Chapter 2 –Caught-
The small book Harry pulled out was indeed a photo album, filled to the last page with pictures of the Marauders in their school days. There were pictures of them grinning outside of their Transfiguration classroom, McGonagall frowning at them in the background, pictures of them doubled over laughing in front of the Fat Lady, and many more pictures of them in various places throughout Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, most of them showing the four boys laughing hysterically or pointed and shushing each other, obviously watching some new prank playing out. Harry thumbed through the album, marveling at the pictures of the four boys, so completely the best of friends. It made him slightly depressed to know that of all of them, Remus was the only one who survived Voldemort so far. Well, unless you counted Wormtail, but he was as good as dead to Harry, who fully intended to kill him the next time they met. Harry set down the album and reached for the next item – a rolled up piece of parchment.
Pulling off the ribbon tying it up, Harry read the title, Marauder's Best Moments, and sighed, realizing what he held in his hands. He scanned down the list, the very long list, and confirmed his suspicions. He held the list of every single prank the Marauders ever pulled at Hogwarts, individually or as a group. Harry wasn't surprised that nearly every other person named as the victim was none other than Serverus Snape. 'God,' Harry thought, 'my dad and Sirius were apparently not plagued with the problem Fred and George have. Nor do they get tired of playing pranks on them same people.' As Harry scanned the list further (it really was very long), he grinned as he noticed the few times his mother appeared as one of the victims, though appearances of her name became fewer as the list continued. After scanning the list to the end, Harry set that aside too and turned his attention to the largest item in the cubbyhole – the leather-bound volume.
Harry had to nearly drag the book from its resting place because it was so heavy. It resembled one of the tomes Hermione considered "light reading" from the library. In other words, it was almost the size of Harry. The book had no title, nor did it have any writing on it whatsoever. He turned the book over and examined it further. It was definitely worn, belying extensive use for whatever purpose. Harry opened the book to find no title page or any writing in the book whatsoever. "Strange…why would my dad and Sirius and Remus keep a book here with no writing in it…?'
Suddenly, an idea came to Harry, who pulled out his wand and lightly tapped the front page, saying "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Just like on the Marauder's Map, a curly script appeared on the page of its own accord, reading
…Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs present…
THE BOOK OF THE MARAUDERS
Harry turned the page and saw what looked like letters, addressed from one member of the foursome to either another member, or the entire group. He couldn't believe his luck. Ever since he looked in Snape's Pensieve, Harry had longed for a reason behind his father's behavior, and now one simply landed in his lap. He heard a far off noise and closed the book, listening carefully. The clock in the courtyard was tolling the hour, telling him he was past curfew. Harry quickly stood up and grabbed the book, shoving the other items back into the hole.
Then he ran. He ran to the exit and pushed the mirror open, closing it quickly, thanking God he hadn't encountered anyone in the corridor. In his rush, he had not checked the Marauder's Map before he entered the corridor. But Harry stopped mid-prayer, when he spotted a particularly nasty Potions Master coming around the corner, one who spotted Harry instantly.
"And what, pray tell, are you doing out of bed, Mr. Potter?" Snape snarled, his eyes glinting with sick amusement.
"I…uh…I lost track of the time, sir. I am going to the Tower now." Harry replied, praying that just once, Snape would let him off.
No such luck. "Now, now, Mr. Potter, we mustn't have the famous Harry Potter out of bed after hours. We wouldn't want him to lose his precious sleep time, would we? What are you carrying?" Snape finally noticed the large tome Harry held under his arm and he seized it, looking it over and opening it up.
"Professor Lupin gave it to me, sir. It came by owl a little while ago." Harry hoped Snape did not give the book to much attention, for he would most certainly take it from him.
But Snape did no such thing. He merely slammed the volume shut and handed it back to Harry. "Now, Harry, if you spent your time studying your Potions rather than writing in blank journals given to you by werewolves, maybe you would actually be able to gather enough brains to pass my class. Twenty points from Gryffindor for being out past curfew. Now get to your Tower." Snape growled at him, turning to go the way he came.
Harry looked down at the journal he now held once again. He didn't understand. Snape hated his father and Sirius, and would never have hesitated to take anything that the Marauders left from Harry, probably to burn it. And what was with the comment about the blank journal? He knew the journal was blank before he said the password, but he had never bothered to wipe it clean, either. The writing, if it worked like the Map, should still have been there for Snape to see. Harry opened the book, and sure enough, the letters were still there. Harry shrugged and closed the book, running to Gryffindor Tower to tell Hermione and Ron what he had found, and to ask their opinions of Snape's weird behavior.
Author's Note: Well, here ya are – the next chapter. Hmm…the plot thickens! Well, sort of. I'll have the next chapter up soon guys, promise!
