Preview:
James is in his 6th yeah at Hogwarts and has, over the summer, decided to start a band. All that he needs now is a drummer and a guitarist. This is the tale of his quest for the new members and their first gig.
Disclaimer:
I do not claim any of the Harry Potter universe, from Hogwarts to Diagon alley. Also I do not lay claim to any of the bands, or their lyrics, used in this story...it's a shame really, I'd be rich.
A/N: thanks to all the people who have reviewed, you make me want to get of my butt and write more of this....*big fake sniff*....OK I've composed myself sufficiently to type...HERE WE GO!
Chapter 3: 'What the hell happened to my free will?'
They had arrived.
Not at the castle of course, there was still a short carriage ride before they arrived there. They had, however, finally arrived at Hogsmeade Station.
There was the usual mayhem as the students tried, without much success, to get of the train at once. Eventually the Marauders, plus Lily, managed to clamber off the train and onto the platform. they wandered over to where the horse-less carriages were and climbed into one...they set of for the castle that would house them, and their endless need to cause trouble, for the next year.
At last, they rounded the last bend in the road and Hogwarts Castle crept into view...dark and brooding atop a cliff, looking out over a vast forest and a calm lake. It was everything the group of friends remembered it as and more, for there would be new spells, charms and hex's to learn...and new pranks to be played on Severus Snape and the other Slytherins. Coupled with the band, it should turn out to be a good year.
Patiently they waited for their coach to arrive at the broad gravelled area just in front of Hogwart's main entrance,
With a sigh, Sirius got out of the coach and stretched like the overgrown puppy he sometimes resembled. He suddenly saw Peter, the last of the Marauders, and exclaimed "Oi! Peter! Where have you been? We missed you on the train"
"Ah. Yes, well I was with Sebastion and Susan...they grabbed me when I got on the train and then I couldn't be bothered to go find you guys. I trust you didn't miss me terribly?" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eye
James, seeing this glint decided to play along. "Oh yes Peter dear" He said in a squeaky falsetto voice "We've all missed you so much...I don't know how we do without you!"
Lily slapped him and asked, in a serious tone "How was your summer? You better not of had any fun...or else your left butt-cheek will be plastered with a Roy Orbison tattoo" The friends managed to keep straight faces when McGonnogal turned to look at them, then they almost collapsed with laughter. Then, while Sirius and James discussed what humorous tattoos they could put on Remus and where they could put them, the Marauders and their companion began the short walk to the Great Hall.
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Lumbering from bed like some prehistoric beast awakened from an aeon-old sleep, Sirius Black went in search of the infernal racket that was sending shards of ice through his brain. As he stumbled into the frigid bathroom, quilt from his bed clutched protectively around his shoulders, he was shocked by the sight that he was presented with.
James was singing. Loudly. And playing air guitar. Shit.
"James..." He croaked "What the hell are you doing?"
James jumped slightly, stopped humming and turned to face his best friend "Siri! Your awake" He exclaimed
"No, I'm not" Replied 'Siri' "I'm not awake at 6 am. Ever." He scrunched up his eyes and waved his hand around absent-mindedly "What are you doing in here, and why is it so freaking bright?"
James, laughing, said "It's called sunrise Siri, and what I'm doing is, quite obviously, singing"
"I hate to ask James, but what are you singing, and why?" Still not awake, Sirius was a little slow on the uptake
"I'm singing one of the new songs for The Puppies that I wrote over the summer, and I was playing around with the tune of it, seeing what sounded the best. Actually, I could get the rest of you to help with that. Maybe Lily will have some ideas on what it could sound like." He rubbed his chin, which revealed some stubble. He winced when he saw the look that Sirius was giving him.
As if reading his mind, Sirius spoke up again "Yes, Lily." He smirked "Why don't you just tell her you like her James?"
Is it that obvious? James thought, in bewilderment "How did you know?" He asked his friend
"I didn't" Grinned Sirius "You just confirmed my suspicions. Seriously, why not just tell her how you feel?"
"For someone only half awake, your awfully perceptive" Retorted James
"Don't avoid the topic, James" Sirius warned "Anyway, now that pleasant conversation has awakened me, what songs are you talking about?"
"I wrote some over the summer" He walked back into the Dormitory proper, Sirius trailing behind him, mumbling about cold bathroom floors. Walking over to his trunk, he rummaged through the discarded socks and other pieces of junk that he kept in there. After much searching, he finally emerged from the murky recesses of his trunk clutching a medium-sized book, untitled, but covered in faded ink stains and slogans.
