Miss Malfoy

Chapter 7

     Trixie, Sirius, and his gang came to a silent agreement. They did not acknowledge each other in the corridors, in class, or in the common room. Trixie did not out them for being out past curfew, and Sirius Black left her alone.

     Lily was thrilled that Trixie was receiving this special treatment, as it meant that James no longer flirted with her constantly as he had apparently done before. Trixie was content hanging out with Lily, Marlene and Alice, knowing that Lucius and Narcissa didn't really hate her. However, she did have fun in several interactions with her brother and his intended.

     "Filthy bloodtraitor." Lucius hissed at her while the Slytherins and Gryffindors stood outside the Charms classroom.

     "Pre-pubescent Death Eater." Trixie spat back.

     Lily touched her shoulder hesitantly. "Trixie, maybe you shouldn't..."

     "This is why Grandfather doesn't love you." Lucius sneered mockingly.

     Although Lucius did not intend for this statement to actually hurt Trixie, it reminded her of the letter she had received after her Sorting from Brutus. It was not a Howler, as the Malfoys refrained from such public stains on their reputation, but its words screamed just as loud. 

     Trixie didn't take this reminder personally however, as she had not informed Lucius of this particular letter. She pretended to go speechless, and then whipped through the classroom door.

     A few weeks later, Trixie and Narcissa ran into each other outside Herbology, Trixie leaving and Narcissa arriving for class.

     "If it isn't my brother's little pureblood arm-candy." Trixie looked down her nose in distain.

     Narcissa flipped her hair theatrically. "Gryffindor adrenaline-junkie." She sniffed.

     However, after a month of such altercations, Trixie began to grow bored. Try as she might, Sirius Black's surprised face when she caught him coming into the common room filled her mind at all hours of the day. The feet, as well, were a consuming mystery.

     Finally, Trixie could take it no longer. First, she confided in Lily. The ginger girl was apparently already suspicious of the 'Marauders', as they were known by the school, and more than willing to help Trixie catch them in the act of whatever they were doing.

     Lily was Head Girl, so being out after hours wasn't an issue for her. Unfortunately, James Potter was Head Boy, so he could come up with an excuse for he and his friends to be out as well. Trixie didn't care much about getting the boys in trouble (except Sirius Black); she just wanted to know what they were up to.

     Lily and Trixie spent four successive nights hiding behind the couch in the common room, waiting to see if James, Sirius and Peter would leave. Trixie had noted that Remus hadn't been with them when she'd caught them and wondered if he would join his friends for their next nightly escapade.

     After no luck on the first three nights, Trixie was about ready to give up. The space behind the couch was hardly comfortable, she was getting very little sleep, and she was getting tired of making excuses to Alice and Marlene as to where she and Lily were at night.

     Lily, however, was not having it. "One more night, Trixie. It'll be the full moon, maybe that has something to do with it."

     And so there they were, squished awkwardly behind the furniture, waiting to see if the mysterious boys would make an appearance. Trixie has dozed off, when suddenly Lily shook her awake, pressing a hand over the blonde girl's mouth to keep her quiet.

     "They're coming!" she mouthed, eyes flashing with excitement.

     Trixie blearily peeked over the edge of the couch to see James, Sirius and Peter sneaking through the room. James was holding some sort of shimmery cloak, and as Trixie watched, he threw it over he and his friends, and they disappeared.

     Lily let out a strangled squeak.

     Trixie stared in disbelief. Then, she spotted movement, and looked towards the ground where she saw three pairs of sneakers marching towards the portrait hole.

     The feet. Of course.

     She pulled Lily down so she could put her mouth to the other girl's ear. "Invisibility cloak." She breathed.

     Lily's eyes bulged.

     The portrait hole opened, and the feet left. Trixie and Lily rose to their feet and followed.

     It was difficult to track the feet as they weaved through the corridors, and several times they almost got away. To the girl's surprise, the cloaked Marauders went right out the castle doors, and continued down the grounds.

     Trixie felt both excited, and a bit uneasy. It looked as though Sirius Black and his cronies were definitely up to something, especially since leaving the castle after curfew was a much bigger offense than leaving the common room. However, there was also a greater chance now that she and Lily would be caught, as Lily's Head Girl status did not give her the authority to roam the grounds when she pleased.

     For this reason, she hesitated when they reached the doors, hoping that she and Lily would be able to catch the boys while remaining within the safety of the castle. Lily seemed to be following her train of thought.

     "What could they possibly be doing outside?" Lily huffed in exasperation.

     Trixie shrugged, looking carefully over her shoulder for professors, Filch, or worse, Mrs. Norris. The hall behind them was quiet and empty.

     "They're going under the Whomping Willow!!" Lily breathed.

     Trixie whipped back around to see that Sirius, James and Peter had removed the cloak and were climbing under the roots of the tree. The tree itself, strangely enough, was completely still.

     "What should we do?" she asked Lily, both girls' eyes still fixed on the now Marauder-less tree.

     Lily started down the grounds.

     "Wait, Lily!" Trixie raced after her. "What are you doing?"

     Lily looked back at her, eyes sparkling with mischief. "We're going to wait outside the tree for them to come out, and catch them in the act!"

     Trixie rolled her eyes at her friend's enthusiasm but followed her until they were both crouched just outside the reach of the Whomping Willow. They did not have to wait long before scratching sounds came from the tunnel, and then to the girls' surprise, a stag pulled itself out of the roots. 

     It looked just as surprised to see them as they were to see it.