Loquacious\\ Harry Potter Marauders

Fifteen\\ Revealed

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
- Oscar Wilde

Seconds passed. Then minutes. And eventually hours until finally, morning came. Breakfast was slow and tedious, with Adelaide sitting beside Melissa and Alexandria as against Severus, what with their previous fight still hanging over them still.

She noticed the Marauder's not being their usual selves. Remus was not present at the breakfast table so James, Sirius and Peter were the only occupants of their usual seating place. They were quiet and- Sirius in particular- unusually reserved. They didn't talk to anyone, not even each other, and barely noticed when Severus tripped on his exeunt from the hall. Adelaide wondered what the problem was. What had hit them all so hard that caused their brotherly friendship to be challenged? One thing was definite- it had something to do with last night, the night of Slughorn's dinner, when Snape had found them beneath the Whomping Willow.

Adelaide was still confused about that incident, after a night of tossing and turning and thinking. Conclusions had refused to come to her, and she was left clueless and questioning. Luckily, it was a Saturday and, despite her lack of sleep, Adelaide had plenty of time to investigate what had happened and why.

It was mid afternoon when Adelaide, who had been talking to Melissa- about boys- wandered the corridors alone, taking the long way around towards the library. They had an upcoming transfiguration test and Adelaide did not want to fail a test given by Professor McGonagall. The woman was scary.

She was just sauntering leisurely past the hospital wing when a voice made her stop, cock an eyebrow, and change her footing slightly so that she was aligned with the heavy wooden door. It was slightly ajar and familiar voices drifted through.

"... And what the fuck did I tell you? Eh? Merlin, Padfoot, why are you so reckless? When are you going to grow up and get over it?"

It was James. He was fuming, Adelaide could see through the crack in the door. His glasses were glinting as he paced up and down beside a bed which was shielded by curtains, although Adelaide could guess who was behind them. James was constantly messing up his hair, and not in the usual arrogant way. This was a more wild clutch at the thick bird's nest on his head. Frowning in confusion, Adelaide strained to hear what they were saying.

"He was just.. He was saying things, about me, and you- and.."

"And what? What, Padfoot?"
James demanded. Sirius looked defeated. He glanced at his feet, then back up at James, then bit his lip uncomfortably. James grew impatient.
"Well?"

"About Adelaide, okay? C'mon, Prongs, you know Sniv- Snape would have a field day with that if he knew how I felt about it. It was the Willow I sent him to. I wasn't trying to send him after Moony, I wouldn't do that, not for all the gold in Gringotts."

"I would fucking well hope not," James barked. Sirius didn't flinch, just looked at his friend cooly. Finally, James took a deep breath and plonked in an armchair, his muscular shoulders sagging. Adelaide could see Peter standing gawkily beside the bed, his eyes drinking in the scene, shifting between James and Sirius.

She knew she shouldn't be listening, but Adelaide couldn't help it. She couldn't bring herself to move away from the door, and although it was none of her business, she felt too involved to ignore the situation. She was, after all, Snape's friend at the end of the day, and she had.. Whatever she had with Sirius.

"Look.. I'm sorry. I know it's not enough but.. It's the best I can do. I'll tell Moony, it's my responsibility. I'm sorry, mates. I'm so fucking sorry, and I.. -
Sirius' voice cracked violently and he stopped. If Adelaide didn't know any better, she'd have thought he was crying, but Sirius Black never cried.
"And I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to all of you. Look, if you want, I'll tell Snape that-"