His first port of call would be a conversation with Professor Mortlake to arrange putting the first part of his plan into action.
"Let us see what he is truly made of" he declared, stroking the plumage of his phoenix who trilled in agreement. "Our very lives may depend on him".
(BREAK)
Two weeks had passed since the duel with Dolohov and the day Harry had been looking forward to had arrived; a trip to Hogsmeade with the rest of the Marauders. He had been forced to miss the previous one due to serving detention for his public interrogation of Snape and the Lestrange's, but now he was free from those and he had continued training exceedingly frequently, often now accompanied by the others who were all improving vastly. Remus, James and Sirius were all very close to producing a corporeal patronus and Peter was continuously getting better and better with his spell casting, something had hadn't ever been particularly gifted in.
Today however, they would not be training. Today was about having a few hours away from the castle and simply enjoying themselves as much as they could.
The group attended breakfast at the earliest possible time and had a hurried meal before making their way to the Entrance Hall to be checked out by Filch, who as Harry found out, still had his tendency to be overzealous with his detector, prodding and poking unnecessarily hard and invasively.
"Where to first?" Remus asked as they exited the carriages.
"Zonkos" Sirius answered immediately.
"Then Honeydukes" Peter piped up. "Then the Three Broomsticks" James added.
"So the usual then?" Remus questioned amusedly.
"I guess so, lead the way Moony" James instructed.
Remus simply shook his head and lead them to the shop where many a prank of the Marauders was cooked up as they perused the shelves and discovered new and forgotten items to cause mischief and mayhem.
After they had finished purchasing their wares, something that took a considerable amount of time, the teens headed for the sweet shop to add to their procurements for the day.
"I can't see how you eat those Moony" Sirius stated, grimacing as he watched the other boy fill his basket with blood pops.
Remus shrugged.
"I think the wolf likes them" he whispered. Sirius gave him a weak smile and nodded his understanding.
They each picked out what took their fancy and paid for their goods before exiting and heading towards the pub for lunch, all feeling famished from the efforts of shopping.
Finding a table without any trouble, they took a seat and waited for a much younger looking Rosmerta than Harry was accustomed to seeing, to come and take their orders.
"Potter, Black" She greeted James and Sirius warmly. "I'm warning you, none of your foolishness today" she added, wagging a finger at them.
"Ahh Rosie, we wouldn't dream of such a thing" Sirius returned with an elaborate bow and a smile that said otherwise.
The woman raised an eyebrow at the boy and placed her hands on her hips. "Fireworks in the toilets, muggle laxatives in other students butterbeer, the bar stool that would bite any one who tried to take a seat" she reeled off. "Need I go on?".
"Not necessary" Sirius replied dismissively.
The woman folder her arms and shook her head at the group.
"I'll be watching" she informed them threateningly. "Now, what can I get for you?" she asked, removing a pen and pad from her apron.
"Chicken salad please" Harry answered first.
Rosemerta looked at him properly for the first time and then quickly towards James before returning her gaze back to Harry.
"I heard rumours of another one of you" she sighed. "Please don't tell me you are as bad as him" she implored, gesturing at a mock offended James. "I assure you Rosie, my brother is much worse" he broke in before Harry could answer.
Harry shook his head amusedly and smirked. "That I find hard to believe" Rosmerta retorted. "Now, what are the rest of you having?". "Chicken and chips" Sirius answered.
"Blue steak and chips, please" Remus chipped in quietly.
"Chicken salad please" James requested. "Same" Peter shrugged. "And five butterbeers". "It will be with you soon" the barmaid explained once she had written down the order, before she headed back to the bar.
It was when the group were half way through their meal when their day of fun took a turn for the worse.
Harry had just raised his drink to his lips when the distant rumbling of an explosion reverberated throughout the bar and the teen was instantly on his feet, his wand in his hand.
The rest of the occupants in the bar had frozen and fallen silent, listening nervously for any further sounds of disturbance.
The door of the Three Broomsticks burst open as another, much closer, blast was heard.
"DEATH EATERS" the middle aged female intruder screamed before she simply collapsed.
After the briefest second of shocked stupor, the patrons began to panic, with none knowing what to do in the situation.
Harry immediately sprung into action shortly followed by the rest of the Marauders.
"Rosmerta" he called in a commanding voice.
The woman immediately paid attention to the commanding tone and turned her attention to the boy, noting that he was calm yet ready for a confrontation.
.
.
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