Disclaimer: ya da ya da blah blah I don't OWN HP!!!
A/N: Ok this chapter is a little longer…and more intense…you'll see what I mean…^_^...but be prepared for sad stuff! (tear) (sob) (tear)
Harry, Ron and Hermione had arrived just as the potions master, a dark haired man, was letting everyone in, and quickly grabbed seats in the back not to attract attention. However it didn't seem possible, as the second they had sat in this class not only the Slytherins, but also the Gryffindors were staring at them.
"Class we have 3 exchange students, that will be joining us for this year. Be polite as they are from a different school and are sure to tell their parents how they were treated while their stay here," the professor said in a silky voice.
Harry would have been embarrassed, but he couldn't help but stare at the man with his jaw dropped…it was a younger version of Igor Karkroff!!! He turned to see Ron and Hermione's awed faces as well, as they looked at him.
"Why the hell does that kid look exactly like Potter than?" a tall Slytherin boy called out.
"Because he is a relative of Potters, Rosier…ah he is Harry Potter," Karkroff said looking at the attendance sheet, "and Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley."
Harry could see that Ron was surprised that no one made a comment about him being a Weasley, it seemed they had finally come to a time that he was the only Weasley. Harry couldn't help but smile at the wide grin that played on his friends face.
"Oh great, like one arrogant little Potter wasn't enough," this time the Slytherin boy was built like Goyle, though he looked very different.
"Oh look this one has a scar, he probably expects people to think it cool!" Snape sneered.
"Right, I bet he got from falling on his face in the shower!" said the tall boy laughing now, a very cold laugh Harry noticed.
"And is that supposed to be funny?" Lily suddenly spoke up, "cause it's not—"
"Five points from Gryffindor for speaking out loud Ms. Evans," Karkroff said coldly, and Harry noticed that his mother did not argue, though she did send a glare across the room towards the Slytherin boys, "Now everybody copy this down and get to work!"
Harry stared at the very complicated seductive potion they were to make, and tried his best to concentrate hard. On the bright side, he thought, at least Karkroff doesn't have a personal grudge against me.
For a while the whole class seemed to be working quietly, after all 6th year potions was indeed looking VERY complicated, when suddenly the whole room seemed to have shook very slightly, so much that no one was sure if it had happened or it was a figment of their imagination. Though a few seconds later the room began to shake, and this time is was so hard, the pupils fell forwards and back, and it did not stop. Oh no, the shaking got worst, so bad that everyone's cauldron was emptied, and almost everyone was laying on the ground.
Though no one knew what had happened, they all cautiously began to stand and those who were sporting burns from undone hot potions were being rounded up around Karkroff's desk, who irritably was fixing them up with a 'Fast Heal for Burns' potion. Before all of the victims were taken care of the classroom door burst open, and in came Sirius and James, closely followed by Remus and Peter who looked like a little odd standing next to such tall boys, when he was so short himself.
Karkroff looking livid pushed passed the students and made his way towards the Marauders. Though being only 16 both James and Sirius matched Karkroff's height, and Karkroff standing there, yelling at them seemed if anything a bit humorous.
"So…you thought you had a little fun with my class, did you?" Karkroff yelled looking dangerously at the boys, though none of them so much as blinked.
"What are you talking about Professor?" Sirius said so casually that Harry couldn't help but gape at him.
"You know very well what I'm talking about Black! Don't you dare act stupid…now what spell did you use to give my class an earthquake???" the boys however looked at him blankly, and Harry was sure if he hadn't known they were some of the best pranksters ever, he would believe they had no idea what had happened.
"An Earthquake??? Sir I hate to ask…but why are you accusing us for a force of nature?" James asked politely.
For a while Karkroff glared at the boys, however he seemed to realize there was no way to get a confession out of them, and curtly turned away sneering.
"Well, get to your seats then! Oh and before I forget, shall we take 10 points off Gryffindor, for each of you? Aahh yes, perhaps this'll help teach you not to be late for my class, after all I don't even remember the last time Gryffindor won the house cup!"
"Stupid git," Harry heard Sirius mutter, as him and the other Marauders took the only two tables left, to Harry's right, though right behind the nasty Slytherin boys.
Harry could hear rude comments send towards the Marauders by the Slytherins, however to his amazement they all went unnoticed by the 4 boys, who were now in deep concentration on their potions. For a second Harry wondered if the little quake was a way to get the whole class to start over so they wouldn't fall behind, but shrugging he went to tend his own potion, thinking back to his promise to Dombledore.
* * *
Finally the bell rang in time for lunch, meaning the end of transfiguration, and for the first time Hermione walked out, not looking so pleased of herself. Ron and Harry, laughing their heads off couldn't help but to remind her that here she was no longer the top of everything, she now had some major competition. Today, for the first time, Hermione wasn't the first to get the task McGonagall had in store for them. James got it before anyone else closely followed by Sirius, a fuming Lily and then Hermione got it, though after Remus as well.
"How could they get it before me," Hermione said grimly, jerking her head back towards the Marauders.
"My point exactly," a soft voice said right behind them, and a flushed looking Hermione turned around to find Lily beaming at her, "I mean they don't even study for tests or anything, but they always end up with good grades!"
"That's so unfair," Hermione said weakly.
"I know makes us look bad," Lily said smiling, "you know Hermione we didn't really get much of a chance to talk last night, but your pretty cool."
