|
|
Post by hermoine on Aug 25, 2004 11:02:22 GMT -5
Written by: hermoine
Words: 7,431
Age: 15
Stranded in Surprise
Exhausted, he lifted his weary eyes up, but could see nothing. Just white. It shone dazzlingly into his eyes and he had to shield them with his arms to try and catch a glimpse of where the path lay. He couldn’t see anything. Nothing at all. Everything around him was a frozen land of white where nothing seemed to grow and no human habitation was present.
He had decided to leave London and have an adventure. He wanted to see the country and admire its beauty. Most of all, he needed to breathe. Thus, he had left his boring sixteen-year old life behind for a couple of weeks and wanted to have fun.
Now he felt totally different. He had been attacked by harsh stormy weather, and had lost all of his possessions. He was hungry, and not even the berries, which he had gladly wanted to taste, could be found under the thick layer of snow. His body was ghostly cold, for the garments he wore weren’t enough to stop the biting frost. He had eventually lost all track of the days that went by, and had completely forgotten that three days earlier had been his birthday. Now, all hope of ever going back home was lost too. He was a shivering shriveled young man, if one could decipher how old he was.
Then, as his feet couldn’t trudge a step further, he saw a massive building looming up before him. A feeling of gladness mingled with sorrow swept through him. He couldn’t explain why. Trying to kindle some hope in his grey heart, he bade his legs to move forward, often falling in the snow. ‘Just a little further. At least I can die in a dry place,’ he thought, as he passed by a sign saying, “Danger! DO NOT ENTER! UNSAFE!”
But just as he passed through a big wooden door, he caught a sight, which he had certainly never dreamt to see.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As he stepped inside, he was quickly greeted by a warm draft, which revived some strength in his cold body. The hallway he stood in was deserted. He looked around in awe. Around him were many portraits hung on the walls, and it seemed as if the people in them were sound asleep, their chests rising and falling with every breath intake.
“Are these alive?” he asked, to nobody in particular.
Suddenly, the old man with a jellyfish for a hat he was looking at in the portrait grunted loudly.
“Er? Who? What? Where’s the squid?” it said, as if waking up from an obscure dream.
The poor boy bolted away in fright as fast as his weary legs could carry him.
“What is this place?” he managed to murmur when he had got his breath back. He was now in a dark corridor, with only one lamp shining above him. Then he heard a meow...there it went again. It was meowing all right. Out of the gloomy dark came the figure of a cat, walking towards him. He bent down to stroke it. He had always had a liking for felines with their soft, warm fur. The cat kept meowing, but he wasn’t exactly paying attention. It strayed away from him.
“Hey, where are you going?” he called softly to it.
It meowed again, but this time there was an answer to its call. As if by an unfelt draft, the lamp above his head went out unexpectedly.
“Yes my dear, I am coming,” said the answering voice. “We will catch them no doubt, and take them to Dumbledore. Let’s see who’s hiding in the dark.”
Filch crept ever closer, and the invader turned pale although his face wasn’t visible in the dark. Mrs. Norris was walking happily at Filch’s feet. She was very happy indeed. She had fulfilled her sneaky job yet again. With that, Filch lifted up his lamp, but couldn’t see anybody. There was only the wall to greet him.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Filch moved away in the other direction, the hands that were keeping the boy from uttering a sound were released from his mouth.
“What, what happened? How didn’t he see us? Where am I? Who are you?” he asked, a bit scared.
The student grinned mischievously at him. “You’ll soon know. Follow me. Just keep hidden under the cloak. You wouldn’t want Mrs. Norris to catch you again.”
Wondering whom Mrs. Norris was, the boy walked behind him, well covered by the cloak, until they came into a lighted room. The student quickly threw the cloak off him, and making sure the door was locked, he went over to 3 other boys, who were his friends. They were doing something with a piece of parchment.
“So how’s it coming along?” asked the one with the cloak.
“Fair enough. We’ve drawn up another passage. You know, the one which we found yesterday?” said one of the three, whose dark hair fell into his eyes. He was quite handsome to look upon.
“Oh that one! I think there’s another one somewhere near the Charms classroom. We’ll have to check it out.”
A pale peaky boy looked up suddenly and caught sight of the newcomer.
“Who are you?” he asked him.
“Are you a Slytherin?” growled the dark haired one.
“Relax,” replied coolly the one with the cloak. “He isn’t. He’s even better! A muggle!”
“No way!” replied the one with dark hair. His eyes were shining with excitement.
“Um, excuse me. What did you call me?” asked the muggle.
“You’re a muggle. A non-magical person! I’m Prongs by the way,” answered him the one who had gone to his rescue. He could see that he has scrawny jet-black hair, which didn’t seem to want to stay put.
“Padfoot here!” came the cry from the other dark haired boy, who waved at him while keeping his eyes focused on the piece of parchment.
“I’m Moony,” said the pale boy who had got up and was shaking his hand. He had a shiny badge with a ‘P’ on it on his chest.
“I’m Pet-Wormtail,” came a squeak from behind Prongs. A small figure came into view. He seemed rather to resemble a human rat.
“We’re the Marauders!” chanted Prongs happily.
