𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍, sirius black

⁰², THE PUMPKIN JUICE INCIDENT

  "Well, right, but couldn't this get Maddie if it goes wrong?" Remus questioned frowning.

  "It won't go wrong," James sighed, "Declan sits in the same spot and eats the same thing every morning."

  "But—"

  "I wouldn't put her in harm's way," James reassured, "C'mon Remus, even Peter's on board."

  "Fine."

  "Brilliant!"

ϟ

  To say Madeline Potter had a crush on Nico Keeler would be an understatement. He was a Ravenclaw, the quidditch team captain, friends with Kai, brilliant and older than her by a year.

  And, as she had been reminded the day prior, he was fit.

  Kai and Madeline were going to breakfast, as Bluebelle decided to sleep in when Nico joined them. He and Kai were in conversation, Madeline not speaking up until Nico turned to her.

  "Do you know how to play quidditch?"

  "What sort of a question is that?" She laughed lightly. "Yeah, I was on a junior league team. Keeper."

  Nico grinned, "You should try out this year."

  "Oh, no," Madeline shook her head, "Quidditch is my brother's thing."

  "Well, we need a new keeper this year," Nico sighed, "No one on the team's good, so just know if you do try out, you'll have an advantage."

  "Why's that?" Madeline questioned as they entered the Great Hall.

  "Because you're already the captain's favorite."

  Madeline blushed harder as she followed the boys to the table. Due to Nico sitting where he did, Kai allowed Madeline to scoot beside him instead of sticking himself in the middle.

  "I've been trying to convince her to join for 3 years now," Kai informed Nico, pulling some eggs onto his plate, "She's too self-conscious."

  "I'm not that good!" Madeline laughed.

  "She is," Kai nodded, "I've seen her play, never let a quaffle in."

  "Now you have to try out," Nico grinned, "We might actually win the house cup with you on the team."

  "Maybe I will." She smiled shyly, picking up her pumpkin juice to take a sip.

  James was already running towards her, but poor Madeline was faced the other way and didn't see the panic on her brother's face. No, the boy was moments too late and the pumpkin juice that seemed so innocent exploded all over Madeline Potter.

  Both Kai and Nico jumped back, James turned the girl around by her shoulder only to see her squeezing her eyes shut and the liquid running down her face. Her previously neat hair was now quickly curling into itself, as it didn't matter how sticky it was, it was wet and that was enough.

  And then the laughing started.

  Slowly, one Gryffindor let out a snort. Then another, before the whole maroon table was laughing, it spread throughout the Slytherins and Ravenclaws, even a majority of the Hufflepuffs couldn't contain the laughter.

  Even Nico Keeler was laughing.

  James stood frozen as Madeline blinked her eyes open, the redness of her cheeks visible despite the orange tint to her face. The only four not laughing were the ones she couldn't care less about, and it sent her heart to her throat.

  Bluebelle seemed like an angel in that moment. Arriving just in time to see the situation, she shouted something Madeline couldn't hear as it felt like the world had gone fuzzy. The blonde stormed over, roughly pushing James aside and gently guiding Madeline away.

  Bluebelle even yelled at Kai and Nico, who hadn't said a word but had been in laughter.

  "Maddie."

  "Leave me alone."

  "You have to go to classes!"

  "No, I don't."

  It had been an argument going strong for five full minutes, Bluebelle on one side of the bathroom door, Madeline on the other. The Potter girl has taken a shower to remove excess pumpkin juice and now simply refused to leave.

  "Maddie—"

  "Please leave me alone, Blue."

  "I'm getting you at lunchtime."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
The number of pranks Maddie has
probably at the receiving end of,
accidentally or not, is endless poor bb