Chapter 47: Love is in the air

The rest of summer break, Lily continued her secret lessons with Dorea about the healing arts. Rick, with his broomstick finally finished, began to work on alchemy. He had a few kilograms of Palladium to make after all. While the alchemic reactions were happening he worked on something else. Spellcrafting to be exact. It wasn’t fancy spells or complicated spells. They were really simple ones. Magnetize metal, modify gravity, create electricity, create plasma. Plenty of things based on the basics of physics and the universe. All of that involved a focus outside the norm and a good deal of mastery in transfiguration and charms. There was another project he wanted to work on but with Lily so close he didn’t think it was a good idea to do so. He would have to wait to be at Hogwarts for it. It was a surprise and he didn’t want his girlfriend to find out about it until it was ready.

When the 1st of September arrived, Lily had asked Godric if he wanted to go to the castle but he declined, perfectly happy to take the sun in the room he had been hung on. As every day of departure for Hogwarts, she and Rick arrived at King’s Cross early to do what was now their ritual: make love in their usual compartment. When Marlene joined them two hours later, they had already cleaned the room from top to bottom. The blonde was over the moon to see them again and proud of herself for having won the national Greek duelling tournament in the category 17 and under. The tips Charlus had given her the previous Christmas had been really helpful. She had not been surprised when her friends turned out to be Head Boy and Head Girl, at this point it was to be expected but she congratulated them nonetheless just like they congratulated her for her success.

After a prefects meeting where they gave everyone their patrol schedule for at least Winter Break, Rick went back to the compartment alone. He laid down on the bench and closed his eyes to rest. I wasn’t for a nap however. He took the time to review the plan he had for the year. The quidditch tryouts in a week’s time instead of waiting for the later half of September, then quidditch training hours - one everyday and three on week-ends -, Professor’s Slughorn monthly gatherings, his visits to the Three Broomsticks to see Rosmerta because of Lily’s blunder (which he didn’t mind at all) and his own personal training and projects.

When the girls came back, for the second consecutive year, not in a foul mood, he supposed that Potter wasn’t back to his previous behaviour. He still was far from a decent person in his opinion but since Rick didn’t care about the guy, he didn’t bother thinking more about it. Lily went straight for his lap taking a seat, and snogged the hell out of him. When she was satisfied, she turned around, showing him her back and melted again his chest. Rick gave a curious look to Marlene who smirked and shrugged her shoulders. Not getting an answer anytime soon he let it go and put his arms tighter around Lily burying his face in her hair.

The beginning of the year reminded every seventh-year of their fifth-year. The speeches about their final exams and the needs for them to outdo themselves in the hope to have the best grades possible. At this point it was just a formality for Lily and Rick although Marlene needed to work a bit more in charms and potions. While she was getting an Outstanding in both these classes she needed to study for them.

The first event out of the ordinary was for the quidditch tryouts. Rick was the first on the pitch, something he felt he ought to do since he was the captain. Everything was ready. Quaffles and bludgers in a wooden chest waiting to be sent into the air. What was missing was the players. Marlene and Lily came at the same time as they did and took a seat in the stand.

“Oh! Hey! Wald! Thanks for bringing the gear. You can join the candidates over there, Sirius and I got this.” Potter said, still wearing his captain badge from the previous year. The young man went to open the chest but Rick put his foot on the lid. “What gives?!”

“You join the candidates. I’m the captain this year and I’m playing seeker.”

“Yeah sure.” Potter replied with controlled anger but it was clear he didn’t believe Rick. “Now move your-”

“Sirius, you stay, Potter, don't make me say it again. You’re not the captain anymore after your disastrous leadership last year. You got a problem with that? Go see Professor McGonagall. She’s the one who appointed me.” Rick pointed at the captain badge on his chest, something that James believed McGonagall forgot to send him over Summer break.

James wanted to protest but he knew that if Rick called out the name of their head of house then odds were high he was telling the truth.

