A Marauder's Love Story

Chapter 6

"Alright guys! Good job today!" James exclaimed as I came running into the team room, drenched from head to toe.

"You're late, Brighton," James said, turning to look at me. I felt everyone's curious stares on me as I stood awkwardly facing James.

"Care to enlighten us all with your reason?" He asked smugly, raising his eyebrows and smirking at me.

"I fell," I said, crossing my arms.

"You fell..." He repeated slowly.

"Is that really the best excuse you could come up with? I really expected better from you, Brighton." He said still smirking at me.

I rolled my eyes, "It's not made up or an excuse, it's the truth."

He scoffed, rolling his eyes at me again. "Yeah ok, just don't let it happen again... Alright, Brighton?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Why don't you just ask Black if you don't believe me."

I turned to see Sirius glaring at me from his spot on one of the wooden benches a few feet away.

"I wouldn't call it a fall exactly... More like a crash landing after you ran into me with your deranged flying," Sirius answered sharply.

"We ran into each other actually," I corrected, shooting Sirius a glare. "And I don't recall being the only one with crazy flying habits, Black."

James let out an amused laugh. "Kinda wish I had seen that for myself... Must've been a funny one."

"Hilarious..." I muttered, shuffling forward and taking a seat next to Kyle.

James laughed again, smirking at me amusingly.

Then, finally, he began to speak again, using the same commanding voice he had used earlier on the quidditch pitch.

"As I was saying... You all did a good job today! We'll be meeting here at the same time tomorrow for the final day of tryouts, and then I will be posting the new team roster in the common room. Make sure you all get a good night's rest tonight and I'll see you all here tomorrow!" He said, smiling brightly at us and standing up.

Everyone grabbed their brooms and started filing out of the room quickly, murmuring quietly to each other.

Kyle and I had almost reached the portrait hole when I realized I had left my Potions book there.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go back with you?" Kyle said.

I shook my head quickly, turning back and starting to walk the other way.

"No it'll only take a minute. I know exactly where I left it. I'll be back soon, okay?"

He nodded hesitantly and began to walk back towards the common room.

I quickly made my way back to the team room and grabbed my book, which was lying under one of the benches.

I glanced out the window at the pouring rain and jumped as a streak of light cut jaggedly through the dark sky, followed by a clap of loud thunder that shook the air.

I heard a soft chuckle from behind me. "It's just a little water."

I turned to see Sirius Black leaning against the wall with a small smirk on his face.

I rolled my eyes, "It's not the water I'm scared of."

"Thunder's just a sound," he countered, folding his arms.

"Yeah but a loud one!" I exclaimed back.

He rolled his eyes, laughing slightly.

"Lightening isn't just a loud sound. Lightening's real... It can hurt you." I said, turning back to look out the window as the rain pounded against it.