Hey everyone,
WOW! I love you guys for your votes. I have always considered Rituals to be one of my best works and it is currently #1 in all of my stories, so I am super excited to get on with this chapter and to write it with the knowledge that me and my readers share a # 1 favorite, even if the votes between this and # 2 don't differ much.
Enjoy, everybody,
Venquine1990
Chapter 18
The Revealing Has Started
Sirius' POV
All of this has to be the most incredible reward for my twelve years Azkaban as well as my several months on the run ever and yet at the same time can I not help but feel as if things have to get worse before they get better. Wondering if this could have any connection to the books themselves or the future is a thought that worries me.
Yet the worry isn't currently strong enough to overwhelm me as I am sitting next to my actual mate – a man I until recently believed to be my brother in all but blood – as well as three boys, all of different ages, who are my actual flesh and blood and while the two youngest are seated in front of me are my mate and eldest besides me.
I then look around and while a few of the others have slightly concerned or cautious looks on their faces – and while Snape looks as if he is only sitting here to do Reg and his apparent two sons a favor – are they all surrounded by either amazed faces or happily gleeful and excited, yet I know those won't last long.
This because I focus on where the last reader had stood, the book having been left at the Owl Stand and while I have no doubt that the next few chapters will be quite the challenge, especially the new arrivals, do I nudge James before motioning for the book with my head, my mate nodding and casting the summoning spell.
Part of me feels amazed that Pettigrew had left my mate with his wand, yet I also feel relieved about this as it means that he will be able to defend himself in case anything happens and while a lot of the muttering around the hall ceases as they see the book flying, do I catch and open the book on the bookmark and start reading.
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
"Wait, Wormtail?"Alice then asks and I sigh as I ask: "That was the nickname the Magical Mind Block made us believe we had given that junkyard over there. I guess we never did?" The woman shakes her head and says: "You guys mentioned that the three of you had wanted to, but didn't until we all became friends."
"What nicknames did we have?" Remus asks and the woman shrugs as she says: "Moony, Padfoot and Prongs are indeed right, but I'm surprised – ah, I guess it's the MMB." This confuses me and she says: "The Magical Mind Block." Making me snicker at her bit of intelligence before Hermione asks: "What were your nicknames, Mrs. Longbottom?"
Alice smiles at her and says: "Alice will do, dear. Well, I was Charmsbreath, Frank was Shieldskin. Gid and Fab over there were Terrorstrike and Gleamfur, Lily was Lupa, Severus was Forktongue and Reg and Rosie were Arcticpaw and Thorntouch. Also Frank, Rosie and Reg had their names shortened to Skins, Paws and Thorns."
Yet while the woman speaks, do I feel my heart warming up and does my mind provide me with small flashes of memories of when we actually came up with these names and then Remus makes a sound of amazement, making everyone look at him as he says: "I – I remember those. Or – or at least bits of when we made those names."
This makes me smile and nod at the man, proving him I remember the same and while everyone smiles at the fact that we are indeed remembering, does Jeffrey asks: "And – no pain?" Remus shakes his head and says: "They're just flashes, nothing more. I guess that's how the spell had been changed." And I read on, agreeing with him.
It took … both mental."
"Well, that's nothing new." Regulus then suddenly says, shocking everyone into looking at him, yet the playful smirk that is on his face makes me realize that the younger adult doesn't mean it as an insult as more of a joke and while I feel shocked over this, does he ask: "Still, what makes these two think that exactly?"
And Hermione says: "In the book, Remus just revealed to Ron, Harry and me that Ron's twelve year old common rat is actually Pettigrew in disguise. It's just that, until recently, we believed Sirius to have been the Secret Keeper of the Pott – I mean, of Lily, James and Harry – and that he betrayed them and killed Pettigrew."
My younger brother looks shocked and then asks: "Okay, just to be clear. Who did that MMB make you believe was bonded with who?" And Remus sighs as he says: "The MMB made us believe that only Frank and Alice and Lily and James were married, it made us forget about all the other bonds and their special little gifts."