The small book Harry pulled out was indeed a photo album, filled to the last page with pictures of the Marauders in their school days. There were pictures of them grinning outside of their Transfiguration classroom, McGonagall frowning at them in the background, pictures of them doubled over laughing in front of the Fat Lady, and many more pictures of them in various places throughout Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, most of them showing the four boys laughing hysterically or pointed and shushing each other, obviously watching some new prank playing out. Harry thumbed through the album, marveling at the pictures of the four boys, so completely the best of friends. It made him slightly depressed to know that of all of them, Remus was the only one who survived Voldemort so far. Well, unless you counted Wormtail, but he was as good as dead to Harry, who fully intended to kill him the next time they met. Harry set down the album and reached for the next item – a rolled up piece of parchment.
Pulling off the ribbon tying it up, Harry read the title, Marauder's Best Moments, and sighed, realizing what he held in his hands. He scanned down the list, the very long list, and confirmed his suspicions. He held the list of every single prank the Marauders ever pulled at Hogwarts, individually or as a group. Harry wasn't surprised that nearly every other person named as the victim was none other than Serverus Snape. 'God,' Harry thought, 'my dad and Sirius were apparently not plagued with the problem Fred and George have. Nor do they get tired of playing pranks on them same people.' As Harry scanned the list further (it really was very long), he grinned as he noticed the few times his mother appeared as one of the victims, though appearances of her name became fewer as the list continued. After scanning the list to the end, Harry set that aside too and turned his attention to the largest item in the cubbyhole – the leather-bound volume.
Harry had to nearly drag the book from its resting place because it was so heavy. It resembled one of the tomes Hermione considered "light reading" from the library. In other words, it was almost the size of Harry. The book had no title, nor did it have any writing on it whatsoever. He turned the book over and examined it further. It was definitely worn, belying extensive use for whatever purpose. Harry opened the book to find no title page or any writing in the book whatsoever. "Strange…why would my dad and Sirius and Remus keep a book here with no writing in it…?'
Suddenly, an idea came to Harry, who pulled out his wand and lightly tapped the front page, saying "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Just like on the Marauder's Map, a curly script appeared on the page of its own accord, reading
…Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs present…
THE BOOK OF THE MARAUDERS
Harry turned the page and saw what looked like letters, addressed from one member of the foursome to either another member, or the entire group. He couldn't believe his luck. Ever since he looked in Snape's Pensieve, Harry had longed for a reason behind his father's behavior, and now one simply landed in his lap. He heard a far off noise and closed the book, listening carefully. The clock in the courtyard was tolling the hour, telling him he was past curfew. Harry quickly stood up and grabbed the book, shoving the other items back into the hole.
Then he ran. He ran to the exit and pushed the mirror open, closing it quickly, thanking God he hadn't encountered anyone in the corridor. In his rush, he had not checked the Marauder's Map before he entered the corridor. But Harry stopped mid-prayer, when he spotted a particularly nasty Potions Master coming around the corner, one who spotted Harry instantly.
"And what, pray tell, are you doing out of bed, Mr. Potter?" Snape snarled, his eyes glinting with sick amusement.
"I…uh…I lost track of the time, sir. I am going to the Tower now." Harry replied, praying that just once, Snape would let him off.
No such luck. "Now, now, Mr. Potter, we mustn't have the famous Harry Potter out of bed after hours. We wouldn't want him to lose his precious sleep time, would we? What are you carrying?" Snape finally noticed the large tome Harry held under his arm and he seized it, looking it over and opening it up.
"Professor Lupin gave it to me, sir. It came by owl a little while ago." Harry hoped Snape did not give the book to much attention, for he would most certainly take it from him.
But Snape did no such thing. He merely slammed the volume shut and handed it back to Harry. "Now, Harry, if you spent your time studying your Potions rather than writing in blank journals given to you by werewolves, maybe you would actually be able to gather enough brains to pass my class. Twenty points from Gryffindor for being out past curfew. Now get to your Tower." Snape growled at him, turning to go the way he came.
Harry looked down at the journal he now held once again. He didn't understand. Snape hated his father and Sirius, and would never have hesitated to take anything that the Marauders left from Harry, probably to burn it. And what was with the comment about the blank journal? He knew the journal was blank before he said the password, but he had never bothered to wipe it clean, either. The writing, if it worked like the Map, should still have been there for Snape to see. Harry opened the book, and sure enough, the letters were still there. Harry shrugged and closed the book, running to Gryffindor Tower to tell Hermione and Ron what he had found, and to ask their opinions of Snape's weird behavior.
Author's Note: Well, here ya are – the next chapter. Hmm…the plot thickens! Well, sort of. I'll have the next chapter up soon guys, promise!