It was one of those nights.
School had been tiering, laborious even in the last few weeks. But of course that was to expected, after all, N.E.W.T.S. began next week. Students fell asleep in the library, attended lessons with disheveled uniforms and dark circles adorning their under eyes from the lack of sleeping hours that had been given instead to studying. Most students were barely seen outside of their dorms other than to go to lessons and meals.
You would think after a week of this, at eleven pm on a Friday evening all the seventh year students would be long passed out in their beds, snores ringing through the corridors. But the eight seventh year students (plus the one sixth year) that were lounged comfortably in the Gryffindor common room would beg to differ.
Dorcas Meadowes was balanced steadily on the arm of the plush red sofa opposite to the fireplace that crackled at the front of the room. Her rich dark skin was illuminated by the fire light and her braids cascaded over her shoulders, as usual her uniform was perfect as ever. Green really was her colour. Her deep brown eyes were trained to the fire in front of her as she absentmindedly stroked the bleach blonde hair of the girl who’s head was rested against the sofa arm as her limbs sprawled across the rest of the sofa.
Marlene McKinnon had a cigarette between her lips as usual, making an effort to move away from her girlfriends face as she exhaled- everyone being aware of Dorcas’s hatred for smoking. Her red tie was pulled loose around her neck and her top button undone in a complete contrast to Dorcas’s immaculate uniform. They were almost complete and utter opposites in appearance but…well you know what the saying is. Apart from the occasional lean away, Marlene’s warm brown eyes never left Dorcas’s face. It was a known fact that she admired her girlfriend deeply.
James Potter managed to squish onto the end of the sofa, although Marlene took up most of the space. He was currently chewing a piece of strawberry flavoured gum as he drew small stars all over his left arm with one of Dorcas’s sharpies which -unknowingly to him- Regulus had jinxed earlier that day to not come off skin for a week. His loose, dark curls fell, concealing his golden-brown eyes and basically his entire face. He, ‘really had let it grow too long’ in Lily’s words. But James claimed it made him look cool and had refused to cut it since that comment. Which was two months ago. He had also impulsively brought a black leather jacket after that to back up his ‘cool guy’ point much to Lily’s distaste and Marlene’s enjoyment. The thing was currently draped around his shoulders.
Somehow managing to balance her long limbs along the top of the sofa, Mary Macdonald flipped through the latest edition of Vouge that her parents had sent her. Her curls just reached her shoulders and rested there, bouncing ever so slightly as she moved her arm to flick the page over. Her expression was soft but her eyebrows were furrowed ever so slightly in concentration as she studied the pages, her glossed lipss parted so her pearly white teeth showed. No matter how you felt about her- there was no denying that she was beautiful. But it wasn’t like anyone had any reason to dislike her anyway- the girl was a walking ray of sunshine.
Curled up in an armchair to the right of the sofa sat Lily Evans. Determined to pass her exams with flying colours, Lily refused to put down her flash cards which the group was sure she already knew like the back of her hand. Her red hair was tied into a bun at the back of her head, a few wispy strands hanging in her face but failing to distract her from the task. Her piercing green eyes (unsurprisingly) didn’t leave the cards once. She had exchanged her robes for a cream coloured cardigan that she had received last Christmas, and it was pulled tightly around her despite the warmth of the room.
In the armchair opposite Lily, sat Regulus Black. He had began to hang around the group more and more often recently, mostly due to the fact that James had dragged him along. James’s sudden infatuation with Regulus was perplexing to everyone (everyone being just Sirius). Regulus now watched James through loose, dark curls as the other continued to litter his arms in star drawings, oblivious to the green eyes that practically stared into his soul. His dark green tie was tightly fastened around his neck, making sure he was not mistaken for -god forbid- a Gryffindor, although his robe had been discarded.
Half asleep by the fire, lay Peter Pettigrew. His head was buried in his arms, concealing his face but showing off his head of thick blonde hair. James had tried to get him to grow it long with him- but Peter had given in last weekend and had Mary cut it for him- but it was still long enough that James didn’t notice. He had previously been sketching something on a piece of parchment but had given up halfway through and the quill he had been using was still clutched in his hand that lay peacefully at his side as the parchment sat forgotten in front of him.
Remus Lupin sat on a small bean bag in the centre of the group. His brown-blonde hair half covered the scars on his face which interrupted the pattern of freckles that splattered across his face. His recently cut (by Marlene of course) eyebrow slit suited him perfectly and just made his amber eyes stand out all the more. In one hand he held a leather bound book with gold lettering across the spine- supposedly a crime novel, a genre he was very into right now. His other hand was twisting around in his boyfriends hair who was currently staring up at him from his space in Remus’s lap.
Sirius Black. ‘The definition of tall dark and handsome’ according to the girls (and a fair few of the boys) in their year. Remus would never admit it but he agreed. Sirius’s long, dark hair fell almost reached his shoulders and piercing blue eyes made it hard for people not to stare. He hadn’t had an awkward growth spurt as all of the other boys in the year had. Instead his height had increased gradually, meaning he was one of the tallest every year (although Remus had outgrown him now). The moment he turned eighteen, he had rushed to a tattoo parlour and now his arms, hands and back were covered. He of course had his ears pierced and was constantly seen wearing a pair of silver hoops. He didn’t only look confident, he was the human embodiment of it.
They were a strange group to say the least. But they worked.
It was Sirius who broke the comfortable silence.
“Dementors.” Sirius said, simply.
The group looked toward him and even Peter was pulled out of his sleepy state, lifting his head up as they all gave Sirius questioning looks.
“Who?” Marlene asked scrunching her nose in confusion, as she handed her cigarette to Sirius, assumingly deciding she was done with it. He accepted the offer and pinched it between his two fingers.
“Dementors:” Lily read from one of her flash cards, making the group turn to her. “A phantom species who gradually deprive human minds of happiness and intelligence. They are the guards of the wizard prison, Azkaban. They are soulless creatures often described as among the foulest beings on Earth” She finished, placing her cards down carefully on the arm of the armchair.
“So, Regulus.” Dorcas commented making Marlene and James snicker.
“Mm. Original.” Regulus comments in his usual monotone voice, face unreadable, before eyeing James which cut his laughter off abruptly.
“Piss off and listen up.” Sirius instructs, firmly. “I was reading up on them-”
“You were reading?” Peter asked making the group chuckle a little again. Sirius gave him a death stare and Peter put up his hands in defence. “Just checking.”
“Come on, pack it in.” Remus spoke up, his voice gentle but everyone knew to shut up.
“What’s up with dementors then, Sirius?” Mary asked, closing Vogue, careful not to crease any of the pages. Now Sirius knew he had the groups full attention. Remus looked down at his boyfriend, expectantly.
“Well, there’s this spell. An advanced one- so much that it doesn’t get taught here.” He explained, sitting upright. “I forget the name but, you know, it’s the only thing that gets rid of the buggers.” He told them.
“Arrive at the point, please.” James encouraged raising his eyebrows, making Regulus smile.
“I’m trying.” Sirius shot back. “Anyway, apparently you’ve got to think of some like immensely happy- perfect even memory to conjure it. So my point, James,” Sirius shot him a glance and James raised his eyebrows in interest, “Is what memory would you think of?” He finished, lifting the cigarette to his lips and taking a long drag.
What seemed like a simple enough question left the room silent.
The perfect memory…