A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for reading. I know that after reading this next chapter, it will clarify what some of you picked up in the last. This story is set in two different time eras: that of Ginny’s seventh year and that of Lily and James’ seventh year. However it will appear that the characters in the more modern era will be acting ‘older’, for lack of a more suited word - ’mature’ doesn’t seem quite fitting. I feel the need to justify this, as the characters are all of around the same age. I will do so my asking my readers to understand that war causes youth to grow at a faster pace than what is often right for them - think of ‘Anne Frank’s Diary’ or ‘Last Train from Kummersdorf’, which I am sure many of you will have read.
Think of the trio and the others involved in the war, especially Harry. They have had to face much more then anyone else they know and we can already see that they (yes, even Ron) appear to think in a different way to the others of their age. Although they are not deprived from fun, they are also used to being able to quickly adjust their minds to what is serious, when needed.
I believe that those living in the Marauder era, with the possible exception of Lupin, would not have such a serious, tainted outlook on childhood and how they should live. This is therefore the reason you will see a large difference in the way the characters from each time period will act; they are however of the same age. Thank you for bearing with me and I hope this will explain and make clear the answers to any future questions. Also please remember that these are the beginning chapters- so they are very light and easy, things will tense up soon, I hope.
Finally as I said at the beginning of chapter 6 of ‘Prisoners of emotion’; this story will hold tributes to the two reviewers that have kept me going with all of my stories: the5thmarauder and GubraithianFire (whose character will come in the next few chapters!). So without further ado meet Jess….
SUMMARY: Events affect innocence...it's as simple as that.
A Friend's View
Jessica Wright slumped down, panting, into the seat of an empty compartment - she had only just got away. In fact, it was amazing that Sirius and Remus hadn’t seen her through the train windows as they had hauled there trunks across the platform. She had done well; it was always brilliant when she got a chance to start of the years festivities. It would definitely catch those Marauders unaware - she would prove that she was just as good at prowling as they were: she could spy and her pranks were by far superior. This year, she was going to show those boys who were in charge.
Jess was about to start her seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and she couldn’t wait for it to finish. This year her train journey was going to be lonely, her best friend Lily had much to her dismay been chosen as Head Girl - this was terrible for their image, everyone would now expect Jess to act like a perfect little bookworm. Like that was going to happen. Jess had become friends with Lily through common interest: to begin with it was their love for the Marauders, but that was back in the first year - before their egos had exploded; now, it was their utter loathing for them.
She couldn’t deny that it was going to be different without her best friend sharing her dormitory and she knew that she was going to have to steal the password to the Head’s Suite. She could probably get away with camping out there most of the time. Lily was lucky though, she would probably get to spend the whole year in company with some amazing, clever and gorgeous boy, whilst Jess, herself, would be stuck in the common room with the four Marauders constantly trying to wind her up. It was just her luck.
*
Hermione woke up for a different reason that morning. She rolled over a smiled at the red headed lump of bedclothes next to her, and he was snoring loudly. Today, it was the first time in seven years that she hadn’t woken up at the crack of dawn. Usually September 1st meant that she would return to Hogwarts, but today it was another lie in. How she wished she could go back to school, to be doing something again. It would be a few weeks, at least, until they would be released into the real world. Hermione again looked down at the person lying next to her, this was the happiest she had felt in a long time. They had been together since the sixth year and yet since the last battle they hadn’t once fallen out. It was only then that she had realised just how important he was to her, he and her best friend Harry. Harry still hadn’t got used to Ron and herself as a couple. Hermione remembered the look on his face when he realised that this time it wouldn’t be Ron and himself that would be sharing the room with two beds. Hermione knew he was having trouble. She knew all about Ginny.
Harry had never found anyone the way she had found Ron. At least, he hadn’t since the sixth year. Back then Harry had briefly seen Ginny, and Hermione knew that he really loved her. She had seen the look on his face over the months after their break-up as Ginny had tried to notice other boys, she knew that it would be a long time before he would get over her. Ginny could barely look at Harry these days, not that they had seen her since the last year of school. Harry had written letter after letter, but as far as Hermione knew Ginny had never read them. In fact, unless she was very much mistaken, if she got out of bed and dragged herself into the next room, she knew she would find Harry sitting bolt up right on the kitchen table writing another letter. It was as if he found some sort of refuge from reality whilst writing them. Hermione knew, however, that he never sent any of them. The closest he had ever gotten to writing to her was addressing her letters. Harry’s real messages lay hidden.
