Broken Feathers || Marauders Era

{5} Know-It-All

As the first Slug Club meeting drew closer and closer, I got more and more on edge. I had just left another Potions lesson with Elyza, and we were currently waiting in the courtyard for Lily and Severus, who had had Defense Against the Dark Arts together. 

"So, what's your sister like?" Elyza asked as we leaned back on the stone wall lining the paved area. 

"Victoria? She's bright, outgoing, smart... everything I'm not, I guess."

"Hey, you're smart." Elyza protested, "Smarter than basically everyone else in our Potions and DADA classes at the very least." 

I shrugged. 

"It's in my blood."

"That doesn't make you not smart. It just makes your entire family smart. Was your mother a Ravenclaw too?"

"No, she was a Gryffindor."

"That makes sense. Gryffindors are far superior to Ravenclaws." 

We whirled around to find a cocky kid, who also looked to be a first year, grinning at us like he had just told the greatest joke in the world. Beside him, two of his friends were crowing with laughter, while the fourth hung back. They were all Gryffindors, judging by their ties. 

"I don't mean to be rude," Elyza said sharply, "But who are you?" 

"James Potter." The first kid announced proudly.

"Is that supposed to mean something?" I muttered just loud enough for them to hear. 

James' face fell slack, but the kid beside him laughed heartily. 

"Oh, she's fiery. I like her." He grinned, "I'm Sirius Black, by the way."

"That's a name I recognise." I said, eyeing his tie with a frown.

He glanced down at it as well, and then back up at me.

"Yep, really disappointed my family. Best day of my life." 

"Really?" I asked disbelievingly. 

I didn't want to imagine what would have happened had I not been in Ravenclaw. 

"Of course. Bunch o' old hags." He said, scowling at the mere mention of them. 

"You're the Sallow girl, right?" James asked, redirecting the conversation. 

"One of them." I said, shifting uncomfortably. 

"Freya, is it?" He continued. 

I nodded. 

"You're the one who keeps getting special attention." He said.

"No, she's not." Elyza fired back, coming to my defense. 

I flashed her a grateful smile. 

"Well, you keep betting everyone else out." James pointed out. 

"You've seen me do actual spells. That's kind of hard to fake." I countered. 

"Maybe your dad's helping you." He suggested. 

"He's an Arithmancy professor." I said bluntly, "Besides, even if he was, that's not special attention. Most people have parents, it's not an advantage unique to my family." 

"Yeah, but-" He started, before the fourth kid interrupted him. 

"I think that's enough, James." He said quietly. 

James looked at Sirius, who nodded in agreement. 

"Fine." 

"You just don't like being second best." I told him, riding a wave of confidence that I didn't know I had in me. 

This time, James laughed along with Sirius. 

"I think we might end up being good friends, Sallow." He said, "Even if you are a snarky know-it-all."

"Doubtful." 

"We'll see about that." He fired back, "Oh, this is Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, by the way."

"Hi." Peter exclaimed happily.

Remus, who was the one who had stood up for me, said hello much more quietly. 

"Come on." Elyza said, nudging my shoulder, "They're here."

I glanced between me to find Lily and Severus making their way towards us. I nodded, and set off Elyza. I didn't say goodbye to the Gryffindors, and I was fairly sure they were aware that it was intentional.

"Thanks for defending me, Lizzie." I said quietly. 

"No problem." She assured me, flashing me a smile. 

I smiled back, keeping in step with her as we drew closer to our friends. 

"Why were you talking to them?" Severus spat the moment we were within earshot. 

He was eyeing the four boys with unkempt rage. Lily smiled at him sympathetically and lay a reassuring hand on his arm. 

"They came up to us." Elyza replied, "Trust me, it was not a pleasant conversation."

Severus still didn't look happy, but he settled down. Lily sat down on one of the benches that was in front of the fountain, the rest of us following suit. Severus sat down on her left, with Elyza and then me on her right. 

Lily and Lizzie started chatting immediately, with Severus and I adding our input whenever it was necessary. 

Our break passed quite quickly, and soon we were all standing up to make our way to our next classes. 

We joined the crowd of students trying to get into the castle, hanging towards the back so we didn't get trampled by the older students. We ended up closer to the middle, however, as more students flooded in behind us, pushing us closer to the front. 

As we neared the doors, the world seemed to shift. Colours became sharper and I could see everything in finer detail, but then everything seemed to change colour, flickering between what was normal and what definitely wasn't. 

I gasped, squeezing my eyes shut. I could dimly hear Lizzie saying my name, but everything else was louder. It was overwhelming. 

I don't know how long I stayed like that, but when I finally risked blinking open my eyes, a fair chunk of the students had already entered the castle. My friends had hung back, and Lizzie was currently gripping my arms and keeping me steady. 

"Freak." I heard someone mutter as they past, and I visibly recoiled. 

My heart was still pounding and my mind was running in circles. What had happened? What was wrong with me? 

"Are you okay Freya?" Elyza asked, concern clear in her voice. 

I just nodded in reply. 

"What happened?" Severus asked.

His voice was rougher than Lizzie's, but he still seemed at least a bit concerned about my welfare. 

"I don't - I don't know." I admitted, my voice shaky. 

"Maybe you should go to the Infirmary." Lily suggested. 

"No." I replied immediately, "No, I'm fine."

"I don't think you are, Frey'." She frowned. 

"I am." I said confidently, even though I definitely didn't believe it. 

I strode past her, heading for my next class. I couldn't go to the Infirmary. 

Then my father would find out. My sister would too. 

I couldn't tell them about this; what would they think of me?

I couldn't tell anybody.