Disclaimer: The characters, places, and published events contained within this and the following chapters belong to J.K.R., no indication to the contrary is intentional.
Summary: It is the Marauders fifth year at Hogwarts, a time of transformations, pranks gone awry, and exams. The dark cloud is gathering, tensions are rising, and sides are chosen for good or ill.
A/N: Thanks go to Half-Drowned Dracula for being my beta.
Friends will be Friends
Chapter One: Under starlight and moonlight
The Hogwarts Express pulled into the station and unloaded its cargo of excited teenagers. As the first years were called over to take their boat ride across the lake four boys of about fifteen or sixteen made their way out of the crowd. Heading away from the station they quickly picked out a carriage from the awaiting horseless rides and climbed aboard. The black carriage, emblazoned with the shield of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, started off towards the castle in the distance.
The train of carriages made its way through a small village ablaze with light before turning through tall iron gates and up the wide road to halt in front of the towering castle. Tumbling from the dark vehicle the four boys made their way up the steps, the dark-haired boys lightly teasing the smaller of the other two.
The great hall of the castle of Hogwarts was resplendent in gold, silver, bronze, and deepest black, banner draped from the ceiling to cover the walls in the symbols of the four houses. A fierce lion for Gryffindor representing courage; a badger for Hufflepuff, strength and loyalty its aspects; the eagle of Ravenclaw the icon of intelligence and far-sight; finally the serpent of Slytherin, cunning and ambition in every coil.
Settling themselves at the four house tables were the students who had already been sorted, something that was about to happen to the first years who now made their way into the hall. The four boys, known to all as the Marauders, had all taken places at the Gryffindor table and now looked on in interest as the sorting began.
As the Sorting Hat called out the house into which the new student would be for the nest seven years of schooling cheers went up from the various tables. All of the four friends were the most vocal at the table whenever a student was sorted into Gryffindor. Then, as quickly as it was begun it was over, and Professor Dumbledore, headmaster, was standing up for his inauguration speech.
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In the Gryffindor common room long after the feast was over, the Marauders sat around the fire. Anyone new to Hogwarts would soon be told about these four; notorious pranksters and dedicated tricksters, they set traps for the unwary and made life at the school more interesting than it already was.
James Potter headed up the team, his creativity emerging in all that he did whether it be quidditch, wooing the girl of his dreams (Lily Evans, who still refused to go out with him after years of asking), or finding a way to make people laugh.
Lounged on the floor flicking through a magazine was the other dark haired member. Sirius Black was the energy behind the pranks; his boundless drive pushing the Marauders to greater heights and better pranks every year.
Remus Lupin was the conscience of the group, his moral compass tempering some of the wilder flights of fancy that they came up with. He was slumped in the softest chair looking peaky and listless in the firelight, for not only was he a wizard but for three nights a month he transformed unwillingly into a wolf – he was a werewolf, bound to the moon's cycle.
The final member of the infamous team was Peter Pettigrew. Peter was the member of the four who, though not highly creative in thinking up pranks, was very good at the execution of them. Especially when it came to getting non-Marauders involved; he was the guy who was consistently sent to lure the victim into their trap.
For them the weeks ahead held not only lessons and spells, but tricks and plans. They had the new first years to impress and scare, not to mention the feast at Hallowe'en to prepare for. But for all their joking ways they the tightest group of friends Hogwarts had seen in a while. Every one of them would willingly get detentions, if not lay their lives on the line, for each other. This was particularly the case when it came to Remus.
Ever since the other three Marauders had found out that he was a werewolf they had been wanting to be with him through the three nights when he was transformed. But because of the very real danger he presented (if he bit any human they would become like him, a werewolf) they had been unable to accompany him. But over the past year or so they had started on a project to change all that. They had set off to become Animagi; these were witches or wizards who could transform at will into the shape of the animal they were deep inside.
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The weeks passed, tricks were played, detentions were received, and the practice to become fully fledged Animagi continued. One full moon passed and they were almost there, Remus started to really worry about what would happen when they finally accompanied him. What if he harmed one of them when he was transformed? Then before he knew it, an evening came when Sirius cornered him.
"We've done it. Next time you won't be alone."
Real fear gripped Remus then, so much so that as the moon grew full he started being unable to sleep, and when he did all he dreamt of was horrific scenes of his friends dead at his feet.
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It was two nights before full moon and Remus was tossing and turning in bed. Finally he gave sleep up as a bad idea and slipping quietly out of the dorm where his friends were sleeping, he tiptoed through the silent halls of the castle till he stepped outside.
The stars shone brightly overhead like a collection of sparkling diamonds scattered across the heavens, and they lit his way as he walked over to the tree under which the Marauders could usually be found.
Lying down he sighed as he relaxed back into the soft turf, looking up through the leavers to the glassy sky above. His gaze shifted unwillingly to the waxing moon which shattered his calm mood with its harsh gaze. He sighed again more stress evident as he was stricken with his ever present worry about the days ahead.
He knew that he wouldn't be alone this time; finally his fellow Marauders had completed the transformation process. He had yet to see their Anamagi forms, and was still uncertain as to whether he agreed with their plan of accompanying him on his monthly changes. But he knew from experience that the trio, especially Sirius, would not be dissuaded from their plan. Still, he was nervous for their sake. If something went wrong, if they weren't able to control him and he hurt a student or worse one of his friends, he would never be able to forgive himself.
The wind was rising, sending clouds to cover the moon now, ruffling his hair and sending a chill down his spine.
Remus sat up, hearing footsteps on the path from the school. Looking up he saw a dark silhouette walking towards him. Standing, his hand crept towards his pocket where he had stowed his wand as he had crept out of the dorm.
The clouds passed from the moon, and its near full light shone down revealing the stranger to be a friend.
"You weren't in the dorm..." said Sirius hesitatingly
"Sorry, I couldn't sleep." Remus said
Sirius moved closer to his friend comfortingly; he knew how worried Remus was about the upcoming transformation.
"Don't worry Moony, It'll be fine"
"I just..."
"I know," Sirius paused, unsure as to whether he should reveal his own trepidation about the event,
"You just need to relax, James and I have everything covered."
As Remus caught Sirius' famous smile in the moonlight, he could feel some of the stress leaving him. This time, he remembered, he wouldn't have to face the pain alone.
"Come on Moony, lets get some sleep. James has big plans for tomorrow."
Remus raised his eyebrows in curiosity as Sirius threw his arm round the smaller boy, leading him towards the castle.
"Something to do with fireworks and a greasy haired git."
The laughter barked out into the night echoing up into the sky. It failed to disturb the crystalline stars shining their endless light down upon the pair.
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