The Marauder Mishaps: Year One
Chapter Seven
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling, I do not own any part of it! This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes of the writer and reader only!
A/N: Chapter Seven. Right, I'm going to BEG now. If ANYONE knows how to italicize or bold words on FF pleaase post it in the comments section. I know you're just as sick of the little /'s as I am. ;). Moving on. THANK YOU a million times to the reviewers, readers. I read all of them and they really cheered me up yesterday ^^. Finally, this chapter is mainly about Remus. I'm gonna raise the rating to PG just 'cause we can have more fun that way. Background on this chapter: basically we're told that Remus fears above all things the full moon. Considering this is the magic world, the whole werewolf experience must be really bad for something floating in the sky to be more frightening then fire breathing dragons to him. With that said, bear with me, and enjoy! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *
Remus Lupin lay on his back on the four poster of the first year boy's dormitory. Peter had already fallen asleep, along with the other boy who'se name Remus couldn't seem to remember.
i/My fault...//i
As his mind turned to James and Sirius he felt the familiar wave of guilt sweep through him. He should have stopped them, he should have tried harder! The boy would be fine of course, there was no ailment Madam Pomfrey could not cure...except for perhaps one.
i/My fault...//i
He remembered the look on Sirius' face as he and James helped pull Gudgeon away from the tree. Knew that he was thinking the same thing Remus was thinking. Until now he always assumed bad things could never happen at Hogwarts. That everything had a fairy tale ending...
i/My fault...//i
Why had he ever even had hopes of getting into Hogwarts? What had he been thinking? Werewolves could surely not live a normal life, and friends must be out of the question. The wave of guilt was quickly replaced with a flood of cold, boiling anger. For a moment he panicked and shot up in his bed, tearing away the hangings to stare out the window. The moon was almost full...but not yet. Abruptly he stood and, sweeping James' invisibility cloak from the floor, he left the dormitory. He would not stay around any longer, it was a mistake coming here in the first place. If he had not come, the Whomping Willow would not have been planted, and no one would have been hurt! His first day and already he had sent his two best friends, his two only friends for that matter, to the Hospital Wing. And it wasn't even the full moon yet...swinging open the portrait of the Fat Lady, he wrapped the cloak securely over his shoulders, and hurried across the landing and down the stair cases leading to the Entrance Hall. He stopped breifly at the third landing from the bottom and gazed in shame at the Hospital Wing, before continuing down, through the large doors and into the Entrance Hall where he threw the cloak off and bolted straight into_
"P_Professor Dumbledore!" Remus stuttered, knocked to the floor mainly out of shock. Dumbledore extended a hand to help Remus up, which he took ashamedly, staring at his feet.
"I thought I might be seeing you here tonight, Mr. Lupin. Perhaps you would care to accompany me on a stroll of the grounds?" The Headmaster's eyes were twinkling, but his smile was sad, and his expression tired. However, Remus knew it was not a question when Dumbledore turned to the great oak doors and, thinking sadly of his warm common room, Remus followed.
"First I would like to assure you that everyone harmed tonight have received full care from Poppy and are recovering wonderfully. Mr. Gudgeon will spend another night's rest in the Hospital Wing and will return to classes very soon. Your friends will be more then able to join you for breakfast tomorrow, I am sure." Remus nodded glumly and continued behind Dumbledore.
"And now I must ask you why, after so many years, you are choosing to run from your problems now?" Dumbledore peered down at Remus through half moon spectacles.
Remus winced, he knew this had been coming, and still he wondered if he would have been better off trying to sleep through these nightmares.
"Sir I...if it weren't for me..."
"No one would have been hurt?" Dumbledore asked gently, and Remus nodded, now very intent on staring at his feet.
"Remus, there is a reason for everything that happens. There is a reason that you have come to Hogwarts, and a reason that you and young Mr. Potter knocked heads on the Hogwarts Express and yes, a reason why you became a werewolf at the age of five. We all encounter shadows on our paths, and no matter how many ways we try to escape them, the only way that we can continue on our journey is if we work through them." Remus looked up to meet Dumbledore's eyes which were twinkling again, and he was surprised to find himself smiling back.
"Thank you..." He said softly, not sure of what else to say. Just then, however, he realized something.
"Headmaster?" Remus looked up at Dumbledore.
"Yes, Mr. Lupin?"
"How did you know that James and I knocked into each other on the Hogwarts express?"
