A collection of random stories from the Marauder's. I have deliberately spelt the title of the fic wrong, I KNOW it's supposed to be 'tale' not 'tail' but I chose to mix it up because all of them can turn into animals. Ok, anyway, I hope you enjoy and remember that the updates will probably be sporadic and there is no definitive time-line. Each story is sometimes connected to the one before and sometimes completely random. Please enjoy and I love reviews! Thank you.

The Beginning

"Black, Sirius." He moved forward, each step feeling like he was walking through syrup. It was the hardest thing he had to do as he lowered himself onto the stool. Before the hat was lowered over his eyes and obscured his vision he had a last, nerve wracking glimpse of Narcissa watching keenly. He was plunged into darkness and he held his breath. A voice entered his mind and he waited, listening intently. "Hmm, yes, yes…Another Black, I have sorted many members of your family. You have talent, that much is obvious…you have a great deal of bravery, you're very obviously intelligent…not very hard working though…where to put you, where to put you…" Sirius waited, breath held and his shaking hands clutching the stool tightly. "Although your loyalty is seemingly boundless you have a lot of unfulfilled potential in here, if you put your considerable mind to it, you could achieve anything. How about Slytherin? You could become great…"

"No. No. No! Anywhere but Slytherin!"

"Really? You surprise me. Let me see…you don't have quite the right mind for Ravenclaw, not disciplined enough…well…if not Slytherin then how about-"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The applause was sporadic at first, people turning to their neighbours and muttering as their hands came together. The hat was removed from Sirius' head and he glanced at Professor McGonagall who was giving him a long, searching look, he stood up on shaking knees and she nodded, giving him a brief smile. Joy exploded in his heart and he whooped in delight, his eyes moving to the Slytherin table and seeing everyone there sitting as still as statues as the shock of the pronouncement washed over them. Sirius looked away but he could still feel the heavy weight of their stares as they followed his leaping run across the hall towards the far table, the Gryffindor's applauded loudly, celebrating, not just a new addition to their ranks, but a small victory over the Slytherin's; they had snatched away a boy who ordinarily would have been placed in their house, if not for his brave first attempt to pull himself away from his heritage.

When his name was called he stepped forward, exuding a confidence well beyond his years. He sat down upon the stool and waited as the ancient old hat was lowered onto his head, it had barely touched his messy black hair before it screamed it's pronouncement to the whole Hall; "Gryffindor!" James Potter stood up with a smile, he had known even before he had set foot on the Hogwarts Express where he would be placed, with a dramatic little bow towards the Gryffindor table he walked over and lifted his arm as he reached Sirius Black, the strange boy he had met on the train, their fingers clasped each other briefly and Sirius' eyes sparkled with joy. "Well done mate." James leaned down and whispered, unheard by any except Sirius who beamed at him with pride.

"Pettigrew, Peter." The small, rotund little boy stumbled on the hem of his robes as he walked towards the stool, he heard a sudden burst of cruel laughter and felt heat colour his face. He didn't dare turn to see who it was as he placed himself upon the stool. He felt gazes burning into him as darkness covered his eyes. He sat there, wringing his hands nervously as the hat remained silent for a seemingly endless amount of time before it spoke its judgement to the hall. Its voice, normally so certain of its decision was almost hesitant; "G-Gryffindor!" The applause was immediate and Peter felt his stomach slowly begin to untwist its self, he slid off the stool and ran down the aisle before loud laughter made him come to a halt, he turned as a hand descended upon his arm gently.

"You forgot to remove the hat, Mr. Pettigrew." McGonagall said, her lips twitching in wry amusement as she lifted the hat off his head, he grinned nervously as she turned away and took the hat back to its place on the stool. With heart fluttering against his ribs like a trapped butterfly he trotted towards the table bedecked in crimson and gold, the colours of his new house.

