Author's note: Mea Culpa to my dear readers..I'm really terribly sorry for the delay. I just don't have much time to write nowadays...Too much work to do, so little time... But don't you worry, I'm going to finish this story so please bear with me. Thanks for those who reviewed and hey, I reached more than 1000 hits already!!! Thanks to everyone and I hope you would like this one too... :-)
Chapter 14 - The Marauder's Journal
"Marauder's Journal?!?" Both Ron and Hermione exclaimed at once and quickly sent a curious glance at the pale-faced professor who seemed too overwhelmed for words.
"I...We...They..." stammered Professor Lupin as he tried to sort out his thoughts but to no avail.
"Perhaps now that you've demonstrated your knowledge of pronouns, you could hurry up with the explanation? We don't have all day, you know." stated a haggard-looking Snape. He looked like he had not had a decent sleep in days and his weariness was catching up on him.
The werewolf closed his eyes for a moment as if trying to recall something....something crucial that must have evaded his memory a while ago. When he opened them, he wore a more bemused expression and stared at the familiar journal with mounting horror.
"T-this can't be....It's impossible!" he said at last and glanced at Dumbledore as if seeking for an answer himself.
"B-but, Professor....surely, you knew about that since you're one of the Marauders..." stated Hermione weakly. She could not comprehend why the highly esteemed Defense Professor was acting strangely.
"T-that's exactly the problem...I knew about that...and I knew for a fact that we destroyed that journal the summer before our seventh year. I-It contained some very painful...and rather..." the professor heaved a deep breath before he continued reluctantly. "...disgraceful memories from our past. We wanted to forget ... and we knew we wouldn't achieve that as long as the journal was there...so we destroyed it and obliviated ourselves of its contents... We somehow lived normally after that."
The Potions Masters face immediately darkened with realization as he listened to Lupin's statement. "Does this have something to do with the expulsion of three girls from the Slytherin house during our sixth year?" he asked venomously.
All eyes turned suddenly to Snape and Lupin, wondering what they were talking about. The twinkle in the Headmaster's eyes flickered and stared questioningly at the two professors. Lupin lifted his head to meet Snape's in a silent apology.
"I'm afraid it does..." was all he managed to say before Snape broke down and punched the wall with so much force that the walls vibrated in agony but he did not seem to notice.
"She was my only sister, you git!"
"I know...and I'm sorry...terribly sorry..."
Slowly, the formidable and stern Potions Master crumbled on the floor, his shoulders sagging in misery, his rage giving way to desperation as the revelation engulfed his senses. He couldn't do anything anyway. He couldn't undo the past even if he had the chance...even if he murdered in cold blood the one considered to be the last Marauder now. Instead he asked coldly, "Was Pettigrew with you then?"
"No. He was always off to somewhere. If we only had paid more attention to him, maybe we would have found out that he was already spying for Voldemort then." replied Professor Lupin in anquish.
"I believe it would be best if you two could sort out your differences at another time." said Dumbledore calmly though still deeply perturbed by the fact that he missed something important all those years. "From Remus' statement, I could venture that somehow, Peter retrieved the journal before it was fully destroyed and restored it to send to these young men." He then eyed the three young men carefully. "Does this package come with a letter, an explanation or ... an invitation perhaps?"
The three band members stared at the old bearded man in surprise. "How did you know?" asked Billy.
"Well, considering that it came from a loyal servant of the dark lord, I could safely assume that his intention would not be entirely---honorable." replied Dumbledore with a sinking feeling. He knew there was something special about those tree but he couldn't exactly figure out what and if there was an invitation....
"There was a letter, Mr. Dumbledore. Shall we read it aloud?" asked Chuck hesitantly.
"It may help." said Dumbledore simply and conjured some more chairs so that everyone could be comfortable.
Chuck cleared his throat loudly before reading the letter.
To the Unfortunate Descendants of the Marauders:
If you are reading this enchanted parchment, then you must be the first descendant of the Marauder to come of age. Enclosed is the Marauder's Journal that contained the facts that history books have omitted about their so-called defenders of the light. The Marauders are not the perfect little Gryffindors that everyone has portrayed them to be. The Marauders are hypocritical and egoistic bullies who would have gone to the dark side if they did not revel in the adulation so much.
