Marauders, the next generation

And so, the end is near, and here is comes, the final curtain.

Amazingly, that was the best nights sleep I'd had in a long time. When I woke up in the Hospital wing I felt refreshed and ready to do practically anything. I was almost convinced that it was all over and I could go back to my nice, normal life. Then I remembered it wasn't over. There was still the meeting with Dumbledore for one thing. I began to ponder over the thought of telling Dumbledore everything. I was prepared to creep outside while it was still slightly dark and pick a flower to help me decide when the sight of the window caught my eye. I sat bolt upright. The sun was shining brightly. It wasn't early morning, or even late. It was noon. I started to struggle out of bed. Do you know how tight they tuck those sheets around you if you just collapse onto the bed rather than get in properly?

Madam Pomfrey caught me in the act.

"You are not allowed out yet," she told me, "Get back in the bed immediately."

"But I'm late-"

"Your meeting with Dumbledore went on without you. I was instructed to make sure you stay in bed. A girl who faints twice in one night does not get out to go to stressful meetings with head teachers."

"But I only fainted once!" I appealed, "I was just... tired."

I remembered the night before. I had to be practically carried to the Hospital wing. I was asleep before I hit the bed. Luckily I had been in my Pyjamas. Laura and Anya had got suspicious the night before so Lucy and I had changed in to our PJ's and hadn't changed out of them before we went on 'Operation Scorpion'. I'd felt as weak as a Kitten. But I felt stronger then, and was determined that no nurse was going to boss me around.

"Madam Pomfrey," I said, summoning up every bit of Lazaro blood in me and copying my grandmother's commanding voice. "I do not need to be here so I do not intend to stay here. I would like to see someone who can make everything clear and no school nurse is going to stop me. Is that clear?"

An hour later I was still in the Hospital wing and eating lunch. Tomato soup and rolls. As it turned out, a school nurse could stop me. I decided to note that down for future reference.

"Right," said Madam Pomfrey, coming over carrying a robe. "You can go now."

I put my tray down on the table next to me.

"Finally!" I said, "Why couldn't you just let me go earlier?"

"I did not have Professor Dumbledore's permission earlier. Now I do. You are to go straight to your common room and rest. You are hereby banned from the rest of the school building. You will rest until three o'clock when you will report to professor Dumbledore's office. Ask one of your friends for directions if needs be. Any questions?"

"Yeah," I said, "When did Hogwarts become a military base?"

Madam Pomfrey leaned forward. I leaned backwards. It came to such a point that I could see up her nose. Not nice.

"You ain't seen nothing yet, missy."

I gulped. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"That," she said, standing straight and returning to her previous, proper style, "is what Professor Dumbledore is going to tell you, I believe. Now shoo!"

Once I got outside Lucy was waiting for me.

"I'm to help you back to Gryffindor tower if you need it," she told me, "And to make sure you stay there."

"So, basically, you're assigned to guard me."

Lucy considered this.

"Basically."

Once back in the common room I was pounced upon by people demanding to know what really happened. The other Gryffindor first years had spread the story but no one was going to believe unless they heard it straight from me. Robin explained it was because they didn't believe Lucy, Joseph and Gregory were there because their story was too far fetched. Or too boring, I always forget how it worked around there (Not even my house was as weird as Hogwarts...). But they did believe I was there because I spent the night - and most of the morning - in the hospital wing. I just said that whatever they'd been told was true. I was starting to feel rather woozy again. Lucy helped me to our room and I just lay on my bed and fell asleep.

"Good luck."

I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes. Joseph had directed me to Professor Dumbledore's office and given me the password. He left me there standing in front of a gargoyle feeling like a bit of a Wally.

"Celebrations," I told the gargoyle.

It turned on the spot revealing a staircase. I stepped on the first stair and waited as it carried me upwards to a door. I knocked on it.

"Come in!"

I twisted the handle and let myself in. Inside was one of the mot amazing rooms I'd ever seen. It was covered in pictures of sleeping old men in dusty robes. There were bookshelves all over the place and on one side a large phoenix was staring at me. On the other side was the raggedy old sorting hat. I gave it a swift glare, remembering the way it tortured me on the first day, before sitting down in the chair opposite Professor Dumbledore. He was still crouched over some paperwork on his desk.

"You wanted to see me, sir," I prompted.

"Ah yes," he said, looking up and taking off his glasses. "Miss Davies. I believe you were too ill to attend our scheduled meeting this morning."

"Not ill," I corrected him. "Just a little tired sir"

"Yes," he said, "Which is strange because from what I heard you got the most sleep last night out of all your friends."

"Sir?"

He peered at me, confused.

"Your little gang of friends," he picked up a piece of paper and seemed to read off it. "Master Gregory Weasley, Miss Lucy Malfoy and Master Joseph Bower I believe."

