-CHAPTER FIVE-

-THE FEAST AT HOGWARTS-

James was too busy piling more roast potatoes onto his plate when a tall, much older student approached the part of the table where the three new Gryffindor students were sitting. He was wearing the bright and gleaming badge of a Prefect on his robes, putting the new students at ease.

"Welcome to Gryffindor, everyone," the boy chirped. "I'm Nathaniel Wood, one of the Gryffindor Prefects, just went into my fifth year."

James looked up at the name. "Wood? As in Oliver Wood?" James gasped.

"Keeper for Puddlemere United and former Gryffindor Quidditch Captain?"

Nathaniel nodded. His eyes were gleaming. He laughed, his widening.

"That's my dad," he said. "He drilled into me at a young age about your father and how they hadn't won a Quidditch Cup for six years until your father became a Seeker. Rules have changed; first, you can try out for the Quidditch if you ever want to join our team."

"My dad told me about his first match with your dad as captain. Swallowed the Snitch and had to spit it out into his hand, won the game."

Nathaniel nodded. "Well, if you've got even half your dad's flying skills, I'm sure you'll be the star on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Tryouts start next month. Do you have your own broom?"

"I have. It's a BlazeStreak 9000," James said.

A Gryffindor student a little away down the table coughed and choked on a Yorkshire Pudding before coughing it up on his plate. "A BlazeStreak 9000, those are three times faster than the Firebolt."

There was a murmur up and down the table that spread like a fire.

"You have to try out for the team, Potter," one of the students cried. "We got flattened by Slytherin last year."

"Pretty much every time we played someone," another said.

"We need to win the House Cup this year."

"Let the man settle in first," Nathaniel shushed them.

He cleared his throat quietly to speak. "I'm Rodney," he said nervously, looking as if the whole table of food could swallow him up. "What does a Prefect do exactly?"

Nathaniel laughed. "It's a good question, Rodney. As a Prefect, I'm here to help keep things running smoothly in the Gryffindor. That means answering your questions as I have just done, helping you settle in, and making sure everyone follows the rules, or at least tries to," he added with a smile and Penelope frowned at the cheeky grin on Nathaniel's face. "We do patrol the corridors at night, making sure no student is out of bed. Since your father left, James, nothing exciting has happened. Teddy Lupin has tried to match what your father did but keeps failing."

"How often do you patrol the corridors?" Penelope asked if her plate of roast chicken and vegetables was now gone. "With rule-breaking, how is that enforced?"

"We patrol mainly after 10PM or 11PM, as that is when students must be in their common room. We patrol in shifts well into the morning. Last year, during the summer, my patrol ended at 3 in the morning. Curfew is different for each year. Sixth and seventh years can stay out until 11PM, first years like yourself, is 8PM, second years goes to 9PM and the third years is the same. If you are planning on sneaking around the Castle at night, don't get caught. To answer your question about rules being enforced, Prefects and Head Boys can take House Points from students, even their House. If I see you sneaking around the Castle, I'll let you off with a warning first, and then I will take Points away from you. I don't want to take points from our House, but as Prefect, I must. The only people that can't take Points away from students are the caretaker and ghosts."

"Why can't the caretaker take points?" Rodney asked.

"If it's the same caretaker when my dad was at Hogwarts, the House Cup would be a draw every year."

"Flich," Nathaniel said, grinning. "He would be taking points off each House every day until there was nothing left. Watch out for his cat, Mrs Norris. She's still alive."

"How old is the cat?"

"Old, even by a cat standard. I doubt it's a cat, more likely to be Animagius."

"A what?" Rodney and Penelope croaked. James was surprised that it was something that Penelope did not know.

"It's a witch or wizard who can turn themselves into the animals. My grandfather was one, and so were most of his friends, apart from Lupin."

"Remus Lupin?" Penelope said, drinking a cup of juice. "The werewolf that died at the Battle of Hogwarts?"

James nodded. "My grandfather, James Potter, could turn himself into a stag, Sirus Black, a dog, and there was another person that was their friend and did something to not become their friends."

Rodney leaned to whisper to James. "I think Penelope might be gunning for a prefect badge already," he said. "I bet she ends up being the youngest witch to ever become a Prefect."

James laughed, and Penelope forced herself to look at him. Nathaniel clapped his hands together. "Anyway, I just wanted to say welcome to Gryffindor. You're part of the best House at Hogwarts. You heard me, Eleanor Meadowcroft," he grinned at her, and she smiled back. She's a fifth-year Seeker and my girlfriend," he added proudly.

