Disclaimer: Not mine. The world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling
SUMMER HOLIDAYS:
Dear Moony,
I know I only saw you short while ago, but I thought I would write to find out how your first full moon at the Anders' went. I know you were worried about it. They thought you were cute, didn't they? DIDN'T THEY? Deny it all you like, but I know it's true. I hope all that worrying was for nothing.
Everything is okay here. My family are as awful as ever. I put laxative potion in my Grandmother's porridge because she called me good-for-nothing-Gryffindor-runt-who-should-have-been-drowned-at-birth. Strangely, Mum wasn't very happy with me. Regulus has offered to send letters for me until I can get out.
On the upside, I've some brilliant news! My family (Mum, Dad and Regulus) are going back to Italy with my Grandmother in two days. She didn't want me because of my afore-mentioned Gryffindor-runtishness, so I have been left behind. I am supposed to stay at home with the house elves and study proper pureblood behaviour, but James has offered for me to go and stay over at his. When she finds out, my mother will NOT be happy, but I don't care. It will be worth it to stay at the Potters for three weeks. We'll write to you and tell you what we're up to.
I'm already missing school and having all the Marauders together. I hate the dark. I can't wait to see you again, Moony.
From the Black family's favourite white sheep,
Sirius
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Reg,
Could you post this letter for me? It's to Remus Lupin. Did you hide more candles? The ones in this barrel are almost run out, and I hate sitting in the dark. I tried calling to you, but I think Mum put a silencing charm on the cellar so you couldn't hear me. Thank goodness she didn't think to stop us sliding notes under the door.
At least it will only be for two more days at the most. Then you'll all be off to Italy. I wish you weren't going. How can I look out for you if you're in a different country?
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Sirius,
It's your own folt your in there you Gryffindor idiot! I told you not to do that to Grandmother. You knew you would be fownd out. If you hate it so much in the cellar why do you keep making Mum angry?
I wish you were comming with me to Italy. I wated all year for you to come home and now I'm not even going to see you for most of it. At least I'll be comming with you to Hogwarts next year. I posted that letter to James Potter yesterday but the one to Remus Lupin will have to wait until tonight cos Mum has takin to reading my mail before I post it so I'll have to sneak it of.
There are more candels in the barril under the wooden wheelbarrow thing in the far right hand corner. I had to try and keep them as hidden as possible. I think Mum suspecs I help you while your in there.
Regulus
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Dear Sirius,
What have your parents done to you? What do you mean 'when I get out of here?' Where have they locked you? Have they hurt you? Is this why you were so protective of me when my father hurt me? Are you going through the same thing? Why didn't you ever tell me your parents did this to you? Sirius, please be okay. If they do anything – I mean ANYTHING – to hurt you, I'll come round there and do something we'll all regret. But them especially. If they've locked you anywhere dark I'll never forgive them.
I am doing absolutely fine. You were right. I think the Anders did know what they were getting into by adopting me. They didn't mind about me being like a kid after the you-know-what, though I didn't feel as comfortable with them as I do with the Marauders. I'm probably just not used to it. It's all a bit hazy as usual, but I think I actually managed to get under the bed and hide there for most of it. How embarrassing!
I'm glad you can go to James's. His mother seems really nice. She helped me get into the station in first year. You'll have fun there, I think.
Please write and tell me you're okay. I hate to think of them there abusing you. I hate that word, but now I can see why you all used it. It's different when it's happening to someone you care about. You want to do everything you can to keep them safe. Sorry if that sounds sappy.
With worry,
Remus
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Alright, Jamsie,
I know I am going to see you in about forty hours, so it's pretty pointless to write to you, but I'm worried I upset Moony. I didn't mean to. I just mentioned that I got locked up as punishment and he completely over-reacted! He sounded really angry. I can't help thinking about those Death Eaters, or those Slytherins in the corridor. If he suddenly turns up at our house raving mad and attacks my parents they're going to find out what he is, and we all know what will happen then. They're pureblood maniacs. He probably wouldn't survive to get to the Ministry. They have silver swords hanging over the fireplace.
