There was a tall shady beech tree in the Hogwarts ground, which the Marauders used very often, to study or just lounge around under.
One day they were sitting under the tree. Remus was finishing a Potions essay; Sirius and James were playing Gobstones and Peter was watching them.
A group of rowdy first years came into view. They played a game around the Whomping Willow, at times getting close enough to touch it.
The Whomping Willow was a huge, extensively branched, and very aggressive tree. The branches kept lashing around, keeping anybody from approaching it.
"Why do they do this?" murmured Remus, looking worried. "They might be injured."
"It's actually not a bad idea, is it, Sirius?" asked James. "I bet we could go and touch it when nobody else can."
"No!" Remus' voice was unusually sharp. "If you two ever try that, I'll-I'll-"
"Calm down, Remus," said Sirius amused. "We'll not do anything if you don't want us to."
"As if," muttered Remus, darkly. James smacked him on the back affectionately.
"We can copy your essay, can't we?" asked Peter.
"All right," said Remus. "Since we have to submit it today, and you three haven't started it. But this is the last time-"
"You are letting us?" said Sirius, with a laugh. "You say that every time. Good old Remus-what will we ever do without you?" He hugged his friend so hard that Remus pushed him off.
"Idiots," he grumbled. "Now will you please let me concentrate?"
His friends fell silent. The next moment, an ear splitting yell rang out. The Marauders stood up instinctively. The first year students were crouching around one of them. Remus strode towards them at once. The others followed him.
A tiny first year, Davy Gudgeon was lying on the ground. There was a deep slash on his cheek very near to his eye.
Andromeda and Ted Tonks had been strolling in the grounds. They took the child to Madam Pomfrey.
After that, the Heads of all the houses informed their students that they were forbidden to go near the Whomping Willow.
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The Ghosts of the Past (The Marauders' Story)
Fanfiction"We're friends. We're the Marauders. We stick together, remember?" "Yes, Moony. I remember." One of them was mischievous and brave and had the perfect life. Another of them was reckless and loyal and desperate to leave behind his family name. The th...
