Rich spread out his hands on the bar. “Bit of this, bit of that,” he replied. Then he looked at James. “But right now I think I need to serve you and your boyfriend some drinks.”
“Who?” Lily asked vaguely. She stared at James, who looked as if he were in shock. “Oh, er, no, Potter’s not my boyfriend. Er ... Sorry ... This is James Potter, a boy from school.” She gestured airily to him. “James, this is Richard Soule. I ... er ... we ... I mean, Mary, Martha and I sort of bumped into him on holiday.”
“Great,” she thought she heard James mutter. He kept his eyes fixed on Rich and then held out his hand. “Like she said, I’m James Potter.”
Rich took his hand and shook. “Ow, that’s a strong grip you have there. Are you a Quodpot player?”
“Sorry?” James asked, bemused. “Quodpot?”
Rich laughed, his smile wide across his face. “My mistake. I mean Quidditch, I think. In America, we play a game called Quodpot. The players all have very strong grips.”
“Oh,” James replied. He looked down at his hand, and Lily thought he looked slightly ashamed. “I am a Quidditch player “ Chaser and captain, actually.”
“Sounds interesting,” Rich said, but there was a slight hint of amusement in his voice.
“Rich, I pay you to work, not chat up the clientele,” shouted Rosmerta from across the bar.
“Yes, ma’am,” he muttered under his breath before winking at Lily. “Can you make it a nice long order, and then we can chat for a bit longer?”
“It’s three Butterbeers and a cordial,” James butted in.
Lily glanced across at James and pulled a face as Rich began to fetch the drinks. “Why don’t you take your drinks over, James, and I’ll pay?”
James grunted something unintelligible but left to join Sonia and Peter. Lily turned back to Rich, who was taking an inordinately long time to wipe down the bar counter just in front of her. He grinned at her again. “How’s the ankle?”
“Ankle?” she replied breathily, her mind a blank. “Oh, my ankle.” Sitting on a bar stool, she flexed it in front of her almost kicking the elderly wizard waiting to be served. “It’s fine, thank you. I haven’t had any problems with it, not since we saw the Healer. In fact, it was completely cured the next day ... but ... you weren’t there.”
Rich touched her hand gently with one fingertip. “Yeah, sorry about that. I had to leave in a bit of a hurry.” Lily looked at him curiously, and he laughed. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t evading the cheque, and I’m not on the run. I just had a lead on something and ...”
“A lead?” she asked excitedly. “Are you a journalist or an Auror or something?”
“Or something,” he agreed, but didn’t say any more. He turned to the wizard next to her and began to serve him. Lily started to fiddle with her hair as she waited for him to finish, and then it struck her that he might not want to talk to a schoolgirl, so she hopped off her barstool. Rich turned immediately.
“Hey, don’t leave yet,” he said. “I can still talk while serving, Lily-lily.” He paused and peered at the table in the corner. “Unless you need to get back to your friends.”
Lily followed his gaze. Sonia was edging further towards James, who didn’t appear to have noticed. He was listening to Peter, who was chatting away but not eliciting any response from either of his companions. Sonia looked up, smiled slyly at Lily, and then began talking to James as well.
“No, I don’t need to get back just yet,” she replied as she turned her face away from her friends.
“I don’t see those other two girls you went on holiday with. Uh ... Mary and ... Maggie, was it?”
“Martha,” Lily corrected. She giggled. “They’re both with their boyfriends somewhere.”
“Hmm, so how come you haven’t got a boyfriend, Lily?”
Lily blushed and bent her head down so she could hide her face under her hair. “Umm, not sure really. No one I particularly like. Er, at school, I mean.” She swallowed, Merlin, that makes me sound as if I’m interested in him and ... Her thoughts trailed off as she desperately tried to stop her face turning even redder.
“Bet you’re beating them off with a stick,” he replied, smirking at her. “That boy who came to the bar with you...”
“Oh, Potter’s just a ... well, I suppose he’s a friend. Usually we just annoy each other a lot.”
“Hmm,” Rich murmured. “He seems to be glowering at me.”