Plus, I think he's really worried and hurt that I never said anything before. I think I really upset him and I hate doing that. Don't mention anything about my family if you write to him. I'm going to write him a letter saying everything is fine.
I'll see you in a short while, mate,
Sirius
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Hey Moony,
Listen, you completely over-reacted about my family. They're nothing like your father at all. They don't hit me. And they only punish me if I do something wrong. It's not bad. Reg takes care of me, I promise. It's nothing like what happened to you. It isn't abuse, Moony. I know why you reacted that way, but you really don't need to worry, okay? I'm going to James in a short while, and they've already let me out. I nicked some floo powder and will go from the fireplace in my parents' room.
We should all meet up in Diagon Alley at some point. We'll need to get school supplies, but we can also go to the giant Zonko's there and to the ice-cream parlour. Have you ever been there? You'll love it.
Anyway, must go. I can hear my family getting ready to go. See you soon!
Sirius
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Sirius!
Overreacted? What has your harpy of a mother done now? Did she lock you in the cellar again? Did she hit you? Remus is NOT overreacting! Just because you don't have it as bad as him, it doesn't make it less bad. I told you last summer – your family have no right to do that to you.
But I won't say anything to Moony. I agree that he shouldn't know what they do to you. It will just upset him more.
By the way, you did get your parent's permission to come didn't you? I don't want you to get punished if they come back and find out you came here without asking. You did didn't you, Sirius?
See you in a few hours,
James
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Of course I did, mate. What do you take me for? One and a half hours… yippee!
Sirius
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Moony,
Don't tell James I sneaked out. He thinks I got permission. Don't worry, though. My parents will never know. I threatened the house elves, so they won't tell. They know all about my pranks and don't want to get on the wrong side of one.
Sirius
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Alright, lads!
Remus wrote and told me that Sirius is at your house, James. That's so unfair! You get to have fun and practice Quidditch for the try-outs next year and stuff, and I have to be at home with no other Marauders and only my incredibly annoying cousins from Birmingham here for company.
They're from Mum's side of the family, so they're Muggles, which means that WE CAN'T USE MAGIC ALL SUMMER! Mum has to cook all the meals the Muggle way (not a good thing, believe me), and I have a sixteen year old girl cousin with an obsession for really flowery perfume and the colour pink staying in my room while I sleep on the sofa in the lounge.
Please, please can we meet up in Diagon Alley soon? I'm not sure how much more of this torture I can take without a dose of the Marauders. I'm only glad I wasn't Muggle-born and had to live without magic my WHOLE LIFE until I got to Hogwarts.
Hope to see you soon,
Peter
PS: If you are able to send you reply by Muggle post, that would be good. Only, we are having difficulty explaining away all the 'tame owls' in our area. My address is on the other side of this letter.
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Hey Pete!
Prank them! That's the advice of Messrs. Potter and Black, Marauders extraordinaire. Sirius says to put some hair-growth potion in your cousin's flowery perfume. He says it worked like a charm on Bellatrix, and that you get the added bonus of seeing your parents trying to explain it away to the Muggles.
Don't worry, Moony wants to go to Diagon Alley as well. We'll go as soon as our Hogwarts letters come. That should be in a few days.
Mrs. Potter just read over our shoulders as we were writing this and said you're not to take any of our good advice for pranking your Muggle cousins. She has also added that it is NOT good advice. The inner Marauder obviously comes from Mr. Potter's side of the family.
Anyway, mate, we'll write to you again soon,
James and Sirius
PS: How many stamps do you put on a Muggle letter? And do you really just drop them in those red box things and hope like hell someone will come by and get it to the right place? Muggles are so strange. We had to ask James's Dad how to work Muggle post. He's an Auror, but he took Muggle Studies at school. It still took him ages to remember the difference between a Muggle letterbox and a Muggle rubbish bin. They're both round with slits in them. We posted it in the red one, but if we don't get a reply, we'll know to go for the black one in future.
