Disclaimer:
Jingle bells, Voldie smells,
Hedwig laid an egg.
Peeves will steal the Hogwarts seal,
And drive Filch nuts all day!
I don't know what that has to do with me not owning Harry Potter. Harry Potter is all J.K. Rowling's.
Hey all!
Exams are over and school's out! Finally, I have some time to write. Hope you all like this one!
Also, if anyone's interested, I just released my latest Snape-centered one-shot, Mental Cruciatus. I'd really appreciate it if you checked it out!
Aloha from Hawaii, and a Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) to you and yours!
saiyanwizardgurl
Chapter 9: The Greatest Aid to Magical Mischief-Making
After a long time of sitting on the floor in Sirius Black's old bedroom, Remus Lupin opened his eyes. "Are you still awake, Padfoot?"
"I think so," he said, sitting up and yawning. "Sorry about that, Moony."
"No need to apologize."
"Why do I feel so tired?" he asked, yawning again and lying on the floor.
"You just got over being sick."
"And that's important…how?"
"Your body is still trying to recover and regain its strength. It does that when you rest and sleep."
"I see. Are we done in here?"
"For now, I think," said Remus, picking up the witch's hats. "We should go downstairs in case the Weasleys arrive. We can come back here later."
"Okay," Sirius breathed, raising his hand into the air. "Help me up."
Remus grabbed his friend's hand and pulled. The Animagus flopped back down. "Sirius, you have to try!"
"Oh, all right." Sirius rolled over and pushed himself up slowly, as if he were an old man. Remus rolled his eyes. "So when do you reckon they'll get he – "
"YOU ARE THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE WIZARDING WORLD, DUMBLEDORE, AND NOW YOU'RE DEFILING THE HOUSE OF MY FATHERS BY BRINGING IN THESE MUDBLOOD LOVERS!"
"Well, I think that answers your question, Padfoot."
"Shut up, mum!" said Sirius, running down the stairs to close the curtain.
"YOU AGAIN – "
"I said shut up! Moony, give me a hand here!" Once they had wrestled the curtains closed, they turned to face Albus Dumbledore and the mass of red-haired wizards that had just piled into the house.
"Hello Ron – " said the werewolf as he shook the boy's hand.
"Good to see you again," said the Animagus.
" – Ginny, Fred, George – "
"Hey," said Fred Weasley, looking at Sirius.
"Aren't you – " began George Weasley.
"Sirius Black, notorious mass murderer and escaped Azkaban convict?" said the Animagus.
"Don't forget falsely accused, Padfoot," added Remus.
"Oh, yeah, that too."
"Really?" asked Fred.
"No joke?" asked George.
"No joke," said Sirius.
"Wicked," said the twins in awed unison. The Animagus and the werewolf smiled.
"Stop it, you two," said Molly Weasley. "Thank you for allowing us to stay here, Mr. Black – "
"Sirius, Mrs. Weasley."
"Molly, Sirius."
"Fair enough, Molly. And it's no problem. I should be thanking you."
"Sirius, who was that woman?" asked Ron.
"All in due time, Mr. Weasley," said the headmaster. "There is work to be done. Sirius, Remus, do you two know if the upstairs is fit for living?"
"We only checked one room, and it was okay," said the werewolf, looking at the Animagus. "Perhaps that is a sign that the other rooms are safe?"
"Mum would have only jinxed her room. My dad always felt that their valuables could look after themselves."
"Indeed," said Dumbledore.
"We were just about to check the other rooms, but we heard your entrance – " said Remus.
"Remus, the neighbors probably heard their entrance."
" – And decide to come down."
"Right. You all can leave your stuff down here," said Sirius, walking over to the kitchen door and opening it. "We'll head upstairs to make sure it's safe. You can all wait down here for us."
"Where are we going?" asked Ron.
"It's probably an underground dungeon," mused Fred.
"Or a top-secret laboratory," whispered George.
"It's the kitchen," said the werewolf.
"Same thing," said the twins in unison as they descended the stairs.
………………
"We've just checked all the spare rooms," said Remus as he opened the kitchen door. "They're safe."