This shocks most of those around us and then Remus hugs Lily close and whispers for all to hear: "Please forgive me, love. Please forgive me for forgetting about you, about our kids, about – about us." The man whispers almost silently at the end, yet Lily proves her warm heart as she hugs him close as I continue reading.
"Ridiculous!" said … time, though!"
This alone seems to shock our returned beloveds, but then I suddenly notice how a certain under sound is no longer being heard and I swivel my face over to where Pettigrew's cage is at and the little rat within seems to have been as shocked as those we lost and then got back as he looks straight at me from within his cage.
I glare at the bastard little rat, not trusting him for one second to not try and trick us into a state of security and then ask: "Minister, would you accept it if I requested one of the Hit Wizards stationed here to watch me to watch that little rodent instead?" The man looks shocked, but then turns to one of them and says:
"You heard him. Get that little criminal and make sure you don't lose him." The female Hit Wizard, who had been reprimanding the Auror that had come along the last few times nods, moves over to the cage and waves her wand in several intricate patterns before picking it up and taking it back to her corner as I read on.
And Crookshanks … truth, Sirius!"
By now all those around me who have been brought back from what we believed to be the afterlife look at me shocked and then Frank says: "What the heck? I mean, I remember you going crazy if you had something awesome planned or if we went somewhere exciting or studied a topic you loved dearly – but this?
This sounds – just – so unlike you. You were always the one who kept his anger under a tight leash no matter what. Heck, you didn't even blow up like the rest of us when we heard what Death Eaters had done to our parents." He then turns to his twin brother as well as his younger sister, all of them shuddering in clear disgust.
I sigh at what I hear, even while a flash of that event goes through my mind and then I take a deep breath and say: "Like Hermione said, I was accused of betraying my mate and son, as well as of killing that little bastard and unfortunately, Crouch made a – for that time understandable – but still unforgiveable decision.
He sent me to Azkaban, which had happened only hours after Pettigrew had cast his MMB, so the combination of those two changed me beyond what you guys might remember or even recognize. And – until all my, I mean, our memories are back – just expect us to be a little different from what you remember, okay?"
The Prewett twins and the rest of the group look shocked and James asks: "You can actually accept that he sent you there just like that?" To which I sigh and say: "It was the end of the war and the Ministry wanted to prove itself, so Crouch stated that there was plenty of evidence on the scene to prove me guilty."
"Wait, if he stated that with you – Minister, I'm sorry, but I need to insist on joining you on another visit to Azkaban at earliest convenience. I need to see if my predecessor has done this with others as well and whether or not he made mistakes like with Lord Black." Fudge looks shocked, but nods and I read on, feeling content.
Black stopped … imprisoned for…"
"You actually wanted that, knowing it would take you away from Harry again?" James asks me shocked and while I hate how he states it like that, do I say: "This is several months into the future, James, you have to remember that. Plus, I am afflicted by the aftereffects of Azkaban and well, it's not easy to get rid of those.
I'm not saying that it's right for me to say things like I do in the book, I'm just saying that – unlike the me you remember – I have grown to just make rash actions and think of the consequences afterwards. Not for everything, but at least for the things I feel are important or where I think the results will profit me and mine."
The man looks shocked and then suddenly glares furiously at the Hit-Wizard, his glare obviously aimed at Pettigrew and then he stands up while glaring and says: "I don't know if you thought changing him while having me locked up would break our bond if I were to escape, but if you did, you are a bigger idiot than I thought.
You know nothing about me, Pettigrew, regardless of how often you thought you could study me by picking my brain while I was asleep and I will tell this here and now. Nothing, not you, not Voldemort, not anyone or anything can ever break a bond created by magic itself. And you may not know it, but we are all magic bound."
This shocks me and seems to shock the rodent as well, yet James now looks confident beyond relief as he says: "That is one thing you never thought to look for. In the summer before third, I was already becoming aware of these bonds and asked dad about them. He checked with a family spell and found out about it.
Remy and Lils, Fab and Gid, Sev and Reg, Molly and Arthur, Alice and Frank, Lucius and Narcissa and Siri and I are all chosen by magic to bond together and stay together. And yes, Pettigrew, Rosie is also meant to be bonded by magic, yet unfortunately even I don't know who she is to be bonded to, so you won't know either.
