Hogsmeade

"He is kidding, isn't he, Potter?" Rebecca Longbottom peered hopefully into the face of the boy.

"He better be." James scowled at the two notices side by side on the announcement board, one announcing the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year and the other stating that a Quidditch practice would be held at the same time on the same day.

"What have I been telling you?" Emmaline Vance came up behind them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "Alan Beamish is nuts. Hopefully the insanity will win us the Cup…"

"… otherwise we'll have to kill him in June," Marlene finished for her.

"But it's our first Hogsmeade weekend," Rebecca moaned.

"Really now, Longbottom, where are your priorities?"

The foursome whirled around to see Beamish standing behind them. Rebecca put her hands on her hips and glared at the Keeper. Beamish's face faltered for a moment.

"Oh I'll show you exactly where my priorities are, Alan Beamish!" She stormed over to him, grabbed him by the wrist and angrily dragged him off towards the portrait hole.

"Don't suppose they're off for a snog," Nathan mused, observing the whole scene.

"No, not at the moment, I don't suppose," Emmaline responded with a grin.

"Well good, if anyone can knock some sense into that madman, it'll be her." Marlene visibly crossed her fingers. Then she shrugged and added, "And if not I know several good bondage charms and a closet we can store him in."

"Did I hear something about bondage charms?"

Marlene turned to Sirius with a wicked grin. "You're a bit too young to be worrying about any of that, then. Come on, Em, we've got that bloody paper to write." She turned to James. "Do let us know if she talks the git out of it, I'd much rather stock up on sugar quills than bruises from a Bludger on Saturday." The two girls wandered off towards a table in the corner and Nathan disappeared into a group of fourth years.

Remus and Peter approached the other two boys. Remus looked to his friend. "What was that about?"

"Practice," James replied glumly.

Quirking an eyebrow, Remus leaned over to read the paper on the board, his face quickly fell. "During our first Hogsmeade weekend?"

"Oi, James." Peter looked from his watch to the bespectacled boy. "Aren't you supposed to meet with Snape now to finish up that report?"

"The day just gets better and better." James groaned and headed towards the boys' dormitory to retrieve his satchel.

"Might I request that we refrain from hexing one another into oblivion until this paper is one? I do understand you've got a reputation as an obnoxious and stupid git to retain, but my priorities are my grades and I certainly don't intend to allow you to lower their usual standard." Severus Snape quickly slid into his seat and opened a book. "As I see it, as long as the professors see us working together and behaving"- he shot a glare at James- "we should be able to finish this without having to speak to one another more than necessary. I've compiled a list here- you take half of the research and I'll take the other half. We each write up our parts and then just put the two pieces of parchment together."

"And the oral part?"

"I'll speak on what I know, and you on your subjects."

James sat back. He'd never heard Snape speak so much in one sitting. He was highly tempted to make a joke regarding his usual terse tendencies. Snape had tensed, as though prepared for said witticism. Instead, James just leaned forward, grabbed the list and said, "Let's get this over with."

"Peter Pettigrew?"

He turned his head to the left and noticed the girl perched on the wall leading out to the courtyard. He smiled at her and then noticed the colors on her uniform. The smile died on his lips.

"Can I help you?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Not all Slytherins are horrors, you mad boy."

Peter quirked an eyebrow that clearly read as, Is that so? A look he'd learned from Remus and had become rather good at.

"Yes?" She giggled.

A bit flighty, this one, he thought, but his Gryffindor sense of chivalry overcame him. He sighed, but asked once again, in a tone much less harsh, "Can I help you?"

"As a matter of fact-" She jumped off the small ledge, but landed wrong, twisting her ankle and falling to the ground. Peter quickly rushed to her side and helped her to her feet.

"Are you alright?"

She recoiled from him immediately, smoothing down her skirt with one hand and her hair with the other. A red blush had overtaken her, but was quickly subsiding. "I'm fine. Just fine," she snapped.

He stepped back from her. "Well, what was it you needed?"

She spent another ten seconds or so collecting herself. "Help. In Herbology."

Peter looked at her strangely. "Surely there are people who can help you with that who are smarter than me."

She shrugged. "Perhaps, but I knew that you would keep quiet about it. That you knew what you were doing."

