Disclaimer: Everything you recognize from J. K. Rowling is hers, not mine.

"So, what exactly makes you transform?"

Remus blinked. Surely Sirius Black had not just asked him such a stupid question.

"You know, I'm pretty sure it's the moon."

"Well, I knew that…"

"Then why did you ask?"

"I meant, you transform specifically by the light of the full moon, once it reaches Europe, right?"

"Right," Remus responded, still confused about why Sirius was confused.

"And we're in Europe, right?"

"Sirius, I think you may need to get your head examined…"

"Which means that, time-wise, we're behind Asia and ahead of the Americas."

"Okay, good geography lesson so far…"

"Which means that the full moon rises in Asia before it does in Europe."

"Yes…"

"And it rises in Europe before it does in, say, North America."

"Courtesy of the Earth and its roundness, yes…"

"So, on the day of the full moon…"

"Technically it's night of the full moon…"

"You could just fly."

"I could- wait, what?"

"Maybe in one of those plarefanes that Muggles are always using…"

"I-I think you mean airplanes."

"Well, you'd need something fast."

"You've lost me, Padfoot."

"Maybe you could Apparate…"

"Not for another few years…"

"Oh! What about Portkeys?"

"What about them?"

"You can use Portkeys!"

"Well, I don't like to brag…"

"We can set them up all around the world!"

"I think the rest of the world already has Portkeys too."

"And you could just skip nighttime entirely!"

At that moment, James opened the door to the boys' dormitory and asked, "Padfoot, what's gotten you so excited?"

"I'm a genius, that's what!" Sirius responded as James closed the door.

"Could have fooled me," said Remus. "He was rambling about geography and Portkeys and the moon just now."

James looked at Sirius thoughtfully, in an attempt to understand. Remus then saw the light of recognition on his face as he laughed and exclaimed, "Merlin's beard, Padfoot, you are a genius!"

"Erm, what exactly am I missing here?" Remus asked. "And what good would it do me to skip the night- oh!"

"Took you long enough. So, I'm a genius, right?"

"That might actually work, you know."

"Of course I know, I'm a genius."

"But how safe is it?"

"Probably a hell of a lot safer than the alternative," James reasoned.

"There's gotta be a reason why I've never heard of it before."

"Not everyone is as smart as I, Sirius Black, genius extraordinaire."

"I need to see Dumbledore. And yes, Sirius," Remus conceded, "you are a genius."