All The Young Dudes
Now Lucy looks sweet ‘cause he dresses like a queen
But he can kick like a mule, it’s a real mean team
But we can love
Oh yes, we can love
16th February 1974
“I just think it’s a little suspicious.” Sirius sighed as he and his dorm mates strode through the corridors of Hogwarts - wandering aimlessly in search of some secret passage Petey had found when hiding from Slytherins after a particularly hostile DADA lesson.
Regrettably, they were utterly stumped. Peter, himself, didn’t even quite remember what he’d touched to escape, where he’d hidden. Still, the adventure was half the fun.
“Are you still on about this?” Remus groaned, rolling his eyes away from his dramatic friend to scan the portraits.
“They didn’t sign it!” Sirius raised his hands in mock surrender, then threw them with dramatics at his own frustration. “If I wrote someone a poem for Valentine’s Day, I’d sign it.”
“You couldn’t write a poem anyways, Sirius.” James interjected with a strained laugh, running a hand through his messy locks. He’d been about less this year - distracted by Quidditch practice and trying to boost his marks in Herbology. Still, James Potter was his usual, bright and grinning self. A little leaner, more muscular certainly, but still James. Messy haired and darker skinned from being outdoors most days practicing - almost glowing bronze and gold. “That’d require too much brain power for you.”
“Oh, piss off.” Sirius frowned, still in deep thought over his sister’s admirer. Even Ara did not care so deeply; taking the card as some sweet gesture and not being bothered with figuring it’s writer. The girls had been a little intrigued by the mystery, but were quickly distracted when Alice Brown accidentally cut her finger on a butterknife shortly after. Always so clumsy, that one. “It just feels weird that no one wants to find who it was.” Sirius continued probing, much to his friends’ dismay.
“Whoever it was, they haven’t made any actual moves.” Remus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “So maybe just leave it until they do anything else?”
“But that’s boring!” Sirius groaned, his friends matching in their disappointed sighs. With his childish dramatics, it was easy to overlook just how exhausted he looked. As though he’d hardly slept that week.
“I think it was near that statue!” Peter suddenly exclaimed, grinning as he lead the boys closer.
“All my cards were signed.” Sirius continued, much to his friends groaning disapproval. “I just think it’s-”
“Ara!” James breathed suddenly, his face breaking into a smile.
By the witch statue, leant Ara Black. Hair pulled into two curly bunches - tied with purple and gold ribbons. The work clearly done by Pandora, the colours matching that friendship bracelet the girl wore each day.
“Afternoon, boys.” She smiled, walking over with a soft smile. “How goes the search?”
“Badly.” Sirius admitted, placing an arm around her shoulders once she was near enough. “I say, we go to see Hagrid and try again another day.”
“I swear it was by the witch.” Peter muttered, frowning to himself as he looked to the statue. It was rather hideous; sharp and snarly features, only one eye on its brutish face.
“I’ll look with you later, Pete,” Ara smiled, attempting to break free of Sirius’s hold. She did not manage it. “We’ll get fresh eyes on it, too.”
“You aren’t getting the girls in on this!” Sirius gasped. “It’s a boys thing.”
“Oh! I didn’t know that.” Ara feigned surprise. “I suppose I must be off then, given that I’m not a boy.”
Upon her glare, Sirius deflated and squeezed her shoulder.
Alright, I get it, I’m being a dick, he spoke through the bond.
As long as you’re aware, Ara replied, her fondness leaching through her frustration. And while you’re figuring that, maybe sort whatever spat you and Reg are having?
It’s more complicated than that, Sirius winced, his sister’s look of warning, unyielding. He ought to have known she’d address it soon - considering the two brothers could hardly be in the same room without a glare being shot by Regulus towards his older brother. Alright, fine, I’ll sort things.
Thank you. She replied, looking to the other boys.
They stood, a little amused at the twins silent exchange.
“Sorry about that.” Ara blushed.
