Part One

Remus yawned most tiredly, placing a study book aside. It was the evening after a full moon and he was healing in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts to recover. It was a painful transformation and the quietness of the sick ward was relief as it allowed him to rest throughout the afternoon. Yet, Pomfrey tisked, while shaking her head, saying 'Sorry dear, your injuries were too severe. You need more rest. Maybe tomorrow. Yes, I believe tomorrow we shall see. You just rest and take your potion.'

The potion was hideous but the chocolate block helped chase it down. Madam Pomfrey, though seemly younger then the professors at Hogwarts, was strict on her rules once a student came under her care. She was a nurse that could be trusted as she never asked how a student received their illness, no matter how suspicious it was, but focused more on the dedication of healing her patience. Perhaps since employed at Hogwarts, she had seen many odd reactions to magic that it no longer fazed her.

However, rules were rules, no matter if you were her patience every month. One rule was the time when other students may visit and a time when they cannot. Currently, the no visitor rule was in effect.

James Potter grew up with a strange idea that rules were made for his beneficent solely. They were ideas authority figures came up with, quite randomly, to challenge James. Oh and he did love a good challenge.

Unfortunately seeing a friend in the Hospital Wing after crew few was not a challenge. With an invisible cloak and a magical map, he could venture anywhere he'd like.

'Alright, Remus?' James pulled the cloak off once Pomfrey shut herself in her own little apartment within the Hospital Wing. 'Sorry I couldn't visit you earlier with Sirius and Pete.'

'They told me you had detention.' Remus smiled warmly, not at all surprise James would visit him. Since finding out about his Lycanthropic Disorder, better known as the Furry Little Problem among the Marauders, none of his friends had missed a visit after the great moon. 'Didn't expect you to be out so soon. I thought Professor would have kept you longer.'

'And she would!' James hazel eyes grew wide. 'Sirius refuses to believe me but Minnie secretly adores me. Anytime with me is a blessing to her.'

'I'm not sure she really sees it that way.' Remus laughed.

'Come off. She right in doing so. We have so much in common!' James explained.

Remus thought that perhaps James was probably telling the truth in favoring him, but she would never dare show that. Yet when ever James was before her, trying to charm his way out of detention with his famous wild-and-free smile, it seemed as McGonagall was more amused than annoyed.

'Like what? You two are nothing alike.' Remus grinned. 'Opposites, if I was asked. She seems to be molded by rules and strict life style. You are not that.'

'We both have mothers that are Witches.' James held up one finger.

'Twit! You cannot use that reason!' Remus chuckled.

'We both are very good at Transfiguration.' James held two fingers.

'There are others in that class that do favorable well, like Sirius.' Remus reminded him.

'Yes but I am better.' James held up another finger, 'We both got sorted into Gryffindor.'

'Yes, well rumor is that it took the hat five and a half minutes to decide what to do with her. It was a toss between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.' Remus said. 'It took the hat less than a half of quarter of a second when it was placed upon your head and it had no uncertainty of casting you into Gryffindor.'

'She was confused as I was not.' James pushed it aside. 'Around the year of the snitch introduction, Minnie played Quidditch for the Gryffindors.'

'Life isn't a Quidditch time table, James.' Remus reminded him. 'Besides, she isn't that old.'

'Her wrinkles say different.' James tossed out. 'I too play for the Gryffindors.'

'So did many other people.' Remus reminded him.

'We both enjoy winning but more so against the Slytherins.' James ignored him. 'Nasty players.'

'Still, it isn't something that is not shared among the Gryffindor Qudditch Team.' Remus said.

'She is in love with her childhood sweetheart.' James added. 'I too am in love with my childhood sweetheart.'

'Well…others have experienced the same.' Remus explained.

'And we are currently competing against each other on who is the better Quidditch fan.' James moved on.

'And how is that going?' Remus smiled

'Well, she argues that she is years older than me.' James explained, very seriously. 'She has had longer time at being a fan. However, I have seen more games then she, when she was my age. I believe I shall come through as the winner in the end.'

'That will be a hard completion.' Remus laughed.

'Oi. Almost forgot.' James dug into his cloak to pull out a box of chocolate. 'From Sirius. He nicked it from the slug party last week. Sirius noticed you were low when he was visiting earlier.'

'Tell him I appreciate it.' Remus took the chocolate trying not to drool. He could smell the rich velvet chocolate through the cardboard box. 'It smells great.'

'Only the best at the Slugfest.' James shrugged. He noticed Remus trying to stifle a yawn. 'Shall I leave?'

'No, no.' Remus shook his head but stop suddenly, wondering if James wanted to leave but felt obligated to stay by his bedside. 'You can if you want. I don't need a sitter.'

'I'm good.' James flashed an easy grin.

'I'm feeling tired but I slept all afternoon.' Remus explained. 'Can't really seem to fall asleep and I don't want to tell Madam Pomfrey, she'll toss that ghastly sleeping tonic down my throat!'

'Ah. That is a bit horrid. First things she gives me one seeing me here.' James agreed. 'Would you like me to sing to you? It helps Sirius.'

'No.' Remus shook his head with a wince. 'You sing horribly. The only reason Sirius ends up sleeping is because he smothers his head with the pillow and the lack of oxygen knocks him out and you remove the pillow later.'

'He gets very annoying when he cannot sleep.' James shrugged with an evil grin.

'What is the secret to getting James Potter to sleep?' Remus asked curiously. 'Surely your parents had a way.'

James just shook his head. 'I slept when I could no longer stay awake. Mum child proof the house and I was allowed to stay up all night, sometimes for days. I played them out, you see. Apparently I was quite tantrum-matic when suggestion of sleeping was mentioned and they didn't like stressing me out.'

