Looks like I'm back with chapter eight for everyone. I figured that Voldemort would begin to show himself around their sixth year. He needs to gain a lot of power, followers, the works, so it'll take a few years before he is all-powerful and deadly.
Chapter Eight: The BeginningThe return to Hogwarts was not a happy one. As soon as everyone had returned, they were told to return to the Great Hall after they dropped off their things. McGonagall had told them that it was a very important announcement.
"I wonder what the announcement is," Peter squeaked as the marauders made their way down to the Hall.
"It must be important," Remus, replied, "usually we just go down later for dinner and he tells us there, or the head of house tells us." James nodded in agreement, looking somewhat nervous. Sirius trailed behind them, curious, as he always has been. Just as the four were about to enter the hall, a small sob caught the attention of James and he turned to see Lily. McGonagall was sitting next to her, comforting the girl.
"Lily! What's-"
"Get in the Hall James, Lily will be in there shortly," McGonagall said warningly. James nodded and followed his friends into the hall. More students filed into the Great Hall and in a few short minutes, everyone stared up at Dumbledore. The old wizard looked worn with worry and lack of sleep making him look a lot older than he already was. He gazed at his students with his blue eyes, only this time there was no sparkle as he looked at them.
"I'm happy to see that you've all returned to Hogwarts safely," Dumbledore said to the silent audience. "I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and that you're all ready to return to classes this Monday." James turned his head at the sound of footsteps to see Lily seat herself a few people back from him. "However, I must issue that fact that several muggle-born families were attacked over the holidays. Their houses were then marked by a smoke-like signal over the house. It was a green skull with a large snake coming out of its mouth. The witches and wizards responsible for this have yet to be caught. For your safety I must cancel all future Hogsmeade visits until they are caught. I'm sorry." Dumbledore sat down with the other teachers and talked about the incident. The students started talking in an angry rage. Their Hogsmeade visits were cancelled, who had decided to attack families on Christmas anyway? It was insane.
"No Hogsmeade? It's an outrage, a scandal!" Sirius argued with Remus. James nodded in agreement and looked around for Lily. He spotted her sitting in between two other friends. She was chalk white and her eyes were blood-shot.
"Lily?" James asked, approaching her slowly. Lily looked up at James, her green eyes shining with tears.
"James, th-they killed my uncle," Lily whispered, tears slowly forming once more. "They laughed afterwards and just disapperated. I-I-it was horrible." James wrapped his arms around Lily as she began sobbing.
"It's alright Lily, everything will be fine," he reassured her.
"James," Lily whispered. James looked at her. "James," she continued, "please promise me that you won't sneak into Hogsmeade." James' eyes widened. She figured out that they could sneak in. "Please James. Promise me that you won't risk your life just to purchase some prank or for a butterbeer." James held her closer.
"I promise Lily, that I won't sneak into Hogsmeade," James said firmly. Lily looked up at James and smiled weakly.
"Thank you James, that means a lot to me." James smiled at Lily and helped her stand up. "I think I'll go up the common room, do some reading." James nodded and watched Lily exit the Hall.
Later that night Sirius, Peter, James, and Remus sat in their dorm room on their beds talking in hushed voices.
"So James," Sirius said slyly, "what was Lily asking you to do for her?" Remus and Peter stared at James with sly grins on their faces.
"She...she made me promise that I wouldn't sneak into Hogsmeade." Remus and Peter wiped the grins off their faces and quickly turned towards Sirius.
"But, but you'll still come to Hogsmeade right? I mean, you aren't going to keep that promise right, you're still sneaking there with us next month right?" James shook his head.
"No Sirius, I'm not. I'm keeping my promise to Lily."
"But what about the invisibility cloak!" Sirius yelled. "That's what gets us to the witch with the hump on her back!"
"You guys can use it still," James said softly, "I just won't be coming with you." Remus looked at James and smiled.
"It's nice that you're keeping your promise James. It shows responsibility and that you really care for her." James smiled and thanked Remus.
"Ya, I guess you really do like her huh?" Peter squeaked as he pulled his bed curtains closed. Remus nodded and got up.
"Don't be so hard on him Sirius," Remus whispered to Sirius as he hugged him.
"Night Remus," Sirius said, hugging him back. Sirius watched Remus crawl into bed and use his wand to close the curtain.
James was about to retire when he heard Sirius growl, "I can't believe you'd rather keep your promise to some female instead of hanging out with us."
Slowly the winter thawed and spring was soon upon them. Along with teachers giving them more homework to prepare for exams.
"Honestly, teachers are psycho around now. Three feet of parchment! Raving mad I tell you!" Sirius complained during lunch.
"There just preparing us," Remus countered, "they do want us to pass you know." Sirius and Peter held back their laughter.
"Yep Moony, that's why we're assigned three feet of parchment, because they usually ask for only like, three paragraphs on the exam!" Remus frowned and turned towards Lily to talk to her. Lily was doing better since Christmas. Peter suddenly dropped his sandwich and pointed towards the ceiling.
