Harry Potter and the Marauders' Wrath
By: EDelta88
Rated M: language, violence, adult concepts, and other such things not meant for immature readers
Prologue
Four figures stand in a dimly lit room staring at the floor where an extremely complicated runic design consisting of four interlocking circles surrounded by hundred, perhaps thousands, of characters has been drawn.
"…You think this'll actually work?" the red haired man asks.
"Even if it doesn't, the worst that can happen is we all die," says the young woman with similar red hair.
The second man, this one with black hair and emerald green eyes, snorts, "Am I the only one who thinks it's pathetic that the thought of dying doesn't really bother us?"
"No I'm pretty sure we all share that sentiment," answers the last figure, a bushy haired young woman.
For a long time none of them say anything, they just stand together in a comfortable silence contemplating what they are about to do. Then, by some unspoken agreement, each of them moves to stand in one of the four circles, each drawing a wand.
"Everyone remembers the plan?" the green eyed man asks, his companions nod, "Then here we go."
As one they begin chanting in chorus and the runes on the floor begin to glow. On and on they chant, the light from the runes becoming brighter and brighter until they would put the sun to shame. Then, with the last line of the complex incantation the four figures turn their wands on themselves.
"Avada Kedavara!"
Chapter 1: Hogwarts Beware
As Albus Dumbledore sat in his office he couldn't help but feel excited, it was the start of a new year. New blood was coming into the school once more. He had been doing this for nearly a century now but it never seemed to get old, but he felt things where about to get especially interesting this year.
It had been a very eventful decade for wizarding Britain in general.
It all began when fifteen month old Harry Potter had done the impossible and survived a killing curse, destroying the Dark Lord Voldemort and ending the war. The aftermath had been, in a word, chaos. Hunting Death Eaters, funerals, trials, celebrating, rebuilding, regrouping, for several years it was utter madness.
About six years after Harry Potter's feat things had started to calm down only for a new player to stir things up again. Excalibur Industries came onto the scene. At first nobody had thought anything of the slowly growing conglomerate but as time drew on people began to take note of the still expanding company and its extremely unorthodox business practices. Hiring werewolves and other part human or non humans, research and expansion into muggle or muggle-like technology, and political/legal activism (mostly on behalf of the races it employed), to name a few. The complete and total disregard for the status quo of wizarding society had, to say the least, shocked and upset a great many, in fact there had even been an attempted attack by some of the more extreme conservative elements, "attempted" because the perpetrators were… dealt with, rather harshly by Excalibur's security division.
But even more intriguing than Excalibur's unprecedented advances and practices was the mystery that surrounded it. So many questions, everyone wanted to know but no one seemed to be able to find the answers. Chiefly among these was "Who was the founder?" Every since people started paying attention nobody could find out who owned or started it, in fact the identity of Excalibur's founder had become the "Holy Grail" of journalism.
Also during this period something had happened behind the scenes…Harry Potter had disappeared. Albus Dumbledore had been in his office reading about some of the latest inventions and breakthroughs made by Excalibur when he had felt the wards at Privet Drive collapse. Fearing the worst he had rushed to the scene to find… nothing. There was absolutely nothing wrong other than the fact that Harry was not there and upon further investigation he had found that Harry's absence was the reason for the ward's collapse. According to his aunt one morning she'd gone to wake him up and the boy was gone. But what Albus found curious what that upon returning to his office to organize a search for the missing hero he found a most curious note on his desk.
Harry Potter is safe
It had done little to dissuade Albus' misgivings, but several of his instruments confirmed that Harry was indeed alive so his panic was somewhat lessened. Upon questioning the portraits in his office he discovered that the note had appeared a short while ago in a burst of black flame. For four years Albus had searched in vain for the young hero.
Then in a curious turn of events just moments ago the wards had informed him that the boy had appeared on Platform 9 ¾ and boarded the Hogwarts Express, and not a even a second later there was a flash of black flame and on his desk was Harry Potter's Hogwarts letter with a note scrawled at the bottom.
I accept
'How very curious,' Albus thought as an excited twinkle found its way into his eyes. It would seem that this would be a most interesting seven years.