Lily glanced around to see James swiftly turning his head. He leant towards Sonia and began to murmur something. Sonia, appearing delighted at this turn of events, sidled even closer to him. Peter got up and walked towards the bar, coins jingling in his hand. Lily turned back to Rich but he’d moved further up the bar to serve a gaggle of giggling schoolgirls.
“’Lo, Lily,” Peter said. “You want another?”
“I’m okay, thanks, Peter,” she replied and smiled at him. “Did you get that letter sent to your mum?”
“Mmm, thanks.” Peter grinned at her. “Snitch looked a bit put out. I think he’s got a lady-owl friend. He was flapping his wings and swooping a lot when I went in. Obviously trying to impress her.”
“Oh dear,” she said. Lily rolled her eyes dramatically. “I think he needs some advice from an older owl. Whoever the lady-owl is, I doubt she’ll be impressed by flashy flying.” Peter grunted something, and Lily peered at him. “What did you say?”
“I said, ‘Tell that to Sonia’,” he said and sighed. He raised his hand to get attention. Lily, expecting Rich to return, turned back to the bar; instead, Rosmerta walked across.
“Sorry, Lily,” she said, winking at Peter. “I need my barman to serve other people as well. Although, you seem to have made an impression on him.”
Lily felt a small glow inside her. “I met him last month,” she explained, trying to keep the smile off her face.
Rosmerta smiled back knowingly before serving Peter. He carried the drinks back to the table. Lily, after a quick glance at Rich who now seemed to be very busy, walked with him.
“Lily!” exclaimed Sonia as she sat back down. “Is that the glamorous Rich you were telling us about?” Lily nodded and Sonia half-stood to get a better look. “Wow, you weren’t exaggerating about his looks. Mind you, blondes aren’t really my style. Remind me too much of Julius.” She shuddered melodramatically and with a sidelong glance across at James added, “I much prefer dark hair.”
James spluttered on his drink and looked as if he were about to say something when the door burst open and Sirius ran inside with Martha, who was clutching her sides with laughter.
“Oh! Oh! OH!” she laughed. “That was the best time ever. I can’t believe that was a witch at the bar and not a hag...” She collapsed in more fits of giggles and Sirius joined in. He spied them in the corner, raised his eyebrows at the particular foursome sitting there and then strolled over, dragging Martha with him.
“What’s this, a double date?” he asked.
“No,” replied James hurriedly. “We’re talking about Phyllida.” He shot a look at Lily. “Or rather we were until someone got distracted by the bar staff.”
Martha looked around curiously and then squealed. “Oh, my, he looks just like ...” She gaped at Lily. “Isn’t that ...?”
Lily nodded and completely failed to stop a huge grin from encompassing her face. “Rosmerta’s given him a job behind the bar.”
“Who exactly are we talking about?” Sirius asked, bemused.
James stood up. “American friend of Lily’s. Looks as if he’s stepped out of a beauty parlour,” he added nastily and, draining his Butterbeer, he picked up his cloak. “I’m off. I’ll leave you to sort out the stuff for Phyll. If you can remember, that is.”
“I’ll keep you company, if you want,” Sonia said eagerly. She stood up much too quickly and knocked over her cordial. It spread across the table and dripped onto James’ feet. “Oops, sorry!”
James glared at her and then, without another word, he stormed out.
“I guess that’s a no, Sonia,” Sirius said, snorting. He pulled up a chair, propelled Martha into it, and then walked up to the bar. After exchanging some words with Rosmerta, leaving the landlady with a smile on her face, he returned to the table. “Didn’t see boy-wonder, Lily. Perhaps he’s done a runner.”
“Or perhaps he’s busy and is being responsible!” she retorted haughtily. “Not something you’d understand, Black.”
Sirius pulled a face, and Martha started laughing. “I’m pleased someone finds me funny,” he said mournfully. Then he bent forwards and removed the Butterbeer froth that was on her nose with his thumb before kissing her.
“Ughh!” exclaimed Sonia. “Do you have to?”
Drawing back slightly, Sirius stared at Sonia. “Yes,” he said. “I do have to.” He leant back towards Martha but she pushed him away, clearly more embarrassed than he was. Sirius slumped in his chair and cast venomous looks at Sonia only smiling when Martha took his hand and began to drink the rest of her Butterbeer.
