This story happens three years after my first one. James, Sirius and Peter have discovered that to become an Animagi, they must hold a Mandrake leaf in their mouth for a full month, then drink a special potion everyday until transformation occurs. Remus has found out about their plan, as he is the on that brews this particularly complex potion. The boys are in their fifth year and quite a bit has changed : James is now a Quidditch hero and he and Sirius are the popular pranksters of the school.

Enjoy!

James, Sirius and Peter had been drinking their potions every night for the last four months, but there was still no result. None of them had yet turned, and the had started doubting whether they would ever achieve their goal of becoming Animagi. They had asked Professor Mcgonagall how long it had taken her to change, and she had replied that after holding the Mandrake leaf in her mouth for a month, she had only taken her potion for a week before her first transformation. This news increased their doubts, and they son grew tired of trying to guess what animal they would become, and what they would d with their new found abilities.

Meanwhile, Remus still had to undergo his transformations alone - though the boys had found a potion that dulled the pain of it - and he still had to mutilate himself to avoid trying to escape from the Shrieking Shack and passing out his rage on others. After every full moon, he had to spend a day in the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey, and although his friends' hopes were slowly dying, they continued to take the potion he made for them, because if there was even the slightest chance it would work, the owed it to Remus to try.

And so, one night in November, it was with fading hope that they went to bed after drinking their horrible brew. James sighed as he got into bed and turned the lights off and falling asleep.

He woke in the middle of the night, feeling what seemed to be a rough tongue licking his face. He opened his eyes and let out a terrified scream, and within seconds the bedroom light was on and James, Peter and Remus stared as a huge black dog rolled on the floor, howling with what seemed to be laughter. It took them a while to realise that Sirius wasn't in his bed.

"Sirius?" James exclaimed, eyes wide open in shock. The dog tried to pull itself together, but failed and collapsed to the ground again, shaking with laughter.

"Sirius, you did it!" Peter cried, jumping up and down with excitement, and soon they were all dancing, Sirius still in his animal form. They partied all night long, their hopes fully restored, thanks to the great black dog that was Sirius.

The next day at breakfast, the four boys were loudly conversing as usual, exchanging jokes and funny stories with the rest of the table, when a group of Griffindor girls came along.

"Hello, boys. Sleep well?" They giggled

James let out a wide womanizing grin and responded : "Why yes we did thank you!"

"Really? No bad dreams? Because Mary swears it was you who screamed and woke us all up in the middle of the night. What was wrong, Potter? See a spider?"

"My cousin should learn to mind her own business." He said, eyeing a third year stood on the flank of the group.

"So was I right? Was it you James?" She pressed.

"It was indeed. You see, I was having a magnificent dream involving a rather cute Ravenclaw, and out of nowhere, your face pops up! Surely, you can't blame someone for reacting naturally at, the sight of your gruesome face, my dear Mary." The boys at the table roared with laughter and a few high fives were exchanged.

"Piss off, James!"

"Now, now, cousin. Don't make me send a letter to your mother. She did ask me to make sure you were well behaved."

At this, a load of "Ugh"s were heard from the group of girls and they walked away, throwing murderous glances at the boys who had tears rolling down their cheeks, tribute of their amusement. The Gryffindor girls were the only ones in the school that were immune to James and Sirius' charm. Sure, James always managed to win them the Quidditch cup, but the pranks that the other girls found funny and cute only took away points fro Gryffindor House. Even the girls from Slytherin, though they would nevr admit it, all swooned at the duo's feet.

Despite all this attention, James Potter only had eyes for one girl. As the table laughed at the humiliation of the girls, James locked eyes with Lily Evans - who had not taken part in the altercation - and winked. She merely sniffed and continued eating her toast.