History and Truth

Whomping Willow

I ran as fast as I could. Once I reached the hospital wing I slowed down. I found her in her office.

"Madame Pomfrey, I apologize. I forgot completely."

"Well, you're here now. I have spoken at length with your mother as to the severity of your wounds and recovery time usually needed. Around dinner time on the full moon you will report here to me. Your meal will be waiting for you. I will escort you to the Whomping Willow which protects the entrance to a tunnel..."

"Boy does it ever," Ron commented. Harry and Hermoine both laughed. The three kids and Ginny looked at the trio.

"The year your dad was on staff here, Teddy, the three of us actually went inside that tunnel. Not to mention these two flew Ron's dad's car into the Willow the year before that."

"How did you guys know about the tunnel?"

"We didn't at the time," Harry began.

"Yeah, Padfoot grabbed my leg and drug me into the bloody tunnel and broke the leg."

"It was a complicated story that we will tell later if your dad doesn't tell it himself. But it was while we were in the Shrieking Shack that night that I learned your dad was a werewolf, that Sirius was innocent and Peter Pettigrew was the one that betrayed all of them."

Teddy thought about it for a moment. "History isn't always the truth."

The tunnel leads off of the grounds and to the outskirts of Hogsmeade. The building at the other end was built for you to transform in. I will leave you in the shack until morning when I arrive to bring you back to the school. There are blankets and water stored there if you should need them. Any questions?"

"No mam."

"Also Remus, your mother tells me that increased temper and bad mood swings are usually present a couple of days before. She also tells me there seems to be a connection between how you feel at the time you transform and how badly you are injured that night. To aid in this I have calming potions stocked. You will just need to let me know."

"Thank you mam."

"And Remus," her voice was ow very hushed and soft, "if there is anything else I can do let me know ok. I've never treated a werewolf after a transformation on a regular basis. Maybe you and I can figure out other ways to help." She gave me a warm smile. At that point I understood why my mother held her in such high regard.

"I'm rather shocked to hear Pomfrey described that way," Harry commented.

"So am I to be honest," Hermoine added.

"Why is that?"

"Well, she always kinda seemed to think of us as troublesome I think," Harry offered. "But, after everything that happened over the years between your dad arriving and our arriving she may have changed her outlook of things."

I left the hospital wing and slowly began to make my way to the Great Hall. Lunch was not being served yet so I was exploring the castle. Considering what had taken place earlier, this probably was not a smart move on my part. I ended up in a corridor I did not recognize. Nonplussed, I went on exploring. A short time later I was examining a tapestry when I fell through it into a hidden passage. This passage sloped down and was completely dark. I was about to step back out of the passage when I heard voices.

"I thought he came down this way but I don't see him."

I did not know the voice speaking or the one that responded. It wasn't hard to figure out though.

"My uncle told me about this filthy brat. He mouthed off at him in Madame Malkins during the summer. Then the Potter boys father stuck his blood-traitor self in the way before Uncle Orion could give him what he deserves."

"Calm yourself, Bella. We will catch up to all three of them eventually."

They made their way on down the corridor and soon were far enough out of range for me to hear. I carefully made my way down the passage. It was now very important that I found James and Sirius. I peeked out of the other end of the passage. No one was in sight so I ran in what I hoped was the right direction. As I rounded the next corner I ran into someone and landed on the floor.

I looked up to apologize to whomever I had ran into and to my horror, Narcissa Black and three guys were staring at me with evil smirks. The two  biggest of the guys grabbed me. One had my feet and the other my arms. I tried to fight my way out but to no avail. The other guy had white-blonde hair and seemed to be the ring leader. He leaned towards me and practically hissed at me, "You will learn your place one way or another." I saw an awful smile on his face and then nothing.

When I woke up I was in the hospital wing. In the bed on my left was James and Sirius was in the one on my right. All three of us seemed to be coming round at the same time. I sat up and looked around. Madame Pomfrey came out of her office. She looked up and saw we were awake.

"Good! Now maybe we can figure out what happened."

She waved her wand and a silver bird came out. She whispered something to it and it flew down the wing and through the wall. She then fussed about looking at all three of us and refused to let us talk. Several minutes later Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore walked in.

"Ah, yes. Our young marauders are awake," Professor Dumbledore said.

 "Hold on! Dumbledore was the first one to call them the Marauders?"

"That's what it sounded like to me Ron," Harry laughed. "Teddy, I'm really glad your dad left this book for you and that you decided to share it. I'm learning a lot."

"Now gentlemen, would you please tell us what happened? Mr. Lupin, you go first."

So I told them everything. I watched their expressions as I went. Dumbledore did not seem surprised at all. McGonagall was looking more stern by the second. They then asked James for his account. he had gone to our dorm looking for me when I wasn't at lunch. Three older students pounced on him calling him a blood-traitor. Sirius'  story was almost identical. His cousin Bellatrix, her boyfriend and the Carrows jumped him when he went looking for James and I. It turned out to be Sunday night and we had classes the next morning.

From the moment we left the hospital wing we went everywhere outside of Gryffindor Tower together. The other boy in our dorm room, Peter Pettigrew began to follow us around. We included him in most things but not all. The word Professor Dumbledore had used for us had intrigued me so I did my research. Marauder is a term used in reference to pirates meaning 'rogue or vagabond.' The term 'marauder' also means 'to rove in search of plunder.' Other synonyms include: buccaneer, freebooter & rifler. Best I could figure he was referring to our roaming around exploring. It did, however give me an idea.

Teddy stopped reading when he heard Harry laughing. He gave him a puzzled look.

"I'm sorry, Teddy. But the thought of your dad saying he has an idea is more than a little scary. The man was brilliant."

Teddy smiled as he heard Harry and saw the other adults agreeing.