AN: Ahh, this chapter was hard to write for some reason. After this I'm
going to try and do the original Order of the Phoenix. That should be
interesting...
Warm beams of crisp autumn sunlight cascaded through the windows of the Great Hall, falling on crowds of chattering students. Harry was particularly absorbed in the conversation of four sixth year Griffindors.
"Are you sure you want to join that...particular club?" inquired 16 year old Lupin, raising an eyebrow. He stared at the flyer James had handed him a moment earlier.
"Yes," replied James firmly, helping himself to some pumpkin juice. Harry and Lupin were standing behind James and Sirius. They had originally materialized in the middle of the table, but Harry had been creeped out by this and had shuffled to a more comfortable position.
"What club are you joining?" asked Peter curiously.
"Charms Club," said James in a calm voice. Sirius, who had been nodding and smiling suggestively at a blushing girl at the Ravenclaw table, took a gulp of pumpkin juice and choked on it.
"Charms Club?" he said, looking as though he was going to topple out of his chair at any moment. "What? Why? CHARMS CLUB?" A few people looked at him.
"Isn't that for girls?" asked Peter, looking hesitant.
"Actually, it's open to everyone," said Lupin, scanning the flyer.
"That's just a formality!" cried Sirius, still horrified. "It's a GIRLS club. Do you know what they do in Charms Club? Alyssa told me about it. Last week they make little glass unicorns dance across their desks!"
"Lily's in Charms Club," said James dreamily. He glanced at a red haired girl at the end of the table and smiled stupidly. Lily scowled.
"Lily's a girl!" said Sirius in dismay. "Anyway, enough with bloody Lily! She hates you, remember?" James turned away from Lily and looked at Sirius with a very resolved face.
"If I join Charms Club, she'll see how charming, sensitive and considerate I am," he explained in a pleased tone of voice.
"Whoever said you were charming, sensitive and considerate?" demanded Sirius, smirking. James ignored him.
"Anyway, I have to go sign up. Later." James took a final swig of pumpkin juice and raced off, clutching his schoolbag over one shoulder. Sirius buried his face in his hands melodramatically.
"My best mate! Joining Charms Club!" he lamented. "I never thought I'd see the day!"
"I don't want to join Charms Club," said Peter miserably.
"You don't have to do everything James does," snapped Sirius. Peter fell silent, looking slightly hurt. Harry stared at Wormtail. He hated him. This was the man who had betrayed every friend he had ever known. He had betrayed Harry's parents to their death. Still, as Harry stared at him, a tiny part of him was filled with overwhelming pity. Pettigrew was barely older than Harry right now. Lupin noticed Harry looking at Wormtail.
"William Blake once said: 'It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend'," said Adult Lupin quietly.
"Do you think you'll ever be able to forgive him?" asked Harry sadly.
Lupin was silently for a moment. "I...I don't know..."
There was another pause. Could he, Harry, ever forgive Pettigrew? Harry had saved his life last year. Wormtail had helped bring Voldemort back to life. Would Sirius be alive today if Pettigrew had died that night in the Shrieking Shack? Life was so confusing sometimes...
Sirius was still complaining in a loud voice. "When is he going to find the time to practice stupid charms?" he demanded.
"You seem to find the time to snog half the girls in the school every night," Lupin pointed out lightly.
"I think you're exaggerating," said Sirius defensively.
Lupin began rattling off names. "Corby Abbott—Ravenclaw, Daralis Lovegood—Ravenclaw, Aubrianna Mayes—Hufflepuff, Marta Afton—Griffindor, Berenice Mattox—also Griffindor—"
"Tavia Tatum—Hufflepuff, Ella Kolton—Hufflepuff" added Peter. "Florence Spinnet—Griffindor, Missy—"
"All right, all right!" yelled Sirius. He smiled. "I can't help it if girls are all over me."
Lupin snorted. "Last week, you cursed Bertha Jorkins because she found you and Florence snogging behind the greenhouse."
"That was a defense mechanism," insisted Sirus. "She's such a busybody! Besides, I think she was just jealous."
Harry had a sudden vision of 16-year-old Sirius snogging some girl while he and Cho sat at a table nearby in Madame Puddifoots. He wondered if Sirius could have given him some advice on preventing Cho from bursting into tears every time they talked. He realized suddenly that he would never know. The scene changed.
