The feeling of falling woke Ophelia and, like always, she found herself wide awake. Frustrated, she turned over and blindly felt for her wand on the beside table; how much Ophelia wished they had electricity at the school grew more in this moment. Once she had the wand grasped in her hand she cast 'lumos', first she checked the rusty clock beside her and read it was 3:15am; this caused an almost inaudible groan to leave Ophelia's mouth.

"Why can't I just sleep like a normal person?" Ophelia whispered to nobody but herself. But this originally rhetorical question sparked the second thing Ophelia decided to check. Pointing her wand towards the bedside table she looked for the potion bottle of the sleeping draught. What she saw made her stomach do a little somersault, she had drank all of it. So why, again, was she woken up? In her head she made a mental note to speak with Minnie about this, have a stronger dose made.

Knowing there was absolutely no chance to fall asleep again, Ophelia decided to repeat Saturday nights events. Drinking the Chamomile reminded her of the summer she spent with Minnie, how Minnie was always there to soothe her. Ophelia wished she had that now, or someone else at least. But maybe it was just as much her pride as it was fear stopping her from telling people.

Ophelia wasn't sure how much time had passed, other than that she had read 5 chapters of 'The Da Vinci Code' when the creaking of stairs pulled her attention away. But even if she didn't have ears like a wolf, she would have definitely heard the 'thud'. Someone had missed the bottom step or maybe two.

"Oh my gosh are you ok?" Ophelia stood quickly and headed over to the person.

"Um, uh, why are you here?" The boy lifted his head slowly.

"Peter?"

"Hi."

"Are you ok?" Ophelia knelt down to him and noticed a small bump forming on his head. "You need ice."

Peter sat on the floor still, a bit phased, more likely because he was fast asleep. But also in admiration watching how Ophelia bustled about, summoned a bowl, towel and then turned water into ice.

"Can you stand?" Ophelia pressed the compress she had just made onto his forehead, which caused Peter to let out a small hiss. "Sorry, let's get you sat. Where on earth were you going, I don't normally see you about."

"I wanted food."

"You decided at, what like four am, that you wanted food?" Ophelia watched as Peter took a seat on the sofa, before deciding to sit down opposite him.

"Yep, I needed pancakes." Peter explained in a slight whisper, almost like he was embarrassed.

"You do realise breakfast doesn't start yet?"

"I was going to the kitchens."

"Kitchens? We have kitchens?"

"Oh no, I shouldn't have said that." Peter slapped his head but in doing so hit the bump on his head. "Owwwwwww." His bottom lip began to tremble and it took a lot for Ophelia not to laugh at the dramatics. But then pain is different to everybody, and clearly Peter was in some sort of pain.

"Let me have another look." Ophelia stood and gently took the compress away from Peter's head. "I think you're just going to be left with a little bump, it might be completely gone by tomorrow. Just take it easy."

"Thank you, do you want to be a healer?"

"Huh?" Ophelia took a moment to register what Peter meant by healer, before remembering that all the nurses at St Mungo's were in fact called Healers. "Oh, uh I don't know really. I'm quite liking the idea of working with animals or something though. Why'd you ask?"

"Just you seemed to know exactly what to do when I fell."

"Oh, I'm just super clumsy so I end up doing things like this all the time." Ophelia smiled, to mask the lie. "So, tell me more about these kitchens?"

"They're really cool, you're not meant to go there, but we found it once and the elves are super friendly and they give you whatever you want and they don't care how much you want and the food is amazing and-" Peter was oblivious to the fact Ophelia had deliberately changed the conversation and instead was overly excited to explain the kitchens. Ophelia loved how excited something so seemingly minuscule made Peter ramble on. "Please don't tell Professor McGonagall, James and Sirius would definitely hate me if I ruined it."

"Don't worry, I wouldn't tell her, if anything I want to know where it is now. But more importantly, I don't think James or Sirius would ever hate you." Ophelia watched as Peter nervously fiddled with his jumper. "By any chance is this why you're wanting pancakes at 4am? Is it playing on your mind?"

"Do you think I'm cool?" Peter muttered.

"Do you want me to be honest?" Peter didn't looked ecstatic with Ophelia's response, but Ophelia decided to carry on. "I think, you shouldn't worry about what I think. Being yourself is much more important than being what you think others expect. I see a kind boy with a secret sense of humour. What I also know, from just a couple months of being here, James and Sirius wouldn't let anyone be their friends. They see you for something you just haven't discovered in yourself, and that's ok. Loving ourself isn't easy."

