"So, Christmas break is in two weeks," Remus sighed. "And I have to go home to visit my mom this weekend."
"It's not so bad, Remie. Tell her that we hope she feels okay." Sirius patted his friend's back. "Now, did you find us anything on the Blood Curse?"
"Yeah. There isn't much. You guys appear to know more than the books for the most part." Remus nodded. "But, when the curse was stopped, it wasn't put back, it couldn't really be put back. It is possible for someone to make the curse distributable by means other than magic."
"Possible, but not likely. What kind of person decides to use the muggle road to destroy all muggle-borns? That's just not bad-guy M.O." Sirius grinned. "We'll take notes on the Quidditch game for you, mate."
"Do we have homework due for Binns?" James asked.
"Yeah." Peter quipped in. "Write a parchment on…any ancient legend."
"How perfect is this?" James grinned, beginning to write.
"See, this is why I hate you guys. How can you both just sit there and come up with some bull that's worth full marks? How is that possible?" Remus asked, flustered.
"Because, we know how to talk like we know what we're talking about when really our parchment is completely devoid of facts." Sirius replied. "It's a gift."
"A gift I could really use. I don't know any legends." Remus slammed his head onto the Common Room table. "This is rubbish."
"I don't think you're feeling too good mate. Go get some rest." Sirius patted Remus's shoulder as the other boy slowly got up from the table.
"He looks bad." James sighed after Remus had disappeared up the stairs. "Really bad. Kind of pale and peaked like when we were at Diagon Ally, and it's happened to him every time he goes to see his mum."
"He's probably just dreading going home. If my mum was sick-I'd be celebrating, but if you love your mum and she's got a bad disease, it could really get you down." Sirius finished his writing. "What'd you write for Bozo?"
"The Homework one or the extra work one?" James asked.
"Both." Sirius shrugged. "I'm just glad we didn't get detention again from him."
"Pete, how many would that put us at?" James asked.
"From Brown…" Peter flipped in his book to the page where they kept track of detentions. "25 for both of you, 11 for me, 5 for Remus."
"He weasels his way out of trouble well. Not that I blame him." James nodded. "Now, what did I write? Oh yes, I wrote one on how classrooms can be dangerous-I'll probably get detention for that one-and why the best defense in a duel is to get rid your opponent's wand."
"Boys, have you seen Frank and Robert?" Molly asked, coming up to them, looking slightly worried.
"Molls, what's going on?" Sirius asked, never having seen his cousin so concerned. "What happened?"
"I guess you boys are trustworthy enough. If you're done with your work, come with me, but only if you can handle it." Molly replied.
"You guys go, I'll tend to Remus." Peter said quickly and headed upstairs.
"Chicken." James sighed half-heartedly. "We're in. Robert and Frank just left in the general direction of the Greenhouses."
"Come on." Molly led the two first years out onto the grounds and up to a wall of shrubbery with a statue in front of it. She pointed her wand at the statue and said, "Open."
"Original." Sirius scoffed as the statue moved aside to reveal a hole with a staircase leading down it.
"No one ever tries it. They don't think the password could be that simple. Besides, it's not all I'm doing." Molly replied and led them down.
Many of the older Gryffindor students and most of the more prominent students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were gathered around a large round table. Molly pointed to where the two boys should sit and sat down herself.
"Molls, what is this?" Robert asked.
"They're alright. They'll be a new generation. We don't have anyone below fifth year, we'll need some new blood sooner or later." Molly replied. "If they say anything, throw them in the forest or something. Let the giant squid eat them. I trust them."
"Okay, so the meeting has come to order. News anyone?" Robert asked.
"We still can't figure out how all these people keep…dying. I know the Prophet says 'missing', but lets face it, they're probably dead." Frank sighed, pulling out several news clippings. "Prophet's full of bull shit, says these disappearances aren't linked to the ones this summer. It's Voldemort. He's the only one I know trying to build power like that."
"But how? He can't possibly be in two places at once, but yet, these disappearances happen almost simultaneously all over the country. How is that possible?" Arthur asked.
"Henchmen." Sirius piped in. "Lots of folks think that 'cleansing' the wizarding world of anyone who isn't pureblood has got the right idea. That's why the Prophet's been so evasive about covering Voldy's tricks. Money folks say that they need to keep it quiet. He's got to have a whole slew of people serving him."
