Selenophile // Marauders

|28| Focus, Fourth Year

1st of September 1974

It was the first day of Riley's fourth year. It was a much better start from her last year. She found an empty compartment and sat, waiting for everyone else to come.

"Hello!" Sirius said as he opened the compartment door.

"Hi, how was summer?" Riley asked.

"Better, compared to the last one. At least I don't have to attend a stupid wedding!" Sirius said. "And also, my cousins are out of Hogwarts! They can't bother me anymore."

"That's good!"

Then, Remus entered the compartment. He looked very different compared to last year. His hair looked messier and he had new scars on his face. They looked red, indicating they were probably new. He looked so tall and skinny and for sure looked upset.

"Moony, you all right?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah," Remus answered quietly. "Why wouldn't I be alright?"

"Your face—" Riley started.

"I got out of control last week, I think I also hurt my shoulder," Remus said, he took some chocolate out of his bag and started eating it. He looked down. "You got a cat?" he asked as he looked at the cat sitting next to Riley.

It was a cat with big eyes and fluffy grey fur. He didn't look very cute or friendly but he sure was happy sleeping next to Riley.

"Yeah, his name is Ash."

"He looks scary..." Remus mumbled.

"I don't like cats," Sirius said.

"He's not scary, he's cute!" Riley said as the compartment door opened as James and Peter entered.

"Oh my — what is that?!" James asked with horror in his eyes as he pointed at the grey cat which was now staring at James.

"A cat! Seriously he doesn't look scary!" Riley said.

"It's cute!" Peter said. He sat next to the cat and started petting him.

"You like cats?" Riley asked, surprised.

"Yeah! We used to have one when I was little, but it ran away," Peter said.

"A person with some sense," Riley said as she pointed at Peter.

***

After the first years were sorted, the feast began. Riley saw Lily, Marlene, Dorcas, and Mary talking. Riley hadn't talked to Lily after they their little argument in Potions.

She looked like she was friends with Snape, and Riley didn't plan on talking to her unless she had to. Eventually, they would have to share a dorm but this didn't make Riley change her mind.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were talking about the map they were planning to create. They decided to call it the "Marauder's Map" which Sirius came up with. They never really planned how they were going to create the map, but it didn't hurt to dream.

"Are you even here?" Sirius said trying to catch Riley's attention, she was thinking about something else.

"What — oh, right, sorry."

"Are you all right?"

"Er — yeah."

"Did you like the map idea?"

"Yeah, brilliant, but it's hard."

"There's nothing the Marauders can't do..."

***

Riley went up to the Gryffindor common room right after the big feast was done. She hoped the dorm would the empty but it wasn't.

"Oh, hey! We were beginning to get worried about you!" Marlene said loudly as Riley entered.

"Oh — I didn't mean to—" Riley stuttered.

"Come on in! How was your summer?" Dorcas said. "Brought a lot of books again?"

"Well — not that much—

"I know we didn't really talk after Potions last year... But I thought we can just forget about it? I talked to Sev after that, he was wrong to accuse you like that!" Lily said softly. "Sorry if I made you annoyed there..."

"Oh it's fine, I guess—"

"I met a boy this summer, his name is Connor. We went out for a while, even had my first kiss!" Mary said, flinging her dark, curly hair behind her shoulder.

"That's great—" Riley tried to speak, but the others just kept talking.

"Black got very cute over the summer!" Marlene said. "Unlike Pettigrew!"

"Marlene has had a crush on Sirius forever!" Dorcas said.

"And Potter has liked me since first year! He's annoying really..." Lily said as she rolled her eyes.

"Maybe you should give him a chance Lil!" Mary said.

"He really likes—" Riley started but got cut off again.

"I heard Transfiguration is gonna be very difficult this year!" Mary said.

"Yeah! I hope Potions is easy!" Lily said. "Sev said he would help me."

"Bet Riley will become top of the class at it again!" Dorcas said as she smiled. Riley chuckled. The voices just kept rising and getting louder.

"Well, not—"

"There's a new professor this year for Defence Against the Dark Arts..." Lily said. "I liked Professor Cohen, he was a good teacher."

"Yeah, me too—" Marlene said but a surprisingly loud voice from someone unexpected rose.

"Will you just let me speak?!" Riley shouted. Everyone froze, looking at Riley. She looked at all of them then realized how her fist was clenched. It was too loud, too much talking. She had come there to have a good time, but they just didn't let her. She never liked small talk or talking in general. They kept ignoring her, interrupting her. She had enough, but she couldn't just say nothing and let them think she was a 'freak' as Vicky liked to call her.

"I — sorry — I didn't mean to shout like that—" Riley stuttered. "I'll just go to sleep, you can — y'know — keep talking..."

"We didn't mean to make you uncomfortable—" Lily said.

"No, I'm not uncomfortable. Not your fault," she said as she went to her bed and closed her eyes.

She didn't know why she snapped like that. They didn't really do anything wrong, they were being friendly towards her. She couldn't focus on anything that day; the talk about the map, the girls bickering, Lily's apology... She just wanted to rest but her brain was cramped with irrelevant thoughts, thoughts that were far too pessimistic, maybe even realistic, but she hoped they would just remain as thoughts.

———

A/N:

Follow me on TikTok: pygmypuffarnold I decided to post edits about Harry Potter in general too!

And don't worry wolfstar will happen along with dorlene! I don't like blackinnon, I'll only make blackinnon happen so that remus can get jealous and that wolfstar can happen😏😏