A/N

By PM request, I am going to write another Marauder story,

This story was a pain to write, I kept losing my muse and I don't know why!

Enjoy and please be sure to leave a review telling me what you want to see next.

The sun began to set on a warm summer evening; James and the boys were sun bathing on the grass by the Great Lake.

"I'm booored," James whined, moving into a sitting position, looking at his best friends still sprawled on the grass. "Let's do something exciting."

Sirius sat up also with a wide grin on his face. "Fancy a game of quidditch?"

"No Sirius, defiantly not. Curfew is in thirty minutes; that's not nearly enough time." Explained Remus, with a hint of concern in his voice. If it wasn't for Remus, the boys would have gotten themselves into more than double the amount of trouble in the past; he seemed to be the only one that saw reason.

"I don't really want to play either Sirius." Peter replied as he remembered the amount of trouble he got into only a couple of weeks ago for being caught out of bed after curfew, getting food for the boys midnight feast. It was in celebration of Peter's 14th Birthday; the other boys had had similar feasts when their birthday passed too. However he lacked in being sneaky and was caught by Peeves the Poltergeist, who took it upon himself to ensure McGonagall was made aware that one of her students was out of bed. Unfortunately for Peter, McGonagall stood in front of the portrait of Gryffindor tower, leaving him with no other option but to hand himself in. He was taken to her office and scolded for being so out of bed so late. McGonagall sentenced him to 2 Saturday detentions and sent him directly back to bed promising to take a cane to him should it happen again. Peter was eager not to have a repeat of his scolding and since then had refused to partake in any of the other boy's mischief, despite James' teasing.

"Well don't then." Said James in a flippant tone. "Sirius and I will play on our own." He finished as he got up off the ground heading for the pitch in a huff.

"Padfoot, don't be mad." Remus tried to plead, hating squabbles. He earned a glare from James as he turned and continued to walk away.

Sirius got up to follow, looking back at Peter and Remus who both shook their heads and refusing to move. He ran to keep up with James and gave him a smirk. "This is going to be so much fun Prongs!"

"If we only play a little after curfew, I'm sure no one will even know. It's summer; there'll be plenty of students out of bed late." James tried to rationalise.

Little did they know that one of those students, Severus Snape, would do anything to get them into trouble; regardless of whether that meant being a snitch.

Both boys reached the pitch and took a couple of brooms from the schools supply.

"How about we both just play with the snitch, first one to catch it wins a point!"

Sirius agreed and the game was underway. Both boys were experienced and talented fliers; Sirius being taught from a young age and James having natural ability. Because of this, the game was even and it took a while for one of them to catch the tiny snitch.

They took little notice of the sky as it began to darken; their eyes naturally adjusting to the changing lack of sunlight. James won the first point and the released the snitch once more; this time however, the snitch had a mind of its own and headed another direction entirely. Both boys, too engrossed in the game to realise, had begun to fly over the Forbidden Forrest.

"Prongs, I think we've flown too far out," James said with a hint of worry in his voice as he surveyed his surroundings. Both boys knew that the forest was completely out of bounds; just like they also knew that any student found in the forest was caned.

"Quick Padfoot," Replied Sirius as he turned his broom the other way, leaving the forest, remembering what happened earlier in the year when their prank went horrifically wrong. "We can't get in trouble again."

Once both boys were safely out, they returned back to the quidditch pitch, landing on the grass. They both dismounted their brooms as Sirius looked up at the sky; a sea of concern took over his face.

"James, I think it might be a lot later than we thought, look how dark it is."

"What time do you think it is?"

"Eleven - maybe even twelve." Sirius moaned.

"You're joking, it can't be that late!" James exclaimed as he ran to put his broom back in the storage cupboard.

Sirius followed his best mate, desperately trying to figure out what time it must be. Both boys placed their school brooms back and ran up to an entrance of the castle. They had to get to bed without getting caught; otherwise the trouble that they were in had the potential to multiply.

They look little notice of their surroundings as they hurried back to the common room. So engrossed in being quiet, they failed to realise that they were walking directly into oncoming light.

"BOYS!" the voice from the end of the corridor shouted, causing them both to snap their heads up in surprise. "What on earth do you think you are doing?" the voice shouted as they walked closer towards the, now frozen, pair. Sirius groaned as he realised that this voice came from Professor Slughorn, head of Slytherin house. "We have the entire teaching staff out looking for you two. I cannot believe that you would be so careless." Slughorn lectured as he sent out a patronus and grabbed them both by the shoulder of their shirts and led them up the stairs; headed for Professor McGonagall's office...

"Why is it, when something happens, it is always you two?" McGonagall lectured, eyes glaring at the two sorrowful boys that sat in front of her.

James and Sirius had listened to McGonagall lecture for the past 5 minutes, neither wanting to say anything in fear of aggravating her even more. Sirius also feared that they might about to be caned again, which was something he absolutely loathed.

