Hello, all! I thought I'd give you another chapter today for a present. It's my birthday, so present is a good word to use! Thanks for everybody who reviewed!
"Goodbye, dear," Mrs. Longbottom kissed Neville's cheek. "And goodbye, boys!" She called to Sirius, James, and Remus, who were already onboard. "Don't kill yourselves!"
"Isn't your grandmother morbid?" Remus laughed as he helped Neville put his bag up at the top of the compartment.
"Yeah, I think it's in her nature to do that," Neville laughed as the two of them sat down next to Sirius and James, who were having yet another argument.
"What is it about this time, boys?" Ginny smiled as she walked into the compartment.
"Padfoot thinks that the Chudley Cannons are better than Puddlemere United!" James whined.
"Prongs thinks that the Cannons are pathetic!" Sirius pouted.
"Boys, boys," Ginny said soothingly, almost mothering. "They are both very stupid teams that can't score one goal for the hell of it, so it's really no use fighting!"
Remus and Neville started laughing at the looks on Sirius and James's faces.
"So, how's your family doing, Gin?" Neville asked as Ginny sat down next to him.
"Ok," she said, her mood drooping a little. "Fred and George don't have many customers anymore, though. And we still haven't heard anything from Ron."
Neville sighed, while the Marauders just looked confused. Ginny leaned forward. "Ron's the one with Harry." The three boys' eyes widened. They hadn't remembered this.
The rest of the train ride consisted of talking about the presents they received, or in Sirius's case, talking about all the food they ate. The five adolescents had a fun ride, but it ended all too quickly.
"Potter! Black! Lupin!" Sirius was headed off the train; bag in hand, with James and Remus right behind him when the voice called out. "Come here! Behind the carriages!"
Sirius exchanged a look with James, who shrugged, as if to say "Whatever." The three of them headed over to whoever was the mysterious voice.
It was Professor McGonagall. She looked like she hadn't slept in weeks. Her usual high-in-a-bun hair was messy and tangled, and it sloppily hung around her shoulders. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her eyes were drooping down in exhaustion.
"What happened, Professor?" Remus asked her concernedly, dropping his bag to help her.
"I've been working on this all break," she said hurriedly, searching in her large bag. "It needs to simmer for six months, but other than that it's complete." She handed them a large vial of swirling dark red potion.
"What?" Sirius and James were confused, but Remus gasped.
"I-it's a potion," he managed to get out.
"Well, duh, Remus," Sirius said, annoyed. "Even I could tell that."
"No, you don't understand," he said, choking on his words. "It'll take us back to our time period."
"WHAT?"
"It will get you back home, you idiots," McGonagall hissed. "So hurry along before anyone sees. Oh, and Mr. Lupin?" She called. "I realize that Professor Snape has been making you live through your transformations, and keeping Sirius and James locked up on those nights. Here." She handed Remus another vial, this one full of a murky green concoction. Drink a sip of this in all nights one week before the full moon and head to the Shrieking Shack. Then you'll just turn into a wolf, and still keep your mind."
"Really?" Remus asked, mesmerized.
"Yes, but don't drink too much of it," she warned. "I could hardly convince Slughorn to make that much. Now go!" She shooed them off.
The next day, Neville was with the other three boys in Defense class. Carrow was giving them a lecture.
"So," he said; a nasty grin showing on his face. "If you want to work in the service of The Dark Lord, there are many things that he may command you to do. I suggest that you do them with all skills possible, otherwise he may be upset with you." He showed his yellow, rotting teeth in another one of his disgustingly sinister smiles. "And you know what happens then."
"Yeah, we kill him and run," Sirius muttered to James, who sniggered.
"Think something's funny, do you boy?" Amycus looked down at James menacingly, his wand out.
"Yeah, I do, actually," James looked up at him, not flinching. "I was just thinking about how much you remind me of a big, fat orangutan."
Most of the class burst out laughing, except for a couple of sullen-faced Slytherins with their wands out.
"You asked for it boy," Carrow said with a devilish smirk on his face. He dragged James up to the front of the classroom and shoved him up against the wall. "Mobolicorpus." His spell sounded more like a sneer. Ropes entwined up around James's body until he could no longer move anything but his head.
"And now," Carrow said, walking in front of the classroom again. "We need a volunteer." He made a big show of walking through the desks, looking at each of the students in turn. "Someone who will do the Dark Lord's bidding, to torture this foolish young man."
He stopped in front of Neville's desk. "How about you, Longbottom?" Carrow said with his trademark sneer.
Neville looked completely taken aback. Carrow usually picked Slytherins to do the torturing in class. Sirius and Remus shot him scared looks.
"No," Neville said coolly to Amycus. "I will not do the Dark Lord's bidding and torture James. I refuse."
James, still immobile in the front of the classroom, visibly relaxed.
"Well, then," Amycus said, eyes narrowing. "I think you have to learn to keep your tongue."
And Carrow took a sharp blade out of his robe pocket and slashed Neville across the face.
Dun-duh-duh! I expect to have the next chapter up by Thursday, maybe Friday, because my last day of school is Wednesday. I'm sorry that my chapters are so short, but I'm really trying to make this one longer.
You know what I want for my birthday? Reviews! It only takes five seconds, and it means a lot! Thanks again to all you readers!