Hey thanks a million for the reviews people! I much appreciate it! So for those of you of little faith who thought I was Siriusly going to let a chapter go by where ye don't see Sirius reaction to Harry's letter OR the consequences for our dearest and most hated potions master, Professor Snape… What do ye take me for? Of course I am going to show this. So here it is! Hope ya enjoy! Talk 2 ya!
At 10:00 the next morning, Ryan was sitting in the kitchen when there was a tapping at the window. As he looked up he saw Hedwig sitting on the ledge with three envelopes held tightly between her beak. Ryan smiled as he approached the window and opened it to allow her entry. Ryan fetched a bowl of water as Hedwig hopped onto the draining board and dropped the letters in front of her. Ryan placed the bowl down and picked up the letters as Hedwig drank some water. After checking the names on the envelopes, Ryan turned to Hedwig and asked…"These are all from Harry?" Hedwig hooted once in reply. Ryan just shrugged his shoulders as he went to the drawer beside him and pulled out a piece of parchment, a quill and a bottle of ink as he prepared to draft a letter for Hedwig to return to Harry with.
"Hi Harry,
Hedwig just landed with your letters. At the moment she is drinking some water that I gave her in a bowl. As soon as she is ready Ill send her off to you with this and when she is gone Ill go and give the letters to Remus, James and dad. Don't get why you couldn't just send one to them all. Anyway I hope you and Rob are having fun. Talk to you soon.
Ryan.
P.S: Tell that dipstick of a brother of mine to send us a letter!
After Ryan sealed the letter he gave it to Hedwig who accepted it gratefully. He then stroked her on the head, said goodbye to her and she flew off. Once she was out of sight, Ryan ventured down to the study where his father was talking to James, Lily and Remus. As he approached the door, he knocked loudly on it once and after being commanded he entered. James and Lily were sitting on the sofa whilst Sirius was sitting opposite them on the arm of the chair that Remus was occupying. He was greeted by four smiling faces so he reciprocated it. "Are you okay Ryan sweetheart?" Lily asked kindly.
"Ya Lily I'm fine thanks. It's just that you all got a letter from Harry just there. Hedwig has just gone. I thought you ought to you know." All the adults shared a two second glance before they rose quickly and tore out to the kitchen. Ryan followed his father who was the last to leave. James was the first to enter so he grabbed the letters and distributed them to his friends quickly. Sirius and Remus accepted them eagerly. They all tore open the envelopes quickly and read through them promptly.
"Hey mom and dad,
How are you? As I'm sure you probably know I got onto Gryffindor and so did Rob…. "
"Well there you go Sirius mate! You should be proud." James said happily. Sirius just nodded as he studied Harry's letter carefully. Remus looked up and smiled at James and Lily who was looking over James shoulder. They then returned to the letter as James continued to read under his breath.
"Today we had Transfiguration with McGonagall who is a little scary but still a cool teacher. Professor Flitwick says I have mom's talent for charms so I hope you are happy about that mom since you were a little concerned that I might turn into a marauder. I guess yours and Remus guidance and stability helped…" All three laughed a little at this.
"I hope Arielle, Ryan, the twins and the remaining Weasley clan are well. I expect that I will be hearing from you soon.
Love Harry.
"Well he appears to be enjoying himself even it has only been a day." Remus said as he folded the letter and smiled at his friends. James did the same as he said….
"Ya he does mate. And well he should. So you can rest easy now Padfoot! Harry is fine." They all turned to look at Sirius as he stared down at the letter. He then looked up with a cold, vindictive expression on his face. Ryan also noticed this as he asked….
"Dad what's wrong?" Sirius looked at his son as he said…
"Ryan could you please go and check on the girls? I need to talk to the others."
"Aww but dad….I haven't finished my cereal yet!"
"Please mate? I would really appreciate it."
"Fine dad….."
"Cheers sport." Sirius smiled a little as he winked at his son. Ryan got up to go as Lily called him.
"Ryan if you want you can take your cereal with you." He smiled as he said….
