Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling and I don't own Harry Potter. Is it really nice to rub it in? Anyways this statement should protect me from evil lawyers.
Author's Note: Yeah one more chapter to go! I am so happy to conclude Haunted. It has been a joy to write. I love how many alerts and favorites it's been getting. Please, Please remember to review. I would greatly appreciate it.
Ch. 19 The Room of Requirement
"Welcome to the Quidditch final between Gryffindor and Slytherin. They are tied neck and neck for the cup. Both teams can win by just catching the snitch. Both have a very strong team to back their seeker up." Remus roared into the microphone.
Gryffindor had managed to maintain their place in the house championship. They were tied with Slytherin. The pressure too win was unbelievable. James particularly had a bad time of it. Just the other night James had to have a calming draught. Poor James also had to deal with the Slytherin teams usual pre-game nastiness.
"Come on James!" Sirius and Peter yelled. They had made a sign that said Go #7, which was James's number on his Quidditch robes. They both had painted their faces. After much persuasion they final got Remus to paint his face. He now had one half of his face red and the other half gold.
"Ok Slytherin is in possession, he shots. No good it is saved by James, the Gryffindor keeper." Remus told the crowd. There was a loud applause from Gryffindor and the usual jeers from Slytherin. Seconds later there was laughter.
"Oh no, James! Is he alright?" Peter fretted. James had been hit by a bludger, shot at him by the Slytherin beater.
"The referee had called a foul after a bludger illegally was shot at the Gryffindor keeper. He seems alright to play, thought" Remus said with a hint of disgust in his voice. Slytherins have been known to play dirty, especially during games with Gryffindor. The chaser took the penalty and made it. Gryffindor was up by 100 in no time at all.
"Ouch that must have hurt. Come on James knock his block off" Remus roared. Sirius looked at Professor McGonagall. She looked livid.
"MR. LUPIN!" She yelled in a warning voice.
"Sorry Professor." Remus said apologetically.
"Haha, Moony got some nerve" Peter chuckled.
"Minnie is a spoiled sport" Sirius pouted. Peter laughed at the expression. A commotion up in the air alerted him. Someone had seen the snitch. The Gryffindor Seeker John Samuels sped up, he caught the snitch.
"Gryffindor Wins! 370 to 130. Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup!" Remus proclaimed. The cheers were thunderous. Everyone even Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws were excited about Gryffindors' triumph. There will definitely be a party in the common room tonight.
Peter had always had trouble with school. Subjects came easier to James and Sirius then they would for Peter. He didn't even come close to the grades that Remus got. Never the less they were still surprised when he was called to Professor McGonagall and he came back almost in tears.
"What's up, Wormtail?" James asked kindly. Peter sat down in the chair next to Remus in the common room.
"It's horrible. Might have to repeat second year over" He said going as red as a tomato. Remus looked at him with pity,
"Wait what?" James said confused. Grades were not a subject matter that the boys cared to discuss. All they knew was Remus had straight O's. James had obviously heard him but was just shocked that his grades were that bad.
"McGonagall believes I would do better repeating the year because she thinks that I won't be able to handle the course work of next year" Peter said going, if possible, redder.
"What do you have to do in order to pass?" Sirius asked. Sirius didn't know what teachers did if a student didn't pass their end of the year exams. His father never mentioned it. Sirius tended to ignore his father. Long before either he or Regulus attended Hogwarts he started a petition to it illegal to allow Muggleborns to attend Hogwarts. The petition hadn't even came close to passing
"I have to get more than a passing grade. I have to get at least an Exceeds Expectations in all my classes." Peter sighed. Remus looked at him determinedly.
"Well we'll do it. Maybe you can manage a few Os" Remus told him determinedly.
"How? I'm lousy" Peter said miserably.
"Only when you don't try." Remus told him. He said it the same stern voice Professor McGonagall used when scolding them over there latest prank.
"What are you going to do tutor me?" Peter asked him.
"Well, yeah. There is no way I'll let my Marauder brother fail" Remus told him. He had a fierce determination in he's eyes that Peter knew it was no good to argue. Sirius couldn't help but notice a wolfish appearance in them, which had never been there before. If the look was on anybody else it would have looked frightening, but not for his fellow Marauders.
"We'll help to Pete. Your got to make it to third year with us" James piped up. Sirius shook his head vigorously.
"We'll start tomorrow. I'll make you a study schedule. You have to study really hard" Remus warned him. Peter shook his head.
"But how will you guys study" Peter asked.
"We will find time. Besides it helps it sink in if we teach it to you" Remus told him. Peter sighed with relief. Sirius knew that they were going to spend a lot of time in the library the next few weeks.
Sirius gave Peter the thumbs up. Peter glared at him but got up. Peter too up his cloak he on and walk up to the front of the class. He had a hot pink tutu on.
"I'm a little teapot short and stout. Here is my handle, here is my spout. When I get all steamed up Hear me shout "Tip me over and pour me out!"" He sung. James motioned him to repeat and be louder. The class erupted in laughter.
"Mr. Pettigrew what is the meaning of this?" Professor Slughorn asked after he calmed the class down.
"Just thought the class could use entertainment" Peter said going pink.
"Get back to you potion this instant or you'll have detention" He said. Peter didn't need to be told twice he went and sat down quickly.
"Good one Wormy" James said high fiving him. They cleaned up thirty minutes later and went back to their common room for the day. Sirius never was so happy for it to be Friday. They were free until tomorrow night, when they would mean Amber to perform the ritual to heal James. They still hadn't found a place to perform it yet.
"Hey Sirius" Marlene McKinnon blushing.
"Hey Marlene" Sirius waved. Marlene smiled and went back to talking to her friend.
