"The most important thing in life, is the lack of importance." -Spencer Emrys

Soft footsteps sounded from the stairs, making the eyes of Spencer Emrys look up from his book. Descending from the dark wood stairs was Narcissa, she pulled her silver nightgown tighter to her body and tied it.

Spencer adverted his eyes back towards his book, and even though he was the only one left awake in the common room his voice was barely a whisper. "Cissa, what are you doing up love? you should rest."

Her eyes rolled, but she didn't say anything in return and instead she sat by Spencer's feet. Her head lent against his knees, her eyes trained on the raging green fire only a foot or so in front of her.

"Your awake." The words tumbled from her mouth.

"Observant."

Narcissa resisted the eyeroll this time, and instead lent into him more. "Why?"

Spencer's eyes trailed his book, but he'd given up reading. Honestly he had no clue why he was pretending. "Thoughts are distracting me from sleep. You seem to be having the same problem."

Silence settled over the pair for a moment, "I know you're thinking of it too."

He waited a moment before answering, "Thinking of what love?"

At this she sprung up in an instant, and hurled around to face him her hair flying wildly over her shoulder. "Do not play dumb with me Spence!" Narcissa almost cried.

Spencer did not answer, which just infuriated her more. She ripped the book from his hands, and hurled it to the ground. "Pay attention to me!" She begged, "We need to talk abo-"

"What do you want me to say Narcissa!?" He was on his feet now, back turned to her. Instead he starred out the window, watching as the water from the lake splashed up against the glass.

"That I'm scared? scared of what we have to do- have to become!?" Spencer hurled around, his hazel mainly green eyes trained on her pale blue's, the façade he had tried so hard to keep up dropped in an instant.

"I want to know why," Her hands reached up to cup his face but he moved away. "Why you're taking it... the mark... willingly..." Narcissa's voice lowered, as if thinking they were being watched. 

Spencer exhaled heavily, and raked at his white tipped hair with his hands. "Willingly!? I have no choice! it's my family... they'll disown me... I'll have no access to the vault-"

"Is this about money? you know I'll help-"

"No Narcissa," He paused, this time when his eyes adverted and her hand reached up to touch his face, he let her.

Spencer let himself lean into it, finding her touch oddly soothing. "It's- I don't want to do this... it's my family, everyone's in on it. I have French and American relatives penetrating their ministries for him..." Spencer dragged the last word out, and saw Narcissa's face shift to an even more worried expression.

He pulled away from her, and moved towards the window again. "You can be a warrior, or a vizard. But you don't get to choose." Spencer scoffed as he remembered the words, "It's instilled into our head's that saying... I guess I never really knew what it meant until now-"

"-Now I'm almost of age to get the mark, my eternal bond to the Dark Lord himself."

A pause settled over them, as his word's sunk in. Spencer Emrys had every right to be worried, he was nearly fourteen, nearly old enough to get the official bonding mark. "Bella- she-" Narcissa paused, "She told the Lord, that I'll not be taking the mark..."

Spencer's eyes widened and snapped towards her, "W-what?" His voice broke, and Narcissa longed to soothe him.

"Yeah," Her eyes didn't remove from watching the ripples from outside the window, "But Bella has assured him of my 'loyalty' and has said that I will still be a regular, loyal 'associate' of him."

Spencer took her hands in his and cupped them, "I'll protect you. You know that? over him any day." 

A ghost of a smile fluttered over her lips, and she nodded. "I know." Narcissa sighed, "I'm just worried about Sirius and Lalia- and all these other little kids that are being roped into this..."

Spencer knew how she felt, and squeezed her hand. "Lalia and Sirius, they have each other. Besides they'll be far away from this in Gryffindor... And the other's-" He stopped his sentence, unable to get the words out.

"Not entirely," Narcissa replies, ignoring the last bit of unfinished words. "And that's what worries me."

Spencer sighed, and pulled her into a warm, rare embrace. "Remember Narcissa." He spoke into her ear quietly, "The most important thing in life, is the lack of importance." 

Narcissa didn't entirely comprehend what Spencer meant, but she knew that he did value their lives. Even if it wasn't the most important thing on their plates, it still had value.

"S-spence- I have to tell y-you something-"

They'd made it to the Black Lake, and Lalia was shivering.

