Disclaimer: You know, if I really were J. K. Rowling, the Marauders would have at least one member still alive – and Peter does not count.
Thanks to MCat and GudingHand for their reviews, and GuidingHand for numbers 6, 7, and 8.
Chapter 2
6. Floorboards
Before:
Somehow, Uncle Vernon had never figured out that Harry had pried loose a few floorboards under his cot in the cupboard, and Aunt Petunia had never discovered the missing food in the pantry that was currently residing under those floorboards.
After:
Harry sighed happily as he looked at his parent's photos one last time before moving to place the photo album under some loose floorboards in Dudley's second bedroom, along with the birthday goodies his friends had sent him throughout the years.
7. Merry Christmas
Before:
"Here, boy," grunted Uncle Vernon, handing Harry a clothes peg, "Merry Christmas. Now go sit in yer cupboard and let us normal folks have dinner without yer freakishness."
After:
"Harry! You've gotta wake up!" yelled Ron as he jumped up and down at the foot of Harry's bed, "It's Christmas! Time to open our presents! Wake UP!"
8. Play
Before:
Harry's smile dropped as he was shoved away, then – shoulders slumped – he walked off to a lone swing, wishing someone would just come and play with him.
After:
Harry dragged Hermione to sit on the floor of the common room, and then proceeded to cajole the young witch to play Exploding Snap with him and Ron –she really needed to relax before she went spare with all that studying.
9. In Sickness
Before:
Groaning, Harry valiantly tried to ignore his pounding headache as Aunt Petunia screeched at him to hurry up with the weeding, because he still needed to paint the fence and clear the shed.
After:
Madame Pomphrey gave Harry's pale and shivering form a once over, before pushing the skinny boy onto a cot, shoving a vial of Pepper-Up down his throat and warning him that if he so much as thought of moving from the bed, there would be hell to pay.
10. Dogs
Before:
Harry was getting really tired, but he couldn't let go of the tree branch just yet – not when Ripper and two of Aunt Marge's other dogs were still growling viciously at him at the bottom of the tree.
After:
Sirius' eyes took on a mischievous gleam as Harry recounted his meetings with Hagrid's Hellhound, Fluffy - his dogfather was probably going to introduce Padfoot to the three-headed dog sometime soon for one of his nefarious plans (and Harry laughed because he never knew dogs could be this fun).
Yo!
Here's part 2. Reviews are still appreciated.
Though number 10 didn't turn out quite right...
I'm still open to suggestions!