Harry Potter and the Shadows of the Watchgate

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-*~| CHAPTER 13 - Marauders Incorporated |~*-
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"If you don't like what you are seeing, look at something else," Harry said grumpily.

"My, my, cranky aren't we?" Ron smirked, for which he received a big cushion right on his face, thrown by Harry.

"It's no use, if you kept on sulking," Ron said reproachfully.

"Who's sulking?" Harry asked, making a face.

"I don't know, mate, but I see nobody else here who's reading a book upside down and sitting on the chintz imitating a brooding horklump!"

They were sitting in the common room, which was deserted as it was late at night. They were pretending to do their homework; but to the contrary, both of them hadn't read or written a single word for almost half an hour.

Harry was still dazed over the DA class incident. The succession in which they had happened and the aftermath...

Cho limp in his arms, much to his bewilderment ... Many gasps and few giggles... Ginny's angry stare... Hermione's raised eyebrows, disappearing behind her bushy hair ... were the few things that he remembered vividly.

He remembered Lupin coming to his rescue. After finishing off the boggart, he had checked Cho's pulse and temperature and concluded that she had simply fainted. She was revived after soft splashes of water on her face.

When she at last came to, her eyes were out of focus and weary, and she was cringing from everyone in dismay. Lupin had conjured a stretcher and used Wingardium Leviosa to carry her to the Hospital Wing.

However, the reason he was so flabbergasted was his own behavior. He just kept on sitting there cradling Cho's head in his arms like it was some prized possession. He kept on staring at her like some love-sick puppy, for crying out loud!!! He didn't know what came over him. Today there was no sun to reflect its rays on her black shiny hair! ... Damn it! He was still thinking about her...

What's the matter with me! He angrily pounded the arm of his sofa, due to which a chip of paint fell off to the carpet and Ron gave him another sympathetic smile.

"Ron, I'm going to the Room of Requirement. Open the portrait hole for me, will you?" he said heading towards his room

"I don't think it's a good idea, mate. I reckon you should cool off and use the diary when you are in a good mood."

"I can't stand this, Ron! Those memories have to cool me off," he said hopefully.

"Okay, if you say so." Ron shrugged.

As Ron was tidying up his things, Harry came down with his invisibility cloak, Marauder's Map and the diary--all ready for another blast of the past.

"Are you going to spend the night there again? Because Filch is always on the prowl and now he knows that more than half the students know about the room. So better be careful," said Ron, warningly.

"No, I may not get lucky again. But, you know, I can't use the diary over here. Don't worry, I'll lock the door and be back in an hour," said Harry, draping the cloak around him.

"Okay, and be careful," said Ron.

"Yes, mother!" said Harry, from somewhere, as he had his cloak on.

Ron rolled his eyes in indignation for which he got a poke in his ribs.

"Owww," Ron faked.

"Bye, bye, chum," Harry said cheerfully. His mood was lightening by the mere thought of seeing some form of Sirius again--and with his own father, he added happily.

-*-

If it wasn't for the sound of muffled giggling, Harry would have continued with his journey towards his destination, but the snickering sound was growing louder by the minute.

So, he risked a look and took out the map. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

There was no one in the room in question. How could that be possible?

His curious side got the better of him and he peeked inside the room, which was one of the many supply rooms of Hogwarts--that's why, mostly empty.

Tonight, the room was full with gnomes and it seemed like they were having a brash party. Harry smiled to himself; it must be the work of some new mischief-maker clambering for the top position, after Weasley brothers soared out of Hogwarts.

He was about to leave the corridor, when he saw Mrs. Norris coming towards the room in the map.

"Uh oh." He hid behind the nearest tapestry and saw Mrs. Norris make her way towards the gnome filled room.

To top it all off, Peeves came cackling manically and kicked Mrs. Norris through the door and shut her in, who in turn, was so busy in baring her teeth and hissing at Peeves that she didn't realize what Peeve's original intention was.

"Too late," Harry chortled.

Harry muffled his laughter by jabbing his hand in his mouth. He had wanted to do the same to Mrs. Norris for ages.

