- Chapter Thirty-Six -
"Oh, shit."

"Mr. Scamander makes me smile."

The marauders were sat in their Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Professor Kettleburn was scraping some chalk against the blackboard, crafting some tasks for the class to get on with. Elladora was sat at a desk with Sirius, her 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them' book spread open in front of her as she read up on Glumbumbles.

Glumbumbles were magical grey, fury flying insects native to Northern Europe. They produced a treacle that induced melancholy in those who consume it. The treacle itself was used as an antidote to the hysteria caused by eating Alihotsy leaves. Glumbumbles nested in dark and secluded places and fed on nettles, they had been known to infest beehives, which had a disastrous effect on the honey produced from them.

Newt Scamander, a former Magizoologist, had written a book on all of the fascinating creatures that he had studied and even kept in his suitcase that he had charmed with the power to extend the interior, making a whole other world just inside his case. In this book, there was a whole ten-page chapter on Glumbumbles, including what they eat, what they're like and how they look. Mr. Scamander had included a lot of his own thoughts and opinions on the animals he writes about, which the chapter is mainly full of, but it's still very entertaining to read. Elladora seriously wants to meet him, she did her research and right now, he should be about 79 hopefully he still takes letters and fan mail.

"Who's Mr. Scamander?" Sirius questioned, pinching his eyebrows together, he was thoroughly disinterested in the work whilst Elladora's lips were twitching up at the way Newt described that acquiring a whole swarm of them was one of the best moments in his life. He seemed to have a lot of those.

"He's the author of the book you haven't opened." She looked over the book and Sirius, who flicked a piece of paper over at a Ravenclaw girl, who put a hand to the back of her head and swivelled around to see who had thrown it. Sirius only tuned his head abruptly to meet her eyes, the only facial feature that were peering over the hardback cover.

"Well, I don't want to read the book." He groaned and looked over at the board. "Great, we have to write an essay for homework." His body slumped back in his seat and he pretended to snore as Elladora glared at him slightly.

"Just look," She said and he opened one eye, watching as she placed the book down in front of them, the page to the left had an annotated illustration of a Glumbumble with some writing under it in scribbly handwriting, the next page was typed up with the adaptations that the creature had to go through and Newts thoughts on the process. "This man, Mr. Scamander, gives you everything you need to know about all the magical creatures that have been discovered in the Wizarding World, a lot of them had been discovered by him. This book is filled with drawings, facts and thoughts written by Mr. Scamander himself. I wouldn't have been able to get through my O.W.Ls without this book. I really recommend it, Sirius."

The boy heaved a large sigh and picked up the book, looking at the front cover and the back before thumbing through the pages. He turned back to the cover and traced the title as well as the name of the brilliant author that Elladora deeply admired.

"Why do you call him Mr. Scamander?" He asked, staring at the mans first name that was imprinted on the cover of the book.

"Oh, I only call my friends or acquaintances by their first names. Plus, I think he's far above my level of importance, so his significance should come first." She replied and grabbed her quill, dipping it into her ink pot to start sketching the Glumbumble like she was instructed to do.

"Well, I happen to think that you," Sirius placed her book back down on the page she needs and twisted in his seat to face her. "Miss Elladora Hargreaves, are of the highest level of importance and significance to me." He tapped her nose and she scrunched it up as he did so.

"Wow, I'm touched, but I still like Mr. Scamander more than you."

"Well, thats a beautiful sentiment."

"You're welcome." She smiled and rounded the body of the Glumbumble, having to dip her quill back into her ink pot several times. "He's practically my hero, I've read this book about 100 times and every time I find myself feeling like I know him."

"I know what you mean. I mean, I don't, but I do." Sirius shrugged.

"It doesn't matter." She waved it off, going back to the book.

"No, tell me." He whined and pulled on her arm when she lifted her quill from her paper so he wouldn't ruin her drawing. "Please." His lips pulled into a pout as he pulled the book towards him too. "What is so great about Newton Scamander?"

Her eyes lit up considerably as she leaned in closer so that they could both read together. "Mr. Scamander-"

"Newt."

"Newt, includes his own little commentary but written down like he's going into this mini rant and everything that he says is so truthful and honest when you really think about it. He loves these animals and I love how he loves them." She grinned and he smiled at her excitement and actually opened his own book and found the chapter on Glumbumbles.

•*•*•*•*•

After Care Of Magical Creatures, they had Defence Against The Dark Arts, in which Penhurst was considering more kind but still anxious towards Elladora. Avery stalked at the back of the classroom, glaring into the back of her head. She could definitely feel it, but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction, Remus had grinned at her when she just walked straight past him and his normal posse and towards the front of the classroom like 3 weeks hadn't passed.

In DADA, their Professor taught them about Dementors, which were what Elladora was explaining to the boys as they exited the classroom.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them." She explained to them, mostly James and Peter. "Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself... soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life."

"How the hell do you know so much?" James groaned and ran a hand over his face as they stopped in front of a large window seat that they could all sit down and rest in.

"Because she listens." Remus smiled and pulled out one of his Charms book, the sixth-year exams start just after the Easter Holidays, earlier than the fifth-year exams, but not so early that Remus should feel the need to study.

