Carry On

By: Teenlaunch

Disclaimer: Can't we just leave this out? It's so obvious. Anway, no, I am not the proud owner of Harry Potter. If I was, SOME people wouldn't have died in the last book.

a/n: A week late again! Well, just be thankful anything's coming out. This one is short, unfortunately, but if it was as long as I thought it would be you all wouldn't be getting this for at least another week. So, just hang in there. Thanks. Please read and review! (Hint: the more reviews I get, the more motivated I am to update.)

---------------------------------

"You get the feeling Harry's trying to weasel his way out of our bet?" Remus asked quietly, glancing over at Professor Century, who was engrossed in a book.

"Yeah. He's postponing it as long as he can," James murmured, also keeping an eye on their professor as he dipped his quill delicately into his inkwell. "You'd think he'd want to hurry it up, if not to rub it in my face, then at least to get it over with."

"He high-tails it every time it's mentioned," Remus sighed, putting his quill back to his parchment.

"I'll tie him to the gargoyle outside the window to keep him there if I have to." Sirius grumbled, writing feverishly. "Stupid line-writing, serves-you-right teacher. Ah! I broke my quill!"

"Well, Mr. Black, maybe if you were paying attention to what you were doing instead of chatting with Mr. Lupin or coming up with fancy names to call me, you wouldn't keep having these accidents, would you? Such as the miscellaneous holes in your paper, the two pages you handed in to me tonight which are nothing but scribbles, the ink you so gracefully stained Mr. Pettigrew's hands with earlier, or how about yesterday when you dumped a bucket of filthy water over Mr. Potter's head as he was scrubbing the floor of my classroom? Need I go on?"

The Marauders looked up at their Professor, who hadn't yet put down his book nor torn his eyes from its pages. Sirius mumbled, "Sorry, sir."

"I don't believe you should be apologizing to me so much as your comrades, who have so graciously let you live so long even with your astounding ability to grace them with bodily harm nearly once a week." Sirius grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. "Concerning your conversation with Mr. Lupin, Mr. Black, I do not believe hanging Harry out a window will make him talk. You will only succeed in driving a larger wedge between you. You'll be lucky if you get him to answer your questions in the first place."

"Then how would you suggest we get him to open up to us, Professor? We all know everything about each other, but we know nothing about him, and vice versa. It's just not natural for dorm mates to be so distant." James went back to writing.

"Harry knows more than you think, James." James was about to respond when the clock above Century's head chimed. "Alright, I'll see you in class tomorrow, boys."

The Marauders were at the door before he was finished. Remus was about to leave when Century called him back, looking more tired than Remus had ever seen him. "Sir?"

"Make sure they don't terrorize him, Remus. He doesn't take lightly to people prying into his life. Besides," Century sighed, "he's been a bit…off color lately."

"Excuse me for saying so, but you don't look well yourself, sir."

"Neither do you," Century said, smiling slightly, "but you don't see me nagging, do you?"

Remus's face colored, stunned that his professor had brought it up, almost like a subtle form of blackmail. "Sorry, sir. I didn't think anyone really noticed."

"More people notice than you think." Century began shuffling papers about on his desk and chuckled a bit at the look on Remus's face. "Here." He picked up two books and held them out to Remus. "The first one is for you, the second for Harry." Remus took them, glancing at the covers, and gasped.

"How-Professor Dumbledore said he didn't-"

"I was not told, Remus. I figured it out the exact same way your friends did."

"But, it's only been one full moon since you arrived." That explained the subtle hint about his health. "And, no one knows that my friends figured it out. How did you know?"

Century shrugged, leaning heavily into his chair. "I figured that they care enough about you to research your disappearances once a month. As to how I found out so quickly, I have a friend who is a lycanthrope. He always had a problem with self confidence. That book should help you. My friend even made some notes in the margins for future readers." Professor Century looked down at his own book. "Many things are not what they seem, Remus. People know what you are and they assume you are a monster. But you know better. Remember that they are wrong and you are right."

Remus frowned slightly. "Yes, sir." He left the room and was immediately jumped by Sirius and James. Peter hung back. Remus yelled in shock, clutching the books to his chest in an attempt to keep from lashing out in self-defense.

"Hey, calm down! Did Professor Century traumatize you or something?" James slapped his back playfully as they walked.

"No," Remus huffed. "I was thinking."

"Must've been some really deep thoughts," Sirius whispered to James.

