Disclaimer: Just about everything here belongs to JK *-sigh-* I just get to do evil things to them :)
Summary: When a potion goes wrong and Remus Lupin becomes a five-year-old, what will the rest of Hogwarts do? Marauder-era. R&R!
Author's note: I know the plot has been used a million times, just wanted to see what I could do with it.
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The second the group stepped out of the classroom, Sirius and James exploded with laughter. Peter seemed still surprised, eyeing the bundle in Lily's arms with obvious interest. Lily glared at all three of them.
"Hand him here," Sirius demanded as soon as he'd been able to contain his laughter. But Remus shied away from him and Lily threw Sirius a thin smile.
"As if I would trust you with a child, Black."
"What about me Evans?" James asked, offering her his biggest grin, "You would trust me right?"
"Maybe in an alternate universe Potter," she shot back, and hitched Remus up a little, walking briskly down the hallway.
"He's our friend Evans," Sirius said more seriously now (A/n: serious Sirius, hehe).
"Do you want to be with those big meanies?" she cooed at Remus.
Sirius narrowed his eyes at her and Remus bit his lip. They were all watching him now, and he grabbed a fold of the robe and covered his face with it. He was obviously afraid.
"It's okay," Lily whispered, before turning to the rest of the boys, "There you go. He doesn't even want to be with you, Black. OR YOU," she shot at James, who seemed about to try his luck.
Sirius protested, "Not fair Evans, you're brain-washing him! Psh, women."
Lily barked out a laugh, "Ha! As if I needed to brain-wash anyone. It's a fact that the you and Potter are the most immature boys in the entire school."
"And me?" Peter suddenly piped up.
"What about you?"
"I just want to carry him. I wouldn't drop him or anything."
"No."
"No?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Those two idiots would probably whisk him away in a split second, Pettigrew, that's why," she huffed, spotting the gargoyle at the entrance of Dumbledore's office.
"Ooo, whisk! Sounds naughty Evans," Sirius quipped.
"Whisk me Evans!" James proclaimed, eyebrows waggling suggestively.
She whipped around, peering at him, her temper flaring, "Do either of you even know what that means?" Silence. "Exactly."
"Is Moony even alive there?" Peter thought to ask, referring to the silent, still bundle of clothes that was Remus Lupin.
"Nah, Evans has smothered him to death with her bosom," Sirius commented.
James sighed, "Ah, lucky dog. Smart one that Moony. I ought to try that sometime, eh Lily?"
"If both of you don't SHUT UP this instant, I'll hex into next year!"
"Tsk, tsk, what temper," James whispered.
Lily scowled as they arrived at Dumbledore's office, muttering, "Peppermint Patties." And the gargoyle moved aside.
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Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled with amusement as Lily presented to him the six or seven-year-old Remus Lupin. She vaguely explained the situation before setting down the bundle onto the floor. Remus struggled a bit before emerging, and a quick spell from Dumbledore shrunk the robes to fit him. Most of the yellow slime of the potion had been wiped off, but some remained. Particularly a small blob on his left cheek. With the stains, messy hair and trembling face, he was quite pitiful. The others watched Dumbledore in silence.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, addressing the boy, "Good evening. I am Professor Dumbledore. And you are?"
The boy looked at the floor, biting his lip, "Lupin… sir… I'm Lupin… pleasure to… meet… you?" He looked up then, as if wanting to know if he'd said the right thing.
"Pleasure to meet you too my boy." Then he turned to the older students. "I think that since you three are his closest friends, it would be only natural that you care for the boy until we can reverse the situation?"
The three nodded, grinning. Lily raised an eyebrow, surprised.
But Dumbledore wasn't finished, "Of course, I'm sure Miss Evans wouldn't mind checking in on you. In fact, I'm sure we can clear out a few rooms for all of you. Obviously we can't have young Lupin with the rest of the students. You agree?"
All of them nodded now.
"Very well then. In the meantime, see that Professor Slughorn finds the cure to this potions particular effect." At that moment, Professor McGonagall stumbled in.
"Professor," she gasped, "Is it true? I heard…" and then her eyes fell on the quivering form of Remus, her gaze hardening when it turned to the three older boys, "Speaking of iresponsibilities."
"Now Minerva…" Dumbledore said with a smile, "Would you mind showing the vacant dorm I discovered a while back?"
She nodded, her lips thin and upturned.
"Excellent. The five of you are dismissed from classes for the rest of the day. Tomorrow you'll have to figure some rotating schedule for the care of Lupin, I suppose, so you might want to discuss that tonight. Very well then, Minerva."
"Follow me," she said curtly. Lily followed automatically, noticing far too late that Sirius was too close to Remus and had already picked him up. As they stepped out into the corridor, Remus squirmed, hiding under his arms.
"Oi, Moony! Come on, don't be such a wet blanket, eh?" James remarked, trying to find his old friend in this young boy. The boy blinked back uncertainly.
"Who… who are you?"
"I'm Prongs," he continued, "This is Padfoot and Wormtail." Then he added in a lower, joking, proud voice, "And we're the best friends you'll ever have." Siruis grinned and set the boy down, but the instant he did Remus had run after Lily as fast as his short legs could carry him, hugging her leg and staring at the other three boys.
Lily laughed and picked him up, muttering, "Don't listen to them. They're crazy."
Sirius frowned at Peter and James, but they both shrugged. Who knew what was going on in Moony's head?
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Ah, the animosity begins! Poor Remus! Anyways, please R&R! Comments are always very much appreciated!