CHAPTER TEN
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
After lunch, the readers went back to the living room and took their seats. As Harry was about to sit down in his spot between Remus and Sirius, Hermione and Ron grabbed him and placed him between them much to Sirius' confusion (as well as the rest of the readers). Remus, who had been told by Hermione what was up just before they ate, gave Sirius a look that told the animagus that all will be explained.
During the lunch, Ron had informed the twins and Ginny what was up quietly and they knew that if given a signal, Fred and Ginny would go over and help keep Harry from running off.
"Chapter 10," George read with a giddy smile. "The Marauder's Map."
"Map?" the adults asked stealing a few glares towards an innocent looking Sirius and Remus.
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"You didn't?" Bill asked.
"I was a bit depressed about the broom." Harry admitted.
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Hermione rolled her eyes at that.
"Almost hate to see how you'd act if, Merlin forbid, you lost Ron and Hermione." Fred said.
"Not going to happen if I can help it." Harry said protectively as he gripped his friends' arms.
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"I probably should work on that spell." Ginny admitted while blushing.
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"You could say that." Sirius joked while smiling over at Harry.
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There was a bit of a moment of silence. Everyone had suspected this but there was the confirmation.
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"She wouldn't want you to dwell on that Harry." Remus said.
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Glares were sent to Snape as he wrote down Malfoy's taunts on his growing list of things to discuss with the blond.
"Did you just HAPPEN to not notice Malfoy doing those imitations?" Sprout asked coldly.
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"As much as I disapprove of skipping class," McGonagall said glaring at Snape. "After that last lesson, I don't blame you, Mr. Weasley."
"Does that mean I can start skiving potions?" Ron asked happily.
"No." McGonagall, Snape, Hermione, and Molly chorused.
Ron snapped in disappointment.
"What about if we have a crappy defense professor?" Harry asked.
"We'll see." Sirius said earning glares from Molly and the teachers.
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"Has a point." McGonagall muttered to Flitwick.
"True. Severus is only allowed to give homework for potions." Flitwick whispered back.
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"Yes." Everyone but Snape and Dumbledore chorused.
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"Someone's upset about that." Tonks laughed.
"It was Ron." Remus informed her.
Ron blushed.
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"Naturally." Harry, Ron, and the twins chorused.
"Did you know at that time Remus was one?" Arthur asked Hermione.
Hermione nodded.
"Yes, but I kept quiet because…"
She trailed off with a blush.
"I did wonder myself." Remus said turning to the girl.
She muttered something under her breath. To everyone it sounded like mumbles but Remus' sharp hearing caught something about Dad and monsters.
"Come again?" Tonks asked.
"Dad likes to watch Monster Movies on Halloween." Hermione admitted. "Frankenstein. Vampire movies. His all time favorites are werewolf movies and some have the werewolf in human form being a gentle man inflicted with lycanthropy. I…wanted to see if there was any truth to that so I decided to observe you Professor. For the longest time, and I do know now, that the muggles had a decent idea even if their general concept of the physical wolf was WAY off. I realized that when I saw how much you wanted to protect Harry by offering him the private lessons."
"And you know what a werewolf in wolf form looks how?" Molly asked.
"I…might have seen the transformation…from a distance and well protected." Hermione said shooting Remus an apologetic look.
He waved it aside knowing that it would be revealed that they were all out during the full moon.
"Did you tell your father that you knew a werewolf personally?" George asked.
"No." Hermione said with a smirk. "I wanted to introduce Dad to Professor Lupin first. When I first became a witch and I found out that werewolves were real, Dad was all excited and has even claimed he can spot one a mile away."
"you want to test your father first." Remus laughed
"Is that okay?" she asked hoping he wasn't feeling used.
"Sirius and James did the same thing" Remus admitted before playfully punching Sirius in the arm. "It took everything not to let this git here blab about my condition."
"Me being actual friends with a werewolf was one of the ultimate ways to anger my parents." Sirius defended. "it was bad enough I was best mates with one of the biggest blood traitors of my class."
"We've trailed off." Flitwick said gesturing towards George.
"Right." George said.
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"Gudgeon was a bigger idiot than Peter and Lockhart put together." Sirius muttered.
