A/N: I haven't died off the face of the earth quite yet. I know it's been
like…oh…forever…I'm an awful, horrible person, and the world could do
without negligent scum like me…blah, blah, blah. But hey, I haven't given
up on this yet have I? And neither have you? (You're reading this aren't
you?) So kudos for you! And this chapter's longer!
Some specific rankings are at the end of this chapter, my one of a kind way of thanking all you readers. I'd just like to say that all your reviews really made me (sniff) sit down and write this even when I was (sniff) frustrated and wanted to give up. Without your encouragement, your critiques, and your strict demands, this story would probably have gone into the rut. Really.
I'll quit being corny right now.
Oh and thanks to Kaylin and SailorWade who reminded me of the fact that Sirius was thrown into Azbakan without a trial. Some British wizarding justice there! A salute to you!
Disclaimer: I have a new stance on this- I don't own Harry Potter, nor would I like to (Now, have you heard that one before?). I'd poison the characters (Harry, ironically enough is my least favorite character for no apparent reason except than he is), although I'd hire Little Mr:I-See-Dead- People as Harry Potter for the big screen. (Maybe his awful actor has something to do with it).
I don't own those two lines I borrowed from Billy Joel's It's Still Rock and Roll to Me song. I don't like songfics, but it's still fun to take lyrics and make them into dialogue.
I hope you don't find this story angsty. I've never really been one for those stories. (Boo-hoo everyone's been killed off), but Sirius is a little on the depressed in this. I guess I'm trying to say that it might not be that funny, but I tired to lighten the mood up.
This is to all the mascots of the world who degrade themselves to make others feel better and more confident about themselves. Their willingness to humiliate themselves in front of crowds in the guise of enlarged animals and other 'things' is saluted, especially Dru. Love you, Mighty Moo. Your legacy, and inspiration as a Yak will be applauded forever. Especially the way you could do a somersault in that outfit. They should have an Olympics for you guys.
Okay-Blah, blah, you're not even reading this stuff anyway so let's get on with the important junk:
Chapter 3: Starring Pupil
Too skinny to be muscular.
Too short to be tall.
Too proud to be understanding.
Too impatient to be tolerant.
Sirius had been torn between the joy and the horror of working with Harry Potter in Potions class. But after the silent treatment, being berated with insults, and a few bruised shins later he was neither happy nor horrified…..
He was annoyed.
'Too obnoxious to be my best friend's son,' he thought bitterly.
Harry had taken none of his pleasantries and every polite word had been turned and twisted into an insult. And Sirius was feeling awful enough as it was.
"Would you pass me the unicorn hair, James?"
Whoops. Sirius realized his mistake a moment too late.
"Harry- it's Harry Potter!" snapped the boy, his face reddening at the mention of his father's name. But Sirius's sympathy towards him had been drained by one too many insults.
"Maybe you should wear a name tag or something- you know, like a little blue and white sticker that says: 'Hello, My Name is Harry Potter' – it'd make it much less confusing."
Several Slytherins snickered. Harry never received an opportunity to retort because with a sudden swish of a cloak there was a figure looming over him.
"Ah, Potter, I see again that your incompetence has led you to rely solely on Mr. Malfoy's aid." A look that Sirius thought had only been reserved for the Marauders crossed over Snape's face.
"3 points from Gryffndor." And with a swish of robes the beadle eyes departed to criticize other 5th years. Sirius just gaped at his now aged rival. Well he wasn't *that* old.
"Who in their right mind would hire Snape to teach at Hogwarts? And does he bathe his comb in oil?" The words slipped out before Sirius could catch himself, but luckily only Potter Jr. heard.
"What?"
Sirius thought that James would be very disappointed to see his son's green eyes enlarge, his expression betraying any trace of dignity or composure.
It wasn't until the Freckle King poked at Harry's sides that he snapped out of his bewilderment. Sirius chose to study the black board where Snape had written in his loopy handwriting today's assignment- An essay on Wolfsbane Potion.
Wolfsbane potion…that reminded him-
Suddenly Snape swept past him bestowing Sirius such an expression of approval that didn't suit the former Slytherin. Sirius looked down at the ground of the Potions Lab.
This couldn't possibly be the future. Everything was too mixed up- left was right, forward was backwards- it's just didn't make any sense. How can he have let things go so hay-wire? What had happened?
None of this was true…just a bad dream…a nightmare. Sirius pinched himself, as was custom to all those who believe they are in a stage of unconsciousness. But nothing happened except his awful pale skin turned red.
If this was real then the book, Hogwarts, A History had to be wrong.
How reliable were books anyway? Not very reliable. It must've been a typo- had to have been. The author probably meant to put someone more capable, more fiendish with more hatred for James and Lily, someone like-
"-but Harry, Padfoot said not to go out at dark!"
"Ron, you know that's an awful idea- we can't have him prancing around in broad daylight. People are suspicious enough at it is."
"Harry James Potter!"
The two boys whirled around to see their little snotty friend taping her foot impatiently.
"What are you middle naming me for, Hermione?"
"Don't you even dare think about meeting Padfoot at night! Sneaking out at times like…like…these."
"Hermione-"
"The rules aren't meant to be broken!"
"Even by the likes of Harry Potter?"
The trio snapped their heads back to see Sirius sitting straight-backed and very self-conscious. Padfoot- how could they have known about Padfoot?
"Granger, Weasley, I think it would be in your best interests to return to your seats."
"But Professor, we've finished-"
"-talking to Potter. Yes I know."
The two returned to their respective table leaving a very sulky Harry and fearful Sirius.
Padfoot.
Could there be another?
Well, of course!
Padfoot wasn't a very uncommon nickname. Why, wasn't Remus's fourth cousin twice removed called Padfoot?
Or was that Webfoot?
Before Sirius could ponder on the probabilities of similar nicknames any longer Snape dismissed the class. Sirus tried to escape into the hallway, but a voice stopped him short.
"Mr. Malfoy?"
Sirius cringed, stepping back to let others pass, before turning tentatively around to regard Snape, very tall and intimidating. He probably gave all the 1st years nightmares- he was far worse than Professor Baxter.
"Is something the matter? Your behavior toady concerned me…it was rather untypical of you not to answer any of the questions." There was genuine sincerity in the statement that was all too stunning.
"Why do you care?" Sirius betrayed his natural instinct to hex him with a fastening acne spell. Or disco.
"As head of your house I'll have you know that if there's anything troubling you-" He gestured to his right arm in an absurd movement- "come to me."
"Right," answered Sirius doubtfully before leaving the Potions lab.
Go to Snape for help?
'He'd probably kill me on the spot if I told him the truth.'
The truth. Suddenly reality was drowning him, overwhelming him, surrounding him.
As Sirius stepped out in the corridors with the dim lighting of the dungeons exaggerating the foreboding aura, he felt James and Lily die all over again.
***************************
"Black- late to Potions again? What is your pathetic excuse this time?"
Draco was startled by a deep, booming voice that greatly contrasted Snape's whisper.
"Er…" Because I was making out with my mother did not wound like a very good excuse. "…I got a little sidetracked."
The Potions teacher, a heavyset black man just rolled his eyes. "Right."
Draco slipped into a seat next to Lil. The Professor paced around the classroom. "As I was saying before Black's little interruption- I was highly disappointed with your Potion term papers." He picked up a heap of parchments and slammed them down on his desk, making all the students jump.
"You call yourselves 5th years? This-this- was trash- a first year could have done half as well with his eyes closed, you heathens." He stopped abruptly.
"I don't know what any of you are thinking!" he snapped, pacing around the room. "What's going to happen come June? Let me remind you that you have your O.W.L.s this year." The teacher's voice softened. "You haven't forgotten this have you?"
Then suddenly he bellowed. "Because as I recall the world-wide passing rate for the O.W.Ls on Potions class is 53%! That means nearly half of you will fail unless you pick up the pace. I don't know what you're doing in your spare time, but slacking off now is not an option."