"You sound like Remus. That's something he would probably say."

"I'll take that as a compliment, I think."

"Uh, it was meant to be a compliment. D-do you really think they like me?" Peter stammered slightly at the end.

"I do, one hundred percent. Now I think you're well enough to go get that pancake." Ophelia smiled and stood to take one last check at Peter's head. "Yep, all good."

"Thank you for this, do you - do you want to come with me meaning you're well awake? Actually why are you awake?" Peter had already stood excited to head to the kitchens.

"I don't sleep well, but meaning I'm keeping the kitchen a secret from Minnie, could you keep that a secret in return?"

"Deal." Peter grinned, again he seemed to ignore anything Ophelia said about herself, instead looking for something exhilarating like keeping a secret. He reached his hand forward with his pinky out.

"I pinky promise." Ophelia laughed and clasped her pink round his. "And no thank you, you go enjoy your pancake. I'll see you later, ready for our incredible prank."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"Mooooornningggggg." Sirius skipped down the stairs into the common room.

"Black are you ok? You're happy this early in the morning?" Marlene, who was already stood ready to leave through the portrait, headed over to Sirius and placed the back of her hand to his forehead. "Nah, you're not hot at all."

"I'll have you know I'm the hottest person in this room." Sirius winked at Marlene. "The reason I am so excited, well you'll have to wait and see. Now where is Fi?" Sirius scanned the room until she heard some girly giggles behind him. Walking down the stairs was Ophelia taking a piggyback from Dorcas.

"Did I hear the hottest person in this room call for me?" Ophelia jumped off of Dorcas, mocking Sirius' voice at parts.

"I'll let that slide for now but yes, come on major prep is needed. Breakfast is off the cards." Sirius grabbed Ophelia's arms and pulled her out of the portrait hole. "We're meeting the boys in the courtyard, they have some snacks."

Ophelia laughed, despite her efforts to hold it in. Actually she continued to laugh as they walked down the moving staircases, clutching her stomach in a final attempt to stop herself. A sudden dirty look from Sirius made her stop.

"What's so funny." Sirius stopped and crossed his arms.

"You, you just take this so seriously." Ophelia really tried to suppress a second outbreak of laughing, but ended up sputtering out her words.

"It is serious and I am Sirius." Sirius continued to walk now knowing it wasn't down to his looks that made her laugh, but not before shooting a playful wink to Ophelia. Ophelia was beginning to realise that this was somewhat a signature move of the lad.

Just as Sirius had said, the rest of the Marauders were waiting in the courtyard, sat in an incomplete circle. Ophelia and Sirius took a seat in the circle, or at least Ophelia attempted to before being tackled into a hug from James.

"What was that for?" Ophelia tried to shuffle out of James' grip, she still didn't feel one hundred percent safe with James, like any male really, but she was starting to relax with each hug.

"Because you're my bestie."

"You're too optimistic Potter."

"Ouch the last name, you hurt me right here." James pointed to his heart, well what he thought was your heart.

"James, your heart is on the other side." Remus chuckled. Ophelia looked up to Remus with a smile, who smiled in response but quickly turned his head away.

The five of them discussed the prank whilst eating, or for Ophelia drinking a smoothie. She wasn't sure how they knew she'd only want a smoothie, but it meant a lot to her. The plan was relatively simple, much to the boys shock. Only two things were really needed - a distraction and the prank 'planters'. They didn't have much time either, they all wanted the prank finished before first lesson so that they could witness the aftermath. With one final run over of the details, they headed back into the castle to begin the prank.

Firstly James and Sirius headed into the Great Hall; Peter, Remus and Ophelia waited outside just out of view.

"Oh Minnie, you look even more beautiful today than normal."

That was the signal, Minnie was still in the Great Hall. With that, the three left for the Transfiguration classroom hoping that James and Sirius would be able to distract the Professor long enough so that she wouldn't be 'early' like usual to class.

Again, shocking the remaining two boys, Ophelia opened the door to the classroom with no spell.

"She trusts her students, plus she knows no one would dare enter normally." Ophelia explained before ushering the two in. The three got to work, transfiguring certain objects. It took them less than ten minutes between the three of them. Giving them enough time to leave and head back towards the Great Hall.

