Okay here's Chapter 11 finally. I hope you like it. A huge thanks to everyone who has reviewed, you know who you are, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is nice to know people are taking the time to read and give constructive criticism about my writing. :).
I hope you like this chapter, please please review!
Chapter 11
The summer term started with a bang. All the teachers started an all out offensive on the sixth years. Their exams were coming up and after all the suggestive hints over the past few months about starting revision and preparing for their final year, the teachers hit them hard with a tidal wave of work.
James, Sirius and all the other sixth years noticed this steep increase grudgingly. As the glorious sunny weeks passed by quickly, the sixth years were to be found, along with the fifth and seventh years, cooped up inside studying hard for their end of year exams.
"I can't believe this," James complained, as June and their tests dawned. "We've done nothing but work for over a month. I mean at this rate we'll never finish the Marauder's map!"
Sirius had hardly spoken to Ebony alone since the Easter holidays and didn't know where he stood. That day by the lake kept playing over in his mind, but with the amount of work they were being forced to do and their exams only a week away, Sirius had had no time to find out.
Ebony was always working with Lily and he was always surrounded by James. James had in fact for the past month or so forgotten or at least limited the hours he spent trying to get Lily's attention, showing the seriousness of the situation.
The only release for the upper years, had come with the final Quidditch matches of the season and the conclusion of the special Quidditch tournament which was trying to bring the wizarding community together in the face of Lord Voldemort.
The final match of the special tournament saw the most exciting of the six matches played. The match, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff, made for the most action packed, fun filled, good humoured finale. An hour of sheer adrenaline pumping, heart stopping action saw Gryffindor scrape a victory after the snitch, a particularly energetic one at that, conceded its freedom to the Gryffindor seeker. James, still holding the quaffle, did a loop-the-loop to celebrate the victory, before flying to the ground with the rest of the team.
Dumbledore came over to greet the team, along with an ecstatic Professor McGonagall, and handed them a special trophy with the teams names magically carved into it. Cheers rang loudly around the stadium as students, teachers and parents joined in the applause.
Sirius, Remus and Peter were some of the first to charge out of the stands and tackled James and the rest of the team to the ground, shouting and cheering. Sirius, pulling James to his feet, grinned maniacally. They were closely followed by Lily and Ebony who both hugged James so enthusiastically that they knocked him to the ground again.
The celebrations went on for hours in the Gryffindor tower that night, parents and students both enjoying the jovial atmosphere. Even Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore, a fellow Gryffindor, joined in the celebrations. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, people started to make their way to the dormitories, though for several hours more, chants and cheers could be heard.
The celebrations died quickly the following Monday morning as the students returned to their lessons, and received another mountain of work. Left right and centre, older students could be seen with their noses firmly placed in books. Once or twice, several students became so stressed out that they became hysterical or else had an outbreak of boils and spots, with several being hospitalised under Madam Pomfrey's care.
As the night before the exams dawned, the Marauders and Lily and Ebony threw themselves down into some dilapidated old armchairs, breathing wearily.
"Two weeks and it'll all be over," sighed Lily under her breath, as she closed her eyes trying to relax. The others murmured in agreement. "I'm off to bed," she said finally, and made her way over to the girl's dormitories.
"Me too," sighed Ebony heavily, before following her. "Goodnight."
It wasn't long before the common room became empty and the Marauders decided to turn in themselves.
The following two weeks flew by. When the students weren't sitting exams they were to be found doing some last minute revision. Finally, the last exams were over and the sixth years were released. They flooded out into the grounds gratefully, the sun was shining and the day was warm.
"We've done it!" James sighed happily, throwing himself down on the ground and leant against a tree near to the Forbidden Forest. He closed his eyes. "It's all over until next year." He opened his eyes to see Lily walk past with some friends towards the lake.
Remus rolled his eyes, "Don't even think about it!" he muttered.
"What?" said James innocently.
