The Marauders: Year One (female)

37. The Owlery

Sirius cast her eyes about the common room, searching for her target. They lit up once they found him.

She sauntered over to Mason McKinnon, carefully tossing her long, silky hair back. It was quite comical to the rest of the common room, watching Sirius act like a complete idiot, but this was lost on Mason. His eyes widened, and he gulped visibly. He wasn't bad looking, Mason. He had tan skin, deep brown eyes, and longish gold-blond hair. But he just wasn't Sirius's type. She would just use him to find out about the boy's dormitory, and where it was. It was essential that she rescued that letter from Evans.

As Sirius took a seat on the red couch next to Mason, Mason looked away from Alex Prewett, and turned to face Sirius.

'Hey there,' he said, his voice a little high.

Sirius smiled back. She hoped he couldn't tell how fake and forced it was. 'Hey,' she replied. 'What you up to?'

Mason evidently couldn't see through her fake smile. 'N-n-nothing much. Just talking to Alex here.'

Alex looked annoyed, and began to get up, but Sirius stopped him. She wanted to get the information out of Mason, but she didn't want the situation to become too awkward. After this encounter, she would have no further interest in him. Alex sat down with a huff and folded his arms sulkily while he waited.

'It's all rather new, isn't it?' asked Sirius cheerfully, nodding around the common room.

A group of fifth years were busy drawing exaggerated caricatures of teachers, led by Gideon and Fabian Prewett. The pictures came to life, and swore fluently. Gideon had charmed a quill to fly about, scribbling random profanities on people's books and belongings, ensuing in a duel between a fourth year girl and Gideon. She hexed large boils onto his face, and he had to be led to the Hospital Wing by three of his friends.

Olivia walked in, screaming for silence, as someone threw a book at her head.

Mason looked at the scene, where a fully fledged book fight was now going on, and he laughed. 'Yeah. It's all new. This isn't normal, I hope?'

'I wouldn't know. My whole family have been in Slytherin, so I have no idea if this is normal Gryffindor behaviour or if we just have a wild house this year.'

'I wouldn't know either,' replied Mason. 'Most of my family's been in Ravenclaw. I always thought I would be there too, but so far, Gryffindor seems alright. A bit crazy, but alright.'

Sirius sensed an opening. 'At least the dorms aren't in the dungeons like they are for the Slytherins.' She punctuated her speeches with a lot of fake laughter, and hair curling. Mason seemed mesmerised whenever she did this. She felt bad for messing with him, but she had to get Remus's letter and apologise. 'Our dorms are at the very top of the tower. It's a bit tiring to climb up every single time, but the view is fabulous. We can see the Lake and we have a fair view of the Forbidden Forest.'

Mason looked absorbed as he listened to all this. Sirius felt her excitement mounting as Mason showed signs of opening up. 'Wow! Our dormitory isn't anything as cool as that. It's quite boring, actually. We've got a similar view, obviously, but we only have one window, and that's tiny. And we're a lot lower down.'

Sirius decided to get to the point, even if Mason thought it was odd. 'What floor?' she asked hastily.

Mason looked surpised. 'Fourth. W-why?'

Sirius grinned, the plan already formulating in her head. 'No reason. Just curious. Look, I've got to go now. Jamie's got something planned.'

Mason looked lost as Sirius scooted off. 'Chat some other time?' he called after her.