A/N: I won't go about making excuses for the long hiatus I put the story through, but if you must know, working on three stories, a boyfriend, and real life at the same time is hard. I had to choose, so sorry about that. And I loathe to ask this from you, but guys... remember this is my hobby, and lately college has reduced a lot of the time I had available for it :( Anyway... fifth semester is lighter than the last, so here we go again. As promised, I don't abandon my stories xP


Chapter 12 - Old Tales and Defeating Curtains


"… hope business is good."

"It'd be a lot better if the Ministry wasn't sending dementors into my pub every other night!"

"We have a killer on the loose."

"I suppose that'd be me," commented Sirius with an eye roll.

"Sirius Black in Hogsmeade?"

"Been there before."

"And what would bring him here?"

Sirius shrugged. "Sweets, girls, Zonko's… take your pick."

James laughed.

On screen, the Minister got close to Madame Rosmerta.

"Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter?"

"Or Harry Potter," said Peter, tilting his head.

James shot Sirius a dirty look. "You better not…"

Sirius snorted. "Don't be silly, Prongs… what could I ever do to him, anyways? And if I do go looking for him, I'd fail! I mean… this is the third film. We have four more to go."

"Fair point."

Harry unexpectedly disappeared from the scene, apparently by donning his father's Invisibility Cloak. Hermione and Ron started turning around, frantically looking for him, until they spotted his footprints going for the door of The Three Broomsticks. They saw him bump into a man and keep walking.

"How rude," bristled Peter.

James raised an eyebrow at him. "Wormtail, if something you cannot see bumped into you, and out of nowhere you heard 'Sorry!' wouldn't you freak out?"

"Aaaaah… maybe."

Sirius lifted his gaze to the ceiling. "Ah-ha…"

They saw the door to the Three Broomsticks open out of its own accord, making the inhabitants look confused. Next, they saw Hermione sprint after Harry followed closely by Ron, but when they reached the door it closed on their faces.

"No underage wizards allowed in today!"

"Shut the damn door!"

James flinched. "Hate those things…"

"So rude."

"Thick heads."

"You tell me," replied Peter.

"Wormtail?" frowned Sirius, poking the other boy's head. "You okay? Usually, people in films do not hold conversations with spectators."

"Hem, hem."

The three Marauders turned around to face the source of the noise, and nearly had a heart attack when they saw Remus standing before them loaded with popcorn and about every sweet available in the cinema.

"Bloody…" began Sirius.

"… Hell," finished James.

Remus smirked. "I believe I'm two Galleons richer this afternoon."

"But how?"

"It's a skill Padfoot, you are born with it, it cannot be taught," Remus winked mischievously.

"Don't steal my lines, Moony!"

"Listen, do you want this stuff or not? 'Cos you're going the wrong way about it!"

"Stop it!"

James laughed at him. "Get over it, Padfoot! We've got sweets for the rest of the week, I think! Pass them over, Moony old chum!"

Remus' smile grew as he sat down and began passing food around. "Ah, and that stuff in the cups is called soft drinks. Better than pumpkin juice, I must say. What happened on the film while I was gone?"

"Harry went into the Three Broomsticks and Prongs got scared with a couple of shrunken heads," answered Peter, since James and Sirius were too busy stuffing their mouths with popcorn. "Now Harry's following McGonagall, Fudge and Rosmerta to listen in on their conversation. Rude."

James and Sirius glared at him. "Not so!"

"Sorry, guys," said Remus. "But it is rude. Here… have a Mars Bar."

"Fine," huffed Sirius, taking the offered bar of still unknown sweet. "But I still want to know how you got all this."

"Later," replied Remus, turning back to the screen.

"Now, tell me what this is all about,"Rosmerta was saying.

"Years ago, when Harry Potter's parents realized they were marked for death- remember? They hid. Few knew where they were. One who did was Sirius Black. And he told You-Know-Who."

The Marauders sat stunned into sepulchral silence.

