Chapter X: Halloween
The Marauders and their Minions entered the Great Hall together, a bit like a mob. The Minions entered arms linked as girls did in those girl-power days of the 70's. The Marauders, entered closely behind their witches and hoping to keep their secret surprise secret, had their game-faces on. The Great Hall was decked out in Hogwarts Halloween Splendor. Students from other Houses looked just as chuffed that The Halloween Feast was finally here. Witches went above and beyond with their appearance, their, most festive robes donned and their faces alight while the wizards looked delighted that they finally had something to celebrate this year.
The students tonight departed from the traditional black robes. Elegant robes in their respective House colors were worn instead. Slowly, as each group of friends from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin filled the room the Great Hall had the appearance of a swirling, kaleidoscopic jewel of crimson, forest green, honey yellow and sapphire blue. Even their Heads of House wore their school-days House Colors! It was a splendid sight! Professor Flitwick had his choir positioned off to the side in front and they were singing the school song in various tunes but in Flitwick's capable hands it sounded almost like proper music. Hagrid's enormous pumpkins, carved by his own hand into jack-o-lanterns, glowed all the colors of the rainbow and floated all around, which provided a lovely obstacle course for the live bat's circuit. The ghosts were present and though they too were decked out in their Halloween best, remained transparent and except when zooming through Hagrid's jack-o-lanterns and then they created a sort-of vapor trail of color that followed them for a spell through the air.
The first of The Marauder's surprise manifested on the four walls of the Great Hall. Moving facsimiles of each of the House Founders adorned the ancient walls. Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor loomed over the celebrations appearing to approve of this party from on high.
"Maybe we should have used Godric Gryffindor's face instead." Sirius considered in a hushed voice as the Slytherins seated themselves, smiling up at their wall.
"Perhaps Gilbert Grindelwald?" suggested Remus.
Remus slipped his wand from inside his sleeve. As discretely as he was able, he attempted to re-transfigure the Slytherin facsimile. This proved more difficult than he'd expected and the image hovering behind the Slytherin House table became the Dark Mark with face of Gilderoy Lockhart popping out of his mouth in a tiny speech bubble. The Marauders looked pleased. The Slytherins on the other hand were not which pleased The Marauders further!
"Well done Moony!" Sirius shouted.
"My pleasure Pads!" Remus shouted back.
One look from Professor Slughorn was all that was needed for Remus to reverse the spell. Everyone liked Slughorn and this prank was not meant to insult him. Remus looked properly chastised.
James couldn't prevent himself from devolving to his fourth-year self, a prat if ever there was one and gloated until Remus elbowed him in the ribs, drawing his attention to Slughorn's disapproving expression. James hastily nodded an apologetic look Slughorn's way. Slughorn nodded his forgiveness in return.
Pete simply looked pleased to be with the in-crowd and took hold of Mary's hand.
"Look who's not here Pads." James nodded toward the end of the Slytherin table, two of their number were absent; neither Regulus or Snape where here tonight which quite frankly was odd.
"Now that is definitely dodgy," Sirius said, looking at James and they both looked at Remus and Pete. "No Snivellus. No Reg. What's the deal? James, check the Map." Three of the Marauders rose higher on their toes, Remus having the best view and searched throughout the entire hall; there was no sign of either Slytherin.
James was the first to arrive at their table, seated himself and bent low, snuck The Marauder's Map from the pocket inside his robes and opened it up, tapped it with his wand and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. Look! I found them," James tugged at the hem of Sirius's robes and Sirius frowned as he lowered himself onto the bench as the others followed. All four wizards snuck a look at the map in turn. Regulus and Snape were exiting their common room. They followed their dots until they saw them reach the seventh floor and begin to pace back and forth three times in front of the The Barmey's tapestry.
"They're definitely up to something," all four said in unison.
Just then Dumbledore rose to his feet. When Dumbledore said the magic words, "Let the feast begin," the remainder of the pranks went into operation. The Slytherins most likely to become Death Eaters sprouted rat whiskers and tails along with the face of Sir Cadogan emblazoned on their left forearms which burned day-glow pink when it revealed itself. Their prior displeasure intensified, evident in their murderous expressions. Gilderoy now noticed his face coming out of the Dark Mark's mouth which hovered over the Slytherin's table and he looked positively alarmed. He was only a fourth-year student and not sure how he should respond to being featured in a Marauder prank. He took control of his fourteen-year old face and just smiled; all those white teeth showing. He'd begged to be teased as just last week when he stupidly sent his own face into the sky in imitation of the Dark Mark; he really was an idiot.
The Minions were presented with copies of The Sword of Gryffindor which magically appeared in their hands when they picked up their knives. Hagrid's tankard of pumpkin juice transformed into Fwoopers that flew into the air to circle around his head. Snape's pumpkin juice transformed into slop but no one sat in his place. With his wand, James secretly directed the goblet of slop to move over Mulcibur and it emptied its contents on him instead. James was pleased enough until he received the Howler that he'd sent to himself. He'd forgotten! James had planned this himself, as a public show of penitence for being a prat to Lily. Lily seemed to appreciate it all the same. A giant replica of a chocolate frog card, complete with the Headmasters face appeared behind Professor Dumbledore's chair to great applause from almost everyone.
This applause triggered the finale; everyone in the Great Hall levitated. They all floated aimlessly around the hall for a solid minute. It was delightful to watch the Slytherins fight joy and everyone had a laugh at their expense. The ghosts chose to formation fly while everyone was floating around; their timing was matchless. The Marauders were pleased with their work and their Headmaster gave them a deep nod followed by a wink while they all floating aimlessly. Eventually, everyone landed softly in their own seats, at the respective House tables and applause broke out! The Marauders rose from their places and bowed dramatically in show of appreciation for being appreciated. Their pranks were meant to be enjoyed after all!
