I still own nothing ;). And thanks a million to marauder617. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
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Chapter Three:

"How do you know Longbottom?" James asked while he was writing his herbology essay. It was two weeks to Christmas and currently he and Romulus were sitting in a corner of the common room and doing their homework. Romulus was insisting that if they finished their work that evening, they could go roaming that night and then have two free days all for themselves. Although James complained and nagged a lot, he knew Romulus was right.

"You mean apart from he's herbology professor and our head of the house?" Romulus asked with a raising eyebrow. And when James nodded he continued; "He was the one who gave me my letter and then took me to Diagon alley."

"Oh…er…how is it there? Orphanage, I mean." He asked curiously.

"Well…it's not that bad…we all are like brothers and sisters…or at least it's how I look at them. Mrs. Johnson is our counselor and she's great. I love her lot…and the other staffs are good, I mean I like them too but they're more disciplinarians. Mrs. Johnson is sort of your friend. most of the times there is one or two kid especially the little ones who missed their parents and start to crying…there is this little Susie, whose parents died when she was five, and now she's six. She always comes to me, when she misses her parents…" tears formed in Romulus grey-blue eyes. "I don't know what she does now that I'm not there…" he took a deep breath and continued; "but there're others like me who don't remember anything and anyone to miss…I…I just remember the nun who found me for the first time…"

"Found you? Where?" James asked surprised. He never really thought about how his friend had gotten into orphanage at first place but he didn't think that he was found. Was he a deserted boy? A boy whose parents don't want? But…but which parents don't want their own child?

"Erm…in a grave yard near the place she lives…" Romulus said uncomfortably.

"Oh God, it sounds scary."

"Yeah, she found me when I was seven…"

"You mean you don't remember your first seven years of your life?" James cut him in surprised. Romulus looked away and nodded.

"Anyway, she sometime comes and see me…she's very nice" a fondly smile appeared in his face. "That's why no one knew about my parents…before they found me, there wasn't even an evidence that I was born."

"Really?" James had a sympathetic expression.

"Look I don't need your pity, because there's nothing to pity…and…can we just change the subject." Romulus said a little sharper than he intended.

"Yeah, sure…I…I just want to invite you for Christmas to my house. I've already sent an owl to my parents and asked them if you can come, and they say it's ok. "

Romulus stiffened visibly. "I…thanks…but…I…I don't think I can come, sorry mate." James eyes went wide.

"But why…certainly you don't back to orphanage…and you can't stay here all alone." James protested.

"I…I just don't think it's a good idea James…" He tried to reason.

"Romulus? Can you help me with this part of transfiguration?" Mary, one of their Gryffindor year mate asked.

"Sure which part?" Romulus asked. He was happy that there was something to interrupt the awkward conversation with James.

"Here…look here, it said two swished with a swift flick of wrist…but it just doesn't work for me."

Romulus looked at the text she showed him in thought, before answer her;

"Well, you should swish your wand in a gentle pace, and pronounce it clearly with every movement. There must be a harmony between your movement and your incantation…and remember it works much better if you don't move your forearm at all…look at my hand." He did the spell for her.

She thanked him enthusiastically. "And remember, transfiguration is all about imagination. The better you imagine the subject you want, the better your spell work." He advised with a wink. The blond girl blushed slightly as she went back to her lonely seat near the fireplace.

"So?" James said expectantly.

"So what?" Romulus said innocently.

"Why you don't come for Christmas?" James glared at him.

"Look…maybe next year…if I come this year, the people will talk…they can't see the trust that we have for each other. They just see an orphan boy who fined his way into the pocket of the Harry Potter's biggest son, the heir of Potters and Blacks. I don't give a shit about what they're thinking…but I don't want their meddling and blabbing ruined our trust and friendship…can you understand? I really do love meet your parents and siblings but let's wait for another year…ok?" Romulus explained gently. James was silent for a moment before nodding his agreement.

"Ok, but how you know I'm the heir of Potters and Blacks fortune? I know I don't mention it at all." James narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Romulus sighed deeply "I heard it here and there…or maybe read about it in old newspaper…I don't know but I just found it out about a month ago…" He said nonchalantly and hoped he could convince his friend.

"But why didn't you tell me before?" he asked.

