The Marauding Seven Year 2

The Marauding Seven YEAR 2 Ch. 1

Diagon Alley Again

Wye Summers was sitting on her bed in the blue bedroom she shared with her younger sister Deva. Littered around her were various parchments with scribbled notes on, a few books and assorted quills. On her bedside table sat three bottles of ink - one blue, one black and one red. There was a tapping at the window, and with a sigh, Wye abandoned her Charms essay to open it. In flew Periwinkle, her friend Lily's owl, with a note tied to one foot.

Wye -

Tell the others I can make our meeting in Diagon Alley.

L.

'Excellent' thought Wye. She had organised this trip to Diagon Alley because despite her (perhaps rather odd) friendship with Deva, she missed he friends. In fact, this trip was now only 3 days away, and she couldn't wait. Quickly, Wye wrote a return note;

L -

Sure. Don't mince words or anything will you.

W.

Then she strapped the note to Periwinkle's leg, patted her on the head and watched as she soared out of the window, no doubt surprising her next door neighbour who was cutting his grass. Just then, Deva Summers ran into the room, looking distraught.

"Deva, what's wrong?" asked Wye.

"There are still 3 days left before I can go to Diagon Alley!" Deva replied dramatically. Wye laughed.

"If you're that desperate, you can look through some of my first year books," offered Wye, but Deva shook her head.

"Nah. I'd rather have my own." With this last comment, Deva swept back out of their room, long silvery blonde hair flowing behind her. Wye shook her head. How she, Deva and their older sister Alula could be related Wye didn't know. Alula had medium length, glossy, dark brown hair, with skin that tanned easily and dark brown eyes. Wye's hair was naturally bright copper and curly. She had pale skin with just a smattering of freckles and blue-grey eyes. Deva was again completely different - her long hair was a silvery blonde that earned her her name (Deva, which means 'moon goddess') and her pale skin perfectly complimented her icy blue eyes.

Their personalities too, were different. Deva was quite loud, cheeky and often bouncing off the walls. She was very excitable. Wye was calmer, and enjoyed reading, but this didn't affect their friendship. Alula was also quieter, even quieter than Wye, and greatly appreciated having a room to herself. Personally, Wye thought she would commit suicide if she had to sleep in the same room as Deva.

This wasn't a problem though. Alula was the first born to Brianna and Charles Summers, a witch and a Muggle respectively. Once out of Hogwarts, Brianna had met Charles and given up magic, without mentioning it to Charles. They were happily married and had three daughters, who they later found out were a Muggle, a witch and another witch. There was three years between Alula and Wye, and then only one between Wye and Deva. Now, Alula was to be an only child again - Deva was going to Hogwarts.

Wye stopped reflecting on her circumstance when she realised it was getting dark. She recapped her ink bottle, and tidied up her books and papers. After a quick count of her spending money for Diagon Alley (she'd been saving her pocket money all summer - she had £12, plus whatever was left in her Gringotts account from last year to spend on extra quills, more ink, and other bits and pices. Her parents were giving her another £40 for books and potion ingredients.) She headed downstairs.

Lily was practically wriggling with excitement. It was the day she and her friends had all agreed to meet in the Leaky Cauldron, and unbeknown to her, her parents had purchased some Floo powder! Lily stood in the kitchen whilst her sister Petunia ate cereal. Her dad was already at work, and in a few minutes her mother was taking Petunia to her dance class.

"Now, are you sure you've got everything, sweetie?" asked Lily's mother Rose for the fifth time. "Are you sure you don't want me and Petunia to come with you?" At this statement Petunia's eyes narrowed and she sent Lily a look that could kill. Lily was tempted to say 'actually yes, could you come?' just to annoy her, but Lily really didn't want them hanging around whilst she was trying to have fun.

"I'm fine mum - I've got money, and the number of Petunia's dance school, so if I get into trouble all I have to do is go into Muggle London and find a telephone. Chill."

"Yes, well I suppose we'd better see you off. Petunia go gather your things together, and Lily, are you sure you know how to use this Choo dust?" Rose Evans looked worried for her younger daughter's safety.

"It's Floo powder, and mum I've memorised the packet. All I have to do is throw it in, step in, and say very clearly where I want to go. It'll be easy!"

"Are you sure you don't want to use the train? Being gobbled up by flames seems very risky..."

"I'll be late if I use the train, mum. Oh good, the fire's going already," by this time Lily and her mother had reached the living room. Petunia had come back downstairs and settled herself on the couch, looking ready to enjoy the show. "Okay, bye mum, see ya Petunia!" Lily took a deep breath and threw in a handful of Floo powder. The fire glowed green, and Lily stepped inside, marvelling at the flames licking her skin without harming it. "Diagon Alley!"

Sirius was sitting on a stool at the bar in the Leaky Cauldron. So far he was the only one here. He turned to Tom, the barman. "Okay, Tom, I'll have a beer please," he said.

