CHAPTER 5: THE MARAUDERS
That night James went back to his dormitory, determined that some girl wasn't going to beat him in charms. She had outdone him in every subject, except transfiguration, and it was only her first day, while he had a whole week in the school. Maybe Remus could help him in charms; he was pretty good at it.
Him, Sirius and Remus were all very good friends.
Sirius was James neighbor back at Grimauld Place. They both knew each other since they were little kids and were the best of friends, both coming from Magical families and both knowing they would come to Hogwarts. James parents didn't like muggleborns, he been born in a very rich magical family, but Sirius family was a little more "passionate" about the whole ordeal. The absolutely hated the whole idea of mixing with the wrong sort.
They both met Remus at the Hospital, several years ago, when Sirius had an accident in a road and Remus had been in the same room they were treating Sirius.
The three of them were best friends.
Peter on the other hand was weird. He had met them the first day of school and always followed them around, like unwanted gum in your new shoes.
James opened the door to the Boys Dormitories.
Sirius was reading some magazine about quidditch, Peter was stuffing his face with candy and Remus was...absent.
-Where is Remus? - James said, throwing himself in bed.
-Dunno, said he felt bad, hospital I guess – Sirius shrugged and went back to his magazine.
-Again? - James raised an eyebrow – he was at the muggle hospital last month...
-Ye know, he is quite rotten – Sirius smiled and shook his head.
- I think we should investigate more deeply – James reasoned, putting his hands behind his head – he could be hiding something after all...
Sirius closed the magazine – All right, but it's late, what if someone sees us?
-They won't – James smiled evily.
-Ye know James...we are not invisible.- Sirius sat up and patted James on the back before walking towards the bathroom.
-Hold it! - He yelled, making Sirius jump and turn around.
James sighed, he hadn't planned to tell this to Sirius , His father had told him to only use it in important situations, ohh well , a friend was important, he finally spoke – actually we CAN be invisible
Sirius laughed- There is no spell to become invis...
James shook his head before turning to his trunk and taking out a silvery cloak with a soft texture. Sirius raised an eyebrow in confusion. James smiled and threw the cloak over himself. He disappeared behind the silvery cloak. Sirius's mouth formed an O in realization and he nodded smiling evilly.
- Jamesy old Boy, Lets get moving!
OoOoOoOOOoOoOoOoOOoOOoOOOOOOOOOOOOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
- One wonders...- Sirius said, as him and James made their way to the hospital wing, fifteen minutes later- Why in the bloody hell his best friend has an invisibility cloak and doesn't say a word about it?
-Because he didn't bloody wanted to – James said annoyed.
He couldn't count the times Sirius has asked him this since the left the Common Room.
-It makes you heart crush and crumble- Sirius said, shaking his head and putting a hand over his heart, making him loose his balance and trip over.
-BE CAREFUL YOU TWIT.
James pulled him back up and slap the back of his head.
-All right, I'm behaving now – Sirius said, rubbing his head and opening the Hospital door, adjusting his eyes to the sudden darkness of the infirmary.
They searched in every possible bed there was and found no Remus.
-Damn it, he's not here, let's go back to our dormitories.
James turned around, covering them both in the cloak again and was about to open the door when the doors burst opened, in entered Dumbledore, with a bruise on his left cheek and Professor McGonagall both carrying a unconscious Remus Lupin.
He was only in some muddy shorts that were ripped off and dirty. James and Sirius eyes got wide as they were pressed against the wall.
-Well, that was a little harder than I expected Minerva, but it will be better next month, I hope – Dumbledore said, taking Lupin fully in his two arms and putting him into the next bed.
-Indeed Albus, He should be fine by tomorrow morning though.
Madam Guinevere, the school nurse, entered the room, dressed in her night gown carrying a cup containing a purple steaming liquid, she almost cried when she came near Remus – Ohh god, he looks so beat up, poor child, what an awful fate.
Dumbledore nodded sadly and pointed his wand at Remus- Enervate!
Remus suddenly shook taking a deep, desperate breath, as he coughed. His breath became steady as he drank the purple liquid the nurse gave him.