The feast progressed into eating and visiting and laughing. The House tables vanished when Dumbledore finally set down his cutlery and friends mingled freely from every House. Even some of the younger Slytherins evidently had friends in the other three Houses and this was a bigger surprise still. The party lasted a couple of hours trays of nibbles were at arm's reach, proudly supported by a delighted House Elf and Flitwick's choir provided music until he released them to mingle along with the rest. Eventually the celebration died down and students began to head to their common rooms to carry on in private. The hall had only just begun to empty but, there was another surprise planned for tonight and it was not courtesy of the Marauders.
The Aurors encircled the students, preventing their departure and began to Stupefy and Leg-lock them. They were Aurors after all and meant to protect Hogwarts' students! No one knew quite what was happening nor how to respond to this utterly unexpected turn of events! Gryffindors along with Muggle-borns and blood traitors from every house were apparently being targeted. Even their Professors were on the receiving end of Auror spells! There were only twenty Aurors stationed at Hogwarts tonight but tonight that number swelled and all of them except Alastor Moody were attacking the students!
Of course, no one knew that the Aurors were not themselves so at first, the staff and the older students, reluctant to return fire, were slowed by shock. This went exactly to the Slytherin's plan and gave the Death Eaters, in Polyjuice disguise an early advantage.
The Great Hall deteriorated into chaos. The Aurors spells ratcheted-up becoming more hostile by the second. Most students were still too shocked to take it in! These Aurors were meant to protect them!
Without thought to his own safety James was the first to rise and cry "Protego!"
Sirius instantly rose next to him casting his own Protego! and the rest of the Marauders and their Minions stood and cried in unison, "PROTEGO!" They knocked their attackers back with their combined shield charm.
Recognizing mass hesitation, not unlike recognizing stupification, came in a flash. Something dark had been done to his Aurors! Dumbledore cast an audible REVELIO TOTALUM! The Death Eaters were revealed as the Polyjuice Potion's effects slowly reversed. Some Death Eaters were so bold as to not have bothered with Polyjuice Potion but chose to wear their Death Eater masks! Malfoy, Black, Lestrange, Nott, Dolohov, Rookwood, Rosier, Yaxley, once safely hidden behind their Death Eater Masks were unmasked by Dumbledore's powerful revealing spell and knowing who to target made all the difference.
Now the balance of power in the Great Hall shifted. Professor McGonagall cast Pier Totum Locomotor!directing the statues to move and block the exits from the Great Hall. Moody moved from spot to spot throughout the Hall disarming not the Death Eaters but their student sympathizers with his own Expelliarmus! Then he incapacitated them with Encarcerous! He hadn't reach all of them however, before the student resistance fighters did.
Individuals now spotting their prey commenced to duel and duel they did! This wasn't a lesson in Defense Against the Dark Arts, this was war! Lily and Mary, of one mind, immediately targeted Mulcibur using the Babbling Curse followed by "Expelliarmus! Incarcerous!"
Mars found Avery and cried "Expelliarmus! Immobulus! Mimblewimble!"
Frank dueled Lestrange but chose a more offensive approach, shouting, "Deprimo! Relashio! Confringo!" but Lestrange was equal to the task and and called up his own shield charm. Alice found Frank and behind Lestrange's back non-verbally cast Confundo! Frank nodded Alice's way and smiled as Lestrange started to aimlessly wander around; together they bolted in search of another target happy with Lestrange's bemused expression.
James found Dolohov and unleashed! James was actually keeping up and gained the advantage more than once. But Dolohov fell to a spell cast from across the hall and when James turned around he found it's caster, Professor McGonagall dropped Dolohov in one and James smiled appreciatively.
"James, you're wasted on him! Look around you! There's more!" Lily shouted turning a smile on James and point her wand around the room, singling out enemy individuals.
James laughed and returned her smile. "Point taken Lily." James looked around and finding Sirius moved off in haste to join him. He was single-handedly dueling Bellatrix Lestrange which was bold even for Sirius and James had no intention of losing Sirius now or ever! Bellatrix was a singularly dangerous witch and Sirius needed help whether he knew it or not.
"We have to contain her Pads!" James yelled and together they cast a double "Expelliarmus!" Bellatrix wand flew out of her hand but she countered with, "Accio!"and her wand, reversed course, returning to her expert hand. In that split-second James and Sirius bringing more magical power to their spells shouted in unison, "Everte Statum! Confundo!" This took Bellatrix by surprise and at last she was out of action. The two friends bowed to one another and watched as one of the worlds most deadly witches wandered the hall aimlessly.
"Nice one James!" Sirius yelled.
It was Moody who shouted "Encarcerous!" and as Bellatrix was quickly bound by rope magicked from Moody's wand he moved off to bind another enemy.
Lily, in a moment of madness, in the midst of a battle, had stopped to admire James's wand work while he and Sirius dueled Bellatrix. She was brought to her senses when she heard the crashing sounds of goblets and cutlery. Peeves the Poltergeist had joined the fray by throwing goblets and flatware and knives at the Death Eaters, cackling all the while.
Dor took on Crabbe while Remus took on Goyle; together and with ease. They yelled "Confundo Duo"! and the two wannabe Death Eaters stared aimlessly, around the Great Hall, their wands falling harmlessly to the floor. Dor simply walked toward them, they were quite harmless now, and collected their wands from the floor. Remus cast "Immobulus!" and "Petrificus Totalus!" and their foe's dropped like stones with a satisfying clunk!
The Professors were dueling and incapacitating all the while. Both Professor Slughorn and Professor Flitwick were expert duelists and took on the likes of Malfoy, Rookwood and Bode. Professor McGonagall took out Nott and was doing the same just now to Yaxley. Hagrid merely threw punches and took down several unknown and as yet, unnamed Death Eaters of his own. Dumbledore silently cast Protego! on as many non-combatants as he could spot and then Wingardium Leviosa'd them behind his own shield wall.
