Author's Note: Written for Ah, the memories by Rue-the-Marauder on the HPFC forum. The memories I used were "staying up late, talking/communicating to a friend" and "finding out your best friend loves the same candy you do."


"That was brilliant!" Sirius crowed. He dashed into the first-year boys' dormitory just ahead of James and jumped onto his bed, grinning from ear to ear. "I can't believe Filch fell for it!"

James launched himself off the floor and landed flat on his own bed with a thump. "I just thought of it on the spot," he said proudly as he scrambled into a sitting position. "Who knew Filch is scared of ghosts?"

"James! Sirius!" Peter's shrill voice echoed through the room. "Where have you been?"

"Shut up, Peter, you'll wake the Bore!" Sirius gestured towards the bed at the end of the room, the only one whose curtains were shut. "I don't want him to tell on us for being out after curfew."

"He won't tell," said James dismissively. "He's a Bore, all he does is study and mope. Now, if we were to cut into his precious reading time –"

"Well, it doesn't matter. Even if he doesn't tell McGonagall, he'll be glaring at us all week if we don't let him get his beauty sleep."

The boys settled into their beds, pulling their own curtains closed. Sirius was too worked up to sleep, though. He stared at the ceiling of his four-poster, replaying the scene with Filch over and over in his head and giggling to himself as silently as he could.

"Psst – Sirius!"

As James snuck through the curtains of Sirius's bed, Sirius sat up and scooted over to give his new best friend more room. "What're you doing?"

"Shh." James held up a handful of Chocolate Frogs. "Want some?"

Sirius grinned. "That's my favorite candy," he whispered as he accepted one and pulled the package open.

"Mine too," James confided.

They sat silently for a moment as both of them worked the chocolate through their mouths, ignoring the cards. Sirius was the first to swallow.

"What time is it, d'you reckon?"

"Hang on, I know the Tempus charm." James pulled out his wand and cast the spell. It took a few tries for him to get the numbers in the air. "Nearly two."

Sirius covered a giggle with one hand. "That's late. We'll be in so much trouble if McGonagall finds out." He reached for another Chocolate Frog and smiled at James. Life was good.