They were in the middle of a bustling hallway. Students were moving along in small groups, laughing and gossiping. The Marauders were moving down the center of the hallway. People seemed to be giving them a wide berth as they were walking.
"I'll see you after Divination," said Lupin, parting from his friends.
"I wish we didn't have to take Divination," muttered Sirius.
"You'd rather take Arithmancy?" inquired James.
"Ugh, of course not," replied Sirius. "All those charts? Eww."
"Hermoine loves Arithmancy," remarked Harry.
"It's a rather interesting subject," said Lupin thoughtfully. "I never took Divination. I suppose I was worried someone would find out about "
"I really don't think you were in much danger of that," Harry snickered. "Divination is kind of a joke, at least it is the way Professor Trelawney teaches it. Her fortune telling abilities aren't very reliable. She mostly makes vague references to doom and gloom and tries to sound spooky." Harry lowered his glasses and waved his hands around. "Those who don't do their homework will get eaten by a draaaaagon! Whooo!" He crooned.
"I see..." said Lupin. "Well, I know James and Sirius never took their Professor seriously. Aisling or something I believe. However, Sirius did mentioned something about a 'Grim' and chasing superstitious third years down the corridors fifth year, though."
"Hey, James!" A tall, sandy haired boy Harry didn't recognize was hollering to the Marauders from across the hall. "How was Charms Club?" He was smirking. "Did you summon ribbons into each other's hair?" A few people around him snickered. Furious, Sirius whipped out his wand.
"If you're not going to curse him, I am," growled Sirius.
"No, it's all right," replied James calmly, extending his arm to block Sirius's wand. "Is that why your girlfriend says you still sleep with your baby blanket?" he said in a louder voice. The tall boy flushed and stalked off quickly as the students in the hall laughed.
"Wow, Prongs," said Young Lupin, looking deeply shocked. "That was—mature."
"Don't say anything," warned Sirius. "It might be contagious."
Harry was impressed.
Number 12 Grimmauld Place was bathed in darkness. Harry squinted through the blackness at the walls of Sirius's bedroom. The posters on the walls had been taken down, probably recently, for there were large outlines on the dusty walls. Sirius was perched, motionless on the top of his school trunk. He was staring intensely at the door to his room, and seemed to be contemplating something. He was clenching his wand in a tense hand, as if he expected to be attacked any moment, and his broomstick in the other. Finally, Sirius stood up. He muttered a spell as quietly as possible. He carefully pushed open his bedroom door, his trunk now floating a few inches above the floor behind him.
"Going somewhere?" hissed a voice. A teenage boy with cropped black hair was standing in the middle of the hallway. He had smooth, pale skin and the handsome features that seemed to have graced the entire Black family. Sirius let a stream of expletives.
"Bugger off, Regelus," said Sirius through clenched teeth. "I'm getting out of this hellhole."
"You wait a month before unpacking your trunk every year. You don't actually expect me to believe you're leaving this time."
"Things are different this time," replied Sirius coolly, raising his wand. Regelus narrowed his eyes.
"Where will you go?" he demanded in an irate tone. His eyes darted towards the door at the end of the hall.
"I don't know," said Sirius, his voice shaking with suppressed rage. "I don't care. Anywhere. Anywhere is better than HERE!"
Regelus was silent for a moment. He suddenly took a deep breath and opened his mouth wide. "MU—" he began, but Sirius was too quick for him. He darted forward and aimed his wand squarely between his younger brother's eyes.
"One more word and I'll curse you in the middle of next week," interrupted Sirius in a dangerous voice. "I'm going now." He grabbed his broomstick. Regelus made a sudden desperate dash towards his parents' room. There was a bang and a flash of light, and suddenly a tiny black mouse was scurrying down the hall. Sirius smiled wickedly, but the smile quickly faded from his face when there was a loud shriek from his mother's room.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
Sirius swore loudly and sprinted down the hall and out the door. He tied his trunk to his broomstick and leapt on. He floated in the middle of the lawn, taking one last glance at the door.
Harry remembered a somewhat familiar scene, two years ago, as he attempted to leave Privet Drive. He dearly wished he could have turned Dudley into a rodent before he left.
"I hope James is still up," he muttered as he zoomed off into the night.
AN: Next up, James and Lily go on a date. Sorry for all you people who are sick of J/L stories, I promise it will consist mostly of Sirius "helping" his dear friend's date go smoothly. Heh heh...
