Loquacious\\ Harry Potter Marauders

Prologue

"I am a collection of dismantled almosts."
-Anne Sexton, A Self-Portrait in letters

Loquacious- tending to talk a great deal; talkative

Adelaide Tanner always lived her life recklessly. In the smallest ways, through the most simple actions, she was quick to make decisions and stick to them.

From the age of two, she would run down the stairs, not walk, despite her aunt's constant warnings. It never occurred to her she could fall.

At five, Adelaide would run through the maze of hedges in her back garden instead of actually following the path. It never occurred to her she could get lost.

By the age of eight, she would sneak into the pantry and sneak out again, her arms filled with snacks that she would carry back up to her room and hide beneath her clothes in the back of her wardrobe. It never occurred to her that the house elves would have to make all the food again.

When Adelaide was twelve, she ignored her fathers complaints about muggle literature and pored for hours over Shakespeare's plays. Her aunts encouraged her to read because they said it "encouraged imagination" and "built creativity."

Although her father, Elbias Tanner, told her muggle books were filth, she continued to read them. It never occurred to Adelaide that her father might be complaining about it when she wasn't around.

Adelaide was reckless. She was bold, quick witted, rash and short tempered. That was, at least, until sixth year, when Adelaide was forced to change. Her every move was now carefully thought out, every nod and smile, every sentence thought over, the words chosen carefully.

She forced herself to think, beat the recklessness out of herself. She couldn't afford to make a wrong move. Adelaide had complete control and never lashed out, never lost her temper. Not once.

Because after that day in sixth year, everything changed. Everything was different. This is the story of how.

"And if I find out you've.. Let loose that cat of yours in the school, there'll be consequences when you get home."

"Oh let her be. Now dear, straight through that wall there, okay?"

Adelaide rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Aunt Wanda. I'll be okay, don't worry."
She sighed, although a small smile slid onto her face. Her Aunt's fussing was well meant, after all.

"Of course you'll be okay, now go, board the train!"

Her father encouraged, gesturing. Adelaide smiled her trademark smile- dangerous, smirking, twisted, with her green eyes lighting up- and ran at the wall.

"Do you mind I sit here? All the other compartments are full."

A clear voice asked, and Adelaide looked up to meet a pair of excited hazel eyes. Company was a welcome sight- she had been sitting by herself, and that, on the first day of Hogwarts, was not fun.

"No, not at all."
She smiled, waving a hand at the seat.

"What's your name, then?"
The boy asked as he plopped down on the seat.
"Adelaide Tanner. You? "

She smiled with an aura of grace, sticking out her hand.
"Oh, fancy name, eh? Potter. James Potter."
The boy- James- replied, his voice sure and full of self respect. Adelaide took a liking to him.

"Adelaide's not a fancy name!"
She snapped, her green eyes flashing. James held his hands up in surrender, smirking just as the door slid open again.