"Put the book away, Moony." Sirius sighed and continued to speak, but something else had caught Elladora's attention. Her smiling gaze travelled from the boys, to a group of passing Hufflepuff first-years, who smiled and waved at her, receiving a wave back and then they finally landed on a group of Slytherins which made her smile drop.

At the front of the group, was the boy she felt was like her brother. Regulus Black was stood tormenting Ravenclaw second-years, basking in the cheering and jeering from his new friends behind him. The second-years' eyes were wide with either fear or anxiety as they stared up at the older boy's intimidating gaze. This wasn't the Regulus she knew.

Her feet moved before her mind and she was already halfway across the corridor before she realised that she had left the boys back at the window seat, her grip tightened on the strap of her bag as she hiked it further up her shoulder. One of the Slytherins behind Regulus must've seen her coming as she turned to the boy next to her and whispered something.

"Reg," Elladora said when she stopped right next to the boy. He seemed to be caught off guard for a small moment before his eyes grew and he whirled around to face her.

"Elladora," He smiled. "When did you wake up?" His shoulders seem to relax the tiniest bit from whatever stance he was in, but Elladora still had her eyes glinting with confusion

"Can I talk to you?" She asked, glancing to the group of Slytherin, she now saw Avery and Mulciber hanging at the back of the group, watching both of their every move very carefully. "Alone."

"Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of all of us." One of the girls whispered, her eyes thick with eyeliner and lips tinted with the faintest black lipstick, it didn't quite suit her bleached blonde hair.

"Fine." Elladora looked straight at her before turning back to Regulus. "Why were you tormenting second-years? I thought that we were-"

"Why wasn't he tormenting second-years is the real question." Mulciber said with a smirk as he Avery and Snape all made their way to the front of the group.

"I'm not speaking to you." She glared and turned back to her friend, opening her mouth to say something else, but she didn't get a word out before Mulciber took his place in front of Regulus, looking down at her.

"You are now."

"I'd rather speak with Avery." She smiled sickly up at him and she could tell that he was taken aback as he glanced over to the boy himself, who strutted forwards and took his place. The rest of the Slytherins pulled Regulus back slightly.

"What do you want?" He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.

"What did you do to me?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"What?"

"I said," Her smile fell and she took a step closer so their chests were almost brushing. Avery didn't dare to even look back at someone else, she could already see the small light of fear in his eyes. "What did you do to me?"

"I told the teachers what I did to you, whole truth I swear to Merlin." He raised a hand to the ceiling and smirked.

"I've read nearly every single book in that library and not once have I ever come across a book with the words 'Sectumsempra'." She seethed and his stupid smirk remained on his face. "So where the hell did that spell come from?" Her voice rose slightly and his smirked dropped as he glared, stepping closer to her.

"Keep your voice down or I'll do worse to you."

"I'd like to see you try." She threatened and slipped her wand out from inside the pocket of her robe, holding it up to his chest and jabbing him with it.

"You're right," He mocked realisation. "I should go after one of your little boy toys instead. How about Lupin-"

Slap.

"You leave them out of this." Her voice carried across the corridor with the sound of her palm slamming against his cheek and every other conversation ceased. "This is between you and me!"

Another slap.

But this time, her head was the one that flew to the side. She scoffed and turned back to Avery, who had just smacked his own hand against her face. He opened his mouth to start talking again, maybe to threaten her again, but he didn't get anything out before a fist collided with his nose.

Sirius Black had punched Avery in the face and was now shaking his hand out as the boy stood up with a hand on his nose, some blood spewing out of it. Elladora stood with her mouth agape as she felt the hands of Remus Lupin on her shoulders, pulling her back.

Avery launched back at Sirius, punching him instead. This is when James stepped in, pushing the Slytherin away from his best friend, but then Mulciber got involved and the four of them engaged in a fight.

"Come on!" Sirius shouted at Avery who lunged forward again, trying to get to him, but the Gryffindor fought him off as James punched Mulciber once again.

A ring of students gathered around the group and they were all making winces and groans as they started getting more and more aggressive.

Elladora glanced back at Remus, who shrugged and shook his head. Peter was just shocked and frozen in the moment as he stood watching the fight, occasionally cheering under his breath when one of the Marauders managed to land a hit. The girl turned back just in time to see Snape approaching Sirius from behind, she scoffed and gave Remus her bag and Peter her cloak. Both boys started to shake their heads and try to keep her back, but she had already run in and jumped on Snape's back, successfully distracting him from Sirius.

Regulus Black was fleeing from the scene, breathing heavily as Snape tried to hit Elladora off, but she was quite content with making him spin around in circles, trying to shake her. It kept him away from Sirius and it was actually quite fun. Remus ran a hand over his face as she started laughing whilst the boy she was on, was swearing. Peter had never been so in love in his life.

"Enough!" A voice shouted and everything ceased, Elladora jumped off of Snape's back and tried to balance herself with the help of Remus. All of them turned to see Professor McGonagall red with anger, glaring at Mulciber, Avery, Snape, James, Sirius, Elladora and even Remus and Peter.

"Oh, shit."

•*•*•*•*•