Éthérée

CHAPTER 32

This is written kind of like a montage, so try to visualise it that way.

When Audrey Potter walked in the Great Hall, all eyes were on her. Even the professors glanced at her, McGonagall and Dumbledore keeping their looks a lot less direct, while Slughorn was blatantly staring at the student. She squirmed a little, the attention making her very uncomfortable. Gossip spread across the school like wildfire, and when it included a certain group of five fourth years, people were more than eager to know everything, even the ones who wouldn't normally be engaged in such matters. So it wasn't a surprise when everyone knew what had happened with the Potter girl and the Gryffindor Quidditch captain. Every step she took, eyes followed her. She took in a sharp exhale closing her eyes for a brief moment before snapping them open. 

"Is there a problem?" she asked addressing the entire hall, her eyebrows raised in question. The whole student body immediately looked away, breaking back into normal chatter, and the blonde made her way towards the Gryffindor, a slight proud smirk on her face. She sat next to Marlene and the girl immediately swung an arm around Audrey, both of them resting each other's heads on one another. 

"Where are the boys today?" Lily asked taking a bite out of a pancake after some casual conversation. 

"We were up all night last night," Audrey said rubbing her eyes sleepily. The five had stayed up for the majority of the night before planning what James and Sirius called heists, to gather the different ingredients for the Animagus process. The entire process was of great length, and the group knew that they had to get to work as quickly as possible. It included keeping a mandrake leaf in your mouth for a month, getting dew from a place untouched and turning during an electric storm. Hundreds of complexities went into the process, and everyone had to do it with extreme caution. 

"Why were you up?" Lily asked with concern.

"Oh, er, just some schoolwork," Audrey coughed out, not knowing how she almost slipped out the secret. Lily nodded, still unconvinced, but leaving the topic nonetheless. She had almost gotten used to the secrets that were kept between the boys and Audrey. It was almost as if there was a big chunk of her best friend's life completely unknown to her. But she didn't mind anymore. 

"Good morning Lily-flower!" a bright voice chirped from Lily's side. James Potter popped up next to the ginger, handing her a bouquet of white lilies. "Your favourites," he said, looking at her with puppy dog eyes. Lily rolled her eyes in annoyance. 

"I don't need your flowers Potter! Can't you just leave me alone for a day!?" She huffed out looking directly at James. A smirk grew on the boy' face as he retreated his hand holding the bouquet, and he walked to his seat with his arms raised in surrender. 

"Totally in love, that one," he whispered to the three boys as soon as he sat down. Remus chuckled into his coffee while Sirius and Peter grinned at James. 

***

February 17th (1974).

"Boys, remember one leaf, the entire month. Don't swallow it, don't spit it out, be extremely cautious with it. Alright?" Audrey questioned the guys standing in front of her. All of them except Remus, who was currently transforming in the Shack, had a singular mandrake leaf in their palms. Peter gulped hard. 

"Wait! How am I supposed to snog with a mandrake leaf in my mouth? That's disgusting," Sirius voiced just as they were about they take it in. James rolled his eyes wearily.