A Pensieve of Memories
Chapter Four:
Cheerful Padfoots and Snowball Fights
Chapter Graphic by dare4distance @ the Dark Arts
*****
“MOOOONNYY!!!” Sirius shouted from outside Remus’ door. “OPEN UUPP!!”
Remus opened the door, clearly annoyed. “Sirius!” he hissed, “The whole street could hear you!!”
“So let me in, then.” Sirius replied. Remus rolled his eyes.
“You didn’t have to shout” he said quietly, pulling Sirius roughly inside. “Now everyone’s staring at my house.”
“How come I couldn’t apparate directly inside?” Sirius demanded.
Remus grinned and said smoothly, “I put protective enchantments around the house. Now nobody can apparate in. You have to do it outside the door.”
“You only did it because of ME?!” Sirius exclaimed, pretending to be insulted.
“Well that’s only part- I mean most of my reasons. One part is that Dumbledore himself said that times are getting darker and we have to take necessary precautions. But mostly because of you, yeah.” Remus explained sarcastically.
Sirius glared at him and said, “I just came here to say that I was accepted as an Auror. I told Lily and Prongs a while ago. So I’m off to Wormtail’s. Bye!”
Then he went outside and disapparated. Remus rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, “I was a little happy he came. All I could do now is go back to looking at job ads- that hopefully require werewolves.” Then he shook his head and closed the door.
“It’s scary. The fact that I’m doing something wrong. If my friends found out, I wouldn’t know what they would do. If- and only if- something would go wrong with the path I chose, I might as well go back to my friends’ ways. But I have no choice, don’t I?” Peter Pettigrew said to himself skeptically. “N-no. I chose the right path and there’s no doubting that.”
Then he was about to roll up his sleeve when he heard a crack behind him. “Hey!” a voice said. Peter jumped. When he turned around, he found his friend, Sirius Black, standing there behind him. “Hey Wormtail, no need to get so jumpy. What do you think am I? A death eater?” Sirius joked, and then he let out a bark of laughter. Peter laughed nervously.
“H-hello, Sirius. What brings you here today?” Peter said in what he hoped was a casual voice. Ironic, it was. Sirius joked that Peter was expecting a death eater when he really is expecting a death eater. It was enough to make him paranoid, thinking that his friends knew. But of course, they didn’t. They never would.
“I just came here to tell you that I was accepted as an Auror a little while ago! Don’t you think that’s great?” Sirius announced cheerfully. “I just told Moony, Lily, and Prongs. Anyway, that’s what I’m here for. And also to check on you. So what have you been doing?”
“I-I was just cleaning this place up. Yesterday, I was making plans to…er…make a few changes in the landscaping of my garden and such. My mother would have loved it if she was here.” Peter said faintly, making up excuses as he went along. He was very surprised at the fact Sirius Black became an Auror.
Sirius nodded and said, “Mind if I hang around to have a drink or eat, at least? Sorry for being a burden but seriously, my house is deprived of food, which is a pity.”
“Of-of course, Padfoot. Nice to have company once in a while.” Peter said as he summoned ready-made food in the kitchen. Then he and Sirius ate in silence.
After eating Sirius suggested, “We could have our next reunion here at your house, Wormtail. It’s cozy and homey in here. See ya!” Then he disapparated.
Peter cleaned up the table and then rolled up his sleeve to look at the newly-made mark on his arm. It was a dark mark, a very dark mark.
As he looked at it, he was beginning to doubt whether he was supposed to be doing this or not. “No, I have to do this. Either I am considered as a nobody or this. And I have chosen the latter. I shall be a great follower- of the greatest wizard of all time.” He said to himself firmly.
“James, hurry up!!” Lily screamed at the bathroom door.
“Okay, okay, I’m going out!” replied James as he opened the bathroom door and grinned at Lily. His clothes were wet and his hair messy. Obviously, he was trying to spend his time in the bathroom as fast as he could.
“It’s not funny, James. If you want to live with me, you better start taking baths faster.” Lily told him sternly. “And- MERLIN, JAMES, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IN HERE?!” she ended in a yell, seeing the bathroom floor soaking wet with puddles.