She picked me over James. Or Sirius. Or Remus. Peter stared back at the girl blankly for a moment and then shook his head to clear it. "Sure, I can help you, Zark."

"Thanks." She beamed at him. "Tomorrow afternoon, then? After classes?"

"Sounds like a plan," Peter agreed.

"Oh, and Peter, if you'd like, you can call me Isabella when it's just the two of us." She started to walk off down the corridor, with a slight limp. "I'll see you tomorrow," she called over her shoulder.

"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself.

"No, no, no. There are rules. You can't just go up to her and say something like that," James mused.

"All's fair in love and war, my friend," Sirius objected. "Go for it."

"It'll never last, she'll see what beasts boys are and that'll be that," Remus mused. "I don't think this is wise."

"You never think anything of this nature is wise, Remus," Frank put in.

"Are you sure about this?" Peter asked. "Suppose it does last I mean… then it would be… lasting."

"Brilliant observation, Pettigrew," James chided.

"Stuff it, Potter."

"I'm going." The brown haired boy rose. "I'm going to ask her to come to Hogsmeade with me." He strode purposefully towards the door, tripped over his own two feet, regained his balance, crossed the threshold, and then turned down the stairs.

"Poor fellow."

"Poor Alice, is more like it," Remus said, laughing.

The Gryffindor third years all woke up bright and early on Halloween morning and rushed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The majority of older students were still asleep, but Sirius noticed that third years from the other three Houses were all down in the Great Hall by the time they'd finished eating.

"Our first time to Hogsmeade! Oh Merlin, I can't wait to go into Honeydukes." Tessa was practically foaming at the mouth.

Sirius nudged her. "And Shimpling's! I heard they've just begun to stock Brews-U-Like products. Wouldn't that surprise Professor McGonagall?" He winked at James who grinned back at him in return.

"I want to stop in at Dervish and Banges. I need some powdered wartcap for Potions. Someone used all mine yesterday making-" Peter was cut off as Sirius stamped on his foot and Remus clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Making what, exactly?" Lily glared at Peter.

"Nothing, not a thing at all, Evans," James interjected.

"Lily, did you know that the town was founded by Hengist of Woodcroft at the same time as Hogwarts was built?" Remus jumped in, attempting to distract her.

"Oh." Alice turned to Frank as she thought of something. "We have to stop at Gladrags to get my sister socks. I wanted to get her a pair for Christmas."

"It's October, Alice," Frank replied.

"Better to be prepared then rushed at the last minute," Alice said, jumping up from the table and grabbing Frank's hand, only to turn bright red and drop it a second later when everyone turned to look at them. "Let's get going."

The two young Gryffindors departed from the Great Hall in the midst of catcalls and jeering from the Marauders.

Tessa kicked at Sirius. "Would you behave? They've been sweet on each other since first year, let them be."

"You see, my dear, a relationship isn't really worth it unless it's worth all the teasing it brings too," James waxed philosophically.

"And what would you know about relationships, Potter?" Lily Evans smirked.

"My fair share." He glared at her indignantly.

"Oi, it's too early for this you two," Rebecca broke in. "Come on Lily. I thought you needed new quills? Let's head out then." The two girls rose and left the Hall waving to the group on their way out.

"I needed some Potions ingredients, too…" Remus trailed off in thought.

"Simpling's here we come!" Sirius whooped and jumped out of his seat, quickly followed by James and Peter.

"Hold on, you guys. I have to go check which ones I need," Remus called, but the three other boys were half way out of the hall.

"You know, Shimpling's sounds like a blast," Tessa said suddenly, shifting her gaze from the shrinking form of Sirius Black back to the table. Before the other two Gryffindors could blink, the slim, dark haired girl was gone.

Melissa looked at the empty seats around her and then to Remus. "They certainly cleared out in a hurry."

"Yes," Remus agreed slowly. "They certainly did." I smell a set up here… no wonder they ignored me. He glanced at the girl sitting across from him.

"Want me to wait for you to check your Potions supplies?" she offered.

"Not if you're waiting to get into Hogsmeade, I can just meet up with you lot there." Why did you say that? The correct answer was 'yes, I want you to wait for me'. Dolt.

She shrugged. "No big deal really. I'd just have to walk down by myself now anyway."

"Well if you really don't mind…" Remus rose from the table, she followed suit.

