Chapter 9 – Spreading the word
Breakfast was the usual affair, the full contents of the Full Monty were there, from the sausages, bacon, eggs (fried, scrambled, poached and boiled), Bury black pudding, fried bread, mushrooms, hash browns, beans. Then there were the croissants, breads, juices and cereals along with pancakes and waffles. The variety was staggering and the food was delicious. James tucked into bacon, beans and a Bury black pudding. The latter delicacy wasn't a favourite in Harry's eyes. Harry was a southerner and as a result had been tainted by the sacrilegious practise of frying the thing, James being northern and proud however new the true beauty of the dish in it's boiled form. After this gastronomic pleasure James called the marauders aside "We have a free first, and I need to tell you something. Come with me" he led the group of 4 to the Room of Requirement and after Harry whispered the instructions of how to get in they nestled onto the beanbags helping themselves to the confectionary and beverage in there.
"Hey, when did you find out about this room? This is fantastic" Moony spoke up, looking around the snug approvingly. Remus still looked older than he was, even though the marauder's were 15 Remus had a world weary look of someone approaching their mid 20's. Harry could even swear he spotted the occasional grey hair although that may have been him comparing the teenager in front of him with the DADA professor he respected so much. "It's called the room of requirement, it takes the form of whatever you want, you just have to walk past it 3 times thinking for what you really want. Regarding how I found out about it that what I called you up here for." James announced in a slightly authoritarian fashion. It became clear he was the leader of the group, despite Sirius' energy and Remus' brain James was in control. Harry was still blissfully ignoring the presence of the traitorous bastard who destroyed his family. He decided civility was not going to happen so denial was the next best thing. "Go on then, details if you please" Urged Sirius, apparently getting a little inpatient at his best friend's slowness.
"Well you know yesterday when little-miss-prefect hexed me and I took a blow to the head?" Enquired James, obviously preparing for the odd glances and sarcastic comments the next piece of information was going to provide. "Yeeees, and how you went all funny on the head thinking I was saying stuff I weren't?" Continued Sirius "Well, yeah, you see and hear me out on this one and leave the sarcasm till later." James went on to explain about his future son being stuck in his head, what Harry had said about Voldemort and how Lily was his mum and also had someone stuck in her head. "And you expect us to buy that?" Giggled Remus. "Nice one, but you've known us for 5 years now, you know that's stupid. For starter's if this Harry is yours and Lily's kid how do you stop bickering long enough to say I do and reproduce?" "I don't know, and neither will he because remember I am not around to raise my blessed sprog. But I'm telling the truth, I just thought I had better tell you because since Dumbledore did this incantation yesterday sometimes he like comes to the front and has control. You can tell it's him though, he looks like me but he has bright green eyes and a cool scar on his head." James explained while tracing the outline of a lightening bolt onto his forehead. He had developed the tone of voice usually which usually accompanied talking to a bunch of one-year-olds. "Yeah, well, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt until we see this supposed doppelganger" Said Sirius, followed by nods from Remus and The Rat. "Cheers guys" Said James, blatantly grateful that his friends weren't going to cart him off to St Mungo's quite yet.
As if someone was trying to do James a favour at that moment in time Hermione entered the room. "Erm, hi, errr" Hermione started, Harry noted how odd it was to see something this distinctly unintelligible coming out of one of his best mates mouth. "It's OK, they know. Hermione this is –"Hermione interrupted "Sirius, Lupin and Wormtail" "Yeah, that's right...I guess you also know about the monthly excursions then?" "Yeah, so does Harry. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone" Hermione explained, walking across the room and helping herself to some chocolate frogs and butter beer and sliding down one of the walls until she found herself sitting on the floor. "I came up here presuming that as I was in control so would Harry, guess I'm wrong. We usually meet up here when we want quiet, guess he told you about this place, it's set out just as we always have it. How is he?" It was as if the appearance of this oddly pretty teen with the bushy hair had erased any doubts in the marauder's mind about James' story. She had confirmed it all, and the fact this girl was wearing Gryffindor robes yet had never been seen in their common room just added to the evidence. "He's fine, I think, he had a dream this morning and is being quiet. I also found out...about...stuff" James could not say the words Lily or death, or even Voldemort. Hermione's look suddenly changed to one of concern. "Oh, James, are you OK? I know it's hard, but it all happened for a reason, it can't possibly be changed." "Yeah, I know, but it's so unfair. Especially on him, I heard about the dream today and felt the scar pains." At this comment the lass chocked on her beer before calming herself down enough to look sympathetically at James. Harry on the other hand was feeling guilty for being such a burden on his father but resented the pity he knew James felt towards him. "Voldemort is trying to kill you in the future. You are in comas. He thinks this is his chance". James stated, no emotion behind the voice, just blank.
"He's tried to get us 6 times in the past – well future – well y'know, he is not going to get us this time. Dumbledore will sort something out. He always does." She tried to sound more convinced about this that she really was "Anyways, we've been 50 minutes in here, we had better get off to Herbology" Remus suggested. "Will you take some notes please Lupin, I can't really go because I'd stand out but I don't want Lily to suffer for this" Hermione said, business as usual then. "Sure", and with that the boys vacated the room and Hermione was left alone with Lily in the recesses of her mind.