“Why is Rich here?” she asked Lily.
Lily smiled at her, feeling again a thrill of excitement as she talked about Rich. “Rosmerta’s given him a job.”
“Who is this bloke?” Sirius asked, interested.
Martha turned to him and started to explain about Slythy Fen, the station cafe, and Lily hurting her ankle. She shivered. “It was a grim place, wasn’t it, Lily? Made us think Salazar Slytherin was still alive.”
Lily nodded. “Not like Godric’s Hollow -- that was fun.” She smiled at Sirius. “Although that could have been Hereward. He’s a bit of a charmer, isn’t he?”
Sirius grinned “ not a smirk, but a smile of genuine warmth. “Hereward is brilliant!” He leant back in his chair, draining his tankard. “And Halley.”
Lily looked at Sirius, who was suddenly looking forlorn and not at all like the cocky boy she was used to. When Martha left the table because some of her friends had walked in, Lily leant towards him. “How is Halley?”
He stared at her and she saw a troubled look flash into his eyes. “Why do you ask?”
She paused and sighed. “I don’t think she’s very well, Sirius,” she murmured, turning her head away so Sonia and Peter would not hear her. “She was in pain when I was there, and James doesn’t seem to have noticed.”
Sirius carried on staring and then he inclined his head. “I don’t know what’s wrong. Hereward says everything’s fine,” he muttered. He looked to the ceiling. “James is spectacularly blind to all of this, so don’t say anything, okay?” He sounded fierce, annoyed even. Then he stopped speaking as Martha sidled back to the table.
“I won’t say a word,” Lily whispered, shocked. “Just ...” She paused as someone leant over, picking up glasses. It was Rich.
“You left the bar,” he complained. “I thought you’d gone.”
“Um, no, you were busy, so I thought I’d let you get on with it,” she said, smiling up at him. She was aware that Sirius was looking at her curiously, apparently amused. “This is Sirius Black, Martha’s boyfriend.”
Rich looked down at Sirius as if he were assessing him through the gloom of the bar and, after a moment, inclined his head. “Nice to meet you, Sirius.” He shook his head in a bewildered fashion. “Have we met before?”
Sirius shrugged. Draining his Butterbeer, he held out his hand. “No, I don’t think so,” he replied smoothly. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
“Richard Soule,” Rich replied, still thinking hard; then his face lightened. “I know why you’re familiar. Black‘s your surname, right?” Sirius nodded. “I met some old guy in London, name of Black. Your father, perhaps? Really funny and looked a lot like you.”
Sirius shrugged. “Not so you’d notice,” he muttered darkly. He turned away from Rich.
“Alphard Black!” Rich exclaimed. “That’s who he was. He had a photo of you and another kid on his mantelpiece.”
“OH!” Sirius exclaimed, and his eyes lit up in amusement. “That’s my uncle.” He leant across in an altogether friendlier manner. “How did you meet him?”
“Uh ... the bookshop in Diagon Alley. I was browsing the History section, and he happened to be there.” Rich winked at Sirius. “He saved me a lot of dough ‘cause after talking to him I didn’t need to buy all the books I’d pulled out. He’s quite a historian.” Rich turned to Lily. “That’s how I ended up in Slythy Fen. Alphard told me all about it.”
“RICH!” Rosmerta yelled. “What exactly am I paying you for?”
“Uh ... my socialisation skills?” he countered and, turning round, smiled widely at the landlady.
Rosmerta pursed her lips but didn’t look too annoyed. Rich squeezed Lily on the shoulder and whispered, “I gotta get back to work, but maybe we can catch up later. What time do you have to be back?”
“Oh, um ... sixish,” Lily replied, sighing. “I’m a prefect and I’m on duty, unfortunately.”
“Ah, I don’t get off ‘til eleven,” he said, his voice full of regret. Then he grinned. “Are you allowed out tomorrow around lunchtime?” Lily nodded, pushing the thought to the back of her mind that she had a Transfiguration essay for McGonagall to finish. Rich grinned at her. “It’s a date then, Lily-lily.”