In the meantime, Madam Pomfrey and Mars had cast Protego! around the youngest students who recognized that this was out of their league and had ducked under the house tables. Then they used Inverte Mesa and Locomotor Mesa to build a protective area out of the house tables followed by Duro! and Protego Maxima! Now they had a safe place to tend to the wounded. Madam Pomfrey called "Accio"! and her healer's bag zoomed from the hospital wing straight into her hand!
The battle seemed to go on for a long time but it hadn't actually been very long at all. Both sides were starting to show signs of fatigue. It seemed that neither side had the intent to kill rather, to terrorize! After what had actually only been seventy-seven minutes Hogwarts's defenders appeared to have gained the upper hand and the battle started winding down. Those who could walk made their own way while the injured who were down were being levitated to the makeshift triage center that Mars and Madam Pomfrey were running by elder House Elves. One of the injured and out of action for some time turned out to be Pete. He had been sliced in several places, was bleeding liberally and he was unconscious.
Madam Pomfrey was performing Reparifors and Vulnera Sanentura on Pete, gently whispering the spells, her wand carefully tracing his wounds as the bleeding slowed and the tissue began to mend. She'd learned much from Mary's wounds and the Mediwizards from St. Mungo's. Meanwhile she could hear Miss McKinnon use Ferula! to splint broken bones on someone behind her. Pete was the most grievously injured of the Gryffindors and once he was out of immediate danger Madam Pomfrey released anger and frustration, complaining vociferously in what she seemed to think were hushed tones but were actually quite audible even over the din echo of yells coming from every direction in the Great Hall!
"Whatever is Hogwarts coming to? Death Eaters inside the castle walls? Unforgivable curses performed in the Great Hall! It's disgraceful! A war zone inside a school! I just can't believe it's come to this! How on earth did they penetrate the Castle's wards, its protective spells and enchantments? This simply will not do! Such atrocities must never be allowed to happen again! What could Albus have missed to allow this to happen? Oh Miss McKinnon, never mind me, I am just stunned and furious at tonight's disastrous turn of events! Now and then I just have to rage!"
"I am with you Madam Pomfrey! Your raged for the both of us." As Healers this was a nightmare and the two witches were up to their necks in the wounded and possibly dying. It was enough to break anyone's heart, especially a Healer's.
Just as the two seemed to gather their wits salvation came. Above all the moaning and crying, the screaming and the crashing Mars heard the strong voice of the Headmaster bellow "Finite!"
All those who were the last to be battling stopped and Dumbledore cast a silent Levicorpus Horribilus selectively filtering only the Death Eaters with a graceful motion of his wand they rose high into the air. Some, were awake and protesting others were stunned but they all rose nonetheless. Dumbledore directed them to a cage that Professor McGonagall had transfigured from suits of armor and benches in the Hall. This is where they were detained while Moody confiscated all their wands.
House elves appeared now with floating trays of hot chocolate, strong sweet tea, Brandy and Firewhisky. The triage's defenses merely expanded as more room was needed and soon make-shift hospital encompassed one third of the Hall. Members of every house were injured and that included the Professors as well the Slytherin sixth and seventh years who were currently being detained with the Death Eaters. Slytherin was a surprising house however. A few fourth and fifth year Slytherins followed Professor Slughorn's brave defense of Hogwarts and were injured in the battle fighting against their own House! Perhaps the Hat sorts too early or even makes mistakes, Mars concluded in the privacy of her own thoughts.
As proof of their allegiance, knowing full well that it was doubted, these young Slytherins offered up their wands for inspection practically begging Professor Dumbledore to use Priori Incatatum on their wands or to at least perform Legillimency on them. Moody suggested Veritiserum but Dumbledore chose to simply believe them when they all swore their allegiance to him and the school. Dumbledore also noted the conspicuous absence of Messer's Snape and Black, as everyone was accounted for.
The Minister of Magic, The Head of Magical Law Enforcement arrived presently along with a mobile unit of Mediwizards from St. Mungo's. The Death Eaters were escorted to Azkaban. The traitorous students who fought alongside them were another matter. St. Mungo's treated their wounds and they were provided with food, water, clean clothes and camp beds. They would remain caged in the Great Hall until it was decided what was to be done with them. A fresh group of new, young Aurors arrived and began to search the castle for the replaced Aurors.
Those who were relatively unharmed tried to help restore the Great Hall to its pre-battle state but were frequently shooed away by devoted house elves who successfully took over.
"It's not wizard work!" One little old elf admonished the students while he worked.
The statues were directed to take up defensive positions at every entrance to the Castle. The suits of armor were all charmed by Professor Flitwick into surveillance of the Castle. Eventually the replaced Aurors were found. They'd been held in one of the disused dungeons. They were revived and treated for shock. Those who did not need to go to St. Mungo's were to attend an emergency meeting of The Minister, Law Enforcement and the staff, of Hogwarts in Dumbledore's office.
It was well past three o'clock in the morning before everyone involved in any part of the battle was finished. Tired but steadfast, Madam Pomfrey had her hospital to herself for the night except for Miss McKinnon. She was her protégé after all and she would make a wonderful Healer someday. Miss McKinnon had an intuitive sense where Healing was concerned and they worked very well together. Eleven beds had patients with varying levels of injury, Pete among them. All of the younger students, injured or not, were given drafts for dreamless sleep and were escorted to their houses by their prefects. Sirius arrived to escort Mars to Gryffindor Tower.
"Miss McKinnon, you were tireless tonight! You are a born healer, a natural. I thank you." Madam Pomfrey squeezed her hand and gave her a heartfelt smile.
"It was wonderful to be able to help Madam Pomfrey. I just did what you taught me to do. I will be back in the morning."
"I will be glad of your help Miss McKinnon but don't show up until you wake on your own and eat a hearty breakfast. A healer is no good to anybody if she isn't fully rested and present."
