Kittens and Kitchens
'Take the left here.' James spoke quietly as he and Sirius walked along the dark corridor of Hogwarts at night. Their steps echoing along the walls.
'It has to be here! We've been around the whole damn school.' Sirius whispered back as he stormed ahead of James and around the corner.
'Bloody hell! Where the hell is it!?' Sirius swore as once again the two boys ended up in another dead end. Ever since they had found out about a the secret kitchens in Hogwarts from Lily. The boys had spent almost every night traipsing across the corridors in search of it.
James looked around the dead end and looked from painting to painting, each one of them holding different foods. He walked right to the end and stared at the large painting of the bowl of fruit. Taking out the parchment in his pocket he drew in the dead end.
'At least we pretty much have a complete map of the school.' James sighed as he watched Sirius shove his hands in his pockets and slam his foot across the floor.
'Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!' Sirius almost yelled as he slammed his fist against the stone wall. If he was hurt at all he refused to show it.
'Sirius...' James spoke, unsure of what to say. It was clear to him that Sirius's anger had very little to do with the kitchens and a lot to do with the sorting hat ceremony that had taken place a few hours ago. James would never forget the look on Sirius's face when the hat called out Slytherin on top of Reglus's head.
'We've been looking forward to seeing the damn kitchens for years!' Sirius snarled. 'And I deserved to find those bloody Kitchens! It's not supposed to be like this. Now the kitchens are going to be taken over by all those Slytherin scum and there's shit I can do about!'
James stayed quiet letting Sirius continue to release his anger.
'How am I supposed to protect him?!' Sirius finally seethed throwing his arms out to the side.
James watched as Sirius closed his eyes and fell back against the wall. It was a long moment before he spoke, 'Sirius, it's going to be ok-'
'How? How the hell do you think this is ok?' Sirius asked in a even voice, his eyes still closed.
James felt his chest tighten as he fumbled over his words trying to think of something to say. Anything to help his friend.
'I-I don't know.' He resided. He couldn't think of one damn thing to make the situation better. At the end of the day, Sirius's brother Regulus would still be in Slytherin. The image of him talking with Sniveless wouldn't change and the green and sliver tie would be latched around his neck for the next seven years.
James walked next to Sirius and rested his back on the wall. The two boys stood in silence saying nothing.
xxx
'We've been down here before.' Remus spoke as he and James travelled down the dark corridor that was only lit by the small glow of light coming from the tip of James's wand.
'How can you tell?' James asked.
'We've walked past the picture of those three old ladies three times now.' Remus huffed.
'Excuse me! But that is no way to talk to a Lady!' The woman in a powder baby blue dress chastised causing Remus to blush and apologise.
'Maybe it's not in the school?' James theorised as they turned another corridor.
'Unlikely, if there's a way in or out of the castle that isn't the front door...then the whole school would be in danger and something would have happened.' Remus replied stiffing another yawn.
James watched him out of the corner of his eye as Remus rubbed his hand across his face and through his hair. He looked terrible, as he did every time a full moon approached.
'We should head back.' James tried to say casually. Hoping to hid the fact that he didn't want his best friend to push himself too much. Ever since they found out the real reason Remus would disappear every month, the boys had been more apt at spotting the telltale signs that Remus was exhausted.
'James, I'm fine.' Remus said stubbornly.
James wanted to smack his friend over the head but instead opting to a huff as they continued to walk down the corridors. He knew Remus was struggling to put one foot in front of the other as they walked across the school. But he also knew why Remus was reluctant to take care of himself.
Remus hated missing class when he came back from his transformations. He hated that sometimes at dinner his sleeve would fall back and reveal the deep cuts that ran across them. But what James knew he hated the most was the idea that he couldn't just live a normal life. James half suspected that Remus only came along with him tonight despite the fact that he was obviously exhausted, just to prove that he like any other boy.
'You think Sirius will be ok?' James asked trying to steer the convocation in another direction.
'James, I wore my hideous orange jumper yesterday, you know the one my mum knitted me. Just to see if I could get him to laugh.' Remus said.
'And?' James asked.
'He told me I looked "Sharp"' Remus grimaced.
'He said you look Sharp?!' James stopped and looked at Remus disbelievingly. 'But...but he hates that damn monstrosity!'
'I think this whole thing with Regulus has really gotten to him.' Remus shook his head.
'I know, but I don't know what to do about it. When we came out here last night...' James drifted off thinking about last night's escapades to find the kitchens. 'He doesn't think he can protect him if he's in Slytherin and there's not much we can do about that. But maybe at the weekend, we can get them together? Go down to the lake or something?' James thought aloud.
'You know what, that sounds like a good idea, it'll give them some time together away from Slytherin and Gryffindor.' Remus nodded.
'You know Remus, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear your surprise that I can come up with a good idea.' James huffed.