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Everyone shivered as they all thought about the attack just this summer.
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"I wouldn't have minded." Harry told the werewolf.
"I didn't want to give any hints at that moment." Remus explained.
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"Dementors don't affect me as badly in my animagus form." Sirius admitted. "And it took me 12 LONG years."
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"Push-over." Sirius teased Remus.
"Hey. It prevented you from getting the kiss." Remus defended. "Besides...it was THAT look."
"THAT look?" Sirius gasped. "No wonder you gave in."
"What look?" Harry asked.
"It was the look your father got when he was determined and focused." Remus said. "Last I saw it was when it was suggested that you guys go into hiding."
"I remember that." Dumbledore admitted before turning to Harry. "I suggested to James while Lily was putting you to bed, that he and his family go into hiding. That meant no more missions, no more meetings, and no more leaving the house. He could only apparate to get food for his family."
"James loved being in on the action." Sirius said. "At first we didn't think he'd go for it, but he looked up the stairs where you and Lily were and got that look on his face. We knew he was determined to protect you two and he agreed."
Harry smiled softly at the knowledge that his father had been that determined to make sure his family was safe as he remembered just how determined he was not to let the dementors get to him again. Probably even more determined as this was the life of his family James was thinking while Harry was just sick of the teasing that followed.
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"The Firebolt?" Tonks asked.
"Wise choice." Charlie said.
Harry smirked glad he hadn't ordered one at that time.
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Both twins avoided the eyes of their mother and head of house.
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"One of my favorites." Harry said before paling and turning to McGonagall and Dumbledore. "Please don't confiscate it."
"I'm almost afraid to ask." McGonagall admitted.
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"Down boy." Remus whispered to Sirius who was looking excited with recognition.
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"A bit of old parchment?" Bill asked.
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Everyone snorted at that.
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It was clear it was taking all of Remus' and Sirius' strength not to laugh. The only way THAT bit of old parchment was highly dangerous was if it fell into the wrong hands.
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"BOYS!" Molly scolded.
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"That is extraordinary!" Flitwick commented. "The charms in that…and the password protection. I'd like to examine it someday."
"Well, the Marauders WERE exceptional students." McGonagall admitted "if only they didn't waste their talents on pranks."
"I don't know if I should be flattered or offended." Sirius whispered to Remus while ignoring the glare from Molly at the confirmation that Sirius and Remus were her son's heroes rather than someone respectable like Dumbledore.
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"Good to know." Snape muttered as he realized what had happened that day when he had confiscated the map. No wonder it had insulted him. Especially since he had said his name.
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"Didn't have a brain." Remus said. "And the makers…well…only one had a REAL brain."
"I'm sure Mr. Padfoot is flattered." Sirius said.
"I'm talking about Mr. Moony."
"You KNOW the Marauders?" the twins asked.
"In passing." Remus said taking in the glares from Molly and McGonagall.
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"Amazing." Flitwick mused at the skill it must have taken to make that. He turned to McGonagall. "Why couldn't they have done their homework with that much skill?"
"I've been wondering that for over a year now." She said glaring at Sirius knowing that if he and Peter could become animagi, there was more skill of transfiguration than they had demonstrated in class. James on the other hand had been top of the class in that subject.
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"James would have been proud." Sirius said.
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"Ron. You're drooling." Ginny said.
Ron wiped the drool from his mouth.
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"And about gave us a heart attack." Hermione said playfully punching her friend.
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"Snape might like them." Tonks said teasingly.
"For your information, I can't stand blood-pops." Snape said as he and Dumbledore had a small conversation to themselves and Dumbledore had forbidden Snape from confiscating the map.
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"But you've never shown the potential." Fred said.
"The only trouble you get into is when you follow Harry into situations." George said.
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"He'd have to get it off my person AND I'd be able to use it to see him coming." Harry argued. "Not that it mattered in the end."
He turned and gave a bit of a playful glare towards Remus.
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"That's how I got in on Halloween." Sirius admitted. And that other time.
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"I knew you wouldn't." Harry admitted.
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"Memo to self, don't take any sweets from Ron." Fred said.
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"Someone's got a crush." The twins and Ginny chorused.