"Not only did Black lead him to the Potters that night, he also killed Peter Pettigrew!"

"Peter Pettigrew?

"A lump of a boy. Always trailing after Black."

"Peter tried to warn the Potters and might have, had he not run into an old friend, Sirius Black."

"He didn't kill Pettigrew. He destroyed him! A finger! That's all that was left."

"Now, Black may not have touched the Potters but he's the reason they're dead."

"I don't believe it. What could be worse?"

"This: Sirius Black was, and remains to this day, Harry Potter's godfather!"

As they watched Harry's horrified face, and the boy himself leaving the room, Sirius sat back, appalled. Slowly, he turned to look at James at a loss for words.

"James, I-you know I…"

James evaded his gaze and put a fist to his lips. Remus and Peter exchanged worried glances.

"Guys…" said Remus tentatively. "James?"

"What, Moony?"

"It's a film, remember?" mumbled Remus, trying to ease the sudden tension between his two friends. "We… we said we wouldn't take it seriously."

"Yeah," squeaked Peter, trying to help. "He killed me, too, remember? And I'm not holding it against him… these things might not even happen!"

James still evaded their gazes. "I know… I-I just need some time to… to get over it."

Sirius was shaking his head slowly. "James, I'm sorry!" he cried softly.

"It's fine, Sirius," replied James a bit forcefully, looking at the floor. "It's just a bloody film about our lives. Doesn't have to be real…"

"But, James…"

"Leave it, Sirius."

Sirius sank into his seat. "I'm sorry…" he insisted miserably. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

On screen, Hermione and Ron were following Harry's footprints in the snow and were led to a rather big rock in the middle of a forest. They could hear sniffling in the background; Hermione followed the sound all the way to the rock and reached out into thin air. The Invisibility Cloak came off Harry.

"Harry, what happened?"

"He was their friend… and he betrayed them. He was their friend! I hope he finds me; because when he does, I'm gonna be ready! When he does, I'm gonna kill him!"

Sirius shrunk in his seat. "Please, Harry, do. I deserve it."

"Don't be stupid, Padfoot," came James' voice. "You haven't done anything. You probably never will. Maybe they got their facts wrong?"

"But, James!" protested Sirius. "They just said I will betray you! Why don't you hate me?"

James rolled his eyes in exasperation and finally looked at Sirius full in the eyes. "Because it's a film, and you're my best mate. Personally, I'd rather believed my best mate."

"Had I ever told you what a wonderful person you are, Prongs?"

James pretended to think. "No. But now would be a good time to do so."

Remus shook his head at them and let out a sigh of relief. "You're so full of yourself."

"Why, of course, Moony!" replied James, as Sirius worshipped him.

"Moony!" cried Peter suddenly, pointing at the screen. "He's back!"

The four turned back to the screen. Remus groaned.

"Are you sure about this, Harry? This is very advanced magic well beyond the Ordinary Wizarding Level."

"This is Harry we're talking about, Moony; he can do anything, it seems," grumbled Sirius.

"Moony, who's your future interior decorator?" asked James. "Kind of old-fashioned, no? Who uses backbone-shaped candlesticks, for Merlin's sake?"

"Clear sign that he's the Child catcher," Sirius whispered conspicuously to James.

Remus sighed. "Here we go again…"

"You know, Moony…" began Peter, tilting his head. "From this angle it almost looks like your lip-animal's gone."

James grinned. "Almost being the keyword."

Remus let his head fall into his hands.

"The spell I'm going to teach you is called the Patronus Charm. Did you ever hear of it?"

"No."

"Funny," commented Remus. "How Harry can manage to perform every spell that he has never heard of before."

"It is isn't it?" agreed James. "But being a natural does run in the family."

"Cough-liar-cough," said Sirius.

James shot him a dirty look.

"Whoa, Moony… you're tall," said Peter, as if seeing adult Remus for the first time.

