The Marauders: Year Six Part 2 #Wattys2017

The Care of Magical Creatures Library

The first quarter moon was hanging in the sky, painting the grounds of Hogwarts silver. James moved through the courtyard at the base of Ravenclaw tower, tucked beneath the invisibility cloak, eyes scanning the shadows. He had taken this route purposefully, hoping to glimpse whoever it was he was meeting. The grounds appeared quite empty, though, save for a quick glimpse at Mrs. Norris, who was chasing mouse in the brush along the walls closest to the green houses, and James carefully gave her a lot of berth so as to avoid being smelled.

He crept to the foot of the Bell Towers and leaned against the cold stone, breathing as shallowly as he could to keep his scent and sound discreet, and turned his wrist to see his watch. The moonlight lit the face, beneath which moved Mickey Mouse's pointed fingers. It had been about fifty minutes since he had received the scroll. He was about to move forward for the handle of his wand to unlock the door out onto the grounds when a door to his right opened and he held his breath, staying still as a figure emerged at a run.

The figure darted out into the dark, sprinting for the shadows of the brush at the far side of the courtyard, and threw itself amongst the branches, startling Mrs. Norris, who darted out into the center of the yard with her tail pouffed up before turning back to examine what had come up. She snuffed the air carefully, and James squinted at where the branches were swaying from the propulsion of the runner entering them. The door to his right swung once more as the branches stilled, and Argus Filch emerged next, panting heavily. He looked infuriated and red in the face, as he hurried into the moonlight and looked around with a squinty-eyed expression of suspicion.

"Know yer out here," he hissed, "And when I find you, Sirius Black, I'll hang you by your ankles in the dungeons, whatever Dumbledore says!"

James immediately started inching towards the brush, quietly as could be. Sirius must have awakened and followed him somehow, he realized. He edged along, trying to only take steps as Filch did to try and mask the sound of his footsteps with Filch's steps. "Sirius," he hissed as he approached the brush. "Oi mate I'm here against the wall. Under the cloak. Wave one of the branches. I'll come over."

A branch wagged obediently.

"I see ya," James whispered, and he side stepped slowly toward the brush.

Filch turned their way as James's trainer caught a pebble and James froze entirely. Filch took a step in the direction of the brush. James licked his lip and edged closer as Filch walked, and he reached the brush, facing Filch, and quickly hiked the back of the cloak up for Sirius to see his ankles and he heard the brush rustle and felt Sirius's body smack into his own as he leaped beneath the cloak just as Filch leaped for the brush and the two boys under the cloak moved out of the way.

They moved quickly toward the Bell Tower door as Filch tugged at the branches, swearing and fuming loudly, searching for Sirius in the brush. "Unlock the door," James said, looking back and he heard a muttered alohamora and the lock clicked and they hurried out the door, slamming it shut behind them as Filch continued spluttering across the courtyard.

Outside, James tugged the cloak off and tucked it into his robes, realizing as he did that his wand wasn't in the pocket he thought it was, and turned about to face Sirius. "Mate, you didn't happen to bring along my —"

But it wasn't Sirius behind him.

It was Regulus Black.

"Regulus?" James said in surprise.

Regulus nodded then put a hand to his mouth - a motion to stay quiet - and he nodded at the stables away in the distance, indicating for James to follow along after him. James hesitated. Going to the Care of Magical Creatures stable and library had been one thing when he'd thought he had his wand but now — Now he was unsure. He glanced back up at the turrets and spires of Hogwarts and the moonlight glowing on the edges like an outline. It was also entirely different if Regulus Black was going the same direction. He didn't know if he ought to allow Regulus to see where he was going or not, given that he hadn't any idea what he was going into there in the first place. It occurred to him perhaps Regulus was going the same place. But who would summons both himself and Regulus Black?