Disclaimer - See previous chapters ;)
Hola! Muchas gracias to all of my reviewers! Once again, my apologies for the delay in the update; I've been very busy with my schoolwork now I'm a third year, and I've got a guest living with me, but hopefully soon I'll be able to get going quicker!
And what about those boys, huh? Bunch of prats.... :-P
Chapter 8 : Time for a Guilt Trip!
James began to regret what they had done as soon as he got into the Entrance Hall and heard the loud buzz of laughter and chatter coming from an area around the picture. He turned to Remus doubtfully and saw that his friend's eyes were just as wide and troubled as he imagined his own to be; Sirius was nibbling his lip the way he did when he was worried and Peter caught sight of the large crowd and gave a startled squeak.
"What is going on down here?" came a quiet, powerful voice as the door from the Great Hall opened. Albus Dumbledore crossed his arms and stood watching the crowd, who were instantly silenced. He slowly walked forward and pushed his way through the quickly dispelling students; when he reached the front of them he frowned, his eyes widened and he turned to face the students.
"Everyone in the Great Hall now!" he said, pointing his wand towards the cardboard cut-out, (all of the girls shrieked and ran,) and he blasted it to pieces. "Wait a second, boys." he said, catching Sirius across the shoulder as the four boys attempted to follow the crowd. "Follow me."
James gulped and set off after Dumbledore, hardly aware of the direction in which he was walking. Sirius walked alongside his best friend, trying desperately to come up with some sort of alibi; Peter shuffled along behind Sirius, eyes to the ground, whilst Remus brought up the rear, turning pale. Though the four boys were well reknowned for their pranks they had never seen Dumbledore like this, hadn't seen such a look of disappointment in his wise old eyes. He stopped in front of a gargoyle and muttered the password - "Mint humbug!" - and the Marauders trooped silently into the office which they were so familiar with.
Dumbledore walked around behind his desk and settled himself comfortably in his chair. With a wave of his wand four plush sofas appeared on the other side of his desk; he gestured to the boys to sit down, and they reluctantly did so.
"Please tell me why you did this."
Sirius kept his eyes to the floor and he suddenly wished Dumbledore had shouted at them; it would have been easier to cope with than such a silent disappointment.
"Well, sir..." began James quietly.
"Its like this, Professor." said Sirius quickly. "We got into a fight with the girls and we started having a prank war and we done some stupid things then you seen what they done they turned us into Slytherins so we had to get back at them and it was only a prank they weren't meant to take it so badly so I really think they should get into trouble too -"
"Silence!" said Dumbledore, but Remus noticed his jaw was twitching. "Now, Sirius, you may not think you have done anything wrong, but your previous jokes were just some fun; this was too far." He steepled his fingers. "All four of those girls were well-known for their intelligence and integrity, and well respected throughout the school." He stood up and walked to the door. "You took that from them today. Wait here, I'll be back soon."
As the door clicked shut behind them the portraits adorning the office walls began to chatter.
"What have you kids been up to now?" a sneering voice said. Sirius turned to face a portrait of a dark-haired wizard.
"Ah, Phineas, need you ask?" said Sirius sarcastically. "I know for a fact you were listening to every word Dumbledore said, so don't even bother playing the fool." With that the two began to bicker.
James and Peter stayed seated; Remus, however, had stood up and began to walk around the spacious room, examining the desks and tables with interest. There was a soft ruffling of wings and he turned round. " 'Lo, Fawkes." he said, gently stroking the underneath the chin and ruffling his plumed red and gold feathers. "Any idea what Dumbledore is gonna do to us?" The phoenix merely looked at Remus with mournful eyes.
A moment later Dumbledore reappeared holding a large smoking jug. He transfigured four quills into cups and poured the liquid into each. "Drink these." he said with a slight smile. Though apprhensive the boys quickly drained their mugs; Dumbledore wouldn't do anything dangerous.
"That'll be all boys; off you go."
James stopped. "Professor, what did you give us?"
Dumbledore grinned. "It should just help your guilt along a little; maybe an apology is in order?"
After the boys left Sirius didn't even cheer about the lack of detentions. He merely gave a wan smile to the other three Marauders, and together they set off towards Gryffindor Tower.
