Sirius Black
Wednesday, 3rd November 1971.
Hogwarts
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!"
"Ugh... let the princess sleep..."
Sirius was rudely woken up by two bodies stacked on top of his. He saw that there was no point in fighting his attackers so he just gave up. There was a slight emptiness due to the fact that Remus was still at the hospital, but Sirius knew they will see him for breakfast.
The boys dragged him out of bed and to the Great Hall. The whole way there, the trio treated Sirius like some kind of a royalty, in a mocking way of course, but Sirius still loved it. When they entered the Hall, it was already filled and James started singing happy birthday so loudly and enthusiastically that the other students joined in as well. Even older students started to sing due to their silly royalty performance. If the four boys were anything, they were entertaining. He even saw Narcissa clap and sing while Lucius looked appalled next to her.
Sirius loved the attention, usually he would get a cold congratulations from Orion and Walburga. Only Reg would be excited on this day, but even he had to pretend to be nonchalant in front of their parents. Then Sirius would do nothing all day and in the evening the Blacks would host a family dinner which he hated. He never got to do anything fun so he was very much looking forward to seeing what his friends had prepared.
"Hey Sirius! Look! There's mail for you!", Peter yelled.
And to Sirius' surprise, there actually was. An owl dropped a box with an envelope right in front of him. Cold spread through his body, maybe it was from his parents? Or from Reg? He hasn't heard from any of them in months, the only information he had was what Narcissa told him all the way back in September. Without being able to bear the pressure anymore, Sirius ripped open the envelope.
Dear Gryffindor cousin,
I wish you the happiest 12th birthday a boy could have!
You'll see, they are quite different at Hogwarts than at home. I hope that your amazing friends, as you called them, have something amazing prepared. It isn't every day that a boy turns 12 so I have sent you 12 Zonko's products to celebrate with! Please don't get into too much trouble, I know you too well.
I have been doing great! Ted and I moved in together into a small flat in London, I hope you'll get the chance to visit sometime soon, but given that I know our family, it won't happen before you turn 18 and I have a lot more products to send until then.
The whole move is the reason why I wasn't able to respond to your beautiful letter until now, we didn't even have an owl. I hope you can forgive me for keeping you on your toes for quite some time. Don't worry, from now on, my responses will be quick!
How has school been going? What are your favorite classes? Will you try to get on the Quidditch team next year? I hope so, I know you're good!
I know that you have expressed some concerns about being sorted into Gryffindor, but don't worry, the Sorting Hat always knows best. Be proud that it thought of you as brave and loyal, but I can also see where it saw stubbornness and recklessness. When it comes to Orion and Walburga, just keep your head down, the shock will pass quickly.
Anyway, I hope that you will spend today happy with the biggest smile your face can hold. Please tell me all about how did you celebrate in your next letter. Have you talked to Cissy recently? How is she doing?
Stay safe, love
Andromeda B.
Sirius thought his face will forever be smiling. He was so happy to finally have communication with one of his favorite cousins once again. The last time he heard from Andromeda was before she was disowned after finishing Hogwarts.
"Who's it from?", James asked.
Proudly, Sirius passed the letter to James and started opening the box that came with it, "My cousin Andromeda. She's the best, she sent me 12 Zonko's products."
There was one tempest in a bottle, screaming pencils, paintbombs, smoke-creating whistle, dirt-eraser, invisibility potion, they won't be needing that one, hiccupping potion, an antidote to common potions, sleeping strawberry strips, exploding rocks, distracting dragon claws and finally, a great number of dungbombs.
"Wow, she must be really knowledgeable.", Peter said on his left, looking inside the box with wide eyes along with James on his right.
Sirius' cheeks literally started to hurt from smiling, "Yeah, she really is something else.".
While the other two were still looking at the box, he remembered that there was supposed to be some secret plan for today, "So... what are we doing today?", there was excitement seeping into his voice.
