Hey, isn't this cool? Two for one! –This was actually going to be Chapter 10, but I felt I needed more actual Marauder interaction with Harry and then they kinda ended up two chapters. Lots of setup are in these two chapters for the future: the detention, Hagrid, Quidditch match, full moon,and more Snape! And never fear, Lily will be here soon again!

And please, if anyone has prank suggestion, please give them! Or suggestions of any kind!

Chapter 11: Lions and wolves and snakes, oh my

One thing didn't change after his induction into the Marauders – he observed them constantly, only this time up close.

He noticed that Sirius and James' interplay dominated the group, so tight like brothers just as Professor Flitwick had reminisced, with Remus being the steady, quiet voice of reason. Sirius would splay out haphazardly on a random squishy chair in the Common Room as James stretched out on another one next to him, idly playing with the snitch he'd nicked, and they chat, Remus throwing in a wry comment every now and then even as he'd scan whatever book he had with him.

Peter watched more than participated, Harry could not help but notice. It was somewhat of a morbid curiosity, to observe the boy who would grow up to betray all his friends that laughed and talked around him. Harry ruthlessly pushed the thought from his mind every time he caught himself staring at Peter. He couldn't separate the Future Peter from the Present Past? one if he was constantly looking for connections.

It had been far easier to deal with Peter's presence though, when he had not actually had to be around it.

Instead, he chose to simply bask in the mere presence of Sirius and James. It would catch him off guard at odd moments – them leaning over a game of Exploding Snaps, so close in times of intense competition that you couldn't tell where one head of hair ended and the other began, or anytime Sirius exploded in free laughter – the sheer wonder that he was there with them. The sight of him, in particular, happy made something inside Harry swell to the point of pain. Sirius without shadows…it was indescribable.

Still, they put him off sometimes. It was their attitude really, the one he had been horrified to witness in Snape's pensieve, shown in the littlest actions.

James' careless and limitless arrogance.

Sirius' overwhelming exuberance that edged into viciousness.

Their haughtiness and blitheness.

Features he had too often ended up on the wrong end of or had never had the luxury of experiencing. There were moments that disgusted him, James preening for one or Sirius' casual dismissal of other's feelings. It didn't change the fact he envied them.

And yet, how could he? Knowing how violently their easy camaraderie and feeling of safety would come to an end?

And the knowledge that all he had to do was open his mouth and that could all change. They probably wouldn't believe him, but the seeds would be planted.

He would not let himself entertain the possibility. He couldn't. He simply couldn't.

So he forced himself to not think about it.

He laughed, he brooded, he was evasive, he just tried to get by.

In short, he was Harry.

Perhaps the oddest thing for him though, was the fact he clicked easiest with Remus. It was an ironic thought, considering the fact he knew Remus was probably the most cautious about him, with worries of his werewolf secret on his mind. He was ever enigmatic, but his kind, mild nature was so like what Harry remembered and felt at home with that he couldn't help but relax. It was often a relief to be able to focus on him rather than the forms of his father and godfather, such a mixture of pleasure and pain.

But he was a definitely a Marauder, with an edge of sarcastic humor and roguishness that would erupt at odd moments, always catching Harry off guard. It served to remind him Remus wasn't simply a more youthful copy of his adult self.

Physically Remus looked much younger and hearty, though Harry could discern the worn down effect from his monthly transformations in the creases of his sixteen year old face. They dug deeper as the full moon approached and Harry couldn't help but wonder how the Marauders were going to deal with him on that night…

Remus could feel it coming.

The ache crept into his bones and the wolf began to stir restlessly.

The full moon was coming.

And restlessly, he fretted with the corners of his notebook. The list he'd been working on stared up at him: Harry (facts/secrets). The list hadn't grown as much as Remus had supposed it would. But Harry danced around their questions, even as they side-tracked his.

"So why are you re-taking your O.W.L.s?"

"I'm just re-taking some and I was having a lot of family trouble at the time."

Harry got the strangest expression after saying family and none of them dared pursue the subject.

"So you mentioned your Mum is Muggleborn?"

"Was." Harry's face clouded over. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"So how do you guys get around so much without being seen?"

"We just know the school really well."

"So Padfoot is because Sirius sleepwalks, Moony is because Remus is pale, Wormtail was Peter's pet rat, and Prongs-"

"'Cause James struts around like a big antlered deer."

