In the dark depths of the forbidden forest, three animals lay undected under the light of the moon. James, Sirius, and Peter had snuck out after curfew. Remus had voted to stay behind so that he could watch if anyone grew suspicious about there whereabouts. At least, that's what he said. Another possible reason, James mused as he watched the Porter siblings through the branches of the trees, was that he was terrified of the moon. Full, half, quarter. It didn't matter what type of moon it was, he was still utterly terrified of it.
Speaking of the reason that they were there, at around ten o'clock P.M., James had spotted Jamie, Alex, and Lillian sneak through the portrait of the Fat Lady. Curiosity took the best of him, and, as quietly as they could, they followed them. Along the way, Sirius had whispered that he thought that they were going to some secret hideout where they could discuss the uses of dark magic. Peter thought that they just got restless and decided to go take a walk.
"A walk? At this time of night, Wormtail?" Sirius had questioned.
Peter wrung his hands nervously. "Well, we go out late at night sometimes, don't we?"
Before Sirius could speak, James said, "Yes, but we don't usually go out at night to just walk, now do we?" Vaguely pointing out the monthly adventures that they had whenever Remus went all Werewolf-mode.
It came as a bit of a surprise to them when they saw that they were heading to Hagrid's Hut. Hagrid had only been gamekeeper here for a few years, ever since that old gamekeeper passed away, but he had been working here since before the old man had passed away- he had been somewhat of a Gamekeeper-in-Training, if you will.
The three children had knocked on his door, and Hagrid had opened it and greeted them like they were old friends. They were in there for quite a while, and they had just come out with the promise to see Hagrid again soon.
James looked around at his surroundings. Peter was burrowing in the leaves, looking so much like an ordinary rat that James had to remind himself that it was Peter. Sirius was up in a very thick branch in a tree that practically hung over the Porter's kids heads, ready to pounce on them if need be.
"Do you reckon he's told everyone here? About us, I mean." James snapped his head around as he heard Alex speak.
Lillian shook her head. "No, I think he's only told selective members of the staff."
"But . . . won't that effect . . . where we come from, if he's told somebody?" Jamie asked, the worry evident in his voice.
Lillian paused. "I'm not sure."
"Uh, guys." Alex said, pointing into the forest. James felt his stag heart quicken as he saw that he was pointing directly at Peter.
Lillian saw where he was pointing as well and swore under her breath. "Well, well, well, Lil's. I've never seen you speak that way before. What will our dear grandmother have to say about that?" James said, raising an eyebrow and laughing out loud.
"Be quiet, idiot! You know that if he's here, then the rest of them are as well! Come on, we have to get back to the castle, and please, be careful about what you say, especially around them."
Her two brothers nodded their heads and started to make their way back up the castle grounds. Before Lillian followed them, however, she turned back to look at Peter. "You know, I've never liked rats." She said almost as though she was talking to herself. And then she turned back around and ran after her brothers, leaving the three marauders in the forbidden forest, all of them gazing in shock at one another at what had just occurred.