"Thanks," Hermione looked a little thrown back but pleased at the same time.
"Listen I found the coolest book in the library about these ancient spells and stuff…and if your interested…" Lily began, "do you want to come check it out with me?"
"Sure," Hermione said now smiling widely, "See you guys."
"Bye, and I'll see you later," Lily grinned at Harry before the two girls began making their way to the library.
"Well at least this time her library buddy has some brains," Ron said lightly, and Harry was sure he was thinking back to the Krum episode.
Harry wasn't sure what to say, and was spared to answer as something very heavy fell on top of him, making him crash to the floor. For a second Harry wondered if one of the Slytherins had attacked him, but turned around to in time to see Sirius' grinning face inches from his.
"Sorry mate," Sirius said getting up now, "I didn't know how to stop you."
"You could've called out," Harry said weakly, "that's what normal people do," and to his surprise he heard the other boys snore.
"Sirius would never do anything considered as normal," James said shaking his head grinning, "I thought Dombledore would've warned you lot before rooming you with US!"
"Guess he forgot," Ron said grinning.
"Oh boy," Remus said his light blue eyes wide, "he probably didn't want to scare you off!"
"Haha, very funny," Sirius said sarcastically holding out a hand to Harry and helping him up, "Their just kidding with you guys, we're not so bad…well maybe we are…but not to each other, only to other people!"
"Yup, that's true. You guys gotta feel lucky to be our roommates…because now you're welcome to join our troublemaking club!" Remus said grinning at them.
"That's right, we Marauders have come to realize that it's pointless not to include you in our plots since your gonna room with us and that's our headquarters for crime…and Dombledore wouldn't put insufferable gits in our room, since he knows they'd be tortured, by us the great Marauders!!! Anyway before we let you in you must do something to prove yourselves!" James explained.
"What?" Ron asked looking a bit nervous.
"Well I'm sure the Slytherins were giving you guys a hard time as well…so why don't you get a little pay back?" Sirius said grinning evilly.
"We'll give you till dinner time to think up a good prank and play it on them," James said putting his arms around Harry and Ron, and began walking, "then we'll see if your mind works to cause wreckage and revenge!"
"Where are we going?" Ron asked looking confused.
"Well…we wont let you do everything empty handed…I mean how fair is that, this being your first day in this school and all," James grinned at them, "the Marauders are gonna help you, its our prank all of us, 'cept you two are in charge…we'll do what ever you tell us…plus we give you props."
"What?" Harry and Ron said at the same time, as James walked away from them towards a very tiny portrait on the wall, and whispered something to it, "Well boys, tell me what you think!"
Exchanging surprised looks Harry and Ron made their way towards James, to see that the wall had slit open…to show a rather large room…full of EVERYTHING!!! Incredibly enough there was shelves and shelves of potions, boxes full of dung bombs, fireworks, so many different kinds of explosives, stacks of heavy peculiar looking books, jars of odd looking plants, odd looking stuff in packages, and of course food! There was a whole section of the room dedicated to shelves of sweets and more chocolate than Harry had ever seen (other than Honeydukes though off course!), huge buckets of ice full of Butter beer, and large boxes of fire whiskies and all kinds of alcoholic beverages.
"I believe I'm right to say you will find anything you need in here," James said casually, as the other boys arrived behind them, "we'll meet here before dinner to get everything you need in time for the prank, how does that sound?"
"No," Harry said suddenly making Ron stare at him, "I know exactly what we should do to the Slytherins!"
"Oooh, well you do think fast," James said smirking, "well then take what you need, and tell us all the wonderful details."
"We're definitely gonna need your help," Harry said, "I thought we'd do something to their food…you know?"
"Right," Ron said catching on, "how bout we make it alive???"
"Hahaha," Sirius laughed, "we tried that once before where their food started attacking them…man that was the best! You had to see the lobster clinging on to Snape's nose…I've never laughed so hard!!!"
"Heh, well actually…I was thinking less violent…how bout we put a hex on their plates that…that would dissolve the food the second it hit it?" Harry said suddenly thinking back to Mr. Weasleys injury a year ago, with the disappearing stitches.
"Nice," Sirius said looking impressed, "even I never though of that, and I fall sleep every night thinking up pranks!"
"Wow! Gotta hand it to ya, it sounds wonderful!!!" James said patting Harry on the back, who couldn't help but smile, till he saw the look on Ron's face, "uh actually it was Ron, who gave me the idea! He played this cool prank on this Malfoy kid—"
"Malfoy kid?" Sirius asked looking confused.
"Uh…" Harry felt his face burn, "ya…anyway—"
"There are no Malfoy kids, I mean there is Lucius the stupid 30 years old asshole who married my cousin 3 years ago, and from what I heard they're the only two Malfoy's left since his father died last summer…what Malfoy kid?"
"Uh…," Harry didn't know what to say, all he could think about was kicking himself for being so stupid…why the hell did he have to mention Draco?
"There is actually a muggle family in France called Malfoy," Ron suddenly said, and Harry stared at him, "are your family Malfoy's French as well?"
"I wouldn't know," Sirius said coldly, but then a smile split across his face, "sorry for a second I forgot I ran away from home last summer…"
"You did?" Ron looked surprised.