"I think it's Harry that's a bit small," commented Sirius, giving James a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

James narrowed his eyes. "What exactly are you suggesting, Black?"

"I'm not liking the double meaning of this conversation," muttered Remus.

"What double meaning?" asked Peter. "Why is it that I never get it?"

Remus tilted his head at him. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

"For this spell to work, you need to think of a very happy memory, a very powerful memory. Can you do that?"

Harry nodded, and adult Remus smiled. "Close your eyes."

"No, Harry, don't!" called James unexpectedly. "Look at the candlesticks! He's the Child catcher!"

"I'm not the Child catcher!" protested Remus. "And much less a cannibal Child catcher."

"Isn't that the whole point of being a Child catcher?" asked Peter.

"Shut your trap, Peter."

James crossed his arms over his chest. "Then explain the backbones, Moony."

"Yeah," agreed Sirius, imitating James' posture. "We want to hear what's your excuse for such morbid decoration."

Remus opened and closed his mouth in the perfect imitation of a goldfish. "I've got a moustache! That's far more disturbing than backbone shaped candlesticks, I think!"

The other three exchanged glances.

"He's got a point, you know."

"Yeah…"

"Hear, hear!"

Remus sighed in relief. "Thank you!"

"You have a memory? Lose yourself within it. Then speak the incantation, Expecto Patronum."

"Sounds like you're giving Harry yoga lessons, my friend," commented Sirius.

"Breathe in, breathe out," added James, doing exactly that.

Sirius laughed. Remus pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Wand at the ready."

Sirius sniggered. "That sounds waaay too inappropriate, my friend."

Remus growled. "Sirius, I'm warning you…"

Harry pulled out his wand and waited for Remus to open the chest.

"Feel the tension!" screamed Sirius.

"Sirius!"

"What the hell are you waiting for, Moony? Open the bloody chest!"

"Gimme a break!" complained Remus. "Or I won't tell you how I got the sweets," he threatened.

"No! Please don't!"

"Anything but that!"

"Then shut up and watch the film," growled Remus. James and Sirius nodded fearfully and turned their eyes back on the screen.

A wispy smoke started to filter through a crack in the chest and was soon followed by a boggart-dementor.

Peter squeaked. "Watch out, Harry! The flimsy curtain's out to get you!"

"Moony, is this your version of a torture chamber?" asked James. "I mean… the Child catcher, backbones, dementors…"

"And don't forget the 'tash," piped up Sirius. "The 'tash is very important."

Remus let out a strangled cry of frustration.

"Expecto Patronum!"

Nothing.

"Expecto… Expecto…"

"Still nothing," commented Peter.

"Sheesh, Moony, you're a terrible teacher," mumbled James.

"Has it crossed your mind that maybe Harry is a terrible student?" snapped Remus.

Sirius wailed.

James lifted his eyebrows. "That was below the belt, my friend."

Remus scoffed. "I know."

Harry fainted when he heard the screaming. The screen went black, leaving the Marauders in a momentary complete darkness.

"Spooky," commented Sirius.

"Cliff-hanger," added James.

"He's going to take advantage of Harry!" wailed Sirius suddenly. "Noooo!"

"Damn it, Sirius!"

Sirius collapsed into a fit of giggles.

"Come on. Deep breaths. I didn't expect you to do it the first time. That would have been remarkable. Here, have some chocolate."

"Don't!" warned Remus, when the words 'Child catcher' began forming in his friends' lips. They clicked their jaws shut.

"As a matter of interest, what were you thinking?"

"The first time I rode a broom."

"Are you serious?" deadpanned Sirius.

Adult Remus turned to stare at Harry with a 'you've-got-to-be-kidding-me' look.

"That's not good enough. Not nearly good enough."

"For once, I agree," said Peter.

"There's another. It's not happy, exactly. Well, it is. It's the happiest I've ever felt… but it's complicated."

"Is it strong?"

"Better be," said Remus.

Harry nodded.

