Disclaimer: Yes that's right! I own Harry Potter. I am richer than the queen of England and I have a movie of Harry Potter 3 coming in June…
HA!!! I WISH!
A Note to all of my Reviewers: Thank you so so so much for all of your great reviews! Keep Reviewing. You all are great.
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Harry and Remus walked out into the bright sunlight of Diagon Alley. Harry's stomach grumbled loudly.
"Maybe we should stop for a quick bite to eat first?" asked Remus, holding his own stomach.
"Sounds good," Harry replied.
They spotted a little café down the winding alley a bit, and they decided that it would be a perfect place to have lunch at. They walked in slowly and sat down for lunch. A witch with dark brown, shoulder length hair and a pointed nose walked over to them to take their order. She smiled at Harry and Remus. Both men ordered a sub, and a drink.
"Do you think that may be Tonks again?" asked Harry quietly once the waitress had left.
"You know, it could be," Remus replied thoughtfully. "It's hard to recognize her when she changes so much. In case it is her, we might not want to talk about where we are going after this, as she or one of the others might try to follow us."
Harry nodded in agreement. Harry wondered about what they were going to find in this room. Sirius obviously thought they would find something important or he wouldn't have bothered to tell them about it. Harry looked around the café at all of the people eating and laughing, with nothing plaguing their minds. He looked at all of these people unaffected by the death of Sirius Black. Harry loathed them, wondering what it would feel like to be carefree. Never to have even seen someone die, let alone your parent's, a classmate, and a godfather. He was becoming irrational as his temper heated up for no reason, and he wanted to make them all grieve like he was doing. Harry thought it wasn't right to be happy on such a sad day.
Just then Harry looked up and saw their waitress walking back over to them with their drinks. Harry glared at her for no apparent reason, and she looked taken aback.
"Here are you're drinks," she said still glancing at Harry, confused. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No you didn't," replied Remus quickly. The girl they were assuming was Tonks looked at them with pity, and walked away. "Harry, I know this is hard, but you can't go around being bitter to everyone you meet."
Harry took a deep breath and sighed. "Yeah, I suppose you're right."
They sat in silence for a moment before Harry spoke again.
"Do you remember what Sirius said about a prank?"
"Yes," replied Remus. "I think he said something about a thunder clap, which leads me to believe that it will not take place today as the sky is clear. Even Sirius and James couldn't make it thunder on a clear day."
"You think that there will be a great prank though?" asked Harry.
"Knowing Sirius and James, I don't doubt it," replied Remus. "I just wonder what they have in store for all of us."
Harry laughed. It did sound like a massive prank would be something that they would do. Just then their food arrived.
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An hour later Harry and Remus were walking back down Diagon Alley, towards The Leaky Cauldron, so they could floo back to Grimmauld place.
BOOM!
"What in the bloody hell was that?" yelled Harry as the sound shook the ground, effectively knocking him off his feet.
"I do believe that was a thunder clap, created by James and Sirius," said Remus looking up at the sky in awe.
"I-" Harry began, but was cut off as people started to yell.
The clouds opened up drenching Diagon Alley in water, or so Harry thought. That is until Remus spoke.
"This is definitely the work of Padfoot and Prongs," he said. "Look at the water Harry."
Harry looked at the rain falling from the sky as he pulled himself off the ground to stand up. The rain was colored! Each drop that fell from the sky was a color of the rainbow! Harry wondered how they had done this as he looked at Remus who was laughing. Remus was looking multicolored as each different color drop that hit him left its mark. Harry started laughing at him. He looked funny.
"I don't know what you're laughing at Harry," said Remus. "You look the same as me."
Harry looked down at himself, and saw that Remus was correct. He looked up and saw that everyone in Diagon alley was turning multicolored because of the weird rain.
"Look at that cloud!" someone shouted. Harry and Remus both looked at the sky, and hovering over Gringotts, which Harry noted was no longer a shining white, but now many different colors, they saw two clouds that were taking the shape of a great stag, and a very large shaggy dog. Harry and Remus glanced at each other.
"Lets go," Harry said, and Remus nodded his agreement.
They raced down the alley until they stopped almost in front of the multicolored Gringotts building, and pushed past the gathering crowd to the center and looked up.
