A / N
I've not updated in a while. So here are two chapters as a compensation. Be sure to read them in order.
Xx
Sia.
05 Marauders
"We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are."
- Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
August 24, 1977
Hogsmeade
Headmaster Dumbledore sighed heavily as he sat in a room in Hog's Head. He was waiting to conduct an interview for a Professor position for the school but his thoughts were far away from here. His mind was stuck on the message he had received earlier in the morning today. It was from Ollivander, the wand shop owner in Diagon Alley.
The brother wand had chosen it's master.
He didn't know any more details but had told Ollivander not to mention it in the register he maintained. Just as a safety precaution.
As he watched the people bustling in the busy street outside the inn, Dumbledore realized something was coming. The day he had gotten the owl from the Ministry was the day the young time travellers had arrived in this period. Two days later, Professor Fernsby had shown interest in resigning from his position as a Divination professor even though the last time he had talked to him, he said he would like to go for at least a couple of years more. And now the wand.
Something big was coming and that could change the course of the war which was still budding outside the confinements of the castle of Hogwarts.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door and the interviewee arrived. Sybil Trelawney entered the room, flashing her wide smile at the Headmaster. She took a seat in front of him and was answering the questions he was asking when it happened.
The air around them shifted. Sybil's body became as rigid as a stone and her mouth set in a thin line as her eyes went completely dark.
"The Vanquisher of the Dark Lord arises..."
August 24, 1977
Muggle world
The Marauders were in a muggle shopping complex. It was around four in the evening and they had left Diagon Alley half an hour ago after James had bought the newest Nimbus and had seen it out of delivery with his own eyes. Peter had bought several of his things including some new clothes. Remus had also purchased many books, for the school and for his own entertainment from Flourish and Blotts.
Why would anyone want to read books for entertainment was above Sirius.
Sirius himself had just bought a leather jacket in the complex from the allowance from his Uncle Alphard Black, another black sheep of the Black family. Though Euphemia and Fleamont Potter basically took him in as their son and he also loved and respected them much more than he had possibly thought, it still felt strange to him sometimes when Euphemia would pay for his things. He tried to refuse but a glare from her would do the deed. He, thus, got the habit of buying only necessaries when he went to Diagon Alley with her. And that too with his allowance whenever he could.
He was a rich man with no money.
Though he was of age, Uncle Alphard had told him in clear words that only after leaving Hogwarts would he be able to check in his vaults.
"No, Prongs. That's it." Sirius heard Remus yell. "You cannot run off to every other shop in five seconds."
"C'mon, mate!" James whined. "Look at all this variety. Muggle clothes are awesome, I'll have to buy more of them for my closet."
Remus sighed and Sirius grinned. They followed him to the store.
After their short trip to Diagon Alley, Euphemia had some work and left them on their own, telling them to be on their best behaviors. Peter left a little later and the three friends got bored, wandering around the same stores again and again. So they decided to head out in the muggle world. The shopping mall was not that far from the Leaky Cauldron and they took their time checking everything out.
A girl passed by Sirius, wearing a low cut yellow blouse and a black skirt and he whistled lowly. One of the reasons he loved the muggle world. The girl turned with annoyance but it changed soon when she looked at him. He sent her a wink when her lips turned to a suggestive smirk and she smirked before walking out of the store. She looked at him just before turning the corner. Sirius glanced at James and Remus who had disappeared somewhere behind the racks. Finding them nowhere in sight, he shrugged. Grinning mischievously, he followed the girl out of the complex.
It wasn't until she reached an alley that she stopped. Shifting her long blonde locks on one shoulder, she tilted her head at him and stepped in the dark. Sirius knew what that meant. He smirked.
He was going to get one hell of a good snog.
Sirius was buttoning his jacket back when he heard rapid footsteps coming in his direction.
Is the blonde coming back again? She wouldn't have crossed the block yet. Again? That soon? He mused. Well, she would have to go cold, if that's the case. He needed to get back to Prongs and Moony before they blasted him with a reducto for abandoning them for some action.
He was wrong however as the footsteps stopped just outside the alley. He was just around the corner when he heard a loud gasp that stopped him. That sounded like a girl having difficulty breathing. Just as he stepped outside to check if she was alright, he heard her. "No, no, no. No. This is too much. This isn't why I came here. No. No."
He stopped short and stepped back. She certainly was having an inner turmoil about something. He was about to walk out again when he heard her falling on the ground. Widening his eyes, he poked his head out and saw her sitting against the wall with her knees against her chest. She was shaking her head. He couldn't see her face as her back was to him.
Fuck. He then cursed his fate. Couldn't the chic come one minute later to start her chant of nos? On one hand, he wanted to walk out and join his friends. But on the other hand, he didn't want to walk out and completely ignore the girl having a turmoil attack. It would make him feel like an emotionless aristocratic pureblood who didn't give a damn about anyone. But he couldn't just go and console the girl. And as much good he was with the female population, it was never because of his consoling skills.
Sighing heavily, he crouched and lightly blew on the ground to make space, before sitting. He sat there for a while with his head leaned back and arms crossed in front of him, his back against the girl with the wall separating them. When he thought she had gone, he heard multiple footsteps coming in his direction.
