Chapter 7
Following the promise they made at the end of their first year after Lazarus had attacked, the trio decided to finally start on their animagus and patronus training. While they had wanted to start the years before when they first made the marauder's map, they realized it was better to start when they were older to get better control over whatever was to come.
"How are we going to study for this again?" Jude asked as the three of them walked down the halls of Hogwarts on a weekend. "I mean, we can't exactly do it in public and I really don't want to go to the Forbidden Forest."
James shook his head, staring down at the marauder's map in his hands, "No to either of those ideas." He grinned at the two of them, "We're going to the Room of Requirement."
"Really?" Emma beamed excitedly, their books held tightly to her chest.
"The what?" Jude questioned blankly, noticing how no one was around them. Was this some kind of secret passage?
The other two halted their steps when James suddenly stopped at a blank wall. James began walking back and forth, muttering lowly. Emma was bouncing on the balls of her feet anxiously for some reason.
Jude blinked when a door appeared on the wall, "What the bloody hell?" He moved his arm out of the way when Emma pinched it in reprimand.
"Let's go," James said, already walking through the open doorway. Since the three of them had never been into the room before, each were thinking it was going be the best thing every since quidditch.
It kind of wasn't.
Jude gazed around at the clutter around the entrance, hoping that the rest of the room wasn't going to be like this. He really wanted space to work; wasn't that the whole point of finding this place?
The three of them were startled when things began moving around on their own suddenly. The result of the movement gave them a wide, open space for them to do their studying and practicing.
James grinned, "I told you this place was great."
"I never needed much convincing," Emma breathed in awe as they made their way to the open area. The redhead even squealed when a chair and table popped out of nowhere.
Jude began to follow them when he felt something hard under his shoe. He furrowed his brow, moving his eyes to his feet. He stared at the harsh scorch marks around the wooden floor. What had gone down in this room so long ago?
The blue eyed boy flinched in pain, his hand flying to his neck when his scar started burning fiercely. He shut his eyes tightly and took deep breaths, hoping to ease through the sudden pain.
Flashes went through his mind, pouring themselves on the surface of his closed eyelids. There was a man with black hair, a beard, and blue eyes just like his own. He seemed scared for some reason. He was talking to him, but he couldn't hear what he was saying.
Who was this man?
"Jude?" The blue eyed boy inhaled sharply, snapping his eyes open to stare at his two concerned friend. James frowned, "What happened? What's wrong?"
Jude shook his head slowly, dropping his hand, "Nothing. It was nothing." He breathed shakily, "Should we get started now?"
James and Emma exchanged worried glances before James nodded firmly, "Come on, mate. We've got to get this ball rolling already. Enough procrastinating."
Jude glanced at Emma who was still staring at him, concern swimming in her green eyes. He put on a smile for her, "I'm fine, Emma. Let's just start, alright? I really want to see what our animals will be."
Reluctantly, Emma followed the other two boys to the table. They all grabbed their books and began pouring over the subjects of patronuses and animagi.