So let that be a lesson to you and anyone who thinks of supporting you. Nothing you do, say or even plan to use in forms of magic will ever break our bonds apart." And with that does the man sit back down, a strong sense of confident justice showing on his face and while the whole hall is silent do I get back to reading.
"You're nutters … at Scabbers.
"Good leg? What does that mean?" Molly asks and I cringe in guilt, but then Ron stands up and says: "Mum, Sirius did something bad for a good reason and swore an oath of apology to which I responded with an oath of acceptance. Also, part of the injury was my own fault." The woman looks shocked and worried and I read on.
"You're going … of them…"
"Which apparently was only meant as a distraction so the bastard could escape to his house and cast his little MMB magic." I then snarl silently and James looks at me as I say: "Apparently I was arrested in front of his place instead of the street they constantly say they found me in." My husband nods and I continue reading.
"They didn't … the list."
"That can't be right." Frank says and we all look at him as he says: "When I applied for the Auror Program after graduation, I got the acceptance of Mr. Crouch that signing my friends up as legal Animagus could be seen as a proper introductory act into the program. I filed in forms for all you guys, with copies given to various people."
"Like who, my boy?" Albus asks and Frank's eyes widen as he says: "You yourself, Sir, as well as Professors McGonagall, Slughorn, Grubbly-Plank and even Hagrid. And I even put at least one copy of each file in all of our faults and had you four – bar Hagrid – do the same as well." Albus looks shocked and Arthur says:
"I know Bill works at Egypt, but if he hears even half of this, he will probably want to come home. Maybe he can even get employee permission to check the vaults." To which Frank nods and says: "And if not, I will gladly hire him to fetch it for me." To which all of us nod in agreement before I focus back on the book.
Harry had … around Hogwarts."
"Wait, are all of you Animagus?" Hermione then asks and all of my returned friends nod before Ron asks: "What are you?" To which the whole group, James and I included, smile widely before I lie the book down and move over to the Entrance Courtyard. Here Frank directs us into certain positions and tells us:
"To make sure everyone can see all of our forms without others blocking them." This makes it so that I am standing with James, Gideon and Fabian, while Alice, Frank, Lily and Regulus are in front of us and Severus and Rosie make up the front. Yet while everyone seems ready, do Severus and Rosie look uncomfortable and Reg says:
"Listen you guys, you may not remember the transformations, but your magic still does. Just trust in that and reach out to it. Try and find your most animalistic bit of your magic and let that consume you. That's more or less how we all transformed the first time, so it should come easily once you have found it."
The two of them look a bit more comfortable now, yet I share a wide smile with James before focusing on the canine instincts that have become easier and easier for me to reach out to the longer I had been in Azkaban and just like that has my face changed into a muzzle, have my hair and cloths into fur and am I standing on four legs.
Still, just like usual, do I shake my furry head to get used to the sense of having fur all over instead of just on the top and back of my head, but then suddenly I feel a bit of a weight being put on my head and with my canine eyes do I look up, my heart skipping a beat as I see an auburn brown stag's head lying on top of mine.
The head softly moves left and right over my own head and, mostly because my emotions are stronger than my thoughts when in this form, do I swiftly move so that I have the stag under me and am I licking his muzzle all over, letting out soft whining sounds of joy as I show my husband how happy I am to have him back.
The stag happily moves his head alongside my tongue, the delight showing in his eyes proving he is just as exhilarated at our reunion and finally after feeling absolutely sure that I have – at least in a small way – claimed back my mate, do I just lie myself down between his legs, just feeling peaceful by being in his presence.
The stag happily moves his head back to nuzzle the top of my own head before he lies his head near mine and while I know that it's supposed to be impossible, do I feel tears leaking down my closed eyes as both Padfoot and I are just too filled with exhilarated joy and a content sense of peace over being here with Prongs.
