October 1971
James had the unfortunate error of carrying the weight of the three boys. Much akin like a comedy scene in a Hallmark movie, they had tumbled down on top of one another. James grunted underneath them and tried to move, but Pete was too much.
Dumbledore chuckled.
All four boys turned to look at him.
One by one, they got up, slowly but they managed. And they stood before the headmaster, clothes all disheveled and hair all tousled.
Fear spread like the plague.
If he could notice their presence through a wall, surely, he’d know it was them behind the incident. Well, James and Sirius really.
“A-are we in trouble?” Pete stuttered.
Dumbledore shook his head and confusion spread.
“But we’re not free to go, are we?” Sirius ever the inquisitive asked.
“Pettigrew and Lupin are free to leave but I strongly encourage for you two to not mention this to anyone. Ah, and Lupin my boy. Pomfrey requests your prescence.” Dumbledore spoke in a soft and gentle manner, but the boys had understood there would be dire consequences if they didn’t follow as he did.
After Remus and Peter walked off, Dumbledore requested for James and Sirius to sit on one the purple velvet couches.
“Sherbert?” He offered.
Sirius and James each took one, but they kept it in their hands.
“Are we going to be expelled?” Sirius spoke first. It didn’t look like it bothered him much, and it probably didn’t. The Blacks had a history of attending other schools such as Beauxbatons. But James didn’t have that luxury. Maybe he’d have to attend a school far from England, somewhere in India, close so his extended family could keep a eye on him.
“No. You will not.” Dumbledore replied.
Relief washed over James, drowning him almost.
“But, consequences should be in place for what you did.”
James hoped it wasn’t much.
“I’d like you to find all secret spots of Hogwarts.”
A pause, another, a third, a fourth, a fifth.
“…Sorry?”
“Yes, Potter. I’d like for you to locate each individual shortcut, hiding place, areas where rules are breached and whatever else you can.”
James looked at Sirius who looked right back.
“In all my years of being headmaster, I’ve never found such a path that led to the kitchens, or a path that led inside my walls. It is your magic core that made me find you, young children such as yourself often have trouble managing the spread of magic.”
“So, what you’re asking of us to redeem ourselves for a action that is expulsion worthy is too explore the grounds of Hogwarts and make a updated map?”
Sirius didn’t know he felt about the idea.
“Essentially. But do not worry. You may keep the map with you boys. Just every once in a while, I’d like to see it.”
“I think we can agree to that…” James said slowly.
“Does it include moving staircases, portraits, disappearing rooms, and such?”
“Well now that you have mentioned it Black, it would be good to include those to.”
Sirius thought, until he had a special condition.
“We accept under the negotiation that we are allowed to continue such pranks, well pranks that won’t harm anyone, in turn for this map.”
“Sirius I don’t think he can-“
“Done. Now, I suggest you boys get to bed. Your other friends are waiting.”
They had spoken at the same time, but the headmaster’s words would override James’s of course.
“Well, we should tell Pettigrew and Lupin.” Sirius told James.
They’d left and made their way back to the common room