'Hey, you caught me off guard, it doesn't happen very often.' Remus shot back cheekily.
At this, James frogged Remus in the arm.
'Ow!' Remus laughed as he rubbed his arm.
'Well this is no good!' James said exasperatingly as he threw his arms out. 'We're back with the old bats again.'
The painting of the three old women all gasped at his words and threw down their parasols storming out of the painting. James pulled out the almost completed parchment map of the school and began to study it again.
'Let's go over towards the west wing. I have a good feeling about the west wing.' James spoke assuredly.
'Does your good feeling have anything to do with the half naked painting of Esmeralda Renee?' Remus smirked as he lifted his eyebrow.
'Remus, I hadn't even thought about that.' James grinned back feigning ignorance.
xxx
'What was that!' Peter squeaked as he jumped a foot in the air.
'For the last time Peter.' Sirius spoke in a low whisper. 'Shut your piehole!'
'B-but there was something there, I swear!' Peter whimpered.
'What did I just say about opening your piehole!?' Sirius demanded.
'Will the two of you cram it!' James said whipping around at the two boys.
'He started it.' Sirius mumbled shoving his elbow against Peter.
'Well I'm finishing it!' James scolded. 'Honestly, it's like I'm the only one who gives a damn about finding the kitchens!'
Sirius rolled his eyes and scoffed. 'Oh please. You just hate that Lily won't tell you where it is.'
'What's that supposed to mean?' James shot back, a slight blush creeping up his neck.
'Nothing. Come on, let's go this way.' Sirius said as he snatched the map out of James's hands. He walked ahead of the two boys and continued down the dark corridor. As much as James could be a pain in his ass, he wouldn't force him to realise something that he probably wasn't ready to hear yet.
'I still think it'll be nearer to the green house. I mean, where else are they getting the food?' Sirius spoke hoping that the tension in the air would dissipate.
'We've looked over every inch of that place.' James replied as he shoved his hands in his pockets. ' I think we should go towards the dungeons, we've hardly gone over there.'
'Because it's hunted!' Peter whimpered as he shuffled behind his friends.
'Look, no ones forcing you to come with us.' Sirius goaded.
Peter only whimpered as he continued to follow the boys. His will to stay with his friends outweighing his will to be sleeping in his comfy bed.
The three boys walked in silence. As they walked, making sure to keep their eyes and ears pealed for any patrolling teachers, they found themselves on the other side of the castle. They were just about to turn a corner when Sirius stopped dead.
'What is it? Teacher?' James whispered anxiously.
Sirius only shook his head and continued to stare ahead of him. James and Peter followed his eyes line and realised what Sirius was gazing at.
'Do you think he's alright?' James whispered. The full moon was still high in the sky as it shone through the window illuminating the corridors.
'Well...he's been "alright" so far.' Sirius replied equally anxious.
'Yeah, but its different now, knowing what's actually happening.' Peter spoke sadly. James and Sirius turned to look at him. All three boys knowing exactly how each other felt.
The moment was broken by a bang. All three boys jumped and grabbed one another.
'See! I told you! The dungeons, they're hunted!' Peter hissed.
'Shut up!' Sirius hissed back as the three boys slammed their backs to the wall.
There was another loud bang that seemed to sound as if it was getting closer. The three boys stood still as their hearts thumped in their chests. The banging was now coupled with a yowling noise that made the hair on their necks stand.
With every second the disturbing noise got closer and closer. The fear in the three boys anchored them to the ground. Sirius felt his hand clasp around his robes in an effort to hide his slightly shaking hand.
The noise was merely inches away from them. In a few more seconds, it would turn around the corner and see them. James could only hope that it was Professor Slughorn who was patrolling the corridors tonight. That way they stood a chance of charming their way out of detention.
Peter hunched his shoulders and cowered away behind his hands whishing he was back in his dorm whilst James and Sirius's eyes were glued to the corner.
Whatever approached them was now merely millimetres away away from them. As the seconds ticked on, as if in slow motion, the two boys watched the figure approach.
Leaping out of his skin, Sirius gave a high pitched yelp and sprung away from the figure. As he backed away, he felt his feet fumble over each over and he couldn't stop himself from smacking into the floor. When he opened his eyes, preparing for the worst and he felt his once white face flush with colour.
Sirius sat there stupidly looking at the amber eyes of a tabby cat, who in turn stared at him.
'Wow Sirius, didn't know you where afraid of cats.' James began chuckling as he himself tried to control his own thumping heart.
'Merlin.' Sirius breathed as he rubbed a hand across his face. He was far to relived to see the feline instead of an angry teacher to retort to James's comment. Sirius looked up to James and felt his own laughter bubble up inside of him.
'Peter you can open your eyes. It's just a blumin cat.' Sirius sighed.