Prongs glared at Padfoot, who merely gave an innocent grin. Harry seemed skeptical.

"O-kay." Pause. "Can't really argue with that." Padfoot and he sniggered while Prongs looked indignant. "But wouldn't something like Tailfeathers be more appropriate?"

Remus smirked. Sirius was still calling James Tailfeathers, now nearly a week later. His smile petered out after a minute though. Sirius and James shared an easy faux familiarity with Harry due to Quidditch practice and their very personalities, but they carefully watched their words and never let much slip. Both sides tip-toed around their secrets, neither pressing much for fear of upsetting the relationship just beginning. And secrets abounded…

Up 'til now. Remus looked up to see Sirius and James approach Harry's trunk.

Uh oh.

"Guys, what're you up to?" His tone had an undercurrent of warning. Sirius brushed him off.

"Oh lighten up Moony. You know the new kid's holding out on us." There were definitely oddities about Harry that the boys would love answers to: his scar, his seeming encompassing knowledge of Hogwarts, including lack of fright around the ghosts (he'd walked right by the Bloody Baron without cringing, putting the Slytherin ghost in quite a distemper as he'd been intending to terrify the transfer Gryffindor), his veiled distaste for Peter, minute little details that all added up to something definitely off…

"We're just going to see what's he's got," James justified. "It's not like we're going to take his stuff."

"Just invade his privacy," Remus muttered. He and Peter exchanged looks. He sighed. "For the record, I do not support this."

"Noted," was the boys' only response. Sirius and James carefully examined the trunk, a little wary of just flat out opening it.

"Considering Harry's caution, let's assume it's locked," James instructed. Sirius nodded and in an identical motion, both withdrew their wands. "On three. One…two…three!"

"Alohomora!"

What happened next was completely predictable in hindsight. Harry was cautious and had secrets. Harry was also a wizard. So to prevent people from getting into his trunk, he'd use? Magic.

Duh.

For two of the smartest kids in school, Sirius and James could be amazingly dumb, Remus reflected as he stood over the prone and immobilized form of Sirius, having bounded from his bed in an instinctive rush to check his friends were okay. James was in slightly better shape, the same aquamarine shade as Sirius, but with only his hands stuck together. Sneak was written in big, bold letters on both their foreheads.

"Brilliant plan Tailfeathers," Remus said wryly.

Peter wrung his hands. "Ooh, what's Harry going to do when he gets back?"

Remus cringed and set about breaking the curses on both boys. Well, trying at least. But he'd made little headway (the aquamarine shade had lightened to a cerulean color) by the time a certain blond returned to the dorm. He swept into the room somewhat distracted, going straight to his bed and dropping his books.

"Hey guys, are you up-" the question froze in Harry's throat as he turned and got a good luck at James, Sirius, and Remus, who had frozen mid-spell, his wand poised. James gave a weak guilty grin.

"Ah Harry."

They waited in vain for an outburst. Harry simply stood frozen, staring at them. Then, all at once, he turned on his heel and rushed out of the room without a word. James blinked in surprise, but felt his stomach thicken into a knot at the glimpse of betrayal that he'd sighted in Harry's green eyes.

He would've preferred an immediate blowup. Anything but the silent brooding that reminded him far too much of Remus and Sirius' darker moments. And the inevitable blowups were horrific. One had resulted in Sirius and him not talking for two weeks, a considerable feat to be sure.

He cursed.

He didn't know how long he walked the halls, but he was surprised to find himself in the library when he finally became outwardly conscious of himself again. He smiled bitterly at the irony that the library was now his refuge. Wouldn't Hermione be thrilled.

He sat down at a table and stared at his hands blankly.

He didn't know what to feel. He'd known that they would try to get into the trunk; that was the very reason he'd insisted on so many charms. In fact, he was surprised they hadn't tried earlier, when they'd been just observing him.

But he was in the group now. He was supposed to be one of them.

He slammed his hands down on the table.

The feeling of betrayal was irrational. He was keeping secrets from them. They knew that. They wanted to find out what the secrets were, so they snooped. A + B C. He knew it was going to happen! And how many times had he done something similar to find out things everyone seemed dead determined to keep away from him?

What's the big deal with his scar? What's on the Third Floor? Who's Nicholas Flamel? What's the Chamber of Secrets? Who's the heir of Slytherin? Why would Sirius Black be after him? Why would he hunt down Sirius? Why is his name in the Pot? What is in the Department of Mysteries? Where IS SIRIUS?

