A/N: Well, well, how I do love being in control of the fates of these lovers. It also helps that I'm holding some of you in the palm of my hand (I'm egocentric—deal.) Anyway, I've finally gotten around to typing up this Chapter, and I do so hope that some of you will enjoy it. By the way… I've received so little reviews, the cyberbunnies are DYING!!! This is a severe problem! REVIEW AND SAVE THE CYBERBUNNIES!!! Many thanks to all who have (you know who you are.) And, just FYI, I review EVERY story I read, it's really not that difficult request.
The summer had gone by retchingly slowly for Remus and Sirius. Although they sent constant letters back and forth, Sirius was constantly being harassed by his parents, about topics from being in Gryffindor (a cardinal sin in the Black household) to his friends to Muggle-born rights, so they never got to see each other. However, each one kept and filed away every letter they received. Sirius reread Remus's scratchy, practically illegible handwriting (which many smart people had) every time he was shut up in his room, which was rather frequently. Remus took each note filled with Sirius's distinctive cursive lettering with him to every transformation in the dark woods, with only the menacing moonlight with which to read them by. Remus rather hoped that his friends would find a safe way to join him on these excursions soon. Sirius swore that they had had a major breakthrough at the end of last year, but he refused to say anymore, simply replying, "I don't want you worrying your pretty little head about what we're up to, so keep your nose out."
But now, summer was finally over, and the Marauders were soon back on the train to Hogwarts.
A/N: Hmmm… Should I recount the hours on the train? Nah. Well, sorry 'bout that, but all they did was eat Chocolate Frogs and play Exploding Snap anyway, so let's really mix things up and skip all the way to Remus's birthday! (By the way, it's October 10 :-) )
"Oi! Wake up, lazyhead! It's your birthday!!!"
"Gerroff, Siri!"
Remus had awoken to Sirius jumping on top of his bed and licking him until he got up. Though it may sound disgusting, Sirius had been doing this whole 'licking' business since they were children. The only difference now was that Remus didn't mind it too much.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY REM!!!"
"Thanks, Siri. But, is it at all possible to lower your volume a little bit? It's that time of the month again."
"Oh! I'm so sorry, Rem. Is this better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Anyway, when's the transformation?"
"Tonight."
"WHAT?! ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?!?!?!?!"
"Yeah, it's rather awful, actually. But I'll survive. At least you all will be with me all day."
"Well, I don't think that's good enough."
"Siri, you can't come. We've discussed this. You could get—"
"—get hurt, I know. But still!"
"There's nothing that can be done, so let's just focus on the positive, eh? It's the weekend."
"Right-o, ol' chum! Well, when you're ready, come down to the Common Room, alright?"
"Okay. Thank you Siri."
"Anything for you, mate."
Sirius kissed Remus's forehead, then ran down to the Common Room.
What did I do to deserve him?
Remus got up and showered, and once he got dressed, he walked down into the Common Room.
The ceiling was covered in red and yellow crepe paper, and balloons of every color of the rainbow. The walls were plastered with flashing Birthday banners, giant pictures of the Marauders as young as eleven, and even the portraits were darned with birthday hats. All of the chairs were piled high with gifts, and the table held a savory array of cakes and pies, supposedly swiped from the kitchens. The Marauders started singing "Happy Birthday to You" as Remus descended the stairs, with various levels of talent. Not many people knew this, but James was actually a very gifted singer, but it was Sirius's booming voice which dominated the tune.
"Happy birthday, Remus!"
"Yeah, way to go, Remmy!"
"Congrats, Rem!"
"Thanks guys. Wow! How in Merlin's name did you do all of this?"
"With wands."
"O, bugger, James. Seriously, how'd you manage to do this? It looks incredible!"
"Ask us no questions, and we'll tell you no lies, Lupin."
"Fine ,fine, DON'T tell me how you did it!"
"Come on, I'm starving!"
"Peter, you're always starving."
"I know, Sirius. But this food looks so good!"
"I agree with Peter, let's eat."
"As you wish, Master Lupin."
"Your request is our demand."
"Sirius, James?"
"Yes?"
"Yes?"
"Are you going to talk in that creepy butler accent all day?"
"Why, yes sir."
"Of course, sir!"
"Alright, weirdoes. Let's eat."
They feasted on Cockroach Clusters, Pumpkin Pasties, Treacle Tart, and chocolate cake, and then Remus opened his gifts.