Warm beams of crisp autumn sunlight cascaded through the windows of the Great Hall, falling on crowds of chattering students. Harry was particularly absorbed in the conversation of four sixth year Griffindors.
"Are you sure you want to join that...particular club?" inquired 16 year old Lupin, raising an eyebrow. He stared at the flyer James had handed him a moment earlier.
"Yes," replied James firmly, helping himself to some pumpkin juice. Harry and Lupin were standing behind James and Sirius. They had originally materialized in the middle of the table, but Harry had been creeped out by this and had shuffled to a more comfortable position.
"What club are you joining?" asked Peter curiously.
"Charms Club," said James in a calm voice. Sirius, who had been nodding and smiling suggestively at a blushing girl at the Ravenclaw table, took a gulp of pumpkin juice and choked on it.
"Charms Club?" he said, looking as though he was going to topple out of his chair at any moment. "What? Why? CHARMS CLUB?" A few people looked at him.
"Isn't that for girls?" asked Peter, looking hesitant.
"Actually, it's open to everyone," said Lupin, scanning the flyer.
"That's just a formality!" cried Sirius, still horrified. "It's a GIRLS club. Do you know what they do in Charms Club? Alyssa told me about it. Last week they make little glass unicorns dance across their desks!"
"Lily's in Charms Club," said James dreamily. He glanced at a red haired girl at the end of the table and smiled stupidly. Lily scowled.
"Lily's a girl!" said Sirius in dismay. "Anyway, enough with bloody Lily! She hates you, remember?" James turned away from Lily and looked at Sirius with a very resolved face.
"If I join Charms Club, she'll see how charming, sensitive and considerate I am," he explained in a pleased tone of voice.
"Whoever said you were charming, sensitive and considerate?" demanded Sirius, smirking. James ignored him.
"Anyway, I have to go sign up. Later." James took a final swig of pumpkin juice and raced off, clutching his schoolbag over one shoulder. Sirius buried his face in his hands melodramatically.
"My best mate! Joining Charms Club!" he lamented. "I never thought I'd see the day!"
"I don't want to join Charms Club," said Peter miserably.
"You don't have to do everything James does," snapped Sirius. Peter fell silent, looking slightly hurt. Harry stared at Wormtail. He hated him. This was the man who had betrayed every friend he had ever known. He had betrayed Harry's parents to their death. Still, as Harry stared at him, a tiny part of him was filled with overwhelming pity. Pettigrew was barely older than Harry right now. Lupin noticed Harry looking at Wormtail.
"William Blake once said: 'It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend'," said Adult Lupin quietly.
"Do you think you'll ever be able to forgive him?" asked Harry sadly.
Lupin was silently for a moment. "I...I don't know..."
There was another pause. Could he, Harry, ever forgive Pettigrew? Harry had saved his life last year. Wormtail had helped bring Voldemort back to life. Would Sirius be alive today if Pettigrew had died that night in the Shrieking Shack? Life was so confusing sometimes...
Sirius was still complaining in a loud voice. "When is he going to find the time to practice stupid charms?" he demanded.
"You seem to find the time to snog half the girls in the school every night," Lupin pointed out lightly.
"I think you're exaggerating," said Sirius defensively.
Lupin began rattling off names. "Corby Abbott—Ravenclaw, Daralis Lovegood—Ravenclaw, Aubrianna Mayes—Hufflepuff, Marta Afton—Griffindor, Berenice Mattox—also Griffindor—"
"Tavia Tatum—Hufflepuff, Ella Kolton—Hufflepuff" added Peter. "Florence Spinnet—Griffindor, Missy—"
"All right, all right!" yelled Sirius. He smiled. "I can't help it if girls are all over me."
Lupin snorted. "Last week, you cursed Bertha Jorkins because she found you and Florence snogging behind the greenhouse."
"That was a defense mechanism," insisted Sirus. "She's such a busybody! Besides, I think she was just jealous."
Harry had a sudden vision of 16-year-old Sirius snogging some girl while he and Cho sat at a table nearby in Madame Puddifoots. He wondered if Sirius could have given him some advice on preventing Cho from bursting into tears every time they talked. He realized suddenly that he would never know. The scene changed.