Dumbledore beamed at him and Remus could have sworn the old man winked before quickly suggesting that Remus should return to his dormitory, and that he might take care to remember James' invisibility cloak which was still laying on the floor in the Entrance Hall where Remus threw it off. And so Remus fell asleep that night, his heart feeling considerably lighter then it had.
~*~
Sirius and James returned to breakfast the next morning where they were greeted by a very groggy Remus and a very hungry Peter. Sirius immediately began shoveling mounds of scrambled eggs onto his plate as James started sniggering uncontrollably.
"Whassofuddy?" Sirius asked between a mouthful of eggs, earning a disdainful look from Remus.
James, however, had his attention locked to the Slytherin table on a certain Severus Snape. Severus was talking to a first year Slytherin girl, and seemed to be blushing a great deal. Sirius, seeing what James was laughing at, found himself grinning darkly. James flicked his arm, and a wand fell from his sleeve into his hand casually. Remus groaned and quickly took interest in his plate of bacon, refusing to look at the Slytherin table. James, pointing his wand at Severus under the table, mumbled something indecipherable.
It happened almost immediately. Severus, a look of absolute horror on his face, began dancing uncontrollably through the Great Hall. Peals of laughter broke out from the students, and James quickly slipped his wand back inside the sleeve of his robe.
"Mr. Snape that will do!" Professor McGonagall said shrilly, standing up from her seat at the staff table.
"I can't stop!" Came Severus' urgent response, encouraging even more laughter from the other students. Professor McGonagall waved her wand hurriedly and Severus fell to the floor in a heap, robes splayed around him.
"That will do!" McGonagall called in response to the laughter from the various house tables, her lips forming a thin line of frustration. "Mr. Snape, kindly take your seat!" And so Severus did, where the first year he had been talking with was giggling behind her hand. Sirius and James exchanged grins. Remus frowned at the two, though said nothing, while Peter shook James' hand. Lily Evans, however, was not so discreit as Remus, they quickly learned. For as everyone was standing to leave the Great Hall, Lily marched over to James and slapped him clear across the face. James stared at her in horror for a moment before stammering.
"What was that for?!"
"What did he ever do to you! You think you're some hot shot just because you can hex someone for no reason? Grow up, James Potter!" And with that she turned on her heel and stormed away.
"Evans! Hey, Evans, wait!" James called after her, but it was no use. Sirius was staring bewildered at where she had been standing, and after a while simply shook his head.
"Girls..." He muttered, shrugging at James as the two were joined by Peter, James still rubbing his face absently where she had slapped him.
"Where'd Remus go?" James asked, looking around for a sign of him. Peter shrugged.
"He said something about going to see Madam Pomfrey..."
"Good, maybe she can fix him up a bit. Is it just me or does he seem a bit off color?" Sirius wondered out loud to which Peter and James responded with empty shrugs, and the four of them fell into the crowds heading to class.
~*~
Remus knocked glumly on the door to the Hospital Wing where Madam Pomfrey hurried him in. The clinic, thankfully, was empty.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Lupin. Full moon tonight as you well know, I'm sure." She began, looking down at him with some strange emotion. What was it? Pity?
"Yes, Ma'am." Remus mumbled, looking down at his feet which were scuffing the floor. Madam Pomfrey, thankfully, refrained from mentioning the marks he was leaving all over her immaculate floor.
"The Headmaster has advised that I accompany you to these...excursions," She began, and Remus groaned inwardly
i'Excursions? Is that even a word?'/i
"For your own safety, of course."
i'That means they're doing it so people don't ask questions...'/i
"And as I'm sure you know from your meeting with Rubeus Hagrid prior to the school year, it would be in everyone's best interest if you refrained from...mentioning to anyone your...situation."
Remus almost felt sorry for her, he could tell she was trying very hard to keep from saying anything offensive, though he did get the feeling that she was like so many others who could see only a snarling, hellion beast when they looked at him. Anger welled up inside him at the thought, only to simmer away.
"Yes, Ma'am." He said again, nodding and wondering where exactly he would be going tonight. She must have guessed what he was thinking.
"Now listen closely, dear. I will accompany you to the Whomping Willow, and press the knot on the trunk to allow you to go inside."
"Please, Madam Pomfrey, inside where?" Remus asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Never mind that now." She said hurriedly, as though prolonging Remus' finding out where he was going as long as possible.
"I think it would be best to meet you in the Entrance Hall this evening at sundown, is that alright, dear?"
i'What, do you expect me to say no?'/i
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey, but_" Remus began, but she cut him off before he could finish what he was going to say.
