first year - ttottb
9th July 11:52 PM
"Ready James?"
"Ready Sirius"
"Remus, did you manage to get the potion from Lily?" Peter asked as Remus opened the door holding a massive flask in his left hand
"Yep" For the last couple of days he had been working with Evans to get the potion they needed for their goodbye to be perfected, because of course James insisted on finishing off their year with a bang.
At first he wasn't too keen on asking Lily for help and working with her, but after James and Sirius' constant nagging he gave in. This was because Remus was terrible at potions and the potion they needed was quite complex. The rest of the marauders were too busy perfecting their pieces of the plan which consisted of two parts, spells that James and Sirius mostly worked on and trying to find the kitchens which Peter had managed to find surprisingly quickly.
Lily was nice, but the only reason Remus hadn’t been too keen on joining forces with her is because he knew there would be questions, and if Lily found out that the marauders were up to something then everything could fail.
Luckily, the only part he desperately needed help on was something that could be used for pretty much anything. It was a very hard potion though, fifth year stuff according to Lily but with the combined efforts of Remus’ research and Lily’s excellent potion-making skills they had managed to do it.
All that was needed now was for the spell to be cast.
"Ok, let's go through the plan"
"James we've gone through it about a million times already. I don't want to hear it again"
"Peter, everyone else wants to hear it"
"Nah. I agree with Pete" Sirius ruffled Peters hair as he try to duck out of the way.
"Well you're listening to it anyway" James pushed his glasses up his nose and sighed, grinning "So me and Remus will go down to the kitchens in a couple of minutes and put the potion in all the drinks that the house elves make an-"
"And they'll be ok with it because they don't care what the students do" Sirius recited walking around the room like he was giving an exceptionally inspirational speech
"Shut up. I'm saying the plan." Sirius mockingly mouthed the words behind James "Then tomorrow morning" Sirius was still mouthing the words along with James "when everyone drinks their morning pumpkin juice and tea or whatever, I set the bubbles off then Peter darkens the great hall, which is Sirius’ cue to set the fireworks off which spell the words out”
Sirius gave a thumbs up to Remus.
"I still think what we’ve written is too polite" Remus butted in.
James glared at him and continued. "I'll cast the spell on the potion now."
James waved his wand with concentration written all over his face and said the words which were then followed by a small pop coming from the potion.
"I hope that sound means it's worked" Remus peered inside the flask. It didn't look any different.
"Right then" James clapped his hands together "Let's go"
The castle at night was a different place altogether. It was so peaceful without ghosts and professors wandering around left, right and centre. Without the noise of bustling students and Peeves causing havoc, without all the heat and the various smells coming from potions classrooms and sweaty quidditch players.
Now they were mental. Playing quidditch was stupid. And because James was obsessed with the sport his mind wandered to the boy next to him under the cloak.
The cloak. He had finished reading The Tales of Beedle the Bard a couple of months ago.
"James?" he whispered. He didn't want that vile of a man to come running. Filch in other words.
"Hm?"
"You know that children's book you gave me on my birthday?"
"Yes, Tales of Beedle the Bard. A classic. What about it?"
"The story about the three brothers, the things Death gave them es- "
"The Deathly Hallows" James interrupted and came to a halt making the cloak slip a little.
"What?"
"The wand, stone and cloak make up the three deathly hallows"
"Right, don’t know what those are but carrying on - the cloak. Do yo-"
"'And Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility'" James interrupted Remus again.
"What?"
"What it says in the book. I've read it millions of times, it's my favourite." James turned to Remus and gave a warm smile "Carry on"
"Ok, but interrupt me again and I'm leaving with the cloak. Which gets me on to my point. You have an invisibility cloak, is it real?"
"Of course it's real, we're invisible aren't we?"
"Yes, but like what's it made from? True cloaks of invisibility don't exist" He had done some brief research after reading the story, fascinated by the objects in the fairytale
"I don't know what it's made from, and you're right in saying that they don't exist. This one will probably wear off in a few years"
"Oh, bit sad"
"Yeah, this thing is my pride and joy"
"If the Tale of The Three Brothers were true, it could last for all of eternity"
"Wow." the other boy sounded exhilarated at the thought "Yeah, imagine if this was the actual cloak of invisibility" James pinched a piece of fabric between his fingers to feel it. Remus did the same, the cloth felt as supple as water, light as air. "We would be the owner of the third hallow"
"What's this hallow rubbish?"
"Rubbish?!" James raised his voice.
"Shh, let's get down to the Kitchens before that blasted cat comes running" They rushed as quickly and as quietly as they could to the painting of fruit and tickled the pear. Remus almost shouted at the sight of what he assumed was a house elf. He had never been in the kitchens before and had only ever seen a house elf once in the form of an illustrated picture put in a book.
The house elves wanted to cook the two of them up a whole feast and even after their refusals they had still somehow acquired an assortment of desserts which included some chocolate cake. Remus wasn't complaining though.
He wasn't going to lie, house elves were odd creatures but they seemed extremely helpful and kind. He almost felt bad for going behind their backs and pouring their potion into the drinks when they were busy fussing over the two boys that had entered their kitchen.