"Yeah, I woke up one day and realize embarrassing my family in front of guests wasn't funny anymore, and I was running out of pranks to play on little brother and mom…so I got up hexed them and jumped on my flying motorbike, and flew to James' house and stayed there for the whole summer," Sirius said grinning, "uh maybe we should get back to our prank."
"Ya—" Harry began, but Ron cut him off.
"Since Harry thought of it then I should do the actual jinxing!" Ron said eagerly looking at James and Sirius.
"Cool," James said, turning to Sirius, "ok me and Sirius'll come with you to get you to the kitchens and keep the house elves busy, Peter will stand guard before the kitchen, and since Remus is a master at finding jinxes and curses, he and Harry will look up the dissolving jinx for you. How bout that?"
"NO WAY!" Remus crossed his arms and glared at James, "I'm not sitting back and letting you guys have all the fun!!!"
"Fine," James said sighing, "our old system then?"
"Looks like it," Sirius said grinning, and the 4 boys gathered around a circle, "Aaaaaw man! I always hated this game…why did I have to pick rock???"
"Well good luck looking for that jinx Padfoot," James laughed, "I really love this game! Come on Ron…let the losers do their job!"
Sirius stuck his tongue at them, but when he turned to Harry he was grinning, "well we might as well get to work mate."
He and Harry made their way in the large room and after Sirius tapped the wall with his wand it closed up, making everything dark but within seconds light was back, and Harry looked up to realize there was a small candle chandelier on top of their heads.
"Well we might make the most of it," Sirius said taking out to bottles of normal muggle beer, and handed Harry one, "help your self to anything you want!"
"Uh thanx," Harry said as the two of them went to raided the sweets, and filled their robes before finding sitting down close to all the heavy books, picking up the closest one ('Best Pranks Known to Wizards in Complicated Steps!') and scanning pages as quickly as he could.
After 10 minutes Sirius let out a cheer, and jumped to his feet, motioning for Harry to do as well. Obviously he was very good at look up stuff. Quickly Harry made his way towards him, half nervous about being alone with his young to-be-godfather.
"Ok here's the thing, for the spell to work we need to mix together a few things, pretty simple stuff though…and we've got everything here…except for a bit of an Erumpent's hide…and the serpent dissolving venom," Sirius said frowning at the book but he looked up grinning at Harry, "but never fear young Harry, we can get all this from Karkroff's office!"
"Are you sure," Harry couldn't imagine why anyone would keep snake venom in their office…however Karkroff was a dark wizard…
"And I believe he is enjoying a lovely meal in the Great Hall about now!" Sirius said looking down on an old piece of perchment, Harry was sure it was the Marauder's map, "ok follow me!"
Harry soon realized Karkroff's office was much like Snape's, though missing a few gruesome things, but with addition of a few more gruesome things. Harry had held his breath as Sirius mutter something causing a silver like light shatter through something that had suddenly became visible, a lot like a colorless-goldish egg shell.
Now the two boys furiously looked around for the only item left, the snake venom…and not too long Sirius found that as well letting out a whoop…however only seconds later they heard the sound of footsteps, Sirius through something over Harry's head, who looked up to realize it was the invisibility cloak.
Half huddled together the boys listened as they heard Karkroff's angry growl, and realized there were to sets of footsteps. For a while Karkroff cursed the Marauders, but they heard someone else sigh impatiently, and he stopped. The two men walked into his office looking very serious, something about the second man was familiar to Harry though he did not recognize him, and somehow he knew the man was up to no good…maybe it was his cold inhuman pale blue eyes.
"Igor, will you stop wasting my time? I have many things to do and need you to answer to me…" the unknown man's said coldly.
"I do not know yet, but I must admit, it is very tempting however," Karkroff laughed.
"Of course it's tempting, the Dark Lord has powers most can only dream of…he will be most pleased with you, if you were to join. A teacher at Dombledore's school is like more precious than any amount of jewelry to my master!" Harry watched the man's face break into a horrible smile, "Join us Karkroff and you will watch as your wildest dreams come true, the Dark Lord himself will teach you things…incredible things…and give you gifts beyond you're most wonderful dreams!"
"I must tell you Sebastian, you have me convinced…however tell him I will need 3 days, I ask, to think it over," Karkroff smirked.
"Do not forget what the Dark Lord has done for you Igor, he could much much more than that," Sebastian said though he now turned to leave, "good day," and with that he left, shortly followed by Karkroff himself who picked up a few folders full of parchments before his own departure.
Harry and Sirius did not speak, nor take off the invisibility cloak, until they were inside the 'props' room again. Where Sirius sank down on the floor and opened another beer bottle and gulped down half the bottle. Harry slowly sat down in front of him looking a little white, though in a way he did not understand Sirius' expression. His godfather's expression was hard to read, his face had gone very pale, and his eyes were cold though they stared straight ahead not blinking much.
"That was close," Harry said not knowing what else to say, and picked up a bottle himself.
"It's not a good idea," Sirius said suddenly, the cold look had gone now, "we haven't had anything to eat, the last thing we need is to get drunk."
"Ya, you're right," Harry put the bottle down, and sighing he looked up at Sirius, "the other man was a death eater wasn't he?"