"Now run along, dear, go on!" And she shoed him out of the clinic as only a bustling nurse can, leaving him to stare glumly at the door before resigning to make his way up the stairways leading to the Gryffindor common room.
~*~
"But Remus, don't you want to take some of your things with you for the trip?"
"When are you coming back?"
"Hope your mum feels better, Rem!"
Remus merely waved behind him and hurried out the portrait hole as Peter, Sirius and James called after him. He had not had the heart to meet their eyes when he told them he had received a letter from his father, and that he had to hurry home to help take care of his mother whom was ill. Soon after, he met Madam Pomfrey in the Entrance Hall, and followed her out the large wooden doors without speaking. Checking to see that no one was watching, she picked up a rather long, firm looking stick and_ bustling forward with agility that Remus would have never penned to her _prodded the knot in the tree trunk. The Whomping Willow suddenly grew very still, and Remus was able to trot forward.
"That's it, dear, now just down there." She said, looking about anxiously as though someone might be hiding behind a shrub. Remus leaned forward, and for the first time he saw it_ an opening between the roots! Lowering first a foot down until he felt the floor, and then his whole self, he looked back up at her confused. For a moment she stared down at him sadly.
"Just go on and follow the tunnel, dear, you'll find it soon enough. I'll be back for you when the morning comes, do take care!" And with that she hurried off, as though afraid at any moment he would sprout fangs and lunge at her.
i'And if I don't hurry I will!'/i
He scolded himself and felt around the walls of the tunnel, moving as quickly as he could until he saw a dim light ahead and, launching towards it, found himself in an old fashioned looking house of some sort. He knew this place, it was the old house that children told stories about in Hogsmeade! It was called the Shrieking Shack, although Remus hadn't a clue why, as no one had heard any shrieking from it in a century.
And then it dawned on him.
It was like fate, cruel and twisted fate, that the night a little boy would hide inside the old, haunted house, and become the beast that brought nightmares to children, was the first time in centuries the village of Hogsmeade heard the cries and howls from the Shrieking Shack.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *
A/N: I know, I know. Could I have possibly taken any longer? But I made it as long as I could to make up for it and I put in a word processing program other then Microsoft Word, so I have spell check, grammar check, etc. now. Thanks for hanging in there!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling, I do not own any part of it! This fanfiction is for entertainment purposes of the writer and reader only!
A/N: Chapter Seven. Right, I'm going to BEG now. If ANYONE knows how to italicize or bold words on FF pleaase post it in the comments section. I know you're just as sick of the little /'s as I am. ;). Moving on. THANK YOU a million times to the reviewers, readers. I read all of them and they really cheered me up yesterday ^^. Finally, this chapter is mainly about Remus. I'm gonna raise the rating to PG just 'cause we can have more fun that way. Background on this chapter: basically we're told that Remus fears above all things the full moon. Considering this is the magic world, the whole werewolf experience must be really bad for something floating in the sky to be more frightening then fire breathing dragons to him. With that said, bear with me, and enjoy! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *
Remus Lupin lay on his back on the four poster of the first year boy's dormitory. Peter had already fallen asleep, along with the other boy who'se name Remus couldn't seem to remember.
i/My fault...//i
As his mind turned to James and Sirius he felt the familiar wave of guilt sweep through him. He should have stopped them, he should have tried harder! The boy would be fine of course, there was no ailment Madam Pomfrey could not cure...except for perhaps one.
i/My fault...//i
He remembered the look on Sirius' face as he and James helped pull Gudgeon away from the tree. Knew that he was thinking the same thing Remus was thinking. Until now he always assumed bad things could never happen at Hogwarts. That everything had a fairy tale ending...
i/My fault...//i
Why had he ever even had hopes of getting into Hogwarts? What had he been thinking? Werewolves could surely not live a normal life, and friends must be out of the question. The wave of guilt was quickly replaced with a flood of cold, boiling anger. For a moment he panicked and shot up in his bed, tearing away the hangings to stare out the window. The moon was almost full...but not yet. Abruptly he stood and, sweeping James' invisibility cloak from the floor, he left the dormitory. He would not stay around any longer, it was a mistake coming here in the first place. If he had not come, the Whomping Willow would not have been planted, and no one would have been hurt! His first day and already he had sent his two best friends, his two only friends for that matter, to the Hospital Wing. And it wasn't even the full moon yet...swinging open the portrait of the Fat Lady, he wrapped the cloak securely over his shoulders, and hurried across the landing and down the stair cases leading to the Entrance Hall. He stopped breifly at the third landing from the bottom and gazed in shame at the Hospital Wing, before continuing down, through the large doors and into the Entrance Hall where he threw the cloak off and bolted straight into_
"P_Professor Dumbledore!" Remus stuttered, knocked to the floor mainly out of shock. Dumbledore extended a hand to help Remus up, which he took ashamedly, staring at his feet.
