B/N: OK, Lourdaise has disappeared somewhere so I've posted this chapter.
Hmm, what to say? Oh yeah, thanks to Red Raspberry, chocoliciouz (well, the
whole point of writing in James' POV is that he IS shallow...plus your =]
thing is sooooo cute!), CrystalFalls, Meg-goddess (going to read your fic
now...) and First Light of Eos (wow! We agree about something!!! ...After all,
if you have a character that means your animagus form is a rat and the
form is – as far as I know - permanent, then you can never change your
character either. So he can't help getting stuck as a prat. Or something...)
Actually, that reminds me... (woah I do waaaay too many ...s): subliminal message: Sev is a gorgeous god. WORSHIP HIM!!! ...except First Light of Eos
...or you could worship Norrington. Or is that the wrong fic? *^_^* Enjoy!!!
Chapter 22 (I think)
Evans was still driving me crazy; not only did I want her more than ever but she was ever more studious in ignoring me, or if we came face to face, glaring at me. I gathered that she disapproved of my treatment of Snape which had now reached its peak with my joy at being an Animagus, at not having to work hard, at being Quidditch captain and his anger. She was also furious at my way with girls. Apparently, it made me even worse than Sirius that I 'pretended' to girls that I was looking for ongoing relationships. As far as I was concerned, that was rubbish! Any girl who hadn't observed and taken note from my track record were clearly incredibly thick - they should know by now what they were doing. Just because Sirius was very open that he was only out to get as far as he could surely didn't make him any better?
Luckily, the forthcoming Quidditch match - my first as captain, after all - was there to take my mind off things, and after that Christmas. We were all going to my house for the holidays, and I suspected that my Dad had bought tickets to a muggle concert. If he had then I was determined Sirius would enjoy it.
The match was against Hufflepuff. I had decided not to make my pre-match talk too long.
"Okay, well, good luck everyone, not that you need it. The training's been going brilliantly, just remember all the manoeuvres I've taught you and keep the killer instinct. That's what'll win it over the Hufflepuffs, 'cause they haven't got any! Watch out for Amos Diggory, actually, he's pretty good. Keep smart, keep fast and Lisa?" The Seeker, who I was avoiding dating on the basis that it would be awkward, looked up at me eagerly. "Keep your eyes peeled. Let's go, guys!"
I led my team out onto the pitch to cheers from all round the stadium. Diggory, the Hufflepuff captain, and I shook hands, and the next minute we were up in the air.
I felt as confidant as ever as I passed and caught, dived and dodged and soared my way down the pitch. My Beaters were strong and competent, my Seeker feinted as I watched and Diggory fell for it. My Keeper was playing well, and the Chasers were excellent. I knew that I was still the most skilled player on the team, but that made no difference. This was school Quidditch - what difference did it make if I had once been offered the chance to play professionally?
When I saw Lisa catch the Snitch, I jumped a foot off my broom cheering and shouting before finally going into land. I heard laughter in the stadium, but most of it was friendly, admiring. We had won my first Quidditch match as captain! Not that it should be surprising - I had never lost a Quidditch match in my life, I reflected.
Mum and Dad were delighted to see all of us at Christmas, especially me and Sirius. "So will we be able to persuade you to sleep two in the guest room, two in James' room now that Sirius lives in the guest room?"
We all shook our heads, laughing. "Sirius is back in mine for three weeks now - sorry Mum!"
She didn't mind really, though she shook her head and tutted.
I had been right, Dad had bought tickets to a muggle concert - to see, in fact, the Rolling Stones at the end of the holidays. I was amazed. "But Dad... I thought it was a sell-out gig!"
He laughed. "Magically, there were still some tickets left... so I bought them. You don't mind, surely? To be honest, I thought muggle concerts were safer than wizard ones these days and besides, you've never liked the Hex Hammers or anyone..."
Mind? Of course I didn't mind, although Sirius didn't understand why I was so pleased and neither did Peter. Remus, however, who was as big a fan as me, just told them to wait. "Live," he kept muttering. "I'm going to see the Stones live in concert."
