Back in the Day

Back In The Day

Chapter 1

The Leaky Cauldron was packed, utterly packed with young, fresh faces with rosy cheeks and runny noses--the volume of their voices turned up as the excitement of the prospect of entering a new year was at the fore of their impressionable minds. They all sat in groups around tables, laughing and jeering at one another, all sharing a strong bond that had formed over the years at Hogwarts. All except one.

Darby turned the leaf of her book, shifting her elbow upon the table and pushing a few strands of hair from her eyes as she poured over the contents of the pages, her eyes alight with concentration and her brow just slightly furrowed as so drank in the knowledge. This was how Darby spent most of her time. She would much rather sit and read than stand and socialise. She studied for the fun of it and was picked on upon occasion as a result. Though her studying was never in vain, her mind was positively electric when it came to ideas and quick thinking, though most of which remained whirring in her brain or written on paper than being spoken up about in class.

The year ahead looked promising. Entering their fifth year, Darby was the only student looking forward to her exams rather than dreading them. It was this in part that helped to alienated her. Though it was also this that made her stand out.

Absently she pushed the short, retro curtain of hair from her face and turned the page again, ignoring the occasional name dropping as she inadvertently drew attention to herself. 'Darby this', 'Darby that', you wouldn't have thought she was that interesting, but apparently she must've been. For the most part she didn't mind, all in all they left her alone, at least, all except--

The door to the Leaky Cauldron opened, a rowdy group of mischief makers making a loud entrance. They were a group of four. Inseparable. Always with the same boy at the front of the group with his long dark hair, robes and toothy, charming lady-killer smile. You could tell even at the blossoming age of fifteen that he would be a heartbreaker in his prime. Bringing up the rear was the same old same old. A short, slightly chubby blonde haired boy, his eyes wide in awe at the ruckus those at the front made and sniggering to himself. He never seemed to really fit in. He always just seemed to be there.

"Well, well, well..." Chimed a voice that was now surprisingly close. Darby hadn't cared to look up when the door had opened, but now that the deep, yet youthful tones hit her ears, she jumped a little, looking up into the eyes of, "Black." She stated, her tone upturned to make it sound marginally like a greeting. She looked confident rather than fearful and this was progress. "Cheswick! Darby! Please babe, call me Sirius! I'm sure you know the rest of the gang, but here, let me introduce you." He blinked at her expectantly before sliding into the booth beside her, setting down his dog eared satchel he began to make himself at home. The other three followed suit, all seemed in good spirits and didn't appear to be the cruel type. "This fine looking young man in the dashing smile and glasses is James--the scrawny brunette next to him with the funky eyes (dude, why are your eyes that colour anyway?) is Remus, then this scrawny little git is Peter."
"oi!" Protested the chubby blonde, wrinkling his nose at Sirius while trying to kick him beneath the table, though he struck only the table leg with a dull thud. James sniggered as Peter cursed, giving his friend a gentle shove, though Remus seemed cut off from the others in his own subtle way. He was eyeing her book with what appeared to be genuine interest, though didn't join in the laughter and jests.

"What d'you want, black? Sorry...Sirius." Darby asked, cutting to the chase, tensing as the taller, more confident boy threw his arm around her shoulders, turning to her.
"What? Can't a guy come visit his girl to say hello?" He looked offended by her corner cutting, if not mildly surprised. It was almost convincing. Almost.

"No. No he can't. Not when she's not 'his girl'." She retorted sharply, worming her way out from his grip--or at least she tried.
"Oh! But I'm offended! Baby! How could you say such things?" his hand reached out then, casually brushing that curtain of hair away from the far side of her face--exposing her other bright green eye, flooded with distrust and doubt. "However can I make it up to you?"
"By Pissing o--" She was cut short, caught by surprise by something warm and oddly pleasant up against her ear. Nuzzling it. Hot wisps of breath were blown against her lobe and involuntarily, she shivered, her eyes wide, disbelieving as the other three looked on, apparently as confused as she was. The action became more and more incessant, pressing hard against her ear, his teeth nipping at the sensitive skin. For a moment Darby was tempted to shove him away, stamp his foot, but for a split second she was so caught off guard that she couldn't even move.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!" He barked fiercely, loudly down her ear--causing her to scream and jump, her eyes widening in shock as she leapt sideways, her face flushing a deep shade of red and scrambling to stop from falling from her booth. Sirius threw back his head, his hair tossed from his face, he gave an almighty roar of laughter, slapping his palms upon the table with a resounding firmness, falling into hysteria as Peter and James joined suit, the confusion draining instantly from their faces, replaced by mirth, the golden-eyed boy joined them, though in his own, slightly more controlled way. "C'mon chaps, let's leave the dog alone, eh? Leave her to read."
"The only dog around here is you Sirius Black!" She spat back at him as he pulled himself to his feet--the other three following suit. He paused for a moment, raising his brows at his friends before turning to her, and laughing. Though this time he really laughed, both hearty and loud, finding it funnier than one should.