"Is she good on a broom?"

"Some say she's the best Hufflepuff has had in about twenty years. Enjoy the feast, and I'll see you in the common room after dinner."

"He's a nice Prefect," Penelope said first after he walked away. "Firm but isn't going to go out of his way to dock points."

"Yeah, if he's anything like Oliver Wood, he'll be good. My dad took us to see Puddlemere United last year; Oliver Wood came over and gave me a signed Quidditch top."

"I haven't been into Quidditch that much," Rodney said.

"It's the best Wizarding sport out there. You might like; the whole school has to watch every game."

"Is it okay if I say something to you?" Penelope leaned over the table and whispered to James. James nodded and watched her leaning in. "Your dad put the dark wizard in Azkaban that hurt my mum. I was just to say thank you.

James heard her and asked her to repeat what she had just said, "What did you say?"

"Your dad. He's the one who put the dark wizard in Azkaban. The one who..." she paused, her lips pressing into a thin line before she continued, "the one who hurt my mum and put her into St. Mungos. Thanks."

"I..." James started and then stopped, unsure of what to say. I'm glad he could help."

Penelope nodded, and her expression was soft. "My mum was an Auror, too," Penelope said. "I don't know who the wizard was. I've looked across the Daily Prophet, and I couldn't find anything. She always said your dad was the best Auror there ever was. Brave, firm, but kind. She said he never stopped fighting for people, even when he didn't have to."

"Rounded up most of the dark wizards, didn't he?" Rodney asked.

"With loads of help from others. Professor Longbottom was an Auror as well. So was Uncle Ron and...

"Your dad became Head of the Aurors," Penelope said. "I remember coming across the Daily Prophet article in my dad's attic."

"He did. He's still the Head," James said. "I don't know if dad ever talked about that particular case," he said honestly. "But he always said that being an Auror was about protecting people who couldn't defend themselves. It wasn't about the frame or the glory; it was about doing what was right.

Penelope stared at him for a moment. She glanced at Rodney, who had been quiet as they talked. "Well," she said, sitting back down on the table and picking up her fork.

"Do you think you're going to be an Auror?" Rodney asked.

James snorted. "There's almost no dark wizards left."

"They're still out there, I think, lurking about," Rodney said. "If there's another breakout at Azkaban, they'll be more," he continued and shuddered at the thought of it.

"I don't think there will ever be another breakout," Penelope said. "They removed the guards from there."

James nodded and heard about the Dementors and shuddered every time he thought of them. His gaze drifted across the hall to the Slytherin table, where Scorpius Malfoy sat surrounded by new housemates, his blonde hair catching the warm glow of the floating candles. Malfoy was laughing at something one of the older students had said, his smug expression covering most of his face. Rodney followed his eyes and saw him staring at Malfoy.

He told Penelope and Rodney. "Uncle Ron always said, "Never trust a Malfoy," he muttered, his voice low so nobody would hear.

Rodney nodded. "He does seem...well, a bit trouble," he said. "That whole thing with Penelope earlier."

Penelope, sitting across from them, let a small flicker of a scowl cut across her face. She glanced at James. "I can handle Malfoy," she said firmly. "If I need any help, I'll ask."

"But..." Rodney said and had to pat his chest when he coughed. "Never mind."

James drank his orange juice and mulled over his thoughts about Scorpius Malfoy until a sudden shimmer caught his eye. A translucent figure was gliding gracefully down the Gryffindor table, his Head titling cautiously to one side as though it might fall off at any moment. The sight of the ghost made people talk.

Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, better known as Nearly Headless Nick, floated toward his, his ruffled collar askew and his kind face lit up with a welcoming smile.

"Ah, well, new Gryffindors," he said. "Welcome, welcome to the best house at Hogwarts!" He gave a bow, his Head wobbling alarmingly as if it nearly came from off his neck.

Rodney yelped, his fork clattering onto his plate. "He's..."

"Nearly headless," James said with a grin, leaning toward Rodney. "He's the Gryffindor House ghost. You'll get used to him.

"Nearly is putting it very generously," Penelope said under her breath, though her eyes remained fixed on the ghost.

Nick turned his attention onto the three of them, his eyes twinkling. "Yes, quite right. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service, though you may call me Nearly Headless Nick, as most do," the ghost said and with a quick adjustment of his Head, it no longer looked as if it was hanging off. "I do hope you'll find your time in Gryffindor both rewarding and exciting."

