For Our Parents Willed So

For Our Parents Willed So

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Announcements

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The Welcoming Feast, the boys' sixth year. Most of the Purebloods and some Halfbloods of their year were switching rather nervously on their seats - the engagements would become public knowledge today. Of course, some of those were already known and in full action, if so to speak - Remus and Peter, for example, had been sharing a bed since the Christmas of their fifth year, and by no means platonically - but some had been complete secrets until this day. For example James and Snape's engagement was something nobody but their friends knew about.

The Marauders avoided this subject, however. It was still a sore topic after the last year's incident. On one full moon night, Sirius, who'd been fed up with James's misery about his engagement, had led Snape to the Whomping Willow. Fortunately, James's common sense had been greater than his loathe against the Slytherin, and he'd saved Snape's life, as well as Remus's future. If he'd managed to hurt the other boy, the werewolf would have been sentenced to Azkaban, if not downright executed.

Of course Sirius hadn't got away with that easily. He'd received a three-hours lecture about responsibility, morals, and common sense from Dumbledore, another from Lucius, hours and hours of shouting and calling names and threats from James and Peter, and a full month of silent treating and hurt glances from Remus. At last, however, he'd forced himself to apologizing to both Remus and Snape - although in the latter's case, they'd had Lucius present to make sure they wouldn't attack each other. And so, everything had settled back to what it'd been - other than Remus and Sirius were still a bit wary around each other, and they all avoided the subject Snape.

Now, however, it would no more be an option. "...And the following engagements have been asked to be announced," Dumbledore said in the end of his speech. "Black, Sirius, Gryffindor, and Malfoy, Lucius, Slytherin..." At this, some were surprised, but most weren't. It wouldn't have been even possible for a Gryffindor student and a Slytherin teacher meet regularly without the others finding out the reason. Plus, it wasn't as if they'd ever kept silent about it. So, neither Sirius's nor Lucius's expressions wavered a bit at the words.

"...Lupin, Remus, Gryffindor, and Pettigrew, Peter, Gryffindor..." Most students around let out a sound that clearly meant, 'Who'd have guessed?' Everybody knew about those two. If it hadn't been obvious from their previous interaction, their constant snogging sessions in half-public places ever since the end of their fourth year would have proved it.

"Potter, James, Gryffindor, and Snape, Severus, Slytherin..." Now, about everybody gasped in surprise, their eyes locked at either of the mentioned boys. Their rivalry would never have made anybody think that they even knew each other, leave alone be engaged. True, wizarding engagements were rarely about love, at least not with first-born children, but it was also rare that the couple couldn't stand the sight of each other. Some were now giving looks of sympathy to the directions of the two; there were no doubts of who would have the hardest time in developing their relationship amongst the newly announced couples.

At last, the seemingly infinite list was over, and the Headmaster went on. "As usual, these couples will receive their own little dormitories. These dormitories reside inside their House area, if they are in the same House, or if they are from different Houses, in some other part of the castle. As an exception I'd like to mention young Mister Black, who'll naturally move into his fiancés living quarters." Sirius nodded, exchanging a brief glance with Lucius, who nodded slightly in response. Then they both looked again at the Headmaster, knowing that there was more to come.

"Also, the Ministry had asked me to make a very different announcement," Dumbledore said, seemingly cheering up. "Let it be known that four students of our school, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter, all sixth-year Gryffindors, have completed the Animagus transformation. Their animal forms are the following: for Mister Black, a Grim, for mister Lupin, a golden wolf, for Mister Pettigrew, a grey-brown rat, and for Mister Potter, a dark brown stag. We're surely all congratulating them about this great accomplishment, as well as taking this as an examplar to us others. Now, let the feast begin!"

However, even though food appeared to all tables, nobody made a move to eat. Everybody just stared at the mentioned four, whispering and muttering to themselves, clearly not believing what they heard.

After just a moment, Srius got enough. He threw the other three a firm glance, then stood up. His voice strengthened with a quick Sonorius, he said, loudly enough to be heard by all the occupants of the Great Hall, "Ladies and gentlemen! We're now giving you a little show of our skills, because most of you don't seem to believe our dear Headmaster's words. Now, my dearest people, see Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs!" And with a quick move, he jumped into the air - landing as a large, black dog, his resemblance to a Grim very obvious.

Exchanging desperate glances, James, Remus, and Peter stood also. In a second, a wolf, a rat, and a stag stood in their place. With a quick run, Peter - whom they'd nicknamed Wormtail - climped on top of James, Prongs, sitting in the middle of his antlers. Remus and Sirius - Moony and Padfoot - glanced at each other, then both raised to their hind legs on both sides of Prongs. The stag was large, but they were as well. It took them no effort to rest their large front paws on top of the stag's back, eyeing their stunned audience amusedly.

Then, after another second, the animals were away. The Marauders sat back to their places, smug grins on their faces, and started to eat, determinedly ignoring the ever increasing level of noise around them.

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