Chapter 24: The Marauders Oath
I solemnly swear I am up to no good!
Sometimes your plans go awry. Sometimes what you intended to happen, backfires on you in the most amusing of ways. Fate likes to backhand you for your stupidity. Sirius didn't INTEND for any of it, but who could predict four precocious, smart, and fearless Gryffindors?
First, Remus had approached him during their morning run, falling back from the group so they could speak without being overheard. "So. What are you hiding Black?" Remus asked. "I mean you've been reading that instruction manual since last night? Nothing can be that special about a piece of luggage." the young werewolf huffed.
Sirius laughed, "It's really got you? Not knowing?" Sirius smirked and Remus growled, sounding a lot like Mooney rather than Remus.
"Fine. Tell you what Remus. You tell your secret to James and Severus, and I'll tell you all about the secret of the trunk." Sirius laughed thinking he knew exactly what Remus would say to such a preposterous suggestion.
"Fine. After breakfast." Remus said.
Sirius stumbled then coming to a sudden halt, while Remus kept jogging along the trail. It took a full minute for Sirius's brain to reengage. "Shit." He mumbled before getting his body back up to running. His mind was spinning in a thousand directions.
This could be really really good. Or really REALLY BAD! He gulped. Things were moving quicker than he expected. They had confronted Remus in their second year and it took them till the fifth year to become Animagus's. That was without help and doing it completely on their own. This time it would be different. There had only been two full moons since school started!
He looked up the trail watching James and Lily racing each other like demons, each wearing identical determined expressions, Severus was taking the trail in a nice easy jog, with Remus almost catching up to him, not pushing himself too much. For a moment he didn't recognize them. They had already changed so much from the kids he went to school with the first time it was almost breathtaking. James was still a prat and clueless, but he was also more focused on improving himself rather than torturing others. The influence of his friends had a lot to do with it. James had told him long ago that he considered his friend's family. Once he let you in, it was for life. That at least didn't seem to have changed.
Lily too was different than her previous iteration. She actually liked James and that in itself was like a miracle. He considered it had to be the inclusion of her friend into their group that rooted the change. James's crush on her wasn't as intense this time, muted by Severus again being in their group. But James was learning that Severus and Lily acted more like brother and sister than boyfriend and girlfriend. They were close, but when James asked Severus bluntly once if he was Lily's boyfriend, Severus had looked disgusted with the idea.
"Please, don't make me even consider Lily in that way!" He'd objected. "She's a sister to me. My best friend."
He had sounded so sincere about it that James accepted it and had caused a three-day prank war within the house when he had happily exclaimed, "So you are the one I need permission from to date your sister?"
Sirius was sure he had changed all of their future timelines to some extent. They were more confident, more focused, more physically fit, and more prepared for what was to come than they had ever been. They had a long way to go, but he felt sure that things wouldn't be the same. All good things in his book, because who wants to live through THAT again. He shuddered. "Not going to happen."
The rest of the morning passed in a blur as he mentally prepared himself for what was to come. The revelations that would be made, the pacts that would be formed, the promises that would be made, and the future that they were about to forge together. He couldn't help but feel that tonight would be a milestone.
He kept glancing over at Remus throughout breakfast but he was steadfastly ignoring him. He caused a bit of a stir when he formally asked Severus, James, himself and to his astonishment, Lily to join him in their dorms after breakfast.
Curious, James glanced over and asked, "Is this about your little furry problem?" He asked in a discreet whisper. Causing Sirius and Remus to go into shock. James just looked smugly at Remus and said, "If it's not I'll be highly disappointed. I have a bet with Severus that you'll tell us sooner rather than later. Severus seemed to think it would take you at least another year."
James rolled his eyes. "No way would you keep that big a secret for a whole year from your best friends Remmy. No way." He smirked again at Remus's look of shock. "Don't worry. It's only us that know. Cause we aren't stupid. At least not as stupid as some people." His gaze moved angrily to Sirius.
"Can we talk about this in the dorm?" Remus gritted out between clenched teeth. His eyes were boring into Sirius's though. "You told?"
Sirius shook his head, "NO WAY!" He burst out, looking around. They were the only ones at the very end of the Gryffindor table. Remus looked murderous and Sirius shook his head, "I didn't Moo… Remus. I swear!" Then gave James an evil eye, "Tell him I didn't before he rips my heart out and eats it."
James, who was sitting right next to Remus, whispered in the werewolf's ear and he seemed to calm down and gave Sirius an apologetic look. "Sorry."
Sirius cocked his head a bit studying the boy across from him. "You know Remus. You need to stop jumping to conclusions. It could get you into trouble someday. Find out all the facts, and then form your conclusion! Get facts, then get mad." He lectured half-jokingly. Remus had a bad habit of assuming. If It happened once, it will happen again. He expected only the worst of people and was always surprised when they exceeded his very low expectations.
