Ch. 2 Legendary Detentioniers
It was around Midnight when the common room finally cleared out of students. James and Sirius snuck down the stairs and sat by the fire.
"Ok, let's go over this one more time," said Sirius. "The cloak was your dad's, and he just gave it to you?"
"Yea, I think he said it was his dad's before him But I think he was joking, I mean, look at it. It hasn't started to fade or anything. It's perfect. I don't think it was his dad's. I think he bought it for me as a going away gift…I mean…"
"I get it mate. Ok, so are you ready? You're sure you wanna do this?"
"Well, my dad told me amazing stories about this place. But we have to be careful. There are Peeves, and the other ghosts. Not to mention the caretaker roaming around the halls along with other teachers."
"As long as we're covered and careful, we have nothing to worry about!"
"Ok let's go," said James and he picked up the cloak and threw it over himself and Sirius. Silently they crept out of the portrait of the fat lady who was snoozing in her frame.
"Wouldn't it be funny if someone painted a moustache on her face?"
"Sirius, you can't, not tonight. I want to find to some of the hidden passages in the castle first." whispered James. They turned left and continued down another corridor, that's where they met their first obstacle. Around the corner they could hear two people whispering rapidly.
"You let a student like that in Dumbledore? Don't you think it may be dangerous?"
"Minerva, do you think I would endanger the fellow students of the school? We just have to take the necessary precautions."
"Like?" asked McGonagall.
"First of we need to hide the boy…you know the tree I just planted in the grounds? The Whomping Willow? I planted it because at the end of the passage there is an old shack. We can hide the boy in there. There is a way to get into the tunnel that leads to the shack, all you have to do is-."
"Professors, I'm sorry to disturb you." said a drawling voice.
"Lusius, what are you doing out of bed wandering the corridors at this time at night?"
"I was studying sir, in the library."
"Mr. Malfoy, school hasn't even started yet."
"Yes, but if I am to keep up with my-ah-prefect duties, I need good marks. I was studying my transfiguration. Since Professor Dumbledore stopped teaching it and you started Professor McGonagall, I thought I should study as hard as I can."
"Well, last year wasn't that difficult was it?"
"No, professor, not at all, but still, if I'm to get the marks I'd like-."
"What is it, Lusius that you wanted to tell us?"
"Right," said Lusius, "well, I thought I heard voices over by the Gryffindor common room about 10 minutes ago." said Lusius Malfoy. Under the cloak James looked at Sirius, Sirius had been listening to the two professor's discussion with interest but now seemed annoyed. He didn't seem worried at all though, not nearly as worried as James felt.
"Well, why on earth were you over by my house's common room? Slytherins common room and the library are no where near there."
"I'm sorry professor, I took a wrong turn-."
"Mr. Malfoy, I'd suggest you get to bed, or else you may very well loose that badge isn't that right Albus?"
"Minerva, I'm sure the boy won't let it happen again, but if there are any more night time wanderings, he may come close. Do you understand Lusius?" asked Dumbledore, in that calm voice that didn't underline the strictness.
"Yes sir, I won't let it happen again. Good night professors." And with that Lusius Malfoy walked away.
"I suggest we continue this conversation in my office, Minerva."
"Albus, are you quite sure-?"
"Come Minerva." Said Dumbledore, and they walked away.
"That was close." whispered James.
"Well, we're not in any danger, it's not like they'll expel us for wandering the castle. That Malfoy dude is a prefect and he just got a warning. We'll probably get sent off to bed and asked not tot do it again and be good little boys."
"Ok, so, where should we go now?"
"We could follow them and find out where Dumbledore's office is."
"Sirius," said James, "That's really dangerous."
"James, do you honestly think I'd get you into trouble. Ok don't answer that. But come on, how many students know where the headmasters office-." Sirius broke off and stopped dead. James tripped over his leg and fell out of the cloak. He accidentally turned over a suit of armour on his way down and it crashed to the floor, making a huge bang. Sirius threw off the cloak as running foot steps came rushing down the corridor.
"No, put it on-."
"James, if you're getting in trouble so am I. We are in this together."
"Don't be an idiot-."
"Well, well, well. Look at this, first years, wandering the corridor." James looked up to see the pointed face, blonde boy. He had a drawling voice. Sirius and James looked at each other. Lusius Malfoy was standing over them.
"What are you doing here?" asked Sirius. But too late, Dumbledore and McGonagall came into the corridor followed closely by a man and his cat.
