Beta: A person who'd like to be called 'Demos'.
Release date: 3/14/14
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe. If I did, then I wouldn't be watching videos for $.50/day.
Chapter 8 – Off We Go
"Pronglet, have we got something to show you." says Sirius
"What is it?" replies Harry, a quizzical look on his face.
"It's a little secret that Sirius and I have been keeping for a while now" says Remus with a slight smirk.
"Well, what is it then?" asks Harry, a hint of annoyance tinting his voice.
"I think we should show him before he begins throwing some hexes around." teases Sirius.
Harry grumbles, and wordlessly goes up the stairs to grab his cloak, while Sirius just smirks and Remus shakes his head, also grabbing his cloak. Arriving back in the foyer, the trio travel via apparition, and arrive in Diagon Alley.
Taking point, Sirius leads the other two down the street towards their store. Arriving outside of the store space that Sirius and Remus rent, Harry spots the sign, 'Marauders Emporium', and stops short. Pausing for a few moments to gather his thoughts, Harry slowly turns around, adopts a confused look on his face, and looks at Sirius then Remus before asking slowly, "This is a joke…right?"
Remus adopts a mock look of hurt on his face, but Sirius just smiles and laughs, before unlocking the door and leading the party inside. Looking around at the mostly bare shelves, Harry asks quietly, "So what will you all be selling?"
"We're going to sell a little bit of this and that," states Sirius proudly, presenting the first of his many… products.
Still rather dumbfounded Harry stares at the thing his godfather is holding "Is that a sheep's bladder?"
"This is Padfoot's Amaranth Wind. When someone sits down on it, it farts." Sirius barking with laughter, "And when someone stands up and sits back down, it inflates to make the farting sound again." replies Sirius, laughing loudly, with tears running down his face.
A disapproving frown appears on Remus's face, and replies, "Yes, that is only ONE of the products we sell, however, we have a few other things for sale, for now. We do plan on increasing the amount of items we sell as you progress through Hogwarts, and we get some inspiration for new products. Remember that alarm clock that doubles as a music player we gave you a few months ago?"
"Yes, I do. It is a nice idea, although it wasn't the prettiest though." responds Harry.
"We've made some modifications to the unit based on your and Neville's feedback, and now we are planning on selling them for about five galleons apiece with two receiver units included, and the option to add three more for a total of up to five receivers/players per broadcast unit." states Remus, a look of glee on his face.
"Oh, that's nifty. I wish I could get one of the new units to replace the prototype you two gave me."
"Harry, you and Neville will BOTH get one of the new unit as our thanks for testing it out. We are hoping you and Neville will continue to test our future products, with a copy of the final version of each if the item is deemed worthy enough to make it to market." says Remus.
"Thanks. Anything else for sale at the moment?"
"Not quite yet, although we have a prototype trunk for you and Neville to use, assuming you would like to test it out." replies Remus.
Cocking his head to the side in a confused manner, Harry asks, "You've made trunks for students?"
Sighing, Sirius replies, "Like Remus said, it's just a prototype, but yes, we've made a few for testing purposes."
"How is Neville going to get his prototype trunk, and do you think he will actually use it?" asks Harry.
"We've added a featherweight charm to it so that a few owls can take it to their home." Replies Remus.
Eyes getting wide, Harry says unbelievingly, "You're sending a trunk via owls. To their house. I don't know if they'd be happy to have that large of a…package…arriving during breakfast."
"Who's saying it will arrive during breakfast? It may arrive in the middle of the night. Let's see… four, carry the one, divide by 5, raised to the… midnight?" replies Sirius, smirking.
Rolling his eyes, Harry moves to pick up the trunk by the handles at the both ends when Remus levitates the trunk, and out the door, with Sirius and Harry following behind.
/* moving ahead to August 31st*/
"Harry! Are you packed yet?" calls out Remus from elsewhere in the house.
Rolling his eyes, Harry replies sarcastically, "Almost. Just let me pack some more fireworks and I'll be ready to enter Hogwarts with a bang."
"You'd better not!" shouts Remus, before turning to Sirius, narrowing his eyes, and speaks softly, "he'd better not, Sirius."
Sirius raises his hands, showing that they are empty.
/* nine fourty-five am, September 1st */
"I assume you're ready to head to the train, eh, Harry?" asks Remus, smirking.