When we arrived, Sirius and Peter both looked intimidated. "I've never been among as many Muggles as this before," Sirius muttered.
"Shut up, Padfoot. Go with the flow. Chill. Nobody's expecting you to do magic tricks so just relax!"
He smiled. "OK, OK..."
And when we emerged, hot, exhausted and with ringing eardrums hours later, he gave me an amazed grin. "I want to be a muggle," he shouted.
"Padfoot!"
He laughed at me. "Relax, Prongs, go with the flow!" he mocked. "Nobody here knows what a muggle is and no-one's listening to me, anyway!"
It was a bit of an anti-climax to go back to school three days after that, but on the other hand we were fresh and ready to go. The OWLs were apparently putting a strain on the majority of our year now, but Sirius and I shrugged it off. Just because they were in June, everybody was stressing now Christmas had passed. "You'll give yourself a nervous breakdown," I scolded Moony.
He laughed. "No, Prongs, I'm doing an average amount of work. Just because you can sit back and relax and still pass with flying colours doesn't mean we all can. Look at the rest of our year if you think I'm working too hard."
It was true. Everybody seemed to be slaving over books. I saw Evans, whiter than ever through lack of sleep, and others, all looking harassed and toting huge bags of books back and forth from the library.
"Can you imagine having to do that?" I muttered to Sirius.
He shook his head.
Meanwhile, we had been getting on with the map. It had not taken us long to locate a last couple of passages and Peter had drawn us a surprisingly accurate sketch of the school and Hogsmeade, including the Whomping Willow and all secret passages. Sirius and I were just charming it.
"Peeves, we need to put down," I said as we studied it.
"Course. And who else... there must be someone we've missed..."
We pored over it.
"Ah!" Sirius said. "That blasted cat, what's she called? Pringle's cat... Mrs Boris. Yes. Gotta have her." He tapped the parchment twice, gently and the two dots appeared, labelled in miniscule writing.
We had added passwords and directions, statues and portraits... we had added every little detail from cubby holes behind tapestries to the lavatory cubicle where a ghost called Moaning Myrtle apparently hid. At last, just before the next Quidditch match, it was nearly complete.
I sat with my latest girlfriend, a Gryffindor third year, artistically creasing and crumpling the map so that it looked like an old, discarded piece of parchment. Jill reached over and glanced at it. "J, why are you doing that?"
"What, honey?" I had also been watching Lily Evans on the other side of the common room. "Oh, it's apparently a great memory trick. Use invisible ink and then run your fingers over it like so. Sounds phoney, doesn't it? But you know, OWLs coming up... no harm in it."
"But James, you're so clever... you'll pass easily."
She was a nosy cow, but flattery got me anywhere. I'd ditch her after the Quidditch match; I had my eye on a Ravenclaw second year next.
"Hey, Moony, Wormtail, stop revising and come over here!" Sirius yelled. They came hurrying over. "We've finished the map," he told them in a low, but excited voice.
Moony looked impressed. He had helped with many of the charms in the end - we had hit a problem when the staff had a meeting, and the charm froze at having to keep track of so many people in so small a place.
"Well done. Let's have a look."
He took the parchment, tapped it with his wand and muttered the phrase we had decided on. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Ink lines began to wriggle over the page and at last the map was displayed in front of him. "Brilliant," Peter breathed beside me.
"Yes, it is rather. You wipe it by saying 'Mischief managed'," I informed them.
Moony nodded. "Just for a final touch..." He waved his wand over the page and swirls of writing spelt out at the top:
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
"Wicked," I said.
As a laugh, Sirius, Moony, Wormtail and I had added Insult Jinxes to the map. If anyone who did not know the code tried to command the map to reveal itself, a line would appear on the parchment by each of us. We had used a complex version that meant that each insult would be personal.
"We should test it on Snape!" I laughed.
"Too risky," said Moony. "He might not give it back."
"True..." I tapped it and said "Mischief managed! Besides, I suppose he knows that you're Moony - he might report you and we can't have prefects doing things like this, can we?"
