In a world of ever-growing darkness, can four mischievous teenagers find a way to turn on the light?

Chapter 10

"Ugh…" James groggily opened his heavy eyelids, unable to take in his surroundings at al through his exhaustion. He didn't know what had happened to him, but he felt like he had the world's worst hangover. Perhaps he'd been to the wildest party in the history of Hogwarts last night. Or had hit his head as he heroically saved goal against the Slytherin Quidditch team, proclaiming a noble victory for Gryffindor at the sacrifice of his consciousness.

This considered, the last thing he was expecting to hear when he came to were the words, "James Potter, you are the world's most foolish idiot."

He glanced to the side, and could just make out Remus' outline, and Sirius lying on the floor in front of him. "Moony, what?"

"Well, maybe apart from this one," Remus gestured to Sirius, who seemed to be unconscious.

Then another thought struck James. "Moony... why are we in… the bathroom?" Maybe there had been a wild party last night, after all.

As James' vision cleared, he realised the level-headed Marauder was glaring at him. "The Animagus potion, James. Don't you remember?" Remus' normally gentle voice was laced with bitterness. "The three of you took the potion, without telling me, you lied to me. What happened to the Marauders? We never keep secrets from each other."

"We did this for you, Moony. And besides, you keep loads of secrets," James slurred.

"I didn't want you to. There was too much of a risk." Remus muttered.

"It was worth it."

"Will everybody stop saying that?" Remus complained, though the sentiment warmed his heart. Then the blood in his veins froze. "Wait- what secrets? I don't- I haven't… James, what do you mean?"

But James had tilted his head back and was peacefully watching the ceiling. Remus knew that his friend was no longer paying attention to him. He sighed in frustration and looked back down at Sirius, whose head was resting on his knee. He gently stroked Sirius' jet-black hair, which curled around the boy's strong jaw, framing his face beautifully. Remus smiled, and knew that if anyone saw his smile right now, one of his many secrets would be out. He'd never wanted to keep anything from his friends, but he couldn't help thinking that Sirius was the most handsome person he'd ever seen. And he knew that the Marauders would never look at him in the same way if they knew what he was thinking.

Peter was sitting up, but he hadn't said a word. He leant his back against a toilet basin, and stared straight ahead, his eyes occasionally darting around the room without focussing. The Animagus potion could badly affect people who were more unstable, occasionally driving them into madness. Remus didn't believe this would happen to Peter, but he still worried that it might change his friend. Peter had always been weak-willed and easily manipulated, but Remus wasn't sure if that made him more vulnerable to the potion. He wasn't sure of anything anymore.

"Remus? You ok?"

He heard Sirius' tired voice, and it snapped him out of his thoughts. The Marauders hardly every called him Remus. It was always Moony, ever since James had thought of the nickname in second year. He realised that tears of despair had started to fill his eyes, and he blinked them away quickly. "Yeah," he whispered, looking at his friend. He clasped Sirius' hand, relieved. "I'm glad you're awake."

Sirius grinned as he squeezed Remus' hand back, propping himself up on one elbow. "Me too. How are the others?"

Remus gestured around the room. "They'll be alright. You all will." He felt his will strengthen like steel, as he promised himself that he would ensure this.

Sirius nodded. "I'll be alright once I've had breakfast. I'm famished."

James stirred. "Did someone say breakfast?"

Even Peter looked over expectantly, and made a squeak like a rat expecting cheese.

Remus smiled to himself. Everything seemed normal, he'd been an idiot for thinking that the potion would change his friends.

It was, in fact, dinner time before the Marauders made it to the Great Hall. Despite their eagerness to eat, it had taken a few minutes for James, Sirius and Peter to gather the strength to exit the bathroom. They'd been unconscious for most of the morning, and made it back to their dorm around two in the afternoon, at which point Peter had curled up in a pile of blankets. James and Sirius spent the afternoon sprawled on their beds, having a slurred conversation about Quidditch. Remus sat on the floor between them with a book, not listening, but just enjoying the company of his friends. At some point, Peter had moved his blankets to make a little nest on the floor by the other three.

"I'm sorry, Moony," he'd muttered.

Remus had found it impossible to stay angry with his childlike friend, and had graciously accepted the apology.

Now, Peter was piling his plate high with any kind of cheese he could find, which wasn't unusual. He gave a startled squeak as Lily Evans appeared behind him.

"We know you three lied to Remus this morning." She was standing with her hand on her hips, glaring at James.

Alice was a perfect mirror image of her posture. "Where were you?"

James was at a loss for words. Lying to the girl he hoped to date and one of his best friends was different from lying to a professor, which he could do without a second thought.

It was Sirius who responded snidely. "I don't see how our whereabouts are any of your business."

"They are when you lie to our friend," Lily fixed him with her glare.

Remus looked up from his plate and mumbled, "it's fine. Don't worry about it."

"It is not fine," Lily turned to him with a softer expression. "Why do you put up with them-"

"Why don't you mind your own business for once?" Remus snapped.

Lily looked as if she'd been slapped. "Fine. I was just trying to help you, but if you want to be like that…" She turned on her heel and stormed to the other end of the table.

Alice made to follow her, but she threw a glance back at James. "I'll talk to you later."

Sirius turned to Remus in surprise. "I thought you weren't ok with…" he threw a glance around the crowded room, "you-know-what. Why are you still defending us?"

Remus sighed, as if he'd never been asked a more stupid question. "Because you're my best friends. And you always will be, no matter what crazy stuff you do."

"Good." James interjected. "Because we do a lot of crazy stuff."

"Don't I know it," Remus chuckled. But the smile left his face when he saw a familiar figure wave him over. "I'm feeling a little tired. I think I'll go back to the dorm now."

"You're tired?" James asked in surprise, but he didn't protest as Remus left the table and exited the Great Hall.

"What do you want?" Remus asked the hook-nosed figure he faced. He wouldn't normally have responded to a summon from Snape, but the knowing grin that the Slytherin had given him was more than enough to put him on edge after today's events.

Snape smirked at him. "Well, it seems that your not-so-perfect friends are up to something. And this time it's so bad that even you, Remus Lupin, the mastermind behind all their schemes, don't want them to do it. I wonder why… could it be illegal? Dangerous? Oh, don't tell me it's both." Snape's grin widened with every word, like a miner who'd hit the world's biggest gold vein.

Remus stared at him, blankly. "If you think you're getting anything out of me, you're mistaken."

Snape shrugged. "I thought as much. You do seem to have an unwarranted sense of loyalty towards them. What was it you said to me in third year? 'James, Sirius and Peter would never lie to me. They're my best friends, much better than any Slytherins.'" Snape cackled. "Oh, how the tables have turned. Now who's lying? But who are you going to side with now, Moony?" He uttered the nickname with scorn.

"I'll side with those who are loyal to me. Not evil, deceitful creatures," Remus retorted.

"Oh, really? Because I always thought that Lily was a loyal friend to you, yet you turned her away for the ones who deceived you." Snape's eyes glittered.

"You don't know anything about this, or about me." Remus glared at him, then began to turn away.

"I know enough," Snape called after him. "I saw you running down the corridors like a lunatic earlier, yelling for your so-called friends. And I heard your conversation with Lily. And, rest assured, I will find out what's going on with you four. And when I do, I won't be merciful."