I Solemnly Swear - a Fifth Marauder Story

Chapter 6: Payback and Paint

The next day was probably even more awkward — if possible. At breakfast Remus shuffled away from our normal, intellectual conversation, and admittedly it didn't feel the same. As it was Wednesday we had potions after lunch. I only just managed to make it there on time as Sirius and James were still muttering and Remus was still blanking me. I walked into the classroom and realised Remus had swapped seats with someone so he was the opposite side of the classroom to me.

"Hello, I'm Bri-"

At this point I was trying to introduce myself to this new figure, but no.

"SORRY WE'RE LATE PROFESSOR," screamed a pile of Marauder shaped chaos. Peter hobbled in looking like he was about to wet himself, James looked like he'd just flown a mile and Sirius, well he's Sirius. He came laughing in after everyone else winking at the odd blonde and smiling that ridiculously charming yet equally repulsive smile.

"Anyway, I'm Brianna," I finished, throwing a glare over my shoulder at the boys.

"And I'm Frank, Frank Longbottom."

I sat down and listened to our boring professor, it was a lot more fun when Remus was there. I looked over the other side of the room to see Remus quickly look away. Great, now two of my new friends hate me. After potions I'm going to have to make up with at least one of them.

I walked out of potions by myself and towards the main Entrance Hall to see a transfiguration class heading down the corridor towards the Great Hall. I huffed, realising how hard it would be to find Lexi in this crowd. Luckily a simple Location Spell cast a shimmery blue haze around a brown-haired girl I recognised as Lexi.

"Lexi, wait up!" Hitching my bag over my shoulder I dashed after her. She wasn't moving fast but was quite away ahead of me, tugging at the stiff latch of the door to the Entrance Hall. The door swung open and she vanished from view.

"Excuse me — sorry — excuse me — coming through!" I stammered as I shoved my way through the crowds of students. I slipped through the door and froze.

The most curious feeling washed over me and a thin line of stinging pain throbbed at my ankle, like I'd just tripped over a wire. The spell (that's what I assumed it was) shot up my body, locking me in place. I heard a creak from above but was unable to look up as something wet and slimy splashed down my back and Dungbombs splattered around. Many shocked bystanders gasped but two familiar voices began to laugh from above.

"Only Slytherins hex people for no reason!" Sirius called. I hadn't realised my Bat-Bogey Hex had got to him that much.

"And only Marauders would be hypocritical enough to say something like that!" An angry red face topped by angry red hair appeared in my still-frozen field of vision.

Lily Evans to the rescue, and right behind her — Lexi.

"Uh, hi — hi, Evans!" said James, sounding ever so slightly worried. As he should be.

I was still locked in place by the boys' stupid Body-Bind, and the goo, or paint, or whatever it was, was cold down my back. Brows furrowed in a frown, Lexi hurried over, and began tugging at the invisible ropes with the counter-curse. As soon as I could speak, I blurted out,

"I'm sorry!"

"What for?"

"For that thing," I gestured to Sirius on the balcony above my head. The stares of onlookers were boring into my back and a few giggles ran through the crowd. I looked at Lexi and started again, "Look, I don't know what I did but I really, really want to make it up with you! I'm so sorry for whatever I did."

Lexi just looked at me and I saw a glint in her eye, "Sure, to be honest I think I was annoyed with the fact my — ex, now — boyfriend was flirting with you in my face."

I then looked at her grinning, "Don't worry, this isn't called revenge for no reason!"

I then heard laughing above as the boys scuttled away like the bugs they are. I flicked my wand at them, muttering a spell. They boys' getaway passage collapsed beneath them, but I suspended them in mid-air before they fell completely and walked away, arm in arm with Lexi, glad to have a friend again.

After dinner Lexi, Lily, Alice and I all walked to the common room laughing. When we walked through the portrait hole I saw exactly the opposite of what I wanted to see. Remus, James and Sirius. Remus still ignoring me alongside Sirius and James breaking their sides laughing at me.

"Guys, can we go to the dormitory?" I whispered to the girls.

"Sure, that specimen is absolutely horrid!" Lexi replied glaring at Sirius. I followed the girls up the staircase flinging a look back at Remus. He was sat on the red sofa, his wolf charm in hand, looking down at his lap, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Just looking at him made me wonder what had happened.

In the dormitory Lexi pulled out a stash of Chocolate Frogs as we all sat on cushions around the table in the middle. The amount of gossip that happens in a boarding school is ridiculous! I'm still getting used to it... This is what I picked up.

- Alice had a crush on Frank.

- Lily still hated James and was asked to Hogsmeade by a boy called Toby ( in Ravenclaw).

- Lexi hated Sirius' guts and was planning on ditching Hogsmeade so 'she doesn't have to see him eating another girls face'.

And I just listened, sometimes giving advice — until they asked the question I been wondering for ages.

"What's up with you and Remus?"

"Seriously, I don't know! One minute we were friends, the next he pretends I don't exist and has moved seats to get away from me! Seriously, I didn't realise my accent was that bad!"

I tried to turn it into a joke, but it was all seriously confusing.

After that I told them the Bat-Bogey Hex story in full. Let's just say, I've never had that many high-fives before! At that point I think Lexi decided she truly wanted me as a friend.

We all got changed into our pyjamas sitting on our beds still chatting about random rubbish, but now with the addition of Marlene. She told us how Oliver had taken her on a walk around the castle 'Because he couldn't wait until Hogsmeade'.

After everyone else had fallen asleep I lay awake in bed thinking about back home. What would Dad be doing? I hope he's okay. With that thought I grabbed some spare parchment and wrote a letter.

Dad,

I hope everything is going okay! School is really cool but so different to at home — the teachers aren't as fun as you though! I hope you're not eating too much cake without me now I'm gone!

Love you and miss you!

Brianna x

I then hopped out of bed, sealed my letter and walked to the owlery. One thing is for certain — it's not as easy in the dark! I narrowly avoided the teachers but managed to get there in one piece and avoided detention. I found my owl quickly before realising someone had come up after me.

"Remus! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I just love the smell of owl poo and decided to pop by."

I laughed politely but couldn't help feeling awkward. I tied my letter to the owl.

"Well, I better go, I don't really fancy detention."

"Avoid the left wing on the second floor. Filch is there."

"Thanks," I said and hurried off.

I got back to bed with no one noticing and fell asleep from pure exhaustion. I hope Remus won't be mad at me for too long.

We're back again!

Despite our exhaustive efforts the Nargles slipped through our defences, but we will be publishing as normal, every Wednesday!

This chapter was written by both of us together :O

Thanks to everyone who has voted, it means so so soooo  much!!

~Featherwing x