"What," Sirius breathed looking shocked, and for a while stared into Harry's eyes…who felt as though his eyes were burning, remembering the last time he had looked into Sirius' eyes like that right before he died. Something changed in Sirius' eyes, they no longer fun loving the way they always were, or cold, it seemed as though he could see the pain Harry was feeling, and it brought out his own, "you've suffered in his hands…haven't you"
"He killed my parents," Harry said looking down, his eyes now very blurry, "a friend of mine, and because of him the person I love the most is gone," Harry still couldn't say dead when he was referring to Sirius…the word was just to horrible…than his tears suddenly stopped. Harry couldn't believe it, he had never ever told someone how much Voldemort has hurt him…never said he loved Sirius…
"He never stops, does he?" Sirius said, his eyes too were full of tears, "none of them do…they think it's fun, like they're playing some kind of sick sport or something…"
Now whipping his tears Harry looked up as Sirius, who looked as though he was talking to himself more than anyone, "I remember my family having him over for dinner, a few years ago…if only I had reached across the table and…so many innocent people dead…" he shuddered visibly, "my whole family was their, all my cousins, ants uncles…they looked at him like he was some sort of Hero wanting to get rid of some kind of virus or, or something…he would talk about it like he'd create this amazing muggle and mudblood free world, and everyone would smirk and clap for him."
"I was so young, only 13, if I'd known…he looked over at me with those horrible red eyes of his…and gave me this amber amulet. He told me that any food I wanted, anything at all, even the finest of fire whiskies would appear for me in an instant if I just wished in to it. I got excited, I didn't know what kind of monster he was, and took it thanking him…my parents looked at me, beaming for the first time ever…after all the times I played pranks on our gusts embarrassing them in the past, for once they were proud of me! For the first time, I listened as they told him how clever I was, and how 'the Potter boy' and me were the 2 top students in our grades at Hogwarts. They even told him of all the complicated original pranks I had played on others, the ones I was sure no one other than the Marauders would appreciate…gosh how could I have been so foolish?"
Harry hadn't spoken while Sirius spilled his heart out and for the first time now watching tears stream down his godfather's face he quietly spoke, "you didn't know…he hadn't shown his true colors yet!"
"No…but still," Sirius wiped his eyes with his sleeve and suddenly looked at Harry, but quickly turned away, "tell me then."
"What?"
"Come on! It's ok I understand that you hate me now, so do I," Sirius said, pulling his knees closer to himself looking much younger that he was, "if it weren't for people like my family, Voldemort would've never gained enough power to…"
"BUT NOT YOU!!! You're family is VERY different from you Sirius!!!" Harry couldn't help himself but yell.
"THE SAME BLOOD RUNS THROUGH MY VEINS! NO MATTER HOW FAR I RUN…" Sirius' voice suddenly broke down, giving Harry the chance he needed.
"SO WHAT? HUH??? My mother was a wonderful woman…she-she gave her life for me and fought Voldemort, but Sirius she has a sister who is, just terrible!!! Their sisters, they have the same flesh and blood, they grew up in the same house…but my mother would never be able to watch anyone in pain, and her sister would turn the other way!!!!" Harry said, "it's not what we're born with that make us, us, it's our choices Sirius. You're in Gryffindor and isn't that already a sign that you do not wish to be power hungry?"
"But Harry you don't understand, growing with people like that…"
"BUT I DO! Remember how I told you Voldemort killed my parents…well he did that when I was only a baby, so I grew up all my life with my mother's sister, and her family who despise me for what I am," Harry said as he felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Isn't so unfair," Sirius said suddenly, "the way they sneer at you as though you carry something contagious?"
"Yeah," Harry smiled sadly, "it makes you wanna go crazy and stick their heads in the salad bowl!"
"I know," Sirius laughed his bark like laugh, and grabbed for a box of chocolate frogs, "'cept after a while you get used to it…it's just another annoying thing that'll always be their…like brushing your teeth!"
"Good one," Harry grinned biting into a chocolate frog, "it's weird isn't it…we just met and already…we understand each other better than anyone!"
"Jamesie is my brother…but well he grew up in this really amazing family…and…I can't talk about how horrible my family is to him…I'm afraid! I know he wouldn't, I mean the Potters and the Rest of the magic world know what a horrible dark family the Black's are some think we're even worst than the Malfoys…but I never told him about Voldemort having once been our dinner guest…never about who gave me the amulet! I will never tell him what happened the night I ran away…I just can't…"
For a while neither boy talked as they munched down chocolate and other sweets, until Harry just had to ask, "what happened back in Karkroff's office…why were you so pale?"
"Sebastian Travers, he is a very good friend of my dad's and now he is asking one of OUR teachers to join Voldemort! If we expose him I'd be exposing my own father as well…even though it's there is no question about turning him in…it's still weird, I feel like I'm betraying someone," Sirius' cheeks suddenly flushed.
"It's ok to feel that way Sirius," Harry said suddenly, "but lets just go see Dombledore, he wont do anything unless you give him permission to!"
"How do you know," Sirius said with a raised eyebrow.
"My uh…parents were very close to Dombledore, he sometimes visited me!"
"Oh I see…you're right, Dombledore seems like the answer right now!!!" and with that the two of them got up totally forgetting about their little prank.
A/N: Ever since reading the 5th book I just couldn't help but see how much Harry and Sirius were alike…(SOB) they'd have connected real well don't you think??? Aaaaaaahhhh still thinking bout Sirius death makes me cry…how could JK do that to Harry????