*
Sirius Black entered the toilets covered in stink sap. It was just his luck that the bucket would empty on him and completely miss his friend Remus. Someone was trying to mess with the Marauders and he was willing to bet that it was that stupid Jess and her friend Lily. It was a shame they were so pretty, it usually made it quite difficult to stay angry. Jess was just as beautiful her best friend. She had waving honey coloured hair that cascaded down past her shoulders. Her sharp features and ice blue eyes made her look like innocent fairy, a feature that got her out of anything. But Sirius knew better, he knew what she was really like. After all, he had often used his looks to get out of doing his Divination homework, the Professor fell for his batting eyelids and promises to do later, every time. In fact, he knew that Jess was extremely similar to him, he was told by teachers daily, but he could never admit such a thing for himself. That would be too disgusting. He was going to have find a way to get back at her. After all, it wouldn’t be right for that Jess to think she was in charge this year. No, that wouldn’t do at all.
As he made his way down the corridor, passing the Head’s Compartment, Sirius looked through the window to see Lily sitting opposite James. What was she doing there? She meant that he couldn’t go in now - James would kill him. She couldn’t have been made Head Girl could she? No, James would never have got that lucky. This was too much of a perfect opportunity for him. Sirius stared through the window until he finally caught James’ eye. James looked up at him, before clenching his fists and mouthing a ‘yes’ in victory. Sirius winked and walked on laughing.
It took nearly another minute of dawdling before the realisation finally dawned upon Sirius. Without Lily, Jess was likely to be alone much more often. Maybe it would be a lot easier to take revenge this year. Sirius finally made his way back in to the compartment that everyone assumed belonged to the Marauders and plonked down in front of his two friends: Remus Lupin and now, Peter Pettigrew, smiling. This year, he was going to have fun.
*
The wind whipped through his red hair as he made his way up the hill. He had snuck out whilst Hermione had been in the shower. Ron knew she wouldn’t understand why he had to leave. He knew that she was only like this because she cared about him, he cared about her an awful lot too, but he needed his space. It was horrible having to stay hiding all the time. He realised that he was putting himself in immense danger by walking out, but he needed the fresh air. He needed to be alone.
Ron had never felt this desire before, after all coming from a huge family he had always been adapt to being amongst others. But, this was the first time no one from his family had been with him. He missed them, all of them, but especially Ginny. He had always felt closer to her than any of the others - they had never been apart, other that his first year of school. If it was possible, considering he was much taller than her, Ron would say he looked up to her. Younger, though she was, Ginny had always been the best person to talk to, her ability to control her terrible temper when it was necessary to do so was a great Weasley trait, but it shone out the most in her. Ron knew she belonged at Hogwarts, but he wished he could have been there with her. After all, it had been his home for seven years, and now he was stuck here.
There was also Hermione, Ron knew he loved her but he had begun to feel uncomfortable around her, almost like when they had first started dating in the sixth year. They would be getting married soon, as soon as they were allowed out again, this scared Ron slightly. He couldn’t help but feel she deserved much more than him. He hadn’t even proposed properly. He hadn’t planned it, he hadn’t taken her out and it most certainly wasn’t romantic. Yet, Ron found he would never forget that day, the day everything had finished, the day that marked a stop to the deaths, the day that finally freed the remaining Weasley’s from the constant worry. Although he felt his eyes prickle Ron knew it was a good thing his mother had gone first. He knew that she wouldn’t have coped with losing the others. Tears ran down his face as he imagined the look of delight that she would have worn when she found out that he would be getting married. He had never got to see that look. He had always imagined the embarrassment of being smothered in hugs and kisses until he couldn’t breathe, for the day he would announced he had found someone. Now, he would pay to go through that, to see the others smiling at them. She had missed Ginny becoming Head Girl as well, and although her father had done a fantastic job in being proud of Ginny, it hadn’t been the same. She didn’t have the twins to make fun of her and Ron knew this had hit her hard.
They were gone too and he sure would miss those gits. He remembered the look on Ginny’s face when she first saw the shop in ruins, the twins laying there, their eyes open. She hadn’t even cried, instead got out her wand and began repairing things. Good friend, Tonks, now watched the shop from her wheelchair, until Ginny finished school and could carry on the business.
Fred and George had always been the best brothers anyone could ever have had - even Ron could admit that. He remembered the day they had presented him with new dress robes the summer after his fourth year at school. He had laughed so hard that day. Ron looked down at his arms and saw all the scars he had gained from their inventions. Now, there would never be any new ones. The twinge on his tongue from an acid pop they had given him had disappeared, it was as if they were disappearing all together. Ron looked down at George’s gold wristwatch on his arm, a tear at once misted its surface, but he knew Hermione would almost be done washing her hair. He would have to go back.
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