"Harry," cried Ron. "What's going on, mate?" Harry turned to see all of the Order standing right behind them. They were all covered in different colors, which was a funny site indeed. Harry nudged Remus, and the sadness left both of them as they started cracking up at the sight of a multicolored Order. Even Dumbledore's beard was many different colors.
"I do believe," Remus choked out between bursts of laughter. "That this is the greatest prank in history!" With that Remus and Harry fell over laughing.
There were several small bangs. Everyone in the multicolored alley looked at the sky again. There were two very large clouds in the sky. One was shaped like a stag, and now had great fireworks exploding from its mouth. The other, a great shaggy dog, also had fireworks exploding from its mouth. The clouds, still emitting great amounts of fireworks, started to spread apart. A rainbow appeared between then, and both animals reared up and put their two front feet on one end of the rainbow.
This was not the end. With the fireworks still coming, words started to appear in the sky above the rainbow, written out of clouds.
Today's Rainbow Storm Courtesy of:
Everyone looked up, and then the word 'Prongs' was formed under the stag, and the word 'Padfoot' appeared under the dog. Suddenly the fireworks stopped and the cloud forms of Padfoot and Prongs looked up, surprised. Then a word formed in purple under the rainbow.
Lily
The fireworks started up again, and the dog and the stag started laughing. Suddenly a booming voice that seemed to come from the stag spoke.
"Sorry Lily, we forgot."
Harry and Remus heard this and burst out laughing once again. "They didn't credit Lily," Remus said through laughter. "They're going to be in trouble."
"You have our pity Padfoot and Prongs" Remus and Harry shouted to the clouds together, huge smiles on their face.
The stag and the dog continued laughing as more words appeared.
A True Marauder Never Dies.
Remember.
Harry and Remus looked at each other, as the crowd around them murmured confusedly. Only a few of them knew who had caused the prank. Even some in the Order were confused.
"That was brilliant," whispered Remus to Harry.
"I agree," replied Harry. "We should let them know that."
Remus nodded, and they both raised their wands to the clouds, and murmured a spell, and bright red words appeared under the last message.
That was a bloody brilliant prank!
Remember.
The dog and the stag nodded and smiled down at them, before the clouds and the rainbow faded away, leaving the majority of Diagon Alley confused, but amazed at what had just taken place.
"Why did you write remember?" questioned Ron from behind them.
"Because, they wrote it asking us to remember them, and we wrote it, ensuring that we would," replied Remus, still looking amused.
"But Harry," said Hermione looking worried. "You can't do magic outside of school. What if you get in trouble?"
"Yes I can," Harry replied. Leave it to Hermione to think about that. "The Ministry gave me a pardon."
"Cool mate," said Ron enthusiastically. "Good to see you happy again."
"Thanks."
"So Hermione, are you coming back to the house with us?" Ron asked.
"No Ron," replied Hermione annoyed. "I told you already, I have to do something with my parents."
"Really," asked Ron. "Sure it's not with Vicky?"
Harry caught Ginny's eye, and they both started laughing. "I told you he gets jealous of Krum," Harry said, laughing.
"What is so funny!" demanded Ron, turning to face them, angrily.
"Beware of the Weasley Temper!" whispered Harry to Ginny. Then he doubled over laughing even harder.
"I resent that!" said Ginny with her hands on her hips. Harry could see that she was failing miserably at trying to hide a smile.
"But you know it's true," said Harry with a smile.
"Yes, I suppose," sighed Ginny. "After all, it's like you said. Percy nearly wet himself coming home."
Harry and Ginny cracked up laughing again.
"I repeat myself," said Ron. "What is so funny?"
"Nothing," replied Ginny, still laughing.
"Just a letter," said Harry seeing Ron's angry face.
"I thought I told you what to write in that letter!" yelled Ron to his sister.
"And she wrote it, mate!" replied Harry. "It was just slightly amusing though."
"We are going to finish up in Gringotts, and then pick up a few things at the burrow. Harry you don't mind us staying at your new house do you?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Of course not!" replied Harry. "It is still to be used for the same things it was before, however Remus will move in as well. I have specific orders for what I am to do with that house, and I intend to follow them."
"You mean in the letter?" asked Hermione quietly.
"Yes," replied Harry. "Padfoot wrote me a letter before he left to fight in June, and gave it to Remus to give to me in the event that he died." Harry was loosing some of his cheer now, but found he wasn't extremely sad anymore. He suspected that there was a cheering charm in the colored rain from earlier. He thanked his father and Sirius for that. Harry pulled out the letter to show them all, without letting them read it.