"I thought I might be seeing you here tonight, Mr. Lupin. Perhaps you would care to accompany me on a stroll of the grounds?" The Headmaster's eyes were twinkling, but his smile was sad, and his expression tired. However, Remus knew it was not a question when Dumbledore turned to the great oak doors and, thinking sadly of his warm common room, Remus followed.
"First I would like to assure you that everyone harmed tonight have received full care from Poppy and are recovering wonderfully. Mr. Gudgeon will spend another night's rest in the Hospital Wing and will return to classes very soon. Your friends will be more then able to join you for breakfast tomorrow, I am sure." Remus nodded glumly and continued behind Dumbledore.
"And now I must ask you why, after so many years, you are choosing to run from your problems now?" Dumbledore peered down at Remus through half moon spectacles.
Remus winced, he knew this had been coming, and still he wondered if he would have been better off trying to sleep through these nightmares.
"Sir I...if it weren't for me..."
"No one would have been hurt?" Dumbledore asked gently, and Remus nodded, now very intent on staring at his feet.
"Remus, there is a reason for everything that happens. There is a reason that you have come to Hogwarts, and a reason that you and young Mr. Potter knocked heads on the Hogwarts Express and yes, a reason why you became a werewolf at the age of five. We all encounter shadows on our paths, and no matter how many ways we try to escape them, the only way that we can continue on our journey is if we work through them." Remus looked up to meet Dumbledore's eyes which were twinkling again, and he was surprised to find himself smiling back.
"Thank you..." He said softly, not sure of what else to say. Just then, however, he realized something.
"Headmaster?" Remus looked up at Dumbledore.
"Yes, Mr. Lupin?"
"How did you know that James and I knocked into each other on the Hogwarts express?"
Dumbledore beamed at him and Remus could have sworn the old man winked before quickly suggesting that Remus should return to his dormitory, and that he might take care to remember James' invisibility cloak which was still laying on the floor in the Entrance Hall where Remus threw it off. And so Remus fell asleep that night, his heart feeling considerably lighter then it had.
~*~
Sirius and James returned to breakfast the next morning where they were greeted by a very groggy Remus and a very hungry Peter. Sirius immediately began shoveling mounds of scrambled eggs onto his plate as James started sniggering uncontrollably.
"Whassofuddy?" Sirius asked between a mouthful of eggs, earning a disdainful look from Remus.
James, however, had his attention locked to the Slytherin table on a certain Severus Snape. Severus was talking to a first year Slytherin girl, and seemed to be blushing a great deal. Sirius, seeing what James was laughing at, found himself grinning darkly. James flicked his arm, and a wand fell from his sleeve into his hand casually. Remus groaned and quickly took interest in his plate of bacon, refusing to look at the Slytherin table. James, pointing his wand at Severus under the table, mumbled something indecipherable.
It happened almost immediately. Severus, a look of absolute horror on his face, began dancing uncontrollably through the Great Hall. Peals of laughter broke out from the students, and James quickly slipped his wand back inside the sleeve of his robe.
"Mr. Snape that will do!" Professor McGonagall said shrilly, standing up from her seat at the staff table.
"I can't stop!" Came Severus' urgent response, encouraging even more laughter from the other students. Professor McGonagall waved her wand hurriedly and Severus fell to the floor in a heap, robes splayed around him.
"That will do!" McGonagall called in response to the laughter from the various house tables, her lips forming a thin line of frustration. "Mr. Snape, kindly take your seat!" And so Severus did, where the first year he had been talking with was giggling behind her hand. Sirius and James exchanged grins. Remus frowned at the two, though said nothing, while Peter shook James' hand. Lily Evans, however, was not so discreit as Remus, they quickly learned. For as everyone was standing to leave the Great Hall, Lily marched over to James and slapped him clear across the face. James stared at her in horror for a moment before stammering.
"What was that for?!"
"What did he ever do to you! You think you're some hot shot just because you can hex someone for no reason? Grow up, James Potter!" And with that she turned on her heel and stormed away.
