𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 | Marauders

¹⁷, The plot thickens

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

chapter seventeen; the plot thickens
"I am sorry bad boys but you all have been played."

Lucy Reese Collins

"HERE IS YOUR SCHEDULE, LUCY." Says Hudson as he gives me a piece of paper. "Thanks." I smile and look at it. Hmm, this isn't as terrible as it was last year. I still have a lot of classes with Slytherin but luckily I actually like most of the guys. August sits down next to me, as do Jo and Hudson who are finished with all the schedules. "I wonder why Isaac didn't arrive yesterday," Jo says while grabbing some pumpkin juice. "Yeah, well if he arrives late I hope he stopped being a dick," I say running my hand through my hair. "I think something is wrong with hi-" My attention goes somewhere else. Nathaniel, Noah, Theodore, Cassius and Charles walk past. "I don't know who the captain is. I just know I didn't get the letter this year." "Emma didn't get it as well, I think that's because of Lucy-" Noah laughs as he looks at me. My friends stopped talking when they notice my gaze isn't with them anymore. "I am happy about it because now I am the quidditch captain." "Are you thanking me, Garfield?" I bite my lip and grin a bit. He smirks while looking at me. "Yeah, thank you for making sure you smacked Emma of her broom last year. She lost her title."

"I knew she would," I say as I grab a sandwich and take a bite. "I also knew that Nate wouldn't stay captain. Why do you think I saved him? Of course, he's my friend, but I also saw a chance." Now even the attention of my friends fully goes to me. "Keep talking," Charles says and I know he figured it out. "I wanted to keep the cup again, I had to be smart. I am sorry bad boys but you all have been played." They all stare at me, their mouth open. "I made sure one of you-" I point at Noah, Theodore and Charles. "-would get the title this year because I know your theories. In the meanwhile... I am sorry Nate... I told Sirius to smack you off your broom during the match so I could help you and Dumbledore would pass the title to me." They are literally speechless, all of them. "You are evil," Theo mumbles with a grin what makes me smile as well. "I heard that before." "But-" "Nate, you will keep your position, don't worry about it. I need you as my right hand." He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. "Thank god."

"What about Isaac?" Jo asks confused. "I refuse to call him my best friend till he tells me what's going on," I say without looking at her. My eyes go past the boys and they meet the eyes of the black-haired boy. I stand and walk past the others without saying a word or looking back. "Reggie, what are you doing at my table?" This summer Regulus and I spent a lot of time together. Sirius was right, they made him part of the agreement. "I just wanted to ask if you wanted to skip the first class to go to Hogsmeade with me. I need a break." I smile a bit. "Of course I want to. Honestly, Slughorn will forgive me. I am one of the best students in his class." "Good." He laughs as he tucks my hair behind my ear. "Meet me at the Astronomy Tower after breakfast." "I will." He smiles one last time and after he walks away. I can feel Charles staring at me. Yes, I am still wearing his bracelet. Why? Because I like to play his game. I want to walk back but Sirius stops me. "What are you going to do with him?" "I can't believe you have the audacity to talk to me, Black. Leave me alone." Guilt flows over his face and he grabs my hand before I can walk away. "I am so sorry for not keeping you up to date. The summer just went so fast and James and I-" "You two had the time of your life and forgot about me. And while you two were having fun I got tortured by my own father. I spent so much time at your place because your family was better than mine! Can you believe that? Someone that's actually worse than your family? Of course not, because you always think that your situation is the worst of all!" I say as I pull my hand away from him. We talk on a mild tone, but still, he knows as well as I do that I am furious. "It's not that I didn't think about it, I just forgot. I am only human, I can forget things." "You are trying to tell me that you forgot how your ex-fiancé is living with a psychopath who is torturing her every single day!" My voice overshoots and now a few people are looking at me. "Luce, you-" "Don't touch me, Black. Don't you fucking dare-" A few gasp while I grasp my bag from the table and push Charles out of my way while walking towards Sirius again. As I walk past he whispers. "You could go live with Jo." Those six words let me stand. "I am not going to leave him behind, Sirius. I can't." I whisper and after I leave the great hall.