"Wow," Hermione breathed.
"This reminds me," Remus spoke up. "Harry and I have something to do, and we are late. If you could please excuse us, we will speak to all of you very soon."
"Goodbye," Harry said to them as he and Remus hurried off to the Leaky Cauldron.
"What do you suppose they are off to do?" asked Mrs. Weasley to Dumbledore.
"I don't know Molly, but I suspect it has something to do with that letter." He replied.
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Harry and Remus appeared out of the fireplace in Grimmauld Place. Harry stopped and surveyed his new home.
"Which Closet were we supposed to go to?" asked Remus, breaking the silence a few minutes later.
"Oh, uh," said Harry before consulting the letter. "The closet next to Buckbeak's room. Just tap the back wall with your wand and say 'PadfootedProngs'"
"Okay, let's go," said Remus as the walked up the staircase, past the heads that Sirius told them to remove. "I can't believe that I'm going to be living here. It's weird."
"I know," said Harry. "I can't believe all of this is happening. I think that Sirius and my father put a cheering charm in the rain drops today, though. That's why I am not as depressed as I was this morning."
"I think you're right Harry," said Remus. "They knew we would be upset despite our promises not to, and decided to incorporate a cheering charm into their greatest prank ever."
"Here's the closet we're supposed to go to," said Harry, stopping suddenly.
They entered the closet and Harry pulled out his wand and tapped the back wall of the closet and said "PadfootedProngs." Suddenly the back of the closet swung open into a well lit room.
"Wow," Remus breathed.
"Yeah," said Harry.
They looked around. There were comfy armchairs placed around the room, and a row of windows on the wall opposite the door they had just entered, drowning the room in sunlight. In one corner, there was a mini kitchen, filled with cabinets, and a sink and the works. There was also a shelf along one wall with books and products made by the marauders in their school days. Also on this shelf, Harry found a leather bound book, and opened it to find photos of Sirius, James, and Remus. It appeared that Sirius had been here recently, and ripped out all of Peter's pictures. They were lying on the floor next to the album.
"Sirius has definitely used this room since the Order has restarted," said Remus, as he opened a cabinet filled with firewhiskey.
"Yeah he definitely has," agreed Harry, as he held up all of the pictures of Peter.
"What's that?" asked Remus curiously, pointing at something behind Harry. Harry turned to look. He saw two blank portraits hanging on the wall. One of them appeared to be in very good condition, while the other one was slightly beat up.
Harry and Remus walked up to the portraits to have a closer look. Harry noticed a piece of paper lying on the floor next to the blank canvas'.
Hello Harry and Remus.
These you are standing in front of the portraits of James and me that we used during the summers when we wanted to talk. I had the portrait of me in here, and he had the portrait of himself in his house. The figures in the portraits could run between each other's pictures to deliver messages. When I went to Lily and James' house after the attack fifteen years ago, I took the portrait out of his house, and brought it back here, so I could still talk to his portrait, because I couldn't face the fact that he was gone. I wanted you to see these pictures, because now you both can talk to the pictures of both of us, almost in person. If you want to see the subjects of these portraits, tap your wand on the frame, and say 'padfootedprongs.' We should appear. Also, Moony, Harry is not to have any of the firewhiskey! I trust you on that one mate. Anyway, I hope this cheers you up mates.
Padfoot
Harry and Remus finished reading the letter and looked up.
"Do you want to do it then?" asked Harry.
"I'm not sure," replied Harry. "I don't know what to think. Maybe we should because we could still ask for advice, and have someone else to talk to."
"I agree," answered Remus. "I won't have anyone to talk to when you are at school. I think maybe we should."
"Each of us can do a picture," said Harry slowly. "I want to do my dad's if you don't mind."
"Okay Harry," said Remus.
They each took out their wands and Harry walked up to the battered one, which he guessed had come out of his parents' house in Godric's Hollow. Remus walked up to the other portrait, and together they tapped the frames and said "padfootedprongs." Suddenly two faces appeared in the portraits. Harry and Remus were looking at a slightly younger version of Sirius Black and James Potter.
"Hello Harry," said James. "Moony mate! Good to see you!"
"Oi! Harry," cried Sirius. "What happened?"
