Aurora and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 12 The Marauder Room

Monday evening I knocked on Professor Dumbledore's office door. When he bide me enter I found Dad standing next to Fawkes. "Dad!"

"Hey, pumpkin. How's school?"

"I love it."

"Even Potions?" the Headmaster teased.

"Even Potions. Professor Snape may not be my favorite teacher but it's an interesting class."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

"How's work?"

"Honey, you know I can't tell you."

"I just meant you're being careful, right?"

"I'm taking every possible precaution. Especially after what Professor Dumbledore informed me of regarding Genoma."

"Genoma? Ginny's name is Genoma?"

"She probably didn't want that to be common knowledge. Don't let her know I slipped it."

"Can't say I blame her."

Dad turned to the Headmaster. "I'll be returning to Headquarters now, sir. Thank you for watching my little girl."

"It is my pleasure. Safe journey."

"Bye, sweetie," he told me, kissing me on the cheek. "I love you."

"I love you too. Be careful."

"I will."

He left by floo network.

"Now let us get down to business as I believe the Muggles say."

I smiled.

"Is there something you wish to discuss?"

"Yes, sir..." I hesitated, unsure how to bring it up.

"The best way is to not think too hard, my dear."

"Harry found out Neville and I are Animagi."

"And?"

"He mentioned they'd been trying to find a way to become ones but Hermione hadn't found it yet."

"Ah."

His reaction was hard to determine. I decided to trudge on. "I know how they can," I said in a small voice.

"Indeed?"

"My mother left me the family spell books. I started looking through them and came across a Gypsy version this morning."

"Have you informed Harry of your find?"

"No, sir. I wanted to speak with you first."

The twinkle in his eye was back. "I had begun to despair of the four of them ever finding a spell. How long will it take to prepare them?"

"Grandma's book said the potion has to simmer 24-26 hours. I have all the ingredients except for the Essence of Polyjuice."

"I will get it from Professor Snape."

"The tricky part is the spell itself. It's in ancient Gypsia. I'll have to work with them on the correct pronunciations. If even one syllable is said wrong, the spell won't work."

"We will begin the potion during Wednesday's session and proceed with the spell Friday. I'd like you to speak with them about the consideration of Mr. Malfoy joining us. I believe he will play a large role in the last battle."

"Yes, sir. I will."

"There is a book I would like you to read. Where did I put it?" He searched a tall bookcase and finding it, put it in my hands.

" 'Storm Taming: Fact and Fiction, by Albus Dumbledore and Mikhail Vonier'. Is that the man you told me about?"

"Yes. It is almost time for dinner. Why don't you wait to tell your friends the news somewhere private after you've eaten?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!"

"No, Aurora, thank you. Harry will need every advantage to overcome the evil headed our way, as will his friends. Now shoo."

I hurried to the Gryffindor common room to find the group waiting.

"What took you so long? Supper's about to be served."

"Ron, I'll tell you after dinner. Is there some place no one can possibly overhear us talking?"

"The safest place I know is the Room of Requirement," Harry answered.

"Too many people know about it," Hermione reminded him. She thought for a moment. "Do you remember Sirius mentioning how your parents would sometimes slip off to be alone and he never could find them?"

"Yeah. So?"

"What if there's another room only he knew about?"

"Mione, you are brilliant!" Ron exclaimed.

Harry ran upstairs for the map. "After we eat we'll go to the Room of Requirement and see where to go from there."

Everyone, including Ron, scarfed down dinner in record time. I caught Professor Dumbledore's attention and smiled. He winked and returned to his conversation with Professor Sprout.

As soon as dessert was finished the Marauders hurried to the secret room. Harry pulled out the map and explained its origins to Neville and me. He tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Messrs. Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Making

Are proud to present

The Marauder's Map

A gasp escaped from my lips seeing the blank paper draw itself, showing every detail of the school.

"Didn't it use to say Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs?" asked Ron scratching his head.

"I told them what happened to Prongs and threatened to burn the map if I saw the name Wormtail again. He hasn't written anything since."

The Marauders also formally recognize the new band of pranksters and award them all rights and privileges befitting a new generation of Marauders accordingly.

"It's never done that before," Harry said bewildered.

"Look, Harry, another room was just drawn in. It has my name on it," Ginny said pointing.

"Where? I don't see it. I do see one with mine."

"Wicked! Here's one with mine." Ron put his finger on it.

"I think we just figured out why Sirius couldn't find James."

"Why?"

