Hey everyone... so here is an extra long one for you... hasn't got everything I planned but I hope you like it!
Thanks to my reviewers: littlemisschatterbox98, willtheranger, ebonbon, and Jannice Sace. Really looking forward to hearing what you think of this one... I really enjoyed writing this...
Chapter 47:
A few days after the exam, Lily was sat at the Gryffindor table with her friends. Harry watched as his mother smiled and laughed at something Marlene said. Alice began to tell the girls about her cousin Molly's new baby boy, "They've called him Charlie. I saw him at Christmas. He's such a cutie. Want to see a photo?"
She whipped out a photo of a sleeping child. Lily and Marlene sighed. They had already seen the photo and heard all about him. It was all Alice seemed capable of talking about. Even Frank sighed, growing bored of the conversation.
Lily laughed gently at Frank's reaction before realising that a certain dark haired third year was walking towards her; "alright Lily?" Tom asked.
"I'm good. You?" she replied.
"Very good. How was Christmas?"
"Not bad," Lily nodded.
"Do you fancy going on another date? If you are free at the weekend?" Tom asked confidently.
"Sure," Lily replied, "Love to."
Harry watched as fog began to swirl at his feet. Harry was walking behind Lily and Tom. "So what are we doing on our date, Tom?" Lily asked shyly.
"I was thinking we'd go up to the astronomy tower to watch the stars."
Harry frowned, everyone knows why people go up to the astronomy tower and it sure as hell has nothing to do with stars…
Lily smiled, "ok."
When they reached the tower the two Gryffindors lay back and looked up at the stars. "Wow," Lily smiled, "they're so bright."
Tom nodded in agreement. Some time passed and they didn't really speak. Eventually Tom decided to break the silence, "I – Lily I like you… a lot."
"I like you too Tom," Lily smiled.
"Good. Can I tell you a secret?"
"Sure," Lily looked at the boy lying beside her.
"When I heard about you and Trevor I felt jealous and every time Potter flirts with you… well I'd happily kill him."
Lily laughed, "I'd help…"
Tom smiled, leaning over so that their mouths were almost touching. He stopped for a few seconds, looking her in the eye before leaning the rest of the way and kissing her softly. Harry tapped his foot impatiently, bloody bastard. Kissing my mum – no right! She should be in the girls' dorm asleep not making out with stupid boys who aren't my dad.
Harry was grateful when the mist returned and he was taken to a different part of the castle. He was leaning against the back wall of one of the herbology greenhouses. The marauders were all sat on the back table, whispering excitedly.
"I have an idea," James whispered to his friends, "if I tell you… well I don't want you to tell me it's stupid or impossible. I don't want to hear that it's against the rules or it's illegal. I just want you to listen."
The marauders all nodded their agreement, although Remus was watching James warily. "Ok so Remus has a bit of a problem – a problem that will from here out called his furry little problem – and as his friends, his problems are our problems. So I was thinking of a way we could make it better for him…"
"There's nothing that you can do James," Remus sighed.
"Hear me out: so animals aren't affected by werewolf bites. A werewolf biting them is just the same as a normal wolf biting them. Correct?"
"Yeah but," Remus began.
"So I was thinking we illegally become animagi… It means Remus isn't alone on the full moon and we get to be with our friend when he needs us most. No one gets badly hurt and we get to improve our transfiguration…"
"It's illegal!" Remus replied.
"So…" James laughed.
"It's incredibly difficult. What makes you think…"
"What makes me think we can do it? Don't really know… I just think it's worth a shot." James replied honestly.
"I'm up for it," Sirius smiled excitedly.
"Why not," Peter shrugged.
"Because it's illegal!" Remus frowned – he was trying really hard not to let his voice rise. Several other students had looked over at them.
"Sorry moony you've been out voted," James smiled.
"Moony?" Sirius asked.
"Makes sense," James shrugged his shoulders.
Professor Sprout sighed, "boys would you please pay attention. The four of you talk more than the girls and that's saying something!"
The marauders quickly turned their attention back to the front. Professor Sprout was telling them about leaping toadstools.
January seemed to go fast. James and Sirius could be seen practicing Quidditch each night before bed and each morning before the others woke. They were practicing more than Astrix expected. James wanted to win. They're next match was against Slytherin and James refused to be beaten by those slimy gits. About half way through the month the minister for magic had made a statement about the Knights of Walpurgis. James had read it aloud to all the Gryffindors in the common room when he received an urgent owl from the prophet.
"BREAKING NEWS… Minister for Magic, Joshua Alcaraz, has made a statement in response to the Knights of Walpurgis. The Knights of Walpurgis, a pure-blood politically extreme group that have recently been seen to be lobbying and protesting against muggle-born inclusion in the magical world, have made several demands of the ministry in the last few months. Firstly that muggle-borns be removed from office at the ministry. Secondly that muggle-borns be removed from Hogwarts and thirdly they want to pass a new law restricting the marriages of wizards and muggles. They demand that wizards/ witches marrying muggles should have to hand in their wands and renounce the magical world. They are demanding this with the intention of a passing a future law prohibiting the marriage of wizards and muggles all together.
