Virginia shook her head as she stood with four boys next to a witch statue.
"Absolutely no. I'm not sneaking in. I don't sneak, I don't-"
"If the next word out of your mouth is sin," James warned, narrowing his eyes down at her.
"Well I don't," she protested with a scowl, "and I can't believe you're going along with this," she looked at Remus with pleading eyes, expecting him to save her.
He raised his hands, "I'm sorry Mentee, there's nothing I can do. They've got this stuck in their stubborn little heads."
She groaned, "alright fine. But if we get caught-"
"We won't," Sirius said with a crooked smile, throwing his arm lazily over Virginia's shoulders. She glared at him but didn't protest. "Now," he dragged her along with him to the statue and tapped the Witch's eye with his wand. He muttered a spell under his breath and the statue jumped to the side. Behind it was a long tunnel, Virginia narrowed her eyes.
"C'mon Ginny," Peter said jovially, bustling into the tunnel.
"Gin, practice your light spell, why don't you?" Sirius encouraged, utilizing another unsanctioned nickname.
"Lumos," she said confidently, lifting her wand into the sky slowly. The tip lit up and she smiled at it, waving it proudly to light up the tunnel a bit. Behind them, they heard a pattern of heavy footfalls and the five hurried to get into the tunnel and seal it behind them.
"Now remember, if we see a teacher scramble and hide," James instructed with a bossy tone, "and Ginny make sure you stick by me since you're the only one not allowed to be here at all." Virginia nodded her semi-understanding although she didn't know why staying by him would help her any. When they reached the end of the path, they paused for a moment before Remus pushed his hands against the ceiling above them. Virginia's eyebrows furrowed but that only lasted a moment when it slowly raised and shifted to the side. Peter scrambled up, followed by James and Remus and Sirius. Sirius then pulled Virginia up. She looked around to see they were in some sort of cellar with an incredible smell. The five of them made their way up the stairs into a sweets shop before dispersing into the crowd.
Virginia took a deep breath, they had gotten through the first hurdle. "Now," James raised his finger dramatically, "to the Three Broomsticks." Virginia didn't know what he was talking about but followed the four boys anyway. Outside of the shop, the Autumn air was a little blustery. The Marauders formed a sort of shield around her and she chuckled to herself, ducking her head down.
"Crap," she heard Remus mutter, "Lily, Dorcas and Mary incoming."
"Oh no, Mare probably wants to talk to Peter," Virginia muttered without thinking before clapping a hand to her mouth. Four heads swiveled to look at her.
"What did you just say?" They all chorused.
"Don't make it so obvious that I'm here," Virginia hissed at them but of course, the damage was already done.
"Hi boys," Mary said with a smirk, "what are you hiding."
James leaned forward with a devilish smile, "Maybe the better question is what are you hiding?"
Mary snickered, "nothing much," she peered past the boys and her eyes grew wide when she caught sight of Virginia, "how the hell did you sneak her out here?"
"With our mad skills," Sirius crossed his arms loftily.
"Well you and your mad skills better not go into the Three Broomsticks, it's positively swarming with Professors. None in Madam Pudifoots though if you're looking for someplace to eat," Dorcas said sharply, crossing her arms.
"I cannot believe you're already corrupting poor Virginia!" Lily spluttered, clearly paying no attention to the rest of the conversation, "let me guess? You're responsible for this Potter." She glared at him and he grinned charmingly down.
He shrugged, "I didn't act alone."
Lily rolled her eyes, "your point?"
He put a finger to his chin as if in thought, "you know I'm not entirely sure about that actually..."
Lily huffed angrily.
"Well," Peter entered the conversation, "Ginny's never tried Butterbeer and we thought-"
"You thought? Lily almost screeched, "since when have you four been known for your abilities of thought."
"Lily," Virginia cut in, "don't be mean-"
Lily stared at Virginia crossly, "I know you're trapped under their spell for now but just you wait. Soon that will be the nicest thing you could think about them." She whirled on James, "you will take her back. Now."
"Of course my Lilyflower."
Lily stormed off and the other two girls scrambled after her, apologizing with their expressions. As soon as they had gone into another shop, James shrugged, "to Madam Puddifoot's now gang? Siri, Peter, and Remus can get the Butterbeers and Gin and I can get a table?"
Sirius's eyes narrowed, "why are you getting a table with her. You know that's the place for sweethearts and stuff."
"So who do you recommend goes with her then?" James asked, his eyebrows raising and a smirk coming onto his face.
Sirius's nose twitched and he shrugged, "I guess you can." Remus chuckled and Sirius elbowed him in protest.
Virginia looked between the two boys with confusion but decided not to worry about it. Remus cut into the conversation, "but they might know we haven't signed out. We'll need your help James." He looked somewhat strange, something about his facial expression was unusual and off. Virginia couldn't place what. Sirius smirked and took Virginia's arm.
"How tragic."
Sirius and Virginia walked together down the street and into the small tea shop. It was incredibly cramped with about a dozen tables covered in frilly tablecloths.
Virginia leaned back to talk to Sirius, "no way we can all fit in here." Sirius's mouth twisted and he started to back out of the shop but they were instead caught by Madam Puddifoot herself. She spun them over to a table in the back and Virginia could barely get a word out edgewise.
"Now what do you two lovebirds want?" Madam Puddifoot
"Oh we're not-" she began.
"A strawberry smoothie please. Two straws," Sirius talked over Virginia. She glared across the table at him. "So Gin," he said, resting his elbows on the table, "do you fancy anyone."
His question seemed more like an attack strategy than a topic of conversation. "Probably," she said, calculating her response, "I mean this is the first time I've been truly exposed to a whole horde of teenagers. Ones who are attractive and not... Paul, Ezra or David, the three guys I go to Sunday school with. I guess I just haven't given it much thought..."
"Hm," Sirius said, his tone sounding curious as he leaned back in his chair. He folded his arms over his chest, "do you like Remus." The words came suddenly and Virginia was completely unprepared for them.
"No," she said clearly, "I don't."
"The first year boys."
"Gideon and Fabian? They're 11," she said, shaking her head slightly.
"Well I assume not Peter or James. Wait James?"
"Well he's pining over Lily so there wouldn't be much point now would there be?" And even if he hadn't, he wasn't Virginia's type. Although she hadn't known she'd had a type until a week ago. She stared across the table at Sirius. He would be her type if she wasn't so sure that Pandora would murder her. There was a pause before the bell jangled, signaling someone had entered the shop. When the two of them turned around, they realized it was three someone's. Three marauders who burst into the shop with wild looks on their faces. Virginia and Sirius stood up instantly.
"Ginny," James called out urgently, "quickly!" She squeezed as quickly as she could through the arrangement of tables. When she came to stand next to James, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the male bathroom. Sirius, Remus and Peter were left awkwardly rubbing the backs of their heads before sprinting into the bathroom as well.
James threw a cloth over Virginia's head, she caught a glance past him into the mirror. She jumped a bit when she realized she was invisible.
"McGonagall is coming, whatever you do. Don't make a sound."
There was a pounding on the door.
"Potter, Black, Pettigrew and Lupin the usual suspects." The four of them grimaced but Remus opened the door.