Chapter 29
"I'm not waiting around anymore, she could be anywhere-" Charlotte could practically hear Sirius shouting even before the portrait creaked open and she stepped inside, all eyes flashing to her. "Oh, thank God."
"What are you shouting ab-" She trailed off, letting Sirius pull her into a tight hug. "Sirius!" She smiled, though it fell quickly from her face as the hug went on a few seconds too long, her eyes catching Lily's and Marlene's from across the room.
"Mary's been hurt." Remus explained as Sirius finally let go of Charlotte, the two of them heading over to the couches now. "She's alright... In the hospital wing..."
"She's not alright." Sirius growled, "Who knows what might have happened Remus, if you hadn't come around the corner-"
"But I did."
"Someone's got to do something. We can't let them keep getting away with this-" James said, his voice low and serious and Sirius was nodding along at once.
"What can we do?" Peter piped up, his gaze flickering between James and Remus.
"It's being handled. McGonagall, Dumbledore and Slughorn are all in the hospital wing-"
"Yeah, lot of good Slughorn's gonna be when it comes to punishing his own house-"
"Professor Slughorn is their Head of House! He has to do something!" Lily cut in.
"He lets them get off with everything, Evans!" Sirius growled.
"What happened to Mary?" Charlotte asked, the various conversations dying down as all eyes returned to the blonde before turning to face Remus.
"I don't know really... What he did... I didn't hear the spell, but it was blue. Dark blue, the light. And she just... crumpled to the ground."
"Who?"
"Mulciber." Sirius answered before Remus even had the chance. Charlotte's stomach jolted, thinking of the older Slytherin alone with Mary, much less the use of dark magic...
"Can we see her?" She turned to Lily now who shrugged, jumping from the couch, Marlene on her tail.
"We could ask." Lily suggested, "Maybe she's awake by now and she can tell us what happened-"
"You're not walking down there alone!" James was on his feet now too.
"James, it'll be-"
"No." James said, his voice set. "Sirius and I will go."
"Don't you two go looking for trouble though." Remus ordered, though it sounded more like a plea. "Honestly, let Dumbledore handle it."
"Moony, what little faith you have in us." Sirius shot his friend a sly grin as they let the girls lead the way into the hall to start down the first flight of stairs. They walked in near silence towards the infirmary, James and Sirius scanning down each passing corridor, and Charlotte was sure if they spotted any silver or green, there would be nothing in any of their power to stop the brawl that was sure to follow.
Thankfully, they reached the hospital wing with no distractions. There was a faint glow from through the frosted glass doorway, and the five of them paused to listen for voices from the other side of the seemingly abandoned infirmary.
Lily moved first, reaching a tightened fist towards the glass and knocking three times, all eyes locked on the doorway for a few seconds before it was opened silently, Madam Pomfrey glancing at the group with sad eyes.
"Figured it was only a matter of time before some of you turned up." She muttered, softly, stepping aside and nodding them in. "You can come see her for just a little while. It's almost curfew."
James was already nodding halfway through her words, stepping into the room behind Lily before Marlene or Charlotte could even move.
"Mary." Marlene was the first to speak, hurrying to the side of the hospital bed, the creaseless white bed sheets folded perfectly over the girl's body as her eyes finally met her friends. "Are you alright?"
Mary shrugged, dropping her eyes to her lap and tracing along a loose thread near the end of the sheets.
"Hey, you're not in pain, right?" Sirius asked, stepping forward, as if she could have missed his voice in the silence of the empty room. "Did she give you something for-"
"Yeah." Mary answered. "I don't... I don't really remember. What happened. I'm just really tired and I'd like to get some rest."
Lily's face fell, glancing back to Charlotte before nodding and reaching out for Mary's hand at her side.
"Of course. We just wanted to make sure you were alright. Get some sleep."
The five Gryffindor's bid Mary a goodnight and sauntered back into the darkening corridors before starting the trek back to their tower.
"Do you really think she doesn't remember?" Sirius asked under his breath, and Lily shrugged, glancing between Charlotte and Marlene.
"Maybe she just didn't want to talk about it... with all of us there." James mumbled, and Charlotte's stomach sank. What if Mulciber had done something really fowl to Mary. What if that was why she was too scared to admit it, even to her closest friends?
"Well, I just hope she told Dumbedore. And McGonagall. He's got to get in trouble for it. Hopefully, they'll expel him." Sirius scoffed.
"When's the last time anyone was expelled from here?" James pointed out.
"If you two haven't been, then I don't have much hope." Marlene sighed, and James forced on half a smile as they finally reached the common room again. It was empty this time around, Remus and Peter must have already gone up for the night.
