Marlene and I are eating breakfast in the great hall, we choose to have a quick quidditch training before the lessons start.
“Oi Evans, is it warm there!?”
We turn around to see who called Lily. The boy who yelled at her was Mulciber and he is pointing at her legs.
“Piss of!” Lily says back.
Marlene stands up and I follow.
“What are you gonna do about it Evans?” He keeps teasing.
Marlene boils with anger in seconds, “Which part of piss of don’t you understand?? I knew you weren’t the smartest but atleast try to find your last brain cell for once.”
We walk away and I take a quick look at Lily's legs. Sure there is a bit of hair, so what?
“Why that face Potter?” Marls asks.
“I just don’t get the issue, it is just hair. We don’t call Mulciber out because he has hair?”
“Trust me it is fine, I’m used to it,” Lily says.
“What?! What do you mean ‘used to it’!”
“That it has happened before,” She is saying it like it’s the most normal thing on earth.
“And you are telling me now?!!”
Marls jumps into the converstation, “James, how fucking blind can you be? It happens all the time!”
“Wait, it happens to you too?!”
“Of course it did James, God I don’t think I know if there even is one girl here that it didn’t happen to.”
I stayed quiet for a while. Why are humans like this?!
“So, what can I do to help them, if I see it happen?”
“You could defend her and ask if she is alright,” Lily suggests.
I see a smirk growing on Marlene her lips, “Or, you could jinx the person that is being rude. I like this option more than the one Lily suggested,” She says.
I laugh with her, but our attention flies away when the doors open and Remus, Sirius, Peter and Mary walk to us.
I look at Lily and she is staring at her plate. “Don’t mention it to them please, I just want to forget it, alright?”
“Of course love.”
She slowly smiles at me and grabs my hand with her while standing up.
“Wait where are we going?” I ask.
“To the library,” She gives me a wink.
My heart lights up with joy as I realize.
“Bye Marls, going to see Reg-” I get cut off by Lily’s hand on my mouth.
“Morning lads.” Sirius says sleepy.
I can’t help but laugh against the palm of her hand, and it feels soft and warm on my skin.
Only Marlene and Remus know our secret, and we plan to keep it like that for a few more weeks.
~~~~~
“You have to be careful not to flick your wand too much, otherwise there would be a bigger effect then you’ll need-” Mcgonagall said, rushing to Peter.
We have transfiguration at the moment, one of my favorite subjects. I love Minnie's lesson, I really do, but if I had to choose between listening to Minnie or staring at Regulus and Lily looking very focused and concentrating, I know which one I would pick. We have transfiguration with the slytherins one year younger than us. Most of them are absolute dickheads, not Reg tho, he is just quiet and concentrating on Minnie the whole time, it’s so cute. When he is very focused Reg bites softly on the inside of his left cheek. When Lils is focused she pokes her tongue a little out, without her knowing it. They are both so beautiful.
The door bursts open and Mary storms in.
“Sorry I'm late professor, I overslept.” She said.
“It’s fine, just go sit Macdonald.”
I sit next to Sirius, who obviously wants to know more.
“What happened?” He whispered to Mary who came to sit next to him.
“Lily and Marlene woke me up, but I told them to fuck off because it is morning you know?” Actually we do know, because if you meet Mary in a bad mood in the morning, you’re dead meat. “Then I fell asleep again and didn’t wake up until 15 minutes ago.” She explained.
The row in front of us are sitting Remus, Lily, Peter and Marlene.
Marlene turned around,”I don’t think that is what he meant,” she looked at Mary up and down.
“O fuck off, I couldn’t find anything so I had to improvise!” She rolled her eyes playful.
Mary was wearing a short skirt and a crop top with flowers on. Personally I loved the outfit, but apparently Snivellus had to give his opinion about it too.
“Yes we can see that, actually we see way more than we should.”
I make a discussed face, what the fuck does he think he is playing at?!
“Well then don’t look.” She answers steadily.
“That is hard when you can see so much of your legs, so much of your bare skin, isn’t it?” He kept going.
I’m gonna vomit all over him and his ridiculously greasy hair.
Mary is pulling at her skirt, her face going bright red.
“Oi, don’t be like that!” I say to him.
