I've decided to try to use the downstairs PC for a while, even though I hate the keyboard – the keys stick something awful. My Dad in America is sending over a new HDD (hard drive disk) for my laptop, and it should get here in two weeks, as that is when my grandparents get back.
Set after anytime after PoA. Possible slash in the future (or past!), between Sirius and Remus.
Disclaimer – I own the plot and the spell, JK owns everything else!
Harry sighed as he put down his quill and screwed the cap back on his scarlet ink pot. The library was deserted; it was the Christmas holidays and Hermione had bullied him and Ron into doing their homework before Christmas, instead of after. He'd just finished the transfiguration essay on changing inanimate objects into living beings, and the complications involved. Hermione had already done it, and she was working on her arithmacy homework, and Ron had five inches to go on the History of magic essay on Giants.
Harry stood up, and began to wander around, reading the titles of the books on the shelves. He dragged his fingers along the spines, until one caught his eye. The spine was strangely textured, and, instead of a title, there was a drawing of the Gryffindor Lion, inscribed in gold. He tugged it out, and opened the first page.
Written and Left in the Hope that another Mischief Maker will someday find it. Use well, and please add anything you feel may be useful to future users.
Under this were a few doodles, and a drawing of a snake with its head being chopped off.
"Wotchya got there, Harry?" Ron called.
"A book, looks like something my Dad would've written. I'm gonna go read over there, ok? Come and see what I've found out when you've finished your essay."
"Ok, only three inches left!"
Harry went and curled up in an armchair by the window. He wanted to look at the book alone, for some reason. As he read, his green eyes widened in surprise. The spells and charms the book contained were fantastic! Everything you'd ever need for sneaking around the castle – invisibility charms and potions, hexes, spells to make people forget and all the master passwords for every door in the castle. There were also several maps of the castle, the grounds and Hogsmede, all out of date. The last one, Harry was stunned to find, was signed Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. It was a copy of the Marauders Map, and so didn't need to be updated. Flicking back to the spells section, Harry saw that they had also added a little 'How to become an Animangus' section, and he recognised their handwriting in the passwords section too.
Harry sat back in the chair, a broad grin on his face. This book was worth its weight in gold to him, and not just because of the information. It gave him the same thrill that using the Map gave him – he was following in his father's footsteps.
He was flicking through again, when something caught his eye. It was his father's handwriting again. He opened the page properly, and began to read.
We, the Marauders, are proud to present to future generations of mischief-makers, a spell that will take you anywhere. And we mean anywhere. I believe this spell could take you to Jupiter, if you ever felt the urge to go there. More importantly, you can travel in time as well as space. Mooney and I felt that a warning was in order, as if you aren't careful, you could kill yourself in the future. Or the Past, although you'd probably remember that. All you need is a set time and location to add to the place e.g. Hogwarts Library, 23rd January 1963, which is where we are now. Feel free to visit after this date. Avoid the Gryffindor Dorm, as Padfoot accidentally knocked over Wormtail's trunk this morning, and a load of dungbombs exploded. You have been warned! Prongs.
Harry looked at the spell in amazement. He couldn't believe what he had just read. All of his dreams had been answered – he could finally meet his father! He wondered why the Weasly twins had never got their hands on it, but then he realised that they had, only they hadn't added much. A few new passwords in their handwriting, and a map of the forbidden forest, plus some notes as to which passages had fallen in.
Harry wandered back to the table where Ron and Hermione were studying. Ron had just finished, and Hermione was packing her books into her bag.
"Find out anything interesting?" She asked.
"Yeah," Harry said absently, reaching for Ron's inkpot and his quill. He loaded it up, and turned to a new page.
1. Warning! Colony of Acromantula (Giant Spiders) Living in the Forbidden Forest. Very dangerous. If a gamekeeper called Hagrid tells you to go follow the spiders just before he is carted off to Azkaban, do NOT follow them. My best friend and I are extremely lucky to be alive.
