Ch 4 Back to Hogwarts
It was quarter to eleven and the boys, Vallery and Raphael were waling through Kings Cross. Raphael was a short man with broad shoulders. He was strong and built.
"James, why don't you and Ralph go through the barrier?" Vallery suggested. James looked over his shoulder at Sirius. He had told Sirius his suspicions as they got dressed earlier. He looked at his mother and nodded.
"Excellent, then Remus and Sirius can go then I'll go through with Peter."
James ran towards the brick wall with his trolley and Raphael beside him. As soon as they got through the barrier they moved over and waited for the others.
"You know James," Raphael said. He had a deep voice.
"Yea," James said.
"Your mother loves you very much,"
James looked at him. He knew his mother loved him so why was this man telling him it. James decided to look somewhere else as he continued to speak.
"She only wants you to be safe." James knew where this was coming from. Obviously his mother was worried because of what happened at the end of last year. James decided to look around the station as he waited for his friends. He didn't see any men in black cloaks but he knew that didn't mean anything. He knew and already told his parents that Lusius Malfoy's father was a death eater and that Lusius Malfoy himself had participated in his torment.
Sirius and Remus had just entered through the barrier bring James out of his thoughts.
"Why don't we go find a compartment while we wait for Peter?" James suggested. He really wanted to get away from Raphael.
"Sounds good to me," Sirius replied but Raphael didn't think so.
"James I think you should wait for your mother."
"I'm with my friends and we want a good compartment before they're all taken." James replied and he walked away with his friends.
"James, I don't think you should've talked to him like that." Remus said.
"I don't need protection. I need space from people like that." James said with a little anger in his voice.
"Well, let's get one at the back. Last year all the good food was gone off the trolley and she always starts at the back of the train." Sirius said. James smiled and agreed.
They found a good compartment at the very back of the train. They stored their trunks and James opened the window to see of he could find his mother. He spotted her with Peter. It seems they were trying to find them. James stuck his head out the window,
"Mom, Peter, over here!" he yelled. Vallery and Peter looked over. Vallery's face shone with relief.
"Well Peter, there you are." Peter walked onto the train and a few moments later into the compartment.
"Now James, Sirius, you are going to stay out of trouble this year right?" Vallery asked.
"Mom, do I ever really get in trouble?" James teased.
"I don't want another note stating you got detention understood?"
"Mom, there are many different reasons I could get detention. Give me something else." James teased.
"I don't want to have to send another howler. Now, have a good term and I'll see both of you," she said indicating Sirius, "at Christmas." James leaned out the window and his mother gave him a peck on the cheek good bye as the whistle of the train blew. Those who were not boarded ran onto to the train. As the train sped away James saw his mother and Raphael disparate.
"So, when do we go after Sniv?" asked Sirius.
"Well, first we need the chocolate frog. I think I could sneak away under the cloak," James replied.
"That'll work." Remus said.
"Hey Sirius, I almost forgot. Isn't your brother going to Hogwarts this year?"
"Oh, dear brother Reggy. I'm surprised he hasn't come to find me yet. He'll be oh so happy to use his magic against me finally."
"Sounds tough," Peter said.
"Yea, well, that's what happens when your brother is your parents dream child and your nothing but a traitor to the family name."
"Mate, I feel for you, I really do. But you know I'm half blood and an only child so I can't relate."
"How come you never invited us over to your place this summer Rem?" asked James.
"Well, I guess it's because we're always at your house."
"Yes well, maybe we should visit you over the Christmas break at your place."
"If you really want to," Remus replied. He walked over to his trunk and opened it.
"We could pull the prank sooner than later though," he replied and he pulled out a chocolate frog.
"Excellent," James replied.
"Do your stuff Remus," Sirius said. The three boys watched as Remus charmed the frog, muttering under his breath the right spell.
"That should do it. As soon as he bites it live flies will come out, but they love the chocolate so they'll fly in his mouth and he'll eat them."
"Ok, wish me luck mates," James said pulling on the cloak. It was hard to walk down the aisles under the cloak. He had to be careful not to touch people. Finally James made it out of the rush of the crowd and walked down an aisle and found Snape and Lily in a compartment a few down from theirs. Luckily Mary McDonald was coming out of it as James approached. He decided he'd throw it in and see if he eats it.
"Well, I'll talk with you later Lily. Bye Snape." She said Snape very coldly and walked away. She left the door open. James was about to walk back when he saw the Marauders walking over. He looked around and saw that no one was watching so he pulled the cloak off and waved his friends over. They stood by the door waiting.
"Sev, I think you dropped a chocolate frog," Lily said.
"That's not mine," Snape said.
"Must've been Mary's. You have it, I don't want it."
"Are you sure? I know they're your favourite."