His attention was diverted to another nearing dot in the map, of Colin Creevey. Harry was not the only one doing the laughing; Colin was doing the same, standing not far from the room hidden by a man-sized vase. He was peering through the vase's neck and shaking with suppressed laughter.

Harry was amazed out of his wits. Colin: the blubbering boy, playing tricks on Filch's sweet and lovely cat!

This is unbelievable! What's Hogwarts coming to?

Harry didn't waste much of his time hanging around; he continued his expedition.

"Peace and Quiet," Harry muttered under his breadth as he continued pacing the length of the corridor beside the Room of Requirement, when he instinctively ducked behind the nearest vase because Seamus Finnegan was rushing out of the room with Padma Patil!

Oh, what's Hogwarts coming to? he mused, shaking his head and smiling.

-*-

The room was the same as it was in his previous late-night visit.

Too much familiarity poured through this room.

... Be well, Harry, and take care of yourself ... Oh how he remembered!

Suddenly, he didn't want to open the diary at all. His heart was too heavy to go through that again. But at least now he understood why Sirius did all that, in the first place. Because if he hadn't, Harry wouldn't have accepted his death, ever... He would have visited Sirius every night....

But then again, there were still some hallucinations to think about... or were they?

He put his cloak and the map on the desk and propped on his favorite plush chaise longue and started leafing through the diary after saying the password. At least he had worked out the fact that unless he tapped the diary with his wand, he wouldn't be transported to the memories.

Let's start from the beginning.

The first entry was made on 27^th December 1970.

At last I received something interesting for my birthday. It's nothing like what mother gave sonny boy in his, but I don't care! Andromeda is my favorite cousin and no one can do anything about it. Even if mother keeps on sniffing as if there's something smelly just beneath her nostrils whenever she's around.

I like Andromeda! It's not her fault that she didn't get sorted into Slytherin.

I actually think it was wicked that she got sorted into another house. Someone should balance out our family and an intelligent Ravenclaw might just do the trick.

This diary is pretty good. At least I can write my thoughts without worrying about anyone reading them.

I don't know what the matter with me is, but somehow I feel I don't belong here. I hope I turn eleven soon, because the time spent here, under the roof of my father is making me more edgy everyday. I want to fly away some place, where no orders are barked, where people don't hate each other.

I hope I get sorted to Ravenclaw too, so that I can at least be with my favorite cousin. I hope, can't I?

18^th February 1971,

I can't stand my mother! She's always shrieking about Pureblood hogwash! Where are you stupid owl from Hogwarts?! I'll be eleven soon... when are you going to come and rescue me from this stuffed place? Come on already!!!

27^th July 1971,

At last! The stupid owl came with the letter. I danced throughout the house, gloating, sonny boy: Regulus, on. I can't say I was satisfied to see him burst into tears but then again, that stupid elf was distracting me by bowing all over me. Why do I get the feeling sometimes that Kreacher doesn't like me? Is it because I play pranks on him? I just greased the kitchen floor in anger one day, but that stupid git went blabbering to the High and Mighty and I was shut for three days in my room.

I'll not be cooped up here forever! I'm going to be free!

1^st September 1971,

On this page, there was a heading written with red ink: "The Beginning..."

Harry tapped the diary and readied himself for whatever in store for him. Like before, the walls of the Room of Requirements dissolved with a swirl of grey; he found himself standing in a black and white Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Harry could see young Sirius looking tentatively at everybody as he made his way towards the Hogwarts Express. He was accompanied by a tall wizard with jet-black hair, just like his own. However, Sirius had an open and friendly face whereas the Senior Black's eyes were cold as ice and his lips were pursed in anger, which made the age-lines around his mouth and forehead more prominent.

Sirius's father indicated towards a man--who, no doubt, was their chauffeur--to carry his trunk to the carriage.

"Don't play your kiddy games in school, Sirius. You have to uphold your family's honor; the noble heritage of Blacks. I hope you will not disappoint me, and especially your mother," Sirius's father uttered sternly.

"Yes, Father," Sirius managed, bowing his head.