Severus' POV
I won't deny that something about being near these nine others makes me feel better than I could ever remember, in either my fake memories or my real ones, yet the advice one of the Prewett twins gave me – regardless of bringing up a flash of a memory within me – still makes me feel a little as if I am being pranked here.
The main reason for this is being that it is one of the Prewett twins, who – like the Marauders – are known for their pranks, yet while I feel a little stupid for standing here with the others, do I see the woman named Rosie actually listening to the advice as she turns back to the audience in the Great Hall and closes her eyes.
Not wanting to be the only one being seen as the odd one out, do I follow her example, yet I only close them far enough that it will look like they're closed to my audience. In the meantime do I keep my eyes aimed at the woman besides me and what I see happen after a few minutes almost has my eyes widen in surprise.
The woman actually changes and shrinks, her cloths and hair changing into layers of armor, which also grow to cover her ever changing face and while I want to cringe at how her arms shrink before they multiply into multiple smaller ones, does my shock almost blow my cover when I finally recognize her form for what it is.
An actual scorpion stands where the woman had been before, an Emperor Scorpion to be exact, with brown and black colored scales and with razor sharp clinchers as well as a stinger at the end of the tail that practically oozes a clearly deadly poison, one that screams at the Potions Master within me, even if I don't focus on it.
Instead of that do I focus on the fact that what the Prewett twin had said was proven true and I fully close my own eyes, focusing deep within into the part of me that always magically recognizes when I adeptly work on a potion and whether or not I am working on certain ingredients in a proper or improper way.
Sensing and finding this part of me, do I focus past it and to my shock, do I indeed find a gigantic bit of animalistic magic located there, one that almost makes me feel like the king of Hogwarts or at the very least Slytherin and this makes me close my inner eyes and accept the power with a deep love for how it feels as it surrounds me.
The magic then surrounds my human form and as it does, do I feel my arms slink back into my shoulders, feel my neck become longer, my legs merge together alongside all of the bones in there and feel my overall body thin out as well as lengthen to incredible lengths, lengths that even Hagrid wouldn't be able to reach.
Then my eyes are forced open and I realize I have fallen onto my entire body, yet it doesn't even hurt and no bones feel broken, mostly because I barely feel any bones within me and when sensing inward, do I realize that I have a skeleton, but nothing more and looking down, do I feel excitement and pride coursing through me.
Scales of the purest green with dark black spots surrounded by bronze brownish scales are all over my body, while my front is made of the same bronze color and I am at least 5 meters long. Then, as I look down, does my forked tongue slither out to taste the air around me and instantly I taste a scent that makes me a shiver run through me.
I look up and my eyes – if it had been possible – would have widened as I am looking at the most gorgeous white furred Arctic wolf I have ever seen, the beast itself being a good 4.5 feet high and having a small muzzle that happily sniffles at me, proving me that it wants to be near, but respects my instinctual hesitation.
Realizing who I am looking at do I feel a thin membrane slitting over my eyes before – due to my instinct more than my own thoughts – I move with lightning speed, have the front of my long body appear behind the wolf and then start to slither in a circular, yet not strangling way around the gorgeous wolf itself.
Yet Regulus seems not at all disturbed by this – which I can only assume is because I have done this before in my still unknown past – and when I have my head near his own, does he happily lie himself down in such a way that his weight doesn't make the parts of my form that are around him feel squished or painful.
I lie my head on the left under his and hiss in sheer pleasure as a small wet tongue licks itself from my mouth all the way down to a large part of my body and then Regulus continues this, which I can only assume is to answer the canine instinct within him that screams at him to claim me once again after all the years spent apart.
For those of you wondering, the reason I didn't add Lucius and Narcissa is because – while they are bonded by magic like the rest, they weren't an actual part of the gang that was formed in 1976, mostly because they themselves graduated in 1972 and 1973 respectively, thus they were not part of the training process.
Harry's POV
I can barely believe what I am seeing as I look at the incredible collection of animals that now stand in the Entrance Hall. A stag and dog where my parents used to be, an Arctic wolf and Giant Anaconda instead of Snape and Regulus Black and the Prewett twins have changed into a Bengal and White Tiger respectively.