“No worries.” James smiled, running a hand through his messy locks. His eyes were almost glowing as his lips stretched wider - flashing teeth and kindness. It froze Ara, if only for a blushing moment. After all, she had been so busy with the girls that she’d hardly seen him. Nor his sharpening jawline, or the lines of veins and muscle that bloomed on his forearms; shown by rolled-up sleeves. She looked away, face pink. “Shall we make our way to Hagrid’s? I think he’s finally got that puppy he’s been on about.”
“Oh, that magical hound he’s been saving for?” Remus asked, flashing a brief glance to Ara. They exchanged a smile at their friends absurdness. Third year had truly been a strange time.
“That sounds lovely.” Ara smiled, letting Sirius tug their elbows to lock together.
Unfortunately for Ara, the group never made it to Hagrid’s hut.
It was at the castle entrance, as she distractedly turned to ask Peter if Reg’s friend David could borrow a certain Iron Man issue, that a figure in dark green and black collided with her side and nearly knocked her over. Luckily, Sirius’s arm in hers kept her upright as she turned to scowl at Severus Snape. He was smirking to himself, clearly feeling victorious over his success at shoving her half-over.
The Averys joined his sides - Rosemary with her customary sneer, Hercules with his usual stiffness and snide eyes.
“What’s your problem today, Snivellus?” Sirius growled, eyes narrowed and cold. “Did the smell of your greasy hair finally qualify as a hazard to health? You must be so proud.”
“At least my hair doesn’t puff up like yours. You look more like a dandelion than the rockstar you pretend to be.” It was an incorrect blow, especially considering that Sirius’s hair never once puffed up - even in its most awkward stages of growth.
Still, Sirius looked to Severus as though he had insulted him in the most disturbing way.
“Piss off, you overgrown prat of a bat!” He snapped, wand slipping from his sleeve as he cast without thought. The stinging jinx collided with Snape’s shoulder, pulling the boy backwards as he clutched the new hole in his jumper.
“Densaugeo!” Snape cast forcefully in retribution, the Averys both grinning behind him.
It went astray - whipping past Sirius. He turned back in a panic, too slow to stop the spell hitting his twin.
She fell backwards; Petey rushing to catch her before she fell on her backside.
As he helped her to her feet, the effects of the hex took effect with an awful noise. Her front teeth had grown horribly. Sure they’d always been a little prominent, but now they extended past her chin - her hand flying to cover her mouth with horror as the Slytherins began to titter.
“Your teeth!” Peter yelped, moving to shield her from view while glaring at the Slytherin cohort.
“I don’t see any difference.” Snape smirked.
“You bastard!” Sirius growled, lunging for the greasy boy. Snape had clearly not expected a physical attack - falling back as Sirius jumped on top of him. He got in a few good punches before the Slytherins came to their senses and yanked him away.
With that, pandemonium began.
James had, naturally, jumped in beside Sirius - never one to let his best friend do anything alone. He lunged for Snape, fist colliding with the under of the boy’s jaw with a firm crunch. Both boys lept back with a howl; James shaking out his fist as Snape rubbed his jaw. Sirius was in the dirt with Avery, the two interlocked as they tried to hit each other in the stomach. Remus was stuck having to hold Rosemary Avery back - his hand pushing her away at the forehead as he looked to his friends with concern.
Only Peter was not a part of it, instead focusing on trying to block Ara’s jinxed face from view.
“Stop it!” Ara snapped, her hand covering her mouth still. At once, her twin looked up from where he had been pummelling Avery, and James pulled away from his wrestle with Severus. “I’m going to the Hospital Wing before anyone comes up with another clever idea to disfigure the other or worse… get expelled!”
With that, she spun and fled the clearing - Peter hot on her tails, shooting his friends a disappointed look.
“I’ll get you back for this, Snivellus.” Sirius warned, his voice icy. “Better keep one eye open, you greasy git.” With that, he spat on the ground between them and spun to follow after his sister. James and Remus joined suit after a glare towards the Slytherins. They caught up with the others as they neared the castle doors - Sirius’s arm wrapped around Ara as she sniffled.
James yanked his cloak from the bottom of his book bag, throwing it over the two with a messy flourish.
‘Thank you.” She whispered tightly.
“Any time.” He replied, smiling at the empty-looking space as he pushed his lenses up his nose.
