To the past

3

After two hours, I was forced back to my own room by Euphemia. All of us protested but it didn't work.

She told me I needed rest and that meant sleep not staying up all night, pretending that you're sleeping but actually talking and plotting.

I argued and argued saying that it was too early for a seventeen year old to go to bed as it was barely nine.

As I kept arguing, she finally said, "If they let you, stay there tomorrow night but for now, your own room. And so help me, I will use a sleeping draught if you don't go right now!"

As I left, her dragging me out, I looked over my shoulder and mouthed, 'Help me, please!'

They laughed quietly and nodded.

When we got into the room, Mrs Potter handed me a pair of joggers and a blue t-shirt. "These should do for now. They may be a bit big because they're James' but they'll do."

I nodded and took the clothes. She was right. They were absolutely huge on me. My dad was miles taller than me. Mind you, they weren't as bad as Dudley's hand-me-downs.

After I was sure she left and wasn't coming back, I tried the door. It was, of course, locked so I couldn't sneak back out. Except, I could. I had my wand in my bag still.

Taking my wand, I cast alohamora on the door handle. Quietly, I made my way across the hall and knocked on James' door.

I heard shuffling and 'shhh's.

"Hello?" James called, probably thinking it was his mum.

"James, it's me!" I hissed through the door. "Now let me in before your mum comes, please."

The door swung open.

The marauders were still sat on James' bed but they had a piece of parchment between them this time. I smirked discretely to myself when I realised what it was.

It was the marauders map.

"What'cha got there?" I asked.

Remus folded it up and tapped his wand to it, muttering a phrase under his breath. Evidently so I couldn't hear him. He stowed it away in his pocket and told me, "it's just a piece of parchment. We were brainstorming."

I raised my eyebrow. "Okay, let's go with that for now. I'm just sayin' a silencing charm would do you good every now and again."

"What do you mean?" Pettigrew asked.

"Nothing, nothing. Doesn't matter. Anyway, is your mum always like that? She literally locked my bedroom door. Good thing I had my wand on me. I would've been stuck there bored out of my mind!" I completely dismissed the subject of the map.

"Dude, you realise she could've put wards up, right?" James asked.

I just laughed. "I know. That's what this is for, is it not?" I asked pulling a corner of my cloak from my magically extended pocket.

"Fair enough. Except Mrs Potter has spells for that. Revelio for instance." Remus countered.

"Well, she's already forcing me to be chaperoned everywhere until Hogwarts and prescribing me potions, that taste like dirt by the way. She can't possibly expect me to go to bed this early. It's barely half past nine."

Right then we heard a click and the door started opening. I quickly chucked my cloak over me just in time for Mrs Potter to walk in.

"Nice try, Harry. I had your room warded. Come on out." She called into the room.

"He's not in here mum." James told her.

Euphemia raised her eyebrow and asked, "is he not? Well, I believe your father is home from work right now. I could always ask him to search the room. Maybe make sure your cloak isn't gone."