She Traitor

The potions class was slowly emptying out.  The suffocating smell of unfinished cauldrons hung in the air as the students cleaned their supplies.  Sarah and Rabastan stayed at their table, talking quietly and gathering their things.  This class, Sarah successfully threw a piece of mandrake leaf into Bianca Zabini's potion and it exploded.  She had never been so excited to see someone being taken to the madame Poppy.

Of course, Rabastan noticed what she had done and the two of them discussed other ways to spoil something.

As soon as they came out of the classroom into the corridor, Marlene and Lily were standing there, waiting for the next class, which they had this time.  They both watched with great interest as Sarah and Rabastan walked out of the classroom together, side by side, in a conversation that seemed surprisingly casual.

Marlene frowned and balled her hands into fists.  "What the hell does this mean?" she hissed towards Lily, who was carefully placing her textbook in her bag.

"It looks… like they're talking," Lily replied slowly, still watching the pair disappear down the dungeon's corridors.

Marlene turned to Lily with a look of utter shock.  "Were they just talking?  Lily, this is Rabastan Lestrange!  You know,  that pureblood, Slytherin family, what... well, we all know what they're like!  For example, we know Rudolfus Lestrange."

"And Sarah's a pureblood too," Lily pointed out calmly, though she looked a bit confused herself.  “Maybe they're just talking about potions or school.  It doesn't have to mean something terrible right away."

Marlene snorted and straightened up.  "Sirius needs to know this.  And James!  Once they find out that their dear Sarah is talking to Lestrange, it will be a war between the Marauders and the snake.

Lily narrowed her eyes and put a hand on Marlene's shoulder to stop her.  They didn't have to warn James now, the question was when he and his gang would arrive.  “Look, don't say anything yet.  They were just talking.  And look at Sarah - does she look angry when you see her?  Or distressed?”

Marlene thought about it and finally shook her head.  "No, not really.  She looked… pretty happy.  Which is strange, because it's Lestrange!” then she paused and added in horror.  "Didn't he use Imperius on her?"

"Marlen!" Lily shouted. "Maybe instead of panicking and running to Potter right away, we should try to find out what this is about. She seemed to be having quite a good time."

Marlene bit her lip, still tense.  "Fine, let's leave it at that for now.  But if Sirius or James find out, I can't guarantee that this won't turn out disastrously.''

"Then it will be Sarah's fault, will it?" Lily replied mildly but with emphasis.  "If it means she has new friends now, maybe we should respect that, right?"

Marlene sighed and walked into the classroom with a hesitant nod.  It wasn't like they were having much fun this year anyway.

Sarah and Rabastan walked side by side down the hall, a loud conversation between them.  With his hands in his pockets, Rabastan made a dry remark about the next potions class, which made Sarah laugh.  However, their peaceful pace was interrupted by the voice of Pandora, who joined them as if she had suddenly appeared from the shadows.

"Oh, the heart of a lion among bull hunters," murmured Pandora dreamily, her voice almost singsong.

Rabastan stopped and looked at her with a puzzled expression.  "What's that supposed to mean?"

Pandora smiled and gave a slight shrug as if it was a given.  “Regulus and his father.  The lion's heart defied the bull hunter.'

Sarah covered her mouth to hide her smile.  "Are you talking about how he can't stand Orion?" she asked.  One of the few things she knew about Regulus Black was that his parents were Walburga and Orion.  Sirius had talked about them a few times and maybe she had seen them at the station once.  Not that she wanted to see them, but the woman was terrifying.

Pandora nodded.  "Of course.  Orion wrote a letter to Reg.  He is not a very attentive father."

Rabastan folded his arms across his chest.  “It wouldn't be the first time Reg has torn up a letter about his parents.  So when Regulus disagrees with his father, you call it the heart of a lion?” he asked amused.

"Yes, because that's exactly how he acts," Pandora replied with a serious expression, as if it were completely obvious.

However, Pandora then turned to Sarah, her gaze now a bit more dreamy.  “By the way,” she began, “I met a sixth year raven last night.  You know, the tall one who likes wizard chess.  He… was nice to me.”

Sarah raised an eyebrow.  "Nice?"

Pandora nodded and looked at the end of the hall as if he was standing there somewhere.  “Yes, just… different from the others.  But my brother would never approve.  And the parents?  You would probably pass out.”