"Of all the places you could've gone, you chose the one place that you know is strictly forbidden; forbidden is even in its name for merlin's sake. I cannot believe that we find ourselves in the same positon once again. You are lucky you were found when you did for we nearly called the Aurors." This, to James, sounded like a wicked idea. Imagine being hunted down by dark wizard catchers! "Believe me when I say this, the Aurors would not have been happy to have their time wasted looking for a pair of juvenile delinquents who believe that they are above the rules." McGonagall finally finished.

"Professor, I know what we've done looks bad, but I promise we never actually went into the forest. We only flew over it!" James tried, never one to back down.

"May I remind you that if I catch you lying to me, that will be another thing to add to your misdeeds?" McGonagall replied sternly, recalling the information she had been told by Severus Snape only moments before. "I caught Mr Pettigrew out of bed just a couple of weeks ago and I have a suspicion that his late night wandering had very little to do with him being bored, and very much to do with wanting to entertain his friends. Now I do not want to hear any more excuses, reasons or lies about why you should or should not be punished. I am in no kind of mood to be doling out punishment at this ungodly hour. Return to your dormitory and I will request your presence in my office tomorrow." She finished as she stood to indicate that she was done talking.

"Please – professor, if you are going to cane us, can't you just do it now. – I don't want to wait…" Sirius replied, stumbling over his words.

"As I have said Mr Black, I refuse to dole at a punishment at gone midnight. As it is, this conversation is not finished and I am yet to decide your punishment. Now please return to Gryffindor tower; do not make me ask again."

Sirius and James, stood to leave with their heads hung low and just wanting the ordeal to be over.

"Is it true that you went into the Forbidden Forest?" asked a second year Ravenclaw, eager to know if the rumours were correct.

James and Sirius had woken up the next morning to Remus and Peter shaking them; begging to know if the rumours were true. They had heard that James and Sirius were caught at midnight, playing in the forest, with a snitch, without a care in the world. Knowing McGonagall, they knew that it was unlikely the pair had escaped without punishment. They wanted to know exactly what happened before they gave in to believing in such rumours.

"Yes, why?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow,

"Uh, no reason. I had just heard rumours is all." The Ravenclaw replied as she ran away from the Gryffindor table to go and tell her little group of friends what she had found out.

"Does everyone know about last night?" Asked James, becoming rather concerned about his fate and rather more aware that they were most likely the conversation of many at the moment as students tucked into their breakfast.

"You know how quickly rumour spreads Padfoot, of course everyone does." Sirius answered with an annoyed tone.

James was sat in his last lesson of the day, History of Magic, daydreaming like always, when a prefect came in, two notes in hand. James looked at Sirius and instantly knew, they were thinking the same thing.

"I have a note for Mr Black and Mr Potter, sir" the prefect read as he entered to hand the pair their notes. Luckily both boys sat together at the back of the classroom and so were able to open the note without prying eyes. James gave a heavy breath and opened his note first, already believing he knew the contents.

Mr Potter,

Please report to my office immediately after dinner tonight. 6pm sharp, no excuses.

M McGonagall.

James gave little reaction as he read over the note twice. He looked over to Sirius and they swapped notes; instantly realising that they were to report to her office at different times.

"Why aren't we going together?" James whispered hoping he wouldn't catch the attention of Professor Binns.

"No idea," Sirius asked honestly. "Maybe it's a detention? I have to go at 4, that's a whole two hours before you." James nodded in agreement; Sirius's reasoning was logical.

Both boys found themselves squirming in their seats with apprehension. Neither wanting to admit what the other was thinking. They knew the usual punishment for going into the forest, and whether they liked it or not, McGonagall was a stickler for abiding by the rules.

4pm rolled around as Sirius left his friends in the noisy common room, headed for McGonagall's office.

McGonagall had done a lot thinking whilst the day had past, still unsure how she should deal with the two unruly students. Her first though was to give them detention but she was certain, due to the many detentions the boys had had in the past, that it did little to curve the boy's behaviour. At one time, she could've sworn the boys had made it into a competition of 'who could get the most detentions in one month'.

A knock on her door pulled her from these thoughts as she authorised the boy to enter.

"Sirius," McGonagall started, eyes glancing at the clock, noting that the boy was in fact early. "I assume that you are aware by now of my displeasure at your actions." Sirius gave a small nod as he approached the desk, standing in front of it. "Rumours have been spread around today as I am sure you are also aware, however I would like to hear the story from your point of view."

She had tactfully asked Sirius to go first, due to knowing that James tended to lie and falsify stories much more than Sirius ever did. Sirius was quick at coming up with stories but once he knew he was caught, saw little reason to lie.

Sirius began to explain that they had been bored all day and wanted a bit of excitement. They decided to play quidditch and hoped to be finished a little over curfew. They had got distracted and flew too far and before they realised, they were flying in the forest. McGonagall nodded at this story and believed it to be plausible. She would have to have a word with Snape after; he'd tried to frame to boys, saying that they were climbing trees and chasing unicorns in the forest and she had let him go with mealy one Saturday detention for being out of bed so late.