Dumbledore's sad look remained as he patted Remus on the back- Mister Lupin, I'm sorry to have stunned you, it was necessary.
Remus nodded, coughing once more-It's ok headmaster, I understand.
-Very well then, we will all see you in the morning.
Dumbledore bowed and left the library quickly, followed by McGonagall.
Madam Guinevere gave Remus a small bottle.
-Take this is you feel bad, call me if you nee anything- she looked pitifully at Remus.
-Thank you Madam Guinevere.
And the nurse was of out the room into her office after she lighted up a candle next to his bed. James and Sirius stood still pressed to the wall, wondering what the hell was going on. They moved forward, for further interrogation, But Remus was long fallen asleep.
OoOoOoOOOoOoOoOoOOoOOoOOOOOOOOOOOOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The morning brezze blew steady on the high pines of the forbidden forest.
The lake seemed to be shaking all the time as rapid breeze swayed through its surface. Red, orange and brown leaves fell from trees creating a layer of color in the cool yellowing grass of Hogwarts announcing autumn was here. It was the middle October and everything in Hogwarts was still the same, but yet, it felt like Lily had been there for ages. She was already used to the quick, fast, school life she and her friends lived. She loved Hogwarts.
Lily wrote to her parents the night before, after she regretfully remembered she hadn't write to them in their month and a half a part, but Lily was a little surprise to receive an answer the next morning while hundreds of owl flown into the Great Hall. Ourich dropped the letter in front of her plate before staring avidly at her, then it bite her index finger with affection, Lily smiled and pet him while opening the letter in a white envelope.
Dear Lily:
We thought something happened to you! You go away into this place and write a month after. But thanks for writing and saying your ok. How is that place? Is it good enough for our little princess? I hope they have a bottler to take care of you (at this part lily shook her head). We just hope you and Mrs. Callaghan are socializing with the right people.
We also hope you do great in your subjects, which lead me, what subjects do you take? Please forgive our randomness; we know nothing on this aspect.
Petunia is not that thrilled your gone (Lily raised her eyebrow) she's been mad and depressed all these days (Lily let out a disbelieving snort). We think she loves you deep down as much as we do. (REALLY DOWN).
With love,
Your parents.
Ps: Write soon, we want to know how are you doing, and, is it possible you don't send that owl again, It went straight into our kidney pudding last night ...
Lily shook her head, as she put the letter on the table and gave Ourich some bread Kathy had left on the table.
-From your parents? - Anna asked, pointing at Lily's letter.
Lily nodded – imagine what a letter, they say Petunia loves me...
Anna made a disgusted face and turned around, as Dumbledore stood up from his seat.
-I wish to announce, to all of you, that a Womping willow will be planted on the school grounds - he let the whispers and confused faces fade as he cleared his throat – you are not to go near it, under any circumstances, or it will profusely harm you. - He paused and his eyes twinkle for a split second as he looked over to where James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were seated- Now, please continue you breakfast... and remember, 2 years and up, that quidditch tryouts will be held this afternoon at the quidditch pitch...
The Gryffindors returned quietly to their breakfast, only to be disturbed by James and Sirius protesting, something about been totally repulsive not to let 1st years play quidditch, at which remark Dumbledore's mouth curved at the end giving the impression he was about to smile, shaking his old head.
Lily looked around the room. Everyone was whispering, like they always did when news like this were said. If something were so dangerous, why would they put it in the middle of Hogwarts grounds? There was surely an explanation Dumbledore wasn't giving.
Lily's eyes landed on a blue eyed, blonde boy, who smiled at her from the Hufflepuff table, showing white teeth. Lily smiled, but Anna grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the Great Hall for potions, much to Lily's dislike.
James:
Tonight is the big night mate! Have everything ready?
Your bestest friend,
Sirius.
James looked sideways to Sirius, who had just passed him this note and rolled his eyes.
- Sirius, I'm right next to you, you can whisper...- He said, while watching Professor Slughorn add something with a smile to the potion of a greasy haired boy, with green robes, James snorted- Besides, Slughorn is with snivellus, he won't notice, bet the bad smell from its hair is killing him...