Of course at that time Darby didn't realise just how accurate her statement was.

Noisily the boys abandoned Darby, favouring a corner on the other side of the bar, where they continued to be loud and Sirius continued to bark like a canine.

Darby Cheswick, welcome to your fifth year.

Chapter 2

The rumbling of the train was the only thing that kept Darby sane as she flipped through the pages of her latest textbook for the ever-painful History of magic. The soft sway and rumble of the magnificent train upon the tracks. This was the one thing she had neglected to do while sitting at home during the summer, reading all assigned texts for this year--namely transfiguration. Thus she read it now, her eyes trying to absorb the words on the page yet they just went in one ear and out the other. History of Magic was for napping not studying. She didn't learn a thing in this subject except for how many tiles lined the ceiling and she knew that by heart.

147...She doodled the number in the top corner of the page she was reading, her biro digging against the paper. Only she wasn't left to enjoy her own company for long, before no sooner had she finished crossing her '7' than she snapped her head up at the scrape of a door opening and a figure stepping inside. He was tall, just over six foot, and thin in build--well, lanky. His arms too long and his legs too skinny...His hair was long and jet black, falling in greasy tendrils over his pasty face.

Severus Snape.

Darby blinked at him as he stared at her with a suspicious gaze, his hand releasing his trunk. He dropped it with a heavy thud upon the carpeted floor, blinking slowly at the Ravenclaw. "This is the only one with any room left." He commented as though it meant she had to welcome him with open arms. Darby nodded her head quietly, pushing her glasses up over her forehead and bracing them against the crown of her head. Severus was still standing there, blinking at her. Darby felt a sudden pang of discomfort, watching him. Although she toyed with the idea of just going back to her reading, she cleared her throat and nodded to the bench of seats across from her. "Make yourself at home. I'm just readin'." She informed him. Severus nodded his head, raising long, bony fingers to tuck strands of greasy hair behind his ear. Pointed features creasing as he dragged his trunk across to his side of the cabin before dropping himself down onto the seat, stretching his legs out in front of him, he folded his hands in his lap and stared at her.

Why was he staring at her?

Darby felt the colour creep onto her cheeks, dropping her head back to her book, her eyes skimming over the same words she'd been reading over all train journey. Yet his eyes were still on her! Why!? Glancing up briefly, she met Severus' dark, emotionless gaze--the Slytherin fifth year not so much as offering a smile as she did so. Darby blinked at him several times before shaking her head and going back to her reading. "Why are you reading that?" came his voice suddenly--sharp and unpleasant to her ears.
"Because I was assigned to." She replied, not looking up from her book.

"So was I. But he never checks, so why bother?"
"Because I don't want to fail my OWLs."
"Oh. Right." He seemed to give up then--Darby giving him a forceful little smile, he shifted his gaze from her (thankfully) and to his feet--tapping his foot to a silent rhythm.

Ten more minutes passed with the occasionally sniffle or tap, tap, tap of Severus' foot against his trunk and the turning of Darby's page. Apparently the conversation was flowing today. "So..." came his voice again--the interruption grating on Darby's nerves. She had no idea why; he hadn't done anything wrong. She had merely lost all desire to even read this drivel.

"So..." she replied, finally surrendering and sitting back, listening to the murmur of voices in the neighbouring cabin.
"So your name's 'Darby?'" he pointed toward the trunk that lay between her ankles--her nametag worn upon it but still quite readable. His tone sounded marginally amused at the sound of her name on his tongue. Like she were named after a Monster Truck Rally.
"Darby." She corrected. "It's spelt 'Darby' but you pronounce it 'Derby'" she nodded. Severus returned the nod but didn't seem too interested in it--his attention drawn instead to the cabin window.
"Bugger. Don't they ever leave me alone?" She heard him mutter--his greasy expression suddenly twisted into one of irritation as he bowed his head swiftly, studying his hands intently. Darby didn't have to wait around too long to find out why he had done so.

