"Son of a bi... biscuit eater." Siri amended at her grandmum's face. Then she glared at everyone harshly
before storming out.
|
|
"I didn't mean to." Remy said.
|
|
"Oh honey, it's not your fault." Ginny said giving him a hug.
|
|
There was a pop and Harry was standing in the kitchen with Stephen.
|
|
"Stephen!" Lily cried.
|
|
He scooped the girl up in his arms.
|
|
"Oh I see." Harry said. "Saying a hello to Dad's assistant before Dad."
|
|
"Daddy." She reached for him.
|
|
Harry took Lily from Stephen's arms. "What's with all the long faces?"
|
|
"Hogwarts letters came today." James said dully. "Siri's in a right state."
|
|
"What's the matter?" Harry said. "Surely Siri was accepted."
|
|
"Oh she was." Lily said and pursed her lips.
|
|
"And so was I." Remy added.
|
|
Harry blinked. "You're not eleven." He said lamely, as if that explained everything.
|
|
Molly started snickering.
|
|
"Mum." Ginny hissed. She handed Harry the letter.
|
|
Harry's eyes scanned over it. They'd been keeping an eye on Remy. He was smart. He was advanced for his
age. They wanted to start him early. Harry couldn't believe it. They wanted his kid early. His son was smart.
So smart he'd be going to Hogwarts a year early.
|
|
"Remus, I'm so proud."
|
|
"Siri thinks I stole her thunder. This was her year."
|
|
"And it will be still. You know Siri has your mum's rabid temper."
|
|
"Hey!" Ginny said with her hands on her hips.
|
|
"Siri will get over her fit of temper. Like she always does."
|
|
There was another loud pop.
|
|
Harry looked up. Sirius Black strode into the Weasleys' kitchen.
|
|
"Hello, everyone."
|
|
"Sirius." Molly stepped up and kissed his cheek.
|
|
"Molly."
|
|
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked.
|
|
"Siri." He smiled.
|
|
"You knew."
|
|
"I did. Dumbledore spoke to the staff about it. I knew Siri might be upset."
|
|
"She'll want to talk to you, Uncle Padfoot." Lily said.
|
|
He nodded. Siri always wanted him when she was really upset.
|
|
"Well, I can solve all of it." Remy snapped. "I just won't go!" He threw his book on the table and stormed
outdoors.
|
|
"Oh dear." Molly started wringing her hands.
|
|
Harry sighed. Remy rarely got so upset he had an outburst. The kid was the quietest person Harry knew.
There was usually a polite calm to him. He must really be upset about this. Especially if he'd taken to throwing
books.
|
|
There was another pop. Remus Lupin breezed into the kitchen then.
|
|
Harry sighed again. "Remy's in the back yard."
|
|
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
|
|
She'd flung herself on her bed here at the burrow.
|
|
"Well, don't you look pathetic."
|
|
Siri turned over. Her eyes were all bloodshot and watery. Her face was all pinkened and splotchy. She sniffed
loudly and swiped her hand across her eyes.
|
|
"Puppy..." Sirius said as he sat on the edge of her bed.
|
|
Siri threw her arms around his neck. "T'was to be my year, Uncle Padfoot."
|
|
"And it'll be your year still, Sirius. Your brother was looking a wee bit heartbroken downstairs. You know how
he can get if he thinks one of his sisters is hurting."
|
|
"He's upset? What's he got to be upset about? He'll be famous. A year younger than everybody else. Smart
as hell."
|
|
"Yes, he's upset. He's upset because you're upset. And think how you'd feel. A year younger, everyone
staring at you. He's talking about not going."
|
|
"What?"
|
|
"He said he wouldn't go."
|
|
"But he got a letter."
|
|
"Uncle Moony is outdoors speaking with him."
|
|
"Rubbish!" She stormed out of the room.
|
|
"Sirius!"
|
|
She stormed past everyone in her grandmum's kitchen. She flung herself out the screen door and stormed up
to her brother and Remus Lupin.
|
|
"Remus Rubeus Potter, you ARE SO going to Hogwarts this term! There'll be no more talk of you NOT going!