"Thanks Lily." He grabbed the bowl as he headed to the sitting room. All the adults took a seat as James asked…"Sirius what was all that about mate? Has Harry told you something that we should know about?" Sirius massaged his forehead as he nodded. Lily gasped as she said….
"Please tell me it has nothing to do with Voldemort!"
"No Lily. This time Harry's problem isn't Voldemort….."
"Well then what is it Sirius?" Remus asked concernedly.
"It's Snape you guys." Sirius said malevolently.
"Snape? Oh what has he done now?" James asked.
"Well Jamsie me ole mate our pal Snivelus has just given your son thirty days worth of detention for defending you to his face!"
"WHAT? Give me that!" James ordered as he reached out for the letter. Sirius then handed it to him. Lily tried to read it from the side but couldn't make out much. Remus just looked at Sirius and James anxiously but frustration was evident in stare. A few minutes later James threw the letter angrily down on the table. His eyes were burning with fire and his tone of voice became venomous.
"The bloody dirty prick is punishing my son! MY SON! For something which he couldn't prevent at school!"
"Yep." Sirius said casually, lying back in his chair playing with his fingers.
"He is making Harry suffer the way he did at school." James said bitterly.
"Oh contraire Mon ami. He is not making Harry suffer the way he did at school. Oh no old Snivelus is much more crafty than that James. He is using his authority to punish Harry mate. Because trust me on this one, if he tried to hex Harry….we would be on top of him like anchor is to a ship!"
"How can you be so clam Sirius?" James asked abruptly.
"I am saving my energy for when we confront the warped git. And you should too James. Otherwise we can't have any fun with him!" Sirius grinned at the last remark.
"Oh no you two! I don't want Harry to see two of the most reliable figures in his life cursing a professor. There must be a better way to do this."
"Ya there is. Kill him."
No Sirius. James please promise me that you won't curse or hex Snape." Lily begged turning to James. He smiled at her as he said…."Don't worry. We won't hex or curse him. Okay?"
"You promise me James?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes Lily." He kissed her hand. "I promise." They shared a compassionate smile before Sirius said…
"So what are we waiting for? Let's get over to Hogwarts already and eh….." he looked at Lily who stared firmly at him…."talk to Snape."
Remus smiled at Sirius who was rising from his seat with James in tow.
"Are you not coming Remus?" James asked.
"Well ya sure James." Remus replied smiling at his friend.
"Okay let's go boys!" Sirius exclaimed. They went to the back door where Lily called out…
"James Potter I trust you to respect my wishes okay?" James turned around and placed his hands on his wife's shoulders as he said….
"Don't worry sweetheart. I won't or we won't harm Snape in any way okay? I promised you that and I never break my promises to you." She smiled a little as she said…"Okay."
"Okay." He kissed her on the forehead. "We will be back soon."
"Okay. See you soon." They all smiled at each other before the marauders left for Hogwarts.
Meanwhile back at Hogwarts Harry and his three friends were at the Gryffindor table having lunch when the mail arrived. A brown owl flew in and landed softly beside Hermione's goblet of pumpkin juice.
"The daily prophet? Since when have you been a subscriber of that Hermione?" Ron asked abruptly.
"Since yesterday Ronald. There is a form in the common room and you tick your name if you wish to receive daily copies. Honestly don't you notice anything?" She tossed her head as she sighed and opened the paper. Harry and Rob smirked at each other while Ron just stared solemnly at her.
"Oh my gosh!" Hermione exclaimed.
"What is it Hermione?" Harry asked anxiously.
"There has been a break in at Gringotts. Can you believe that? The supposed second safest place…."
"When?" Ron asked.
"A few days ago. Nothing was taken but…. Vault 713 inquiries still persist….They say that the vault was emptied that very same day….how peculiar. Who would do something like that?"
"Um…a thief maybe Hermione?" Rob said lazily which made Harry and Ron laugh.
