The Marauders of Hogwarts

A/N: Okay, I just heard, reading a story on here, that apparently responses to reviews aren't allowed…so I guess I won't do that from now on. But thanks to everybody who reviewed back when this story actually got reviews…lol. Hasn't gotten any more reviews yet, but I guess I'll keep hoping…((crosses fingers))

By the way, I've decided to make this chapter nice and long instead of my takes-2-minutes-to-read last chapter. If it's still not long enough for you when I'm done, review and complain so I can get some reviews. :D

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, places, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, the best writer EVER!!! And I mean EVER! All the characters, places, etc. that you don't recognize belong to me. Get it, got it, good.

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Chapter 10

Animagi and Property Damage

"So do you want to tell James and Peter?" Sirius had asked Remus. "They could help too."

"Well…I guess," Remus had answered nervously. So tonight he was going to.

It was around eleven in the Gryffindor 2nd year boys' domitory.

"Er…I've got something to tell all of you," Remus began cautiously.

"Well, fire away, then!" James said, munching a cookie he'd gotten from the kitchens. He passed one from the bag to Peter. "What is it?"

Remus hesitated. Ever since he had become a werewolf, no one—besides his parents, anyway—had ever stood by him once they found out. Very few people found out these days, of course, but when he had been bitten, everyone who knew began to treat him differently—like he wasn't the same person, like he'd suddenly become a different one. Some people would be afraid of him when it wasn't even a full moon, and Remus had learned to defend himself when other people insulted him.

He'd known at once, when Dumbledore had shown them that prophecy last year, that he was the one dark on the outside, but not on the inside. People judged him when they found out because werewolves were considered "dark creatures," but he didn't want to hurt anyone. But almost no one took more than one glance before judging someone who was a werewolf. Remus hadn't had many friends until he came to Hogwarts. Here, he'd almost felt normal again. He was grateful to Dumbledore for letting him come, and almost didn't mind that there had to be special arrangements for him.

"Come on, Remus," Sirius said encouragingly.

"Yes, tell! I'm getting really curious," Peter said.

James nodded, taking another cookie.

"Well…I…" Remus paused. "I decided there's something you all should know, because…you've been such great friends."

"Don't mention it!" James said, waving a hand and grinning.

Remus laughed nervously and swallowed. "Well, er…I'm…I'm a werewolf."

James choked on his cookie.

"What?!" Peter exclaimed.

Remus looked down at his feet. This didn't seem to be going too well. "I'm a werewolf," he said quietly. "I just though you all should know, so I understand if…you don't want to talk to me anymore.

There was a pause.

"Of course we still want to talk to you, you prat!" James said, rolling his eyes.

"R-really?"

"YES!"

Remus sighed in relief. "Well…thank you. You guys…you have to be the best friends I've ever had."

"Well don't get all sappy with us, Remus!" Peter said in disgust.

Everyone laughed.

(())(())(())

A couple weeks later, James was having a lesson with Professor Dumbledore, to practice his telepathy. He'd been having lessons on this twice a week ever since Dumbledore had discovered that he was telepathic in the middle of September. What with homework, telepathy, being the seeker for the Gryffindor quidditch team, and still trying to plan pranks, James was extremely busy.

"Okay, levitate the mug. I've filled it with rocks this time," Dumbledore said.

James glared at it. It had to be the heaviest damn mug filled with rocks in the universe. It seemed that way, at least, when you were trying to lift it with your mind. He envied Dumbledore, who simply had to stand there and direct him.

He strained, concentrating. Lift the mug. It jerked a couple of millimeters in the air and then clunked down on Dumbledore's desk again. Lift the mug. Lift the damn heavy mug.

Suddenly, he got extremely frustrated, and the mug flew up and smashed a hole in the ceiling before he could stop it. James, wincing, covered his head as the rocks flew out and fell all over the room, smashing a few things. The mug fell too, and shattered on the floor.

He gulped. "Erm…Sorry, Professor. I…er…didn't mean to lift it so quick."

Professor Dumbledore said, "Well, obviously you don't have much trouble lifting something with that weight. It's a pity I didn't give you that hideous mug I got from my brother Aberforth." The corner of his mouth twitched. "Something…er…frustrating you?"

"Well, yes!" James said, surprising himself. "You said you were telepathic too, but you haven't demonstrated anything yourself. You just let me lift things and wear myself out while you tell me what to do!" Shouldn't have said that… "Erm…sir. Professor."

Dumbledore's mouth twitched again. "Do you want me to lift something, Mr. Potter?"

"Oh, no, er—I didn't mean it, Professor—"

"No trouble at all," Dumbledore said, and without another word levitated his entire desk, complete with all the things heaped on it.

James gaped. "Isn't that heavy?"

"Well, Mr. Potter, it's just an example of what you could learn to do if you continue."

James thought about levitating Severus Snape and watching him shriek. "Sounds good, Professor."

"And this is a good chance to develop your skills. Levitate the rocks and move them over onto my desk."

James did so without further question.

(())(())(())

(A/N: Now, I bet everyone misses dear old Voldie…heh.)