The cabin door was thrown open and in they strode. Sirius Black taking the lead, followed by James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Perrigew. Remus looked rather startled when he laid eyes upon the Ravenclaw girl with the book in her lap. "Well, well, well..." Sirius drawled, his tone thoroughly amused as he looked between Darby and Severus. "Isn't this cosy?" He smirked--Severus glowered at him, crossing his ankles casually and sitting up fully--giving them insight to his full stature. "How's it going, Snivellus?" James quipped, arching a cocky brow at his peer, who received a glare in response.

"Shut it, Potter" he retorted, shooting the messy haired boy a hateful glare. "wouldn't want to do anything degrading to you in front of the Lady." Severus notioned toward Darby and in that instant she wished to Merlin he hadn't.

Darby shrank into her seat, turning her head quickly as though there were something fascinating out the window. "Lady?!" Severus guffawed aloud, throwing his head back (swiftly accompanied by Peter), that long dark hair slipping past his shoulders and dripping in ebony tendrils down his back. "I see no Lady, Severus. Only Cheswick, here. 'Ain't that right, Pony girl?" He asked, suddenly turning upon her and dropping down into the seat next to her and throwing a possessive arm around her shoulders.
"Oh. Oh you're so funny Sirius." She muttered, feeling the colour creep onto her cheeks as his large, strong hand squeezed her shoulder with a false fondness.

"That's what the lads tell me..." He grinned, casting a free hand in the direction of the remaining Marauders huddled together in the cabin.

"Uh huh." She sighed, casting her eyes toward her toes--feeling just a few inches tall. "What do you want?" She asked finally, 'though not looking at them.

"Oh, nothing, babe; just wanted to pay our favourite Slytherin a visit while we escort Lupin here to his Prefect cabin. Then you're here too, so that's an added bonus!" He laughed, shouldering her roughly before standing again, wrinkling his nose in a show of disgust as he dusted himself off, the others sniggering as Peter and James lurched away from Sirius as he pretended to wipe Darby off on their robes.

Darby slouched down in her seat, casting her eyes across to Severus briefly who was looking rather sour faced, as though he knew he was about to have his feathers ruffled. So this was to be her journey? To discover that she now shared a common ground with Severus Snape? Perish the thought. But instead of looking up toward the man she now shared a common hatred with, she narrowed her eyes, alight with challenge toward the likes of Black. "Well you've done that now. Piss off, Black." She snapped in an irritated tone she should've thought better of. She knew it was a bad idea the second the words left her mouth, because Sirius suddenly went from laughing and shoving his friends around, to becoming very quiet and dangerous looking.

It was this appeal that supposedly made the almighty Sirius Black seductive and alluring. It made Darby want to be sick from fright. He could be a lady-killer or a Lady Killer. Darby was well versed in the difference. "Your words scathe me, Cheswick." He sneered, looking her up and down as he took a menacing step toward her; hesitating in front of her trunk. "I thought we had something special, you and me. A common understanding. You don't try me, I stay out of your way."
"And yet here you are, walking around in my way of your own free will."
For a moment, Sirius looked as though he'd just sucked on a lemon. "You cheeky bint." He snapped, taking a long step in her direction, before hesitating; his attention directed toward her trunk instead.

"What's your problem, Black?" Quipped Severus out of the blue. Everyone; Darby included seemed stunned that the greasy Slytherin had chosen to speak up. His painfully pubescent features were twisted into a grim line that was set like stone--those watery, vile eyes pinned on Sirius as though he were some sort of parasite. "Haven't you and your freaky friends--" his eyes fixed upon a very uncomfortable looking Remus. "--got anything worthwhile to be doing?" He asked, leering at Remus; the weaker of the four and the easiest prey.
"C'mon lads, or I'll be late for the first meeting." The golden eyed boy quipped uncomfortably, seeming eager to get out of there as he shifted his gaze to a frustrated looking Darby. All he got in return was a revolted glower--something he had the cheek to look shocked about receiving.
"Yeh, c'mon Padfoot, they're not worth it. We've got all year for this." The messy haired Potter added, glancing Severus up and down as though he were worthless.

"Fine." Sirius finally agreed, turning on his heels and following the others toward the cabin doorway.