Ophelia wasn't exactly sure how the rest of the day was to plan out. But one thing was for sure, Transfiguration class was bound to be interesting.

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The approaching footsteps click-clacked down the stones hallway. A clipped voice soon followed.

"You boys have made me late to my own class, never have I dealt with such foolishness. Now get in line." Professor McGonagall gave one last stern look to the culprits before heading to the front of the line. "Good morning Year 4."

"I think we pissed her off just enough." James appeared beside Ophelia ear, whispering the sentence.

"You weren't meant to piss her off though, just distract." Ophelia replied through clenched teeth.

"Oops. We're done for then." James replied, yet rather than looked scared his smile grew in size. Ophelia on the other hand didn't believe Minnie was annoyed in the slightest by the boys, just aggravated by the fact she couldn't prep for class. This was exactly the place Ophelia wanted her to be.  An aggravated Minnie meant a less focused Minnie, which meant Minnie should just -

"You may enter now, take a seat at your desks in silence." Minnie would do just this, let the class in before walking in herself. Purely as an attempt to show her authority to James and Sirius one last time.

Students began to enter, a few paused on entrance before being pushed aside. Some were oblivious and just walked to their own seats. But a few giggled, loud enough to earn a scolding from the Professor on the other side of the wall.

"What is all this giggling about." Minerva didn't wait for the final student to enter the classroom, expecting to find a student engaging in mindless foolery. She definitely didn't expect what she was faced with.

"Oh. My. Merlin." James stopped behind Minnie and looked around in awe.

Where usually Minerva's large wooden desk sat was now a fabric tree. It was sectioned into four with platforms, some filled with toys others replaced with a bed. To the left of the mystery tree was a box labelled 'Toys' and to the right were two bowls; one filled with milk, the other filled with food. Along the floor, down the aisle leading to the front of the classroom, was a trail of leaves, one that Minerva's cat senses recognised to be Catnip.

The Professor kept silent as she walked slowly up the aisle, something that unnerved the entire class but even more so the Marauders and Ophelia. Just as she went to address the class, in an attempt to ignore the current scenery, her eyes spotted something in the back corner of her classroom. A litter tray.

"Which one of you blithering baboons did this to my classroom." The Professor kept her face straighter than a poker face. The only response she got was a few hushed whispered and some scrapes of wood against wood.

"We didn't discuss this part, do we tell her?" James whispered to Ophelia.

"Oh, us three came up with one last idea. Did you want to do the honours?" Ophelia grabbed James' hand and placed the final part of the prank into it.

"Amazing."

"Potter, do you have some information you're trying to share?" For a fraction of a second the corners of Professor McGonagall's mouth twitch upwards, until her conscious mind asserted control once more.

"Actually Minnie, I do. I think you dropped this." James raised his hand and a jingle followed. "I'm glad you take house pride so seriously." Unclenching his hand, James showed hanging over his finger the mystery item. With an almost missable nod of the head from Minnie, the object flew from James' hand to the Professor's.

"Detention Potter, every night this week."

"Worth it."

"Black, Pettigrew, Lupin. You will be joining Potter." Minevera, still refraining a smile, diverted her eyes back to James, or rather someone else. "You as well Miss McGonagall, you seem to have forgotten who taught you the desk to tree incantation." Turning her back to the class, Minerva let the stern mask slip to reveal a smile whilst she incanted 'reparifarge' to the objects in the room; apart from one.

"It seems our Transfiguration skills are very high in this class, I think a theory lesson is needed instead of a practical." Groans filled the classroom, with many muttering annoyance at the Marauders. "Parchment and quills out please, we will be looking at Flintifors." Sitting down at her returned desk, Minerva opened the draw and placed the prank keepsake inside. Smiling down at the red and gold cat collar, with a fish tag engraved with 'Minnie' and a bell attached, she then continued with a serious face.

"3o points to Gryffindor fo exceptional Transfiguration skills and immense but foolish bravery to prank me."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"Fi, that was amazing, McGonagall's face." Dorcas took a seat next to Ophelia in the Library.

"Honestly, you joining forces with the Marauders was not something I foresaw, and you're utterly crazy for doing it, but it was rather thrilling." Lily took a seat opposite them.