"I'm sure, you can have it. I'm not in the mood for one. I want a pumpkin pastry from the trolley when it comes, and some pumpkin juice." She replied.
"If you're sure," Snape said. The boys heard him open it. They stood there waiting. Suddenly they heard Lily scream.
"Sev! There are flies coming out of it!"
The Marauders laughed loudly.
"Potter!" Lily said. She walked over to the door.
"I knew it was you," she stated.
"Glad to see you haven't forgotten me over the summer." James said smiling. His friends were still laughing loudly.
"How could I forget when you smoked Severus's face up!" she snarled.
"Oh, that was a good one. How is the old greasy git looking anyways?" he asked. He poked his head in and laughed even harder. Snape was trying to stop the flies from entering his mouth.
"You will never grow up will you?" Lily yelled and then walked into the compartment and slammed the door shut.
"Priceless mate," Sirius said, still laughing as they made their way back to their compartment.
"Is Snivy still sooty?" Peter asked.
James stopped laughing and put on a confused look. "Oddly no, I think his mother fixed him up because he didn't have a speck of soot anywhere. But people will be talking about those flies for days!" James started to laugh again. The other boys started to laugh too. They didn't stop until someone opened the door to their compartment. James knew who it was with one glance.
The boys looked very similar to his brother, just not as handsome. He was Regulus Black.
"Look what we have here, a couple of blood traitors." He sneered. Sirius looked up at him with loathing.
"Oh, my dear brother Reggy." Sirius replied.
"Sirry, how mother missed you so over the fast few weeks." The Slytherins behind him sneered.
"Reg, if you don't leave I will be forced to curse you until your as ugly as Snape."
"Come on Sirius, can't a brother have a friendly chat with his older brother. You know our dear uncle has taught me a few of the family curses."
"He tried that with me before he realized I didn't believe in the family ways," Sirius snarled.
"Well, I do and so I think you better watch your back. I may be cursing it." Regulus turned and left with the other Slytherins. Sirius yelled out in frustration.
"Sirius, calm down. We'll get him." James said.
"No, you have to be careful. I saw the way he looked at you. He knows exactly where to get me and he knows what happened to you in June."
"How?" Peter asked.
"Simple, he's pals with a few death eaters. Well, not the death eaters themselves but either their children or relatives. Actually, I think my cousin Nacrissa may have told him."
"Nacrissa," James said. "She isn't the one dating Malfoy is she?"
"Yes, her sister Bealtrix is already in league with Voldy and her other sister, Andromeda graduated from Hogwarts last year. She was a decent girl. Ravenclaw I believe. I didn't talk with her much, but she was a good witch. Not an evil git. She's even dating a muggle. Says she's going to marry him, much to my family's disdain. My mother said if she does she'll be blasted off the Black Family tree."
"You have a family tree?"
"Oh yes, and when ever someone disgraces the family, they are disowned and blasted off it. Not many get blasted off, but a few have been. A very distant relative, Isla Black was removed for marring a muggle, which is what's going to happen to Andromeda I'm sure. There was Phineas Black, who supported muggle rights, Marius because she was a squib and Cedrella for marrying a Weasley."
"Your family is messed up," James replied.
"Try telling them that. They believe it's the right thing to do because we are 'pure blood'." Sirius sighed. "I'll be blasted off the tree for sure. I was surprised when I wasn't when I ended up in Gryffindor. Not many Blacks are in this house. I believe I am the first in centuries. Still, I know eventually I will be. I think my parents are just waiting for me to turn my views around and join the 'pure blood' society."
"Sirius, you know if you ever need time away,"
"Yes James, your mother has already told me I'm always welcome at your place."
"Well what do you say we change into our robes?" Remus suggested breaking the awkward silence that followed. The others agreed and put their robes on.
"Good to be back!" James said.
"Feel at home now James?" Sirius joked. It seemed he was feeling better as he was himself again.
"Don't know exactly, Black, why don't we duel it out?" James joked.
"Wouldn't try it if I were you. You heard my brother, old family curses!"
"You said you never learned them!"
"Now from that uncle, my dear brother doesn't need to know about the good uncle. Uncle Alphard, he's the one who gave me the mirrors. I think he's the only uncle that really respects me. But bloody hell who needs family respect when you have Marauder friends like you mates?" Sirius replied happily.
"I'll keep the curses in mind," Peter whispered. Sirius looked at him and laughed.
When they got to Hogwarts the boys hopped off the train and went to stand with the other second years and above. They had never gone up to the school in the carriages before. When appeared in front of them the boys hopped up and sat down.
"How do these things move? Is the creature invisible or does it pull itself?"
"Well mate, I'd have to say they pull themselves." Sirius replied.
"Wicked," James replied. He sat back and enjoyed the ride. When they reached the front doors it had started to rain.
"I hate rain," James muttered.
"How come, it's just water?"