Breakfast was the usual affair, the full contents of the Full Monty were there, from the sausages, bacon, eggs (fried, scrambled, poached and boiled), Bury black pudding, fried bread, mushrooms, hash browns, beans. Then there were the croissants, breads, juices and cereals along with pancakes and waffles. The variety was staggering and the food was delicious. James tucked into bacon, beans and a Bury black pudding. The latter delicacy wasn't a favourite in Harry's eyes. Harry was a southerner and as a result had been tainted by the sacrilegious practise of frying the thing, James being northern and proud however new the true beauty of the dish in it's boiled form. After this gastronomic pleasure James called the marauders aside "We have a free first, and I need to tell you something. Come with me" he led the group of 4 to the Room of Requirement and after Harry whispered the instructions of how to get in they nestled onto the beanbags helping themselves to the confectionary and beverage in there.
"Hey, when did you find out about this room? This is fantastic" Moony spoke up, looking around the snug approvingly. Remus still looked older than he was, even though the marauder's were 15 Remus had a world weary look of someone approaching their mid 20's. Harry could even swear he spotted the occasional grey hair although that may have been him comparing the teenager in front of him with the DADA professor he respected so much. "It's called the room of requirement, it takes the form of whatever you want, you just have to walk past it 3 times thinking for what you really want. Regarding how I found out about it that what I called you up here for." James announced in a slightly authoritarian fashion. It became clear he was the leader of the group, despite Sirius' energy and Remus' brain James was in control. Harry was still blissfully ignoring the presence of the traitorous bastard who destroyed his family. He decided civility was not going to happen so denial was the next best thing. "Go on then, details if you please" Urged Sirius, apparently getting a little inpatient at his best friend's slowness.
"Well you know yesterday when little-miss-prefect hexed me and I took a blow to the head?" Enquired James, obviously preparing for the odd glances and sarcastic comments the next piece of information was going to provide. "Yeeees, and how you went all funny on the head thinking I was saying stuff I weren't?" Continued Sirius "Well, yeah, you see and hear me out on this one and leave the sarcasm till later." James went on to explain about his future son being stuck in his head, what Harry had said about Voldemort and how Lily was his mum and also had someone stuck in her head. "And you expect us to buy that?" Giggled Remus. "Nice one, but you've known us for 5 years now, you know that's stupid. For starter's if this Harry is yours and Lily's kid how do you stop bickering long enough to say I do and reproduce?" "I don't know, and neither will he because remember I am not around to raise my blessed sprog. But I'm telling the truth, I just thought I had better tell you because since Dumbledore did this incantation yesterday sometimes he like comes to the front and has control. You can tell it's him though, he looks like me but he has bright green eyes and a cool scar on his head." James explained while tracing the outline of a lightening bolt onto his forehead. He had developed the tone of voice usually which usually accompanied talking to a bunch of one-year-olds. "Yeah, well, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt until we see this supposed doppelganger" Said Sirius, followed by nods from Remus and The Rat. "Cheers guys" Said James, blatantly grateful that his friends weren't going to cart him off to St Mungo's quite yet.
As if someone was trying to do James a favour at that moment in time Hermione entered the room. "Erm, hi, errr" Hermione started, Harry noted how odd it was to see something this distinctly unintelligible coming out of one of his best mates mouth. "It's OK, they know. Hermione this is –"Hermione interrupted "Sirius, Lupin and Wormtail" "Yeah, that's right...I guess you also know about the monthly excursions then?" "Yeah, so does Harry. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone" Hermione explained, walking across the room and helping herself to some chocolate frogs and butter beer and sliding down one of the walls until she found herself sitting on the floor. "I came up here presuming that as I was in control so would Harry, guess I'm wrong. We usually meet up here when we want quiet, guess he told you about this place, it's set out just as we always have it. How is he?" It was as if the appearance of this oddly pretty teen with the bushy hair had erased any doubts in the marauder's mind about James' story. She had confirmed it all, and the fact this girl was wearing Gryffindor robes yet had never been seen in their common room just added to the evidence. "He's fine, I think, he had a dream this morning and is being quiet. I also found out...about...stuff" James could not say the words Lily or death, or even Voldemort. Hermione's look suddenly changed to one of concern. "Oh, James, are you OK? I know it's hard, but it all happened for a reason, it can't possibly be changed." "Yeah, I know, but it's so unfair. Especially on him, I heard about the dream today and felt the scar pains." At this comment the lass chocked on her beer before calming herself down enough to look sympathetically at James. Harry on the other hand was feeling guilty for being such a burden on his father but resented the pity he knew James felt towards him. "Voldemort is trying to kill you in the future. You are in comas. He thinks this is his chance". James stated, no emotion behind the voice, just blank.
"He's tried to get us 6 times in the past – well future – well y'know, he is not going to get us this time. Dumbledore will sort something out. He always does." She tried to sound more convinced about this that she really was "Anyways, we've been 50 minutes in here, we had better get off to Herbology" Remus suggested. "Will you take some notes please Lupin, I can't really go because I'd stand out but I don't want Lily to suffer for this" Hermione said, business as usual then. "Sure", and with that the boys vacated the room and Hermione was left alone with Lily in the recesses of her mind.