"Well, yes sir, I-"

"And it was you four who went through to the 'forgotten corridor' last night."

I started to panic. "Yes sir we-"

"On 'Operation Scorpion' I believe."

My mind shut down in shock allowing my mouth to fall open. Professor Dumbledore smiled. It was a nice smile, without even a hint of malice.

"Your friends told me everything this morning. There's no need to worry. You're not in trouble."

"No offence, sir," I said, "But then what do you need me here for?"

"Do you not have questions you need answering?"

I gave him a look of complete bewilderment. His eyes drifted away from my own and on to my shoulder. I followed his gaze. Suddenly it hit me.

"Oh!" I cried, "My Snake mark! You don't happen to know how I got that, do you?"

Dumbledore leaned back in his chair.

"By contact with the gravity ring of course."

I blinked.

"But I've never been near the gravity ring, it doesn't even exist yet! Well... It does now but it didn't last time I was awake. Well not exactly last time..." I gave him a pathetic look. "It makes sense to me, sir."

Dumbledore chuckled.

"The last time the last Gravity ring was seen was approximately nine years ago."

I did some quick calculating in my head. "When I was two... That's when I got it! When I was two!"

"It's a little known fact," Dumbledore mused, "But there are some things in this world that are so evil they cannot be touched by a witch or wizard pure of heart. The trouble is there are very few people who are pure of heart in this world. Everyone's soul is marked by something, be it as little as jealousy. For true innocence you have to look to the little children. If something like the Gravity ring did come in to contact with someone like this it would leave a particular mark. Individual depending on what sort of item it was. The item it's self would be completely destroyed except for the traces left in the mark left on the person who touched it."

Things started to arrange themselves in my head. I found I had to speak, to do Lucy's talent of stating the obvious, to get it all to line up properly.

"So when I was a little child... when I was two... I must have touched the ring... And it left me with a snake mark... So the last traces of the ring... are in my shoulder...." I trailed off uncertainly. Dumbledore was smiling.

"Does that answer you question?" he asked.

I opened my mouth to say "Yes" but thought against it at the last minute. Instead I said,

"But why would someone let me touch it?" I demanded, "My Grandmother mentioned something about a babysitter with her head smashed open, why didn't whoever did that do that to me? And why would they want to do that to me anyway?"

"They didn't. I believe their intention was to use Avada Kedavra, but not on you. They weren't expecting you."

"But that was back when you lived in a two bedroom in Godric's Hollow. They've closed the place off now. Honestly, two people have accidents and they just shut the place off. Close your mouth dear."

"Are they safe?"

"Yes, all five of them."

"Have you told Potter?"

"Both of them."

"They were after the Potters," I whispered.

I gasped as I realised what I had just said and what it meant.

"Oh my gosh! They're after Laura! You've got to protect her sir! Oh flip, they think I'm Laura."

"He got his timing wrong," said Dumbledore, watching me closely. "He was expecting a screaming one year old and got a toddling two year old. A rather out going one if I'm any judge."

"You were such a dear then," my grandmother had told me once. "So sweet and friendly. You'd hold your arm up to anyone."

I froze and stared at a point just to the left of Dumbledore's ear, not really seeing.

"I held my hand up to him," I said, really to myself but Dumbledore must have heard it. I knew he was old but he wasn't deaf. "And he took it. And I touched the ring."

Dumbledore must have leaned forward again because his voice sounded closer, but I didn't see him move. I saw the figure in black. The man in a sweeping black robe, holding his arm out towards me.

"Laura is safe," said Dumbledore, "As long as he thinks you're her. You're safe, as long as he thinks she's you. We caught the real thing, we can catch the copy cat."

Strangely enough, those words made me feel better. Harry Potter defeated Voldemort when he was just seventeen. Now Harry Potter was an adult, this new guy stood no chance. They'd probably catch him in a week or so. There wasn't really anything to worry about. Besides, he knew nothing about me. How on earth was I supposed to be in danger from a guy who thought I was someone else?

I smiled at Dumbledore.

"Thank you sir," I said, standing up to leave.

Dumbledore smiled back and nodded. Why he nodded, I have no idea. But he nodded all the same. Just as I reached the door and opened it he replied,

"No Miss Davies. Thank you."

I turned and stared at him but he was leaning over the desk again doing paperwork. He didn't even look like he'd just said something. I went through the door and let it click shut behind me. Dumbledore was beginning to freak me out.

It would be wishful thinking to say the term ended there. That we just went home and this story ended. There were still several weeks of lessons left. I don't remember much of it. Just that the teachers kept giving me odd looks. But that was expected and they were giving Laura odd looks too. Laura herself kept flashing me apologetic smiles. But that's all. The end-of-year feast also passed with no particular eventualities. We decided to hold off any pranks in case it panicked people.