His voice softened again. "With the exception of one or two individuals." Someone coughed the name *Snape* - "this class is a disgrace. What type of intellectual individuals are you?" A pause and then- "I know some of you are planning to go to Seventh year and take your Newts," he stated sarcastically. "And let me tell you- it never gets easier. Not in my lifetime."
With his speech finished, he stomped to the front of the class, and began scribbling on the chalkboard.
It was at this precise moment that a professionally folded piece of parchment landed on Draco's table, startling him. He glanced around, unsure of who had given it to him. Timidly he unfolded it and gaped at its contents.
There were no words on it, just an obscure drawing. What was it? If you looked at it on one angle it looked like a pie that was on fire, but then again it could also be a deteriorating ozone layer of the earth, or even a pancake that has been stepped on, with the maple syrup splaying everywhere, or maybe-
"Now can anyone tell me what constitutes a Polyjuice Potion?"
Draco forgot the parchment, quickly stuffing it into his robe pocket while an eerie silence vibrated off the walls in the Potions class.
"Pettigrew, are you conscious?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then stop that yawning and enlighten me."
"Sorry, sir, I'm not sure."
"Not sure? That's negligence, Pettigrew, negligence. Does anyone know? I'm aware that Mr. Snape is not present with us at the moment for some personal reasons."
Draco noticed the Gryffndors snicker rudely, which the Professor pretended not to notice. Snape? Well he would be here, wouldn't he? Finally, an ally. He could explain things to Snape. Snape had always treated him like a…like a…well not quite a son, but not quite like a brother either…but-
"Anyone? Shall I give a pop quiz on this right now?"
Draco immediately jumped to attention and raised his hand automatically like he was wont to doing in Potions class, but instead of having the Professor shine a rare smile, he frowned.
"Black? A need to relieve yourself again?"
"Um, no…I'd like to answer the question."
"Oh?"
"Polyjuice is made up of lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed, knotgrass, powdered horn of a bicorn, shredded skin of a boomslang, and part of the person you'd like to transform into."
Draco recoiled at the teacher's astonished expression, not to mention the curious looks all his fellow classmates were giving him.
"Well-" stuttered the Professor, his dark eyes enlarged in confusion, "-it looks like Mr. Black isn't as incompetent as we previously thought." He straightened his back suddenly. "For the rest of you heathens- copy that down!"
A rush of quills and parchments followed as the students clambered to get out their supplies out, but his friends just stared at him.
"Evans! Potter! Petti-" The Professor never finished reciting their names, the four were scribbling down the information hurriedly.
"Potter?" croaked Draco. The boy sitting directly in front of him glanced back with an eyebrow raised.
The dark black hair contrasted with light skin was unmistakably Harry's. The round framed glasses, and the lanky form- all that was missing were those green eyes.
"James Potter?"
Draco watched as Harry's dad gave him a questioning glance before returning to note-taking.
"Sirius-"
Turning to the girl next to him, he half-fell out of his chair from the forest that seemed to engulf- so clearly, brightly, and evidently green.
Evans
Lily Evans.
Harry's mom.
********************************
Sirius could now understand a stalker's point of view. Because…well…following people around was rather fun. In a strange sort of twisted way.
Sirius had been following Harry and his two companions as they meandered through the halls of Hogwarts, talking in hushed voices.
Until….
"AHHH!"
"Get back!"
"Oh Merlin!"
Sirius leaned forward from his hiding place behind a pillar to see the three yelping at the last thing Sirius expected to see.
A lion.
Their wands were out defensively, posed to attack at any given moment, but the lion just whimpered: "Please don't hurt me!"
"A talking lion?"
Suddenly out of the darkness of the hallways, two faces appeared snorting with laughter at the confused expressions.
Their hair and face were similar to that of the Freckle King's with specks splattered on every available piece of flesh and hair that looked like it was on fire.
"Oi, Fred, this has to be one of our most brilliant ideas ever!"
"I'm not sure, George, I think that Canary Creams were more sensational-"
"Well this isn't a marketing venture! It's different!"
"Um, could you two possibly inform us why there's a full grown lion stampeding around Hogwarts?" asked Harry.
"That talks?" added the Freckle King, eyeing the creature warily.
Identical grins spread across the faces of the brothers? No, no…twins were more likely.
"He is to be an attendant at all the Quidditch matches-"
"-to inspire school spirit-"
"-and to helps us get a fresh new start-"
"-seeing as I'm captain and school's spirit is at an all time low-"
"-and George knows he won't be able to rely solely on his adept leadership skills to lead the team to a winning season, so we had to resort to more drastic measures."
"Anyway, on behalf of the quidditch team, I'd like to introduce the new Gryffndor mascot, Larry the Lion."
The Freckle King glanced at the whimpering lion. "That's not exactly the type of name that's going to strike fear into the hearts of opponents, nor be a source of enthusiasm."
"Okay, okay," said one of the twins, holding his hands up in defeat. "So, it's a work in progress. But you've got to admit that it's a creative idea."
"To have someone disguised as a lion, jump around, hollering at the top of his lungs is not a creative idea, it's a very idiotic one," stated Hermione. She looked at the pitiful creature. "And what poor housemate have you disguised as a lion?"
"Neville," stated George. The other twin hit him hard on the head.
"Ow, Fred!"
"George, you've already broken the first rule- a mascot never reveals his identity!"
"What kind of rule is that? And he didn't reveal his identity, I did!"
Fred cursed under his breath. "Now, we'll have to find someone else to be a mascot." He looked up hopefully at the trio.
"Ron? Hermione?" The two back away.
"You're are not transfiguring either of us into a lion!"
"We didn't transfigure Neville!"
"Then what sort of spell is it?" asked Hermione.
"It's a costume actually, but more realistic…with this special charm. When you put it out you really do look like a lion instead of a fluffy overgrown stuffed animal."
"Oh, and we've been working on a voice box to put it that'll enhance the voice to a ferocious war…which we haven't quite perfected."
"That has to be the most pathetic lion I've ever seen," stated Harry. "No offense, Neville." He quickly added.
Ron, the Freckle King, shook his head. "I don't see the point of having a mascot. What would he do exactly?"
"Oh, the usual to cheers and somersaults, really get the crowd going, insulting the opponents-"
"But all the Slytherins will pelt him with food-"
The lion's eyes grew large and it made a choking sound.
"They will not. They'll be jealous that we thought of having an official mascot first."
"Have you discussed this with Dumbledore?"
"Hermione, this is still a work in progress. Our beloved Headmaster shall be informed of our final product, seeing as now we can't use Neville anymore."
The lion breathed a sigh of relief.
"But you know, he was getting pretty good. Come on, Neville, show them the cheers that we were practicing."
The lion shook his head, backing away.
"Come on, Neville, if you do, we'll take the lock binding off the suit."
The lion considered the offer and reluctantly gave in.
"Ready?" called Fred.
The lion nodded, before roaring in a voice mixed with ferocity and the cracking of a teenage boy: "Let's go Gryffndor! Let's go! (Two claps) Let's go Gryffndor, Let's go! (two claps)"
"Everywhere we go!" hollered the lion.
"Everywhere we go!" repeated the twins.
"People wanna know!"
"People wanna know!"
That cheer went on until it reached "We are the Gryffndors! The mighty, mighty Gryffndors!"
"But everyone already knows we're Gryffndors, Fred," said Ron.
"Ronniekins, you're missing the point."
"And we were even trying to get him to form his body into all the letters of 'Gryffndor'- but we're still stuck on 'G'."
Hermione folded her arms, stepping in front of Neville. "I've had enough! Take this awful curse off Neville. I can't honestly believe you'd take advantage of him like this and would let him make such a fool of himself."
"Hey! Neville agreed to this didn't you, Neville?"
The lion nodded sheepishly.
"What did you bribe him with?"
"That's none of your business, ickle Ronniekins!"
"Stop saying that!"
"Just turn him back, will you!"
