Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) Book Three (Marauders Era)

Chapter Thirteen - Bon? Beau?

Author's note: CW slight unaware self harm (scratching).

Huge thanks to Julia (TheCheeseburgerCat on AO3) for help with the French, and also shout out to one of my readers for (sort of) suggesting the character that is introduced in this chapter. I think it was Maya? If I'm wrong please let me know. They didn't outright suggest this character exactly, but suggested the circumstances in which this character appears and because of what I already had for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher... I felt they fit in perfectly. Also I know Lockhart is "canonically" four years younger than the Marauders but I aged him up a bit to come in sooner. Since it's not really BOOK canon, I figured it was fine :P

-x-

The Great Hall stretched high above their heads as the Marauders went in. Since they had been in one of the first carriages, they had most of the Gryffindor table to choose from. James chose a seat about halfway down and Sirius sat with him, while Peter and Remus sat across from them. Slowly other students trickled in, many shouting greetings to friends or acquaintances they hadn't seen on the train.

"Hey Potter!" shouted Patricia Bell, the sixth year Captain of the Gryffindor team. James waved happily towards her, as well as the rest of the main team as they came in.

Seo-Yun Kim, one of the Beaters, also greeted Sirius, punching his arm as she walked past. Sirius made a swipe for her without really meaning it. "You trying out?" she asked, walking backwards.

"Eh, might be," Sirius said and Kim flashed him a thumbs up before sitting with her friends.

"You are?" James asked. "You didn't tell me!"

Sirius shrugged, propping his elbows on the table. "I don't know. There's only a Chaser position, and the giant arsehole that is Kirke will probably get it, won't he? Reserves usually do. I don't really want to be a reserve. Or a Chaser."

"We'd make brilliant Chasers together though," James said.

Sirius smiled before blowing a strand of hair from his face. "We would, but I don't really like trying to get the Quaffle from other people, or trying to score."

Not all the teachers were there when they initially went in, however as the great Hall slowly filled, the teachers also trickled in from a side room. Remus sat up a little, eyes going huge when a stranger came out of the room, a nervous smile on his face.

He was rather short—probably shorter than Sirius—with darkish skin, big eyes, short curly grey hair, a slight beard, and a paunchy stomach. He wore rather fancy robes and Remus guessed him to be in his fifties or sixties.

"Who's he?" Peter whispered. "Does he look American? What do Americans look like?"

Remus held a finger to his lips as the man spoke to Professor Sprout. Then Remus shook his head. "No, it's too loud in here. Was hoping to catch an accent."

"We'll find out soon enough," said James. "Hey Charmer!" he shouted as the Seeker for the team breezed in.

"Hey Potter!" she laughed. "Ready to murder this year?"

James flexed his rather scrawny arms. "The other houses are going down!"

"I just hope Slytherin's new Seeker isn't too good," she said, giving a shrug before she joined her friends.

Sirius whipped around, looking at the Slytherin table. Specifically, his little brother. "So that's what he's after," he mumbled.

"What, your brother?" Pete asked.