"Don't start showing off to get Lily's attention. Remember what happened last year?"
"How could I forget," James scowled, remembering clearly the incident in which Lily had as good as kicked him between the legs. "I was only having a bit of fun with Snivellus. It's not like he hasn't tried to do the same to me. Turning him upside down, showing his great ugly butt off to the world should have taught him some humility. But it didn't and she had to stick up for him and for a thank you he called her a Mudblood, the ugly creep!"
"It's been a nice quiet month, can't you just leave it?" Remus implored.
James' eyes shone wickedly. "Lily's not my top priority at the moment," he said. "Have you forgotten about all that stuff I bought in Diagon Alley at Easter? Haven't you noticed I haven't used any of it yet?" Remus rolled his eyes. "I haven't used it earlier," James continued, "Because of all the exams. For one thing, it wouldn't have got the attention it deserves and second, someone would have probably killed me for disturbing their revision. But now the exams are over, I have some unfinished business to attend to. It was bad enough with just Filch, but since he's got that cat, well..."
Sirius, who was sitting beside him grinned, "What do you have in mind?"
James smiled, rubbing his hands together. "Well I think a revival of the 'Super Soaker' campaign is in order, it's one every student can take part in and Peeve's will be delighted. That cat's stopped him having a lot of fun this year, plus we need him on side. We don't want him causing conflicting chaos with ours do we?"
"Go on," said Sirius, his grin even bigger. Peter, beside him, was eagerly paying attention.
"Well I think some Dungbombs around the hidden passages would be good as no one will be able to find the source of the smell. Undoubtedly Filch knows some of the passages, but he can't possibly know them all, and thus the hunt for the smell could go on for days. Finally to top it off, I think a nice fire work display on every floor is in order.
"But how are we going to pull it off," sighed Peter.
"Yeah," said Sirius. "It's a brilliant plan but one hell of a logistical nightmare."
James smiled. "Well the invisibility cloak my dad gave me will come in useful and the secret passages are extremely valuable. I'm sure Peeves wouldn't mind some involvement in the persuasive manoeuvring of the students and Mrs. Norris, if you know what I mean."
Remus sighed. "You really have got it in for Filch this year. I suppose I'll be finishing The Marauder's Map on my own then for this mission of yours?"
"Yes," said James sweetly. "You will also come in useful for other things too!" Remus raised an eyebrow. "Prefects can be useful allies sometimes you know. You are going to have to help manage the crowds, you know drive them away from us but towards the chaos," he laughed. "Oh and keep Lily out of the way when the occasion calls for, as I doubt she will agree with my ethics. We'll start project 'Filch Fit' on Monday. I have some business to attend to this weekend."
"What?" said Peter eagerly.
"Well there's a Hogsmeade visit tomorrow and I'm going to get Lily to like me if it kills me!" he grinned.
The day broke hot and sunny. It was the final weekend before term ended and the final Hogsmeade visit. Lily and Ebony had run down to the village to buy some things before the day got too hot, and the shops too busy. They then headed for the Three Broomsticks, and sat outside basking in the sunshine eating ice creams.
Lily let out a deep sigh of pleasure. Exams being over, they had the final week to do what they liked with and they were going to enjoy it after being cooped up inside the castle for nearly two months.
"Oh God, what does he want?" Lily groaned, seeing James, Sirius, Remus and Peter walking towards them. "It's been nice to be left alone for a while."
"What exactly is going on between you two?" said Ebony quietly.
"I don't know," replied Lily in an irritated voice.
"Well do you like him?" Ebony pressed.
"Well he's definitely matured over the last year, I guess we all have considering recent events, and I do like him, but he's still..."
"An arrogant hothead," finished Ebony.
"Yeah, sometimes. Yet other times he's really nice, but his flirting is so outrageous."
Ebony laughed. "Yeah, I don't think subtlety is in his vocabulary!"