“Like what Potter?!”
“Like a boy who can’t keep his hand for himself!”
“I’m not a boy! I am a man!”
“Well than fucking act like it!”
“Okay that's enough James, thank you but it’s fine.” Mary says gently to me.
“This isn’t done.” I mumble under my breath.
Why can he give comments on how Mary dresses?! It's her clothes and her body isn’t it?! This is so unfair. If she wants to wear a short skirt then she should, and without having to hear boys their opinions about it. Not only Mary of course, everyone must just wear what they like without other people judging.
And then it hid me, we are gonna dress the way we want.
~~~~~
The next day, morning:
“Marauders emergency meeting!” I scream when we are in the common room. I see Sirius his eyes light up with mischief and Remus and Peter rolling their eyes dramatically, hiding their smiles.
We all walk in our dorm, 8 pieces of clothing laying in front of us.
“What is this?” Pete asks, “And why is Marlene here? No offense.”
“None taken Petey.”
Remus starts speaking, "Clothing. Mary her clothes. Why are Mary her clothes here?”
“So, remember how shitty Snivellus did to Mary yesterday?” Marlene says.
“How can we forget, he was basically undressing her with his eyes.” Sirius says.
There is a shiver down my spine only from the thought of it. “I thought we could help her,” I interrupt Marls, “I know she doesn’t need help but I think she would appreciate it, plus it is SO funny!”
“And what does that have to do with the clothes?” Peter asks.
“You lot are gonna wear them, obviously.” Marls answers.
“And tell me, how is that gonna help Mary and how is that funny for us?” Remus comments.
I start speaking, “In that way we show her our support, and Snape can’t comment on her clothes anymore because we are wearing the exact same thing! We wear something on top of the skirt and crop top, like a long jacket, and when he says something rude and disrespectful we rip our coats off and ask him if he would also be drooling at this sight.”
“So basically we dress like Mary to support her but hide ourself until Snivellus becomes a jerk, dramatically rip off our jackets and seduce him to make him feel small and disgusting?” Sirius asks.
“If you put it like that-” I didn’t even have time to finish my sentence.
“I’m in!” he says excited.
“Moony, Wormtail?”
“Fine, only because it’s Mary, I’ve had more detentions this month then that we had in the entire 5th year.” Remus sighs.
“Alright, but only for Mary!” Peter agrees.
“Well then, skirts on lads!”
~~~~~
Same day in the morning, just before class:
“Mine doesn’t fit!” Peter says.
“Then make it longer then, idiot.” Moony responds.
"Oi! Don’t call me an idiot, cunt!”
“Then don’t call me a cunt, wanker!”
“Don’t call me a wanker-!”
“Stop it, both of you! This is supposed to be for helping people, not to scold them!” I stare long at them. Peter softens a bit.
“Sorry Remus.”
I look at Remus, but he keeps silent.
“Moony?!” I say in disbelief.
“What?! It’s almost a full!”
“Don’t you dare play the werewolf card on me Lupin!”
“Okay, okay!” he turns to Peter, “Sorry Wormtail.”
“Now let's go to transfiguration now because I can't stand the both of you anymore.” Marlene mumbles. She had known Moony's furry secret in 6th year when he didn’t show up for their late night study date, he never misses them, and at that time the puzzle pieces clicked in her head.
We walk to transfiguration in our ridiculously long coats, underneath it a blue mini-skirt and a matching white-blue flowery crop top. Marlene says it looks good, and I totally agree.
"Goodmorning Minnie!” We say in unison. She doesn’t even correct her name to us anymore because we both know it is pointless.
“Goodmorning,” She looks at us confused, “Why are you all smiling like lunatics?”
“It is just a very good day, professor.” Remus answers with a straight face.
“It is only 8:20 in the morning?”
“Then it can only get better doesn’t it?” Sirius says smirking.
We go sit in our usual seats, Sirius, Mary and me on the last row, Remus, Peter, Lily and Marlene on the one before us.
“Why are you blokes smiling so hard?” Mary asks.
“What’s with all the questions today?” Sirius groans, he is definitely not a morning person.
“Don’t worry Macdonald, you are gonna love it!”
