Silent Riot | Regulus Black

FORTY TWO

Gemma was sitting by the black lake with Iz. It was just past 10 p.m. and they hadn't been able to convince Luke to break curfew. Gemma wasn't speaking to Ted, and Iz had decided not to push it. 

They were both reading, she'd nearly finished her last book from the library, and drafted letters to the most useful writers, although she was reluctant to send them. Her supposed vision had been so long ago, and she didn't want to get ahead of herself until she had further reason to. 

Iz was reading a book labelled Cursed Jewellery; How To Kill Someone, a book which Luke had remarked was illegal in a dozen countries, and that she'd stolen from the restricted section. She refused to tell them why she was reading it, but had been glued to it for the past week.

Their peace was disrupted by a group of very rowdy Gryffindors, and a single Slytherin. 

'Prongs, the big questions is, does she even like you?' Came a distant voice. Gemma frowned, her best guess was that it was Remus Lupin, but she wasn't quite sure.

'Yeah, cause if she doesn't like you then this is all a moo point,' another voice said. Gemma had to suppress a sigh. That was unmistakeably the voice of Sirius Black. 

'A moo point?' They were visible now, Potter was walking ahead of the group, backwards, Black and Pettigrew were following and Elladora and Lupin were trailing behind. 

'You know, like a cow's opinion,' Sirius nodded, 'it doesn't matter. Its moo.' Iz looked up from her book, and Gemma raised her finger to her lips. The last thing she wanted was for her peace to be disrupted by this lot, even if her fellow Slytherin's presence made it somewhat more bearable.

'I've spent enough time with you all for that to actually make sense,' Elladora said, shaking her head. 'That is scary.'

'It makes sense,' Sirius scowled, jumping up and down off of the jagged rocks. He was carrying a large black duffel bag, and it appeared to be weighing him down. 

'Of course Lily likes me,' Potter said. 'She finally admitted it, didn't she.'

'Then what's the issue?' Pettigrew piped up.

'The issue is that I- hey, there are people down there. HEY! PEOPLE! HELLO!'

'You don't need to yell,' Iz snapped. 'We can hear you perfectly fine.'

'Unfortunately,' Gemma grumbled, annoyed that they'd been spotted. Sirius hopped off another rock, and landed in front of them, eyebrows raising in surprise.

'Fifth year Slytherin Gemma Aston,' he noted. 'You seem to be everywhere these days. Are you stalking me?'

'Yes,' she said blankly. 

'Why are you out after curfew?' He retorted. 'You ickle fifth years ought to know better, its dangerous.'

'Dangerous?' Iz echoed. 'We come here all the time! The only danger here is you!'

'Well since I'm a prefect, I'll have to deduct a thousand and seven points from Slytherin-' Potter began. 

'He isn't actually a prefect,' Elladora reassured them, pulling Potter away. 

'Of course,' Iz scoffed. 'Dumbledore has got that much sense at least.'

'Yo-ho, a party without me?' Came a voice from behind. They all turned to see Jace Snyde and Gage Greengrass. It was Snyde who had spoken, and he was waving around a bottle labelled Vexation Vanisher. 

'He's high,' Gage grumbled. 'Bletchley and his goddamn potions...'

'HEY!' Someone shouted. They all turned to see the Ravenclaw Head Boy, Ackerly Stewart, storming towards them. 'What are you all doing here? It is ten p.m! I will have to report you to the headmaster-'

'Relaaaax,' Snyde said, putting an arm around the tense seventh year. 'Here, have some Vexation Vanisher.'

'Potions!' Stewart shrieked, shoving him off, 'Bletchley's potions! On school grounds!'

'Hey look, we were just here to talk to the squid,' Sirius said, raising his hands in surrender, 'you know, must get lonely in squid-land so we wanted to give it some company. Dunno what the Slytherins are here for though. You should definitely expel them.'

All the Slytherins glared at him, including Elladora.

'Well I- Iz and I were here to visit Hagrid,' Gemma said. 'Dunno what the others are here for.'

'We were performing a ritualistic summoning of the devil!' Snyde said proudly. 'Dunno what Hargreaves was here for.'

'You're all morons,' Elladora said, shaking her head.

'Quiet!'  Stewart shouted, shaking his head. 'You are ALL out after curfew! I must report you all immediately to the headmaster-'

'You need some cooling down,' Gage said. He grabbed Stewart's arm, and before they could comprehend what was happening, pushed him into the black water of the lake. 

They all stood, shocked, as they stared at where the Head Boy had been submerged. Then, when he didn't emerge, there was chaos. 

'You idiot!' Potter said, jabbing Gage in the chest. 'We didn't know if he could swim!'

'That was wicked!' Snyde howled, supporting himself against Gemma, who had abandoned all hope of being able to read. 'Hey, Pettigrew, your turn!'

'You better get in there and go save him,' Sirius said to Lupin.

'Me? Why me? You go save him!' Lupin said indignantly. 

'I've got a backpack on. You don't get in water with a backpack, everybody knows that.'

'I'LL CURSE YOU, POTTER!' Gage roared, grabbing James' robes. 

'What if he's dead,' Pettigrew moaned, looking at the water. 'Oh, we'll all be expelled if he's dead...'

'QUIET!' Elladora yelled. Everyone went quiet; Snyde still shaking with silent laughter, Gage holding James and looking ready to punch him, Sirius and Lupin trying to push each other into the water. 'Thank you,' she said. She pointed her wand at the water. 'Aquam Trahere!'

Stewart was pulled out of the water, and he lay on the grass, coughing and spluttering, while Remus looked at the Slytherin girl with the usual admiration and affection. 

'Dedisco!' Iz said hurriedly.

Stewart looked up at the odd group, confused. 

'Er- what happened?' He asked, trying to put his glasses on straight. 

'You fell in the black lake,' Iz lied. 'We pulled you out before you could drown.'

'Oh er- thank you,' he said. He finally got his glasses on, and stood up. 'I- what time is it?'

'Five,' Iz told him. He frowned. 

'It is quite dark. Make sure you all get to the castle soon.' And with that, he left the group, walking back towards the castle, shivering slightly from his soaking clothes. 

'Nice one Greengrass,' Sirius marvelled. 

'Why did you save him?' Snyde said disappointedly. At some point, he'd sunk to the ground, and was now sitting cross- legged next to Gemma. 'It would've been so funny if he'd died.'

'Come on, psycho,' Gage grumbled. He let go of Potter, and hauled his best friend up, together they trudged back to the castle. 

'What's in that bag?' Gemma asked, curiosity getting the better of her. 

'Some things are just better left unsaid,' Sirius said, patting her on the shoulder. 

'You'll find out tomorrow,' Potter said. Sirius looked at him, annoyed. 

'Dude!'

'What!'

'I'd leave now if I were you,' Elladora murmured to Gemma and Iz. Gemma smiled at her appreciatively, and the pair of fifth years made their way back to their dorms. 

a/n- this chapter was an absolute STRUGGLE. also the humour is kind of bad, sorry. next chapter will be a LOT more eventful ;)