She then turned to stare at James, who was drying his messy jet-black hair. “Well, Lily, I was taking a bath in the tub and then the water was filled to the brim and it spilled to the floor. And- oh please Lily; don’t glare at me like that! I’ll take baths cleaner and faster! I have work at St. Mungo’s at 2 p.m. so I was hurrying.” He explained, trying to ignore the glare she was giving him.
“Next time, I’ll start using the bathroom first; it’s much less hassle…” she said as she tried to get inside without slipping. “And you know that I’m meeting Alice and my other friends today at 1 p.m. Now I’m going to be late, seeing as it’s already 12:55.”
As she closed the door, James stared at it and shook his head. “Merlin, I better start taking baths like a poodle, then…” he said to himself.
“I heard that!” yelled Lily from inside.
Remus Lupin was searching everywhere for a job. He hated his run-down flat and wanted to buy a new one. He hated his shabby clothes and wanted to buy new ones, too. Not as if it would help, anyway, seeing that Remus always looked shabby after werewolf transformations. But he needed money, so it was important.
Only now had he noticed his messy room. He wasn’t trying to impress anyone, anyway. His friends wouldn’t mind. Well, he was planning to clean it up soon. Besides, he was starting to feel sick and didn’t know why. Probably because of the dust.
“I better clean up now; it’s better than being driven hopeless with those bloody anti-werewolf job ads.” He muttered to himself as he went to his room.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He walked out and opened it, knowing it was Sirius Black. Strangely, he knew how his friends would knock on doors. James would knock sharply, usually twice. Lily would knock quickly, mostly three or four times. Peter’s knocks were loud, only once or twice. Sirius, however, was a different case. What he made weren’t even knocks at all; they were more like small slams on the door. He would press his knuckles hardly and loudly on the door and do it many times until it was opened.
When Remus opened it, he saw Sirius looking as if he had the time of his life. “Hey, Moony!” he said cheerfully, going inside the house. “I’ve been here one or two hours ago and it looks different! Were you attempting to clean the mess you’ve made out of this flat?”
Remus nodded and asked, “So why’d you come back?”
“Well I just came from Wormtail’s. He seemed fine. Busy making some changes in the garden, thinking his mum would be happy if she was still here. Something like that, I think…” he said, sitting on the couch and picking up newspapers on the table. “I also told him we could hold our next reunion in his house, it seemed nice enough.”
Remus sat down beside him and stared at the newspaper Sirius was holding. It showed an article about a werewolf killing an innocent child in a big forest near London. The werewolf was imprisoned right away without any chance to defend himself. Remus sighed and said, “Sounds a good enough idea, to go to Wormtail’s. You better tell James and Lily, though. I can’t wait for the Christmas memory.”
“Yeah, maybe we can start tomorrow evening at dinner. I got Auror stuff from the morning to the afternoon so I might not be available at those times.” Sirius said, folding the newspaper with the werewolf article and throwing it carelessly on the table.
“Sure…it would be great.” Remus replied bitterly, staring at the said newspaper with dislike.
After a while, it started to rain. Soon, there was thunder and lightning. “Blimey, I wonder why a typhoon decided to come today…” Sirius mused. Remus shrugged and stared outside the window.
“I better leave now, you know. If I go to Prongs’ place in time, I might be able to eat dinner there.” Sirius said gleefully.
“You’re funny, Padfoot. You visit your friends’ houses just to eat.” Remus answered, glaring at Sirius.
“Lunch at Wormtail’s, snacks at Moony’s, and dinner at Prongs’! Great plan, eh?” said Sirius sarcastically. Remus rolled his eyes and led his friend outside the door.
“See ya, Moony!”
“Goodbye, Padfoot. And good riddance.”
Sirius let out a bark of laughter and disapparated with a crack just outside the door.
James Potter was sitting at the couch and looking outside the window. He was thinking of the good old days at Hogwarts. He, Sirius, Remus, and Peter would hang around at the tree near the lake and bully Severus “Snivellus” Snape, who would hang out all alone nearby. Lily Evans would see this and get mad at the Marauders though her hate for Snape would still be evident.