"So your misdeeds are, being out after curfew, night time flying, entering the forbidden forest and using school property without permission." McGonagall noted down each of these wrong doings, "You are lucky young man. Should you have stepped even one toe on the ground in that forest, the conversation we are having at present would have been entirely different." She said as she raised her eyebrows. Sirius felt himself release a breath that he was unaware that he was holding. "I want you to sit on that desk in the far corner and re-write your actions 100 times each with 'I must not' at the beginning of each sentence. I have written the sentences at the top for you; you have two hours. Should you fail to complete them, I will have you return tomorrow and forgo the quidditch match in the evening. I also want to you attend 4 weeks of Saturday detention. I am now about to write to yours and James' father, letting him know of your misdeeds and punishment."

Sirius, knowing that he was getting off extremely light considering their actions, immediately walked over to the desk in the corner getting started on his lines.

James lay on the sofa in the common room, continuing to worry about the fate of his backside. Sirius still hadn't returned from McGonagall's office and he didn't know whether to view that as a good sign or not. He had tried to get some charms homework done but his mind was elsewhere.

"James, is this your owl?" he heard Remus call from the dormitory.

James flipped himself over on the sofa and ran upstairs; confused as to why an owl would be in his dorm.

He reached the top of the stairs to find Barney sat on his bedside table, and Benny on Sirius'; both had a letter in their beak.

He took the letter out of Benny's mouth, leaving the letter on Sirius' table as he walked over to his own bed, relieving the owl of the letter in his beak. Both owls flew out of the window in the direction of the owlry.

Dreading opening his second note of the day, James once again took a deep breath, peeling open the piece of parchment.

James,

At the time of you reading this, I am unaware of whether you have been to see Professor McGonagall yet or not. Due to me being unable to be a mind reader I will ruin your apprehension if you have not left yet and let you know that I think you have got off extremely lightly; you should've been caned. Had you been at home and I caught either of you outside on your brooms that late at night you would've most defiantly found yourself over my knee.

The forest is an extremely dangerous place, with hideous creatures living within; most have the potential to seriously harm you. Please do not give into your curiosity and enter there again as you will find yourself in a whole world of trouble.

This is the first letter I have received in months about your behaviour, so I know that it is improving, however, one more serious incident like this and I will have no choice but to take you home for punishment. This however, neither of us want so I beg that you both keep your noses out of trouble.

I hope to hear from you soon, hopefully on better terms,

Dad

James turned his nose up at the letter, but felt a relief taken off his shoulders. He wasn't going to be caned and he was sure he'd never do anything to warrant even the consideration of such punishment.

He checked the time, noting that it was ten minutes until McGonagall wanted him in her office, deciding to forgo dinner and he headed directly there.

Sirius was positively sure that his hand had never felt so sore. He looked at the parchment and realised that he only had 5 more lines for the last sentence. He had no clock to look at, only a plain white wall and so had no idea how long he had left. Continuing to finish his lines, he heard a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," McGonagall answered knowing full well that it would be James entering her office next.

A very solemn looking James entered the office as he looked to see his best mate sat in the corner of the room. His rate slowed significantly as he realised that he would be writing lines or an essay; a much better punishment to the alternative.

"Sirius, are you finished?" McGonagall asked,

"Yes Professor," Sirius gave in reply as he finished writing the last word.

"Then you may leave. Please do not let me see you in here for quite some time."

Sirius gratefully got up to leave, nodding silently at James. Glad to have half of his punishment over.

James returned to the common room nursing his sore hand. 400 lines was no easy task and he was sure his hand was permanently crippled in a writing position. He went up to the dormitory to find Sirius sat down on his bed, soft tears shaking his shoulders; the open letter in hand.

Unknowing how to start the conversation, James sat down next to Sirius and began to read Sirius' letter –

Sirius,

I have just received word from Professor McGonagall that you were both caught breaking many rules last night. I have to say that I am disappointed in your behaviour and feel that your punishment was extremely light considering many students are caned for entering the forest. I hope that you learn from the punishment you are serving and you realise that the same rules apply for at school as they do at home. You are defiantly aware of the punishment should I catch you ever flying at home at night.

Just as I told James, the forest is a dangerous place with vile creatures living there. It is not a place to play or dare one another to enter so please ensure I never receive a letter about either of you entering it.

I want you to know Sirius that even though I am disappointed in your actions and choices last night, I love you like a son and I will continue to. You are the second son I never had and you are so precious to us. I hope you remember this.

Please let the next letter I receive be a more positive one,

Dad.

James finished reading the letter as he realised that Sirius' tears were ones of happiness at his father's words, not sadness. James smiled as he re-read his dads words resting his head on Sirius's shoulder, 'you are the second son I never had'…

"Prongs" James said, holding back tears looking at his best mate in the eyes. "Brothers?"

"Brothers." Sirius said with a certainty in his voice as he wrapped his arms around James,

The pair were joined at the hip at the best of times; but now they were absolutely inseparable.