WHY IS VOLDEMORT SO OBSESSED WITH HIM!

He closed his eyes. "Who really is better off knowing the answers?"

Remus carefully rounded the imposing thick bookshelves, hoping more than believing he'd find the missing new member of Gryffindor there. It was still Harry's favored studying place and the only place other than the flying pitch that Remus had noticed him habitually visiting.

But he always used the books in his trunk to study, which he'd obviously not taken with him, and in his distemper, who knew where he'd end up.

He'd almost gotten to the study section when he spotted a hunched figure lingering in the shadows of the Dark Arts aisle. Brow wrinkled, he hesitated. What would Harry be doing around there? He took a step forward and the figure turned.

It wasn't Harry.

Instead, Remus found himself face to face with a scowling Severus Snape. Reflexively, his hand shot to his wand as Snape mirrored the move. They faced off, Snape glowering malevolently and Remus staring back with complete composure. Inside, he flinched. He hated running into Snape alone…

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the werewolf," Snape drawled. "Get tired of snapping after Potter and Black's heels?" Remus grit his teeth. It was just his luck James had convinced him into that stupid prank on Snape the first night back. Snape could hold a grudge like none other and after his close call with Remus' werewolf form, he'd hardly needed additional reasons to dislike Remus. Not hate though. That was reserved especially for James and Sirius. Still…

"The Dark Arts Snape? I didn't think the second best student in Defense would need to hang around here, unless for some other reason…" he returned darkly. He would know of course, as he was the first best student. Snape's small eyes narrowed and his grip tightened on his wand.

In a sudden blur, there was a flash of black robe and blond hair and someone was between them. "Lower your wands now," Harry spat imperiously, his mood still foul. Remus, taken aback by the missing boy's sudden appearance, automatically obeyed. Snape was not so quick. Black eyes locked with green in a silent challenge. But Harry was used to such challenges and if Severus' adult form couldn't cow him, the younger one didn't stand a chance. Muttering darkly, he reluctantly lowered his wand.

"So much for not being one," he sneered, his eyes sliding towards the slight boy behind Harry.

Harry snorted. "You should be glad it's me," he returned archly. "If I were James or Sirius, you'd be hexed and hanging upside down or something by now." The comment was made lightly, though it immediately garnered sharp looks from both other boys, Severus coloring obviously against his pale face. Remus racked his mind furiously for when anyone had bragged about that incident.

Severus' face twisted up. "Well, you better watch yourself Patterson. You never know when one'll turn and bite you in that group," he hissed acidly, his eyes again lighting pointedly on Remus. Harry cocked his head, registering the veiled warning.

"Snakes are the ones with the poisoned fangs Severus. And the nasty habit of eating each other when they get hungry enough. Or big enough." For power, he almost felt like adding, though it'd wreak the metaphor.

Severus' dark eyes flickered. "Oh?" he returned coolly, getting a sense there was a warning somewhere in there though why he could not fathom. "And I suppose lions," he emphasized the word mockingly "are so different."

"The real ones are," Harry murmured, his own eyes darkening at the thought of the rat. Snape sneered openly at the two Gryffindors.

"I guess you'll just have to be able to pick them out from the wolves." He turned on his heel, muttering as a parting shot, "And we'll just see how the lions deal with defeat on Saturday."

Harry frowned. "Saturday?" he repeated.

Remus blinked, finally coming out of the daze Snape and Harry's interaction had caused. What was up with that anyway? "The Quidditch match," he prompted, mind still reeling.

"Quidditch," Harry muttered. Remus looked at him in disbelief.

"You forgot? The first match of the year? The one that's got James and Sirius so riled because Hufflepuff dared to suggest it would beat Gryffindor easily? The one Prongs and Padfoot haven't shut up about for the past week?" Scratch that, he was beyond disbelief.

Harry smiled sheepishly. "Just forgot for a second."

Now companionably they strode out of the library, Remus giving Harry a pensive look. Quietly, he said, "I didn't agree with what they tried." He could tell Harry heard him by the way he stiffened, but the blond said nothing. "And when you see them, be sure to comment that pastel blue is a good color for them."

Harry shot a startled look at Remus in time to see the tips of the other boy's mouth turn into a smirk.

And his laughter rang in the castle.