Okay, just FYI, James is on the FIRST floor, not the third, like I said earlier, I think. Sorry about that. A lot of stuff comes out in this chapter, quite a bit of it is important.
Today I say the perfect human Noko. She was a young woman, tiny and very perky, with shoulder length curly hair. Just something about her, how she looked and moved, it screamed NOKO to me. She was playing in a basketball game for a charity, and I didn't catch her name, so I called her Noko the whole game. My brother, who sat next to me, kept groaning and saying "She's not Noko! Stop calling her that!" Honestly, if Noko grew up, dyed her hair a brown-blond, and had plastic surgery to turn her completely human, she'd look like this lady.
No deaths this chapter, but there will be one next chapter, I promise.
And Remus and Sirius are safe from death, for now, so don't worry.
Wolf-Child
Noko tugged on Draco's sleeve. "Dayco, who dat?" she whined.
"James Potter, Harry's dad."
"Hawwy daddy?"
"Yes, Hawwy. . . Harry's daddy."
Sirius grabbed the map and hurried off. The others followed him. Draco hung back, feeling acutely out of place. Sirius led them through the castle, going upstairs, downstairs, turning left, and turning right. Eventually Remus took the map, turned around, led them down a corridor, and stopped.
"According to the map, James is behind this wall."
Harry touched the wall and frowned. Other than the faint red residue from second year, when Ginny painted those frightening words here, the wall looked quite ordinary.
"Try shouting?" Ron asked. "Maybe he can hear us."
They started shouting and banging on the wall. Moaning Myrtle poked her head out from her bathroom and watched.
Draco stopped yelling. "Does anyone else feel right stupid doing this, or is it just me?" he asked.
"Remus shook his head. "It's not just you. This isn't getting us anywhere."
"What's with all the noise?" Fred and George climbed out from behind a tapestry, dusting their robes off. "Did someone die?"
Harry shook his head dejectedly. "No, not die. Rather, we learned that my dad's alive, and behind this wall, be we can't get through to him."
"Boys," Sirius said abruptly, "you need practice. Why don't you see where this hole leads." He pointed to a hole in the corner large enough for a cat to get into. The twins grinned. Without a sound, they transformed into twin raccoons and scampered into the hole.
"Since when have they been Animagi!?!" Ron cried, indignant.
"Actually, only since yesterday," Sirius admitted. "But I've been giving them extra lessons since the beginning of the year."
"Why!?"
"They have their reasons, which they've explained to McGonagall and me, and we agreed with them. However, McGonagall refused to teach anyone how to become unregistered Animagi, so they came to me."
"But didn't it take you years to learn?" Hermione asked.
"I didn't have a teacher who knew what he was doing."
"So it's true then!" The ghost of a young woman came through the wall in front of them. "It is Professor Black now!" She laughed. "Now, Professor Lupin was expected, was undeniable, but Professor Black!? What do you teach, pranks? Troublemaking? Flirting?"
"Hello to you too, Lily," Sirius grinned.
Lily kissed Sirius on the nose and wrapped her arms around Remus in an icy hug. "Now where is . . . my goodness! Harry? You have grown!" Lily's smile was sad as she floated over to Harry. She reached out to smooth his hair with one ghostly hand and traced his face. "You do look so much like James . . ."
"Speaking of James," Draco interrupted, "is he on the other side of the wall or not?"
Lily turned to him. "And who, may I ask, are you? No, don't tell me, let me guess. Slytherin badge, pointed face, pale coloring, and those odd grey eyes . . . you must be Lucius Malfoy's son."
Draco bowed slightly. "Yes, I am known as Lucius Malfoy's son, but I prefer my own name, Draco." His tone was harsh and cold, very unfriendly. Lily raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"Why, I do believe you're a black sheep! No wonder you're Harry's friend! Yes, James is back there," she looked at Sirius, "alive, but bored out of his mind."
Fred and George slipped back through the hole and straightened up, humans once again.
"James has messages for some of you, and we quote . . ."
"Sirius, stop beating yourself up! I don't blame you for what Wormtail did! However, if you still feel like you owe me something, I'd worship you if you could get me a plate of those chocolate éclairs from the kitchens."
"Remus, if he continues to be a stubborn git, you just let me know. I bet I can still kick his ass."
"Harry, I've often imagined what I'd say to you, if given the chance, but now I don't know what to say. Maybe when I finally see you again, it'll all come back."
"Uh, that's all we remember. HE said something about not wanting to trust Malfoy and congratulated us on our Animagi forms."
"He also hopes we get him out soon."
Lily clapped her hands together. "Well then, it's settled. You all go to Dumbledore and get his help. I'll keep James company until you get him out." She passed back through the wall before anyone else could talk.
"Lily's right," Remus stated. "We should get Dumbledore's help to get through this wall."
"For someone who just learned your long-dead friend is really alive, you seem awfully calm," Ron said.
"I don't think it's quite registered yet," Remus said. "But I think Harry and Sirius are stunned."
Noko led the way to the Great Hall, where students were eating dinner. Dumbledore was standing and waiting for the noise to stop.
"Teachers and pupils, Hagrid has informed me of a disease that is rapidly spreading through the Forbidden Forest. IT has already jumped the species barrier many times. Once the disease shows itself, the sick creature only has several hours to live. Because of this, the forest and surrounding grounds are strictly forbidden to all. No human has been infected yet, but we do not want to take that chance. If you are caught near the forest, the punishments will be severe. If you see anyone showing the symptoms, such as vomiting, dizziness, fever, spasms, or inability to drink, get a professor immediately." There was no twinkle in his eye as he surveyed the quiet hall. "Please use extreme caution. Don't risk your life or the lives of others just to break the rules." His eyes lingered over the twins for a moment before he spread his hands. "Continue eating."
"That was cheerful," Draco muttered. Hermione smacked him upside the head as they went up to talk to Dumbledore.
"How may I help you?" Dumbledore asked as they approached. They all tried talking at once. Dumbledore held up his hand and pointed at Remus. "You explain."
"Headmaster, we've found the ghost of Lily Potter and James Potter. James is alive, but he's trapped behind a wall. We can't get him out and were hoping you could help."
Dumbledore smiled tiredly. "The last thing Hogwarts needs right now is an epidemic. Maybe James resurfacing is a good omen."
"Or maybe him being stuck is a bad one," Draco whispered into Noko's hair.
Is this a better place to stop? I seem to be on a roll here, and I'm sorry for that time I didn't update for 2 weeks! Expect a new chapter up tomorrow too. If I don't get it up, feel free to thwap me.
~Crawler