In a world determined to tear them apart this a story of how they pulled together against all odds. This is a story about marauders. A story of the people who changed their lives and broke their hearts. It is a tale of their lessons; their bravery and their dreams. It is about their happiness, their sadness and the battles they faced. Of good and evil, truth and lies, love and hate. But above all, this is a story of friendship. Built of the good times, the bad, and all of those that fall somewhere in between.
Hello, I'm UndercoverHufflepuff and everything belongs to the mastermind JK Rowling. Although I do suppose I have rights to a handful of characters, a disease, and hopefully some of the plot.
Our story begins in the summer while several of our major characters are shopping in Diagon Alley in preparation for the start of their fourth year. The reason I've selected this year as the beginning of their fated journey is because this year was the year that their lives would irreversibly change. The years before have simply been a prologue.
Now we come to a piece of background information that you must be made aware of and keep in mind. At this time there was a wizard who went by the name of Tom Riddle and there was also a cult (if that is what one should call it) for those who strongly believe in the purity of blood. At this moment the two were joining forces each driven together by their own longings; Tom wanted power and the cult wanted a leader.
-A. Dumbledore
'*' '*' '*'
Gemmaline Grae stood tall in the robe shop, her long dark hair pulled back in yellow and maroon ribbons. Her mother surveyed her with disgusted eyes as the tailor pinned and stitched the black fabric silently. Her mother's icy blue eyes were nothing like her daughter's green-gray ones, a staple of the Grae family.
Four years ago Gemmaline was labeled a Gryffindor putting up an icy wall between her and her family with one exception; her younger sister Adora who became a Gryffindor a year later.
Her mother was a pinched woman of class, she believed that children should be seen not heard and that anyone who disagrees with her beliefs is a disgrace; She was the classic example of how a pureblood housewife should behave. Originally a Malfoy, Ambrosia Grae had blonde hair pulled into a bun with streaks of silver and hardened blue eyes. She looked down her nose at Gemmaline blaming anything that went wrong on either her or her sister, for not one of their four brothers could do wrong because they were Slytherins and in her eyes; perfect.
The tailor muttered something about stepping down, as the tension in the room was getting to everyone. Gemmaline obediently stepped off the stool and pulled the robes over her head. She glanced at her mother and asked if she would allow her to go off on her own and say hello to the Black family (They were one of three safe families for the pure-line.) But her mother responded with a cold no and dragged her daughter towards the desk With the way her mother was glaring at her she was almost positive she would have to break her promise again.
'*' '*' '*'
Lily Evans wavy red hair flowed buoyantly around her shoulders as she and Alice Prewett skipped arm in arm down Diagon Alley one of them pretending and the other one naturally not having a care in the world.
"Ooh! Look at that!" Alice cried pulling Lily towards a shop window. They pressed their faces against the glass to get a better look at a display of sparkling pendants
"They're so pretty." Lily said breathlessly.
"Come, lets go in!"
"Nah let's keep walking, it's not like we can buy any of it." Lily reasoned.
"But we can look..."
"No, let's go, I want candy!" Lily glanced down at Alice who was a few inches shorter and now pouting. "We can come back."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Then lets go get candy!" Alice said happily as she looped her arm through Lily's again and they continued their promenade down the street.
Quite unlike most stories, Lily Evans came from a family of five; Her mother, father, sister Petunia, and her younger brother Dudley. Her parents were muggles as was her sister, her brother however was a second year Gryffindor and one of the sweetest boys you could ever meet. He was the link that held Petunia and Lily together. Dudley hated to see his family fighting and it would bring him to tears when anyone raised their voice. So for that reason Lily and Petunia never argued; they knew there was no reason.
Alice Prewett was a bright young girl who could almost always be found with a smile on her face and though she was shy her presence would still lighten a room. She came from a wealthy, respectable family and her father worked as head of the Magical Department of Mysteries. She was an only child but had a close relationship with many of her cousins. Unlike most highly esteemed families, the Prewetts had morals and a strong belief in justice, they believed in forgiveness, in kindness, and in equality; something that the Blacks, Malfoys, and Graes always looked down on.
