Author's Note: Finally an update! I'm sorry that I've to let all of you to wait so long.
Chapter 13
Marauders' Christmas Holidays
"Where are your mum and dad?" asked Sirius, sitting on his trunk, waiting for James' parents to arrive at the platform. He glanced at his watch gloomily; almost all the students had left the platform.
"I guess they're late," said James. "Dad's an Auror. He had work to do especially at this time."
"Being an Auror doesn't mean he can be late," Sirius argued. He looked around and spotted two middle age adults, somewhere near thirties, approaching them with smiles. The man had hair that was all over the place, like James, which looked like it would never lie flat on his head. He wore spectacles too and right beside him must be his wife. She had a pair of hazel eyes, filled with friendliness and a little tint of mischief. Those two people must be James' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Potter.
"Mum, Dad!" James yelled, running towards his parents. He embraced his mother and his father gave him a light pat on the shoulder.
"Jamesie, my boy, you've grown!" Mrs. Potter observed his son and James' cheeks burned bright red, Sirius took a little note in his mind to tease him with his childhood name.
"Mum, I'm grown up!" James argued. "I'm not Jamesie anymore! I'm James! I'm already eleven!"
"He's right, Evelyn," said Mr. Potter. "He's not a child anymore."
"You must be Sirius then?" Mrs. Potter turned to Sirius. "I've been hearing a lot of you from James."
"Yeah, Sirius Black," answered Sirius. "Don't worry. I'm nothing like the others with pure blood mania."
"Finally the second white sheep from the Black family," Mr. Potter commented and gave a little chuckle. "Let's go then, shall we?"
"How?"
"By Portkey," answered Mr. Potter, taking out an old muggle newspaper. "Know the procedure?" The Potters nodded and Sirius gave a hint of understood even though he had no idea what a Portkey was, all of them put a hand on the newspaper and Sirius did the same. "Three – two – one –" Sirius felt something like a hook, which pulled him up and the platform had disappeared. His surroundings were swirl of colors and his hand was stuck to the newspaper. Soon, his feet hit the ground and he looked around wildly.
"Welcome to the Potters'," said James, grinning. If Sirius had to describe the house to someone he would have said it were somewhat similar to a palace or heaven. The walls were spotless. There wasn't any spider as a habitant in the corners of the room and the place was free from spider webs. The wooden floor was so shiny that it looked as if it was polished at least ten times. The armchairs stood before the fire cackling merrily. The place was so clean. Before he could comment on anything, James had dragged him up the stairs. "C'mon Sirius," said James, but he stopped suddenly. "Oh, Gwen."
Sirius was surprised when James stopped and addressed someone whom he couldn't see; he peeked from behind and saw a house elf. She wore a clean blouse and skirt; her huge eyes were staring at them with excitement.
"May Gwen help you Master James?" she squeaked. "And who is that, Master James? Gwen would like to know."
"This is Sirius Black, Gwen, my best friend at Hogwarts," James introduced. "And work… hmmm… help me take Sirius' trunk up to the guest room." Gwen was gone within a minute, Sirius was amazed, when did Kreacher ever move that fast? They continued their way up and stopped outside a room. James went in and Sirius followed.
The room was so neat and tidy. In a corner lay a fluffy white bed and another was a writing desk with inks, quills and parchments all at the ready. There was a cupboard for keeping robes too.
"This is perfect," said Sirius. "Thanks."
"We're friends, remember?" said James. "Best friends?" Sirius nodded and beamed.
"How is he, sir?" asked John Lupin anxiously as Remus buttoned up his shirt. He was at St. Mungo's. Each and every year, around the time of Christmas, which Remus would really hate, he had to visit St. Mungo's for a full body check up. He had no idea why; he couldn't die from Lycanthropy, could he? He couldn't go any worse, could he?
The healer frowned and shook his head. John and Jane Lupin exchanged worried looks. "He's getting worse," the healer said.
"He had changed the place for transformation," said Mr. Lupin.
"That could be a reason," said the healer. "Studying at Hogwarts?" he smiled.
"Yeah," said Remus enthusiastically.
"You're the first," said the healer, handling him a bar of Honeydukes' best chocolate. "Eat up. A lot of people suffering from lycanthropy had died from it. Not because of the transformations, of course not, but of the prejudices the society is giving them. You know that, Remus?"
Remus nodded his head. He understood perfectly well.
"You must be strong," said the healer, "and prove the world wrong. I believe you're capable of that. Nothing much, a few deep scratches and that's all. Have a nice day."
