Wasting Time

36

I was livid. After making sure James was alright, I stormed all the way from the lake to McGonagall's office. I burst through her door without so much as a knock and found her sitting at her desk. James followed closely behind me. McGonagall looked up at us in surprise.

"Sorry to barge in Professor—" James started, but I cut him off with a glare.

"Miss McKinnon, would you like to tell me what on earth is going on? Why are you both bloody?" McGonagall asked pointedly.

"Yes, actually, that's why I'm here," I replied shortly. She gave me a look and I relaxed only slightly. "Sorry professor. Yes, I came to tell you about what just happened to James and I down by the lake."

She gestured for us to sit, and we sat.

"Have à biscuit, the both of you. Marlene, take a breath, and then tell me what happened."

We did as instructed. Once I had calmed down slightly, I began to speak.

"We were studying by the lake, and Snape, Mulciber, and Avery approached us," I began. McGonagall let out a sigh, already knowing where the story was going. "And they began to say the awful things we expect of them, you know, my parents deserved to die because they were blood traitors, and the like."

"Marlene..." McGonagall said gently but I held up a finger.

"Let me finish. Please," I replied softly. She nodded. "It was all fine, nothing out of the ordinary."

"Until," James interjected, "Marlene reminded Snape that Lily is my girlfriend, not his."

I nodded as he spoke. "Exactly, they started hexing us and trying to curse us. Snape did whatever they did to Mary last year, James was bleeding everywhere, but it just skimmed him so he's much better off then he could be. But Professor, Mulciber tried to use an unforgivable curse. Avery stopped him, said they'd get expelled. But he tried."

McGonagall took a deep breath. "Are you two alright?"

I unconsciously wiped the blood from under my nose and nodded. "We're better duellers than they are. Just got the rebound of a nasty hex, not sure what though."

"And you, James?"

He nodded as well. "Just a bit sore. Marly managed to stop the bleeding."

McGonagall nodded briskly, but relief flooded her features.

"I am going to inform Professor Dumbledore of what has happened. If I asked the two of you to go to the hospital wing, would you?" She asked. James and I looked at each other before shaking our heads.

"We're already late," I explained. "The others will be losing their minds if we're not back soon."

"Fine. But once you see your friends, I would like you both to go see Madame Pomfrey. Merlin only knows what kind of magic those boys are using."

"Will do, Professor," James replied.

She stood up and walked towards the door.

"Oh, and could you promise me something?" She asked, pausing at the door.

"Of course, Professor," I said.

"Be careful. I don't want any of you dying before me."

We both nodded and she walked out of the door, barely concealing the emotion in her eyes.

***

When we entered the common room, Remus was sitting beside Mary on the couch, surrounded by the others, and Emmeline was nowhere to be found. Sirius was also absent, but he was usually the last ready for all our plans. We had only been planning a group study for an upcoming potions test, but it would have to be put on hold.