Mars nodded her agreement then turned to Sirius. He reached for and took her hand. They left the hospital that way, completely forgetting that their relationship was supposed to be a secret.
"Some night huh?" Sirius looked into her face to gauge her state of well-being. "You're un-hurt, you're OK?"
"I'm fine Sirius. You? Nasty cut there on your arm. Must've been good to have a loving healer handy." She tugged him closer to her as they walked through the corridor, his arm around her shoulder, hers around his hips, just they two.
"I am always good when I'm with you Mars," He whispered in her ear as they put one foot in front of the other. "I fought for you ya know?" Sirius slowed to a stop, under an archway that led to one of the castle's many alcoves, leaned the rest of his body into hers and wrapped both of his arms around her, pulling her as close to him as natural law would allow.
"I know." She whispered into his chest as she looked up to face him earnestly pulling his hips to hers as he steered her toward the wall. He held her there with the pressure of his body; their heat mingling, their hearts adjusting to beat together. Her eyes searched his face; the face she preferred above all faces, his grey eyes smoldering in his currently careworn expression, his brow furrowed with concern, his mouth tight as his jaw absently worked.
"We'll be alright Sirius," she breathed and then with all she felt for him she rose to her toes, pulled his face to hers and kissed him, willing his mouth to relax and join in. His hands moved from their place around her shoulders to low on her hips and he curled himself into her, lifting her onto his hips and pulled her close. Lovingly, he fully supported her; taking the weight off, so to speak, as her tired back pressed into the cool stone wall. His mouth relaxed on hers and it opened. They moaned together and remained there, kissing, hands exploring, hearts filling. The heat and that joyful tension they had ever only shared only with each other, rising.
For now, this would have to be enough. Eventually their mouths parted but they remained wrapped up in each other, alone in the quiet, deserted corridor alcove. They were not a couple for words. She expressed exactly how she felt about him with deeds, a soft brush of her hand over the hair, across the back of his neck, a wink when no one else was watching, the look in her eyes that only he had ever seen, often when he least expected it. He did the same and the meaning behind these secret moments was never lost on the other, never misunderstood. There would never be anyone in their lives who could replace the other. When they finally were willing to leave the sanctuary of the alcove, he placed her on her feet, their hands rejoined, they resumed their walk, hand in hand to Gryffindor Tower and to their friends who needed them.
James, Lily, Remus, Dor, Mary, Alice and Frank were waiting in the common room when Mars and Sirius arrived. It was after three o'clock in the morning.
"No class for the rest of the week." Frank announced as they entered through the portrait hole. "Thought you'd like to know. Alright you two?"
They looked at each other, "Alright. You?"
"Yup, We're alright."
"Some night huh!" Dor exclaimed.
"How's Pete?" Mary and James asked as one.
"He'll be fine, eventually. Needs to be there tonight for observation, probably tomorrow night too, his cuts were made by the same Dark Magic as yours were Mary."
With that Sirius claimed Dor's chair, who gave it up gladly and sat on Remus's lap. Sirius sat and gently pulled Mars onto his own. For a long while they all just were together in exhausted but companionable silence. It was that quiet time in the very early morning when silence is its deepest. The only sounds in the common room were their soft breathing and the coals sinking lower into the remaining ash that pulsed with new heat as the air mixed in new oxygen. Dor shivered and Remus held her closer with one arm and with his other aimed his wand at the fireplace. He levitated logs one at a time into the coals until the fire grew and crackled and warmed the room. Golden, red light illuminated their faces and they burrowed down into their respective seats to reabsorb comfy. The all stayed just as they were for quite some time. Exhaustion finally gave way to sleepiness.
Lily broke the silence. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't fancy sleeping alone. Could you three just transfigure these," she pointed to the sofa and chairs while directing the question to the three Marauders, "into mattresses and blankets and we could sleep here, all together?"
"Sounds like a plan." Never one to miss any opportunity with Lily, James rose from beneath her and performed the spells. No one went to their dorms to wash or to change; no one really cared. They all found a cozy spot and fell into an exhausted sleep.
When Professor McGonagall climbed through the portrait hole to Gryffindor Tower the following morning, she found her Marauders, their Minions and Frank fast asleep on the common room floor. They looked so young, peaceful and worry free, in sleep. She stood there, very quiet and memorized the sight of them. She had such profound fondness for these brave, intelligent witches and wizards. She rarely got to see them like this; relaxed and vulnerable and quiet. She treasured it and let the moment last for several. Her Gryffindors. She really didn't want to wake them. She'd give them some more time and with one last sweep of her eyes she committed to memory the sight of them and slipped out again.
The first to wake was Sirius and he found Mars on his right, her head tucked into the blankets, face inches from his, relaxed in sleep. His Marlene...he sighed and allowed himself some time to appreciate her. She was the finest witch he had ever known and there was nothing that he wouldn't give to her, sacrifice for her, do for her. Her hair was tucked behind her delicate ear, all but a few strands and he knew they would bug her. With a careful finger, he added them to the rest but remained where he was and drank in the sight of her face; the face he preferred of all other faces. He could tell by the light behind her that it was either late morning or early afternoon. Mercifully they had all slept in. He knew that his change in body tension from sleeping to waking was something that she would notice soon enough so he lingered, enjoying the quiet and his private view of her, sleeping, for what time he was allowed.
Mars stirred, inhaled deeply. She knew he was near, his scent filled her brain and she opened her eyes to find Sirius looking at her, his face wore a rare, unguarded smile and she returned it. "Morning, Star Boy." she whispered.
"Mostly or early afternoon; we all had a bit of a lie-in." Sirius said softly. He was reluctantly gearing up to be a part of the rest of their world; she could always tell by the color change of his eyes from warm dark grey to lighter guarded grey.
"Hungry?" she asked.
"Starving," he answered. His eye's shifted momentarily to smoldering mischief.
"For food?"
"Sure, let's go with that."
"Should we wake them?"
