Chapter One – The Bad Beginning

All four boys sat in detention. All for different reasons.

James from Gryffindor, had hexed someone for calling his friend a mudblood.

Sirius from Hufflepuff, had been caught trying to steal classified files from Slughorn's office.

Remus from Ravenclaw, had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And finally Peter from Slytherin, had been caught completing some stupid dare from his mates.

All four boys were now tediously and wandlessly scraping chewing gum from the potions desks. Peter was thinking about how hungry he now was- having been forced to skip dinner. Remus was thinking about how much he would love to be snuggled up in his bed at the present moment reading a nice book and eating chocolate. James was thinking about the latest quidditch move he was trying to master and Sirius? Well Sirius was wishing he hadn't chewed so much gum in potions class.

It didn't help that the dungeons were so warm and inviting. Suddenly one of the vials fell from the shelf. Peter shuddered, looking nervously to the other boys for support. There was no one in that corner of the room. Peter backed away, Remus stood his ground, James went to look and Sirius watched closely behind.

James picked the broken vial off the ground. Its contents had gone all over the floor.

'Boil Rash Potion' read the label.

He couldn't help but wonder why on earth anyone would ever want to get a skin rash. James froze and broke into a grin. No one could say that he wasn't a genius now.

Dropping his things he instantly dabbed the sponge from his bucket into the potion and began to wipe it greedily over his hands. Instantly his hands broke out in big red pus filled boils.

Sirius who was watching and grinning, snatched the infected sponge off him and begin drowning his hands and his face too in the stuff.

"Can't let one boy have all the fun" he smirked gruffly.

Remus tried his best but couldn't help but laugh at Sirius. His face had broken out in red boils. On anyone else it wouldn't have been funny, but Sirius well… Sirius was the good looking one. Everyone knew Sirius for his impeccable good looks and immaculate features and here he was covered in boils.

Sirius looked over at Remus laughing and threw the sponge at him next hitting Remus square in the face. That shut him up. Now he too was covered in boils.

"Don't touch that thing!" warned Peter in his squeaky voice. "It's giving you boils all over"

"Don't be thick" said Sirius not quite believing how dumb this boy was. "We're going to use it as an excuse to get out of here".

"Oh" he replied finally catching on. "But isn't that rule breaking?" asked Peter shyly.

Sirius glared, James ignored and Remus just smiled at him kindly.

One by one the three boys got up to leave the room and to find Professor Slughorn. Each boy desperately hoping that the plan would work.

"Wait for me!" Peter called out hurriedly wiping the sponge over his hands too. He didn't want to be left out.

Walking into the Proffice Sirius didn't bother to knock and James had to restrain a laugh when Professor Slughorn jumped and tried to hide his crystallised pineapple.

"Professor" remarked Sirius in a concerned tone, "We seemed to have developed a rash to this muggle cleaning mixture" he said holding up his hands.

Me too" interrupted James, following Sirius's lead.

"And us" added Peter holding up his hands, wanting to get some attention on himself.

It was so exaggerated that Remus had to try his best not to laugh. Even a muggle wouldn't have bought something like that. Especially not coming from Sirius Black one of the biggest trouble makers in the year.

However surprisingly Professor Slughorn believed him. Somehow all four boys were so surprised to learn that there potions professor, was thicker than they could have believed possible. Perhaps it was the fact that James Potter was one of his favourites or perhaps it was the fact that some of the boils were now popping pus and despite the fact that it was self-inflicted it still hurt. Then again maybe it was because he thought that a bunch of first year boys wouldn't be capable of such a plan.

Either way, Slughorn dismissed them and sent them to the Hospital Wing. The boys left the room as fast as their feet could carry them. Instantly breaking down into fits of simultaneous laughter once they were out of earshot. Remus however was something else. He was laughing so hard that there were small tears running out the corner of his eyes and he felt as if his sides were going to split. After all it wasn't like this sort of thing happened to him every day.

After some time, when the boys had finally calmed down Sirius whipped out the antidote and began applying it to each of them, until all the boils were gone. No one bothered to ask him why he would have something like boil antidote cream in his jacket.

James spoke first. "That was some plan"

"Yeah" replied Sirius "I think I would have died if I had to spend another evening scrapping gum" he paused and then added "you played your part well enough"

"Well" added Remus, "I thought I was going to break a rib, from laughing. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard."

"That was brilliant" chirped up Peter who was staring admirably at James and Sirius's acting.

"I guess I was" smirked Sirius casually, tossing his thick black curly glossy locks over his shoulder.

"See you round then boys" remarked Remus suddenly feeling shy.

"Yeah, later" replied Sirius as all boys began to diverge. James hesitated.

"WAIT!" he called, "anyone fancy a trip to the kitchens? We missed dinner"

"What" Sirius froze to the spot and shot up an eyebrow, "you know where the kitchens are?"

"Of course" replied James, "you coming or what?" he directed his question to Remus and Peter.

"Alright" replied Remus who was grateful to make new friends, something he always found difficult.

Peter just froze, his eyes practically bursting from their sockets. No one had ever invited him to join in like real friends before. And cool friend too. No one ever included him like this. It felt strange yet comforting at the same time, and with that all four boys followed James to the Hogwarts kitchens.

Each boy with the same feeling, that their friendship was just the start of something bigger...

Author's Note- Let me know what you think...and if you want me to continue or not...