He watched it for some time, knowing she had already walked away.
——
Ara Hermione Black was grinning as she left the Hospital Wing - her boys off to class after a proper lecture from Madame Pomphrey and Professor McGonagall.
She bid hello to everyone she passed; the students so utterly startled by their usually moody peer’s good spirits. So surprising was this brightness, that they all missed the physical change to her appearance. Her front two teeth were now perfectly straight and in line with the rest. No longer slightly protruding, a couple millimetres longer than the rest.
As she reached the meadows outside of Hogwarts, a sigh of relief fell from her lips. She would have been lying to say it hadn’t been an insecurity of hers. And she knew she oughtn’t have let it get to her, but to see Rosemary tittering at her misfortune… well, it had ended up being a point of pride.
“Ottie!” Ara beamed brighter as she spied the arm of Pandora Ollivander, waving hello from near their favourite tree. Beside her sat Lily Evans, the ginger peering up from a book with a warm and fond expression. As Ara neared, she spied a third to the group. Stood by the two girls, with his white-blond hair and odd blue bowtie, was Xenophillius Lovegood. A Ravenclaw of Pandora’s cohort - one of few in her year that did not belittle her strangeness. Though, Ara suppose that Xeno was in a similar boat in terms of social standing, comparing his conspiracy theories to Pandora’s Sight.
“Oh hello, Xeno.” Ara smiled at the white-blond boy as she approached - his soft face lighting up at the address.
“Hello, Ara!” He smiled brightly, rambling in his usual manner. “I heard about what happened this morning, not to worry, everyone agrees that it was Snape that took it too far.” He nodded at the girls. “See you all later!” With that, he spun on his heels and traipsed away, Pandora’s smile following him for a moment.
Upon seeing her friends’ pointed looks, she blushed crimson and motioned for Ara to sit beside them.
“Your teeth have shrunk.” Panda noted with a raised eyebrow.
“She got hit by a stray curse.” Lily sighed, biting her lip nervously as she looked over her friend. “Mary told me all about it, said she was near when it happened. I’m so sorry, Ara.”
“You didn’t curse me,” was her only comment on the matter. Shrugging off the concern, Ara grinned at her friends. “Besides, now my teeth look nicer.”
Sure enough, at the widening of her mouth, two rows of perfectly straight and pearly white teeth glinted. And loathe as Lily was to admit; without the slight bunny teeth, Ara Black was even prettier. It was difficult to admit, being so very aware of her friend’s insecurities. The pink burns that danced along her nose and brow - always a little prominent against her pale complexion. The little white lines along her veins from permanent curse damage - a fact she could never say outright.
She was a girl who had been so very hurt, and could not see herself as anything but plain and worn. Ara Black could not look past her scars to see her soft eyes, slightly downturned and extraordinarily grey. Her slight splatter of moles along her chin and neck. The soft haze of dark curls that bordered her; haloing her ivory face.
It was difficult to be jealous of her friend; it felt so very selfish. Lily Evans had always been the slightly chubby girl-next-door. Next to Pandora and Ara… how could she possibly compare?
“I’m sorry about Sirius and Snape earlier.” Ara awkwardly brushed a hand through the ends of her curls, pulling on them lightly.
“Don’t worry about it.” Lily shrugged defeatedly. “It’s not like Sev doesn’t start most of their spats.” She spoke bitterly.
“I sense a cloud in your eyeline.” Pandora frowned.
“I used to blame Sirius and Potter in first year, you know?” They nodded. “It felt like us against the world at first. Me and Sev. He was a half-blood around all these twatty purebloods. And I felt the same. I was a Muggleborn surrounded by all these purebloods that were so ahead of me. So I blamed all the snooty purebloods when Sev started to change. And I blamed Sirius because he was some rich pillock making fun of a boy who’s dad got fired for standing up for what was right.” She looked Ara dead in the eyes with a mirthful smirk. “You ruined it all.”
“What did I do?” She asked incredulously.
“You taught me about this world, just to be kind. You made me realise that your bloody brother is a good person.” She huffed a laugh. “You made me part of your family, and I realised that you might be snooty and rich, but you aren’t bad people.”
