Harry's hand reflexivley shot to the spot on his forehead that so many people had stared at over the years. He noticed at once that it felt wet, he pulled his hand backand saw that the tips of his fingers were covered in blood. Madame Pomfrey then wiped Harry's forehead with a fresh white towel and stood back and smiled.
"Well, Mr. Potter," Poppy began to speak. "Your scar gave us quite a scare, but it has quit bleeding."
"Thanks a lot, 'Mione, you gave me a right bloody scare." Harry said with a grin. "It quits bleeding and you shout like that?"
"I don't think that is why she shouted, Harry." Professor Dumbledore said with a mischevious grin, as he flicked his wand causing a mirror to land in Harry's lap. "Use this, I think it will help clear things up."
Harry picked up the mirror and slowly raised it in front of his face. Harry couldn't help but to hold his breath when he looked in the mirror. Harry's free hand found its way to his forehead again and his fingers began feeling the skin. For the first time in his life that he can remember the skin on his forehead was smooth.
"It's gone. My scar is gone!" Harry shouted with a large smile on his face.
"Yes, my dear friend, it is." Dumbledore said smileing. "I think your scar has vanished because your mental link with Tom has been destroyed. I think young Mr. Weasley is covered in all that remains of Tom."
"Ewww!" Came from Ron's mouth as his face quickly turned very pale green. Only a second passed before he began swatting at himself trying to remove the essence of Riddle.
"Hold still, Ronald." Hermione ordered as she pointed her wand at him. "Ventus."
A soft breeze blew through the hospital wing the remaining dust was blown off of Ron. The wind carried the dust to an open window, but before it made it out of the window Professor Dumbledore had conjured a clear glass bottle that caught all the dust. As the bottle flew back to his hand a cork appeared in the bottle's neck.
"You don't think that he can come back, do you, sir?" Hermione asked quietly.
"No, Hermione, I don't think he can, but it is better to be safe than sorry." Professor Dumbledore answered with a smile. "Now, if Poppy doesn't wish Harry to stay any longer I believe a feast is in order."
"Sir," Harry began, "Before I go back to Gryffindor Tower I had a question."
"Yes, Harry?" Dumbledore replied.
"Well, I was just wondering if anyone had found my invisibility cloak." Harry asked quietly.
"I believe Mr. Weasley retrieved it for you when he returned from Godric's Hollow. It is in your dorm, Harry." The Headmaster smiled.
"Erm, that was what I was wondering about, Sir." Harry said shyly. "I know when I goback to my dorm..."
"There won't be any peace and quiet?" Professor Dumbledore finished his sentence for him. "I have already made arrangements for that. On the fifth floor, in the same corridor as the Prefects bathroom you will find a largepainting ofseven animals I am sure you will find familiar. Turn night into day and you will be asked for a password, you will know what it is when you get there. There are four rooms, one for each of you. I am trusting you to behave like the adults you are."
The quartet arrived in the fifth floor corridor shortly after leaving the hospital wing. They split up and began looking for the painting that Dumbledore told them about. Harry had walked to the end of the corridor and thought that maybe Professor Dumbledore had played a joke on him. Harry turned around to walk the corridor again when he heard a very familiar howling from around the corner in the corridor.
Harry slowly went around the corridor when he saw a very large painting on the wall. The painting was 6 feet across and went from floor to ceiling. Framed in a elegant solid gold frame was a very familiar sight indeed.
"I found it!." Harry shouted down the corridor. He could hear the footfalls of his companions running down the corridor to his voice.
"Bloody hell! Is that..." Ron began with a look of shock on his face.
"Us?" Hermione finished asking the question.
"Yeah, I think it is." Ginny spoke quietly. "And we have company."
The quartet stared at the seven animals running around in the Mauraders Meadow. There were two small red foxes, a panther, falcon, a large shagy black dog, a very handsome stag, and a very large werewolf. The animals paid no attention to the onlookers while they took turns chasing eachother under the full moon.
"Well they can't ask us for the password if the are animals." Harry spoke breaking the silence.
"Hey, you in there!" Ron shouted. "Transform so we can talk to you."
"Honestly, Ronald." Hermione said with a small smile. "Don't you remember? Professor Dumbledore told us to turn night to day for a reason. None of them can transform while Moony is a werewolf."
"So how do we do that?" Harry asked looking at the full moon in the painting.
"Professor Dumbledore probably meant it very literally, he wouldn't make it that difficult." Hermione replied. Pointing her wand at the moon she said, "Night into day."
"Ok, so it wasn't that simple." Hermione frowned.
"Maybe it is, Hermione." Ginny replied while pointing her wand at the painting. "Nox noctis ut dies diei."
A second after the encantation was said the light from the moon began to slowly fade away. Another second later the bright burning light of the sun reappeared. Moony, who had been watching the moon fade away let a very wolfish smile come to hismuzzle, the smile remained as he returned to his human form. The remaining six Marauders transformed into their human selves.
"Well done, Ginny." Moony said from the painting. "Now, can we have the password?"
"Marauders." Harry replied instantly.
"Spoken like a true Marauder." Sirius replied.
"Spoken like a true Marauder anda true Potter." James spoke next while the remainingfour Marauders smiled. "Now, you had betterget ready for the feast, I will talkwith you later, Harry."
The painting swung open to reveal a short walkway that lead into a large room. The room was decorated in red and gold just like the Gryffindor common room, a large fireplace was set in the corner of the room. A large couch sat in front of the fire while a large mahogony table with four padded chairs sat in the middle of the room. One of the amazing things in the room was the floor, it also looked familiar to Harry. It looked like a blank copy of the Maruaders with one difference, there was a large nautical compass on the middle floor. Harry made a mental note to pay closer attention to the floor a little later. On the wall to the east of the entrance had two doors on it, one labled Mr. Potter, the other Ms. Weasley. The west wall had two doors as well one labled Mr. Weasley and the other Ms. Granger. The north wall was charmed to look like one large window.
"Wicked, looks like we are sitting right in the top box at the Quidditch Pitch!" Ron exclaimed.
"What are you talking about, Ron?" Hermione replied. "We are looking out over the lake."
"No, 'Mione, we are in the Quidditch stands." Harry said smiling.
"Yeah," Ginny spoke this time. "I think the window is charmed to show us our favorite place on the grounds."
"So why isn't it showing Hermione the library?" Harry asked with a large smile on his face. Apparently Harry's reflexes hadn't recovered completely yet as he was unable to duck under Hermione's slap to the back of his head.
"Very funny, Harry." Hermione said laughing, "But to answer your question, the library is in the castle, not on the grounds. We should hurry up and get ready, the feast starts in an hour."
A/N: I know, I know not much happening just a filler chapter. I'm trying to transition as smoothly as I can back into life at Hogwarts and either a continuation of this story or a sequel. Thanks for reading and a special thanks to those who are reviewing for me.
Josh