"Fine!"
With a wave of a wand and some fast spoken Latin words that Sirius couldn't catch, a chubby boy appeared amidst a heap of a furry costume. He stood up quickly, brushing of his clothes. Sirius recognized him as the boy he had run into this morning on the way to breakfast.
"Well Fred and I have got to find a new mascot now."
"Too bad, though, Neville, we thought you were doing rather well."
Neville blushed as the twins picked up the costume and made their way back from the direction they had come from. Neville muttered a quick thank-you, questioned where they were going, and was scared off by their vague answers to retreat after the twins.
So the trio continued their wanderings. They took lefts and rights around the twisted halls until they stopped at a very familiar statue.
They couldn't know about the secret passage now, could they?
Sirius leaned back against the wall of the corridor, watching the trio take out a map.
"That's MY map!"
He hadn't counted on saying *that* outloud. Harry, flanked by the redhead and the loud-mouthed girl all drew their wands at once. Sirius didn't bother to take his out defensively, but instead his eyes focused in horror at his and his friends' map.
"How did you get a hold of it?" he demanded, taking a step forward to snatch back his, Moony's, Padfoot's, and Wormtail's beloved map, but Harry jerked it out of reach.
"It's Harry's map," stated Hermione, matter of factly.
"No, it's not!"
Sirius folded his arms. "It isn't! It's mine, and-" he paused a moment. "Who gave it to you?"
"Why do you care, Malfoy?" asked Ron through gritted teeth.
"Just leave," stated Harry, pushing his glasses up back on his nose, a movement so familiar that it caught Sirius off guard.
He bit his lip until it bled, not caring that the three were no longer glaring at him, but observing him with a mounting curiosity. Sirius stood his ground, allowing a drop of blood to roll down his chin.
Harry could only gape, his green eyes enlarged, he stated then without lifting his eyes from the red speck on Sirius's chin: "Ron's brothers gave it to me- it- it was my father's." His answer was barely a whisper.
Suddenly the boy tightened his grip on the wand and the map, narrowing his eyes- looking annoyed at himself for revealing the information. "Leave, Malfoy, now, or I'll-"
Sirius glanced from the map to Harry to the map to Harry and finally resting on the map. "Or you'll what? Hex me? I'm unarmed." His eyes remained on the map- having his own little staring contest with it.
The Gryffndor chivalry in Harry stopped him in mid-incantation. The boy in front of him *was* unarmed. His only crime was claiming that the map was his. Which it most definitely wasn't. A smile flickered over Harry's face. He knew how to get Malfoy to admit he was faking his ownership.
Stepping forward, boldly, Harry thrusted the map towards Sirius, smirking. "If this is yours, how does it work?"
Sirius lost the starring contest with the map to raise an eyebrow at Harry: "Why? Don't you know?"
"Of course he does," stomped the girl, glancing down at her watch. She was growing impatient by the millisecond.
Sirius clasped the map in his hands, ignoring the wands there were still drawn in case he tried anything.
He held the familiar parchment, hands grasping it uncertainly. If he told them the truth what would they do? They'd kill him, wouldn't they? He had murdered Harry's parents- indirectly, and Pettigrew. And the muggles. Killed them, slaughtered them. Betrayed his friends, betrayed-
Sirius took out the wand and recited: "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good!" tapping the map. He could here their gasps of disbelief.
"How did you know?" asked an infuriated Ron, gaping at the map as it showed the passageways of Hogwarts.
Sirius grinned: "Call it a lucky guess."
"Did you overhear us, you-"
"No."
Harry, who had been silent all this time snatched the map back. Sirius allowed him to- the damage was already done.
"Malfoy, I'm just curious-"
"Curiosity killed the cat," interjected Sirius.
"But satisfaction brought him back," stated Ron. Sirius only glowered while Hermione and Harry looked annoyed.
"How did you know?"
Sirius studied Harry, at his sincerity in the question, at his round framed glasses where Sirius could see his own reflection in them, his own frightening paleness.
"I didn't do it, I swear."
"What?"
"I didn't-"
"Didn't do what?"
"You've got to believe me!"
"Believe what?"
"It's the truth I tell you!"
"I think Malfoy has officially snapped."
Harry nodded in agreement with Freckles's acute observation. Sirius didn't care.
"It wasn't my fault, Harry, I'd never hurt your parents- never, ever!"
"What do my parents have to with anything?"
"Everything" sniffed Sirius. "They have everything to do with it." The three watched the blond lean his back against the wall before slumping down to his ground, tucking his chin to his knees in a very undignified position. But Sirius was past caring.
"I didn't kill them," he whispered. "I don't care what you think, you've go to understand that- that- it would never happen-"
Harry shot a glance at his companions who just shrugged their shoulders. He glanced down at Malfoy. "Look-"
"James is- was my best friend, and Lily was my friend too. You can't just go round-"
Sirius lifted his face to see the girl clasp a hand over her mouth in astonishment. To see the dumbfounded gaze of the tall boy to the blank expression plastered across Harry's face.
He deserved to know, didn't he?
"You're not Malfoy…are you?" His silence seemed to be an enough of an answer for them.
"Who…who are you?" asked the girl, breathless, wide-eyed, surveying him again, in a meticulous manner that made Sirius cringe.
Traitor seemed like the best answer, now?
A low traitor, the scum of the earth, the disgrace of Gryffndor, of Hogwarts….of the Marauders.
He took a deep breath before standing up. He cleared his throat, and then stated in the drawling voice he now possessed: "My name is Sirius Black, or Padfoot, and I helped make that map."
The girl was shaking now. Harry's blank expression was unfaltering. It was only the redhead who could speak.
"If you're Padfoot, then who are Moony, Prongs, and Wormtail, huh?"
"Wormtail's my friend, Peter, and Moony's my friend Remus, and Prongs….is…James."
"But how? You can't…- Malfoy?"
"My name is Sirius Black" he repeated before closing his eyes, awaiting the trio to hex him, to kill him. To-
"Sirius, what happened to you? Are you okay? How did you get into Malfoy's body? And what's all this bloody nonsense about you being a murderer?"
Sirius peeked his eyes open. "Huh?" He didn't find three infuriated faces, but rather friendly ones, a little confused maybe, but friendly, nevertheless.
"Padfoot, what mess have you gotten yourself into now?" asked Harry, with a trace of a grin on his face. Sirius could hear Ron cluck his tongue.
"Er…a big one?"
*************************************
This couldn't be happening. Harry Potter's parents. Harry bloody Potter.
Draco glanced at his companions, talking over dinner. Well, actually, they were one short. The shaggy, pale looking one had gone off somewhere apparently. The paunchy boy mumbled something about not being hungry (before grabbing a few dinner rolls and helping himself to the 'Hogwarts' Friday Surprise'- whatever *that* was).
"What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing?" asked Potter the Senior, defensively.
"Can't you tell? Your collar's too wide-" joked the other boy, Pettigrew before leaving the Great Hall with his mouth full of half-chewed dinner roll, while shoving more into his bag.
"How about a pair of pink sidewinders and a bright orange pair of pants?"
"Shut-up, Lily."
"So, would you at least come to Hogsmeade with me to-"
James shook his head. "I don't care if you think I need new robes, you know I can't give you any fashion advice, ask Anita or what's-her-face…that girl with the French braid who's always chewing gum-"
"But I want a male opinion!" whined the redhead, crossing her arms firmly. She glanced at Draco and her face brightened suddenly remembering that he was there. "So, Sirius, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
Draco nearly choked on the 'Hogwarts's Friday Surprise'. "Er…"
But Harry's dad bailed him out.
"There's no way you're roping Sirius into this. He and I have plans for tomorrow."
"We do?"
"Why can't I come? You two always go off with Peter and-"
"It's guy stuff…trust me."
"Guy stuff my ass," she hissed under her breath, glaring at them before sliding down the table to talk to some gossiping girls. Potter Sr. just rolled her eyes.
