okay?"
"No! No, Lily- NO! I didn't mean-", he kicked a cushion that sat near his foot, "this was stupid anyway."
Lily ignored his attempts to justify his behaviour and shoved past him towards the girls dormitory. James looked desperately at the bottom of the girls stairs, as if he could will Lily back to listen to his explanation.
Mary, Marlene and Florence followed after Lily. Mary practically sprinted up the stairs to catch up to Lily. As Florence and Marlene reached the stairs James called out to Florence.
"Please, Florie."
"James, and you Sirius, wise up."
With that Marlene grabbed Florences hand and they ran up the stairs together, leaving a stunned James back in the common room.