The Marauders +1

A Place To Stay

We're halfway through the Forest when Leo stops and looks back where we came from. He raises his wand to the sky and yells, "Morsmordre!"

An enourmous green skull appears in the sky above us, a snake coming out of its mouth.

Leo turns to us and says, "That's what we do when we kill someone. They have to think I've killed you."

"We know what that mark means," Sirius says bitterly.

Leo laughs. "Of course you do, how stupid of me. Your brother Regulus is a Deatheater! Yes, I have met him quite often."

"You seem happy to remember your Deatheater times, almost looks like you're still on their side," Sirius responds coldly.

Leo frowns at him and says, "I didn't mind being a Deatheater as long as I didn't have to get my hands dirty by killing people. I mean, I could get everything I wanted just by showing my Dark Mark," Leo pulls up his left sleeve and shows us his Deatheater Mark, "to someone. And they'd be so scared that they'll give me everything I wanted; gold, jewels, dark artefacts..."

We all look at him in disgust but then I say, "Voldemort will find out you saved us and he'll kill you."

They all wince at the sound of the name and look at me in bewilderment. Gulping, I say, "It's time we starts using his name."

They don't say anything. Leo looks away, and says as if I didn't talk at all, "He will not find out. I'm one of the bests Occluments."

Sirius and James roll their eyes and resume walking. But I stay behind, looking at Leo under the green light of the skull in the sky. Then I shake my head and join Sirius and James.

"Crystal," Sirius says as I fall into step beside him. I look at him curiously. "Please promise me you'll never do something this stupid again. You could've died tonight."

I sigh and ask, "What would've you done in my place? Just stay put while your friends are risking their lives?"

Sirius looks like he wants to argue but stays silent for a moment. Then he says, "You're right. I would've done the same thing."

We finally come out of the Forest and stop before walking towards the Whomping Willow. James turns around and tells Leo dryly, "I guess this is where we say thank you for saving us but goodbye anyway."

Leo puts a hand on his heart and acts offended. "After all that I've done, you won't even offer me a place to stay the night? A nice warm bed after risking my life for you?"

"Where do you think we're staying, at a five-star hotel?" Sirius says scoffing. "Didn't you say you can get anything with that Mark? Why don't you get yourself a nice and cozy room at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"You think I go around showing this Mark to anyone so I'll get myself arrested? Nah, mate, not that easy. Besides, I just need a place to stay for a few hours. Then I'll have to rejoin my old pals and attend a Deatheater meeting and maybe even endure a Cruciatus curse from You-Know-Who himself after what happened tonight. He'll be pissed." Leo stretched out the last word. His strange humor in these dark times makes me crack a smile.

"Look," I finally say. "Let's just let him stay with us for a few hours. He did just save our lives and risked his own. We owe him."

Leo looks surprised and amused at my words. Then he looks enquirengly at the other guys.

"He can't know where we're staying. It's our safe house," Sirius says shaking his head.

"Well, then, we'll bring him there blindfolded or something!" I tell him in esasperation.