"So shall we adjourn to the dorm?" He asked them and they all rose as one, included Lilly. Sirius whispered to the table, "Can I get a firewhiskey to go?" The cup beside his plate burped in reply. It was worth a shot, he thought petulantly.
They were all sitting on a bed, Lily had climbed up beside Severus and they were all looking at each other expectantly.
James decided that it just had to be him. He stood up and moved to the middle of the room. "I hereby call the first meeting of first-year Gryffindor boys. And the lovely Miss Evans," He gave a cheeky bow in her direction, which caused a pillow to be thrown in his face from said Miss Evans, "...to order." He set off a bang with his wand and some sparks, which wasn't really necessary as he had everyone's attention.
"First order of business is to discover the extent of betrayal that has been occurring in our own dorm. To uncover the TRUTH!" He shouted, causing Remus to startle and growl again.
"Order! Order in the dorm!" James shouted again. "Now!" He turned on Remus,
"Sir Lupin. I may call you Sir, Lupin, yes?" He turned on Remus like a prosecutor in a court.
"James…" Remus started, but was cut off by the boy quickly,
"Good. Now Mr. Lupin, Please tell your friends. Your dear loving, loyal, faithful, and GREAT friends, what you were doing Friday night. And did it have anything to do with the full moon and did it have anything to do with your other werewolf friend, Mr. Black?" James dropped his false assumption like a nuclear weapon and Remus blinked and Sirius gaped. The silence dragged on for a second when Remus finally found his voice.
"May it please the JUDGE, " Remus said sarcastically, "Mr. Black is not a werewolf." He sighed, "But I am." He frowned and everything drooped. His head, his shoulders, his spine seemed to cave in on itself as he hunched on his bed and said in the most defeated tone he'd ever heard from the boy, "I'll pack my stuff and ask Dumbledore to excuse me from the school. I knew that it would be too much to expect… if you found out." he shook his head, "I'm really s…." A pillow slammed into his face, hard. James was standing over him looking angry. James' anger was really something.
"Are you stupid?" He shook his head looking around at his dorm mates, "Are you a bloody idiot?" He shook his head, "You aren't going anywhere and I won't hear any apologies. You are a werewolf one day a month. You're a fairly decent bloke the rest of the time. So you have a furry problem, who cares? I just want to know how we can help."
And then looked at Sirius, "And you sure you aren't a wolf? I mean I sort of followed you so if you're one too it's okay."
Sirius's mouth went dry and he just stared at James for a long moment and then he saw Remus looking relieved and a little shocked, but the attention had shifted from Remus to him, inexplicably. "Oh come on! I mean…" He sighed, "You followed me? How?"
James smirked, "You tell me your secret and I'll tell you mine. In fact, I propose we stop keeping secrets."
Remus laughed, "Well you all already know my big secret." He shrugged, "So secret sharing time Black." His eyes went to the trunk and Sirius wiggled uncomfortably on his bed.
"It's not really fair. But…" He had been watching everyone's reactions to the news of Remus's situation. The fact they were so easily diverted to his own secrets at the moment didn't sit right. He glared at Remus as he hadn't really met the criteria for revealing his secret and he hadn't agreed to show the whole group but knew defeat when he saw it.
"Fine. Wands out!" He really didn't want to do this but knew that it would bring levity to the situation. He trusted them. His eyes went to Severus and Lily, each had moved to Remus's side and had given him hugs. You could see that it didn't really matter to either of them. And there was nothing but empathy and concern in Severus's face. No, he trusted them with his life.
Sirius cast a privacy charm and a locking charm on the door. Everyone produced their wands looking curious and if he was honest, a little skeptical. Especially Remus and Severus.
Sirius had a quick consultation with his younger self to make sure he wasn't overstepping any bounds and then once his younger counterpart agreed to just watch, for now, he took James spot in the middle of the room and said, "So there are a few things I haven't told you, and some things I'm still not going to tell you. We all keep secrets that are not ours to tell. I will never betray an oath." He looked a bit apologetically around the room because in some ways he had betrayed oaths. So many broken promises. But that was then, this was now. He continued, "Family magic isn't really something I'm free to discuss with non-family."
He gave James a pointed look and James nodded, "True." he confirmed knowingly, " Some things you can't tell us, we understand Black. Now to the things you can?" Trying to prod him along Sirius nodded,
"Okay." He smiled, "Then we do it right." He held out his hand and tapped his ring finger with his wand and his heir ring appeared. "Familius Magicus." Sirius intoned the spell and his family's totem an ethereal silver snake totem appeared above his outstretched hand.