"Names?" said McGonagall, her lips getting thin.
"James Potter." said James in a quiet voice, looking at the floor.
"And you?"
"Sirius Black." said Sirius, looking confident. He didn't even seem worried that they'd just been caught.
"Well boys, wandering the corridors at night is strictly forbidden."
"Well, professor, I don't remember the headmaster mentioning that at the feast." said Sirius. James thought he was being very stupid to say a thing like that when they are in a situation like this.
"That is true, I didn't not mention in at the feast." said Dumbledore. Could they get off because of Dumbledore's mistake? Thought James, "but that does not give you the right to wander the corridors. Strictly speaking, it should be a given not to wander around."
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to take points off for this. Since Mr. Malfoy here didn't do as he was told and go back to his common room, I will take 10 points off Slytherin. 10 points each off Gryffindor."
"But professor!" said James.
"Also," Said McGonagall, speaking over James, "Detention for the both of you. See me in my office after dinner tomorrow. Now, I'd suggest you get to your common room and into bed before I change my mind."
"Yes, professor." said James. Sirius said nothing as he turned and walked with James down to their common room.
"Filch, please put this back together, Albus and I have something to discuss."
"Yes Professor McGonagall."
"James, she'll probably just give us lines to write or something." said Sirius once they were out of ear shot.
"Sirius, I got detention on the first day. My dad will kill me."
"Hey, it's not that bad. Trust me, we'll get lines and that's that." But James wasn't so sure.
The next day it seemed the news had been spread through the school that two Gryffindor first years were wandering the halls the night before. Some were congratulating them, while others looked disapproved. As the boys sat down with Peter and Remus at the table, Peter leaned forwards.
"Is it true? We're you guys really out wandering around the castle last night?"
"Yea," said Sirius, with that mischievous grin of his. James wasn't so excited.
"We got detention for it. Tonight, it's after dinner."
"Ah, cheer up James!" said Sirius, and Peter was looking admiring at them.
"We over heard McGonagall and Dumbledore talking too," Said Sirius.
"Sirius, I don't think we should…"
"We heard them saying," continued Sirius as if James hadn't said anything, "That there is a dangerous student that they have to hide in some tunnel under that big thrashing tree."
"Really?!" said Peter, he sounded both shocked and excited. But Remus just looked terrified.
"Come now Remus, he can't be that terrible if he's come to Hogwarts."
"Yea…" said Remus, but he didn't look all together calm. "Here comes McGonagall with our time tables. I hope we don't have really hard classes on the first day."
"I was thinking of skiving off the first day actually." said Sirius grinning that mischievous grin, once again.
"You can't do that!" said Remus look appalled, "how do you expect to pass all your classes this year. It's the first years and-."
"Blah, blah, blah, what are you, some kind of book worm?"
"Well, I just care about my marks and I want to pass and-."
"Mr. Lupin, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office before classes start." Said McGonagall,
"Now Potter, Black, I would like to remind you about your detentions, 7 O'clock sharp, my office. And here are your timetables." And she passed Remus, James, Sirius and Peter their time tables. "As you see, you have my class first. I don't accept tardiness, so be there or you'll have double detention." And with that she walked away.
"We got McGonagall first! Man that blows my plan of skiving. I mean detention tonight fine, but not a double detention."
"I better go see Dumbledore. Class starts in 15 minutes, and I doubt McGonagall will refuse my tardiness because of this meeting with Dumbledore." And with that Remus walked out of the hall.
"What could Dumbledore want with Remus, you reckon?" asked James, sounding a little worried.
"I don't know, but James, what you say about touring the castle tonight?" asked Sirius. James looked appalled.
"After what happened last night! Sirius, don't you think we should lay low a bit, let the suspicions fall before we go make more trouble." said James, then in a lower voice, "Besides, if they find out about my cloak, I could get chucked out of here! I'm not sure it's even aloud,"
"Fine but what about finding out about those secret passages?"
"Well, it is tempting…"
"You know you want to."
"Ok, but this time, we have to find away to make sure we don't get caught."
"We'll work on the details later." said Sirius, then suddenly. "Snivellus!"
"He's with Lily!" said James, I wonder what she thought about this little night time wandering… thought James.
"Oi! SNIVELLUS!" yelled Sirius. Severus whipped around and reached for his wand. Unfortunately, this action didn't go amiss.