“Hi, er, pleased to meet you all. I’m Garrison. Thanks for helping me. But who was that guy? And how didn’t he see us? More importantly, where am I?”
“Curious isn’t he?” grinned Padfoot.
“Well, the guy you met downstairs is Filch, the caretaker here. He’s not what you can call friendly. Now the cat, Mrs. Norris is his sneaky little spy,” explained Prongs. “One of these days,” he said turning to his dark haired friend, “we’ll have to tell Peeves to take her for a ride. Filch would be furious!”
He said this as if it would be a wonderful one-time experience.
“Now, this little beauty,” he continued saying while holding the cloak fondly in his hands, “this marvel is the key to our success yet. It’s an invisibility cloak!”
“A what?” asked Garrison, confused even further.
“An invisibility cloak,” repeated Prongs slightly offended. “That means that you can go wherever you want under it, and you won’t be seen by any living soul.”
“Wow!” exclaimed Garrison, really amazed. Clearly, he thought, I’m having one of those funny dreams again.
“Now,” continued Prongs again, “we would like to welcome you to Hog-”
“Wait just a minute Prongs! You can’t just go around breaking the International Statute of Secrecy!”
“Honestly Moony! The guy literally broke the law on his own!” said Padfoot.
“I, I broke a law! I, I never thought- please don’t tell me I have to go to court or anything! My mother would kill me!” said the muggle, panicking.
“Don’t worry. Nobody will ever know,” told him Padfoot in a relaxed tone.
“Yes, but it’s not like you’re helping! It’s your name that will show up at the Ministry!” retaliated Moony.
“Come on! He’s a muggle! They’d die to know of us. You should hear what Evans says about her muggle sister. She’s green!” put in Prongs.
“Since when were you on speaking terms with Lily?” taunted him Padfoot.
“Since when we partnered in Charms because she didn’t want to pair up with Snivellus!” replied Prongs getting back in his high spirits.
“Ah! Snivellus! I wouldn’t dream of pairing up with him in Potions. All he’d probably do is keep whining about how he got ‘Outstanding’ in his Potions OWL and keep sinking in his greasy hair.”
“I could hex it. Mind you, it would surely look better.”
Wormtail laughed squeakily, sitting beside Padfoot who was still tempering with the map.
“What we’ll need to do now,” said Moony changing the subject, “is make the map show and disappear to certain words, so that nobody else can see it. You know, like when you say ‘Apparecio’ and ‘Evanesco’.”
“What are you working on exactly?” asked Garrison curiously.
“It’s a map of, the school,” said Prongs shooting a glance at Moony, “with all the hideouts we have found so far.”
“But what will you be using it for?” he asked again.
“Ah well, to cause a little mischief,” came the reply with a wink.
Moony looked at his watch.
“We have to go down to dinner. If Snivellus doesn’t spot us there, he’ll surely go alert one of the teachers that we’re up to something.”
“The pestering serpent,” snarled Padfoot.
Looking at Garrison, Prongs said, “You hungry? I don’t think you’d be allowed in the Great Hall with us, but don’t worry. We’ll bring you some stuff from the kitchens. The house elves will be more than glad, and the food is de-licious!”
“All you’ll have to do is stay in this room, quietly. Don’t worry. Nobody will find you. Prongs! Come on! We have to take care of Mrs. Norris before dinner. We can’t let her come visit our friend here,” said Padfoot.
With that, they left at a run, like inseparable brothers.
“Maybe you would like to read this while we’re away,” told him Moony kindly, while handing him a book. “It’s my copy of ‘Hogwarts: a History’. I hope you’ll like it.”
He still looked peaky, as if he was ill.
“Thanks!” the muggle found himself exclaiming. He had been wondering what he would do during their absence.
Managing a smile, Moony soon left. Wormtail left at his side but not before shooting another glance at Garrison.
|
|
|
|
Post by hermoine on Aug 25, 2004 11:05:52 GMT -5
{I have to continue in different posts because it's too long.}
Garrison wolfed down the food they brought him from the kitchens, happy to be filling his stomach again. Prongs had been right. The food was delicious! His mind was now also brimming with new questions. That book Moony had given him was fantastic and he had read through half of it already with enthusiasm. He wanted to know more.
“So does the roof of this Great Hall, really look like the sky?” he asked when he had gobbled a particularly large potato.
Moony was very patient with him and explained as best he could. The others were busy, gathered once again round the map.
“Yes it is,” came the reply. “During dinner is was dark and snow seemed to be falling too. You would love it if you saw it.”
“What is this?” he asked yet again while looking at the jug filled with something orange.
“That’s pumpkin juice. That’s what we drink here basically. Sorry, but I don’t suppose you’ll find much of the muggle drinks you’re accustomed to.”
When he had drunk some, he found that it was really good, and refilled his glass.
“Hungry aren’t you?” grinned Moony.
“Starved!” he said, picking on a pork chop.
“It lives!” came a cry from one of the three.
Garrison and Moony quickly hastened over to them.
“Watch!” said Prongs, jumping with excitement.
Padfoot tapped the blank parchment with his wand.
“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!”
As he said these words, lines started crawling on the yellow parchment, forming passages, rooms, and secret hideouts. Dots also sprang up, with a name near each.
“Look, there’s Dumbledore in his office. Is he dancing?”