"Come on, it's not a big deal James. I mean…ok…you have a lot of fortune and responsibility in the future and I'll be at your side as long as you want me…but as I said it's not a big deal, you're still the same James that I met at the Hogwarts express…I don't mention it because I thought you would have told me, if you wanted and felt comfortable with the subject." Romulus explained.

James nodded again. Romulus sighed in relief slightly as James believed him.

"You sure you don't want to come?"

"Yeah mate, I'm sure." Romulus said with a soft smile. James sighed and returned to his essay. He was torn between staying in the castle and went back home. Here, in castle, he's best friend was all alone, but he couldn't lose Christmas with his family. He missed his parents and his partners in crime at home who also were known as Lily and Albus. They were doing their work in silence when Romulus declared happily; "All done!" He snapped his book close and dropped his quill on top of it.

"Already? I don't start my potion essay yet." James said surprised.

"That's because I don't nag a lot like a hag and do what I must do." Romulus rolled his eyes exasperatedly. "And as I'm a great friend, I wait for you to finish your homework." He added with a wink. James pouted slightly before went back to him work.

"You know you can help me right?"

"Yeah I know, but if I do, you learn nothing. So no copying and no summarizing. But I'll answer your questions, if you don't understand a part."

James mumbled something unintelligible as Romulus pulled out his journal and started to writing.
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"Finally."

"Done?" Romulus looked up from his journal.

"Done…" James looked around them to see if anyone was listening "…is tonight on?" he asked in whisper.

"Yeah…and I think we should start to plot a good prank for Christmas."

The Roamers, as they called themselves, little by little were starting to get the same reputation of The Marauders and the Weasley Twins. But there was a big difference between the said reputations. The Roamers never got caught, no one knew their true identity, they didn't even know how many there are, and the only proof the staff and students had, on the scene of the prank, was a little signature of:

'Laugh at life
like we Roamers'

"I have an idea actually." James said. He's face was shining happily at the thought of a prank.

"What's it? I hope it isn't something harmful or humiliating."

That was one of their rules. No harmful or humiliating prank.

"Nah, you underestimate me, you know!" He sniffed loudly; "You wound me deeply Romu. I can't believe you doubt me and my love." James put his hand on his heart dramatically and started to clean fake tears and then fainted on top of Romulus. Romulus laughed loudly and shoved James off of himself.

"Get up you idiot" He managed to say between his laughter.

"I don't. I want to die, for you don't love me anymore. My love isn't matter to you anymore." James again mocked a faint on the floor this time.

"Come on just tell me the prank, James...and you said 'anymore' twice, that's ruined the effect." Romulus said who still chuckling.

"I don't. You just want to leave me and run away with that…that…what was his name? Frank? Drank? Or prank, I don't know, that bastard. I won't let you, over my dead body…why you don't love me anymore Romu?" James was wailing and pretended to crying.

"James, you attract so much attention, we can't talk about the prank if you continue this." Romulus hissed under his breath, while he tried to control his laughter.

"Ok, ok, I forgive you…I forgive you." he said happily as he stood up and waved for others who were looking in amusement at their antics. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen for being good audiences." He bowed deeply and waved again, before sat down beside Romulus. They wait a minute or two, so everyone else would return to what they were doing.

"I was thinking about charming the Christmas trees." He whispered with a wide grin. "and make them ask the people for a dance, waltz or tango, if they accept to dance the tree will give them a present and if not…let's say they must endure a Christmas holiday with charming multicolor long hair. And at the end the trees will shout our code." He was nearly bouncing in his seat at the end of his explanation.

"Yeah, that could be fun. We just need to find the right charm…but you know the presents cost a lot? And about the multicolor long…"

"Oh, the trees will warn them about it beforehand…" James interrupted his protest. Romulus thought a little before started to nod.

"Ok, but not the whole holiday, just as long as they're in the castle." Romulus smirked.

"Ok. Deal." James shook his hands. "And about the presents…ummm…" he robbed his chin "a pine needle will be there presents."

TBC
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OK, there's this helpie thingie! Please tell me what you think;

First what do you think about their nicknames? And do you think they should become Animagi in their upper years? Third or fourth year?

Waiting for your ideas. Ah and please don't forget to review.

Thank a lot.