"What's that?" Enquired a very puzzled Sirius
"My Songbook" Replied James "Its enchanted to remember everything I write in it, and it will let me edit anything I write in there" He passed the book to Sirius
Sirius took it, eager to see what James had written, and wondered if he would be up to writing a few songs himself. But his thoughts shuddered to a halt when he opened the book. He went from looking at the pages of the book to looking at James. "There's nothing in it!"
"Of course not! I wouldn't want just anyone to open it and read my songs" He smirked "Run your index finger down the spine and say 'Another Girl, Another Planet' But not with my dodgy accent"
Sirius suited actions to his friend's words, then watched in growing amazement as black spidery writing - unmistakably James's - spread across the page to form words, then stanzas, then finally the entire song. He read a few lines, then grinned maniacally and looked up at James "Someone has an unhealthy Lily fixation" He commented
James had the decency to blush and mutter "Shut up"
"Oh come on!" Sirius smirked again and started to read " ... you get under my skin/I don't find it irritating/your always play to win/I don't need no rehabilitating" He looked at James again, and simply shook his head
"Read the rest of it" Prompted James, and after he had, he asked "What'd you think?"
"It's good, you starry-eyed lover boy, very good indeed."
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"Wow James" Breathed Lily, after a pause in which she tried to assimilate the impact of those lyrics "Those are amazing lyrics! But.." She frowned "Who is it about?" She shot him a questioning look
It's about you, can't you see? Thought James "It's er..." His voice trailed off
Sirius, obviously, sensing his friends discomfort and obvious reluctance at proclaiming his undying love for Lily Evans, jumped in to save him "You'll never know, dear Lily ... He wouldn't even tell me"
Lily looked slightly crestfallen, but James sent a look of thanks his way. Better for James, both Lily and Remus seemed not to have noticed.
Remus, who had just finished reading the page in 'The Book' as they had decided to start calling it, spoke for the first time since sitting down "Very good James ... and I already have a beat for it bouncing around my head, but what really interests me is what enchantment you used on the pages. You said it would remember anything you wrote in it, and you could edit it too?"
"I don't know what spell it was, my dad gave it to me ages ago, said it might useful. That was the same year he gave me an acoustic. He's always been mad about Muggles..." James sighed, and brought himself back to the present "Sorry I can't help you Rem"
Sirius chose that moment to butt in, saying "I've been thinking about a baseline too, I'm going to let it stew a bit before I tong it"
Lily snorted "Tong it?"
"Hey!" Interjected James "What Siri does in his own time is up to him"
Sirius pretended to sulk
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The following week progressed without problems.
Well actually Sirius got Detention for pouring jellied eels down the back of a Slytherin girls robes.
But that's not really a problem, at least for him
James and Sirius had decided to test out some riffs in a secluded spot they had discovered early in their fourth year; it was an oval shaped room, devoid of decoration, located somewhere in the North Tower. They didn't know where exactly, because the only way you could get there was through a maze-like series of tunnels.
James was sitting ensconced in a deep armchair, listening to Sirius thundering out the backing tune to their 'work in progress' on his bass, with his guitar propped next to his legs.
"That's good Siri" He put in, after Sirius had finished "We should see what they sound like together" With that, he stood up and started playing, Sirius taking his cue as to when to come in. They had to pause though, when Lily came bursting through the door, half singing, half shouting.
"-Remus can't fail! Reemuuus can't fai-l" She sang out happily, twirling into the room and throwing herself into a seat
"Why can't Remus fail? And how did you get here, we've never shown you the way" Said Sirius, interrupting Lily
Lily smirked "You didn't need to, Remus showed me the way"
"But he doesn't know the way either! He refused to get out of bed the night we found this place so we've never shown him what we found!" Exploded James
"You didn't need to!" Remus put in, finally making it into the room "Are you forgetting the Map?"
"Er...I did until now" Said James, mollified. He looked at Sirius "I suppose you wrote this room onto the Map? I know I didn't"
"Now that, Sirius, is why Remus can't fail" Supplied Lily, still smirking. "Can I borrow The Book James? I want to put those lyrics onto paper, and paper no one but us can read."
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Endnote:
For all of you who are about to flame me horribly, read this first.
I didn't go into this fic thinking of ways i could rip off the creative idea's of others, namely the bands who originally wrote some of these songs. Being a die-hard 70's punk fan, i could think of no better way to compliment the genius of those few artists.
On a lighter note, Pendragon helped me with this chapter...it had been a month since I started this and it hadn't been progressing very well at all. So I brought him in on this, and he'll be helping on the dialogue in the rest of the fic...
Ara Kane: I did discuss how Snape should be viewed within this fic with Pendragon, after a lengthy period where we toyed with the idea of making him a Puppy, we decided to let him be as nasty as I'm sure he'd want to be...he'll behave along the lines set out in J.K's books. Thanks for reviewing me.
