Hello, so I got this chapter out more quickly than last time. I would have had it out like Friday but I did more college tours and stuff to some colleges that I had applied to but not yet seen. Fun times. So I hope you enjoy this! Please R/R! I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does!
**
"Well its about time," James exclaimed two mornings later. They had been sitting eating breakfast for about twenty minutes when the owls came in and one brown owl soared toward the Gryffindor table with a letter tied to its leg.
Sirius thought James was talking about Remus who came into the Great Hall the same time as the owls. He came in looking more tired than James or Sirius had looked even when they had stayed up until 4:00am. James however was looking up at the ceiling watching the owl fly toward them.
"Remus!" Sirius greeted him as James gave the owl a bit of toast and took its letter. "We were worried about you? Where were you?"
"My mother was sick again," Remus sighed not meeting the eyes of the other two boys. James stopped opening the letter to steal a glance at Remus and then Sirius.
"Why didn't you leave a note?" James asked as he continued to open the letter.
"Oh I forgot! McGonagall woke me up in a hurry, said my father had fire called and I went home. Sorry!"
"We didn't hear McGonagall come in," Sirius looked at James.
"You two sleep like the dead! She was making all sorts of noise," shrugged Remus trying to stay calm. "Anyway what did you two do while I was away?"
"Nothing," Sirius shrugged and then looked at James who was reading his letter. "Who is that from?"
"A letter from my parents. I got their present on Christmas but they have been away for about two weeks, and they did promise to owl me."
"Where did they go?"
"Um, well this letter is from France, I guess by now they are in Russia. I'ts their first Christmas without me so they took a trip around the world. They have gone everywhere!"
"Sounds fun," Remus started to fill his plate with food.
"They deserve it. My father doesn't take vacations. It is his first since they got married I bet," James told them.
"What does the letter say? Behave yourself?" Sirius asked.
"Its nothing exciting," James shown it to them.
Dear James,
Happy Christmas! Paris is a wonderful city at this time of the year! They have mistletoe, fireflies, fairies and trees with hundreds of lights all over the wizarding city. It hasn't snowed in Muggle Paris, but the snow here is nice and warm, very comforting. Your father and I have been having a wonderful time and tomorrow we are off to Russia, and then Japan. We are just popping in and out of all the countries! It is the only way to travel! Happy Christmas, and behave yourself!
Your loving parents
"Well that's nice," Sirius handed the parchment back to James.
"What does your father do James?" Remus asked.
"Works at the Ministry doing something," James shrugged.
"Sounds exciting," Remus commented.
"Doesn't it?"
The three Gryffindors spent the rest of the day lounging around. Remus tried to start his homework but Sirius threw it out the window.
"No homework on vacation!" He scolded Remus and then sat back down shaking his head in disgust.
**
The Gryffindors spent another week alone in Gryffindor Tower. Along with Andromeda they had more snowball fights, and spent a few evening watching the fire and talking. But too soon for them the rest of the school came back, and one evening as the first years were doing all their forgotten homework, Gryffindor Tower became loud and noisy once more.
The only good thing about students returning was school started up again. Not that the boys wanted classes, but it became safe for them to go into Hogsmeade using Andromeda's Christmas presents. Sirius and James looked forward to Thursday night, the night they had decided to go.
They left during dinner. They had gotten to the Great Hall early, ate and while everyone was distracted they left.
They quickly went to the third floor corridor and found the statue of the one-eyed witch. James took out his wand, "Dissendium" and tapped it just like Andromeda's instructions said. The hump opened.
"Nice." Sirius looked up and down the hall and then quickly they made their way in.
"Lumos," the two boys lit their wands and started down the dark passageway. They stayed close together not sure what lay ahead. They both knew that Andromeda would never lead them astray but they knew that the "go by the rules, HeadGirl" Andromeda had never been down this passage herself.
"How long will this take you think?" James asked Sirius.
Sirius shrugged, "No idea." He wished Andromeda had told them more.
"I wonder where we will end up…" James wondered. "Do you think it goes straight?"
"Hard to say," Sirius responded. "I think Andromeda would have given us directions if it didn't."
"Hopefully."
They continued walking in silence. Finally they reached stairs and with a glance at each other, they climbed. They climbed and climbed. Sirius was in front feeling the walls, and with one hand the space in front of them. Sirius could hear James' breath and his own, as they grew tired of walking.
Sirius had looked back quickly to see James and make sure he was still there. "Ouch!" Sirius stopped and massaged his head; they had reached the top.
