September 1, 1972
NARCISSA and the Slytherin group enter the back sector of the train, which has always been unofficially understood as the Slytherin section.
NARCISSA: Those spoiled, over-privileged brats. (She levitates her trunk to the top rack and sits down at a table by the window). The next time they pull any of that rubbish again, report it to me, all right, Severus? We'll take them down.
SEVERUS: Thanks, Narcissa.
LUCIUS sits next to NARCISSA, while SEVERUS and MAFALDA sit across from them.
MAFALDA: Well. A compartment-side brawl before the train has even left the station! This year's starting out with a bang.
LUCIUS: Very funny, Mafalda. You better take some notes from Cissy, though. Every now and then, you've gotta lay down the law.
MAFALDA: (taking out her new Prefect badge and examining it) Oh, please. I don't plan on abusing this thing. I've never been much of a disciplinarian.
NARCISSA: (smiling) Well, you better learn quick.
MAFALDA: Anyway. Speaking of trying to become proper, well-behaved, rule-abiding students, when's our first highly-illegal Dark Arts class taking place?
NARCISSA: (cautiously) Keep your voice down!
LUCIUS: Bella said later this weekend. But it depends on how the Vanishing Cabinets are holding up.
MAFALDA: Vanishing Cabinets?
LUCIUS: Yeah, one in Borgin and Burke's, one in the Room of Requirement. They form a passageway.
NARCISSA: We've had- issues with them in the past. Hopefully they still work.
MAFALDA: And what might this "Room of Requirement" be?
SEVERUS: (speaking up) It's a secret room on the seventh floor. Legend has it that it was originally created by Helga Hufflepuff. It only appears when one is in true need of it, and when it does, it will supply you with whatever you need.
NARCISSA: (smiling) See? I told you this kid knew his stuff.
MAFALDA: And your sister's going to be running the program?
NARCISSA: (rifling through her bag) Yes. But we'll need everyone's help to make it happen. This only works if everyone keeps their heads open and their mouths shut.
MAFALDA: But we're gonna make sure to have fun, too.
NARCISSA: We are not doing this to have fun, Mafalda. We're doing this because we need to prepare ourselves for what's out there once we leave the safety of the Castle.
MAFALDA and SEVERUS glance at LUCIUS, and all three of them smile.
NARCISSA: And what was that little look right there?
LUCIUS: Come on, Cissy. We all love you, but you wouldn't know fun if it came up and slapped you in the face.
NARCISSA: Oh, come on!
MAFALDA: (leaning back in her seat and crossing her arms) Sorry, Cissy, but he's right.
NARCISSA: Okay, well, you know what. Someone has to make sure that things run smoothly. But just because I'm in charge doesn't mean I don't know how to relax every now and then.
LUCIUS: (condescendly) Okay, Cissy.
MAFALDA: (skeptically) Whatever you say.
NARCISSA: (glancing at her friends, then quickly turning around and calling out loudly) Party in the Slytherin common room tonight, everyone!
The general mass of Slytherins let out a loud cheer at NARCISSA'S announcement. NARCISSA, looking pleased with herself, smiles at the others.
NARCISSA: See? I can have fun.
LUCIUS, MAFALDA, and SEVERUS laugh as they begin to don their uniform robes, with the faint silhouette of Hogwarts becoming clearer and clearer in the distance.
YOU ARE READING
The Marauders Rise (II)
FanfictionIn 1973, the Marauders enter their third year at Hogwarts and are immediately thrown back into a world of magic and mayhem. James, Sirius, and Peter, under the guidance of Minerva, devise an unorthodox way to help Remus during his transformations, a...