There would be four descendants in all if no one has died yet. Your mothers are very close so with that information, I know you would eventually discern who the other two are, especially when they receive a duplicate of this letter. The fourth is Harry Potter. As the eldest, it is your task to gather all descendants and ensure that you peruse the journal together. However, only when you are complete and has poured a drop of blood each on the cover will its contents be revealed. No incantation needed.
Read its contents and you shall discover for yourself why you must not follow the path that your fathers have chosen. The light side can offer you nothing but pain and suffering while the dark lord can offer you power and control over your destiny.
As the second war rises, you must all decide where your loyalties should lie -- Is it to the old, muggle-loving, delusional Dumbledore whose habit of manipulating people to suit his needs has endangered many lives? or is it to Lord Voldemort - the noble and most powerful sorcerer of all time who wishes nothing but to purge the wizarding world of those who had more concern for the muggles than for the magical beings?
The magical community is far more superior than the muggle world but why must we be the ones to hide? Why must we be afraid to use magic in front of muggles? Why must we bow down and cater to the needs of the muggle rulers when they are so disgustingly weak? Why must we continually insist upon a friendly relationship with them when they have nothing but contempt for our kind? Shouldn't things be the other way around? Wizards must rule and muggles must follow.
People on the "light" side like Dumbledore and your fathers may be too cowardly to assert power but there are others who are not. There are those who put the interest of the wizarding world above any other ... people like Death-Eaters, the loyal and faithful followers of the only one who is determined and courageous enough to pursue this noble cause...Lord Voldemort.
Join Him...join us...and together, we shall rectify the errors of our past...
From the only enlightened Marauder
"Enlightened Marauder, indeed!" Snape's pale lips curled in derision.
"Sweet Merlin! If what that blasted 'enlightened Marauder' said is true, then I have a son....and I didn't even know...no one of us knew...damn it!" cried Professor Lupin in agony rivaling that of Snape's own anguish.
"And Harry....it means you have an older brother..." said Hermione, clearly astounded at the shocking revelation.
"I know...Billy already told me that he's my older brother." replied Jeric stoically. He was beginning to be more and more convinced that he did not wish to remember his past if it was that painful and life-threatening as it seemed to be. INo, thank you. I'd rather live peacefully without knowing that know and be forever haunted by memories... /I
"I could take great pleasure into wringing the neck of that damn 'enlightened Marauder'." said Kingsley Shacklebolt who had until then just maintained his stance as a casual observer. "I knew Peter had a twisted mind but I never realized he was beyond redemption..."
Professor Dumbledore eyed the somber group with great apprehension. Voldemort surely knew how to manipulate some facts to create confusion and elicit a response to that magnitude. And, unfortunately, for once he was at a loss. He did not know the right words to say...he did not know how to dissipate the negative emotions that were gradually suffocating all of them.
But he was still confounded. He knew the reason why Voldemort was exhausting all possible means to get Harry on his side but what about the other three? Surely, Voldemort wouldn't just recruit them on a whim. Dumbledore was still lost in his thoughts when Snape answered his unspoken question.
"I can't be certain how the Dark Lord could have known about them when I, myself, was not aware of their existence but he must have deemed it useful to have them on his side. Their mothers were all elementals. Anthea, my sister, was a water elemental. Nadia's element was air and Bernadette's was the earth. Voldemort is fully aware that elemental abilities are hereditary and he also knew that with proper training, they could be unstoppable. With them on his side, the reign of darkness would be undefeatable." said Snape in crisp monotone. He couldn't believe what was happening. He was perfectly happy fighting the dark lord but with the recent developments, he was having serious doubts if he wanted to take sides anymore. He was tired of everything.
Dumbledore, sensing the gloomy atmosphere, decided to turn his attention back to Harry's situation. The war simply couldn't go on with the light side's hero oblivious of his role in it. "Jeric, I know this is hard but many people are counting on you. If you don't get your memory back as soon as possible then many more lives would be lost..."
"No!" replied Jeric adamantly.
