IT'S MAGIC ❤︎ WHY DONT WE

thirty six

the school year has ended. exams were over, classes were done. third year was checked off. everyone was ready to start fourth year. eager to have another fun, adventurous year together. zach's brother, ryan. he was to be starting his first year.

turns out zach wasn't the only magical one in his family. he was curious to know which house ryan would be sorted to. of course, no matter which house, nothing would change.

zach couldn't wait to show ryan around the school, introduce him to his friends. help him with his classes. and he just couldn't wait to introduce ryan to remus.

there were two days left before students board the train to go home. two days of freedom around hogwarts. where the group of eight friends just danced around and played in the courtyard. most especially playing gobstones. zach lost every time.

as they walked through the hallways, they saw remus angrily leaving headmaster dumbledore's office. so zach ran up to him, wondering if he was okay. "remus? what's wrong?"

"he knew. the whole time. he knew this whole time sirius was innocent. and he let me hate him for years! he was never gonna say a word, and they were so close to performing the dementor's kiss! he was just going to let it happen! let harry do it for him!"

remus was angry. he was being lied to this whole time. it was infuriating to him. "s-so.. you're leaving?" zach asked sadly. "i have to zach. i can't stay here."

"now... i'm not leaving you alright? but i can't work for dumbledore." remus sighed. "listen, zach... if you ever need me, i will be here for you. i'm not going anywhere. and as much as i would give this back to harry, i do believe james would find it fitting leaving this in your hands."

"after all... you've got yourself a nice set of friends. it's time to make some mischief of your own with this map. become the new marauders."

"remus i– i can't take the map. you should give it to harry. james was his father, he should have the map." zach shook his head, handing the parchment back to his professor. "well, i must give you something before i leave here."

"you've given me so much already, i don't need anything else." zach shook his head again, letting a smile creep onto his face. "here... you take this."

remus reached behind his neck, i clasping the silver chain he wore. "you're giving me your marauders ring? remus i can't."

"yes you can. like i said... it's time for new marauders. it's time for you and your friends to carry on our torch. dark times surely lie ahead, it's up to you to bring light back into hogwarts."

•••

"promise you'll write all summer?" christina asked corbyn before they had to part at king's cross station. "of course i will. every week a new letter." the hufflepuff and ravenclaw shared a sweet, tight hug before corbyn departed toward his family.

a similar conversation was occurring between zach and cedric. "i will see you soon. and i'll make sure to come visit godric's hollow at least once this summer." cedric smiled, leaning down and placing a gentle peck to zach's blushing red cheek before leaving.

as zach spotted his own family, he ran toward his siblings. crushing in to his eleven year old brother. picking up his four year old sister and carrying her back to the car. "are you excited ryan? soon we'll both be on the train!"

"do you think i'll be sorted to the same house as you?" ryan asked, "maybe. we'll just have to wait and let the sorting hat tell us."

"zach!" daniel and jonah both exclaimed, rushing over to him in the parking lot to say goodbye for the summer. "yeah, not gonna miss you tosser's one bit!" zach teased him. "oh shut it! of course you will!" daniel said, squeezing him.

"yeah yeah you wish!" he laughed. soon after, leaving with his family back to godric's hollow.