"Mr. Snape!" said McGonagall. "Duelling in the Great Hall and the Corridors are forbidden!"
"Seems there are a lot of things that are forbidden around here." said Sirius in an undertone.
"Off to class, I shall see all of you there!" and with that McGonagall walked out of the Great Hall and up the marble stair case to the transfiguration classroom.
"Snivellus is in our first class as well! Man can this get any worse?"
"Now, transfiguration is no joke. It can go horribly wrong at times. We are just going to start with something simple today. See if you can transfigure this Needle into a button, as so" McGonagall finished her lecture by picking up a needle of off Mary MacDonald's desk and waving her wand and before her stood a shiny new button. "Begin."
Transfiguration was not easy. No matter how much James tried, he just couldn't get his needle to even move.
"So Remus, what did Dumbledore want to see you about?" The four friends were sitting at two tables facing each other.
"My father sent me something, the owl he used got lost and sent it to Dumbledore instead so he needed me to go up and get it."
"What could be so important that you'd go all the way up to the headmaster's office to get?"
"Nothing special…" said Remus, he was doing just fine transfiguring his needle before the conversation started, now he made it shoot across the room.
"Mr. Lupin. Concentrate. Let me see you try again." said McGonagall coming over.
Lupin waved his wand, concentrating with his entire mite on changing the needle. Remus waved his wand, said the incarnation and before him stood a button.
"Excellent, Potter, your turn."
James picked up his needle, placed it in front of him, waved his wand and said the incarnation. Nothing happened except the needle bent and broke in half.
"Yes, well, for homework, practice. Except Mr. Lupin and Miss. Evans, who are the only two who have been able to change their needles.
"Lily, can you show me that wand wave again?" asked Severus.
Lily giggled. "Yea, it goes like this…" Lily waved her wand and Severus tried to copy her. She giggled even more when his needle started jumping. James watched in envy.
"James, mate, I told you to forget about her." But James couldn't forget. He had never seen a girl like her before.
"One of the most important abilities in the wizarding world is the ability to make objects fly, or levitation. There is a certain wand movement you must do, a certain wave, like so…" Professor Highten waved his wand and caused a feather to rise into the air. "You may have noticed I did not say the incarnation aloud, you will learn non-verbal spells in your sixth year. Now the incarnation is 'Wingardium Leviosa' now, first I'd like you to try the wand movement, and then if you feel confident enough, use the incarnation and see if you can make this feather fly. Begin."
The students set to work. James and Sirius were sharing a table with Peter and Remus again, and right in front were Lily, Severus, and two other Slytherin boys. The boys were looking at Severus as if he was crazy to be sitting with a Gryffindor, but Severus couldn't care less.
"James, mate, stop starring!" Sirius whispered in James ear.
"What!" James hadn't realized what he was doing. "Look, Sirius, I can't stop thinking about her."
"Mate, your only 11, there are plenty of years ahead of you, if you want her then, well go for it, but for now, just calm it."
"You're right. Come on, we need to try this wand movement thing."
The movement was the easy part. Once Highten said the students were okay with the movement he had them try the incarnation, this didn't work as well as he hoped.
"Avery, let me see you try." said the Professor walking up to one of the Slytherin boys sitting with Lily. Avery didn't look happy.
"Wingardium Leviosa." But the feather just fell off the table.
"Good try, Mr. Avery. Miss. Evans, why don't you give it a try."
"Alright," said Lily, she picked up her wand, swished it around and said, confidently, "Wingardium Leviosa!" and the feather jumped up into the air, at Lily's command.
"Nice one Lily!" said James, without thinking. Lily turned around, looked at James, gave him a glare and shot the feather at him
"Sorry, my hand slipped." Said Lily, as Severus roared with laughter.
"What did I tell you!" said Sirius.
When the bell rang, the students had double potions.
"Please tell me we aren't with the Slytherins again!" said Sirius, he seemed to have grown a strong dislike towards them.
"Sorry mate, hate to break it to you, but yes, we are. But put it this way, lunch is after this then we have double history of magic with Hufflepuff's." said Remus.
"Yes, but double history, this is the worst day ever!"
"Who's our Potions teacher anyways?" asked James.
"Some guy named Slughorn, Sounds like a slob to me. Apparently he's head of the Slytherin house, like McGonagall is Gryffindor."
"Joy he's a Slytherin lover!"
