Oooook, I probably owe you readers an explanation for that last chapter. In short...APRIL FOOL'S!
Has anyone ever read "Harry Potter and the Portrait that Looks Like a Large Pile of Ash"? It's basically an experiment where this guy used a text-predicting AI. He pasted all the text of the Harry Potter books into the AI, and created a strange and bizarre AI-generated chapter of Harry Potter. It's hilarious, I recommend you check it out. But essentially, I did the same thing, and used the same programme. I just wanted to pull a little joke, and of COURSE April Fool's came the day after the only time I've used a cliffhanger, muhahaha!
I think I'm going to permenantly have the Q&As be at the beginning of the chapter now, I feel like tonally it would make more sense. Especially if a chapter ends super seriously, it would be weird to be immediately taken out of that emotion by me answering a question from a reader bubbling about uwu Sirius is so hawt.
Also, there's only two more chapters left of first year after this! Can you believe it?
So here's the Q&A:
Firaenial says, "The first of thrice!? Oh I know what you did here! 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...born to those who thrice defied him' You're a genius, really!"
Thank you SO much! Yeah, I wanted to sprinkle a little foreshadowing in there. It's a delicate balance between subtly foreshadowing and just throwing HEY THIS HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE in your face.
MyBeewing says, "Suspense, suspense...PLEASE UPDATE SOON! I want to know what happens! They really should have realized something like this would happen, though. But then again, they're only 11. Also, ouch. I wouldn't want to be in Sabrina's or James' place right now. I wonder how they'll get out of this mess...which leads me to saying please update soon! Again. You can build the tension almost perfectly, you know. You write really well. As for what happens after they are saved by Dumbledore (it's the most logical course of action, I don't think any of them are going to die yet) I suppose there's going to be a lot of yelling, I'm-very-disappointed stuff, right? Anyway, great chapter (even if the ending is annoying since I am NOT a patient person and I have to wait to find out). I REALLY hope you update soon!"
Hahaha your reviews crack me up...yes there is something to be said about the stupidity of an 11 year old. I'd like to think it's mainly Sirius and James that are being rather stupid, as the others had expressed their reluctance to join them. But yeah, the trauma is only just beginning for this group, unfortunately. Thank you for your kind words! And don't worry, Minny will dish up plenty of disappointment their way!
A guest says, "Roal Dahl's Matilda wasn't published until 1988. You're about 18 years too soon to reference it."
SHHHHHH. They're referring to one of the first chapters where Sabrina is inspired by Matilda to try and levitate something (be honest, we all tried that as a kid), only to have it actually work. This world isn't entirely accurate, whether it's our world or the Harry Potter universe. I've changed loads of things. The Malfoys and Blacks are only related AFTER Lucius and Narcissa Marry. Andromeda was a Slytherin. Derek and Alice Bell likely never existed. Bellatrix is younger in canon than she is in this story. The Marauders don't find out about Remus' lycanthropy til second year. Let me have my Matilda reference because that book SLAPPED!
Lara Barnes says, "Such a huge cliffhanger! Still loving the story and can't wait to find out what happens next! I found the reference by the way: 'I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely'. Such a good movie!"
YAY! You got the Princess Bride reference! Dingdinging, you've won a prize! DM me the information of your character (or YOU) and I shall make them a background character in my story :) they're going to be in the year underneath the marauders.
I'll need their name, gender, hair color, eye color, physical build, house, and any other things or traits you want to share!
Alrighty, that's enough housework for now, onto the chapter!
"The Cruciatus Curse is extremely painful," Voldemort told me, "They say...if it is held long enough… that one would lose their minds completely."
I kept my face quite straight, though tears poured over my cheeks. "I. Don't. Care." I choked.
"I think you would care once you felt its effects," Voldemort hissed, putting his face even closer to my own.
I shook my head as best I could.
"In that case," whispered the Dark Lord, and he raised his wand…
"Crucio!"
"Protego Maxima!"
Two jets of light shot from two different wands. The Shield Charm was slightly faster than the curse, and the jet of red light bounced off a silvery white orb that had shoved its way between Voldemort and I. Several of Lord Voldemort's friends had gone pale and one had even disapparated, releasing Remus, who fell to the ground in surprise from his sudden freedom.