“Why should I join the candidates? I was playing chaser before last year!”

“Because there are three chasers already and you gave up your chaser position last year. If you’re one of the three best candidates then you’ll have your position back. It’s as simple as that. It’s all about merit.”

Before he could explode, Sirius pulled James back and whispered in his ear. Unhappy with an angry scowl on his face, James nodded and joined the candidates.

“You could have used more tact.” Black remarked.

“I could have, yes but I’m really not in the mood. Besides, after six years of him trying to belittle me, even if I was in the mood, I’ll still won’t do it ‘cause I’m back playing quidditch because he fucked up.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m working on thirteen NEWTs. I don’t have the time to train and play quidditch, yet Professor McGonagall, who is well aware of that, asked me to return to the team to win the cup again this year.” Rick’s answer made Sirius whistle, showing he was clearly impressed.

“Thirteen ? What are you going to do with them?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m going for thirteen. With that many I can find any job I would fancy.”

“Fair. Though I think you’re barmy for going for that.”

“Probably. Marlene kept telling me for years so it may be true.” The amused smirk on his face and his joke made Sirius have a good laugh. “Beside you, I know absolutely nothing about the team. Mind filling me in?”

“Sure. Malcolm Emberstone is the lead chaser. Tall and solid build. Better with throwing than flying but he’s good enough. Dorian Ashfield is the other way around. Great flyer but poor with his hands, most of the time he’s intercepting the quaffle or gets in the way of the opponents’ chasers. Hugo Bolden is a mix of the two. Their good points I mean. I heard he didn’t want to play this year, too focused on his NEWTs. Why when he’s in sixth-year? I don’t know but he’s not playing anymore.”

“Guess he wasn’t that interested in quidditch.”

“As a beater, there is Victor Bramblewood. The guy has a good arm but his aim could be worked on a fair bit. Lastly as a keeper is Oliver Stroud and… he sucks. He does well during practice but during matches? A disaster.”

“I see.” Rick said cryptically. “Since there are only the two of us I was thinking we could stay on the ground and watch position after position. It will take some time but we may see what the other missed. At least until the last phase.”

“Fine by me.”

They started with the keepers. Four students were trying for the position. Rick had Malcolm take shot after shot and decided who could leave and who could stay. Oliver Stroud had done well, like Sirius has said but Rick got his eye on Mira Ross. She was a third year with quite the skills. She only let in a goal more than Oliver. Thinking long term, she may be a better choice for the simple reason that she was two years younger.

Next came the beaters and Rick watched silently no less than 6 candidates competing against each other. After ten minutes of this, Sirius was done.

“What do you think?” he asked Rick.

“... That I miss Rhianon. At this point it’s who sucks less rather than who’s the best.”

“I heard she got in with the Harpies?”

“She did. Went straight to being a starter when she passed the selection.”

“Damn! With Johnson as a chaser, the Harpies are going to dominate this season if their teammates are not too shabby. I swear that girl was born riding a broom or a quaffle in hand. That and the ass for it.”

Rick didn’t comment on that, although he did agree with Sirius. Eva Johnson had quite the ass and he never missed the opportunity to admire it.

Finally it was time for the chasers’ selections. Thirteen people were trying to get one of the three positions. James Potter proved he was the best and by far. Malcolm and Hugo stayed, not as starters, but replacements. The starting position went to two girls. One fourth-year named Abigail Taylor and one second year named Isolde Gallagher.

“Isn’t she a bit too young? I mean she’s good but…” Sirius was skeptical of the choice.

“There is better, yeah but not by much.”

“Then why?”

“Because at the end of the year, you, me and Potter, are graduating. That means three open positions. In the long term I want players that will last way after we’re gone. With us, Gallagher and Taylor will learn a lot and next year would be more than good enough to be kept on the team. I’m not just going to win the cup this year, I’m laying down the foundations to win it for years.”