Yawning, Harry nods his head, and the trio grab the nearby trunk and owl cage, and head through the floo. Arriving at their destination, the trio take a few steps from the fireplace, and a female voice calls out from a nearby room, "We're in here you three."
"Coming, Alice" replies Sirius, before leading the trio out of the room and into the room where the Longbottoms sit, finishing up breakfast.
""Are we early?" asks Sirius, jokingly, with Remus shaking his head in what could be taken as disapproval.
Smiling at Sirius's quip, Alice places the bowl she had been using near the sink, and replies in kind, "Of course you three are. We have just gotten up."
"So we leave at roughly ten, correct?" asks Remus.
"Yes. We help our kids get on the train, and then Alice and I stick around for general security, as per Director Bones's instructions." replies Frank behind a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Good. I'll be glad to get Harry off to Hogwarts so I can do more…mischievous things for our store." states Sirius, smirking and rubbing his hands together.
"Speaking of which, thank you two for the trunk. We had purchased one for Neville, but after we let him pick the trunk he'd rather use, seeing as it is his choice, and we found out that he'd rather use the one you sent us." replies Alice, smiling.
"It's no problem. Harry has one to test out, and he seems to like it. Although I do hope our owls didn't deliver it at a bad time." Says Sirius, carefully keeping his face straight.
Lowering the newspaper, Frank replies quietly, "Oh, it was a good time for the delivery. Three in the morning? Most impeccable timing I've seen", before breaking out in laughter.
Turning and facing Sirius, Remus asks in a dangerously quiet voice, "You didn't send the trunk to be delivered at three in the morning, did you?"
Unable to contain himself any longer, Sirius just laughs and Remus shakes his head.
Looking at his watch, Harry speaks quietly, but still loud enough to be heard, "It's ten now. Shouldn't we be leaving?"
"Yes, I suppose we should." Replies Sirius, before placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and apparating away. Neville arrives in the dining room with his trunk behind him just as Harry disappears. Standing up from the table, Frank wordlessly grabs Neville's trunk, and apparates. Alice smiles and grasps Neville's arm before apparating, leaving Remus to sigh and apparate to King's Cross Station with Harry's trunk.
Arriving at Platform 9¾, the adults look around the deserted platform, while Harry and Neville look at the red locomotive in front of them in awe.
Interrupting the silence, Sirius comments, "Well, shall we get the youngsters onto the train and leave them to their devices?"
Harry and Neville go towards the entrance at the back of the train, and get in the last compartment, with their respective guardians following them with their trunks. Placing the trunks on the overhead rack, Sirius turns to them when the rest of the adults had their backs turned to the compartment, reminiscing about their Hogwarts days, and pulls out two pieces of rolled parchment, places them in front of them on the table, and murmurs softly while smirking, "the password to read these pieces of parchment is 'The Marauders Strike Back'. Enjoy."
"Shall we return, Moony, to open our store to the public? I dare say we shall receive some interesting looks over our products." comments Sirius.
Smiling wanly, Remus takes one final look at Harry and Neville, who had hidden the parchment by then, and replies, "Yes, I dare say we shall. Alice, Frank, we leave these two youngsters in your care", before apparating away, presumably to their store.
Alice and Frank take a look at Harry and Neville before Alice speaks, "Have a fun trip, be good, and study. But also don't forget to make friends and have fun", before she and Frank turn and exit the train.
Before too long, students begin entering the train, looking for compartments to stay in, although not too many venture towards the back of the train where Harry and Neville are. About fifteen minutes before the scheduled department time, Harry pulls out a chessboard and places it on the table in front of him and Neville, with both setting up their pieces, white for Harry, and black for Neville, when a brown, bushy, haired female pops her head in the compartment and asks timidly, "Do you two mind if I sit in here?"
Smiling, Neville replies, "Certain, miss. My name's Neville, and this here is Harry."
"Really, Nev? Is that any way to introduce yourself to a lady? I thought Sirius tought us better." Quickly standing, extending his hand with a flourish and a slight bow "Milady, I am Harry Potter, and my rude friend is Neville Longbottom"
Nodding her head in thanks, the female enters the compartment, quickly stores her trunk, and sits beside Neville and replies, "Hello Neville, Harry. My name is Hermione, Hermione Granger."
