Silver Lining

Chapter 16

"This is... this is unbelievable," I gasped, unfolding the parchment and realising it was a full map of Hogwarts.

"Why thank you," Sirius grinned.

"Is this everyone in Hogwarts?"

"Everyone and their exact locations," Remus nodded, smiling widely.

"No way," I laughed in disbelief. "Look, there's us!" James chuckled as my finger trailed over the Gryffindor common room and five names fighting for space on the map.

"By the way, this is all very top secret, so don't go telling Filch about this," he added, and I nodded my agreement as I turned one of the pages over.

"There are secret passages out of the castle? And you know about all of them?!"

"Do you even know us?"

---

Finally, after another bout of admiration towards the Marauders, I managed to get away and up to my dormitory for the nicest and warmest shower I had ever taken. Emerging from the bathroom in my warmest pyjamas and fluffy socks, I was greeted by the squeals of Marlene McKinnon.

"Violet Andrews, come here right now and tell me everything about your date!"

Olivia had also entered the dorm since I had disappeared into the shower, and she laughed from her own bed, coming over to sit on Marlene's.

"From what I've heard, it was rather eventful."

Alice looked up from her homework and shifted on the bed so as to hear our conversation better. I dumped my wet clothes on my bed and sat down on Marlene's crimson sheets, crossing my legs and looking at her expectantly.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything!" she laughed. "What did you do? Who did you see? What did he say? What did you say?"

"Okay, okay," I giggled, holding up my hands for silence. The girls watched me, waiting. "It was lovely," I shrugged. "We had a Butterbeer and looked around at the shops, and got caught in the storm on the way back. Otherwise, it was rather uneventful, really."

"Did you kiss him?" Alice cut in.

"No, I did not." Please don't ask me about kissing. Please. "Where's Lily?"

"Don't try to change the subject!" Marlene snapped playfully.

"I'm here!" Lily smiled, waltzing into the room, her deep red hair falling out of its ponytail. I smiled in relief at the momentary escape she brought me. She came over and jumped onto Alice's bed next to her, scanning our faces. "What're we talking about?"

"Violet's date with Remus," Alice replied, scribbling a few more lines of her History of Magic essay onto her roll parchment. Lily looked up at me and, seeing my hopeful expression, smirked.

"Don't expect to get out of it now. I'm intrigued." I sighed and nodded.

"Okay. Fine."

"So, all you did was chat?" Olivia jumped in with another question straight away.

"Well, apart from talking to Sirius, yeah-"

"WOAH!" Marlene shouted, and I jumped. "Woah, woah, hold up. You talked to Sirius?" Oh man, please don't ask me any more questions. Not about Sirius.

"Yes," I answered slowly. "So?" 

"Well, what was he doing there?!"

"I don't know! He said 'hello' to me in the Three Broomsticks, that's all. Why?" Marlene squinted at me, searching my eyes for something I knew she couldn't- no, wouldn't- ever find out about. Ever.