The inevitables

January 30th

Five of us sat in the infirmary wing. Mary had a black eye and a puffy lip, Marlene's hands and feet were glued together, Severus’s hair had grown to the floor and he was soaking wet, and my eyes were crying glitter which made everything fuzzy and almost impossible to see. Lily sat unscathed. 

Twenty minutes ago, we were at the astrology tower celebrating Lily’s fourteenth birthday. Mary, Marls, and I decorated the entire place in red and orange (Lily’s favorite colors.) We got orange pillows and blankets from the room of requirement and a red and pink frosted cake from the kitchens. The boys had red banners and streamers which I stole using the cloak of invisibility. Everything was set up to be perfect, and then Snape showed up. 

Madam Pomfry gave Mary ice and was now working to unstick Marlene. I could see almost nothing, I felt like James without his glasses. I had always wondered what it was like to be basically blind and now I am glad I had my mum's genes. 

“Is the glitter at least pink?” I asked lily. The color makes no difference because I still couldn’t see, but pink was just prettier. Or gold. 

“Sort of, but that could be from blood.” Lily sighed, I couldn’t see her facials, but I felt bad. We very much ruined her birthday. 

The doors slammed open, three bodies came in. The first shape was thin and tall, she wore a long dress and a tall hat that ended in a point. That had to be Professor McGonagall. The second wore a similar gown type of clothes, but he was not as thin or lean. He had a long white something on both sides of his body. He was Headmaster Dumbledore. The third wore nothing long, more tight fit. He was not thin nor as tall as the others and he had no hair. It was Professor Slughorn. The three of them here was not a good sign. 

No one spoke, even Madam Pomfry stopped ungluing Marlene. I could hear Lily’s breath turn sharp and shaky. I was not the twin that was supposed to get in this much trouble. I knew the news had to break as we passed the students and limped to the infirmary, I knew it was only a matter of time before my brother knew what happened, I knew he would come as soon as he found out. 

Professor Slughorn moved Snape to Madam Pomfry’s office leaving the four of us and the two professors. Separating us could really only mean one thing: we were getting questioned. 

“I am only going to ask you all this once,” Dumbeldore began calmly, as if he expected this to happen. “What happened?” 

Once again, no one spoke. I could tell Lily was on the brink of tears by the way she was breathing. She hated nothing more than getting in trouble. Mary was more than likely two seconds from finishing her battle with Snape, Marlene's lips were literally sealed by whatever spell Snape used. 

“I’m.. I’m not sure how it all ended, but I do know how it started.” My own voice was small and quiet. I tried to look at Dumbeldore but I couldn’t even see his eyes. He may have nodded, I’m not sure. “Mary, Marlene, and I decorated the astrology tower for Lily’s birthday. She turned fourteen today. It was just a small celebration with the five of us. We got cake and other snacks from the kitchen. The party started off super fun. We talked about gossip and rumors we heard, we played gobstones and Lily opened all of her gifts. We got her a really nice broach and a muggle thing I can’t remember the name of. Sn- Severus got her a book they read when they were kids. We all mostly talked in civil conversations like classwork and all that. We all have had our differences in the past, so we were simply trying to avoid each other while celebrating Lily. The funny part is that it was working. I personally think the night was enjoyable. Then I got up and made my way to where we were keeping the snacks, the house elves made the best biscuits. Severus joined me. He was quiet and distant, he scared me when he came up. At first neither of us spoke, there was no reason to. Then I accidentally spilled chocolate sauce on Severus’s robes. He um…” I froze. He called me a blood traitor and then said some other words. I had no problem telling on him, but Lily was right next to me. What if she got mad for telling? 

“He did what? Miss Potter.” Professor McGonagall renounced her presence. I had spoked for so long with no interruption, I almost forgot they were there. 

“It’s ok.” Lily whispered to me, she knew me so well. 

