My Marauders // J.P. , R.L. , S.B x OC

Ch. 17, The Rise of the Redhead

The boys hurried her out of the Astronomy Tower, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls as they descended the winding flights of stairs. Thankfully, Transfiguration was in the same wing, but Calliope barely noticed as she was too focused on the questions buzzing in her mind.

They reached the Transfiguration classroom, but not without resistance from Calliope, who dug in her heels at every turn, demanding to know what this so-called "Pact" was. The boys, however, were maddeningly evasive. Sirius wore a smirk that suggested he was enjoying her frustration, while James's grin hinted at some inside joke she wasn't privy to. Remus, on the other hand, seemed less sure, his nervous glances at her betraying a hint of guilt. She couldn't quite place why, but something told her he might be the one who concocted this mysterious 'Pact.'

The whole situation gnawed at her. What were they hiding? The secret felt like yet another barrier, a reminder that she was always on the edge of their world—close enough to see but never truly part of it. The Marauders had their secrets, and this "Pact" seemed to be just another one, another reason why she was merely an onlooker, not one of them.

It always pained her to think about this feeling of being perpetually on the outside. Ever since the first year, there had always been something they kept from her, a secret just out of reach. She'd tried to brush it off, telling herself it didn't matter, that it was just how things were. But this year—her final year at Hogwarts—something in her shifted. She was done ignoring it, done pretending it didn't hurt. The nagging sense of exclusion, the unspoken words between them, had followed her for six years, and she was determined that this year, she wouldn't let it slide. She wouldn't block it out, not anymore.

They said their goodbyes to Peter and stepped through the threshold of the Transfiguration classroom, relieved to find they had time to spare. The room was unusually still, with no sign of Professor McGonagall or her familiar Animagus form.

Calliope's mind drifted back to their first year, to a memory etched in her mind. Sirius and James had burst into Transfiguration, late as usual, thinking they had escaped McGonagall's ire. The room had seemed empty then, just as it did now. But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, the silver and black-marked cat perched on the desk had leaped down, transforming mid-air into Professor McGonagall herself.

Their expressions of peace and relief had evaporated instantly, replaced by wide-eyed fear and shock. Calliope vividly remembered how she and Remus had struggled to contain their laughter, pressing their hands against their mouths to stifle the sound. It was impossible to forget the moment Professor McGonagall, with her characteristic sternness, had suggested that one of the boys be transfigured into a pocket watch to ensure they'd never be late again. The look on Sirius's face had been priceless, and it had taken every ounce of self-control for her and Remus not to burst out laughing.

Calliope pushed the memory aside, shaking her head slightly as she took her seat without another word to the boys. Her emotions were still in turmoil, and she wasn't quite sure what to make of it all. So much had happened in just one week, and it pained her to realize that, despite everything, it was still only the first week of school. The days felt stretched, each one dragging out like an eternity, weighed down by all that had transpired.

McGonagall was smart– although giving the boys and Calliope some shared detentions, she hadn't given them assigned seats next to each other. Clever move.

Calliope glanced at the empty spot beside her on the bench, noting that Gideon Prewett was missing from his usual seat. She sighed lightly, a small part of her feeling relieved. After what the boys had revealed about Gideon, she found herself thankful for the break. She appreciated being paired with him for Transfiguration, but it wasn't going to be easy pretending she didn't know about the ginger-haired boy's supposed crush on her.