"Send us an owl if you want anything or have forgotten anything. And yes... Be good Sirius," these last words were uttered like a warning.

Sirius mustered another, "Yes, Father!"

Sirius sulked towards the compartment his things were put into. Harry noticed that he owned an eagle owl with dark brown and black streaked feathers.

The moment he entered the compartment, he tugged off his muffler and slammed it over his trunk in anger. He sidled beside the window, when all the traces of rage dissipated from his face as he became lost in a scene outside.

From the window, Harry could see a boy of his age with very untidy black hair talking excitedly to a wizard and a witch. The wizard had black untidy hair, identical to his son's and the witch had an oval and kind face with prominent hazel eyes. Must be his parents, Harry heard Sirius say, but he hadn't moved his lips.

I can hear his thoughts! Harry jumped on the spot excitedly and stared fixatedly at his grandparents and father.

James was skipping on his feet to catch a toy broomstick from his father, who was dangling it out of his reach playfully.

"C'mon, Dad! Give it to me," said James, continuing his one-foot dance.

Harry could feel the expression of longing in Sirius's eyes as he stared through the window towards Harry's grandfather. When suddenly the train gave a lurch and Sirius shook in his seat, while Harry saw James being nudged towards the train by his father, and his mother, whispering last moment advice in his ears.

Sirius sighed forlornly, but was secretly delighted when James appeared at his compartment door. He came lumbering through the door towing his trunk and clutching the toy-broomstick under one arm. Sirius gave him a hand with the trunk and settled down.

"Hi, I'm James, James Potter."

"Hullo, I'm Sirius Black."

"Black??? Hmm... Are you the great-great-Grandson of the Headmaster of Hogwarts named... erm... Pine Niggles?"

Sirius snorted with laughter. "No. It's Phineas Nigellus Black though, but Pine Niggles suits him right."

James smiled sheepishly, embarrassed by his mistake. However, an instant likeness struck between them, from that moment on.

"How do you know about my great-great-Grandfather?" Sirius enquired.

"My father is interested in history. He works at the Ministry, in the Department of International Magical Co-operation. So, most of the time, he keeps on talking about the books that he had finished and all that stuff,"--James waved his hand as if to show his indifference--"the name Black just stuck in my mind, that's all."

Harry thought James was trying to hide something--he must have remembered some tale of Sirius's arrogant Grandfather; who was the least popular Headmaster of Hogwarts. Harry was musing, when was jolted forwards as everything around him started blurring and he could barely make out the window of the compartment, in which trees were coming and going in a breakneck speed.

And, as suddenly as it all had started as abruptly everything halted. Harry lost his balance and lunged forward, right towards Sirius' trunk. There was no impact, as he slid through it without feeling anything and instinctively flinched away from it.

Sirius and James were on the floor laughing their heads off. James was thumping the floor and Sirius was clutching his stomach and between gasps of breaths, James was saying, "... And her hair turned green and she didn't even know ... she thought I gave her some makeover!"

"... So when did Nimbles come in the scene?" Sirius asked between his laugh.

"... oh yeah, the toad! ... He directly jumped on her head... with one big leap!"

"... Nimbles must have thought it was some shrub!"

"... Oh how she screamed her head off!"

They were laughing like maniacs, when the train started to slow down.

"Aaargh... we'll become late!" Sirius jumped and started getting into his robes and James followed suit.

"We are here!" James announced, and jumped on the spot, much to the amazement of Harry, as the train stopped.

They hurried out of the compartment and joined the line of the first-years, which was led by a hulking figure, Harry was quite familiar with.

"C'mon, firs'-year'! Firs'-year'! Get a move on!"

A much younger looking Hagrid was herding the first-years towards the lake. There wasn't any drastic difference in this Hagrid and the one he knew but his moleskin coat in this memory looked brand new.

Harry's attention diverted when he saw Sirius bump into a short, mousy looking boy.

"Oh sorry!" said Sirius. But the boy looked utterly terrified, who gave a small squeak and started with the path again after a slight glance towards James.

Harry could guess from miles that, it was the Marauder's traitor: Peter Pettigrew.