I forbid it!"
|
|
"Siri-"
|
|
"No! You're going, you great prat. End of it."
|
|
"But-"
|
|
"Look, it's not YOUR fault you're so damn smart."
|
|
"Sirius." Remus Lupin said.
|
|
"What?"
|
|
"Language."
|
|
"Uncle Moody, they say damn on the telle all the time."
|
|
"And what would your mother say if she heard that?"
|
|
Remy snorted. "She'd use a cleaning spell on her mouth."
|
|
Siri rolled her eyes. "Look, I was upset, I admit, but you have to go. I mean, how boring would it be to stay
here while the rest of us are at school anyhow?"
|
|
He chewed his bottom lip. "It would be awfully boring to be alone. I get used to you talking with your great loud
voice while I'm trying to read."
|
|
Siri hugged him.
|
|
Remus grinned at Sirius as his old friend stepped out onto the porch. Their namesakes got a bit more like
them every year that passed. Sirius Merlina Potter was getting a vile temper and had a very rebellious nature
like another Sirius.
|
|
"Hello!"
|
|
Everyone looked up. Arabella Lupin had walked out behind Sirius.
|
|
"Might I borrow Siri?"
|
|
"Bella, dearest..." Remus said. "What are you doing here?"
|
|
"I have something for Siri and Remy upon their acceptance into Hogwarts."
|
|
Siri jumped up. "A present?"
|
|
"Yes, dear."
|
|
"Cool."
|
|
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
|
|
Siri, Lily, and Perdita were sitting on Siri's bed. Arabella was sitting in a chair across from them. Hermione
had just arrived by floo with Perdita when Arabella was coming back inside with Siri, so Arabella had taken
the three girls. She'd placed a silencing charm and the room and a locking charm on the door.
|
|
"I have something for you three." Arabella said. She looked at Siri. "Do you all know who the Marauders of
Hogwarts were? The original ones?"
|
|
They didn't.
|
|
"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs."
|
|
"But-"
|
|
"That's right. They were your 'uncles' and Lils and Siri's grandpa James and Peter Pettigrew." Arabella
smiled a bit. "I always thought we needed female marauders. So..." She reached into her bag and began
pulling out things.
|
|
"What's a marauder?" Perdita asked.
|
|
"Basically.... a troublemaker." Arabella said with a grin. "Go on, girls."
|
|
Lily lifted up what looked like a plain book. She flipped through it. It was blank.
|
|
"Touch it with your wand and say your first name."
|
|
Lily pulled out her wand. "Lily" She tapped the book. It flipped open and the pages began filling in. "Oh!" She
picked it up. Property of James Potter. She looked at Arabella.
|
|
"It was your grandpa's. Remus has had it hidden in the private library he doesn't think I know about. To turn it
off again simply say 'James' and tap it with your wand."
|
|
Lily nodded as she started reading the book. Siri chuckled. She picked up what looked like an old piece of
parchment.
|
|
"That I had to steal from your father."
|
|
"Steal?" Lily asked.
|
|
"I can be sneaky. And it was worth it."
|
|
"What?" Siri turned it over in her hands. "It's just an old piece of parchment."
|
|
"Is it now." Arabella took out her wand and tapped the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
|
|
The girls gasped as the ink filled in slowly. The words sprung up first.
|
|
*~*
|
|
Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
|
|
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
|
|
are proud to present
|
|
The Marauder's Map
|
|
*~*
|
|
"Oh!" Perdita squealed. "It's Hogwarts! Look! Dumbledore!" She pointed to a little dot moving about his
office. "He's already there? But it's August."
|
|
Arabella laughed.
|
|
"How do we turn it off?" Siri asked.
|
|
Arabella tapped the parchment again with her wand. "Mischief managed."
|
|
Lily was pacing an thumbing through the book that belonged to her grandfather. "They're notes." She
skimmed some more. "Notes on how to become an animagus."
|
|
Perdita gasped.
|
|
Arabella smiled widely. "Very good, Lils."
|
|
"This is dangerous."
|
|
"I know. They were fifth years when they finally figured it out. I'm betting you three won't take so long.