Josephine Lyla Merriweather

WITH HUDSON AT MY SIDE I'M WALKING TOWARDS THE FIRST CLASS OF THE YEAR. Potions. Looking at the schedule that is in my hands I notice that the classes have changed a lot this year. I share Potions class with Slytherin and luckily Lucy, but from what happened in the Great Hall just a few minutes ago I don't think Lucy will be joining us today, that means I will be on my own. "Looks like I'll be having potions with Slytherin on my own." I sigh looking at Hudson. A small chuckle rolls over his lips. "Good luck, I think Nathaniel is in the same class." "Great, even better." We laugh a bit before splitting our ways. "See you in the afternoon!" I wave at him, as he returns it with a sweet smile.

As I enter the classroom it is half-filled with students. I almost immediately spot Nathaniel and Cassius sitting next to each other at one of the desks just like Charles and Noah, which lets me wonder about the fifth boy. Keeping that in mind, I take a seat next to one of the last empty tables, not in the mood for any bullshit. I take out my notebook as Slughorn slowly starts the class. He tells us that this year's list of potions is doubled in comparison with last year. In other words, we're going to be busy this year. Just as he is about to tell us what potion we'll be starting with he gets interrupted. I don't even bother to look up and keep writing in my notebook. "Mr Ellington, nice of you to join us this lovely morning." "Sorry, sir. I overslept." He replies. "It doesn't matter, me myself still has my mind held in summer, take a seat young man. Next to ms Merriweather, please." When hearing my name I look up. Professor Slughorn immediately continues his talk. The chair next to me creaks, which makes me look to the side where my eyes meet his blue eyes. A small grin rests on his face. "Goodmorning, Josephine." I roll my eyes and ignore the boy, obviously not wanting to talk to him. I continue writing down my thoughts.

"We'll be doing this project in groups of two, you and the person next to you will be a group, no changing, I've already written it down. If there are any questions, now is the time to ask." A sigh leaves my mouth right after hearing the professor's words. I'm guessing the universe doesn't like me at the moment. "You're going to have to talk to me if you want a good great." He speaks to me once again. I close my notebook and look up at the dirty-blonde-haired Slytherin. "Fine then, just let me get something clear. Even though you're friends with my best friend, I don't like you very much, in fact, I dislike you quite a bunch." I state. "Blimey, what did I ever do to you?" He scoffs. "Oh, let me refresh your tiny memory. You and your small group of friends blew a whole lump of paint on me last year with a lovely audience watching. You're always annoying or pranking other people without a solid reason. Oh, and don't let me neglect to mention that all three of you are in the top ten fuckboys of this school." He snorts obviously annoyed by my sudden outburst. "I can't help that girls throw themselves at me." "It's not like you do anything to stop them." "Well that's true." I was not expecting for him to agree with me. "Nothing else to say?" He asks me a bit ignorant. "We should start with some extra research on the potion before attempting to make it-" "I already know how, I've made these potions often enough at home." Once again he leaves me confused. "My mom is a master in potions. She worked here before I was born." He explains. What in Merlins name- "Oh," Is the only thing that leaves my lips.

"We can work on the project this weekend." He suggests. "I don't have time, I'm going to Hogsmeade with my- how about wednesday, after potions?" I cut off my own sentance not knowing what to call my relationship with Hudson. I mean we're kind of together but we haven't made it official or anything. We have gone on dates over the summer and he's met my mom but still- I mean were together so yes, I can call him my boyfriend, right? "Sure, I can make that work, I'll meet you in the library after dinner." "Fine." "See you later, Merriweather." I take my books and after we both split our ways in the corridor. On to the next class, DADA. I heard we got a new professor again, as always. I recall his name to be Nott, Alexander Nott. He looked a bit cranky at the feast last night. I hope he isn't as mad as the one we had last year. I really don't know how the Headmaster keeps hiring these wizards and witches, some were crazier than crazy.