𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐂𝐊𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄
chapter seven; Pre-Teen Heartbreak
" It's not mean, it's a prank. "

MARCH 4, 1973
HOGWARTS CASTLE

  SALEM GERARD HAD told Dottie Fitzgerald that she had a massive crush on Sirius Black. This, of course, was obvious to everyone, but it still felt heavy and Dottie giggled with her redhead counterpart after hearing it.

  "Do you want me to see if he likes you back?" Dottie giggled, both girls sitting beneath Salem's comforter, whispering as if it wouldn't reach the ears of dormmates.

  "Maybe," Salem said shyly, "He probably doesn't."

  "I'll ask Lupin," Dottie said, "He'll probably know— and if Sirius has eyes, of course, he'll like you."

  Remus told Dottie he didn't know, which was true. But after reporting the incident to Sirius, he wished he hadn't.

  "Sappy Salem fancies me?" Sirius barked out a laugh, "No way, mate, this is perfect."

  "For what?" Remus asked worriedly just as James entered the dorm. "I thought we all said we'd stop calling her Sappy Salem— it's mean. She cried because she's left her mum last year, that's all."

  "Sappy Salem fancies me," Sirius told James, making the latter laugh as well, "That's gold— we'll have to come up with a good prank, aye?"

  "Already have an idea, mate."

⥊

  "Salem!"

  The redhead froze briefly but came to her senses once Sirius stopped a mere meter from her. "Sirius."

  "Hi," Sirius said, looking at his feet fleetingly before meeting Salem's eyes with a shy smile, "Um, I was just wondering if you were busy Saturday, we could meet and spend some time together, out by the Forest, if you want."

  "The Forbidden Forest?"

  "Yeah," He smiled, "What, not scared, are you?"

  "No," Salem said quickly, "I'll see you then."

  "Great."

  Salem talked about this encounter for the next three days. Dottie was as elated at the news as her best friend was, Salem walked around with an ever-present smile and glowed with a new light. 

  And the night of, Salem nervously wore Dottie's clothes. She figured her style would eventually mature past a leather jacket, but tonight she needed to speed it up, to wear a skirt and a nice jumper, with straight hair and only light jewelry. She was the epitome of gentle, feminine, the ideal thirteen-year-old she always wanted to be. 

  "Okay, well, this is it," Salem breathed out, "Do you think he'll ask me to be his girlfriend?"

  "Totally," Dottie grinned eagerly, on the edge of her bed, "That's what this is all for, right? Obviously."

  "Right," The girl smiled, "Okay, I'll see you in a few."

  "I miss you already!"

  Salem smiled as she slipped out of the dorm room, Sirius had told her a time to come and now, crossing the grounds, her only accompaniment was the sinking sun.

  "Sirius?" The girl called out nervously, tugging her sleeves over her hands as she slowed her pace, crossing her ankles and fidgeting without knowing what else to do. "Hello?"

  A high-pitch screamed ripped through her throat as the tree directly in front of her caught flame. The fire climbing up its limbs, spreading across the forest quicker than Salem could scramble away. Her eyes were wide in fear as her feet worked to move her backward, only for her to trip and fall flat on the damp ground. 

  Salem couldn't control her tears as the warmth began to surround her, sure she'd be consumed by the flames, meeting the same fate as the forest.

  Until it all stopped, replaced with stale, cold air.

  And laughter.

  Salem finally worked up the courage to open her eyes, blinking away tears, only to find Sirius Black hunched over in laughter. She breathed out harshly, furrowing her brows in pure confusion.

  "You should've seen the look on your face!" Sirius managed through the laughs, "James, did you see her face?"

  "Priceless!"

  Salem's head whipped around frantically, spotting three more boys emerging from the unharmed trees.

  "What?" Salem rasped out, pushing herself up quickly, "But it was—"

  "It wasn't real," Sirius laughed, brushing his hair back, "Just a little good old magic."

  "Why?"

  "Because you fancy me," Sirius barked a laugh again, "And you thought I'd ask you on a date!"

  "You don't have to be so mean about it," Salem whispered, the tears resurfacing as she hugged her arms around herself.

  "It's not mean, it's a prank," James informed, "And it was funny, have a sense of humor, Witch Trials."

  "That's why you made me think the forest was on fire?" Salem asked with wide eyes, "Because of my name?"

  "Clever, huh?"

  "No," Salem said quickly, looking back to Sirius, "I can't believe I ever fancied you, you're a prick— you're all twats, stay the hell away from me."

  Salem hiked harshly back towards the school, leaving the boys in anger that she couldn't understand their humor.

  "So," Dottie said eagerly as the dorm door opened, "How does it feel to be Sirius Black's girlfriend?"

  "He doesn't fancy me, it was all a prank," Salem said quickly, already shredding the clothes that felt so wrong on her, "They, they made fun of my name and Sirius said he couldn't believe I believed he fancied me and— and—"

  Dottie engulfed Salem in a hug just as the redhead let out a sob. She'd managed to pull her own large football jumper over her head before said embrace, but they were entangled nonetheless. 

  None of the dormmates spoke up once, no argument at the sobs that Dottie attempted to conceal, because eventually, they fell quiet until fading into silence, and everyone knew pre-teen heartbreak was the most painful kind.

⥊

  It was clear the Marauders had been busy, as the following day Salem had dealt with three homework assignments being burned by fellow classmates, earning the new nickname 'Witch Trials' and every boy she knew decided to proclaim a faux love for her.

  "How difficult do you think it is to transfer to another magic school?" Salem asked quietly as she and Dottie made their way down the corridor.

  "Probably very difficult," Dottie mumbled, "It's okay, Salem—"

  "It's just Sal now."

  "Sorry."

  ". . . It's okay."

  "Everyone'll forget about it in a few days," Dottie assured, "Screw Sirius, he's a prick."

  "Witch Trials, fancy goin' to Hogsmeade Saturday?" A nameless Ravenclaw questioned, his smirk covering his entire face, "Might get a little heated."

  Salem stopped in her tracks, tightening her lips as he and his two fellow classmates harshly bumped her shoulder with theirs, sighing after they were gone and collecting her parchment that had fallen at the impact.

  "All guys are."

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
hi just to clarify; this is a 
flashback to their second year
in which Sal and Sirius are both 13!
anyways yes, finally, the horrible prank
by the Marauders. They were a bunch
of little assholes, and poor Sal
had to discover that first hand.