"I s'pose. Oi, Prongs, wake up, it's tomorrow!"
James shifted and found that Lily was curled up in his arms. "Did ya have to wake me Pads? Who knows if this will ever happen again?" James whispered louder than he meant to and nodded to a sleeping Lily.
"I'd wager it will happen again, maybe even when you are both awake," Mars whispered rather loudly back, trying her hardest not to laugh at her life-long friend James who, for all his brilliance could be quite obtuse. "Lily's coming around James, I promise."
"What am I coming around to Mars?" Lily asked as she shifted sleepily to find herself in James's arms. "Oh...I see. Well, good morning James. Sirius, Mars, good morning. What's the time?"
"Well done Mars! I think I hate you."
"You don't. You're both awake to appreciate this unprecedented moment. Potter and Evans not rowing but curled up into a cuddle. You two are so cute!"
"Shut up Mars!" Lily scolded but she slid into to James's embrace imperceptibly and smiled.
"Sorry mate." Sirius added with a smirk. "Moony, wake up! Lily wants to know the time."
"Oh, for Merlin's sake Pads it's half noon. Why am I the only one with a watch?" Remus whispered, obviously annoyed at being woken for of all things, the time.
"Don't tell me. I could care less what the time is! It's Lily who wants to know!"
"Lily, it's half noon." Remus answered more reasonably and rolled over to find Dor curled in his arms. None the less all this jabbering woke Dor too and she shared her announce with a grumble.
"What's wrong with you lot?" She snapped. "No class, no reason to wake up," she finished, snuggling closer to a delighted Remus.
"What're we all whispering about so loudly?" asked Mary who was between Lily and Mars. "Such a grump Dor! By the looks of it it's not such a bad morning: we're breathing!"
"Point taken Mary. Morning Remus." Dor purred.
"Nothing important. The time? We were whispering loudly about the time. Honestly! You're all ridiculous!" complained Alice. "Frank, honey wake up."
"Cheers Alice." Frank looked around. "Hey guys, good morning. What time is it Remus?"
"Two minutes later than when Sirius asked for Lily."
"Wow, listen to us. We're sound like the Walton's!" Mary said mostly to Lily.
"Who are the Walton's?" everyone asked.
"Good one Mary! Never mind, they're imaginary American Muggles." Lily rolled from her side and leaned up on her elbow. "Thanks everyone, I actually slept ... really well," she said yawning while she looked at James. He wasn't wearing his glasses. She'd never seen James's eyes without his glasses. She felt like she had missed a stair or stood up too fast. Wow! They really are something.
"Our pleasure Lily," James said looking back at her. "Wonder what the rest of the house thought when they trooped past, on their way to breakfast and lunch?" He reached up to the table that had been shoved out of the way, found his glasses and put them on. "That's better." He smiled and rubbed his sleepy hair. It didn't look that much different first thing in the morning Lily thought and in the semi-darkness of the common room, she blushed.
"Orgy?" Sirius offered.
"Better an orgy than a scared Gryffindor!" Lily added. "It's different being a role model in war time."
Just then Professor McGonagall climbed through the portrait hole and surveyed the scene. "Good morning Gryffindors. I trust some of you ... slept," she loved giving them grief, it kept them on their toes. "There is food in the Great Hall if any of you are still … hungry." She laughed in the privacy of her own mind. "It's been a late morning for most everyone." She gave them the evil eye, struggling to stifle her own smile as she shared it with her charges very rarely. She certainly wouldn't be sharing it during this priceless moment.
"Starving!" they said in unison and moved to rise.
"I shall expect to see all of you downstairs in half an hour. Do wash up and change, you look like Marauders!" Professor McGonagall chose to smile now but turned and was out the hole before anyone could speak.
When they arrived in the Great Hall, Mighty was waiting. He sat with the dignity of a proper post owl in James's usual spot and cuffed him upside the head with his wing as he sat down. "Oi! What was that for?" James glared at Mighty but the bird just stuck out his leg. James removed the letter; it was from his parents so he opened it right away.
James,
You're late! You should have owled last night! Send word with Mighty now! I hope he has shown you our displeasure. You're lucky this isn't a Howler, Death Eater attack on the Castle and not one word from you! Your mother's been worried sick! Send word straight away that you are fine. Still, battling Death Eaters; well done son! (Don't tell your mum I said that; she's not pleased). We are waiting! Love, Dad
James found a quill and some parchment and wrote back straight away.
Dad, Thanks for the cuff 'round the ears! I'm fine. We're all fine. Well, Pete's in hospital but he's expected to recover. What's wrong with a quick Floo chat, eh? Or, your Patronus? I had a hard-enough night without being greeted by an angry bird this morning. Love to you all, James
"Here Mighty". James rolled up his reply, tied it to Mighty's leg and offered the irritable owl some of his pumpkin juice. Mighty regarded him imperiously then had a long drink and took off again with a second deliberate but gentler cuff to his head. "Bloody bird!"
Just as Sirius took his seat, his own owl, Freyja landed and gave him a cuff on the head as well and stuck out her foot. It was also a letter from Monte and Sirius wrote a response without even even reading it.
Dear Dad and Mum, Sorry 'bout that! We're fine. Pete is in hospital but expected to be OK. I am sure I deserved this scolding. Love, Sirius
They gobbled breakfast as Freyja flew off to Potter Manor and went straight up to the hospital to see Pete and deliver Mars. Pete was awake. He had bandages wrapped around his abdomen but he smiled when he saw them. The Marauders, their Minions and Frank circled his bed and Mary took his hand.
"It was Mulcibur. He used the same curse on me he used on you Mary!" Pete explained.
"You feeling better Wormy? Had us worried when we couldn't find you and when we did, you were unconscious and bleeding all over the place!" James looked down at his friend. Wormy always seemed to come off the worst in a fight no matter how much protection they tried to provide him. Never during full moons but always in a fight.