'That's called spoiled.' Remus told him.

'No matter, I was curfew free.' James shrugged. 'What about you?'

'Mum read me to sleep or Dad would tell me a story.' Remus said fondly. 'One of my favorite stories was that of the Three Brothers, do you know it?'

'I do. I know it very well.' James smiled in a manner of secretive and amusement. 'My father told it to me, his mother before to him and so. It is a bit of a tradition.'

'Should I be worried?' Remus looked at him suspiciously.

'Of course not!' James laughed. 'Tis only a story. I'll tell it to you the way I was told. It will help you fall to sleep.'

'It won't work.' Remus shook his head. 'I'm too old for fairy tales.'

To most, perhaps. 'Worth a try?' James shrugged. In a low voice, James started his story the way his father told it to him. 'In a time when Witch and Wizards avoided all that was not magic and muggles lived miles and miles apart, there were once three brothers who were traveling along a desolate, twisting road. The hour was between day and night.

The road they ventured on had large, leafless, dark trees at the edge of its path to divide the forest from the road. It proved to be a very quiet night, for hardly any creature stirred within the forest.

That stillness would follow them like a cloak in the darkness. It trailed them until they came to a river…

Remus breathing became steady and James' soft voice seemed to drift away. An dream image started to play in the boy's mind….

'How are we to cross?' Remus looked over at his two brothers. 'It's too deep. We cannot walk across that!'

'We can swim!' Sirius shrugged as he started to take off his cloak. 'It isn't far to the other side. We can make a small raft to place our clothes upon.'

James stopped Sirius from taking off his shirt. 'Don't be a fool. Look at that water. It's full and swift. We would never make it across.'

'Maybe we should turn back.' Remus frowned as he looked over his shoulder at the dark path they had just emerged from. There was an eerie howl in the distance within the forest. 'Or perhaps find a place further upstream to pass?'

'Nonsense.' James shook his head with amusement. 'Our father taught us the art of magic for situations such as this. We shall use magic. Wands to the ready!'

James, Sirius and Remus held up their wands and together used the vines of the forest and the limbs of the fallen trees to conquer a secure bridge that would allow them to cross to the other side safely.

'I don't know about this.' Remus carefully placed a foot on a plank of the bridge in order to test its weight.

'It is secure, my brother.' Sirius started to bounce up and down to prove his point. It caused the bridge to sway back and forth.

'You are mad!' Remus shook his head. 'You'll send us tumbling over the side.'

'Come, let us cross.' James step forward and his brothers followed. However, half way across they were stopped by a short figure in a dark cloak.

'I am Death.' The dark figured voice was low. 'For many years I have come to this river to fetch the souls of travelers to have drowned.'

'Ah, well traditions are to be broken.' Sirius shrugged. 'You won't be claiming our souls on this day.'

Death glared at the brothers but the cloak hid his cunning eyes. 'This day I shall reward you three brothers. For you have outsmarted me and so few have done so.'

'A reward?' Remus smiled at the idea.

'What kind of reward?' James asked suspiciously.

'Is this the three wish reward?' Sirius asked. 'And is wishing for more wishing acceptable? I know this guy Aladdin who swears it cannot be done.'

'I shall give you each but one magical object.' Death explain.

'That doesn't seem fair.' Remus shook his head. 'Sirius is right, Aladdin did receive three wishes.'

'He just didn't use them wisely.' James agreed.

'But there are three of you therefore the three gifts must be divided.' Death argued.

'Fine.' Remus sighed. 'I see where you are going with this.'

'Well what kind of magic are they and who gets what?' Sirius asked.

'That is up to you. What would you like?' Death asked him.

'What would I want?' Sirius tapped his chin as he thought. 'A wand that is what I want. Not just any wand. This wand must be better than all the other wands. It must be superior to all that it comes before. For every duel that I face as the owner, I shall always win.'

'A powerful wand? Are you sure?' Death asked with a grin.

'A powerful wand is just for I have won against Death and deserve such a wand.' Sirius smirked.

Death glided over to the bank of the river and tore a branch off an elder tree. With his gloved hand, he used a bit of magic of his own to fashion the gnarled stick into a wand. He glided back to where the brothers stood and handed over the most powerful wand ever to existence to Sirius. 'As long as you are the owner of this wand, you shall be superior to all that come against you.'

'That is my wish.' Sirius grinned, taking the wand from Death.

'My brother is right. Having to outwit you is a challenge to most but we did so without effort.' Remus smiled smugly. 'For that I believe I would like the power to recall all those who you have claimed.'

'You wish to take what I reap?' Death asked.

'I believe it is just.' Remus folded his arms before him.

Death glided to the riverbank and plunked a stone gem from the ground. He touched the rock to his lip, giving it the kiss of death. Again, he drifted back to the brothers and handed the stone to Remus. 'For every soul I take you now have the power to bring them back.'

'That is my wish.' Remus tossed the stone in the air, catching it in his hand as it fell.

Death turned to the third Brother. 'What magic do you wish to process?'

'Something that would make me invisible to all and never shall be followed.' James answered. 'A magic that not even Death can find.'

Death looked down at his cloak and reluctantly took it off and handed it to James. 'This cloak is my shadow. For as long as you wear it, you will not been seen.'

'Not even by you?' James asked.

'Not even I.' Death, who shared the same appearance as Peter, sighed.

James slipped the cloak on, becoming invisible.

'Ooohhhh.' Sirius smiled brightly. 'Could I borrow that? It would go great with my new riding trousers!'

Peter, as Death, stood to allow the brother to continue on their journey.