And thus the team was formed. Rick was the last one to leave the pitch and was met with Professor McGonagall at the entrance of the castle.

“It won’t be easy, Professor but the odds aren’t unbeatable. We can win.” he told her, handing the list of the people on the team. She took a good look and wondered about some of his choices. “Like I told Black, I’m preparing the team for the upcoming years.”

“I’m trusting you in this, Mister Wald. Now, would you mind if I take a look at your broom?” Her eyes laid on the broomstick in his other hand.

“Not at all. You can ride it too if you want to give it a try.”

“Thank you but I think I’ll abstain.” she replied.

The broom in hand, she examined it closely, noticing the small and fine runes carved into the wood.

“That’s for the enchantments to be permanent. No degradation that way.” he explained and she nodded.

“How fast?”

“147 Km/h.” he answered smugly and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

“Merlin! You could really break through a storm with it.”

“The smallest ones.”

“And what’s… those holes on the tail?”

“Natural propulsion.” She raised a brow for him to explain further because she didn’t understand what he was talking about. “The air goes through the holes and exits by the small one at the end of the tail. That creates a strong air movement that pushes the broom forward. The faster I go, the stronger the propulsion. Without that system the broom only reaches 124 Km/h.”

“I see.” She gave him back the broom, satisfied with what she heard.

The second notable event of the school year was also quidditch related. The first match of Gryffindor was against Slytherin a month after the tryouts. The team was not ready but that didn’t mean it couldn’t win. After all, if Rick caught the snitch, as long as the difference in points wasn't 150 in the snakes’ favor it was still a win. He was proud of what the new members had achieved with their month of training. Mira Ross had a good score of 1 out of 3 quaffle missed while Taylor and Gallagher had half of their shots earning points. Considering the Slytherin keeper was excellent in Rick’s opinion, that was quite the feat. Potter was the one who brought in points. He was more experienced and it showed. 2 out of 3 shots went through the goal post.

Despite all that, Slytherin was leading by 70 points. Sirius was more or less the only one of the two beaters that was hitting true and he couldn’t take care of everything alone. Rick wasn’t worried one bit. Eight goals difference wasn’t much. He wasn’t worried either when from 55 m away he saw Regulus Black speeding up in the direction of a tower stand. Leaning forward on his broom, it took 3 seconds for Rick to catch up, to everyone’s surprise. Including Black who missed catching the snitch and the little thing got away. Still, Rick didn’t want people to think he won because of his broom but instead because of his skill as a flyer.

When the score reached 120 - 210, He saw the golden snitch leisurely flying at the bottom of the stands. Not going directly for it, he chose to feign a Wronski Feint at a speed fast enough that Black, who had taken the bait, could catch up. With the ground approaching fast the Slytherin seeker’s instinct kicked in and he pulled up. He didn’t want to end up like Bulstrode did when he witnessed the game in his first year. Rumor was Bulstrode needed to be fed with a straw to this day.

Black giving up, Rick went as far as he could before crashing onto the ground. At the very last moment he pulled up the handle and pushed down with his legs. Everyone thought he would crash but his broom shifted his position at a 90° angle - which was to their knowledge, something impossible - and flew parallel to the ground. A burst of speed later and the Snitch was firmly secured in his hand bringing the score to a final 280 - 210.

Rick had to admit, Black was an excellent flyer and very good seeker. Unfortunately for him, Rick was a better strategist and had a better broom. The only better seeker he knew of was Amelia. Thinking of the redhead, Rick wondered if one day he would have the possibility to challenge her again. The thought was fleeting however, the match being over, he needed to go back to the locker room and congratulate the team.

“You all did well. Practice paid off.”

“Well? They were leading by 90 points!” Black protested.

“That’s true but it was expected. The team is new, half of its members lacked proper experience and we were playing Slytherin. You all showed good teamwork despite barely knowing each other and didn’t make many mistakes. I call it a win, not just because we beat Slytherin but because you all played well. If we keep practising the way we did, I’m sure we would be leading in a game against the snakes at the end of the year. I’d say you all deserve the party we’re having in the common room!”

