Sorry for the wait but at least I have the chapter here and at least half of the Christmas chapter on Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Hope that updates will be better in 2017 xx
Enjoy :)
Queen Jo owns Harry Potter, and she has blessed us with so much this year
Chapter 8 Mysterious Times
Draco walked away from the Great hall with a full stomach and many questions that demanded answering. Who were those boys and why did Potter seem so familiar with them kept flashing to the forefront of his mind. He knew that he couldn't focus on his mission until he got those answers first.
Realizing that he was the only person in the hallway, the schemes came naturally. He could still hear the ghosts celebrating somewhere near, but not too near. At least they were far enough for what he wanted to do.
Casting a disillusionment charm on himself, he quickly retraced his steps to the Great Hall, and was pleased to see Potter and the two visitors exit the hall just as he arrived. He wanted to follow but hesitated, he spent the entire year avoiding Potter just so his secret could be safe, but this opportunity was too good.
Doubts vanished, Draco Malfoy followed the three lions, who were all unaware that there was a snake slithering behind.
His home, or the only place he would consider to be home, had not changed one bit. That comforted Padfoot a great deal more than he expected. The patriotic red and gold covered every corner of the room, the couches showed years of loving use but not one sign of being worn out, and forgotten belongings were littered around the room, giving it an informal atmosphere which he was never able to feel in the place he grew up. No matter how many Gryffindor decorations he had in his room, it merely seemed to be sheets of paper covering a massive dark mass of evil, so he left it altogether.
Looking over at Holly, it appeared that she felt the same way. There could be no doubt that she had never seen the house of her aunt as a home, and he could not blame her if the same applied to Grimmauld Place.
While James marvelled at how little a room where so many great memories were made could change in 20 years, he plopped himself down next to Holly while she seemed to go through some student's forgotten notebook.
'Oh dear, Neville left his potions homework here, and it's still incomplete. I better owl it to him now.'
'Neville?' What's this tight feeling in his chest, restricting his breathing? There was no reason to have a panic attack here and now.
'Neville Longbottom, one of my friends.'
So he's a Longbottom! Must be Frank's son, they would be around the same age.
'Just your friend?' Oh Merlin why would he ask that, now he sounded like his cousins whenever they found him talking with some girl.
Holly blushed, 'Ye-yeah, just a friend. A really good friend, we went through a lot last year.' Why was she nervous, she had nothing to hide? Then why was it so difficult to meet his eyes when she told him that.
'Would you… consider him as a boyfriend?' His voice suddenly dropped.
'What? Why would you ask me that?'
'Because I also want you to tell me, would you consider me as a boyfriend?' He put on all of his playboy charm. The eyes, smirk and pose, no female could resist him when he was like that.
She simply stared at him, her lips were parted with shock and her cheeks were dusted with embarrassment. Very kissable indeed.
He laughed 'Just kidding.' That was too close.
She was so relieved. 'Don't ever do that again! It was so mean.'
'Sorry darling, but I'm a prankster, it's my purpose in life to trick people.' He moved closer to her. 'But since today is Christmas, maybe we could just have a little more trickery…' His face slowly descended upon hers, and just as Holly was about to open her mouth – whether to welcome this advance or protest against it she did not know yet – an unamused voice shattered the mood.
'I'm still here, and underage, so keep it child friendly.'
'James…' he was so close… to getting that long sought after kiss and strangling the living lights out of this moron. Best friend be damned.
He tried to quick smooth things over with Holly but when he turned around, he saw an empty space.
'She left just a moment ago.'
'Oh' No shit
'Padfoot, if you try anything, 'James started.
'Yeah I know.'
'Sirius will-'
'I know.' Will this guy ever shut up? He wondered as James' scolding entered one ear and out the other.
'As well as me and Remus,'
'Got it.'
'We will kill you,'
'So much for friends.'
'And no one, not even Moody, will be able to find the body.'
'Harsh.'