"What's the matter with him?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"Dunno... lost his gobstones, more like!" James guffawed.

"Uh-huh... Do you know how the sorting takes place?" asked James, changing the topic.

"I dunno... I have heard terrible stories about it. I heard you've got to tame a dragon or something," Sirius said with a shudder.

"Oh yeah? I heard you have to wrestle a troll," James said, going a little pale.

Someone snorted just behind them. James turned to see who it was along with Sirius.

Just behind a girl, a boy with a hooked nose and greasy black hair was smirking at nothing in particular.

Harry gasped to see a young Snape striding beside a blond girl with supreme air about her.

"Look at that slime ball; who does he think he is!" James said in disgust.

Sirius was also scrunching up his nose at Snape, but didn't say anything and bumped into Peter again, as the line had suddenly stopped moving.

Harry could hear students oohing and aahing, after seeing the picturesque scene of Hogwarts' many towers reflected on the lake.

"Don't tell me we have to go by the lake!" the blond girl behind them shrieked. In response, Peter gave a bigger squeak, to which James and Sirius only chuckled.

The lake journey was knuckle-whitening. Everyone had to hang on to the railing of the boat as their life depended on it, because the boats kept on rocking dangerously, throughout the journey due to the wind-storm.

When they at last reached the other side, the blond girl and Peter both got violently sick and many of them moved to give them some space.

"Ugh!" was the majority's response.

They were all welcomed in the Entrance Hall by a tall black-haired witch, who was standing on the brink of the stairs leading towards the Great Hall, interlacing her fingers on a rolled parchment.

Harry almost felt transported back to his own first-year when McGonagall had awaited for them, not unlike she was doing in this memory. The only difference was that her silver strands were very few, to be noticeable.

"Firs'-year', Professor," said Hagrid, ushering the student towards her.

"Thank you, Hagrid," said Professor McGonagall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, students. The sorting ceremony will commence shortly, in which, all of you would be sorted into four houses according to the qualities you possess. The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. There are separate dormitories for every house and your houses will be your family while you are away from your original ones. Your triumphs will earn your House points, whereas any rule-breaking will lose them. I can guarantee that you will have a pleasant time here at Hogwarts, the mere walls of which emanate a thousand year old legacy from the time of your forefathers."

"Wait here quietly, the ceremony is about to start in a moment," said McGonagall, and made for the Great Hall.

As they were waiting to be called in, they were joined by a pale looking boy, who looked rather peaky. He shyly melted into the crowd without even a trace.

'What's with that boy?' Sirius thought, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Remus!" Harry said out loud, and instinctively jabbed his hand in his mouth, but then remembered that he couldn't be heard.

"Hey, where do you want to get sorted?" asked James, and without further ado announced, "I want to be in Gryffindor!"

Sirius's heart sank as a guarded expression came over his face. 'Gryffindor? My parents hate Gryffindor! They all were sorted into Slytherin. Obviously except Andromeda and some of my long lost cousins... what were their names? Weasley... oh yes! Does this mean that I will not be friends with James? ... I hope he gets into Slytherin...'

Professor McGonagall appeared again. "Follow me, students."

They all stared in amazement at the thousands of candles floating in midair and the glittering decorations around the walls sporting the Hogwarts crest and House banners. It was nothing new for Harry, as he had walked through these same paths, too many times to even count.

Sirius sighed in relief when he found out that there was no dragon to tame or a troll to wrestle. They only had to wear the moldy looking Sorting Hat to get sorted into Houses.

As the Sorting Hat was singing a new song, welcoming the new students to Hogwarts, Harry was busy distinguishing familiar faces from the unfamiliar ones. Dumbledore as usual was sitting in the middle of the Head-table with Professor Flitwick and Sinistra on his either sides.

"Black, Sirius."

Both Harry and Sirius were jolted back towards Professor McGonagall's voice as she announced the name. Sirius, with bated breath, made towards the Sorting Hat, and Harry following suit went so close to him that if he would have been physically present, he would have knocked Sirius down the stool.

"Hmm... Quite an intelligent mind... and very resourceful--indeed! Too bold to fit in your shoes, eh? So, where to fit you..."