To be fair James did lend her his dressing gown, which was now tied tightly around her body, but she couldn't help but shiver under the crisp wind's embrace.

"So," Lily huffed, shivering under her thin clothing. "We're here. Now what?"

Lalia had offered her Potter's dressing gown, but she refused. Multiple times.

"Now..." Alice walks towards the lakes edge, her feet nearly slipping into the water as she gets too close. "Careful Alice." Peter warns, his eyes wide.

Alice peers into the murky water, "Hello Squid! are you a boy or a girl?" She grins into the water, her reflection looked very faded.

"This is pointless." James huffs, kicking up a tuft of grass and dirt. "But I do like the fact we're here after dark, I thought you guys would be to scared to go-"

"James," Lalia interrupted, a cocky smirk on her lips. "You were protesting the most out of, all of us."

James turns beet red, and gazes over at Lalia who had moved under Remus' arm for more warmth. "I-I did not!"

Marlene interjected, "You did." Her plum coloured slippers were muddy from the grass, that had obviously gotten wet in the down pour the night before. 

"B-but what if the Squid eats us all! or what i-if he really did kill that student!? and what if I insult it by saying; 'You'd make a tasty calamari and I die!?!'." Marlene mocks in an impression of James' voice.

Lalia snorts, remembering his pleads to stay put.

Remus looked down at his wrist, the one swung over Lalia's shoulder. "Guys, it's almost one-thirty, we should get going soon."

Peter was stood beside Alice, asking the Squid to come out and say 'hi'. Lily lent on a tree by the lake, scolding herself for getting her slippers ruined. James was starring at the starry sky in awe, as Marlene teased him about him being scared of the Squid, and Lalia stood back with Remus at her side observing all of them.

"Your hair-" Remus muttered gazing at it in awe, this made her emerald eyes flick up to him.

In confusion Lalia grabs a chunk of her hair, thinking it's probably changed a colour he hasn't seen yet- but she was wrong. "It's a chocolate-y brown?" She mutters in confusion.

"You seem surprised."

Lalia's cheeks coat pink, "I am. My hair's never turned brown- I know that sounds odd considering..." She pauses, "I wonder what it means."

Remus let out a chuckle, "Maybe you've had so much chocolate it's seeped into your brain."

Lalia shot him a playful look, "No, that would be you Remmy."

A loud roar like scream erupts from somewhere in the shadows, making the whole group jump. Lily flings around, and falls backwards falling into the mud. James jumped so far, he fell into Marlene and Peter nearly fell into the lake from the sudden noise. Remus grabbed Lalia and pulled her behind him, in a protective way. The only person who wasn't frightened was Alice, who grinned in glee. "It's the squid- it's trying to communicate!" Alice mutters, her gaze unwavering from the water.

A loud roaring chuckle sounded from behind the tree Lily leant against, and emerging from the darkness with a big grin on his face was Sirius.

"Ahhhh!" Sirius mimics their screams, "It's the Giant Squid!"

"You-" Lily's voice was icy and angry, Lalia rushed over to help her up. Lily got up shakily, but it wasn't from the cold- but from anger.

"You made me ruin my dressing gown and slippers!" She shirked in rage, kicking some mud up at him which hit the bottom of his pants.

Ignoring her, Sirius laughed louder and began to clap. "You should've seen your faces!"

Lily reached down and grabbed a handful of mud. "You'll pay for this Black."

"Drop the mud Evans." Sirius raised his hands in surrender, "I'll buy you a new pair, and gown. Alright?"

Lily was shocked to say the least, and the mud from her hand slowly began to drip back onto the grass. "Can I throw one bit of mud at you?"

"Why ask?" Lalia chuckles, scooping some up and pegging it at Sirius face.

Both of his hands reached up, and he wiped some big chunks from his face. Sirius pale eyes really stood out against the brown, muddy layer. "Evans, considering you're gown is already ruined and Lalia just threw mud at my fac-"

Lily grabbed a handful, and threw it directly where he just wiped. Sirius sighed, wiping his face again. "My face- can I borrow your gown to wipe it off?"

The eight lions trudged up the stairs, most of them trying to remember where their common room was. Sirius' face wasn't muddy anymore, but Lily's pink gown was absolutely ruined, discarded in a small gap in the tree which they promised to retrieve and throw out in the morning.