'Your ancestors, and perhaps even Salazar Slytherin himself will applaud us and future pureblood sadists will hail us as legends.' This is a little too far…
'I thought you were aiming your audience to be amongst Gryffindors.'
'As it happens I find myself quite suited to this protective father mode.'
'More like wanna shag Evans mode.'
'Shut up!'
'Hit the right spot didn't I.' When he only received a strained silence as his response, he decided to continue. 'Well, Jamie my boy, I don't blame you. It is Christmas after all, I do wonder when you'll be able to trap Evans under a mistletoe.'
It was a favourite failure of James' which Sirius constantly liked to remind him of. So far, in six years, James Potter had not even managed to get a peck on the cheek from the virtuous Lily Evans.
James gave one last exasperated shake of his head and left his hopeless idiot of a friend to fate. 'I'm going back to the hall, good luck.'
As he walked back down to the Great Hall, he felt the potion wearing off but chose to not pay any attention to it since the hallways appeared deserted.
Slowly, other members of the staff excused themselves from the table one by one, until only Sirius, Remus and the Headmaster were the only members remaining. When the last non-order member left the room, Remus cast a charm around them and released his anxiety.
'Albus, how is your hand.'
Always conscious of his great weakness, Dumbledore instinctively tried to shield the blackened hand from view. 'As good as dark magic.' He replied humourlessly.
'Which means he'll probably kick it soon.'
'Sirius!'
'What, it's true, isn't that right Albus.'
'Well, I am an old man. Had I been born a muggle I have no doubt that I would've been dead by now.'
'And it's a great blessing that you are a wizard and on our side, I thanks the Gods for it daily.' With that said Remus raised a goblet of pumpkin juice to his respected mentor and dear friend 'and to you Sirius, for your life-long disobedience towards your family, despite the costs.'
'My pleasure.' Sirius drowned his drink, wishing for something stronger, it's not like mentions of his family made him emotional. He hated them, absolutely hated them all. Every last one of them…
'Thank you Remus, but why speak of it so solemnly? It's Christmas, be more merry!' With that, a new bottle of firewhisky appeared. 'Before the children returns' he winked.
'Now this is what I call celebrating.' said Sirius as he eagerly reached for the bottle.
Where the hell did the little shits go? Severus pondered angrily as he stalked down the halls, searching for the black haired lion and her two troublesome companions, while also keeping an eye out for his blond snake.
They could be anywhere, if they go into the forest… Relations between wizards and centaurs were not at their best, even the chosen one will not receive preferential treatment.
Knowing their history, that is exactly what they would do. Resolve made, he quickened his pace.
It's a good thing that the hallways were empty, because if anyone saw him the way he was at that moment, they would testify that the demons were at his back, considering the dark aura surrounding him.
Turning a corner, he almost collided into one of his targets.
But Snape was not a man to be found unguarded, quickly composing himself, he started shooting questions as if he was in a duel during the peak of the war.
'Mr Malfoy, where do you think you're going?'
'Professor I-'
'These are dangerous times'
'I was only-'
'I think it best that you return to your dormitory'
'It wasn't-'
'And out of everyone's way.' He finalised his command with his best glare, specialised for the young Malfoy. It never failed.
'I will, Sir.'
It would appear that not even his favourite student had confidence in him. He waved the feelings of loss aside, the affections of a mere student were insignificant compared to his mission.
After making sure that Draco was indeed heading towards the Slytherin dorm room and not to that room, he continued his search. The boy's dedication was truly commendable but he should at least take a break on Christmas.
'You drank too much' were the first words that greeted Sirius the next day. He opened his eyes to see a grumpy teenager staring at him with fixed disappointment.
'No I didn't… Ow, did I get punched by a troll?' Rubbing his head, he took the potion offered to him and drowned it in one go. 'You didn't answer my question, was I punched by a troll?' He even had the nerve to smile at her.
A light slap to the head was his response.
'Hurry up, I'll be waiting for you downstairs.'
'Oh not a punch from a troll, but a slap from my own goddaughter, which is the same as a thousand knives to my heart!'