While James was levitating the rocks, Lord Voldemort was throwing a party for all his evil villain friends. He had friends in the Muggle world, and even friends in different worlds.

"How is it in Disney Cartoon World?" Voldemort asked one of his friends.

"Wretched, dah-ling," Cruella DeVille said. "I just can't find any good fur coats. People seem to have the idea that they're inhumane. What nonsense!"

"I prefer silk, myself," Cinderella's stepmother said.

Voldemort didn't like all this talk of clothes. He liked machine guns better. And, of course, the Unforgiveable Curses. They were such a wonderful way to promote loyalty in his followers.

"How's life as an evil dark lord, Sauron?" he asked his friend from Middle Earth.

"Oh, wonderful. When I have the Ring, no one can stand against me," Sauron said.

"So how are your nemesises, Voldie?" Dr. Evil asked him. "I'm not happy about losing all that money, you know." He frowned.

"Oh, they're sickeningly happy and healthy," Voldemort grumbled. "And how many times have I told you NOT TO CALL ME VOLDIE??"

Dr. Evil winced. "Oh, um, sorry, Voldi—um, Voldemort."

"Thank you," Voldemort said. "You know, I'm just wondering, why are they all so…so…TALENTED?! I found out that one's a Spirit Healer, and one has telepathy, and there's one who's a werewolf, but he's much too disgustingly good-hearted to come over to my side. And then there's that Evans brat. She's got huge potential…"

Dr. Evil shook his head sympathetically.

(())(())(())

"So, everyone," Sirius said, "I've thought of a way we can help Remus."

"Really?" Remus said.

"You liar, I thought of it!" Mira said. She was sitting in the boys' dormitory next to Sirius.

Sirius grinned. "Well, a little white lie every now and then doesn't hurt anyone."

"So…what's the plan for Moony then?" James said. The Marauders had taken to calling Remus Moony after finding out that he was a werewolf.

"Okay." Mira paused importantly and cleared her throat. "Here's the idea: we can become Anamagi!"

"Anima-what?" the Marauders all said.

Mira sighed. "Wizards who can turn into animals. Then people can keep Remus company and make sure he doesn't eat anyone, or anything like that."

"Brilliant!" Peter said.

Mira beamed.

"So how do we do that?" James asked.

"I'm…er…not sure," Mira admitted.

Sirius smirked.

"Well, let's research it then!" James cried. "Starting tomorrow!"

(())(())(())

After looking in her crystal ball, Venyetta said, "Four of your nemesises have decided to become Anamagi, my Lord."

"Dammit!" Voldemort said. "If they become Anamagi as well, they'll be entirely too powerful! I have to put them out of action before they can get that strong! Which ones have decided this, Venyetta?"

"The Spirit Healer girl, the telepathic boy, and two others."

Voldemort thought. "The Spirit Healer is one of the most dangerous ones already. I'll have to do something about her."

(())(())(())

At breakfast the next day, Lily and James got into an argument. It all started with Lily walked in and said, "Hi, Jamesiekinns," before sitting down across from him.

"Don't call me Jamesiekinns," James said at once.

"But it's so much fun, Jamesiekinns," Lily replied, grinning.

"Don't call me Jamesiekinns!"

"Okay…Jamesiekinns."

"DON'T CALL ME JAMESIEKINNS!!!" James roared.

Lily faked a shocked expression and said, "Temper, temper, Jamesiekinns!"

"ARGH!!!!!" James said. A couple of people were looking on and giggling.

At that moment, a white owl flew in and began to wing its way toward Mira, who was walking toward the Gryffindor table. It was holding a round package wrapped in brown paper.

Lily got as far as "Why don't you like your nickname, Jamesie—" before the owl dropped the package. Mira looked up and put out her hands to catch it, and suddenly Lily got a feeling that something would go terribly wrong if Mira touched that package.

"Mira!" she yelled. "Don't touch it!" She began to sprint toward Mira, who had looked at her and was watching in confusion.

The package was just about to land in Mira's still-outstretched hands when Lily tackled her and sent them both skidding about 15 feet away from the package.

And it was a good thing, because as the package touched the floor, it exploded, sending sparks of flames all around it in about a 10-foot radius. If Mira had caught the package, her hands would have been badly burned, not to mention random spots where sparks would have landed on her.

Mira looked up from the floor and gaped. "Lily, what the—how did you know it would explode?"

"I didn't," Lily said nervously. "I just got a feeling."

People in the Hall were staring at the burnt spot on the floor. In the middle of it, the remains of the brown paper were burned and curled up by the heat.

Mira and Lily both got up from the floor. "Sorry about tackling you," Lily said.

"No problem. I wouldn't have gotten out of the way otherwise," Mira said. She was shaking. "I guess I know who sent me that, then."

"What? Who?"

"Voldemort," Mira said quietly. "I can't think of anyone else who wants to hurt me that badly. The only thing I can't figure out is why."

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A/N: Well, that was longer than the last one. Tell me if it still wasn't long enough for you! :D

So…what was that last scene all about, you ask? Find out in the next chapter…

Review!

--Hermione21