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McGonagall and Flitwick winced as they remembered this conversation. Knowing Harry, he had heard every word.
Harry, also remembering this, went pale. He made to get up to sneak out, but Ron and Hermione each had a hand on his shoulders and giving him warning looks.
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"Yes." Tonks answered.
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"Especially considering some students are more affected than others." Sprout added.
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Snape nodded, but the other teachers shook their heads.
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"I knew she liked me." Sirius said smugly.
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Sirius, realizing where this was going, slapped his forehead.
"Of all the ways to find out." He muttered before turning to Harry who was looking very pale and avoiding eye-contact with everyone.
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"That's saying something." Remus told the twins who beamed.
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"We were. In all but blood." Sirius admitted.
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After said spy was the one who got the Dark Lord interested in the Potters. Snape thought to himself. He was still kicking himself for that.
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"Nope." Sirius said hoping to lighten the mood.
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"Until I convinced James I would be perfect bait." Sirius said with a sigh.
Remus placed a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulders.
"You didn't know. How could we have suspected Peter? We took him in as a brother and we thought he cared for us the way we did him."
"I should have told Dumbledore what we were doing." Sirius said.
"It's all in the past Sirius." Dumbledore said. "What's important is that we know the truth now and hopefully, with these books, we can find Pettigrew and get your name cleared."
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"Wait…so even then Fudge believe that You-Know-Who was still alive? Why is he saying that he's dead?" Charlie asked.
"Fudge thinks Voldemort died between then and now." Moody explained.
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"Uh…I was there first." Sirius corrected.
"Hagrid just had some alcohol. You know what he's like with that." Remus said
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"I had decided to go after Peter." Sirius confirmed.
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"Oh brother" Sirius said rolling his eyes. "I'd have taken him into hiding. Probably with Andromeda because she knew how to handle children on a daily basis."
"Oh please." Remus said. "You were over at the Potters on a daily basis since we were told Lily was pregnant unless the Order called for you."
"You mean I could have had Harry for a little brother?" Tonks asked. "Idiot! You should have taken him!"
"Yes, I know that now." Sirius said pointing to the first book.
"I simply mean that Harry would have pulled twice as many pranks by now with my influence."
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"Switch the names around and you have the truth." Sirius corrected.
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Eyes rolled around the room.
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"Faker." Sirius coughed.
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"Luckily Hagrid's been informed." Sirius sighed with relief.
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"When one of us becomes Minister, we're taking it away." Tonks huffed.
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"I was." Sirius said. "Not much to do in Azkaban. And I thought Harry was safe where he was even though I wanted to see him again. I knew he'd been at Hogwarts and not have been told by then as there was no need to, so he was happy and that's what mattered. But when I saw Peter in that article…I realized that Harry WASN'T safe and I had to bust out."
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"At least a year." Hermione said remembering Harry mentioning the dream in which Peter had suggested using someone else.
She looked over at Harry who looked as if he was trying to remember something.
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"We couldn't imagine what that must have been like to hear." Ron said turning to Harry. "Harry?"
Harry ignored his friend but they noticed his mouth was moving. Hermione leaned in to hear what he was mouthing. An annoyed look crossed her face.
"He's doing what he did when Marge was insulting the Potters!" she declared. "He's reciting Quidditch through the Ages thus tuning us out!"
She whacked him upside the head.
"OW!" Harry exclaimed. "Is the chapter over?"
"Yes." She said as Sirius moved over so he was kneeling in front of Harry.
"Harry. Look at me." Sirius said. "It doesn't matter what you thought then. What does matter is that you know the truth now."
"But…" Harry started.
"No buts." Sirius argued. "If I had been in your shoes, I would have hated me too. In fact, I did hate myself since the switch was my idea and I never told anyone. It cost me my best friend, his wife, my godson, my other friends, and my freedom."
"We are sorry for what we said in that conversation Sirius." McGonagall said with Flitwick nodding in agreement.
"It's fine. It was the popular story. It's not your faults I never had a veritaserum trial." Sirius said. "So, shall we continue with the story and get to the part where the truth comes out so we can stop all the guilt trips?"
"I'll read." McGonagall offered.
