Hogwarts with the Marauders (I) - [OLD]

CHAPTER NINE - The Marauder's Map

CHAPTER NINE - The Marauder's Map

     Malfoy, who kept insisting that he had been forced to take the Polyjuice potion, was let out of the Hospital Wing with only a warning, much to Peter, Remus, Alessia and James' disappointment.

     "So if the Sirius in the Room of Requirement wasn't really our Sirius, where is he?" Alessia asked, really starting to get worried now.

     Suddenly, James did a face-palm and dashed to Gryffindor tower, "I'm so stupid!" he kept muttering.

     James ran into the dormitory, opened his trunk and pulled out a blank piece of parchment from under his Invisibility Cloak.

     "The Map! Of course!" Remus exclaimed.

     They all crowded around James as he took out his wand:

     "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good." he said, and the familiar map of Hogwarts appeared. Most of the dots were either outside, or in their common rooms, relaxing.

     "Where's the Room of Requirement?" Alessia asked, peering over Remus' shoulder.

     "We made this map last year, and we didn't know about the Room back then." James explained, looking for the tiny red dot labeled 'Sirius Black'.

     He found it and pointed it out to his friends.

     "He can't be..." Remus whispered.

     "I'm getting Lily," Alessia announced, "she can-"

     "We have no time to get Lily! The poor bloke's going to commit suicide!" Peter yelled.

     "In Sirius' defence," James said, "I don't think he'd be stupid enough to jump off the roof of the Astronomy tower. Mischief managed."

     Though they all agreed with James, they hurried to the Astronomy tower, just the same.

     As they ran up, they crossed Lucius Malfoy. James went out of his way to trip him while turning a corner, making Peter and Alessia laugh. Remus rolled his eyes, but smiled just the same.

     When they reached the top, they all looked at the window, as if it was a Basilisk.

     "Ladies first." Peter said, indicating the window in a polite, but scared sort of way.

     Alessia sighed and walked up to the window. She put her foot on the ledge and grabbed the stone over the window. She hoisted herself up and grabbed the stone after that.

     "I'm not dead yet, so I'm guessing it's safe!" Alessia yelled sarcastically, and the boys slowly followed her to the top of the Astronomy tower. Every once in a while, one of them would slip, only to be caught by someone else. 

     Alessia caught the edge of the roof and pulled herself up. She stood up and spotted a dark haired boy sitting on the edge of the tower, across from her.

     "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Remus exploded, now behind Alessia.

     "Lookin' at the stars..." Sirius said, airily. It looked as if Remus was going to strangle him. I tapped him lightly on the shoulder and he calmed down.

     "Why aren't you looking at the stars from inside the Astronomy tower?" Peter asked, patiently.

     "Because I'll get caught," Sirius replied in that same airy voice, "Oh, and Prongs will be proud of me."

     "Why, Padfoot? What did you do?"  James asked.

     "I found what Lily got back from my cousins." he said.

     James practically jumped on him, "What is it? What is it?"

     “Just a locket.” Sirius held up a golden locket, without turning around. Alessia stared at it, bewildered, and snatched it from him.

     “Where did you find this?” she demanded, turning Sirius around.

     “It was just-“

     “You shouldn’t of touched it!” Alessia yelled.

     “Well, I’m sorry!” the airy tone in Sirius’ voice was gone now.

     “You better be; what if this was private? Or important to Lily! She’s probably freaking out as we speak looking for it!” Alessia told him, “I’m giving it back.”

     “Wait, I want to-“ James started, his arm outstretched.

     “It’s just a locket James!” Alessia yelled, cold fury in her eyes, “Drop it. “ James didn’t dare argue with Alessia. None of them had ever seen her angry like this; and so suddenly too.

     Alessia ran to the edge of the tower, and jumped.