"Piss off," he said succinctly. "By the way, did you hear that we've all got to have a meeting with McGonagall? Careers advice, apparently. How do you think I should explain the small problem that being a werewolf means you basically can't have a proper career?"
The news of the meeting had come as a surprise to me, and had also thrown me into confusion. I might not be worried about working towards the OWLs, but for starters that was largely because I knew I'd pass anyway and secondly, anyone would be worried when they had to make a life choice in ten days.
"So, Potter," said Professor McGonagall when I went in. "What fine plans do you have up your sleeve? Mr Black told me he wanted to be an Auror. Mr Lupin reckons he'll remain unemployed. Mr Pettigrew wants to work at the Ministry, but is unsure what as. So, your idea, please?"
"Well, I... I don't really know."
She gaped. "Of all four of you, I had you down as the most ambitious, Potter. But then again, I had no clue at your age either. A teacher, perhaps?"
"No..."
"How about working at Gringotts? You'd do excellently there. Or in the Ministry? I know I scold you from time to time, but you could be Minister for Magic if you put your mind to it."
I perked up a bit. This sort of praise was unusual. Suddenly she lifted a leaflet off her desk and snapped her fingers. "Of course! Mr Potter, you must be planning to go into Quidditch!"
I laughed. "Everyone thinks that..."
"And why not, I ask you? You're easily the best Chaser Hogwarts has seen in fifty years, the best player in thirty. You're down in Quidditch history books already as the youngest player in the junior England squad ever."
A flicker of interest stirred inside me. If I was truly that good... "They might not accept me. And besides, I sort of thought I should be... you know... fighting. With Professor Dumbledore."
She gave me a shrewd but kindly look. "There will be time for that as well," she said. "I'm quite sure they'll offer you the post as soon as you finish your NEWTs. Whether you take it or not is up to you. But I don't doubt you'll get the chance."
I grinned. "Well, okay then. But I'll still need a job after that..."
She piled leaflets into my arms. "I still think Gringotts is an idea. Or perhaps the department for magical sports at the ministry? Think about it. But of course, you needn't decide yet. You're quite right. I decided on my own career as I waited for my Transfiguration NEWT exam to finish," she smiled.
B/N ...So now you can review! Be nice. Please? -^_^- *fails miserably at attempt to look cute'n'appealing*
Actually, that reminds me... (woah I do waaaay too many ...s): subliminal message: Sev is a gorgeous god. WORSHIP HIM!!! ...except First Light of Eos
...or you could worship Norrington. Or is that the wrong fic? *^_^* Enjoy!!!
Chapter 22 (I think)
Evans was still driving me crazy; not only did I want her more than ever but she was ever more studious in ignoring me, or if we came face to face, glaring at me. I gathered that she disapproved of my treatment of Snape which had now reached its peak with my joy at being an Animagus, at not having to work hard, at being Quidditch captain and his anger. She was also furious at my way with girls. Apparently, it made me even worse than Sirius that I 'pretended' to girls that I was looking for ongoing relationships. As far as I was concerned, that was rubbish! Any girl who hadn't observed and taken note from my track record were clearly incredibly thick - they should know by now what they were doing. Just because Sirius was very open that he was only out to get as far as he could surely didn't make him any better?
Luckily, the forthcoming Quidditch match - my first as captain, after all - was there to take my mind off things, and after that Christmas. We were all going to my house for the holidays, and I suspected that my Dad had bought tickets to a muggle concert. If he had then I was determined Sirius would enjoy it.
The match was against Hufflepuff. I had decided not to make my pre-match talk too long.
"Okay, well, good luck everyone, not that you need it. The training's been going brilliantly, just remember all the manoeuvres I've taught you and keep the killer instinct. That's what'll win it over the Hufflepuffs, 'cause they haven't got any! Watch out for Amos Diggory, actually, he's pretty good. Keep smart, keep fast and Lisa?" The Seeker, who I was avoiding dating on the basis that it would be awkward, looked up at me eagerly. "Keep your eyes peeled. Let's go, guys!"