They both laughed as James walked towards them grinning broadly. He threw himself down on the bench beside Lily and wrapped his arm around her waist. Lily, rolling her eyes at Ebony, burst into laughter as Ebony snorted into her ice cream.
James frowned, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," said Lily, continuing to giggle as several fifth year girls walked by scowling at her and smiling at James and Sirius stupidly.
"So what are you guys up to?" said Ebony.
Remus patted his pocket where Ebony could see, what she assumed to be The Marauder's Map. She rolled her eyes. "Are you always creating mischief?" she laughed, as Lily looked at her confused. Lily being a prefect and taking her role seriously, the Marauder's had yet to tell her about their most crucial weapon against Filch and Mrs. Norris.
"Do you want to go for a walk," James asked Lily, quickly trying to change the conversation as she looked suspiciously round the group.
"Umm, sure," she said, slightly preoccupied, and stood up. James jumped up from his seat and whisked Lily away from the others towards the edge of the village, turning and winking at them as they left.
"God," said Ebony. "Can you get anymore obvious!" The others laughed as they watched James and Lily until they were out of sight.
"I'm going to get an ice cream," said Remus chuckling.
"Oh will you get me one?" Sirius said, chucking him a Sickle.
"What did your last slave die of?" said Remus sarcastically.
"My mum chopped off its head and stuck it on a spear on the stairs," Sirius retorted smiling.
Remus cringed. "Give me a hand Wormtail. I can't manage three ice creams and the rest of it on my own."
Peter laughed and followed him to Honeydukes.
Ebony, having finished her ice cream, watched them go, smiling.
"You weren't serious about what you just said to Remus were you," she asked in a disbelieving tone of voice.
"Course I was," said Sirius, a trace of bitterness in his voice. "The house-elf was too old to do much work so mum took an axe to it!" Ebony pulled a face, wishing she hadn't asked.
"So have you nearly finished that map of yours?" she said, trying to change the subject.
Sirius watched as Remus and Peter entered Honeydukes before replying. "Umm, I think so, I'm not sure. There are so many rooms and secret staircases and things that I don't think we'll ever finish it properly. But it'll definitely come in useful, I have no doubt!"
Ebony rolled her eyes again. "What are you guys planning?" she laughed.
"Ahh, that's a secret. You're just going to have to wait and see!" he smiled, throwing himself down on to the bench beside her.
Sirius, unsure of what was happening between himself and Ebony, held his breath and snaked his arm slowly around her bare waist, watching her intently. She didn't move away, which he thought was a good sign and he hooked his thumb into a belt loop on her trousers, his hand resting on her hip.
Ebony looked at him and smiled, giving him a sign of encouragement and he breathed a sigh of relief. He could feel her warm skin beneath his touch, the day being a lot warmer than the last time he had done this.
Remus and Peter headed back over to them, carrying several enormous ice creams and a few bags of sweets.
"There you go slave driver," said Remus smirking, as he thrust an ice cream at Sirius.
"Thank you very much," Sirius replied, taking the ice cream and trying to act innocent. His eyes however gave him away as they held a wicked twinkle.
They ate their ice creams in silence, Sirius' arm still draped around Ebony's waist.
"Peter and I have to check on some things for the... umm..." Remus stalled, noticing Sirius' hand and trying to make an excuse to leave.
"Map," finished Ebony.
"Umm, yeah," he said awkwardly, before turning and pulling Peter, who was sitting on the grass looking confused, to his feet. "So...umm...we'll see you in a bit," he continued, as he dragged Peter back up the road towards Hogwarts, leaving Ebony shaking her head in disbelief.
"Not exactly subtle was he?" she laughed, as Sirius flushed and cringed with embarrassment. "I wonder how James and Lily are getting on in the subtlety department?" she continued. "You reckon he's got the message yet?"
"I doubt it. She'll have to spell it out to him I think. As I've said, he's as dumb as a Dungbomb when it comes to Lily!"
"Damn, it's hot," said Ebony, jumping to her feet and looking for some shade.
