Lily and James break up! Enemies at last. We zoom to the near future and it
is highly and thoroughly confusing! The usual cliches apply. True love never ails.
Etc. I'm adding a disclaimer. ALl those characters that don't exist in
Joannes books are M I N E! Thanks for all your reviews! You can give me more
if you like...no, do not leave this story with out giving me a review, even flames,
blanks or whatever!
------
Sirius was snoring, highly unusual for him. Remus was lying on his side, curled
up and content. James sat up on his bed, looking through his curtains at the
sunny dormitory and the people in it.
It was December 27th, and the morning was cold and crisp, with sunshine drowning
them. It had been a pleasant two days, without most people here. Most left
on the train but some used Floo Power, to maximise their time at Hogwarts. As
did Peter and Grace Chandler, a girl who had burst into tears early Christmas
morning over Sirius. James scrawled on a spare piece of parchment that he was
going to the common room. He was really going to see if Lily was awake. Unless
she was naked, James was sure she wouldn't mind. There was no other first years
staying for the Labor Day weekend.
James pulled his robes over his head and then attempted to flatten his unruly
and stubbornly messy black hair. He made a check to see if his face was dirty
and the mirror snored in his face. James pulled on his cloak; he had left the
warm security of his comforting and soft bed. He pulled shoes to his feet and
then set off, leaving the note on Sirius bed table.
He knocked quietly on Lily's dormitory oak, polished door. There was a rustling
from behind it. She opened it the slightest bit them mumbled. He caught the
words: 'Hang on' and then she shut the door quietly. She opened it about a minute
later, her hair sitting tidily and proudly flat on her head, her cloak over her
robes and shoes on her feet.
'Come in' she said, motioning him to her bed. She pulled him into a kiss; James
was taken by surprise, then started kissing back. They did this for a while,
sitting there, tasting each others mouths, slowly dissolving into their lips.
They were interrupted by a creak of the door, which was immediately slammed.
'Who is that?' Lily asked, appearing calm but a slight shrill was in her voice.
'I'll go check, it was probably Sirius or Remus.' James assured her, pecking her
on the ear as he stood up.
'Remus?' he asked into the silent corridor. He heard some familiar laughter
coming from upstairs, his dormitory.
James went up two flights of stairs and walked briskly into the dorm.
'James, you sly!' exclaimed Sirius, still laughing.
'What?' James said blankly, obviously confused.
'Telling us' Sirius answered, waving James's not in the air, 'that you had gone
to the common room, presumably waiting for breakfast, when you had really gone
to Lily!'
'How did you know that?' James thought to himself that Sirius was still in his
pajamas and Remus was only half awake, although thoroughly entertained.
'Remus told me…that's why I'm laughing.' Sirius said informatively.
'Riiiight' drawled James, sardonically. 'I'm supposed to believe that am I?'
James had an eyebrow raised.
'Yeah!' Sirius said rather innocently.
'Okay…' James said, conceding though reluctant to.
'If you are all done?' Lupin said gently, with an evasive smile on his face.
'Let's go back down to pick Lily up and have breakfast, I'm ravenous.' Said
Sirius, rubbing his stomach area thoughtfully.
'Okay.' Nodded James.
'Let's go!' grinned Remus.
The boys traveled down two flights of stairs and knocked on the dormitory door.
'Lily?' said James when she did not answer.
'I'm here, don't come in though!' she said through the door.
'Okay, Sirius and Remus are here too!' he said to her, separated by the door.
'Can you invite Remus in please?' Lily asked.
'In you go' Lily heard James say behind the door.
'Remus!' she hissed, 'in here!'
'Oh, okay' he said, walking towards her bed, drawing back the curtain
and then smiling nervously at her.
'I want to know something, will you promise not to tell James?' Lily asked,
just as or even more so nervous.
'Oh' Remus chuckled, looking very relieved. 'Is that all, yes I promise not to
tell, you might what to ask Sirius as well, seeing his nose is practically under
the door.' He pointed out to her. Lily looked quickly enough to see one squashed
cheek, an intelligent, black eye and a nose move swiftly away from the door.
'Sirius!' Lily shrieked.
'Yes, anyway?' Remus said, looking rather amused.
'Does James really like me?' she whispered in his ear, so that only he could
hear her.
'Oh Lily!' he said, a bit too loudly perhaps, because Lily glared at him. 'Sorry,
well yes he does, a lot, he hasn't been as sharp lately,' he breathed to her.
