Chapter 14
The Marauders Suspension
The next week passed quickly for the marauders, being stuck in Grimmauld Place was not a punishment. Together, they spent their time training till dinner, when they would eat, then back to planning out new jokes. This time, they would not cross the line. Harry was reading his book on controlling his emotions, and he felt he was getting better. In the week it took for Remus to come with their work, Harry could have Ginny and Serena talk about Sirius falling through the veil without even starting to shake. When Remus came they decided to put this to the test. Remus came 6 days after their suspension, to meet three ecstatic children.
"MOONY!" They screamed, beaming.
"Ginny! You will treat Remus with respect!" Mrs. Weasley said.
"But Mum, to be called by his marauder name is the greatest respect I could give!" Ginny said, still smiling.
"She is quite right, I'm afraid. Besides, I'm not here acting as a teacher. I don't mind being called Moony, unless we are in class." Remus said smiling at the children. The week didn't seem to affect them badly. "How are you all today?"
"Well, we're great of course!" Serena began
"We are a bit tired, long day and all," Ginny continued.
"Training, and what have you, and we need to see you in my trunk as well." Harry finished, and the other two nodded. "If Mrs. Weasley doesn't mind of course."
"Molly?" Remus asked, wanting more to know what was happening than permission.
"I don't know much about what they do in there Remus. Harry has three trunks inside his that are locked from the inside when they go in. I don't mind you checking up on them." Molly said smiling. She was more than a little curious.
"Actually, one is locked from the outside. That would be my bedroom, I have all my personal effects in there. I do require that to be private, but had you asked we would have let you in to the other two. Just can't while training is in session, what with spells flying about and all." Harry said.
"No you are both wrong. Their are two locked from the outside. My bedroom is in their two. So this way I can sneak over to the Dursleys when Harry has to return there for summer." Serena said smiling. "Sisterly rights and all that!"
"That would mean there are three then!" Ginny said laughing. "Mine is in there too, more so I don't have to worry about people stumbling upon my diary. Aside from Hermione and Serena, I don't trust those girls not to read it just to have something to gossip about! Wicked gossips they are."
"So you three have your own house in a trunk?" Molly asked, shocked at this revelation. "None of you had better be occupying the same bedroom!"
"Trust me, Mrs. Weasley, if you saw exactly how tired we were after the training session before sleep, you wouldn't mind us all in the same bed." Harry said seriously, then laughing at her face. "Not that its happened. Really they are all in there because we are exhausted afterwards and don't want to go further than necessary." Then he looked at Remus. "How about we have a short word with you, then you and Mrs. Weasley can observe our progress for a bit?"
"Sounds like a good plan," Ginny started.
"Need to talk to Moony alone first though," Serena continued.
"My guardian and all, this might not be the time for Mrs. Weasley to know." Harry finished.
"Agreed" Said the girls.
"Molly do you mind this?" Remus asked, not wanting to offend.
"Ok come on. You can wait in my library, and we'll talk in my room. It has a silencing charm because of the," Harry looked at Remus sadly, "the nightmares." he said.
"I understand, Harry." Remus said, as he and Molly followed the children. Upon entering the library, Mrs. Weasley's jaw dropped.
"Harry why do you have so many books?" She asked.
"Training. Tonks insisted, saying I would need all of these for preparation. Smart woman, that Tonks. Read every book you see here, she did" Harry said, smiling at Serena. "You can wait here, Mrs. Weasley. Please feel free to read any book you want while you wait." With that Harry led the other three to his room.
It was a modest room, to be sure. No paintings or pictures hanging on the walls. Two pictures on his nightstand, one of him with Ginny laying against him in the Gryffindor common room, and the other of the three marauders after their first night of pranks at Hogwarts, with crowds of people trying to swarm in from the sides. His bed was similar to that of those in Hogwarts, though the drapes were emerald green, the same as his eyes. He had a small desk with parchments everywhere, and on there also were two pictures. One of his mum and dad, waving to the camera holding Harry as a baby, the other of him and Sirius, standing together smiling happily during Christmas of last year. A small wardrobe against one wall, stood open revealing most of his belongings, including his Firebolt.