As the boys reached the dungeon, they waited outside to be admitted in. The doors opened and a big man walked out. He had a walrus moustache and a round belly.
"Come in, come in!" said Slughorn. "My name is Professor Slughorn. Today's we will just discuss the basics and make a simple draught."
As the students took their seats Slughorn made his way to the front. He turned to look at the class and noticed a girl in Gryffindor robes sitting with some Slytherin. "I'm sorry miss-?" He said, looking at Lily.
"I am Evans, sir, Lily Evans."
"Miss Evans, but, not to be rude, but for the first few classes, I'd appreciate it if you sat with the other Gryffindors."
Lily looked at Severus, who looked crestfallen.
"Please, professor, can't she just stay?" asked Severus.
"Mr. Snape," said Slughorn, while the other Slytherins and some Gryffindors glared at Severus. It was as if they thought he was going to destroy their houses. "Maybe another day, but if Miss. Evans could please sit with those two boys over there," he said indicating Sirius and James, "Then we could start the lesson."
James was excited, Sirius looked as if he couldn't care less, and he even moved over to make some room.
"I think I'd prefer the seat next to Mary, if that's alright." said Lily, with a trace of coldness in her voice.
"What ever boils your cauldron." Said Slughorn and Lily got up, grabbed her stuff and took a seat next to her friend, with a small smile to Severus.
"Now, first thing first, who can tell me where you can find a bezoar?" Severus's hand shot right into the air.
"Yes, Severus." said Slughorn.
"You can find one in the stomach of a goat. It can cure you from most poisons. All you have to do is shove it down the throat."
"Very good, Snape, 10 points to Slytherin." Avery patted Severus on the shoulder. "Now, can anyone tell me what asphodel and wormwood make when mixed together?" Again Snapes hand shot into the air.
"Severus?"
"They make a sleeping draught, also known as the draught of the living death."
"Very good, take another 10 points to Slytherin. Now as for the draught we will be making, it is simple, just a draught for, as Mr. Snape has told us, sleeping. It is the Draught of the Living Death. I don't expect anyone to get it perfect. It is your first try. Now, let's see what you can do. The ingredients are on the board. Begin."
The rest of the class was spent on making the draught of the living death. Severus seemed to be a natural at potions, even Lily and Remus weren't doing too bad. Peter on the other hand totally messed it up and James and Sirius only made it look half the color it was supposed to be.
"Very nice, Severus, and Miss Evans, Remus, that looks ok." Slughorn was walking around looking at progress. James and Sirius gave up on theirs while Peters was boiling when it only supposed to be brewing.
"Maybe next time, Pettigrew." When he reached James and Sirius he asked, "Now, how come this is only half made? You could have brought out a pretty decent potion if you'd continued."
"Well, we just thought, as it was the first day, you know, we wouldn't stress ourselves on perfection. So we thought, after it was half completed, we'd stop."
"Well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to take five points off Gryffindor for this." The bell rang. "Mr. Snape, Miss Evans and Mr. Lupin, can you stay behind please? The rest of you read chapter 2, "The draught of the Living Dead" and write a foot essay on it please. Due Monday." As the class filed out, James yelled, "Meet you in the Great hall Remus." and walked away."
"What do you think Slug wants with him, anyways?"
"It can't be anything bad, I mean, he was one of the ones who did the draught perfectly."
"Yea, so did Evans and Snivellus, and they are there too."
"Exactly that's why it can't be anything bad."
"Oi, Peter, why don't you go save us seats at the table. We'll be back in a second."
"Ok." Squeaked Peter and walked into the Great Hall while James and Sirius walked up the marble staircase.
"Where are we going Sirius?"
"I thought we could nip down in the cloak and find out what he wants them for."
"Well, I think it's a little too late for that. Look, here they are."
"Oi, REMUS!" yelled Sirius. Remus looked around to see who was calling him. When he reached them Sirius asked, "So, what did old Sluggy want?"
"Oh, he wanted us to join some thing he calls the 'slug club', apparently it's for students who are really good in classes and gifted."
"And he wanted three first years to join?"
"Well, there are a lot of different students in it. I don't think I'm going to go though. Not if it's with Snivellus."
"Yea, I see your point. What about Evans?"
"Yea, she said she was going to join, it'll give her an opportunity to meet new kids, so she says."
"Well, if Lily joins, Snivellus certainly will."
"Exactly! Which is why I'm not!"
"Good plan, come on we have to et to the Great Hall. Peter has got some seats saved for us."