Everyone cheered up and went to take a shower in their respective allocated sections. When he got back to the Castle he came across Professor McGonagall who simply gave him a nod of congratulations. She was very pleased with the team’s results.

The third notable event of the year before Winter Break was not about quidditch this time. It was quite personal in truth. Marlene had gone on a date with Sirius at the first Hogsmeade week-end. He had asked her out for the umpteenth time since last year but for once she agreed. She gave him one chance to prove he wasn’t the immature and frivolous boy she knew him as and that he better not screw up that date if he really was interested in her.

“I can’t believe you agreed.” Lily was doing Marlene’s hair for her date.

“I can’t believe you had a thing for Sirius in the first place.” Rick added his piece.

“Is that really that surprising?” the blonde asked, looking at her friends’ reflection in the mirror in front of her. “He’s handsome and funny and he left his bullying days mostly behind him.”

“He probably dated half the girls in our year and a good quarter of the girls under and above us, last year.” pointed out Lily.

“And probably got into the panties of half of them.”

“He didn’t try to get into any but mine during the past three months. And it’s just one date. It’s not like I will get on my knees or spread my legs for him at the end of it.”

“No offense, Mar but that’s exactly what you did with Rick.”

“That’s different!” Marlene turned to her male bestfriend. “Rick, I love you and I love our time together but you’re not what I’m looking for. You’re safe. I always knew you’d treat me well and wouldn’t hurt me. But I don’t love you that way. It’s close but not enough.”

“I feel the same way, Mar.” Rick leaned down and gave her a kiss on the lips. “Does that change your mind?” he joked.

She smiled with amusement. “Nope. You’re just not bad boy enough for me.”

“I would have sworn it’s because his big-fat-cock-you-can’t-have-enough-of is actually not enough. Want bigger?”

“Lily!” her boyfriend chastised.

“I’m just kidding!”

“For your information, Lils… I’m more than satisfied with your boyfriend’s cock. It fits perfectly in my throat, pussy and arsehole. Especially my throat. What I’m dissatisfied with is… I don’t have anyone with which… I want to experience what the two of you have. I want someone to make love to me.”

“Rick-”

“Loves me and I’m really happy about that but I want to be loved the way you two love each other. I want them to look at me like I’m the most beautiful and important thing in the world when they are balls deep inside of me. Feeling the bliss you share with each other. You do a really good job with that Rick but it’s not as intense as when you're with Lily. So I need to explore and start dating and maybe, maybe Sirius would be it.”

Rick nodded but didn’t say anything while Lily deflated and finished doing Marlene’s hair in silence.

“Whatever happens… We’re-”

“Always there for me. I know.”

Marlene gave a peck on Lily’s and Rick’s lips, checked herself in the mirror one last time and went outside the room. The couple exchanged a knowing look.

“We either stay here making love until she returns or…”

“Cut the crap, Lily. We’re using the cloak.”

As he said this, he summoned his family invisibility cloak to him and put it on her. Rick was now too big and too tall to fit the cloak properly with someone else with him. Not unless he crouched down a lot. Thankfully he could make himself as small as he needed by morphing into his crow form. Once he did, he landed on Lily’s shoulder under the cloak and she followed Marlene at the entrance of the castle. There, they heard the blonde put down some ground rules with her date.

“If you’re just dating me to learn things about Lily that could help Potter, you will be sorry, Sirius Black.”

“I’m not! I swear!” he protested on the spot. “It’s pretty obvious by now Evans is not interested in him. Why James still thinks she’s just playing hard to get is beyond me despite all of us telling him otherwise.”

“... Good, because he doesn’t have a snowball's chance in hell.”

“That’s harsh, but I guess not untrue. Anyway, let’s go?”

