Title: Courage

Author: Puck Fido
Chapter: 1- School Boys
A/N: This is a slash, James/Sirius. That is all you need to know. Oh yeah, review please?


James and Sirius strolled through the grassy field around the lake, as it was the perfect day to do so. The grass was wet with dew and the air was cool with mist, however, it was delightfully warm. Most of the boys had their shirts off and tucked in the back pockets of their trousers, while the young ladies wore their shirts loosely and their hair up. Throwing back and forth an apple, bite after bite. The two boys were all giggles, elated by the day and each other's company. The only thing that could damper their spirits was the knowledge that they would have to leave Hogwarts for the summer. The end of the school term was only hours away, taunting each student.

"Sirius, I'm absolutely baffled that you have not yet suggested any dangerous or immature shenanigans for the ending of this schooling year. Honestly, it's not of your character." James remarked, crunching on the crisp apple in his mouth.

"Well, James, I'm a changed man. This is our last term here at Hogwarts. My days of senseless pranks and ill-mannered jokes are over. It's time that we move on, to more appropriate behavior. For example, we could actually put some thought into the havoc that we're going to cause in a few moments." Sirius took a bite of the apple, and with a wink tossed it behind him. Before James could inquire about his idea, Sirius was running down the hill to the lake, James following close behind him.

"Come on!" James yelled, "You ought to tell me what you have in mind before I knock you right over."

Sirius stopped barely a foot from the lake edge and faced James with a daring look. "If you want to know what I'm thinking you'll have to get your girlfriend to cast a clever spell on me."

"You're a right foul git, Sirius! You know full well that we're not together at the moment. Of course you'd be the one to rub it in."

Sirius stuck out a pouting lip and turned away, bursting in laughter. Just as he caught his breath a powerful force knocked him right off his feet and into the lake. The two boys splashed and dunked each other's heads in the water in turn, yelling obscene remarks.

"She," Sirius spit water out of his mouth, "has you on a leash, James. You're no fun any more."

"Come on," James whipped his hair back. "That isn't fair, Sirius. You should just find yourself a girlfriend and maybe then you'll be able to live without me for an hour or two."

Sirius grabbed him by the collar and pushed him onto the grass. Haughtily he sat on top of James and spoke softy, "Here's what I'm thinking…"

Later that day in the Great Hall

"Where have you two been all day? And why on earth are you so wet?" Lupin asked from behind a book. He waved a complicated motion with his wand, which caused a jet of hot hair to shoot at James and Serious. "Now, you can sit down."

"Why, thank you Remus, dear." Sirius said daintily, reaching for a roll. Aloof, he ignored the questions and picked at the food.

"What Sirius was trying to saying was that we were down at the lake when we happened to fall in. IT was all an accident, but really I blame him." James said, pointing to Sirius.

"Hey, I was the one who was tackled from behind, mind you." Sirius said with an amused smile.

Remus sighed and went on reading, while Peter handed a plate of fried sausages to James. The boys chatted happily, enjoying their meal. Oddly, Sirius only received a handful of visits from admiring girls. It was towards the end of the meal, while Sirius and James were tossing a jam donut that the caretaker ran through the doors in a panic.

'"Dumbledore, sir!" he said gasping, "the entire school flooding. It's the toilets, sir! They're overflowing. Everywhere – water everywhere! You can't even get to the Slytherin rooms without a rowboat."
"Alright, thank you very much." Albus Dumbledore said, and then standing up he spoke louder. "All students will stay in the main hall. Be assured this will be cleaned up in no time at all."

Unfortunately, it took longer than expected to stop the toilets from spraying water. Conveniently, Sirius and James did not seem at all sincere in their surprise. Another very convenient thin was that the Gryffindor tower was quite dry, being located in a tower and having no out of control toilets. The marauders strolled up to the common room along with their fellow Gryffindors, all very cheery in manner.

"Blimey, I wonder who flooded the school. Must've been someone in Gryffindor. Only someone out of their mind would flood their own room." Peter said thoughtfully. James and Sirius exchanged pleased looks.

"Oh get off it, you two." Said Remus. "It's so obvious. I can't believe you would pull something like that so close to the end of the year. You could have at least had enough sense to flood our rooms as well – oh what am I saying. Of course Dumbledore knows who did it. Keep me out of it and I'm satisfied."

"But, Remus, admit it. It's quite clever, right?" James said elbowing Lupin playfully. "We haven't much time left at Hogwarts. Might as well enjoy it."

"Actually, Mr. Potter, I think you and Mr. Black can expect an extended stay here at Hogwarts." All four boys turned to face McGonagall, with her arms folded and her lips pressed together in displease.

Gryffindor Tower "Beetle Juice." Sirius said, running his fingers through his hair. The portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and the two boys gravely walked into the common room, heads hung and feet dragging. "Bad news then?" Remus asked from a large armchair, still waving his wand in large swooshing movements. On the floor peter set his wand down and looked up anxiously.

"Bad," said Sirius as he collapsed into the soft, maroon couch, "does not even begin to describe it."

"The two of us are to stay at Hogwarts for vacation." Said James, scooting Sirius over and taking a spot on the couch.

"Only, we'll be staying with the house-elves and preparing the school for next year. It wouldn't be so terrible if it weren't our last year at Hogwarts. I was really looking forward to being out and on my own."

"Maybe you should have thought of that—" Remus started, but Sirius motioned for him to stop. The next day every student would happily get on the Hogwarts Express and head for home, except for two Gryffindor boys.