"Really. You'd think she'd realize by now that maybe there's a *real* reason we don't invite her along."
Real reason, huh? Draco bit back the urge to ask exactly what this real reason was until his tongue hurt.
Draco looked back and forth between Harry's parents who were each ignoring the other and rather successfully. Were they…together now? Draco watched Lily who was pretending to be interested in some 'quidditch hottie' the girls were discussing.
She threw in a few nods and a couple 'I know… he really is' lines, but spent most of her time poking at the Hogwarts's Friday Surprise with her fork.
She didn't look at all like Potter, noted Draco. Potter had his father's build, bad hair, skin, and poor eyesight.
Just the green eyes.
And she had red hair…not quite like the Weasel's, but still it was red…not some 'strawberry blond' look-alike shade, but really red.
Red hair and green eyes. Like a Christmas ornament.
"…Sirius, we should go soon." Draco snapped his attention to the boy across from him, sitting straight in his chair, preparing to be reprimanded for looking at his future wife.
"I'll grab the cloak and the map."
So…they were probably, no-…most definitely not together at the current time. Draco breathed a sigh of relief. He'd be puking everywhere if he'd have to tolerate Harry's parents' mushy flirting, and courtship.
"Wormtail said he'd get the provisions from the House Elfs before he went to meet Moony."
Moony? Wormtail?
Draco just nodded, faking comprehension.
"Meet me in front of the library in about ten minutes. It'll be less suspicious if we don't leave together."
"Of course."
James walked out of the Great Hall briskly and Draco was left alone to nibble off dinner rolls. He'd long ago given up on the Surprise.
It was the first time he had an opportunity to really get a breather and think. Think about what was happening.
He had somehow been transported back in time into the body of Sirius Black…but where was the real Black then? In the future? In *his* body?
It was an all too horrifying thought.
And how did this happen in the first place? He couldn't remember the events of the night before. He had gone to bed in the present in his own dorms only to wake-up in someone else's life. Had there been a potion administered too him?
And who'd want to send him to the past anyway? What kind of purpose would he have on being here?
Now…he couldn't forget Narcissa and Sirius. They had been together and seriously too, thought Draco, grimacing at the thought. Well as serious as any 15 year-old couple could be. Children's names- right.
Sirius Jr. was an awful sounding name.
Draco decided then it was time to meet Potter for wherever it was they needed to go. He stood up, Lily glowered at him as he retreated to the Great Hall. He just shrugged his shoulders. She really needed some gal- pals.
Making his way down to the library, Draco couldn't help but wonder if there was a way out of this mess. It had been a recurring thought in the back of his mind, but now it seemed to be a looming truth hanging over the horizon.
What if he could never go back? What if he was stuck in someone else's life? What if he was destinted to live the same fate as Black- to go to Azbakan? Did someone out there want him to end up in a wizard prison?
Draco had reached the library and leaned against the stone wall, tapping his left heel lightly against it, anxiety getting the better of him.
He needed to talk to someone about this. He knew Pettigrew, Potter Sr, Evans, and what's-his-face-shaggy-haired-boy, would completely flip out if they found their littler traitor of a friend was missing. Narcissa would too. Draco shuddered at the thought.
Dumbledore? Draco, straightened himself suddenly. Only if he couldn't figure out any way at all would he dare go to the Headmaster for help. He could do this on his own, without some Gryffndor favoring wizard to bail him out.
And there was also Snape. He'd talk to him tomorrow hopefully. Visit him at the Hospital Wing. Good. A plan.
Wait. Draco slapped himself inwardly, (if that was possible). His parental unit- daddy dearest. Was he at Hogwarts? Had he graduated already? He could find that out too come the morning. Or ask one of these Gryffndors.
Oh…this plan was getting better and better.
"C'mon, Sirius."
Draco glanced up in time to see a body appear out of nowhere. He gaped. An invisibility cloak. How did Potter get an Invisibility cloak?
"Let's go!" Potter Sr. grabbed his arm, and the cloak was shoved on top of him. Sirius watched the boy pull out a map that had funny lines on it. He bit his lip back to keep himself from inquiring about it.
They rushed down the hallways and outside until they came to the Whomping Willow.
But it was no longer…how would you say…Whomping?
"Wormtail already pushed the button."
"Uh, okay."
Draco scurried inside the tree after Potter Sr.
A secret passage?
Of course!
Draco's mind was working furiously. An Invisibility cloak, a map of…Hogwarts, secret passages…was this how Harry-
Harry's father was sprinting with excitement down the passage, the cloak had been removed and Draco was panting to keep up.
"Slow down, will you?"
"Come on!"
Suddenly they reached a door. His companion stopped short, pulling out his wand quickly and before Draco knew what was happening there was no longer Harry's dad next to him.
There was this deer thingy with antlers. An illegal transfiguration? Underage transfiguration? A smile curled Draco's lips…oh he could so bust them for this lack of respect for the law. He'd get expelled from Hogwarts.
The deer thing pawed impatiently, shaking his head in a rapid movement before opening the door. Draco just followed after him.
He didn't realize his mistake until it was too late.
He was in the Shrieking Shack. But he and this animal weren't the only ones.
Draco dived out of the way to miss the pounce of a more than half-grown werewolf. It slammed the door shut, and in the movement his wand flew out of his cloak pocket to the other side of the room.
Panting, Draco stood up. A werewolf, no, no, no- Professor Lupin- why hadn't he recognized him?
Potter Sr. was making furious motions at him and faintly Draco heard a rat squeak. What was this? A local animal cult at the Shrieking Shack?
A growl brought Draco back to reality. The werewolf was closing in and Draco was unarmed. No wand, no-
The reindeer creature charged at the werewolf suddenly, throwing it off guard, and the rat bit at his feet suddenly.
The wolf howled with anger before with a quick movement slash a nasty scar into the flesh of the Potter Sr, slamming him into the wall along with the rat.
And then it turned around, eyes seizing his prey. Draco looked around helplessly. There was no escape. No wand, nowhere to run.
He'd die right then and there. And then there would be no Sirius Black. Potter'd have his parents alive and well. He'd woken up in someone's life and it had taken less than 12 hours for him to get himself killed in someone else's life. That had to be some sort of record.
Draco backed away, hands held out in defeat. "Please…don't hurt me." One slow step at a time, backing up until he could feel his body press against the cold stone of the wall.
The werewolf just snarled, barring its teeth, while it ventured a step closer. It lowered its body, ready to pounce and Draco shut his eyes, cringing as he heard the creature's paws leave the ground in its leap towards him.
~La fin.
Next Chapter Preview: Some misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a double Sirius meeting… And a scar that has nothing to do with Harry's. What's the world coming to?
I'm not sure when the Marauders figured out the Animangi stuff, but even if it wasn't until their 7th or 6th year I want to keep it like this cause it works way better. And if it's wrong…it's wrong. My apologizes. I lent my 3rd book to someone so *shrugs* I guess I'm not looking it up.
I'm a Private giving reviewers rankings higher than me- why? Because I'm Private I, that's why! (And that rhymes!)
Sergeant ranking to-
~firestorm- For actually made me get off my lazy ass and update this story.
~Twinnie- For appreciating my poem.
~Robin G. – For appreciating my dedication.
~Usako3000- For your vast knowledge of Greek mythology
~The phantom- For being THE PHANTOM
~Urania- For giving me confidence
Lieutenant ranking to-
~FeatherQuill- For giving me all these stars that I don't know what to do with. (I'll read your stories ASAP, promise).
~Semmel- An intellectual who got the question right.
There is a name of a political activist group that used to exist in the South United States post-Civil War. It wasn't as radical in its actions as the KKK, but it's name was the Fire Eaters. A history class was spent whether or not JKR has heard about this group and took the name from it. Fire Eaters? Death Eaters? Mere coincidence? Or not? *Twilight Zone music plays in background*
A salute to everyone who read and reviewed. You've once again been spared the wrath of the rhyming review poem because I'm too lazy to think about one. And even if you're the type of person who reads and doesn't review, I still salute you. Why? Cause I have nothing better to do. j/k You're still kewl.
