September 1976
During September an event to bring the students closer together was held. An anonymous penpal situation, where students were asked to write letters to one another under an assumed name. Out of the original participants, James Potter and Narcissa Black continued their correspondence. Sisters, Andromeda and Bellatrix Black, were quick to bring their letters to an end.
Albus Dumbledore disappeared from the castle halls for a largely unknown reason. Many believe it had to do with Voldemort and his campaign to recruit more followers.
Mathilde Grishawk, a seventh year Hufflepuff, went missing.
At this time, Rodolphus Lestrange and Bellatrix Black have been engaged for some months. Narcissa had been informed of her upcoming nuptials to Lucius Malfoy.
October 1976
In the month of October, it seemed that security had tightened around Hogwarts. Prefects working longer into the night, curfews being enforced and the teachers ever watchful. To lighten the gloom and doom, it was decided that a Halloween Masque might be held.
On the night of the masque, the body of Mathilde was levitated into the Great Hall - naked, battered and on display. Chaos ensued and the first drums of the upcoming war went off in every mind. Prefects and a few other helpful students managed to calm the madness and see everyone to their respective dorms.
Out of the swarm of students, Rabastan Lestrange, Andromeda Black, and Bellatrix Black were not accounted for.
What the players, but not the characters should know: Barty Crouch Jr is Mathilde’s killer. Rabastan Lestrange and Andromeda Black were not present because they spent the night together, heralding the beginning of a torrid affair.
November , December 1976 & January 1977
Many students mourned the loss of one of their own, some of them even leaving Hogwarts for fear of their own safety. The Ministry itself attempted to keep the matter hushed, but whispers were rampant and fast. Students had begun to form their own little groups, beginning to draw their lines in the sands. Rather than working together, suspicion ran rampant.
Many tried to ignore the turning tides all together. Quidditch games were played. Club activities resumed and homework was given in full force before the winter break.
The Lestrange family spent much of Christmas with the Black horde. Sirius Black and James Potter spent the entire break together, while Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew inevitably rang in the holidays with them.
What the players, but not the characters should know: Rabastan and Andromeda have continued their affair. Narcissa and James have begun meeting in private as unlikely friends.
February 1977
By the month of February, a false sense of security had once again settled among the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. The fireplaces were warm and the seats cozy. A massive valentine’s events had words of love and sonnets ringing in everyone’s ears. Little cupids delivered gifts and messages to the mostly excited masses. Some took advantage and others made mischief.
Among the amorous whispers, rumors of Andromeda Black and Remus Lupin sprang forth. Spending more and more time together, many thought they were already a couple and others cursed the very idea. Cupid had his way with the other Black sisters and their intendeds as well. Lucius and Narcissa were getting along far better than Bellatrix and Rodolphus, until a gift from the eldest Lestrange warmed Bella’s demeanor and a surprise gift to Narcissa outshone Lucius’ tokens.
Towards the end of February, the ax came swinging down once more when another attack destroyed the fake tranquility that had taken over the castle. Found by Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, the following half-blood and muggle born students were found bound, tortured and unconscious: Vegas Adelaide (Ravenclaw), Ted Tonks (Hufflepuff) and Marcus Malcolm (Gryffindor). Many considered it a hate crime, the future death eaters against the innocent. Confusion came in the limp form of Narcissa Black found in the hall outside, passed out and covered in blood.
Another Slytherin student was found broken and bloody on the staircase leading to the astronomy tower. It was decided that he was not a part of the initial attack, but another incident entirely.
Rabastan Lestrange’s wand was found in Narcissa’s possession and James Potter was out after hours, falling upon the scene only moments after his friends.
What the players, but not the characters should know: The attack was orchestrated by Rodolphus Lestrange, Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Black. The three intentional victims had their memories wiped before Remus and Sirius stumbled upon them. Narcissa was late to her rounds because she had to stop a drunken and stumbling Rabastan Lestrange from making a further fool of himself and their house. The blood covering him was what was transferred onto Narcissa and his wand was confiscated during the altercation. Bellatrix delivered the curse and blow that cracked her skull against the opposing wall.
Rabastan’s actions were a result of the end of his affair with Andromeda Black, due to the revelation of a secret thought shared only between them. The battered Slytherin was his doing; something akin to retribution. James Potter was out after hours trying to divert a straggling student after leaving another meeting with Narcissa Black.
March 1977
The start of the month was a bitter one - four students laid unconscious in the hospital wing and the Ministry was bearing down on all of them. Cygnus Black found himself roaming the halls of Hogwarts, determined to find out what happened to his daughter. Curfews had become even more strict and all rounds were accompanied by a member of faculty.
Eventually the three initial victims of the attack awoke, furthering the confusion when none of them could remember what had happened to them - only the trauma. Students turned against once another, blaming one side or the other. Many stories were made to attempt to account for what had happened. Dumbledore still hoped that perhaps Narcissa would be able to speak about what had happened - the odd one out in the attacks.
Except she wasn’t waking up.
Rabastan Lestrange quickly became public enemy number one. Almost everyone was certain of his guilt and combined with his absence during Halloween and unwillingness to speak during interrogations, it seemed obvious that he was their villain. Without any witness testimony or key evidence, there was nothing to be done.
On the opposite end of the spectrum stood James Potter. Many who didn’t believe in the death eater story and focused on the battered Slytherin prefect, chose to label the Gryffindor their perpetrator. He too was put under scrutiny and intense interrogation. He too was unwilling to speak.
While Rodolphus focused on freeing his brother, Lucius played the role of concerned fiance and diligent student and Bellatrix flew off the radar all together. Regulus and Andromeda spent all of their time in the hospital wing or being lectured by Cygnus.
In the silver lining to every crowd, Remus Lupin and Andromeda Black have finally become an item. Narcissa Black has also awakened but appears to have no memory of the night in question. Remembering the events just before the attack allows her the power to free both Rabastan and James despite the suspicion and scrutiny still lingering on.
At least Spring Break is on the horizon.
What the players, but not the characters should know: Narcissa does, in fact, remember what happened.