A/N: Sorry, this chapter is a bit of a filler. I've once again been struck with a serious case of writers' bloke (which is also affecting my drawing). I really want to revive this story but am struggling a bit at the moment so bare with me. All reviews are very much appreciated =) thanks x
Chapter 13
Punishment
Professor Dumbledore paced the floor of his office in front of two very nervous looking first year boys. His footsteps marched from one end of his long wooden desk to the other before turning on his heal and repeating the actions. After what seemed like an eternity of pacing, he stopped abruptly just as the door was throw open.
"Professor McGonagall, so glad you could make it" He said in his calm voice, making the two first years even more nervous.
"Sorry for the delay Albus, I was helping the other professors in taking care of the Slytherins." At this, Professor McGonagall glared at the students in front of her.
"That's quite alright Minerva" Dumbledore walked around his desk and took a seat at the large wooden chair behind it "As Gryffindors Head of House, I think it is up to you to decide the punishment of these two boys-"
Dumbledore's sentence was cut off by the door being flung open once more. A tall man with scruffy black hair and blue eyes stormed into the room, somewhat out of breath.
"Professors! You can't punish James and Sirius! The prank, it was all my idea! Research!" The man panted.
Both professors seemed to be thinking his words over carefully, rendering the room silent save for some strange objects on the headmasters' desk that seemed to be happily making noises to their selves. After a few moments of careful thought, Dumbledore smiled.
"Very well Harry, I should have expected this sort of behaviour when I let you back into my school, therefore I have only myself to blame."
James, Sirius and Harry all beamed happily.
"Albus!" Professor McGonagall said, sounding somewhat shocked "You can't let these boys go unpunished! They have deliberately caused harm to fellow students and disrupted a school feast!"
The smiles on the three boys' faces faded fast, where as Dumbledore's grew.
"Minerva, as I was about to say, I will not punish these boys. But I allow you to punish them as you see fit, as you are their head of house."
"Thank you Albus" McGonagall said looking seriously at her students "You boys will help Mr Filch with his daily tasks, such as cleaning the dungeons and helping patrol the corridors during breaks to stop trouble makers such as yourselves. You will report to his office on the ground floor immediately after second lesson tomorrow, which, if I remember rightly, happens to be Transfiguration with myself. As for now, Mr Black may return to his dormitory and Mr Potter will accompany me to my office as he is still to receive a detention tonight. Also, Harry, you may return to whatever it was you were doing."
80)
Sirius wandered up to Gryffindor tower by himself for the first time feeling relieved that he wasn't expelled, yet he couldn't help but feel a bit bad. Maybe they had gone a bit too far with their prank. Sirius was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice where his feet had taken him.
"Password! Password Mr Black!" came a voice, interrupting the boys' thoughts.
The Fat Lady, the portrait that guarded Gryffindor common room, was calling to Sirius looking somewhat irritated.
"Oh" He muttered "Erm, Flitterbloom"
"Thank you" She grumbled.
Sirius stepped through the portrait hole and was immediately greeted by a huge amount of noise. Applause, cheers, laughter, it looked like the whole of Gryffindor had been awaiting his arrival.
"That was brilliant Black!" A voice called through the crowd earning a whoop of agreement from many of the students.
"Where's Potter!?" Another asked
"Detention" Sirius replied, forgetting all about his worries "I'll be joining him tomorrow!"
The boy couldn't help but grin smugly as people came running forward to shake his hand, pat him on the back or some other way of congratulating him for such a brilliant prank. Many girls, from first to seventh year, came over to kiss him on the cheek, all it seemed, except one Lily Evans, who was sat somewhat sulkily in the corner. The long haired first year managed to push his way through the crowd, stopping for a second to grab some food that the house elves had sent up before seating himself next to the grumpy red head.
"Cheer up Evans" He said thickly through a mouthful of potato "It was only a prank"
"You could've seriously hurt somebody!"
Sirius swallowed his food and laughed "Come off it! Only the Tea Cups could have possibly harmed somebody, but not seriously! Then again, hopefully the one clamped to Snapes' nose did, he could do with taking a few inches off that thing!"
Lily glared at the boy for a couple of seconds before storming off in the direction of the girls dormitories. Sirius watched her go and rolled his eyes. "Women!"
"What's her problem?"
Peter and Remus had appeared through the crowd and sat down either side of their friend. Peter was smiling, but Remus looked slightly worried.
"Pass" Sirius answered, stuffing his mouth full again.
"What did Dumbledore say?" Remus asked, trying to sound calm.
"nuffin, e us Iing ot oo af"
"Sirius, swallow before you speak"
The taller boy took a huge gulp of food before continuing "Nothing, he was trying not to laugh. He left it up to McGonagall to punish us"
"And?" The pale boy pressed on
"We gotta help out that annoying caretaker bloke for a while"
Time passed by quickly and soon many people disappeared to their dormitories, some stopping to congratulate Sirius on their way past. At around midnight James finally appeared. He stumbled through the portrait hole and collapsed on the sofa his friends were still sat on. He looked exhausted.
"Fun detention?" Sirius asked his bespectacled friend with a slight grin on his face.
"Hell no!" James replied "McGonagall made me clean the desks in her classroom, without magic! And her seventh year class had been working with a lot of stinky animals!"
"I guess you won't be wanting this then mate"
The shaggy haired boy passed over a plate piled high with food he and the others had been saving with waiting for their friend to come back. James smirked.
"Don't be stupid! Of course I do!"
Remus, Peter and Sirius laughed loudly as they watched the messy haired boy stuff his face greedily. Once he had licked the plate clean they all decided it was about time for bed and headed up to their dorm room.
