Chapter Sixteen: Full Moon Fall Out
James Potter had not spoken to Sirius since the return of his lost son. Although Lily had told him that she had not only understood why Sirius had done what he did, but that she had forgiven him. James, of course, wanted to have it out with Sirius and ask him what he was thinking and why he betrayed him.
When James had discussed the subject with Remus, he could tell that he too wanted to hear what Sirius had to say. However, tonight was the first night of the full moon. As usual James had arranged to meet in the hidden old shack that was about a mile away from Potter Manor. When he arrived he found Remus was already there.
'Evening, Moony,' said James.
'Good evening, Prongs,' replied Remus.
'Have you taken your potion yet?' asked James.
'Yes, I took it before you arrived,' said Remus as he indicated the empty potion flask on the table.
'Right, so how long until you change?' asked James.
'About half an hour, I think,' said Remus.
Just as James was about to speak again the door to the shack opened and in walked Sirius.
'What are you doing here?' James asked harshly.
'The same thing I've done ever since we became Animagi, I'm here for Moony,' replied Sirius coolly.
'As are we,' said a voice and then four more people entered the room.
It was Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione.
'What are you four doing here? You should be at Hogwarts,' said James.
'We just told you, we are here for Remus,' said Harry.
'Are you Animagi, too?' asked Remus.
'Yeah, but we each have multiple forms,' replied Harry.
'Really?' asked James.
'Yeah, but our favourites are the ones that are compatible with our Bond-mates. For example; mine and Ginny's are a stag and a doe. Ron and Hermione's are a lion and lioness; also the compatible forms have mated with one another. Ginny and I can also turn into a lion and lioness and Ron and Hermione can turn into a stag and doe in return. We can also turn into phoenixes, all four of us, that is,' Harry explained.
Harry and Ginny then demonstrated by turning into their primary forms of a stag and a doe. Ron and Hermione also transformed into their primary forms of a lion and lioness too, before James transformed into his stag form quickly followed by Sirius transforming into a dog. Remus was soon forced into his change by the full moon.
The room they were all sharing was small and space was difficult to come by but the night passed by fairly quickly as Remus simply curled up on the floor and went to sleep almost immediately.
When they all awoke the next morning, Ron, to the amazement of James, conjured a decent breakfast out of nothing for them all. Once they had finished eating they continued their discussion from last night.
'What other animals can you turn into?' asked James.
'Pretty much anything,' replied Harry, 'but we haven't actually tried many other animals, although, we do like having the ability to turn into a dog.'
James noticed a look of great pride on Sirius' face as Harry spoke. Sirius was looking like a very proud father and when the realisation hit James, he hit Sirius by punching him hard on the jaw.
'OI!' shouted Harry and he made to hit James in retaliation, but Sirius' voice rang out in the shack.
'No, Harry, it's fine, I deserved it,' he said.
'No you fucking did not!' Harry raged, but as he moved to do some serious damage to James, he felt Ginny take his hand to hold him back.
'You watch your mouth, young man,' reprimanded James.
'Go fuck yourself, James; you don't get to tell me what to do! You are not my father and you never have been! Sirius is my dad in every way that matters because he cared for me, he raised me, he treated me like a son, and he actually loved me! You never did any of those things!' said Harry.
Sirius then got to his feet and said, 'You got that one for free, James, but if you hit me again, I'll hit you back, do you understand?'
James gave a stiff nod in Sirius' direction.
'You okay, Dad?' Harry asked Sirius in a gentle voice.
'Yeah, I'm fine, pup,' replied Sirius before giving Harry a smile and a quick hug.
Seeing and hearing this exchange broke James' heart. He slumped to the ground and began to cry quietly.
Sirius and Remus shared a look as by the look on their faces they knew that James was deeply upset. They had seen him like this a few times since they had known him.
The first time was when Lily told him she hated him, second was when he got the news of his parents' ill health, the third time was when they died, fourth was after Harry had run away, and now here he was upset all over again.
'I'm a terrible father …' said James into his hands.
'I'm sure Douglas would disagree,' said Harry, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
'Harry …? Can you ever forgive me – us?' James pleaded.
Harry looked at his father who was on his knees with tears in his eyes.
'I just don't know,' said Harry, honestly.
It was a sticky moment and odd silence until it was broken by Remus.
'Aren't you four going back to Hogwarts?' he asked Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione.
'No, we're going for a drive but we'll be back tonight, okay, Remus?' said Harry.
'If you want to come back tonight, that's fine with me,' replied Remus.
After a day's driving around and having fun the foursome returned to the shack to find James, Sirius and Remus waiting for them.