"Oh, you'll see. Everything you need to do is relax and watch.", James smirked at him.
After admiring all Sirius' gifts, the three boys packed their and Remus' breakfast and headed to the Hospital Wing. Like the last two times, Madam Pomfrey was adamant to not let them in with the excuse that Remus was asleep. Sirius tried to argue that they brought breakfast which worked the last two times, but this time the witch wouldn't budge.
Her excuse was quickly revoked as they all heard a familiar voice coming from behind the curtains of the only occupied bed there, "I'd like some breakfast!"
Madam Pomfrey just sighed. Acknowledging her defeat, she gestured them to join Remus behind the curtains. As soon as Sirius saw the ill boy, he got another birthday congratulation accompanied with a tired smile. It made his heard warm, even while tired and sick, Remus remembered to congratulate him.
Like last two times, the group of friends ate breakfast and laughed until it was time for Sirius, James and Peter to go. Remus informed them that he will be released before lunch and even join them in Potions. Sirius was delighted, he will not have to brew the stupid potion alone.
After that, the trio walked to the Greenhouses. Herbology went on normally, or as normally as possible. James and Peter informed the class of Sirius's birthday and encouraged even the professor to sing along to another song.
Like promised, Remus joined them during lunch and sang along with everybody another birthday song to Sirius.
Then came Potions.
"Okay, everyone. Today we are brewing the Forgetfulness Potion so go fetch the ingredients and let's start.", Slughorn said interrupting another birthday song.
As Remus got back to their shared station with the ingredients in hands, Sirius' curiosity about the secret plan the boys prepared for him, was up to the roof. He had to know at least something, "Are we still planning on exploring tonight?"
"Yeah, I mean if you want, I read a bit more about the passageways.", Remus put down the ingredients.
There wasn't a world in which Sirius Black wouldn't want to do something as exciting as that, "Of course I want! It will be so much fun. Imagine if we really end up finding one."
The potion brewing continued normally, but then, near the end of the class, cauldrons started exploding. At first, Sirius thought that maybe someone messed something up, but with each second that passed by, there was another mini explosion. When his and Remus' exploded as well, he looked up and everything made sense in an instant. He saw fireworks flying out of every single cauldron in the classroom!
"Okay, okay, everybody stay calm. Please don't leave your seats.", Slughorn was trying to defuse the panic but to no avail. Everybody was running all over the classroom trying to get away from their stations.
Sirius just stood there, mouth slightly open, staring at the explosive colors. He expected something amazing, but this was beyond amazing. Finally managing to divert his gaze from the fireworks, Sirius looked at his three friends and found them grinning ear to ear, he mirrored the look immediately.
The four of them were probably the only students who weren't panicking or screaming. Just as he thought the firework show will end, James' voice got his attention, "Sirius, look up!", the boy yelled from the left of his and Remus' station.
The fireworks died down, but just when it seemed like it will stop, it started to explode again, forming a message in the air, and not just any message.
HAPPY 12th BIRTDAY SIRIUS!
Sirius' brain couldn't find the words to explain his current state. He was amazed by the show and even more so, his friends' efforts in doing all of this. His mouth was now open wide from the shock, but the rest of the boys could just read the happiness from his expression. He looked at James mentally asking "How did you do this?", but James just sent him a sly smile that said "A prankster never reveals his secrets."
"You four! Come with me this instant!"
* * *
"I cannot believe your actions!", McGonagall said sternly as professor Slughorn explained to her everything that happened.
"Minerva, I also know that they stole exploding fluid from my storage room. I didn't know who it was at first, but now I have no doubts.", professor Slughorn pointed an accusing finger at the group.
McGonagall looked at the four of them in disappointment, but Sirius just couldn't hide the smile from his lips, similar to the other three which seemed to annoy their head of house even more, "Horace, you may leave. I will deal accordingly with this... these four marauders.", she said furiously and professor Slughorn left her office.