A/N: Ok this chapter is a little longer…and more intense…you'll see what I mean…^_^...but be prepared for sad stuff! (tear) (sob) (tear)
Harry, Ron and Hermione had arrived just as the potions master, a dark haired man, was letting everyone in, and quickly grabbed seats in the back not to attract attention. However it didn't seem possible, as the second they had sat in this class not only the Slytherins, but also the Gryffindors were staring at them.
"Class we have 3 exchange students, that will be joining us for this year. Be polite as they are from a different school and are sure to tell their parents how they were treated while their stay here," the professor said in a silky voice.
Harry would have been embarrassed, but he couldn't help but stare at the man with his jaw dropped…it was a younger version of Igor Karkroff!!! He turned to see Ron and Hermione's awed faces as well, as they looked at him.
"Why the hell does that kid look exactly like Potter than?" a tall Slytherin boy called out.
"Because he is a relative of Potters, Rosier…ah he is Harry Potter," Karkroff said looking at the attendance sheet, "and Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley."
Harry could see that Ron was surprised that no one made a comment about him being a Weasley, it seemed they had finally come to a time that he was the only Weasley. Harry couldn't help but smile at the wide grin that played on his friends face.
"Oh great, like one arrogant little Potter wasn't enough," this time the Slytherin boy was built like Goyle, though he looked very different.
"Oh look this one has a scar, he probably expects people to think it cool!" Snape sneered.
"Right, I bet he got from falling on his face in the shower!" said the tall boy laughing now, a very cold laugh Harry noticed.
"And is that supposed to be funny?" Lily suddenly spoke up, "cause it's not—"
"Five points from Gryffindor for speaking out loud Ms. Evans," Karkroff said coldly, and Harry noticed that his mother did not argue, though she did send a glare across the room towards the Slytherin boys, "Now everybody copy this down and get to work!"
Harry stared at the very complicated seductive potion they were to make, and tried his best to concentrate hard. On the bright side, he thought, at least Karkroff doesn't have a personal grudge against me.
For a while the whole class seemed to be working quietly, after all 6th year potions was indeed looking VERY complicated, when suddenly the whole room seemed to have shook very slightly, so much that no one was sure if it had happened or it was a figment of their imagination. Though a few seconds later the room began to shake, and this time is was so hard, the pupils fell forwards and back, and it did not stop. Oh no, the shaking got worst, so bad that everyone's cauldron was emptied, and almost everyone was laying on the ground.
Though no one knew what had happened, they all cautiously began to stand and those who were sporting burns from undone hot potions were being rounded up around Karkroff's desk, who irritably was fixing them up with a 'Fast Heal for Burns' potion. Before all of the victims were taken care of the classroom door burst open, and in came Sirius and James, closely followed by Remus and Peter who looked like a little odd standing next to such tall boys, when he was so short himself.
Karkroff looking livid pushed passed the students and made his way towards the Marauders. Though being only 16 both James and Sirius matched Karkroff's height, and Karkroff standing there, yelling at them seemed if anything a bit humorous.
"So…you thought you had a little fun with my class, did you?" Karkroff yelled looking dangerously at the boys, though none of them so much as blinked.
"What are you talking about Professor?" Sirius said so casually that Harry couldn't help but gape at him.
"You know very well what I'm talking about Black! Don't you dare act stupid…now what spell did you use to give my class an earthquake???" the boys however looked at him blankly, and Harry was sure if he hadn't known they were some of the best pranksters ever, he would believe they had no idea what had happened.
"An Earthquake??? Sir I hate to ask…but why are you accusing us for a force of nature?" James asked politely.
For a while Karkroff glared at the boys, however he seemed to realize there was no way to get a confession out of them, and curtly turned away sneering.
"Well, get to your seats then! Oh and before I forget, shall we take 10 points off Gryffindor, for each of you? Aahh yes, perhaps this'll help teach you not to be late for my class, after all I don't even remember the last time Gryffindor won the house cup!"
"Stupid git," Harry heard Sirius mutter, as him and the other Marauders took the only two tables left, to Harry's right, though right behind the nasty Slytherin boys.
Harry could hear rude comments send towards the Marauders by the Slytherins, however to his amazement they all went unnoticed by the 4 boys, who were now in deep concentration on their potions. For a second Harry wondered if the little quake was a way to get the whole class to start over so they wouldn't fall behind, but shrugging he went to tend his own potion, thinking back to his promise to Dombledore.
* * *
Finally the bell rang in time for lunch, meaning the end of transfiguration, and for the first time Hermione walked out, not looking so pleased of herself. Ron and Harry, laughing their heads off couldn't help but to remind her that here she was no longer the top of everything, she now had some major competition. Today, for the first time, Hermione wasn't the first to get the task McGonagall had in store for them. James got it before anyone else closely followed by Sirius, a fuming Lily and then Hermione got it, though after Remus as well.
"How could they get it before me," Hermione said grimly, jerking her head back towards the Marauders.
"My point exactly," a soft voice said right behind them, and a flushed looking Hermione turned around to find Lily beaming at her, "I mean they don't even study for tests or anything, but they always end up with good grades!"
"That's so unfair," Hermione said weakly.
"I know makes us look bad," Lily said smiling, "you know Hermione we didn't really get much of a chance to talk last night, but your pretty cool."