"Please listen to me...the light side is losing as we speak...The wizarding world is now aware that Harry Potter has disappeared. Some had even started a rumor that you had turned to Voldemort. We need you...your friends need your help. Please do it for your parents and godfather who died to save you... so that you can save the wizarding world from the rule of an evil conqueror..."
"NO!!! YOU CAN SAVE YOUR OWN WORLD YOURSELVES! I DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT SICK POWER STRUGGLE ANYMORE!!!" yelled Jeric then in a softer tone he added, "My life is ugly...please I'm happier not knowing all about those deaths and treachery...I want some peace for myself...Is is too much to ask?"
"Unfortunately, at this point...yes it is too much to ask...Please forgive me for doing this...REVERSO OBLIVIATE!!!" said the Headmaster and immediately a white beam had erupted from his wand and hit the boy's head who had staggered backward from the unexpected attack.
Everyone waited with bated breath to see if the reversal charm had worked. The boy scrunched his face in pain and his body convulsed a little but when he opened his eyes, he only had three words to say to everyone. "It didn't work..." And for the first time since the unwelcome visitors had arrived, he smiled.
Everyone in the room, especially Dumbledore, Snape and Lupin, were alarmed. Was it possible? If Dumbledore was unable to break the charm, then who could? Voldemort? As if they could politely asked the dark lord for his kind assistance regarding their little dilemma!
"P-Professor, I don't understand. If V-Voldemort could break the strong memory charm placed on Bertha Jerkins, then how come you couldn't penetrate Harry's when only a minor wizard had cast it?" asked Hermione in confusion, not realizing that she had trampled upon someone's feelings without intending to.
"I'm afraid it has something to do with Harry's capabilities. He is a powerful wizard and his vehement refusal to regain his memory had caused the reversal charm to fail...and add it to the fact the wizard who had done it was not really that minor as you thought." replied Dumbledore, wearily rubbing his forehead. He was starting to develop a major headache.
Snape stepped in to help. "Allow me to try another way, Professor." Dumbledore only nodded in defeat. "LEGILIMENS!"
Jeric's mind was immediately assaulted with uninvited images starting from the most recent ones. He sank to his knees and clutched his head in an attempt to lessen if not totally eliminate the piercing pain that accompanied the memories. He knew he could do something to force those images out but for now, he could not find a way to keep the intruder out of his head.
Severus, on his part, focused on probing the young boy's memories, hoping that it would trigger the activation of the reversal charm. He knew that it would be very hazardous for the boy's stability if he pushed too hard but he had to try…for his and others peace of mind - He saw Harry struggling to carry a semi-conscious Draco to their house…He witnessed the almost cordial conversation between Harry and Draco before they were viciously attacked… How Draco had valiantly tried to save the golden boy…He saw dementors about to perform the kiss on three weakened young men and how Harry had sent a stunningly enormous stag to save his friends…without a wand…unbelievable!
Snape delved even further. He felt some sort of weak resistance that hardly repelled him at all. It was either the boy was curious enough to let him see those memories or he just could not recall how to use Occlumency…probably the latter.
If Snape was not too engrossed with his initial success, he would have wondered why the images were flashing too slowly…just like in the movies He could almost hear the conversation between the boy and his best friends during their first visit…
At that point, he did not notice any resistance at all. It seemed that the boy was interested too. But when it came to the point where Hermione had bade Harry a very memorable farewell, he felt the boy stiffen.
"That is private!!!" Severus heard the boy scream in rage and felt the boy's mind shoving him out…but it was not only that…within seconds, his head was immediately flooded with memories, not of the boys but of his own recent encounter with the Dark Lord.
"Severus, what kept you?" said a high-pitched voice, his red eyes gleaming dangerously. One wrong word promising a thousand and one nightmares. Any other man's blood would have frozen in fear but not the one standing before him.
Severus was too used to the Dark Lord's ways to be that afraid. He knew how the evil man thinks and he knew the right words to say. And that was what had kept him alive for so long…
"My sincerest apologies but the Headmaster had detained me, my Lord. He insisted that he has something urgent to discuss with me. I had to stay lest he become suspicious."
"And what, pray tell, could be more important that my summon? Surely, you could have come up with a plausible excuse to leave?" said the monstrous-looking man….if one could call him a man.