I led my team out onto the pitch to cheers from all round the stadium. Diggory, the Hufflepuff captain, and I shook hands, and the next minute we were up in the air.
I felt as confidant as ever as I passed and caught, dived and dodged and soared my way down the pitch. My Beaters were strong and competent, my Seeker feinted as I watched and Diggory fell for it. My Keeper was playing well, and the Chasers were excellent. I knew that I was still the most skilled player on the team, but that made no difference. This was school Quidditch - what difference did it make if I had once been offered the chance to play professionally?
When I saw Lisa catch the Snitch, I jumped a foot off my broom cheering and shouting before finally going into land. I heard laughter in the stadium, but most of it was friendly, admiring. We had won my first Quidditch match as captain! Not that it should be surprising - I had never lost a Quidditch match in my life, I reflected.
Mum and Dad were delighted to see all of us at Christmas, especially me and Sirius. "So will we be able to persuade you to sleep two in the guest room, two in James' room now that Sirius lives in the guest room?"
We all shook our heads, laughing. "Sirius is back in mine for three weeks now - sorry Mum!"
She didn't mind really, though she shook her head and tutted.
I had been right, Dad had bought tickets to a muggle concert - to see, in fact, the Rolling Stones at the end of the holidays. I was amazed. "But Dad... I thought it was a sell-out gig!"
He laughed. "Magically, there were still some tickets left... so I bought them. You don't mind, surely? To be honest, I thought muggle concerts were safer than wizard ones these days and besides, you've never liked the Hex Hammers or anyone..."
Mind? Of course I didn't mind, although Sirius didn't understand why I was so pleased and neither did Peter. Remus, however, who was as big a fan as me, just told them to wait. "Live," he kept muttering. "I'm going to see the Stones live in concert."
When we arrived, Sirius and Peter both looked intimidated. "I've never been among as many Muggles as this before," Sirius muttered.
"Shut up, Padfoot. Go with the flow. Chill. Nobody's expecting you to do magic tricks so just relax!"
He smiled. "OK, OK..."
And when we emerged, hot, exhausted and with ringing eardrums hours later, he gave me an amazed grin. "I want to be a muggle," he shouted.
"Padfoot!"
He laughed at me. "Relax, Prongs, go with the flow!" he mocked. "Nobody here knows what a muggle is and no-one's listening to me, anyway!"
It was a bit of an anti-climax to go back to school three days after that, but on the other hand we were fresh and ready to go. The OWLs were apparently putting a strain on the majority of our year now, but Sirius and I shrugged it off. Just because they were in June, everybody was stressing now Christmas had passed. "You'll give yourself a nervous breakdown," I scolded Moony.
He laughed. "No, Prongs, I'm doing an average amount of work. Just because you can sit back and relax and still pass with flying colours doesn't mean we all can. Look at the rest of our year if you think I'm working too hard."
It was true. Everybody seemed to be slaving over books. I saw Evans, whiter than ever through lack of sleep, and others, all looking harassed and toting huge bags of books back and forth from the library.
"Can you imagine having to do that?" I muttered to Sirius.
He shook his head.
Meanwhile, we had been getting on with the map. It had not taken us long to locate a last couple of passages and Peter had drawn us a surprisingly accurate sketch of the school and Hogsmeade, including the Whomping Willow and all secret passages. Sirius and I were just charming it.
"Peeves, we need to put down," I said as we studied it.
"Course. And who else... there must be someone we've missed..."
We pored over it.
"Ah!" Sirius said. "That blasted cat, what's she called? Pringle's cat... Mrs Boris. Yes. Gotta have her." He tapped the parchment twice, gently and the two dots appeared, labelled in miniscule writing.
We had added passwords and directions, statues and portraits... we had added every little detail from cubby holes behind tapestries to the lavatory cubicle where a ghost called Moaning Myrtle apparently hid. At last, just before the next Quidditch match, it was nearly complete.
I sat with my latest girlfriend, a Gryffindor third year, artistically creasing and crumpling the map so that it looked like an old, discarded piece of parchment. Jill reached over and glanced at it. "J, why are you doing that?"