'Okay, that's all I needed to know, let's go.' She said loudly. 'Thanks Remus.'
'Anytime,' he said, peeking at her.
They emerged from the dormitory, Sirius quickly standing up as the door opened
and James pacing up and down the corridor, hands behind his back with a worried
expression plastered over his face. He grinned when he saw them emerge, like
he was at an interview and the interviewers had gong in a private room, talking
about the future of his job or whatever.
'Let's go to breakfast,' said Lily, now hungry, slipping her hand into James'.
They walked down to the Great Hall, where all the festive decorations had been
taken down.
'Sausages!' Sirius exclaimed delighted when he saw the table.
'I'm sure you have missed them! Without them for two whole days!' Lily remarked
dryly. Everyone laughed, including Sirius.
'Yeah well…' Sirius said, showing half-mangled pieces of chipolata in his open mouth.
'Eew! Sirius! Table manners!' Lily shrieked, her nose wrinkled and creased.
'So, Jamsie wamsie had a little lovin'?' teased Sirius, his mouth partially full still.
'I kissed him!' Lily said with mild indignation.
'He was kissing back though…' Remus said, half mocking James, half wanting the peace to be
restored.
'See!' said Sirius, poking his meat-stained tongue out at Lily, grinning wickedly at James.
'Sirius' James groaned.
'What?' he said, holding up his arms at shoulder level.
*
Voldemort gave the hare a little tickle beneath the right hind leg, somewhat
affectionately. He had grown attached to the rabbit, even more so than yesterday.
'Do you insist on keeping that hare! It could give us rabies!' shrilled an
un-approving Xenia Snape.
'Look! You have everything you could possibly want to keep you occupied, instead
you pore over a rabbit!' she hissed through clenched teeth.
Xenia was right, he had everything to amuse himself right here, in the sallow,
grey room. He looked around it; foolish muggle toys were dotted every few feet.
They were mostly made out of brightly coloured, cheap plastic and sold at an
outrageous price for something so invaluable. Seven times what it costs to make
them…calculated Voldemort, placing his hare lovingly into a miniature desert
he had spent most of the day conjuring. He looked around again, pestering and
fussing in the deep, wide shelves of wood, with all sorts of contraptions on them,
many of which he tried out on Dolpur. Even though he knew what they were most
of the time, it was fun to see Dolpur wince in pain as the blunt plastic jaws
or the rings, pressed down on his skin, leaving red marks all over his arms,
legs and stomach.
Dolpur couldn't help himself; he had exhibited all the self-control he could
muster. He let out a small whimper of pain as Voldemort slowly clamped a pair
of silvery cutting instruments over the loose skin of his arm. There was a
deep, long, v-shaped cut on his forearm. He clamped his hand over it tightly,
trying to stop the blood from flowing like torrents out of his arm.
Pain intensifying, Dolpur managed to get some words out of his pain-gritted teeth,
and excuse himself from the room. He left a trail of blood behind him, spatters
of red, thick blood on the soft, woolen rugs. He breathed out in a mechanical
and controlled way as he reached Frangipani Mafoy.
'Frangipani, Agnes, help me!' he gasped.
'Voldemort, he. He was testing his…toys on…me' he panted, sweat appearing on
his forehead.
'Oh dear, you should have vacated the room…' Agnes said dryly, half between
pity and giggles.
'Well then' said Frangipani, looking sternly at Agnes, 'let's get you patched up.'
They placed ointments and creams all over him for his various ailments and injuries,
not knowing exactly each one was for.
'All better now?' Agnes cooed. She was looking sweet and innocent, like she
had fun pasting and plastering Dolpur.
'Yes' he gasped, just as boils and pustules burst over his body.
'Ooh dear!' giggled Agnes, eyeing the pink and green hives.
'Gosh!' Frangipani managed to say, goggling over his newly acquired ailment.
'GET RID OF IT!' Dolpur roared his head and body swelling with rage. He was
cursing under his breath, very severe words too rude and dirty for your delicate eyes.
'Okay' said Agnes, looking very dazed and giggly. She waved her wand in
synchronization with Frangipani Malfoy, and then the painful boils were gone.
'Thank you' Dolpur said acidly as he looked thoroughly over his arms and legs,
just to be certain that all of them were gone.
'You're very welcome' said Frangipani warmly as he swept himself out of the
room.
Four or five minutes later, Agnes shrieked for Dolpur to come here to her, instantly.
