Golden Snidget (Harry Potter Marauders Era) *COMPLETED*

I Cheated Death

*~*~*THIRD PERSON*~*~*

Dumbledore looked at Gracie in shock.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a coward, Dumbledore! I ran! I hid!" She said loudly. "Death was never able to find me,"

"It's okay-"

"NO, IT'S NOT. DO YOU NOT GET IT, DUMBLEDORE? I CHEATED DEATH. I'M GOING TO DIE. Oh Merlin, I'm going to die," She muttered, pacing. "HE'S FOUND ME. HE'S FOUND ME DUMBLEDORE."

"Who? Who, Gracie?"

"WHO DO YOU THINK? DEATH!"

As she said that, a great skeletal figure appeared in front of her, hidden under a cloak.

"You still have time, Gracelyn." It said quietly.

"What do you mean, I have time?" She spat. "I cheated you! I deserve to die early!"

"I hardly think this is early, Gracelyn,"

Gracie glanced at Dumbledore from the corner of her eye.

"Don't talk about that in front of him," She said.

"Go make up with your friends, and be happy with the time you have left."

"How much time is that?"

"Four months at the most,"

Gracie gave a groan and nodded.

"Might as well. They're going to hate me.."

Death gave her a grim smile.

"I don't think so," He said, nodding over her shoulder.

She looked behind her. There they were, her four friends running towards her. And when she turned around to thank Death, he was gone.

"GRACIE! DON'T GO!" James screamed.

"YEAH! DON'T LEAVE!"

"YOU CAN'T GO!"

"WHY'D YOU COME AFTER ME?" Gracie asked, letting out a laugh.

"WE LOVE YOU!" The four shouted in unison.

"SIRIUS LO-"

"SHUT UP PRONGS!"

Gracie smiled and allowed them to tackle her in a hug.

"I'm way too lucky," She said, with a shake of her head.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Yes you are, Gracie. We must go back to the castle now. And let's put this whole incident behind us, yes?"

"Only if they promise not to tell anyone." She said, shooting a glare at Sirius and James.

"'Course not. Just got you back. We don't plan on losing you again anytime soon."

"Remus and Peter, you won't tell?"

"Merlin, Gracie, what do you take us for?"

"Yeah, we can be your secret-keepers!" Peter squeaked excitedly.

Gracie laughed and shook her head, draping her arm around Sirius' shoulder. Sirius turned a bright shade of scarlet, turning away so that she couldn't see.

"Aww, is ickle Sirius blushing?" James cooed.

Gracie moved forward to get a closer look.

"Like a tomato!" Remus said cheerfully, giving Sirius a wink.

Sirius glared.

"Am I missing something?" Gracie asked, glancing suspiciously between Sirius and James.

"No!" Sirius said, at the same time James said 'Yes!'

"Tell me! What's going on between you four?"

"Guy stuff," Sirius said, voice cracking slightly.

"Oh, yeah, like we haven't already clarified I'm ninety percent guy already," Gracie said, rolling her eyes.

"We're not telling you!" Sirius said defiantly.

He looked away so he wouldn't get hypnotized by her brown eyes and tell her what they were talking about.

"Whatever," Gracie sighed.

The five of them, all together, arms draped around each other, walked up to the castle together.

"Let's never have that creepy experience again, agreed?"

"Agreed,"

"No more secrets? Unless it's 'guy stuff'?"

"Agreed,"

Gracie nodded in satisfaction, following them up to the boy's dormitory. She plopped down on her bed with a sigh.

"I'm tired," She mumbled sleepily.

"I think we all kind of are, after that."

"Shut up, Sirius. Don't anger a teenager," James whispered.

"I CAN HEAR YOU!" Gracie said, flinging a pillow at him.

"Ow!"

He threw the pillow back at her.

"JAMES! IF YOU DO NOT GO TO BED RIGHT NOW I WILL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL ALL FOUR OF YOU!"

They scrambled to their beds, squeezing their eyes shut.

"Night, Gracie," Sirius tried.

"Shut up. Go to bed,"

"Okay."

"That's not sleeping,"

"Don't care,"

Gracie sighed and rolled over, putting her pillow on her face.

"Goodnight," She said snappily.

"Night!" The four chorused.

*~*~*