Chapter 2: What the Marauder's Map Showed

Padfoot's Story

Disclaimer: I own nothing in Harry Potter, except Sami.

Hey, welcome back! Enjoy the 2nd Chapter.

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That evening, friends Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs made they way back to the castle, still discussing where they would go next week when the moon shone full in the night sky. But once again, nobody seemed to notice that Sirius remained silent.

He was trailing right behind the others. Anybody who saw him would have though he was drunk, because he couldn't wipe this silly sort of grin off his face. He was staring off into the horizon, where the golden sun was sinking lazily over the trees. Fluffy pink clouds hung suspended over the lake, which had the fiery burst of color reflected on its surface. The sunset reflected Sirius's mood perfectly. He was still trying to absorb the fact that he had a way to spend time with Sami, without her knowing it was him. Maybe if he got to know her well enough, he would be able to work up the nerve to ask her out...

Sirius was outgoing, popular, and very clever (not to mention that until recently he had been thought of as arrogant). It was a well-known fact that he hung out with Remus, James, and Peter, especially since James was Head Boy. Never before had he had a problem with girls-

Until Sami Jackson happened.

He had liked Sami for over a year, ever since he first seen her smile, ever since he had first looked into her beautiful eyes. And gradually, as he watched her from afar, he had fallen in love with the person she was: her gentle voice, her sharp mind, and her carefree view of life. As far as he was concerned, there was only one word to describe her: perfect. But as far as he knew, Sami had never given him a second glance.

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It had been exactly one week since the eventful Hogsmeade trip. James, Peter, and Sirius were all sitting in armchairs next to a crackling fire, in what was otherwise a completely empty Gryffindor common room. Except for the merrily dancing flames and a violent thunderstorm's rain pelting the windows, the room was silent. The three friends were patiently waiting for the clock to chime midnight, at which point they would all sneak outside, transform, and meet a fully-grown werewolf in the Shrieking Shack. Of course, they wouldn't spend a very long time inside- there were more exciting things to do in a wizard town when nobody could catch and expel you. Peter still often worried that Remus would escape and bite somebody, but the rest of the group had gotten over this fear long ago.

As time dragged by, the fire was reduced to a pile of glowing embers, and the friends were wrapped in almost complete darkness. Sirius looked at short, plump Peter, who looked excited but slightly nervous and was fiddling with his wand. Then he looked at tall, handsome James, who was quivering from trying to contain his eagerness and kept reaching up to ruffle his hair. The Marauder's Map was sticking out of James' back pocket, and they was a bulge in the front of his robes were the Invisibility Cloak was hidden. When it was five minutes to midnight and the tension in the room was nearing its peak, an enormous clap of thunder rattled the windows and James blurted out something that had been on his mind for a while.

"Sirius, can we talk about you and Sami?"

Sirius jumped; his mind had been wandering.

"Yeah, sure, I guess. What is there to talk about? Besides, of course, how wonderful she is…"

James hesitated. "Well, it doesn't seem right that you're suddenly spending so much time with her when she has no idea it's you. It's kind of like spying."

Sirius remained silent for a moment with a thoughtful expression on his face. It was true, for the past week Sami could be seen romping with a large black dog on the grounds between every period. Sometimes Lily was there as well, but Sirius didn't pay quite as much attention to her.

"She likes spending time with me now," he said finally. "We have fun togther. I don't think I should have to give that up."

Peter, who had been quiet during the entire conversation, suddenly spoke up. "She likes spending time with the dog, you idiot! Not you! How do you think she's going to feel if she finds out you're really Sirius Black, an animagus who can illegally morph into a dog? Either you've got to tell her and hope she understands, or stop seeing her as a dog. I can promise you if she finds out from anyone other than you, your potential relationship is over before it will have even started."

Sirius stared at Peter after this outburst, his mouth hanging open. Peter averted his eyes and blushed.

"Plus," said James quietly, "We miss hanging out with you, Padfoot."

Sirius didn't reply. He knew his friends were right, but he didn't want to think about that now, not right before a "full moon" outing. There was too much to look forward to. His mind wandered again, and settled on remembering the night before this one. It had been around ten o'clock, and Sami was alone in the Ravenclaw common room, a welcoming oval shaped alcove, with Sirius. He recalled fondly the way she had curled up on the floor next to the fire, using him as a pillow. He remembered how comfortable he had been, as she did her homework and he listened to the storm howling outside. She had also recently taken to calling him Pepper, after the Bertie Bott's Bean he spit out that day in Hogsmeade.

The clock struck midnight. Prongs, Padfoot, and Wormtail rose as one and stood close together while James pulled the Cloak over their heads. Walking slowly, they stepped out of the portrait hole ("Who's there?" the Fat Lady called sleepily) and into the deserted corridor. When they reached the Grand Staircase, James pulled the Marauder's Map out of his back pocket, tapped it with his wand, and murmured,

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Thin spidery strands flew over the parchment to form the map Sirius had helped create. As he leaned closer to look at the map, a flash of movement in the corner of the parchment caught his eye. Frowning, he leaned even closer until he could read the label "Sami Jackson" above a dot that was racing down the passageway behind the statue of the one-eyed witch. The dot was about to run right off the map. Then Sirius blinked, and when he looked again, the dot was gone. He barely had enough time to wonder what Sami was doing running into Hogsmeade on a Saturday night, before an incredibly loud crack of thunder roared in his ears-

And he woke up.

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I always like a good cliffhanger. Thanks so much for all the positive feedback. Please review this chapter as well! Just push the little button down there and- well, you know the rest.

-Padfoot-Dreamer-