Okay, we're going to try something new. I, Sarcasm will write a chapter and then Insanity will write a chapter and so forth, all without consulting each other. Now, begin!
xXx
It was a cool day in September and the Golden Trio was walking across the grounds of Hogwarts. At the moment, they were arguing, well, mainly Ron and Hermione with Harry getting the occasional word in. And like so many other quarrels, this one involved Harry.
"It's not safe Ron! Who knows what could happen if we opened it? We don't know who sent it, what it is, or what it does. It could blow us up for all we know!"
"Come off it Hermione, I really doubt it's going to blow us up. Besides, just look at it! Does this thing look harmful to you?" And the truth was, no it didn't. It was a flat square box that fit in the palm of your hand and was a pearly silver color. On the top of it there was an impression of an hourglass. There was a keyhole in the side and around Harry's neck on a slender chain was a silver key that had come with the mystery box. Hedwig had delivered it in the mail just yesterday morning during breakfast. The only other thing that had been with it was a note saying, A locked box and the key. The rest is up to you…
Finally Harry spoke up."But 'Mione, don't you want to see what's inside? Besides, Hedwig wouldn't have brought it if it was dangerous."
"Well…" Hermione looked uncertainly at the silver box sitting innocently in Harry's hand. "If you put it that way…I guess we could open it. But if anything odd starts to happen, you have to lock it back up right away, got it?" Harry nodded happily. Ron just looked disgruntled.
"How come you listen to him but not me?"
"Because he's not you."
"Humph. Just go on now Harry, open it up!"
With Hermione hovering behind his shoulder looking hesitantly at the box and Ron watching eagerly, Harry lifted the chain over his head and gently placed it in the lock. With a soft click!, the mysterious box was unlocked. After replacing the chain with the key back around his neck, Harry reached for the lid. Hermione began to have second thoughts.
"Harry….are you sure about this?" Ron sighed loudly, exasperated. "Come on, it's only a box! Here let me do it." And with that Ron grabbed the lid and flung it open.
"RON, NO!" But even as Hermione shouted out, a blue mist was steadily pouring out from the box. Within seconds, it had completely surrounded the three friends. The world seemed to spin around them inside the fog. The last thing Harry remembered before falling into a dizzy darkness was a faint, "I told you so!"
xXx
"Do you think we should get a professor?"
"I dunno…"
"They just came out of nowhere."
"Ughh…."
"Look, he's waking up!"
Groaning, Harry opened his eyes. Then immediately shut them again. "No, no, not possible, I've cracked, gone mad, something!"
"Um….Prongs? I don't know about you but I think this one's crazy. I mean, he thinks so too!"
"Harry? Ron?" Hermione had woken up and Harry was forced to face the truth.
"I'm here 'Mione, but something's wrong. It's the Marauders."
"WHAT!" Hermione looked shocked but the proof was right in front of them. She stared at the boys, two with black hair, one with sandy blonde and……Wormtail.
"Harry, it's…..him!" Harry looked startled. In his brief moment of denial, he had forgotten about him. Hatred suddenly consumed him and he would have liked nothing better then to punch Peter in the eye right then and there but he restrained himself with the knowledge that doing that wouldn't make his future father, godfather, or professor like him. While he was wrestling with himself, Hermione had awakened Ron. "I told you so! You shouldn't have been so rash Ronald," were the first words out of her mouth when Ron was alert. He winced. "Okay, okay, so you were right and I was wrong. Who are they?" Suddenly his eyes widened upon seeing James. His eyes quickly darted to Sirius and then Remus.
"No bloody way." With that he passed out. Harry sighed. Hesitantly, Remus spoke up. "Err, who are you and how do you know us?" Ignoring the question, Hermione asked her own inquiry. "What year is it?" James looked surprised but answered smoothly, "It's 1976." His tone said duh.
Even though they had known, this made everything more final. Harry summoned up the Trio's situation with one heartfelt word.
"Shoot."