James is in his 6th yeah at Hogwarts and has, over the summer, decided to start a band. All that he needs now is a drummer and a guitarist. This is the tale of his quest for the new members and their first gig.
Disclaimer:
I do not claim any of the Harry Potter universe, from Hogwarts to Diagon alley. Also I do not lay claim to any of the bands, or their lyrics, used in this story...it's a shame really, I'd be rich.
A/N: thanks to all the people who have reviewed, you make me want to get of my butt and write more of this....*big fake sniff*....OK I've composed myself sufficiently to type...HERE WE GO!
Chapter 3: 'What the hell happened to my free will?'
They had arrived.
Not at the castle of course, there was still a short carriage ride before they arrived there. They had, however, finally arrived at Hogsmeade Station.
There was the usual mayhem as the students tried, without much success, to get of the train at once. Eventually the Marauders, plus Lily, managed to clamber off the train and onto the platform. they wandered over to where the horse-less carriages were and climbed into one...they set of for the castle that would house them, and their endless need to cause trouble, for the next year.
At last, they rounded the last bend in the road and Hogwarts Castle crept into view...dark and brooding atop a cliff, looking out over a vast forest and a calm lake. It was everything the group of friends remembered it as and more, for there would be new spells, charms and hex's to learn...and new pranks to be played on Severus Snape and the other Slytherins. Coupled with the band, it should turn out to be a good year.
Patiently they waited for their coach to arrive at the broad gravelled area just in front of Hogwart's main entrance,
With a sigh, Sirius got out of the coach and stretched like the overgrown puppy he sometimes resembled. He suddenly saw Peter, the last of the Marauders, and exclaimed "Oi! Peter! Where have you been? We missed you on the train"
"Ah. Yes, well I was with Sebastion and Susan...they grabbed me when I got on the train and then I couldn't be bothered to go find you guys. I trust you didn't miss me terribly?" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eye
James, seeing this glint decided to play along. "Oh yes Peter dear" He said in a squeaky falsetto voice "We've all missed you so much...I don't know how we do without you!"
Lily slapped him and asked, in a serious tone "How was your summer? You better not of had any fun...or else your left butt-cheek will be plastered with a Roy Orbison tattoo" The friends managed to keep straight faces when McGonnogal turned to look at them, then they almost collapsed with laughter. Then, while Sirius and James discussed what humorous tattoos they could put on Remus and where they could put them, the Marauders and their companion began the short walk to the Great Hall.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Lumbering from bed like some prehistoric beast awakened from an aeon-old sleep, Sirius Black went in search of the infernal racket that was sending shards of ice through his brain. As he stumbled into the frigid bathroom, quilt from his bed clutched protectively around his shoulders, he was shocked by the sight that he was presented with.
James was singing. Loudly. And playing air guitar. Shit.
"James..." He croaked "What the hell are you doing?"
James jumped slightly, stopped humming and turned to face his best friend "Siri! Your awake" He exclaimed
"No, I'm not" Replied 'Siri' "I'm not awake at 6 am. Ever." He scrunched up his eyes and waved his hand around absent-mindedly "What are you doing in here, and why is it so freaking bright?"
James, laughing, said "It's called sunrise Siri, and what I'm doing is, quite obviously, singing"
"I hate to ask James, but what are you singing, and why?" Still not awake, Sirius was a little slow on the uptake
"I'm singing one of the new songs for The Puppies that I wrote over the summer, and I was playing around with the tune of it, seeing what sounded the best. Actually, I could get the rest of you to help with that. Maybe Lily will have some ideas on what it could sound like." He rubbed his chin, which revealed some stubble. He winced when he saw the look that Sirius was giving him.
As if reading his mind, Sirius spoke up again "Yes, Lily." He smirked "Why don't you just tell her you like her James?"
Is it that obvious? James thought, in bewilderment "How did you know?" He asked his friend
"I didn't" Grinned Sirius "You just confirmed my suspicions. Seriously, why not just tell her how you feel?"
"For someone only half awake, your awfully perceptive" Retorted James
"Don't avoid the topic, James" Sirius warned "Anyway, now that pleasant conversation has awakened me, what songs are you talking about?"
"I wrote some over the summer" He walked back into the Dormitory proper, Sirius trailing behind him, mumbling about cold bathroom floors. Walking over to his trunk, he rummaged through the discarded socks and other pieces of junk that he kept in there. After much searching, he finally emerged from the murky recesses of his trunk clutching a medium-sized book, untitled, but covered in faded ink stains and slogans.
