Authors Note:
I'm back again! Ready with chapter 3!
Laura221 - thank you very much for your review. This chapter is dedicated to you.
Thank you all for continuing to read.
August came upon them quicker than ever before. Their Hogwarts letters came bright and early on the fifteenth, just as they were getting ready to go to the quidditch. Puddlemere United were playing the Tutshill Tornados, and none of them were prepared to miss it. They'd been looking forward to it for months, ever since James had bought the tickets in advance as a Marauders Christmas in the letters were their Ordinary Wizarding Level results; they had all passed their OWLs with flying colours, and could take whatever classes they wanted to meet their long-term career goals - in other words being aurors. Remus was taking Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Alchemy, Ancient Studies, Transfiguration and Potions. Peter was taking Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Arithmancy (with Remus' help and to appease his mother), Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration and Herbology. James had signed up for Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Divination, Charms, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration and Muggle Studies. Sirius was taking exactly the same classes as James, and Rose was signed on for Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Divination, Herbology, History of Magic, Magical Theory, Potions and Transfiguration.
At the allotted time, James stood impatiently in the Potter Manor entranceway, foot tapping in irritation. "I am not in the mood to wait for you lot!"
"Honestly, Prongsie" Sirius called, his voice sing-song and teasing. "We've been ready for hours." He demonstrated his point by striding into the entranceway from the grounds. Rose laughed at his dramatic flair (saying something considering he was wearing worn jeans, a Puddlemere t-shirt and a stonewashed denim jacket), Remus rolling his eyes rather pointedly at her. Sirius half-turned back to them and winked, James groaning loud enough to be heard back in the Forbidden Forest. He muttered something to Sirius that Rose couldn't hear, both of them striding forward to the portkey, Sirius shoving Peter out of the way.
Rousing calls of 'GO PUDDLEMERE' and 'YOU SUCK TUTSHILL' rang from the Marauders' stand, Remus glaring every now and then during the more offensive and creative slights against his team. Remus was, naturally, bold enough to wear Tutshill colours deep in Puddlemere territory, which wasn't doing him any favours with the fans. Sirius had given up pretending that he didn't know the embarrassments that he'd brought with him (Peter being decked out in bright Chudley orange), and was cheering along with the rowdy Puddlemere crowd. James, being the captain and lead chaser for the Gryffindor quidditch team, was making notes in a small brown notebook, eyes eagerly scanning the skies for inventive new plays - and sneaky new fouls to implement against the cheating Slytherin team. A particularly nasty foul went overlooked by the referee (a weedy looking bloke with strawberry blonde hair and thick glasses), the Puddlemere fans - Rose included - rightly outraged. "OI, REF!" Sirius yelled, standing on his seat. "OPEN YOUR OTHER EYE, YOU MANKY GIT! THAT WAS A FOUL! A FOUL! THAT MEANS YOU PENALISE THE CHEATING BASTARDS! COMPRENDE? NEXT TIME, ME AND MY MATES WILL REACQUAITE YOU WITH THE RULES! WE'LL SHOVE YOUR BROOM SO FAR UP YOUR ARSE, YOU'LL BE BRUSHING YOUR TEETH WITH IT!" His magically enhanced voice boomed around the stadium, to rousing applause from the Puddlemere fans. James gave him a minute and then tugged him back into his seat, sending an apologetic wave at the ref. Rose watched while poor Remus slid down into his seat with mortification.
"Godric and Merlin" Remus muttered hysterically, face bright red. He had a very high sense of what was allowed to people in authority, Sirius naturally bulldozing right over the line. "We're going to be in the papers."
"I don't think that Padfoot really cares" Peter pointed out, Sirius grinning and pointing to him in agreement.