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Dear James and Sirius,
I hope you are both having a brilliant time. Neil says to send his sympathies to your parents because he couldn't imagine having to put up with the two of you in a confined space for a whole summer without going insane. Angela just tutted and said you can't be that bad. She obviously needs to get to know you better.
Peter wrote and told me about that hair-growth potion you told him to put in his Muggle cousin's perfume. You really shouldn't give him ideas like that. It's a bit cruel to her. Imagine if you didn't know about magic and hair suddenly started sprouting all over your body? You would be terrified. You should have at least encouraged him to use Muggle pranks if she's that annoying. There are some good ones, you know. Neil and Angela live in a Muggle neighbourhood and there are loads of their shops around here. You'll be amazed at the things they manage to do without magic.
Anyway, I am having a good time here. Neil and Angela's house is very small, but they have converted the basement for me (and it's not my bedroom! I only have to go in there to transform!). My bedroom is brilliant! None of the furniture is scratched or smells like blood and they said I could put posters on the wall if I like. I would, but I don't really have any.
You should see Angela when she's on holiday. Remember those giant butterflies she wore in her hair that time at school? Well, apparently, that was her dressing conservatively so she didn't unnerve us. She's got all sorts of weird and wonderful clothes. There's this really long cape with built-in wind so it billows dramatically all the time, and these silk scarves that slither around like snakes, and broaches that change colour and all sorts. She can't wear them around Muggles, but the rest of the time you have to approach her with caution in case you're attacked by her stockings or something.
I can't wait to see you lads again. My Hogwarts letter came yesterday. Can we meet up soon?
Remus
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Moony!
Here is a poster for you! I made it myself. I took a picture of James when he got knocked off his broom by a practice bludger and blew it up for you to stick on your wall. Note the way he lands on his back with his feet in the air. Did you know he had red boxers with little snitches on them? I laughed myself silly. If you tap it with your wand twice, he falls off in slow motion, which is even funnier. He made me promise to burn the photo, so I did, but I copied it first, obviously.
We're planning on going to Diagon Alley on Thursday. Are you able to come? At about eleven?
James is coming, so I better send this quickly. He looks mad. I think he knows what I'm doing.
Sirius
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Remus!
Don't you DARE stick that thing on your wall! I can't believe he DID that! He made another one and stuck it to the wall in the kitchen with a really powerful sticking charm and won't tell me how to counter it. Mum and Dad won't help. They just laugh a lot and say that it was an ingenious piece of magic to make me go in slow motion when you tap it twice. I think they're still punishing me for the porridge bath. It was brilliant, though Moony! The water comes out the taps as water, but as soon as someone sits in the bath it turns into porridge. You should have heard Mum screaming. Sirius and I were in hysterics. It took us ages to figure out how to do it. Thank goodness I'm good at transfiguration.
So are you coming on Thursday? I removed the gag from Sirius long enough to hear that he told you about us going to Diagon Alley. I hope you can.
James
PS: Don't stick that poster on your wall!
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Alright, lads!
I can come to Diagon Alley! It will be such a relief! Sheryl (my annoying cousin) is driving me CRAZY! I looked for some hair-growth potion in our cabinets, but we don't have any. Maybe I can get some in Diagon Alley. Or something better. She spilt pink nail varnish on my carpet! Right in the middle! And it has glitter in it. And my whole room smells of girl. And she has this voice that gets more and more high pitched when she gets excited. She had the cheek to ask me if I went to a special needs school the other day just because I didn't know how to use a Muggle toaster. She was serious as well! And she calls me 'Petey' and tells me I should go on a diet or I will never get a girl and will be lonely for the rest of my life. If they all act like her, it won't be a great loss. I can't wait to get away for a bit.
Peter
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Dear James and Sirius,
I can come! I'll see you on Thursday at eleven. We have a new DADA teacher again, no surprise. I wonder what they're like? I'll meet you at the floo station by the Leaky Cauldron.