"How did you get to 7^th year, Ron? Each Marauder must have had his own room the others either didn't know about or couldn't get in," I supplied. "Only the assigned person can see it on the map."

"Cool," Ginny grinned. "Which one should we use?"

"The one labeled 'Marauder Room'," Harry answered seeing the map fill in yet another secret hide away. Making sure we weren't seen, we went down the corridor and made several turns.

Checking the parchment, Harry muttered, "Marauder seeks entrance."

The wall swung forward and we stepped inside. Ron jumped as the doorway returned to its original position. The spacious room was decorated in Gryffindor scarlet and gold with several chairs and sofas grouped before a fireplace.

"What is that thing?"

"It's a bean bag chair, Ron. You really should take Muggle Studies." I plopped down in one and let out a sigh of contentment.

"Why did you want to talk with us?" Hermione asked ever curious.

"Harry, did you tell them Neville's and my secret?"

"No. That's your decision."

"What is?" Ron wanted to know.

"Neville and I are Animagi. He's a falcon and I'm a phoenix."

"No bloody way!"

"Oh! Show us," Ginny begged.

The two of us transformed. When we turned back Neville was amazed. "I didn't know we could talk to each other like that."

"Me neither."

"Prongs and the others could," Harry informed us.

"Anyway, that's only part of the reason I wanted to talk. Professor Dumbledore and I had a meeting. I found a way to make you four Animagi."

"How?" Harry demanded.

"I found a spell and potion in the family spell book. The potion is easy enough to make but the spell's in Gypsia. It'll take practice to pronounce it correctly. The professor and I are starting the brew Wednesday. We'll finish Friday."

"Can we pick our forms?" Ron queried.

"No. The potion and spell combine to search your mind and determines which animal you become. It matches your character and abilities to the form."

"I can't wait until Friday. When will you start teaching us the spell?"

"Way ahead of you, Herms. I've got them right here. But before I give them to you, Professor Dumbledore wanted me to tell y'all he wants us to consider doing this with Draco. Shut up, Ron. I'm not finished. He said Draco would be a big part of the last battle. But it's our decision and I think it needs to be anonymous."

"I'm for it," Hermione blurted. "I trust the professor."

"Me too," Neville added.

"Me three," Harry said.

"Me four," giggled Ginny.

"Ron?"

"If you think we can trust him, I do too."

"Someone should go get him."

Neville volunteered, bringing the map with him since he said he doubted he could find his way back on his own.

Neville returned to the room, Draco trailing behind, intrigued.

When they walked in Harry said, "Get him to touch the map."

"What's going on?"

"Just do it, Draco," I huffed.

He held out his finger and gingerly touched a corner of the ancient looking parchment.

Mr. Padfoot is amazed a Malfoy actually dares to put his Slytherin hand on our most wonderful creation. What if he were to get grease on it?

Mr. Moony tends to agree but acknowledges the amount of courage it must have taken.

Mr. Prongs points out the fact that the Malfoy in question is quite different from his nasty, deceitful, heartless git of a father.

Messrs. Padfoot, Moony, and Prongs formally recognize Draco Malfoy as a Marauder with all rights and privileges if, and only if, he agrees to protect his fellow Marauders with his very life's blood, unlike the traitorous bastard Peter Pettigrew who we wish much pain and suffering on.

Draco glanced around him at the anxious faces surrounding him. He quirked an eyebrow at Harry who nodded. He unpinned his prefect badge from his robes and pricked his left index finger. "My blood for theirs." A single red drop fell on the paper.

Mr. Prongs sticks his tongue out at Mr. Padfoot. Nah! Nah! Told you!

Draco leaned in closer to the odd piece of parchment. "What is this thing?"

Harry explained everything to the blonde Slytherin. He told him about the origins of the map, Ginny's dream, and how Dumbledore wanted them to become Animagi.

"Holy shit!" He frowned, embarrassed at having cursed in front of us girls. "Sorry."

"We've heard worse. So, what do you think?" Ginny prodded.

"What are we waiting for?"

I distributed the spell verse and spent an hour coaching them on the correct way to say it. After they had gotten the gist of it, Harry suggested he take Ginny to his room for their Occlumency lesson. The rest of the group checked the map, memorized the locations of ours, and split up to find them.

I arrived back in the common room later to find Ron and Hermione talking animatedly in a corner loveseat. I flung myself down in an empty chair and commenced to study Transfiguration notes. Neville returned and he and Ron struck up a game of chess so Hermione decided to retire for the night. I followed, suddenly tired also. As I drifted off to sleep I wondered how Ginny's lesson had gone with Harry.