After Lunch, the boys went back to the common room since they had half an hour to spare before their next class.
"You know I've been thinking. Remus, it may be good if you joined that Sluggys club, we could use a spy."
"A spy on what exactly?" asked Remus, a little intrigued and annoyed.
"Snivellus. We should know who he's hanging out with, I'd love to pull a great rememberal prank on him."
"That's a great idea!" said James, excited.
"Well, Remus, what say you?"
"Well, we could try it out…but if it affects my homework and things, then I'm quitting."
"Deal, just see what happens at the first meeting, and report back to us. You're a smart kid, see if you can find a way to get information."
"Right," said Remus. "I need to get my history book, be right back."
"Are you guys sure it's such a good idea to have Remus spy on Severus."
"Peter, are you going to help us or what?"
"With a prank?" Peter seemed to ponder the thought intensely. "Well, as long as I don't get in trouble for doing it."
"You sound like James sometime."
"And what is that supposed to mean."
"Think back, like to this morning, when I suggested we take the cloak out again."
"I just don't want to get detention-."
"And that reminds you of?"
"Fine, Sirius, if you want to go out again, go."
"And you'll come?"
"Yes, I'll come." Sirius looked triumphant.
The afternoon passed in a very slow and boring class. Even though Remus was one of the few who took notes or listened to Professor Binns, a ghost who died in front of the staff fire but got up to teach the next day, leaving his body behind, the class was free to do what they like, yet the class still went by extremely slow.
In a corner of the class sat Sirius and James. They were having a whispered discussion on what the best prank to pull would be.
"I was thinking. I always see Snivellus outside when we have time off. I mean after lunch he was sitting under a tree with a note book. It seems he's always studying. Wouldn't it be best to pull the prank then, when he's least expecting it and when everyone's around?"
"James, that's brilliant!"
"I have my moments!" said James, modestly.
"Any ideas for a plan though, like what we should do?"
"As to that, no."
"There has to be something!" Sirius sat in thought. Peter was sitting there, watching their conversation with an awed look, as if he's never seen anyone like them before.
"Peter, do you have ideas?"
Peter jumped at this, he had not expected to be asked for an opinion.
"No, I'm sorry." Peter looked ashamed that he could not come up with an answer.
"Where's Remus. He's a smart kid, he'd know."
"Sitting at the front, listening and taking notes." said Sirius, with a nod towards Remus. Sure enough, he was writing everything Binns said.
"That boy will never learn, or he will. Whatever boils your cauldron?"
They sat in silence for a few more minutes until the bell rang. The boys jumped up, before remembering it was dinner time then after that they had detention.
"7 O'clock, man, this is going to be torture."
"James, it was simple case of being in the corridors at midnight, I'm telling you all we'll get is lines."
The boys walked into the Great Hall and began to eat. James was watching the door. He saw Lily and Severus walk in. He felt a sinking feeling in hi stomach as she waved bye to him and went to find an empty seat at the table. James slid over.
"Lily, if you need a seat, there's one here." He said, indicating the space beside him.
"I wouldn't sit next to you if you paid me a thousand Gallons!" Said Lily with as much coldness in her voice as she could muster, and she walked to the very end of the table and sat. James looked crestfallen. He tried to avoid looking at Sirius as he grabbed a chicken leg from the plate.
When the boys finished eating they went up to the common room to await their detention.
"It's ten to, we should get going." said James. He and Sirius stood up at the same time.
"Has anyone seen Remus?"
"I haven't seen him since dinner." said Peter.
Sirius looked at James who shrugged and the walked out the portrait hole and towards McGonagall's office.
When they reached it, James knocked and the Professor answered, "Come in."
The boys walked in.
"Yes, Potter, Black. Take a seat." They sat.
"Now, you know why you are here. You were caught wandering the corridors last night, which is forbidden."
The boys nodded. "Now, as this is your first offence and no real harm was done-."
"Are you going to let us go?!" asked James with a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Absolutely not! I believe you should be punished for breaking the rules, but not harshly. You will write lines."
Sirius gave James and I told you so kind of look. "If you'd grab a quill and ink you could get started. The parchment is here. I want you to write, 'I will not wander around at night' a hundred times. You may not leave until you've finished. Begin." After that the boys set to work writing their lines, until the sky began to darken and the moon came out, a howl was heard in the background, as the full moon cleared from the clouds.