A/N: OK, one reviewer?!?!?! I need feedback, people! Pretty please?
Well, I guess this chapter and the last-but-one (where they all met up again) were kind of mainly focused on the relationships between the Marauders and also about how they're really still a lot like teenagers the way they crack jokes and are still kind of irresponsible; Sirius was incarcerated in Azkaban when he was still only just twenty so he never really got the chance to grow up and the rest haven't really focused a lot on that because they all threw themselves into careers or whatever in an attempt to forget what they'd been through, so they haven't really known responsibility. Milo's probably the eldest, mentality-wise, because he's had to look after his daughter on his own since she was ten and he's been in and out of 'safe' houses which are rarely safe for very long, so he's had to face up to a lot of things the others haven't.
Also, this is set in the evening of the same day as the previous chapters. Those who wanted double-spaced chapters were going to get them but I hate double-spaced writing and I'm not feeling all that generous on account of the one lonely new review. Sorry if I'm grumbling, but it was such a let-down after having six the chapter before.
Part 4: At Hogwarts in the Holidays
…So Minerva turned her shoe into a Portkey and we used it to get to Hogwarts while the rest of the gang Apparated. Milo nearly splinched himself, poor guy, but Erin grabbed him and Portkey-ed the two of them out of there- just as well she's good at Transfiguration, she had to turn her watch into a Portkey to do it. I won't tell you where we are now in case this is intercepted- Corny Fudge was going absolutely demented according to the Daily Prophet, Monique's having to send her news stories in via a third person, or he wouldn't let them accept the stories and we'd be totally penniless. Let's just say we're all safe for now. I don't reckon Fudge knows about me being an Animagus, there's been nothing written anywhere about it and he wasn't actually there when I transformed back to a man, he was too busy having his hide saved by Arabella. I really don't know why she bothered… Hope your friend Ron's twin brothers are OK; Fudge'll probably be causing hell about what they did. Tell them thanks from me, please?
Oh yeah, and Milo's daughter Susan nearly got killed, did you hear? One of the Death Eaters we didn't knock out properly went back to Milo's house by way of revenge- Apollo and Artemis only just got her out in time. She's in your year at Hogwarts, Hufflepuff house- Susan Bones. She knows about Peter and all, so she'll help you out if you need it.
Anyway, we've all been working together on a little story about what we were like at Hogwarts, I thought it was better that you should know the whole truth before you go back to Hogwarts in September. It should definitely make for some interesting reading matter… Monique sent it just after we got back, with Lily's diary enclosed, so you should have it by now.
Keep safe, and don't let the Muggles get you down!
Snuffles.
Sirius rolled up the piece of parchment and attached it to the waiting tawny owl in the Hogwarts Owlery. It gave a soft hoot of farewell before fluttering out into the night, backed by an almost-full moon. He was so intent on watching its flight he didn't see the young woman enter the room until she tapped him on the shoulder. Almost immediately she found herself pinned against the wall with one hand at her stomach and the other around her throat. Seeing who it was, Sirius backed up in surprise.
"Christ Monique, you scared me!"
"I noticed," Monique told him dryly, kissing the tips of his long white fingers. "But please, that 'incident' with the Dementor today? Don't you ever do that to me again. Ever." Sirius smiled, wrapping his arms around her.
"I'll try to keep that in mind."
"Sirius, can you please stop treating everything as a joke? I know it used to be everyone's way of handling things, but oh- I don't know- it's just- just…"
"Hey, shush, calm down." Sirius pulled her closer to him, feeling her small tense body relax in his arms. "What's brought this on? You used to be one of the main ones for making a joke of stuff, you and Lily and James and me- it was always Remus or Apollo or Milo that were the serious ones."