As he walked off, she asked, “Where?”
“I’ll find you,” he called with a backward glance.
Lily blinked and felt her cheeks flame into red. She was acutely aware that everyone at the table was watching her. Martha and Sonia began to giggle; Lily scowled.
“Lily Evans, you have a date!” Sonia declared and laughed louder. “And he’s absolutely gorgeous.”
Lily smiled, feeling her cheeks start to burn less. “I thought you didn’t like blondes, Sonia.”
Sonia looked at the bar where Rich was now serving a rather large contingent of Hufflepuff fourth years. “I could make an exception in his case,” she replied.
Sirius raised his eyebrows at Peter who was looking puzzled. “What’s up, Wormy? “
Peter started. He looked from Rich to Lily and then back to Sirius. “Uh, nothing,” he murmured. “Just ... no... It’s nothing.” He took a gulp of his Butterbeer and directed a comment to Sonia. “Do you think we bought the right stuff from Honeydukes for Phyllida?” He paused and smiled slightly. “I remembered that she didn’t like Cockroach Clusters.”
Sonia turned her head away from the bar and glanced at him. She shook her head as if finally remembering the reason they were all in the pub together and then started perusing the Honeydukes boxes that Peter had set on the table. “This looks great, Peter,” she said with real warmth. “I’m sure Phyllida will love all of this, don’t you think so, Lily?”
Lily dragged her attention to the boxes on the table and away from her own jumbled thoughts. “Mmm, looks wonderful,” she agreed.
Sirius snorted, and she thought she heard him whisper something to Martha about her mind not being on Phyllida at all. Lily bit her lip. James was right, they were supposed to be talking about Phyll, but ... she sighed. It was wonderful to see Rich again.
James stomped away from The Three Broomsticks in a filthy mood. His shoes, sticky from Sonia’s cordial, were uncomfortable so, sitting down on the kerb, he took them off, intending to use a Cleaning Charm. It was colder now, and rain had begun to drizzle around him. There was a rip in his cloak, and he looked at it, puzzled, because his mum was meticulous about his clothes and if she couldn’t repair them, she’d replace them. He shook his head; he must have ripped it after he returned to school, although he couldn’t remember wearing this particular cloak.
“You look bemused, Potter,” said a voice from above. James looked up to see Fabian Prewett standing over him. “Is something wrong?”
“Not really, sir,” James replied. Slipping his shoes back on, he stood up, ignoring the squelching feeling as his socks stuck to the cordial.
“A girl, is it?” Fabian asked sagely.
James gave a rueful smile. “Mmm, you could say that.” He shrugged. “Not the first time. I’m used to it now.”
“I thought you’d be larking around with that cousin of mine,” Fabian said. “Or is he with that pretty blonde girl?”
“Martha, yeah, he’s in the pub with her. I got a bit sick of it all so said I’d head back.” He smiled, adding lightly so his Defence professor didn’t think he was a total prat, “I have try-outs to plan for next week, so I should get back really. Nice talking to you, Professor.”
Fabian’s eyes gleamed. “ Quidditch try-outs?” James nodded. “I can’t wait to see your team. D’you think you’ll win the Cup this year?”
James, heartened by the enthusiasm in Fabian’s voice, grinned. “I bloody hope so, sir. We’ve got a brilliant Seeker in Martha “ that’s Sirius’ girlfriend, by the way. And I’m hoping to persuade her sister to return. She’s a Chaser. And ...” He paused. “Sorry, I’m not annoying you, am I? My mates tell me I get really boring when I talk about the game.”
Fabian laughed. “Not at all. I love Quidditch and used to play for Gryffindor ... along with my brother. We were Beaters” He smiled at James. “Do you fancy a drink somewhere?”
James’ eyes lit up. “Cool. I could do with some advice about Beaters. I’ve got a problem this year with that position.” Fabian grinned back and started to walk towards the Three Broomsticks. “Oh ... I’d rather not go there,” James said falteringly.
“OOOH!” exclaimed Fabian and with a knowing smile, he turned in the other direction. “The girl you’re not with is in there, I suppose.”