"Thanks," Hermione looked a little thrown back but pleased at the same time.
"Listen I found the coolest book in the library about these ancient spells and stuff…and if your interested…" Lily began, "do you want to come check it out with me?"
"Sure," Hermione said now smiling widely, "See you guys."
"Bye, and I'll see you later," Lily grinned at Harry before the two girls began making their way to the library.
"Well at least this time her library buddy has some brains," Ron said lightly, and Harry was sure he was thinking back to the Krum episode.
Harry wasn't sure what to say, and was spared to answer as something very heavy fell on top of him, making him crash to the floor. For a second Harry wondered if one of the Slytherins had attacked him, but turned around to in time to see Sirius' grinning face inches from his.
"Sorry mate," Sirius said getting up now, "I didn't know how to stop you."
"You could've called out," Harry said weakly, "that's what normal people do," and to his surprise he heard the other boys snore.
"Sirius would never do anything considered as normal," James said shaking his head grinning, "I thought Dombledore would've warned you lot before rooming you with US!"
"Guess he forgot," Ron said grinning.
"Oh boy," Remus said his light blue eyes wide, "he probably didn't want to scare you off!"
"Haha, very funny," Sirius said sarcastically holding out a hand to Harry and helping him up, "Their just kidding with you guys, we're not so bad…well maybe we are…but not to each other, only to other people!"
"Yup, that's true. You guys gotta feel lucky to be our roommates…because now you're welcome to join our troublemaking club!" Remus said grinning at them.
"That's right, we Marauders have come to realize that it's pointless not to include you in our plots since your gonna room with us and that's our headquarters for crime…and Dombledore wouldn't put insufferable gits in our room, since he knows they'd be tortured, by us the great Marauders!!! Anyway before we let you in you must do something to prove yourselves!" James explained.
"What?" Ron asked looking a bit nervous.
"Well I'm sure the Slytherins were giving you guys a hard time as well…so why don't you get a little pay back?" Sirius said grinning evilly.
"We'll give you till dinner time to think up a good prank and play it on them," James said putting his arms around Harry and Ron, and began walking, "then we'll see if your mind works to cause wreckage and revenge!"
"Where are we going?" Ron asked looking confused.
"Well…we wont let you do everything empty handed…I mean how fair is that, this being your first day in this school and all," James grinned at them, "the Marauders are gonna help you, its our prank all of us, 'cept you two are in charge…we'll do what ever you tell us…plus we give you props."
"What?" Harry and Ron said at the same time, as James walked away from them towards a very tiny portrait on the wall, and whispered something to it, "Well boys, tell me what you think!"
Exchanging surprised looks Harry and Ron made their way towards James, to see that the wall had slit open…to show a rather large room…full of EVERYTHING!!! Incredibly enough there was shelves and shelves of potions, boxes full of dung bombs, fireworks, so many different kinds of explosives, stacks of heavy peculiar looking books, jars of odd looking plants, odd looking stuff in packages, and of course food! There was a whole section of the room dedicated to shelves of sweets and more chocolate than Harry had ever seen (other than Honeydukes though off course!), huge buckets of ice full of Butter beer, and large boxes of fire whiskies and all kinds of alcoholic beverages.
"I believe I'm right to say you will find anything you need in here," James said casually, as the other boys arrived behind them, "we'll meet here before dinner to get everything you need in time for the prank, how does that sound?"
"No," Harry said suddenly making Ron stare at him, "I know exactly what we should do to the Slytherins!"
"Oooh, well you do think fast," James said smirking, "well then take what you need, and tell us all the wonderful details."
"We're definitely gonna need your help," Harry said, "I thought we'd do something to their food…you know?"
"Right," Ron said catching on, "how bout we make it alive???"
"Hahaha," Sirius laughed, "we tried that once before where their food started attacking them…man that was the best! You had to see the lobster clinging on to Snape's nose…I've never laughed so hard!!!"
"Heh, well actually…I was thinking less violent…how bout we put a hex on their plates that…that would dissolve the food the second it hit it?" Harry said suddenly thinking back to Mr. Weasleys injury a year ago, with the disappearing stitches.
"Nice," Sirius said looking impressed, "even I never though of that, and I fall sleep every night thinking up pranks!"
"Wow! Gotta hand it to ya, it sounds wonderful!!!" James said patting Harry on the back, who couldn't help but smile, till he saw the look on Ron's face, "uh actually it was Ron, who gave me the idea! He played this cool prank on this Malfoy kid—"
"Malfoy kid?" Sirius asked looking confused.
"Uh…" Harry felt his face burn, "ya…anyway—"
"There are no Malfoy kids, I mean there is Lucius the stupid 30 years old asshole who married my cousin 3 years ago, and from what I heard they're the only two Malfoy's left since his father died last summer…what Malfoy kid?"
"Uh…," Harry didn't know what to say, all he could think about was kicking himself for being so stupid…why the hell did he have to mention Draco?
"There is actually a muggle family in France called Malfoy," Ron suddenly said, and Harry stared at him, "are your family Malfoy's French as well?"
"I wouldn't know," Sirius said coldly, but then a smile split across his face, "sorry for a second I forgot I ran away from home last summer…"
"You did?" Ron looked surprised.
