Disclaimer: Sigh tis not mine, only Storm O'Malley is... Bows down to JK Rowling she is truly the most brilliant author of all time... Please dont sue, i am just an obssessed fan..
Author Notes: Well, I was inspired. I wrote this entire chapter in about an hour or so.... But at any rate, I can't wait to finish it. So let's see... This story is dedicated to Corky and Tunsy, both of whom are the ones I turn to for inspiration and guidance not that theyre much help, LOL JKZ! but yeah. Enjoy!
The Fifth Marauder
Chapter One: In the Beginning
So you've all heard the story of the Hogwarts Marauders. You've heard the stories about Moony, the intellectual, Padfoot, the one who never looked before he leaped, Prongs, the leader, and Wormtail, the betrayer.
But have you? You see, there aren't many who actually know about the Fifth Marauder. She wasn't forgotten... No, never forgotten... But she was left behind... a memory of something that once was, and never would, or could, be again...
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Storm O'Malley stepped onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters, her trunk in tow. She ran a hand through her short spiked hair, her forest green eyes twinkling with excitement. Storm was slightly small for her age, but not noticeably so. She was 5 foot 3, 111 pounds. Her hair was the most outrageous thing about her. Besides being short and spiked, it was a light red brown, with natural blonde highlights throughout.
Looking around quickly, drawing in every detail she could about the station, the first year climbed onto the Hogwarts Express. Just as she got on, the train began to move. Obviously, she was later than she had thought. Storm hurried down the train, looking for a free compartment. Every compartment she looked into seemed to be brimming with people; it seemed like the train was about to over flow with students. Finally, at the very end of the train, Storm came upon an empty compartment. Sighing with relief, she stowed away her trunk and sat down.
Excitement coursed through her veins, like fire. She was actually going to Hogwarts!
Her parents were pureblood, and they were hyped about it too. Storm could honestly care less about blood; it only came down to each witch and the wizard in the end, not their parents. Honestly, her parents made it seem as if anyone who wasn't pureblood was worse than being a squib. As Storm sat, contemplating the value of blood, which was deeming less and less in her books, a couple of boys opened the door to her compartment.
Storm turned to the door, a look of mild curiosity playing over her face.
"Um... 'Ello... We," the first boy gestured to his companion, "were wondering if you'd mind terribly if we joined you." The boy scuffed his foot on the carpet, nervously, while waiting for a reply.
Storm looked over the boys. The first one, who had spoken, was slightly taller than the second boy. He had dark, almost black hair that reached to his shoulders, and ice blue eyes, that seemed to be glinting with mischief, as well as nervousness. Storm turned her gaze upon the second boy. He was looking just as nervous, his dark eyes darting around behind his glasses. He had short black hair that stuck up in the back. As she watched him, he reached up and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up slightly more.
After studying the boys for a moment or two longer, Storm smiled. "Of course," she said happily, "It was a might bit lonely in here."
The boys smiled and entered into the compartment, quickly throwing their trunks overhead, and sitting down across from Storm. The two boys looked at each other a moment, then turned their gaze upon Storm.
The first boy leaned across and offered his hand. "Sirius Black," he said with a smirk. "First year, hopefully Gryffindor."
Storm smiled and shook his hand. "Pleasure, Storm O'Malley. First year, Gryffindor hopeful." She turned her look over to James, slowly raising an eyebrow.
James grinned. "James Potter, hopeful Gryffindor First Year ... I guess we all have something in common." He offered his hand to Storm, who took it quickly.
They all laughed together, as if they had not just met. Storm relaxed and allowed her gaze to wander out the window. "It's exciting, isn't it? Just thinking about it makes me shiver."
The boys nodded in agreement, they didn't even have to ask what she meant.
Sirius was about to open his mouth, when the compartment door opened once more.
Three pairs of eyes turned to look at a shy looking boy. He had longish brown hair, and chocolate brown eyes, with flecks of gold strategically woven throughout them.
Storm tilted her head, and the boy dropped his. "Hiya... I, uh, was hoping... Since, you know... Everywhere else is full... D'you... mind?" he asked, in voice so tiny you had to strain to hear it.
James and Sirius exchanged glances with Storm, and they all nodded.
"Course not," James said, exuberantly, "The more the merrier! C'mon in!"
The boy smiled and walked into the compartment slowly. He carried a second hand looking trunk, and his clothes were slightly shabby. "Thanks," he murmured.
Storm grinned. "Not at all. I'm Storm O'Malley, and these two are James Potter," she gestured to him, "and Sirius Black." She dropped her hand, the warm smile still firmly in place on her face.
The boy smiled at Storm. "Remus Lupin," he said, offering her a hand.
Storm shook his hand firmly. She looked him over for a minute, not really realizing what she was seeing. He was small for his age, like her, but what he lacked in size, he made up for in the look in his eyes. The look in his eyes was what captured all of Storm's attention. It was a look that plainly said, 'I know of things that you could never even dream of...' Storm shook herself lightly, and stood up, a friendly smile etched into her features.
"Here, let me," she said, picking up his trunk and putting it next to her own.
Remus smiled thankfully. "Thanks," he muttered.
"Don't mention it," Storm replied cheerfully. "I take it you're a first year as well?"
Remus nodded. "Yeah... I'm a half blood, so I didn't really have a whole lot to go on, I don't even know what to expect when I get to school." Remus sighed, his secret weighing heavily on his shoulders.
James and Sirius exchanged glances of disbelief. They had been best friends since they were four, and they usually knew what the other was thinking.