"When we start going to Hogsmead next year, you should ask Marlene to go Pads" James told him. Sirius nodded in agreement.
"You know Prongsie. I think Amber is sweet on are dear ol Moony" Sirius told him smirking.
"What…" Remus said looking horrified. James looked delighted.
"We can triple date. Me and Lily. Marlene and Sirius. And you and Amber" James said excitedly.
"She doesn't like me. She doesn't. Why would she" Remus said going red.
"Duh because you nice, smart, funny, and a Marauder to bout. Plus I reckon girls think your scars are cool, and girls like tall guys" James shrugged.
"Girls don't know we're the Marauders though. Why would someone like my scars there disgusting" Remus told him.
"Not all people care about looks Moony." Sirius reminded him.
"What about.." Remus looked around nervously.
"Your furry little problem" James finished. Peter chuckled. Remus frowned.
"You make it sound like I have a badly behaved pet or something" Remus said.
"Yeah a dog" Peter pointed to Sirius. Sirius glares at him.
"What makes you think Amber is interested in me?" Remus asked after laughter subsided.
"We it's the way she talks about you. Remus is so smart and nice. How is your friend Remus doing? She is always talking about you." James smirked. Remus looked deep in thought.
"Sirius isn't that your family owl?" James asked. Sirius looked at the window. He opened the widow to let the owl in. He took the letter from the owl and it went off. Dreading it, he began to read the letter.
Sirius,
Your cousin Bellatrix has kindly offered to have you over her house for a few weeks during your summer holidays. Her and Rodolphus will fetch from the platform at the end of term. Maybe this will teach you how to act properly. Have a good rest of term
-Mother
Sirius reread this letter several times before he finally believed it. Summer at his Aunt Bellatrix would be a nightmare. What was his mother playing at. The truth was that his aunt Bellatrix shouldn't be around small children.
"Alright Sirius?" Remus asked taking the letter.
"She's going to be a nightmare" Sirius groaned.
"She can't be that bad. Can she?" Peter asked him after they read the letter.
"My summer is going to be dreadful" Sirius sighed. He took the letter and threw it in the fire.
"They can't make you go" James told him.
"Yes right now they can. I better go right them back." Sirius said defeated. There was no way he could get out of it. He was spending a part of his summer with his horrible aunt and there wasn't a thing he could be about it.
They met Amber at the Great Hall entrance. It was nearing curfew, so they had to be very careful. They didn't say anything to each other at first.
"Where are we going?" James asked.
"To the seventh floor. Hey Remus" She said smiling at Remus. Remus smiled back at her weakly . Sirius couldn't help but let out a snort. Remus stomped on his foot. They proceeded to the seventh floor. They didn't know what was in there.
"Not a lot of people know about this room" She told them.
"How did you find out?" Sirius asked her.
"I heard a few teachers talking about it" She explained. She stopped by an empty piece of wall. Suddenly there was a door.
"That door wasn't there before" Peter said.
"Come on. We don't have all night" Amber smiled. They followed her in the room. There was a collective, wow.
"Where did this room come from?" Remus asked in amazement.
"It's known as the Room of Requirement. It's also known as the come and go room." She told him quickly. Sirius thought that she was trying to impress Remus. The look she gave him was clearly adoration.
"Ok let's get the ritual started" James said. He was obviously really nervous about the ritual. Remus looked a bit harassed. It looked like he was dealing with concepts far to advance for him.
"Ok get in a circle" Amber said. They did as they were told . She put three candles on the floor.
"Now we must joined hands" Amber said. They did as well. Sirius looked over and smirked at the sight he saw. Amber had put out her had waiting for Remus to take it. Remus looked at the hand as if decided if it was going to explode on contact. Finally after a few minutes he took it. Amber looked delighted.
"Ok. We call upon the restless soul that lives within. Speak of your troubles" She began. There was no answer.
"You all need to repeat after me" She told them.
"We call upon the restless soul that lives within. Speak of your troubles" They said. Amber said an incantation, then they chanted some more. It seemed like nothing was going to happen, then the candles blew out.
The sun was shining off the water. A small boy was sitting by the edge the water. He was obviously enjoying the summer sun.
"Harry" Another boy called.
"Albert" Harry greeted standing up.
"So you'll speak to me now" Albert said. He had been trying to speak to his cousin for years.
"Why should I. You killed me" Harry told him.
"Because, I am really sorry. It was an accident. I didn't want to hurt you" Albert adamantly.
"You got upset with me over a cloak, a cloak" Harry said indignantly.
"I'm so sorry. Your death haunted me until my dying day. The only reason I came back was so I could make sure you finally got the life you never had. I never forgiven myself for what happened to you" Albert told his cousin desperately.
"Your soul shouldn't have passed on. If you were so sorry then you would have told my parents what happened. Now I have to live my life over again because of you" Harry said with tears in his eyes.
"Even if it takes a lifetime I'll make it up to you. When you came back as James Potter. I knew I needed to return and that's why I am now living my life as Sirius Orion Black. My second life is going to have great turmoil. As long as I'm living as Sirius Black you and current body shall be protected" Albert declared.
"I forgive you" Harry said quietly. Albert couldn't believe his ears. After all this years, his cousin had forgiven him.
"Why now?" Albert asked him.
"Because you've been trying to contact me. You would have done it early if I hadn't scratched myself to wake me up. I almost died you know. That awful boy had pushed me in the lake. I think this has gone on long enough." Harry said wisely. Albert hugged his cousin.
"I'm so sorry Harry" Albert cried.
"Promise me that you'll protect my life as long as you can." Harry asked him.
"I promise" Albert said.
Next Chapter: The result of the ritual. Peter finds out how he did on his exams and if he is going into third year. Sirius dreads the upcoming holiday. The boys end the term with a bang.