James sighed. How he wished he were back at Hogwarts as a kid, goofing off. Being an adult would mean big responsibilities of life, money, friends, wife, job, kids, and wife. Not that he hated it.
He tore his eyes away from the window and stood up. Suddenly, he heard the doorbell ring. It was Lily. He opened it and said, “Hey Lily. How was your day?”
“It was great, James.” She replied, receiving a kiss from James. “You know, I can’t wait for our wedding. Alice and Frank were so happy!”
“Don’t worry Lily flower, our wedding is coming nearer as the days pass. It will be here in no time.” He answered swiftly, closing the door and walking back into the house.
Lily sat down on the couch, showing James the pictures she took in the camera. “You should have been there, James! Too bad you had some Healer work.” Lily said, viewing more pictures at the camera. James glared at her. “Not that your work isn’t important! I was just thinking that you should take a day off.” She added hastily at James’ glare.
He nodded and was about to stand up to get drinks in the kitchen when he heard a loud crack, felt a heavy weight on him, and saw his best friend Sirius Black sitting on his lap, making him sit back down roughly. This was followed by Lily’s startled high-pitched shriek and a small crash. “MERLIN, PADFOOT! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING ON ME?!” James yelled.
Sirius looked around him and chuckled. “I was going to apparate here in your living room but then I was wondering how you were doing when I was about to apparate. Then I think this is the result of thinking about someone when apparating. You land on top of that person.” He said, still laughing.
“Sirius. Orion. Black! LOOK WHAT YOU DID!!” Lily said, shattering Sirius’ random moment to pieces. He jumped off a disgruntled James and stared at the floor, where Lily was pointing.
Apparently, when Lily saw Sirius sitting on top of James, she got startled and dropped the camera by accident. It was now lying there on the floor, broken. Well, not really. The lens was cracked. So were the edges of the camera. But that was all.
“Oh.” Was all Sirius managed to say. “Well I like apparating and disapparating and I never thought I would cause something to break, you know…” he mumbled.
James stared at him in disbelief. Wasn’t he going to apologize? “OH!” he said, understanding the look on James’ face. “Right…er…sorry, Lils. I promise to apparate more properly and carefully now. I could even pay for the damage.” He said. “Reparo!”
Then the camera was fixed, good as new. If one would look at it in its state right now, one would think it silly to be just lying on the floor. Lily picked it up and said, “I was starting to think you would never apologize and pay for it, you know, remembering how you were at Hogwarts. Honestly, I don’t find you any different at all…not even one bit. Still the same old notorious Sirius Black.”
James snickered and stopped when he noticed Sirius narrowing his eyes at him. “Hey mate, she’s right, you know.” He said hastily, running his hand through his hair making it messier and looking wind-blown. This time, Lily narrowed her eyes at him. She wanted him to get rid of that habit. That was one of the things she told him when she said yes in the marriage proposal. “Er…right. Gotta stop doing that.” He muttered, his hand falling limply to his side.
Lily then put the camera in her pocket and asked curiously, “So why are you here, Sirius? To sit on James or what?” Sirius shook his head and said, “I know you know that I came here earlier today. Well I came back to eat dinner with you and also tell you some things.”
“Eat with us, Padfoot? And also, what things?” James inquired.
“Well I wanted to tell you that Moony and I thought it would be best to have our next reunion at Wormtail’s house. I came there earlier and he seemed fine. Busy with some resurfacing of the garden, thinking his mum would have appreciated it, I think. He says the reunion at his house tomorrow evening would be a great idea. Also, he got delicious food there because of his kind neighbor, Mrs. Wilkins. Nice meal, that was.” He said cheerfully.
Lily nodded, agreeing that the idea was a good one. James, meanwhile, looked amused. “Let me guess, you had lunch at Wormtail’s, snacks at Moony’s, and then planning to have dinner here at my place?” he asked slyly.
Sirius stared at his best friend in disbelief. “Prongs, how do you come up with those…outrageous ideas?!” he cried in defeat, James having guessed his entire plan correctly.