"I'm fine, just haven't stopped bleeding yet. Have to stay tonight. Madam Pomfrey says I'll be out tomorrow, just in time for class," Pete frowned.
"No class tomorrow Pete," Dor said gleefully. "Like a four-day weekend but not quite as good, obviously."
"What I want to know is what Snivellus and Reg were up to during the whole thing?" James asked. "I quite looked forward to a public duel with Snape and was deprived the opportunity. How could they allow Death Eaters into Hogwarts when their own house has eleven-year olds, celebrating Halloween along with the rest of the school in the Great Hall? We know Snape and Reg were in the Room of Requirement but I'd like to know why. I'd have thought they would have been in the thick of it. I had a prank just for Snape and had to waste it on Mulcibur!"
"Well, if the room works as well for them as it does for us, then I doubt we'll ever find out unless we can catch them at something outside it. It won't give them up any more than it will give us up." Remus told the group as they sat around Pete's bed.
"I'm not sure I want to know." Sirius said quietly. "At home, he's her creature and here, he's Snape's! If I thought I could change his mind, I'd keep trying ya know? But he's never been willing to go against our parents before so I doubt I would do any good now. He won't even speak with me!"
"I might be able to learn something about the whole fiasco. I am Head Boy. We have a meeting with Dumbledore later this afternoon." Frank said as he nodded to Lily and Remus, "We'll learn what we can. In the meantime, Pete, you should rest up."
The Marauders and Frank gave Pete a nod of encouragement, Mary kissed him on the cheek and the rest of the Minions ruffled his hair.
"Thanks guys. I'll be fine. Go learn what you can and Mary can fill me in on her next visit." Pete looked hopefully at Mary and she nodded her reply.
The afternoon was spent over The Marauder's Map. They took it in shifts, spying on the population of the castle. Mars spent her time in hospital tending to the needs of the injured. Lily worked with Professor Slughorn, replenishing the stock of medicinal potions for Madam Pomfrey. But James and Sirius, glued to The Marauder's Map, followed Reg's movements all afternoon. Reg spent time with Snivellus in their common room, then they both went to Dumbledore's office for about three quarters of an hour then, they went to the Room of Requirement, came out for lunch, returned until dinner and then went back again.
The only time that Sirius was not watching The Map was when he went to retrieve Mars but he demanded that James or Remus watch Reg for him. The sixth year Gryffindor's were anxious to hear Frank's report when they climbed through the portrait hole.
"Let's all go up to our dorm and we'll fill you in," Frank volunteered. Once there he took the lead and shared the details of the big meeting.
"Apparently, late last night, it was Reg and Snape who gave up the Death Eaters way in to the castle to Dumbledore! They're playing both sides! Dumbledore went with them to their common room where he and the Heads found a giant old wardrobe that had been magicked into a passageway between the Slytherin common room and somewhere, possibly Borgin and Burkes. It's in Dumbledore's office now with wards around it."
"You got that right Frank. Reg and Snape are playing both sides. What do they plan to do with those who actually were part of the attack?" James asked.
"All those who are under age are suspended from school until after Christmas holiday. Dumbledore didn't really approve but even he could see they couldn't be allowed to stay. Those who are of age are being sent to Azkaban until second term starts after Christmas. I don't really know what option he had, they are adults and all of them claimed that they acted of their own accord."
"Azkaban at seventeen!" Lily exclaimed.
"Well Lily, there's no other recourse under Wizarding Law so hopefully they will realize what they've a lot to lose and come around." Dor explained sounding justified.
"Nearly Headless Nick told me Dumbledore actually argued against sending the students of age to Azkaban; says if there is a chance to change their minds and win back their hearts it won't happen there," Remus added. "You know how he is about second chances. Besides, he doesn't think that we should be using Dementors to guard Azkaban in the first place. To be fair, prisoners there don't get the opportunity to reflect and consider their actions." he spoke this part to Dor. "The Dementors will be on them so quickly, I'll be surprised it any of them survive to return second term."
"But this isn't the second chance for Mulcibur and Avery, it'd be their third and that's one chance too many!" Sirius argued.
"I agree with you there. They're too stupid to change their minds. Still, they'll probably head straight to Voldemort and his ranks will swell a little more. There doesn't seem to be an easy answer," offered James. "There should be a place for young offenders learn from their poor choices while they to do time, separate from Azkaban. Magical Law Enforcement should see to that."
"Muggles call it juvenile detention or Juvy. It's like pre-prison...last chance before hard time is the idea: rehabilitation and reintroduction to Muggle society. It must work sometimes, come to think of it, it sounds like a Dumbledore type of idea," Lily offered.
"Like Pre-Azkaban?" Alice sounded confused. "Well I suppose if they were incarcerated without Dementors, maybe they could be brought around, feel remorse ya know?"
"First, they'd have to be removed from their homes. All this starts at home." Sirius actually looked sad for a moment but then sadness was replaced by anger.
"This has a silver lining; Halloween." James almost whispered.
"What would that be James?" Mars asked sounding desperate for a silver lining.
"Quidditch. Their team is gone!" James blurted. He hadn't meant to say with such enthusiasm, especially it out loud but it just slipped out. He almost regretted having done so immediately given the shocked look on Lily's face but he was immediately defended by his team.
"There's my captain! The only player left is Reg. See Flower, the bright side." Sirius sounded as gleeful as James and slapped him good naturedly on the back.
"Quidditch! Really? At a time like this you're all thinking about Quidditch," Lily scolded, sounding much like her old self. At least she didn't call him 'Potter'.
"I'm Captain Lily, not a monster! I'm just saying that it's the silver lining; a bit of an up-side to all this."
"He's right Lily. No one was killed and while Pete was seriously injured, he's on the mend. Quidditch is another window into Slytherin. Who will play when their whole team is suspended or in Azkaban?" Dor added evenly.
Lily looked to Remus to support her argument but was shocked further when she saw a smile cross his face as well.
