Marauders in Time

New Players

"Lifelong ban?!?!" Angelina screeched, causing James to flinch.

"Yeah," George sighed, plopping on the ground in defeat. 

His brother leaned against the wall facing away from everyone whereas Harry sat down next to Hermione. Ron still had not returned. The room was so silent, people outside would think there was no one in there. Angelina sat there in shock, staring from Fred to George to Harry. Her expression expressed both anger and frustration.

"No Seeker and no Beaters..." Angelina muttered. "What on Earth are we going to do?"

One of the other Chasers said grumpily, "Its just so unfair. What about their Beater who tried to hit the Bludger at Harry after the match?"

"He got lines," Ginny said miserably.

"And banning Fred when he didn't even do anything!" said Angelina hotly.

"Its not my fault I didn't," Fred said as he turned around. "I woulda pounded the little scumbag to a pulp if you three hadn't been holding me back."

Angelina sighed, a small tear falling down her cheek, "I am going to bed. Hopefully this is all a dream..."

Slowly the Gryffindor common room started to empty. The twins growled at some first years before trudging off to their dorm themselves. 

"Where is Ron?" Hermione asked. "Have you-"

The common room door opened again, and appeared Ron still in his Quidditch robes and looked crestfallen. He walked towards Harry and muttered, "I'm sorry for thinking I can play Quidditch. I'm resigning first thing tomorrow."

"You can't," Harry mumbled. "That would mean Gryffindor will be without 4 players."

When he looked up and saw Ron's confused look, he continued, "I've been given a lifelong ban. So have Fred and George."

Ron was persistent that it was his fault while Harry and Hermione would hear none of it. Still not bothering to change his mind, or not saying anything at all, he left to go up to his dorm. Sirius suddenly stood up and followed.

"Hey mate," Sirius said to him as they reached the doorway. "Don't beat yourself up. You have great potential we can all see that. Its just those Slytherin brats singing that stupid song. It would have got into anyone's head."

Ron dropped his things and turned to smile weakly, "Thanks."

"Keep your head up," Sirius smiled, turning to leave and joining the others in the common room.

"So what's gonna happen now?" Sirius asked the rest. "Now that the team are missing 3 players."

"Its up to Angelina," Ginny said. "She is the captain and its her responsibility."

"Is she gonna hold trials?"

"She is gonna have to. We haven't had to change the Gryffindor team for the last 5 years. Or at least until Ron came to replace the previous Keeper who left."

Lily started, "How can McGonagall give a lifelong ban though? Its just not like her!"

"It wasn't," Harry said. "It was Umbridge."

"That old cow!" Hermione slammed her hands on the table, causing some to jump. "She can't just come in here and take away everyone's privileges whenever she wants."

"She can and she has," Harry admitted in defeat. "She is leaving her mark on this school. Even the teachers are too afraid to say something."

"McGonagall could take Umbridge anytime."

"Yeah but its not that. If McGonagall does something rash, she will surely be in trouble with the Ministry."

"Why on Earth are the Ministry so persistent in interfering with Hogwarts?" Sirius asked in annoyance. "What's it to them?"

Hermione and Harry looked at each other while Ginny stared at the ground. They obviously knew but didn't want to tell. But they didn't know that Remus knew as well, and he was eyeing the floor the same way Ginny was.

"Its just so frustrating!" Sirius continued. "Like we should be standing up to them!"

Again, Hermione gave Harry a look. It was a look that said 'should we tell them?' and when Remus noticed this, he narrowed his eyebrows at Harry. Clearly there was something they were hiding. They had been close enough this past few weeks. Whatever they were hiding must surely be a very deep secret.

"I'm sick of people running over me like this!" Sirius threw his hands up in frustration. "We have to do something about it."

"No Reuben," Lily said calmly. "We can't. They have the authority and the power here. We can't do anything."

"You underestimate what I can do."

"Oh I know perfectly well what you can do. And trust me, this is a lot different. Its no longer 4 against 1 this time. Its-"

"Thank you Ruby," Remus said. "I think we get the point. Reuben, please calm down. We can deal with this tomorrow. We need sleep."

"I'll do it," James said suddenly.

Everyone looked at him, confused. When no one said anything, he continued, "I'll try for the Seeker position. And I'll get in."

"That's crazy," Remus said. "You don-"

"No I will," James said firmly. "I know I can. And don't worry Harry, I won't disappoint."

Harry looked up and gave him a small nod of approval. There was nothing that he could do really. It was now out of his hands. And James wanted to show that its not all over. James was confident in himself. And there is no doubt his friends were confident in him. Remus, however, gave him a very doubtful look.

"You shouldn't," Remus said.

"Why?" James challenged. "I know I can. You have seen me play, I am more than capable-"

"I mean you shouldn't. Because its just not a good idea."

James knew what he meant, and by the look Lily gave, it seemed like she agreed with him. But James dismissed them both, now fully confident he can bring the team's spirit back up.

"I can do it alright?" he said, letting the others know that there was no talking him out of it.

Harry and Ginny seemed surprised but welcomed his optimistic attitude. Hermione, however, was eyeing James very suspiciously. There was something about him that did not feel right. Despite their united feelings in wanting to bring Slytherin to its knees, it was clear that there were two distinct sides in that room, both hiding a secret from other. And the same way Remus questioned Harry's relationship with Umbridge and the Ministry, Hermione did with James. Is he really the man he claims to be?