Rabastan rolled his eyes.  “Then why are you even talking to him, Pandora?  If you know it's not going anywhere.'

Pandora frowned, but her usual gentleness did not leave her.  "Because he's nice.  And sometimes… that's enough.”

Before Sarah could add anything about getting to know him first, movement at the end of the corridor caught their attention.

Remus Lupin, pale-faced and tired, was just coming out of the corridor leading to the infirmary.  His steps were slow but determined, as if he didn't want to attract too much attention.  Pandora noticed him first and tilted her head slightly, her curious gaze following him as he passed the group.

"That's interesting," Pandora said quietly.

Rabastan noticed the direction of her gaze and snorted.  “That's just Lupin.  He doesn't look great.'

"The wolf just woke up," Sarah said quietly, mostly to herself, but loud enough for Pandora to hear.

Pandora immediately turned to her, her eyes lighting up like the moon in the night sky.  "You figured it out, didn't you?" she asked with a smile that was far from surprised, more satisfied.

Sarah nodded.  "Yes.  It's not hard if you notice all the… hints.  Especially after several full moons."

Pandora smiled even more and shrugged as if it was the most natural thing in the world.  "I always knew you were smart," she said quietly.

"Wait," Rabastan interrupted, his tone suspicious.  “You two are talking in riddles.  What is it about?"

Sarah looked at him, then shrugged.  "Nothing to interest you, Rabastan."

Pandora laughed softly and looked back in the direction Remus had disappeared.  "He's fascinating, don't you think?" she asked, rather rhetorically.  Of course, she was also alluding to the fact that Remus Lupine was quite a well-built boy.  His scars only added to his mysterious appearance.

“Fascinating?” Rabastan repeated skeptically.  "You girls are really weird."

Sarah smiled but her gaze drifted back to the corridor where she had last seen Remus.  Inside she felt a strange respect for what he must have been going through and wondered how much longer she could hide what she had found out about him.

Pandora nudged her shoulder gently, snapping her out of her thoughts.  "Let's go.  If we stand here, everyone will start to think we're planning something Slytherin."

•••

The Great Hall hummed with the voices of students who had reunited after the holidays.  Marlene McKinnon sat down next to James Potter at the Gryffindor table and immediately noticed where his gaze was going.  His eyes were fixed on the Ravenclaw table where his sister Sarah was currently sitting accompanied by Rabastan Lestrange, Pandora Rosier and several other Ravenclaws.

“Why are you staring at them like that?” Marlene asked directly, frowning.  She didn't talk to James often unless it was Quidditch.

"I'm not staring at anyone," James replied curtly, not even trying to hide where his attention was directed.

Marlene crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows dramatically.  "Yeah, sure.  You don't look at all like you're going to get up and drag her back to the Gryffindor table at any moment.'

"Just…" James sighed but didn't take his eyes off Sarah.  "What is he doing there?  Why is she sitting with him?'

“With Lestrange?” Marlene looked that way and shrugged.  "Well, I don't know.  Maybe because they're obviously having fun together now?"

James finally turned to her.  “This is not normal.  It doesn't belong to her at all.”

Marlene laughed.  "You know what's not normal?  That you and Sirius haven't figured it out yet.  How long has she been friends with them?"

James hesitated.  "It's not long.  Maybe from the Christmas party… or something.”

"So something?" Marlene looked at him quizzically.  “James, that sister of yours just got her own party.  Rosier is harmless, we all know that.  Lestrange… well, maybe not ideal, but he obviously gets along."

"It's not just about that," James cut her off.  “Rabastan is not good company, Marlene.  You know that."

“Look,” Marlene said calmly, “Sarah looks happy.  And she's much calmer than when she was always clinging to you.  Maybe they feel better with them.  Have you ever considered that maybe she needed a change?'

James stared at her for a moment, unable to answer.  Sarah just said something and Pandora laughed out loud while Rabastan nodded with a smile.

"Fine," James finally said.  "But if Lestrange does something to her, then—"

"So what?" Marlene interrupted with a hint of an amused smile.  “Truthfully, I'm more concerned about what you will do.  But you know what?  I advise you to leave her alone.  She looks happy.”

James leaned back on the bench and watched his sister thoughtfully.  "It remains to be seen," he muttered under his breath.