Author's note: Just in case you missed it in the first chapter.. I do not own Harry Potter or anything in the Harry Potter books. I just enjoy playing with them! Also, if anyone has ideas or suggestions for future chapter, do not hesitate to leave me a note! Thanks much!
Talk of Secrets
Courtney had no trouble finding her way around the castle. For one, she already knew where most of everything was. Second, either James, Sirius, Remus or Peter would walk with her to her class. Most of the time the five fifth years were seen walking together to most of their classes.
Courtney, wanting more of a challenge, took some more advanced classes. Sirius thought she was weird for wanting more work to do.
"What do you need more classes for? You already know a lot of stuff. Your brain is going to shutdown from an overload one of these days!" He would tell her as she struggled through her two parchment essays that were due the next day.
"Thanks Sirius, I'll keep that in mind."
James laughed, "no, don't do that. Then your sure to have an overload."
One day, as they were walking to their Defense Against the Dark Arts class, they stopped on the third floor; directly in front of an old statue. James looked behind his back and down the hall, then nodded to the rest of them.
"Alright Courtney, after much discussion, we decided to tell you that there are secret passageways in this castle-"
"-and some out of it." Remus interrupted.
James nodded, "these passageways led to several different places. One leads to Honeydukes, one to the Shrieking Shakes, and there's one to-"
"-alright she gets it! There are seven actually, and they all lead somewhere. The point is we wanted to show you this one." Taking out his wand, Sirius tapped the humped-backed statue and said, "dissendium" . The statue's hump moved to reveal a path that led down into the ground.
Courtney was in awe. Harry had told her about it but she had never actually got to see it. Amazed by the statue and its secret, Courtney jumped when a loud bell sounded throughout the halls. Remus quickly pulled out his wand and tapped the statue, "we will have to show you to Honeydukes later. Come on, lets get to class."
The lesson was incredibly boring in Defense. James and Sirius, who took a seat next to each other, entertained themselves by playing tic-tac-toe. Courtney jotted down a note and passed it to James and Sirius. It read:
Just curious, have you made a map of the passageways? You know, just incase you forget.
Professor Treeshall had just got done explaining how minotaurs ripped their victims limbs from their bodies when-
"It's brilliant!" Sirius shouted, causing the entire class to look at him in wonder. The Slytherins scowled at his outbreak. Courtney, who had been paying attention, could not hold back a giggle.
Professor Treeshall walked over to the pair of troublemakers. "What, may I ask, is so brilliant, Mr. Black?" Sirius hesitated for a second but James filled in, "he has read about-er-"
Courtney coughed, it sounded a lot like minotaurs.
"About minotaurs. He finds them fascinating." Sirius turned around to face his friend, "I do not!" he whispered loudly.
Professor Treeshall raised an eyebrow, "well if they are truly that fascinating, you don't mind doing a parchment essay on the minotaur. It is due when you walk into class, Wednesday. All of you."
There was a collective groan from the class, several people sent glares to Sirius. The bell rang and the class filed out. Courtney waited at the door for her friends.
Sirius almost knocked her over, "it's the best idea since... since.."
"Toast?" Courtney added. He gave her a concerned look but agreed that toast was an awesome thing. Remus, who was siting next to Peter in class, sighed in confusion.
"Care to share what the great idea is?" Peter nodded his head frantically, "we want to know!"
Sirius pocketed the note, "I will tell you but lets get to lunch first. I'm starved!"
The five of them sat in a square at the table. Courtney, next to James, explained her idea to Remus and Peter, who sat on the opposite side.
"I was just thinking that you guys should make a map of Hogwarts, so you don't forget the passageways."
Sirius shoveled another spoonful of mashed potatoes in his mouth, "wa du to mean by 'to guys'?" To her relief he swallowed his food, "you came up with the idea! You should be part of it too!"
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter swapped looks. Somehow, they made a silent agreement.
"You're in!" James said out of nowhere.
She blinked, looking very confused. Remus got the clue, "Courtney, we officially accept you as a Marauder. But there are some things you must agree to. To never give our secrets to anyone, and we mean no one. Also," he made sure no one was listening besides their group, "James, Peter and Sirius are unregistered animagi."
Courtney nodded, "alright, I can handle that. I am an animagus too, but-" Courtney had been a registered animagus when Severus forced her to register.
James eyed her, "but what?"
She shook her head, "never mind, I'm not registered either."
Sirius shrugged and continued to feed himself chicken. Courtney was forced to look at her food when he continued to talk, with his mouth full. "Oh, tand Moonty is a-" Remus gave him a glare that would silence even the bravest of wizards. He swallowed his food, "not an animagus. He's 'special', but don't tell him that."
Remus rolled his eyes and lazily flicked his spoonful of corn at Sirius. "Opps, sorry. It's my spasms again, can't control those darn things."
Before anyone knew it there was a full fledged food fight at their section of the Gryffindor table. Professor Treeshall, who was already on bad terms with the five of them, stormed over.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
The Gryffindor table gasped when a glob of potatoes landed on the professor's face.
"A WEEKS DETENTION! ALL OF YOU! NOW GO TO YOUR DORMS!"
The five marauders scampered out of the Great Hall like a lighting bolt. They raced up to their dorm, James and Sirius hexing any student they passed. When they reached the comfort of the common room they all collapsed in the chairs.Each exchanged glances before bursting with laughter.
"That was awesome!" "Did you see the look on his face!?" "Did you see the potatoes!"
By the time the rest of the house came to the common room for bed, they were working on their essay that they had gotten the entire class. They all received glares from students as they marched up to their dorms. James looked up suddenly, Courtney followed his gaze. A redhead had just walked through the portrait. She was talking to her friend about the upcoming visit to Hogsmeade. James ran a hand through his hair, making it look even messier. Courtney elbowed his side after the girl had disappeared in her room.
"What?" he asked innocently.
Courtney rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the essay.
"What?" he continued to poke.
She looked up at him, "well it's obvious you fancy her."
At this Sirius, Remus and Peter looked up, their full attention on James. "He likes who?"
James frowned, "I don't like anyone. She doesn't know what she's talking about."
Sirius was not buying this answer. He leaned towards Courtney, "is he looking at Lily again?" he whispered.
James was on his feet in a second. "What did he tell you?"
"He didn't tell me anything. He asked me something, though." Courtney replied innocently, smiling up at James. He looked miffed at her, his fist balled up. "Now seriously James, if it was something worth while I would tell you. He just asked a question, I never answered. So, no harm done."
James seemed cooled down and returned to his essay. The five all worked quietly. The sound of quills scratching against paper filled the empty room. Sirius, unable to resist, coughed. Unfortunately, it sounded a lot like Lily Evans. James tackled Sirius and they toppled to the floor. Remus, Courtney and Peter watched as the two rolled around on the floor, trying to punch one another.
Remus shook his head and yawned, "well, I'm tired. Think I'll head off to bed. Night, guys." Peter followed Remus with a mumbled "night".
Courtney watched the two wrestle some more before getting tired herself. She stood and approached them, "alright guys that's enough. I think you-" Sirius starred at her before tripping her. She fell to the ground and was being pushed around, playfully, by the two idiots. The wrestling quickly ended when Courtney bit James in the arm and kicked Sirius in the shin.
"Night, you two," she said gleefully as she retreated to her own room. The boys, defeated and slightly soar, slumped to their rooms.