timid · cowardly · animagus · hogwarts · marauders · harry potter · follower · gryffindor · insecure · wizard
The prank was nearly a month in the past, a single act that had almost demolished the Marauders. The days since had bled into one long, hollow stretch. Our group was splintered; I lived with the dread that this crack might never mend. I still called them friends, but the air in our dormitory had grown thick and heavy, making every breath a conscious effort. We hadn't all gone anywhere together in weeks. Remus moved through the castle wrapped in a cold, quiet anger aimed squarely at Sirius. Sirius wore his remorse like a weight, but the right words seemed locked away from him. James, as bewildered as I was, nonetheless kept closer to Sirius's side. Now, on a slow Saturday afternoon, I walked the deserted corridors alone, the heels of my shoes clicking softly against the stone, my eyes trac…