"Not at all, Mr. Lupin." She giggled as they began to walk.

Girls are so weird. Remus thought, but was unable to suppress the small grin that found its way to his lips.

"Did you hear that?" Melissa asked.

Remus blushed. "That was my-"

"Where are we?" she cut him off. "Oh sorry, yes, what was- is- that?"

"My stomach."

She chuckled. "Understandable. I'm starving too." She let out a sigh and sat down on a large rock. "I can't believe we got lost."

"My fault really," Remus began, sitting down next to her he began kicking a foot again the rock. "I shouldn't have suggested we explore."

"No, really, I shouldn't've said 'Oh look, a frog. Let's chase it…"- her voice trailed off as she finished- "over that big hill… and into that dark and scary cave…" She shook her head. "Stupid idea really."

"I should've said, 'stupid idea really' and saved us the trouble," Remus said reasonably.

She whirled and looked at him. "So you agree it was my stupid idea then."

"No," Remus squeaked immediately. "That wasn't what I meant."

She grinned. Remus's stomach rumbled again.

"Oi, I'd eat anywhere now…" the lanky boy moaned. "I'd even eat the frog if we could've caught it."

Melissa stuck her tongue out and made a disgusted face. Remus stuck his tongue back out at her and she giggled at him. Suddenly the situation didn't seem very funny anymore as he realized that he had just spent an entire morning wandering around the surrounding countryside with a girl he was growing more convinced he was falling in love with every day. She'd seemed to enjoy it all too. And now they were sitting on a rock. Next to each other. Mere inches apart. Alone. Remus swallowed hard.

Melissa was oblivious.

Remus turned to look at her and suddenly he heard something.

"Can you hear that?" he asked.

"No… do you hear people? We've really got to be very near the town. And I'm sure the others are looking for us," she said hopefully.

"Maybe," Remus conceded, cocking his head towards the sounds. "No, I definitely hear music." He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the rock. "Come on."

The two started towards the sound. After a minute or two Melissa grinned.

"It's a harp or something, I hear it too!" She smiled at him.

Remus smiled back at her, his heart skipping a beat. If only I could find a way to get lost in Hogsmeade with her every day… I'd be a very, very happy boy.

"Food!" she exclaimed, pointing to display window of the establishment that had appeared before them. Various tea cakes and pastries lined the windows in an ornate display.

The mere thought of food had the two of them nearly foaming at the mouth. Without even glancing up to view the name of the establishment the two Gryffindors shoved through the doors and into the store.

The moment the door closed behind them though, thoughts of food were forgotten as the atmosphere took over.

"Sweet Merlin," Remus said in a quiet breathless horror.

Melissa looked Remus right in the eye and said, "I think we've stumbled into hell."

At that moment the owner herself swooped down on the couple and nearly shoved them into two empty seats at a nearby table.

"Well… er…" Remus stuttered, growing redder as he recognized a sixth year Ravenclaw prefect snogging his girlfriend.

"I think I'd prefer the frog," Melissa commented as her widened eyes took in the atmosphere.

"What can I get you dears?" a waitress turned up at their table.

"What have you got to eat?" Melissa managed as Remus was still clearly incapacitated.

The waitress listed a variety of sweets and teas and Melissa ordered for herself, then noticed Remus was still staring blankly at the waitress, informed the older woman to just make it another order of the same.

After she left, Melissa turned her attention to the stunned and terrified young boy in front of her. "Remus Lupin," she waved a hand in front of him. "Earth to Remus Lupin."

He turned his dazed gaze upon her and managed to stutter out, "Wh-where are we?"

She looked around and saw a couple reading through a menu, off of which she managed to read, "Madam Puddifoot's, I believe." She gestured towards the menus. "At least, that's what they say."

"Look at everyone in here," Remus muttered, turning red again as his gaze fell on a particularly aggressive couple in the corner.

"Er… I'd rather not, really Remus. Let's just eat and get out of here."

The waitress had just returned and placed their orders before them.

Suddenly the table was covered in a shower of pink confetti that rained all over their food and into their tea.

"Oi… none of that now," Melissa complained and looked up to see a golden cherub happily tossing the confetti onto their table. Another rain of it fell upon them and Melissa glared up angrily. "I said, stop."