Dolpur did as he was summoned, appearing at Agnes's side in three seconds.
'Look at the carpet' she said sourly, her eyes had ice in them.
'Yes?' he said hollowly, staring blankly at some bloodstains. Dolpur couldn't
see what was wrong.
'Its dirty!' she yelled, pointing at the specks of blood, drying rapidly on
the woolen, grey carpet.
'So?' he inquired, still not seeing the point.
'YOU DIRTIED IT!!' she thundered
'Oh' he said, finally seeing the point, 'so?'
'SO! CLEAN IT UP!' her face started going red. 'If it is not properly cleaned
in three hours, not just this section, but all that you have messed up, you will
pay dearly.' She hissed as her face calmed down.
'Okay' he said meekly.
He conjured some cleaning equipment while Agnes supervised him like a hawk
spotting prey.
'You will clean it without magic, unless you need to conjure some more cleaning
things, got it?' she instructed, turning sulkily on her heel and disappearing.
'Yes miss Agnes Tyranter, I'll do that for you Agnes' he said sarcastically,
his nose screwed up with the odour of the carpet cleaning solution.
*
'-Ssh!' warned Sirius, his body held upright and stiff. He jerked occasionally,
hearing a noise or spotting Argus Filch.
'Yes Sirius' said Lily cheekily, poking out her tongue and blowing a raspberry
at him.
'Careful!' moaned James, his voice full of dread as Sirius, for the sixth time,
tripped over the hem of the invisibility cloak.
'Sorry' he muttered. 'I hear someone coming.'
'Who?' asked James, reflex.
'I don't know' Sirius said, waving a hand. 'I said I heard them!'
'Oh, okay, sorry.' Whispered James.
'I see them' said Lily, who was in front.
'Who is it?' both boys asked at the same time.
'It's McGonagall.' She breathed. Sirius moaned softly.
'Okay, it's clear, I think, let's go.' Lily whispered.
'Try not to make any noise' James said.
'Or fall' added Sirius.
'Or trip over the cloak hem' tacked on Lily. Sirius looked at her, seemingly
wounded. Lily gave a knowing smile, acknowledging that his drama had been caught.
Sirius poked out his lower lip and glared at her with mock surliness.
Lily merely chuckled at his antics.
'Okay, here goes…' said James. He grabbed Mrs. Norris and pulled her under the
cloak. Lily put a charm on her to make her tranquil and then they hoisted her
into an empty classroom.
'Okay, what are we going to do to her?' asked Sirius, panting a little.
'I don't know, turn her blue or something.' James snapped, looking stressed
out of the glass panel in the door.
'Okay, okay. Uh, what about we use a colouring charm?' asked Lily.
'Yeah!' said Sirius.
'Okay, since I'm better than you two at it-' sniggers from James and Sirius
as they looked at each other '-what colour should I make her?'
'Can you do more than one colour?' asked James.
'Yeah, but it wouldn't be like green on purple, it would have to be on, say,
one leg would be blue, one ear pink, her tail yellow and that sort of thing.
I can try a charm on her to put polka dots on her if you like…' Lily stated
her abilities.
'Okay, we'll do her front leg blue, the other one red, her back legs, uh…'
Sirius said, clearly enthused.
'Green and yellow. Her tail?' supplied James.
'Purple.' Sirius said, a grin flashed on his face in the pale wand light.
'Okay, who about her ears?'
'Uh, orange and brown?'
'Nah, orange and silver…you can manage that can't you?'
'Of course…'
'Good, her body?'
'I can conjure some paint…it's blue and shines different colours, depending
what angle you see it on.'
'Cool, start now, you know how conjuring can take a while…'
'Hmm…okay'
'Well…let's get cracking!' James said, rubbing his hands together.
Lily and James worked on colouring Mrs. Norris, the pain of a cat, into the
colours of a Benneton Bag. Sirius was by the black board, trying to conjure
the pain, he had got a can for it, but needed the paint. He was increasingly
getting frustrated, but still kept his cool and finally managed to get a few
splashes of paint in it. Next, There was a rush as a four-litre torrent of paint
rushed down from nowhere and contained its self neatly in the can. Sirius got
the blackboard duster and then wiped up the slight mess he had made wiped it clean
and then replaced it back onto the ledge.
'Are you guys ready yet?' he hissed, the can he was carrying teetering dangerously.
'Almost, you can come over here you know…'
'Okay, I'm coming.'
