Crazy For Mystery
Chapter One: Questionable Questions from Hogwarts Students
Kitty Malfoy
Sirius stopped talking suddenly, and turned around.
"What is it Padfoot?" James asked.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Remus asked.
"A giggle. Someone's here."
Peter laughed nervously. "That's impossible. No one knows how to get into the Whomping Willow."
Sirius looked unconvinced, and he took a moment to pace around the disheveled room-checking every nook and hiding place. He walked back to his friends with an unsatisfied growl.
"I know I heard something..."
"Yeah, your marbles rattling around in your empty head." James said with a smirk.
Sirius whirled around again at a small sound. "There it was again. Obviously you're quite funny to whoever's spying on us." Sirius said absently, scanning the dark room.
"Obviously this person isn't very bright if they think James is funny." Remus teased.
James scowled, mockingly, and started towards a laughing Remus while Peter cowered behind a slashed couch.
"Let's go.It's almost time for breakfast." Sirius said pushing through the two boys, and heading outside the willow.
~!~
A large tawny gold owl swooped down and dropped a large rolled up newspaper into Sirius' lap.
"Ah good. Nothing like the 'Daily Prophet' to clear my head-" Sirius said.
"----And then promptly fill it with nonsense." Remus finished, jokingly.
Sirius was not amused. With an annoyed scowl he snapped open the paper and held it out in front of him; blocking out Remus' face.
Sirius' eyes` scanned the second page briefly, and just before he moved on to the next page a small article at the bottom of the page caught his eye.
Questionable Questions from Hogwarts Students
By C.D.
Dear C.D.- How do you feel about pranks at school? I mean you're 18, so you just finished school, right? Did you or any of your friends pull pranks? Personally, I don't think you have a good school, unless you have the very best pranksters-which I am.
-From Hogwarts' Greatest Prankster
Dear Hogwarts' Greatest Prankster-
Not many writers would tell you this, but since I have certain privileges I am allowed free rule over my article, so I will tell you. I totally and undeniably agree with you. Pranks are what make a school great- though my grandfather would probably love to debate that point. In fact, in my graduating year I blew up the Great Hall's ceiling! Why do think they have it enchanted now..? It was terrific. And I did it all on my own. I doubt your best prank tops mine, so I believe your title is on the line..Potter.
-C.D.
"Hey James!" Sirius shouted, "What's this-"
He was unable to continue as the paper was ripped out of his hands. James pushed his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose, and pointed at the article excitedly. "She printed it! C.D. printed my letter!"
He stopped bouncing up and down as he read her reply, and his mouth dropped open in shock. "How did she know it was me?!"
Sirius shrugged.
"Wicked." Remus breathed.
"M-m-maybe----" Peter started. The trio turned and looked at him in surprise. "Maybe w-w-w-we should w-write b-back?"
"Brilliant Pete!" James exclaimed and thumped the madly grinning, pudgy boy on the back. Remus dug in her bag fervently for a moment before pulling out a piece of parchment, and a rather bent Eagle Quill.
"James, you write it!" Remus insisted shoving the items at him from across the table.
Dear C.D.-
That's amazing! I never really thought about the enchanted ceiling that much. That was a pretty good prank, and me and the rest of the Marauders are going to be hard pressed to top it, but I'm confident that it can be done. Who is your grandfather? Wait! Scratch that. If you told me that then you'd reveal your name, which you probably haven't disclosed for a reason. Sorry. One more question: If you're only eighteen and we're sixteen-How come we never saw you at Hogwarts? Surely we would have heard about the Great Hall being blown up-What's the deal?
P.S. How did you know my name?
-From 'The Marauders'
"Good." Remus stated approvingly. He attached it to the owl that had delivered Sirius' paper, and fed it a few bits of toast before it flew off.
~!~
The Marauders waited anxiously for the next day's paper-and the reply of their letter. Sirius snatched the paper out of the owl's grasp before it could even get close enough to drop its load itself.
"It's-it's..it's not in here." He said in amazement.
The boys' shoulders sagged, and they dejectedly pushed food around on their plates. Finally James broke the silence with a sigh.
"Pass me the Quidditch section."
Sirius nodded, and pulled the requested section out of the pile. As he did so something small and white slid out of it and onto the floor. Sirius bent over curiously and picked it up. It was a letter; addressed to "The Marauders" in large, loopy, cursive letters.
Dear Marauders-
Thank you. I thought it was a very good prank as well, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you all will think of something quite creative to out-do me. I'm sorry that I was unable to print your letter in the Prophet, but it was rather personal, and I have to give other letters a chance in the paper. In accordance to your first question you are right. If I told you who my grandfather was, not only would I reveal my identity, but you would be totally weirded out! Right, I'm on a roll. Question number two: Well for one thing I only went to Hogwarts for my first and second years, and then I transferred to Beauxbaton. I was only back at Hogwarts for graduation day in my seventh year at my grandfather's request. Then I believe anyone who witnessed my little stunt had their memory wiped. I guess that's it, but do keep writing to me-it's been so long since I've had an interesting conversation with someone who speaks ENGLISH!
P.S. Oh wait! I knew who you were because my grandfather owls me often telling me about the recent happenings at Hogwarts-and he mentions some certain troublemakers often...