Monique looked up at him, her eyes unusually serious. "It's what- what Lily told me, just before she died: she- she said to keep an eye on Harry, look after him, stop him from getting hurt. I think she knew what she was going to do if Voldemort came calling, knew what she would have to do to keep Harry alive: die for him. But- Harry's had three near-death experiences already, and he's not even fifteen yet! I-I don't want to fail her, Sirius."
Sirius sighed. "I know, I know: James said about the same to me. Honestly, though, I don't see that there's much we can do- even wrapping Harry up in cotton wool and guarding him day and night won't make much difference, not really. The Gryffindor and Hufflepuff heirs are always going to be targeted by Death Eaters because they've got the fewest numbers, and the Prophecy states that we need an heir for each of the three other houses to defeat Slytherin's own descendant, so there's only two people to murder and Voldemort's basically unbeatable, even by Dumbledore, since he's a closer blood relative to Godric Gryffindor's brother Gawain than to Godric Gryffindor himself. We need to get James' brother Michael back: never mind that he's paralysed from the waist down, technically he can still wield Gryffindor's sword so he still counts as an heir. Look at it this way: admittedly we've lost the First Gryffindor heir, but Milo and Susan have lived, so we've still got Hufflepuff, and that Cho Chang is the Ravenclaw heir, and she's definitely got at least one sister, Cleo, and both parents: there's always hope."
"I hope so, Sirius," Monique murmured, snuggling closer to him. "I hope so."
Artemis, Minerva and Erin had a room between them, a large comfortably appointed place decorated in various shades of blue and bronze that strongly reminded Artemis of the Ravenclaw common room.
"Hey, I wonder if Mistopheles is still guarding the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower?" asked Erin suddenly, referring to the cantankerous old eagle stitched to the tapestry entrance to the Ravenclaw dormitories and common room, who guarded it with a stubborn zeal and a memory far surpassing that of any elephant.
"I would have thought so," replied Artemis, after a moment's thought. "Minerva, do you know?"
Minerva, though an old Gryffindor, knew every single Common room pretty well, not just because she had taught at Hogwarts for nearly fifteen years but also because the Marauders, by virtue of having members in every house, had pretty much had the freedom of the school's Common Rooms.
The Slytherins alone had discouraged them, but none of the members of the prankster group –with the notable exception of Peter Pettigrew, a Slytherin himself, after all- had ever had much liking for the bulk of the Slytherins anyway so it had never really bothered them.
"As far as I know," answered Minerva. "I never really go there any more- it's Filius Flitwick's job now, and the Ravenclaws tend to regard any non-Ravenclaws who enter with pretty icy hostility. Why don't we go and find out later on? Bet you any money he'll remember us if he is there- you two, at the very least."
"I know his memory always was the best, but after nearly fifteen years? You're on!" laughed Artemis. "Two Galleons says he doesn't remember us- or at least that he doesn't remember all our names."
"I look forward to spending your money," Minerva told her firmly, her eyes dancing as they shook hands on the bet. Artemis chuckled.
"I wouldn't bet on that- but oh, yes, it appears that you have, haven't you? Oh well, better luck next time, Minnie Mouse!" She ducked hastily as Minerva threw a cushion at her in retaliation for the use of her much-hated nickname. Erin smiled lazily, wagging a highly ironic cautionary finger at the two.
"Now, now, girls, settle down."
***
In Remus and Apollo's room, meanwhile, the two boys were discussing the oncoming full moon.
"What d'you reckon, Remus?" Apollo asked casually as he packed his things into a chest of drawers. "How about another Full Moon night out?"
"I don't know," said Remus doubtfully. "After all the close shaves we've had- and all the stuff that's happening now- do you think it's a good idea?"
"But we've got the Wolfsbane potion now, there won't be any close shaves 'cause you'll keep your mind when you transform, same as the rest of us," answered Apollo dismissively. "C'mon Rems, it'll be a laugh- and that's just what we need right now."
"D'you really think Snape'll make it for me?" asked Remus with a forced laugh. "I mean, last time I saw him he was going to have the Dementors perform the Kiss on me."