"Now, what were you all thinking! Stealing like that from professors! Making chaos during the class! That will be 15 points from Gryffindor.", the boys gasped, "Each!"
James was really adamant that Gryffindor will win this year's house cup, so much so that he made a bet with Sirius, "But professor, how do you know if it was really us?"
This question seemed to have made McGonagall even more furious, "Mr. Potter, do you take me for a fool?! Professor Slughorn just explained that you three were encouraging everyone to sing happy birthday to Mr. Black the whole time while in Potions! You also told him to look up before the fireworks formed a message for him! Who else could it be!?"
Even if losing the house points meant that he will win the bet, Sirius still tried to intervene for his friends' sake, "Believe it or not professor, a lot of people actually like m—"
"Detention! All four of you! Every night for 2 weeks! No excuses, starting tomorrow. You may leave now."
Without trying to argue any further and get into even more trouble, they left McGonagall's office and went to have dinner. In spite of getting detention, the boys were still beyond happy with huge grins.
"That was... amazing. How did you even do it?", now that they were finally alone, Sirius just had to know.
James started explaining arrogantly, "Well, we figured that I could write to my dad and—"
"Khm-khm."
"Okay, okay, Remus figured that I could write to my dad and ask him what to add to the Forgetfulness potion to get the desired effect.", Remus smiled proudly at this correction, "Then yesterday, when you fell asleep, Peter and I snuck out with the cloak and broke into the ingredient storage room in the dungeons to get a bit of exploding fluid. All it took was for us to coat the bottom of the cauldrons with it, charm it to say the message we wanted and the rest you saw earlier.", he had a gin stretched from ear to ear.
Sirius gasped dramatically, "You went stealing without me?!", he clutched at his heart.
James flicked him on the head, "Oh, stop it, it was not stealing. The fluid would have been used in class either way, we just... sped up the process a little bit."
Sirius watched all of them for a bit, still kind of in shock that they would do all of that just for him, "Thanks guys, that truly was brilliant."
"Don't be silly, what are friends for.", Peter smiled at him.
Now thinking about it, Sirius came to one conclusion, "But we are not just friends. We are accomplices and we need some cool name if we want to be known here for doing amazing stuff like today and the prank on Snape. We can't just let everyone call us James, Remus, Peter and Sirius, that's lame. We want others to be like look, the some-name did it, you know what I mean?", Sirius stated.
The four of them thought for a bit. They almost reached the Great Hall when Remus came to a halt. Confused, the other three boys turned expectantly to him.
"Marauders. That's what McGonagall called us.", Remus said still in thought, but Sirius was already loving the idea, "Yes! What did I say, a genius this one.". He threw a hand over the tall boy's shoulder, "Remus, you did it again! The Marauders! That's the coolest name I've ever heard!"
Of course, James had to ruin the moment, "I thought that James Potter was the coolest name you ever heard!", he yelled.
"First of all, I have never said that, how dare you.", Sirius pointed an accusing finger at James, "Second of all, from now on we officially have a name. The Marauders!"
* * *
"Sirius, you've stepped on my shoe! Again!"
"You are the one who has been elbowing me in the ribs for 10 minutes!"
James and Sirius started to whisper-yell at each other earning a quiet groan from Peter before Remus interrupted them, "Shush, you two, let's just take the cloak off. We'll hear someone if they are near."
With that the boys were able to breathe once again. It was currently close to midnight and they were on the fourth floor walking with just their wands as light sources. A lot of portraits gave them an annoying look, but the boys just ignored it.
"In the book it said that a lot of alcoves could be found behind the tapestries.", Remus said as he looked behind another tapestry.
Sirius whined, "But we want a passageway. There must be at least one on each floor.". He stopped in the middle of the corridor and closed his eyes.
There was confusion in Peter's voice, "What are you doing?"
Without bothering to open his eyes, Sirius just shushed him, "I'm trying to concentrate on hearing something."
Now James joined the interrogation, "Something like what?"
