Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter as much as I wish I did. Please don't sue. You'll get about $20 for your trouble!
AN: Here I am again with more changes (I do it so you'll go back and read my story over again...LOL). No really I am just trying to fix my earlier mistake of having such short chapters (Not that 2-3 thousand words per chapter is much better but I'm not used to writing such long works). Anyway please read my revisions, or at least keep reading the story. Thanks again to all my reviewers! I've honestly gotten more of a response than I thought I would. I would love to see 4-5 reviews for this chapter and I thank you in advance. Enjoy the chapter!
Harry woke up feeling something next to him in bed. He looked over and saw Ron softly snoring on one side and then turned to the other side to find Hermione, her face bathed in sunlight. Harry sat up groggy and sore. He looked up at the enchanted calendar and gasped. It was August 3. The last thing Harry remembered was talking to Sirius at his birthday party, which meant that he had been asleep for three days.
Hermione felt the bed move and opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw that Harry was finally awake. "It's about time you woke up Harry. Ron and I can't wait to show you what we've found in this room so far," Hermione said with a smile on her face.
"Where are we?" Harry asked, knowing that they had been in the Gryffindor common room for his party but this place looked totally different. He was also disoriented by waking up with he and his best friends sharing the same bed. "Did you sleep here to watch over me?" Harry asked quietly.
"Yes Harry. We were going to take turns staying awake to watch you. The last nightmare you had was so strong that it took both Ron and I to calm you down and then you kept a hold of us when we tried to go back to our own beds. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you Harry," Hermione said, leaning closer and closer to him.
"Oh come on and just snog already," Ron said, having woken up.
"We'll have to work on your timing Ron," Hermione said with a smile, kissing Harry's cheek and hugging Ron. "Come on now you two and get dressed, it's already noon. Maybe we'll finally get our OWL scores today and we have a lot to explore," Hermione said, picking up her clothes and turning to leave.
As soon as she had left the room Harry turned to Ron, "I'm sorry mate," he said as he dressed.
"For what?" Ron asked.
"Falling for Mione when I know that you've fancied her for the last three years," Harry answered.
"No I'm happy for you two really. I was jealous at first but then I saw how she was the only one who could get through to you after what happened in the common room. She and I talked and she admitted she's had a crush on you ever since she met us on the train when we were 11. And there is someone I sort of like anyway," Ron said, blushing red almost immediately.
"Who is she?" Harry asked.
"Promise not to laugh?" Ron asked.
"Marauder's honor," Harry said.
"Luna Lovegood," Ron said.
"Well I'll help you figure out a way to get her Ron," Harry said.
They finished dressing and exited the bedroom where somehow Harry's bed had been transported during his three day nap. He noticed his name on the door in silver letters and two other doors nearby which were Ron and Hermione's rooms. Then Harry noticed at least six other doors around the main room.
"What are all the doors for? What is this place anyway?" Harry asked.
"Dumbledore said it's a spare room of requirement that he made into a private chamber for the three of us, but especially for you Harry. You're safest at Hogwarts. The wards Sirius put up at Grimmauld Place aren't very secure yet and The Burrow is a bit crowded to really be peaceful," Hermione said in one breath.
"Remember to breathe," Harry whispered in her ear, his lips turning up into a slight smile.
"He also said he would find us a portrait guard in case something happens. I wonder which of these portraits is the main door?" Ron said.
"I believe you're looking for us," A male voice said from behind them near the fireplace.
Harry thought he had heard the voice before but he wasn't sure. Hermione gasped as she looked at the people in the painting. The man was tall with dark wild hair and bright hazel eyes and he was holding the hand of a beautiful woman with hair bright enough to be mistaken for a Weasley and familiar deep emerald eyes. "Oh Harry . . . Dumbledore's given us the perfect guard. Harry, it's your parents," Hermione said, turning him around and gesturing toward the portrait.
"Mum . . . Dad?" Harry asked in shock.
"It's us son. Dumbledore found our old Head Boy and Head Girl portrait and moved us here to watch over you three," James said calmly.
"I have my whole family around me," Harry whispered, more to himself than to the others in the room.