"Lupin, Remus." His name was called and he felt his throat constrict, his hands curled into tight fists as his numb feet took him towards the stool that loomed up as if it were under an intense spotlight. He swallowed his nerves, hoping he wouldn't do anything stupid and humiliating like burst into tears when the hat was placed upon his head. Everything had a weird, dream-like quality that made every movement a little like he was swimming through molasses. He had never, in all his short, eleven year existence, imagined himself to be standing upon this very spot, with eyes of hundreds of students glued to him expectantly. He sat down, clasping his hands together in his lap as he closed his eyes tightly and the hat was placed upon his head. "Ah, now then, now then…what do we have here? Fascinating! Truly fascinating, I have never sorted a Werewolf before…" Remus cringed inwardly, hoping against hope that the hat would keep that little piece of knowledge a dead secret. "Your mind is brilliant, I rarely see anyone with such fascinating brains. How would you do in Ravenclaw? Hmm…but there is a huge amount of untapped bravery here, you have a core of steel, my boy. Indeed, indeed…with brains and bravery, you are lucky. This is a difficult one, I must say…Ravenclaw would feed your natural curiosity and help you build your knowledge however, Gryffindor would-yes, yes, I have made my decision…GRYFFINDOR!" The applause was immense, the hat was taken from his head and blinked around, gazing at the hall with wide eyes that conveyed nothing but utter shock that he was there, that people were applauding and they were applauding for him. Someone nudged him gently in the back and he turned to find McGonagall smiling down at him. "Go on, go to your new House Mates…You will be an asset, Mr. Lupin. I am glad to welcome you." Slowly a small, tentative smile forced its way onto Remus' face, it grew as he stood and began walking steadily towards his new table. He was a part of something, he was accepted! A bright, exquisite joy exploded in his chest like a beautiful firework as he sat down on a bench, people clapped him on the back, congratulating him, welcoming him…he wished with all his heart that it would never, ever end.

XXX

"I say! This is rather…shabby, isn't it?" Sirius exclaimed as the Gryffindor Head Boy lead them into their new common room.

"I quite like it actually." James Potter replied from his side, his eyes moving across the comfortable, rounded room. The fireplace roared and crackled, giving off a wonderful heat that warmed him from the inside out. He grinned, unable to help himself.

"I suppose it does have a quaint charm about it, doesn't it?" Sirius agreed, eyeing the over-stuffed arm chairs and fraying carpets critically.

"Follow me boys and I will show you your dorms." The head boy announced and the boys broke off from the girls and followed him up the opposite staircase. "This will be your home for the rest of your time here; it would be easier if you got along with each other…you're stuck with your dorm mates after all." He paused before a door and pushed it open to reveal a room with four four-poster beds, crimson curtains hung from them and the walls were decorated with tapestries depicting the Gryffindor Lion.

"Wow…" James breathed softly before spotting his trunk and running over to the bed it had been put beside. "I get the window bed!" He cried and leapt onto it, folding his arms across his chest and grinning.

Sirius moved automatically to the bed beside James', he sat down and looked about the room through heavily lidded eyes. James jumped down from his bed and looked at his new dorm mates, his eyes landed on the boy with light brown hair and he moved forward, hand extended. "Hello, James Potter, what's your name?"

Remus stared uncertainly at the hand before slowly taking it in his own, he shook it briefly and smiled shyly. "Remus Lupin."

"Excellent." James grinned brightly and turned to the last of them. "And you?"

"Peter P-Pettigrew." Peter muttered, taking James' hand in his own sweaty one.

"Well, Mr. P-Pettigrew…It's nice to meet you."

Sirius snorted derisively, a small sneer gracing his handsome face. "I wonder if that stutter is permanent, it would be really annoying to have to listen to that for seven years."

"I'm sure it's just nerves." Remus said quietly, earning himself a grateful glance from Peter. "What's your name?"

Sirius' smile warmed a little as he surveyed Remus. "Sirius Black, I'm surprised you've never heard of me actually…or at least my name."

"Well…" Remus shifted uncomfortably. "My father and mother didn't allow me to have much to do with the Wizarding world to be honest." He said in a soft, hesitant voice.

"Why ever not?" Sirius asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Because they didn't." Remus said and looked away, unable to hold that steely silver gaze.

James yawned loudly and fell backwards onto his bed, his arms stretched out and his legs dangling over the side. "It's good to finally be here." He whispered with barely suppressed excitement. Sirius stood up and opened a trunk made from the finest leather, its clasps were silver and it had his initials stamped on the front in big, bold letters. He rummaged around and found his pyjama's which he withdrew and dumped on his bed before stripping off his robes. Remus' eyes moved around nervously, his own trunk sat at the foot of the bed farthest from the door, he chewed his bottom lip as James too began to get dressed.

"Do you sleep standing up in your robes?" Sirius asked, lifting a well-manicured eyebrow. He was now wearing silk pyjamas with a little crest embroidered in silver on the breast pocket, he had plaited his hair so it hung across his shoulder. "You're a little odd, aren't you Lupin?" Remus' eyes narrowed a little and Sirius laughed, a sound that resembled the bark of a dog. "Don't worry, I like odd."

Remus felt a small smile of his own appear on his face before he went to his trunk and pulled out his own pyjamas, they were well worn but clean and soft. He went towards the door to the bathrooms and went inside to change, all the while feeling Sirius' cool gaze upon his back.