"Yeah, I woke up one day and realize embarrassing my family in front of guests wasn't funny anymore, and I was running out of pranks to play on little brother and mom…so I got up hexed them and jumped on my flying motorbike, and flew to James' house and stayed there for the whole summer," Sirius said grinning, "uh maybe we should get back to our prank."
"Ya—" Harry began, but Ron cut him off.
"Since Harry thought of it then I should do the actual jinxing!" Ron said eagerly looking at James and Sirius.
"Cool," James said, turning to Sirius, "ok me and Sirius'll come with you to get you to the kitchens and keep the house elves busy, Peter will stand guard before the kitchen, and since Remus is a master at finding jinxes and curses, he and Harry will look up the dissolving jinx for you. How bout that?"
"NO WAY!" Remus crossed his arms and glared at James, "I'm not sitting back and letting you guys have all the fun!!!"
"Fine," James said sighing, "our old system then?"
"Looks like it," Sirius said grinning, and the 4 boys gathered around a circle, "Aaaaaw man! I always hated this game…why did I have to pick rock???"
"Well good luck looking for that jinx Padfoot," James laughed, "I really love this game! Come on Ron…let the losers do their job!"
Sirius stuck his tongue at them, but when he turned to Harry he was grinning, "well we might as well get to work mate."
He and Harry made their way in the large room and after Sirius tapped the wall with his wand it closed up, making everything dark but within seconds light was back, and Harry looked up to realize there was a small candle chandelier on top of their heads.
"Well we might make the most of it," Sirius said taking out to bottles of normal muggle beer, and handed Harry one, "help your self to anything you want!"
"Uh thanx," Harry said as the two of them went to raided the sweets, and filled their robes before finding sitting down close to all the heavy books, picking up the closest one ('Best Pranks Known to Wizards in Complicated Steps!') and scanning pages as quickly as he could.
After 10 minutes Sirius let out a cheer, and jumped to his feet, motioning for Harry to do as well. Obviously he was very good at look up stuff. Quickly Harry made his way towards him, half nervous about being alone with his young to-be-godfather.
"Ok here's the thing, for the spell to work we need to mix together a few things, pretty simple stuff though…and we've got everything here…except for a bit of an Erumpent's hide…and the serpent dissolving venom," Sirius said frowning at the book but he looked up grinning at Harry, "but never fear young Harry, we can get all this from Karkroff's office!"
"Are you sure," Harry couldn't imagine why anyone would keep snake venom in their office…however Karkroff was a dark wizard…
"And I believe he is enjoying a lovely meal in the Great Hall about now!" Sirius said looking down on an old piece of perchment, Harry was sure it was the Marauder's map, "ok follow me!"
Harry soon realized Karkroff's office was much like Snape's, though missing a few gruesome things, but with addition of a few more gruesome things. Harry had held his breath as Sirius mutter something causing a silver like light shatter through something that had suddenly became visible, a lot like a colorless-goldish egg shell.
Now the two boys furiously looked around for the only item left, the snake venom…and not too long Sirius found that as well letting out a whoop…however only seconds later they heard the sound of footsteps, Sirius through something over Harry's head, who looked up to realize it was the invisibility cloak.
Half huddled together the boys listened as they heard Karkroff's angry growl, and realized there were to sets of footsteps. For a while Karkroff cursed the Marauders, but they heard someone else sigh impatiently, and he stopped. The two men walked into his office looking very serious, something about the second man was familiar to Harry though he did not recognize him, and somehow he knew the man was up to no good…maybe it was his cold inhuman pale blue eyes.
"Igor, will you stop wasting my time? I have many things to do and need you to answer to me…" the unknown man's said coldly.
"I do not know yet, but I must admit, it is very tempting however," Karkroff laughed.
"Of course it's tempting, the Dark Lord has powers most can only dream of…he will be most pleased with you, if you were to join. A teacher at Dombledore's school is like more precious than any amount of jewelry to my master!" Harry watched the man's face break into a horrible smile, "Join us Karkroff and you will watch as your wildest dreams come true, the Dark Lord himself will teach you things…incredible things…and give you gifts beyond you're most wonderful dreams!"
"I must tell you Sebastian, you have me convinced…however tell him I will need 3 days, I ask, to think it over," Karkroff smirked.
"Do not forget what the Dark Lord has done for you Igor, he could much much more than that," Sebastian said though he now turned to leave, "good day," and with that he left, shortly followed by Karkroff himself who picked up a few folders full of parchments before his own departure.
Harry and Sirius did not speak, nor take off the invisibility cloak, until they were inside the 'props' room again. Where Sirius sank down on the floor and opened another beer bottle and gulped down half the bottle. Harry slowly sat down in front of him looking a little white, though in a way he did not understand Sirius' expression. His godfather's expression was hard to read, his face had gone very pale, and his eyes were cold though they stared straight ahead not blinking much.
"That was close," Harry said not knowing what else to say, and picked up a bottle himself.
"It's not a good idea," Sirius said suddenly, the cold look had gone now, "we haven't had anything to eat, the last thing we need is to get drunk."
"Ya, you're right," Harry put the bottle down, and sighing he looked up at Sirius, "the other man was a death eater wasn't he?"