"That's right sweetie we're here now and you have Sirius and Remus, not to mention your friends here. Or should I say guards. Thank you for keeping my baby safe," Lily said, tears in her eyes.
"We don't mind Mrs. Potter," Hermione said.
"Please dear, call us by our first names," Lily said.
"I dare say you'll be family soon enough anyway," James added and then ducked as Lily smacked him upside the back of his head.
"How is your painting so real? It's . . . you're so . . . alive," Harry said, at a loss for words.
"It's the way the portrait was made. We chose to leave behind much of ourselves in it when we were taken away from you so soon. It's much like the portraits of the old headmaster's in Professor Dumbledore's office," Lily explained.
"We'll have plenty of time to chat though son. I believe you three were set to explore your new hangout. Come on let's see what the next generation of Marauders can do. We've already heard plenty of stories from Remus and Sirius last night," James said smiling broadly.
Harry's own smile soon matched his father's. "What are we waiting for? Lets have an adventure!" Harry said.
"We won't even need the map or the cloak this time," Ron said.
"And no one is trying to kill us either," Harry said.
"Hush Harry. There's no need to dwell on that," Hermione said smiling. She was all for a little adventure if it meant that Harry would smile more often. "I'm sure it's perfectly safe after all Professor Dumbledore created this room for us and he doesn't want to see us killed, or worse expelled," Hermione said.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather study or wait for our OWL's?" Harry asked Hermione teasingly.
"Of course not. I'm just as curious as you two are," Hermione said, shooting a fake scowl at her boys. "Besides I already finished the summer work we have and you two are nearly done," she added.
Harry reached for the doorknob on the first door they spotted and pushed the door open. He was surprised to see the stone steps leading from the dormitories to the Gryffindor common room. "Well we've found a shortcut to the common room. I wonder how we'll explain just showing up," Harry said.
The three retreated to their private space, which they had already christened H.R.H or The Marauders Lair. Hermione smiled when she noticed the parchment sitting on their table. "How much do you want to bet this explains things?" she said, opening the note.
Dumbledore's voice broke the silence. 'Congratulations on discovering one of this rooms many mysteries. I've given you three a discreet way to rejoin your house mates when you wish. As for explaining your absence in the dormitories, I have come up with an explanation. Congratulations to Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger on retaining their prefect status for sixth year and congratulations to Mr. Potter for becoming the third Gryffindor sixth year prefect. With the new dangers I have increased the number of prefects and enhanced their responsibilities, but this you will find out in the first meeting. Your badges will be in your start of term letters arriving shortly. What this means for you is that with this privilege and responsibility comes your own room which most people will assume is at the bottom of the tower stairs. Now as you'll notice there are many other doors to explore. Take me with you, I'll explain as you explore,' Dumbledore said.
"Well with an offer like that," Harry said, linking his arm through Hermione's.
Ron opened the next door eagerly and stepped inside. 'Well I see you've found the library, no doubt Miss Granger's favorite door. Don't groan boys. As you'll notice no one in the library is any wiser to your presence, which means no need of your invisibility cloak or the map to make your annual visit to the restricted section. There will be several books of interest there, including Moste Potente Potions, which I believe you three are familiar with from your second year. I trust you will not mess up Myrtle's bathroom too much if you try to make something you find in there again,' Dumbledore said with an unmistakable chuckle. The trio could almost hear his eyes twinkling as the note spoke. 'Oh and Harry, the book you seek is on the third shelf from the left about four feet up from the floor. Use it as well as your father and godfathers did,' Dumbledore added.
They returned to their chamber in uncontrollable laughter. "He knows us too bloody well. How did he find out about the Polyjuice potion in second year?" Ron said.
"You made Polyjuice potion in second year? Did it work?" James asked from the portrait.
"We had to do it to try to find out who had opened the chamber of secrets. We thought it was Malfoy so we went to the Slytherin common room as Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione was supposed to be Millicent Bulstrode but she ended up not being able to come out of the bathroom stall," Harry said.
"Why not?" Lily asked.
"Let's just say we found out why the book said that Polyjuice doesn't work for animal transformations. The hair wasn't from Bulstrode but from her cat," Harry said.
"Blimey it took Sirius, Remus, and I until fifth year to find that book and we could never get the potion right. We did learn to make Remus's wolfsbane potion from it though," James said.