The Dark Lord spun about, panic in his eyes, recognising the voice..as did we.
"Good evening, Tom," said the warm voice, cheerful around the edges but hard in the centre. It was Dumbledore, stepping from between the trees, his magenta robes moving silently about his feet. Behind him by only a few steps was Professor Moody, whose good eye swiveled about the circle. Another of Voldemort's friends disapparated when Moody looked at him. "I must say I am rather surprised to see you here," Dumbledore continued, "To what do we owe this visit?"
I felt a rush of relief run through me. Despite Voldemort still remaining with several of his friends around him, I knew we'd be alright now. We had to be. Dumbledore had arrived, and by the expression on his face, it was quite evident that he meant business.
Voldemort smiled, "I suppose you owe it to these delightful little first years," he answered, waving his palm about the circle. "They summoned me, you see. Requested my presence, even. Since when do you allow students out onto the grounds in the dead of night?" he sneered, "Don't you remember how dangerous that was...how much trouble students get into in the darkness of the forest?"
"Oh yes," Dumbledore replied, "I remember quite well." He nodded, "But much like the times when you were a student here, Tom, I am afraid that these students were acting of their own volition as well." Dumbledore rocked on the balls of his feet. "You'll forgive me, of course, for not knowing they were disturbing you. You see, they never told me of their plans."
Moody had knelt beside James and cast a spell that returned some strength to him, though he was still shaky in the knees from the pain that Voldemort's spell had set upon him. He stood awkwardly beside the Auror and tried to regain his breath. Moody placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him.
"I did see a bit of a rebellious nature in them," replied Voldemort cooly.
"Defiant little brats," hissed Bellatrix into my ear.
Dumbledore smiled, "Yes, well, it is what it is. Now, Tom, if you could please release my students, and we'll return to the castle, I should most appreciate it."
Voldemort sneered, "Stop calling me that."
Dumbledore's smile didn't falter in the least. "But it is your name."
Voldemort raised his wand menacingly, and the moment he had, so had Dumbledore, and Moody, too, and Bellatrix's shrieky little laugh halted instantly, silence ringing through the forest so loudly that it felt nearly tangible. "Now Tom," said Dumbledore coldly, "I did not come here to fight you, I came to collect my students. Release them."
Voldemort seemed to consider the situation, and sized up Moody and Dumbledore, his eyes flickering about the circle. Even though he clearly outnumbered Dumbledore, even if you included us kids, he still didn't seem sure that he could easily defeat us. As though to emphasise the point, there came the sound of shouting and footsteps in the woods beyond and with a sharp motion, Voldemort signaled for his friends to drop us.
"But master," pleaded Bellatrix, "I so wanted to play with this little Mudblood here."
"Leave it," growled Voldemort. "For now," he added.
Pouting, Bellatrix threw me down, and I collapsed onto the ground, tearing my robes and bashing my left arm on a rock, landing beside Sirius, who was on his hands and knees. The adrenaline was seeping into my stomach, making me quite nauseous.
Between the trees suddenly appeared the large form of Hagrid, followed by McGonagall, Viridi, and Madam Pomfrey, their wands all illuminated. Hagrid was armed with a large crossbow, his huge boarhound at his side. They came up short directly behind Dumbledore, and McGonagall's eyes flashed between us first years, seeming to count us, to be sure that we were all there.
Voldemort backed away slowly, eyes on Dumbledore firmly locked, and hissed, looking directly at James, "This isn't over." and with that he disapparated with a crack. The remaining followers did, too, although Bellatrix sneered at me fiercely and her face clearly echoed the words Voldemort had said before she, too, disapparated.
Silence filled the clearing.
Peter whimpered as he stood up, favouring the ankle he had twisted while running away blindly.
Lily's knee was bleeding right through her stockings. Sirius seemed physically fine, but his eyes were unfocused as he seemed to process everything that had happened. Remus couldn't look the teachers in the eyes, he was too ashamed. My knees were wobbly, and I had dark bruises all along my left arm the size of pancakes. James was still panting from the recently receded pain of the Cruciatus Curse.
