The Spooky Marauders

“Hello and welcome back to the Spooky Marauders.” James said to the camera. “Today we’re going to the Lizzie Borden house. Wait. Aren’t we already there? I think this script is a little outdated. Oh well, Sirius tell us the story.” 

The camera panned to Sirius, “Two people, Andrew and Abby Borden, both in their golden years by that era’s reckoning, were mercilessly hacked to death with a hatchet; Abby as she cleaned the upstairs guest room, and Andrew as he lay napping on the sitting room couch downstairs. Not a sound had been heard by the myriad pedestrians outside, but the house, now stained with blood, had witnessed it all.

Andrew Borden bought the home in 1872 and immediately had it remodelled from a two-tenant dwelling into a place his small family could call home. He chose the house due to its pragmatic location—a short walking distance to his businesses on main street, one block over. It sat amid other businesses, horse stables, stores, a laundry, and a make-shift restaurant.

“Andrew’s wife kept the house and took pride in it, while his two daughters Emma and Lizzie looked about at the heavily floral-covered walls as a prison. A young Irish maid, Bridget Sullivan, was the only other inhabitant. There were no hallways in the house, with the exception of an upstairs landing. One had to go through one room to get to another. As a result, locks abounded. Locks that would play an invaluable role in the murder mystery that would captivate the world after that fateful morning of August 4, 1892.

Today, the house is just as it was. The furnishings retain their rightful place, the décor has been painstakingly duplicated, and the original hardware and doors are still intact. Artefacts from the murder case are displayed while memorabilia from the era line shelves and mantel tops. A visitor is literally transported back to that morning when a perfect storm of events culminated in a double murder.”

James looked surprised. “You memorised all of that?” 

“No. it’s on my hand.” He said, and showed James the writing which went all over his hand and halfway up his arm. 

“That barely counts as a hand.” James huffed. 

“It does now,” Sirius grinned and they made their way to the two tour guides who were waiting at the house's entrance. 

When James saw the absolutely heavenly lady waiting there, he fell in love with her. Her hair was a light ginger colour and her eyes were bright. Her clothes were simple yet fit her so well. James was definitely in love. Even the comment sections afterwards mentioned it. 

Some included:

SpookyMarauders__69 Commented : did u see the way that james looked at the tour guide ( i think she was named lily or smth) hes deffo in love. 

Marauders4Lyfe90239 Commented  : holy shit theyre so in love it hurts. james x lily forever. 

The girls introduced themselves. The one who looked like heaven bottled in a person was named Lily and the one who had brown curly hair and a darker complexion was Mary. She was really pretty, but James only had eyes for Lily. 

“Welcome to the Lizzie Borden House,” Lily said. 

“Can I be welcomed into your bed?” James whispered under his breath. Only Lily was the one to notice what he said, and she turned a bright crimson. She quickly turned away and unlocked the door. 

“Wait. shouldn’t we start with an interview?” Remus asked. 

“Yeah, Lil hang on.” Mary said and pulled Lily from the entrance of the door. She was still a little flushed. 

Peter turns the camera on and they begin the interview. “What’s the most haunted place in the house?” He asked. 

“I’d probably say the entire house.” Mary said, laughing. James looked like he was about to faint. 

“The whole house?” Sirius asked, his eyes widening. 

“Yeah.” Lily said, smiling. 

“Next question, scariest thing that’s happened.” Remus asked. 

“Someone didn’t leave money on the dresser and Andrew Borden didn’t leave them alone. They woke up with three scratches on their neck.” Mary said, turning serious immediately. Sirius and James turned to each other and they agreed to leave money through looks alone. 

“That’s wonderful. I’m sure we’ll have a great time.” Remus said and laughed. 

The interview continued with more questions and answers. None of them were that interesting though, and they didn’t make the final cut of the video. 

They entered the house and the sunsetting light filtering through the windows made the house look creepy. Just like the Conjuring House, this house was also designed to be how it would’ve looked like when the house was back in 1892. 

Regulus would’ve liked this, Sirius thought. 

James sat down on the nearest couch and spread himself out. 

“I don’t think you want to do that.” Lily said and James froze. “That’s the couch where Andrew was murdered.” Lily smiled and James waited for Lily to look away before jumping up and screaming internally. He gave the couch a wide berth after that. 

Lily pretended not to notice, but she found it extremely humorous. Peter was filming everything he could, making sure to get the perfect angles. Sirius was looking around, he hesitated to walk through the house. James was as close to Lily as he could be, without being up in her personal space. He was hovering next to her like a bee. 

“Oh I forgot to ask. Have people started levitating?” Sirius asked. 

“Not that I know of.” Lily replied. 

“Damn. I wanted James to start floating.” He called to the house in a louder voice, “Spirits you can have permission to float James away.” 

“What the fuck, Sirius?” James shrieked. “I don’t wanna be floated away.” 

“Well the spirits can do whatever they want.” Sirius winked. Lily was hiding a smile. 

James rolled his eyes and went back next to Lily, and he started whispering in her ears. Lily looked intrigued. 

They walked around the house, pointing out the best spots to investigate, then Mary and Lily left the building so that the Marauders could begin their investigation. 