-From C.D. *!*!*!*!*!
R & R!
Sirius stopped talking suddenly, and turned around.
"What is it Padfoot?" James asked.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Remus asked.
"A giggle. Someone's here."
Peter laughed nervously. "That's impossible. No one knows how to get into the Whomping Willow."
Sirius looked unconvinced, and he took a moment to pace around the disheveled room-checking every nook and hiding place. He walked back to his friends with an unsatisfied growl.
"I know I heard something..."
"Yeah, your marbles rattling around in your empty head." James said with a smirk.
Sirius whirled around again at a small sound. "There it was again. Obviously you're quite funny to whoever's spying on us." Sirius said absently, scanning the dark room.
"Obviously this person isn't very bright if they think James is funny." Remus teased.
James scowled, mockingly, and started towards a laughing Remus while Peter cowered behind a slashed couch.
"Let's go.It's almost time for breakfast." Sirius said pushing through the two boys, and heading outside the willow.
~!~
A large tawny gold owl swooped down and dropped a large rolled up newspaper into Sirius' lap.
"Ah good. Nothing like the 'Daily Prophet' to clear my head-" Sirius said.
"----And then promptly fill it with nonsense." Remus finished, jokingly.
Sirius was not amused. With an annoyed scowl he snapped open the paper and held it out in front of him; blocking out Remus' face.
Sirius' eyes` scanned the second page briefly, and just before he moved on to the next page a small article at the bottom of the page caught his eye.
Questionable Questions from Hogwarts Students
By C.D.
Dear C.D.- How do you feel about pranks at school? I mean you're 18, so you just finished school, right? Did you or any of your friends pull pranks? Personally, I don't think you have a good school, unless you have the very best pranksters-which I am.
-From Hogwarts' Greatest Prankster
Dear Hogwarts' Greatest Prankster-
Not many writers would tell you this, but since I have certain privileges I am allowed free rule over my article, so I will tell you. I totally and undeniably agree with you. Pranks are what make a school great- though my grandfather would probably love to debate that point. In fact, in my graduating year I blew up the Great Hall's ceiling! Why do think they have it enchanted now..? It was terrific. And I did it all on my own. I doubt your best prank tops mine, so I believe your title is on the line..Potter.
-C.D.
"Hey James!" Sirius shouted, "What's this-"
He was unable to continue as the paper was ripped out of his hands. James pushed his glasses up higher on the bridge of his nose, and pointed at the article excitedly. "She printed it! C.D. printed my letter!"
He stopped bouncing up and down as he read her reply, and his mouth dropped open in shock. "How did she know it was me?!"
Sirius shrugged.
"Wicked." Remus breathed.
"M-m-maybe----" Peter started. The trio turned and looked at him in surprise. "Maybe w-w-w-we should w-write b-back?"
"Brilliant Pete!" James exclaimed and thumped the madly grinning, pudgy boy on the back. Remus dug in her bag fervently for a moment before pulling out a piece of parchment, and a rather bent Eagle Quill.
"James, you write it!" Remus insisted shoving the items at him from across the table.
Dear C.D.-
That's amazing! I never really thought about the enchanted ceiling that much. That was a pretty good prank, and me and the rest of the Marauders are going to be hard pressed to top it, but I'm confident that it can be done. Who is your grandfather? Wait! Scratch that. If you told me that then you'd reveal your name, which you probably haven't disclosed for a reason. Sorry. One more question: If you're only eighteen and we're sixteen-How come we never saw you at Hogwarts? Surely we would have heard about the Great Hall being blown up-What's the deal?
P.S. How did you know my name?
-From 'The Marauders'
"Good." Remus stated approvingly. He attached it to the owl that had delivered Sirius' paper, and fed it a few bits of toast before it flew off.
~!~
The Marauders waited anxiously for the next day's paper-and the reply of their letter. Sirius snatched the paper out of the owl's grasp before it could even get close enough to drop its load itself.
"It's-it's..it's not in here." He said in amazement.
The boys' shoulders sagged, and they dejectedly pushed food around on their plates. Finally James broke the silence with a sigh.
"Pass me the Quidditch section."
Sirius nodded, and pulled the requested section out of the pile. As he did so something small and white slid out of it and onto the floor. Sirius bent over curiously and picked it up. It was a letter; addressed to "The Marauders" in large, loopy, cursive letters.
Dear Marauders-
Thank you. I thought it was a very good prank as well, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you all will think of something quite creative to out-do me. I'm sorry that I was unable to print your letter in the Prophet, but it was rather personal, and I have to give other letters a chance in the paper. In accordance to your first question you are right. If I told you who my grandfather was, not only would I reveal my identity, but you would be totally weirded out! Right, I'm on a roll. Question number two: Well for one thing I only went to Hogwarts for my first and second years, and then I transferred to Beauxbaton. I was only back at Hogwarts for graduation day in my seventh year at my grandfather's request. Then I believe anyone who witnessed my little stunt had their memory wiped. I guess that's it, but do keep writing to me-it's been so long since I've had an interesting conversation with someone who speaks ENGLISH!
P.S. Oh wait! I knew who you were because my grandfather owls me often telling me about the recent happenings at Hogwarts-and he mentions some certain troublemakers often...
-From C.D. *!*!*!*!*!
R & R!