"You think it's some kind of plot?" Frank asked.
"Well, who holds the purse strings of the Prophet? Rich, old, pureblood families, that's who. Not all of them, of course, but a lot of them think Voldemort's got the right idea. We think they might be trying to release a plague called the 'Blood curse'." James explained. "If he releases it, it'll kill anyone with 50 or more muggle blood."
"The Blood curse?" Robert raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't seem to be Voldemort's style. According to my research, he'd have to use muggle science to distribute it."
"That's why it's not Voldemort who's gonna release it." Molly shook her head. "But I'm sure he'd welcome several youngsters into the fold if they managed to rid Hogwarts of all half-bloods."
"Okay, let's make finding out who the junior henchmen are here a priority, then we'll see what comes up next." Robert nodded. "Frank, the Underground, how is it coming?"
"Well, I need a way to distribute it to people who will actually read it and care." Frank sighed. "I'll start distributing the warnings next month. Other than that, there isn't much else we can do."
"Okay, Molly, James, Sirius, you stay, everyone else, goodnight. Be on the lookout." Robert smiled and the group filed out silently.
"Do you understand what you've seen here?" Molly asked.
"Yeah." Sirius nodded.
"And we won't tell a soul." James replied.
"Good. We'll call you if we meet again." Robert grinned. "Now you must take the oath. Molly, be the witness."
"Of course." Molly nodded, standing off to the side.
"Repeat after me." Robert cleared his throat. "I, as a wizard,"
"I, as a wizard," The boys repeated.
"Do solemnly swear on my magic and on all I hold dear"
"Do solemnly swear on my magic and on all I hold dear"
"That I will never tell of this meeting so long as I live."
"That I will never tell of this meeting so long as I live." Both James and Sirius nodded solemnly.
"Now you may go." Robert nodded and the boys ran off. "How securely did you do the spell?"
"Very. They so much as utter a word about this meeting; they'll…have some misfortune. I relaxed it enough to allow them to tell the other two boys they hang out with so much." Molly grinned and followed the boys out.
Two days later, Sirius and James busily searched the castle for clues about the Blood Curse. They were poking around near the teacher's lounge when they ran into Professor Brown.
"Ah, if it isn't my two favorite students." Brown smiled. "What are you doing up here? Shouldn't you be outside in the fresh air like all the other children?"
"We're looking for Remus Lupin. We haven't seen him since yesterday, and he didn't look well." Sirius lied.
"Ah, boys, Mister Lupin left last night. Come with me and I shall explain everything to you. If you'll excuse us, Robert." Dumbledore smiled, coming up behind them.
"Of course, Sir." Professor Brown turned on a heel and walked off.
Dumbledore led the boys into his office and they ogled at some of the artifacts to be found there.
"Boys, Mr. Lupin's mother is ill, and he must go and visit her frequently. It is a very private matter, so I wish you not to discuss it with any other student or teacher, including Mr. Lupin himself." Dumbledore instructed.
"Okay." James grinned, picking up an artifact. "Professor, sir, what does all this stuff do?"
"A great many things. A great many things." Dumbledore smiled. "Now, I do believe you boys have double detention with McGonagall now. Something about making someone's head swell to twice it's usual size?"
Both boys but their tongues to keep from laughing.
"Yes, while you find this all quite humorous, I dare say you should treat people a little nicer." Dumbledore waved a hand to dismiss them. "Try and stay out of trouble, boys."
Sirius and James made their way towards McGonagall's classroom, perfectly aware of the greasy-haired kid following them.
"We got our oily shadow again?" James whispered.
"What shall we do to Snivellus this time?" Sirius asked.
"How about his tripping on his own filth?" James suggested.
"Mud or oil?" Sirius looked thoughtfully. "Slip on oil and fall into mud?"
"Can you conjure yet?" James asked.
"Not exactly. You?" Sirius looked at his best friend.
"No. We can, however…" James trailed off. "Okay, I'll do the hair spell, you do jelly-legs."
"Got it." Sirius nodded.