James suddenly spoke up. "You'll love it Remus. I've never actually seen it myself, but me mum and Da went there. They've told me all about it, and the new headmaster, Albus Dumbledore... well, he's said to be eccentric and a wee bit batty, but he's friend of me Da's." James grinned and took a breath, as if to continue on, but Sirius cut him off.
"Speak slow James, or you'll scare the poor kid off before he even get to Hogwarts!"
Storm grinned. "It's the best school of witchcraft and wizardry. And don't worry Remus, you'll fit in. You'll make friends, after all, you already have, and you've got us, haven't you?" she said quietly.
Sirius and James nodded, both with grins plastered widely across their faces.
Remus smiled. The first real, honest smile they'd seen on him. It seemed, to Remus, that Storm was a very perceptive person, who knew exactly what to say. "Thanks Storm," he replied, not at all shyly this time.
Sirius and James grinned and whooped, and Storm just rolled her eyes and shook her head, a smile hinting at her lips.
Remus looked around at his new friends. He was actually fitting in, despite his abnormality...
Storm sighed and leaned back against the bench seat. "I'm so glad to be going away from home. My parents were driving me absolutely bonkers! They're like puffed up pigeons, coz we're pureblood," Storm snorted with disgust. "They think that just coz they've got blood that isn't tainted, as they put it, they're better than everyone else. It honestly drives me mad. They're out of order they are. Blood doesn't matter, it's each witch of wizard that does." Storm sighed and closed her eyes. "And every time I've tried saying that, well, let's just say these," she lifted up her shirt a bit to reveal several still raw and angry scars on her stomach, "aren't self inflicted."
James' jaw dropped, as did Remus', but Sirius didn't flinch.
"Sounds like my story," he said quietly. "My parents are the same as yours. Puffed up Pureblooded morons, no offense meant. With the same ideas and insights as yours apparently do." He sighed. "I didn't bother disagreeing with them. I just let them believe what they wanted to."
Storm smiled sadly. "No offense taken."
James shook his head. "What's the wizarding world coming too? If it weren't for people like Dumbledore and my parents, we'd be overrun with dark wizards and such."
Remus nodded. "My mom was a witch, my dad's a muggle. My mom died a long time ago... So I had no idea what I was facing when I came here this morning."
Storm looked curiously at Remus. "D'you mind if I ask?"
Remus shook his head. "I'd rather not say."
Sirius and James looked at each other for a moment.
Suddenly the door to their compartment opened, and a friendly looking, grey haired witch peered in. "Anything off the trolley dears?" she asked.
Storm, James, and Sirius pulled out their gold, but Remus reached into his pocket and pulled out a sandwich.
Together James and Sirius purchased licorice wands, Droobles Best Bubble Gum, Berty Botts Every Flavored Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and Cauldron Cakes.
Storm raised an eyebrow as she asked for a package of Chocolate Ice Mice, her appetite suddenly leaving her as quickly as it came. She turned to Remus as the lady left, pushing the trolley to the next compartment. "Here," she said, handing Remus an Ice Mouse. "I suddenly lost my appetite." She pointed to Sirius and James, who were now pigging out on their Cauldron Cakes.
Remus gave a quiet laugh, took the chocolate, and smiled his thanks at Storm.
Storm nodded back at him, her gaze returning to the two pigs seated across from them. She sighed and shook her head, as they had finished the Cauldron Cakes, and the Chocolate Frogs, and were now starting on the licorice wands.
"You two do realize you're pigs, right?" she asked.
Sirius grinned and James stuck out his tongue, his mouth full of food.
Storm winced slightly and laughed. "Real mature James."
James and Sirius laughed, and Remus shook his head.
As James and Sirius started on their Every Flavor Beans, the door to their compartment opened once more. This time, standing before them was a first year girl. She had long red hair, bright green eyes, and her hands were on her hips.
"Has anyone seen a rat?" she asked breezily, "My friend Marco's lost one." She glanced around the compartment. Her gaze lingered, disgustedly, on Sirius and James for a moment, before she looked to Storm and Remus. "I'm Lily Evans," she added as an after thought.
Storm smiled. "Storm O'Malley." She looked around at Sirius, James, and Remus. Remus was opening a book, Sirius was still eating, and James was staring at Lily, his eyes opened wide, and his jaw on the floor.
Storm sighed. "This," she gestured to Remus, "Is Remus Lupin. That pig," she gestured to Sirius, "Is Sirius Black. And It," she rolled her eyes in James' direction, "Is James Potter."
Lily laughed lightly. "Hi, nice to meet you all. So you haven't seen a rat then?"
Lily's laugh seemed to jar James out his reverie. "No, we haven't seen a rat... But I just saw an angel..."
Lily blushed slightly and smiled. "Alright... Well, I'll see you all then."
James' eyes widened. "Leaving so soon? But... But... You haven't given me a map!"
Lily turned around, her eyebrow raised. "A map of what, exactly?"
James smiled, slightly arrogantly. "Your eyes, I keep getting lost in them..."
Lily snorted. "Right Potter. At any rate, I'll see you three," she gestured to Storm, Sirius, and Remus, "at school... Unless Potter here drags you off the train... along with his pick up lines." Lily grinned and left the compartment.
Sirius looked at James and burst into laughter.
Remus and Storm exchanged glances and raised their eyebrows at James.
James looked shocked, and Sirius continued laughing hysterically. Sirius was laughing so hard he fell off his seat.
Remus smiled at Sirius and Storm burst into laughter.
And that was how they spent the rest of the train ride. Making fun of James' misfortune, laughing at Sirius' new bruise, and generally enjoying life.