James grimaced. “Yeah, and currently getting chatted up by an American bloke.”
Was he imagining the narrowing of Fabian’s eyes? When he took a closer look, his Defence professor was smiling blandly at him. “American, eh? Don’t worry, James. I’m sure Miss Evans will soon see through all that glamour.”
“How do you-” James spluttered.
“Know it’s Miss Evans?” Fabian queried. He clapped James on the back and steered him towards the Hog’s Head. “Thanks to the Fat Lady, James, there’s not much that’s secret at Hogwarts.”
“So where are you meeting exactly?” Sonia asked Lily as they walked back to Hogwarts. It was five thirty, and although she’d been reluctant to leave The Three Broomsticks, Lily knew she had to be back by six. Sonia decided to walk back with her after declaring that she was tired and had a Divination essay to start.
Lily clutched her cloak around her. The drizzly rain of earlier had started to fall in sheets now, but she was so happy “ giddy even “ that she didn’t care that her hair was getting wet and was sticking to her face. “I don’t know,” she replied and giggled. “He said he’d find me.” She glanced across at Sonia who was eyeing her curiously. “You don’t think it’s a joke, do you? I mean, he will turn up, won’t he?”
Sonia stopped walking and considered. Then she flashed a brilliant smile at Lily. “That man looked very interested to me Lily. I think he’ll turn up, all right.”
“Good,” Lily said and heaved a sigh of relief. “I’m not used to this, Sonia.”
“No,” Sonia mused. “It’s always puzzled me, but you’ve not really had a boyfriend before, have you?”
“I’ve had dates,” Lily replied huffily. “There was Derek.”
“Derek!” Sonia laughed. “Lily, that was in our fourth year and you said it was awful.” Pausing she linked her arm in Lily’s. “I thought Derek was rather sweet, actually. I never could work out why you didn’t see him again.”
Lily bit her lip. “Actually,” she confessed. “It wasn’t me who dumped him. He didn’t want to see me again. No idea why.” She frowned. “If it had been last year, I’d have suspected Potter of hexing him ...”
Sonia slowed her pace slightly, tugging on Lily’s arm. “James still likes you, Lily.” She sniffed a bit. “Merlin, I hate to admit it, but even when you were at the bar and clearly not at all interested in him, he wouldn’t talk to me. Just kept looking over at you and scowling.”
Lily huddled into Sonia, suddenly feeling the rain as it fell around them. “You really like him, don’t you?” she asked, failing to keep the astonishment out of her voice.
Sonia nodded mournfully. “I know you all think I’m stupid and will go out with anyone, but James is ... oh, I don’t know ... I mean, I loved being with Sirius ... but there was always the feeling that it wouldn’t last. James just seems steadier somehow.”
“Steadier!” Lily laughed loudly. “That’s Potter you’re talking about. He couldn’t be responsible or steady if his life depended on it.”
“Professor McGonagall picked him as captain, Lily. She’s not going to do that if she thinks he’s totally infantile. She wants to win that Cup more than any of us.”
Lily was saved the bother of thinking up a reply by her next step, which left her ankle deep in the mud. She removed her foot from the mud and yelped as she realised her shoe had been sucked off. “Oh, no. These were new!” As she bent down to try and retrieve it, she heard mocking laughter behind her.
“Ah, the Mudblood’s crawling around where she belongs.” Mulciber’s voice rippled towards them.
Lily and Sonia both turned to see Mulciber, Avery and a third cloaked figure strolling towards them. Lily’s insides clenched because for a moment she thought it was Severus. Then, as the third boy shifted his position, his hood fell off and she saw it was a fifth-year Slytherin. She was unsure of his name, but she remembered seeing him with Peter once. She scanned her brain and then remembered. It was at the station. He was Barty Crouch.
“What do you want?” Lily asked. Her shoe forgotten, she clutched her wand, ready to cast a spell.
“Nothing from you, Mudblood,” Avery called. “But a kiss from Slattery would be a start.”
“In your dreams, Gussy!” Sonia spat. “There’s not enough gold in Gringotts to make it worth my while.”