"Do you feel ready?"

"Just do it."

James beamed. "Now that's determination, right there! You go, Harry, do your father proud!"

Sirius and Remus did their best not to exchange glances. The 'flimsy' curtain rose out of the chest again and hovered over Harry, it's cloak flapping in the wind that was coming from… nowhere?

"Expecto Patronum!"

"Nothing," commented Peter.

"Not helping, Wormtail," clicked James.

The dementor got closer to Harry

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

After an unexplained and uncontrollable shaking of the camera, a silvery substance like a funnel flashed from Harry's wand along with a gong-like sound, the would-be dementor's ragged breathing and, for some unexplainable reason, a chorus of women singing New Age in the background.

The funnel expanded into some sort of gigantic silver plate between Harry and the Dementor… whose robes were still flapping though there was no wind.

"It's Dementor for dinner tonight, boys," squeaked Sirius in a grandmotherly voice. Peter laughed.

James eyes had gone wide. "He did it. I wonder what his memory was? 'Cause he really did it! And on his second try!"

"I dunno, Prongs," said Remus, with mock concern. "You know, with screen-time and all, I wonder if he really did it in that short period of time or if the director just wanted to get it over with."

James shot his smirking friend a dirty look.

Sirius sniggered. "Look at your reaction, Moony," he said, laughing at 'tash-man's laughter and the look on his face as he cried 'Yes!'. "Looks like you're smoking Harry's Patronus!"

Remus frowned and threw a Mars Bars at Sirius' head.

"Well done, Harry! Well done!"cried adult Remus when the boggart/dementor was finally back inside the trunk.

"I think I've had enough for today."

"Yes. Sit down. Here…"

"Let me guess," cut Sirius. "Have some chocolate?"

"Eat this. It'll help."

All but Remus laughed when 'tash-man gave Harry yet another piece of chocolate.

"… I think you would've given your father a run for his money."James looked offended by this."And that is saying something."

"Aaww, thanks 'tash-man," said James, patting Remus' arm.

Remus glared lightly at him and grimaced. "If not for the 'tash-man comment, I would have said thank you."

James tilted his head to the side. "And I would have said… 'You're welcome'."

Sirius and Peter burst out laughing at the look of despair in Remus' face.

"I was thinking of him. And Mum."

"Sweeeeet," commented Sirius. Whether he was referring to Harry's quote or the lollipop he was licking remained uncertain.

"Seeing their faces. They were talking to me. Just talking."

'Tash-man's face at this point was one of bafflement. His eyes were practically popping out of his skull.

"That's the memory I chose."

James whimpered. "I can't believe that's Harry's happiest memory."

"I don't even know if it's real. But it's the best I have."

Sirius stared at his lollipop with disgust. "Too sweet for such a moment," he mumbled, stowing it away and leaning back on his seat.

"I'm in for doing the Dursleys in," commented Peter out of nowhere.

James grimaced. "Thanks Wormtail, that didn't make any sense, but thanks all the same."

Remus rolled his eyes. "He means we're going to do the Dursleys in, so they don't get their paws on Harry."

"I know what he meant, Moony," replied James.

"Well, I don't know what you mean," retaliated Remus.

Peter stared at them. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Remus smacked him. "It meant what it was supposed to mean."

"What do you mean by that?" asked James.

Sirus took a deep breath. "It means that Moony meant what he meant when Wormtail asked him what he meant when he said 'It meant what it was supposed to mean,' which means that Moony didn't know what Prongs meant when he said he knew what Wormtail meant when he said he would do the Dursleys in, because at first Prongs said he didn't know what Wormtail meant even though he knew what he did mean. Know what I mean?"

There was a deafening silence among the four as James, Remus and Peter stared at Sirius trying to process what he'd just said, and the camera zoomed out behind Harry and 'tash-man's backs.

The old man behind them stirred and cried, "What?"

Remus spared the bloke a glance. "Couldn't have put it better myself."