So sorry for the long time between updates! But school just started yesterday, so I won't have nearly enough time in my day to do everything. I'll try and update at least once every couple of weeks. But we're getting to the Battle! Are you as excited as I am?
Thanks to my reviewers, especially StarKid McFly. All of your reviews make me feel so great.
Disclaimer: Yes, I own the Harry Potter series. I also live on Neptune where I own a farm filled with space cows.
We need a place to hide, where no Carrows or Carrow supporters will be able to get in. We need a place to hide; we need a place to hide…
Remus' eyes were shut tight as he concentrated on these thoughts. The four boys had grabbed the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map before rushing down two flights of stairs to the Room of Requirement.
"The door's open," Neville announced a moment later. Remus opened his eyes to see James turning the golden door handle and pushed the door open.
As Remus entered the room, his eyes widened in amazement. It was much better than he expected. Hammocks with the Gryffindor logo, along with Gryffindor hangings, were strewn across the room. There were a few cushy chairs here and there as well.
"This is great," James marveled as he sat himself down in one of the hammocks. "We should be able to stay in here for awhile without having to leave for anything at all."
"Definitely," Sirius grinned.
A Day and a Half Later
"I'm starving!" Sirius moaned, clutching his stomach.
"We've heard that comment six times in the past minute, Padfoot," Remus said tiredly, looking at his friend.
"Why can't we conjure food?" Sirius groaned.
"Didn't Remus explain this to you yesterday?" Neville said from his spot in the corner. "Food is one of the Five Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration."
"Then why can't we use those coin thingies to contact Hannah or Susan?" Sirius dropped his head into his hands. He was speaking of the golden Dumbledore's Army coins that the DA used to contact one another.
"It's too risky," James said patiently. He was the only one who wasn't fed up with Sirius' complaints yet. "We don't want to endanger anyone else."
"Then why won't the room supply some?"
"We don't know," Remus said miserably.
"YOU DON'T KNOW!" Sirius screamed at the top of his lungs. "MERLIN, REMUS DOESN'T KNOW SOMETHING! IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD!"
"Shut up, Padfoot," Remus said, exasperated.
"I'm going to make the room give us food," Sirius announced.
"Good luck," James snorted.
And with that, Sirius stood up on the chair he had been sitting in and cleared his throat loudly.
"Ahem! Room!" He called out loudly. "I'd like something to eat. Just something small is fine. I really don't care. Although," He added thoughtfully. "Some kidney pie and Butterbeer would be highly appreciated!"
The four waited a moment. Nothing happened.
"See, Sirius?" Neville sighed. "No food."
No sooner had he finished saying that than a door began to carve itself from the wall to the left of Remus. When the carving was done, the door slid open revealing a dark, musty-smelling passageway.
"Look at that, Moony!" Sirius smiled at the door, jumping up and down in anticipation. "Look at that!"
"You made a door appear," Remus said with a wry smile. "Congratulations. Now let's see if it leads to food."
"It will," Sirius said, walking through the doorway. "I know it will. Lumos."
Sirius's wand tip ignited and the four of them crept along the passage, glancing casually along to make sure there weren't any unforeseen opposing forces.
I few minutes later, the four boys came across a door.
"Well?" Neville said. "Shall we go through?"
"Don't see the harm," James shrugged.
Sirius pushed open the door to reveal a brightly lit room with a wooden table directly opposite them and another door to their right. The room was bare other than that.
Remus took a tentative step out of their little doorframe into the room, the other three close behind him. When they had all hopped out, Remus shut the door. Where their little passage was hidden was a portrait of a girl of eleven or twelve with long, brownish-blonde hair and fair blue eyes.
"Where are we?" Sirius whispered.
"I don't know," James breathed back to him.
"OI!" A voice rang out from behind them. "What're you four doing in my back room?"
The boys whirled around and found themselves looking at a tall man that looked to be around seventy or eighty years old with a wild, long gray beard and electric blue eyes. He looked thunderous.
"Are you Death Eaters?"
"No, sir," Remus began. "We're students at Hogwarts. The teachers were after us for misbehavior and we…er…hid ourselves," he said lamely.
"And then," James picked up where Remus left off. "We couldn't access food where we were and wished for food to arrive and a passageway opened up behind your picture frame." He gestured at the portrait of the girl.
The man looked at them for a moment. Remus held his breath, wondering if he believed them. Finally…
"What would you like to eat?" He said, his crinkly face breaking out into small smile.
"Kidney pie and Butterbeer!" Sirius said, grinning from ear to ear.
"Please," Remus added in, glaring at Sirius for not showing manners. "If you don't mind me asking, who are you?"
"Aberforth," the man grunted, rummaging through a cupboard. "Aberforth…well, I prefer not to use my last name."
"Fair enough," Sirius said. "I prefer not to use mine, either."
"What is it?" Aberforth asked casually as he set out four butterbeers, which each of the boys grabbed hungrily.
"Black," Sirius made a face.
"Ah," Aberforth said, surprise showing on his face. "I suppose you'd be related to Sirius, then?"
"Actually, I am Sirius," Sirius said with a smile.
"What? How's that possible?" Aberforth dropped a wine glass, which shattered immediately. "Sirius died two years ago, and he was in his thirties, not seventeen."
"Time travel is a very interesting subject," Remus said as he took a swig of butterbeer.
"Time travel? Quite unusual," Aberforth frowned. "And the rest of you? Are you from the past as well?"
"We are," James said, indicating Remus and himself. "James Potter, nice to meet you."
"Harry Potter's father?" Aberforth's eyes went wide. "Well, I suppose you do look quite like him," he said, surveying James, particularly his messy hair.
"And I'm Remus Lupin," Remus added in.
"Lupin?" Aberforth glanced up. "Nice fellow. Always stopped by for a drink when he was a teacher up at the school. Made time to talk to me each time as well… And you?" He asked, directing his question at Neville.
"I'm just a boring old person from the present," Neville smiled. "Neville Longbottom."
"Longbottom?" Aberforth's face darkened. "Your parents Alice and Frank?"
"Yeah," Neville frowned, eyes downcast.
"Pity," Aberforth shook his head. He cleared his throat loudly. "Anyways, here's your kidney pie." He handed them each steaming plates of the delicious food.
"Thank you so much, sir," Remus said, taking a bite.
"Yesh, t'ank 'oo," Sirius mumbled, mouth stuffed with food.
"Just stop by if you need more," Aberforth waved them out the passage.
"Thanks, Aberforth," Neville said as they retreated down the passageway.
"Anytime."
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