Platform 9 ¾
In the last compartment of the last car of the Hogwarts express, sat a boy of roughly 11 years of age with untidy jet black hair and piercing emerald green eyes. He wasn't exceptionally tall for his age but neither was he small by any stretch of the imagination, average but athletic would be the best description.
Harry Potter sat by the window staring out onto the platform, his sharp eyes combing the gathered crowd, searching for something. Then he paused smiling, "You know it's not very nice to sneak up on people Hermione," he said while turning to the bushy haired girl that had slipped into his compartment without making a sound.
"Bollocks!" she cursed at being caught. "One of these days! One of these days I'll find a way around that sixth sense of yours, mark my words Potter," she muttered.
"Such a foul mouth," Harry teased, "And your parents are dentists to boot."
"Prat," she grumbled, as she levitated her trunk into the rack. Like he was one to lecture her about foul language, "Any sign of Ron or Ginny?"
"Not yet," he answered as he turned back to the window, "I stand corrected," he said with a grin as he caught sight of a very familiar shade of red in the crowd.
A short time later a third person entered the compartment, this one a boy with fiery red hair, "You're a right sadistic git you know that?" the boy says directing the comment a Harry.
Smiling a little too innocently Harry asks, "Why, whatever do you mean Ron?"
This got Hermione's attention, "What did you do?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"This arse," he says while jabbing an accusing finger at Harry, "Has been funding a Ginny-versus-all prank war and didn't send me anything!"
"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," Harry denied.
Hermione just palmed her face, "How bad?"
"Dad's laughing his arse off, Mum is going spare trying to figure out where she's getting everything, Bill and Charlie are trying to figure out how she pranked them for across the continent, Percy broke down and started pranking back, and Fred and George have declared a policy of mutually assured destruction," Ron moaned, "Couldn't you have at least warned me?" Ron asked giving Harry a betrayed look.
"Sorry mate, it was kind of short notice. We needed something to make your mum forget about Ginny's "pen pal" for a short while," Harry said finally giving up the charade as the train began to move.
"You mean that whole thing was a smoke screen?" Ron asked, genuinely curious.
Harry nodded.
"Well played Talon, well played," Ron said, now smiling. "But how are you going to get around mum once she calms down and starts screening the mail again?"
"Already taken care of," Harry answers holding up a diary.
Hermione raises an eyebrow, "Instant Message Diary?"
"And so much more," Harry said his eyebrows wagging suggestively.
Ron cringed, "You elaborate on what you've enchanted that thing to be able to do to my sister and I swear to Merlin, best mate or not, I will hex you into next week," he threatened.
For a long moment they didn't say anything, then as one all three of them burst out laughing.
"Oh it's good to be back together again," Harry sighed as he wiped away tears of mirth before turning to Ron, "So you and Ginny have fun with the rat?"
Ron's grin turned positively evil, "You picked up a pensive right?"
Harry nodded.
"Then see for yourself," he said tossing Harry a flask full of sliver liquid. "Little bastard is sleeping until we need him third year."
For a while the three friends kept talking until the lunch trolley came at which point Harry treated his friends to Pumpkin juice, pasties, and sandwiches. It was during their meal that the got an unannounced, though not unexpected, visitor.
'Showtime,' Harry thought as the compartment door opened to reveal an all too familiar trio.
"So it's true then," Malfoy said, "Harry Potter has returned."
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage," Harry said, feigning ignorance.
"Malfoy," he says while holding out his hand, "Draco Malfoy."
"Well he certainly has the James Bond impersonation down," Ron quipped.
Following the voice Draco's eye's narrowed dangerously, "Weasley."
"Malfoy," Ron returned.
Clearly irked about something Malfoy turned back to Harry, "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better then others, you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there," Malfoy said to Harry, his hand still extended.
For a moment Harry didn't answer he just stared at Malfoy, then, "I think I'd like to decide that for myself but I appreciate the offer."
Flustered and embarrassed Malfoy stormed out of the compartment.
Turning to Ron Harry raised a questioning brow.
"Malfoy's been sore because my dad was able to get a job with Excalibur but they refuse to even speak to his," Ron said in answer of the unasked question.
Harry just smirked knowingly.