"Look! Owl Post!" Everyone looked up to see their owls fly towards them.
"But the owls already delivered the mail this morning," Lily said curiously as she untied the Daily Prophet from the owl's leg. Lily unfolded the paper and quickly dropped it on the table; her face became white with a small hint of green. James quickly looked up but Sirius took his time to listen to what she had to say or show them, his grudge about Lily was yet to pass. Remus and Peter leaned in with James to read the paper headline:
Three Muggle-born Families Attacked in the Past Week
James held Lily and soon a mummer broke out among the teachers and students. Remus and Sirius glanced looked at their paper and quickly read the article.
"It says the same thing for each family. Same mark above the houses, same curse used to kill them, they have the Aurors all over it, but they can't find anything about them," Remus commented as he put down the paper. Sirius leaned in to look at it.
"They got a photo this time," Sirius pointed out. The group stared at the photo, watching the figures dressed in black suddenly pop out of sight. "Looks like they disappeared as soon as they were photographed.
"Why didn't they just kill him then?" Lily questioned. Remus shrugged and looked for the name of the photographer.
"There's no name listed..." Remus said quietly.
"Maybe, maybe the killers want themselves known. Maybe they want the public to fear them," Lily said, staring at the photograph closely.
The following week consisted of the same thing. Muggle-born families and muggles being tortured or killed, then on Friday, the paper read a new heading.
Attackers Call Themselves 'Death Eaters' and Are Working for 'Lord Voldemort'
"Lord what?" Sirius asked as he made his way to Charms.
"Lord Voldemort. Apparently he's the one ordering for the families to die. According to him, half-breeds and blood traitors should be killed for tainting the wizarding world. They're trying to make it only purebloods again," James replied as he looked down at the paper. Looking throughout the rest of the paper, they also noticed that this 'Voldemort' was continuously gaining supporters and power.
"But how do they know that?" James asked out loud. "They can't really know that unless one of the death eaters or Voldemort tells them.
"Which means," Remus said, coming into the conversation and quickly placing his hand in Sirius', "that there is inside corruption at the Ministry of Magic." Sirius and James nodded. Sirius soon replaced his frown with a sly grin.
"So Mooney, our classes are done with and a weekend is stretched out before us, care to stroll along the lake with me?" Remus smiled.
"I think I will love," Remus responded. "James, we'll see you later!" James nodded happily at the two and waved them off.
"Oh go you two, I just feel sorry for anyone that comes across you two in your moment of um...passion." Sirius and Remus laughed and walked off holding hands and whispering to each other.
Remus sighed as he looked out at the lake. One tentacle could be seen as the giant squid propelled itself around the lake. The two young men were sitting underneath a willow tree. Remus was sitting in between Sirius's legs and the Sirius had his arms wrapped around Remus, only letting go to play with Remus' hair or to pick a fallen leaf out of their hair.
"What's troubling you?" Sirius questioned.
"Do you think the Ministry will think Werewolves are death eaters if Voldemort offers them enough promises of power and wealth? Will they seek out each werewolf and give them all trials? Will they hand us over to the Dementors until we are driven mad?" Sirius looked at Remus shocked. He hadn't thought of that? Would the Ministry come after his Remus?
"Sorry Mooney, but they'd have to get past me, James, Lily, and Peter to even come close to getting anywhere near you." Remus smiled, for the moment content with the answer, still, the question loomed in his head refusing to fully leave him.
Peter watched as his two best friends held each other. It was disgusting really. Men were never meant to be together as lovers. It was wrong and disgusting. How James put up with it was beyond him. Sure, he acted happy for the two, but he couldn't help but shiver at the thought of them kissing and holding each other in a tight embrace. He remembered the first time he had seen them kiss. He accidentally walked in on them when Remus was supposed to be helping Sirius with a Potions essay. It was the most horrible thing he had ever witnessed. The two kissing each other, lips locked and the two embracing each other. No wonder they had picked a secluded table to work at.
"Disgusting," Peter whispered as he quickly turned and walked back up to the castle.
Whoot! Another wonderful chapter for you all to enjoy and review. I hope to update again soon. It'll be a really long chapter too because it'll cover the rest of spring and a large majority of summer break, so expect the chapter to be well over 2,000 words! Please review and I'll try to update a.s.a.p!
Also, a note for all of you reviewers: Thank you for reviewing the chapter and telling me to update. Sure it may seem like nothing to you, but it means a lot to me for people to read this.
Where there's good news there is also bad. I'm working on another story hears reviews moan and someone say 'not again' and it's a Harry and Severus pairing. watches reviews look appalled No no no, I'm not like the other weird authors. I have a reasonable reason lol for them to be together. It takes place shortly after 'Snape's Worst Memory'. So don't worry, I will have reason behind the madness! Please I beg for your patience!
Read and Review!