He got:
- 22 books (of various genres)
- A sneakoscope
- A Chorley Cannons autographed poster
- 3 jumpers (red, green, and purple)
- And a mirror.
This mirror wasn't any ordinary mirror. Each one of the Marauders had one, and all you had to do as say the name of the person you wanted to talk to, and they would appear in the glass.
"Had to go all the way to Burgin and Burke's for that one, mate. Creepy place."
"James is right. I had to dress up like Pukius Malloy to get it."
"But Sirius did a strapping job, didn't he, Peter?"
"Yeah. But Sirius has always been good at lying."
"By lying, you mean acting, don't you, Pete?"
Sirius shot a menacing look at Peter.
"Y—yes, of course."
"Point being, don't lose it, mate. I'll never get through detention if you do."
"I won't, Sirius. Promise."
"Splendid. Right, then, Master Lupin, what sort of tomfoolery shall we get up to today?"
:skip to the night:
"Bye, Rem! See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but if I'm asleep, just come back later. Madame Pomfrey will tell me if you were here. I have to go get the Wolfs bane Potion from her right now, in fact."
"Right. I'm so sorry, Rem."
"You say that every time, James."
"Yeah, but we really wish we could be there with you."
"I know you do, Siri—"
"We know we can't, Remus. Just wish we could, is all."
"Well, thanks, Peter. I'll see you later then."
"Watcher."
And, with that, Remus walked, alone, towards the Hospital Wing.
"Ready, guys?"
"Yeah, Operation: Werewolf is in progression."
James ran up to the Gryffindor Tower and grabbed his Invisibility Cloak. All of them could just barely fit, and Sirius had to crouch down to fit inside, but it would work for their purposes.
Then, when they had all run down to the Whomping Willow, Peter changed into a rat and stepped on the knob under its trunk which lead to a secret passageway to the Shrieking Shack. James and Sirius transformed respectively into a stag and a dog, and all three of them ran down the passage to await Remus.
When Remus walked through the door, he saw James, Sirius, and Peter sitting against the wall of the shack.
"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?! GET THE FUCK OUT!!!"
"Relax, Rem. Surprise!"
And, with that, all three of them transformed right before Remus's eyes.
"What the hell?"
The dog changed back into Sirius.
"Well, it's a long and funny story, actually. We had been trying to find a way to come to transformations since the second year, but we couldn't figure it out. Then, James had an epiphany. In order to come to your TRANSFORMations, we'd have to TRANSFORM ourselves. I don't think any of us have ever researched so hard, Rem, but James finally found a way to become Animagi. Unregistered, of course, but hey, what's the fun in a completely legal solution? We have a codename system worked out and everything. You're Mssr. Moony, James is Mssr. Prongs, 'cuz of the horns, and Peter is Wormtail, 'cuz, well, I don't actually remember why, but there was a reason. And I'm Mssr. Padfoot, at your service."
"You guys did all of that for me?"
"No, we did it for Snivellus Snape. We do love him so."
"Nah, we're just messing with you—Moony."
"Thanks—Padfoot, Prongs, Wormtail."
"O, and there's something else that we threw in on the side. Prongs?"
James opened up an old piece of parchment.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Then, out of nowhere, scarlet ink blossomed across the page, forming letters and a picture resembling a map.
"This is the Marauder's Map. We enchanted it to make a moving map of Hogwarts. Those blobs? They're people moving around inside the castle walls. This way, we can be sure that we can get out here to be with you without getting caught."
"Wow, that's pretty impressive spellwork! How come none of you are good in Charms class?"
"Oh, well, Lily helped a little bit."
"Ah, I see."
"Oh! And when you want to close it: Mischief Managed."
All of the ink was swept away, and the map went back to a bit of parchment.
"Otherwise anyone could read it, you know?"
"Wow, thanks mates! I can't even tell you what this means to me."
"No problem, Rem. We love you."
They all gathered around Remus in a group hug, but then his eyes started to become yellow.
"Quick! Transform!"
And, as Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, they played and talked until morning.
Best fucking birthday ever.
A/N: Okay, so I know that a) it took me forever to update and b) it wasn't that amazing, but it wasn't too horrible, was it? R&R!
Also, if you haven't been to my profile yet, check it out! It's pretty fly, and has information on the SAVE THE CYBERBUNNIES campaign.
Cheers!