Sirius watched her as she stood in the sun, her curly hair dancing in the light breeze. She was wearing a fitted yellow T-shirt that showed her tanned stomach and a pair of low slung fitted corduroy trousers with sandals on her feet.
Ebony set off at a casual meandering pace towards the shady edge of the village. She followed a path round the corner and climbed a gentle slope, Sirius following her. After ten minutes or so, she reached the top of the hill where the Shrieking Shack stood, looking down over Hogsmeade. She veered off the path away from the Shrieking Shack and leant against a tree in the shade looking down at the view.
Below her stood the village of Hogsmeade and further along stood the station where the Hogwarts Express would be waiting to take the students home for the summer. To the right of the station lay a huge lake, in which, she could not see, but knew, the giant squid was swimming and further over stood Hogwarts itself. The castle stood proud in the grounds between the lake and the Forbidden Forest. She could just make out the students walking up and down the driveway and lounging on the sloping lawns.
Sirius, walking up behind her, followed her gaze, resting his arm around her waist and pulling her gently towards him. She tore her eyes away from the view and turned to look up at him, his soft grey eyes meeting hers.
Sirius' heart was pounding in his chest as he looked at Ebony, her back resting against the tree. The breeze rustled through her hair, obscuring her face. She was so close to him, he could feel her breathing. He leant forwards slowly, his heart pounding hard against his ribs as his lips softly brushed hers, his hands reaching and finding her waist.
Moving slightly, he looked at her face anxiously, she smiled shyly but reassuringly. He kissed her again more passionately. He could feel her hand gently playing with his thick wavy hair. He closed his eyes absorbing her warm touch. He could feel her breathing and her heart beating against his own chest as he wrapped his arms around her, one reaching round the small of her back whilst the other found the nape of her neck, pulling her closer to him.
"YOU ARE THE MOST OBNOXIOUS, ARROGANT, HOTHEADED GIT I'VE EVER MET!" a voice Ebony recognised yelled.
Ebony and Sirius broke away from each other, his hand still resting round her waist, playing with a belt loop. They looked round the tree into the clearing, in which stood the Shrieking Shack, and saw Lily and James. Lily was red-faced with anger and James looked shocked.
"Lily come back!" James shouted, running after her as she stormed away from him to the edge of the clearing where Sirius and Ebony were standing. He grabbed hold of her hand, "I'm sorry okay!"
"Let me go," Lily warned. James looked hurt. "I said let me go!" He let go of her, his hand dropping to his side. Lily turned and stalked off down the pathway towards Hogsmeade, James threw himself on the ground watching her leave.
"Damn it," he yelled.
Sirius gave him a few minutes, before he walked over to him, Ebony close behind.
"What happened?" Sirius asked gently, startling James.
"She slapped me," James replied in a shocked voice, nursing a red cheek.
"What did you do," Ebony asked gingerly.
"Nothing. I was just playing!" Ebony raised her eyebrow. "Well, I think I scared her," said James honestly. "Everyone knows this place has the reputation for being haunted and I jumped out from behind a tree, grabbed her and kissed her!"
Ebony shook her head smiling at him in disbelief. "Smooth Prongs, really smooth!"
"What!" exclaimed James innocently.
"You probably scared the life out of her. If that wasn't bad enough, you then went and kissed her!" sighed Ebony.
"So?"
"So, it might come as a shock Prongs, but not all people like to be scared out of their wits and then jumped upon. It's not exactly the right way to ask the poor girl out! 'Rwar, now give me a kiss.' Lord, have you not learnt anything?" cried Ebony exasperated. "Your technique might work on other girls Prongs, but it sure isn't going to with Lily. Trust me on this!"
James flushed, "Well how can I get her to go out with me. I've tried being honest-"
"No Prongs, you've tried being blunt, stupid and quite frankly embarrassing!"
"But, but-" he flustered.