2. The Chamber of Secrets. The creature was a Basilisk, now dead by my hand. If you want to get to the chamber, go to Moaning Myrtles bathroom. The sink in front of her cubicle has a snake on it. Say 'open' in parsletongue, and the sink will move, revealing a tunnel. Slide down the tunnel, and follow the passage to the doors. Say 'open' in parsletongue again and you are in the chamber itself. As this information is useless to anyone who isn't a parsletongue, I noticed that there were side tunnels on the way down, and there could be more than one entrance. The Chamber itself appeared to be under the lake. There's a cave in about halfway along the passage, but you can crawl through a gap at the top.
3. Flying, blue Ford Anglia loose in the forest. Gone wild. We flew it to Hogwarts, because the barrier at 9 ¾ wasn't working. Crashed it into the Whomping Willow. It now has a mind of its own, but it did save us from the spiders. Originally belonged to Arthur Weasly.
"Harry, what is that book?" Ron asked, reading over his shoulder.
"Huh? Oh, a guide to Hogwarts, sort of. It has all sorts of stuff in it; maps, master passwords, spells to do stuff. The Marauders wrote in it too, there's another version of their map."
"Wow!"
"What did you write, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"A warning about the spiders in the Forest, a note about the Car and how to get to the Chamber of Secrets, mentioning that the Basilisk is dead."
"Useful."
"Anything you think you'll use?" Ron asked.
"Maybe. I dunno yet."
Harry knew perfectly well which spell he was going to use, but he didn't want them putting him off. Hermione, however, knew him better than that. Knew him like a sister does.
"Harry, what aren't you telling us?" she asked suspiciously.
"Nothing!" Harry protested.
"Don't lie to us."
"Ok, ok! There's a spell by the Marauders."
"What does it do?"
"Look." Harry flipped to the page and passed the book to Hermione. She read down the page, and her eyes lit up.
"Oh Harry! Do you think it's possible? If it is, you could actually meet you're parents!"
"What?" Ron asked bemused, grabbing the book off of Hermione. He read the page, and then handed it back to Harry, grinning. "I think you should go for it! But have some fun with them first. Make them think you're James' ghost or something. According to the pictures, you look almost exactly alike. You could really freak them out!"
"Wait, Harry. Is a time limit? Or a spell to get you back?" Hermione asked, looking worried.
"Yeah, look 'Mione. I do the spell again, just add today's co-ordinates instead. See?"
"Oh yes. Well, I don't see why you shouldn't. It is the holidays, and even if it weren't, you're not going to be away for long, are you?"
"No, I guess not. If I'm going back, I need to fit in. What should I wear?"
Hermione grinned, and Ron shrugged.
"The uniform will be the same," she started "its in 'Hogwarts, a History'. And it was the 60's, so flares would've been popular," she giggled at the look on Harry's face.
"You should be able to get by with a plain red t-shirt, ordinary jeans and trainers. Have you got any flares?"
"No, but all my jeans are really baggy, 'cos of Dudley, remember? They should do."
Hermione's eyes darkened angrily, as they did every time Harry mentioned the Dursleys. "Right, when do you want to do this? Tonight?"
"Ok, I'm gonna eat and stuff first."
"Better not, you might throw up," Ron said with a grin.
"No, I won't. I didn't throw up with the demorters, did I?"
"Hey, I was teasing! Don't worry; you'll be fine. Come on, its nearly time for dinner, and I want to drop my bag off back at the tower. Come on!"
Ok, that was chapter 1. I'm gonna steal Frizzy's idea here. What do you want to happen next? Here's the choices…
They owl Sirius to tell him what they're going to do.
Harry goes to the past to meet his father.
Dumbledore wants to see Harry about Sirius, so they have to postpone it.
Harry/Ron/Hermione have second thoughts.
Any other suggestions are welcome. This story is not being beta read, any offers to would be great!! ^_^