Hola! Muchas gracias to all of my reviewers! Once again, my apologies for the delay in the update; I've been very busy with my schoolwork now I'm a third year, and I've got a guest living with me, but hopefully soon I'll be able to get going quicker!
And what about those boys, huh? Bunch of prats.... :-P
Chapter 8 : Time for a Guilt Trip!
James began to regret what they had done as soon as he got into the Entrance Hall and heard the loud buzz of laughter and chatter coming from an area around the picture. He turned to Remus doubtfully and saw that his friend's eyes were just as wide and troubled as he imagined his own to be; Sirius was nibbling his lip the way he did when he was worried and Peter caught sight of the large crowd and gave a startled squeak.
"What is going on down here?" came a quiet, powerful voice as the door from the Great Hall opened. Albus Dumbledore crossed his arms and stood watching the crowd, who were instantly silenced. He slowly walked forward and pushed his way through the quickly dispelling students; when he reached the front of them he frowned, his eyes widened and he turned to face the students.
"Everyone in the Great Hall now!" he said, pointing his wand towards the cardboard cut-out, (all of the girls shrieked and ran,) and he blasted it to pieces. "Wait a second, boys." he said, catching Sirius across the shoulder as the four boys attempted to follow the crowd. "Follow me."
James gulped and set off after Dumbledore, hardly aware of the direction in which he was walking. Sirius walked alongside his best friend, trying desperately to come up with some sort of alibi; Peter shuffled along behind Sirius, eyes to the ground, whilst Remus brought up the rear, turning pale. Though the four boys were well reknowned for their pranks they had never seen Dumbledore like this, hadn't seen such a look of disappointment in his wise old eyes. He stopped in front of a gargoyle and muttered the password - "Mint humbug!" - and the Marauders trooped silently into the office which they were so familiar with.
Dumbledore walked around behind his desk and settled himself comfortably in his chair. With a wave of his wand four plush sofas appeared on the other side of his desk; he gestured to the boys to sit down, and they reluctantly did so.
"Please tell me why you did this."
Sirius kept his eyes to the floor and he suddenly wished Dumbledore had shouted at them; it would have been easier to cope with than such a silent disappointment.
"Well, sir..." began James quietly.
"Its like this, Professor." said Sirius quickly. "We got into a fight with the girls and we started having a prank war and we done some stupid things then you seen what they done they turned us into Slytherins so we had to get back at them and it was only a prank they weren't meant to take it so badly so I really think they should get into trouble too -"
"Silence!" said Dumbledore, but Remus noticed his jaw was twitching. "Now, Sirius, you may not think you have done anything wrong, but your previous jokes were just some fun; this was too far." He steepled his fingers. "All four of those girls were well-known for their intelligence and integrity, and well respected throughout the school." He stood up and walked to the door. "You took that from them today. Wait here, I'll be back soon."
As the door clicked shut behind them the portraits adorning the office walls began to chatter.
"What have you kids been up to now?" a sneering voice said. Sirius turned to face a portrait of a dark-haired wizard.
"Ah, Phineas, need you ask?" said Sirius sarcastically. "I know for a fact you were listening to every word Dumbledore said, so don't even bother playing the fool." With that the two began to bicker.
James and Peter stayed seated; Remus, however, had stood up and began to walk around the spacious room, examining the desks and tables with interest. There was a soft ruffling of wings and he turned round. " 'Lo, Fawkes." he said, gently stroking the underneath the chin and ruffling his plumed red and gold feathers. "Any idea what Dumbledore is gonna do to us?" The phoenix merely looked at Remus with mournful eyes.
A moment later Dumbledore reappeared holding a large smoking jug. He transfigured four quills into cups and poured the liquid into each. "Drink these." he said with a slight smile. Though apprhensive the boys quickly drained their mugs; Dumbledore wouldn't do anything dangerous.
"That'll be all boys; off you go."
James stopped. "Professor, what did you give us?"
Dumbledore grinned. "It should just help your guilt along a little; maybe an apology is in order?"
After the boys left Sirius didn't even cheer about the lack of detentions. He merely gave a wan smile to the other three Marauders, and together they set off towards Gryffindor Tower.