His friends?
But he was again proven wrong as the footsteps stopped before they crossed the wall. The chic's friends.
"Mya?" He heard a girl's voice filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Mya. The chic's name. Odd name. Sirius remarked.
He heard some shuffling and twitched in his seat for a better position. If he was waiting for them to leave, the least he could do was eavesdrop to pass the time.
"Mya?" He heard another voice. This one was softer than the previous one. "Say something. What happened there?"
"I-I," He heard a third voice say. It was the same one who was chanting the no mantra earlier. Mya. He heard a clearing of the throat then heard her voice. It was smooth. It didn't have the lazy softness of the previous voice nor the strong edge as the other one. The chic had a rather nice voice box.
"I don't know what happened." He heard her saying. "One minute I was looking through the clothes and then it hit me and everything just suddenly exploded. I didn't mean to lose control like that, Lu."
"I know." The soft voice whispered.
There was a moment of silence and Sirius strained his ears to listen.
"It just doesn't make sense." He heard her continue. "I mean, what are we doing? Shopping? This isn't what we came here for, did we? We came to save them. We are trained for it and then we are wasting our time in clothes shopping."
You need clothes to live decently, dear. Sirius wanted to say but that would make him a bad guy for listening to a private conversation. But then, it isn't private if they were in a public place, is it? Yeah, cornered by an alley but they should know better. Anyone can hear anything. Hell, the muggles do have a saying that even the walls have ears.
When he was having a debate with himself, if eavesdropping like this was ethical or not, the conversation of the girls continued. He mentally chastised himself for losing concentration and started listening in again.
"-And then this." He heard her continue. "This is Harry's. How can I-I.. it will forever remind me of him. As if he is not continuously on my mind. Him. Ron. Nev. How am I going to continue without them, Gin?"
The other girl, Gin spoke, and her voice was filled with emotions. "Like you did for the past years, Mya. You are going to make it through. We all will. And when we do we are going to travel the world, just like you want to. Alright?"
There was silence again before the chic answered. "I just miss them so much." Her voice cracked but Sirius could tell she wasn't crying. Even when she had arrived, she was gasping like she couldn't breathe and all through the conversation, though her voice cracked every now and then, she didn't once let out a sob.
"I do too. Mya. We do too." The other girl almost whispered.
There was more silence before there was some shuffling. Footsteps started fading and Sirius realized that they had left. He stood up and dusted off his pants before walking out when rapid footsteps returned. Cursing under his breath, he was about to return to his spot but stopped. It was just his friends.
"Padfoot!" James scolded. "You don't leave your elders' hands and run off. What would I've done if something happened to you? Do I have to put you on a leash?"
Sirius chuckled. "No, man. I was just coming."
"What were you doing here, anyway?" Remus raised a brow, gesturing around the dark alley. His eyes then found the three girls walking away. His nose twitched and he frowned. "Wait. Don't tell me. Those three and you."
"What? Of course not, Moony." Sirius exclaimed, laughing. "They were just having a heart to heart."
"What?" He looked at him in disbelief. "And what were you doing? Making notes?"
Sirius cleared his throat. "I was eavesdropping."
"What?!" It was James, this time. "You ditched your friends to listen to some girls talking. Who are you and what have you done to Padfoot?"
"I came here for some snogging." Sirius, said rolling his eyes, "But when I was leaving they came in and started having a conversation-"
"With you?" Remus questioned.
"No, man." Sirius said exasperated. "Among themselves. I just couldn't leave earlier for some reasons and then later without letting them know I was there the whole time. But I am here now."
"Well, actually, we are here now." James pointed out. "And did you forget that you are Padfoot? Padfoot?"
"Oh Merlin!" He groaned and mentally slapped himself for not thinking about it earlier. "So anything interesting after I left? Did you buy your things?"
"I bought a new jumper and a flower chain for Evans." James told him excitedly.
"And then they had to seal the shop." Remus said solemnly.
"Because Prongsie bought a flower chain?" Sirius asked, confused.
"No." Remus shook his head. "Because a side of that shop exploded."
"What? How?"
He shrugged. "Technical issues, they said. But Prongs had paid for his things, so we just left."
Sirius let out an oh. Together, the three friends walked back to the Leaky, shoving and laughing. The three muggle girls were long forgotten.
September 1, 1977
Kings Cross Station
"Behave yourselves, you both." Mrs Potter said to her two sons. "I don't want another complaint from McGonagall that you've charmed a corridor with a sticking charm. Study and have fun. But no pranks."
"Charming an entire corridor?" Sirius asked mischievously. "We never did it before but thanks for the idea Mom!"
James and him did a high five.
"I am serious, here!" She scolded.
"No, actually that would be me." Sirius grinned.
Euphemia tried to level him with a glare but her lips twitched and she rolled her eyes. "No complaints, alright? Especially from you James. You're the Head Boy. Keep Sirius in check, will you?"
"Of course, Mum." James replied easily while Sirius snickered.