“He called me a blood traitor. Now, I am proud to be a blood traitor. My parents always raised me to accept everyone and to be kind which is pretty much the definition of a blood traitor. So I told him ‘I’m proud to be a blood traitor.’ He just scoffed like something was funny. ‘Yeah, you and all your half breed friends’ he said. He could say anything he wanted about me, but nothing about my friends. I was taken aback, I asked him ‘excuse me?’ but he just started walking back to the rest of them. I got mad, he couldn’t be rude and just walk away. In the heat of it all, I grabbed my wand. I couldn’t think of any other spell except aguamenti which is why he was soaking wet. He stopped and I walked to him. Before I could think he turned and his was was right in front of eyes. He yelled a hex that I didn’t even know was a spell. He yelled ‘rutilar crepitus’.  Crepitus means explosion in latin and rutilar means glitter in spanish. The blast was so strong I fell backwards and hit my head on the floor. I woke up as Lily was carrying me here.” I took a deep breath, all that talking had made my throat dry. My friends were still quiet and I still could not see. Madam Pomfry finally made her way to my bed, but before she could do anything, the doors flew open once again.

Four figures ran in, the four marauders. 

“Boys! You should not be here!” McGonagall chastised them, but James was already at my bed. 

“Godrick what happened to you?!” James looked at my eyes, he sounded scared. 

“Rutilar crepitus.” I sighed, it was not a great answer, but it was still an answer.

“An explosion of glowing? glitter?” Sirius questioned.

“You know that spell?” Peter seemed to be in awe. 

“No, it’s latin.” Sirius sighed. It was half latin, half spanish, but I won;t correct him. 

“You know latin?” Remus was now a part of the conversation. 

“Scilicet. Parentibus meis id, quod multum carminibus fundantur de off latin.” I think Sirius shrugged, knowing him he probably shrugged. 

“I hate you.” Remus said, I imagined Sirius smiled. 

“Out now!” McGonagall enforced. 

“She’s my sister! I’m not leaving!” James did not yell, but he did raise his voice. This was a fight James was going to die on if he had to. He has always been protective of me, I knew he would not leave. 

“Mr. Potter you may stay.” The professor sighed. “The rest of you can wait outside.” 

Utter silence as the boys made their goodbyes and reluctantly followed orders. I knew they went no further than right outside the door. I knew they would not leave. 

“Miss McKinnon.” Dumbledore's calm voice spoke again. “What happened after Miss Potter fell unconscious?” Everyone looked to Marlene. Madam Pomfry poured a cold substance on my eyes. It wasn’t painful, but my eyes tingled which was a weird feeling. 

“When Hazel hit the floor, we all stood up. Lily screamed at Snape as Mary went to make sure Hazel was alive. He started saying all this nonsense like she was asking for it. He pointed his wand at me so I took mine out, we hit each other at the same time. He glued my body together and I made his greasy hair longer. By some miracle I didn't fall over, but I could only hop to move. That’s when Mary attacked. She tackled him to the ground and tried to grab his wand. He hit her in the eye and mouth during his struggle. It wasn’t until Lily levitated them that they stopped. Her and I conjured a carrier to put Hazel on, Mary put her arm around me to help me walk, Snape walked behind us, all on Lily’s orders.” Marlene explained. Madam Pomfry had given James a cloth so he could wipe my eyes. Each time he did so, my vision became clearer. Madam Pomfry moved on to fix Snape in her office. I looked over to see Lily crying, silently. We totally ruined her birthday. 

“Thank you all.” Dumbledore stood up and brushed himself off. “Minerva, I think there’s pumpkin juice in the great hall calling our name, don’t you think?” McGonagall nodded. The two of them started to leave the infirmary without another word. 

“That’s it?” Mary stopped them in their tracks, they turned to face her. “You’re not going to yell at us for being immature or tell us we know better not to go straight to violence? We are smarter than this, we could’ve just left or tried to talk it out. You’re not going to give us detention or threaten to expel us?!” I saw James’s eyes widen as if to say what are you doing!? Stop while you’re not in trouble! But I would have done the same thing. Why were they just leaving? 

Both professors smiled at us like we were little kids. I guess, we were to them. We were only third year wizards with no clue what we were doing. 

“The one strength of young Gryffindors like yourselves is your loyalty to your friends. Too much loyalty can turn into a flaw. The four of you are clearly great friends” Dumbledor said right before he walked out the room. I had no idea what he meant. 

“To answer your question Miss Macdonald, that is it. It is clear you all know the absolute error in your ways and will continue to be the smart individuals I know you to be. Is that correct?” McGonagall raised an eyebrow at us. 

“Yes ma’am.” We all spoke, even James. We watched McGonagal leave the five of us there, I was stunned. McGonagall had always had her surprising components, like when she gave me the animagi books. But letter us go without punishment? That was a new level. 