“Now I’m scared Potter.”
I just smirk at her and look at Marlene, who is smiling back, leaving Mary confused and whispering things to Lils.
Mary is wearing a ripped jeans and a dark red top, she immediately looks up when the slytherins walk into the classroom.
“Well well Macdonald, that is not exactly much better than yesterday, is it?” He is one fucking second in this class and Snape already gives his unnecessary opinion, why can’t he just fuck off?!
“What is wrong with her clothes?” Lily asks angrily. She looks so done with Snivellus that it is actually hilarious.
“What is not wrong with her clothes?!” he responds.
“Welcome class,” Minnie says, she didn’t hear what Snape said.
Lily is getting mad, “You know Severus, I really liked being your friend, liked, why do you have to be such a jerk?!”
“You don’t have much to say with Potter!”
“And what is that supposed to mean?!” Marlene cuts in. She has been my best friend from the moment we were born, our moms are really good friends and are neighbors. She just gets a bit overprotective sometimes.
“Go sit Snape.” Minnie orders him.
“You are head over heels about him!” He acts like he didn’t hear Minnie and Marlene, then turns to face me, “I really hate you Potter, but you can get better than being friends and being in love with mudbloods.”
My blood boils in seconds, and I'm getting on my feet without even realizing it, “You don’t call my friends and Lily that! And it’s not your position to tell me who I deserve or not! They are my friends, no matter if they’re muggleborn, halfblood or pureblood, you prick!”
“James mate, I totally agree with you but you need to calm down a bit, everyone is staring-” Peter tries.
“And they can wear what they want, whenever they want! I’m so fucking done with your unnecessary opinion about everything! Mary doesn’t deserve your nasty comments about the way she dresses because you can’t keep it in your pants!”
“Mr. Potter-”
“No, I am not done professor, it’s not her fault that you are way out of her league but that doesn’t mean you have to scold her out like that!”
“Are you really gonna defend that slut?!” Snape says.
For a moment there is a deadly silence, no one says something, and it feels like everyone is holding their breath.
"Excuses me?!” Mary says, “I am so fucking done with you Snape! Did you know that I never told Lily what you did to me because that would affect your friendship with her?! Did you know I was the one that had to say that you were no good to Lily and she didn’t fucking believed me?! Did you know that I was the one that held her when you called her that horrible word? Did you know I was the one that cleaned up your fucking mess and you still have the corrage to call me a slut?! You are unbelievable!”
Snape opens his mouth, “You didn’t have to, you had a choice not to, just as you have a choice not to dress like a whore.”
And then Remus stands up, totally overtowering Snape with his long ass height, “What did you say?”
“I said that-”
“What the fuck is your problem?! What’s wrong? Is it the shirt, the skirt, maybe the fact that her hair is put up very pretty?” he asks Snivellus in a rush.
“It’s just-”
“What? Did your tongue seep out with the saliva that was dripping out your mouth?” Marls asks.
“I-”
Sirius stands now to, “Well let me tell you, you’re gonna faint by this sight then.” he winks at Snape.
I look at Sirius and he nods, it’s showtime. We rip our coats off, and I grin proudly.
“What do you think? Does it match my eyes?” Peter asks.
People are laughing, not because of us, because of Snape, he is blushing like crazy.
“I- uhm- just-”
“What’s wrong? Too stunned to speak because of our amazing look, Snivellus?” Sirius asks. Oh this was the best idea we ever had!
“What do you think of the length of my skirt? Too short? Can you see too much of my leg?” Remus follows up quickly.
“I- uhm I think it looks okay.” Snape manages to say after a long time.
“Oi Mulciber!” I call out.
He looks up, just as the rest of the Slytherins that weren’t already watching.
“What do you think of my leg hair? Grossing you out?”
“No, why?” He answer, trying to sound steady.
“Well it bothered you when it was Lily, didn’t it? So what’s the difference?!”
“It’s called gender rules Potter.”
“Oh well I guess I’m doing things that are illegal then, since I’m not exactly following the rules. Hey, let's check, shall we?” I didn’t even let him start his sentence, “Oi, Minnie! Am I going against the school dress code rules?”