"It was about the Potter boy, your highness. I deemed it prudent to listen to what the old fool had to say. I learned something that would be of great importance to you…" The dark lord eyed him with a hint of interest. "The wretched boy had lost his memory…
A sinister smile slowly crept upon the dark lord's features, accentuating his already creepy appearance. The smile turned into a totally cruel laughter that sent shivers down Snape's spine though only a slight twitch of his muscles disclosed his uneasiness.
"That is very enlightening. Now I understand why Potter was behaving so uncharacteristically…" The dark lord was positively beaming from his excitement.
Snape's mind was flooded with morbid thoughts. The boy's defenses are down. Was he dumb enough to let himself be captured? What did the dark lord mean?
"I trust you already knew of the boy's location. My other loyal servants are there already. Help them bring the boy to me…alive… This is an excellent opportunity to sway him to our side. I believe it's not that hard a task now, it it?"
"No, my lord. I will personally make sure that Potter would be delivered tonight in your humble presence…" With that, Snape bowed low as if making a solemn promise.
"Excellent…Don't disappoint me, Severus…"
Then the nauseating scene was replaced with Severus' talk with the Headmaster and there the link had ended. Both Severus and Harry were on the floor, panting for breath…but he could swear he chanced upon a hint of amusement on the boy's face. Amazing…the boy should be horrified by now instead of smiling like he had been privy to a very juicy secret… but come to think of it…the boy had indeed been privy to his memories and instead of being appalled or scared, the boy seemed to comprehend the undercurrent within.
Jeric struggled to put up a brave and disdainful front. The man had unearthed more than what was comfortable for him but he had also discovered some of the older man's innermost secrets…therefore, they were even. But, admittedly, the experience had made his resolution crack a little bit. Surreptitiously, he glanced at the man and was surprised at the awe and disbelief written on his face.
"What now, Severus? I'm afraid you have just disappointed Mr. Snake Face there." Jeric stated with a satisfied smirk on his face. "I admit your method was very interesting but…useless."
"I know. It's just a pity that you're not that adept a few years back." replied Snape with a remarkable lack of venom. "Would you like me to try again?"
"Why don't you just let him be, Professor?" A tired and weak voice interrupted suddenly. It was Draco who somehow made it his business to have a say on that particular matter. Those in the room turned to him to listen if his opinion had some merit. "If you force him now, then we could never be a hundred percent sure that he would be back to how he was before. He might even learn to despise your imposition and manipulation. Let him decide on his own…after all, it's his life he's risking not ours…"
Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat immediately before the statement could give way to a full-scale debate. "Perhaps you're right, Mr. Malfoy, but it doesn't change the fact that the dark lord is still after him. He needs to, at least, re-learn to defend himself." he stated in a resigned tone. "Of course, we need to bring him back to Hogwarts for that…unfortunately, due to the circumstances, he won't be able to attend his usual classes. Therefore the staff will just arrange for a private tutorial session with him." Then he turned to Jeric, his gentle tone willing the boy to accept the situation. "Would that arrangement be acceptable to you?"
Jeric glanced at Hermione. He saw the image of them kissing and he was interested in knowing what exactly was his relationship with her and what would happen now but he couldn't explore that possibility if he won't come with them to their school but what about Billy, Chuck and Matt?
"What about my friends?" he asked tentatively.
"They can come if they wanted to." came the polite response.
"We can help you train some of your ummm…other talents and I guess, it wouldn't hurt if we accompany you to your lessons. We might learn a thing or two." said Billy, smiling at him warmly.
Professor Lupin seemed to come alive after hearing that. "I was wondering…how come you can't produce a proper patronus charm?"
"Actually, there are lots of spells that we can't perform yet but rest assured that we are fully trained to handle our elemental abilities." replied Matt, eyeing Lupin with great curiosity. Lupin was a Marauder after all and he might be…his father or one of his friend's father.
"How can you not know?"
"Because we never finished school…we've been err..expelled." came the simple and barely audible reply.
"YOU WERE WHAT?!?"
Author's Note: That's all for now, folks...I'm really sorry and hopefully, you'll still review...