James smiled. "Thanks, Nick. My dad told me all about you. You helped him a few times," James told him.

If Nearly Headless Nick wasn't a ghost, he would feel a warmth feeling going across his cheeks. "I did help your father a few times over his years at Hogwarts. He even came to my Deathday Party. Two of his friends, Mr Weasley and Miss. Granger."

"Deathday Party?" Rodney croaked. "What's that?"

Nearly Headless Nick glanced down at Rodney, floating. "You know how you have a birthday? It's just the opposite of that, celebrating your death."

"James, if you do half of what your father did, you'll do this House proud. Are these your friends?"

Rodney nodded. Penelope did not.

"We met on the train," Rodney said.

"The Hogwarts Express!" he said, with a raise in voice that rattled some plates and forced himself to jump. "I still remember the day that I came to Hogwarts, the

Hogwarts Express was invented. So, my father had to travel all the way from Devon to Scotland in a wooden cart. I think we left in July to get here for the September."

"You went to Hogwarts?" Rodney asked, his eyes wide.

"I was sorted into Gryffindor. I wasn't the best in charms, but I was okay in other subjects."

Rodney, who wanted to ask another question, put his hand up.

"I'm not a teacher, young boy," Nearly Headless Nick said with a laugh, and Rodney quickly put his hand down. "What question would you like to ass?" he said with a grin stretching across his pale face.

"Do the ghosts hang around in the common room? Or do they have to follow a strict timetable on where they need to be?"

"I can be anywhere I want, as long as it's in the ground. The furthest that I get is either to the end of the Forbidden Forest, and then I am forced back."

"Did you die at Hogwarts?" Penelope asked.

"No," Nearly Headless Nick said softly.

"When you die, depending on if you would like to move. The Ministry of Magic can perform a binding spell that latches you to another place that wasn't your death. I went where I felt most happy at home. Hogwarts. If you are a little afraid, I don't stay in the common room too long, as it can put the fire out, and I don't want to overhear students such as yourself planning on breaking the rules and sneaking out at night."

Rodney blushed. At the end of Nearly Headless, Nick's sentence earned a soft laugh from Penelope, who quickly hid it by pretending to drink her juice.

Nick grinned down at them. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must make my way up the table, greeting old and new people. Do enjoy the rest of the feast, and if you ever need advice or wish to hear the tragic tale of my almost beheading and why I was punished, do seek me out. Since you're sorted in Gryffindor, just call for me and I'll pop up right in front of you. So, be prepared," he said to Rodney, who chuckled.

With a quick spin, Nearly Headless Nick floated off towards the older Gryffindors, who greeted him with smiles and waves.

"I think we have the best ghost," James said.

"Well, at least he's polite."

Across the hall, the air at the Slytherin table seemed heavier and different, and James knew why. The Bloody Baron, the Slytherin House ghost, glided and floated up and down the long table. His silver and glimmering form shimmered faintly in the torchlight, and the chains draped across his body rattled softly as he moved.

The Bloody Baron's pale and disgusting face was streaked with ghostly blood, and his hollow eyes seemed to pierce through anyone who dared to meet his gaze. The Slytherin around him sat straighter, their chatter muffled by his wailing as if they feared drawing his attention. A first year, who was seated away from the Baron, couldn't lift her Head up from the plate.

James nudged Rodney, nodding toward the Slytherin table. "There's the Bloody Baron," he whispered. "Slytherin's ghost?"

Rodney shuddered and gripped his goblet as if it could protect him. "He looks scary," he said in a hushed voice, his eyes darting toward the Bloody Baron, who was floated by Scorpius Malfoy without a word.

Penelope turned her Head subtly, her gaze cool as she watched the ghost. "He's supposed to be one of the oldest ghosts at Hogwarts, other than Peeves," she said quietly. "And one of the worst. There's a rumour that he was involved in something tragic before he became a ghost.

James nodded, knowing the full story. "You know the Grey Lady over there?" James said and nodded toward a sweet but saddened ghost that went up and down the Ravenclaw table. She greeted the Ravenclaw students.

"Yeah," Penelope said, getting a piece of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. "What about her?"

"That's the ghost of Ravenclaw. Her mother was Rowena Ravenclaw, the founder of Ravenclaw, who stole her diadem. She fled to Albania. Her mother became very ill while she was away, hoping to see her daughter once last time, sent the Bloody Baron, a man who loved her. When she didn't come back with him, he got angry and killed her in a fit rage of rage. He killed himself after; the blood on that ghost isn't his, it's hers," he said, nodding at the Grey Lady.