Ebony threw herself down on the ground and looked at him with pity. "I'm going to spell it out for you once and for all," she sighed, "Because you're obviously not taking the hint. Try being romantic or at least subtle. Why don't you prove to her that you're not an arrogant hothead by behaving yourself when you're around her. Get into her good books, then, and only then, take her aside and ask her out properly!"
"How?"
"Oh for God's sake James I don't know. Try 'I really like you, I know I'm an idiot, but I'd really like it if you'd give me a chance.' No idiotic sarcastic humour or laddish banter, so that the whole world knows you've asked her out. Just be honest with her, because at the rate you're going, she'll never go out with you!" Ebony scrambled to her feet. "I'd better go and see if madam has calmed down yet," she sighed. "I'll see you two later," and with that, she left the clearing.
After she had gone James muttered, "If she thinks I'm going to behave myself next week, she's got another thing coming. Filch and Mrs. Norris are long overdue some chaos."
Monday morning saw the first wave of mayhem. James, after being in a mood all weekend, threw himself into operation 'Filch Fit.' By the end of the day, Mrs. Norris was again cowering in Filch's office, but was left unprotected due to Peeves smashing up the Astronomy tower. This gave James enough time to flood Filch's office and half drown Mrs. Norris, who screamed and hissed with fright and anger.
Filch returned to his office, to find the place turned upside down, and the wall of water that greeted him as he opened the door, knocked him backwards and flooded the surrounding corridor. His desk, floating out of the room, ended up blocking the staircase which half the school were having to use due to the release of a hundred Dungbombs down the only other set of stairs to that floor.
A red-faced, livid-looking, soaked Filch raged up the stairs, pushing students out of the way, looking for the culprits. The culprits however, were safely out of the way, having fled outside after releasing the chaos.
James, Sirius and Peter were sitting on the bank by the lake laughing with gusto. Remus, as a prefect, had been instructed by the others to move the crowds towards the scene unfolding outside Filch's office, which had worked to great effect.
Tuesday and Wednesday followed in exactly the same way. Sirius had released some Dungbombs into the secret passages just before breakfast, meaning a foul smell descended over the entire school, the source not being found.
Remus again, with the unwitting help of Lily, steered the students towards a flooded second floor corridor, where Moaning Myrtle's cries could be heard, Peeves having deliberately upset her. The flood she had created, meant that the students had to slip and slide all the way down to breakfast, many arriving soaked and late, including an angry looking Lily.
Thursday saw Filch prowling the school ferociously, but was again powerless to stop operation 'Filch Fit' and 'Super Soaker'. Most students were again involved in the latter, carrying water bombs wherever they went, hoping to spot Mrs. Norris, who had taken refuge in a broom cupboard on the fifth floor.
Elsewhere, James had transfigured twenty goblets he had been given by the house-elves in the kitchens, into ravens and set them loose around the school. Peter had been given specific instructions to clear a sixth floor corridor with the excuse of anti-gravity mist, and to send them towards Sirius, who, in the other sixth floor corridor, set off a range of Fabulous Wet-Start, No-Heat fireworks, causing several hours worth of disruption. However, nothing compared to the last day of term.
Friday broke hot and sunny, the school quiet and peaceful. It remained this way until mid-morning when many of the students were filtering through the corridors. Having only used up a third of his bag of ammunition, which he had bought in Gambol and Japes Wizard's joke shop at Easter, James planned the giant finale.
The teachers, along with Filch, were prowling the corridors for the troublemakers. Many, including Professor McGonagall knew full well who was behind it all, but had not caught them in the act. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were having to be very careful, but with the help of The Marauder's Map, they managed it.
The mayhem started with a bag of exploding Dungbombs creating havoc in the Transfiguration department. A livid Professor McGonagall however looked out of her classroom window to find all four Marauder's outside and thus couldn't pin the blame on them. The exploding Dungbombs, though having covered the whole department in a revolting smelly liquid that wouldn't come off, was nothing compared to what happened in the Dungeons.