"What," Sirius breathed looking shocked, and for a while stared into Harry's eyes…who felt as though his eyes were burning, remembering the last time he had looked into Sirius' eyes like that right before he died. Something changed in Sirius' eyes, they no longer fun loving the way they always were, or cold, it seemed as though he could see the pain Harry was feeling, and it brought out his own, "you've suffered in his hands…haven't you"
"He killed my parents," Harry said looking down, his eyes now very blurry, "a friend of mine, and because of him the person I love the most is gone," Harry still couldn't say dead when he was referring to Sirius…the word was just to horrible…than his tears suddenly stopped. Harry couldn't believe it, he had never ever told someone how much Voldemort has hurt him…never said he loved Sirius…
"He never stops, does he?" Sirius said, his eyes too were full of tears, "none of them do…they think it's fun, like they're playing some kind of sick sport or something…"
Now whipping his tears Harry looked up as Sirius, who looked as though he was talking to himself more than anyone, "I remember my family having him over for dinner, a few years ago…if only I had reached across the table and…so many innocent people dead…" he shuddered visibly, "my whole family was their, all my cousins, ants uncles…they looked at him like he was some sort of Hero wanting to get rid of some kind of virus or, or something…he would talk about it like he'd create this amazing muggle and mudblood free world, and everyone would smirk and clap for him."
"I was so young, only 13, if I'd known…he looked over at me with those horrible red eyes of his…and gave me this amber amulet. He told me that any food I wanted, anything at all, even the finest of fire whiskies would appear for me in an instant if I just wished in to it. I got excited, I didn't know what kind of monster he was, and took it thanking him…my parents looked at me, beaming for the first time ever…after all the times I played pranks on our gusts embarrassing them in the past, for once they were proud of me! For the first time, I listened as they told him how clever I was, and how 'the Potter boy' and me were the 2 top students in our grades at Hogwarts. They even told him of all the complicated original pranks I had played on others, the ones I was sure no one other than the Marauders would appreciate…gosh how could I have been so foolish?"
Harry hadn't spoken while Sirius spilled his heart out and for the first time now watching tears stream down his godfather's face he quietly spoke, "you didn't know…he hadn't shown his true colors yet!"
"No…but still," Sirius wiped his eyes with his sleeve and suddenly looked at Harry, but quickly turned away, "tell me then."
"What?"
"Come on! It's ok I understand that you hate me now, so do I," Sirius said, pulling his knees closer to himself looking much younger that he was, "if it weren't for people like my family, Voldemort would've never gained enough power to…"
"BUT NOT YOU!!! You're family is VERY different from you Sirius!!!" Harry couldn't help himself but yell.
"THE SAME BLOOD RUNS THROUGH MY VEINS! NO MATTER HOW FAR I RUN…" Sirius' voice suddenly broke down, giving Harry the chance he needed.
"SO WHAT? HUH??? My mother was a wonderful woman…she-she gave her life for me and fought Voldemort, but Sirius she has a sister who is, just terrible!!! Their sisters, they have the same flesh and blood, they grew up in the same house…but my mother would never be able to watch anyone in pain, and her sister would turn the other way!!!!" Harry said, "it's not what we're born with that make us, us, it's our choices Sirius. You're in Gryffindor and isn't that already a sign that you do not wish to be power hungry?"
"But Harry you don't understand, growing with people like that…"
"BUT I DO! Remember how I told you Voldemort killed my parents…well he did that when I was only a baby, so I grew up all my life with my mother's sister, and her family who despise me for what I am," Harry said as he felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Isn't so unfair," Sirius said suddenly, "the way they sneer at you as though you carry something contagious?"
"Yeah," Harry smiled sadly, "it makes you wanna go crazy and stick their heads in the salad bowl!"
"I know," Sirius laughed his bark like laugh, and grabbed for a box of chocolate frogs, "'cept after a while you get used to it…it's just another annoying thing that'll always be their…like brushing your teeth!"
"Good one," Harry grinned biting into a chocolate frog, "it's weird isn't it…we just met and already…we understand each other better than anyone!"
"Jamesie is my brother…but well he grew up in this really amazing family…and…I can't talk about how horrible my family is to him…I'm afraid! I know he wouldn't, I mean the Potters and the Rest of the magic world know what a horrible dark family the Black's are some think we're even worst than the Malfoys…but I never told him about Voldemort having once been our dinner guest…never about who gave me the amulet! I will never tell him what happened the night I ran away…I just can't…"
For a while neither boy talked as they munched down chocolate and other sweets, until Harry just had to ask, "what happened back in Karkroff's office…why were you so pale?"
"Sebastian Travers, he is a very good friend of my dad's and now he is asking one of OUR teachers to join Voldemort! If we expose him I'd be exposing my own father as well…even though it's there is no question about turning him in…it's still weird, I feel like I'm betraying someone," Sirius' cheeks suddenly flushed.
"It's ok to feel that way Sirius," Harry said suddenly, "but lets just go see Dombledore, he wont do anything unless you give him permission to!"
"How do you know," Sirius said with a raised eyebrow.
"My uh…parents were very close to Dombledore, he sometimes visited me!"
"Oh I see…you're right, Dombledore seems like the answer right now!!!" and with that the two of them got up totally forgetting about their little prank.
A/N: Ever since reading the 5th book I just couldn't help but see how much Harry and Sirius were alike…(SOB) they'd have connected real well don't you think??? Aaaaaaahhhh still thinking bout Sirius death makes me cry…how could JK do that to Harry????