"I hope we are" Sirius confirmed. "That'll show the Black's that fun is what we Marauders exist on. Not fear." Remus just shook his head, looking like he'd cheerfully strangle every single Black while maintaining his running commentary on how Sirius should know better than to insult a referee when they still had another whole year at Hogwarts to sit through. They should respect the people in authority, et cetera, et cetera. Then Sirius would just grin, tap his nose knowingly and say the one word that invalidated all his arguments - Marauder. Rose laughed at the thought, accidentally coinciding it with Sirius flipping off the referee as he flew by. Remus sighed disappointedly.
"You're encouraging him again, Rosie." Rose must've been imaging things, she could've sworn there was a double meaning to that. He pinched her ominoculars and everything went back to normal.
The Marauders joined the throng of quidditch supporters leaving the Puddlemere United stadium. Sirius and James were debating a rather inventive foul (involving a beaters bat and the golden snitch - and so neatly falling into both of their quidditch positions), while Remus bemoaned the unfairness of Tutshill catching the snitch just as Puddlemere scored another ten points and so won the game. Peter shrugged at Rose, his eyes twinkling with the Marauder mischief most people forgot he had. "Cheer up, Moony, at least your seeker actually caught the snitch. The Cannons haven't done that in eleven years."
"I'm not sure even Nicholas Flamel can remember your team ever winning, Wormy" Sirius smirked, not unkindly. Peter just flipped him the bird and strolled ahead to the portkey point, humming a few bars of the Puddlemere United anthem; Beat Back Those Bludgers Boys, And Chuck That Quaffel Here. "Impudent little git" Sirius said approvingly. "We're making a Marauder out of him at long last, Prongsie."
"I'm so proud" James cooed, wrapping a protesting Peter in a Giant Squid like hug.
"I hate you both" Peter muttered, his eyes giving him away.
"Oh, his first temper tantrum" Remus teased, joining in with undisguised glee. "Our boy's growing up so fast."
"Stop picking on him" Rose chided, narrowing her eyes in a manner that she had it on very good authority resembled Lily's 'You're an egotistical toerag, Potter' glare. James held his hands up in surrender, Sirius shoved his hands into his pockets, and Remus grinned at her.
"Thank you, Rosie" Peter smiled, Sirius making a face at his back. "I saw that."
"Very perceptive, for a rat."
"We're intelligent, underestimated, underappreciated creatures" Peter sniffed haughtily. "And we don't get fleas."
"Two words for you" Sirius announced smugly. "Plague carriers."
"Really?" Horrified, Peter looked at Remus for confirmation.
"Unfortunately so" the werewolf agreed solemnly, sad to burst Peter's bubble like that. James coughed uncomfortably.
"Moving away from Snivellus, shall we do our Hogwarts shopping tomorrow?" Rose didn't want to think about how Snivelly was related to plague carrying rats, and just agreed to move the conversation on. Sirius caught her eye and winked again, lengthening his stride enough to catch up with James.
Diagon Alley was aggressively bustling, the witches and wizards milling about as if nothing was going on at all. The shops were full, and everyone was watchful but still welcoming and friendly just like Diagon Alley had a reputation for being. Rose breathed through the typical post-Floo nausea, focusing on the solid feeling of the Leaky Cauldron flagstones beneath her feet, the sound of Sirius and James chatting with Tom, the middle aged barman. Remus waited patiently beside her, immune to the nausea thanks to his lycanthropy. Peter looked slightly green, the new floo powder James's mother was experimenting with not exactly stable. "I'll tell Mum that it needs a bit more work" James winced apologetically. "But, shall we?" He waved his arm towards the backdoor. Rose nodded, the first breaths of fresh air dispelling the last of the queasiness. "First stop , Gringotts Wizarding Bank."
"Goodie" Remus muttered sarcastically. "A trip to the bank, where we can throw up what bits of our breakfasts we managed to keep down."
"Now, now, Moony; anyone would think you aren't looking forward to it" James quipped, tapping the right brick to open up the magical entrance to Diagon Alley. Sirius made a derisive noise at the sight of the aggressively normal people going about the street, hiding his thoughts on it from all of them. James put his hand gently on Sirius' arm, murmuring something quiet enough for only the grey-eyed Marauder to hear.
