The Marauder's Map:
A collection of tales detailing exactly how the most useful of stealth tools came into being
Author: Black Trinity
Summary: A collection of short ficlets showing what memories the Marauders have for various locations in and around Hogwarts - MWPP, will contain SB/RL and JP/LE in later chapters.
A/N: Reviews, concrit and the like are all appreciated. I hope you enjoy this.
This story can also be found on my LJ at community (dot) livejournal (dot) com (/) tbscribbles - parts may be posted there individually whereas here I will wait until I have a few before posting.
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1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
James Potter: Aged 9 and three-quarters
September 8th, 1969.
Got a letter from Jacob today. He says Hogwarts is awesome and huge and he's got lost loads of times. He also said that he knows so much magic he's practically a fully trained wizard. I told Mum and Dad, and maybe also mentioned that I'm nowhere near as dumb as Jacob, and that I wouldn't get lost, and I would be fully trained by now. Mum and Dad just laughed in that annoying way that parents do, and said I'd have to wait and see.
The thing is I don't want to wait. It's not fair that Jacob is older than me. I wonder if there is a spell to make me older than Jacob?
September 10th, 1969
I'm in trouble. Mum and Dad caught me in the library again. I tried the whole – 'spell books are interesting, I wasn't doing anything wrong' excuse – didn't work. Then they tricked the whole get myself older plan out of me. Now I'm going to have to wait until I'm older because I'm grounded until about then anyway. Also, even without the parent problem I didn't manage to find a hint of a spell.
Is it so wrong that I just want to get to Hogwarts?
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2. The Headmaster's Office
Remus Lupin: July 1971
"I am so glad that you could make it," said the old wizard. Remus assumed that this old wizard was the Professor Dumbledore that his parents had been talking about constantly for most of this past week. He looked like a Professor.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world. So glad you could invite us." Remus knew his father was nervous – but wasn't entirely sure why. The Professor didn't seem that frightening. Maybe it was all of the creepy pictures on the wall; having all those headmasters watching was beginning to unnerve Remus.
Professor Dumbledore shook his father's hand. Dumbledore gestured towards one of the chairs in front of his desk. "Please, take a seat." His father sat down; Remus was left standing unsure as to whether he should sit too. Professor Dumbledore turned towards him. "You must be Remus-" Remus nodded in response. "Pleasure to meet you."
Dumbledore held out his hand, just as he had to his father. Remus took it. Realising that he too was supposed to take a seat he did so. Dumbledore moved to the opposite side of the desk and also sat down. He looked from Remus to his father. "I assume we all know why we're here."
His father nodded and Remus didn't want to admit he had no clue. Instead he focused on looking around the unfamiliar office. Everywhere he looked there seemed to be books - although some of the books were sharing shelf space with other objects. Remus wondered exactly what most of the things were used for – because everything looked like it had a use. Remus' gaze found a collection of long spiky objects, and his brain decided that there was no possible pleasant use for such things.
"Obviously the situation is unusual, Mr Lupin, but I don't see any major reason why – with the proper precautions, of course – Remus would not be able to attend Hogwarts."
Every part of Remus was suddenly paying attention to what Professor Dumbledore was saying. Go to Hogwarts?
"That… obviously that is what we hoped could happen. We just never let ourselves believe it could… I understand there will be some things which need working out-"
Dumbledore interrupted whatever his father had been about to say. "All in good time… Most of the details have been pretty much finalised. I just need you to look things over and say yes. There is of course one more important question-" Dumbledore turned towards Remus, "- do you want to come to Hogwarts?"
Remus did not have to think before replying. "Yes please."
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3. The Great Hall
Peter Pettigrew: 1st September, 1971
I look around the Great Hall. It deserves its name – it's huge. And more than a little intimidating. Or maybe that is just the mass of other students sat at those huge long tables watching us. How interesting can we be? We're just standing here.
And about to get sorted. Oh yeah… not that it's a big deal or anything. Only the rest of our time at Hogwarts, who our friends are going to be, what Quidditch team you support. Whether my parents will disown me or not.
I hope my dad was joking about that last part… I'm not really the Ravenclaw type.
My parents' blatant favouritism aside, the many pairs of eyes watching us were all adding to the feeling of pressure currently residing deep in my stomach.
I try to pay attention to which houses the other new students are being sorted into, but there are quite a lot of them – not to mention the fact I'm more worried about which house I will be sorted into.
Professor Dumbledore reads out my name – I hadn't realised it was my turn. I walk slowly towards the rather scruffy looking hat. I put the Sorting Hat on. I'm not sure what I was expecting – but I'm pretty sure that the quiet, whispering voice wasn't it.
"Another interesting one… Plenty of those this year and we're only half way through.