'A-a cat?' Peter stuttered as he peaked his eyes over his hand and looked at the cat who was sitting patiently staring at the three boys.
'She's cute.' Sirius smiled as he reached his hand towards the cat and rubbed its head. The cat seemed to jump and back away slightly at his touch.
'Let's go back.' James spoke. 'I don't think my heart can take any more exploring for the night.'
The three boys nodded together and made their way back to Gryffindor tower. The cat they had encountered following close behind them all the way there.
When they reached the painting of the fat lady. Sirius turned around and bend down towards the cat.
'You know, I don't actually like cats that much, but you're pretty cool.' Sirius grinned as he once again attempted to pet the cat who only stared at him. As his hands reached out to her, Sirius could have sworn that the cats eyes grew in surprise. But he brushed it off and followed his friends into his dorm.
xxx
'You know, I caught them following me again!' Lily spoke through her mouthful of jam tart, sending crumbs flying from her mouth. 'That's the third time this week.'
Lily reached for another Jam tart and took an angry bite out of it. 'You know what I said before I came back for my third year?' Lily asked.
Before Naree, the house elf, could answer Lily interrupted, 'I said that it was a new year, so it's time for a new me. I'm not going to even give James or Sirius the time of day. I'm going to focus on my studies and I'm going to do whatever it takes to keep Sev away from those Slytherin jerks of his.'
'Slytherin Jerks, Miss?' Naree asked.
'Oh you must of seen them. I don't like them on bit and I know Sev is keeping me away from them. I mean why would he do that if he wasn't ashamed of them?' Lily asked.
'Maybe it's not them he is ashamed of?' Naree asked, not really understanding what Lily was talking about.
'Wait.' Lily spoke just before she took another bite of her jam tart. 'Are you saying...he's ashamed of me?'
Naree's eye's widened as she clapped her hands over her mouth. 'Ah! No, No Miss! Naree didn't mean that! Miss is a good girl. Miss is very nice to Naree! No one can be ashamed of Miss!' Naree implored.
'But that would explain why he's so determined to keep me away from his friends. After all, I'm a mud-' Lily began.
'Miss mustn't say that!' Naree whispered harshly. 'Naree's old masters used that word! Naree's old master where...where-' Naree cut herself off slamming her hands against her knees.
'Naree stop!' Lily gasped as she tried to grab the elf's arms.
Big globules of tears started to gather around Naree's enormous eyes, 'Naree is sorry Miss. Even though Naree is free from her old family. Naree still can't say bad things about them.'
'It's ok Naree, just don't punish yourself.' Lily frowned as she reached across the half made table for a napkin.
Naree sniffed her nose and accepted the napkin, rubbing it across her face. 'Miss is very kind to Naree.' The elf mumbled.
'Well, you give me all the Jam tarts and muffins I want.' Lily laughed back.
'But Miss would help Naree even if she did not give you food.' Naree sniffed again. 'That is why Miss is special. Why Miss should not call herself a M...M...that word. Naree has met many witches and wizards and only Miss and Headmaster Dumbledore has shown her great kindness.'
Lily smiled at the elf and handed her another tissue. She sat there until all of Naree's tears where gone.
'I should get back, it's almost curfew.' Lily sighed. 'Can I take some Lemon muffins? The girls I share a dorm with love them.'
Naree leaped off her seat and ran to gather as many lemon muffins as she could.
'Miss?' Naree asked quietly as she handed Lily the basket of muffins and followed her to the painting door.
'Yeah?' Lily stopped at the door and turned to face the elf.
'Naree will help Miss. As Miss has helped her.' Naree spoke determinedly.
'You don't have to trouble yourself-' Lily smiled.
'Naree wants to!' The elf insisted.
'Wha-' Lily began.
'Miss will come back next week wont she?' Naree asked as Lily nodded. 'Miss will come see Naree and Naree will tell her what she knows.'
Before Lily could ask anything else she was ushered out of the painting. She stood there for a moment longer before shrugging and walking back towards the Gryffindor common room before the curfew ended. She would have to wait until next week to find out whatever Naree was talking about. But for now there were more pressing things to think about.
xxx
'James, we haven't got time for this!' Peter spoke as he tried to coax his two best friends back towards their final lesson of the day. 'We'll be late.'
'Peter, I had a dream last night that we found the kitchens!' James grinned excitedly as he brushed off Peters hand.
Sirius too ignored Peters incessant whining as he looked around the corridor. Only he wasn't searching for the kitchens like James. He was on the search for the cat they had met last night. Things hadn't really been going his way during his first few days of Third year, this cat was the best thing that had happened to him.
'You two better come with me now or i'll...i'll...' Peter spoke as he desperately tried to think so something to say.
'Calm down Peter. We'll go.' James sighed as he put a calming hand on Peters shoulders, much to Peters relief.