“Sooo… James. Do you fancy Lily?” Remus asked, slinging an arm around James’ shoulders. 

“Yeah James,” Sirius said, slinging his arm around the other side of his shoulders. 

“Shut up.” James said through gritted teeth. 

“Guys did you hear that?” Peter said quietly. Peter thought he heard a number of footsteps that sounded like they were walking upstairs. 

“Hear what? I think you’re going insane.” Sirius said, “too many haunted houses.” 

They walked around and decided to begin their investigation in the room where the daughters of Andrew Borden and Abby Borden were murdered. 

“This room is the creepiest in the whole house. Are we sure we have to start here?” James asked. 

“Awww is little Jamie scared?” Sirius taunted. 

“Yes, actually.” 

“Oh.” 

They set their equipment down and pulled out a music box. Remus placed it so that it could capture the movement going on outside. He explained to the newer viewers what a music box could do. 

Sirius took out cat balls and put them somewhere in the room. James took out the REM pod and put it slightly away from the group, but not near the door. 

They sat in a circle and waited for one of them to speak. They only had the light of the camera’s flash to see. So half the room was clouded in darkness. For some reason it was scarier here than at the Conjuring House. The house felt like it knew their presence. 

“If there are any spirits willing to communicate with us, please go stand in the doorway or go touch the REM pod we have over there.” Remus said, breaking the thick silence. 

The music box went off. It began playing that creepy tune. James screamed. 

“Step away from the music box if you want to talk to us.” Remus said, and the music box stopped. 

“Holy fuck.” James said. 

“Are you Andrew Borden?” Silence. 

“Are you Abby Borden?” Silence. 

“Are you.. Lizzie Borden?” Silence. 

“Fuck who else do we know?” Remus asked. 

Sirius took a deep breath. “Are you Regulus Black?” The music box turned on, the creepy music filling the air. 

“Fuck.” Peter said. 

“Reggie, I miss you,” James said, and the music box stopped. 

“Can we talk to one of the Bordens please?” Sirius asked. The REM pod went off. “Is this one of the Bordens?” The REM pod’s beeping turned off. 

“Okay, ask about the murdering.” James said, and both the music box and the REM pod went off. He screamed.

“James. Calm yourself. Nothing’s happening.” Remus said, rolling his eyes. 

“Are we seeing the same thing?” James asked, staring at the corner of the room. He could see a man, who was about James’ height but a little taller. The face wasn’t visible, though it seemed like the hair was curly. 

“What are you talking about, James?” Sirius asked. 

“Oh.” Was all he said. 

The apparition disappeared and they asked more questions. They weren’t getting as much interaction now. Peter suggested that they let the spirits use the camera battery to let themselves charge up or whatever they did, but the others said no. The spirits drained the battery anyways. 

“I think we should move rooms. Let’s go to the basement now.” Remus said. James made a face at him. 

They went to the basement after promising James that they would let him sleep in the nice bed after this. 

The basement was creepier than the rest of the house. There was something about it. Peter felt off, he was getting a headache. 

Although it could be explained that it was just the harsh light and the darkness that was causing it, the headache didn’t go away until he left the house later that night. 

“Please interact with us, I’ve got a spirit box thing. Say some words, actually I don’t know how this thing works so just say shit.” James said 

“Shit.” The spirit box said 

“That’s new.” Remus said. 

“Borden House. MUUUUuurrdeeerrrrrr.” The second word came out demonic. James screamed. 

“Absolutely fucking not.” James said once he calmed himself. 

Even Remus looked a little shaken. 

“I feel like if we get a second one, we should stop.” Sirius said.

“EUuugugghhh.” The word was demonic again, it was like a growl. 

Sirius turned the spirit box off and James immediately grabbed his bag and fled the basement. 

James ran outside, where he bumped right into Lily. 

“I’m so so sorry, oh my gods, are you alright?” He asked. 

“It’s alright, James, don’t worry.”

“You remember my name.”

“How could I not? Not everyone has pickup lines as bad as yours.” Lily laughed, the sound made James want to bottle it up and get drunk on it every night. 

“My pickup lines are not bad. They’re masterpieces.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” 

“I will.”

Somewhere in this exchange, they had gotten closer together. 

“Would you give me your number?” James asked, fishing out his phone. 

“Hmmmm that depends if you’re going to be a prick about it.” she took his phone and wrote in her number, she saved the contact as ‘Lily (the hottie)’ 

“I’m keeping that name for you by the way.” 

“Good.”

James fidgeted.

“Can I kiss you?” He asked. She paused. 

“Yes.” 

James closed the gap between them, which wasn’t that far. Her lips tasted like cherry. Lily hooked her hand around James’ neck. James wrapped his hand around her waist. They would’ve kept kissing if there wasn’t a loud whooping sound coming from inside. 

They broke apart immediately and the duo looked sheepish. Lily’s hair was a little messy and her cheeks were flushed. James knew he looked the same. 

“Well. I’ll see you soon.” James winked and went back inside the house to help his friends bring their equipment back to the car. 

Lily watched them get into the car and she waved them off. 

“Lily, I was beginning to suspect you didn’t like men, and then you go pull this shit.” Mary said from beside her, Lily didn’t know when she had gotten there.