'You did it!'
'You doubted me?'
'Yes'
Sighs from Sirius.
'Okay, I'm ready, put the can down before you look.'
'Okay.'
Sirius wandered over to where the cat was uncomfortably perched. He took one
look at it then burst into hysterical laughter.
It looked ridiculous, absolutely and positively absurd, and even comical. Sirius
was practically snorting with laughter. Lily and James looked at each other
then quickly decided to calm him down, James with magic and Lily with violence.
'Oow!' whined Sirius, looking very injured and looking inquisitively at a brilliant
purple bruise forming on his shin. 'Well, lets tip the paint on the cat' he
nodded towards the colourful fur-ball that was sitting obediently and tranquilly
on the desk. They hoisted the paint tin over the still, purring cat and then
carefully tipped the paint onto its body. She meowed, then hissed and spat
but then as it dried, she instantly calmed down.
They sent Mrs. Norris on her way, tapping her backside to get her moving.
They waited a good ten minutes with the invisibility cloak on then heard an
enraged roar from the corridor. Argus Filch was standing there, his hair untidy
and looked as though he had been trying to pull it out. Sirius almost snorted
through his nose with laughter (he had his hand clamped over his mouth) but James
managed to pinch it just in time.
'My poor kitty' mourned Filch.
She meowed.
'What have those people done to you?' he asked her, soothing her and trying
to pick her up.
'Nothing?' Sirius breathed, trying to look innocent even though he had identical
paint on his hands.
Filch attempted to pick up his kitten again, but she was so peaceful, she was
basically dead weight, she slid out of his hands and he almost broke down in
tears. Sirius looked delighted at this, he looked like he wanted to pull out
a camera.
Lily and James were sniggering so much; they were about to burst into giggles.
They couldn't move just in case Mrs. Norris's sensitive, coloured nose was going
to catch even a breathe of wind from them going past.
'Who did this to you?' he asked the cat, as if it was going to give an answer.
Mrs. Norris simply yawned; spat at Filch then dropped lightly out of his arms
then went towards his office where her basket was.
'I'll get Miss McGonagall to reverse you!' he called desperately to the cat.
She turned around instantly. She made an attempt to jump back in his arms,
but he caught her ('Dammnit!' said Sirius under his breath, Lily smothered giggles,)
and took her to McGonagalls office.
They followed, as you would, to Professor McGonagall's office, she attempted
to cough out a snort of laughter, but failed. Miserably.
'What's so funny!' he raged at her. 'Look at my poor cat!' He looked at her,
sobering her up.
'Well' she said, slightly recovering.
'Change her back!' Filch wailed.
'There's no way I can…it could harm her.' McGonagall said.
'There must be a way…' he sobbed.
'Not without hurting her I'm afraid.' She said, it sounded like she was smirking.
'Oh!' he said, like he was on the verge of tears. He sniffled, then walked
out of the door, holding his cat joylessly, sniffling into a tissue.
Lily, James and Sirius walked along the corridor, giving each other small high
fives and congratulations under the protection of the invisibility cloak. They
returned to the Gryffindor common room, the cloak still on. They walked down
one flight of stairs, dropped Lily off before heading to their own dormitory.
Remus was asleep, but Peter was awake, waiting to hear all about it. Sirius,
sitting on James's bed, was explaining with great depth, how he conjured the
paint.
'I need to talk to Sirius' James declared.
'Okay' he said in reply.
'Alone' he looked at Peter as he said this; he wasn't usually nasty to Peter,
but this he couldn't tell him.
'Have you noticed that Remus is always gone around the moon?' James whispered
to Sirius, who was making sure Peter wasn't under the bed.
'Yes, but that's because he said that his mum will get sick around then…' Sirius
pointed out.
'I know, but I saw him one day, he was at Hagrid's place, it was when he wasn't
supposed to be here.' James replied coolly.
'Well…' Sirius couldn't find an answer to that. 'Maybe it was one of the days
before, like he was saying goodbye.' Sirius grabbed at whatever rational explanation,
he had been thinking along the same lines as James; he just hadn't the courage
to say anything while anybody was around.
'Think about it, Remus is extremely strong, he looks rather fragile.' He said,
Sirius sitting there opened mouthed, gaping at him.
'Yeah' he agreed slowly.
'He is always gone around the moon'
'Yeah'
'So, he might be a werewolf.' James concluded, studying Sirius very closely.