Prongs fell into a fit of laughter, while Moony couldn’t help not grin.
“There’s dear Snivellus down in the dungeons. Hiding under some cauldron no doubt,” said Padfoot.
“Isn’t that Lily, Prongs?” Moony asked his friend.
“Yeah! It’s Evans all right. And looks where she’s in! The bathroom!” said Prongs looking at the map.
“Whose idea was it to put all the bathrooms at Hogwarts up on the map anyway?” wanted to know Moony.
“Ask Wormtail. He’s the one who suggested it,” said Padfoot, nudging his rat-like friend.
“Me?” he stuttered, blushing hard.
“To make the map disappear,” said Padfoot, once again tapping the map with his wand, “you must say, ‘Mischief Managed’!”
All the lines and dots disappeared, leaving an old piece of yellow parchment, innocent to look upon.
“I wish I could do something like that,” said Garrison, rather envious.
“It took us quite a time to finish, and there might still be some new passages which we haven’t found yet,” said Padfoot.
Suddenly, Moony fell to the ground on all fours, breathing deeply as if he had just run a long race. Beads of sweat dripped from his chin, and he seemed to be fighting against something inside him that was battling to come out.
“Drink!” said Padfoot, holding a phial in his hand with a strange substance.
As Moony drank, it seemed as if the pain waned, and the fighting inside of him was receding. His breathing went back to normal though he still looked ill.
“You scared us a bit there mate,” said Prongs patting him gently on the back.
“I have to go to Dumbledore. I’ll probably be leaving tomorrow,” said Moony in a weak voice, head bent low.
“So you won’t be around to see me play?” wanted to know Prongs.
“Afraid not. Sorry,” said Moony, knowing how much his friend would have liked him to be up in the stands watching the game the next day.
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you all about it when we come visit tomorrow,” said Prongs smiling once more.
“By the way, shouldn’t you be at Quidditch Practice?” asked Padfoot.
“Nah! Coles said we should take the afternoon off, to be well rested for tomorrow.”
“Still, it would be good for you to go sleep early tonight. Slytherin are no easy feat, even if you are a good chaser,” said Moony, a bit concerned for his friend.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I bet you’ll be able to hear us cheering from the shack, when the match will be over.”
Amid the silence that reigned at that moment, Garrison yawned loudly.
“Sorry,” he said, blushing.
“It’s all right,” told him Padfoot smiling. “You’d better rest. I suppose it has been a rather long day for you.”
“Yeah, and tomorrow I’ll explain to you everything about Quidditch. You can come watch the match and I’ll even let you use my invisibility cloak,” said Prongs.
“T-thaaaanks,” stammered the muggle boy amid another yawn.
“Right then,” said Padfoot.
A bed suddenly appeared in a corner of the room.
“How’d you- no wait. I know the answer. Magic right?” asked Garrison.
“You learn fast,” replied Padfoot grinning. “This is the Room of Requirement. Anything you wish for can appear in this room.”
“I want to try,” said Garrison eagerly. He closed his eyes, wishing. A set of dry clothes appeared on the bed.
“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!” said Padfoot once more tapping the parchment, making the map appear. “We’d better hurry unless we want to go looking through all the portraits at Hogwarts all night. The Fat Lady said she’d be visiting Violet again tonight.”
“See you tomorrow mate!” said Prongs looking at Garrison.
“Have fun!” told him Moony, leaning against the wall.
Before they shut the door behind them, the squeaky voice was heard again, “Sweet dreams…”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Garrison just didn’t want to open his eyes because he was sure his encounter with the Marauders had all been a dream. Prongs had promised he would be telling him all about Quidditch the next day, and the boy wished all would become real.
Suddenly he heard hushed voices at the door, and just as he opened his eyes expecting it to be his mother urging him to get up and help her, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail came in. He jumped out of bed and run to greet them happily. They hadn’t come empty handed.
“We’ve brought you some more food from the kitchens. Hope you’re hungry,” said Prongs putting down the jug of pumpkin juice and the bread rolls he was carrying.
“Thanks guys! Er, Prongs, yesterday, um, you told me, er, um, you would tell me about Quidditch. Do you remember?”
“Of course! How could I forget! Well basically it’s a really exciting game played on…”
As Prongs indulged into a thorough explanation of Quidditch and its rules, Padfoot sat aside from them, working on his Transfiguration essay, which he hadn’t been able to finish the day before. Wormtail chose to join Prongs and Garrison, often ‘Ooh’ing as Prongs described difficult flying maneuvers. He was acting more excitedly than the muggle boy! Time seemed to fly like a hurricane, in a way that the boy had never experienced before. Soon, it was time for Prongs to go down to the changing rooms, and for the others to make their way to the stands.
“Here, I’ve brought you my invisibility cloak,” said Prongs, handing it carefully to Garrison. “Take good care of it, and keep it wrapped safely around you, so you won’t be seen. It’s best if you stay away from the other students to avoid being hit by someone. When the match is over, come straight back here. We’ll come here too, as soon as it’s possible. Don’t forget to-”
“Prongs!” said Padfoot grinning at his best friend. “You’re sounding like McGonagall now! Calm down! Everything’s going to be all right. Just don’t worry and do your best. Got it?”