'Shut the fuck up Sirius!' Remus' voice floated up from the kitchen.
'Whatever…'
The rest of the morning passed by uneventfully with Remus and Sirius in another 'adult discussion' which lasted for longer than the three bored teenagers expected.
'What do you think they're discussing?'
'I don't know, but I sure want to know.' Just as Padfoot made the motion to start up some mischief, Holly pulled him back.
'Stop it you two, it's probably another "How to protect Holly" discussion.' She was met with two confused faces.
'Oh well, I guess you guys don't know, but ever since my encounter with Voldy that time at the ministry, the order has stepped up the security around me.'
'So no more surprise dementors?'
'That is the plan.'
'Or surprise adventures?'
'That's what they want.'
'But is it what you want?'
Fuck no 'I want to live,' a reluctant yet true answer.
'Like this? Locked away in a dark house every day?' Padfoot was not pleased. If they had to lock her up for her safety then that's fine, but why drag his hard work with time travel into it as well.
'It's for my safety…' What do you think? That I would want to spend the rest of my life locked away in this hellhole instead of having fun with my friends like other ordinary teenagers?
'Bullshit. What's the point of living if every day is just as dull? I think you're overdue for fun.'
It's not I don't agree with you, but-
'If we're talking about Mr Black's idea of fun, then it must be the very definition of danger for Miss Potter and consequently the best Christmas present the Dark Lord and the death eaters could think of.'
The three jumped at the sound of a new speaker and turned around with surprise.
It was quite entertaining for Severus to witness their mixed reaction.
One of confusion, one of frustration, and one of weariness.
'Professor Snape, why are you here?' After six years of teaching her, he had to admit that there were occasions where she displayed admirable intelligence. However, most of the time, he wondered if all of Lily's genes had gone into those eyes and nothing else, as the girl appeared to have a potato for a brain at times.
Restraining the urge to roll his eyes to the heavens, he patiently replied 'Miss Potter you will recall that I am a member of the Order of the Phoenix and am therefore here for the afternoon meeting.'
'There's an Order meeting today? I had no idea…'
'Perhaps Black finally got some sense knocked into him and decided not to tell children like you about such confidential information.'
'I'm not a child!'
'That's exactly what a child would say when called a child Miss Potter.' He replied wryly, and swept past them while she was still struggling to form a response.
'Damn him, he always gets the last word.'
Not long after Snape entered the room Sirius came out, looked at them apologetically and said 'I think it best if you three stay out of the way today, and don't come down until called.'
'But Sirius-'
'No buts, sorry about this one Bambi, but those two have got everyone on their nerves. Albus sent me a letter earlier saying that when he broke the news Moody almost burst a blood vessel and Molly almost broke all the bones in Arthur's hand squeezing it because she was so shocked. So please, stay in your room, and you two' he glared at the time travellers 'don't do anything, I used to be you, so I know all your secrets.'
The past marauders saluted the former marauder.
Just as promised, the three locked themselves in their rooms. James and Padfoot entertained themselves by planning new pranks while Holly sent a letter to Neville with his forgotten notebook.
'Send this to Neville.' With a hoot, Hedwig took off, and Holly was amused by how well she blended in with the snow covered streets.
Meanwhile, downstairs in a room with many top-level Order members in attendance, Snape decided to do what he does best.
'I'm sure that everyone here knows about our time travelling residents,' nods all around the room with a few glares directed at Sirius, whose attention was interestingly captivated by some insignificant mark on the table, 'well, the Dark Lord knows about it too.'
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The smiles on some faces couldn't drop faster, especially that damned twinkle.
Snape smirked in satisfaction.
TBC
Thank you for reading!
If you just joined, thank you for checking out my story and if you've been here since the beginning or from one of the previous chapters, thank you for the terribly long wait. I am trying to give faster updates, but writer's block can be terrible and I don't want to give you guys chapters with rubbish quality.
See you guys in 2017! :D