“No, you’re not Potter. You are wearing a uniform, there isn’t anything written in those rules that says you can’t wear a skirt if you want to.” She tells us. If you study her face really well, you can see that she is hiding a small smile.
He aggressively stands up and comes very close to us, me being face to face with him.
“Do not. Humiliate. Me.” He spits out.
“Or what?”
“Or i’ll cut your fucking throat.”
I can hear Remus stifle a laugh, “What Lupin?!”
“You know he has a thing for people who threaten him, right?” Moony answers, laughing his ass off.
Mulciber goes bright red and the whole class laughs. I sneak a look at Reg and Lils, and to be honest, Remus is not wrong. The first time I asked Lily out she hexed my hair pink, and the first time I saw Regulus he put a silence-hex on me, because I talked too much.
“True,” I step closer to him, seeing the fear built in his eyes second by second, and I start talking to him in a low raw voice, “There is just something about it that drives me absolutely crazy,” I walk closer and closer to him as he steps backwards, “You have that special thing in you, right… here.” He walked so far backwards that he is now pressed against a desk, leaving him no way out. I poke softly with my finger in his chest and make just long enough eye contact to make him go even more red then he already was.
“Potter, stop!” Severus calls out.
“Why, are you jealous?” Marlene responds.
Everyone is laughing. Again. Blimey we are bloody hilarious!
And then the most iconic thing in history happens.
When the laughing has stopped a bit, 2 people say something at the same time.
When the laughing has stopped a bit, Regulus and Lily say something at the same time.
“Oi, Mulciber, don’t steal my boyfriend!” They say in unison.
First it is silent, then Mary and Peter gasp very loudly, turning around and stare at me, Lily and Regulus, switching shocked looks between the 3 of us. The news reaches the Slytherins fast and there are a lot of whispers.
“Regulus?”
“Regulus Black with a Potter and a mudblood?!”
But his friends are no doubt the loudest of them all.
“With Potter?! Pandora is gonna laugh so hard! Reg I know you were obsessed with him, but I thought in a ‘he is my enemy’ kind of way?!’ Barty screams dramatically.
“Damn Reggie, you took enemies to lovers a bit too seriously.” Dorcas says.
“Little less reading for you Baby Black.” Evan adds.
Lily and Regulus are staring at each other, realizing their mistake. But I smile, in the hope that when I look at Sirius, he does the same. Oh I fucking hope he does.
Then boom, Sirius gets it. “What?!” He says dramatically and whips his head around so fast to look at me that I wonder how his neck didn’t snap.
“Mate, I’m so sorry but-”
“No, wait. I just need to, uhm, wait just wait.”
I do as he says and shut my mouth, even tho I have a million questions. What have I done?! I am dating his little brother, my best friend’s little brother! Is he mad? Does he think I'm joking? Because I’m not. I like him. And Lily. He needs to understand that. Does he understand? O god, will he ever understand? What if he never understands-”
“Do you like him?’
"W-what?" I ask him, completely caught off guard by this sudden question.
“Do you like him?” He repeats, clearly talking about his little brother.
“Yes.”
“Do you plan to hurt him?”
“No, of course not!”
“Are you gonna keep him safe?”
“Yes, obviously! Sirius, I'm your best friend dude!?”
He sighs, “Okay well, do your thing I guess. But be fucking carefull!” He smiles at me.
I immediately jump into his arms, “Thank you!”
“I still think you chose the wrong Black brother tho.” Sirius says, jokingly. I grin at him and hug him tight.
“Mulciber, Snape, go to Dumbledore's office. I’ve heard enough, you do not speak like that to someone, there will be big consequences.” Minnie says sharp, her eyes glowing with anger and burning heat.
“Now everyone, go sit so I can carry on the lesson.”
Mary sifts closer to me, “Even tho I didn’t need the help, I appreciate it so much James, I own you.” And she gives me a hug.
I’m actually so proud of us standing up for each other, but I still feel kinda bad for Minnie, we totally interrupted her class.
She turns her back on us and starts writing on the blackboard, as if she can read my mind she says, “Don’t interrupt my class ever again, Potter.”
“Sorry Minnie I-”
“-Unless you have a valid reason. 20 points to Gryffindor.”
She turns around and smiles.