Alice and Frank have changed into an Albino Pony and a strange scaled kind of creature that looks like an Ant-eater and finally have Lily and Aunt Rosie changed into a Red Fox and Emperor scorpion. Next to that have all pairs gone to either sit or lie together and have Aunt Rosie and Lily returned to the Great Hall.
Aunt Rosie scurries up one of the legs of the table of Gryffindor before moving across the surface of the table, causing some of the students to scurry back in their seat even though they know who she is, yet Lily on the other hand moves under the table until suddenly Lupin tenses and looks down into his lap in shock.
I myself move up to look there as well and see Lily sitting there, licking Professor Lupin's hand the same way that Regulus had been licking Snape and the way that dad had been licking mum and while Lupin had wide eyes when he realized that it had been his long lost mate that had jumped on his life, does he now smile widely.
He then gently takes the little thing in his arms and while he raises it to his face, does my former mum happily let out excited yips as she locks her still green eyes with his brown ones and then we all laugh as the fox actually licks the man's nose making Lupin laugh and hug the little red canine closely against his body.
Then suddenly the book is pushed my way and when I look, do I see that Sirius is pushing the book with his muzzle and while I can only imagine how wonderful it feels for the man to be in dog form alongside his hooved mate, do I ask: "Would anyone mind if I take over?" And after seeing general shakes of heads, do I start reading.
"If you're … one there…"
"Someone's using Harry's invisibility Cloak." The young girl who had been approached by Irma earlier says and while I am shocked at how quickly she uncovered this, do I notice how there are quite a few Ravenclaws that look at her derisively, making me wonder how they treat the Second year before I continue reading.
"This place … so foolhardy…"
"So foolhardy? From what I remember from Severus telling me back then, James and Sirius had been busy convincing you that their Animagus idea was a good one and it took until you all got your O.W.L.s results, all of you with O's for Transfigurations, before the gang finally convinced you to just let them do it."
Mrs. Malfoy tells me and then I suddenly remember something that makes me look at the Hit Wizard in shocked confusion before I ask: "Wait a minute, if we have to go by everything Mrs. Malfoy is remembering as well as what the others have been telling us, then doesn't that mean that Pettigrew was never a Gryffindor?"
Everyone looks shocked and I say: "It's just that, it sounds as if it was just da-mum, Sirius and Professor Lupin sharing a dorm with Pettigrew sneaking in every now and then snuck into the dorm to read da-mum's memories. So if that's true, then – what was his House?" Everyone looks shocked and grandpa sighs as he says:
"I will have to go and see if the spell had affected the School Roster and whether or not the magic of our new arrivals has fixed it up yet. However, if you are okay with it, my boy, I will do so once the chapter has been read." At this I nod and while Sirius lets out a small growl aimed at the rat in the cage, do I continue reading.
He looked … wane again.
Here I can see something happen to Lupin's eyes and the man sighs before he says: "I was able to do so much more with my friends. I – I even started training myself to see if I couldn't – at the least – change the Werewolf form into a more tamable form or even completely back into human." This shocks us all and Ron asks:
"How did it go?" The man's eyes nearly tear up at this and he says: "I – I actually managed to change into a canine form that is a mix of a wolf and a werewolf, but – with the MMB and how long it has been since my last time doing so – I'm just not sure if I can do it again." This makes all of us look at the man in worry and I read on.
"Before the … to me.
"Actually, I traveled the world a few weeks after my own graduation and in some countries like Egypt and the southern parts of China and America, it is actually recommended for the Defense teacher to have a magical affliction as it is believed there that such an affliction gives the people more chance for hand's on experience."
One of the Aurors that had yet to speak this entire time says and while this shocks a lot of those around me, does the man rub the back of his neck as he says: "To be honest, according to what I found out; Hogwarts has dropped 2 spots on the Best Schools of the World List because they – until this year – only had 1 magical being teacher."
"What is the requirement?" Mr. Malfoy asks and the man seems to reel back in shock as the Hit Wizard says: "Seven, preferably one of each magical being. The only ones who are an exception are Vampires, but that's more because they themselves requested not to be on such profession lists, not because of the bias against them."
