2 Dec ‘77: Won’t Back Down From This:Charmus/Open to Gryffs

[Marlene McKinnon]

“Em was convinced James had some very romantic idea planned for over the holidays, but I told her she hadn’t seen the way Lily looked when she talked about James recently,” Marlene answered, before turning her teasing to the couple sitting across from them. Charlotte turned red, Remus rolled his eyes, and she laughed at Mary’s whisper of her name. Charlotte would get far worse teasing from the boys, she was sure of it - which was perhaps why she hadn’t seen the two of them together before today. But there was no way the rest of the Marauders didn’t know about this, and she absolutely would be giving Sirius an earful for not telling her about this. Remus was thankfully now willing to give them details of today’s prank, but the conversation was derailed when he brought up the Medusa’s hair transformation. That had been wonderful, she’d laughed for at least five minutes when she had seen them. “I’m pretty sure there are still scales on the floor of our room, actually.”

Thin ice? Well now she was wishing she had gone down, just to see what was happening to those girls. They’d made the lives of her friends a living hell, and they’d said plenty to her about the fact she dated girls. Even though Nott was clearly curious about it all. Mick was sure that those girls had done something recently that made them more than deserving of a quick plunge in a cold lake. Although, she did hope that more than just the Medusa’s were caught in the prank, grinning at the mental image of Vanderhyde and Snape also drenched. Or Evan, that annoying git cousin of hers. “Don’t worry Lil’ Fudge, I’m sure the frigid bitches deserve it. Especially Mulciber, I feel like she’s been particularly nasty this year.” Meredith’s disappointment in not being Head Girl was evident, but could she really have thought Dumbledore would let her and her friends have control over the school? They were Death Eaters in the making, the whole group of them.

They were joined by Dorcas, and Mick shot her a smile as she made herself comfortable in front of the fire. The plan had been for the two of them to go ice skating together, and Marlene did feel a little guilty about backing out at the last minute. She was really trying to be over Bridget, and not care about the whole her dating Morgan situation - but it was easier to do that when she didn’t have to actually see them. It had been nice, putting her energy into her friendships with her dorm mates, and towards school. She was rarely alone, and she truly had wonderful friends helping her through this. Mick chuckled at Dorcas words, stretching out her feet to gently nudge Dorcas in the leg, “Exactly, I can’t show everyone up with my wicked ice skating skills. The lake will stay frozen, we’ll go together, yeah?”

Laughter bubbled out of her as Dorcas mentioned some karmic intervention, the mental image of the ice cracking under the Slytherin’s certainly an amusing one. Remus looked smug, which meant the boys definitely had something to do with it, and she wanted to know how they had pulled it off. If Mick had to guess, none of the boys were at the lake when the prank went down - less chance it would get traced back to them. Then again, she wondered if McGonagall would catch wind of it and come down on them. Everyone knew she had a soft spot for the Marauders, so a harsh punishment was unlikely. “So what did you all do, melt the ice last night?”

[Remus Lupin]

Remus knew from experience that most of his friends were a lot to handle. Which, he did love about them, was that they all were so fully themselves all the time. But he didn’t miss the way that Charlotte turned red at the words, Turning the conversation to pranks, as they had requested, would hopefully satisfy Mary and Mick enough that they’d ease up a little. Turning the Medusa’s hair to snakes was easily one of their top pranks, given how well it had gone off. Admitting to it though, also brought Charlotte from her thoughts and he smiled down at her as she glanced up at him, giving a nod. It had been some of their best prank work yet, but they couldn’t pull off any sub-par pranks this year. It was the final year, and they were meant to be remembered by the time they left. Looking back to Mary, he shot her a grin, “Your sacrifice was much appreciated.”

