Marauding Demiguise
Chapter 4: The Black Letter
Author's notes: Thanks so much for the reviews! Please keep them coming ^^ It does make sense for them to have a band though, I never thought of it until recently, after hearing that song by Cheap Trick. Eh, go figure. Me and my imagination. Enjoy the story! Cheers! ^^
**
"Yes! Yes! Congratulations Gryffindor on winning the House Cup! Now I have a very special treat for you all." Dumbledore looked around the Great Hall at all the students, the Gryffindors were beaming. Dumbledore clapped his hands and all the tables and students moved aside to allow a rotating stage to pop out of thin air. One more clap and spotlights shown on the stage, all other lights out. "Tonight, for the first time, I have the pleasure in introducing a band of three well-known sixth years. James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black!" The applause grew louder. "The 'Marauding Demiguise!' Now a few words from their manager, Peter Pettigrew."
Peter nervously stepped up to the levitating magical microphone. "I would like to introduce the lead singer, playing his Guitar Class Ma; James Potter! And backup singer and Bass Guitar Class Mag2; Sirius Black! And playing the Simolian B drums is; Remus Lupin!" Tremendous applause broke throughout the hall. "The 'Marauding Demiguise!'" Peter stepped off stage beaming, as the band got in their position.
"Hi." James's voice magnified throughout the hall. "Our first song is called 'Magical Mountain Hop.' And one---two---three---" The band played their first song and finished; shortly afterwards an amazing applause sounded. "Thank you! Our next song is---" Whatever the next song would have been nobody found out. At that very moment a large tawney owl flew in the Great Hall. All grew silent as it carried a large, black envelope in it's talons. The whole hall breathed in one unison, hushed breath--- knowing what the letter contained---the death of a loved one or ones. And to everyone's surprise, even his own---the owl dropped the letter in James Potter's hand.
The whole hall gasped---and James just looked disbelievingly at the envelope. He slowly walked over to Sirius, handed his guitar over---then sprinted out of the hall. The only place he knew to go was somewhere alone- --and that was the 'Shrieking Shack.' He had his invisibility cloak; that was all he needed. When he reached the room, (that he often went with Sirius, Peter, and Remus), he threw off the cloak and sat on the bed. He turned the letter over and over---knowing it was his parents. Why was this happening to him? Why now? Why ever? His father was an Auror---his mother a housewife---and Voldemort's main target was Auror's and their families. Still it can't be true.
James ripped open the envelope and read:
* Dear Mr. James Potter, We truly regret to inform you that your parents, Mr. James H. Potter Sr. & Mrs. Helena R. Potter, have died this morning at 8:00 of the a.m. We will be sending your Headmaster a letter of apology, and he will provide you with further information. We are truly sorry for your loss, James---your parents were amazing people and will always be in our hearts.
~Franklin N. Longbottom Sr.~ *
"James?" Remus and Sirius had entered the room. Sirius's eyes were red and swollen, Remus was paler than usual---even when it was actually a full moon.
"They're gone Sirius. I know they were like your parents too---and they're just---gone." Sirius and Remus walked over to James and hugged him---they all cried silently.
***
"James---I know how you must feel." Dumbledore examined him sadly through his halfmoon spectacles. "Your parents were great people, and further more- --victims to Voldemort. I will be here always if you need somebody during the summer holiday." He paused a moment then continued. "You've inherited their money, house---everything---so you still have a place to stay. Since you're not fully of age---we've asked Franklin Longbottom Sr. to watch over you until that time." Dumbledore placed his hand on James's shoulder. "Sirius is welcome to stay with you also. I'm terribly sorry James." James nodded then left Dumbledore's office. Tomorrow he would be leaving Hogwarts---and go back to his empty home. But the thought of having Sirius with him was better than having nobody.
James made his way to finish packing in his dorm---when somebody addressed him.
"James?" James turned around and faced Lily. "Listen James I'm terribly sorry for your loss. I---" Lily looked at the floor. "Can we go somewhere private to talk?" James nodded silently---hoping for any words of comfort from the girl of his dreams. They sat in the abandoned Gryffindor common room; everyone else was either enjoying their last night at Hogwarts, or packing. Lily looked into James's eyes; which were currently staring down at the floor.
"James---I know how you feel because my parents died two years ago. They were Muggles---a few of Voldemort's first victims." James looked up at her, shocked by the news. "I---I don't talk about it much---my sister--- Petunia hated me even before their death---she was blinded by jealousy. I was the witch going to a special school---she was a plain Muggle. And then my parents were killed---she blamed me." Lily trailed off sadly.
"Lily I had no idea. I'm sorry." Lily threw her arms around James and hugged him.
"Right now James, what you really need, more than anything is---a friend. That's what I needed, and I confided in the ones I have now." A tear streaked down Lily's cheek. James wiped the tear with a gentle stroke of his thumb.
They spent the rest of the evening reliving their childhood memories; laughing, joking, and crying a bit more until the had to go up and pack.
**
"Take care Remus, and write us!" James and Sirius chorused as Remus disappeared through the crowd, waving at the two.
"Bye Peter!" Peter wobbled off to his parents, and waved as he went.
"Good bye then Lily. James I'll wait by the platform." Sirius waved a little and walked off.
"Write me then? If you ever feel lonely and in need of a friend, you can call or write anytime." Lily hugged James tightly.
"I will. You take care." James pulled back from the hug, collected his trolley, waved, then walked off toward Sirius. James sighed as he looked back to watch Lily leave---only friends. He could deal with that---she's right after all---what he needs more than anything is his friends.