"Who needs Snape when we've got Monique and Artemis?" the other replied. "I mean, have you ever seen a potion those two can't make, between 'em? Though Snapie'll have a fit if he finds out they've been using his beloved Potions lab. Hey, this idea gets better and better!"
Remus laughed, a proper laugh this time. "What happened to the quiet, sensible Apollo Westhaven, always there to restrain his beloved twin sister when she wanted to kill someone?" Apollo shrugged.
"I'm on pills for it," he said without missing a beat. "And I do have some sense left in me somewhere, but it tends to diminish when you've spent nearly fifteen years working for the Ministry. I'm surprised Arthur Weasley hasn't wound up in St. Mungo's by now!"
"Well, not only that but he also lives with Fred and George and he still hasn't gone crazy, so I expect that when you're surrounded by so much chaos you develop a sort of defence mechanism to it. Your problem is, you're too used to normality."
"After nine years spent being a member of the Marauders you accuse me of being too used to normality?!"
Snape burst into the room, interrupting the conversation.
"Excuse me," said Remus mildly. "but I believe the custom is to knock?" Ignoring Apollo, Snape pointed an accusing finger at Remus, seemingly too infuriated to speak; he literally quivered with rage and his long, greasy hair flew in all directions around his sallow face. His hooked nose had gone literally white with fury, something Apollo recognized from long periods of antagonisation as being a very bad sign. The only time the Marauders had managed to make Snape angry enough to do that had been when Sirius had asked Monique out right in front of him and she had agreed, thus loosing Snape a very large amount of money to his most hated rival, James. Apollo slid his wand out of his pocket and watched with interest as Snape, quite simply, spat with fury.
"You, you…" Words seemed to fail the Potions master.
"Gorgeous thing, you?" supplied Erin, entering. "You mean you've finally given in to Remus' charms, Snape? It was only a matter of time, though I think Minerva might have something to say on the subject." Remus and Apollo chuckled; Erin had always been good at being obnoxious when she particularly wanted to be.
"I noticed you approached the calmer members in residence first, Snape," observed Apollo conversationally. "Well, I'd be careful, since I believe Monique and Minerva have quite some score to settle with you. Trying to get their boyfriends given the Dementors' Kiss isn't exactly the way to win friends and influence people, Severus."
"How- how dare you come here?" demanded Snape, finally managing to regain the power of speech.
"Well, Monique, Sirius, Erin and Milo came by Portkey and everyone else Apparated as close as they could, then walked," replied Remus calmly. "Why?"
"You know exactly what I mean, Lupin," growled Snape. "I'm going to get revenge for that trick you played on me if it takes me a lifetime."
"Which trick was that?" enquired Erin with interest. "Because if it was the one where Harry showed the entire school a picture of you in pink frilly knickers with those delightful little red hearts and roses (and very fetching they were, too) you can blame Sirius. As usual, I should point out. Oops, you weren't supposed to know about that, were you?"
Remus and Apollo snorted softly, realising what she was up to. They'd worked out back in second year Hogwarts that the best way to turn an angry, nasty Snape into an angry but baffled –and therefore unable to hex or curse- Snape was to try to distract him with illogical questions and by deliberately misunderstanding him. Or maybe it was just good fun, but they didn't really care which.
"No, it was the Neville incident," said Apollo firmly, looking deeply amused. "You know, where Remus taught Ena Longbottom's grandson how to dress Snape in her clothes? I can't believe we didn't get a picture!"
With a strange explosive snort of rage, Snape spun on his heel and stalked out of the room, in such a hurry that he smashed into the doorframe. Giddy and holding a hand to his nose, which was gushing blood, he toppled unsteadily down the corridor. Erin immediately copied the snort and they all descended helplessly into hysterical laughter, which only grew when Remus handed out a photo of Snape in said grandmother's clothing that he had, after all, managed to take.