Remus quirked an eyebrow at Melissa in amusement and began to try and scrape the confetti off his pastry puff. More fell as he finally began to make some progress. He heard her make a quiet growling sound and looked up just in time to see her chuck a handful up at the cherub.

The cherub paused midair with a thoroughly amusing look of shock on its face.

"How do you like it?" Melissa asked indignantly.

Remus snorted, but fell immediately quiet as the owner stormed over to the two of them.

"What are you doing, young lady?" the large woman hissed as she leaned over and grabbed Melissa by the wrist. "Throwing confetti? At my cherubs? Out, this instant. Get out."

Melissa opened her mouth to say something, but instead snapped it shut and stormed out of the cramped tea shop.

The owner then gave Remus a nasty look and stalked away. He looked out the window to see Melissa pacing back and forth, her mouth moving, clearly talking to herself, and illustrating her point to herself with grand, sweeping hand gestures. He stifled a laugh, tossed several Sickles on the table and rushed out of the sickeningly perfumed shop into the fresh air to commiserate with her.

James carefully placed the Frog Spawn Soap back in the display case and glanced down the isle towards Sirius and Peter. The two heads were bent together in a dusty corner. The sight made him smile and he started towards the two boys.

"What are you lot up to, then?" he asked quietly, joining the little huddle.

Sirius grinned wickedly and held up a small packet of Belch Powder. Then he gestured with one hand over his shoulder in the general direction of Cortessa Maris. Tessa, happily oblivious to the boys, was, at the moment, leaning against the doorframe and reading a magazine she'd bought in a previous store, waiting for them.

"I really don't think she'll appreciate that, Sirius," Peter said quietly, glancing at her as she patiently turned a page.

"Oh, get off it, Pete. She's got a good sense of humor." Sirius shook the packet enticingly.

James shot a look at her and then nodded, agreeing with Sirius.

The two taller boys took off towards cash register, leaving the shorter one behind them shaking his head.

"I've got it, mate, go distract her," Sirius said as he pulled out a small leather pouch full of Wizarding coins. James nodded and crossed the floor towards the door, trying to think of something to say.

He was spared when Tessa opened her mouth upon seeing him approach.

"What do you suppose Remus got up to? I was sure he'd find you lot when he got into Hogsmeade."

James chuckled. "I suspect he's with Mel."

"No, I'm sure Mel caught up with Lily and Becca. She needed some school supplies."

James cocked his head to the side and looked at her. "Are you sure she wouldn't want to go with Remus?"

Tessa shrugged nonchalantly. "No one ever really knows what she wants." The pretty girl grinned. "Mel's a hard one to figure out sometimes."

Well I'm not going to get any answers from her, James thought and looked at her again. Tessa's gaze had strayed over towards Sirius and for a moment she looked sort of sad, then she blinked and it was gone.

"Anyway," Tessa said quietly, attempting to change the subject she turned back the page of her magazine and held it out for James to see.

You-Know-Who recruiting Dark Creatures for His Dark Purpose

It has been reported that every vampire, troll, giant and werewolf has agreed to join the forces of You-Know-Who. Apparently He has begun to tag them with small bands around their wrists to control them. Their biological make up allows for this.

An expert on werewolves, Doctor Loona, claims that werewolves are joining this evil man because they can't help it. Lycanthropy "has negative effects on their brains, leaving most unable to make decisions for themselves". It has been reported. Doctor Loona, author of many famous books such as The Misconceptions of Cheese, Your Mummy and You, and So Now You're a Vampire and winner of Witch Weekly's Author of the Year award two years running was the first witch in the medical field to come forward with the information that trolls will indeed shrink in fear at the sight of sunflowers. When questioned about the incident two months ago when a troll injured a wizard despite his attempt to use a sunflower to defend himself, she claims it was "purely incidental, the sunflower defense will work at least seventy percent of the time." She's currently working on her newest concept- werewolves secretly fear teddy bears. Her thesis is due out in March…

James shook his head and flipped to the cover page. He snorted as he read the name, The Calumnior.

"Who the hell is You-Know-Who?" James's eyes continued to read through the clearly false article.

Tessa's eyes widened. "That's how The Calumnior refers to… well… you-know-who…."

"No, I don't, that's why I'm asking." James was beginning to get agitated.

