"I don't care! I could honestly care more about a single thread of hair on someone else's head more than I care about what you have to say!" Connelly bursts, turning on her heel to face my replacement. James and Sirius halt with wide eyes while the rest of the team hurriedly walks past the scene.

Our captain continues, this time with an arm extended towards me, "She knows the move, she gave Kaur time to move, and the move worked. You felt so threatened that you risked one of your teammates and one of my players! You're off the team! That's it!" Connelly shoves a hand out at Greene so she stops while the captain continues on with Kaur cradling her arm. "Hope you're ready to play, Ackley." I blink as she addresses me.

"Absolutely, yes," I answer her back as she moves on with Kaur.

"Good!" She shouts back without stopping even for a second. Awkwardly, those left behind look back at Monica. She's seething as she stares at me, especially when Sirius slides beside me and wraps an arm around my waist. For a moment I think she may be about to hex me, but she just storms past us while we jump out of the way. The tension in all of us fades and the excitement from earlier returns.

"You won. You're in the finals." I breathe, turning and grinning at Sirius. He looks to me as a grin of his own takes over his face.

"We're in the finals, love." He reiterates as his arms wrap around my waist. "And despite feeling sorry for Kaur, I'm glad it's earned me back my partner." I glow under his grey-blue eyes filled with affection and for a second, they flick to my lips.

"Don't be selfish, Pads, the whole team will be thrilled to have you back!" James tosses an arm around my shoulders and jostles me out of Sirius' arms as we all head up the path.

"No drinks in Hogsmeade this time?" I ask and both boys shake their heads.

"Never leave anyone behind. Since Kaur's hurt and Connelly won't leave her side, the team won't go without them." James explains before glancing over at Lily. "Can't be my arm candy tonight, Evans, but what about this Saturday we grab a butterbeer?" He says swaggering over to her as I shake my head and retreat towards Sirius. Lily grits her teeth as her eyes roll towards James whose Adam's apple bobs.

"I'm not sure if you could have possibly asked that in a more insulting way, but hey, your idiocy has surprised me for years." She snaps and James blinks as we pause along with him while Lily stomps away.

"Will he ever learn, do you think?" I barely whisper and Sirius smirks.

"Love is hard, love." My eyes flash to his, but the depths give nothing away. We walk back up to the common room in relative silence excepting James grumbling about women which earns him a slap or two from me. James and Sirius head to the showers while I, Remus, and Peter settle in the common room in front of the fire. People peter out before the boys arrive just in time for some hot chocolate with just a little bit of Emmaline's firewhiskey added. Once everyone is gone, I shed James's quidditch sweater and relax in my pants and tank top.

"What did Monica say to you when she flew over, love?" Sirius asks after we all went through a play by play of the game. We're leaning back against the red sofa with his arm around my shoulders, James is to my right snagging treats from Peter, then Remus is opposite them finishing a cig. Sirius has his fingers skimming a few of my scars absentmindedly and I've only just stopped blushing at the fact.

"Oh right. She told me to stop distracting a certain beater that kept looking over at me during the game." I call him out and his eyebrows pop up in surprise while his cheeks tint a light pink.

"Phew, you've got all the girls chasing after you, Pads," James says and nicks a cookie from Peter's pile while Peter cutely toasts a marshmallow over the fire.

"Mm, well I'd prefer none threaten me, thank you very much," I respond, very much disgruntled at the thought of a crowd of girls running at Sirius. Although thoughts of my lineage quickly take over all my thoughts once again, as it has been for a while now. Should I tell them now? Should I tell them at all? What will they think? Will they think of me any differently? Will they still like me?

"Oi, Mane, where's your head?" James asks and I suddenly come back to reality. Anxiety suddenly hits me like a ton of bricks and I'm not quick enough to lie.

"Love, your heart just kicked up like you're running a marathon," Sirius says, voice now becoming concerned. I look around at the worried eyes on me before sighing.

"I have something to tell you all." I start and now I can hear my heart loud in my ears. I'm scared.

"Whatever it is, just keep in mind that they've never met a furry problem they didn't like, so don't be nervous." Remus teases gently and I try to grin at him but my smile comes out as more of a grimace. My hands wring themselves as I begin.

"So, the other day I was going down the passage beside Dumbledore's office-"

"There's a passage there?" James interrupts instantly and our group shoots him a look. "Sorry, sorry." He raises his hands and gestures for me to go on.