Blushing at Harry's words, it takes her a second to realize what he said, "Wait, Harry Potter, THE Harry Potter, the one who killed He-who-must-not-be-named?"
Face darkening for the briefest of nanoseconds, Harry replies calmly, "Yes, I was. My parents died, and I was left alive due to some magical interference."
Hermione's face saddens and she says softly, "I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know what I'd do without my parents."
Neville smirks ever so slightly and comments, "Harry may not have his parents anymore, but he has their best friends as legal guardians, and if something ever happened to them, my parents would take Harry in as a second kid, and vice versa. We're like family."
"It's nice to meet you, Neville, and Harry. I do hope I haven't interrupted anything" replies Hermione, pointing to the chessboard.
"Oh no, we haven't started yet. I believe white moves first, Harry." Says Neville.
The train whistle blows, and the train lurches forward, followed by a mop of red hair appearing at the compartment door.
"Harry, Neville, so glad to see you two." pants Ron.
"You know Ron, if you all would arrive a few minutes ahead of time, you wouldn't have to rush to get on the train." Comments Neville good naturedly, smirking.
"Yeah, well, mum always waits until the last minute before leaving." Replies Ron.
"Come on in, and sit down." comes Hermione, motioning to the available seat next to Harry.
Ron enters the compartment, struggles with his trunk to get on the rack, before collapsing beside Harry. "You two didn't tell me that you all play chess." whines Ron.
Looking up from the chessboard, Harry replies, "You're right, we didn't. We play every so often, but we aren't the best of players."
And so the banter and the chess games continue, with ever changing players between the four for a few hours when the lunch trolley arrives.
"Anything from the trolley dears?" asks the trolley arrives.
"I'll take a few chocolate frogs." Replies Harry, standing and paying the lady.
"Anyone else?" asks the lady.
Everyone else shakes their head, and the trolley rattles back down the hallway. A few minutes of light conversation ensues before someone arrives at the compartment.
"There's a rumor going around that Harry Potter is on the train." drawls the blonde haired figure.
Looking up towards the blonde figure, Harry replies somewhat sarcastically, "And you must be Draco Malfoy."
With a flourish of his hand and a small bow, Draco smiles and replies, "That is I."
Looking around the compartment, Draco comments dryly, "Your choice of company is quite…a motley collection. Longbottom is a family I do approve of, as Purebloods, but Weasley here, not a good choice, and, who do we have here?"
"I'm Hermione Granger, muggleborn." replies Hermione shortly.
With a look of disgust on his face, Draco says scathingly, "You filthy mud-"
In an instant, both Harry and Neville have their wands pointed at Malfoy, and with a tone of voice that would cause Hell to freeze over, Neville growls, "Malfoy, you've overstayed your welcome. Now get out, take your goons with you, and don't EVER bother us again."
Eyes wide open, Draco and his goons quickly scramble from the general area of the compartment, resulting in the tripping and falling over of each other. Harry and Neville watch the spectacle unfold for a few moments to make certain that Malfoy was truly gone, before relaxing and putting away their wands.
Neville eases the tension, asking, "Now, so how about some music?"
A confused look appears on Ron's face when he asks, "But we haven't a Wizarding Wireless."
Smirking, Neville pulls out a small metal rectangle, with a piece of glass in the middle, just an inch or two tall and perhaps four or five inches across, with some buttons underneath the glass panel, with a retractable antenna at the back of the unit in the middle of the unit.
Looking at the device with a quizzical look, Ron asks, "What's that?"
Timidly Hermione asks, "Is that…a radio?"
"It's something like a radio, but it allows you to listen to your music which can be elsewhere. I have my own unit which is in my trunk. The Personal Portable Music Player, or PPMP for short, has a small box like device which is filled with physical media like cassette tapes or records, and then broadcasts the music to certain receivers, like this unit here, and you can change the song forwards and backwards, pause the music, shuffle the music, play the music or certain song on repeat, all with the ability to see what is currently playing and what time it is on the glass panel." replies Harry.
With the quizzical look still on her face, Hermione asks, "And anyone can tune in to the music being broadcasted from your house?"