"Evans! Hey, Evans, wait!" James called after her, but it was no use. Sirius was staring bewildered at where she had been standing, and after a while simply shook his head.
"Girls..." He muttered, shrugging at James as the two were joined by Peter, James still rubbing his face absently where she had slapped him.
"Where'd Remus go?" James asked, looking around for a sign of him. Peter shrugged.
"He said something about going to see Madam Pomfrey..."
"Good, maybe she can fix him up a bit. Is it just me or does he seem a bit off color?" Sirius wondered out loud to which Peter and James responded with empty shrugs, and the four of them fell into the crowds heading to class.
~*~
Remus knocked glumly on the door to the Hospital Wing where Madam Pomfrey hurried him in. The clinic, thankfully, was empty.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Lupin. Full moon tonight as you well know, I'm sure." She began, looking down at him with some strange emotion. What was it? Pity?
"Yes, Ma'am." Remus mumbled, looking down at his feet which were scuffing the floor. Madam Pomfrey, thankfully, refrained from mentioning the marks he was leaving all over her immaculate floor.
"The Headmaster has advised that I accompany you to these...excursions," She began, and Remus groaned inwardly
i'Excursions? Is that even a word?'/i
"For your own safety, of course."
i'That means they're doing it so people don't ask questions...'/i
"And as I'm sure you know from your meeting with Rubeus Hagrid prior to the school year, it would be in everyone's best interest if you refrained from...mentioning to anyone your...situation."
Remus almost felt sorry for her, he could tell she was trying very hard to keep from saying anything offensive, though he did get the feeling that she was like so many others who could see only a snarling, hellion beast when they looked at him. Anger welled up inside him at the thought, only to simmer away.
"Yes, Ma'am." He said again, nodding and wondering where exactly he would be going tonight. She must have guessed what he was thinking.
"Now listen closely, dear. I will accompany you to the Whomping Willow, and press the knot on the trunk to allow you to go inside."
"Please, Madam Pomfrey, inside where?" Remus asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Never mind that now." She said hurriedly, as though prolonging Remus' finding out where he was going as long as possible.
"I think it would be best to meet you in the Entrance Hall this evening at sundown, is that alright, dear?"
i'What, do you expect me to say no?'/i
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey, but_" Remus began, but she cut him off before he could finish what he was going to say.
"Now run along, dear, go on!" And she shoed him out of the clinic as only a bustling nurse can, leaving him to stare glumly at the door before resigning to make his way up the stairways leading to the Gryffindor common room.
~*~
"But Remus, don't you want to take some of your things with you for the trip?"
"When are you coming back?"
"Hope your mum feels better, Rem!"
Remus merely waved behind him and hurried out the portrait hole as Peter, Sirius and James called after him. He had not had the heart to meet their eyes when he told them he had received a letter from his father, and that he had to hurry home to help take care of his mother whom was ill. Soon after, he met Madam Pomfrey in the Entrance Hall, and followed her out the large wooden doors without speaking. Checking to see that no one was watching, she picked up a rather long, firm looking stick and_ bustling forward with agility that Remus would have never penned to her _prodded the knot in the tree trunk. The Whomping Willow suddenly grew very still, and Remus was able to trot forward.
"That's it, dear, now just down there." She said, looking about anxiously as though someone might be hiding behind a shrub. Remus leaned forward, and for the first time he saw it_ an opening between the roots! Lowering first a foot down until he felt the floor, and then his whole self, he looked back up at her confused. For a moment she stared down at him sadly.
"Just go on and follow the tunnel, dear, you'll find it soon enough. I'll be back for you when the morning comes, do take care!" And with that she hurried off, as though afraid at any moment he would sprout fangs and lunge at her.
i'And if I don't hurry I will!'/i
He scolded himself and felt around the walls of the tunnel, moving as quickly as he could until he saw a dim light ahead and, launching towards it, found himself in an old fashioned looking house of some sort. He knew this place, it was the old house that children told stories about in Hogsmeade! It was called the Shrieking Shack, although Remus hadn't a clue why, as no one had heard any shrieking from it in a century.
And then it dawned on him.
It was like fate, cruel and twisted fate, that the night a little boy would hide inside the old, haunted house, and become the beast that brought nightmares to children, was the first time in centuries the village of Hogsmeade heard the cries and howls from the Shrieking Shack.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *
A/N: I know, I know. Could I have possibly taken any longer? But I made it as long as I could to make up for it and I put in a word processing program other then Microsoft Word, so I have spell check, grammar check, etc. now. Thanks for hanging in there!