"Something like wind. You see there, the windows are open so if there is some secret passageway here, we'll maybe be able to hear a slight howling of the wind."
The other three stopped in their tracks, trying to listen as well.
"I don't hear anything.", Peter complained.
Excepting defeat, Sirius sighed, "Me neither, lets continue with the tapestries and then we can stop again in the next corridor."
The Marauders continued their search and, at the end of the corridor, after James looked behind the tapestry of a knight in a shining armor, he gasped.
"What?", the united voices of others echoed.
"It's one of the alcoves!"
Truth be told, when they came closer, Sirius saw a medium sized alcove, probably big enough for all of them.
"Amazing! We really found one!", he whisper-shouted, "Let's get inside!"
His assumption was correct. The four boys easily got into it and were now facing each other, grinning.
"This will be a perfect hiding spot from Filch after some disaster.", James stated.
The Marauders chilled a bit more in there before continuing the search. As they went into another corridor and got to the middle of it, Sirius' technique with wind was put to the test once again. They all stayed quiet and just listened.
"Does anyone else hear that?", Sirius asked and was delighted to hear an immediate reply from Remus, "Yeah, seems like it's coming from here."
The direction in which Remus pointed at, lead the group in front of an old mirror, but there was nothing to indicate that there was something behind it. It just looked like a standard antique mirror.
To Sirius' surprise, James took out his wand and pointed it at the mirror, "Revelio"
At first, whichever spell the boy used seemed to do nothing, but then the glass started to get foggy before clearing once again. This time, near the top of the golden frame, in curved letters was a message.
The boys were staring at the message in pure disbelief before Sirius broke the silence, like always, "Wicked! Where did you learn that? We haven't done that one in Charms yet.", he was amazed by his friend's work.
James seemed just as shocked as the rest of them, "Dad taught it to me before school started, said it was useful. Guess I will have to owl him saying he was right."
Now that the shock seemed to leave them, they all got closer to the mirror to take a closer look at the actual message.
What was witnessed may never be once more
no matter how much wished for
but what one may have witnessed then
could be seen once again
"This is some kind of a riddle.", Remus read it out loud for everyone to hear once more. All of them started thinking, trying to solve the new problem that revealed itself.
Peter was the first one to come up with a possible answer, "Maybe it is talking about pictures or paintings? That's one way to capture a moment.", he sounded a bit insecure to Sirius, but idea was still good.
"Yeah, maybe a painting. Give it a try Pete.", James encouraged the smaller boy, so Peter pointed his wand towards the mirror with more confidence, "Painting"
They waited for a couple of seconds, but nothing was happening. Remus placed a comforting hand on Peter's shoulder before giving it a try himself. He did the same thing, but with the word "picture", but again, nothing happened.
Sirius was now completely lost. The riddle was talking about witnessing some type of event and about how we can't go back in time, at least not legally, to see it again. The only way to see an event after it had passed was by a moving picture or a painting like Peter suggested. But, just then, as Sirius was thinking about how the pictures and paintings can capture the details we sometimes wouldn't remember, something clicked.
"A memory! We can see something that passed in a memory!"
"Stop shouting idiot, or else Filch will appear out of nowhere with that devil's cat of his.", James hissed at him.
At that realization, Sirius toned down his voice, "Sorry, but just think about it. A memory can be seen after it has passed. Come on James try it!"
So James lifted his wand and used the word "memory", but, to everyone's disappointment, nothing happened again.
Sirius was determined to find a passageway on his birthday and some stupid riddle wasn't about to stop him, "It must be something to do with a memory. Maybe it isn't that word specifically, but maybe... maybe it's a pensieve?"
The others gave him an encouraging look before Sirius lifted his wand and said loud and clear, "Pensieve"
Just as he lowered the wand and the disappointment started seeping into all of them once more, the mirror started to move slowly. It moved bit by bit to the right, eventually reveling exactly what Sirius was hoping to find the whole night, a secret passageway.