Sirius felt the ceiling now, where was door was. He pushed up with both hands after giving his wand to James. He opened it up with some difficulty; "Probably isn't used often." James suggested. Sirius put his head through and looked around.
"We are in a basement I think," He looked back at James. "Hard to see, give me my wand."
He got out and walked around as James lifted himself out. James closed it slowly and quietly.
"Come on," James whispered and pointed toward more stairs. They quietly went up the stairs not sure of what lay ahead.
They heard voices, and stopped. Sirius took another step up and saw a counter, and shelves. His mouth opened, he saw candy. They were in the candy store; it was a legend at Hogwarts. He had heard older students talk about Hogsmeade and the candy store was the first place many third years found themselves.
Sirius took another step up so he could see customers and a man behind the counter. He watched, and when the man turned his back to talk to a customer, he motioned to James and they both left. They quickly turned their backs to the man and started observing candy to buy.
They stayed there for a few seconds but as everyone was busy they left and headed out to Zonko's.
"Honeydukes," Sirius told James once they were outside. "We need to stop by there on our way home."
"Let's find Zonko's," James said thinking but agreeing with Sirius about taking a good look around the candy store.
Zonko's was not too far from Honeydukes. The two Gryffindors smiled and each other and went in eagerly. It was Christmas morning all over again.
The store had only one man in it. He was sitting behind the counter reading the Daily Prophet. He looked at them over his paper as they entered. He was surprised to see two students in his store.
"Students up at the school?" He asked.
"We aren't in school yet, our parents are shopping and we sneaked away," Sirius told him thankful that they had abandoned their Gryffindor robes for the evening.
"Oh right," the man said and looked back at his paper.
They walked around the store picking up tricks, and thinking about how and on who they could be used. They picked up some Dungbombs and Stink Pellets with Filch, the middle-aged caretaker in mind, and some fake food for the Slytherins. They got firecrackers for celebrations, flowers that would bite someone, candy that you spray you with pus, and more candy that would turn someone into insects.
"Here," Sirius and James dumped all the tricks they had in their arms onto the counter.
The storekeeper looked at all of it, "A family party?"
"Just incase we get annoying relatives," Sirius smirked.
The storekeeper smiled and put the tricks and jokes into bags. He took Sirius' gift certificate and with a good bye, they left with four bags each.
"We need to celebrate," James said to Sirius now that they were outside.
"Where? Honeydukes?"
"My uncle took me here once and we went into the Three Broomsticks. They had the best drink… er… butterbeer!"
"Sounds good."
They walked to the Three Broomsticks. Still with their four bags each they walked into the pub and took seats at the counter.
"Two butterbeers please," James said to the woman at the counter.
She looked at them with a piercing eye. "Two Hogwarts students here on a school night and without permission." It wasn't a question.
"We aren't students yet. We are shopping here with our parents," Sirius told her the same story.
The woman placed two mugs filled with foamy liquid on the counter. She laughed, "I've been around for 10 years here, try again."
Sirius smiled, he looked at James and then back at her. He liked her right away, her eyes twinkled merrily and he knew she liked a good trick, "First year Gryffindors. I am Sirius Black, and this is my partner in crime James Potter. We are and forever will be the greatest mischief makers Hogwarts will ever see." Sirius smiled, he knew their secret was safe with her.
"That is a fine statement coming from one so young," she looked at them, "prove it."
For the next ten minutes, they told her everything they had done and the tricks they had achieved. She laughed merrily and nodded in approval when they described some of their tricks against the Slytherins.
"Well boys, Madam Rosmerta at your service. I do believe you will make hell for the school," She shook their hands.
"We plan to!"
"And now you have smuggled yourself out of the school, went to Zonko's and have come to celebrate here?"
"Yes we have," James nodded.
"Your secret is safe with me!"
They sat and talked. Madam Rosmerta laughed at their jokes and she told them stories involving teachers and other students. At the mention of teachers, James asked if they came in often.
"Weekends and Fridays mostly. Hagrid is always in here, that young Transfiguration teacher McGonagall is a guess about once a month, and Dumbledore always comes in here if he is meeting with someone. He comes in here before his meeting and we talk for awhile."
"Never on school nights?"
"Never."
"Good."
"Well Madam Rosmerta it has been a wonderful time. Thank you very much. We shall see you soon!" Sirius promised and got up. They paid for their butterbeers.
"Good bye! Be careful!" she warned.
"Always!"
Sirius and James had identical grins on their faces. With a wave, they left.