As they walked across the school, passing older students who were either furiously studying over large text books or goofing off in their spare periods, the three boys thought about one thing in particular. The one person who's absence they felt the most.
'You think we'll see Remus at dinner?' Sirius asked as they walked in the slightly crowded corridors.
'Mm...maybe. I mean, I hope so.' James replied.
They fell back into silence, as they walked towards transfiguration. By the time they had made their way over to the class room, they where jogging the last few feet.
'Oh thank Merlin!' James panted as he threw his bags onto the empty desk. 'Not late.'
Sirius ginned too and grabbed his books, slamming it on the table. The rest of the class chatted to each other happily as they waited for Professor McGonagall to show.
'Peter you can stop sweating. McGonagall's not even here yet.' James reminded the still panicked Peter.
Sirius leaned his head on his hand as stared at nothing in particular. He had woken up today in a great mood. The night before, Remus and James had told him that they had arranged for him to meet Regulus down by the lake.
He was finally going to go see his brother. He still wasn't ecstatic about him being in Slytherin, but a few encouragements from his friends and a long letter from Andromeda had reignited his will to save Regulus from the clutches of Slytherin and his parents.
Sirius had been thinking of everything he was going to say to Regulus when a familiar yowl caught his attention. His ears perked up as he, and a few of his class mates turned to see a small tabby cat flitter through the class.
'James!' Sirius said as he smacked his hand into James shoulder, his eyes never leaving the cat.
'Whow, you think it followed you here?' James asked.
Before Sirius could answer, the cat had jumped onto McGonagall's chair and began to warp into something a lot larger than a cat. Sirius, James and Peter sat in their seat in shock as they watched the amber eyes of the cat transform into the angry brown ones of McGonagall.
Whilst the rest of the class erupted into applause. Sirius couldn't help but open his mouth in horror.
'Thank you. Now settle down please.' McGonagall spoke sternly. If she had noticed the shocked expressions of James, Peter and Sirius she did not acknowledge them. Instead opting to continue with her class.
'Can anyone tell me what I am?' McGonagall asked. 'Yes, Miss Evans.'
'You're an animagus. You can turn from human to animal for at will.' Lily answered still in awe like the rest of the class.
'Correct, five points to Gryffindor. Now, over the past two years you have been learning to transfigure goblets, needles and so on. You will be learning about animagus for the rest of the term, but I must stress that you will not be becoming animagus yourselves. It is a gruelling and dangerous process that takes even the most experienced witches and wizards, years to master.' McGonagall spoke.
The class went on as it always did. McGonagall had them read passages about the animagus and ordered them to write a foot long essay about them by next lesson. Throughout the class the students had hardly contained themselves, even when they where dismissed it took McGonagall twenty minutes to shoo the remaining students away.
However before all the students had scurried away to enjoy their weekend, McGonagall had asked for James, Sirius and Peter to stay behind.
The boys sat there in their own personal circle of hell. Each one of them watching the last of the students escape. Their attention was now trained on Professor McGonagall's back. They watched as she shuffled papers and placed them in a neat pile. Slowly she turned and gave the boys an extremely stern look.
Feeling his panic and befuddlement the whole situation, Sirius couldn't keep quiet any longer.
'B-but...you where a cat?!' Sirius yelped.
'Well spotted Mr Black, your keep observations are that of Sherlock Homes.' McGonagall droned.
'Who?' Sirius frowned.
If it were possible, McGonagall gave him and even more contrived look.
'I don't know how I feel about this...' Sirius blinked stupidly. 'I petted McGonagall!'
At this thought, Sirius shivered in revulsion. James however seeing the humour in the situation was struggling to contain his laughter.
'Mr Potter, would you kindly control yourself.' McGonagall spoke as she closed her own eyes and sighed. 'I will see you three here for tonight, tomorrow and the next day. That is all.'
'Wai-why?' James frowned as his laughter subsided.
'You seem to forget that although I may have been in my animagus form, I did not forget that you three boys were out of bed past curfew.' McGonagall explained.
'Oh, yeah.' James grinned sheepishly rubbing his hand through his hair.
'Tomorrow night, seven o'clock, sharp.' McGonagall finished as she walked out of her classroom.
'I petted McGonagall.' Sirius repeated as he gazed at his outreached hands in horror.
'Don't forget, you also called her cute.' James ginned as Sirius horrified face turned completely red with embarrassment.
A/N: And there we have it. A lot more dialogue in this chapter than I usually do. I can't wait to get my next few chapters out! We will be looking at Reglus's meet up with Sirius by the lake. What Naree will be doing about Severus. More lessons on animagus and Remus and will James ever find the bloody Kitchens?
Please tell me what you think! And thanks to anyone who has reviewed or followed, it makes my day!