"But it messes up my hair." His friends laughed at this.
"James, your hair is already messy, if anything it improves the way it looks."
James started to laugh along with his friends. They were right after all. They walked inside and had to wait to be let in. Unfortunately Peeves decided to drop in.
"Well, look at the students. Theys all wet!" Peeves said.
"We better move," James muttered. He knew what was coming. James grabbed Sirius, who in turn grabbed Remus who took hold of Peter and hid by the staircase as peeves threw water balloons and other nasty things at the students. He dumped buckets of water on some of them, until McGonagall showed up.
"Peeves, do I need to get the headmaster?" she asked in her strict tone. Peeves laughed and flew away.
"Potter, what, did you train him to do that?" James looked behind him, it was Lily.
"Why Evans, how nice to see you again." Lily glared at him and walked into the hall.
"We better get a spot before all the good ones are taken," Sirius replied. They walked into the hall and took a seat in the middle of the table.
"So, we have no plans for a welcome back prank, what a shame." James said.
"Hey, we pulled one on old Sniv so I think we've done pretty good." Sirius replied.
"I know, but we left the school in spectacular last year, I just thought we should welcome it back in just as good."
"We would have had no time to get it ready even if we did." Remus pointed out.
"Point well taken, Remus my old friend." James said.
"So, you still need to let us in on what you have planned for those ink wells." Sirius said eyeing James.
"Not now," he replied looking down the table at Lily. She looked up and saw him looking and she shot him a cold glare and turned back to her friend Mary.
"James, Evans is not going to give you a chance." Sirius said. Obviously he had seen him looking and the glare she gave him.
"Yea, I guess you're right." James sighed but quickly started to pat attention because the first years had just entered the hall. They were wet, but not that wet because it had stopped raining a few minutes ago.
When McGonagall and the first years got to the front of the hall and the hat was put down it started to sing. When it finished its song everyone clapped and McGonagall started to call names.
"Abbot, Nancy." Was the first name called. Nancy was put in Ravenclaw. The list drew down to the B's. "Black, Regulus." Regulus walked up to the stool. Sirius wasn't paying attention. He knew where his brother would be placed and he'd rather not watch. Not long after his name was called, it was barely a second, did the hat announce, "Slytherin."
The sorting continued. McGonagall got down to the L's. "Longbottom, Frank." The hat took a little but knew where to put him. "Gryffindor." And once again the sorting continued. Gryffindor got their take of students, along with Ravenclaw and there were two students left.
"Wilson, Mathew." He was placed in Hufflepuff and finally a mean looking boy was left. James had a feeling her knew exactly where he would be placed.
"Yaxley, Brian." Before the hat could be placed fully on his head it shouted, "Slytherin." And McGonagall rolled up the list of students and grabbed the stool. She walked off with them to a door behind the staff table.
"Now that the students have been sorted into their houses, it is time I make a few announcements. First off, welcome all students, new and old. I hope you all follow the rules I am about to set you. First off, there is a list of items posted in the caretaker, Mr. Filch's office which are banned. Secondly the forbidden forest is not to be entered by any student for any reason. Thirdly duelling in the corridors and Great Hall is not allowed. Lastly, the corridors are forbidden after hours. Any student caught out of bed will be punished. Now, tuck in!" The students clapped as food appeared on the table.
"The elves have really put it up haven't they?" James asked.
"James, you've got an evil eye staring at you." Remus said pointing at the Slytherin table. James expected to see Snivellus glaring at him but what he saw surprised him. Lusius Malfoy and his girlfriend Nacrissa Black were eyeing him with a cold look. Clearly Lusius had not forgotten what happened.
"Sirius, I think you should talk to your cousin and let her know staring is rude." James said looking at his mate.
"If I said a word to her she'd hex me from here to London." Sirius replied.
"Are you telling me you, Sirius Black, are afraid of a girl?"
"I'm not afraid, no; it's just that she's dating Lusius Malfoy and comes of age in February. I'm not taking the chance of giving her a reason to hex me when she has the chance. I know dear old mother wouldn't stop her."
"I see your point," James replied.
"Good, so let's move on. What other ideas to you have this year?"
"Well, besides the normal pranking, we still need to unlock the secrets of this castle."
"Are you suggesting a trip out under the cloak?"
"Exactly, glad you could catch on my friend. And then there's Quidditch."
"You really going to try out for the team?"
"Defiantly, we practiced enough. You aren't that bad of a keeper Black, too bad Ryan doesn't leave until next year."
"Not really my type of game to play. Help you practice is one thing, but to be on the team would be a little too much. I'd rather cheer you on."
"Well said, mate." James replied.
"Well, after we eat you need to tell us this great plan," Sirius said as James smiled.
A/N: Well, another chapter up!! I'd really like to hear your thoughts on how you think this is going… so please review!