“Sure thing. I’ll just go fetch my broom and robes from the dormitory,” said Prongs looking like his old self again.
“Good luck!” told him Wormtail, as he was leaving the room.
Walking on, down the corridor, Prongs lifted his right hand and gave them the thumbs up as they saw him go.
“He’s going to be fine,” said Padfoot, really proud of his friend.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sight that met his eyes when he had arrived to the Quidditch pitch was one he couldn’t quite well describe. Students, flailing scarves and banners around, stood shouting and yelling in the stands. Garrison decided it would be best if he stayed well hidden some way from the stands, to be able to leave quickly and unnoticed when the match was over. The teams were walking onto the pitch, brooms in their hands. Both sides were filled with the pride of their prancing lion or the slithering serpent. Neither wished to lose. The day had woken up better than the previous, but the rain was still wondering whether to clash down suddenly on them, or wait a bit further.
Madam Hooch, who was refereeing the match, mounted her broom, blew her whistle, and they were off. Professor McGonagall was commentating.
“Potter passes the Quaffle to Spencer, and back to Potter. He makes his way to the goalposts and yes! He’s got past the keeper! He shoots! 10 points to Gryffindor!”
Professor McGonagall couldn’t quite control her enthusiasm. After all, she was the Gryffindor Head of House.
“Quaffle passed on to Murray, but misses. Slytherin are now in possession of the Quaffle. Grayson passes to Richards; he dodges the bludger sent to him by one of the Gryffindor beaters, and he’s making his way to the Gryffindor goalposts.”
At that moment McGonagall groaned silently. Although she was the commentator, she couldn’t help not to side with her own house’s team.
“The score is currently 10 to 10.”
Garrison had never seen such a spectacular sport. It was better than any he had ever played before. It was even better than basketball or football. Prongs had told him to keep an eye out for the seekers of both teams. It was their job to catch the Golden Snitch, and before either of them caught it, the match wouldn’t end. While listening to the commentator to see what was going on with the rest of the match, he kept his eyes focused on the seekers, high up scanning the pitch. He himself was hoping to catch sight of the famous snitch.
|
|
|
|
Post by hermoine on Aug 25, 2004 11:07:41 GMT -5
The game went on. Both sides were neck to neck. Professor McGonagall’s face and moods were a mixture of joy and fury. Her hair, which was as usual tight in a bun, was getting a bit loose too. The game had already been going for about two hours and the players seemed to be at their best yet. Rain was pattering softly on them occasionally, but still there was no sign of the snitch.
At one point while watching the match, the boy had had to move from where he was sitting to avoid being hit by a tall old man with a long white beard, who was wearing a violet cloak. For some reason, which he couldn’t explain, the man had looked straight at him as he passed by, as if he had caught sight of him. The man’s eyes, watching through those peculiar half-moon glasses, had a comprehensive look in them, as if the man understood. Then, he had moved on, making his way to the stands.
Now, as Garrison was recalling the incident with the old man, he felt a sudden shiver trickle down his spine. If what he thought was true, how could the man see him? Hadn’t Prongs himself told him that he wouldn’t be seen by any living soul if he remained hidden under the cloak? He was sure he had had the cloak wrapped firmly around so how-
His clouded thoughts were averted from his mind as he saw a small golden ball with slender silver wings fluttering exactly in front of him. He recognized it immediately from the description he had been given of it earlier. It was the snitch! He felt a sudden urge to catch it himself, since it seemed the seekers hadn’t seen it, yet. He could hold it for a few moments and then release it again. Just as he was stretching his long arm to catch it quickly, he had a sudden feeling; a pair of eyes were watching his every move. They were penetrating through his invisible barrier, making him visible. Those eyes.
The atmosphere around him was dawning on him again and as if someone was slowly raising the volume, he started hearing shouts and yells from the stands again, and when the lifted his eyes up to the sky, he turned pale. The two teams’ seekers were making their way towards the snitch and him!
Garrison quickly got up and started running for dear life. Unfortunately, he fell over something that he hadn’t seen in his hurry, and in the accident, his left foot became visible. At that moment, the Gryffindor seeker swooped down and caught the snitch. As he was about to turn back towards his teammates, he noticed the foot. He closed his eyes, because he couldn’t see how a foot, lying on its own, could have been there. When he opened his eyes, it wasn’t there any more, and thinking that it must have been his imagination, he did a loop in the sky, holding the snitch firmly in his hand. Back on the ground, Garrison got up quickly when he heard the commentator cheer, “Gryffindor have won the match!” He made his way back to the castle as fast as he could. On one of the window ledges, a small rat looked at the path made through the snow by someone mysteriously unseen. The rat narrowed its eyes, and squeaked happily as if glad of something.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Garrison was making his way back to the Room of Requirement, he heard voices in the corridor, and stopped. Edging his way in the direction of the voices, he could see to whom they belonged. There was a greasy haired boy with a hooked nose holding a dark red haired girl’s arm firmly with his hand.
“Snape! Let me go!” she was yelling at the boy, raising her voice by another octave.
“Why won’t you come with me? Lily please tell me why!” he asked her imploringly, as he rashly moved closer to her.
She quickly fired her hand at his face, slapping him. It left a hot red mark on his pale face.