'But he would have told us, we are his friends!' argued Sirius in a hushed whisper.
'Not necessarily, what if he thought we wouldn't be his friends anymore?'
James pointed out.
'He still would have told us,' he said blankly.
'No he wouldn't have, that's my point.'
'Let's ask him.'
'When?'
'When else?'
'What now?'
'Yes now!'
'Sirius! He's asleep!'
'So?'
'So? We shouldn't wake him!'
'We'll, I'm not keeping anything from him…'
'Except who you like…'
'Apart from that.'
'No'
'Too bad.' Sirius walked out of his bed to where Remus's was. He entered and
then tapped Remus on the head, whispering.
'What?' Remus asked groggily and sleepily, looking up at Sirius who was egging
him to wake up.
'We have to ask you something' was all he said, giving Remus his cloak and then
guiding him from knocking into things to James's bed.
'Well?' he demanded, now fully awake.
'Yes Sirius, well?' asked James.
'You ask' Sirius said. James gave him a reproving look, but opened his mouth
to ask.
'We want to know' said James slowly.
'Yeah?' asked Remus, clearly wanting to get back to bed.
'If you are keeping anything from us?' James said, eyebrows raised.
'No!' he spluttered.
'Are you sure?' said Sirius.
'No' Remus said, deflated. 'What do you think I'm keeping from you?'
Sirius nudged James in the ribs with his elbow.
'We think you are a werewolf' he said quietly, looking at Remus. Remus looked
dazed, the colour immediately flowing from his face.
'I-uh-r-um-er' said Remus, choking on a lump in his throat.
'You are aren't you?'
'Yeah' he said lamely, avoiding their gazes.
'Remus! Why didn't you tell us?' Sirius said, holding Remus's chin and swinging
it around to look in their eyes.
'Because, I thought…'
'You wouldn't be friends with us?' finished James, Remus nodded dumbly.
Remus looked exceedingly uncomfortable.
'We'll still be friends with you…' assured James, he looked at Remus thoughtfully.
'We won't tell a soul.'
James looked at Remus again thoughtfully.
'Are you thinking what I'm thinking James?' asked Sirius in a sly tone.
'I think so…'
'What?'
'There is something that we can do to help you, the idea of course is ludicrous
and we don't have enough time to do anything this year, but next year…'
'Sirius, talk properly!'
'What he is saying' James said, 'Is that we could become Animagus, werewolf
transformations are very painful, so I've read, and well, since werewolves aren't
a danger to animals, it could help control yourself.'
'You'd do that!' he said, eyes popping, 'For me?'
'Of course we would!' chuckled Sirius.
'Really?' he said, still goggling.
'Yes.' James said, nodding, looking very smug.
'You should have seen what we did to Mrs. Norris…' laughed Sirius.
'Yeah…' James smirked, thinking of McGonagall.
'What did you do to it?' Remus said, half amused, half dreaded.
'We made it a little more colourful…' said Sirius, yawning and hopping out of
James's into his own.
'Did Peter go with you?'
James shook his head. 'Why, wasn't he with you?'
'Nope. Night!' he said, yawning, and returned to bed.
'Night.' James pulled off his robes, socks and then crawled into bed, pulling
the covers over his head.
*
'Aw, the little auror has gone to beddy byes after painting a cat!' said Voldemort,
dripping in disgust.
'What?' asked Dolpur, covered in bandages after failing to make Agnes's request
on time.
'He is going to be the best auror besides Dumbledore.' Voldemort seethed.
'Who is Dumbledore?' dimly asked Dolpur, maybe Agnes hurt his brain somehow,
Dolpur was usually meddling with endless questions, but he was bright, he didn't
know how to use his talent, but he was bright.
'The creator of the Philosophers Stone, The greatest Auror that walked the earth?
Have you told me you have never heard of Dumbledore? Meddling, trusting fool
he is, he is almost as sappy as Dippet, but of course, Dippet was dumb, he knew
nothing about what was going on in the castle walls, where as Dumbledore does.
I would never do anything while I was in a forty-foot radius of him.' Raved Voldemort.
'Right' said Doplur, as though he finally recognised him, he didn't.
'Got it?' he snapped.
'Could you show me a picture?'
'Here.' Voldemort thrusted a picture of him, underneath was labeled:
Professor Albus Dumbledore, Transfiguration teacher and Alchemist. Former Auror.
'Now have you got it?' he snapped, snatching the picture out of Dolpur's strapped hands.
