Harry Potter Fanfiction - Oneshots

The Legacy of the Marauder's Map

'When do you reckon Harry's going to pass on the Map?' Sirius is wearing sunglasses but James can tell his eyes are closed. The inflatable seat he's lounging on while sipping iced coffee is slowly floating away from the one James occupies. He wishes it would move a bit closer, and, predictably, it does.

'Who's he going to pass it on to?' James asks in return.

'What do you mean who? One of his own kids, of course.' Sirius splashes some water in his direction. Only a few drops land on his bare chest so he assumes Sirius's eyes are still closed.

'I meant, which one, you dolt. He's got three.' James wants to knock Sirius off of his chair for that, but he curbs the impulse to do so. After all, if he can be sensible enough and grown up enough to make peace with Severus, he can be sensible enough to not start childish water fights with Sirius.

Ugh, James scowls, now he's got Lily's voice in his head, patronizing him.

'Our namesake, of course. He's the best choice.' Sirius grins before throwing his head back and downing his remaining coffee in one gulp.

'That's blatant favouritism.' Remus quips from behind them. James and Sirius both take off their sunglasses and turn around to find him standing by the edge of the pool. James smiles happily at him just as Sirius chucks the empty disposable cup at his head. Remus yelps, surprised at the welcome he's receiving, and promptly proceeds to fall into pool with a wondrous splash while trying to duck away from the cup.

James and Sirius both burst out laughing and James is thankful he'd swallowed the mouthful of his coffee, he'd have been been snorting it out now otherwise.

Its a rare sight when Remus joins them in this landscape. He says that it reminds him of the lake at Hogwarts - the pool's big enough and the water is strangely the same color - and that it unsettles him, because whenever he wishes for the actual place, it never appears exactly as it was. There's always either something missing from the landscape or its washed in a light that make it obvious that it's fake. Its difficult remaining in that kind of illusion, especially if you don't know the whys of the whole matter. So he just tries to stay away from these glitches entirely.

James has to laugh harder as Remus discreetly tugs the chair out from under Sirius while he's busy snickering at his fall.

Sirius emerges from the water sputtering and heaving and tries to give Remus a death glare from his terribly blinking eyes.

Another chaise lounge appears as a smirking Remus climbs on top of it, who's now wearing a pair of swimming trunks, just like them, instead of the faded jeans and a worn looking jumper he had come here in.

'So, why can't Albus Severus or our little Lily have it?' Remus raises his eye brows and puts on sunglasses of his own after squinting at the brightness of their surroundings and failing to get used to it.

Its always bright. No matter where they are, all the colors there are always too bright. So much so, that it gets hazy, beyond the specific view they construct. If its the Great Lake, for example, they are not able to make anything out beyond some trees round the banks.

'Because,' Sirius snaps, not breaking his glare as he too climbs back on top of his chair, 'one, he's Albus Severus, two, the boy's not really the type, he's more somber and bookish, like you,' Sirius glares harder, 'and third, Lily Luna is too young to handle that kind of responsibility. I designed that map so that after us, someone worthy, exactly like our James Sirius,' the git can't help but grin at that, its been thirteen years and he's still not over it, 'can use it to go on daring adventures and exciting escapades. Someone who's like us, those God-awesome Weasley twins and our brilliant, brilliant Harry.' Sirius raises his newly procured glass of butterbeer at that and takes a long, slurping sip.

'Bravo, mate. What a speech.' James bursts into spontaneous applause as Remus just rolls his eyes. 'Absolutely heart wrenching and so persuasive. But,' he pauses, making Sirius's eye go narrow, 'you made a mistake back there. I was the one who designed the map. You just mostly came up with the name and helped discover a few hidden passages.'

'What!?' Sirius almost chokes on his butterbeer and topples back into the water as he jerks suddenly upon hearing that. He doesn't know which offence to address to first. He settles with, 'A few hidden passages? I discovered almost all of the passages. The one from the whomping willow to the Shrieking Shack is the only one Moony already knew. Tell him Moony.'

'Well, there was also that one that lead to Honeyduke's.' Remus frowns slightly before he continues. 'Pettigrew and I came across it. I remember it was nearly christmas, we were putting up charmed mistletoe all over the castle corridors while Prongs and you served yet another detention.' Dropping the frown, Remus smiles slightly as his mind goes through the memories.

'No!' Sirius hisses, piqued now. 'Whatever that rat discovered doesn't count.' He glares at Remus until he stops smiling and scowls. 'Right then, I discovered almost all of the secret passages of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' Sirius announces loudly.

'There was also that one-'

'And I was the one who came up with not only the name of the Marauder's Map, but also its whole idea.' Sirius cuts Remus off and continues. 'I also designed the layout of the map and introduced the idea of the map becoming visible only upon saying a few specific words which were also chosen by yours truly.'

'That doesn't mean-'

'So yes, it was basically I, Sirius Orion Black, who designed the legendary Marauder's Map.' Sirius cuts off James this time before he finally concludes his tirade.

James and Remus give Sirius exasperated glances and then turn to look at each other.

'So who do you think Harry will give the map to?' James asks.

'Oi!'

'James Sirius nicked the Invisibility Cloak from Harry's study. He might be the one who ends up with it, even if it wasn't an official passing on of a legacy. Also, lets not forget the fact that Harry will now be teaching at Hogwarts. He may give it to some one completely random whom he thinks might be an appropriate choice.' Remus replies, grinning cheekily.

'Oi. Arseholes.'

James hums, combing his fingers through his hair.

'Alright. Fuck you. Ignore me if you want.'

'I'm not quite sure I want our 'legacy' to passed on to just anyone, and someone who's not even a Potter.' James mutters thoughtfully.

'Hey! My brother and I weren't Potters.' Fred calls, walking towards the pool. 'I myself think James Sirius would be the best candidate.' He grins as he stops at the edge and looks over at the three Marauders lounging on top of their floating chairs in the swimming pool.

'YES!!' Sirius whoops excitedly. 'There's my man. See Prongsie, I've still got supporters.'

James just grins and splashes at him with enough force to drench him completely.

A full blown struggle to one up the other ensues in the water and poor Fred gets caught in the middle of it.
James pulls himself out of the water, thirty minutes later, and declares himself victorious before he's being dragged away by the ear by a furious Lily.

'Ow. Ow. Evans. Potter. Lily. OW!'

'You were supposed to join me in the gardens fifteen minutes ago.'

'I was just coming. Ow! For Merlin's sake. Lily.'

'I knew I should have married a decent man.'

'Please. You wouldn't have lasted a day. OW. Ow. Ouch, Lily that hurt.'