Remus glared as Peter snickered. "Come on, let's go get Harry."

--------------------------------------

The Marauders, led by James, marched into the common room, attracting the attention of its entire population. James approached Harry, who was bending over an essay, scribbling away madly, and tipped his chair back. Harry hopped up so fast that James dropped the chair to the floor with a muffled flump. Remus, Sirius, and Peter helped direct Harry, via pulling, pushing, and shoving, to their dorm where a single rickety chair sat in the middle of the room. Peter pushed Harry into it and the lamps flickered out. A single lamp suddenly flared above his head, illuminating the Marauders' grim faces.

"Harry Times, where were you on the night of December 20?" James asked.

"James! You're going to lose our questions! Besides, it's October!" Remus cuffed him on the head.

"Don't worry, we haven't started yet." The lights came back up, blinding Harry who blinked furiously to rid himself of the glare.

"Alright," Remus sighed. He waved his wand and the chair disappeared. Harry dropped two feet onto a pile of miscellaneous poufs and pillows where the Marauders were already seated quite comfortably. Harry grumbled and tried to get comfortable.

"Ready to start, everyone?" James asked as he lay down on his stomach and clutched a pillow to his chest, his chin resting on the top. Remus stared at him, frowning slightly. "What?"

Remus pointed at Harry. He was an almost mirror image of James. Even the position of the pillow was the same. "This is scary." Harry's eyes widened and he instinctively rolled over. He pushed the pillow away and put one hand behind his head and laid the other across his stomach.

"Remus, look at Sirius!" Peter pointed to Harry and then Sirius. Harry glanced over at Sirius. They were positioned the same way, down to the direction their head was turned.

"Harry?" Remus asked.

Harry growled and sat up again. He curled one leg under him and brought his other against his chest with his arms wrapped loosely around his knee. He rested his chin on his knee. "Look!" James pointed to Harry and Remus.

Harry yelled in frustration. "You…just…go bother a hippogriff or something!" Harry laid back down on his stomach and put his head facedown in a pillow.

"Are you wishing us ill, Harry?" Sirius asked with a snicker, tilting his head to watch the smaller boy.

"No." Harry's voice was muffled, "I'm wishing you were more apt to minding your own business."

"Well, off that subject," Remus rolled his eyes, "let's get to our questions. We get three each and Harry can-" Sirius cut Remus off with an exasperated sigh.

"Choose which he answers, yes, we know, Moony! Get on with it!"

"But, there is a catch, Harry."

Harry sighed into his pillow and looked up. "Of course."

Remus ignored him and went on. "We want you to tell the truth. So, to ensure your cooperation, I took the liberty of placing a simple truth charm on this ring." He pointed to a ring that Sirius had just removed from his own hand. "Well, Sirius's ring actually. It has Sirius's name engraved around the stone, and the Black family crest is on the stone itself. But it'll make do for what we need. The charm will make the ring glow red if you lie and gold if you don't. Simple."

Sirius held the ring out to Harry, who was torn between laughter at the irony of it all and awe at the realization of what the ring meant. "You can do whatever you want to it later. Melt it down, sell it, keep it. I don't have a use for it really. The only thing I like about it is my birthstone. Always liked purple. Reminded me of royalty." He smirked, and Harry felt a smile creep onto his face as he delicately accepted the ring, imagining Sirius parading around dressed as a king.

"Too bad you aren't next in line for the crown," James laughed. Sirius snarled and stuck his tongue out at his friend, causing James to snicker.

"Your birthday's February 17th, right?" Harry asked, examining the ring at every angle. "Master bedroom of Number 12 Gr-" Harry froze. He rammed the ring on his index finger, lay on his side, and clutched the pillow tightly to his chest, praying that the Marauders hadn't caught his slip.

"Finish that sentence, if you please." Remus prodded Harry in the side with his foot, making him recoil slightly.

Harry didn't answer. There was no way to get out of this now. He was about to answer when he was suddenly hoisted into the air by one leg. He stared down at Sirius, who was still laying on his back, lazily pointing his wand at him, his eyes a darker blue than usual at the mention of his birthplace. "I really would hate to hang you out the window because you refused to cooperate. Now, I want a response to Remus's very polite request."

"Fine. Grimmauld Place, London, England, The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black!" Harry took out his wand and let himself down, landing with a surprisingly jarring thump on the pillows below him. "Happy now?"