"Nice try, boy," he replied, giving Sirius a wry smile.

"Worth a try," he replied, grinning cheekily back.

THUMP! "Ow!"

"Hiya Lily," said Sirius without turning round. A few seconds later a rather dusty looking Lily sat at the stool next to him.

"Thanks for helping me up," she said, slightly disgruntled. "And why are you propping up the bar, anyway?"

"In case you hadn't noticed, no one else is here."

"Got a prankster here, haven't you?" asked Tom.

Lily nodded. "How did you know?"

"Already tried to get me to sell him a beer."

"And a white wine for m'lady," Sirius added. Tom just grinned and turned around to polish a glass. While he was doing so, Lily took the chance to look around the pub. It was dark, and dingy, and should really have given off a bad vibe, but to Lily the place seemed friendly and welcoming, despite its appearance. The bar area itself was shaped like a horseshoe, with the bar in the middle. Along the bottom of the horseshoe were sofas and small tables, then along the two sides there were larger tables with chairs either side. It looked like this would be where food would be served. Three more loud THUMPS! Shook Lily out of her daydreaming, and she turned around to greet three off her friends who were currently looking rather black. At least, she thought they were her friends, under all that soot!

"Hi James, Kate and Alex!" said Sirius.

"Hi," echoed Lily.

"Such an enthusiastic welcome, Lily," replied James. "Please calm down."

"Sorry - I'm hungry," she replied. James pulled a bar of chocolate out his pocket and handed it to her before pulling out a jar of sparkly white powder. He took a pinch, and threw it over Sirius, who was instantly clean. All the soot and ash had gone, and well as the ink on his hand and the smudge of dirt on his arm.

"What's that?" Sirius asked.

"New stuff, just on the market, I forget the name, but it's really good," James replied before throwing pinches over Lily, Alex, Kate and himself.

"Cool," replied Alex, looking down at her perfectly clean T - shirt.

"Ouch!"

"Ow!"

"That's my elbow!"

"I believe the rest of us have arrived," commented Kate. Indeed, Wye and Remus had just tumbled out the fireplace, accompanied by a girl of about their age she didn't know, with striking blonde hair, even when it was covered in black soot.

"Hey guys!" cried Wye, rushing over and enveloping her friends in a big hug. "I've missed you all sooo much!"

"Hey Wye," whispered James. "You know the hottie?"

"James!!! That Deva, my sister!"

"Oh."

"Yes, oh! The rest of you - this is Deva, my sister, and she's coming to Hogwarts this year!"

"Really?! Cool," said Lily and Kate in unison.

"Deva, this is Lily, Kate, Sirius, Alex, James, and Remus. You lot - Deva."

"Hi!"

"Hey."

"Are we gonna hang around here all day, or are we gonna go shopping?" asked Sirius. At this Deva's face lit up. "Gringotts first!"

After a morning of shopping, the Marauders and Deva were all sprawled around a large table on the forecourt of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, with a choco-nut sundae apiece. The sun was shining and Lily felt really relaxed. She leant back and closed her eyes, her arm resting on the side of the chair.

The ice cream parlour, invaded by people in long dark robes...wizards. The nearest one threw a curse at her, but she dodged it and hid in a side alley. 'Avada Kedavra!' The curse aimed by the shortest wizard hit a young woman with dark hair...

"Lily! Wake up!" cried Wye. She was leaning over Lily.

"What's the matter?" asked Lily slowly. She was confused - the dream had seemed so real...

"Fortescue brushed by you while you were lying there and you went rigid, and started mumbling - we didn't know what was happening!" said Remus. He sounded and looked worried, mirrored on the face of every one of her friends.

"I had a weird, black and white dream...but the sounds were muffled. It was here, and wizards in long robes invaded - they killed someone..." Lily trailed off looking upset, but jumped to her feet nearly knocking Sirius over a second later. "That's her! She's going to be killed! Madam! Excuse me!" The other Marauders looked at each other and hurried after their friend - she was acting crazy!

"Oi! Lily, come back!" shouted James, but to no avail.

"Miss, could you please just step inside the bookstore...please!" cried Lily. The woman took one look at Lily's distraught face and decided to play along.

"Okay...why?"

"Just do it!" Lily shoved the woman into the bookstore, and followed in herself. A moment later the door clanged again and the other Marauders and Deva tumbled in.

"Lily!" gasped Remus. "Why'd you take off?"

BANG! Out on the street were about ten people, all in long black robes, and they seemed to be looking for someone. Lily glanced at the woman, who was looking through the window in horror. The people disappeared into thin air very quickly, and the woman slumped to the floor.

"They were looking for me," she mumbled quietly. "Thanks for saving my life, Lily, but I've got to go." With that, the pretty black haired woman disappeared.

"How did she know my name?" wondered Lily out loud.

