Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I am not affiliated with J. K. Rowling, or Warner Bros. Don't remind me.

I figured the Marauders had to get into more severe trouble than just the occasional detention. I mean, really, they run around the Forbidden Forest with a werewolf every full moon - they had to be in some real danger sometimes.

Also, in case you couldn't tell, I don't like caffeine.

James checked his watch.

"Nearly 19:30," he whispered to Sirius. They glanced over at Remus, who was perched uncomfortably on the eviscerated couch.

"You really think we should be waiting out here already?" asked Peter, puffing through the door with four cold butterbeers.

"Yeah, we might as well. Nothing better to do, eh?" He looked over at Remus. "You alright there, Moony?"

"I...I think so. Just a bit anxious."

Sirius snorted, shooting butterbeer out of his nose. James regarded him calmly, then replied to Remus, "Why'd you be anxious? We'll run about a bit, you can eat a rabbit or something, howl at the moon with Padfoot here-" he elbowed Sirius, who was trying to clean the sticky liquid off his face with his sleeve,"and then you'll wake up in the forest a few hours later and we'll head back toward the school. What's worrisome about it?"

Remus shook his head. "I dunno, I just don't feel right about it. Perhaps you three should just go back to the castle tonight."

"Now, don't you start with me again. I told you already - we're coming with you, whether you like it or not."

"Sun's setting," muttered Sirius, still swiping his nose with one arm. "Keep him distracted just a bit longer."

"Right," the bespectacled boy answered. "Hey, Remus, you haven't even started on your butterbeer yet! We've a few minutes left; you really ought to."

A smile brought some warmth to Remus' face. "I suppose so," he said, cracking open the butterbeer with a hissing sound.

The four friends talked and laughed together, whiling away the time, until Remus dropped his butterbeer with a moan, shuddering violently.

"And I never finished my butterbeer," Sirius sighed. He began growing thick, black fur and pointy ears atop his head.

An hour or so later, a werewolf, stag, dog, and rat were romping through the Forbidden Forest together, much the same as they had for about two years.

The night was drawing to a close when the werewolf clamped his jaws around a can of soda, lost some time ago by some Muggle who had penetrated the outer fringe of the forest. Turning it up, he drank the entire thing.

Padfoot and Wormtail looked at one another, wondering what this would do.

They didn't have to wait very long to find out.

Come on, James. Run.

He leapt over another fallen tree, glancing over his shoulder to check on his distance from the bloodthirsty, howling creature his friend had become.

Go on, faster. Pretend you're chasing Lily Evans.

His breath came in ragged bursts. His heart was beating faster than it ever had before, exhaustion taking over, hooves faltering. Somehow, the Red Bull had driven Remus even madder, causing him to attack practically anything that moved.

James looked longingly at the horizon, wishing the sun would just rise. This caused him to trip over a root.

Oh, cauldron bum.

He landed on his left side, all four legs flying into the air as he rolled to avoid the snapping teeth that were aimed at his flank. Try as he might, however, he couldn't get back on his feet.

Here goes.

He shut his eyes, concentrating hard on the human form that might give him a chance. As he shrank and morphed, a searing pain darted across his back - he yelled, hoping against hope for the sunrise. The wolf's hot breath dashed against the bare skin on the nape of his neck, and he turned his face toward the gaping mouth above him.

Suddenly, a sharp bark rang through the clearing. The wolf looked up, sniffing for the perpetrator - a large, black dog.

"Padfoot," James croaked, gasping on the ground. "Sirius, don't-"

But it was too late. The canines had clashed in the center of the clearing, leaping, barking, snarling, each one trying to rip the other's throat out. It went on for what seemed like an eternity.

Why did the idiot do that? He'll be eaten for sure, thought Prongs.

James barely saw the sky turning pink before he lost consciousness.

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