December 25, 1971
In the Gryffindor boys' room, JAMES, SIRIUS, and REMUS are up late on Christmas evening, casually working on their map of Hogwarts.
JAMES: I don't know. I still feel as if we need to map out more of the castle.
SIRIUS: We can do that anytime. What we need is to track down people.
JAMES: And how do you suggest we do that, genius?
SIRIUS: Ask Remus, he's the smart one.
JAMES: (smiling) Well, Remus?
REMUS: (skimming through a Charms textbook) Well, there's this one. The Homunculus Charm.
SIRIUS: What's it do?
REMUS: Exactly what we need it to do. It'll track all humans in a specified area- doesn't say anything about animals, but whatever- it's pretty advanced, though.
SIRIUS: Nothing's "too advanced" for us. We can do anything.
REMUS: But we're still going to need to track out the upper floors. It would be awesome if we could do it right now, when the castle's empty, but there's teachers and Prefects everywhere-
JAMES: (bolting up) Oh, wait! I forgot!
SIRIUS: What?
JAMES: (rummaging in his trunk) I might have something we can use. (He pulls out the Invisibility Cloak and shows it to the others).
SIRIUS: What in the name of Merlin is that?
REMUS: Hold on, let me see that. (JAMES tosses the Cloak to REMUS, who begins to examine it). This isn't- is this one of those invisible cloaks?
JAMES: Yeah! My parents gave it to me right before I came to school.
SIRIUS: What? You've had an Invisibility Cloak this whole time and only now you're telling us?
JAMES: (laughing) We've never had a real use for it until now!
REMUS: I can't believe it. These are really rare!
SIRIUS: Who cares? Are we gonna spend all night gawking over it or are we gonna go exploring?
JAMES and REMUS both share a mischievous smile before they hurriedly make their way out of the dormitory.
REMUS: But we have to make sure we don't stay out too long!
SIRIUS: (jokingly) Oh, shut up, Remus.
The boys laugh quietly as they exit the portrait hole, don the Invisibility Cloak, and escape into the empty castle.
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The Marauders Begin (I)
FanfictionBefore they were legends, they were eleven years old and eagerly ready to begin their training in the Wizarding world. "The Marauders Begin" details the humble beginnings of James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter as they journey through the trials and trib...