"You didn't tell her?" asked Deva looking visibly shaken. They all were.

"No - guys, what does the curse 'Avada Kedavra' do?" Sirius turned white at the mere mention of it, and Lily wished she could turn back and just keep it to herself. It obviously wasn't a happy subject.

"It's the killing curse, Lils. You can't block it," said Sirius quietly to his shoes.

"I think it's time you tell us the whole story of that dream Lil - looks like you just saw the future," added Alex, in an unusually serious voice.

The Marauders finished their shopping quickly that day, all preferring the safety of home to the streets of Diagon Alley, a view shared by many of the shoppers. The streets were half empty by three o'clock, and many of the stores had closed up too. It was in silence that the eight friends traipsed back into the Leaky Cauldron early that afternoon. It seemed as if Tom the barman was only open to provide a doorway to the rest of the world - the bar was completely void of customers.

"You kids alright?" he asked gruffly. Word travelled fast when you were the passageway for almost the entire of Diagon Alley.

"Yeah, we're fine, Tom," replied Sirius in a tired voice.

"Well you lot just keep safe. I've got a feeling there's something special about you lot."

Lily sat on her bed a few days later, thinking. Her sister had gone shopping with her friends, and her mum and dad were both at work. What was that thing that had happened in Diagon Alley? Was Alex right - had she really seen the future? It was so quick...

Lily wandered downstairs and found an apple. She started eating it and picked up the photo of her family. It had been taken just before she left home for Hogwarts last year, and contained a lot of happy memories.

Her father was in his car and seemed to be in a hurry. Another car pulled out of a side lane and rammed into the side of the car...her father, standing, looking at his beaten up car, but alive...Lily's eyes flew open. It had happened again! Another dream...would this one be true as well? Lily's didn't think she could risk it. She dialled her father at work.

"Dad? It's Lily, listen I have to tell-"

"Hello sweetie, are you alright?"

"I'm fine - Dad you're going to have a car accident today-"

"I know you're a witch honey, but don't you think this is taking things a little too far?"

"No, dad it's true! I had a dream, and I saw it happen-"

"Don't worry, it's just a nightmare, now I've got a meeting, so-"

"DAD! At an intersection a car is going to ram into the side of your car, you won't be hurt but I don't know about the other car and our car'll be a write off-"

"Okay, I'll be careful. See you tonight."

Mr Evans hung up the phone and Lily stared at the phone. She could tell he didn't believe her and he was only humouring her, but at least she'd tried.

James Potter was sitting at the kitchen table when his brother, Kyle burst in. "JAMES!!!" he roared.

"Uh, yeah?" James replied, trying to inconspicuously hide behind his hands. Kyle was big.

"You scratched my CD, didn't you? Admit it!"

"Well, I borrowed it yes, but I'm sure it was in perfect condition when I gave it back, and..." Kyle stepped towards his brother, who cowered under him. James was the second shortest Marauder, beaten only by Lily.

"Well you're going to pay!" Kyle grabbed James round the neck and raised his fist. James squealed. Usually Kyle was a great big brother - he was generous and kind, but unfortunately he had a very quick temper. Kyle pummelled his fist into his younger brother's stomach...only his younger brother's stomach wasn't there. Instead, clenched in his fist was a small blackbird - with glasses?

"James?" asked Kyle, bewildered. There was a small pop, and a rather dishevelled James stood where the bird had been perching - on the side of the table. "Whoa! You're an animagus?!"

"Actually, no. I don't know what happened...don't tell anyone, alright?"

"Sure little bro!" Kyle ruffled James' hair, his CD forgotten.

"I'm going upstairs..." James mumbled and climbed the stairs as though her was sleepwalking. He reached his room and flopped onto his bed. Had he shapeshifted or something, like a boggart? James decided to try again. He concentrated very hard on the family owl - Peregrine. He was an animal James knew very well. James closed his eyes and imagined himself covered in feathers, with a beak and really dark eyes, as well as wings and talons. Then he opened his eyes, caught his gaze in the mirror, and burst out laughing, though it sounded more like a strangled squawk. Instead of the handsome family owl, he had turned into a human sized, fluffy blob complete with wings, talons, beak and glasses! James concentrated and managed to turn himself back without mishap. This could be interesting...but he definitely needed some practice!

'I'm in a really bad mood!' thought Wye fiercely. She'd just caught her sister, Alula, reading her diary! Her excuse had been that 'she just wanted to find out about Hogwarts' - hah! Whatever.

"Wye," came a timid voice. Wye whirled round. It was Alula. "Here - you can read my diary." She offered it forwards. Wye turned around again, and then there was a particularly loud shriek.

"WHAT?" she yelled. And then she saw. Alula's diary had been blown up. Wye knew she must have done it - but how? She had no wand, it was in her trunk upstairs. Wye walked out of the room, upstairs to her bedroom. Could she blow things up with her mind?