The Marauders: Year One (female)

17. Beast In the Bathtub

Lillian sat by the side of the Black Lake, chatting to Alex and Marius, whilst Mason was doing some kind of odd dance in the water with Frankie watching. His feet were bare, and clouds of silt and mud were being stirred up.

It seemed that half the year was there. Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew were all sitting precariously on a low tree branch hanging over the shallow waters of the lake, as Black tried to hang upside down by her legs from the branch.

She grinned wildly up at Potter, giving her a thumbs up. Her hands trailed in the water, and the tip of her hair skimmed the surface. Lillian caught Mason staring at Sirius as she laughed at Potter upside down.

Lillian raised an auburn eyebrow at him. He turned away, blushing, and continued splashing away in the lake, but it seemed forced.

It was quite peaceful by the lake; the sunlight of the late September afternoon filtered through the light cloud cover, and shone into everyone's eyes, bathing everything in a warm shade of gold.

It seemed that the Lake was a popular hangout place. A crowd of Hufflepuffs were also chattering nearby.

The peace was broken by a loud shout. 'Torpere!'

Mulciber had stomped up to the Hufflepuffs, and cast a Stinging Hex at one. The plump girl Lillian recognised as Greta Catchlove squealed in pain as it hit her directly on the face.

Her friends crowded around her. 'Greta? Are you alright?'

Avery lifted his wand and cast another hex into the crowd. Another student fell to the floor.

Lillian scrambled to his feet, fumbling for his wand.

Sirius and Jamie seemed to have a similar idea as Sirius swung around on the branch like a monkey, and pulled Jamie towards the disturbance. Remus also seemed to have a similar idea, as her mouth stretched into a grim line, and she followed, seeming more menacing than all of them put together.

Sirius roared angrily at Mulciber, unintelligibly. Lillian's heart sank as he saw Severa beside Mulciber and Avery. They'd talked about this. She seemed to be trying to make them back off, though. Avery swatted at her like she was an annoying fly. Lillian's temper swelled.

Jamie strolled up casually, contrary to Sirius's wild entrance, although Lillian could see the anger underneath. 'And what do you think you're doing?' she asked arrogantly, twirling her wand in between her fingers. By now, the Hufflepuffs were helping their fallen friends to the Hospital Wing.

Avery smirked, but didn't reply. He flicked his wand, and shouted an unknown hex which sliced a deep gash into Lillian's cheek. Lillian staggered back and gasped in pain, pressing his hand to his cheek, and feeling nauseous when it came away, slick and sticky with red blood.

Lillian watched as something in Severa snapped. At that same moment, she, Potter, Lupin, and Black fired hexes simultaneously at Mulciber and Avery, until the two fell into the shrubbery, unconscious.

Severa backed away in horror. Lillian knew she'd been trying to get in the Slytherins' good books, so that she could at least survive her first year.

As the four Gryffindors and Severa backed away, Jamie gave Severa a small nod, and then strode away from the crime scene with Black and Lupin, not glancing back to check if Lillian was following.

Lillian gazed at Severa a moment longer, his green eyes looking betrayed and hurt. He didn't know what to think. Of course it was noble of Severa to stand up for him like that, but what had she been doing with them in the first place? Blood dripped off his cheek. Severa was gazing at Lillian with wide eyes. Lillian held her stare, then he swiftly turned and headed after his Housemates.