Lily could sense the fear in Sonia building up and marvelled that she managed to sound so calm. Mulciber increased his pace, as did the others, so Lily began to edge backwards dragging Sonia with her. “There’s three of them,” Sonia hissed.
“Yes, I know,” Lily muttered back. “But we both take Defence Against the Dark Arts, Sonia. Avery doesn’t and Barty’s a fifth-year.”
“I could just kiss him, I suppose,” Sonia suggested and then she peered across at Avery. “Urghh! No, I couldn’t “ he’s revolting.”
Lily fought an insane urge to giggle.
“Merlin, where are the boys when we need them?” Sonia said through gritted teeth. “Peter couldn’t get enough of us this afternoon, and now he’s nowhere to be seen.”
“We don’t need them,” Lily began as they started to edge away more quickly; then she screamed as a hex sped towards her. She ducked, dragging Sonia down with her. “Merlin, what was that for?” she shouted, suddenly furious at the three Slytherins.
Sonia slipped on the mud and her wand spun out of her hand. Running forwards, Avery caught it. “Kiss for your wand, Slattery?”
“Don’t you dare!” Lily said furiously as Sonia looked up at her.
“We need to do something, Lily,” Sonia implored her, “or else they’ll do something far worse than kiss us. Remember Mary. We still don’t know what really happened there.”
Lily scanned the horizon, but all the while kept her eyes on the three Slytherins. Barty, she noticed, looked nervous. She wasn’t sure he was enjoying the sport, and he wouldn’t look at either of the girls but kept his eyes on Mulciber. She switched her attention to Mulciber, who’d turned his head to say something to Avery. Avery laughed and, for a split second, stopped staring at Sonia.
“Expelliarmus!” Lily yelled, and her heart leapt as both the wands left Avery’s hand. Sonia ran forwards and caught both.
“You can have your wand back, Gussy,” she shouted, “if you promise to keep your foul, blubbery lips away from me.” Then she shot a hex straight at him, hitting him in the groin.
At that, Mulciber reacted. Firing a jinx straight at Sonia, he laughed as she doubled over, squealing in pain. “Stupid Gryffindor slut!” he roared and aimed another curse directly at her.
Sonia was unable to react in time, but Lily, suddenly remembering Sirius on the Hogwarts Express, shouted, “Protego!”
Her aim was true and protected Sonia, but she too slipped in the mud. Mulciber laughed as he approached. “Silencio!” he muttered. “Now you’ll get it, Mudblood!”
Lily’s eyes widened in fear. She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t rain hexes down on him. She had her wand, but not her voice. Sonia seemed helpless beside her, the pain in her side still making her writhe. Lily looked across at Barty imploringly, but he wouldn’t look her way. Merlin, how could Severus be friends with people like this? Severus... Her mind flashed back to the previous term after their O.W.L. exam and then to their last Defence lesson. Sirius duelling Severus. Pointing her wand at Mulciber and concentrating with all her might, she thought Levicorpus! and cast a silent prayer that the non-verbal spell he’d once shown her would work.
She cheered inside when Mulciber was hoisted up by his ankle; then nudged Sonia, who’d managed to sit up. Wearily, Sonia pointed her wand at Lily and whispered, “Finite Incantatum!”
“Thanks,” Lily rasped, her voice not quite back to normal. She swallowed; her throat hurt.
“What do we do now?” Sonia asked. “Should we get help, or find a teacher or something?”
Lily shivered. She was cold, wet and tired and had no desire to spend the rest of her weekend going through this with their Head of House. “To be honest, Son, I’d really like to forget about it. I mean, I doubt Mulciber is going to boast about this, and that hex you cast at Avery…” She laughed as Avery clutched his groin. “I don’t think he’s going to want to come near you again.” She sighed and rubbed at her throat. “But if they attack someone else...”
“Where did the other one go?” Sonia interrupted, looking around.
Lily looked to where Barty had been, but he’d disappeared. She shrugged. “I don’t think he knew what they were up to. He didn’t join in.”