"Lily. You're right. We shouldn't be happy exactly but it still offers us a window of opportunity. Their House's response to these mass suspensions and prison will reveal loads. House unity, house division, talent, new leaders, coping skills. Quidditch may just be a game but people unconsciously reveal a lot in competition. Will they unite behind Reg? Will their loyalty to Voldemort and his whole misguided recruitment scheme unravel with so many of their most intimidating House members away. Do we really have allies in Slytherin house or not?" Remus laid out the argument for the team's attitude in terms Lily could at least think about.
"Dinner?" Sirius asked brightly, looking between James and Lily, grateful that they hadn't reverted to Evans and Potter. "I'm starving."
Lily shook her head in disbelief and actually stopped speaking. Perhaps they were right. She'd been wrong about almost everything before; maybe she was wrong now. When they sat down to dinner, Mighty, had returned with a letter and The Daily Prophet. There were sighs all around so James decided to open his letter first.
Dearest Son, Thanks, for responding so quickly. We were worried James. Yes, Dumbledore sent Fawks with news that you were OK. The Floo network was flooded with correspondents as every family had the need to know about the welfare of their children. But we really needed to hear it from both of you. Call us sentimental but, there it is. You will be very disappointed and angry when you read The Prophet so maybe skip it or wait 'till you are really in the mood. It is highly critical of Dumbledore, claims the school is not safe and once again recommends its closure. There, you have the gist of it. Looking forward to Christmas holiday though it is still a while away. Look after each other, all of you and focus on school and Quidditch. All our love Mum, Dad and The Elves
p.s. Nila has sent a care package full of treats including some chocolate for Remus. Keep an eye out for it as it took several of the Ravens to carry it. It should arrive in your dorm presently. Be sure to give them a treat! Mum
"Well, no need to read this rubbish tonight then is there?" James scowled and stuffed The Prophet into his Lucky pack. "Chocolate just for you Moony! You must be Nila's favorite." James added and punched Remus on the arm.
No one really felt like reading The Prophet; it really was a terrible source of news. It always created more problems than it solved, so the sixth years just settled in and ate their dinner, looking more forward to the treats Nila sent which were likely waiting in James's dorm right now along with several Ravens. By the time their plates cleared, Dumbledore had risen from his chair. The Great Hall became completely silent.
"I will be brief. Eleven students are currently in hospital and all are expected to fully recover. Nine students, as you can imagine, have been suspended, all from Slytherin House and the remaining adult student attackers are currently in Azkaban." The hall drew a collective breath. "We have discovered the leak in our security wards and the school is once again safe and under our control. Quidditch we'll be postponed due to the loss of Slytherin's Quidditch team with the exception of their Seeker. There will be tryouts in two weeks-time to form another team." Another collective sigh.
"This should be interesting! A New team! Consisting of whom?" Sirius spoke under his breath but he was heard at the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, (the students there were all nodding and whispering to each other about this news). Professor Dumbledore might have heard him as well but gave no indication.
"Though everyone involved in the attack is a member of Slytherin House, all of Slytherin House did not rally to the attacker's side and that is an important distinction. It must be noted that several young Slytherins fought alongside us to defend the school and its students. Furthermore, it is due to two brave Slytherins that we have found the manner used to breach the school's defenses. Please do not demonstrate the same blanket hatred toward the Slytherin students who remain at Hogwarts as was demonstrated by the enemy last night. If you do, I will know and it will not be tolerated. I am aware that this year has been very difficult and it is my hope that we can get back to learning magic. The Aurors will remain here for now and please bear in mind that they were not our attackers. They were impersonated using Polyjuice Potion so they were attacked as well. If there is anything else that you should know, I give you my word I will tell you. If you decide to go out on to the grounds after dinner, there will be patrolled areas within which I expect every one of you to remain." His eyes briefly cast the Marauders way but for no more than a moment. Message sent. "Everyone must be in before dark no matter the time and nine o'clock curfew still applies to everyone. Thank you for your attention. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to come see me. The new password is Hoc Unitum Stabit."
The Great Hall remained quiet for about half a minute and then students moved their benches back as they rose to leave. No one was openly hostile to Slytherin House but there remained a frosty feeling of mistrust, a deep divide that could not be bridged by eloquently articulated platitudes. The Gryffindor students of all years left the Great Hall as a group and headed for the common room. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were of like mind. It seemed like each House moved together as one, the youngest students were shunted to the middle of the mass while the older students took to the perimeter. At the entry way each group went their separate ways. The littlest first year Gryffindor, who's name was Flynn Ried, a brilliantly red headed witch gave the Fat Lady the new password Et Melius Cras and the whole of Gryffindor House entered Gryffindor Tower together.
It was difficult to fall asleep that night. In every dorm on every floor of Gryffindor Tower, Gryffindors were buzzing with talk of Halloween. In The Marauders dorm treats were provided to the Potter Ravens who nibbled thankfully and then took flight into the darkness headed for Potter Manor. Lily wondered a lot these days about Potter Manor. They kept Ravens and had Nila, the nanny of sorts. What must James's home be like. Lily could only imagine.
Similar talks took place in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff too. What was up in Slytherin House was anyone's guess. Everyone was preparing for something though, no one knew for what it would be. The First years, especially, began planning how to get everywhere they needed to be, as a pack. They practice defensive magic until they couldn't keep their eyes open. The following morning, most had fallen asleep fully clothed but woke ready to begin.
They weren't the only ones who woke ready to begin. The morning migration to breakfast looked more like troop deployment. Students were practically marching, they looked sharp and tense, not sleepy-eyed and tousled-haired. The youngest students looked the most determined. Owl post was different, as well. Everyone received owls from someone, mostly from parents. As proper as post owls could be, they were even more so now; watchful and suspicious, glaring at everyone, except their owner. During class, everyone paid closer attention, they took better notes and practiced with renewed purpose. The teachers were delighted to see this more serious side of their charges.