He felt a twinge of guilt, worried for a moment that perhaps the mean-spirited trick on the Slytherin’s was in bad taste. A little cold water never truly hurt anyone, and it wasn’t nearly as bad as being on the end of a stinging jinx from one of the Medusas. Mary was backing him up, and he laughed at her words. Mary had always been a favorite target of the girls, so he knew she understood quite well that this was far less than they probably deserved. Mick was quick to agree, and Remus nodded at her, “Mulciber has been almost as much of a b*tch this year as she was the year her whole engagement got called off.” When wasn’t she though? The Slytherin prefects were always a headache to deal with, it felt like, but even more so when they were seething at Lily and James.

Giving a wave as Dorcas showed up, hoping another addition to their chat wouldn’t be too much for Charlotte. Remus had spent his fair share of nights in the girl's dorm (which involved borrowing a broom to fly to the window - and he hated flying) and felt that, out of all the boys in his dorm, he knew the most about them. He was closer though, to Lily and Dorcas. He found Dorcas easy to talk to, and they always had good conversations. This year’s topics of conversation had included crushes, and he shared a smile with Dorcas. He’d fill her in later, and he did hope she had an update for him. Mick had seemed better lately, and maybe they could come up with a plan to find out if she was having feelings for Dorcas. “We’ve been back for a while, personally am really enjoying the fire,” he commented, rolling his eyes as Mick tried to pry further, “I can neither confirm or deny any details about karmic intervention.”

[Charlotte Fudge]

Mary's admonishment of Marlene's pointed comment did nothing to assuage the wriggling in her innards. Charlotte did her best to push the feeling aside while tracing the embossed images on the book in her hands. She and Remus weren't...hiding, they simply weren't parading their newfound closeness. She wasn't yet ready to invite the attention or commentary that seemed to be inescapable for any new relationship in these halls, including the opinion of her brother. And as she didn't think she'd given anyone anything to say about her, outside of those most ardent of academics, Charlotte did wonder what people would think of Remus Lupin wanting to be with...her. He was so well liked and respected, had made such a good name for himself here, and Char was certain she wasn't the only one in the castle with eyes for him. It wasn't often that she missed her sister's presence at Hogwarts, the eldest Fudge had been more of a sister to the Medusas than to Ruff and herself, but Violet would know what to do. She always knew who to talk to, who to convince of this or that, how to orchestrate the right story and make the wrong ones disappear. Charlotte's wistfulness was cut short, though, as the thought of confiding in her sister - "You finally want to date, and you take the first halfblood who's interested?" - only made her feel worse.

Focus, Charlotte. While she didn't know Mary and Marlene well - what would they have to gain by breaking their word and telling her brother? A friend of Remus's could be a friend of hers, right? You're overthinking all of this. The others were laughing and swapping gibes at the story of the Medusas, and she had to laugh along with them, albeit a bit belatedly. She couldn't imagine Mary volunteering to be experimented on for the sake of a prank, especially when the experiment involved her hair - the girl never seemed to have a hair out of place, in perfect waves tonight even when she was ill - but then again, the payoff had had to be sweet for her too. She shot Marlene a smile at the endearment - choosing for it to be an endearment, little Fudge - and had to be chuffed when their words clicked. The trust Mary had in Remus's spellwork, that he'd have everything under control, Marlene's assurance that it was justified, they deserved what was coming to them...it was sweet, it really was, that they were talking him up to her. It was a new sort of assurance, acceptance, and she settled more comfortably into the arm around her.

Not having found herself on the wrong side of the Slytherin girls - Violet to thank for that much, certainly. - Charlotte kept quiet at the heated words. There was history here that she hadn't been party to, and she was debating asking about it when Dorcas made herself known. Of the gathered girls, she'd observed Dorcas the most, as they held similar haunts and hours. Reading and working in the library, study rooms, common room, to whatever hour was needed - or wanted, really, as a subject of interest often went beyond the parameters of assignment. The older girl didn't appear to be in the best of moods as she made herself comfortable, although she seemed to perk up significantly at Marlene's offer. Her sudden question to Remus and herself, and the implication that something had happened - she looked to Remus and let herself beam at the we, nodding along.