-Oy James, we really should do something to him one of these days, I can't stand him- Sirius said, giving the greasy haired guy a disgusted look.
James nodded, then he became serious - But we should be worried about Remus instead...it's the second month he goes for three days to the Hospital, the same days each month, each time gets worse, do you reckon we'll find out tonight? He avoided the topic each time we ask him...
Sirius smiled poking James ribs- As long as we bring your invisibi...
-Shhhhhh- James slapped his friend on the back of his head- Do you want the whole bloody world to know?
Sirius rubbed his head– I mean, as long as we are careful, we will, we just have to follow.
At that precise moment Remus threw a paper at them. James unfolded it, and Sirius lean to read it.
Guys,
Your potion is spilled. Ohh, by the way, you no longer have shoes, the potion must have destroyed the leather.
Remus.
Sirius instantly looked down, and so did James.
Their shoes weren't there and their feet were only covered with almost nonexistent socks. James noticed with amusement that Sirius had a pink sock and a light blue one.
They looked up. The cauldron was bubbling and letting the potion to spill out.
Remus, who was 4 seats away, was shaking with contained laugh, though he looked extremely pale.
- POTTER! BLACK! What do you think your doing?
James and Sirius looked at each other with guilty faces and both started explaining at the same time, while the professor became steadily red. Everyone started laughing.
Nothing happened after that, besides of course, they getting detention for the next whole week from Slughorn. Their plans for tonight were on.
-Why don't we plan something for tonight? – James said smiling as they walked, shortly after dinner, up in the dorms – we could go bother Snape, maybe change his shampoo into instant hair shaving potion, Ohh wait ...
Sirius nodded solemnly – He never washes his hair, so that wouldn't work...
Remus waved his hand, putting aside the idea – go for it guys, I myself will go and visit my grandmother, she's sick again, getting very old you know...
Sirius gave James a Told- You- So look and smiled at Remus, in mock understanding.
-Alright Remy, we'll see you soon then, tell you how everything went with snapey, say hi to your grandma- Sirius said – Ohh and James, I've got another idea for little snapey, why don't you take your cloak, lets get moving- They waved at Remus, who waved back suspiciously.
As soon as they went out of the room, they covered themselves with the invisibility cloak, while they stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Remus to go down the stairs.
Remus took 20 minutes to descend the stairs, looking everywhere, a cloak tightly around his body as he shivered and made his way downstairs. He quickly went to the portrait whole and went out of the deserted Common Room Followed by two invisible boys.
The hallways were very dark, as Remus made its way to the hospital wing.
The only light illuminating them was the moonlight outside and the tip of Remus wand. Peeves was hovering above Remus, watching him maliciously, as if he knew something. Remus got to the hospital wing and knocked on the door three times before Dumbledore opened the door, coming outside. Peeves went away angry, obviously he wanted to do something to Remus.
-Mr. Lupin here is the potion. You know your way don't you?
Lupin nodded.
-Very well, off you go then - He waved his wand and the big doors going outside opened with a slowly creak.
Remus slowly made its way outside, his head low, as he put the small bottle in his pockets. This gave James and Sirius, who were hanging on every word they said, time to slip outside too.
A full moon was shinning in the sky, its ray wrapping around every object that lay on the grounds, from the lake, to the trees. The Womping Willow that had been planted stay still in the middle of the grounds, not revealing the danger it provoked.
Remus was shaking, as the moon rays hit him fully and he approached the Womping Willow. James eyes widen. He couldn't possibly be going that way.
James made a move to run to stop Remus, as the tree started to shake violently, trying to hit him, but Remus made its way to a root sticking out and touched it, the tree became still. He entered through a little whole on the gigantic tree roots.
James heard some pained screaming. He knew it was Remus.
-What in the damm name of Orion was that? - Sirius yelled, taking off the invisibility cloak and running towards the tree.
- Sirius, Wait!
James runned after Sirius, as the tree shook again and hit Sirius straight in the face, making him bleed. James helped him stand up as the tree made another move to hit them, but Sirius and James both touch the root Remus had previously touched, and they both slipped through the whole.
