DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the following characters, they are all owned by JK Rowling.

This is my first fan-fic, still getting used to the site...I hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE – the shrieking shack

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

James heard a whine behind him and rolled his eyes. "What Pettigrew? What?"

Peter Pettigrew sniffed, "Nothing James, I just thought- I just thought I heard somebody coming."

The three of them stood behind the one eyed witch, the only light coming from the tip of James' wand.

"Look Peter, there's nothing on the map!" Sirius said irritably, waving the map in front of Peter's face. "Now will you stop moaning so we can get a move on? It won't be long 'til Remus changes!"

"Yes I know but I don't want us to get into any more trouble, I already have three detentions-"

"Detention or friends, Peter? Detention or friends?"

James watched as the usual little squabble unfolded and grinned. He gave the map a little tap, whispered the magic words and pulled out his cloak from his bag.

"You ladies finished?" He asked, still smiling.

Sirius stopped arguing immediately and a cocky smirk spread across his handsome face.

"Ready when you are James."

And the three of them were no longer able to be seen. It was uncomfortable underneath the cloak but the three of them walked quickly and soon they were out onto the grounds facing the now-famous Whomping Willow tree. James shrugged the cloak off of their shoulders and ran a hand through his unruly hair.

"Man I hate this thing." Sirius grumbled, staring at the tree with disgust.

James laughed, "No where near as much as our furry little friend!"
Sirius smirked, "True…Wormtail, will you do the honours?"
The two boys turned to look at their friend. The moon was slowly rising higher in the sky and they didn't have much time. Peter smiled feebly and glanced around nervously. Then he knelt onto the floor and began to change. The hair on top of his head spread all across his body which was rapidly shrinking, his arms and legs disappeared to make way for tiny little paws, and finally a long, thin tail uncurled itself from behind him. Peter was no longer a boy…he was a rat.

The rat poked its head up at his friends who gave him an encouraging nod and then he ran. The Whomping Willow whipped its branches out quickly – as if to catch him – but Wormtail was too fast, hopping over every swipe and dodging every blow until finally he was at the trunk where he tapped its weak spot and the whole tree froze and revealed a gateway – which Peter dived through.

"He never waits for us." James observed, amused.

"Well, he is a wimp" stated Sirius, casually strolling over to the tunnel that sat at the bottom of the tree.

James picked up his rucksack and followed, the two boys grinning at each other as they started their way into the tunnel.

The tunnel was new, and it was crudely made. At first all you could see was the entwined and twisted roots of the Whomping Willow lining the walls but as you walked you could just make out the change from dirt to stone.

"I still can't believe Dumbledore made all this…" James whispered.

"Yeah…" mumbled Sirius, "You would've thought he had more style!"

James scoffed and then stopped; they had reached it – the Shrieking Shack. The wooden door was ajar and eagerly James pushed it open to reveal a shabby grey room, that had tears all along it's walls and scratches on it's floors. James noticed a rat darting about the room and smiled. Already Peter was getting nervous.

"You're cutting it a bit fine, aren't you?"

James looked at the boy sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. He was a good looking boy, with fine mousey brown hair and deathly pale skin. He had the look of someone who never had enough sleep – most odd about him though, were the four faint white scars that lined his face.

The boy smiled – although it did not quite reach his eyes.

"Sorry Remus, someone got a little panicky." James said walking over to his friend and giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Yeah, you'll never guess who it was." Sirius said sarcastically.

The rat began to squeak from the corner.

"Well friends you are just in time." The boy whispered, gripping hold of the arms of the chair. "You all ready?"

James glanced at Sirius who gave a casual flick of his wand and smirked. "Give us what you got Remus, we'll handle it." He said.

Remus laughed through gritted teeth, James noticed the fur sprouting from his hands. "He's changing, get ready guys!" He gave his friend one final pat on the back and sprinted beside Sirius. The two of them watched as their friend began to writhe and spit and change before them.

"This is gonna be fun." Sirius exclaimed, clasping his hands together, and as he did he too began to change form – but not in the same way as Remus which appeared to be more of an inner struggle. Sirius elegantly bent his human form into a new one and was soon a large, imposing dog that wasted no time in chasing after the smallest animal in the room.

James ran a hand through his hair again. Remus was almost completely changed now and he decided it was time for him to join his friends.

Scene changes...

The next day Remus had several new scratches added to his already impressive collection.

"Sorry about that by the way." Sirius said, as the four of them sat down to breakfast.

Remus shrugged, "I hardly noticed."

Sirius then did what he always did and detailed his personal highlights of the previous night, Remus listening vaguely interested as he helped himself to food, while Pettigrew laughed at all the right moments, his watery eyes wide – as if grateful to have been included.

James would normally have joined in with a few of his own anecdotes but this morning his thoughts were elsewhere. Letting his friends continue their conversation, James slowly got up and wandered over towards a red-headed girl who sat silently reading only a little further along the Gryffindor table.

"You still not talking to me Evans?" He said quietly.

"You still hexing Severus?" She answered coldly, turning to face him.

He could feel his friend stop their conversation and watch him.

James opened his mouth then closed it again before finally saying. "What if I'm not actually hexing him, what if he's just standing in the way of my hexes?"

Lily narrowed her eyes, "Is it possible you've grown an even bigger head over the holidays Potter?"

James smiled and leant back slightly, "Is it possible you've grown even more beautiful over the summer?" He asked casually, scruffing up his hair.

Lily stood there momentarily, stunned. "Get lost Potter." She said finally, and she stormed out of the Great Hall. James sighed before returning to his friends and smiling, "You know I think I'm making progress...she didn't swear at me at all this time."

Sirius burst out laughing, his black hair falling in front of his eyes. "Prongs, that was truly pathetic!"