“Cheers.” Ara laughed.
“Anytime.” Lily grinned, the edges waning as her thoughts turned sour. “But if it wasn’t your brother being the arse, it had to be someone else. And it used to be us against the world! ‘Fuck all the purebloods ‘cause we can do it better’.” She spoke mockingly. “Sometimes I worry that Sev…” she sighed, running a hand over her face as she tried to formulate her thoughts. Looking to her friends, her shoulders dropped. There was no boredom or judgement on their faces. Only patient and warm smiles. “His dad’s a Muggle. He’s half Muggle. So why… why is he like this? Especially when you’re both Pureblood and don’t… you know.”
“Sometimes people have a funny way of ignoring their nature.” Pandora spoke softly, squeezing Lily’s hand with her own. “There are only so many forks in the path before it turns to a field.”
“Exactly.” Ara nodded, apparently in sync with Pandora’s kooky phrasing. After all, the two girls were on a similar wavelength - an inverse of the other that let them communicate so well. “Has he said anything to you?”
Lily shook her head.
“But he… he was with Mulciber when he called Mary a, you know…”
That particular incident was all anyone in second year was on about. Mary MacDonald had been trying to walk past the group of Slytherins when Mulciber had rounded on her. The poor girl had been stuck in place with a spell, forced to hear such awful words until some fourth year Ravenclaw had intervened and told the Slytherins to get lost.
The second years girls no longer let Mary walk alone.
And the boys had gotten retribution; spiking the Slytherin group’s morning pumpkin juice with hair loss potion. They’d missed the first lesson of the day, having to go to the hospital wing to have it fixed.
“And it doesn’t even stop there. I keep telling him to be the bigger man, to let go of this stupid feud with the boys, but he just won’t.” Lily groaned. “I know he’s been instigating it, too.”
“Some people enjoy having enemies.” Pandora shrugged, twisting her long hair over her shoulder. “And his head is absolutely full of wackspurts, did you know?”
Lily stared at Pandora cautiously, a befuddled look in her eyes.
“What about his aura, Panda?” Ara grinned, suppressing a giggle at Lily’s confusion. It wasn’t her fault; even to those born in magical families, Pandora could be a little kooky. Just not to Ara, or the Black family. After all, their madness was the stuff of legend. A belief in potentially unreal creatures didn’t really compare to their deeply-rooted insanities.
Sometimes Ara felt a little bad for Lily, that her closest friends were both a little loony.
“Oh dear, oh dear.” The girl tutted, a serious expression falling upon her face. “I daren’t comment on that.” She sighed, picking at the grass.
“It’s up to you, Lils.” Ara spoke, deciding to put her poor ginger friend out of her misery with a kind smile. “I wouldn’t say to stop being friends with him, but… know when to walk away. Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Lily sighed in reply, nodding with the utmost seriousness. Then, as if shaking the thoughts from her skull; she blinked twice and erupted in a smile. “Either of you got any good gossip? I need something to distract myself.” She flushed, a brightness returned to her eyes.
“Oh I do!” Ara squealed. “Guess what the boys did?”
“Oh God.” Lily groaned, placing her head in her hands for a moment. Peering between her fingers, her eyes fell on Ara. “Do I want to know?”
“They charmed the door to McGonagall’s classroom to make a fart sound whenever someone entered.” Ara giggled; both proud and annoyed by her twin and his antics. He had officially formed a pranking quartet with the boys in the dorm, and while she found it hilarious - she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t a little vexed that she didn’t totally get to be a part of it. It was understandable that he’d want time alone with their friends; she had the girls, after all.
But they’d told the Prewett twins that they would continue the pranking twin legacy. And he hadn’t been inviting her. Everyone had noticed the growing split between the twins, especially the Prewetts. Ara sometimes caught them watching from the corner of the Common Room; clearly keeping to their earlier promise. Looking out for them, if only from a distance.
I’ve been an arse, haven’t I? Sirius sighed in their mind; his body busy playing catch with James in the dorm.
A little bit, she admitted, but I do get it.
I promise to include you in at least three pranks a month.
You’d better. She warned.