Darby was foolish in thinking that Sirius would go quietly. She should've expected him to do something; but she didn't. So, when she stupidly went back to her reading, thinking she could get some peace and quiet, she was horrified to hear a string of words leave Sirius' lips. "Alohamora!" Her head shot up as he spoke, staring at him wide eyed as everything seemed to move in slow motion. The burst of light left the tip of his wand, striking the lock on her trunk. The result? All the effort she'd put into packing went to waste as the lid to her trunk flipped open with such vigour that the contents flew from within, splattering the entire cabin with her clothing. Darby stared at the mess with a look mixed with horror and mortification as Sirius threw back his head and guffawed loudly and obnoxiously out the door; being sure to slam it shut behind him.

Darby trembled as she sat there, staring at a shirt that had landed, crumpled in her lap. A pressed sock dangled off her shoulder and she was left looking red in the face at her now open trunk. After shouting a very bad word very loudly, she snapped her head up to look at Severus, who was staring wide eyed (and red faced) and a pair of white cotton knickers that had landed classically in his lap. She gave an indignant sniff and pushed herself to her feet and began to pile her belongings back into her trunk. In doing so, she called Sirius Black every possible name under the sun, snarling and scowling venomously at nothing in particular.
"Get these off me." Came Severus' repulsed tone as his eyes stared horrified at the underwear that sat in his lap.

"Oh, piss off, Severus. They're clean. Make yourself useful instead of tapping and sniffing and put them in the trunk." She snapped irritably in a manner that suggested you not do otherwise.

Needless to say Severus Snape kicked up a dramatic fuss about every item of clothing he touched, slinging each piece into the trunk from a considerable distance. He clearly didn't want to be seen handling a girl's clothing. But by whom, she had no idea. While the idea of Severus touching her belongings didn't delight her, she needed all the help she could manage before students started to wander the train and a few of Severus' unfortunate so-called-friends would turn up to leer at her. Otherwise she would be shrieking at the lanky teenager not to touch her belongings.

With almost everything piled into her trunk, Darby did a quick scan of her cabin to see if there was anything left over. From what she could tell, there was nothing. With a huff, she shot Severus a look, who shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly before going back to staring at his feet. "Cheers." She muttered, sniffing as she braced her weight against the lid of her trunk and waited for that all important 'click'.

"Wait a sec." Called a voice from behind that made Darby jump. Who was that? The voice was a familiar one but a little too familiar for her to be comfortable with. She glanced up at Severus, whose expression was twisted into a look of sheer revulsion. Slowly Darby turned, only to be stunned at whom was standing in the doorway, holding up a pair of Pyjama bottoms. Remus.

"What d'you want?" She snapped irritably, inwardly pleased at the way his expression contorted into momentary pain. He stepped forward from just outside the cabin, holding out the garment. "You almost forgot this." He explained reluctantly, tensing his jaw as he stood there, one arm extended.
"huh." She blinked, reaching out and snatching them from his grasp. Turning she pushed open her trunk and stuffed them inside, expecting to turn around and he'd be gone. But he wasn't. When she turned around, he was still there. She raised a dark brow at him. "Still here?" She snapped with an air of distaste.

"Yeah, listen, I just thought--"
"Thought what?" She countered viciously.

"That--"

"That you'd come back here to rub salt in the wound? To make me look an even bigger moron?"

"No! I was just--"

"Well to be perfectly honest I don't know what else you could do. But then you are a Marauder." She sniffed with indigence, the look of shock on Remus' face was indescribable. Of course, it lasted only a moment before pride stepped in. "No wonder he picks on you."

Darby tensed. "What?" she blinked at him, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"You're a real cow, Cheswick." He snapped irritably, stepping back and out of the cabin.

"Oi!" called the voice of James Potter from down the hall. "Moony! You coming?"

"Yeah." He called back. "Be right there." With a last, angry look the Marauder withdrew from the cabin and turned on his heels, sweeping awkwardly past their cabin windows in the direction of James' voice.

Darby huffed irritably, giving her trunk a final shove, she heard the distinctive click! And she rose from her kneeling spot upon the floor. "Lousy, rotten, no good...mangy wanker." She snapped angrily, throwing herself to her feet and turning sharply around in the cabin, checking it for any more clothing in a fluster.

"Looks like we've got more in common than I thought." Piped up Severus, who was looking awfully drawn in the face. The idea didn't please him, obviously. "Shut up, Snape." She spat, making the greasy teenager glower at her venomously before dropping his eyes back down toward his undone shoelaces.