Chapter 83: Unbelievable
"Oh my god!!" Stefanie exclaimed. James, Sirius and Remus had gathered Lily and Stefanie up to the Room of Requirement for some serious discussion.
"What did Dumbledore say??" Lily asked.
"I think we need to come up with a plan soon. Practically the whole Slytherin are Deatheaters." James said determinedly; his right fist pounded on the armrest of the sofa.
"But what can we do??" Stefanie asked.
"They can't hurt us since we've this to protect us." Lily held out her pendant.
"It's true. But Voldemort did not know that we knew about it."
"If we rush into this without careful planning, the consequences might be unbearable."
"But we can't sit here and do nothing when people out in the world are suffering and we're the only people on earth that could stop him."
"I'm not saying that we're not going to do anything, but we need to be careful."
"Does that mean we need to sneak out into the forest again to eavesdrop??"
"Sirius and I can do it actually." James said to assure Remus. "It's not that we want to do it without you, it's just that-"
"I understand perfectly. We can't just leave Peter alone in the dorm anyway."
"Moony, you're the best."
"So how do you know when would be their next meeting??"
"I reckon that it would be on Friday night."
"Why??"
"Because the last time it had happened on a Friday night."
"Besides we explored the forest so many times, and this was the first time we came across that."
"Ok, so this coming Friday, James and Sirius would sneak into the forest again."
"Does that mean that Dumbledore already knew your secret??"
"Yes. He promised to keep it to himself."
"But if anything-"
"Stef, don't worry. Nothing's gonna happen."
"A Valentine's Day Party??" Eric Macmillian repeated. Lauren Lovegood and Daniel Thomas had just informed them about a sudden upcoming party which the prefects would organize.
"Why the sudden??" James asked.
"Every year we need to organize a school event." Daniel explained. "Initially we were thinking of Halloween Ball, but too many things had happened along the way, so the idea was abandon."
"Then we thought of having a Christmas Ball, but you know, things happened."
"We thought that we're not going to have any big event going on until Dumbledore suggested to us that we should lighten things up a little."
"But V-day is like two weeks from now??"
"We're going to have in the weekend after V-day, which gives us slightly more than two weeks time."
"It would be a simple event, nothing too fanciful or whatsoever."
"Just some music and food. Get everyone's mind out of the reality."
"Even if it's for only one night, it's better than nothing."
"Well, I supposed there shouldn't be much problem at all since the house elves are going to prepare the food."
"We can re-use those songs from the last party."
"Deco-wise can be done during Saturday afternoon, it's a Hogsmeade weekend anyway. So most students would be out."
"Every student would be able to attend, not specially for fourth-year and above or something."
"So it would be something really impromptu, preparing starts the night before."
"So next meeting, two weeks from now, on the Friday."
There seems to be an evil aura somewhere. James shuttered at the thought as Sirius and him walked briskly along the Hogwarts corridors towards the entrance, which led them towards the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid is still up. There was a faint candle glow emitting from Hagrid's hut not too far away from them. They were walked in synchronized silence throughout their journey from the Gryffindor tower all the way until the passed Hagrid's hut towards the edge of the forest.
"Here." James dug a hole in the ground not too far from the hut and buried James' precious Invisibility Cloak. Together they ran into the forest, transforming as they ran.
That way. Sirius the dog sniffed around and headed towards the center of the forest. James followed closely behind, checking the coast and studying the surrounding forest, which they had explored so many times, but yet still so foreign.
There we are. James and Sirius stopped as they had reached the place where they had witnessed the Deatheaters' meeting the last time. It was deafeningly silent and strangely peaceful, for a place so full of evil.
The two animagi sat down behind another bush and waited impatiently for the arrival of their expected figures.
It was not a long wait since they had estimated the timing quite accurately. Watching the familiar scene of Deatheaters gathered from all directions once again, they remained vigilant and careful.
"We meet again." The dark cloaked figured who believed to be Voldemort himself said in a deep raspy voice. "But today we've two guests joining us." There was a murmur along the Deatheaters suddenly.
This is no good. Was he referring to us?? James thought with a frown.
Who are the two guests?? Sirius thought to himself and gave a sideward glance at James.
"Silent!!" He commanded. "Turn to your back and get the two eavesdroppers out here."
RUN!! James signaled to Sirius and immediately ran away from the pursuers as fast as possible. Being fast four-legged animals, they had outrun the Deatheaters without much problem but they were still hot on pursuit with misaimed hexes flying passed them.
I don't like this. I really don't. Sirius thought as he dashed as quickly as possible. In human form, he was a fast runner. In his dog form, he ran even faster.
Finally the two animagi dashed out of the forest, they transformed back into their human form as they reached the main entrance of Hogwarts.
"Dumbledore's office." James shouted.
"I'm already here." A sense of urgency could be heard from the familiar voice.
"Professor, they're out there." Sirius exclaimed.
"Let's go." Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, along with Professor Plains headed towards the forest armed with wand in hand.
"Let's go." Remus' voice could be heard from nearby.
"Remus??"
"No time for explanation." Remus replied quickly as the threesome dashed after Dumbledore and their lecturers. James and Sirius followed instantly, catching up with the rest.
"L-Lils, why are you g-guys out here??" James asked as the five teens slowed their pace, just slightly behind their three beloved professors.
