The Marauders & The Metamorphmagi

Allegra's Realization

The leaving feast had begun, the next morning the students would be on the train heading back home for the summer holidays. Allegra had entered late, having spent plenty of time in the lavatory, dressing up as if the leaving feast was the most important event of the school year. When she did finally arrive, she was met with the sight of the students mixing together, no particular house at their assigned tables, instead most minded their own business while talking with friends.

Almost instantly Allegra felt awkward, as a sudden wave of realization hit her. She had entered alone, and now she faced the harrowing struggle of where to sit. The truth to suddenly hit her wasn't one she welcomed and only desired to bury as quickly as possible. Standing there by the golden doors, she finally became aware, that despite attending the school for two years now, she had no friends to speak of, no best friend calling her over, and no group to call her own. Most of the students, both older and younger avoided her, more because of the drama she so often coursed, although Allegra would never admit it. The girls in her own year shunned her now, especially after the way she humiliated poor Marlene McKinnon, not even the normally aggressive Slytherin students had seen her actions funny, instead they too turned on her.

The boys were no better, so often many of them act like she wasn't there. Some would rudely reject her advances and others would laugh at her for one reason or another. The only boys to pay her any attention she branded as weird and tried to get away from as quickly as possible, or at least avoid being seen with them if only to escape being branded weird too.

It was only when Allegra's hazel eyes landed on her twin Isolde, did she truly questioned when their dynamic had changed. Before Hogwarts, Allegra had been the popular girl at school, she was the queen bee, with plenty thawing over her and fighting to get her attention. She had plenty of friends and no end of things to do and attend over holidays. Isolde had been the loner, the weirdo who had few friends, she was quiet and often hid in the shadows, she had no place in the school hierarchy back then.

Now however everything was different. Allegra was the loner, the sister who had no friends of her own and had yet to find her place within the student body. She had yet to find what she was good at or find people she would even remotely consider friends. Isolde on the other hand, had become best friends with their dorm mates, Lily, Marlene, and (Y/N), as well as the Marauders. Sure the friend group wasn't perfect, Lily often throwing jabs at James and vice versa, but it worked. There wasn't a day to have passed, where Sirius wasn't watching (Y/N) or helping her with something, where Marlene wasn't studying with Remus, where Isolde and Lily were talking about their shared experiences as Muggle-borns. Where Peter and James were up to something in the darkest corner of the common room. There wasn't a day where one member of the group normally (Y/N), Sirius, or James were pulling pranks or doing something they shouldn't.

Only now did Allegra truly wish she had what Isolde did, friends in the same house as her to talk to and bond with. Friends, she could explore the school and mess about with. Friends who would encourage her and help her if she needed it. With a heavy sigh, Allegra moved from the spot she had been stuck to, feeling as if all eyes were on her, there was an awkward atmosphere as she walked over to where her twin sister was, knowing she wouldn't be welcome anywhere but at least hoping her sister and her friends would accept her for now, if only to spare her the humiliation.

When she got closer, she could hear the group talking about summer plans and the trips to Hogsmeade during the following school year. Remus expressed his opinion of finding (Y/N) in Zonko's, to which the metamorphic witch in question agreed with her iconic mischievous grin before smacking Sirius' hand from her hair and engaging in a thumb war with James. Peter shared his plans shortly after, just a quiet summer filled with homecooked meals and the comforts of home, at least until the usual trip to Diagon Alley to gather school supplies.

"Can I join you?" quietly asked Allegra, standing to the left of Remus, who'd been munching on the custard pudding he loved so much. Allegra's hazel eyes on the other hand were focused on Isolde, an awkward and nervous shimmer in them, as she waited for some kind of response. It had been Lily who nodded, as Peter shuffled over to allow her to sit between himself and James, at least so she felt included. "Thank you" she weakly added, feeling her heart hammering against her rib cage, as both anxiety and an unexplained wave of guilt hit her.

"We should do Truth or Dare on the train" commented James, as if nothing had changed. "What do you think Allegra?" he added, as if to pull her into the conversation or give the illusion she had always been among the friend group.

"That's a terrible idea" started Marlene in response, still recalling the last game in the common room months before. The one resulting in all of them playing in detention for a week or so.

"Yup, that beats Sirius' bright idea to brew polyjuice potion" added Remus, remembering that disaster. (Y/N) had been the one to point out the potion had gone wrong, not only to it look disgusting, but almost smelt terrible.

"Just don't dare me to cast the Patronus charm again" commented (Y/N), recalling the shock all of them had, although James had won an earlier wager on the animal it would be. "I don't think our fellow Gryffindors have recovered from the last heart attack yet" she laughed, recalling her own shock when the spell had been successful and the silver whisps had taken the form of a Hungarian Horntail dragon.

"Great for coursing chaos though" replied Sirius, as he once again began to flick (Y/N)'s ever-changing hair. (Y/N) only rolled her eyes, having gotten used to the wizarding playing with her hair when bored.

"Not as much chaos as old Peeves has been causing lately" started Lily, remembering some of the things the mischievous poltergeist had been up to in the last few weeks. Everything from winding up the other ghosts around the castle to juggling things above the students at random times, interrupting lessons by popping out of things to locking students and professors in the suits of armor dotted around the school. He'd done other things too, including daring students to act on their mischief to sending others in the line of fire for the prank war between (Y/N) and the Marauders.

"You'd let me share a cabin with you?" finally asked Allegra, upon finding the courage to word her question. She'd expected the courtesy of sitting with them to extend as far as the feast, yet here they were, welcoming her to join them on the train too.

"Lily's planning on spending some time with Snivellus" started James, ignoring the glare Lily sent in his direction for the name he'd bestowed on her best friend outside the group of girls. "Failing that I'm sure Sirius would complain if (Y/N) sat on his lap" he commented, jumping from his spot when (Y/N) kicked his shins, an innocent grin painted across her lips when he looked over to her.

"You're pushing it a bit mate" warned Sirius, although it was clear he had taken no offense to the comment James had made. A smirk upon his lips, although laughter soon rang out. Peter had fallen from the bench in an attempt to reach something, instead crumpling to the stone floor below with a high-pitched squeak. Allegra had looked around quickly in confusion, simply asking the plump boy if he was okay, before joining in with the laughter. For the first time, she appeared as if she belonged somewhere. Even if Marlene and several others were purposely being cold towards her.