The two girls spun around and stumbled into the candy shop, laughing and awing at the colors and magic that surrounded them. The candy shop was one kind of magic that never ceased to amaze Lily and it always brought Alice happy memories from her childhood. She sighed as she picked up a giant spinning lolli, remembering the time her cousin Fabian had gotten it tangled in her braid a few years ago and her mother spent an hour getting it out even with magic.
"Alice, is that Gemmaline in the robe shop over there?" Lily asked as she set down a box of beans.
"It is! We should go over!"
"I don't think that's such a good idea...remember what she told us about her mother?"
"You haven't heard half the stuff I have, Lils."
"That's a no then."
"No...that's a let's wait until she sneaks away from her!"
"Alice, I don't want to be the one who gets her into trouble!"
"Oh come on, Lily, stop worrying!" Alice laughed, Lily glared at her, she was tired of being told how uptight she was.
"Fine, but can we at least sit outside at the ice cream parlor?"
"I thought you wanted candy?"
"I did but that was before the sun came out and now ice cream sounds so much better." She smiled.
"Alright, ice cream and stalking it is!" Alice exclaimed and Lily groaned as a few people turned to look at them. They looped their arms and skipped back into the street towards the ice cream parlor with the hope that they're promise wouldn't go unbroken.
'*' '*' '*'
Peter Pettigrew sat in front of the window waiting for an owl, tears glazed his eyes and he was too afraid to leave his room after what had happened the night before. He knew that shattered glass was glittering on the marble floor of the entryway and that the picture of his great grandfather was hanging on an angle, he was also pretty sure that drops of dried blood were decorating the wallpaper; at least he hoped...since he knew there was a cure for physical wounds.
His father was a lie, that was how he got to be secondhand to the minister, that was how he got other people to accept him; well, that and money. Percival Pettigrew was lean man with eyes made of stone, and a heart of ice. He had the perfect laugh memorized, he knew what to say and he could say it well. Perfect; Peter laughed at the word, especially when they used it in The Prophet.
His mother on the other hand was different. She was small, she was frail, and her mind was frayed from a rough childhood. When she was young she saw Percival as her saving grace, her second chance but when she realized the man was a lie; it was too late and Peter became the only thing in the world she felt she could truly love, and she did. She wanted the best for him and that was the reason she stayed with Percival; but she would never tell Peter that.
Whatever happened last night was unforgivable. Peter could know that much when the house elf hadn't been up to his room yet; that was something that only happened when they were tending his mother and the damage. Peter sighed again, his heart aching because he knew that his father would be gone for a few days but he would come back; he always did.
'*' '*' '*'
Remus Lupin dragged James Potter into the bookstore to get their school books and look for a new one of pranks (They had done almost everything worth doing in their last one). James wore a disgusted face as if the dust particles were torturing him; although they could have been. Remus only laughed and stepped up to the counter with their lists.
"This is torture." James muttered to Remus as they waited for the clerk to return.
"No, torture is a starving Sirius." He smirked.
"When you put it that way...no...I'm pretty sure it's worse."
"Whatever you want to believe, mate, but when you're given the choice between being locked in a dusty library or being trapped in a room with a starving Sirius Black, we'll see which one you choose." James laughed and the clerk handed them their books.
James Potter had black hair that refused to lie flat and sparkling hazel eyes that had yet to know pain. He came from an elite family that was closely tied to the Prewetts with their ideas and morals. He was the only child of two top aurors and the pride of his father. His mother thought of him differently though, she loved him but she was a strong believer in discipline (In his first year he had earned a fair amount of howlers.) Over the summer his parents had retired and had fully devoted themselves to dinner parties, balls, and soon they would be searching for information on a man by the name of Tom Riddle.
Remus Lupin was a scrawny boy with sandy hair and the bluest eyes anyone had ever seen. His mother was muggle and his father was an average wizard working in the offices of the ministry. They lived modestly but were almost secluded from the world because of one small detail; Remus Lupin was a werewolf. But if anything, his 'furry little problem' gave him the drive to be better and try harder in school and prove to the world that things like this can be overcome. He quiet (for the most part) andconstantly thankful for his three best friends who have been working since second year to (illegally) become animagi. And despite their immaturity he couldn't have asked to trust any better people..