The most vivid thing I remember was on the train home. Gregory, Lucy, Joseph and I were playing exploding snap in our compartment when Laura stuck her head in the door.

"Lione," she said, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

I nodded and stepped outside. Laura slowly closed the door behind me.

"I have to - um - apologise for what you went though-"

"Laura," I interrupted, "Stop. I know what you're going to say and I don't want to hear it. How can you apologise for something that you have no control over. Knowing Gregory, Joseph, Lucy and I, we would have probably gone through there anyway so just... stop."

Laura took a deep breath.

"Okay," she said slowly, "But I still want to give you something. As a sort of thank you for what you're doing for me."

She reached in to her pocket, pulled out a card and handed it to me.

"It's a Quidditch card," she explained, "It lists stats and positions and all kinds of things."

A dark haired figure rolled his eyes at me. I turned his card over and looked at the back. Harry Potter. I looked up at Laura. She was looking embarrassed.

"I hear they can be very valuable if you find the right buyer," she offered.

I pocketed it. "I think I'll keep it."

Laura smiled thankfully and headed back to her compartment at the very back of the train. I went back in to my own compartment just in time to have a pack of cards explode in my face.

Once we arrived at the station and were let off platform 9 and ¾ in twos and threes the second memorable thing happened. As soon as we got of the platform Lucy spotted her parents standing a little way off from the other parents. She ran over to greet them and they were soon joined by Colubra. They departed quickly with only a wave from Lucy and a friendly smile from Colubra. Joseph was attacked by a six year old girl with blond bunches. She was soon introduced as his baby sister Caitlyn and they too disappeared. Joseph located his parents and was the first to actually say goodbye before leaving me. I couldn't see my parents anywhere. But I did spot Laura's. Laura was with them and I saw her point towards me. Her and her father came over.

In a very brief moment of joy I found myself thinking, I can't believe I'm going to meet Harry Potter! Gregory is going to be sooooo jealous.

He stopped right in front of me. "I know what you're doing for my daughter," he said, "And I just wanted to thank you personally. I know there's nothing I can do to truly thank you but if there's anything-"

"Actually," I said, rummaging through my bag. "There is." I found a pen and pulled my Harry Potter card out of my pocket. I presented them both to Laura's father. "Can I have your autograph?"

Laura's dad stared at me as if I was crazy.

"I could sell it on eBay for millions," I explained.

Harry laughed and signed the card.

"I doubt if you'd find a buyer on eBay," he said, handing it and the pen back to me, "But I'm sure someone will be interested."

"She's not going to sell it, are you, Lee," said Laura, giving me a meaningful glare. "She's going to cherish it. Forever."

I smiled. "Forever and ever."

There was the sound of clapping footsteps and I saw my dad approach, running from behind Laura and her father. He stopped and slowed.

"Hello?" he said, curious.

"Hi Dad," I said to him.

He came over to stand by me protectively.

"Harry Potter?" he queried, "Roger Davies. I was-" I paused and gave me a nervous look. "On the Ravenclaw Quidditch team when we were at school. I played against you."

Harry nodded. "I remember."

I looked between the two, then back at Laura. She was smiling calmly at me, she obviously knew more about this than I did. I decided to break the long pause.

"Don't you think we should be going?" I suggested.

My Dad seemed to come back to his senses.

"Of course," he said. He shook Laura's Dad's hand. "Good to see you again Harry."

"You too Roger."

My Dad bent down and picked up my bag. "A pleasure."

So that was my first year at Hogwarts. A strange year for all concerned, but it was still there. But despite everything I stand by what Lucy said. Strangeness is a survival trait. Survival from getting bored.

Dumbledore waited till he heard the click of Lione closing the door as she left. He raised his head and appeared to be speaking to the wall opposite

"Do they seem familiar to you?"

"I hope not, sir," said Sirius, appearing from the hidden door he had been hiding behind. "Not after what happened last time."

Dumbledore appeared to consider this for a while.

"Well, Sirius," he said eventually, "I know you better then I know them. Who's your money on?"

"Sorry Sir?"

"Come now, Sirius," said Dumbledore, eyes twinkling. "We've known each other too long for that sort of thing. Who's your money on?"

Sirius paused before replying.

"The Muggle born Boy."

Dumbledore appeared surprised

"Really, Sirius? That's so unlike you!"

"Sorry, Sir but you didn't let me finish," said Sirius, "The Muggle born boy or the Malfoy Girl."

Dumbledore chuckled

"Dear, dear, Sirius," he said, "When will you learn to Trust?"

"When people start proving themselves trustworthy, sir."

THE END