"Thanks sir," the Lupins left the hospital and headed towards their own home. Prove the world wrong? Remus thought, am I really capable of that? I really hope so, if I can help all of the ones suffering to have a better life.
"Peter, my boy!" Mrs. Pettigrew smiled proudly at his son. "Look how much you've grown! Mummy really missed you while you're away."
"Mum," said Peter, "I'm eleven."
"So Peter, do you have friends?" asked Mr. Pettigrew. "How is it like in Gryffindor?"
"It's marvelous and fantastic," answered Peter. "I've three friends. Three best friends. James Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin."
"Ahh," said Mr. Pettigrew. "Potter, I know that name. Henry Potter is the top Auror in the ministry. Sirius Black, isn't that a family of pure blood mania?"
"I know," said Peter hastily. "But he's the white sheep of the Black family." Mrs. Pettigrew chuckled.
"Voldemort is steadily rising to power," said Mr. Pettigrew. "I'm not saying that we'd join the dark side, but if anything happens and you've to save your own skin, you have to."
"Dad," said Peter, "does it mean that even if you've to betray your friends?"
"Yes," said Mr. Pettigrew sternly. Peter shuddered to think about himself betraying his friends in order to save himself. He was going to kill all of them in a way. Hopefully, he thought that would never happen.
"James?"
James looked up from his Quidditch magazine and gazed at his best friend. It was after dinner and Mrs. Potter had let Sirius to stay with James until it was midnight.
"Don't you think," Sirius paused for a while, scratching his head, "don't you think that something is wrong with Remus?"
"I know what you're going to say," said James and he sighed deeply.
"He said he was going to visit his mum who was sick," Sirius recalled. "But it looks like he was the one who was sick."
"Did you notice that he never once brought his clothes with him during the trips?" said James. "Something is wrong."
"I heard," said Sirius, "during the last time that we had to send you to the hospital when we accidentally –" James shot him a furious look, " – broke your hand, Remus was the one who actually talked to Madam Pomfrey."
"Yes."
"And it seems to be that they two are on very friendly terms," said Sirius.
"What's wrong with that?" asked James.
"During school time," Sirius analyzed, "Remus seldom visits the hospital wing."
"That's right."
"It's only possible that he was visiting it during that time," said Sirius.
"No."
"Yes."
"It couldn't be."
"It's the truth."
"You're thinking too much, Sirius," said James. "You cannot accuse Remus of being that monster."
"James," said Sirius, "I'm not thinking too much. I'm asking what if it's really true?"
"What do you mean," said James, shooting him a stern look.
"Are we going to –?"
"NO."
"Really?" said Sirius, grinning.
"Yeah," said James. "We won't abandon him no matter what he is."
"You think would Peter agree to that?" asked Sirius.
"We're the Marauders Four, Sirius," said James. "There's no Marauders Three or Two."
"We'd stay together forever no matter what happens," said Sirius, nodding his head. "Everything would be all right."
"Do you think there's anything to help Remus with his condition?" asked James.
"Surely," said Sirius. "It's really hard to believe if that really is the truth."
"We're his friend, Sirius!" said James. "You know about those kind of things don't you? Prejudices?"
"Of course," said Sirius.
"Let's just hope that it isn't true…"
Author's note: We'd be entering into the second year pretty soon by a few more chapters. So, more coming up, you know what it means. (wink)
Kilikapele: Yeah, exactly. However, being first years, both Sirius and James didn't really bother to. Nobody really likes to have a werewolf for a friend, even though he only changes once in a month. They couldn't really help but face the reality, how the society treated people like Remus, hardly of them receive any education. They've been thinking that it wasn't really true. It's difficult to accept the fact. Nobody can understand what Remus goes through every month except the four of them.
BrennQT: I know I'm very bad in English, my recent composition test could be the evidence. Hehe. Dumbledore is always the kind that would easily forgive people, isn't he? Of course, he's a pretty funny guy as well (as shown in the first chapter of philosopher's stone). Just like what he had done to Harry, Hermione and Ron during their first year, this isthe same aswell. We're entering the second year pretty soon and Remus' background would be uncovered. Yeah, and thanks for the advise. I'd watch out for that.
Chpip: Thanks for your support!Continue reading, there would be something to look forward to in every chapter. The Marauders surprise all. (hehe)
Blinded One: I've usually written a couple of chapters before I actually send the current one, which is to be updated, to my beta, Erica. So it tends to be late.