“Oh, I, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-” she managed to stammer, shocked at her own action.
Snape’s grip on her arm loosened and he let go of her at last. Slowly he lifted his hand to his face, touching the mark gently.
“It’s because you like that Potter don’t you?” he said, his hand trembling as he touched his skin.
“Don’t be absurd! He doesn’t care about anyone except himself and his small group of friends!” she shot back, blushing nearly as red as her flaming hair.
“Then if what you say is true, why won’t you come with me?” he asked her again.
“I just…don’t…”
At that moment, distant voices were heard; the students were going back to their common rooms.
“I have to go,” said Lily in a hurry, and she ran off down the corridor.
Snape was still standing in the same place. He clenched his fist.
“I shall still get revenge, Potter,” he said as if imagining someone in front of him. With that, he walked off in the other direction.
With the noises coming ever closer, Garrison hurried on to the Room of Requirement. The red haired girl must have been the Lily Evans the guys spoke of earlier, he thought, and that Snape must be the Snivellus they also mentioned. But who is Potter?
Sinking deep in thought, he entered the room, to find the three Marauders already there.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Hey guys!” he greeted them, pulling the cloak off him. “Back so soon?”
“Well, when I heard Coles say that he thought he had seen a foot when he caught the snitch, I quickly figured it might be have been you,” said Prongs.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I tripped over something while running,” the boy replied, still looking pensive.
“What’s wrong?” asked Padfoot, seeing his face.
“When I was coming back, I saw two students talking in a corridor. I think it was Lily Evans and the one you call ‘Snivellus’,” said the boy, still looking a bit worried.
“What?” shouted Prongs, getting up suddenly and slapping his hand on the table. “What did he want with her?”
“Prongs, calm down,” said Padfoot, resting his hands on his friend’s shoulders. He had never seen him like this.
“He wanted her to go somewhere with him-” continued Garrison.
“Why the little-” blasted off again Prongs.
“-but she denied,” continued the boy. “I fear that Snape is after someone called Potter. Do you know who he is? Maybe you could warn him,” he added.
“Already done,” said Prongs sighing. “I am Potter.”
“Really?” exclaimed Garrison surprised.
“Yeah. Don’t worry,” he said, catching his glance. “I’ll be fine. He won’t do me anything,” he reassured him with a wink. “So, did you like the game? How did I play?”
“Oh. Yeah it was fantastic! You were brilliant!” said Garrison enthusiastically.
“Yeah,” agreed Padfoot. “Wormtail nearly wet himself when that bludger came pelting your way.”
“No I did not!” said Wormtail blushing.
“Ready for a one-time experience tonight?” asked Prongs.
“I’m already experiencing one!” replied Garrison, grinning back.
“Nah! Tonight we’ll be going to visit Moony. He might be a bit different mind,” said Padfoot.
“What do you mean exactly, by different?”
“See, Moony might not exactly look it, but when he was younger he had a bit of an accident and it changed his life. So now he’s a…”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A werewolf! What comes next, he thought, as he walked in the grounds with the three, under the cover of the invisibility cloak. The moon waxed in a glistening yellow ball, shining the path before them. It was a clear night, and occasionally, a hooting owl swooped overhead, flying out of the Owlery, out on a night hunt.
The four of them reached a wild looking tree. It seemed to be quite old. As they moved closer, it flung its madman-like branches at them, but they were out of its reach. In the blink of an eye, Wormtail turned into a grey squeaky rat, and ran off making his way to the tree. Before they had left the Room of Requirement, the three had shown off their amazing abilities, and Garrison had learned that Moony wasn’t the only one who changed his appearance every full moon.
Wormtail was scuttling near the Whomping Willow, dodging heavy branches, and finally, he arrived near the trunk of the tree. As he poked a part of it, the tree stopped moving, as if tired of its useless attempt of attack. A passage opened, and the four entered, with Wormtail at the rear of the group. When the passage ended, they were in a dark, dusty room. Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail lit their wands, and they moved on. From the light cast by the wands, Garrison noticed a broken chair on the floor, as if someone had thrown it in a fury of strength.
They entered into a room lit by a lamp on a table. There was a bed in the corner, but the sheets were strewn all over the floor. Resting his back against the wall, with his knees up to his face, Moony sat on the hard cold floor, shaking all over, and yet, he had beads of sweat rolling down his face. His friends moved closer to him, and helped him get up and rest on the bed, which Garrison had quickly redone. Moony sat on it, curled in a ball, wincing with the pain.
Finally, Garrison broke the silence. “What’s wrong with him?”
“I, I don’t know,” said Prongs really worried.
Padfoot touched Moony’s skin. It was burning hot.
“He’s terribly sick!” he exclaimed, quickly tearing a piece from the extra sheets lying unused on a chair, and wetting it in the water in a bucket lying beside the chair. Then, he went over to his friend, and laid it on his forehead. “Where is Madam Promfey? Moony needs some medicine, now!”
“I’ll go!” said Prongs quickly. “I’ll go look for Dumbledore,” he said picking up the map and cloak.
“I want to come with you!” said Garrison. “I want to help!”