"I know" Sirius sighed, absently rubbing his thumb over his forehead - a rare tell of anxiety. "They don't want to believe it, so they don't see it, but how can they be so willfully blind?"
"Ignorance is bliss" Rose suggested, Sirius scoffing but looking more himself.
"Let's go wrestle some gold from goblins, then we can tackle the apothecary -"
"And don't forget Flourish and Blotts" Remus added eagerly, looking forward to spending all his money in the bookshop.
"After which we can pop into Gambol and Japes and stock up for the Start-of-Term prank" Sirius continued as if Remus hadn't been boringly studious.
"A Marauder never plans, Sirius Black" James announced with feigned snootiness. "He-"
"Do shut up, Prongs" Remus bade, leading the way up the alley to the imposing white building that housed the only wizarding bank.
The Marauders left Gambol and Japes' with purses significantly lighter than when they entered. They'd paid extra to have their many purchases sent directly to the Potter Manor, so they didn't have anything to show for their money. It also had the added effect of unsettling any passing Hogwarts students who rightly feared for their safety when seeing the Marauders exiting the shop. "Don't you ever feel mean, scaring our fellow students?" Remus asked with his usual long-suffering air.
"We provide entertainment for the masses and keep people on their toes" James reminded him, winking at a second year Hufflepuff across the road. "That more than anything will be useful in the years to come."
"Nope" Sirius held up his hands. "We're going to enjoy our peace while we have it. Preparation can wait until we hit Hogwarts. Then, we won't have any excuses."
"Well said" Rose approved, torn between Flourish and Blotts and Quality Quidditch Supplies. "Where next?"
"Book shop" Remus stated, tone for once brooking no opposition. "They've a new book on Werewolves I want to get."
"Why would you want to get a book on werewolves?" Peter wondered, trailing after Remus and giving the others no choice but to follow.
"Forewarned is forearmed" Rose said mysteriously, James and Sirius both giving her funny looks. "My Mum always says it like it explains everything." James tilted his head in consideration.
"Maybe it does."
"You're a strange little bunny, aren't you, Prongs?" He sniffed haughtily and strode over to the Defense textbooks, ignoring Sirius and Rose completely. "I've been spending too much time around Moony" Sirius mourned, his eyes flickering over her shoulder just as his wand appeared in his hand.
"Siri?" Rose wanted to take a step back at the anger in his eyes.
"Not now, Rosebud." Pulled as if by a magnet, their fellow Marauders appeared at Sirius' shoulders.
"Still consorting with the mudblood and blood traitor scum of the wizarding world, Black?"
"And loving every minute of it, Avery" Sirius called, a dangerous edge to his voice.
"You were warned, cousin" the cold but beautiful Narcissa Black sneered, looking unsettlingly like her deranged sister. Said sister emerged from the stacks to stand beside her. Rose inwardly shuffered. If anyone had the jnsane look of death about them, it was all over Bellatrix's darkly beautiful features. "You will not be spared."
"You had the chance, Cissa, you could've left like Meda and I" Sirius told her sadly. "But the sides are chosen, and the lines drawn. If there is to be war, I know I'll be fighting for what's right."
"You've been misled and poisoned by the mudbloods and traitors you associate with-"
"Thank you" James interrupted, hand holding Sirius back.
"Don't call her that" Sirius spat, grey eyes burning with an almost terrifying intensity.
"One day you'll see, dear Cousin" Bellatrix cooed, Rose noticing that they were the only ones in the store. "Scum like that don't deserve the gifts they've stolen. One day you'll see that blood purity-"
"Skip the recruitment speech, Bella" Sirius rolled his eyes. "I am never going to join you, not now and not twenty years from now." He took a deep breath, still standing in front of the others. He was still shielding them from his insane family. "Now, if you will excuse us, we have to buy our Muggle Studies textbooks."