Scorpius Malfoy was grinning as Bloody Baron floated around him.

Rodney felt cold. "I don't think I want to look at him but never mind speaking to him."

The Grey Lady couldn't bear to look at the Bloody Baron.

"I'm glad we have Nearly Headless Nick."

"So do I."

The Fat Friar was at the Hufflepuff table, cheerful as ever, giggling, and would float up and down the table, never staying in one spot.

The Gryffindor table buzzed with loud chatter, and older students talked about their lessons. A third year was so excited about going to Hogsmeade that she bounced her knee and knocked her juice all over chocolate pudding. Rodney raised his fork, a generous piece of roast chicken speared on the end. He opened his mouth to take a bite when, suddenly, the feast vanished. Not just the food, but the plates, platter, goblets, even the forkful of chicken Rodney had been about to eat was all gone in an instant.

"HEY!" I was eating that!" Rodney said, staring at himself, holding an empty fork and a completely empty table. "Where did my chicken go?"

All the first years were stunned by the vanishing food and disappearing plates. Professor Stormquill rose from his seat, and everyone looked at him.

"What a wonderful feast, as always. We begin a new year at Hogwarts, hopefully the best one yet. Now the feast is over, it is time for you to go to your common rooms. Prefects, please lead your housemates, Head of Houses, to the staff room; we have a meeting to attend."

Rodney groaned, still holding his fork as if hoping the chicken might appear back on the fork. "It was my last bite."

"I think you've had enough," Penelope said, her eyebrows knitted together. We need to hurry, or we'll get left behind. "

Nathanial appeared at the table, waving a hand to gather the first years. "All right, everyone! Follow. In other years, stay back and do not block the first year's view. I want them to know what is in front of them."

The House ghosts vanished. Nathanial led the group of wide-eyed Gryffindor's first years through the Castle, his perfect badge glinting in the torchlight. The corridors were alive with the echoes of shuffling feet, whispers, and the laughs of the older students heading to their own common room.

"Stick close, everyone," Nathanial called over his shoulder as they reached the base of the enormous stone staircase. "Watch out for the staircase; Hogwarts has a thing for moving things around when you least expect it. You don't want to get lost on your first night. I remember my first year, I took the wrong turn and ended up in a random room that was locked by Peeves. I was found the next day and needed some clean underwear after that."

The first years glanced nervously at each other, huddling closer together as they began climbing the grand staircase. The steps were wide enough to fit the group. Paintings on the walls came to life as they passed, the people, witches, wizards, goblins, and elves, leaning out of their frames to watch.

"Are you first years?" one elderly wizard said while slumped on a chair. "Don't knock anything over when you're sneaking around at night. I will not be woken up again."

Rodney looked up nervously at the talking paintings. His mouth was wide awake when a beautiful witch grinned at him, and his cheeks went bright red. "Do they always do that?"

"Yeah. Just don't wake them up," James said.

They climbed higher up the stone steps, which suddenly groaned and trembled underneath their feet as they spun. Several first years gasped, grabbing onto the stone railing for support.

Rodney's face turned pale. "I didn't believe you when you said it moved.

Nathanial laughed. "Yeah! The moving staircases were charmed by Rowena Ravenclaw, who wanted the students to always be on their guard.

The air grew warmer with the torches as they approached the Gryffindor Tower. Finally, they arrived at the end of the long hallway, where a large, round portrait of a plump woman in a pink silk dress awaited. She smiled warmly as the group approached.

"Ah, new Gryffindors!" the Fat Lady exclaimed, her voice cheerful and a big grin on her slightly fat face. What a fine-looking bunch. Welcome to Gryffindor Tower."

Nathaniel nodded at Fat Lady, stepped forward and addressed her with a smile. "Good evening, Madam. The password is Brimstone.

"Correct," the Fat Lady said, swinging the door open to reveal the entrance of the Gryffindor Common Room. They walked into the common room, following Nathaniel.

James was the first one to enter the room behind Nathaniel. The room was more welcoming and warmer than he ever imagined. The circular space was adorned in rich red and gold, the Gryffindor colours. A massive fireplace crackled at one end, casting a warm glow over the room. Plush armchairs and sofas were arranged in a cosy cluster, and the walls were lined with bookshelves and tapestries of Godric Gryffindor, who stood in front of them all. A Seeker in red and gold bounced around with the green fields as a background.

