Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the lovely characters or anything involving the magical wizarding world, etc. etc.!
Remus was no stranger to breaking the rules, but somehow he couldn't shake the nervousness that accompanied James covering him with the Invisibility Cloak and joining him beneath it. Too many years had passed since he'd done this last, he felt like an imposter in his own skin.
"I need a book from the Restricted section of the library," James said simply, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. And if Remus remembered correctly, it wasn't. Sirius and Peter had already lost interest in the disembodied voices, back at their own beds.
"Do the honors?"
James passed what seemed like a piece of blank parchment to him. It appeared new compared to the worn look it had acquired since coming into Harry's possession, but Remus would recognize the map in any state.
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good," he whispered, holding his wand with a shaking hand and watching the map come alive in front of him as if for the first time. Being back here made it feel like everything was new again despite having seen the map work its magic plenty.
As they walked, he kept his eyes on the moving dots on the map and watched for professors, letting James lead the way, all the while wondering how this could be happening.
The library was quiet and dark. James uncovered himself with an air of unstoppable confidence, illuminated by the light of his wand. He moved swiftly through the shelves, expertly sorting through the books, wasting no time at all.
Remus stayed covered and leaned back against a desk. "So what exactly do you need this book for?"
The innocent question made James pause mid-hunt to look over his shoulder at Remus, eyebrows knit in concern. "All right, Moony? We were all talking about it yesterday, don't you remember?" When Remus didn't respond, he continued slowly, as if talking to a child. "It's for the Veritaserum we're brewing to find out if Peter was lying when he told us he snogged Katie."
"Right, sorry. I'm having a bit of trouble remembering things." Remus rubbed the back of his head for effect. "Bumped my head and all..."
James tucked a book beneath his arm and slipped beneath the cloak again. "What are we studying in Defense?"
"I can't remember."
"Potions?"
"Er..."
"What was Evans wearing yesterday?"
He cracked a grin in spite of himself. "I don't think I'd know that even if my memory was okay, Prongs."
James questioned him all the way back to the dormitories where they found their friends were already fast asleep, Peter snoring loudly.
"You've got a right case of amnesia, mate!" James whispered as he tucked the map and cloak away into his trunk for safe keeping. "Try not to fall again, yeah? Do you want to go to the Hospital Wing?"
Remus climbed into bed, feeling suddenly exhausted at the thought of being poked at and prodded by Madam Pomfrey all night. That was all too familiar of his time at Hogwarts in a bad way, bringing back memories of the particularly bad full moons. He shook his head. There was nothing she could do for him anyway. "I'll be fine, go to sleep."
"A bit bossy there, eh Moony?" Remus saw a flash of James' grin before he had disappeared into his own bed. The smile was contagious; he felt himself grinning back in the dark. "Your memory must really be ruined if you've forgotten that I'm the bossy one."
James fell asleep quickly, breathing soft and steady. The silence punctuated by his friends' sleeping habits was incredibly comforting to Remus who felt like he could relax if only for a moment.
Laying on his back, he conjured up a mirror and examined his reflection once again, still somewhat expecting to see his adult self. Instead, there was a fifteen year old looking back at him, amazement clear on his features.
"Bloody hell," he murmured to himself, setting the mirror down beside the bed. He could stare all night, but it wouldn't change a thing.
He closed his eyes, intent on thinking through his situation and what to do about it, but he was instead asleep within minutes.