They were in the middle of a bustling hallway. Students were moving along in small groups, laughing and gossiping. The Marauders were moving down the center of the hallway. People seemed to be giving them a wide berth as they were walking.
"I'll see you after Divination," said Lupin, parting from his friends.
"I wish we didn't have to take Divination," muttered Sirius.
"You'd rather take Arithmancy?" inquired James.
"Ugh, of course not," replied Sirius. "All those charts? Eww."
"Hermoine loves Arithmancy," remarked Harry.
"It's a rather interesting subject," said Lupin thoughtfully. "I never took Divination. I suppose I was worried someone would find out about "
"I really don't think you were in much danger of that," Harry snickered. "Divination is kind of a joke, at least it is the way Professor Trelawney teaches it. Her fortune telling abilities aren't very reliable. She mostly makes vague references to doom and gloom and tries to sound spooky." Harry lowered his glasses and waved his hands around. "Those who don't do their homework will get eaten by a draaaaagon! Whooo!" He crooned.
"I see..." said Lupin. "Well, I know James and Sirius never took their Professor seriously. Aisling or something I believe. However, Sirius did mentioned something about a 'Grim' and chasing superstitious third years down the corridors fifth year, though."
"Hey, James!" A tall, sandy haired boy Harry didn't recognize was hollering to the Marauders from across the hall. "How was Charms Club?" He was smirking. "Did you summon ribbons into each other's hair?" A few people around him snickered. Furious, Sirius whipped out his wand.
"If you're not going to curse him, I am," growled Sirius.
"No, it's all right," replied James calmly, extending his arm to block Sirius's wand. "Is that why your girlfriend says you still sleep with your baby blanket?" he said in a louder voice. The tall boy flushed and stalked off quickly as the students in the hall laughed.
"Wow, Prongs," said Young Lupin, looking deeply shocked. "That was—mature."
"Don't say anything," warned Sirius. "It might be contagious."
Harry was impressed.
Number 12 Grimmauld Place was bathed in darkness. Harry squinted through the blackness at the walls of Sirius's bedroom. The posters on the walls had been taken down, probably recently, for there were large outlines on the dusty walls. Sirius was perched, motionless on the top of his school trunk. He was staring intensely at the door to his room, and seemed to be contemplating something. He was clenching his wand in a tense hand, as if he expected to be attacked any moment, and his broomstick in the other. Finally, Sirius stood up. He muttered a spell as quietly as possible. He carefully pushed open his bedroom door, his trunk now floating a few inches above the floor behind him.
"Going somewhere?" hissed a voice. A teenage boy with cropped black hair was standing in the middle of the hallway. He had smooth, pale skin and the handsome features that seemed to have graced the entire Black family. Sirius let a stream of expletives.
"Bugger off, Regelus," said Sirius through clenched teeth. "I'm getting out of this hellhole."
"You wait a month before unpacking your trunk every year. You don't actually expect me to believe you're leaving this time."
"Things are different this time," replied Sirius coolly, raising his wand. Regelus narrowed his eyes.
"Where will you go?" he demanded in an irate tone. His eyes darted towards the door at the end of the hall.
"I don't know," said Sirius, his voice shaking with suppressed rage. "I don't care. Anywhere. Anywhere is better than HERE!"
Regelus was silent for a moment. He suddenly took a deep breath and opened his mouth wide. "MU—" he began, but Sirius was too quick for him. He darted forward and aimed his wand squarely between his younger brother's eyes.
"One more word and I'll curse you in the middle of next week," interrupted Sirius in a dangerous voice. "I'm going now." He grabbed his broomstick. Regelus made a sudden desperate dash towards his parents' room. There was a bang and a flash of light, and suddenly a tiny black mouse was scurrying down the hall. Sirius smiled wickedly, but the smile quickly faded from his face when there was a loud shriek from his mother's room.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
Sirius swore loudly and sprinted down the hall and out the door. He tied his trunk to his broomstick and leapt on. He floated in the middle of the lawn, taking one last glance at the door.
Harry remembered a somewhat familiar scene, two years ago, as he attempted to leave Privet Drive. He dearly wished he could have turned Dudley into a rodent before he left.
"I hope James is still up," he muttered as he zoomed off into the night.
AN: Next up, James and Lily go on a date. Sorry for all you people who are sick of J/L stories, I promise it will consist mostly of Sirius "helping" his dear friend's date go smoothly. Heh heh...