1977

Chapter 6

 

"Remind me again why we have to do this the stupid Muggle way?" James snorted as Severus and Lily plotted a course on a map. "This is way too hard, why couldn't we just have apparated there or something? And why are we even in a forest? Wouldn't he be in Hawaii or something?"

Severus rolled his eyes, not deigning to look up and acknowledge Potter. He scratched out another useless course before he finally replied, "A bit bigoted, aren't you? And you call me a biased Slytherin idiot?"

Lily, looking annoyed, declared, "We're here because You-Know-Who supposedly built a fortress around here. The forests of Britain are known to have a certain spiritual power within them, and he somehow harnessed this inherent magic. Spirits of nature who were the first magical beings like nymphs, sylphs and dryads originated in Britain- the epicenter of magical activity."

"Yeah? How'd you know, Evans?" Potter sneered.

"Unlike you, some people actually study History of Magic, you know, not just slack off in Binns' class. Oh, I forgot, you don't even know what reading is! Well then, I'm sorry for expecting too much of your pathetic little brain," Lily simpered sweetly.

Lupin frowned. "I wish to not be associated with these dunderheads. I actually do my homework, instead of copying mindlessly."

Severus snorted. "Dunderhead. Good one, Lupin. I'll keep that in mind for future insults."

James, still being the dingus he was, scratched his head and asked, "So...why can't we use a Portkey or apparate?" Sirius scowled and replied, "You-Know-Who can track all forms of Portkeys as he probably has spies in the Portkey Tracking Legalization. As for apparating, we haven't got our licenses yet! Fine with me if you splinch yourself, but I like my ligaments, thank you very much."

Lily gaped at Sirius. "Since when did you even know that much?"

Sirius groaned. "That's because I'm not even Sirius!"

"Wait...you're not even serious? Then are you joking?"

Muttering a well deserved "idiot" to the idiot who said that, Sirius suddenly looked constipated. Shortly after, his hair began to straighten and lengthen, slowly turning pinker and pinker, till it reached the shade of bubblegum. His nose also began to shrink to a shape of a button, looking like putty. His skin color turned slightly paler and his lips began to widen into a pouty shape.

"There," the girl now finished. "Recognize me now?" Her voice was higher than Sirius, and it was hard to believe that she once resembled their friend.

"Aren't you that fourth year from Hufflepuff?" Lily looked bemused.

The girl started to nod, but was cut off by Lily again. "The one who recently got scolded for scaring the Ravenclaw seeker off the pitch with a pig nose?"

She looked irritated. "Yes, but that prat deserved it and- oh! I forgot to introduce myself. Nymphadora Tonks, but please call me Tonks, or you'll end up with a few broken bones!" She smiled all too sweetly, holding out her hand for them to shake. No one did.

Then Remus stepped forward, proffering his hand. "Welcome to the club," he said dryly. "Where's Sirius?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh, I stored him in the bag, she said casually, kicking her duffle.

"You...did...WHAT?!" James squawked, flapping his arms like a Hippogriff.

"Eh, no big deal. He is my cousin after all, and I thought you needed someone who actually has brains, because only Lily and Remus won't do. So I snuck out as a ladybug. I'm a metamorphagi, by the way. Now, back to the plan?"

Lily shook her head, trying to rid her mind of the distracting thoughts she had. "So we have to travel from here," she pointed at a speck on the map. "To here, to avoid detection. And we have to switch camps a couple of times, to prevent arousing suspicion."

"I'm not sure if I agree, Lily," mused Snape. "wouldn't it be better if we set up a few false camps leading in the opposite direction to confuse them?"

"Or," chimed in Lupin. "We could just leave the people who aren't doing anything behind." He looked pointedly at James, who was trying desperately to Rennervate Sirius. "No? Never mind." He sighed. "Revelio." He pointed his wand at the woods, paving a golden trail. "If we follow this route, we can find another suitable campsite."

Tonks shrugged. "Seems good to me."