"Wow Potter, you definitely have decorator's savvy!" Serena said laughing.
"This room has pictures of those important to me, Black. I have a picture of Tonks that's gonna sit right next to the two on the desk when I get a good enough frame for it." Harry said, smiling. "Need one of you too, Moony."
"You'll have it on Christmas. You are spending the holiday with me, correct?" Remus asked, Harry smiled.
"Only if Serena is." He replied.
"Well of course I'm going. What else could I do?" Serena said laughing.
"Ooh! Me too! Me too!" Ginny said jumping up and down, making them all laugh.
"Of course, Ginny. We will all be staying at here. Seeing as Harry will need to make this place seem more livable after all. It is his house." Remus said smiling. "Or is it yours Serena? I know you two chose to split things evenly with what happened."
"House is his, Moony. He asked for it, said it reminded him of Sirius." Serena said sadly. "I couldn't take it. It meant too much to him." Then she laughed adding, "Besides, he gave me a million for it!" After a few laughs Remus became serious again.
"What is it you three wished to talk to me about?" Remus asked.
"The power the dark lord knows not," Ginny started.
"Apparently, Harry knows not either." Serena continued.
"And I need help trying to control it." Harry finished.
"Well first of all, I chose this room for a reason. It has windows." Harry started. "Don't worry about the pictures, they have eight different unbreakable charms on their glass." Harry added, to soothe the looks from the two girls. "Remus, this is going to be hard for you, no doubt, but I need you to insult Sirius until I tell you to stop or start shouting. Shortly after either, these two will stop me from doing anything. Do you understand Remus?" Remus shook his head. "I didn't think so. How about we do this based on trust?" Remus nodded. "Ok then, when you are ready." Harry said, standing their calmly, forcing himself to let loose his emotions. Remus had tears falling from his eyes at what he was about to say.
"Sirius was a fool! He died trying to play the hero! Trying to stop something he had no control over! He fell through the veil because he was an IDIOT!" Remus shouted, crying now. Serena nodded for him to keep going. "He was no better in school either! Always running beside James, doing anything just because he was bored! Worthless if you ask me-" He was cut off as the windows in the room shattered, and the room itself began to shake matching the shaking in Harry. Instantly, Ginny and Serena ran to Harry's side, while Remus fell to the floor, crying at the things he said about one of his best friends. Harry calmed as soon as the girls rested their hands on his shoulders. He looked at them and they nodded. Then he went to Remus and put a hand on his shoulder, as the man looked up he saw Harry smiling, not the arrogant or mischievous smile that had become his custom, but a smile mixed with happiness and sadness.
"He was a good man, Remus." Harry said. "No one loved him more than three of the people in this room, possibly all four. He won't think you bad for this. He would know that I asked because you had to see what happens when my love for a person turns to anger." He looked at the windows. "I spent this last week learning to control it. I forced myself not to so you could see. I need to control this power Remus. Because this is the power the dark lord knows not."
"Harry, I don't know what this is!" Remus said, "I've never seen this before, so how can I help you to control it?"
"You can talk to Dumbledore about it!" Serena said, smiling.
"Get him to help!" Ginny said, smiling as well.
"And once I learn, I can kick Voldemort's sorry ass back to oblivion where he belongs!" Harry said smiling wickedly.
"AGREED!" The two behind him shouted. Remus smiled at this himself. Three who are so young, taking such responsibility, and not even batting an eye. Remus thought, You had better be proud of them, James, you to Sirius, because I know I am.
"Alright, I will talk to Albus immediately upon returning to him." Remus said. "I will not be able to come here next week, because of the full moon. But I will return after that week to do regular check ups on you three." They nodded, still smiling. "Now lets see how you have progressed since last I watched you practice." They laughed and collected Mrs. Weasley.