It wasn't only the living who were different. The portrait people visited as often with the living as they did with the dead, and spent more time in their frames keeping watch, drinking tea, not sherry and their gossip was mostly factual rather than fanciful. The ghosts were ever present; no one knew where the ghosts went when they weren't present but where ever that was, they weren't there now; they were where ever the students were. The teachers stopped spending time in between classes catching up on evaluating their student's homework and started spending this time, in the corridors keeping watch or taking brief walks of the grounds, usually in pairs, scanning the grounds and talking in hushed voices with the Aurors. The Aurors were less stern and more helpful. Even Peeves seemed to be different; showing himself often, patrolling the corridors! Filch grudgingly took to watching out for the students rather than watching out for rule breakers while threatening them with disembowelment or chains! House elves were actually seen doing their work which was also unheard of. Life at Hogwarts changed.
The weather changed too. November brought with it the first frosts of the year. Morning treks across the grounds were crunchy, red noses from the pre-snow weather were in evidence on many faces and House scarves and hats, mittens and earmuffs were everywhere.
Late on the afternoon of the first evening of November, James and Sirius were plotting. Well, James was plotting and Sirius was being convinced. Cloistered in James's Captains office, they drank strong, sweet tea and Sirius listened while James put forth his argument.
"Sirius, it's easy, we use the invisibility cloak and follow them around, think of it as reconnaissance. Reg can't be a Death Eater! Not yet! He's what? Fifteen? If we can find out how Snape's manipulating him then we stand a better chance of rescuing him. Trust me."
"James, you always say that right before we do something we shouldn't. I do trust you! But that trust has landed us in some pretty dodgy circumstances! Perhaps one of my worst decisions, it was … trusting you. But, I am a fool, as you well know! Like minds! If we're caught, I hope Reg sees it as rescuing but somehow, I doubt it; meddling more like. I do feel responsible a bit desperate now; he could end up dead or worse, in Azkaban! We have a lot working against us. Snape appeals to Reg's need for a better big brother. Reg feels like I abandoned him." Sirius was pacing now and his hands would not rest, moving from his wand to his chin to his lips in a desperate attempt to settle on a solution, his head low as if to study the floor.
"Pads? ... Pads, stop." James took Sirius by the shoulders and held him there, at arms-length ducked his head down to force Sirius to look him in the eye.
"I left him there James. I just left him there with our parents! I was so chuffed to get away, ya know and still in mostly one piece! So, thrilled to finally be away from them. So, damn happy to be with you and your parents! I left Reg, my own little brother, there, all alone."
James could not argue with Sirius because what Sirius said was factually true if not circumstantially so. Sirius hated reasonable James at times like this, when Sirius, knew he was, in fact, partly to blame for anything. James knew this so he took a light-hearted approach instead. What mattered now was to keep Sirius present and take action. Doing something always helped.
"It'll be fun Pads, snooping around Snivelly. We'll get the goods on them first and then come up with a plan, eh? Who knows, maybe they'll catch us and you can hex Snape all you want! I'll be glad to help!"
Sirius found it hard to resist James when he was plotting and acting a fool just to make him feel better. "All right, all right! You're right, we don't really know anything except that he at least, did the right thing telling Dumbledore about the wardrobe passageway so all's not lost yet. So, when do we start?"
"According to their most recent pattern, they should be meeting up to use the Room of Requirement tonight at eight. So, we follow them to the seventh floor and when the Room opens for them, we sneak in with them. Remus is right; the room won't betray them. We'll only discover what they are up to if we can slip in with them, beneath my Invisibility cloak. Mind you, if we should blow our cover, I'd love a reason to hex Snape into the next life, but...we would lose out on gathering potentially valuable information so we just have to keep our heads and think like Marauders. Just we two, no Wormy or Moony. It's our vendetta anyway, really, against Snape. We get into trouble...well, we will need them on the outside to carry on. We'll need the Map, our mirrors, your knife, the cloak ... what else?"
"Luck?" Sirius, laughed his barking laugh which was a good sign and his eyes took on their scheming shade. "We should disillusion ourselves too. We're getting too big for pairing under the cloak. Too bad we never succeeded at placing an Undetectable Extension charm on it."
James was glad to have succeeded in pulling Sirius back from the pit of despair. Sirius had his demons and James loved him for overcoming them every single day. His demons were justified. He experienced terrible cruelty at the hands of his mother, neglect from his father and living at Grimmauld Place which was infused with dark magic couldn't have been a laugh. Being surrounded by fanatics all his life he could so easily have just given up and let his demons win. But he did not! There were a few times when he was close to being lost, especially after the incident when he almost got Snape killed, almost got Remus into terrible trouble and James stopped speaking to him. But James eventually forgave him and secretly vowed to never be that angry with him again. James was Sirius's anchor. James would risk anything to keep him whole and happy.
"True, a bit of luck would be good. Mars will be in hospital until curfew, Lily will be with Slughorn, we should go tell Remus and Pete what we're up to now in case we forgot something. You know Remus. He'll remember and Pete always manages to come up with the one thing we never do. Also, they can help keep everyone occupied. Besides, they'd be rightly furious if they found out we did this without including them at all. If we got into a fix, we'd never hear the end of it!"
"True. Besides they can help. We'll give them one mirror and the Map. We probably forgot something."
"Yea, but where's the fun without a bit of risk? Besides, it's not like Snivelly and Reg could duel us! We'll be fine Pads. Too bad you two can't just talk about it, ya know."
"I've tried!" Sirius said desperately as the made their way back to the castle. "He won't listen to me and he won't talk to me either, doesn't trust me anymore...so nope, no conversation possible."
"Well then, it's up to us to listen. Besides, if we don't use our Marauder skills we'll lose 'em. Think of it as Auror training!"
"Good one James, Auror training indeed!"