“All right then. I suppose it would be better. Moony might not recognise you if he changes. Come on!”
|
|
|
|
Post by hermoine on Aug 25, 2004 11:11:41 GMT -5
They left quickly, flinging the cloak over them. They ran off into the night, hoping they could get help before something bad happened to Moony. In their hurry, they bumped into a figure in the dark, and Prongs came into the person’s wand light, as he lit it quickly. It was Snape! Garrison remained hidden under the cloak.
“Snivellus! Now really is not the time. Get out of the way!” said Prongs, getting angry because of the delay.
“Why should I? Because you asked me to? I don’t take orders from you!”
“Just move! I need to go to Dumbledore now!”
“Dumbledore? Or should you say Lily? Admit it Potter!”
“Not now! Move out of the way or I shall hex you!” said Prongs, pointing his wand at him.
“No!” said Snape firmly. “I need to get revenge first!”
Getting really angry, Prongs yelled, “Expelliarmus!”
“Petrificus Totalus!” shot back Snape.
“Obliviate!” came the firm cry from behind Snape.
While Prongs dodged the spell coming his way, Snape deflected Prong’s, but was hit unawares by the new spell coming from behind him. As Prongs lifted his lit wand, he saw a red head, in front of whom, if the circumstances had been different, he would have quickly passed his hand through his jet-black hair. It was Lily. Meanwhile, Snape was waking up from his giddiness.
Prongs grabbed Lily’s arm, and pulled her with him under the invisibility cloak with Garrison. He put his hand over her mouth, so she wouldn’t utter a sound. They saw Snape get up, dazed, and after deciding that whom he had gone to look for wasn’t there, he made his way back to the castle.
“What are you doing out here? Do you know how dangerous it is to be wandering in at grounds at this hour?” she quickly asked him the moment he had put his hand away from her mouth.
“What about you then? What are you doing out here?”
“I was saving your neck.”
“Gee, thanks Evans.”
“Um, Prongs, don’t you think we should go get help?” Garrison cut in, reminding Prongs exactly why they were there.
“Who are you?” Lily asked, turning to the muggle.
“A friend,” told her Prongs quickly, “We’d better get going.”
They reached the castle and started moving towards Professor Dumbledore’s Office. Prongs couldn’t keep his eyes off the girl, as much as he couldn’t keep secret the reason why they were going there, from her. Probably, she wouldn’t have stopped asking questions, thought Garrison.
Before they reached the office though, they saw Professor Dumbledore and Madam Promfey coming their way.
“We must hurry!” was saying Professor Dumbledore. “He’s very ill.”
The three flattened themselves against the wall, until they walked by, and then out of view.
“How did they know? Weren’t they here at the castle?” asked Garrison, rather surprised by what had happened.
“I don’t know,” said Prongs blankly. “But you’d better hurry up to the others before those two arrive to find them there. Take the cloak.”
Garrison ran off, as fast as he could, wondering how on earth he was going to get to the tree first.
When Prongs had seen that Garrison was out of sight, he turned back to Lily.
“Thanks for what you did for me down in the grounds,” he told her, taking her hand in his.
“Don’t mention it Potter,” she replied, trying to sound like her usual self. If it hadn’t been so dark, he would have seen the deep red her face had turned when he took her hand.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered softly.
“For wha-” she started asking, but couldn’t continue as his soft lips over hers stopped her from finishing what she was saying. She felt like her head was in a beautiful dream, from which she didn’t wish to wake. When he pulled away smiling, he put his hand up to her soft face, stroking it gently.
Sadly, he looked into her emerald green eyes, and softly muttered, “Obliviate!”
She didn’t have time to react, because the spell hit her before she realised. He laid her down against the wall, and ran off out of sight.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garrison didn’t know how, but after running in a way he couldn’t remember to have done before, he saw Professor Dumbledore and Madam Promfey a little way ahead. He decided that if he didn’t do it now, his friends might be discovered, and it would all be his entire fault. He could never accept that. Not after what they had done for him. He ran on, past the two, when the same tickling sensation down his spine came over him. The eyes.
He heard Dumbledore say, “Poppy, I think we had better take an extra blanket or two for Remus.”
As Madam Promfey ran off to get what the headmaster had asked for, Dumbledore looked straight at where the boy was standing again, rooted to the spot.
“Go!” Dumbledore urged him.
As if waking from a dream, Garrison nodded, and went on. His thoughts were confirmed. The man could see through the invisibility cloak, but how, he couldn’t say.
When Wormtail heard his voice, he quickly made the tree halt again. As much as he disliked this boy, he was helping Moony, and the latter was his best friend. He had never told anyone, but instead kept it secret inside him, as he often did. He had always felt that Remus was the best of the group. Moony never taunted him, and he was always very patient with him. When Garrison had passed by him, Wormtail looked up longingly at the sky, as if wishing for something unknown. Then he turned on the spot, and returned to the others.
Garrison quickly explained to them that Dumbledore and the matron were making their way towards them. They had to leave quickly.
“But we can’t leave Moony alone here!” objected Padfoot.
Wormtail simply nodded sadly in agreement.
“Do you wish to be caught then?” asked him Garrison.
As if plucking up courage, Wormtail spoke. “Maybe we could hide under the cloak, and then leave quietly.”
“Excellent idea Wormtail!” said Padfoot, not expecting his friend to come up with such an idea.