Voldemort looked up and down Dolpur, somehow just recognising that he was severely
and numerously injured.
'What did you do to yourself?' Voldemort asked in very fascinated and amused
tones.
'I got on the wrong side of Agnes.' He said, attempting to hold his head up
high, but it snapped back with the number of elastic bandages that Frangipani
put on very tightly because she was snickering so hard.
'Ah' he said wisely. 'So you have met dearest Agnes'
Agnes walked into the room, beaming when she saw Voldemort, sending a penetrating
stare to Dolpur when she saw him.
'Master, is there anything I can do for you?' she said sweetly, batting her
eyelashes slightly, smiling sweetly and looking innocent and treacley.
'Suck' muttered Dolpur under his breath. Agnes caught it and she looked
meaningfully at him.
There was a pregnant silence.
'So, you have met Dolpur, our torture artist?' said Voldemort.
'Yes, he makes a hell of a mess,' said Agnes while staring coldly at Dolpur.
'I'm the chief torturer' Dolpur said proudly, puffing out his chest, then wheezing,
forgetting the broken ribs Agnes had given him.
'And what a delicate ickle pansy you are!' she said sarcastically, replying
to his wheeze.
'Now, settle, we are all on the same side here' said Voldemort, ogling.
'Okay, now, is there anything you would like?' she said, smiling sweetly again.
She glowered at Dolpur. He put on a grimace.
'No thank you for offering though.' Voldemort turned around, looking at the
fire. Dolpur poked his tongue out at Agnes who turned and gave him a broken finger.
'Ha ha' she whispered in his ear as her doubled over in pain.
*
'Miverna, could you please ensure that everyone is at the Great Hall by eight
O'clock, I need to address them' Dumbledore asked his deputy.
'Yes, why?'
'Dark days are upon us…they must be prepared.' Was all he said.
'Yes'
'Thank you.'
*
'As you know, a dark wizard called Voldemort is spreading chaos and fear, he
has attacked many houses, both magical and muggle, Kleppe Bellingsaugen and
le Troupes la Floures, and now comes his worst and most feared. As you know,
if you have taken out subscriptions to newspapers and magazines of various
magical sorts, they have been stopped. This isn't to cause panic. The Ministry
of magic was attacked on Boxing Day, two days ago, and only the minister himself
survived. He was spared, though he faced certain death, on the condition he was
to report it. You may have seen the dark mark as they call it, over houses, and
I tell you not to fear his name. Do not call him 'You-Know-Who' or
'He-that-must-not-be-named' because fear of a name causes you to fear the person
before you even face him, god forbid that happen of course. You will need to
be prepared. All those in sixth year and above will be taking their apparation
tests very soon, and those in fifth year will begin to learn the theory. This
is incase you are about to be killed, you can simply apparate before the curse
reaches you. There will now be double Defence Against the Dark Arts classes,
I myself will teach you, and this will be in place of less important subjects.
Arithmancy and Herbology classes will be cancelled and there is no examination
paper for them. People, dark days are ahead of us and we need to be able to
defend ourselves. A small difference will help us considerably.'
Chatter broke out as Dumbledore went to get a few good breaths.
'Hush!' cried Professor McGonagall.
'Some of us will die, people we know will die and people we love will die.'
Dumbledores eyes drifted over to where Lily was clutching James. She didn't
look scared, surprisingly, she looked defiant and bold. James was wincing in
pain, no doubt because of Lily's sharp fingernails digging in his skin of his arm.
'We will resist, anybody who doesn't wish to help us leave now.'
Quite a few people looked as though they wanted to, only four or five left as
well as half of the first years. None were Gryffindors.
Dumbledore nodded, as though he was satisfied.
'We will need all prefects, head boy and girl and any seventh year with us,
the rest of you may leave.'
People filed out of the Great Hall, chatting in panicky or troubled or lighthearted
voices. Almost everybody agreed that the safest place was where Dumbledore was.
The Hufflepuffs looked panicked ('If he can attack the ministry of magic, we're
all doomed!) and the Ravenclaws looked worried, but weren't as panicky as the
Hufflepuffs ('He's been working up to this for, how many years? Just as well
it's now.') And the Gryffindors weren't at all worried ('We are under Dumbledores
nose, ho safer could we be?' Hufflepuffs: 'What about our families?' Gryffindors:
'Unless they are muggle, they can defend themselves, at least they weren't evil
and died trying to kill him.')