He raised his eyebrows at Sirius and said, “So it’s true then…outrageous ideas, huh? Outrageous, but true.” Then he chuckled. “I’ll let you eat dinner here but next time, you won’t be able to apparate here freely anymore. No more mercy!”
Lily giggled softly at the two. They really talked about the most ridiculous and insignificant things. “So, lets have dinner, boys?” she asked impatiently.
The two nodded and followed Lily to the kitchen, and then they had a delicious dinner.
Peter Pettigrew was nervous. Very nervous. His friends were coming over and he was cleaning everything in his house that could make them suspect him as a Dark follower.
“Hey Wormy!” Sirius suddenly cried from outside the door.
Peter opened it and found Sirius, James, and Lily. “H-hello Padfoot, Prongs, Lily.” He greeted politely. They all nodded except for Sirius, who rushed to the kitchen to see if any food was prepared.
“I’m hungry! Being an Auror is lots of work! There were some Death Eaters who attacked a muggle family camping out in the woods. Didn’t find him. Vanished. We had to modify the muggles’ memories. Luckily they weren’t hurt.” Sirius explained quickly, getting as much food as he can from the refrigerator, trying not to eat right away and reluctantly putting it on the table.
“S-so where’s dear Moony?” Peter asked nervously, changing the subject. When Sirius said “Death Eaters”, he started fidgeting in his seat. Fortunately for him, nobody noticed.
Sirius shrugged and Lily shook her head, muttering a small ‘I don’t know’ as she summoned a cup of water.
James answered, “Saw him at St. Mungo’s a while ago.” Then Sirius and Lily gave him a look that clearly said, ‘why didn’t you tell us?’ James blushed and said in a tiny voice, “I forgot…no…I actually- Oh who cares! Remus was in St. Mungo’s because he got a bit sick from the full moon a few days ago. Didn’t want me telling you. Somehow knew we would worry too much. Anyway, like I told him a few days back, he should have let us come with him that night.”
Sirius and Peter exchanged worried looks. “W-well th-that’s silly of him. Sh-should’ve told us, eh?” Peter said awkwardly, chuckling slightly.
Sirius nodded and pretended James didn’t say anything. He cheerfully said, “Let’s eat!” and they dug in.
A few minutes later, they heard a crack just outside the door. Peter opened it to reveal a tired looking Remus.
“Hey, sorry for being late.” He said tiredly to all of them, taking a seat in between James and Peter. Lily was offering him to eat when he said, “No…I already ate at home; I thought you would be done by the time I would get here.”
“Actually, Moony, we’re already done except for Padfoot here, who’s still pigging out.” James said, laughing.
“I am NOT pigging out!” Sirius retorted indignantly, stuffing the huge last pieces of food in his mouth.
Lily glared at him and said disgustedly, “That’s gross, you know, Sirius.”
They all laughed and then Peter stood up. “Why don’t we go to the pensieve already? I’m s-sort of getting excited.” He said. Peter actually just wanted to get it over with so they could leave and he could relax in peace.
“Yeah, you’re right Wormtail! It’s the Christmas memory tonight!” Sirius exclaimed excitedly. “We could do with a few laughs.”
They all nodded in agreement. Remus grinned wearily, looking shabbier than last time and said, “I’ll go in first, I arrived the latest.”
Then he gripped the edges of the basin and went inside. Sirius suddenly pushed in a surprised Peter before following. Lily went in first, knowing James was trying to develop his manners. After that, he dived in.
When James looked around, he found himself just outside the castle of Hogwarts. He turned around and saw his smaller self throw snowballs at the other three smaller versions of his friends.
He remembered this vaguely. They were throwing snowballs at each other playfully until it became rough. He also saw that Lily was in the castle, as he saw a small Lily looking out one of the castle windows. One snowball went very far, past the four boys. Then James heard a scream from behind him. It was Lily. Not the small one from the window, it was the real Lily. James froze, wondering what made her scream. Then he saw it- he saw it approaching.
A/N: Cliffhanger! But if you find out in the next chapter why Lily screamed, you’re either going to laugh or think, “What? That’s it? What the hell?”
Anyway, the next chapter might be out a bit late, so sorry for the delay! :)
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