As soon as the cloak covered them all, still keeping an eye on Moony, Dumbledore and Madam Promfey appeared in the room. The matron quickly started tending to Moony, and Professor Dumbledore took the opportunity to smile at them and signal that now was the chance to leave. Padfoot and Wormtail looked shocked at Dumbledore. Garrison had forgotten to tell them that he could see through the cloak.
They left, making their way to the Room of Requirement once again. On the way, they met with Prongs who had seen them coming on the map. They decided to sleep together in the room through the few hours that were left before they were to wake up, to meet the new day’s events.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was raining heavily again, as if uncried tears, which had been restrained for a long time, were let roll down, in an endless-seeming downpour. The five friends were once again reunited in the Room of Requirement. It had become their meeting place even more since Garrison’s arrival at Hogwarts. The full moon had waned, Moony was well recovered, and he didn’t look pale or peaky anymore.
In the week that had passed like lightning, Garrison learned so many new things that at the end of each day he felt his head exploding with questions and excitement, awaiting the next day. They had shown him all the sweet delights that they brought for him from a shop called ‘Honeydukes’. He had started a collection of chocolate frog cards and often guessed on the peculiar tastes of the Every Flavour Beans. They often played Exploding Snap, but even more often they went out to look for new secret places in Hogwarts. He got to catch a glimpse of the Giant Squid, which lived in the lake, and they even ventured taking him to the Gryffindor Common Room once. There, he had spotted Lily with another group of 6th year girls. When she saw Prongs pass by, who quickly caught the opportunity of ruffling his hair with his hand, she rolled her eyes and quickly went back to chatting with the other girls. Garrison grinned from under the invisibility cloak. It was a pity that Prongs had had to erase the memory of the event they had shared; she might have been a bit friendlier in his regards. It’s for the best I suppose, he thought. If Prongs hadn’t done it, I might be in a very uncomfortable situation right now for sure.
Yet, even though that time was probably one of the happiest moments in his life, the boy felt a hollow feeling inside him, as if something was missing. In the deep hours of the night, his thoughts often strayed to his mother, who by now would surely be looking for him. He had promised her he would return in a month’s time from his departure. That month had already passed. Winter was closing in, and he started wondering how he was going to get back home.
That rainy day, when the skies were grey and they were rounded once again, he decided he should speak up.
|
|
|
|
Post by hermoine on Aug 25, 2004 11:12:23 GMT -5
“Guys,” he started saying, getting up, “there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Fire away!” said Prongs, not sounding very much serious.
“Well, as much as it has been a great time, and I really mean a great time, I think it’s time I go back home. My mother is all alone at home, and she’ll be worried sick about me.”
“We understand,” said Moony, looking at him kindly.
“Don’t worry mate. It has been a really good time with you here. Guess some things can’t last for ever,” said Padfoot dismally.
“I was wondering how I am to get back home though. I mean I can’t walk all the way back. I don’t even know how I got here in the first place!” said Garrison, speaking up his worrying thought.
“You could send a letter to your mother,” suggested Wormtail shyly.
“Yes. You could use one of the school owls,” added Moony.
“Just say that you trained the owl to deliver the letter,” put in Prongs.
“Oh thanks! What would I have done without you guys?”
“You’d probably have been caught by Filch and Mrs. Norris in the first place, and then had your memory of coming here erased,” said Prongs with a mischievous grin spread over his face, as he saw the horrified look on the boy’s face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two days later, Garrison slung a backpack on his back, which had sufficient food and extra clothing. He ensured that the scarf was well round his neck, before turning to face his friends.
“Well, here I go!”
As he put his hand on the door handle, Wormtail spoke. “Wait!”
The muggle turned round confused.
“You actually thought you’d leave the way you came?” asked Prongs. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Like what?”
“Are you just going to walk your way visible out of Hogwarts?” said Padfoot.
“Right!” said the boy, hitting his forehead with the palm of his hand.
“Besides, we want to give you these before you leave,” said Moony.
He showed him a glass jar containing what seemed like a bluish flame.
“The flame will never extinguish. Just make sure to keep it safe. You might need it while you’re waiting out there,” he continued, tilting his head towards the window and outside.
Then he gave him the other thing in his hand. It was a photograph of the five of them all together, and it was moving!
“Wow! I, I owe you four too much,” he managed to stammer, lost for words.
“Oh, and don’t forget the magic words! I solemnly swear that…” chimed Prongs.
“…I am up to no good!” continued Padfoot grinning.
“Mischief…” piped in a squeaking Wormtail.
“…Managed!” said Moony smiling.
“When you’re in a safe place, just say those words,” told him Padfoot.
“Why?” came yet another question from the curious boy.
“You’ll see.”
Before they put the invisibility cloak over them, Garrison gave them all one last friendly hug. When he came to Prongs, he whispered to him, “Good luck with Lily.”
“Never doubt that,” came the mischievous reply.
With that, their figures mingled with the room, one of them never to return again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He didn’t have to wait long outside. The rain had waned, with only a brief shower occasionally, thankfully. Most of the snow from the previous storm has slowly melted. He heard the beating motor of a helicopter up in the sky. When it came into view, he quickly leapt to his feet, shouting and yelling, and waving his arms up in the air. He was helped up, and given a hot drink, which he gratefully accepted. Seeing that nobody was looking, he brought out the photograph from his bag and muttered, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!”
