Author's Note

Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter, world or characters. Yada yada yada…

Chapter 6- Swirling Vortex of Burning Cards

Charlie walked up the staircase towards the boy's 4th Year dorm, where he was greeted by the sight of James and Sirius sitting in the middle of the floor making a huge card tower made of Exploding Snap cards that they were levitating with their wands and Peter reading a book.

"Hey guys." Unfortunately he appeared to have startled Sirius, who yelped and dropped a card which promptly exploded knocking down the whole tower. As they tumbled downward, a stray card landed on James whose trousers instantly ignited.

James let out a shout of surprise, and began batting at the flame with his hands, Peter squealed, "STOP DROP AND ROLL!"

Charlie stood frozen in surprise as James rolled around the floor. "Hold on Mate!" Sirius yelled, and proceeded to run to the bathroom.

After a few seconds, James quenched the flame with his wand as Sirius ran back into the room holding a bucket of water. Seeing James no longer on fire, he let out a sigh of exasperation. But Charlie saw a mischievous smirk creep over Sirius's face, and knew what would happen. He covered his eyes with his hand as a wave of water doused him and James. The sudden chill seemed to suck the air out of his lungs.

"AUGH! SIRIUS YOU ARSE! THAT WATER IS BLOODY COLD!" James shouted, standing up abruptly now thoroughly soaked with water.

"Don't be a nancy, I was jus—Umph!" James tossed the empty bucket at Sirius, hitting him in the stomach and effectively cutting off his response.

Charlie fought to contain himself, but seeing the surly expression on James' face he burst out laughing. Pretty soon all the other boys joined in, even the now sopping wet James.

"I call first shower!" Charlie called, running over to his bed, grabbed a towel and sprinted to the bathroom before the other boys could respond.

"Nooo! YOU-" James shouted as Charlie closed the door. Charlie grinned as James cursed loudly on the other side. He turned the shower on and quickly stripped of his wet robes and clambered into the warm water.

888

Remus opened the door of the dormitory and was confused by what he saw. There was a singed pile of cards on the floor and a soaked James sprawled beside them. Sirius was draped over Peter's trunk as Peter nonchalantly read a book.

"What's going on here?" He asked, but thought 'I don't really know why I bother being surprised at this point…'

"Oh you know, the usual. James and Sirius wanted to build a card tower..." said Peter, not looking up.

"You know what? I don't even care anymore." Remus mumbled, dumping his bag on his bed.

"Moony! Where have you been? The library? You missed out on a lot of fun, James turned some Slytherins hair red and gold, and of course he landed me and him into detention again." Sirius said cheerily.

James laughed and Remus rolled his eyes, but smiled. 'at least they aren't just getting away with it this time.'

"But really, where have you been?" James sat up and looked at him from the floor.

'Should I actually tell them.' He thought, but quickly dismissed this prospect. 'Nope. Bad Idea' "I was… around." Remus sat on his bed,

"Around, huh? So with a girl then?" James was grinning from ear to ear.

"Remus gots a girlfriend, Remus gots a girlfriend. They're gonna get married and have ten fuzzy children… Remus gots-"

"Shut up, Pete!" Remus was now deeply flushed. "Nosy bastards…" he muttered. Sirius got off Peter's trunk and strutted across the room and laid down next to Remus on the bed.

"So… who's the girl?" Sirius waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Remus felt his face go red. "It's… not really any of your business… get off my bed!" Remus tried to shove him off but Sirius didn't budge. James hopped on belly first on Remus's other side.

"Now when Sirius asked who the girl was, it was rhetorical; We know exactly who it is." James said with his glasses knocked askew from his jump.

Remus didn't say anything, but turned redder, if that was possible. Charlie walked out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist. He walked over to his bed to put on his clothes.

Peter began singing badly and horribly off key, "Remus and Mercy sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Remus and Mercy sitting in a tree-"

"Stop it." Remus was glowering. But Pete continued singing.

Sirius put a white sheet over his head and said in a girly voice, "Oh Remus, of course I'll go out with you. In fact let's get married and have 10 children and we'll live in the most beautiful cardboard box ever!"

"What the hell is going on?" Charlie asked. Remus glanced over at him, Charlie had an indignant look on his face. 'Jeez, Mercy's his best friend.'

"Well you see, our buddy Remus…" Sirius began

"SHUT UP, YOU BLOODY WANKERS!" Remus roared. He threw his pillow at Peter, who ducked.

James and Sirius smiled mischievously. James seemed almost too happy to break the brief silence.

"You see, he's got it bad."

Remus muttered a stream of curses, as he simmered in his bed.