"You will rue the day you turned your back on your family, traitor!" A bitter laugh echoed around them.
"Not today."
Rose waited until the Slytherin's had left before she turned to a seething Sirius. "They actually, honestly tried to recruit you? You? The least Death Eaterish of all the Blacks?"
"Yeah" Sirius said shortly. "I told them to go to hell. As I've done for the past four years."
"Let's forget that for now" James cut in, looking significantly at Rose. He was telling her to drop it, but Sirius was hurting - and she had something to do with it. "This isn't the time or the place, and I think I see Girls at Florian's."
"Ice cream?" Peter perked up eagerly, startling a laugh out of Sirius.
"Indeed, Mr Wormtail."
"Yes!" Remus cheered like a child and grabbed Rose by the arm, dragging her off to the popular shop. They both missed James mutter seriously to Sirius. Sirius glared at him and shook his head, quickening his pace.
Lily stood up and hugged Rose and Remus the minute they approached the table. Dorcas was attacking a red and gold flashing concoction, while keeping up her end of a conversation with Hestia and Mary. Alice was giggling happily with Frank (her boyfriend since third year) at a table nearby, while Marlene and Sirius were doing their usual flirty discussion. Rose rolled her eyes, pitying poor Benjy Fenwick, who she knew for a fact Marlene actually fancied and who fancied her back. James nodded as Lily, sitting down in the chair farthest from her. "Oi! Pads! Put McKinnon down and get over here!" Sirius made a show of kissing Marlene's hand before dropping into the seat nearest James and putting his feet on the table. James messed up his hair, going for the just got off a broom look, and did the same. Lily completely ignored him, complaining about Vernon and Petunia, oblivious to James watching her captivated.
"You're staring again, mate" Sirius muttered, James blinking several times to come out of it.
For the first time in weeks, Rose felt herself relax completely - safe in the company of her sister, the Marauders and the Girls. They mocked the newly graduated Amos Diggory (who thought he was Merlin's gift to women), shared OWL results, and giggled over Professor Snotra's dire predictions every Divination class. James and Sirius chatted with Benjy and Frank, both behaving as much as they were ever about to. And there was something calming and right about it after the disaster that Bellatrix had been. But it wasn't to last. Dorcas remembered that they were needed back at the McKinnon house, and the memory of the Black's and the threats they had made crept back in. James looked wistfully after Lily, Remus set aside his new book without making much headway, and that dark expression from earlier eased back into Sirius' eyes. Unusually, it was James who exhaled in frustration, knuckles white by his glass. "Who are we?" he demanded, something that wasn't quite anger burning in his voice. Sirius looked at him as if he had finally cracked.
"What?"
"Who are we?" James repeated, and was that mania in his eyes? Rose felt unsettled, whatever it was. "Are we inexperienced first years, easily scared by threats and bullies? Or are we the Marauders, the best students Hogwarts has boasted since Dumbledore himself? The youngest animagi in history? Is there really a threat that can test us, tear us apart?" With a grin, James answered his own question. "No. We are the Marauders, and there is no force on this Earth that can stop us. If there is war coming, we will face it together. Until then, we are still the greatest pranksters Hogwarts has ever seen, and we have a prank to plan. Three weeks until the term starts."
"No more" Sirius agreed, his Marauder smirk spreading across his handsome face. "I let this ruin our summer, I let them win. Let's show them what the Marauders are capable of. We're going to live without fear."
"That almost sounded responsible" Remus teased, but his agreement was obvious. Peter nodded, as always most confident in their strength. Rose met James's eye, wishing she could say what she was thinking, what she was feeling, but they were Marauders and their actions spoke louder than words.
"What do you think about disco?" Sirius snorted butterbeer out of his nose, twin streams hitting James in the face. Their laughter echoed into Knockturn Alley, a sneer twisting Bellatrix's face, swearing retribution before too long.
Review? Next chapter... Hogwarts! Sixth year starting soon...