The Most Solemn Secret

When the four of them arrived at the beginning of the tunnel, Peter was as red as the blood that dripped from the bag he was holding. Harry, determined to save him, approached Peter as James, Sirius and Remus figured out how to get out of there.

"Help, Peter?" he offered, smiling kindly.

"Oh, thanks!" Peter gasped as he handles Harry the other half of the bag. "The boys are a little… Busy."

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Remus yelled, pointing his wand at Sirius. He floated some inches from the ground, falling right after that. James came from the nearest pipe, ironic:

"According to my observations we're somewhere into the pipes. We can try to get off through the sink, the drain or the toilet. You choose."

"WE'RE STUCK!" Sirius yelled, his voice echoing on the stone walls.

"Hello?" a thin voice called from an upper pipe. Harry grinned.

"Myrtle! May you come down here?"

The ghostly girl slipped happily towards them, gazing at the awful state they were. Moaning, she pointed at them:

"Awn, poor things! Need some help?"

Myrtle suddenly started staring at them, her happy face turned fiercely.

"You are Sirius Black. You're the one who mistreat the girls at school!"

Sirius rose up.

"I don't mistreat anybody!"

"YES YOU DO!" she screamed, slipping furiously to Sirius. "THEY COME CRYING FOR YOU!"

"Myrtle..." Harry called, but the ghost was still too angry at Sirius to pay attention.

"YOU'RE RIDICULOUS! SUCH HORRIBLE THING YOU DO! Yes, boy who doesn't mistreat girls?" she looked at Harry, suddenly calm again.

"Could you take us from here, please?" Harry hopefully asked. "Better! At Dumbledore's office there's a bird. I need it."

Myrtle seemed confused, but rose again. Sirius gazed upwards, angry.

"I just got reprimanded by a GHOST? She's mad, honestly."

Harry tried not to laugh. James turned to him and asked:

"How is a bird supposed to help us again? I mean, unless it's a giant bird, so strong that…"

But he couldn't finish, since that moment the clean and melodic phoenix's sound echoed on the chamber. Harry smiled relieved.

"Fawkes!"

Ignoring the surprised faces of the others, Harry levitated the bag with teeth to outside the pipes. Then, he held Fawkes tail and stretched an arm to James.

"Hold on, let's get out of here."

Helped by Fawkes they could reach the bathroom, where the Moaning Myrtle waited smiling (except for Sirius, to whom she gave a gaze full of hatred and ignored completely after). They got to the corridor holding the bag (by Harry's suggestion James and Sirius were doing that now) the sun started to appear, and Remus said worried:

"What we're going to do? We have classes today…"

James said the password to the Fat Lady, and the five of them threw themselves on the fluffy chairs. Remus took a deep breath.

"Can't believe we're here. I need some sleep."

Harry closed his eyes and said, sleepy:

"I can't go like this."

"We could skip some classes…" Sirius suggested, but Remus interrupted:

"And get caught by Minerva? No, thank you. We need a good excuse."

"It all depends on where you want to spend these classes? On the Hospital Wing or here?" James asked maliciously. Remus shrugged his shoulders.

"If only we were hurt enough to… OUTCH!"

Before Remus ended the sentence, James had pulled his wand and casted him away. Angry, Remus rose up:

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Dueling you, Moony." And threw another spell. Harry started to laugh, but a spell hit his arm, that bleeds. Frowning with the pain, he casted a Sectusiempra at Sirius, who was pointing his wand at him.

They spent the next half hour throwing spells at each other, until Peter passed out.

"I guess it's fine…" said James, whose shirt was torn. He had an ugly bruise in his arm and some blood on his nose.

Sirius, lame and with a cut in his mouth, helped James to carry Peter as Harry and Remus followed them to the Hospital Wing.

"What happened to you?" Madame Pomfrey asked when she saw the five broken boys entering. Quickly she put Peter on a bed and assisted the others, always asking what had happened. When all of them were lying, James said:

"We had an argument and ended up dueling, Madam Pomfrey. It's ok now, but we got a little bit hurt."

The nurse looked pissed as she applied some potion on them, muttering something with "youth". When she was done, she walked to her office. Sirius grinned.

"Perfect. New Kid, where you learn to duel?"

"Ah, elsewhere." Harry answered. James blew on a handkerchief to take some blood out, also smiling.

"Welcome to the group, New Kid. If you already dueled with us, almost got killed with us and ended up at the Hospital with us, I guess there's no problem you join the group. Isn't it, boys?"

"Yeah, but don't you dare to throw thunders at me." Sirius gave a half – smile. Remus nodded slightly.

"Welcome, New Kid. Peter agrees too. We have to get him a nickname…"

"Spare me, Moony." Sirius complained. "We already call him New Kid. Don't force our minds right now."

Harry's heart beat strong inside his chest. He was a Marauder now. Still grinning, he fell asleep.

"Merlin, they're mad!"

"Harry! Look at him!"

"Good, at least the teeth are there."

The voices got to Harry's ears low and vague, and he slowly opened his eyes. When he could see what was happening he saw Ginny and Hermione sat on a corner as Ron, Neville and Luna chatted on the other.

"Harry, you're awake!" Ginny shouted to Harry "Your killed the basilisk!"

"I wasn't just me. They helped." Harry pointed to the other unconscious Marauders. Hermione looked scandalized, but when Harry explained the situation she calmed down. Luna walked vacantly to them and said:

"Should we call the girls?"

"Yes." Harry smiled; "James will enjoy waking up with Lily, even if she yells at him."

They did, and Harry's suspects were confirmed.

"WHAT DID THEY DO THIS TIME?" Lily yelled, pissed off at the state they were. Scared, the boys sat down.