Smiling, Neville replies, "No, each PPMP is paired with a broadcast unit, and it isn't easy to remove the pairing between the broadcast unit and the receiver. Harry and I have been testing the prototype of the PPMP for a few months, and we got a complimentary broadcast and receiver unit from the makers for testing the prototype unit. Although the prototype unit was made of wood and you'd get a little bit of static from the receiver as you got further and further away from it, say a couple thousand miles. With help from the makers, Harry's guardians, we've done some brief traveling with the new units, and we think the metal design makes for a longer distance broadcasting ability and a clearer sound when listening."
"Where can I get one?" asks Hermione excitedly.
Smiling, Harry replies, "My guardians, Sirius and Remus have just opened a shop selling these amongst other things, although the variety of things being sold is small because there are a few other things being tested out, like our trunks."
"How much do the…PPMP units cost?" ask Hermione, hesitantly.
"Five galleons." replies Harry.
"Five galleons?!" exclaims Ron.
"Yeah, that isn't too bad we think. Supposedly that's only like twenty pounds or so for muggles." comments Harry.
"Let's listen to some music" interjects Neville, tapping on the PPMP. A few seconds later, the sound of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' flows from the PPMP and everyone stops talking to listen.
Shortly after the song ends, Neville taps a button and the music stops. Hermione asks, "Is that-I mean, was that Led Zeppelin?"
Both Harry and Neville smile, and Neville replies, "Yes, yes it was. Harry's guardians introduced us to a variety of muggle made music, and I have to say that the music is very good."
"Who else do you have access to?" asks Hermione, curiosity clearly piqued.
Trading looks, Harry speaks, "There is a band called 'Slayer' that is pretty good, although they are from across the pond in America. Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, amongst others are in our collection."
Hermione and Ron adopt looks of confusion, and Harry just laughs, pulls out his PPMP, taps a few buttons, and the sounds of Slayer's "Angel of Death" tears through the compartment, and Harry and Neville headbang in time with the song, with Ron and Hermione listening to the song with confused looks on their faces.
The song ends, and Harry turns off his PPMP, and asks Ron and Hermione, "I guess you two didn't like the song very much?"
Seeing Hermione and Ron nod their heads in agreement to not liking the song, Harry shrugs his shoulders and replies, "To each their own. Sirius introduced me to Slayer, and I have to say they are very talented."
Talk continues for a few hours until a prefect walks by and says, "We're nearly to Hogsmeade Station. Time to get dressed for the feast."
Hermione exits the compartment and heads to the nearby bathroom to change, while Harry, Neville, and Ron rapidly change in the compartment. A few minutes later, Hermione reappears and enters the compartment.
All too soon the train arrives at the station and everyone begins getting off, and the booming voice of Hagrid is heard, "Firs' years o'er here."
Excited, the four head towards the half-giant, where a group of other first year students have gathered.
"Alrigh' now. Time ter get in the boats ter cross the lake." Booms Hagrid's friendly but gruff voice.
Harry, Neville, Ron, and Hermione climb into a boat near the front and Hagrid gets into the lead boat, and the boats magically begin their journey across the lake. Peering up into the night sky, the four, amongst others in the boats, awed and oo'd at the forbidding castle looming ever nearer, with its twinkling lights. Docking a few minutes later, Hagrid leads the group of first years up the daunting amount of stairs to the entrance hall, where a stern faced professor stands.
"Got them all here safe and sound, professor." booms Hagrid, smiling.
Allowing just a fraction of a smile to cross her face, Professor McGonagall replies, "Thank you, Hagrid."
Hagrid lumbers into the Great Hall nearby, and the sound that had come from the Great Hall is quickly cut off as the doors close. Turning to the group of first years, Professor McGonagall speaks with authority, "I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, and your Transfiguration professor. You all will wait here for a few more minutes while things are prepared for your sorting."
Professor McGonagall quickly looks over the group of students with a stern look, taking a barely noticeable double look when spotting Harry, before disappearing. Whispered conversations are held in the absence of Professor McGonagall about how they were to be sorted. Draco steps in front of Harry and the rest of the group and drawls, "Potter you'd be better off in Slytherin, with Longbottom joining as well. You'd do better with us than any other house."
Opening his mouth to speak, Harry is interrupted by Professor McGonagall's voice, "Mr. Malfoy, coercion will not be tolerated regarding the placement of houses. Now, if you all will follow me."