Everyone looks shocked at this and then grandpa sighs and says: "That is why I find it such a shame that the traditional Journey Across the World has been disbanded after the War against Grindlewald. There is so much one can learn when studying other cultures from up close." And after nodding at this, do I continue reading.
"But then … was dangerous."
"That really became a useless defense when Rosie became an Animagus, though Severus was also often the one to get through and turn it off. I remember that now. Before – I always thought it had been him who had always struck the tree." Remus says and then Hermione shocks me as she asks an important question:
"Wait, who was the first to transform?" And Remus smiles at her as he says: "Lily and her form, as you can see, is the same size as Crookshanks, so she never had trouble, though the whole group did agree not to show up until all of them had finished the transformation, which was just a few days before Christmas."
"My, my, Remus, your memories seem to really be returning at alarming speed, don't they?" Grandpa then asks, yet Professor Lupin shakes his head and says: "Not really, Albus. The flashes just become clearer slowly but surely and this was just yet another repetitive discussion topic." My grandfather nods while curious and I read on.
Harry couldn't … approach it…
"That would be because I knew you would leave Hogwarts one day and I wanted to keep your secret no matter what, so I waited for a violate night and casted a recording spell from a safe distance. I just replay the charm every full moon night and by now the villagers are used to the scare it brings them." Making me read on in awe.
"But apart … James Potter.
"Along with Alice and the Prewett twins and – over time – also Frank, Lily, Rosie, Severus and Regulus. And after graduation did Narcissa and Lucius decide to join the group as well." Professor Lupin happily tells us and then Percy asks: "But what about the war? Weren't you all on opposite sides of the fight?"
To this Mrs. Malfoy is the one to shake her heads and says: "In truth, we were, yet at first we all got to bond over our instinctual need to just survive and – in the end – the bonds that Severus and Regulus had made over their time at Hogwarts convinced Lucius and me to give the others a chance. And then – well – our kids came around."
This makes Percy nod and then Lucius shakes his head and says: "To be honest, I believe that it had been Jeremy who had been the catalyst that brought us together. Sirius and James had been named Godfathers, yet Reg and Sev were still at Hogwarts, so they asked Cissy and me to take care of him until they graduated.
And because James and Sirius practically demanded to spend time with their godchild, did that force us to spend a lot of time together, which at first caused quite the issue or two, but eventually we conversed and found ourselves having more and more in common, thus a bond was born." Which makes me read on smiling.
"Now, my … the truth…
"I remember that. It had been Frank who had recognized the signs before we did and he even had the guts to try and confront you at our dorm, he just had one major problem." Sirius then says, almost giving me a heart attack as he is suddenly human again and then the man looks at the human form of my mum before he says:
"He sucked at casting Sleeping spells." This makes the human-form of Mr. Longbottom turn red as I can't help but ask say: "So I'm guessing you guys gave him hell for it?" To which Sirius says: "We sure did. Made him feel like crap for a fortnight, which we wouldn't have done, had he decided to use a different approach."
"I sure as heck remember that. You both would constantly whisper those exact same words at the end of every revenge act you had against me and even Alice felt I had deserved it for my level of stupidity." This makes me look at the human Mrs. Longbottom in shock, yet the woman shrugs and I just continue reading.
"And they … do it.
"Oh trust me, kids, these two had a few times where they thought they could just go ahead and ascend a certain step and then they got stuck in said step for several hours. Oh merlin, I remember this one time –." Yet this is as far as Lily can get before Regulus suddenly slaps a hand over her mouth and with a mirth-filled smile says:
"Lily, I love that memory as much as you do and it has definitely helped me a few times when I felt all was lost, but you gave a magical oath not to speak of this event anywhere in public and I don't want you unable to use your special talent for a fortnight, okay?" And while Lily turns red in unease, do I continue reading.
Peter needed … at will."
"That is utterly wrong. It was the end of our fifth where we finally got together, not when those two became Animagus. They were halfway down our list of all those who practiced the transformation and their success triggered the success of the Prewett twins and myself." Alice says looking affronted and I read on, feeling two emotions.