'Hey, you four, did you have fun?' asked Sirius.
'Yeah, we spent a few hours driving and then treated our lovely ladies to a romantic meal,' Harry replied.
'Are you enjoying Hogwarts?' asked Remus.
'Yeah, it's not too bad, except for that old toad, Dolores Umbridge,' Harry told them.
'Umbridge?' said Remus.
'You're familiar with the old bag, then?' asked Harry.
'He should be as Umbridge drafted a nasty piece of legislation that almost makes it impossible for Remus to find employment,' said James.
'Fucking bitch,' said Ron.
'She's a nasty piece of work, so you should be careful,' said Sirius.
'Don't worry about old toad-face, Harry put her in her place already – twice!' said Ron.
Ron then told the Marauders the story of what happened in the first class with Umbridge and they lapped it up as they laughed, while Harry got to tell them what happened in the Great Hall and the detention. After Harry explained that Umbridge attempted to make him write lines with a Blood Quill, all three Marauders exploded with anger, but Harry quickly told them that he reversed the Blood Quill to make anything he wrote appear on her forehead and in her blood, as well as writing until she passed out, making them laugh again.
'… She now has the words; I am a toad-faced bitch, written across her forehead, she's covering it with a bandage attached to her head using a Sticking Charm,' finished Harry.
The rest of them continued to laugh very loudly before it was time to transform once more. Again, as with the previous night, Moony just curled up and fell asleep.
When morning came and everybody awoke, they had breakfast conjured by Ron. As they ate, Harry asked a question.
'Is Douglas an Animagus?'
'No, your mother wouldn't allow me to train him,' James replied, 'how are you two getting on, by the way?'
'I think we've reached an understanding where he doesn't undress our girls with his eyes or try anything with them, and in return we don't hurt or kill him,' Harry said in a matter of fact tone.
'He didn't even throw a tantrum when I beat him out of the Quidditch team,' Harry added.
'You won the Seeker position?' asked James.
Harry rolled his eyes and said, 'Yeah, but Doug did well.'
'I won the Keeper position,' said Ron.
'Nice one, mate,' said Sirius.
'Cheers,' said Ron as he gave Hermione a squeeze.
'Aren't you going back to Hogwarts?' asked Remus.
'No, we told Dumbledore that we would not be in every lesson and as it's Monday today we only have Potions in the morning,' replied Harry.
'How come?' asked James.
'We don't take crap like Divination or History of Magic, and we don't have Defence with the toad anymore,' said Harry.
'Maybe we should use that free period to teach Douglas, Neville and Hannah Defence so they can pass their O.W.L. Exam?' Hermione suggested.
'Why don't we go the whole hog and teach anyone who wants to learn?' said Ron.
'Those aren't bad suggestions, guys,' said Harry.
'Although, maybe I can use that free period to get Doug started on Occlumency?' Ron amended.
'That's a good idea, but what about Defence?' said Ginny.
'We'll teach anyone who wants to learn and make it some kind of club, yeah?' said Harry.
'Not forgetting that we might have to schedule this club around other classes, and Quidditch practice for at least three of the houses,' said Ron.
'You're right, of course,' said Harry. 'Why don't the four of us go for a drive and have lunch somewhere to discuss it properly?'
'A nice romantic drive …' said Ginny.
'Followed by food …' said Ron.
The four of them then left the shack to go about their day leaving James, Sirius and Remus alone.
'He's really happy, you did a good job with him, Padfoot,' said James.
'Padfoot?' asked Sirius.
'Yeah, you're Padfoot again and I'm sorry I hit you,' said James.
'It's all water under the bridge, Prongs,' said Sirius.
'Thanks, I just wish I had done a better job with him … Lily thinks you did the right thing, by the way, she said that if it had been her godchild that was as sad and miserable because of the reasons Harry was, she would have done the exact same thing,' James told him.
'Does that mean that I'm invited for Christmas dinner?' asked Sirius.
'Christmas dinner?' exclaimed James, 'Fuck, that's ages away, but yeah, you are, mate.'
'This is all very nice, but I'm sure Molly Weasley will still be after your blood, Padfoot,' said Remus.
'Ron and Ginny came along of their own free will, maybe if she had treated Ron better she wouldn't be in this mess,' said Sirius, shrugging.
'You did a good job with them too, mate,' said James.
'I didn't do it by myself; I had help from the Flamels and later on, Tonks,' said Sirius, modestly, 'oh, and Hermione's parents helped too,' he added.
'They look up to you, though,' said Remus.
'C'mon, let's all go back to Grimmauld Place for a couple of hours before we have to come back again tonight?' James suggested.
The other two agreed and so they left.