eloquence | sirius black ✓

CHAPTER TWO

SORTED TO SLYTHERIN

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A sign of automatic trouble is when the four Marauders invite you to their compartment. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to Diana Allister. She was about to enter the Hogwarts Express when she was stopped by— intercepted by the 'most famous' Gryffindor— James Potter. Diana herself wouldn't call him famous at all, though. He was just a proud Gryffindor, with an incredibly massive ego that somehow fit the entirety of Hogwarts. She found it to be astounding. She didn't know how Hogwarts was able to handle him at all, if she had to be honest.
       And that was how Diana Allister's day started out. And now; she's sitting with the Marauders while they chatted about their pranks, which mostly, Diana had managed to avoid. After all, she had spent most of her spare time in the library, and finished her meals as fast as she could. And now she was sitting with the Marauders. They somehow convinced her to sit with them.
       Diana immediately regretted saying yes to them. She didn't even know what came to mind when she agreed to sit with the so-called Marauders who called themselves famous.
       At least Remus was decent enough to not go on and call himself famous, but still. Remus John Lupin was the mastermind of most of the Marauders' pranks. Although Sirius and James planned them, Remus was the one behind every spell and potion. Peter just followed, giving them food to help them with their 'energy' and 'confidence'. Admittedly, though, it was a useful and important part.
Diana was acquaintances with Peter, and she supposed that he was much better than James or Sirius, though he mostly kept his head low. He preferred to fade into the background.
       In front of her was Sirius Black– long-haired and a glint of mischief in his grey eyes. The one who she danced with at the ball. Beside him was James Potter; the newly announced captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, and Peter Pettigrew. James— the black-haired boy with hazel eyes and round fragile glasses surviving by tape only. Peter— the small, chubby boy who had sandy hair and a small mouse-like nose.
       And beside Diana was Remus John Lupin. An attractive Gryffindor with brown hair and soft brown eyes you could compare to warm hot chocolate during winter, warm and welcoming. It was safe to say that Diana Allister had liked Remus for quite a long time, despite the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin. He was quite the gentleman, and the most favourable Marauder among all, some might say.
        "Remind me why I decided to sit with you," said Diana with an eye roll, closing her book shut as she let out a light groan.
       James grinned cockily at Diana. "Well, Allister, it was my charming good looks. No one could beat the handsome Potter–"
       "–except an even handsomer Sirius Black." Sirius finished with a grin. James grinned at him, and Sirius looked at him and grinned back. They high-fived. Another groan escaped her lips as she watched the two, burying her head into her hands. She hated the Marauders, and had no idea how she even managed to be convinced to sit with them. She was almost completely sure that they used black magic.
       "It was because James kept annoying you," said Remus. "You wanted him to stop, so he did, in terms that you sit with him."
       Peter nodded, agreeing with Remus. Diana sighed, knowing that there was no escape from that very compartment, and she desperately hated it. Once you sat with the Marauders, there was no going anywhere else, and Diana Ophelia Allister knew that.
       "Way to ruin the fun, Rems," replied Sirius.
        You could say that the Marauders were an extremely annoying bunch. Especially when it came to their pranks. It often lead to detention, but they didn't seem to care.
       It was like the Marauders were punishing the teachers. They annoyed them during detention. Nevertheless, though, the Hogwarts professors still gave them detention. Lately, they've been putting the Marauders in separate detentions.
       Diana sighed as she turned away from the Marauders, opening up the first book she managed to find in her bag. Pride and Prejudice. One of the classics she loved.
       It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife– Diana's reading was interrupted by the loud chatter of the Marauders, much to her delight. She grunted and forced herself to keep reading.
       She let out another sigh. It was definitely going to be a long journey. Luckily for her, she had her book with her, otherwise she'd be bored.
       Pride and Prejudice had always been one of her favourites. As unexpected as it was, Diana loved romance novels. She loved Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, and the story of how they had gotten together.
It almost seemed like a fairytale.