Chapter 24: House Rivalry.
"Look snakes" Sirius shouted like an excited kid in a zoo when we got off the train and onto the busy platform. Despite the noise from passing students, the group heard him and glared before getting into one of the horseless carts. Remus quickly began to scold the older boy just like a parent would while James, Naomi, Peter and I stayed in the background snickering. "It was only a joke besides we're at war with them remember?" Sirius argued back getting many confused looks from first years passing by. I had completely forgot that they would have no idea about the giant prank war and I felt bad for those getting roped in when they have just started Hogwarts.
"If you two are going to make a scene, at least do it elsewhere or wait until later. Your forgetting that the new students have no idea what your on about so wait until after dinner for Dumbledore to tell them" I cut in dragging the duo over to an empty cart. The other boys and Naomi had already got in and were just waiting on us (or me to bring the others I guess) who climbed in and shut the door. After a few minutes of talking about anything that sprung to mind, we began to move up the hill towards the castle looming over the land. From a few carts ahead, we could hear the loud laughing from the Slytherins we passed by earlier along with another and every now and again, the one we didn't see earlier would sneer at us all but mainly at me. I didn't know why every look was mainly aimed at me but they were. Sirius seemed to of been the only one who really noticed the Slytherins and shuffled closer to me as a way of protection which I didn't mind.
To be completely honest, I did like the sense of protectiveness that radiated off of him. I knew that if something was too happen to any of our group, he would be right there to take matters into his own hands. The boy obviously didn't care about punishment whether that be a detention or being expelled but did care for our safety which was one of the things I admired in him.
"Can I punch them?" James asked, breaking me out of my thoughts. Remus immediately asked who he was talking about but it was fairly obvious who. "The snakes, don't think I can't see their ugly faces looking at us" he spat sending a glare in their direction.
"You'll have enough time to annoy them when we win this prank war. You just have to be patient" I smirked, glancing over at the carriage. One of the boys glared in my direction but didn't dare look at our carriage for long when he saw James and Sirius glaring back. I roll my eyes and shake my head slightly. It was going to be a long year...
* * *
"Regulus Black" Mcgonagall called in front of the staff table in the Great Hall not long after we'd arrived. A tallish boy with short curly hair, strutted out of the crowd of first years with a small smirk upon his face. He sent a quick glance at Sirius only letting his smirk grow wider which didn't stop when he sat down on the stall. The hat quickly sorted him into Slytherin as the next student was to be called.
"Sirius, who was that?" I question recognizing Regulus' last name. I had a feeling that they had something to do with each other which could quite possibly resolve around his family. The boy had never told us much about the Black family but from what I heard, they weren't nice people so it was quite understandable.
"That would be my brother or 'mummy's perfect little angel' as we like to call him" Sirius spat. From each side of the hall, the Black siblings glared at each other showing their hatred for one another whilst the sorting ceremony continued in the background.
To his left, I squeezed his forearm, breaking away his attention from the new Slytherin. "Just ignore him okay?" I whisper. Sirius nods and stared down at his plate whilst we waited for dinner to be served. I had released my grip on his arm but the Gryffindor still stuck close to my side. We wait for a while until the sorting ceremony was over and we all ate dinner joking about as usual. Sometimes I would catch Sirius glancing over to the table at the other side of the room, but I would kick him under the table to stop him. He stopped ever single time and sent me apologetic looks, which I reply with one as if to say 'don't do it again'.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts or for some of you, welcome to your first year at Hogwarts. As usual we have a few start of term notices I need to announce before reminding you all of the big event starting tomorrow" Dumbledore addressed us all. A few students perk up as they heard about the event but most of us already knew so we wasn't that interested in listening. James, Peter and Sirius being three of them as they all had mini sword fights with muggle toothpicks that I brought for their entertainment. I wouldn't of brought them originally but whatever shut them up. "The Forbidden Forest which can be found on the edge of the school grounds is forbidden to all students and a few extra items have been added to the list of banned items which can be located in our lovely caretaker, Mr. Filches office" the headmaster continued. Two of the boys (guess who) snorted and tried their best to hold their laughter when Dumbledore addressed the caretaker, all of us knowing how much of a nuisance he would be when we take part in the giant house war.
"Now starting tomorrow, will be a big competition between all four of our houses. This marvelous idea was proposed by a group of six students at the end of last year- those six know who they are -and will finally begin this year. I hope you will all watch your step this year, you never know what sort of trap you could fall into. You certainly wouldn't want a prank to be pulled by a fellow house earning them five points and getting them closer to a win in the competition now would you? Each of the house leaders will be the prefects of that house so all ideas must be told to them. As havoc fills our school, you must remember that being caught by a member of staff or the head students will resolve in whatever punishment they chose to give you as well as two points being taken off for each person caught. I wish you all luck, now off to bed..." Excited whispers echoed throughout the hall as Dumbledore finished announcing the grand event. Many of the students, seemed to really be looking forward to it however other's, not so much.
"Well this is going to be a fun year" James smirked leading us out of the Great Hall among the many other students. Naomi was one nearby and joined our group up as we trailed up the marble staircase and spoke.
"It really is, and I will be closer to you guys as well. Over the summer, Dumbledore decided to give me a dorm in Gryffindor Tower so I won't have to be sleeping on the floor anymore". My eyes light up as we reached another landing, waiting for the stairs to turn in our direction.
"That's great Nomi, who are your dorm mates though?" I ask leading the group.
"I don't have any. The thing is the room isn't that big really so there was only room for one bed. I'm mostly going to be hanging around with you guys anyway so it doesn't really matter."
"Why didn't you tell us before?!" We all shout drawing a lot of attention to us.
A mischievous smirk appears on the girl's face. "Because we have some pranking to do..."