Especially with that." She nodded at the book. "The research has already been done for you."
|
|
"Won't Uncle Moony discover it's missing?"
|
|
"I suspect he will."
|
|
"Won't you get into trouble for giving it to us?"
|
|
"I suspect I will... if he ever figures out I'm the one that took it."
|
|
"Aunt Bella..."
|
|
"You three are so clever. I couldn't NOT arm you for the upcoming year. I hear your whispers. I've heard them
all summer, you know what's to come. Or part of it. So I want you to have as much practice as the original
Marauders and the next generation lead by your parents. Because knowing you three, I foresee you far
surpassing both groups in mischief."
|
|
"What's this then?" Perdita asked, picking up a silvery blue looking cloak.
|
|
"Try it on." Arabella said with a mischievous grin.
|
|
Perdita whipped the soft material around her shoulders.
|
|
"Holy shit!"
|
|
"Siri!"
|
|
"Oh dear! My body's vanished!"
|
|
"I know! Holy shit!"
|
|
Only Perdita's head seemed to be in the room. The rest of her body was gone.
|
|
The redhead spun in a circle. "Wicked."
|
|
Lily looked at Arabella. "An invisibility cloak?"
|
|
"Your father has one. It was his father's. You wouldn't believe what I had to go through to find that one. They're
very rare."
|
|
"But why?" Lily asked.
|
|
"No marauder should be without one."
|
|
"You're serious about this."
|
|
"Oh definitely. And I want owls about it."
|
|
"Oh, Lils, this is too good. Don't go all proper. We need your brain."
|
|
"Perdita has a brain."
|
|
"For the potion part. But you're better at transfiguring."
|
|
"Fine, but we're being careful. I have to sort out this book first. We aren't trying any of it until I'm certain. And
no marauding for the sake of marauding"
|
|
"Oh never." Siri said with a wicked grin on her face.
|
|
"Aunt Bella..." Lily began. "How did you know how to use this stuff?"
|
|
"I pay far more attention than your Uncle Moony and Padfoot think I do."
|
|
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
|
|
It was a few days before school started and Perdita and Lily were walking through Diagon Alley with linked
arms. Stephen Orcus was following behind them. Harry had taken Siri and Remy to Ollivander's. They had run
into Seamus and Fearghus Finnigan earlier and James had taken off with them.
|
|
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potty and the weaselgirl."
|
|
Lily sighed. "Malfoy."
|
|
He was walking up with Bobby Longbottom. Perdita's eyes narrowed as her hands went to her hips. Lily cast
a glance at Stephen. Good, he'd run into some girl and was talking to her.
|
|
"Where's your sister?" Haden asked.
|
|
"Where's yours?"
|
|
"I asked you first."
|
|
"With my dad."
|
|
"Same here."
|
|
"What do you want?"
|
|
"Wouldn't you like to know."
|
|
"Not really."
|
|
Haden's eyes narrowed. "If we weren't away from Hogwarts..." He was gripping his wand inside his robes.
|
|
"Do it, and see how much trouble you get in."
|
|
"I'm going to be the Slytherin seeker this year, Potter. You won't beat us."
|
|
"WE, I belong to a team, Malfoy, and WE will beat Slytherin. Because there's no way you'll catch the snitch
when I'm playing."
|
|
He stepped closer to her. "You wish. You aren't perfect, Potter. You can be defeated."
|
|
"Not by you." She pushed the sleeves up on her shirt, placed her hands on her hips and leaned up into his
face with a menacing glare.
|
|
"By me."
|
|
"In your dreams, Malfoy."
|
|
"I'll succeed where my father failed. No four-eyed, ugly little twit will beat me. Especially not the little girl of
some scarred glory hound who only got the auror department because he was lucky a few times."
|
|
"Don't you speak of my father like that. He's worth a hundred Malfoys."
|
|
Haden snorted. "Your grandmother on the Potter side was a mudblood."
|
|
"Don't you call my grandmother that!"
|
|
"Malfoys are superior to Potters. Always have been. Always will be."
|
|
"Only if insanity is the category."
|
|
"What?"
|
|
"At least my mother isn't a knife-wielding maniac."
|
|
Haden actually swung at her. Lily ducked.
|
|
"Lils!"
|
|
Bobby grabbed Perdita and prevented her from aiding the smaller girl.
|
|
"Let go of me, dammit!" Perdita was kicking her legs wildly.
|
|
It caused herself and Bobby to topple to the ground. Lily launched herself at Haden and quickly put him in a
headlock. He hooked his leg behind hers and the two of them went tumbling to the ground. Very soon the
bigger and stronger Haden Malfoy was sitting on Lily with her arms stretched above her head. He leaned
down in her face with a menacing sneer.