*salutes*
Some specific rankings are at the end of this chapter, my one of a kind way of thanking all you readers. I'd just like to say that all your reviews really made me (sniff) sit down and write this even when I was (sniff) frustrated and wanted to give up. Without your encouragement, your critiques, and your strict demands, this story would probably have gone into the rut. Really.
I'll quit being corny right now.
Oh and thanks to Kaylin and SailorWade who reminded me of the fact that Sirius was thrown into Azbakan without a trial. Some British wizarding justice there! A salute to you!
Disclaimer: I have a new stance on this- I don't own Harry Potter, nor would I like to (Now, have you heard that one before?). I'd poison the characters (Harry, ironically enough is my least favorite character for no apparent reason except than he is), although I'd hire Little Mr:I-See-Dead- People as Harry Potter for the big screen. (Maybe his awful actor has something to do with it).
I don't own those two lines I borrowed from Billy Joel's It's Still Rock and Roll to Me song. I don't like songfics, but it's still fun to take lyrics and make them into dialogue.
I hope you don't find this story angsty. I've never really been one for those stories. (Boo-hoo everyone's been killed off), but Sirius is a little on the depressed in this. I guess I'm trying to say that it might not be that funny, but I tired to lighten the mood up.
This is to all the mascots of the world who degrade themselves to make others feel better and more confident about themselves. Their willingness to humiliate themselves in front of crowds in the guise of enlarged animals and other 'things' is saluted, especially Dru. Love you, Mighty Moo. Your legacy, and inspiration as a Yak will be applauded forever. Especially the way you could do a somersault in that outfit. They should have an Olympics for you guys.
Okay-Blah, blah, you're not even reading this stuff anyway so let's get on with the important junk:
Chapter 3: Starring Pupil
Too skinny to be muscular.
Too short to be tall.
Too proud to be understanding.
Too impatient to be tolerant.
Sirius had been torn between the joy and the horror of working with Harry Potter in Potions class. But after the silent treatment, being berated with insults, and a few bruised shins later he was neither happy nor horrified…..
He was annoyed.
'Too obnoxious to be my best friend's son,' he thought bitterly.
Harry had taken none of his pleasantries and every polite word had been turned and twisted into an insult. And Sirius was feeling awful enough as it was.
"Would you pass me the unicorn hair, James?"
Whoops. Sirius realized his mistake a moment too late.
"Harry- it's Harry Potter!" snapped the boy, his face reddening at the mention of his father's name. But Sirius's sympathy towards him had been drained by one too many insults.
"Maybe you should wear a name tag or something- you know, like a little blue and white sticker that says: 'Hello, My Name is Harry Potter' – it'd make it much less confusing."
Several Slytherins snickered. Harry never received an opportunity to retort because with a sudden swish of a cloak there was a figure looming over him.
"Ah, Potter, I see again that your incompetence has led you to rely solely on Mr. Malfoy's aid." A look that Sirius thought had only been reserved for the Marauders crossed over Snape's face.
"3 points from Gryffndor." And with a swish of robes the beadle eyes departed to criticize other 5th years. Sirius just gaped at his now aged rival. Well he wasn't *that* old.
"Who in their right mind would hire Snape to teach at Hogwarts? And does he bathe his comb in oil?" The words slipped out before Sirius could catch himself, but luckily only Potter Jr. heard.
"What?"
Sirius thought that James would be very disappointed to see his son's green eyes enlarge, his expression betraying any trace of dignity or composure.
It wasn't until the Freckle King poked at Harry's sides that he snapped out of his bewilderment. Sirius chose to study the black board where Snape had written in his loopy handwriting today's assignment- An essay on Wolfsbane Potion.
Wolfsbane potion…that reminded him-
Suddenly Snape swept past him bestowing Sirius such an expression of approval that didn't suit the former Slytherin. Sirius looked down at the ground of the Potions Lab.
This couldn't possibly be the future. Everything was too mixed up- left was right, forward was backwards- it's just didn't make any sense. How can he have let things go so hay-wire? What had happened?
None of this was true…just a bad dream…a nightmare. Sirius pinched himself, as was custom to all those who believe they are in a stage of unconsciousness. But nothing happened except his awful pale skin turned red.
If this was real then the book, Hogwarts, A History had to be wrong.
How reliable were books anyway? Not very reliable. It must've been a typo- had to have been. The author probably meant to put someone more capable, more fiendish with more hatred for James and Lily, someone like-
"-but Harry, Padfoot said not to go out at dark!"
"Ron, you know that's an awful idea- we can't have him prancing around in broad daylight. People are suspicious enough at it is."
"Harry James Potter!"
The two boys whirled around to see their little snotty friend taping her foot impatiently.
"What are you middle naming me for, Hermione?"
"Don't you even dare think about meeting Padfoot at night! Sneaking out at times like…like…these."
"Hermione-"
"The rules aren't meant to be broken!"
"Even by the likes of Harry Potter?"
The trio snapped their heads back to see Sirius sitting straight-backed and very self-conscious. Padfoot- how could they have known about Padfoot?
"Granger, Weasley, I think it would be in your best interests to return to your seats."
"But Professor, we've finished-"
"-talking to Potter. Yes I know."
The two returned to their respective table leaving a very sulky Harry and fearful Sirius.
Padfoot.
Could there be another?
Well, of course!
Padfoot wasn't a very uncommon nickname. Why, wasn't Remus's fourth cousin twice removed called Padfoot?
Or was that Webfoot?
Before Sirius could ponder on the probabilities of similar nicknames any longer Snape dismissed the class. Sirus tried to escape into the hallway, but a voice stopped him short.
"Mr. Malfoy?"
Sirius cringed, stepping back to let others pass, before turning tentatively around to regard Snape, very tall and intimidating. He probably gave all the 1st years nightmares- he was far worse than Professor Baxter.
"Is something the matter? Your behavior toady concerned me…it was rather untypical of you not to answer any of the questions." There was genuine sincerity in the statement that was all too stunning.
"Why do you care?" Sirius betrayed his natural instinct to hex him with a fastening acne spell. Or disco.
"As head of your house I'll have you know that if there's anything troubling you-" He gestured to his right arm in an absurd movement- "come to me."
"Right," answered Sirius doubtfully before leaving the Potions lab.
Go to Snape for help?
'He'd probably kill me on the spot if I told him the truth.'
The truth. Suddenly reality was drowning him, overwhelming him, surrounding him.
As Sirius stepped out in the corridors with the dim lighting of the dungeons exaggerating the foreboding aura, he felt James and Lily die all over again.
***************************
"Black- late to Potions again? What is your pathetic excuse this time?"
Draco was startled by a deep, booming voice that greatly contrasted Snape's whisper.
"Er…" Because I was making out with my mother did not wound like a very good excuse. "…I got a little sidetracked."
The Potions teacher, a heavyset black man just rolled his eyes. "Right."
Draco slipped into a seat next to Lil. The Professor paced around the classroom. "As I was saying before Black's little interruption- I was highly disappointed with your Potion term papers." He picked up a heap of parchments and slammed them down on his desk, making all the students jump.
"You call yourselves 5th years? This-this- was trash- a first year could have done half as well with his eyes closed, you heathens." He stopped abruptly.
"I don't know what any of you are thinking!" he snapped, pacing around the room. "What's going to happen come June? Let me remind you that you have your O.W.L.s this year." The teacher's voice softened. "You haven't forgotten this have you?"
Then suddenly he bellowed. "Because as I recall the world-wide passing rate for the O.W.Ls on Potions class is 53%! That means nearly half of you will fail unless you pick up the pace. I don't know what you're doing in your spare time, but slacking off now is not an option."