The boys turned quickly, and with a shout, launched the two spells at Severus Snape, a greasy-haired Slytherin who had been diligently following them. James and Sirius laughed and kept on walking towards detention, perfectly aware that once they arrived, they'd be serving yet another detention.
As they reached McGonagall's room, however, she came bursting out and headed towards the hospital wing. Instinctively, James and Sirius followed after her.
Madame Pomfrey was wringing her hands as eleven students lay prone on the beds, some sleeping, some clearly in pain, others just feeling ill.
"What is it?" McGonagall demanded.
"I don't know. I have done everything I know how, I can't even help the symptoms." Madame Pomfrey appeared close to tears.
"Minerva, please, contact these children's parents. We may have a very serious situation on our hands." Dumbledore burst into the hospital wing, winking at the two boys who were hiding behind a large plant.
"No one appears to have anything serious, they just all are complaining of symptoms that we can't seem to ease up." McGonagall explained.
"I have only heard of multiple people experiencing these symptoms in a few situations. Several muggle ailments, and the blood curse." Dumbledore sighed, causing Sirius to gasp, an action quickly muffled by James' hand.
"Blood curse?" They mouthed at each other.
"Albus, surely…no." Madame Pomfrey shook her head. "That's been gone for centuries."
"Yes, it has, and now it may be back." Dumbledore replied. "Find out how these students caught it, talk to their friends. We must know whether or not this is the thing we fear, and if it is, we have to find a way to stop this from spreading."
McGonagall nodded and walked out.
"How many?" Sirius whispered from his hiding spot.
"Three Hufflepuff, One Ravenclaw, I don't recognize him but he's a Ravenclaw too…one snake head and…four Gryffindor. Bloody hell! Pete!" James almost stood up.
"What about him?" Sirius asked.
"He's one of the victims!" James exclaimed, still whispering. "So is Robert."
"Robert?" Sirius looked shocked. "As in head of the weird meeting we went to a few days ago, Robert?"
"One in the same. Come on, Minnie will be looking for us to ask us questions." James said and the two snuck out of the hospital wing quickly and headed for their dorms.
"I can't believe Pete's…Pete could die!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Would you keep your voice down?" James growled. "Peter is not going to die because we're going to find the staff and put it together. We have one piece, which means the other three pieces are hidden here. Somewhere."
"Gawain said that behind a portrait of Merlin is a sort of guide to finding the other pieces." Sirius chewed his lip thoughtfully. "Well, where are all the portraits of Merlin?"
"I don't know, but I know who to ask." James replied, walking towards the Gryffindor Common Room and the portrait of the fat lady.
"Password?" The portrait asked lazily.
"We need your help." Sirius replied. "How many Merlin portraits are there in the castle and where are they?"
"There are 122 portraits of Merlin in this castle, only 109 of them are of him by himself. One is in Dumbledore's office, two in the teacher's lounge, there is one in each common room of each house and the others are scattered about the castle." The Fat Lady replied promptly.
"Well, we can eliminate those that are less than 750 or so years old." Sirius reasoned. "How many does that lead?"
"In or out?" The Fat Lady asked.
"Um…in." James sighed. "Oh, mindlefoot."
"Thank you." The Fat Lady said as the portrait swung open.
"Well, we can check the portrait here now, but what about all the others?" Sirius asked, walking over to a large portrait of Merlin next to the Common room corkboard.
"You think it's been enchanted?" James tried to move the portrait, to his great joy, it moved easily aside, so he peered around it to see the back. "Well, other than a note, there's nothing."
"Well, grab the note." Sirius sighed as James let the portrait fall back on the wall, much to the chagrin of Merlin.
"What is this?" James opened the envelope and read the letter. "Oi! It's just a goofy letter, it doesn't even make sense."
"What do you mean?" Sirius took the note and read a passage. "What kind of...'Gillyweed is good for the soul. Muggles yo-yo and frolic on the grounds of murder in the balloon.' Yeah, whoever wrote this had a few screws loose. Let's toss it."
James got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Wait, let's just hold onto it for a bit. I've just got this feeling."
"Sure mate." Sirius grinned. "So, where would we find out how many portraits of Merlin are over 750 years old?"
"The library I guess. Though, I have a feeling it's the one in Dumbledore's office." James sighed as they walked out again. "Because it's the only one we have almost no chance of getting to."