Entering into the training room, the adults stood still, waiting for the children to tell them what was going to happen. The room met the needs of whatever they wanted to appear, whatever they felt they needed to work against, or on. They were still smiling as they knew what today's practice was supposed to be. None of them wearing robes, all in muggle clothes, they turned to the adults and became very serious.
"You two, stand by that wall and wave your wands. A magical barrier will form to separate you from the battle." Serena said.
"We use it for solo practice, while the other two critique. It is how we learn, one mistake to the next." Harry said.
"Together though, we put on quite a show if I do say so myself, and I do!" Ginny said. "Now behind the barrier. You will hear us."
"DO NOT INTERUPT THE TRAINING FOR ANY PURPOSE!" They said together.
"We know the risks here and we accept them, we do not accept responsibility for you two getting hurt." Harry said.
"UNDERSTOOD?" They said together again.
"How dangerous is this?" Molly asked.
"We will not receive the unforgivables, but that is all." Harry said, still serious.
"You do this every day?" Remus asked. They nodded. "Molly, trust them. They would not allow themselves to be hurt too bad." Molly nodded. Remus looked at the children. "We understand." He waved his wand and a barrier surrounded them, and two chairs appeared for them to sit.
"Well, ladies, was today 12 death eaters, 5 students?" Harry asked smiling.
"No, Potter that was yesterday." Serena said. "Remember, we had to do it 12 times just to get a good workout?"
"Oh yeah." Harry said.
"Today we are doing 20 death eaters, 3 children, and 5 students!" Ginny said. They nodded.
"Agreed." Harry and Serena said. The adults gasped at what they heard.
Suddenly the room erupted in action. Death eaters poured into a street resembling Hogsmeade. The children were running around screaming, while the students were standing petrified. Death Eaters began sending curses everywhere, and the three burst into action. Dodging spells, protecting those who weren't or couldn't fight, sending their own spells. Remus watched in awe, as these Death Eaters acted exactly like the real thing, except that instead of killing curses they would send green sparks to the children and students the marauders were supposed to protect. They were diving into curses with protection charms he had never heard of before, watching the curses bounce off their shields, while they sent their own curses. All the while, protecting each other as well as everyone else. The Death Eaters would try to apparate, and the children would shield them to stop it, then stun them. This went on for ten minutes before all of the Death Eaters were stunned and tied up. They smiled at each other, as one of the students then tried to attack Harry. Remus looked and saw it was Draco Malfoy. The girls saw this and placed two separate shield charms on Harry, who turned and sent six curses at Malfoy before his curse even reached him. Harry smiled and stunned Malfoy. Then they looked at each other.
"TIME!" They shouted. Suddenly the room turned back to its normal atmosphere with a parchment laying at their feet. They looked at the parchment and all looked disappointed as the adults walked to them.
"What's wrong? That was amazing!" Remus said.
"Amazing he says!" Serena said, flustered at his words.
"I only took down 5 Death Eaters!" Ginny said, enraged.
"I only saved 3 children!" Harry shouted angrily.
"Wait! Maybe were doing this wrong!" Serena said.
"What!" Harry and Ginny shouted. Serena smiled and handed the parchment to Remus.
"Should we judge separate or by team?" She asked him. Remus looked at the paper and his jaw dropped.
"By team of course!" Remus said, "You were working together to do this, after all!" Suddenly the three cheered up.
"Wooo!" Serena said.
"We annihilated them!" Ginny said happily, beaming at Harry.
"Together, we can beat anything!" Harry said, beaming proudly.
"How did you children do that?" Molly asked.
"Well we made a mistake really," Harry began.
"Meant to say 20 Death Eaters, 3 children, and 5 students each!" Ginny said.
"Yeah kind of a fluff showing, but we can do it the right way if you want!" Serena said, finishing the statement.
"EACH!" Remus and Molly shouted together.
"Their starting to sound like us." Harry said smiling.
"Good influence on them!" Serena said laughing.
"I think we are a bad influence on them!" Ginny said, chuckling slightly.