His voice softened again. "With the exception of one or two individuals." Someone coughed the name *Snape* - "this class is a disgrace. What type of intellectual individuals are you?" A pause and then- "I know some of you are planning to go to Seventh year and take your Newts," he stated sarcastically. "And let me tell you- it never gets easier. Not in my lifetime."
With his speech finished, he stomped to the front of the class, and began scribbling on the chalkboard.
It was at this precise moment that a professionally folded piece of parchment landed on Draco's table, startling him. He glanced around, unsure of who had given it to him. Timidly he unfolded it and gaped at its contents.
There were no words on it, just an obscure drawing. What was it? If you looked at it on one angle it looked like a pie that was on fire, but then again it could also be a deteriorating ozone layer of the earth, or even a pancake that has been stepped on, with the maple syrup splaying everywhere, or maybe-
"Now can anyone tell me what constitutes a Polyjuice Potion?"
Draco forgot the parchment, quickly stuffing it into his robe pocket while an eerie silence vibrated off the walls in the Potions class.
"Pettigrew, are you conscious?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then stop that yawning and enlighten me."
"Sorry, sir, I'm not sure."
"Not sure? That's negligence, Pettigrew, negligence. Does anyone know? I'm aware that Mr. Snape is not present with us at the moment for some personal reasons."
Draco noticed the Gryffndors snicker rudely, which the Professor pretended not to notice. Snape? Well he would be here, wouldn't he? Finally, an ally. He could explain things to Snape. Snape had always treated him like a…like a…well not quite a son, but not quite like a brother either…but-
"Anyone? Shall I give a pop quiz on this right now?"
Draco immediately jumped to attention and raised his hand automatically like he was wont to doing in Potions class, but instead of having the Professor shine a rare smile, he frowned.
"Black? A need to relieve yourself again?"
"Um, no…I'd like to answer the question."
"Oh?"
"Polyjuice is made up of lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed, knotgrass, powdered horn of a bicorn, shredded skin of a boomslang, and part of the person you'd like to transform into."
Draco recoiled at the teacher's astonished expression, not to mention the curious looks all his fellow classmates were giving him.
"Well-" stuttered the Professor, his dark eyes enlarged in confusion, "-it looks like Mr. Black isn't as incompetent as we previously thought." He straightened his back suddenly. "For the rest of you heathens- copy that down!"
A rush of quills and parchments followed as the students clambered to get out their supplies out, but his friends just stared at him.
"Evans! Potter! Petti-" The Professor never finished reciting their names, the four were scribbling down the information hurriedly.
"Potter?" croaked Draco. The boy sitting directly in front of him glanced back with an eyebrow raised.
The dark black hair contrasted with light skin was unmistakably Harry's. The round framed glasses, and the lanky form- all that was missing were those green eyes.
"James Potter?"
Draco watched as Harry's dad gave him a questioning glance before returning to note-taking.
"Sirius-"
Turning to the girl next to him, he half-fell out of his chair from the forest that seemed to engulf- so clearly, brightly, and evidently green.
Evans
Lily Evans.
Harry's mom.
********************************
Sirius could now understand a stalker's point of view. Because…well…following people around was rather fun. In a strange sort of twisted way.
Sirius had been following Harry and his two companions as they meandered through the halls of Hogwarts, talking in hushed voices.
Until….
"AHHH!"
"Get back!"
"Oh Merlin!"
Sirius leaned forward from his hiding place behind a pillar to see the three yelping at the last thing Sirius expected to see.
A lion.
Their wands were out defensively, posed to attack at any given moment, but the lion just whimpered: "Please don't hurt me!"
"A talking lion?"
Suddenly out of the darkness of the hallways, two faces appeared snorting with laughter at the confused expressions.
Their hair and face were similar to that of the Freckle King's with specks splattered on every available piece of flesh and hair that looked like it was on fire.
"Oi, Fred, this has to be one of our most brilliant ideas ever!"
"I'm not sure, George, I think that Canary Creams were more sensational-"
"Well this isn't a marketing venture! It's different!"
"Um, could you two possibly inform us why there's a full grown lion stampeding around Hogwarts?" asked Harry.
"That talks?" added the Freckle King, eyeing the creature warily.
Identical grins spread across the faces of the brothers? No, no…twins were more likely.
"He is to be an attendant at all the Quidditch matches-"
"-to inspire school spirit-"
"-and to helps us get a fresh new start-"
"-seeing as I'm captain and school's spirit is at an all time low-"
"-and George knows he won't be able to rely solely on his adept leadership skills to lead the team to a winning season, so we had to resort to more drastic measures."
"Anyway, on behalf of the quidditch team, I'd like to introduce the new Gryffndor mascot, Larry the Lion."
The Freckle King glanced at the whimpering lion. "That's not exactly the type of name that's going to strike fear into the hearts of opponents, nor be a source of enthusiasm."
"Okay, okay," said one of the twins, holding his hands up in defeat. "So, it's a work in progress. But you've got to admit that it's a creative idea."
"To have someone disguised as a lion, jump around, hollering at the top of his lungs is not a creative idea, it's a very idiotic one," stated Hermione. She looked at the pitiful creature. "And what poor housemate have you disguised as a lion?"
"Neville," stated George. The other twin hit him hard on the head.
"Ow, Fred!"
"George, you've already broken the first rule- a mascot never reveals his identity!"
"What kind of rule is that? And he didn't reveal his identity, I did!"
Fred cursed under his breath. "Now, we'll have to find someone else to be a mascot." He looked up hopefully at the trio.
"Ron? Hermione?" The two back away.
"You're are not transfiguring either of us into a lion!"
"We didn't transfigure Neville!"
"Then what sort of spell is it?" asked Hermione.
"It's a costume actually, but more realistic…with this special charm. When you put it out you really do look like a lion instead of a fluffy overgrown stuffed animal."
"Oh, and we've been working on a voice box to put it that'll enhance the voice to a ferocious war…which we haven't quite perfected."
"That has to be the most pathetic lion I've ever seen," stated Harry. "No offense, Neville." He quickly added.
Ron, the Freckle King, shook his head. "I don't see the point of having a mascot. What would he do exactly?"
"Oh, the usual to cheers and somersaults, really get the crowd going, insulting the opponents-"
"But all the Slytherins will pelt him with food-"
The lion's eyes grew large and it made a choking sound.
"They will not. They'll be jealous that we thought of having an official mascot first."
"Have you discussed this with Dumbledore?"
"Hermione, this is still a work in progress. Our beloved Headmaster shall be informed of our final product, seeing as now we can't use Neville anymore."
The lion breathed a sigh of relief.
"But you know, he was getting pretty good. Come on, Neville, show them the cheers that we were practicing."
The lion shook his head, backing away.
"Come on, Neville, if you do, we'll take the lock binding off the suit."
The lion considered the offer and reluctantly gave in.
"Ready?" called Fred.
The lion nodded, before roaring in a voice mixed with ferocity and the cracking of a teenage boy: "Let's go Gryffndor! Let's go! (Two claps) Let's go Gryffndor, Let's go! (two claps)"
"Everywhere we go!" hollered the lion.
"Everywhere we go!" repeated the twins.
"People wanna know!"
"People wanna know!"
That cheer went on until it reached "We are the Gryffndors! The mighty, mighty Gryffndors!"
"But everyone already knows we're Gryffndors, Fred," said Ron.
"Ronniekins, you're missing the point."
"And we were even trying to get him to form his body into all the letters of 'Gryffndor'- but we're still stuck on 'G'."
Hermione folded her arms, stepping in front of Neville. "I've had enough! Take this awful curse off Neville. I can't honestly believe you'd take advantage of him like this and would let him make such a fool of himself."
"Hey! Neville agreed to this didn't you, Neville?"
The lion nodded sheepishly.
"What did you bribe him with?"
"That's none of your business, ickle Ronniekins!"
"Stop saying that!"
"Just turn him back, will you!"
"Fine!"
With a wave of a wand and some fast spoken Latin words that Sirius couldn't catch, a chubby boy appeared amidst a heap of a furry costume. He stood up quickly, brushing of his clothes. Sirius recognized him as the boy he had run into this morning on the way to breakfast.