"I can't lie, I had lots of fun." Ophelia really did, she felt like the child she was never able to be during this prank. The laughter that had left her mouth recently was pure and proving to be  the best medicine. Laughing is a signal of feeling safe, and that was exactly how the Marauders were helping Ophelia to feel. "Where is Marls?"

"With Sirius." Ophelia noticed how Dorcas' energy changed when mentioning the pair, like the light behind her eyes dulled slightly. Rather than pressure Dorcas to talk, Ophelia made the mental note to keep an eye on the pair.

Meanwhile, behind one of the tall book shelves that were basically room dividers, sat three out of the four Marauders. Peter was sat doodling the top of his parchment, Remus was attempting to write an essay but was finding it increasingly difficult because James was poking him with a quill.

"Moony." Poke. "Moony." Jab. Prod. "Mooooonnyyyyy."

"SHHH." A hissing voice belonging to the vulture like librarian attempted to quiet James.

"Moony you can't keep avoiding my questions."

"What questions?" Peter stopped perfecting his stick man drawing in interest.

"You see Peter, I caught a lovesick Moony the other day." This earned James an eyeroll from Remus.

"You saw nothing of the sort."

"I did. Peter, cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. His mouth was like this." James opened his mouth wide.

"Was it," Peter lowered his voice and took a quick glance around the room, "Fi?"

"BONGO!" James stood up at lightning speed, punching his fist in the air. Earning multiple stares and an even harsher "shh" from Madam Pince.

"It's bingo you git." Remus grabbed onto James' sleeve and yanked him down, but James ignored him and continued his story.

"Moony here won't admit it though."

"I like Fi, her and Remus are very alike, they would be perfect." Peter whispered, even though James continued to talk aloud. "She helped me the other night, she's very kind."

"Plus she is related to Minnie and we all love Minnie."

"And she is very pretty." James looked up to Peter after that statement in confusion, before it clicked. Peter was being secretly sly, one of his greatest talents.

"Oh yes beautiful blue eyes."

"She's super clever too, probably smarter than Lily."

"You're right, to be honest I think you and Ophelia would suit." James and Peter exchanged a grin, they could see Remus' brow twitching, a sign he was indeed listening.

"M-me? You think so?"

"Oh 100%, Moony you wouldn't -?"

"Stop." Remus sighed and looked up to his two friends. "Whatever you two are doing its working."

"What do you mean Moony?" James cupped his face between his hands, leaning forward on his elbows, a childish look on his face.

"I'm getting this weird feeling in my stomach because-" Remus opened his mouth to continue but quickly closed it again to reconsider. "Fuck, I can't do this." Remus scratched his neck to try and lose the anxious feeling inside of him. "I can't date, you know that."

"Why?" Peter looked genuinely confused.

"Because I'm a monster."

"Oh not this again, you become a furry animal once a month. Yes it's bloody scary and unfair, but it isn't you." James felt sympathy towards his best friend, he just wishes he could shake him until he realised how amazing he was.

"I'm not talking about it anymore James, I'll be her friend but that's final." Remus shoved his chair back and stood. "I'm sorry if that isn't the answer you wanted."

"Moony don't go."

But it was too late Remus was walking out the library leaving all his belongings behind, his shoulders slumped down in defeat. His sudden, yet quiet, departure caught the attention of the girls whilst he passed.

"Is he ok?" Lily asked.

"Who?" Ophelia turned herself around. "Rem, maybe I should check on him?" Ophelia began to pack her thing but a small voice startled her.

"Um excuse me." A small first year Hufflepuff had approached their table. "C-can I ask you a question?"

"Me sweetie?" Dorcas pointed at herself with a smile.

"No, um, you." The girl looked around Dorcas to meet Ophelia's face.

"I guess?" Ophelia was slightly confused by the approach.

"M-my friend says you are Lia Montgomery, b-but that's not your name is it?" Ophelia felt her heart stop at the name mention.

"No lovely, my name is Ophelia McGonagall. I don't know who that person is, sorry." A small smile was forced onto Ophelia's face to try and mask the panic. But she also couldn't help but feel guilty that this girl was actually right and now may be laughed at by her friends. After a few more friendly words, the young girl left the table, leaving Ophelia a moment to catch her breath. But also a moment for Lily's final puzzle piece to to fit.

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