He looked upon his friend's awestruck faces and shrugged, "Family magic."
James?" Inviting the young Potter heir to invoke his totem as well. James had never performed the spell but knew of it, he stretched out his hand and looked down at the ring and said, "Familius magicus." Instantly a golden phoenix bloomed from the ring. The others stepped back a bit from the blast of heat.
James frowned in concentration and was able to tone it down a bit and smiled in triumph, "Wicked." He looked at the others excitedly, "I didn't know it could do that." There was nervous giggling all around, as the others didn't either.
Sirius took control of the ritual again, "Severus?" He knew the boy was a scion of the house of Prince but didn't know if he was heir. Severus nodded, unmasked his own black onyx ring and placed his hand within the circle of five. "Familius Magicus." He intoned. Above his ring a Silver raven with streaks of gold appeared.
Sirius encouraged Lily and Remus to place their hands within the circle as well palm up. Satisfied he started the oath.
"Bear Witness' ' His voice was a little more forceful than he would usually use, but it got everyone's attention. Magic seemed to swirl around the five of them for a moment, touching each and weighing their intentions. "I, Sirius Orion Black, Do swear to these five, who shall from this moment be called as a group The Marauder's, (he couldn't help himself)
That I will never willingly lie to them. Unless given no choice for their own good." The whole group glared at him and he stumbled a bit trying to pick up the thread of the promise he was making, "Furthermore, I will defend said Marauders with my life. You are my family. I will never betray you or your secrets, just as I know you will never betray me or mine." He gave each of them an intense look and then down at their joined hands, at the totems witnessing his oath. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He finished. "Mischief Managed."
Everyone looked around at each other wondering what to do next. Sirius sighed, "James. Your turn."
James jumped and nodded, "Right." Turning a stern gaze on his family totem which was looking menacingly towards the Snake and Raven. "Bear Witness. I, James Charlus Potter, solemnly swear I am up to no good. I solemnly swear that The Marauders are my brothers and my future wife." Lily look scandalized and Severus didn't look much pleased either, but James plowed on valiantly, "I will never betray your secrets. I stand with you." He grinned and said, "Mischief Managed."
Lily was blushing red and glaring daggers at James and Sirius felt like he was floating on cloud nine. This was happening. This was -really- happening. Severus would have continued glaring at James but Remus elbowed him lightly, "Your turn Sev." He nodded and turned his attention to the Raven that was glaring at the Snake hungrily.
"If we must." Severus drawled, sounding so much like the future potion master that Sirius did a double-take. "Bear Witness." He glared back at the glaring bird. "I, Severus Tobias Snape, Do solemnly swear I am up to no good. I solemnly swear that the Marauders are my brothers and SISTER…" He shouted a bit at James, "I will never betray the Marauder's secrets." He rolled his eyes because, really? Who needs to promise not to be a traitor to their friends? "Mischief Managed."
Remus went next without prompting, "Bear Witness." "I, Remus John Lupin, Do solemnly swear I am up to no good." He looked a little unnerved to have three ancient house totems giving him the evil eye, but continued on valiantly, "The Marauders are my brothers and my sister." He grinned at James who was looking a bit fearfully at both Lily and Snape. "I will keep Marauder's secrets and never betray them. I will always be their friend." He nodded to them all and said, "Mischief Managed." The totems then turned as one to look at Lily as did all the boys,
"Bear Witness." She spoke firmly to the three totems and the four boys. "I, Lily J. Evans, Do solemnly swear I am up to no good." She glared at Sirius for a moment because she wasn't a rule breaker. But shaking her head in bemusement then continued, "The Marauders are my -Brothers- and I will keep their secrets like I keep my own. I will never betray them. They are my family." She smiled, "Mischief Managed."
The three totems brightened accepting their oaths and blinding them in the process. They all stood blinking as if in the after-effects of a, particularly strong camera flash. Finally, they all put their wands away and were now staring at Sirius expectantly. "Right. No more stalling then." He turned towards the trunk. Placed his finger upon the lock and it pricked his thumb and opened with a click. "Blood wards." He said. "Don't try it yourself. If you aren't me it will not be pleasant." They all nodded. He tapped the top of the trunk like an old-fashioned muggle magician just before he pulled a rabbit out of his hat. Then opened the trunk and motioned them forward. They all looked down into a deep dark hole and could see a ladder.
"Whoa!" The marauders all said as if in one breath.
Sirius placed his hand on the top rung and the walls began to glow with soft ambient light andd they could see the passageway down. Sirius climbed down the ladder first and stood aside as one by one they all stepped off the ladder and got their first look at Marauder HQ. He simply waited as the shock slowly wore off and they started shooting questions at him.