Aside from helping Neville find Trevor (which was mostly just one of them distracting Neville long enough for Harry to summon the toad that seemed to be channeling the ghost of Houdini) the train ride went without incident.
Through the boat ride, McGonagal's speech, and the Sorting Hat's song Harry could not help feel nostalgic remembering the first time he'd done all this, though he didn't remember the hat jumping the last time Hermione put it on, how odd. Then all too soon it was his turn to be sorted.
'Well hello sneaky little bastard number two,' the Hat spoke in his head sounding rather amused. Oh, so that's why it jumped.
'I'll take that as a compliment Gideon,' Harry responded.
'I really should put the lot of you in Slytherin for this,' the hat muttered, 'Honestly, if coming this far back to change the course of history in your favor isn't the most ambition I've ever encountered then by Salzar's left nut I will dance a jig. And if that weren't enough I find here that you've been sneaking all over the bloody planet! What am I to do with you?'
'Well you'll eventually put me in Gryffindor anyway but to save us a long drawn out debate I'll make a deal with you Gideon,' Harry thought back, ignoring the Hat's rant.
'…I'm listening,' Gideon replied cautiously.
'You put me in Griffindor and I'll see what I can do about making your life more interesting. Maybe get you off that shelf more often? See about some repairs? Perhaps a nice witch's hat to keep you company...'
'You have yourself a deal brat!' "GRIFFINDOR!"
So Harry made his way over to sit next to Hermione to raucous applause while the Twins danced around chanting "We got Potter" over and over again. A few minutes later they were joined by Ron who planted himself on the opposite side of Hermione as Dumbledore began to speak.
"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" and with that the feast began.
Some time later Ron turned to Harry, "So when do the fireworks start?" he whispered as the main course was replaced with desert.
Harry grinned, "Cry havoc."
BOOM!
Suddenly, in a crescendo of rolling thunder, the ceiling of the Great Hall morphed rapidly from a starry sky to and angry thunder head. To say the least, the majority of the student body was startled into silence but before anyone could gather their wits and start asking what was going on a calm disembodied voice pervaded the hall.
Some years ago
Were the seeds of trouble sown
There were four messers of renown
Whose true names you've never known
Bold Padfoot wild and unrefined
Clever Moony would plan the day
Wormtail followed close behind
And Prongs he lead the way
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream
They hatched a daring plan
To prank their fellow students
And so their group began
Pranksters, truly, of their day
Yes, they were the greatest then
Alas they've gone but do not fear
As it will begin again
Another crescendo of thunder as ghostly music began playing through the hall, the beat emphasized by arched lightning that was now flashing through the hall. Then what sounded like a chorus of voices began to sing.
Double, double, we're gonna make trouble
Your faces burn and tempers bubble
Double, double, we're gonna make trouble
Something wicked this way comes
Eye of Talon and toe of frog
Pelt of Tails and tongue of dog
Scale's white fang and blind-worm's sting
Scry's sharp wit and howlet's wing
Double, double, we're gonna make trouble
Your faces burn and tempers bubble
Double, double, we're gonna make trouble
Something wicked this way comes
In the cauldron boil and bake,
Let's begin, toss in the snake
For good measure a badger's hide
Then raven's mind, and lion's pride
Double, double, we're gonna make trouble
Your faces burn and tempers bubble
Double, double, we're gonna make trouble
Something wicked this way comes!
Suddenly the music and lightning stopped and the voices became an eerie whisper.
We've come again so hear out call
Though we're few we'll get you all
Talon and Tails, Scales and Scry
But the hour is late, so for now... good-bye
Then there was one final deafening series of thunder claps as accompanying lightning bolts burnt glowing words into the air above the staff table.
Hogwarts Beware
The Marauders Ride Again
A/N
Well it's finally ready, took me forever to get the delivery right.
Now a few things about this fic.
First, this is something, that to my knowledge, hasn't been done before, I call is a Progressing Challenge Fic. Basically I want people to take what I've written (and what I will write) and run with it.
Second, if anyone does chose to take up this challenge I would like to know about it
Lastly, for all of you wishing for an epic struggle of good verse evil I'm warning you now that this is going to be very one-sided, Harry and Friends are going to roflstomp the merry band of death munchers.