CHAPTER 5: ALMOST THERE…
((Just wanted to add a little note: I haven't said it in the past, but I think it's quite obvious that the story and the characters here are NOT mine. That said, nowenjoy the next chapter!...and don't frget to review.please.))
Two days were left until then end of school, until the end of childhood. The headmaster had managed to catch up to the Marauders throughout the day to inform them of times that were to come.
"You see, aurors run quite a wide array of risks, and by enrolling yourself in this profession, you will undoubtedly end up with a few scars, much like these brave gentlemen." Dumbledore handed them a few newspaper clips and pictures containing people with missing limbs, distorted faces, unusual bodily fluids seeping out of them, and so on. "You will find there are many spells to be learned, many which you must cast only in order to fulfill your duties-" "Get the bad guys!" Sirius snorted, dropping the papers back on Dumbledore's desk. "That's right." Boy, did the word 'serious' exist for them?
"No offence, professor, but perhaps it might be best if you get to the point straight away before these imps lose interest?" "Interest! Moony that's the best joke you've ever said!"Sirius roared, tilting his chair back so far the back legs threated to snap off. "It's the only one." James reminded them. Peter was the last one to laugh. "I don't get it." He said, perplexed. Dumbledore, who had raised his head toward the ceiling to prevent a smile from being seen on his face, rolled his eyes. "Yes, perhaps I should get straight to the point."
He placed a soft hand in front of his mouth as he coughed a bit, then spoke again, hoping he wouldn't be interrupted this time. "As I was saying, many skills are required to pursue in this line of work, and not all of them are taught here, in Hogwarts. The reason for this: the Ministry of Magic, considerate as they are, has refused me the opportunity to build a training room or let me- or any other professor here, for that matter- teach in detail… what's… missing." The old man seemed satisifed at the chosen vocabulary. " Understand?" He asked, stooking his long silvery beard. He got a nod from each of the Marauders, and continued his 'speech'. "As such, I find I'll have to send you away, whether you like it or not (he smiled) to another school, in a few days, to successfully train you-" He was cut off again by Sirius' bark-like laughter "To kick evil's itsy bitsy tush." "In the meantime," Dumbledore raised his voice, "enjoy you're your last few days. I'll send you all an owl sometime soon. Dissmissed."
"Bring it on." Sirius challenged as the four friends headed down the stairs of the Headmaster's office. James smiled. "Pretty cool don't you think?" His friends gave him a questionning look. "We're finally getting to the end of it, we've finally finished working to achieve what we've wanted for the past few years of our lives. But what do we do next? Isn't there somekind of higher level to get to after this?" "See, Prongs, this is why we took Divination, no?" "To see beyond our imagination, to the harsh reality of the future washing upon us as a wave hits the shoreline before drawing back… and that's when we drown." "Fantastic, Padfoot. And I actually thought you had some poetic side to you for a second there." Remus chuckled. "I think it's great. Especially that little sadistic twist at the end." "Sadistic?" "Yes, Padfoot. Sadistic." "Wonder where the word comes from…" "Don't we all…" Four sighs were heard consecutively and echoed throughout the corridor.
There was no moon in the infinite blue veil that hung over the world, but the comforting light of the torches guided the Marauders' way back to their beds, into a world of dreams, where even the most sadistic of all realities couldn't reach them.
In the middle of the night, James was awakened by some shuffling noise coming from the end of his bed. Panicked at first, he quickly realised it was his friend Padfoot, leaning over his chest, obviously searching for something. "You know, maybe you should ask before taking my invisibility cloak." James yawned, knowing exactly what Sirius was up to. "I was going to wake you up anyway." The other replied taking the soft material out from under the pile of books Prongs used to hide it.
" Where're you going?" James picked up his glasses from the bedside table and placed them on his nose. With a great amount of effort, he pulled himself out of bed and shivered when his bare feet hit the cold, hard floor. Sirius wasn't going anywhere without him. "I was thinking maybe a nice little walk like we used to, maybe set up a last little prank. We won't have time to do it tomorrow, we'll be busy packing." It'd been a while since they'd played a prank on anyone other than Severus, and even at that… "Coming along, my good friend?" "Why ask stupid questions you already know the answer to?" James put on a robe and followed him out of the common room. At this hour, everyone- except for them- was sound asleep, and so they risked nothing but Filch and his lousy cat, Mrs. Norris.
"What kind of prank were you planning on setting up, Padfoot?" James asked as they were walking through the dark corridors, a soft light emanating from each of their wands, and the invisibility cloak slightly sticking out of one of Jamess pockets. "Not sure, exactly," Sirius replied, tying up his wavy hair in a short ponytail. "But I thought I'd find something soon enough." He paused. "What do you think we should do?" "Make them remember us." Prongs answered right away, running a hand through his dark, tangled hair. He grinned. "I've got an idea, follow me."