But they had done it, and now they were making their way back up to the tower, arms full up with wrapped up treats.
Once they got back in the dorm Remus asked something "So what are the deathly hallows?"
"Why are you asking about them?" Peter inquired
"We were talking about this cloak on the way down" James held up the cloak and turned to speak to Remus "Well in the story there's the cloak, wand and stone right? Each represent a hallow and if they are united it makes the Deathly Hallows"
"S'that simple?" Remus questioned
"Yep. But it's pretty interesting once you really get into it." James sat down on his bed with Peter and Sirius intently listening along too "People say if you unite the Deathly Hallows you are the master of Death, some people believe they're real and make it their whole lives mission to find them"
"Wait, so if you get all three of the Hallows you could technically live forever?" Sirius sat on the floor staring up at James
"Don't know about that. I guess so though. That's what being the Master of Death means"
"And the people who believe they're real?" Remus spoke up "What about them? Why do they think they're real?"
James shrugged "Don't know. They just do. They might exist…but who really knows for sure?"
"Imagine if your cloak was an actual Hallow though" Sirius’ eyes filled with wonder
"Yeah" James laughed "Would be pretty crazy wouldn't it?"
Yeah. Wouldn't it?
"Read the story James" Peter urged, excitement shining on his face
"Right now?"
"Yeah!” Sirius nodded eagerly “It will be our bedtime story"
"Ok then" James grinned and then gestured to the rest of their beds "Everyone get cosy"
The three boys climbed into their beds and everything went dark as the lights were turned off
"Lumos" A soft glow came from James' wand, reilluminating the room. "Where's your copy Remus?"
"Bedside table"
After getting the book, he sat down in the middle of the room, taking cushions and blankets to make himself comfortable as well. The other three marauders were looking down at him expectantly, eager for the storytelling to start, with James starring as the parent reading his three kids a bedtime story.
Then, he began.
"'There were once three brothers who were travelling along a lonely, winding road at t-midnight'" Remus looked over at Sirius who was grinning and of course had his hands behind his head. Typical. "'In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure.'"
"'And death spoke to them'" Sirius interjected as he rolled over onto his front, propping his elbows up and resting his chin on his hand "Sorry, continue" he apologised after James glared at him.
"'And death spoke to them. He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travellers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic, and said that each had earned a prize for having been clever enough to evade him. So the older brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death! So Death crosses to an elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there, and gave it to the oldest brother'"
"The Elder wand" Peter said.
James nodded and continued "'Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man'"
"Like you" Sirius waggled his eyebrows, smirking
"Piss off 'decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead.'"
"The resurrection stone" Peter chipped in.
"Yep 'And then Death asked the third and youngest brother what he would like. The youngest brother was the humblest and also the wisest of the brothers, and he did not trust Death. So he asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility'"
"The cloak of invisibility"
"No shit sherlock" Remus scoffed, looking at Peter who was sitting cross legged but slouched over to one side where his head was resting on his hand
"'Then death stood aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their way and they did so, talking with wonder of the adventure they had had, and admiring Death's gifts. In due course the brothers separated, each for his own destination. The first brother travelled on for a week or more, and reaching a distant village, sought out a fellow wizard with whom he had a quarrel. Naturally, with the Elder Wand as his weapon, he could not fail to win the duel that followed. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor, the oldest brother proceeded to an inn, where he boasted loudly of the powerful wand he had snatched from Death himself, and of how it made him invincible.'"
"I always thought he was stupid for doing that" Sirius yawned
"Are you guys done interrupting?" Remus asked, exasperated. If Sirius was the first brother he would probably do the same.
"Thank you Remus” James nodded in his direction “'That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine sodden, upon his bed. The thief took the wand and for good measure, slit the oldest brother's throat.'"
"'And so Death took the first brother for his own'" Sirius interrupted.
This resulted in James shooting him a very annoyed look "'Meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his own home, where he lived alone. Here he took out the stone that had the power to recall the dead, and turned it thrice in his hand. To his amazement and his delight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death, appeared at once before him. Yet she was sad and cold, separated from him as by a veil. Though she had returned from the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. Finally, the second brother, driven mad with hopeless longing, killed himself so as truly to join her.'"
James paused for a second, waiting for the interruption. But it never came. He sighed and carried on "'And so Death took the second brother for his own. But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.'"
10th July - 8:00 pm
The end-of-year feast had just started and the marauders were looking around eagerly.
Except for Remus.
Remus poured himself some tea. He didn’t have any cues to follow in their plan.
Even though tea had less caffeine in it then coffee, he found it kept him awake a lot better. Ever since he was young Remus could remember his dad saying that there was nothing a good cup of tea couldn’t fix, and actually at first he had disagreed. Whenever he had gotten a cold and either of his parents brought him a cup of it to ease his sore throat or to just make him feel better he distinctly remembered not liking it.
Anyway as he got older he found that his dad had been absolutely correct - he still didn’t drink it all the time but every now and again he’d find himself wanting a cup or two.
