Persuasive: A Marauders Story

Lucy Clock

I lay on the couch in silence. My head is throbbing like hell. Miss Pompfrey wanted to keep me in but a quidditch practise in the rain and wind wasn't a good idea so she had a few people on her hands. She gave me medicine and strict instructions. I lean my head on a pillow. Sirius is in an armchair looking at me. I look at his messy black hair and his grey eyes. I havn't met his brother yet but I have seen him in the hall. They look similar but the emotion is different. I like Sirius. He is nice. But wouldn't go for a girl like me. I am too quiet. Too.. shy. 

James and Lily walk through the portrait. James looks pretty happy about something. He sits down in a chair and fiddles with the snitch in his fingers. 

"Better get to class." Sirius stands up. I wanted to say don't leave but he doesn't realise I like him. James and Sirius walk out of the room and I make room for Lily to sit down.

"I said yes to going to Hogsmeade with Potter." She bursts out. I laugh. She says she hates him.

"Just as friends though." She adds. I roll my eyes. Even I know James has been trying to ask her out for years and its my second day. 

"Riight" I say. She hits me slightly on the arm. "You can go to class if you want. I'll be ok." I smile at her. "Besides, you are a prefect." I say. She smiles.

"You sure?" I nod. "Thanks. " She hugs me softly making sure she doesn't hurt me and scurries off to class. 

I read most of the time while I wait for their classes to finish. My mind keeps drifting off to Sirius. He was really good at dueling. I haven't found out who threw that rock but forgive and forget. I hope Lily picks up my homework. I am utterly bored. I have finished reading all the spell, potions and any other books we got given. I might go down to the library. Pomfrey said I could walk about for a wee bit. I haven't anything to read so I might aswell. I look at my uniform and go up to the dorm. A fresh  new one is on my bed and I change into it. I try as best as I can to wash some of the blood from my hair and hands. I walk out of the portrait and go down to the library. I scan the bookshelves. Ther eis so many books and hardly anytime to read them. I chose 7 books. 3 on potions to improve, one on transfiguration, one on defense againest the darks arts, 2 on dragons as I am fasinated by them. I take them to the librarian and she stamps the, and sends me off. I made my way back to the common room but hear my stomach grumble. I peek in the great hall but there is no food. I go back to the dorm and sit back on the couch. Stomach grumbling. I'll have to wait 'til dinner.

I read about potions. There is one that takes a month to brew and would like to try it out. The polyjuice potion. I read some more until a few people come though the portrait. I look up and see Sirius and James. There is no Remus or.. Peter, is it? They sit down. They stare at my pile of books. "Wow. You like to read." James says.. I laugh slightly and nod. 

"So.. How'd you do it?" Sirius asks leaning forward. I don't know what he is talking about. James sees I am  confused. 

"The Patronus Charm" He say. Oh! Right.

"That.." I mumble. I read anything about wizardry I could get my hands on. I read about the char, and what it does so I wanted to give it ago. Any chance I got, I practised. I had to think of a strong memory. One thats happy. My memory is when my parents found out I was a wizard. They were crying. Happy tears. Thats the memory I chose.

"Can you teach us?" They ask. I am not a good teacher. I can hardly speak to Lily rather than teach them. I shrug my shoulders.

Lily runs through the portrait holding some more books. "I got you these." She says putting them down next to my pile. "Dinner." She says. SHe helps me up and we go down to the hall.

I see a few glances towards me. I try to ignore them but I feel blood rushing to my cheeks. 

"Hogsmeade tomorrow. James told me Lily." Sirius says. I look at my plate. I am starved. I pile it in my mouth until I can't eat anything else but my plate is still half full. 

"Hogsmeade?" I say. I know its a town but what do we do there. 

"Oh yeah! We go there and shop every wee while. Just a break. They usually do it on the third day so we can get anything else." Lily says. Oh. Ok. 

"So you and James are going." I say. Do you have to have a date. I look at Sirius briefly and sip at some water. 

"Just as friends." Lily growls at Sirius. He holds his hands up. 

"So are you going Lucy?" James asks. I nod. "What about you Sirius?" He nods. 

"I am going to Zonkos. Need some.. supplies." He says smirking.

James has a look in his eye. He glances at me. "Why don't" He begins. "You and Lucy go together and we all meet up in the three broomsticks?" He says. Oh no! He knows. He knows I like Sirius. Sirius looks shocked by the comment. 

"Uh. Sure? If Lucys up for it." He says confused. My eyes widen. God. I shrug my shoulders to seem calm. " Ok." I say. "See you tomorrow then." 

I walk out of the great hall and up to the dorm, closly followed by Lily. "Oh. Wow. I can't believe Potter actually did that. I can't belive her new! She says. I am still in shock. 

"What should I wear?" I burst out. She laughs. "I'm Serious!"

"Come On. I'll help you." She looks through my cupboard. "Not too dressy but not too casual." She closes my cupboard. "I think I have something but before I tell you. Lets tak eyou down to Madam Pomfrey to see if you can get your bandage off.  

We walk down and she unwraps my bandage and the medicine has worked. Its all closed up. I look at the blood on my hair and sigh. She gives me a hat I can wear to cover it and we head back up to the dorms. I pass Sirius on the way and blush a bright pink. I get the the dorm and take off the hat. Ugh. I take my pjs into the bathroom and tkae a shower. It takes a while but I finally get the red out, leaving my hair back to its usual brown. I step out, dry and put on my pjs. Lily is sitting on her bed waiting. "So, what am I gonna wear?" Making sure the door is closed so Sirius has no chance of hearing us.

"Well, it needs to be something nice, cute but not like your trying too hard. Something not too casual either.." She says. She goes to my cupboard and takes out a dress. Its a casual, summery dress. Its a blue with daisys printed around the bottom. It flows to my knees. I smile. Perfect. 

"What about shoes?" She asks. I take my shoes out. My school shoes. Three pairs of baseball boots, quidditch trainers and one pair of boots. She take the boots which are plain black that come up above the shin. 

"You can sort out the rest tomorrow." She says getting into bed. I reach for a book but remember I left them downstairs. I run out the room and down to the common room. Four people are still there. They haven't realised she is there yet. 

"Is it finished?" I hear Peter ask. 

"Yeah. Its perfect." Sirius replies. 

I tiptoe back up a few stairs and run down them. They turn around to see me. I go to the couch where James and Peter are sitting and begin balancing books in my hands. All together I have eleven. That should do me for this week. I see Remus holding a book and I read the name. "Werewolves and other creatures." I whisper. He nods slowly.. 

I head up the stairs and hear someone ask. "Do you think she heard?"