"How-"

"Sirius!" Remus snapped. "Don't loose our questions!"

"Oh, right. I can't believe you know that. It's not information I usually give out."

"Just get on with it." Harry lay back down, facing James, not sure he could face Sirius or Remus's questioning gazes.

Sirius quickly overcame his shock, replacing it with a large grin. "Alright then, I'll start!" Sirius tilted his head back to look at Harry. "What…is the airspeed velocity of an African swallow?"

"Sirius!" James kicked him.

"Ouch!" Sirius snarled. "WHAT? He doesn't have to answer!"

Harry almost smirked. "Ten meters per second, now get a move on." The ring flashed gold and then faded quickly.

The Marauders glared at Sirius. "Thanks for losing a question, Padfoot."

"How was I supposed to know he'd know the right answer?" Sirius snapped, pouting.

James rolled his eyes at him and cocked his head in thought. "How'd you get that scar?" Harry's hand moved up to trace it absently. James nodded. "It's wicked."

Harry winced and withdrew his hand. "In an accident." The ring glowed red.

"Try again," James said, smirking.

Harry ignored the pointed looks he was receiving and went on. "That's what I was always told. My relatives said it was a car accident."

"That's not what I asked."

"So?"

"You're avoiding the question."

Harry looked away, unable to look at his young father's eager face as he answered. "I got it the night my parents died." The Marauders watched the ring. It blazed gold.

"The night your parents-"

"Yes. I don't want to talk about it." Harry snapped. "Who's next?"

Remus leaned back, hands draped over his knee, and looked at the ceiling, frowning slightly. "That's why you went off on us in the Three Broomsticks. We were bashing your parents, though good-naturedly. Though I suppose you don't care that it was in good sport." He smiled gently to encourage Harry. "Tell us a bit about your family. What were they like?"

Harry's eyes dimmed and he clutched the pillow to his chest again. "My parents died when I was one. I never knew them, but I've heard hundreds of stories about them. They were two of the best witches and wizards ever." Harry paused. He noticed the frown deepening on Remus's face. "I have one friend whose family has sort of adopted me though. It's wonderful. I just wonder if they miss me…next."

Peter had a thoughtful expression on his face. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Pete, what kind of question is that?" Remus groaned, wanting to severely hurt his friends for the stupid questions they were asking.

"A good one!" Sirius and James answered indignantly.

"Yeah, I have a girlfriend, well, sort of. I tend to be a bit protective, so I broke up with her to keep her safe." The Marauders laughed, astonishment stamped across each face. "What? I didn't want her to get caught by this guy who has a grudge toward me. End of story."

Sirius snorted but dropped it. "My turn again! What is your favorite color?"

"Padfoot…" James moaned, burying his face in the pillow.

"I want to know!" Sirius protested, glaring at him.

"It's black. James?"

"Alright!" James clapped his hands together. "How did you get so good at Quidditch?"

Harry smiled. "That's a funny story actually. At my old school, we had our first flying lesson and I was really scared. I thought I would be horrible at it. Well, one kid accidentally took off and hurt himself. The school bully saw that he had dropped something when he fell and he took it, into the air, mind you. I followed him on my broom. He threw the thing, shaped kind of like a snitch now that I think about it, and I caught it in a straight dive to the ground. Turns out my Head of House saw it and I became the youngest player in a century to be on a House team. Being a first year, I was terrified. One of my friends found a trophy with my dad's name on it. He was a natural, so was I. It's genetics really."

"That's really unfair." James pouted.

"Shut up, Prongs. You're a natural anyway. My turn." Remus sat up. "Why is your favorite subject DADA, dueling, whatever you want to call it?"

Harry sat up too and leaned against Sirius's bed. "I think that it's because…"

"Because…" Remus prompted.

"Because I've been raised as a person who…" Harry took a breath to calm himself then continued, "who has the weight of the world on his shoulders."

"You shouldn't have been raised to believe that! No one can-"

"I know I shouldn't have. But it's the way I am. I want to protect people no matter what it takes. And Defense is the best way to prepare."

"It doesn't seem like you need to be prepared any more. You're excellent." Remus murmured, remembering Harry's duels in the class.

Harry ducked his head, coloring slightly with the praise. "Thanks."

Peter was bouncing up and down in his excitement, anxious for his turn. "What is your deepest, darkest secret?"

Harry almost laughed out loud. "I'm not answering that."