James, making full use of his father's invisibility cloak, set off seven Fabulous Wet-Start No-Heat fireworks, which roared and whizzed through the Dungeons. They caused the students, who were having Remedial Potions lessons to prepare for the coming school year, to lose their heads completely and in several cases caused some students to add the wrong ingredients to their potions with the result that they blew up covering the classrooms and students in all manner of things.
One particular class was doused in a Swelling potion. The class developed a particularly warped and mammoth caseof swellings. Many students needing the remedy, developed particularly large arms, hands and faces that would not have looked out of place on a giant.
Lunch time saw no end to the chaos. Peeves drifted into the Great Hall carrying an enormous bag as the students settled down to eat. With a wicked grin at James, he opened it and launched hundreds of water bombs over the seated students. Chaos broke out as students ducked under the tables or ran for the doors. The teachers yelled at Peeves to stop, who simply blew raspberries at them and launched an attack on the staff table.
By the time the Bloody Baron, the only one who seemed to have any kind of control over Peeves, arrived, it was too late. Everyone was drenched. Many of the students laughed as the day was hot and sunny, but Filch looked livid. As James, Sirius, Lily, Ebony, Remus and Peter left the Great Hall, all they could hear was Filch's angry shouts about Peeves being out of control and demanding that he should be expelled.
James chuckled as they made their way outside to dry off with everyone else.
"Tell me that had nothing to do with you," Ebony laughed, wringing out her soaking hair, Peeves having hit her no less than four times.
"What," said James wickedly. "Me, never!"
Lily scowled and sat down away from James. She had not so much as said one word to him since the previous Saturday.
That afternoon saw no let up in the mayhem, in fact it increased. Peter, keeping an eye on The Marauder's Map, watched as James and Sirius released the final load of Dungbombs from the top of the seventh floor staircase, making sure they spread evenly throughout the floors. Sirius then magically suspended their remaining water bombs from the ceilings and timed it so that most of the students were in the corridors, heading back to their dormitories to pack before releasing them.
Peeves, in good measure, filled numerous bottles and buckets of water and released them over Filch's and Mrs. Norris' heads, the latter of whom, had just ventured out of her broom cupboard for food, who then dived back in to it refusing, at Filch's request, to come out.
An hour later, saw the ultimate finale, as James released the rest of his fireworks around the school, which to his satisfaction, took hours for the teachers and Filch to extinguish. They were still hunting them through the final feast. Dumbledore had finally finished his speech, awarding Gryffindor both the House and the Quidditch cups, when the final firework, an enormous fire-breathing dragon burst into the Great Hall. Dumbledore watched as it soar round the room entertained, before flicking his wand at it, making it explode into thousands of twinkling stars. This was greeted with loud cheers from the students who applauded gratefully.
"That was brilliant," said James joyfully, as he threw himself into a dilapidated armchair in the Gryffindor common room.
"I couldn't have planned it better myself," laughed Sirius, pulling Ebony on to his lap and kissing the tip of her nose as she ran her fingers through his thick black hair affectionately.
Everyone stared at them surprised.
"You kept that one quiet," said Peter, winking.
"We'll have to do the same thing next year," grinned James ignoring Peter. "We'll really go out with a bang!"
Lily, who was sitting on the sofa beside Remus and Peter, grinned despite herself. "If you do, you'll never be forgotten," she sighed rolling her eyes.
"We'll be legends!" grinned James.
"We already are!" Sirius laughed.
"Yeah," Remus agreed. "I mean, who else could pull off a whole week of chaos and mayhem, and get away with it; even though everyone knew we had something to do with it?"
"Well we've sure set a high standard," laughed James. "Anyone who beats it or comes close, is a worthy adversary!"
"Hey, there's still next year to set the boundary even higher," laughed Sirius indignantly. "I'm sure we can set the true definition of chaos without getting expelled, and maybe even get rid of Filch while we're at it," he added wickedly.