"Please Gryffindor... or... or even Ravenclaw,"

"Oho! So you don't want to go to Slytherin, eh?" the Sorting Hat asked.

"Please! Anything except Slytherin."

"Okay then, GRYFFINDOR!"

Gryffindor students cheered on a very shocked Sirius, as James showed him a thumbs-up sign, while he was making his way towards the Gryffindor table. On his way Sirius waved to Andromeda at the Ravenclaw table, who seemed as if she was having a heart attack. Sirius grinned at her and received a grin back.

Some of the students that Harry noticed being sorted while gazing around the Hall were:

"Bones, Edgar." (He was the male version of Susan Bones.)

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Dearborn, Caradoc." (A boy with sparkling eyes, as if filled with intellect and bright future.)

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry felt rueful for these two wizards who met such dreadful ends later in life.

"Evans, Lily."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry was quite amused to see the young version of his mother make her way towards the Sorting Hat as if she was prepared for a war. She looked ecstatic when she was put in Gryffindor.

"Lupin, Remus."

"GRYFFINDOR!" (Sheer delight coursed Lupin's face.)

"Meadowes, Dorcas."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Pettigrew, Peter." It took about five minutes for the Sorting Hat to decide where Peter belonged; Harry wasn't surprised at all.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Potter, James,"

"GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius clapped like a maniac as James made his way towards the table.

"Snape, Severus."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Boooo," James and Sirius playfully hollered. Harry joined in, seeing the smug expression on Snape's face.

"Williams, Alice,"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry averted his eyes from Neville's mother. There was no trace left of this little girl in the Alice Longbottom, he saw at St. Mungo's.

And with 'Gryffindor' still wringing in his ears, he lurched forward again as the scene around him started swirling in grey. This time when the swirling stopped, Sirius and James were striding towards the Hogwarts Lake on a particularly bright morning. Sirius was taking everything in, including the protruding tentacles of the Giant Squid on the lake, while James was busy ruffling his hair.

Some forth-year girls were also strolling towards the same direction and James seeing an opportunity gave them a very charming and adorable smile. The girls in turn, giggled and waved past them saying, "Did you see that cute kid?"

Harry could do nothing except to roll his eyes and shake his head in dismay.

They were basking in the sun beside the lake when Sirius noticed bright sparks coming off from beyond a dense shrub.

"I think something's up over there," said Sirius, pointing towards the commotion.

"Let's have a look," said James, looking all intrigued.

They slowly made their way towards the thicket. When they neared the shrubbery, they could easily hear laughing and jeering from beyond it.

"Ooooooh, scared are you now?" said a menacing voice.

"Ickly little firstee! Now do you understand who the boss is? Huh?"

James and Sirius exchanged quizzical looks as they crept closer and closer.... Some maniacal laughs were exchanged from which they could guess that more than three people were there, except the silent victim.

"Should have stayed where you were; this is what you get when you come snooping around."

"But I wasn't snooping around!" a shrill voice whined. "I just lost my way towards the Green House!"

"Lost my way towards the Green House because I want to be the next geek of the school!" a voice mimicked the shrill voice.

"This will teach you a lesson to have respect for your seniors!"

"Incendio!"

They could hear the boy shrieking in pain.

"Stop it!" Sirius came out from the cover of the thicket, whereas James uttered a spell instinctively, which shot a spray of water from the tip of his wand towards the twitching body of Peter Pettigrew.

"Well, well, well, what we have here? Little knight in a Black shiny armor!" roared a stocky boy with broad shoulders, while his three friends snickered appreciatively.

One of them was blond and could be none other than Lucius Malfoy and from the heavy built of the rest of the two, Harry could guess that they were none other than Senior Crabbe and Goyle. But who was this forth person?

"Who are you?" Sirius asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Oh yes. Introductions! You don't know me, but I sure do know you," said the stocky boy sneering and showing his perfect rows of teeth--too perfect, to be truthful.

"Rodolphus Lestrange at your service, lil poo Sirroo! And meet my friends: Lucius Malfoy, Jeremy Crabbe and Jacob Goyle."