"What, honey?" I had also been watching Lily Evans on the other side of the common room. "Oh, it's apparently a great memory trick. Use invisible ink and then run your fingers over it like so. Sounds phoney, doesn't it? But you know, OWLs coming up... no harm in it."
"But James, you're so clever... you'll pass easily."
She was a nosy cow, but flattery got me anywhere. I'd ditch her after the Quidditch match; I had my eye on a Ravenclaw second year next.
"Hey, Moony, Wormtail, stop revising and come over here!" Sirius yelled. They came hurrying over. "We've finished the map," he told them in a low, but excited voice.
Moony looked impressed. He had helped with many of the charms in the end - we had hit a problem when the staff had a meeting, and the charm froze at having to keep track of so many people in so small a place.
"Well done. Let's have a look."
He took the parchment, tapped it with his wand and muttered the phrase we had decided on. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
Ink lines began to wriggle over the page and at last the map was displayed in front of him. "Brilliant," Peter breathed beside me.
"Yes, it is rather. You wipe it by saying 'Mischief managed'," I informed them.
Moony nodded. "Just for a final touch..." He waved his wand over the page and swirls of writing spelt out at the top:
Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
"Wicked," I said.
As a laugh, Sirius, Moony, Wormtail and I had added Insult Jinxes to the map. If anyone who did not know the code tried to command the map to reveal itself, a line would appear on the parchment by each of us. We had used a complex version that meant that each insult would be personal.
"We should test it on Snape!" I laughed.
"Too risky," said Moony. "He might not give it back."
"True..." I tapped it and said "Mischief managed! Besides, I suppose he knows that you're Moony - he might report you and we can't have prefects doing things like this, can we?"
"Piss off," he said succinctly. "By the way, did you hear that we've all got to have a meeting with McGonagall? Careers advice, apparently. How do you think I should explain the small problem that being a werewolf means you basically can't have a proper career?"
The news of the meeting had come as a surprise to me, and had also thrown me into confusion. I might not be worried about working towards the OWLs, but for starters that was largely because I knew I'd pass anyway and secondly, anyone would be worried when they had to make a life choice in ten days.
"So, Potter," said Professor McGonagall when I went in. "What fine plans do you have up your sleeve? Mr Black told me he wanted to be an Auror. Mr Lupin reckons he'll remain unemployed. Mr Pettigrew wants to work at the Ministry, but is unsure what as. So, your idea, please?"
"Well, I... I don't really know."
She gaped. "Of all four of you, I had you down as the most ambitious, Potter. But then again, I had no clue at your age either. A teacher, perhaps?"
"No..."
"How about working at Gringotts? You'd do excellently there. Or in the Ministry? I know I scold you from time to time, but you could be Minister for Magic if you put your mind to it."
I perked up a bit. This sort of praise was unusual. Suddenly she lifted a leaflet off her desk and snapped her fingers. "Of course! Mr Potter, you must be planning to go into Quidditch!"
I laughed. "Everyone thinks that..."
"And why not, I ask you? You're easily the best Chaser Hogwarts has seen in fifty years, the best player in thirty. You're down in Quidditch history books already as the youngest player in the junior England squad ever."
A flicker of interest stirred inside me. If I was truly that good... "They might not accept me. And besides, I sort of thought I should be... you know... fighting. With Professor Dumbledore."
She gave me a shrewd but kindly look. "There will be time for that as well," she said. "I'm quite sure they'll offer you the post as soon as you finish your NEWTs. Whether you take it or not is up to you. But I don't doubt you'll get the chance."
I grinned. "Well, okay then. But I'll still need a job after that..."
She piled leaflets into my arms. "I still think Gringotts is an idea. Or perhaps the department for magical sports at the ministry? Think about it. But of course, you needn't decide yet. You're quite right. I decided on my own career as I waited for my Transfiguration NEWT exam to finish," she smiled.
B/N ...So now you can review! Be nice. Please? -^_^- *fails miserably at attempt to look cute'n'appealing*