"I doubt it," laughed Ebony. "He's as stubborn as you are foolhardy."
Sirius wrapped his arms around Ebony's waist who was still sitting on his lap and pulled her towards him, muttering, "Yeah, but it'll be fun trying." The others, including Lily, laughed.
"It's got to be worth a shot," chuckled Remus. "I fear for all those we leave behind with the creep!"
"Yeah, the least we can do is give him something to remember us by!" James grinned.
"Like what?" said Peter. "We've already done everything!"
Everyone laughed again. "I'm sure we'll think of something," said James and Sirius together.
The train ride home was the happiest ever. Sirius was again staying with the Potters. It seemed they had adopted him as a second son. He had heard no news from his family for three months and that was just the way he liked it.
He stared out of the window as the train entered London, his arm wrapped around Ebony's waist, who was playing with his hair absentmindedly.
"It's been one hell of a year," sighed Remus, watching them both, knowing the pain he and his friends had suffered, Sirius the most.
"It has," James agreed, smiling at Lily, who was talking to him again, before looking at Sirius.
"I wonder what the summer has in store," muttered Lily thoughtfully.
"A hell of a lot of fun," Ebony grinned.
"We'll all be able to see each other this year," Sirius smiled at Remus, knowing the full moon was only a week away, Remus smiled, understanding his meaning. "My parents can't control me anymore, I'm a free man!"
Everyone smiled at him, knowing the pain and anguish his parents and family had caused him.
"They won't hurt any of us ever again!" Sirius continued determinedly. "My family has tried, but they have not succeeded and it will stay that way!" he declared, squeezing Ebony's hand and looking round at them all.
As the train pulled into the station, they gathered up their belongings and joined the queue for the door to the platform, where their parents stood waiting.
The Potters, Lupins, Evans', Mrs. Pettigrew and, to Ebony's surprise, the Wallis' were waiting to greet them. Mrs. Potter was the first to get to them and pulled them all into a strangling hug.
"I'm so glad you're all okay!" she exclaimed, looking angrily at Mr. and Mrs. Black, who were looking in their direction.
"Aren't we all," said Mr. Potter, trying to break Mrs. Potter's grip over them, Sirius reddening, unable to breathe. "I hope, all things considered, you've had a good term?"
James, Sirius, Lily, Ebony, Remus and Peter grinned broadly at him. "Yes we have," they said in unison.
Mrs. Potter eyed them suspiciously, before saying, "What exactly have you lot been up to?"
"It's a long story mum," James laughed, giving her a wink.
"On second thoughts, I don't want to know," she laughed, rolling her eyes and ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Come on then," said Mr. Potter, herding the group towards the barrier between Platform nine and three quarters and Kings Cross. "We better be going or we'll hit the traffic." Sirius swivelled round and grinned at him broadly. "Yes Sirius we've got the car. Well actually the Evans' and Wallis' have agreed to give us a lift."
Sirius, grinning broadly, passed through the barrier with the others and walked out of the station to the street beyond, his arm wrapped snugly around Ebony's waist, who laughed at his excitement.
"The Muggles really are going to think you're insane," she giggled.
Sirius laughed, "Ahh well, you can't please them all!" With that, he kissed her tenderly on the lips.
THE END
I hope you have enjoyed reading this fan fic. Please let me know what you think.
I am currently writing a sequel to this fic, which should be ready to present in about a month, though I'm having a major dose of writer's block at the moment, so it mighttake a bit longerhehe. The sequel will cover theMarauder's in their final year at Hogwarts, (and just how Lily and James finally get together lol)and will cover the years after thisup until the time when Sirius is thrown into Azkaban for the Potter's murders.
Finally,thanks fortaking the time and trouble to read this fan fiction. I've enjoyed writing it and its been nice to here that people have enjoyed reading it.
All credit of this work goes to J.K.Rowling who wrote the original Harry Potter series and gave me the inspiration to write this. Thanks. :)