This blasé and casual feeling wasn't mutual, the Slytherins all assumed they
were safe, because Voldemort was in their house. Some weren't to sure though
('What will happen to us? Will we have to go on his side?'). There were a
few uptight arguments in the common room, a few worrywarts, glutinous proboscis
people were arguing with the more casual and courageous.
'You have nothing to worry about! Your parents are already dead!'
'How dare you! I thought you were my friend!'
'Calm down girls, it's going to be okay,'
'Shut your mouth, we all know that you'll be on the dark side!'
'Yeah, keep your bill out of other birds nests!'
'I was just tr-'
'I said SHUT UP!'
'Look, this is just what he wants, now go to bed and get some sleep'
'I'm not going to bed!' their noses turned away from each other.
'Why not?'
'We share a dormitory,'
'Too bad, now if he isn't even at the height of his power and you are already
arguing, and you are temperamental, snappy and stressed, you're only going to
make things harder for yourself. Now make up!'
'Okay, I'm sorry,'
'You said I had nothing to worry about and that my parents were dead, I know
that, you don't have to remind me, so I'm not forgiving you.'
'Fine!'
'Fine!'
'FINE!'
The two fourth years stormed out of the room. There was what sounded like
crying and one flounced back in, in tears and sat on the couch and refused to
be comforted.
Peter chuckled, he had nothing to worry about, he was on the prevailing side,
the attacking side.
'The side that would win' he thought.
*
Dark Mark Sighted Over Ministry of Magic.
By Dahlia Ovens
The Dark Mark of a Dark Wizard who is gaining power and calls himself 'Lord
Voldemort' is responsible for the an attack on the Ministry of Magic on the 26th
of December, Boxing Day 1970. There was only one survivor, the Minister himself.
'I was spared' he said. 'Kathleen Bottlesburgur, her ghost, told me to tell their
tale, and report the truth on how they died.' Wolffe, 49, looked very worried
and was obviously troubled by the memory of that fateful day. 'It should have been
me that died, I should have died with them.' He cried.
Voldemort was last seen in Sweden. Anyone, who did definitely see
him, please contact the Ministry of Magic immediately, telling them where.
Continued pages 2, 3, 4 and 4.
*
It was the night of the first full moon and Remus sat in the Shrieking Shack
waiting to transform. He took in his surroundings in the dim light and then
noticed something that hadn't been there before. He walked over to it, trying
to get a closer look then he doubled over in intense pain. Remus transformed,
three feet away from the ajar door.
*
'Can you hear that?'
'Eh?'
'Can you hear that screaming and howling?
'Nope'
'Come hear then…'
'Uh-huh'
'Now can you hear it?'
'Naan! Come over hear!'
'Coming!'
'Can you hear that?'
'Yeah, it sounds like screaming and wolves or something..'
'That's probably what it is!'
'Oh, con I go back now?'
'Yeah, sure'
Two Ravenclaws stood by the window, wondering what all the howling was about.
They shrugged and went back to their friends.
*
The year went by with a whoosh, it was now almost six weeks until exams, and
seven weeks until the year was finally over. Lily was glad of this, she was
kind of getting sick of James.
'Lily! Wait up!' Lily turned around to see her friend, Siobhan, racing down
the corridor.
'Hey Si!' said Lily.
'What's up?'
'Nothing, why?'
'You didn't seem quite yourself last night.' Siobhan was panting.
'Didn't I?'
'Nope, is anything wrong, you know, between you and James?'
Lily sighed.
'No'
'Are you sure?'
'Yes, no, well I'm kind of getting sick of him you know?'
'No. I wouldn't be sick of him, look at him, well don't because then he'll
know we are talking about him or he'll come over here but honestly Lily, people,
especially Hufflepuffs, would kill for him!'
'I know' Lily sighed again. 'But I just can't help thinking that the holidays
will be, what's the word? Peaceful with out him.'
'Lily! Honestly you are one of the weirdest persons I know!'
'So?' Lily couldn't see what was wrong with that.
'So? It's JAMES POTTER for goodness sakes!'
'So?'
'He's your boyfriend, or have you failed to notice that?'
'I sort of want it to be, toned down a little.'
Siobhan just rolled her eyes.
'James! Come over here!'
Lily groaned privately.
'Would you be happy with a normal, friendly relationship James? Like, you know,
enemies?'
'Yeah, aren't we that already?'
'Yes…'
'So wouldn't you prefer playing pranks on her? So you would stop being taunted
by Sirius?'