"Impatient, I see… You'll have to be patient – I'm not in the habit of sending students home, or to a house that's wrong for them." I was uncertain what to make of the scolding.
"Hmm… I'm not all that interested in what your parents want. We've already decided you are too impatient for Ravenclaw."
I don't remember deciding that – the hat was obviously talking about some other 'we'.
"GRYFFINDOR," shouted the hat. I knew at that second that my sorting was over – and I am pleasantly surprised by the result. I take the hat off and put it back on the stool.
As I walk towards my housemates at the Gryffindor table I'm surprised to discover that I'm not even a little bit scared. In fact I'm actually quite excited at the thought of belonging with other people that are apparently like me. Maybe there is something to this Gryffindor bravery after all.
A rather overexcited boy pats me on the back. "Welcome to Gryffindor! I've been here for almost half an hour and it's brilliant. Sirius, by the way." I smile back at Sirius not really sure what to say. "Another quiet one, eh?" Remus – meet Peter. He's quiet like you."
I wonder whether the other boy is really quiet or just not as loud as Sirius – and also how much Sirius could have possibly learnt about the other boy in a short period of time. I also hope he is willing to revise his quiet opinion. I want to ask him this but Sirius is too busy enthusiastically greeting the next boy joining our house.
I'll find out later – I've got seven years after all.
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4. Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory
Sirius Black: September, 1971
The dorm room is eerily quiet – Sirius wasn't exactly surprised by this. People tended to be asleep at around two in the morning. If the snores coming from the direction of his roommates' beds were anything to go by – they were all most definitely asleep. And James was having some sort of dragon battling dream.
Sirius wanted to be asleep too. He couldn't fall asleep though – in fact all he could think about was the letter he had received that morning. His parents sounded angrier than he'd ever known them. Well not sounded exactly; they didn't send a Howler, but only because Black family affairs are not for general public consumption - direct quote from the letter. He knew they'd start fuming the second that he had been sorted – but taking his place among the Gryffindors he couldn't find it in him to really care.
And, Sirius had to admit, his new housemates were going a long way towards making him feel welcome. They were a slightly mismatched group – but after two whole days at Hogwarts Sirius knew that the differences between them wouldn't be an issue by the end of the next week. Eleven years of experience taught him that these three boys were going to be very close friends.
Sirius wasn't really worried about his new friends. It was his family that was the problem – angry letters were bound to be just the beginning.
Sirius knew it was too late to change house – so why did they think complaining would help? Then Sirius remembered exactly how much his dad liked complaining – he was probably only angry with Sirius because the editor of the Daily Prophet hadn't made any grammatical errors that morning.
The thought eased Sirius' mind slightly. Maybe now he'd be able to sleep, after all he did have classes in the morning. 'Generations of Slytherins' would have to take a back seat to Sirius becoming the best wizard ever known to Hogwarts.
Besides, who would want to sleep in dungeon?
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5. The Potions Classroom
James Potter: Potions class – 2nd week of first term
"Remus, come here." James hoped his voice was quiet and conspiratorial. Remus didn't exactly have to move far to comply with the other boy's request – they were paired together after all.
James dug around in his trouser pocket for a couple of seconds before pulling out his secret ingredient. "Well? What do you think?"
"Erm… great? What are they?" Remus picked one of the small, brown things out of his housemate's hand and inspected it. He did not look overly impressed.
"Salamander claws." James grinned.
"Oh, cool."
James realised that Remus did not get the point. He din't really mind – his brilliance amazed himself at times. "According to 101 Potions Experiments for the Practical Person a mixture of the base of the boil curing potion we have here and salamander claw can be applied to a deck of cards to produce-" James paused in what he hoped was a dramatic manner, "-your very own set of Exploding Snap cards."
"So potions class is useful after all." Remus nodded. "I've already got a deck of Exploding Snap cards though. We can play later if you like."
"It's less about the cards, and more about the exploding part," whispered James. "Watch."
With that James dropped the claws into the potion currently on the bench in front of Remus and himself. A look of terror flitted across Remus' face as he watched the cauldron.
Nothing happened.
"I'm not sure you should use that book anymore, James. It seems a bit wrong." Remus' tone was vaguely consoling. James was comforted slightly; particularly given that Remus didn't seem to want anything to explode.
James decided not to be too disappointed by the setback – there was also next time after all. He supposed he should carry on with the set work; James stirred the potions three times in a clockwise direction – as per the instructions on the blackboard.
The bang wasn't exactly deafening but it was definitely a bang. And after the bang the majority of the potion had evaporated.
"Wicked." James said with a huge grin on his face. Remus looked equal parts socked and worried.
"Detention, Mr… Potter. You too Mr. Lupin."
James was sure that it would be the first of many.