***
Chapter 4: The Black Letter
Author's notes: Thanks so much for the reviews! Please keep them coming ^^ It does make sense for them to have a band though, I never thought of it until recently, after hearing that song by Cheap Trick. Eh, go figure. Me and my imagination. Enjoy the story! Cheers! ^^
**
"Yes! Yes! Congratulations Gryffindor on winning the House Cup! Now I have a very special treat for you all." Dumbledore looked around the Great Hall at all the students, the Gryffindors were beaming. Dumbledore clapped his hands and all the tables and students moved aside to allow a rotating stage to pop out of thin air. One more clap and spotlights shown on the stage, all other lights out. "Tonight, for the first time, I have the pleasure in introducing a band of three well-known sixth years. James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black!" The applause grew louder. "The 'Marauding Demiguise!' Now a few words from their manager, Peter Pettigrew."
Peter nervously stepped up to the levitating magical microphone. "I would like to introduce the lead singer, playing his Guitar Class Ma; James Potter! And backup singer and Bass Guitar Class Mag2; Sirius Black! And playing the Simolian B drums is; Remus Lupin!" Tremendous applause broke throughout the hall. "The 'Marauding Demiguise!'" Peter stepped off stage beaming, as the band got in their position.
"Hi." James's voice magnified throughout the hall. "Our first song is called 'Magical Mountain Hop.' And one---two---three---" The band played their first song and finished; shortly afterwards an amazing applause sounded. "Thank you! Our next song is---" Whatever the next song would have been nobody found out. At that very moment a large tawney owl flew in the Great Hall. All grew silent as it carried a large, black envelope in it's talons. The whole hall breathed in one unison, hushed breath--- knowing what the letter contained---the death of a loved one or ones. And to everyone's surprise, even his own---the owl dropped the letter in James Potter's hand.
The whole hall gasped---and James just looked disbelievingly at the envelope. He slowly walked over to Sirius, handed his guitar over---then sprinted out of the hall. The only place he knew to go was somewhere alone- --and that was the 'Shrieking Shack.' He had his invisibility cloak; that was all he needed. When he reached the room, (that he often went with Sirius, Peter, and Remus), he threw off the cloak and sat on the bed. He turned the letter over and over---knowing it was his parents. Why was this happening to him? Why now? Why ever? His father was an Auror---his mother a housewife---and Voldemort's main target was Auror's and their families. Still it can't be true.
James ripped open the envelope and read:
* Dear Mr. James Potter, We truly regret to inform you that your parents, Mr. James H. Potter Sr. & Mrs. Helena R. Potter, have died this morning at 8:00 of the a.m. We will be sending your Headmaster a letter of apology, and he will provide you with further information. We are truly sorry for your loss, James---your parents were amazing people and will always be in our hearts.
~Franklin N. Longbottom Sr.~ *
"James?" Remus and Sirius had entered the room. Sirius's eyes were red and swollen, Remus was paler than usual---even when it was actually a full moon.
"They're gone Sirius. I know they were like your parents too---and they're just---gone." Sirius and Remus walked over to James and hugged him---they all cried silently.
***
"James---I know how you must feel." Dumbledore examined him sadly through his halfmoon spectacles. "Your parents were great people, and further more- --victims to Voldemort. I will be here always if you need somebody during the summer holiday." He paused a moment then continued. "You've inherited their money, house---everything---so you still have a place to stay. Since you're not fully of age---we've asked Franklin Longbottom Sr. to watch over you until that time." Dumbledore placed his hand on James's shoulder. "Sirius is welcome to stay with you also. I'm terribly sorry James." James nodded then left Dumbledore's office. Tomorrow he would be leaving Hogwarts---and go back to his empty home. But the thought of having Sirius with him was better than having nobody.
James made his way to finish packing in his dorm---when somebody addressed him.
"James?" James turned around and faced Lily. "Listen James I'm terribly sorry for your loss. I---" Lily looked at the floor. "Can we go somewhere private to talk?" James nodded silently---hoping for any words of comfort from the girl of his dreams. They sat in the abandoned Gryffindor common room; everyone else was either enjoying their last night at Hogwarts, or packing. Lily looked into James's eyes; which were currently staring down at the floor.
"James---I know how you feel because my parents died two years ago. They were Muggles---a few of Voldemort's first victims." James looked up at her, shocked by the news. "I---I don't talk about it much---my sister--- Petunia hated me even before their death---she was blinded by jealousy. I was the witch going to a special school---she was a plain Muggle. And then my parents were killed---she blamed me." Lily trailed off sadly.
"Lily I had no idea. I'm sorry." Lily threw her arms around James and hugged him.
"Right now James, what you really need, more than anything is---a friend. That's what I needed, and I confided in the ones I have now." A tear streaked down Lily's cheek. James wiped the tear with a gentle stroke of his thumb.
They spent the rest of the evening reliving their childhood memories; laughing, joking, and crying a bit more until the had to go up and pack.
**
"Take care Remus, and write us!" James and Sirius chorused as Remus disappeared through the crowd, waving at the two.
"Bye Peter!" Peter wobbled off to his parents, and waved as he went.
"Good bye then Lily. James I'll wait by the platform." Sirius waved a little and walked off.
"Write me then? If you ever feel lonely and in need of a friend, you can call or write anytime." Lily hugged James tightly.
"I will. You take care." James pulled back from the hug, collected his trolley, waved, then walked off toward Sirius. James sighed as he looked back to watch Lily leave---only friends. He could deal with that---she's right after all---what he needs more than anything is his friends.
***