Everyone gravitated towards the heart of the space which was the kitchen and potions lab. Severus opened a cupboard that was a fully stocked potions cabinet and he hyperventilated. "It's FULLY stocked?" He started opening drawers and cupboards, muttering to himself like a nutter. Stasis charms. And temperature sensors? He was all over it.
Lily was right at his elbow, unfamiliar with most of the magic that went into this but beyond impressed. James was gleeful. Literally gleeful. "Awesome. This is… Awesome!" He looked at one of the doors, "What's in there?" He started for it and everyone followed.
"Remus, Lily, and Severus practically fell over themselves looking at the library. "It's huge!" Remus said. "And look at this table!" He blinked, "Is that a Pensieve?"
Everyone had something to squeal about. James was fascinated with the map and it took a concerted effort to get him interested in anything after he found it. He switched it from map to blackboard, to whiteboard. Fascinated with how the system worked. Sirius showed him how once you wrote on the board, you could save it and recall it at any time, or erase it if you didn't want it anymore.
Remus became engrossed in looking at the books that were actually in here already."They are probably useful duplicates that we had in the Black library," Sirius noted while reading over some of the titles.
Remus smiled, "Can I borrow this?" He asked, holding up a copy of Curse of Lycanthropy, a Survivor's Guide. Sirius chuckled, "You could probably write your own guide to survival Remmy, but sure if you want." He then dragged the reluctant group to the room across the hall.
"It's a sparring room. Or whatever we want it to be." Sirius said as he opened the door to let them in.
James was busy jumping on the springy floor, "Cushioning charms!" He laughed, "With the shoes, it's like being on a trampoline." That he knew what a trampoline was, impressed everyone but most of all Lily. "I'm surprised you know that James. It's a muggle thing."
James smiled, "Oh sweet Lily. I know lots about muggle things."
Sirius quickly intervened before Lily could get her rant on and pointed their attention to the mirrors. They played with it's features for a while and then Sirius took Remus aside and said, "Grandfather had this room designed with you in mind. He thought you might like this room to, you know, change in."
Remus gaped. "Seriously?"
Sirius nodded, "Yeah. Because the mirrors are impervious and the door is steel. Not even a werewolf would be able to get out of that room. And well it's nicer than the Shrieking Shack." Remus had promptly given him a huge hug. "Yes! Oh this would be…" He looked a little embarrassed, "You're sure it wouldn't be a problem?"
Sirius cocked an eyebrow at him and gave him a dangerous glare.
Remus nodded and smiled, "Thanks. This would be a million times better than the shack."
The group talked a while longer marveling over the space and then finally they were all seated in the living room. There were options of a sofa, loveseat, and two overstuffed chairs.
Sirius took a deep breath and told his friends the same things he had shared with Remus. He shared the story about receiving the heir's ring and being a natural animagus. He shared the story about his Metamorph capabilities, and he shared the story about how his grandfather was a paranoid old man who thought they needed a quick escape route out of the country and a safe house as well in case things went really bad with what he was sure was a coming war. He didn't mention that he had put the old man up to the idea.
They had a lot of questions, which he fielded with either an answer or just said, "That's a secret I am not a liberty to share." They never pressed him on those. Respectful but nosy.
He showed them Padoot, and Lily was completely taken with him. "I've always wanted a dog. Can I take you home?"
She teased him and getting the evil eye from James said, "I'm not a stray Lily."
He also showed them his metamorphmagus abilities, though he toned it down to simple things, like hair color and nose size. Playing things close to the vest.
"This place is fantastic. It could really come in handy." James said thoughtfully.
Sirius nodded, "That's what I'm hoping for anyway."
James looked speculative and kept looking from Remus to Sirius and then off into space.
"Knut for your thoughts Potter?" Severus said finally in exasperation. "You think so loudly!" He complained.
Everyone grinned because James' thinking could always end up in chaos. "Well…" He gave Remus a penetrating stare. "Since Sirius can change into a dog… How hard can it really be?" He shrugged, "I'm willing to become an Animagus for you, Remus." He nodded, "Sirius can do it. I think I can do it. I think having your friends with you would help. I know it would help me knowing that you were okay." Remus looked touched rather than indignant.
"You'd do that? For me?" Remus looked surprised but happy.
"Of course I would." He turned to Sirius, "Will you teach us?" He asked. Sirius blinked, "I… I…"
"Oh come on. Please Siri? Please Please Please Please?" The others joined in just as enthusiastically and knowing James wouldn't stop. He quickly agreed. "Fine. But you likely won't be able to do it for a few years at least. Your magic isn't up to it yet. But you can start figuring it out if you want. The first thing you have to do is learn the fine art of meditation…."