|
|
"HADEN!"
|
|
"Get off of my cousin, you prat!"
|
|
Lily looked over to see Siri launch herself at Bobby Longbottom's back as Melusine was trying to pry her
brother up off of Lily. Oh this was bad.
|
|
"Lils!"
|
|
Suddenly Haden went flying. James was on him in a second. Lily scrambled to her feet to see Bobby
Longbottom looking very menacing and advancing on her little sister who was crab walking backwards
across the ground.
|
|
"Siri!" Lily took a running leap at Longbottom's back.
|
|
"Geroff!" Bobby was spinning around trying to dislodge Lily.
|
|
"What in the hel- AHHH!"
|
|
Stephen had been trying to break them up when Bobby had spun around and one of Lily's feet had managed
to catch the older boy in the groin. He went down like a sack of stones in a river. Several people had stopped
to watch the unraveling scene.
|
|
Siri scrambled to her feet and took a swing at Bobby right as Perdita grabbed one of Haden's arms to keep
him from landing a punch to James.
|
|
"Oh my! Stop it! All of you! Good heavens!"
|
|
Seventh year and Head Girl Cinn Weasley was on the scene trying to pry people apart. A stray fist from
James caught her in the chin, and the redhead toppled backwards landing half on Stephen. Hands grabbed
Perdita and lifted her away from Malfoy.
|
|
Cinn's twin Jasper shoved her cousin back. "Enough."
|
|
Aker Ather, now starting his seventh year at Hogwarts, had placed himself between Haden and James, but
he was having a hell of a time keeping them apart. About that time Bobby Longbottom let out a fearsome
howl. Siri Potter had sunk her teeth into his leg.
|
|
"Oh hell!" Jasper snapped. She tried to pry the Potter girls off of the Longbottom kid.
|
|
Only to get tangled in their mess and knocked to the ground.
|
|
"DAMMIT! Cut this shit out!"
|
|
"Jasperina Weasley!"
|
|
She looked up from the tangle of bodies to see her mother looking rather angry.
|
|
"Hi, Aunt Alicia." Siri said in a cheery tone.
|
|
Lily sat up. Her raven ponytail was coming out and her glasses were all askew. Her Uncle George had
managed to help Aker and Melusine separate James, Perdita, and Haden. James was clawing at the air
between himself and Malfoy. Melusine was pushing her brother back. Alicia had separated Lily, Siri, and
Bobby with a glare. Now she was helping Cinn and Stephen back to their feet. Then Stephen did the
strangest thing. He took Cinn's face in his hands and started turning it delicately. Like he was checking for
bruises.
|
|
"What the devil is going on here?"
|
|
Everyone looked up. Draco Malfoy was stalking up. Haden actually flinched at the look on his father's face.
|
|
"What in the..." Harry Potter was heading up from the other direction with Remy and Hermione who was
pushing a stroller with her almost a year old twins, Sebastian and Viola in it.
|
|
"Let me guess..." Hermione said with a glare at Perdita. "We were all having a bit of a tussle in the middle of
the street for everyone to see."
|
|
George was trying not to laugh. Hermione glared at him.
|
|
"Potter started it!" Haden said.
|
|
"I did not!" James snapped.
|
|
"Not you, Potter. The OTHER Potter. Your sister the shadow."
|
|
Lily stormed over to where Haden was only to be held back by her father. "You swung at me first!"
|
|
"You tried to hit a girl?" Draco said.
|
|
"You called my mother crazy!"
|
|
"She is!" Lily screamed and pointed at the scar on her forearm.
|
|
"Lily!" Harry admonished.
|
|
"And you called my grandmother a mudblood!"
|
|
"She was!"
|
|
"Haden!" Draco snapped.
|
|
"If I could use my wand right now, you wouldn't be so tough, Malfoy! Just you wait 'til we're back at Hogwarts!"
|
|
"Bring it on, Potter!"
|
|
"I will, you stupid son of a ferret!"
|
|
"Lily!" Harry hissed.
|
|
Draco was glaring at Harry.
|
|
"I didn't..."
|
|
"Say anything?" Draco sneered. "Yeah right, Potter."
|
|
"No, he didn't..." Siri said jumping in. "Uncle Ron did."
|
|
