Written for the September Event at Hogwarts. Prompt used is object - Quill.
Also for the Hard-core Marauder Fan Competition, using vague prompt The Black Lake.
Words - 809
Deceptive Quills and Giant Squids
Moony PoV
"Come on, guys! Whoever reaches that tree last has a swim with the squid!" Sirius shouted. I was reading under the oak tree near the edge of the Black Lake, as the guys goofed around. I was trying to make a sketch of the mountains which loomed behind the Forbidden forest which started at the other edge of the lake. It was truly a visage. I knew the sketch wouldn't do justice to this beautiful scenery in front of me.
I frowned as I leaned down over my parchment squinting at the line I'd just made. I took my wand and whispered the cutting charm, so that my quill sharpened. It was a special Sketch-it-up quill so I didn't have to carry the inkpot with me everywhere but it was still hard to draw with it.
Splash! James had just jumped in the lake. Laughing, he pulled Sirius along with him. I wish I had a recorder then. I would have thought it was a girl screaming if I didn't know it was Sirius. He screeched, "My hair! My poor hair!"
I chuckled, the poor guy and his vanity.
"Oh, shut it Padfoot! Nothing's happened to it!" James shoved Sirius. And then Peter came running from behind James, growling "Boo" just beside his ear.
I gave up drawing for now. The bloody quill was giving me trouble. I had heard many good recommendations about it. And then, after buying a dozen of them from Diagon Alley, I had left my pencils which Lily had gifted me for Christmas at home. I will ask mom to owl me those when I write to her next.
The guys were chasing each other, dunking each other in water. And then a tentacle came closer, rising up. Sirius froze on seeing that.
"Uhh, James" he whispered. "You may want to look behind you."
Peter was already backing away. And then the other two started scrambling towards the shore.
"What a bunch of sissies you are!" I snorted, joining in the fun.
"Oh but Moony, you know you are judged by the company you keep! Don't worry, we'll keep you. We love you oh so much." Too late, I realized James' intention. I just manahed to put down my sketch book and quill besides me, when he fell down on top of me, wet clothes and all. I looked at him in dismay, shoving him off my lap. And Sirius seeing that, shouted, "Dog pile!"
I immediately stood up, going behind the tree. James was still lying on the ground and had just managed to sit upright.
"Ufff! Padfoot! Get off you great mangy dog! Your elbow's digging into my stomach."
"Aww, but you ruin all my fun!" Sirius pouted. Just then, he caught sight of the quill I was using earlier.
"Oh, Remus! You are using this quill? I've heard my cousin Narcissa complaining about it all summer! It's a waste of money! Word has it, that this is the Carrows' latest strategy to earn more money, though there's no proof. These aren't for sketching, it's a sham. You'll be better off writing with this, rather than sketching."
"Well, if you know so much about it, you could have informed me earlier," I scowled.
"Come on Moony, look on the bright side. You can now use it up in classrooms, not having to carry the inkpot with you for the next few months. Though, I think you should try out those Muggle pens. They have a refill with a semi-solid ink and some are even waterproof. It's the best Muggle invention ever!"
"Hmm, maybe I will. I'll look out for those when I am in Hogsmeade, next time."
Looking off in the far distance, I narrowed my eyes. I whispered in a hurry, "Guys get up! Old Minnie is coming this way and from the looks of it, she's angry."
The guys didn't question me. They knew to trust my wolfish senses. They clambered to get up, then realizing Peter wasn't there, I wondered out loud, "Where's Peter?"
I looked around and there he was, in his animagus form sitting near the nape of Sirius' neck. I wondered how Sirius didn't recognize the added weight on his shoulder.
"Never mind, I heard him saying something about meeting a Hufflepuff named Amy." I smirked inwardly. Sirius' reaction is going to be horrible when he realizes he has had a rat near his hair, sitting on his shoulder the whole time, who might have nipped off a few locks already. And then thinking Professor McGonagall was coming for them, they ran off in opposite direction of the castle. Laughing, I followed them, though there was no Minnie behind us.
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