"Oh well that much is obvious Rob. What I mean is…..could the person who broke into Gringotts be after what was in that particular vault? And if so, why is that vault so special? What was that vault containing that the others were not?" The boys looked at her in admiration. She smiled triumphantly at them.
Snape was in his office preparing for his third year potions class which was next. Sirius, James and Remus stormed down the hallway towards his office as that is where Nearly Headless Nick said he was. As they approached the door, Sirius took out his wand and barged in without warning. Snape looked up from his desk and saw his intruders with vicious looks on their faces.
"Alright Snivelus? How are you today?" Sirius asked cynically.
"What are you doing here Black? Shouldn't you be making toys over at Zonkos?"
"The welfare of my Godson comes first!" Sirius said leaning over his desk.
"Snape what you did was down right cruel. Don't use my son as a way to cover salty wounds!"
"Potter your son was being ignorant, malicious and insolent in my class yesterday….."
"Oh come off Snivelus Harry hasn't got a malicious bone in his body!"
"I am not talking to you Black!"
"Well I am talking to you Snape! Now end this vendetta you have with Harry and we will be on our way!" Snape stood up as he leaned over the desk saying…."Never!" Sirius rolled his eyes as he said…
"Well that is just down right immature and petty! Come on now Snivelus cant we just forgive and forget?"
"Forgive and forget? Have you any idea what I endured at school with you two? All the pain and misery I had to deal with? Everybody laughing at me….nobody cared how I felt. The more miserable I became, the more power ye obtained. Well now I am the bigger man!"
"Oooh ya punishing an eleven year old child without reason! Ya you sure are Snivelus." Sirius said sarcastically clapping his hands.
"Don't play the sympathy card Snape. We all know you don't deserve it. Look alright if we apologise will you stop picking on Harry?" James asked approaching Snape.
"James mate why are you reasoning with that git!"
"Because Sirius he is right. What we put him through was unfair, unjust….and maybe if we make our peace….he won't terrorize Harry anymore. So Snape have we got a deal?" James asked stretching out his hand. Snape who was over by his book cabinet, walked back to his desk and sneered down at James hand. "I am not shaking your hand Potter. Anything he gets he deserves. Your son is unattainable! He needs discipline since you and that filthy mud blood clearly don't know how to raise a child……."
"NEVER AGAIN SPEAK ABOUT MY WIFE IN THAT LANGUAGE SNAPE!" James shouted as he held his wand against Snapes throat. "Now either you call off Harry's detention or we will string you up by the neck, kick you in the ass around the school mid air, scroll "Snivelus smells" across your forehead and parade you in this fashion through the great hall. Don't think we won't because we will! And you of all people should know by now that messing with a marauder is dangerous. But messing with a junior marauder is cause for public humiliation. So Snivelus….what is it going to be?" James then stood back and stood between a grinning Sirius and an anxious Remus. Snape just stared from one to the other maliciously.
Harry was talking to Ron about how exciting it was to finally begin their flying lesson when Snape tore down the great hall and approached him.
"Potter come with me now!" He then stormed out of the great hall quickly.
"Wonder what he wants." Harry said.
"Maybe he is going to award you?" Rob said.
"Yeah not bloody likely!" Harry then rose from the table.
"You better go and see Harry. He looks pretty angry." Hermione said anxiously.
"Ya good luck mate." Ron said patting him on the back. Harry smiled at them before going into the hall. As he stepped out into the hall he was pleasantly surprised to see his father and his friends standing there with dopey smiles plastered across their faces. Harry grinned at them before running over to his father. James hugged him as Snape stood back sneering down at them. Remus ruffled his hair as he said…
"You alright Harry?" Harry nodded and reciprocated his smile. Harry then turned to Sirius who smiled at him and hugged him. "How you going Prongslet?" Harry looked up and said….
"I'm okay Sirius. But how come you guys are here? Did you get my letters?"
"Oh we sure did mate." Sirius said as he turned Harry front wards crossing his arms across Harry's
Chest. "Harry, Snape has something he wishes to say to you." James said staring at a loathing Snape.