He looked at it rather disappointed, because nothing happened. Was this a joke? Yet, when he turned it round, he saw that writing had formed on the back. As he read, he bit his lower lip, to restrain himself.
“Messrs. Wormtail, Moony, Padfoot and Prongs would like to thank you for the mischievous adventures you have shared with them. You are quite welcome to return to Hogwarts and next time, you can go with them and enjoy the pleasures of the full moon.”
{I hope you guys had fun reading this as much as I have writing it.}
|
|
|
|
Post by Leia Skye on Aug 26, 2004 9:11:18 GMT -5
I love the dialogue! I had no idea you could write like that...it's great! 
I'll be honest and say I didn't finish it yet, I only read the first two posts you made - but that's because reading it gave me the inspiration I was looking for to finish my own story. 
|
|
|
|
Post by RainFrost on Aug 26, 2004 21:27:22 GMT -5
That was great, Hermoine. I loved it!  I always enjoy when people write fanfics about the Marauders but I think yours was truly one of my favourites.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sphi on Aug 28, 2004 0:44:14 GMT -5
Great story, Hermy! Heh, I find it interesting that all the entries so far have Sirius in them. I think that's saying something...
I really liked the part right at the beginning when the Marauders help out Garrison with the Invisibility Cloak; it's like that part in the PoA movie with Harry trying to find Pettigrew! I also really liked the part when they're creating the Marauders. Aw, and the kiss was really touching.
No offense, but I really dislike Snape's character in this story. But you probably did that on purpose, right? You seemed to capture each Marauder's personality pretty well through their reactions and conversation.
I have two questions, if you don't mind.
1. Who's talking in this part? "It’s for the best I suppose, he thought. If Prongs hadn’t done it, I might be in a very uncomfortable situation right now for sure." It can't be Garrison, right? I thought James didn't do it until he saw Garrison leave. 
2. Who is the rat in this passage? I have a guess, but I don't have anything to support my guess, really.
Again, nice job! It was a fun read.
|
|
|
|
Post by hermoine on Aug 28, 2004 4:01:32 GMT -5
No offense, but I really dislike Snape's character in this story. But you probably did that on purpose, right? You seemed to capture each Marauder's personality pretty well through their reactions and conversation.
He might have been a bit harsh with Lily in that part, but yeah, I wanted him to be a bit desperate. They were in sixth year then, and I wanted him to start going after her, while he was thinking that James was doing the same thing.I have two questions, if you don't mind.
1. Who's talking in this part? "It’s for the best I suppose, he thought. If Prongs hadn’t done it, I might be in a very uncomfortable situation right now for sure." It can't be Garrison, right? I thought James didn't do it until he saw Garrison leave.
2. Who is the rat in this passage? I have a guess, but I don't have anything to support my guess, really.
Well the rat is Pettigrew of course. He was rather jealous of Garrison because the other Marauders respected him a lot and everything.
Hope that answers your questions.
And I'm glad you guys like it! |
|
|
|
Post by Sphi on Aug 28, 2004 14:35:46 GMT -5
Oh, so James just told them about what had happened with Lily afterwards? Okay, that makes sense.
About the rat, though. Wasn't Pettigrew watching the game in the stands with Sirius? So how could he become the rat and be sitting on a window ledge at the end of the game? And why did he squeak happily?
|
|
|
|
Post by hermoine on Aug 29, 2004 3:07:28 GMT -5
About the rat, though. Wasn't Pettigrew watching the game in the stands with Sirius? So how could he become the rat and be sitting on a window ledge at the end of the game? And why did he squeak happily? |
|
|
|
Post by moira on Sept 8, 2004 14:04:06 GMT -5
Alright, I finally found time to read all of the entries here!
Wow Herm, I agree with all the others, I think you did a great job keeping the characters true to form. The dialogue you wrote as the Marauders interracted with each other is the strongest aspect of your story, I think, as well as the plot. I really enjoyed reading these guys when they were younger and creating the map.
I'm guessing you meant for the whole story to be in Garrison's point of view, right? My only critique is that occasionally Garrison would point out things or mention someone's name that haven't been visually introduced to him until that point. For instance, at the Quidditch match.
We as the reader know about McGonagall's characteristics and status, but as far as what's been told in the story, Garrison hasn't been filled in about her at all.
Hope you don't take offense to me saying that, it was just something I noticed.
I really enjoyed reading it, though. I loved the humor that you had in here. All the jesting going on with our favourite trio and such. The dialogue matched very nicely with their characters as they were described in the 5th book, and I think maintaining that same character development is an important thing, which you did very well. Good job!
|
|
|
|
Post by hermoine on Sept 9, 2004 8:25:46 GMT -5
I'm guessing you meant for the whole story to be in Garrison's point of view, right? My only critique is that occasionally Garrison would point out things or mention someone's name that haven't been visually introduced to him until that point. For instance, at the Quidditch match.
Not at all! I'm not offended! It actually helps me to improve my writing! I'm glad you like it! |
|
I always enjoy when people write fanfics about the Marauders but I think yours was truly one of my favourites.