A little hug and kisses on the cheeks later, James and Sirius made their way to their compartment where Remus and Peter would be joining them. From the corner of his eyes, Sirius spotted three rigid figures. Regulus Black, his brother and Orion and Walburga Black, his birth givers. He saw Regulus give a stiff nod to his parents and turned around to get in the train. Sirius' gray eyes met the same ones of his brother. He didn't know what he was expecting from him, maybe ignorance like the past six years but it certainly wasn't a nod.
Sirius' eyes widened a fraction but his face remained carefully blank. What just happened? Did his brother just acknowledge his presence? Why? Was everything alright? He decided to talk to Regulus later.
It struck 11 and the Hogwarts Express blew a whistle. Sirius and James looked out of the window to wave back at their parents when the door to their compartment and Remus walked in, closely followed by Peter.
"Hey mate, I should probably warn you Marlene is on her way here." Remus told Sirius.
"What? Why?" Sirius looked at him quizzically.
"You broke up with her." Remus reminded him. "Over a letter."
"I didn't break up with her," Sirius frowned, "When we were never a thing to begin with."
"Tell her that."
Remus plopped beside the window and groaned lightly. The full moon was two days ago and the after effects still hurt like shit. Peter sat beside him and opened his box of sugar quills.
"I still can't believe I am Head boy." James told them with a hint of disbelief over himself.
"Me neither." Peter quipped.
"Dumbledore must have been high when he decided this." Sirius guessed. "What I don't believe is how Moony didn't get to be the Head Boy."
"He asked me," Remus said, "Dumbledore I mean, just as the last term ended for the position. I refused."
"Why would you do that?" James asked, incredulously.
"My condition." He shrugged. "I cannot take over the Head business when I am moody for five days a month."
"We have the Head boy with us now. You know how good it will be for us?" Peter asked with a grin.
"Loads, mate!" Sirius exclaimed, "A prefect and a Head Boy. In our pockets. We can get away with everything."
"Okay, now, Padfoot no-" Just as Remus started the door opened with a bang.
Strolled in Lily Evans, the Head Girl, also known as the love of James Potter life. She quickly glanced at Sirius and Peter, flashed a smile at Remus and then pointedly looked at James.
"Potter. Head meeting in 10 minutes. Don't be late."
With that she turned and marched out, her flaming red hair bouncing behind her.
"Did you see?" James gasped as the door closed. "Evans just talked to me."
"She informed you of the meeting, mate." Peter said.
"Evans just talked to me." James continued like he never spoke. "And that too without threatening to hex me. I know it, I'll get Evans this year. Yes."
Still in a daze of happiness, James stood up from his seat and walked out of the compartment, heading to the front of the train, muttering to himself on how he was finally going to get the Head Girl.
"Total sap, that bloke." Sirius commented.
Many hours of talking, eating, playing Exploding Snap and an intense discussion with Marlene -which included lots of tears, pleading and finally shouts, shrieks, exasperations, later, the students finally reached their destination.
Gatekeeper Hagrid's 'First years, 'ere!' echoed around as the First years followed the half giant man to the boats while second year onwards filled in the carriages pulled by invisible thestrals.
The Marauders were seated on their Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, waiting for the feast to begin. As seventh years, they were sitting at the far end from the head table, the nearest space was left vacant for the first years. Sirius was sitting besides James, across from Remus and Peter. Peter was looking at his watch every now and then, waiting for the food to pop up while Remus was talking to Lily and Alice. Sirius, himself was drumming his fingers against the table, ignoring Marlene's glare from across him while James was staring hopefully at Lily, trying to put a cheesy line in her conversation with Remus.
Chubby, little eleven year olds stood parallel to the Head Table, sweating and shuffling nervously, waiting for the sorting to begin. McGonagall brought the Sorting Hat and sat it on the chair where it sang it's song which wasn't the one it always did.
"In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin"
A stunned silence fell across the Hall as everyone processed the last lines. Before whispers could break, Headmaster Dumbledore rose from the main table. "I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all. Also, our caretaker, Mr Filch, has asked me to remind you that wandering around after curfew is strictly prohibited and if caught, the guilty will be punished accordingly. Thank you."
"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." Professor McGonagall instructed the kids.
"Allen, Henry." A small, round faced boy came up and sat on the table. He was sorted into Gryffindor and the whole table burst into applause. It was rare that Gryffindor got the first kid.
The Marauders soon lost interest as they started talking among themselves. It wasn't until the last boy, Zander Ryan was sorted into Hufflepuff that Dumbledore rose again. Peter sighed in relief. Finally, the feast.
"I know you all are eagerly waiting for the feast to begin but we have three more sortings to take place." Dumbledore announced. Everyone frowned when they didn't see any stray First year around. "This year, we'll have three lovely witches joining us for their last year at Hogwarts. I sincerely hope you make them feel at home and show them the magic of Hogwarts."
New Seventh Years? Remus eyebrows raised as he looked at his friends. They had the same look on their faces. Hogwarts never had any transfer students before and that too in the seventh year? It was unheard of. Before, however, they could start talking among themselves, McGonagall called. "Granger, Luna."
I know traditionally (alphabetically) Hermione should be the one to be called first but I'll let you know that the sisters actually had a talk with McGonagall and told her to call them from youngest to eldest. Cool?
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