"Wolfsbane is in a book of mostly illegal potions?" Harry asked.
"It's controlled by the Ministry. They don't want to do anything to help the werewolves blend into society," Lily answered.
"That's terrible. We should probably brew up a batch for Pro . . . Remus in case Snape decides not to do it for some reason. We can send it to him wherever he's going to be . . . Headquarters I would assume," Hermione said.
"I think that Remus will be a little closer than you think after what's happened," James said.
"You don't think . . . Dumbledore could have asked him to stay here as the DADA professor," Harry said.
"Look at what you've done James, you've ruined the surprise," Lily said.
"Don't worry we would have figured it out anyway as soon as book lists come. He told us what he would assign for reading if he were still our professor so if that book is on the list we would have known anyway," Hermione answered.
"They're too smart for their own good," James said.
"By the way Harry, what exactly is that book that Dumbledore pointed out to you?" Hermione asked, sinking down onto the couch as it was starting to get late and she was tired.
"Wow we spent a long time exploring. Its dinner time already," Ron said, wondering if they should go down to the great hall to eat.
"It's the book that my dad and Sirius used to become Animagi. I saw it in a dream the night I was attacked and memorized the title. Dumbledore must have used Leglimancy on me and saw that I was thinking about it. Would you two like to learn with me? Yes Mione, we'll register ourselves eventually but I want to learn as they did," Harry said, also sitting on the couch.
"Of course mate," Ron said, still thinking about his dinner.
"As long as we register eventually, it will be an interesting way to spend the last month of our summer. Professor Dumbledore must be okay with it since he told us where the book is and gave us a way to get it," Hermione said.
"He also told us how to get a book of potions we shouldn't make. Then he told us only to try not to mess up the off-limits girls bathroom when we tried something from the book," Harry pointed out with a chuckle.
"Are you three getting hungry?" Lily asked them. She was amused watching the teens interact. It was almost as if they could read each other's thoughts.
"Yes," Ron said eagerly.
"Ron, you're always hungry," Hermione said.
"He has the right idea though. I guess we have to leave our sanctuary and trudge down to the hall or maybe the kitchens to get some food," Harry said.
"Nope. Dumbledore thought of everything. He connected your table here with the kitchens and left a few menus. It looks like you three can order anything you want from downstairs and stay right in here if you wanted to," James said, gesturing to the previously clear table. It now had three gold plates with matching cutlery and goblets sitting on it.
"Those poor house-elves they have even more work now," Hermione said.
"I'll bet Dobby is our personal elf and he is getting paid Mione," Harry said.
"Haven't you given up on spew yet?" Ron asked.
"It's not spew Ron its S.P.E.W and no I'm just thinking up new ideas," Hermione said.
"So let's eat then I'm almost as hungry as Ron," Harry said, trying to stop an argument he'd heard a thousand times already.
They turned to look at the menus and then pointed their wands at their plates. "Fish and chips and a Butterbeer please," Hermione said.
"Shepherd's Pie and a Butterbeer," Harry said.
"Steak and kidney pie and a firewhiskey," Ron said. He frowned when his goblet was filled with Butterbeer but shrugged and took a drink. "It was worth a try," he said.
After supper the boys finished the four scroll essay for Snape while Hermione read Hogwarts, A History for the hundredth time. Stifling a yawn Harry glanced over where she was reading and smiled. Hermione looked up out of instinct and smiled back, happy to have caught him looking at her. She stood up and walked over to him. Sitting next to him, she kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear. "We should get to bed, especially you Harry you look exhausted. Are you sure you don't need at least one of us to stay with you tonight?" she asked.
"I'm sure Mione. I don't want to keep you and Ron up anymore than I've already done. I'm sure you'll hear me if I have another dream," Harry said, leaning closer to Hermione, his cheek touching hers. For a breathless moment the two of them sat mesmerized by the sensation. Ron noticed this and silently left the room to go to bed.
"Goodnight Harry," Hermione said.
"Night Mione," Harry said, resisting his impulse to kiss her lips and settled for her cheek, his lips lingering against her skin. Then they separated and walked to their rooms for the night.