"I imagine it will be terribly difficult to place the blame anywhere, although they will surely try," Charlotte piped up, amused and innocent as she began considering the options. "If a section of ice was tampered with, how would no one fall through until they passed over? That's some awfully clever magic, hmm? And even with wands inspected, well, melting charms aren't unusual for this time of year...I have to think they have their own ice skates, so suppose those were somehow accessed and tampered with. They could hardly allow inspection, lest it lead to an investigation of other personal effects. Or perhaps they went missing, and special skates were set aside, and the right monitor was there at the right time...I've heard the squid holds vendettas as strongly as the merpeople do, so perhaps it was no fault of a student or students at all. Or, like has been said, they brought it upon themselves. No harm in letting some mysteries remain mysteries." She did hope to learn the truth of it, but with Remus skirting the question in present company - she could help him evade and had, hadn't she?

[Mary Macdonald]

"Now that you mention it...we should check in on him about that." She didn't want to underestimate James, he really had been working on himself - but this was the same bloke who'd thought that asking Lily out on that awful day in fifth was a good idea. He'd had a bit of practice with romance since then, but as fond as he generally was of going big, Mary couldn't remember any grand gestures while he and Ana had been together. Him wanting to stage something monumental for Lily over the holidays didn't feel far-fetched - Merlin, he wouldn't show up at Petunia's wedding, would he? - but it couldn't hurt for a broader audience to save him from himself proof the idea.

"Oi, I'm doing my best," Mary laughed to her roommate, not doubting that there were still a few scales stuck here and there in their room - and not missing the sweet little exchange of smiles between the couple. She gave Remus a generous nod, turning to cough into her elbow as talk turned to Meredith Mulciber. "Like she needs an excuse," she muttered. Most of the time, people didn't change. Someone like Meredith was out for blood at all hours, and would never be satisfied. Say she had snagged the Head Girl spot and had a taste of power - she would have been just as miserable, if not more, at being paired with James. Or anyone else who would challenge her. But if she had, that would mean that Mary wouldn't have been given a pin...Worth it, to avoid that nightmare.

As another joined their little gathering, Mary followed the girl with her eyes and as broad a smile as she could muster. Dorcas had saved her from a day of getting worse, she'd have to do something to perk her up - Right, this time it'll work? Been in such a state. - soon. "Thank you, Dorcas," she sang. "Rounding the corner, sure I'll be good to go tomorrow." From her spot on the armchair, bundled up to her chin in sweater and blanket, Mary couldn't see Mick's face - but Dorcas's, facing them, when Mick made an offer? She beamed like she couldn't remember what she'd been salty about just moments before. The redhead tucked the little moment away, wondering if she'd missed more of what was going on in their House than Remus and Charlotte's evident burgeoning relationship. Mary got to smile again herself though as Dorcas let on to the success of whatever it was the boys had pulled that Remus was adamant they couldn't know the details of. She let out a contented sigh and drifted back into the cushions, as pleased as if she'd been involved herself, but turned a curious eye to the blonde as...

Charlotte started and...went on. Mary's bemused smile grew until the other came to a stop, feeling like perhaps this was the girl that Remus was getting to know. "Just knowing they had a worse day than any of us is all I need," she chuckled. "But the next time I miss an assignment, I'm coming to you for an alibi, alright?"

[Dorcas Meadowes]

It wasn't as if it'd been a terrible day, and she tried to get over herself a bit as she settled in on the hearth's rug. Dorcas liked to help and to be part of things, and while being slighted for the prefect position twice made participating with the group today just a tad awkward, her greatest complaints were the cold and Mick's absence. Slightly mollified, she shook her head with a quiet chuckle at Mary's singsong thanks. After this lifetime together, they had all learned which battles to pick with each other...for the most part. And while Dorcas didn't understand how Mary thought that suffering through a cold was more attractive - literally and as a prospect - than the after-effects of Pepperup, she knew the argument wasn't worth it, and she'd be better off simply sneaking some into her tea and dealing with the aftermath. 