'Yes…'
'Where is all this leading?'
'I don't know!'
'Either do I'
'Well I do!' Siobhan said firmly.
'Well?' Lily demanded at Siobhan.
'Well what?' Siobhan was puzzled.
'Would you mind explaining?'
'I think, not because I think James is…' Siobhan trailed off, looking slightly
flushed and flustered, 'Anyway, wouldn't it be better off to get to know each
other first?'
'I think you're right…'
'Friends right?'
'Of course…'
Lily shook hands with a slightly relieved looking James and then James went
back to Sirius who was signaling James urgently.
'Bye!' Lily called, James turned back and grinned, almost knocking into someone.
'Thank god…'
'No, thank me!'
'Now you can have him, he is all yours…' Lily said, not at all bitter.
*
'You will be transfiguring these slippers into rabbits for the whole double
lesson. Anyone who finishes come to me, you will get revision and some more
work.'
James sighed. He wanted to purposely not transfigure his slippers properly
just so he wouldn't get extra.
'Come and collect your equipment.'
Slowly they got out of their chairs and started filing towards the equipment
bench.
James collected his slippers and then rushed back to his desk.
'James! James!'
'Huh?'
'You have been out of it for ages, you haven't even made your rabbits with
whiskers…'
'Oh, yeah.' James instantly reversed the rabbits and then re-did the process,
this time coming out perfectly, with whiskers and all. McGonagall (unfortunately)
saw this from the other side of the room and came over to congratulate him.
'Well done Potter!' she said hoarsely, checking her watch. 'Record time too!'
She beamed. She picked up one of the rabbits to examine them. 'Good work,
ten points for Gryffindor!'
'Yay!' said Sirius.
'Now, change them back and come and see me at my desk.'
James turned the rabbits back into slippers and then picked them up lightly
between two fingers. He strode over to her desk and she joined him a moment
later. She handed him some instructions on a piece of parchment and then handed
him a container which had to transfigured into a silver jug and a piece of fine
thread which had to be transformed into an umbrella. He sighed as he went back
to the desk where Sirius had just made fluffy pink rabbits with its eyes sewed
together.
'What are they?' James said, half-groaning and half-laughing. The laughter
was winning and his face cracked into a grin.
'They are Fluffykins and Slipperabbits!' said Sirius proudly.
'What!?'
'Don't you like my ickle rabbits?'
'Erm' James coughed.
'If that's what you call rabbits, you're screwed.' Sneered a voice behind them.
There was Serevus Snape holding a charm-bound letter to Professor McGonagall.
'What's the problem here boys?'
'Nothing' drawled Snape, dripping in his usual manner. 'Black here was just
showing me his rabbits!'
'Oh dear, I think I'll change them back!' gasped Professor McGonagall. 'Please
persist Mr. Black.'
Sirius sighed and Snape snickered. James shot Snape a furious look and then
he went back to transfiguring his container. He concentrated hard and then waved
his wand. There we go. The jug was looking particularly woody around the engraving,
but was still rather good. He sighed, then Sirius let out an excited gasp.
'I did it!' he gaped at James, who looked at the pair of rabbits sitting on
the desk. One was fluffy and brown and one was white with a pink tinge to it.
James rolled his eyes, then grinned.
'Well, go and show off to McGonagall!' he said. He turned back to his jug,
turned it back into the wooden container then tried again. This time he succeeded
and then he went to the Professors desk, plunked it beside Sirius's rabbits and
then went back to his next task.
*
Voldemort sighed. He had barely gotten any publicity. Daily Prophet articles
and that was about all. He hadn't checked in those girly magazines. He had
given that task to Agnes who accepted it with relish. He found Dolpur to assemble
Xenia, Frangipani and the usual people together to discuss their next attack
. He thought that this was the one that was going to give him the most power.
He sighed, and then looked at the hare, which was suffering amiably for attention
and comfort. Voldemort had made several 'improvements' to the rabbit. He had given
it sharp, metallic teeth and claws, A swiping tail about three feet long and
then to top it off, pewter ear caps. Dolpur and Frangipani laughed when they
saw it. Frangipani managed to keep it to a quiet snigger but Dolpur didn't.
He howled with laughter and then it resulted in Voldemort allowing Agnes to
hurt him some more. Agnes always liked that rabbit, she cared for it, cooed
to it and played with it when Voldemort couldn't be bothered.
The rest of the team were coming.