The first years follow Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall, where the chatter suddenly became hushed. Setting down a three-legged stool, Professor McGonagall states, "When I call your name, you will come sit down and I'll place the Sorting Hat on you."
"Bones, Susan." calls out Professor McGonagall.
A timid looking red headed female steps forward and perches on the stool, and Professor McGonagall places the Sorting Hat upon her head.
"Hufflepuff" shouts the Sorting Hat.
And the name calling continues until Professor McGonagall calls out, "Granger, Hermione."
Stepping forward, Hermione sits upon the stool, and the Sorting Hat mutters, "Hmm, intense desire to learn, you'd do well in Ravenclaw, however, you're loyal to those you call friends, and Hufflepuff would be a stellar place for you, Slytherin wouldn't accept you, although you are ambitious, but your bravery for talking to strangers on the train would give you the best chance in GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry and Neville smile and clap lightly alongside the cheers of others in the Great Hall, and Hermione blushes a slight red, before going and sitting down at the Gryffindor table. More names are called and Neville is called upon and the Sorting Hat begins its murmuring anew, "Ah, a Longbottom. You are loyal to those you call friends, but your bravery to stand up for Miss Granger shows that you're better off in GRYFFINDOR!"
Smiling, Neville stands up and heads for the Gryffindor table. Another few names are called, with Harry being called to be sorted. The Sorting Hat is placed upon his head, and the hat chuckles, "Ah, Mr. Potter, we've been waiting for you here. Your father and mother were Gryffindor before you, and your guardians, Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin were also Gryffindor, but I do not sort you based on your heritage. Your fierceness in protecting your loved ones, even just friends, is a strong trait, you enjoy learning, but your braveness to pull not only a wand, but a sword on Mr. Malfoy shows courage, so you shall be a GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry stands up and moves to the Gryffindor table, sitting down across from Neville, who was sitting beside Hermione. Professor McGonagall continues to call names with Malfoy barely sitting down when he is declared a Slytherin, and Ron joins the Gryffindor table.
Standing, Dumbledore raises his hands for quiet, and quiet is ascertained, and he speaks, "Once more we meet in these hallowed halls of learning, which begin tomorrow. The third floor corridor is off limits to those who wish to not suffer a painful death. Mr. Filch has a comprehensive list of items that are banned. Now, tuck in."
Food appears on the tables, and the students begin eating with gusto.
Author note: Thanks for reading. Frank isn't a fun sucking individual and neither is Remus. I just hope that I convey that to you all. You'll hear more about the trunks in another chapter, I promise. I've got plans and my three betas have been looking over my plans and criticizing them to make certain things go well for the story.
To TrueLoveAlwaysLP, yes, I have many new ideas to inject into this fanfiction. One of the prototypes was the PPMP, with others being revealed later on. I won't reveal what relationships everyone is getting in, but I have a plan, and I hope it will be acceptable to most everyone.
To Linda, and anyone else who is curious, Ginny won't be a complete fan girl, but it's hard for me to write things from a girl's perspective, as I am male. Just wait and see, as I still need to look over and finalize my series plan for the first two years of Hogwarts.
To Kairan1979, Marauders Emporium will be the beginning for many things, and it will keep the story interesting. I'd rather not say any more, as I'd spoil other chapters.
To everyone else who has reviewed, thank you all for taking the time to review, and I read every one of them, but I may not find something to comment on/reply to in every review.
Update 3/14/2014:
-Kairan1979 pointed out that Harry introduced himself twice. Yes, that was a mistake. Demos and I were making modifications, and during that process, that was left in.
-To the guest reviewer that said that Lupin was the one raising him and not Sirius, Demos suggested making Sirius a little less strict [the way I wrote him at least] so I added some humor that Demos suggested. No, Sirius and Remus BOTH add to Harry's education and upbringing, but Sirius is more of the joker of the group, and Remus is the more stickler of the two, but they do balance each other out [or should be]. We don't see a lot of the behind the scenes parts of Sirius and Remus raising him, because that would seem kind of tedious and not too terribly interesting. I do appreciate your feedback, and I'll work on that for the rest of the story.
6/14/2014:
-FourthMind pointed out that I had misspelled 'godfather' with 'dogfather'. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.