constellation ✧ marauders

Chapter Nine

A month of Noelle ignoring the boys, except Remus, went by quicker than Professor McGonagall could purse her lips. Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter started making a name for themselves around the school as the popular troublemakers, and even insisted on being called 'The Marauders.' Anytime anyone called them the idiotic name around Noelle, she would roll her eyes and glare at the speaker. The Marauders also tried many times to reconcile with Noelle, but every attempt as mediocre at best and never convinced the girl. Luckily, they hadn't bullied Augustus since that day on the hill.

Noelle found herself spending all her time in the library. She was almost always accompanied by either Lily, Lana, Marlene, Augustus, or Remus. The girl also opened up to the diary and Tom more and more everyday since the first time she wrote to him. Noelle often carried the diary with her everywhere she went, in fear of someone trying to steal or read it.

"Have you finished the Astronomy homework for tonight? It took me forever," Auggie asked Remus and Noelle as they walked down to Transfiguration together. It was the end second to last class of the day, not including Astronomy which would be taking place at midnight.

"I had no time to last night, but I'll finish it after Potions today," replied Remus sleepily. Noelle studied to boy, watching him carefully. He seemed so tired, and Noelle noticed he was limping on his left leg.

"Remus, are you alright," Noelle started quietly.

"Yes, of course, why wouldn't I be? You can call be Remus Perfectly Alright Lupin!" the boy lied back. He was truly a terrible liar, and Noelle knew that the words he was assuring her with were fake, but she let it be. If he didn't want to tell her what was wrong, she wasn't going to force him.

"Okay then, Remus Perfectly Alright Lupin," Auggie taunted with a lighthearted smile.

"Oh, leave him be, Augs," Noelle chuckled as she pushed his shoulder playfully. They reached the classroom just as the bell rung, and shuffled to their seats. Noelle tried to ignore the stares from other students; ever since the fight with The Marauders, whispers and backhanded comments followed the girl everywhere she went. Students didn't appreciate someone being rude to their precious, popular Marauders.

Noelle held her chin high, though, and glided to her seat confidently. She noticed many of the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor boy's eyes lingered on her a second too long, and the girl's stares of jealousy. Most likely jealous of all the attention she was getting from gossip, Noelle decided.

Noelle took her seat next to Lily, and took a deep breath. She wasn't going to let the other students get to her. Looking back around the classroom just as Professor McGonagall started speaking, Noelle's emerald eyes accidentally stumbled upon Sirius. He was staring at her intently, an unrecognizable emotion plastered to his handsome features. The boy realized she was looking at him, and offered a small, sad smile to her. She glared, flipped her hair behind her shoulders, and turned back to the lesson to take notes.

"All Gryffindors, If you are interested in trying out for Quidditch, please report to the Quidditch Pitch no later than four in the afternoon this coming Friday," Professor McGonagall called at the end of class, her stern face lighting up slightly at the thought of Quidditch.

Potions was next, and Noelle was dreading it as much as ever. Bellatrix would taunt her mercilessly since the incident with the Marauders. Bellatrix loved to point out how hated Noelle was by the other students, how it was Noelle who was being ignored by the Marauders instead of the other way around, and her favorite, the fact that the Marauders were friend dumping Noelle because they had become far too popular to hang out with a geeky, ugly girl like Noelle.

"Hello there, Noie," Bellatrix started right as Noelle walked in. Out of the corner of her eye, Noelle noticed James start towards Bellatrix furiously, only to be stopped by Remus. Sirius clenched his fist, glaring at his cousin.