"We wanted to be here to help. Dumbledore gave us the permission actually." Lily explained, keeping a watchful eye at the edge of the forest. Even Hagrid was out, standing next to Dumbledore, looking humongous as always.
"Why aren't there any movements??" Stefanie asked in a low voice. Apparently even Dumbledore was clearly surprised at the lack of movement.
"What happened??" Sirius asked. "They were chasing us all the way."
"They must have known about the plan somehow." Dumbledore explained with a frown. "The evil aura had disappeared, clearing as time passes."
"It's not possible that anyone would know about this." James pointed out. "We didn't even tell Peter and we discussed that in private."
"Let's go in and take a look. There might still be some Deatheaters around." Sirius suggested.
"I don't think so." Professor Plains said knowingly. "It's all clear."
"Still complained that you won't get as much presents as me." James teased Remus as the Marauders were carrying Remus' birthday presents up to the dormitory during their lunch hour.
"I didn't complain, okay??" Remus pointed out. "It was Sirius."
"It wasn't me!!"
"Sirius birthday is just a few months away."
"Are you thinking of what I'm thinking, Prongs??"
"I think I am, Moony." The two guys exchanged a wink purposely in front of Sirius.
"What??"
"Nothing."
"Tell me."
"Oei!! Don't drop my presents." Remus elbowed Sirius' hand.
"Don't worry, I won't."
"So tomorrow we shall gather at the Great Hall after lunch." Daniel, who was the Head Boy for the year, commented. "I believe we all have enough of Hogsmeade to sacrifice an afternoon without it." The group of prefects laughed at his little joke.
"So that's the end of the meeting, see you guys tomorrow." Lauren added. The group of students departed from the classroom and went on separate ways back to their respective towers.
"Are you guys looking forward for the party??" Penelope asked. The six Gryffindor prefects were returning to the Gryffindor tower together.
"It's like nothing special." Lily said frankly.
"It's not like last year where everyone was in the mood."
"That's my sentiments exactly."
"Besides it's so last minute."
"Don't think people would expect much of it anyway."
"Well, just do what we can do to improve the situation will do."
"True. I mean there's like nothing much we can do to start with."
The group walked and chatted animatedly until they reached the Gryffindor tower where the girls and boys went up the separate staircase to their respective dormitories.
An exchange of quick 'good nights' could be heard in the empty common room since it's nearly midnight and most of the students were already back in their rooms.
"Where did you go to make out with Lily??" Sirius asked James as he stepped into their personalized dormitory.
"Ahem, I happen to be with Lily in a classroom where there were distinctively more than twenty students."
"Oh merlin, our dear little Prongsie had grown up." Sirius exclaimed, looking up from the magazine he was reading. "Mass orgy in Hogwarts. That gonna hit the Headlines for tomorrow breakfast."
"Moony, someone ought to be sent to Azkaban earlier."
"I agree with you for that."
"So let's party to our hearts content tonight and forget about all the homework that we had!!" Daniel, the Head Boy as well as the emcee for the evening, announced and music started booming from all directions. The four house tables and benches disappeared; light dimmed and the party ambience sprouted out from nowhere.
"Great song huh!!" Lily raised her voice as she came over to join the rest of the gang along with James after the commencement of the evening. Loud music of Always Come Back To Your Love blasted and filled up the whole hall.
"I chose that, of course." James boasted jokingly.
"Where's Sirius??"
"That's a surprise."
"What surprise??"
"A surprise is a surprise."
"Well said!!"
"Thank you!!"
"Oh, c'mon."
"Nah. Let's dance." The four continued to dance as the songs blasted one after another. Peter was away, for some reason or other and Sirius was missing in action for three whole songs as well.
"Excuse me, ladies and gentleman." James said as he disappeared before Remus could catch up with him and ask any question.
"What's going on??" Lily shouted.
"I have no clue, really." Remus gave a shrug.
"Seems suspicious huh." Stefanie commented, eyeing Lily.
"What??" Lily asked quizzically.
"Nothing, just dance." Remus changed the topic. Lily felt a little bit out of place because she felt like she was a light bulb with Remus and Stefanie.
The song ended, hall was dimmed, and a soothing tune started playing. The student population stopped dancing and turned to look at the stage.
"Ni wei xiao de yan, wo kan dao wu shu qing tian. Wen ni de lian de na yi tian, yong you quan shi jie."
"What language is that??"
"Sounds like mandarin."
"Wei lai shi yi ge yuan quan, zai ni wo wu ming zi zhi jian. Wei wo men nuo yan lai jia mian, wan mei de ju dian."
"Who's singing that??"
"No idea."
"Yao ba ni yong jing wo wai tao de li mian wei ni dang feng xue."
"There isn't any Asians in Hogwarts ever since the exchange students."
"When are they going to turn on the lights??"
"Rang ni kao zai wo de jian, fen xiang mei yi ge ming tian."
The candles started lighting up one by one, brightening the dark hall gradually. Fanatic screams could be heard from some female students around the hall.
"qian ni de shou qu gan jue yan huo zui mi ren de ji jie. Zhao liang xing fu de shun jian hao rang wo men kan de gan yuan. Qian ni de shou qu gan jue yan huo zhui mi ren de ji jie. Dian liang shen ming de yi qie, zan fang wo men de xi yuan, zai ai ni de mei tian." The four guys on the stage sang in perfect synchrony.
"AHHH!!"
"They are back!!"
"Not again!?!"