As comprehension dawned on Harry, Sirius roared back, "I'm no lil poo, you numb-nut! Clear off before I call some professor!" Sirius was all red, from embarrassment or anger, Harry couldn't tell.

"Oh scared now, are you Sirroo?" said a very silky voice of Lucius Malfoy. "Scared that we'll beat the daylight out of you... hmm?"

"Clear off, boys, before something happens that you'll regret later," said a very calm voice of James, who had his wand ready.

"And who are you? Messy face of the year?" Lucius asked, sneering at James.

"Oooooh, you don't know me but I sure do know you," James said mimicking Rodolphus. "You are the snot-faced toe rag of the year, Lushy poo!"

Lucius roared in anger, while Rodolphus restrained him. "You are two and we are four, even a Flobberworm could guess that you are no match for us!"

"Don't be so sure, Roddy!" said Sirius, his wand ready to duel.

"Oh yeah?"

Harry instinctively got out of the way, as six different spells shot between the group as Crabbe and Rodolphus went straight for Sirius, whereas Lucius and Goyle jumped at James.

"Stupefy!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Diffindo!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Protego!"

"Furnunculus!"

As the confusion of the spells subsided, Harry could see James on the ground, while Goyle pounded at him, but soon got hit by, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Lucius staggered towards James and kicked him on his shins. A painful howl escaped James' throat as he rolled over to his right side and was instantly hit by Malfoy again with a log of wood with such force that Harry heard his bone crack. James howled again as Malfoy joined Crabbe and Rodolphus who were ambushing Sirius.

Sirius's nose and lips were bleeding and he was moving away from the three hulking figures edging towards him, but to no avail, as Crabbe stepped on Sirius's wand and Sirius was left looking at its two halves longingly.

"Not so brave now, are you, lil poo Sirroo?" Rodolphus said mockingly.

Sirius readied his arms and legs to protest against the assault of the gang of the three.

"Cruci-"

But the rest of the words died in Rodolphus's mouth as he got hit by a Freezing Charm, shot by none other than Remus Lupin.

"YEAH!" Harry jumped with joy with the timely arrival of Moony.

"Locomotor Mortis!" Crabbe became glued to the spot, his arms flailing, wildly about.

As Lucius advanced towards Remus, Peter with some pent up energy from nowhere, hit him with, "Rictusempera!"

Malfoy blocked it and angrily made a slashing movement towards Peter. Purple fumes discharges from his wand while passing straight through Peter's chest. Peter crumpled to the ground without uttering a single sound.

"You little-" Sirius swore, swiftly picking up Peter's wand and stunning Malfoy successfully.

"Are you all right?" Remus inquired of James.

"I'm all right, but look at Peter, I dunno what happened to him," James said grimacing.

Sirius bent down and checked Peter's pulse, while Lupin hovered in the background awkwardly, looking concerned.

"He's still breathing!" Sirius announced happily.

"But you don't look so good, mate," said Sirius, looking skeptically towards James.

"Oh stop being my Mum and get a move on! We have to get to the Hospital and fast!" James said wincing.

"Oh yeah!" Sirius and Lupin said together.

A look was exchanged between Sirius, James and Remus, as if they had just realized the seriousness and absurdity of the situation at the same time. A sudden feeling of compassion linked them together in that moment as if they could read each other's mind and knew each other from ages.

Lupin heaved Peter on his shoulders like a duffel bag, while Sirius advanced on James.

"Hey! I can walk," James protested and tried to stand up, only to keel over on the ground in pain again.

"Yeah, riiight!" Sirius said rolling his eyes and heaved James on his shoulders and started hurrying towards the Hospital wing beside Remus.

Harry ran along but halfway through the school grounds, Room of Requirement came coloring back his world with yellowing lights sprayed with white little spots. The confinement of the room seemed a little too unreal for Harry as he crashed down on his favorite couch, out of breath.

After a while, he smoothed the diary's pages unnecessarily and said out loud, "So, this is how it all started?"

He was smiling to himself.

~*~