On one hand do I feel hatred over how we are reading a story that is full of lies that have been spelled to be believable by a Nationwide spell. Yet at the same time do I feel very glad for having all these people back in our lives as they make sure that no more lies are seen as facts. And with that satisfying thought, do I read on.
"But how … with them."
"Actually, the first night we transformed had been very dangerous, yet that was mostly because Moony had been alone for almost a full decade and had no experience with beings other than itself. I remember that, at some time, Severus actually had to wrap his form around Lils, Rosie and Reg, just to keep them safe."
Alice shakes her head at this and Professor Lupin's eyes are wide with pure fear, yet Alice rolls her eyes and says: "Remus, Animagus are protected from Werewolf venom right from the start, plus I said that wrong. Severus didn't need to wrap his body around those three, he forced them within the confines of his form by his own choice.
And trust me, Reg was not happy with that." Here Snape cringes and then whispers: "So that's where I got that crazy set of scars on my left leg from. I've been wondering about that one since finding it one night." Regulus turns a little red at this and he mutters: "I was worried about my brother, okay." Making me read on happily.
"Hurry up … we did…
Wow, that's even more wrong." Alice says and everyone looks shocked before she smiles and says: "There is actually a doggy door hidden in the bottom floor that we managed to enlarge a bit during a Hogsmeade village and that we used to guide Moony into the mountains as the environment there really helped him.
It both gave him a challenge as well as calmed his vital spirit down and, after a while, Remus actually needed to start pretending to be hurt and exhausted when Madam Pomfrey came to fetch him." This again makes the werewolf in question turn red under the whitering gaze of the Mediwitch, making me read on as I snicker softly.
And that's … bitten somebody?"
"Hermione, I can get that you were worried, but that really was a bad case of bad timing right there." Professor Lupin then tells my best friend and the girl turns red before Lily says: "You sure aren't the first to have interrupted someone who wanted to ask an important personal question." Before looking at Regulus.
The man rolls his eyes at this and says: "I said it a hundred-thousand times. I'm sorry!" This shocks all of us as the man nearly snaps it and Lily says: "He interrupted Remus when he wanted to ask about the genders of the twins. I gave him hell for that then and when we were locked up." Making me wince before I read on.
"A thought … others' safety.
This actually makes a few of those around me roll their eyes and then Frank says: "True safety is never guaranteed if the person being protected feels there are matters at hand that make them feel the opposite. Whether it be personal respect, trust in themselves or others or even assurance from others about certain situations.
If you're situated anywhere and you feel that any part of this environment can lead to either you doing something dangerous or something dangerous happening to you, then you either need to remain away from there or keep in contact with those that keep you collected and strong." And while many are shocked by his words, do I read on.
He never … Animagi illegally.
"Ten, actually, and you had been against it until the very first time we got to transform without you being Moony." Alice then tells the man and Professor Lupin sighs before he asks: "Where the heck have I been without you guys the last decade?" Yet when it's proven that no one has an answer to this question, do I continue reading.
But I … to me.
"Dear Merlin, isn't that a dangerous thing." Frank then says and when we all look at him, does he shrug and say: "I'm not saying that having trust in the guy is a bad thing, I'm just saying that the levels of trust described here could either give Albus himself a big head or lead to Remus doubting himself about more than he should.
I've seen it before, you know. Just before my attack by Pettigrew and the others. A man had been arrested because he was so devoted to his wife, he couldn't live without her, so he locked her up in his own home and cast an illegal Fidelius spell. Only the charm was done wrong and started draining them both of their magic.
The spell weakened, the woman fled and the both of them were facilitated in different sections of St. Mungos. Too bad the man almost had a heart-failure because his devotion turned him mad if he couldn't be there to wait on his wife hand and foot, yet the wife had suffered several mental breakdowns due to serious stress.