"You said you did 12 Death Eaters yesterday," Remus began, "Was that twelve each?" when they nodded, he just gaped at them. "There are Order members, AURORS, who cant take on 12 Death Eaters!"
"We are not Order members!" Harry said, sounding insulted at the comparison.
"We are not AURORS!" Serena shouted, equally insulted.
"We are Marauders!" Ginny said with pride.
"Agreed!" Serena and Harry shouted, with the same pride. Remus just shook his head and laughed. These children felt that marauders needed to be of a higher standard, and they proved this with the things that they said, and their actions.
"Well children, I feel we should make both of those groups marauders, and let you teach them." Remus said seriously, "What you showed me today alone shows me you have rights to be aurors. However! What was the green sparks that shot from the wands of the Death Eaters?"
"Well listen first to the explanation, before you yell." Serena said. When Remus nodded, she looked at Harry.
"Well we began studying shield spells over the summer remember?" Harry began, Remus nodded. "Well we stumbled upon one that even Tonks and the Ministry must have overlooked. So we changed the magic around unforgivables. They judge our shield by a killing curse. If it bounces off, then we can deflect a killing curse, if it hits us we are stunned." Harry said grinning. "We took our oath's that if a green spark hit the person they were 'dead' for the rest of the session. Kind of a reminder not to get hit." He looked at the other two, then grinned at Remus, "Each of us has been hit at least once. Worse than a stunning spell, cause it hurts worse than the cruciatus, if only for a second. Still painful. Mainly its a hard spell to master. That's why I need to ask you a favor Remus."
"What do you need Harry?" Remus said.
"Well I need you to take a note to Olivander for me. He will not give me what I need unless you have this note" Harry said, handing him a note on a parchment. "You will not be able to see it. It is only aloud to be read by Olivander, not because of you, but because if someone else was to see it, it could be trouble." Harry explained, "He will tell you how much to pay, and give you a box. This can only be opened by me." Harry said calmly.
"Why can it only be opened by you, Harry?" Remus asked, curious as to what was happening. Harry responded by flicking his left wrist, his second wand coming to hand, and handed it to Remus.
"Cast a spell at the target." Harry said then shouted, "ONE DEATH EATER!" A Death Eater came from one corner, Remus quickly stunned it with such power that the Death Eater flew back into the wall, just before disappearing. "That's why Remus. Have you ever had that kind of power with someone else's wand?" Remus shook his head and handed the wand back to Harry. "No one has Remus, but Olivander talked to me one day, during third year when I was staying in Diagon Alley. Used me as a test subject actually, tried every wand, and all worked to perfection for me." He sighed as he looked Remus in the eye. "Moony, I can't fight him with my wand. We can't send spells at each other, they clash. I need a secret weapon, and I can't trust to some prophecies 'power'." Tears started to fall from his eyes. "Moony, I want to live! I deserve to live! More important, I found love that makes me fight to live. Don't I deserve all the help I can get?"
"Harry I will get this box for you tomorrow. I will not, however, be able to bring it to you, so would you be willing to wait till your return to school?" Remus said, strongly. Harry nodded, and Remus hugged him. "I will give you all the help you need, Harry. I will fight that bastard myself if that is what it takes! You will live on after him!" then he looked at Harry and smiled. "Harry, I know you can beat him. You are the son of James and Lily! You are the heir of not one, but two marauders! What could be more powerful?" this caused Harry to laugh, smiling arrogantly.
"The whole of Slytherin can't stop me! Why should I worry about one!" Harry said, laughing. Ginny and Serena laughed too, and Remus nodded.
"I will see you children in school then. I left your homework in the family room. Do you have a place for potions?" Remus asked. Harry nodded. "Well then I must be off. Take care of yourselves, and Mrs. Weasley!" This caused them to laugh again, and the adults left. This caused them to smile at each other.
"Again?" Harry asked.
"Definitely!" Serena said.
"What else do we have to do?" Ginny said, and they went through their training again.