"Well, when was the last time you two were seen?" asked Harry.
"Well," spoke James's Portrait slowly. "The real Sirius was in here telling us that I had been betrayed by Peter, and that he had gone to Azkaban for killing Peter, that he escaped thirteen years later, and came to Hogwarts, where you saved Peter's life, and helped Peter escape."
"Then," continued Sirius slowly. "I told us about the triwizard tournament, and about that damn house elf that is still here, and about the Order."
"That's about correct then," said Remus. "Then Sirius died in a battle in the department of Mysteries a month ago, and we just got back from his hearing today, and you two pulled a brilliant cosmic prank."
"It was the best prank in History," said Harry smiling.
"We need to hear about that one," said James excitedly from inside his frame.
They spent a good amount of time that afternoon talking about the great prank, and Harry and Remus filled them in on the events of the last year in more detail. Then the question of the prophecy came up and Harry became silent.
"Did you hear what the prophecy said, Harry?" asked James.
"Dumbledore wouldn't let anyone know what it said Prongs," replied Sirius and Remus.
Harry didn't know if he should tell them. He was after all, talking to two pictures, and Remus. Yes, but they are your father and his two best friends, said a voice in his head. Harry sighed. They would eventually need to know anyway.
"Yes, Dumbledore let me listen to it," Harry started. "Basically it says that a wizard boy born in the end of July, whose parents had escaped Voldemort three times, would be the only person who could defeat him. It also said that we will be in a battle to the death because one of us has to kill the other one."
The room was silent for a few minutes after that. Finally James spoke.
"Well, Harry Sirius and I will be here if either of you need anyone to talk to. I just wish I could be a real father to you like you deserve instead of trapped in a frame like this."
"Yes Harry, I'll be here fore you too," said Remus. "Whatever you need, I'll be here for you. I'll be there to support you in the final battle, and whenever you need it."
"Yeah, and me too Harry," said Sirius. "And don't worry, Harry, you can beat that bastard."
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They spent the next few hours talking, and Harry got to know his father better. The portraits weren't quite perfect, but it was better than not being able to see his father or Sirius at all. They still had the same personality, and cared about him. He wondered what it was like for Remus, to have to result to only being able to see his two best friends through a picture. That's awful, Harry thought. Just then he looked at his watch.
"Everyone will be back from Diagon Alley any second now," He said.
"Oh great," said Remus. "We have to leave, but we'll see you both soon, Padfoot and Prongs."
Harry said goodbye to Sirius, and then his father. Harry and Remus walked out of the closet, and back down to the fireplace from which they came in.
"Where are we supposed to floo to?" asked Harry.
"Well, I suppose we could go back to Mrs. Figg's house," said Remus.
They picked up some floo powder and stepped into the fire.
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Harry threw his arms out once the spinning sensation had stopped and caught himself just before he fell face first into Mrs. Figg's living room. Remus appeared moments later just as Harry had moved out of the way.
"Hello again boys," said Mrs. Figg. "Will you two want anything to eat or drink?"
"No thank you Mrs. Figg," said Harry. "We've had a long day, and are just going to go back to the Dursley's for some rest if you don't mind."
"Alright then," said the old lady. "I will see you in the morning then."
"Goodnight," said Harry and Remus together.
They left and walked back to the Dursley's house. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts about the day, before Harry spoke.
"When is the next time that you think they will let me back into Grimmauld Place?"
"I don't know, Harry. We'll think of something though."
They continued their walk in a comfortable silence until they reached the Dursley's doorstep where Harry said 'goodnight' and walked inside and up to his room. The first thing he noticed was Hedwig sitting on the bed waiting patiently for him, with a letter tied to her leg. Harry wondered who would use Hedwig to send him a letter. His first thought was that Ginny had said she would write him later. He suddenly became very happy, as he thought about Ginny's letter. Why he was so happy confused him a bit, but he put that aside, and ran to untie the letter. Hedwig gave a hoot of thanks, and flew to her cage for some water and food.
Harry picked up the letter in his hands, but he noticed by the handwriting the letter wasn't from Ginny.
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A/N I know I am evil… who is the letter really from? Review to find out. And for all of you that are disappointed that Harry and Ginny are not moving faster, just keep in mind that Ginny still has a boyfriend, and Harry doesn't quite know what to think about his best friend's little sis. Review if you want me to hurry up already. ;)