“What did she do?” Lily asked, pulling Ara from the bond.
“She took away forty points and told them to stop marauding about the castle. Then Jamie went on about how he liked marauding and they’ve been joking about it all morning.”
Actually, Petey thinks it makes a good group name, Sirius spoke in their mind, his body busy playing catch with James in the dorm.
Seriously - don’t even make the joke! She warned, prompting the two to fall into giggles together.
“Ara?” Lily snapped her fingers in the girls face, prompting her to blush at the attention. Her two best friends stared at her with curious expressions.
“The boys have given themselves a name. The Marauders.” Ara explained, grinning brightly as Lily rolled her eyes.
“Ew. That’s so pretentious.” She shuddered.
“Perhaps.” Pandora shrugged. “Though in the forest, roamers often find themselves blessed by the company of wildflowers.”
“Are you saying we need a name too, Panda?” Ara questioned, voice light with amusement.
“Certainly. Are we not the Wildflowers of Hogwarts meadow?”
“I do quite like that.” Lily chimed in. “If they get to be the Marauders, we should be the Wildflowers.”
Hey! You’re a Marauder like me, Sirius interjected. The boys agree that we need you as part of the pack.
If you’re allowed to go off with them, without me, she tutted, then I should be allowed to be part of this group. Besides, you’d be more than welcome as a Wildflower, she teased.
Ew, he shuddered, before pausing in his disgruntled mood to genuinely consider her words. Actually, can I?
Of course.
“I might be a Marauder too, if that’s alright.” Ara explained to the girls, at their pointed looks. Her friends were somewhat experts at spotting the twins communicating by this point. It was quite lovely that they could read her so well, and did not mind her connection to her twin.
“As long as you’re a Wildflower first.” Pandora nodded.
“Of course. They may be my friends, but you both are my sisters.” She reached for their hands, squeezing them. “As long as Sirius gets to be an honorary Wildflower.”
Lily scrunched her nose.
“Provided he stops pranking me.” She acquiesced, upon Ara’s pleading gaze. “And he lets Reg join us too. I don’t want your little brother being left out.” She explained, to Ara’s great fondness.
Deal.
“He promises.” She nodded, smiling brightly. She knew that Lily understood that smile. One of gratitude, to her sisters understanding the placid her brothers would always have in her life and heart. They were Wildflowers, too.
“Let’s make it official, then.” Lily smiled fondly, eyes flickering to scan the grass around them, before settling on a trio of flowers growing beside a small stone. Gently, she pulled them from the earth, turning her friends palms open to place an individual flower on the skin. Whispering a charm, the two girls marvelled as their friend transformed the stems into pins - the petals stiffening to ceramic.
“Where’d you learn that?” Ara queried, transfixed by the magic.
The three flowers had turned to badges, feeling solid and unbreakable in their hands.
“I made it up.” She grinned in reply. “I wanted to turn this leaf into an unbreakable bookmark, but I ended up figuring out how to permanently transfigure things into pins. We can wear them on our jumpers.”
“It’s brilliant magic, lovely.” Pandora turned over the flower in her palm, before moving to tuck it onto the front of her jumper. The other two allowed suit, grinning together as they inspected their new accessories.
“I can make your brothers their ones later,” she reached for Ara’s hand, squeezing it with a smile. “We can find them the perfect flowers.”
“Wicked.” The twins spoke together; Sirius’s voice lingering on the edges of Ara’s. Lily blinked in shock briefly, before shrugging it off. She had always been quite good at accepting whatever bizarre magical thing appeared that day.
“Let’s make a promise, to always stay friends.” Lily decided with a nod, holding out her hands.
“We should do a pinkie promise. Those are unbreakable.” Ara declared.
“You know about pinkie promises? But they’re a muggle thing!”
“I don’t know where I learned about them.” Ara shrugged. “Just that my brothers and I have always used them.”
“Huh.” Lily blinked, her minds caught in musings. “Maybe you met a halfblood or something.”
“Probably.” Ara nodded. “Now come on!” She laughed, extending both pinkies.
Her friends linked theirs with hers, free hands linking.
Their bond sparkled between them; magic so very much in agreement with their promise.