This extremist group is heavily supported by many of the more powerful pure-blood families. For example; the Blacks, the Malfoys and the Lestranges are amongst those supporting the group. Abraxas Malfoy spoke to this reported, "I personally believe that blood purity is vital to our way of life. I am in no way related to a muggle and I refuse to have them ruin and mar my family tree. Those of us belonging to pure-blood families have been maintaining purity for generations and it is time that the entire wizarding community join us in maintaining our purity, our culture, our traditions, our family trees and our way of life." However not all of the pure-blood families are in support of the group. Charlus Potter, head of the auror office and perhaps the most influential man in the wizarding world had this to say; "I believe too much emphasis is put on our blood. The truth is that magic isn't in our blood. It's in our very soul, in our heart. Magic is bigger than blood. It doesn't matter if you're a pure-blood or a half-blood or a muggle-born or even a squib or a muggle… no it doesn't matter. What matters is that each of us are human and therefore dignified. I beg you, do not take away a muggle-born's dignity. Because if you take away their wand, that's exactly what you are doing… And by the way, not all pure-bloods care about their family tree. I personally would be delighted if my son James married a muggle-born. He could marry a muggle for all I care." With the views of the magical community varying so greatly, this is clearly going to be a subject that will be discussed for some time. Albus Dumbledore commented; "oh please, this is nothing new. Blood-purity has been argued upon for generations. You just have to look at the foundation of Hogwarts. The founders couldn't agree. What makes you think we will?"
Joshua Alcaraz made this statement in response;
"I cannot tell you how saddened I am that these demands have been made. It grieves me greatly. I am incredibly disappointed that the magical community hasn't learnt from the stories and experiences and the wisdom of the previous generations. You don't have to look far in our history books to find the stories of Gellert Grindelwald or Morgan le Fay or Herpo the Foul or Owle Bullock or Emeric the Evil… must I continue?… You don't have to look far. Emeric the Evil, known for terrorising the south of England in the early middle ages. Owle Bullock who instructed others in the worst of dark magic. Herpo the Foul, one of the earliest of known dark wizards, the first to hatch a Basilisk but also the first to do the unthinkable. Morgan le Fay or Morgana, the dark witch of the middle ages. Grindelwald who raised an army and gripped the whole of Europe with fear.
Grindelwald was only defeated just under thirty years ago and yet we find ourselves here again. Pure-bloods using phrases remarkably similar to his own. Instead of 'For the Greater Good' we have 'with the best intentions for the magical community' and 'it's in the community's best interest.' Pure-blood supremacy is a lie. None of us – not even the purest of families – can say that we are exclusively magical. Nor can we say that if our blood is purer then we are superior to those with muggle ancestry; the half-bloods or the muggle-borns. I would like to assert that even the purest of wizarding families have been known to produce squibs. I have nothing against Squibs but it would suggest that blood has nothing to do with magic. It is wrong to discriminate against anyone – regardless of their blood status. It is wrong! It is elitist and corrupt and it is not going to be allowed or endorsed by THIS government. This government chooses to respect muggle-borns, pure-bloods, squibs and anyone in between. We have worked hard, these past four years to support and encourage equality amongst all humanity and magical creatures. I refuse to waste that effort.
If we were in a time of persecution I would understand it. In the 17th Century when the wizarding community feared for its very existence it was understandable that witches and wizards felt anger towards muggles. It made sense that there was anti-Muggle sentiments widespread in the wizarding community. It made sense. However that did not make it right. These Knights talk about tradition and they talk about our history with pride. I cannot say the same. I am not proud of the way muggles have been harmed at the hands of wizards and witches. I am not proud. I understand but I not proud. The laws will not change. Hogwarts will remain open to any child who possesses magical ability. The Ministry of Magic will employ any witch or wizard who it deems appropriate. The marriage of witches or wizards to muggles will not be prohibited. Marriage is a personal matter as is love. Who am I to tell you who to love? Our history books are full of lessons that sadly we appear not to have learnt. Today is a sad day but today is also the day when this government refuses to bend to the prejudices of the powerful."
This reporter feels that nothing can be added. Our minister has said it all."
James finished, "WOW!"
The entire common room erupted into cheering and wooping and clapping. They wouldn't have been louder if they had won a Quidditch match.
Please review... really look forward to your thoughts...
I so got into writing the M for M's speech... lol.
Next Chapter(s):
Lily's birthday...
A couple of articles in the prophet...
A history of magic lesson...
News from home...
Quidditch...