The Empty Chamber (Harry Potter Next Generation Fanfiction)

Chapter Ten: James

"James, this is amazing," Fred laughed in disbelief.

"I know," said James.

"And terrifying."

"I know."

"And actually pretty sad, and disturbing."

"I know."

"But so cool."

"It's the Shrieking Shack, Fred. That about sums it up."

"Have you been upstairs?"

"Only once," James grinned. "After you."

Fred ran up the stairs, trailing his fingers along the dust on the wall. James followed him and watched as he peered curiously around the empty room. "James," he called as he walked in further. "James, take out the Marauder's Map."

"Why?" James asked, but he was already fumbling his fingers around in his robe pockets to find the old parchment. 

"Moony," Fred said as he placed his hand on a table riddled with scratches and claw marks. James set the Marauder's Map on the table. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The map sprung to life instantly, as it had for generations, and drew out Hogwarts. James quickly spotted his brother, Albus, walking through the library, and besides him were the names of Lydia and Scorpius. James shook his head and looked up at Fred. 

"That Lydia girl -"

"James, my friend, now is not the time," Fred stepped back and held his arms out to his sides, looking around the room in awe. "We are at the place where Moony, our fellow troublemaker, and one of the writers of the map which we owe our careers to, spent every full moon, in agony. He was a werewolf, here, alone, for years."

"I know, Fred, his name was Remus and his son is at my house every Thursday for dinner -"

"Shhhh," Fred cut him off. "Respect. Respect for Moony, the Marauder, and the legacy he leaves with us." Fred gestured to the Marauder's Map.

James looked to Fred, his eyebrows raised, as the boy walked to a boarded window and placed his dark hands onto it. Before James could have known to silence him, Fred let out a loud howl, sounding not at all like a werewolf, but like a five year old impersonating one. James rushed forward and grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?" Fred didn't respond, as he was too busy laughing.

"Relax. It was getting too serious in here, I had to do something. For the Marauder's sake, obviously. They wouldn't want a boring tribute to their memory." 

"You git," James smiled as he shoved Fred into the wall, shaking the house. "Get the Invisibility Cloak, let's go down to Hogsmeade."

"Hogsmeade? What for?" Fred asked as he followed James down the stairs.

"Butterbeer, most likely," James said coolly. He was recollecting his confidence so that Fred wouldn't think he had caught him off guard. "The point isn't the Butterbeer, though. The point is that we're taking a secret passageway out of Hogwarts as far as it will take us. And I might as well stop by your dad's shop while we're here. In case someone finds and reports your pranking stores, we'll need backup."

James walked down to the door which he had checked with his sister and pulled out his wand. "It's boarded on the outside," he said casually to Fred. "So I'm going to have to blow all of it off. Put the Invisibility Cloak on." Fred took the Invisibility Cloak out of his pockets and draped it over both him and James. 

"Won't the people at Hogsmeade notice a door getting blown off its hinges?"

"Just as much as they'll notice you howling," James whispered. "Don't try to pretend you're cautious now." He took a deep breath and slipped his hand out from under the cloak. "Bombarda!" James pulled his exposed hand back under the Cloak as the door shot back, leaving a gaping entryway open to the brown lawn in front of the Shrieking Shack.