"Well, You-Know-Who is… you-know-who…" she stammered.

"Tessa…" There was a slight warning tone to his voice.

"Voldemort," she hissed quietly.

James stood silently for a moment. But this article is a joke! His mind screamed. Oh Merlin, if there are people that believe this rubbish… poor Remus. He thrust the magazine back at her. "It's rubbish- you really shouldn't believe what it says."

James was surprised when she giggled. "Of course it's rubbish, that's why it's so amusing, James."

The tall boy with the messy hair just shook his head as the other two in his group joined the two near the door.

"I'm hungry," Peter whined.

"You're always hungry," Sirius said. Peter turned red, but no one noticed.

"Last one to The Three Broomsticks is a smelly horklump," James shouted and started off down the street. Behind him he could hear Tessa mutter in a quiet but amused voice.

"Boys."

"Oh look, it's Lily and Becca. Oh! And Mel and Remus," Tessa exclaimed, pointing towards a large table in the corner. She grabbed Sirius by the crook of the arm and dragged him over towards the group. The good looking young boy just shrugged his shoulders and grinned at the other two.

"Reckon we should save him?" James asked.

Peter chuckled and started walking towards the group. "Are you certain he wants to be saved?" Suddenly he was stopped short by an arm roughly grabbing his elbow and hauling him into a corner. He groaned. "What now?"

"Snape," James hissed into his ear and gestured towards a small table in another corner, occupied by a single greasy haired Slytherin.

Peter's eyebrows quirked up. "But he's not doing anything to us."

Rolling his eyes, James replied with just two words. "Fish feet."

James could see the memory flood back into Peter's features. "What's the plan?"

James clapped him on the back. "Good man. Go get Sirius and Remus."

Peter sighed and started across the room.

Several hours later the four Marauders returned to the castle. After an (inexplicable, as Sirius repeatedly insisted or bizarre, as James would later quote) incident in the Three Broomsticks that left four of the five Gryffindor girls and one very angry Slytherin with wicked cases of indigestion, the four boys had slid off to enjoy the rest of their "first" Hogsmeade visit on their own.

James looked down at his watch and made a face. "Well, I suppose I'm off to Quidditch practice then." He stood up and grabbed his broomstick. "Hopefully Alan won't be a complete lunatic this evening."

The other boys returned to their conversation as James left the common room.

"So who do you wager will win next weekend then?" Sirius asked Peter.

"I'd imagine Slytherin is still looking for revenge regarding their Quidditch robes?" Remus peered over the top of the book he was reading and looked at Sirius, a twinkle in his eye.

"That could make the match interesting," Peter replied.

"Speaking of interesting-" Sirius glanced over towards the portrait of the Fat Lady where Melissa Watts and Cortessa Maris were climbing in through the hole. "How was your trip to Hogsmeade, Moony? We missed you in the morning there."

To the surprise of the other two Marauders, Remus didn't blush bright red. He just shrugged. "We got lost in a cave outside of Hogsmeade and then Mel got us thrown out of Madam Puddifoot's."

Sirius's jaw dropped open and Peter just sat there blinking.

"I'm not sure exactly what this Madam Puddifoot's is, but exactly what were you doing together in a cave?" Sirius spat out, grinning broadly.

Remus just raised an eyebrow that implied far more than the truth and returned to reading his book.

A moment later Sirius burst out into raucus laughter, culminating in spitting out, "Moony, you old dog, you." Peter remained still, blinking rapidly. He quickly shook himself out of his stupor.

"Madam Puddifoot's is a little tea shop, I believe. It's very-" he searched for the word, "-pink."

Sirius snorted again and shook his head.

Suddenly, several voices, talking quickly, came tumbling into the common room. Sirius looked up and realized the Quidditch team, still in full practice regalia and clutching brooms were cloistered in the entry way to the room. James quickly made his way over to the other Marauders, pale as a ghost, but jaw set.

"What're you-" Peter began, but was cut off.

"Voldemort just attacked Hogsmeade." James looked into Sirius's eyes. "Tibbles and Shimpling's are gone." He took a deep breath. "Some of the older students… were still there."

Author's Note: Brews-U-Like is a product conceived by Suburban House Elf- an absolutely phenomenal HP fanfiction writer over at .