“Totally unfair, I would be in three months detention!” James complained, but I knew he was joking. We all laughed, even Lily. 

“We’re just more trustable Potter.” Lily smiled for the first time since we’d been here. 

“It’s because you’re girls, a total injustice.” James shook his head while laughing. We all quieted down, stared at bed sheets or the wall, anything to avoid talking. I had to say something. 

“Sorry we ruined your birthday, Lil.” I looked at her. “This is definitely not what you wished for.”  

“Yeah, sorry Lil.” Mary said, Marlene nodded. 

“No.” Lily shook her head. “You didn’t ruin it, you just made it… interesting…” She laughed. 

“Yeah, if this is how you lot throw parties, you’re planning our birthday!” James teased and we all started laughing. Maybe one year Lily’s birthday would not end up in a total mess, but this was not that year. 

*****

March 10th

Remus’s birthday was a lot quieter than Lily’s. We, and every other year after third, went to Hogsmeade for the day. We spent the night at Three Broomsticks as random kids came to wish Remus a happy birthday. We drank butterbeer, we sang, we loaded him with gifts, it was a real nice time. Snape even completely avoided the shop, which made it better. Actually Snape had avoided us for a while after the boys spread that Mary beat him up. Under all that hair Marlene enchanted him, Mary made his crooked nose, even more crooked! 

James and Sirius spent the night singing on tables and dancing with Mary and Marlene. Lily either talked to me or other kids she was in study groups with. After a few hours, I plopped myself down next to Remus. He sat in the back and watched everyone. 

“Club meeting?” I asked. 

“Here?” He motioned to the very crowded room we were in. 

“It’s short I promise.” I smiled and he nodded. I opened my bag and brought out a stack of papers. The stack could be considered a journal but there was nothing combining the papers of messy writing and scattered notes. 

“What is this?” 

“Sirius’s notes. On being an animagus.” I took a large sip of my butterbeer. 

“What? Wh-?” 

“They aren’t to coerce you or anything like that. Actually they are to stop Sirius. He hasn’t said anything about your decision, but there’s still that light in his eyes. It was your decision to stop us from being animagi, I figured these notes would be safer with you. Read them, burn them, or toss them that’s up to you. The important thing is that it’s no longer up to Sirius.” I watched him take in my words, he looked impressed at me. 

“You stole these?” He asked, I nodded. He scoffed like he was surprised I was a thief or that I even knew how to steal things. “Thank you.” He smiled, still impressed might I add. 

“Happy Birthday.” I smiled and stood up. 

“Where you going?” 

“To dance. Might as well while no one cares.” 

*****

March 27th, 7 am. 

I stood in the common room with a gift in hand, James stood across from me. 

“Happy Birthday James!” I handed him his gift. I got him a poster of his favorite quidditch team fly around and score a goal against his least favourite team. 

“Happy Birthday Hazel!” He handed me my gift. My face could not hide my giddy smile. 

“One…” He started the countdown. 

“Two..” I grinned. 

“Three!” We announced together as we tore open our gifts. My brother got me a necklace with a pink crystal on it. It looked so familiar, but I couldn’t remember why. 

“It came with the crystal phials we got from Sirius’s uncle. It was pink and I know you like pink so I got some leather and wire and made it into a necklace for you.” James explained before admiring his own gift. Crystal phials? I knew that was important. It was part of the process of becoming an animagus. 

“Sirius’s uncle?” 

“The good one, he was kicked out of the family years ago. Sirius wrote to him to get the phials. I knew you were stressed from the steps so we decided to go ahead and start to collect some of the materials we needed. He sent just that crystal at first so we had to write back to get the phials. It’s useless now, but the crystal reminded me of you.” 

My brother was so thoughtful. He turned a mistake into a beautiful gift all because it reminded him of me. I loved him so much. I hugged him tight just like our mum would. He hugged me back before we both let go.

“Thank you.” I said. 

“Likewise.” He smiled. 

“Ok I know it’s your birthday, but I needed to talk to you guys without the others.” Sirius came downstairs and into the common room. 

“What’s up, mate?” James asked. 

“We need to talk about the animagus thing.” 

“The animagus thing?” I asked, I put the crystal on. 

“I’m going to become one, will you two join me?”