And go they did. To the trio’s surprise, he avoided the prank shop, rightfully believing Marlene wouldn’t be interested and instead just walked around the borough. When he tried to direct them to Madam Puddifoot's tea shop - the place to go for dates - he quickly changed his mind when he saw Marlene’s cringing. The witch was all woman and liked womanly things but she had limits. The tea shop was one of those and both felt relieved when they went to the Three Broomsticks instead. Their conversation around a few butterbeers was about post Hogwarts. Sirius was very interested in Marlene’s intent in being a career duellist. They talked about which spell to use in what situation and the different chain spells in her arsenal. He was especially amused when one of them turned out to be cooking charms.

“That spell is to tender the meat, I think it’s appropriate to use it in a duel!” she argued. “It’s so easy to use, you can do it wordlessly and the wand movement is simple and fast. While it doesn’t do any real damage directly, after three or four your body is quite sore all over.”

“You have to deal with the pain, possibly numbness which can distract you. Clever. Huh, maybe I should try that in a fight.” he seriously pondered about it.

“If your aim is good you can take down anyone in one shot.”

“Oh?”

“Hmhm. I won the Greek national U-17 with it last summer. Used it in the finals right onto the guy’s crotch. He passed out. ”

Sirius exploded in laughter when he heard that. While in the back of his mind he was a bit appalled at Marlene’s ruthlessness, he didn’t miss on how useful the spell could be. Why learn complicated and difficult spells when a simple cooking charm could One Hit Knock Out your opponent?“I hope you give me a warning first if you ever intend to use it on me.”

“To be fair the guy deserved it, he was a pig. As for giving you a warning, why should I? Are you going to behave like a pig too?” her eyes narrowed and Sirius knew she met business.

“Nope! I’m good! I may not be a perfect gentleman but being a pig is a bar too low for me.”

The conversation shifted to Sirius who had the desire to become either an auror or a hit-wizard. That surprised Marlene a bit and she shared it.

“Is it that shocking?”

“You spent the last six years breaking the rules. Imagining you enforcing them is… almost ironically funny. I would have thought that with all your prankings, sense of adventure and your family’s knowledge on curses you’d become a curse breaker.”

“Huh… Never thought of that.” he pondered the idea seriously.

“You’d tour the world, encounter many dangerous situations and work for the goblins which I’m sure your mother would love.” He snorted at the idea. Working for a ‘lesser race’? It might very well kill the mad woman out of shame. He liked it. “You’re just missing your OWL in arithmancy. On the other hand fighting for what’s right is kinda your thing so being an auror is not so far fetched.”

“It’s a bit late for me to study arithmancy.” Sirius chuckled.

“You could always pass your OWL on it after Hogwarts. From what Lily and Rick told me, it’s a rather easy subject if you have some logic.”

“Of course they would say that. Those too are like… ravenclaws in disguise! Who in their right mind would go for thirteen NEWTs?!”

That was all Marlene needed to react with dismay and a bit of outrage. “I know! Believe me, I know! They even study in their spare time!”

“Those brainies are completely barmy!”

“YES!”

Hidden under the invisibility cloak on a stool at the bar counter, both ‘brainies’ were containing their laughter as best as they could. Lily at least, since Rick was in crow form and couldn’t laugh.

Marlene and Sirius drank a few more butterbeers and talked a bit more before it was time to go back to the castle. They were so lost in their talk that they went back to Hogwarts on foot instead of using a carriage. Something that Lily and Rick did to get back to the castle before them. They had told Marlene they would spend the day in the girls room and they knew she’d go straight there.

She did. She didn’t even pay attention that both her best friends were just cuddling on the bed and were reading a book. She just went straight for Rick’s trunk and rummaged through it before she picked up his turntable, a few vinyls then went right back out.

“Oh, she got it bad.” said Lily with a giggle.

“We need to see this.”

“That we do.”