"What's that?" Enquired a very puzzled Sirius
"My Songbook" Replied James "Its enchanted to remember everything I write in it, and it will let me edit anything I write in there" He passed the book to Sirius
Sirius took it, eager to see what James had written, and wondered if he would be up to writing a few songs himself. But his thoughts shuddered to a halt when he opened the book. He went from looking at the pages of the book to looking at James. "There's nothing in it!"
"Of course not! I wouldn't want just anyone to open it and read my songs" He smirked "Run your index finger down the spine and say 'Another Girl, Another Planet' But not with my dodgy accent"
Sirius suited actions to his friend's words, then watched in growing amazement as black spidery writing - unmistakably James's - spread across the page to form words, then stanzas, then finally the entire song. He read a few lines, then grinned maniacally and looked up at James "Someone has an unhealthy Lily fixation" He commented
James had the decency to blush and mutter "Shut up"
"Oh come on!" Sirius smirked again and started to read " ... you get under my skin/I don't find it irritating/your always play to win/I don't need no rehabilitating" He looked at James again, and simply shook his head
"Read the rest of it" Prompted James, and after he had, he asked "What'd you think?"
"It's good, you starry-eyed lover boy, very good indeed."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
"Wow James" Breathed Lily, after a pause in which she tried to assimilate the impact of those lyrics "Those are amazing lyrics! But.." She frowned "Who is it about?" She shot him a questioning look
It's about you, can't you see? Thought James "It's er..." His voice trailed off
Sirius, obviously, sensing his friends discomfort and obvious reluctance at proclaiming his undying love for Lily Evans, jumped in to save him "You'll never know, dear Lily ... He wouldn't even tell me"
Lily looked slightly crestfallen, but James sent a look of thanks his way. Better for James, both Lily and Remus seemed not to have noticed.
Remus, who had just finished reading the page in 'The Book' as they had decided to start calling it, spoke for the first time since sitting down "Very good James ... and I already have a beat for it bouncing around my head, but what really interests me is what enchantment you used on the pages. You said it would remember anything you wrote in it, and you could edit it too?"
"I don't know what spell it was, my dad gave it to me ages ago, said it might useful. That was the same year he gave me an acoustic. He's always been mad about Muggles..." James sighed, and brought himself back to the present "Sorry I can't help you Rem"
Sirius chose that moment to butt in, saying "I've been thinking about a baseline too, I'm going to let it stew a bit before I tong it"
Lily snorted "Tong it?"
"Hey!" Interjected James "What Siri does in his own time is up to him"
Sirius pretended to sulk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
The following week progressed without problems.
Well actually Sirius got Detention for pouring jellied eels down the back of a Slytherin girls robes.
But that's not really a problem, at least for him
James and Sirius had decided to test out some riffs in a secluded spot they had discovered early in their fourth year; it was an oval shaped room, devoid of decoration, located somewhere in the North Tower. They didn't know where exactly, because the only way you could get there was through a maze-like series of tunnels.
James was sitting ensconced in a deep armchair, listening to Sirius thundering out the backing tune to their 'work in progress' on his bass, with his guitar propped next to his legs.
"That's good Siri" He put in, after Sirius had finished "We should see what they sound like together" With that, he stood up and started playing, Sirius taking his cue as to when to come in. They had to pause though, when Lily came bursting through the door, half singing, half shouting.
"-Remus can't fail! Reemuuus can't fai-l" She sang out happily, twirling into the room and throwing herself into a seat
"Why can't Remus fail? And how did you get here, we've never shown you the way" Said Sirius, interrupting Lily
Lily smirked "You didn't need to, Remus showed me the way"
"But he doesn't know the way either! He refused to get out of bed the night we found this place so we've never shown him what we found!" Exploded James
"You didn't need to!" Remus put in, finally making it into the room "Are you forgetting the Map?"
"Er...I did until now" Said James, mollified. He looked at Sirius "I suppose you wrote this room onto the Map? I know I didn't"
"Now that, Sirius, is why Remus can't fail" Supplied Lily, still smirking. "Can I borrow The Book James? I want to put those lyrics onto paper, and paper no one but us can read."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Endnote:
For all of you who are about to flame me horribly, read this first.
I didn't go into this fic thinking of ways i could rip off the creative idea's of others, namely the bands who originally wrote some of these songs. Being a die-hard 70's punk fan, i could think of no better way to compliment the genius of those few artists.
On a lighter note, Pendragon helped me with this chapter...it had been a month since I started this and it hadn't been progressing very well at all. So I brought him in on this, and he'll be helping on the dialogue in the rest of the fic...
Ara Kane: I did discuss how Snape should be viewed within this fic with Pendragon, after a lengthy period where we toyed with the idea of making him a Puppy, we decided to let him be as nasty as I'm sure he'd want to be...he'll behave along the lines set out in J.K's books. Thanks for reviewing me.