"Well come on Severus. We had a deal." Remus said distinctively.
A few seconds later Snape stepped forward as he said….
"I have agreed with your father, Black and Lupin that you no longer need to attend detention for the remainder of this month. However do not think for a single second that the points will be restored to Gryffindor Potter because they won't." Harry glared at him.
"Oh yes they will Snivelus." Sirius said releasing Harry and approaching Snape so their faces were barely two inches apart. "Dumbledore does not know about your little endeavour so unless you wish us to convey your petty scheme…..I suggest that you return those twenty points to Gryffindor. Understood?" Snape stared at Sirius vindictively before using his wand to return the twenty points to Gryffindor. He then walked away from them.
"Oh and by the way Snivelus mess with Harry again and we won't be so forgiving!" Sirius shouted down the corridor but Snape kept on walking nonetheless. Sirius turned back to Harry smiling as he stretched out his palm so Harry slapped him a high five.
"Thanks Padfoot, Moony, Prongs. You guys were well awesome! I don't know what I would do without you." Harry said looking at all his guardians in turn.
"Ya well you will never have to champ." James said offering the back of his hand.
"Too right Prongs mate." Sirius exclaimed placing his hand on top of James.
"Ditto guys." Remus replied resting his hand on his friends' hands. Harry then put his hand on top of theirs as they all bent down a little and rose up. They released the grip as they all shouted…..
"Marauders rule and Snivelus drools!" They all laughed as Ron, Rob and Hermione exited the great hall with a few more students ahead and behind them the trio approached the marauders excitedly.
"Alright Rob, Ron how are we doing boys?" Sirius asked smiling hugging them with one arm at the same time. "Were cool Sirius. You?"
"Ya but you know Id be even better if you had give us a letter you plonker!" Sirius said as he pushed him playfully. "Ya sorry about that Sirius….I did mean to but…."
"Ah no harm done kid. No harm done." They shared a warm smile for a few seconds. Harry and Ron were talking to James and Remus with Hermione.
"And who is this little diamond that we got here?" Sirius asked smiling at Hermione who smiled shyly at him. "Hermione Granger Mr. Black. It is a pleasure to meet you. Harry and Rob have been telling me so much about you." She stretched out her hand for Sirius to accept.
"Have they now?" Sirius questioned smiling mischievously from one to the other. Harry and Rob just smirked at him.
"Right well first thing is first Hermione…..you can call me Sirius or Padfoot which ever you feel mot comfortable with. I think the last time I was Mr. Black was….seventh year by McGonagall…actually come to think of it…she still does!" The kids laughed while James and Remus sniggered.
"And secondly I appreciate the formality but please there isn't any need for this hand shaking gesture darling."
"Okay whatever you say….Sirius."
"There you go. Now isn't that more comfortable to say than Mr. Black…."
A few seventh year girls came out of the great hall and looked in the marauders direction. James and Remus took no notice but Sirius shouted out…"Ya alright darling?" He smiled and winked at them which made them scurry out to the grounds faster. Everyone looked at him so Sirius said….
"What? Clearly I still got it." He winked at Harry who just shook his head.
"You are just lucky Shari isn't here mate." James said. Sirius smirked at him.
"Okay well we better go otherwise we will be late for our next class." Hermione ordered.
"Which is what Hermione?" James asked.
"Flying lesson. Its our first one so it's a little bit intimidating for me."
"Oh because you never flew before?"
"No actually Sirius I'm…...I'm a muggle." She starred at the ground.
"Hey there is no shame in that darling. I know plenty of muggles who are gifted witches and wizards. And you have those bright eyes which suggest to me that you are one of them." Sirius said with a hand on her shoulder. She looked and smiled meekly at him before saying…"Thanks. We better go."
"Well we are coming with ye."
"Dad really?"
"Ya James really?"
"Yes Sirius because I think it would be cool to see Harry in action. Plus we got time. So lets go."
Well what did ya think? Good? Bad? Or indifferent? Let me know either way and I shall talk to you later!