"Well Fred and I have got to find a new mascot now."
"Too bad, though, Neville, we thought you were doing rather well."
Neville blushed as the twins picked up the costume and made their way back from the direction they had come from. Neville muttered a quick thank-you, questioned where they were going, and was scared off by their vague answers to retreat after the twins.
So the trio continued their wanderings. They took lefts and rights around the twisted halls until they stopped at a very familiar statue.
They couldn't know about the secret passage now, could they?
Sirius leaned back against the wall of the corridor, watching the trio take out a map.
"That's MY map!"
He hadn't counted on saying *that* outloud. Harry, flanked by the redhead and the loud-mouthed girl all drew their wands at once. Sirius didn't bother to take his out defensively, but instead his eyes focused in horror at his and his friends' map.
"How did you get a hold of it?" he demanded, taking a step forward to snatch back his, Moony's, Padfoot's, and Wormtail's beloved map, but Harry jerked it out of reach.
"It's Harry's map," stated Hermione, matter of factly.
"No, it's not!"
Sirius folded his arms. "It isn't! It's mine, and-" he paused a moment. "Who gave it to you?"
"Why do you care, Malfoy?" asked Ron through gritted teeth.
"Just leave," stated Harry, pushing his glasses up back on his nose, a movement so familiar that it caught Sirius off guard.
He bit his lip until it bled, not caring that the three were no longer glaring at him, but observing him with a mounting curiosity. Sirius stood his ground, allowing a drop of blood to roll down his chin.
Harry could only gape, his green eyes enlarged, he stated then without lifting his eyes from the red speck on Sirius's chin: "Ron's brothers gave it to me- it- it was my father's." His answer was barely a whisper.
Suddenly the boy tightened his grip on the wand and the map, narrowing his eyes- looking annoyed at himself for revealing the information. "Leave, Malfoy, now, or I'll-"
Sirius glanced from the map to Harry to the map to Harry and finally resting on the map. "Or you'll what? Hex me? I'm unarmed." His eyes remained on the map- having his own little staring contest with it.
The Gryffndor chivalry in Harry stopped him in mid-incantation. The boy in front of him *was* unarmed. His only crime was claiming that the map was his. Which it most definitely wasn't. A smile flickered over Harry's face. He knew how to get Malfoy to admit he was faking his ownership.
Stepping forward, boldly, Harry thrusted the map towards Sirius, smirking. "If this is yours, how does it work?"
Sirius lost the starring contest with the map to raise an eyebrow at Harry: "Why? Don't you know?"
"Of course he does," stomped the girl, glancing down at her watch. She was growing impatient by the millisecond.
Sirius clasped the map in his hands, ignoring the wands there were still drawn in case he tried anything.
He held the familiar parchment, hands grasping it uncertainly. If he told them the truth what would they do? They'd kill him, wouldn't they? He had murdered Harry's parents- indirectly, and Pettigrew. And the muggles. Killed them, slaughtered them. Betrayed his friends, betrayed-
Sirius took out the wand and recited: "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good!" tapping the map. He could here their gasps of disbelief.
"How did you know?" asked an infuriated Ron, gaping at the map as it showed the passageways of Hogwarts.
Sirius grinned: "Call it a lucky guess."
"Did you overhear us, you-"
"No."
Harry, who had been silent all this time snatched the map back. Sirius allowed him to- the damage was already done.
"Malfoy, I'm just curious-"
"Curiosity killed the cat," interjected Sirius.
"But satisfaction brought him back," stated Ron. Sirius only glowered while Hermione and Harry looked annoyed.
"How did you know?"
Sirius studied Harry, at his sincerity in the question, at his round framed glasses where Sirius could see his own reflection in them, his own frightening paleness.
"I didn't do it, I swear."
"What?"
"I didn't-"
"Didn't do what?"
"You've got to believe me!"
"Believe what?"
"It's the truth I tell you!"
"I think Malfoy has officially snapped."
Harry nodded in agreement with Freckles's acute observation. Sirius didn't care.
"It wasn't my fault, Harry, I'd never hurt your parents- never, ever!"
"What do my parents have to with anything?"
"Everything" sniffed Sirius. "They have everything to do with it." The three watched the blond lean his back against the wall before slumping down to his ground, tucking his chin to his knees in a very undignified position. But Sirius was past caring.
"I didn't kill them," he whispered. "I don't care what you think, you've go to understand that- that- it would never happen-"
Harry shot a glance at his companions who just shrugged their shoulders. He glanced down at Malfoy. "Look-"
"James is- was my best friend, and Lily was my friend too. You can't just go round-"
Sirius lifted his face to see the girl clasp a hand over her mouth in astonishment. To see the dumbfounded gaze of the tall boy to the blank expression plastered across Harry's face.
He deserved to know, didn't he?
"You're not Malfoy…are you?" His silence seemed to be an enough of an answer for them.
"Who…who are you?" asked the girl, breathless, wide-eyed, surveying him again, in a meticulous manner that made Sirius cringe.
Traitor seemed like the best answer, now?
A low traitor, the scum of the earth, the disgrace of Gryffndor, of Hogwarts….of the Marauders.
He took a deep breath before standing up. He cleared his throat, and then stated in the drawling voice he now possessed: "My name is Sirius Black, or Padfoot, and I helped make that map."
The girl was shaking now. Harry's blank expression was unfaltering. It was only the redhead who could speak.
"If you're Padfoot, then who are Moony, Prongs, and Wormtail, huh?"
"Wormtail's my friend, Peter, and Moony's my friend Remus, and Prongs….is…James."
"But how? You can't…- Malfoy?"
"My name is Sirius Black" he repeated before closing his eyes, awaiting the trio to hex him, to kill him. To-
"Sirius, what happened to you? Are you okay? How did you get into Malfoy's body? And what's all this bloody nonsense about you being a murderer?"
Sirius peeked his eyes open. "Huh?" He didn't find three infuriated faces, but rather friendly ones, a little confused maybe, but friendly, nevertheless.
"Padfoot, what mess have you gotten yourself into now?" asked Harry, with a trace of a grin on his face. Sirius could hear Ron cluck his tongue.
"Er…a big one?"
*************************************
This couldn't be happening. Harry Potter's parents. Harry bloody Potter.
Draco glanced at his companions, talking over dinner. Well, actually, they were one short. The shaggy, pale looking one had gone off somewhere apparently. The paunchy boy mumbled something about not being hungry (before grabbing a few dinner rolls and helping himself to the 'Hogwarts' Friday Surprise'- whatever *that* was).
"What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing?" asked Potter the Senior, defensively.
"Can't you tell? Your collar's too wide-" joked the other boy, Pettigrew before leaving the Great Hall with his mouth full of half-chewed dinner roll, while shoving more into his bag.
"How about a pair of pink sidewinders and a bright orange pair of pants?"
"Shut-up, Lily."
"So, would you at least come to Hogsmeade with me to-"
James shook his head. "I don't care if you think I need new robes, you know I can't give you any fashion advice, ask Anita or what's-her-face…that girl with the French braid who's always chewing gum-"
"But I want a male opinion!" whined the redhead, crossing her arms firmly. She glanced at Draco and her face brightened suddenly remembering that he was there. "So, Sirius, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
Draco nearly choked on the 'Hogwarts's Friday Surprise'. "Er…"
But Harry's dad bailed him out.
"There's no way you're roping Sirius into this. He and I have plans for tomorrow."
"We do?"
"Why can't I come? You two always go off with Peter and-"
"It's guy stuff…trust me."
"Guy stuff my ass," she hissed under her breath, glaring at them before sliding down the table to talk to some gossiping girls. Potter Sr. just rolled her eyes.
"Really. You'd think she'd realize by now that maybe there's a *real* reason we don't invite her along."
Real reason, huh? Draco bit back the urge to ask exactly what this real reason was until his tongue hurt.