She was always gratified when she made Mick laugh, and retaliated the nudge with a playful pluck to the girl's sock - and was given an offer she couldn't not accept. Just Mick and her out at the lake? That's what she was implying, wasn't it? As much fun as it would've been to be out there with everybody together, this could be even better. They'd spent so much time as a group with their roommates this term, and while that was lovely in its own way, having a little time to themselves could help Dorcas gauge how the other girl really was doing, and could give her the push she needed. "Yeah?" she beamed, only worrying for a moment that she sounded too excited about the idea. "Yeah - yes, let's do that. Next time there's some sun, we're out there." 

As thrilled and in her head as she was, Dorcas couldn't help but laugh at Remus's words. He could play the innocent better than most of that lot, and perhaps in part because of that, truly was the most wily of them all. Before she could add her own theories onto Mick's, or share the unladylike screeches that had left their bodies at their utter misfortune, Charlotte rather came to life. From what Remus had shared about their time together so far, this wasn't so out of the ordinary - but not having shared a course with her, or overheard her engage in something like this in their common space before, Dorcas believed her friend's claims wholeheartedly now. Truth be told, she didn't have a well-developed theory of her own yet. Remus had already been gone, she hadn't seen much of Peter and Daisy, James was fully preoccupied...Sirius perhaps had been the one keeping an eye on things, hiding in plain sight, setting things into motion at the right time. However they'd done it, Remus certainly wasn't letting on, and she was amused by trying to poke holes in the girl's theories. Not wanting her to clam up again, though, she held a hand to her heart, grinning. "Whatever happened - the screams. They're all actually banshees, on my life."

[Sirius Black]

Screams and commotion faded into the distance as Sirius descended down the castle steps toward the dungeon, dipping in to the kitchens to seek out some soup for poor Mary who was still feeling under the weather and an alibi for himself. With the Medusas enjoying their swim and each of his best mates off with their respective paramours, Sirius had determined that playing healer and getting high in the common room was the most effective use of his time.

Nose still red even after climbing the stairs all the way to Gryffindor tower, and chill lingering despite wearing his leather jacket on top of his Christmas jumper, Sirius expected to find a lifeless common room in which to warm up by the fire, but instead he was greeted with a small gang of girls (plus Moony) all listening intently as a the youngest of the group rambling on and on about potential precursors and reasonings to the event he had pulled off – with help from his mates – outside at the Black Lake. He raised his brows in a look of pride as he nodded his head approvingly at Charlotte as he approached. “That’s some pretty good conspiracy theorizing. Personally, I like to think it was their collective bitchiness that caused the ice to run away from them all at once. Survival instincts and whatnot.”

With a soft, "here, dollface," Sirius handed Mary the mug of soup that had been enchanted to keep the perfect temperature on his journey from kitchens to the tower, figuring she’d been too stubborn all day to go to the hospital wing for anything more potent. He flipped her hair casually as he moved around from behind Mary, for the first time noticing it was Mick sat in front of her. He nodded in greeting as he waved through the maze of legs from the two witches on the floor  and took a seat next to Charlotte in the remaining open chair opposite Mary. He was close enough to the fire to feel it's warmth as Sirius leaned back into the chair and evaluated the group.

Whether he was surprised to find Remus with Charlotte in such an intimate position would mark the second mystery of the day, as his expression was unreadable. He figured, though, that the girls would have been asking loads of questions and inadvertently making the couple uncomfortable because that’s just what hens did. They clucked. And these ones clucked a lot. The handsome Gryffindor felt no need to fan that particular flame – Moony kept him and the lads abreast of all the details, just as Wormtail and Prongs did with Daisy and Evans, respectively. Not one to snog and tell, Sirius was gentlemanly enough to keep his own dalliances to himself - unless it made for a good story, which on occasion it did.