Madam Pomfrey leaped forward and reached for Peter's ankle.
"What were you thinking?!" McGonagall wailed, her voice quivering with fading fear and astonishment at what we'd done.
"Minerva," said Dumbledore calmly, "We shall wait to discuss what has happened until we are able to return to the castle." He looked around at us. "Poppy, I trust you can heal Mister Pettigrew's ankle?"
"A bit of skele-gro potion will do the trick, I've a supply of it back at the castle," Madam Pomfrey answered.
Dumbledore looked to Hagrid, "Would you mind, Rubeus?"
"Not a'tall, Professor Dumbledore, sir," Hagrid said lowly. He swung the crossbow onto his back and bent down, sweeping Peter up from the ground and into his arms.
We were about to leave the clearing when I noticed James spot a hand mirror on the ground. The Dark Lord's part of the mirror, it seemed to me. He scooped it up and slipped it into his pocket before we left the clearing.
I felt utterly horrid. I barely registered what was happening as we began the walk back to the grounds. If it had not been for Dumbledore, we could have all died in the Forbidden Forest.
Sirius looked like he was possessed by a ghost, so I came up beside him. I reached out my good arm to take hold of his hand. "Are you okay?" I asked.
Sirius nodded.
"It's not your fault," I said quietly.
"Yes it is," Sirius replied.
I whispered, "We all chose to come along. Any one of us could've said no. We chose to go with you."
"I talked you into it," he said thickly.
"We all make mistakes," I replied with a shrug. I squeezed his fingers, "You made a mistake, that's all."
"Some mistake," muttered Sirius. "It almost killed all of us."
I said, "Yeah...but the evil that exists in this world isn't your fault."
Sirius' hands grew sweaty. "The guy holding me back there? That was my father."
I clenched my fingers tighter in surprise, though I somehow managed to hold back the sound of surprise that had fought to escape my throat. "Your father?" I asked. "How d'you know? They all had cloaks...maybe you're mistaken…"
"No," Sirius replied, "I saw his eyes, when he threw me down. I'm not mistaken. I know it was him."
"You have to tell Dumbledore," I said quietly.
Sirius shrugged. I kept holding his hand until we'd stepped out from the woods and onto the wide lawn of Hogwarts.
There, we were led up into the castle and Madam Pomfrey hustled us up to the Hospital Wing while Dumbledore instructed Moody and McGonagall to meet him in his office. "I will be there in just a moment," he told them. He followed us and Pomfrey to the Hospital Wing and saw us put into beds.
While Madam Pomfrey collected various potions and bandages for our various cuts, bruises and sprains, Dumbledore stood before our beds and ran his hand absently down the length of his beard, a great sigh spilling forth that seemed to have come from deep in his soul. "We shall need to talk, of course, once you're all feeling a bit better, about exactly what happened out there tonight," he said quietly. "Perhaps in the morning. For now, I think it is important that you rest," He looked around at us,"You were all very lucky tonight."
"How did you know where to find us, Professor?" James asked.
Pomfrey came back, a bottle of Skele-gro in her hands and a spoon, and she started doling out the prescribed serving for Peter's broken ankle. He made a face as the potion made its way down his throat.
Dumbledore replied, "Severus Snape told me."
"Snape?" I said, surprised, "How did he know?"
Lily's eyes widened.
"I do not know," Dumbledore replied, "Now all of you, get some rest, and I will speak with you tomorrow morning after breakfast."
After Dumbledore had left, Madam Pomfrey finished administering our potions and bandages, and then slipped out of the wing as well, turning off the light and locking the door behind her so that only the moonlight lit up the room. We all laid in our beds, staring up at the ceiling, in silence, thinking over the events of the night. Scenes flashed through my mind as I processed everything that had gone on.
Suddenly, Remus began to laugh.
"What's the matter with you?" asked James, sitting up and looking over at Remus' bed.
Remus' voice quivered with amusement, "I can't believe you called the Dark Lord a wanker!" He wheezed.
Lily started laughing too, and so did I, and Peter, and even Sirius. James chortled too, grinning as he slid his arms up behind his head as he leaned back into the pillows. "That was rather good, wasn't it?"