"I went down the passage and suddenly there were voices coming out of the walls all around me, then snakes started leaking from everywhere-"

"Snakes?" Peter squeaks and James runs a hand over his shoulder before I continue.

"Yes, snakes, but the thing is that they were the voices. I could understand them and even...speak to them." I break this first bit of news to them gently. My eyes look frantically between all of them as I try to gauge what they're thinking.

"You're a parseltongue?" Sirius speaks first and pulls away just enough to see my face properly. His blue eyes are wide and surprised, but there's no wariness in them. I nod.

"Blimey, Mane, that's cool," James says reassuringly. "Creepy but cool." He reaches over and squeezes my entwined hands while I look to a quiet Remus. His brows are furrowed over searching eyes.

"Parseltongue is hereditary, right? But your parents were muggles." He ponders as he tries to figure things out just as Lily and I had.

"Right. Which brings me to this next bit." I take a deep breath. These are my friends and I can trust them. Can't I? "Lily and I did some digging in the library and the only well-documented lineage of a parseltongue is...Salazar Slytherin." Heavy silence takes over the room. "His line goes down through the Gaunts, then a woman met a man with the last name Riddle." There isn't even the sound of breathing in the room anymore. Just the crackle of the fading fire and my heart thundering in my chest. "We asked the snakes and they confirmed it."

"No. No way." Sirius breathes and pulls his arm away from me so he can fully face me. The movement hurts even though it makes sense.

"Could they be lying?" Peter asks ever so quietly, but my head shakes.

"Why would they? There's no purpose to lie and they certainly wouldn't gain anything by it."

"You-know-who." James murmurs as if completely unaware of anything we've said since I revealed my lineage. "You're related to you-know-who. You." He's staring at the floor, but then his eyes slowly come up to meet mine.

"Right. And I know, believe me, I know this is a shock but-" Before I can finish, James just starts cackling. The loud sound makes us all jump and there's a strange pit in my stomach as I wonder whether I've driven James mad.

"Fucking hell, Mane, you're a beauty." He leans forward and crushes me to his chest. Half-worried and half-relieved, I return his hug whole-heartedly.

"James, are you quite alright?" I mumble with my words muffled against his shirt.

"Oh, I'm shocked of course, but you all must see how hilarious this is!" He exclaims and releases me only to put his hands on either side of my face. "You, a descendent of Salazar Slytherin and relative of you-know-who? A muggle-born Gryffindor that's more selfless, loving, and downright good than the bloody lot of us? Slytherin's no doubt turning in his grave!" James chortles before planting a solid kiss full on my lips with my eyes wide open staring at him. "You're brilliant." At this point, I'm nearly crying from relief as he releases me with a wide grin.

"Calm down there, Prongs, you'll give the poor girl whiplash," Remus says with a soft smile on his face while Sirius draws me close again with a slightly bewildered look at James.

"Didn't think we'd think of you differently for that, did you love?" He asks softly into my ear and my lips pull down.

"Yeah. You can't help who your parents are, Mane." Peter affirms and I shrug.

"Well, I know that. It's just...that's a lot! And after everything that has come to light with my uncle, there's a pretty good case to be made that my blood is just poison."

"No."

"No way."

"Not a chance."

"Nope." They all answer at once and I shrink into Sirius' side a bit at once again underestimating them.

"How could you think that, Mane?" James asks, but my eyes go to Remus and Sirius. They're eyes meet mine and I know that they understand. James follows my gaze and sighs, then scoots closer. "Now, you listen to me, Arell Ackley." He says and my eyes get big at his firm, serious tone. "This is the last time that you second-guess our undying love for you. We're in this. All this, your crazy weird stuff, Remus' furry problem, Sirius' family, Peter's sweet tooth, my incredibly troubling good looks, we're here for each other through all of it. No matter what. Marauders forever." He grins at our little circle as tears sting the back of my eyes. "Promise?" James asks me with fire in his eyes.

"Promise," Sirius answers first and my eyes whip to him as he puts his hand over James' and I's.

"Promise." Remus is next, adding his hand to the mix.

"Promise," Peter says and his hand is a little sticky from marshmallow as he adds it to the pile. James wipes away a tear that leaks from my eyes as I survey my friends.

"Promise," I swear, and everyone smiles. "Alright, time to hug me." Chuckles sound from all around as the boys pile onto me. My head is nestled into the crook of James' neck with one of my arms around him, Sirius' body is fit to mine with one arm over my shoulders under James. Remus is tugged close by Sirius so he's half draped over me and Sirius' lap with his long arms stretching to encompass James and Peter too. Peter is squished into James' side with his arm around him and his other arm doing its best to at least touch the rest of us.