"What floor was the tower again?" Asked Peter as they wandered around a corridor, that seemed to be near the kitchens.

"I think we're in the basement." Lily responds, "Who knows how we got here."

"Aren't we in the dungeons?" Sirius asked, as they strolled down the corridor confusedly.

Lily gave him an all knowing look, "No. Their completely different."

"From what I've heard from Spencer and Narcissa," Lalia piped up, "The Slytherin's are in the dungeons, Hufflepuff's by the kitchens."

Alice's normal dreamy look turned slightly confused, "How'd they know where the Hufflepuff common room is?"

Sirius answered, his voice had an edge to it. "My cousin Andromeda's Hufflepuff." And without saying a word, he jogged past them and peered around a corner.

The group jumped as footsteps were heard fast approaching them, "Merlin!" Marlene gasped, hiding behind Remus. 

"What are we going to do?" James whisper-shouted in a panicky tone. Even Alice's dreamy face was panic stricken, and she latched onto Lily's hand.

"We're going to get into so much trouble!" Peter squeaked.

Lalia turned around to her seven friends and gave them a 'I have a stupid idea look'. "Okay, I have an idea- it's a bit wacky."

 But none of them even hesitated before nodding rapidly, "Do it!" Sirius and James chorused.

Lily was the only one who looked like she'd protest, but to Lalia's shock she nodded in agreement. "Might want to hurry." Remus advised, looking around Lalia nervously.

Inhaling sharply, and squeezing her eye's shut Lalia pictured the perfect image of the person she wanted to change into, in her mind.

She felt her hair grow 4X longer, and she felt herself grow taller- she felt breasts form where she didn't have any before, and then she opened her eyes.

Lalia had turned into an exact replica of Novia, their Gryffindor prefect.

The footsteps became faster, then turned into the clinking of high heels. A small gasp erupted from the person's looks, and Lalia/Novia turned around to see Professor McGonagall. She was in grey pyjamas, a light blue dressing gown and had her brunette hair in a low ponytail.

"Hi! Professor!" Lalia said in Novia's normally bubbly voice.

"Miss Hawkthorn." Ah. That must be Novia's last name. "What are you-" She looked as though she was counting them, "And seven first year's doing down here?"

"Funny thing that." Lalia laughed, and put her hand on James' shoulder.

"Found these lot, trying to find their way back to the common room. Say they went out for a wander up the corridor, and eventually got lost. Found them on the sixth floor, when they said they were thirsty. Took them down to the elves for a second." Lalia/Novia was quick to lie.

McGonagall gave them a pointed look, and the kids just smiled awkwardly in return. "Alright," McGonagall pursed her lips, still not completely convinced. "You seven best pay better attention when your prefect-" Her eyes flickered to Lalia who was trying super hard not to act 'out of character'.

"Is showing you around."

Marlene chuckled, "I guess we were just- taking the whole experience in."

"It's quite beautiful here." Sirius added, "Hard to pay attention to anything but beauty."

McGonagall's eyes narrowed on Lalia, "Well, considering it is your first night here- and you got lost." She dragged the last word out slightly longer, "Pay attention this time when your prefect escorts you back to the dorms."

"Will do, Professor." James salutes, as the group move past her awkwardly.

McGonagall put a light hand on Lalia/Novia's shoulder, "Thank you, Miss Hawkthorn. For getting the children some water."

"Almost changed  their minds." Lalia responded, with pun intended.

Alice tugged softly on Lalia's robes, and looked up at her with gentle eyes. "Yes Alice?"

"What floor is the common room on? I don't want to get lost tomorrow."

"Well it's on uhm the-"

"Seventh floor." McGonagall interjected, and Lalia turned around to give her a bright, pearly smile. "Yes, that's it. Maybe I'll draw you lot up a map in the morning." Lalia chuckled, "Thanks Professor!"

And with that they made their way up the staircase, and started heading towards the seventh floor. Once they were out of earshot, James whooped. "That was awesome Lalia!"

"Do you realise how much of an advantage that is?" Sirius mused happily, as they climbed the stairs.

Pink coated Novia/Lalia's cheeks, "So are you going to shift back?" Lily whispers, trying her hardest not to awaken any of the paintings.

"Not yet- we might run into Filch."

And that was the start of all their pranks.

end chapter