Draco looked back and forth between Harry's parents who were each ignoring the other and rather successfully. Were they…together now? Draco watched Lily who was pretending to be interested in some 'quidditch hottie' the girls were discussing.
She threw in a few nods and a couple 'I know… he really is' lines, but spent most of her time poking at the Hogwarts's Friday Surprise with her fork.
She didn't look at all like Potter, noted Draco. Potter had his father's build, bad hair, skin, and poor eyesight.
Just the green eyes.
And she had red hair…not quite like the Weasel's, but still it was red…not some 'strawberry blond' look-alike shade, but really red.
Red hair and green eyes. Like a Christmas ornament.
"…Sirius, we should go soon." Draco snapped his attention to the boy across from him, sitting straight in his chair, preparing to be reprimanded for looking at his future wife.
"I'll grab the cloak and the map."
So…they were probably, no-…most definitely not together at the current time. Draco breathed a sigh of relief. He'd be puking everywhere if he'd have to tolerate Harry's parents' mushy flirting, and courtship.
"Wormtail said he'd get the provisions from the House Elfs before he went to meet Moony."
Moony? Wormtail?
Draco just nodded, faking comprehension.
"Meet me in front of the library in about ten minutes. It'll be less suspicious if we don't leave together."
"Of course."
James walked out of the Great Hall briskly and Draco was left alone to nibble off dinner rolls. He'd long ago given up on the Surprise.
It was the first time he had an opportunity to really get a breather and think. Think about what was happening.
He had somehow been transported back in time into the body of Sirius Black…but where was the real Black then? In the future? In *his* body?
It was an all too horrifying thought.
And how did this happen in the first place? He couldn't remember the events of the night before. He had gone to bed in the present in his own dorms only to wake-up in someone else's life. Had there been a potion administered too him?
And who'd want to send him to the past anyway? What kind of purpose would he have on being here?
Now…he couldn't forget Narcissa and Sirius. They had been together and seriously too, thought Draco, grimacing at the thought. Well as serious as any 15 year-old couple could be. Children's names- right.
Sirius Jr. was an awful sounding name.
Draco decided then it was time to meet Potter for wherever it was they needed to go. He stood up, Lily glowered at him as he retreated to the Great Hall. He just shrugged his shoulders. She really needed some gal- pals.
Making his way down to the library, Draco couldn't help but wonder if there was a way out of this mess. It had been a recurring thought in the back of his mind, but now it seemed to be a looming truth hanging over the horizon.
What if he could never go back? What if he was stuck in someone else's life? What if he was destinted to live the same fate as Black- to go to Azbakan? Did someone out there want him to end up in a wizard prison?
Draco had reached the library and leaned against the stone wall, tapping his left heel lightly against it, anxiety getting the better of him.
He needed to talk to someone about this. He knew Pettigrew, Potter Sr, Evans, and what's-his-face-shaggy-haired-boy, would completely flip out if they found their littler traitor of a friend was missing. Narcissa would too. Draco shuddered at the thought.
Dumbledore? Draco, straightened himself suddenly. Only if he couldn't figure out any way at all would he dare go to the Headmaster for help. He could do this on his own, without some Gryffndor favoring wizard to bail him out.
And there was also Snape. He'd talk to him tomorrow hopefully. Visit him at the Hospital Wing. Good. A plan.
Wait. Draco slapped himself inwardly, (if that was possible). His parental unit- daddy dearest. Was he at Hogwarts? Had he graduated already? He could find that out too come the morning. Or ask one of these Gryffndors.
Oh…this plan was getting better and better.
"C'mon, Sirius."
Draco glanced up in time to see a body appear out of nowhere. He gaped. An invisibility cloak. How did Potter get an Invisibility cloak?
"Let's go!" Potter Sr. grabbed his arm, and the cloak was shoved on top of him. Sirius watched the boy pull out a map that had funny lines on it. He bit his lip back to keep himself from inquiring about it.
They rushed down the hallways and outside until they came to the Whomping Willow.
But it was no longer…how would you say…Whomping?
"Wormtail already pushed the button."
"Uh, okay."
Draco scurried inside the tree after Potter Sr.
A secret passage?
Of course!
Draco's mind was working furiously. An Invisibility cloak, a map of…Hogwarts, secret passages…was this how Harry-
Harry's father was sprinting with excitement down the passage, the cloak had been removed and Draco was panting to keep up.
"Slow down, will you?"
"Come on!"
Suddenly they reached a door. His companion stopped short, pulling out his wand quickly and before Draco knew what was happening there was no longer Harry's dad next to him.
There was this deer thingy with antlers. An illegal transfiguration? Underage transfiguration? A smile curled Draco's lips…oh he could so bust them for this lack of respect for the law. He'd get expelled from Hogwarts.
The deer thing pawed impatiently, shaking his head in a rapid movement before opening the door. Draco just followed after him.
He didn't realize his mistake until it was too late.
He was in the Shrieking Shack. But he and this animal weren't the only ones.
Draco dived out of the way to miss the pounce of a more than half-grown werewolf. It slammed the door shut, and in the movement his wand flew out of his cloak pocket to the other side of the room.
Panting, Draco stood up. A werewolf, no, no, no- Professor Lupin- why hadn't he recognized him?
Potter Sr. was making furious motions at him and faintly Draco heard a rat squeak. What was this? A local animal cult at the Shrieking Shack?
A growl brought Draco back to reality. The werewolf was closing in and Draco was unarmed. No wand, no-
The reindeer creature charged at the werewolf suddenly, throwing it off guard, and the rat bit at his feet suddenly.
The wolf howled with anger before with a quick movement slash a nasty scar into the flesh of the Potter Sr, slamming him into the wall along with the rat.
And then it turned around, eyes seizing his prey. Draco looked around helplessly. There was no escape. No wand, nowhere to run.
He'd die right then and there. And then there would be no Sirius Black. Potter'd have his parents alive and well. He'd woken up in someone's life and it had taken less than 12 hours for him to get himself killed in someone else's life. That had to be some sort of record.
Draco backed away, hands held out in defeat. "Please…don't hurt me." One slow step at a time, backing up until he could feel his body press against the cold stone of the wall.
The werewolf just snarled, barring its teeth, while it ventured a step closer. It lowered its body, ready to pounce and Draco shut his eyes, cringing as he heard the creature's paws leave the ground in its leap towards him.
~La fin.
Next Chapter Preview: Some misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a double Sirius meeting… And a scar that has nothing to do with Harry's. What's the world coming to?
I'm not sure when the Marauders figured out the Animangi stuff, but even if it wasn't until their 7th or 6th year I want to keep it like this cause it works way better. And if it's wrong…it's wrong. My apologizes. I lent my 3rd book to someone so *shrugs* I guess I'm not looking it up.
I'm a Private giving reviewers rankings higher than me- why? Because I'm Private I, that's why! (And that rhymes!)
Sergeant ranking to-
~firestorm- For actually made me get off my lazy ass and update this story.
~Twinnie- For appreciating my poem.
~Robin G. – For appreciating my dedication.
~Usako3000- For your vast knowledge of Greek mythology
~The phantom- For being THE PHANTOM
~Urania- For giving me confidence
Lieutenant ranking to-
~FeatherQuill- For giving me all these stars that I don't know what to do with. (I'll read your stories ASAP, promise).
~Semmel- An intellectual who got the question right.
There is a name of a political activist group that used to exist in the South United States post-Civil War. It wasn't as radical in its actions as the KKK, but it's name was the Fire Eaters. A history class was spent whether or not JKR has heard about this group and took the name from it. Fire Eaters? Death Eaters? Mere coincidence? Or not? *Twilight Zone music plays in background*
A salute to everyone who read and reviewed. You've once again been spared the wrath of the rhyming review poem because I'm too lazy to think about one. And even if you're the type of person who reads and doesn't review, I still salute you. Why? Cause I have nothing better to do. j/k You're still kewl.
*salutes*