“He didn’t stop them, either,” Sonia replied archly. Then she grinned at Lily. “I know why you don’t want to report this; it’s because McGonagall will insist on the Hospital Wing ... and then you won’t be able to go out tomorrow.”
Lily smiled back at her, slightly shamefaced. “Er ... maybe,” she murmured. Then she closed her eyes, trying to clear Rich out of her mind. “We should report it, but can we play it down a bit. I’m fine now so no need to mention the Silencing Charm.”
Sonia snorted but linked arms with Lily all the same, and together they started to walk away.
“What about me?” Mulciber yelled, still suspended in the air.
“I don’t know the counter-curse,” Lily said casually. “Sorry, but I’m sure it will wear off soon.”
“Whoa!” exclaimed James from the armchair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room. He was feeling much more mellow, after discussing the finer points of Quidditch with Fabian for the entire afternoon. Fabian had also been very positive of the subject of flash gits, assuring James that their appeal to witches barely lasted a week or more. He smirked at their dishevelled state. “What in the name of Merlin happened to you two?”
Then, as they drew closer to him and stood under the bright light of the torches, James stood up, shocked at the sight of the two mud-splattered girls. “You’re hurt,” he said to Sonia, noticing that she was clutching her side. He led Sonia very gently by the arm and sat her in the armchair. “Lily, what happened?”
Lily shrugged. “Avery wanted a kiss; Sonia said no.”
“Godric, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you girls alone.”
Lily started to laugh and Sonia joined in. James looked bewildered.
“Don’t worry, Potter. We feeble girls managed just fine,” Sonia said, snorting. ”You’re not the only ones who can fight.”
“And,” continued Lily, “if you think we look bad, you should see Mulciber.”
“Mulciber,” he growled. “Where is that bastard?”
Lily shrugged; then, looking across at Sonia, she smirked. “Oh, he’s ... uh ... hanging around somewhere.”
Then both girls dissolved into fits of laughter. Refusing to elaborate, Lily and Sonia left the common room and headed towards the girls dormitories. James could hear them laughing all the way up the stairs. He stood at the bottom, hoping they’d turn around and explain, but neither of them looked back.
In The Three Broomsticks, as he stood up to leave, Sirius caught sight of Rich’s reflection in a mirror. He smiled slightly; Rich seemed to be an all right bloke, but he knew James would hate him. Pulling Martha to her feet, he helped her into her cloak, making an especial fuss of fastening it up so she kept warm. Beside them, Peter gazed moodily out of the window.
“You should have gone with them,” Sirius murmured to him.
“What’s the point? She’s not interested, is she?” Peter complained. “I should never have listened to Prongs.”
Martha looked from one to the other, a puzzled look on her face. “Oh,” she said at last, “do you like Sonia?”
Peter glared at her, but then nodded and smiled ruefully. “Not that it’s any good. She’s no more interested in me than Lily is in James.” He laughed suddenly, bitterly. “I want to be alone for a bit. I’ll see you back at the dorm, Padfoot.”
“Er ... yeah, sure, Wormy,” Sirius replied vaguely. He frowned, unused to seeing Peter this low. Then as he watched him leave he turned to look at Martha, who was smiling up at him expectantly. Merlin, she’s sweet, he thought and, all thoughts of Peter gone, he bent his head down to kiss her and envelop her in the folds of his cloak.
“Hey, guys,” said a voice a few minutes later. “Can you take this somewhere else?”
Sirius and Martha broke away, and Sirius grinned into the smiling face of Rich Soule. “Sorry,” he started to say, and then he broke off. Rich was close to him now, and Sirius was staring right into his eyes. He flinched momentarily but then recovered. “Yeah sure.”
Tugging Martha after him, Sirius left the pub, his mind whirring.
“What’s the hurry?” Martha said, laughing.
“I need to get back,” he muttered distractedly.
He didn’t notice the puzzled frown appear on her face, but placing his arm about her shoulders, Sirius propelled Martha forwards at a faster pace. Rich’s face “ his eyes -- swam before him. He was not mistaken. He had stared into those eyes only two nights before when he’d pinned him against a tree in an effort to save his friends.
Rich Soule was the wizard from the Forbidden Forest.