Nathaniel turned to face the students who had just crawled into the common room and clapped his hands to get their attention. They had stopped gazing up at moving portraits. "All right, everyone. Welcome to the Gryffindor Tower. This is your common room, it's where you'll spend a lot of your free time. To the left is the boy's staircase, and to the right is the girls. Your dormitories are at the top of each staircase. Now, don't try to sneak into the other side; trust me, it won't end well.

"What happens?" Penelope asked.

"You go sliding all the way down to the bottom. If you slide too fast, you fly into the fireplace," Nathanial said. "Settle in for the night, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me or the other prefects. If you want, just ask our ghost, and I would like to say welcome again to Gryffindor."

James and Rodney said good night to Penelope and went to their rooms. At the top of the staircase, they found a round room with a four-poster bed draped in red curtains embroidered with gold thread. The warm glow of the fireplace in the corner made the room feel more welcoming, and their trunks were already waiting for them at the foot of their beds.

James flopped onto his bed, a grin spreading across his face. "This place is amazing," he said, unable to stop himself from grinning.

Rodney collapsed on the bed, full of food. "I think I could sleep for a week."

"Best food I've ever had," Rodney said. "Sorry, mum," he said with a giggle and a yawn.

As the other boys settled into their beds or began unpacking their trunks, James sat up and opened the chest of drawers by his side. Inside, nestled under some folded socks and a few bits of parchment, was a carefully folded, slightly worn piece of parchment. He trembled as he pulled it out.

His father had never told his mother that he had given this map to his son before he had left for Hogwarts. A simple instruction pinned to a note and scribbled in his father's writing was: "Use it wisely if you ever want to go and explore the castle at night."

James smoothed the parchment across his lap, running his fingers over the blank surface. He knew the words; his father had drilled them into him: "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Ink suddenly began to spread across the parchment, curling and twisting like vines until the words appeared in front of him.

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

are proud to present

THE MARAUDER'S MAP

He knew who they were. Prongs, his grandfather, Padfoot, his father's godfather, shuddered at the mention of Wormtail and moved on to Moony, who was Professor Lupin. James grinned as the maps came to life in front of him, lines and dots unfurling across the parchment to show the Hogwarts Castle in a way that nobody could imagine. He could see the moving dots of students and Professors with their own names wandering through the various corridors and staircases. Even Fat Lady's dot hovered near the Gryffindor common room entrance.

James grinned as the map came to life, lines and dots unfurling across the parchment to reveal the intricate layout of Hogwarts Castle. He could see the moving dots of students and professors labelled with their names, wandering through the various corridors and staircases. Even the Fat Lady's dot hovered near the Gryffindor common room entrance. He saw the dot of Peeves whizzing through the corridor and Flich following the way that Peeves was going. Mrs Norris was at Flich's side.

Rodney, who had been rummaging through his own trunk, caught sight of the map and froze. "What's that?" he asked, leaning over for a better look.

James stopped and realised Rodney had not gone to sleep. "It's called the Marauder's Map. My grandfather made it with a bunch of his friends.

Rodney's eyes widened, and they drew the curtain to block anyone else's view. "How does it work?"

"It's a magic," James explained. "Watch and look," James said and jabbed at the dot in the Gryffindor Common Room.

"That's my name," Rodney said.

"It's the way the map has been created; once someone sets themselves into Hogwarts, their names are linked to the map. Look. Professor Stormquill is talking to Slughorn in the Dungeons."

"Professor Hardbroom is outside. Who would be outside at this time of night?" Rodney said and yawned. "What else does this do?"

"Shows everything," James explained. "Secret passages and hidden rooms. Some will not show up in the room because they're unplottable."

"Unplottable?" Rodney asked, screwing his face up and looking confused.

"Meaning you can't put them on a map," James explained simply. James scanned the map. "See this? That's a passage that leads straight to Honeydukes in Hogsmeade? If this hasn't blocked up, we could sneak out to Hogsmeade."

"Sneak out?" Rodney asked, and the thought of it excited him.

Rodney closed his curtains and went to sleep. James took one look at the map. Penelope was asleep in her room, Nearly Headless Neck was going down the Grand Staircase, and Professor Hardbroom had made their way back into Castle. He tapped his wand and said, "Mischief managed," and the map's ink vanished, leaving the parchment blank once more. Tucking it under the socks and underwear, he closed the drawer and went to bed, dreaming of what was going to happen the next day. He wondered if this was the bed that his father had slept in