It was a dark tunnel and they both light up their wands. They heard a wolf howling and a pained scream, REMUS. They both found some wooden stairs and went up, still hearing the pained scream that stopped as the first stairs made a creaking sound.
The end of the stairs showed a wooden door and they entered.
- He must be there- James whispered.
James went inside first, Sirius after him. It was a small room, with a bed, some broken windows and a rotten smell of meat. Silence was total as they moved into the room and started searching.
AAAHHHHHHHH.
Five long, sharp, pointed nails scratched James back, sending an insupportable pain to his entire body as it rolled down, opening wounds all over.
-James move! It's a WEREVOLF! - Sirius yelled pointing his wand at the Werewolf as it growled at him dangerously.
The werewolf pushed Sirius aside, making him fly across the room and land hardly on the floor. Then it moved to James who was shaking, and put its front feet on either side of James face and rose it claws to strike. There was something unmistakable about those pale green eyes.
-Remus...- James blurted softly, staring at the werewolf with wide eyes.
The werewolf slowly lowered his claw and moved away, backing away from James with guilt, looking at him like for the first time. Then it started biting himself and screaming.
-Don't do this Remus! - James yelled, jumping on top of the werewolf.
Sirius, who was in a stated of shock, lowered him wand slowly, and dropped it on the floor and jumped to help James, who was trying to control the werewolf, but it was scratching James's face. James moved again towards the werewolf, but this time Sirius pushed the werewolf too to the wall and took it by its lanky neck.
James took both of the werewolf hands so it couldn't escape.
The werewolf started howling, and it slowly turned into a human cry, as the werewolf stopped struggling and it slowly turned to Remus, who slipped down to the wall and wrapped its bruised arms around its knees, crying silently.
-Remus. - James said, putting both of his hands on his knees, trying to recover his breath.
-I'm so sorry...it was not my intention. Just GO ...
-We will not leave you here alone- Sirius said with a shaking, but determined and serious tone on his voice.
Remus looked up, breathing heavily, - I don't want your sympathy Sirius!
-Its NOT SYMPATHY, we stay here because we CARE about you, - Sirius took Remus by the shoulders- you are our friend and we wont leave you!
Remus eyes were shinning with tears as he stood up, brushing Sirius away- Go away from me ...please...I'm a werewolf ...I HARMED BOTH OF YOU ...I CAN'T BE YOUR FRIEND!
Ohh, it was James turn to speak – IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT, WE WONT STOP BEEN YOUR FRIENDS JUST BECAUSE OF THIS!
Remus pushed them outside- GO
James pushed Remus, making him stumble backwards and land on the floor.
James bended down - We will not leave you alone in this Remus, if we have to come here every damm month we will, to make sure you are alright... we will.
Sirius bended down, and put a hand on Remus shoulder, smiling – Besides, you didn't think we'll stop been your friends just because you're a little...Moony, did you ?
Remus smiled slowly- I like it...Moony
-Mind of a genius I tell you- Sirius smiled- Me and James always wanted to transform ourselves into animals, that's why I call him prongs, he wants to be a stag, and me, I am Padfoot, I want to be a dog ...clearly, you are Moony now.
James laughed- Its settled, you are from now on part of our group, Moony, we never ever betray ourselves, and never let any of the other alone. Deal?
-Wait – Remus said – We have to have a name for the group, don't we?
-Brilliant – Sirius smiled, clapping Remus back- that's my boy ...but what name?
James thought about it for a second – I know...The Jokers...
-No! The Charmers! - Sirius said excited , like a child discovering a riddle.
Remus shook his head and laughed- The Maniacs...
James face light up – THE MARAUDERS
-I LIKE IT – Sirius squealed, jumping slightly. Remus nodded, unable to stop smiling at his two best friends, the best ones you could ever have.
- So...Deal? - James extended his hand to the center of the circle they had formed.
Remus put his hand over James's and Sirius did the same.
- DEAL!
From that night, by a friendship pact, these three would be inseparable.