Charlotte moved instinctually towards the girls dorms behind Lily and Marlene before she felt the fingers wrap around her wrist, spinning back to the wide gray eyes.
"Will you stay with me tonight?" He asked, his voice soft, though Lily and Marlene had paused, hardly attempting to stifle their grins from near the staircase.
Charlotte's eyes glanced between James's retreating form and Sirius, her mind flashing up to the dormitory where Remus and Peter were surely already in bed, certainly not expecting any late night visitors.
"Stay the night?" She stammered, "The boys will be annoyed..."
"No, they won't." Sirius was already shaking his head, not even giving her words a second thought. "Come on, blondie... I..." Charlotte waited, stepping closer to the dark haired boy as she waited for the rest of his thought. "I was worried about you tonight... when we found out about Mary, and no one had seen you-"
Charlotte resisted the smile she could feel pulling at her lips, twisting her fingers through Sirius's with a nod towards the staircase James had disappeared from moments before. Sirius didn't drop her hand, pulling her gently towards the dark spiraling corridor and up to the familiar dormitory, pushing through the unlocked door.
The boys dorm was only slightly brighter than the hallway, light spilling from the open bathroom and a lamp lit beside Remus's bed, the brown eyes flashing to Sirius and Charlotte for only a second before returning to the book sprawled in his lap.
"I knew he'wd weaw you dow!" James mumbled, his mouth full of toothpaste before he spit into the sink, flicking the light off behind him and jumping into the bed nearest the door.
"Pardon?" Peter chuckled, reclining back on a pile of pillows.
Sirius paid them no attention, pulling Charlotte towards the wooden dresser across from his bed and rummaging around for only a moment before passing her a worn looking black t-shirt, some faded band name etched across the front that Charlotte had never heard of, and a pair of plaid, red pajama pants.
"Thank you..." She mumbled, forcing her mind only to the dark haired boy in front of her and not on his roommates surrounding them, particularly the tall, sandy haired boy in the closest bed. She hurried into the bathroom, pulling the door shut behind her and slipping easily into the oversized clothing Sirius had found for her. She peeked in the mirror for only a second, tucking her hair back and folding her clothes neatly into a pile on the counter before twisting the door handle quietly and returning to the dorm.
The absence of the bathroom light plunged the room into darkness now. Remus's light had been distinguished and as her eyes adjusted, she realized the curtains had been drawn on all three beds, leaving only Sirius's nearest the window and bathed in the cool white light seeping in from the window.
Charlotte snuck silently towards him, dropping to the bed at his side and pulling the blankets over her legs at once. It was nearly June now, but the nights still got just as cold this high up in the castle.
"C'mere." Sirius breathed, pulling her against him easily with a small sigh. "Thank you for staying."
"You're thanking me? Is it so hard to believe I might enjoy spending time with you?" She giggled.
"No, I'm a joy." He agreed, his fingers working soft circles over the exposed skin of her hip beneath his t-shirt. "I'm going to find out what that asshole did to Mary. And I just want you to know, I'd never let anything happen to you. Anything..."
"Sirius," She mumbled, "You worry too much."
"Apparently not."
"You can't be everywhere all the time."
"No, but-"
"You shouldn't have to be. This is school. We're supposed to be learning, and having fun, not worrying about-"
"Dark magic."
"Right." She answered after a moment. "Let's not talk about it anymore tonight."
"Yeah." He muttered, resting his chin on the top of Charlotte's head and breathing in the familiar scent of her perfume. "I love you."
She felt a slight rush of heat rise to her face, though she knew he couldn't see her, her face tucked into the crook of his neck.
"I love you too."
"I can feel your heart racing-" He teased.
"Piss off." She bit back a laugh, very aware that they were not alone in the room.
"You must really, really love me."
"A little less every day-" She laughed, trying to turn over, though his arm wrapped over her waist and held her in place.
"Last Hogsmeade trip's this weekend." Sirius said, though his voice was quiet and slow, his eyes heavy with sleep. "Want to make a date of it?"
"The last trip of the year? You don't want to spend it with the guys?" She grinned, burying closer into Sirius's chest and enjoying the rumbling of his voice when he spoke.
"Those tossers? No, I think I'd rather spend it with you, pretty girl."
"Well, let me check my calendar-"
"You're free." He answered, "I've just checked."
"Oh, I'm taking applications for a new assistant if you're so interested in running my social life-"
"Yes, perfect. Monday, skip classes with Sirius. Tuesday, skip classes with Sirius, Wednesday-" He trailed off with a chuckle as Charlotte slapped him lightly on the chest.
"I do expect to actually get some sleep tonight, if you're not planning to yap the whole time?"
"Mhm." He mumbled, sleepily, finally letting his eyes drift closed, pulling the blonde tighter beneath his grip under the now cozy bedspread. "Goodnight, Charlotte."