"Remus," James whined. "These books are heavy."
"Suck it up, James, we're almost there."
"Almost where?"
"The ice cream parlor."
"But I want to get some beans for Sirius!"
"It's not even two o'clock I think we've got plenty of time to go afterwards." Remus stated. James was hesistant but his mind changed completely when he glanced at the parlor and saw the fiery red hair of Lily Evans shining brightly in the sun as she ate her chocolate ice cream across from Alice Prewett. (In case you're new to this, Lily Evans has been the love of James' life ever since he first laid eyes on her in first year; but the problem is that she has hated him ever since.)
"On second thought..." James mused. "I wouldn't mind a chocolate cone." Remus followed his gaze and groaned, anytime James saw Lily Evans; rejections and screaming matches would usually follow...but there's always a possibility for things to change.
'*' '*' '*'
Sirius Black stood next to his mother in Knockturn Alley with his anxious brother Regulus by his side. Three years ago he was in the same position as Regulus, his parents were threatening him about Gryffindors and they were hopeful for his future. But the difference between him and Regulus was that he laughed at their ambitions and attempts because even as a first year, he knew he didn't want to be like them; he wanted to be be like Andromeda who graduated last year as a Gryffindor and was disowned by the family when she became engaged to a muggle-born. He wanted to be a rebel.
His father, Orion Black was a strong, tall man. He had a booming voice and even at his older age, was strikingly handsome. Sirius was disgusted with how alike him and his father looked, they had the same features, build, and even expressions; but there were differences. Sirius had lively grey eyes; his father's were cold and lifeless. His father lived to be powerful while Sirius lived to be loved. Orion liked his family, Sirius liked the world with his family excluded.
Gwendolyn Black, his mother was one of the few remaining descendants of the Prynnes and good friend of Ambrosia Grae. The Prynnes were distant descendants of Rowena Ravenclaw and a signature of their name was their dark eyes and admirable cunning. Gwendolyn had the signature dark, brooding eyes and dark, raven hair to match. She was an intelligent woman and it was rare that anything could be put past her. She stood in a way that demanded respect and she was consistent in her distaste for impurity , all these attributes (And the brooch of her family's crest she always wore as a reminder) labeled her the perfect, pureblood housewife. Sirius hated that woman almost as much as Gemmaline hated her mother, but his hate was inconsistent with it's own reasons.
His mother tugged tightly on his arm and they briskly returned to Diagon Alley. Sirius smiled to himself at the look of outrage on his mother's face when Regulus took off screaming towards Edgar Grae, Gemmaline's younger brother. His eyes caught Gemmaline's grey-green ones and he sent a friendly wave, knowing that she was one person he wouldn't get yelled at for acknowledging. She waved and smiled back, but her mother gave her a stern glance and she quickly pulled her hand down. He loked down the street towards the ice cream parlor and saw James and Remus laughing with Alice and Lily. James looked at him apologetically for a second before all the others turned around and gave him weak smiles. At the end of every year the seven promised to meet up again and catch up from the summer before they left for school, and every year so far it ended up broken and this year would be no exception.
In that moment all seven of the fourth years shared the same bittersweet thought; One day we'll be able to keep our promises. Little to their knowledge, this was the beginning of their unspoken pact; a promise that would bind them for the rest of their lives and well beyond.
I want to say that I love these characters. I didn't think that I would, but now that I'm seventeen chapters in (currently), I've fallen for all of them and their stories. I pray that you'll continue to read and learn to love the characters almost as much as I do.
But thank you so much for taking the time to read this far =]
And I'm beginning in their fourth year because I didn't see much importance in writing their first three. I will not, however, pretend that they never happened. Instead you'll get to see flashbacks and listen to the marauders joking about all the attempts that Lily had made on James life when they were children =D
Please leave a review, your words mean so much to me.