Rick morphed into a crow and went back to his own room, flying through the window and took back his human form. When he climbed down the stairs to the common room he could hear ‘We are the Champions’ from Queen playing loudly. He saw Lily arriving at the same time at the bottom of the girls’ stairs and they exchanged a look and a smile. Discreetly they sat on a couch behind the burgeoning couple who were having fun singing around the turntable near the window. They were surprised to see Sirius knew the song as it was muggle. Marlene had been introduced to muggle music the previous year at Christmas.

““ARE THE CHAMPIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOONNNNSS~~””

The fact that both Marlene and Sirius were singing so badly while being so into it made the secret couple laugh. Loud enough to be found out.

“What are you doing here?!” Marlene was hiding her embarrassment.

With a Cheshire smile, Lily came up with the first excuse that popped into her mind. “It’s the common room. We’re just lazing around.”

Marelene was more than incredulous. “YOU lazing around?! Lily, you don’t even know what lazing around means!”

“Ouch, that hurts.”

“And you?!” The blonde witch looked at her male best friend.

“Me? I heard music, I heard Queen so of course I’ll come check it out. Especially when I’m technically the only one with muggle music taste who has a working turntable in the whole castle.” Rick’s defense was way better than Lily’s.

“Don’t you have better things to do?!”

““No”” the Cheshire grins her friends had on her face when they answered her infuriated even more.

“I’m surprised you know Queen, Sirius.” Lily changed the topic.

“Oh? Well… Since anything muggle is pissing my mother off, I made a point to get to know things about them. Got to say, they sure made good music. I discovered the band this summer while I was visiting muggle London.”

Rick and Lily looked at each other then back at Sirius.

“He’s being seduced by the dark side. Should we drag him more into it?”

“Oh, we’re doing this, alright.” answered Lily which made Sirius scoff.

“I’m pretty sure you won’t turn me into a dark wizard.”

“What?!” Lily exclaimed in confusion while Rick began laughing.

“The dark side, Sirius, is a new muggle thing. It’s from a movie which came out this year. Basically the dark side is evil and seduces people. In our case here, the dark side is the muggle side. Uncultured, uncivilized and all.”

“What we meant was to make you discover the many good things muggle came up with that magicals certainly don’t have. Like Rock ‘N’ Roll.”

“It’s not like you can stop the conversion. Look at Marlene. She wants a turntable for Christmas.”

“Come on! There are plenty of things we’ll teach you that you can enjoy and piss your mother off at the same time!” Lily’s argument was very tempting, like the dark side always is, and after thinking about it for a whole tenth of a second, Sirius agreed.

“Deal!”

Marlene rolled her eyes and knew that her date was more or less over. At least as a one on one with Sirius. It was now a double date even if Sirius didn’t know about it. When ‘We will Rock you’ came up she commented that they should play that before each quidditch game.

“Hell yeah! That’d pumped everyone in the team up!” of course Sirius found the idea to be pure genius.

“And intimidate the other team if all Grinffyndors, even the alumni, tap their feet and clap their hands. We’ll have to find a way to broadcast the song across the whole stadium.”

“Not that difficult.” Lily commented.

“You’re thinking of Sonorus runes carved onto each tower linked to the turntable?”

“Yes. We’d have to hide it so the faculty doesn’t find it and put a stop to it but yes.  Connecting the runes to the turntable is the difficult part though not that complex.”

“A transfer rune? Or we could just use the same method as for the wireless.”

“That could work.”

“See what I’ve been enduring for six years?” Marlened turned to Sirius with an amused look.

He couldn’t help himself and snorted. They turned the music back on while Rick and Lily kept talking in detail about how they could do it.That first date turned to many more and by Christmas, Marlene and Sirius were officially dating. In consequence, Rick and Lily’s sexual activities with her stopped though they did keep on cuddling and snuggling. The blonde too got used to having someone by her side while sleeping and she wasn’t giving up on it anytime soon.