"Um, okay…what's the worst thing that's ever happened to you?"

Harry was silent for a moment, frowning slightly. Sirius sighed exasperatedly. "He's not going to answer. Ask another."

"I'm thinking. You'd know that if you did it more often."

"Oh, that was low, but sadly true." Sirius lobbed a pillow at James as he laughed.

"Answer my last question while you're thinking." Sirius rolled over onto his stomach, his chin resting on his hands. "What's your middle name?"

"Alex," Harry answered. The ring glowed red and he growled. "Oh, alright! It's James. And to answer your question, Peter, the only answer I think covers it, is that I was born. At least I feel that way sometimes. I know that I'm here for a reason, but…" Harry sighed. "Anyway, that's your answer. I was born." The ring began flashing from red to gold so fast that it was impossible to tell what color was which. Harry twisted the ring, his magic pulsing slightly, and it went back to its normal hue. The Marauders stared at him. "Some things are better left misunderstood."

James cleared his throat. "I think I have my last question. What is your most embarrassing moment?"

Harry's brow furrowed. "Well, I was on my way to school once and one of my friends had this mimbulus mimbletonia, an exotic plant," Harry explained when the Marauders shared a confused look. "He poked it with his quill and it sprayed stink sap all over the train compartment. Just then, my crush walked in and, well, you can imagine."

"I feel for you," James said.

Remus nodded. "I want to know about Professor Century. Now, this all counts as one question. Where'd you meet him? How are you such good friends? Is there anything…odd about him?"

"Well, I met him at my old school. He told me he had known my father and we hit it off. I guess I just like having one friend who knows what it's like..."

There was silence. Remus was frowning yet again. "You didn't answer the last part of the question."

"Oh, well, no, there's nothing…odd about him." The ring didn't react. Harry, confused, tried pushing his luck. "In fact, he's just about as normal as you can get, for a wizard." Again, the ring didn't glow. His magic had somehow deactivated the spell.

"Oh, okay." Remus went on, looking disappointed. "Pete, your turn."

Peter bit his lip and stared at Harry for a moment. "What is your worst fear?"

"Dementors," Harry answered rather quickly.

"Dementors, why-"

"I believe that is the end of our session." Harry hopped up, happy that the torture session was over. "I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted."

Remus jumped up as well. "Before you go to sleep, Harry, I have something for you." He handed a bewildered Harry the book Professor Century had given him. "Professor Century wants you to read it. He lent me a book too."

Harry nodded absently and turned the book over a few times, examining it. His face showed confusion as he read the title. "Legends and Mysteries of the Prowler," Harry whispered. He opened the cover and found a line of letters squeezed along the bottom of the first page. James craned over his shoulder to look.

"Eka wa sirel worp eht. What in the name of Merlin does that mean?" James took the book from Harry and stared at the letters.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sirius asked, rolling his eyes, pulling his shirt over his head as he readied for bed.

"No, Oh Masterful One, it is not."

"It's probably coded, Prongs, you troll!" Sirius snatched it from James, his shirt slung carelessly over his shoulder.

"I am not a troll!"

"Then why did you get T on Divination in fifth year?" Sirius taunted, smirking.

"Everyone gets Troll in divination, Padfoot!"

"Whatever. Let me see if I can…" Sirius ran his wand over the letters and let out a triumphant yell. "I knew it! Just a simple revealing charm did the trick. Now, it says…" Sirius trailed off and mouthed the words. "The prowler is awake. What does that mean?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure Harry would appreciate it if you didn't just yank things away from him, Pads, especially," Remus ripped the book away from Sirius and handed it back to Harry who willingly accepted it, "when someone's left an encrypted message for him."

"Thanks, Remus." Harry lay down on his bed and opened the book. The message didn't make sense. Why would Lupin have left him a message he couldn't decipher? And what was a prowler anyway? He read the dedication and frowned.

Dedicated to all prowlers, more commonly known as werewolves in many parts of the world, who have been misunderstood for centuries

The last word, centuries, was underlined. Harry ran a finger over it. He murmured a revealing charm and the word changed to Century. Harry pressed his finger over the word again, marveling at how easily he could perform simple wandless spells. Deciding sleep would benefit him more than a night in the library, Harry placed the book aside, turned over, and sighed as the boys started a pillow fight for the sixth night in a row.

--------------------------------

Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth. -Proverbs 16:13