"Goodnight, Sirius."
☾
Madam Pomfrey had released Mary into the care of her friends before lunch the following day, with the promise that they would take her straight to the Great Hall for some food. The boys led the way through the hallways, head's all on a swivel for any sign of everyone's least favorite Slytherin and then walked the girls back up to the tower after lessons, only leaving their sides, rather reluctantly, as they hurried up the stairway to their dorms.
"Don't get me wrong, it's very sweet..." Marlene mentioned as they all collapsed face down onto their beds, "But if I have to hear another Quidditch analogy or listen to Peter's stomach growl for another 5 minutes..."
They all chuckled, Charlotte flipping over, her gaze stuck to the top of her bed frame, letting the silence ring between them for a few moments.
"Mary, I'm so glad you're alright." Lily spoke at last, "And you don't have to talk about it, but if you want to, we're all here-"
"I can talk about it." Mary said, sounding quite determined, though her eyes looked nervous. "I just figured, better not to rile the boys up anymore..."
"Good call." Marlene muttered, leaning up to rest her head against her fist.
"I guess I should have been paying closer attention, but he came around the corner so fast... Mulciber." She started, slowly, and Charlotte forced herself to sit up, to face her friend as she spoke, even though Mary's brown eyes were planted firmly on the wooden floor boards beneath their feet. "He asked what I was doing all alone, well... He asked what my blood traitor friends were thinking letting a mudblood wander the halls alone."
"Of course." Marlene groaned, and Charlotte could practically feel the white hot rage building inside her friend even from across the room.
"I asked him what his parents were thinking letting him come to Hogwarts with a face like that-"
"Mary..." Lily breathed, dropping her forehead into both hands, as if already knowing the outcome of the story.
"Took him a moment to get it..." Mary shrugged, half a smile twisting along the corners of her lips. "Then he said he could find a better use for my mouth... He tried to use the imperius curse on me, but I was ready... well, I wasn't ready for that... An unforgivable..."
"The Imperius curse?" Lily shouted at the same time as Marlene spoke, "An unforgivable?"
"I honestly didn't think even they would dare..." Mary shook her head, "But I knew he was going to send something my way, and I blocked it. It bounced off my shield and for a second I thought I was going to be alright, but then he noticed Remus round the corner and shot that next spell... I didn't even hear what he said. Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall were trying to figure it out last night, but... I think he thought if he could knock me out I wouldn't be able to tell Remus about the unforgivable."
"But you did, right? You told Dumbledore and everyone?" Charlotte finally spoke, forcing her mind off the image of Mary's body crumpled in the hallway, or what other spells Mulciber would have been willing to do to her or to Remus if he hadn't have been ready to fight back.
"I told them everything I could remember. Dumbledore said he would be addressing it, so we'll see what that means."
"I swear to Godric if he gets off with nothing."
"A detention probably." Charlotte scoffed.
"The Mulcibers are an old family." Marlene muttered, "Even if Dumbledore wanted to do something, he would face a lot of push back from the parents. I'm sure they all have friends on the board, or at the Ministry."
"No one has more friends than Dumbledore." Lily promised, moving to the bed next to Mary and pulling her into a hug. "We don't have to tell the boys."
"It's not a secret..." Mary shrugged, "Just... you know how wiry they get at the thought of a fight."
"I swore Sirius was going to head out last night on a war path." Lily chuckled, glancing to Charlotte. "You did well, calming him down?"
"Yeah, in bed." Marlene muttered and Mary's eyes lit up.
"We just slept, you perverts." Charlotte promised.
"He was worried about you, blondie." Marlene teased, giggling as she narrowly dodged the pillow Charlotte had chucked her way.
"Alright," Lily cut in, smiling, "I for one plan to enjoy my next Marauder free hour before dinner, and I suggest you all do the same. I'm sure Mary could use some rest."
"Actually, I'm quite bored-" She trailed off, catching Lily's warning look.
"Rest." The red-head ordered, and Mary groaned, flopping back on the made up bed while Lily leaned back against her head board, propping her defense book against her lap.
"So, you two didn't do it in front of his roommates, just to be clear-" Mary hissed across the beds, as if Lily wouldn't be able to hear if she whispered.
"Mary, for heaven's sake..." Charlotte shook her head, the familiar blush creeping over her neck and into her cheeks as the two girls giggled.
"You'll tell us when you do though, right?" She begged.
"I truly don't think I'll ever be informing you of any activities that take place in the same room as his roommates." She quipped and Mary rolled her eyes.
"You never know with that lot-"
"This conversation has to end, or I'm leaving!" Lily pleaded, her eyes wide as she flipped the page of the book in her lap.