As he raised the mug James reached over the table and knocked it out of his hand, making scalding hot tea spill all over Remus.
"Thanks a lot" Remus grumbled, shooting his most death-like stare at James
"You're welcome" he seemed to have missed Remus' sarcasm. He was just about to ask him what his problem was, but then realised the favour James had done. How could he have been so stupid? Falling victim to their own prank was something the other boys would tease him about relentlessly.
"Look!" Sirius gasped and pointed towards two Slytherin sixth years behind them. The group of girls and boys sat next to the marauders turned around to look too - confused as to what was happening. The Slytherins were pouring some sort of beverage for themselves, and so were many others - no one was drinking though.
Immediately, all four of them tried to get a better look around trying to identify their first victim.
After a couple of seconds more staring, Remus swivelled right back around and said lowering his voice "We look like Snivellus, we're too suspicious staring at them like that." The other three quickly ducked their heads
"Yeah you're right, we don't want to turn into that creepy git, he's always staring at someone" James half stood up from his seat to see if there was any progress.
"How are we supposed to see them if we can't turn around?" Peter muttered, leaning across the table
"Just do it one at a time" Sirius said
Remus looked at the boy next to him. "Right Peter you go first" Peter turned his head in an awkward way, probably a tactic to try and seem discreet. It was not working.
"Ok James, pretend you're standing up to get something. Look like an angel" Sirius continued
"No problem. I already am one" James ran his fingers through his already messy black hair and stood up. It was safe to say that James was not the best actor when it came to looking guilt-free
"Sit down" Remus hissed. James was going to give the whole thing away if he had been granted any more looking time "Sirius you go"
Sirius made to stand up but Remus kicked him in the shin as he realised just how obviously he was staring at the Slytherins. He quickly turned his head and saw the two students eyeing them warily. Bloody hell. So much for looking like angels. He'd said it before and he'd say it for the rest of his life. The other marauders were a bunch of idiots.
"We'll just try listen and see"
"There’s too much chatter" Peter said, now piling mashed potato onto his plate
"Well I've better hearing than you lot" Remus replied
James leaned in "How do you know?"
"Just do"
"But how?"
"I just know, ok?" Remus snapped and then listened hard for the sound of the gibberish language that was gobbledegook. However he couldn't hear anything other than normal English, and the irritating sound of Sirius drumming his fingers on the table.
But then, some sort of commotion had started up on the Ravenclaw table with a boy looking really panicked while his friends were laughing at him.
It had started
James clapped his hands together and darted his head in every direction possible to get a good look around.
The hall was filled with confused students, people were spewing out utter nonsense and McGonagall was frantically running around trying to instil calm to those who were speaking a foreign language
But then the attention was diverted as people had now started gasping at multi-coloured bubbles spewing from all directions, Remus hadn’t even had time to process it though as not even thirty seconds later all the bubbles popped with a satisfying sound, disappearing completely, and then the Great Hall was plunged into darkness
People were screaming, teachers were yelling at them to stay calm and that’s when Dumbledore’s voice boomed out ”Quiet!”
The yelling turned to panicked whispers and mutters, students and teachers alike unsure what to do.
James leaned over and whispered something into Sirius' ear,
And then, there was silence.
He did this. He caused this chaos.
Remus couldn't believe it - the marauders had actually managed to carry this out. It was brilliant.
All there was left to it now was their final message.
And then there was a bang
People were now excitedly chattering as fireworks started whizzing above people's heads twisting and turning in all directions until a sudden hush once again swept across the great hall as the bursts of colour shot to the front and twisted, spelling out the words:
Courtesy of the Marauders
Also known as: James Potter Sirius Black Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew
See you next year!
He decided to fixate on the beautiful landscapes rolling past, the colours of flower fields swirling together, creating a blur. How the world could be so beautiful yet so ugly at the same time, Remus didn't know. It was one of the mysteries of the planet. The contrast between countryside and city was vast. Unfortunately he was leaving Scotland behind and entering the crowded capital of London, where there were no mountains, no forests, barely any trees and just the polluted air and hazy atmosphere.
He looked across to the boy in front of him. Sirius was sleeping. Probably trying to get his last few minutes of peace before he had to go back to what he called his 'dingy depressing house'. He looked at the other boy for a while, and smiled at how the warm sunlight pouring in through the window softened Sirius' features - made him look like an innocent child. He wasn't innocent. But he was a child. He sometimes forgot that. James and Sirius were so daring and confident that Remus often forgot that they were all just kids really, having fun, living their lives.
During the journey, he found himself in a trance, listening to the repetitive but comforting sound of the Hogwarts express wheels clacking on the tracks below. It was a bit silly, but Remus found the sound reassuring. It was like the train was telling him he'd come back eventually - even if he had to wait a while.
He then cast his gaze towards the two other boys playing chess. James was staring hard at the board, thinking desperately about what was next, figuring out what the wisest move was so that he’d gain victory over Peter - the somewhat chess genius.
He closed his eyes, and fell asleep.