"But what…" James started, turning silent right after.

The outcry lasted almost twenty minutes, and only stopped when Madam Pomfrey threatened to cast them out. When the room was completely silent, Harry tried to sound as innocent as possible:

"I'm sorry, Lily. It was me."

Everyone, including the Marauders, turned to him. Lily smiled gently.

"Don't blame yourself for something you didn't do."

"But it was really me. I defied James and Sirius to duel, Lily. Remus and Peter tried to separate us, but I was having a bad time."

The girl stared at him and then grinned.

"Ok, then. Is it over?"

James mouth wide, indignant, but no sound came out. Lily sat on Harry's bed, who nodded.

"Yes. I hurt James!"

Lily glanced at James, who tried to look really sick.

"Oh, but he's fine." She tranquilized him happy.

Harry swallowed dry.

"Well, we get out at night."

Lily rose and picked her backpack.

"Stay still, Harry, I'll get the notes from the classes for you. Now I have to go. Get better, and try not to dare these two." She kissed his cheek, and Harry felt his face get hot. After that, Lily left with the others, leaving them alone.

The voices slowly vanished as Harry gazed apprehensive at James. He expected him to be angry, but actually saw something worse.

"Looks like she likes you." He sighed.

"James, I didn't mean to…"

"I know you didn't. She just looked at you and… Happened. It's alright, New Kid, I've had my chance. It's your turn now."

The emptiness of sadness filled Harry, leaving him completely guilty. Taking advantage of the sudden silence, Remus commented:

"New Kid still didn't tell us how he knew about the Chamber of Secrets."

"Oh yes… He must've forgotten." Sirius emphasized.

Harry took a deep breath and rose up. He knew they wouldn't leave him alone until he said it, so united everyone around James' bed (who didn't seem so excited as the others) and said:

"I've already studied at Hogwarts."

Sirius eyebrow rose and Remus frowned.

"How's that? If you had been here before we'd probably know you."

"But I wasn't here before. I entered the first year in 1991."

The four silenced immediately and then burst in laughter.

Harry saw his friends laughing incredulous.

"I'm not kidding."

Sirius, still laughing, said:

"Ok. So you came from the future. What happens to us?"

"I can't say that would make you confused."

More laughs. James, suddenly serious, asked:

"If you're from the future you can't stay with Lily."

"Yes, I can't." Harry smiled. Remus was skeptical;

"This is impossible. Let's go, Madam Pomfrey is motioning us, look." They dressed up in normal robes and left. Near the Great Hall the dinner smell could be sensed, but before Harry could get in, an arm pulled him. Ginny.

"We got a tooth. The others are in the Room of Requirement, destroying the horcrux. What's going on between you and Lily?"

"Nothing!" he said, annoyed. Then, in a lower tone, he said "Ginny, she's my mum!"

"I know that, but look like she's fancying you! So noble, kind and gentle, she says."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"I'll fix this. How long are they there?"

"They're coming back… Luna!"

Crying and walking to them Luna carried some twisted metal. Right behind there, Neville, Ron and Hermione came, quiet in respect.

"One already gone." Neville said."Luna got a little disappointed cause we destroyed the diadem, but she said she'll fix it."

Still silent they went to dinner and separated at the door. When he was sitting near the marauders, Harry felt someone sit beside him. It was Lily.

"Are you ok?" she asked worried.

Harry gazed at James, who gave him a resigned smile.

"I'm better."

"Good! Potter, have you decided when the team selection will be?"

For a moment Harry almost answered, but James said before him:

"Saturday."

"Ok." She answered, but turned to Harry right after.

"Are you going to do the test?"

Reluctant, he nodded. Lily smiled.

"Do you play quidditch? You must be a good player. Which position?"

"S-Seeker."

"Oh, so you have to catch the snitch, right?"

"Basically… Yes."

"Impressive. Can't I watch it?"

"Ahn… Yes…"

Lily rose up and kissed his cheek, waving happily.

That night at the dormitory, after James could fix on the board about the quidditch team's testing, the five boys reunited. Peter, really steady, said Harry to sit down on his bed as Sirius and James grabbed something in James' trunk. Remus, in a ceremonial tone, started:

"This is you initiation on the secrets."

Harry realized what secrets these were when Remus turned pale and an old piece of parchment was taken of the trunk. James laid it on the mattress, and the four sat beside Harry. Sirius decided to talk:

"Well, firstly I'd like to say that everything that will be said here shall remain secret, so no one gets damaged."

Harry nodded and James passed his hand smoothly and proudly on the parchment.

"Do you remember when we said we knew this castle as no one?"

"Yep."

"Here's the proof." He said ritually. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

The parchment, as Harry expected, started dying with ink as Hogwarts halls were drawn one by one. Harry noticed they were anxious, as if the single fact of opening the map had generated many discussions.

When he Map appeared, Remus said:

"It shows every hall on this school, every classroom, every day, every hour, every minute, and every second, in real time. We created because-"

Then he stopped dead. James, serious as Harry had never seen him, asked:

"Harry, have you got anything against non – human races?"

"Course not! Why would I have something against non human-"

"I'm a werewolf." Remus interrupted.

Harry remembered of their skepticism, and enjoyed the opportunity to prove his story.

"I already knew that."

"What?" Remus asked confused, noticing Harry's lack of surprise.

"I already know you're a werewolf, and also that Peter transforms into rat, Sirius into dog and James into a deer."

The four became silent, and Harry walked to his own trunk.

"You doubted me, didn't you?" he mocked, grabbing the old parchment within his clothes. Getting on the bed, he unrolled the Marauder's Map besides his brother and said:

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

And in front of Peter, Remus, Sirius and James' eyes, the 1997 Hogwarts appeared.