Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. All characters belong to a woman with a great imagination and determination, capable of creating this world that is the center of so many stories.
Sins of Angels: Hello again. I have been getting complaints about the length of my chapters, which, I must concede, is quite fair. With the exception of the last two, which were written on the spur of the moment under a time limit, all the past chapters could have been a bit longer. This would also, however, mean it would take longer for me to update. Let me know in review what you would prefer and I'll do my best to make them longer. Also, this one is a bit short as well, but that's just because I ran out of creative ideas. And this is why if you want longer chapters, you should be prepared to wait longer. Anyway, have fun reading this (mildly) amusing chapter, which, surprisingly, is not extremely sad. And, if you happen to have time, please let me know what you think. I really love to get feedback and I really appreciate it! Thanks! Enjoy.
Chapter 20 – The MapJames sat up in his bed. The knocking was soft, as if the person was hesitant and unsure.
"Merlin, it's her!" he breathed. He lowered his feet slowly until they lightly grazed the floor. Glancing at the door, he ran a worried hand through his hair, thinking quickly about his next move.
"James?" came an uncertain, squeaky voice from behind the door. "Can…can I come in?"
James bounded for the door and hurriedly opened it. "Hi Wormtail," he muttered as he grabbed Peter by the robes and pulled him in. James's eyes wandered hurriedly around the room until he saw that Lily was sitting on the sofa, facing away from him and reading something. He quickly shut the door and turned to face Peter, who was standing uncomfortably in the middle of the room.
"James, I'm really sorry," he blurted out as soon as he noticed James was looking at him. "It's just…I saw you and you were being held down and Evans, she was…was…and I knew that Sirius was coming and I panicked, James. I panicked. I wouldn't have made anything better and I probably would only have gotten in your way and Sirius was there, so I ran off to see if Remus had left already, because maybe he could have helped. I just…I'm sorry."
James sat down heavily on his bed. "No, I'm sorry, Wormtail. I said some really awful things to you today. Things you didn't deserve at all. I know you'd never betray us. And I don't blame you…everything came out okay in the end. Can you forgive me?"
Peter nodded, smiling broadly at James, who returned it. As the boy was making his way to the door, he stopped. He turned to James with a frown on his face. "Say, Prongs, did you and Evans have another row or something?"
"Why?" James asked, becoming alert and facing him. Peter frowned a bit more.
"Only, when she opened the door to let me in and I asked to see you she said, 'Oh, yes, go see James bloody Potter! I daresay he'd be delighted to see you!'" Peter said, doing a great impression of Lily. "Then she sighed and let me through, going back to sit on the sofa."
"No, Peter, this was about…something else," James said. He reached over for his cloak and the Marauder's Map and realized he had left them downstairs, next to-"Lily!" he whispered. "Peter, can you go and wait for me in the Common Room? I have to have a chat with Evans."
Peter nodded and left. James took a deep breath and listened for the sound of the door closing after he had gone. As soon as he heard it, his door carefully swung open and he edged out of his room. He slowly went down the stairs until he could see over Lily's shoulder. He cursed mutely under his breath as he realized she was holding the map, and it was still working. Pointing his wand at it, he muttered softly "Mischief managed!"
Lily jumped as the map cleared itself. James smiled and decided to stay put, thinking about his options. Lily sighed and took out her wand. "There's probably a blasted time limit," she muttered. James smiled. That had been a possibility, but they had scrapped it after figuring out it would be too tiring to re-start it again so often. "Well, show yourself!" The map stayed stubbornly blank. Lily frowned at it, while James was at the top of his stairs, smiling. "I, Lily Evans, command you to show yourself!" she said with a bit more confidence. She smiled as the parchment became filled with writing she dimly recognized.
Mr. Moony would like to apologize to Ms. Lily Evans for being denied access, but it really is none of her damn business.
Lily stared at the writing. Just as she was close to finding where she had seen it before, more writing appeared.
Mr. Prongs would like to comment on how beautiful Ms. Lily Evans looks today, and wonders if she might be interested in a date with Mr. James Potter?
Again, that familiar handwriting, only it was different from the first one. Where had she seen it before?
Mr. Padfoot would like to point out that if the self-proclaimed genius of the class of 1977, Ms. Lily Evans, couldn't figure this out, then there's someone in this school cleverer than her, obviously.
"I have never said I'm a genius!" Lily said, staring at the writing with narrowed eyes. James had rested his head on the railing and was staring at the floor, trying hard not to burst out laughing.
Mr. Wormtail agrees with Mr. Padfoot and would like to point out that those people may just be us, probably.
Lily was staring at the map, her mind working quickly. "So this would be another prank, wouldn't it?" she said to herself. Her fingers ran over the curly writing of Mr. Prongs. "If only, Prongs. If only."
James relaxed and leaned his head against a nearby wall. It's settled, then. He had to make them angry. He had to get Lily and Sirius and Remus and Peter so angry with him so they won't talk to him anymore. Well, he thought with a dry smile, Lily shouldn't be too hard to do. They wouldn't just let him go. His friends wouldn't see his point. They'd think the danger made it better.
"What do you think of James Potter?" Lily asked the map, amusement on every syllable. Once again, curly writing appeared.
Mr. Moony thinks that Mr. James Potter is the best friend anyone could ever have.
Mr. Prongs thinks that Mr. James Potter is extremely good-looking and exceptionally talented.
Mr. Padfoot adds that Mr. James Potter is one of the greatest pranksters Hogwarts has ever seen.
Mr. Wormtail would also like to add that Mr. James Potter is an exceptional Quiddich player.
Lily laughed. James smiled at her laughter, even if it was at his own expense. She raised her wand again. "Can this map see into the future?" She was having, for the first time in a long while, fun!
Mr. Moony regrets to inform you that this map is, in fact, tightly connected to the present and will remain so, under any circumstances.
Mr. Prongs, however, would like to venture the prediction that Ms. Lily Evans will, one day, say "Yes!" to Mr. James Potter.
Mr. Padfoot would like to comment that Mr. Prongs is not making a prediction, but instead describing a dream that's as attainable as this map is a liar.
Mr. Wormtail would like to clear up the fact that the map never lies, so you can now fully appreciate the comparison made my Mr. Padfoot.
Lily was laughing fully now, enjoying herself. James was frowning slightly at the response the map gave. He'd have to have a chat with Sirius about that. He got up and raised his wand. She was getting close.
"How does this map work, anyway?" she asked. James pointed his wand at the map and said "Accio Marauder's Map!" It zoomed out of Lily's fingers just as the words were starting to form. She turned, saw James at the top of the stairs, and pretended as if nothing had happened. She stood up, gathered her things and went in her room without acknowledging him at all. James glanced down at the map.
Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs would like to invite you to the world of Hogwarts, seen through the eyes of four pranksters. Come view the Marauder's Map and just say, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" to view pure genius at work. Glad to see you have figured out it's a map, you are now one step closer to achieving all your mischief safely. To wipe, just say, "Mischief managed."
James bounded down the stairs and grabbed his cloak. With one last look at Lily's door, he went back up the steps only to descend again, going into the Gryffindor Common Room.