See you then,
Remus
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Dear Moony,
We're so glad you and Pete came on Thursday. It wouldn't have been the same without you. Sirius says he told you that you would like the Florean's ice cream place. We don't think we've EVER seen anyone consume that much double chocolate fudge ice cream in one sitting. How do you stay so skinny?
We tried out that bubble-belch potion from Zonko's on Mum and Dad this morning. We spiked their morning coffee. It was so funny! They swelled up and started floating round the kitchen, and the only way to get down is by belching these huge lilac bubbles. Dad did it straight away with no problem, but Mum floated round for ages because she refused to do something so unladylike. Eventually, she made us all go out the room so she could belch in peace. Sirius, Dad and I were sitting on the main stairs laughing so hard we could barely breathe. Sirius and I had to re-paint three second floor bedrooms by hand as punishment. It took us all day, and we're exhausted now. But it was totally worth it!
We have included some of that itching powder we bought with this letter. Please use it on Angela or Neil. You can't call yourself a proper Marauder if you go a whole summer without pranking anyone. Write and tell us how it goes.
Only a couple of weeks until school starts again!
Wishing you mayhem and chocolate frogs,
James and Sirius
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Hi lads!
I'm writing to all of you in this letter. I'll copy it and send it to Remus as well. I finally got my own back on Sheryl! You were right, James and Sirius. That trick-perfume was BRILLIANT. I put it in her perfume bottle just before she went out with all her horrible, giggly friends (every teenage girl in our neighbourhood seemed to gravitate towards my house this summer. It's like Sheryl is a magnet for them. When they all get together they giggle and squeal and it's really unbearable).
Anyway - that trick perfume. To Sheryl, it smelt of roses and lilies, but to anyone else who is with her, it smelt like a sewer. It was awesome! She couldn't figure out why all her friends were avoiding her and trying to hold their breaths. I felt a bit guilty after a bit, though, so I threw out the bottle from her room when she was away so she wouldn't wear it again. She can't help being an air-headed, dippy cow I suppose.
Peter
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Hey Pete!
That's AWESOME! I'm so glad it worked. It must have been very funny. Did you get a photo? James and I are planning on making a Marauder scrapbook with pictures and descriptions of all the pranks and things we pull in it. Remus is going to do something with that itching power, he says.
I have to go back home in a couple of days. But at least then it's only a week until school starts. I can't wait. And Regulus will be coming as well!
Sirius (and James)
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Dear James, Sirius, and Peter (who I will copy this letter for),
Well, I pulled my obligatory summer prank. I put some of that itching power into Angela's talcum power yesterday. I do have to say it was very funny. She was sitting at breakfast and started squirming around and scratching. Neil kept asking her what was wrong and she kept saying 'nothing' and shooting me suspicious looks when I tried not to laugh. Then suddenly she leapt up with a yell and ran and jumped in the shower with all her clothes on and started scrubbing away like anything. Anyway, Neil and I were standing outside the bathroom laughing our heads off because she looked so funny. She was wearing those snake-scarves and they were putting up a great fight against getting wet.
Then suddenly she looked up and saw me laughing and yelled 'REMUS LUPIN! YOU GET BACK HERE!' and leapt out the shower and started chasing me all round the house, dripping like anything. She chased me round and round until I ran out into the garden and then she chased me up a tree and I didn't dare come down for ages. You could tell she thought it was funny because she was cackling away madly as she stood at the bottom waiting for me to come down.
Anyway, when I finally needed to go loo so badly I had to come down, she hexed me so I grew bright green polka dots and made me cook dinner that night. Do you know my cooking is as bad as my potions making? I don't think I'll be getting that punishment again. I thought it tasted quite nice, but fried lasagne didn't seem to appeal to either Neil or Angela.
Anyway, I'll see you in a week. I can't wait for school again. Much as I love it here, I miss having the Marauders around. I have included some photos for you. Neil took them, actually. He has stuck the one of Angela looking all pink and soggy and running round the house screaming at me on the wall in the living room. She is not impressed. The one of me with polka-dot skin eating fried lasagne is stuck up in the kitchen as a warning to never let me cook again.
From,
Remus