We just stay there for a minute as we take in this unbelievable comradery that has formed in this unlikely hodge-podge family. It's only when Peter starts snoring that we laugh and part, James affectionately mussing the kid's hair as we straighten. A few of us clear our throats and look away as tears fade to make room for smiles.

"Think it's time for bed," Sirius says and rises to help a sleepy Peter to his feet. Remus groans as he stands and crackles as he stretches. The change really takes its toll on his bones. "Night, love." He bids along with a soft mumble from Peter.

"Night, Mane," James says and Remus just waves as we head up the stairs and vanish into our dorm rooms.

The next morning we're all at breakfast miraculously on time when the post comes in. I'm rigid as a board in my seat as I look for James' owl hopefully.

"Calm down, love." Sirius murmurs with a hand smoothing up my back. The distraction works well as I melt under his touch and turn towards that crooked smile. He certainly is touching me a lot for someone who is supposed to be deciding whether us is something he wants. I'm going crazy waiting.

"Hold on, there's Flea," James says and my head snaps up to find the huge horned owl weighed down by a parcel wrapped in brown paper. James and I both stand and take the parcel before the owl rounds and James tosses it some bacon before it shoots off. Peter and Remus clear enough of the table for us to set down the parcel, but as they open it, James nicks the letter pinned on top.

"What does it say?" I ask impatiently as his fingers rip the seal and he reads it across from me.

"James and Arell, we're so sorry that this response is late! We were away on business and only just came home to find your letter. Arell, sweetie, we're so sorry to hear of your injury! I wanted to come to the school, but Fleamont convinced me to stay. We have confidence in Madam Pomphrey and I do hope the boys are waiting on you hand and foot! Please write often, or have James write so that we can know how you're progressing. I made a few dozen cookies to lift your spirits. Note YOUR cookies to be shared with whom you wish. Boys, that means no stealing!" We glance over and I smirk at finding a cookie already filling Peter's cheeks. I wave them on and he huffs as well as he can in relief.

"We're so proud of you for helping Sirius and knowing you all keep each other safe helps with how much we miss you. I hope I'll be seeing all of you during spring break, but if not, I hope you have a good Easter. I send my love to you all and wish Arell a speedy recovery, dear! Remember to write!" James smiles and glances at me.

"This is dad's writing now. Messier." I nod before he continues. "Well, I'd been wondering when one of you was going to get into trouble, but I didn't think it would be you, Arell! What a save though, bet it was bloody brilliant. Don't tell Euphemia I said so. Hope you're all doing alright and are behaving especially like gentlemen towards Arell as she heals." I smirk as the boys shuffle slightly as they rethink whether they had been gentlemen or not. James goes on.

"Speaking of, Arell, the spoon holder you gave me is absolutely inspired! I may have you make more so I can have one for each cauldron. I can't seem to find anything to smooth crazy curls. If you have any ideas, send me an owl! Or, better yet, pop over for spring break and we'll work on it together. I miss having a helper! James, that includes you even though you blew up that one potion. Looking forward to seeing you lot! Don't get into too much trouble!" James folds the letter and hands it to me with a shake of his head.

"They rarely write to me that much, Mane. Guess you're the new favorite." He says but doesn't seem bothered at all by it. Quite the opposite. He's beaming over at me as I skim the letter myself.

"Guess it was inevitable. You are the best of us, love." Sirius says and I can't stop my cheeks from flushing.

"Hush, you lot." I scold lightly before peering into the emptying box of cookies to find at least five different dozens. Chocolate, cinnamon, chocolate chip, peanut butter, and one more that looks like an experimental cookie. "Wow." I breathe just before the bell rings for class.

"Last call," James says and I slip a few in a napkin as the others do the same, then James wraps it back up with a nod to me. I cast a simple spell that sends it to my room.

"Arithmancy for you first, right?" Remus asks and I nod with a sigh. He grimaces at the fact.

"Divination for you?" The boys nod and I smirk. "Not sure who I feel worse for." I tease and put smiles on their faces before we split.

"Arell!" A few feet ahead is Garrett and I grin at the sight of him. We fall into step beside one another as we walk to class, but when I glance back to wave at the boys, I find a dark expression on Sirius' face. He turns and vanishes around the corner while I'm left wondering what caused the sudden change.

*A/N*

I'm a sucker for some fluffy marauder times. <3