A/N:
Oooh. This is almost done with. I'm sure Katrina will be able to spot the end! The next chapter might be the last, so I may finish before a whole year on this has passed! Wouldn't that be wonderful? Let's see if I can do it. :D
Thanks to the few who reviewed already!
This chapter is pure insanity. In actuality, Katrina and I did two rps of this. This chapter comes from the return of the house elf obsessed with James. :D
Thanks to Katrina for officially betaing this.
Hmm. Not much else to be said except... LET THERE BE APPLES FOR ALL!
Cheers,
H.D.D.
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WARNING: This chapter may contain...
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"I think I've found a clue," Remus announced, looking at the light trail on the crimson corridor rug.
Sirius was studying a weird tapestry on the wall. "Doughnuts for you."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Don't you even want to know what the clue is?"
"Not unless it's something edible."
"How about toast crumbs?" Remus suggested.
"TOAST? WHERE?" Sirius looked about franticly, then caught sight of the trail on the floor, declaring, "Logically, this can only lead to more toast!"
"Er... I suppose so. I just found it suspicious because there's no food inside the kitchen and one would have to come to the conclusion that-" Remus suddenly noticed that Sirius had long since run off, following the toast crumb trail. With a shrug, he went after his friend. "Alright then."
Sometime later, they came to the end of the trail, leaving Sirius stumped. The trail ended right before a wall. A wall that did not have toast.
"WHERE'S THE TOAST?" he demanded, glaring at the wall.
Remus raised an eyebrow. "How should I know?"
Sirius paced the hall, trying to find out why there was no toast when a bright red apple rolled to his feet. He looked back at Remus to see if he had noticed the apple, which he had not, then bent down to pick it up. "Hello there little friend..."
The apple rolled just out of reach.
"Hmph," he muttered, walking towards it.
The apple inched forward. Frowning, Sirius tried moving around it. The apple countered him. Next, he tried coming from the left, and the apple rolled right. He tried coming from the right, and it moved to the left.
"Smart little bugger," Sirius observed with a grin. "Oh well... too smart for me..." He turned, pretending to give up, then whirled around, pouncing down upon the fruit. He looked under his hands, finding nothing when he caught something red from the corner of his eye. He lifted his head, spying a small hand holding the apple right in front of him.
"Sirius! What are you doing on the floor?" Remus asked, finally noticing his friend's strange behavior.
Sirius paid him no mind, reaching out for the apple. The hand pulled back, waggling a finger at him with its other hand. "No applesss unless yousss helps me."
Sirius nodded vigorously, eager to agree and get the nice apple.
"Sirius, are you even listening to me?" Remus stepped forward, catching sight of a pair of huge, yellow eyes shrouded in darkness. "SIRIUS! It's the eyes from before! F-From the suit of armor!"
"Helpssss me and gets the niceeee red apple," the strange voice continued, moving the apple back and forth in front of Sirius's gaze. Sirius followed its hypnotic movement.
"SIRIUS!" Remus continued to call, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder and shaking it. "Padfoot! Get away from it!"
The yellow eyes raised to meet Remus's, narrowing. The thing's hand raised, snapping. The next thing he knew, Remus was wrapped tightly in rope and falling to the floor. It's other hand continued to move the apple back and forth in a steady motion. "Now... yous helpsss me?"
Sirius nodded, mouth watering at the apple.
"Good... yous find redsie. Get redsie. Get redsie and yous getssss the nice, red applessss," the thing said in rhythm to the apple.
"Don't listen to it!" Remus shouted back. "It's trying to trick you!"
But Sirius's stomach gurgled loudly, and he knew all hope was lost.
"Gets redsie and bring her to me," the thing said, pausing to toss the apple to Sirius," and yous gets lotsa more nice, red applesss and maybe some nice toasties."
Sirius perked up at the word toast and nodded again, devouring the apple before scampering off down the corridor in search of Lily. With a snap of its fingers, the thing disappeared, back to its dark-haired captive. From the other side of the hall, Remus tried to look around, struggling against the ropes.
"Hello? ...Is anybody there?"
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