In the end the man was sentenced to a Notice Me Not spell placed on the woman and a Fidelius spell on his own memories, but then cast against him. Needless to say, that sentence did not end well for the guy." Everyone looks at the man with different levels of horror and shock and when Frank realizes this, does he say:
"I'm not saying Remus would ever sink that low, I'm just saying that someone still being this devoted to their Headmaster a good 15 years after graduation is a dangerous thing." Professor Lupin sighs at this and then Sirius says: "I'll see if someone can contact Andy at earliest convenience." Lupin nods and I continue reading.
He let … all along."
Here many heads turn to the man in question, who seems uncomfortable just being at Gryffindor Table and I quickly send a silent message the twins' way, who nod their heads and then motion for Malfoy, the blonde raising an eyebrow, but then getting the message as he says: "Good on him." Shocking the crowd as I read on.
"Snape?" said … involved me –"
"Ehm, excuse me?" Regulus then asks, yet I hold up my hand and say: "It's the final part of the chapter. Just let me read and tell us what parts are right afterwards." The man seems very objective to the idea of this story existing and worried over its possible contents, yet he still nods at me and I continue reading.
Black made … at Lupin.
Here I want to hit myself on the head for having my book-self forget about it in such a vital stage of the story, yet instead of that, do I just lie the book down, which instantly makes everyone – bar the new kids and the back-from-the-dead adults turn to the brother of my father, who has a face that could just as well be carved out of stone.
"Allow me to dissect that bit of Rita Skeeter levels of junk." The man snaps, shocking a whole lot of us and making some of those around me shudder as the man had hidden an undertone of ferocious anger in his voice and while he seems to realize this and takes a deep breath to calm himself down, does he then continue:
"Sirius would never want harm of that level on anybody. Heck, he fought Crouch against the use of the Unforgivables more than some Light-sided families did. Severus wasn't interested in where you went, he wondered if you were the leader of a sub-cult of Marauders. And him being jealous of James is definitely poppycock.
Severus was more James' rival in classes and the two held almost annual competitions in several tasks over the school year to see who would be the best. Yes, the loser would sometimes strike out at the winner, but it never really escalated to the levels shown in this tale, the Prewett twins and I always made sure of that.
The sight of you and Madam Pomfrey, however, did create a spark of jealousy as Severus had wanted to apply as Apprentice Healer that year and Madam Pomfrey had shot him down. Severus wanted to confront you about how you got the position, he never cared for possible secrets of yours. He was a deep believer in privacy, you know.
Yes, Sirius was the one to tell Severus how to deactivate the tree, but he didn't do that until we had all become Animagus. He wouldn't dare do it before then, James threatened him the best way any partner could long before we even started training. And that part of going in at the sake of his own life – that's not right either.
James became known as the guardian of the Whomping Willow when people started making up challenges regarding it. He gave the excuse that it was a tree planted to help train Seekers and he felt he was duty-bound as the Brave House's Seeker to protect it. He never protected it on full moon nights nor rescued anyone then.
The thing about Severus glimpsing at Remus I won't even bother arguing, everyone already knows that Sev had more than enough time and chances to see way more of Remus than just a glance. And finally that thing about Sirius thinking such a thing amusing? Trust me, Sirius is a lot, but those levels of stupid?
No, he knows better than to pull a stunt like that. Though I do have to commend Pettigrew, he definitely managed to have the MMB merge several memories together quite well if this is the result of it all." To which, while I am shocked at the arguments, I can't help but think: "And this is only the beginning of it all. Merlin's beard."
Merlin's Beard, indeed.
Okay, so that chapter went a little other than how I had planned. It had a WHOLE lot of backstory coming up, a good bit of history of the truth becoming more solid and we even got to see ten Animagus – okay, four really, but the chapter would have been endless if I had described all of them from personal detail.
Heh, I might throw that around in the months to come, but for now, we are another important chapter down and next chapter – will be both very exciting and the start of a whole lot of concerning chapters. Also, there is one little thing I want to mention; I placed a challenge for a backstory somewhere in the chapter.
Care to find it,
Venquine1990
PS. If you find a paragraph that has a spelling or grammar error, please let me know and try and put as much of the paragraph into the review, so I can find it and change it. Thanks in advance.