"No jinxes, no curses," said the Animagus, poking his head in. "Now if you'll just follow us, we need to get your things upstairs."
"I need to head back to the Burrow to fill Arthur in," said Mrs. Weasley, standing up. "I trust you'll be all right until I return?"
"Of course, Molly," said Sirius.
"We'll make sure they settle into their rooms," said Remus.
"Thanks, you two. I'll be back soon," she said, exiting the kitchen. None of the Weasley children stood up until the heard their mother closing the front door behind herself.
"So, Moony," said the Animagus, turning to his friend as they arrived on the landing, "shall I do the honors?"
"Please do, Padfoot," said the werewolf. "I'll dust if need be once we get up there." Sirius took out his wand and waved it, and the Weasleys' school trunks rose off the ground, forming a neat line behind him.
"You did it again," said George.
"Did what?" asked the Animagus.
"Called him Moony."
"And you called him Padfoot," said Fred, looking at Remus.
"We've seen those names before – "
"But they're on the – "
"Marauder's Map?" finished Sirius.
"Yeah," said George, thoughtfully. "Hey!"
"Are you two – " began Fred.
"It can't be – "
"Oh, yes, it can," said the Animagus.
"Is it?" asked the twins in unison, turning to their former professor.
A smile flashed across the werewolf's face. "It is."
"Wicked!" said George, rushing forward to shake Sirius' hand. "I'm absolutely thrilled to meet you, Mr. Padfoot!"
"And you, Professor!" said Fred, shaking Remus' hand. "An honor to meet you, Mr. Moony!"
"You two are an asset to Hogwarts' mischief-makers!"
"I can't believe I'm actually meeting you!"
"Knock it off, guys," said Ron.
"Wait a second," said George, looking at his younger brother. "Does Harry know about you two?"
"Of course he does," said the Animagus, "Prongs was his father."
"What!" said the twins.
"James Potter!"
"I didn't know Harry was related to such a great man!"
"So I guess giving him the map was just like passing it on to the rightful heir, wouldn't you agree, Fred?"
"Yes, I believe so, George."
"So it was you two that gave Harry the map," said the werewolf.
"Yep," said Fred.
"How'd you two get it?" asked Sirius as he began to climb the stairs. "Last I knew was that Filch had it in one of his drawers."
"He did," said George.
"But he brought us into his office first week of our first year," said Fred.
"We let off a Dungbomb – "
"He was rather upset – "
"Took us up to his office – "
"Threatened us with detention – "
"Probably wanted to do more than that – "
"But we glanced upon his filing cabinets – "
"And saw one marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous."
"And let me guess," said the Animagus. "You couldn't resist."
"Right in one. George caused a diversion – another Dungbomb – and I took a little peek – "
"And nicked the greatest aid to magical mischief-making the world has ever seen."
"The secret to our success."
"We owe it all to you."
Sirius smiled. "I'm glad to see that our work is still being carried out, wouldn't you agree, Remus?"
The werewolf hesitated, but then grinned just as much as his friend. "In all honesty, yes, I think I'm glad."
"So here we are," said the Animagus.
"Ginny, your room is over here," said Remus. "I'm sure Hermione will be staying here later, so you two will share rooms."
"All right. Thank you," she said as Sirius put her trunk at the foot of the bed.
They climbed up another set of stairs. "Ron, you're in the room on the left," said the werewolf. "If Harry comes by later this summer, he'll be staying with you."
"Okay," he said, shutting the door behind himself.
"You two are up on the next floor," said the Animagus. "First door on the right." He flicked his wand, and the last two trunks zoomed up the next flight of stairs.
"Thanks Sirius," said Fred.
"We'll call you down when your mother returns," said Remus.
"Till then," said George. The twins turned to face the Animagus and the werewolf halfway up the stairs and saluted them. "We solemnly swear that we'll be up to no good."
Smiling, Sirius saluted back. "Well done boys."
Remus, grinning to himself, thought about what Mrs. Weasley would say before he too gave a salute. "If you're mother asked, this conversation never happened."
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Alas, we come to the end of yet another chapter. Please take the opportunity to press the pretty purple button below. Questions, comments, and concerns are welcome. Flames are not. Thank you so much for reading!
