11 - Plots

Another week came and went, without any hassle, and it became very peculiar. Everyone seemed distant from each other, even in the Common Rooms, and it seemed quite strange for only The Marauders to be the only ones in cahoots. They found out quite soon after the events of the past week. Sooner than they expected, actually.

Remus returned that week. It seemed he looked incredibly shabby as usual, but Sirius understood now - How would anyone look if they'd been a werewolf for the last week or so? James, however, wasn't as happy with Remus.

"Well, seems someone forgot to tell us he was a half-breed..." James spoke loudly as Remus returned to them. "Wonder when he was going to tell us that? I'm betting on never."

Remus sighed. They had found out then?

"Listen, okay. I didn't mean to-" Remus started.

"I know, you didn't mean to... but you still did! And that's not what we expected from a Marauder, Remus."

"What are you expecting from us, James?" Peter stuttered nervously.

"How many times do I have to tell you to shut your bloody mouth?" James shouted at Peter as quietly as he could.

"Listen, all of you. I didn't mean to do that, and I know it wasn't right, and I should have told you anyway, but..."

"Hang on, I'm lost. I thought we were on about you not telling us?" Sirius butted in, a confused expression on his face.

"No, we were talking about-" Remus began, but Professor McGonagall soon answered their questions.

"Excuse me, boys and girls, but I would like none of you to leave your Common Rooms, unless it's for class or for food. It seems their is a werewolf, lurking in the Forbidden Forest. It has recently attacked one of our students - just last night, actually. Dumbledore has taken care of this matter - it was Stunned by all of the Head of Houses last night, which is quite a force as many of you know. By all means, you are not allowed in the Forbidden Forest, or outside of the Castle for anything without being accompanied by an adult."

She left, a look of shock over her face.

Peter, Sirius and James turned to look at Remus, identical looks of horror as they glanced at Remus.

"Wait, so... None of the teachers know your a werewolf? Not even Dumbledore?" Peter asked, stuttering.

"Of course they know. Dumbledore's having them say all of that "Forbidden Forest" stuff because it's better than saying it was one of the students. Most of the students have guessed this already, though. It's pretty hard to survive in the Forbidden Forest, no matter what you've got with you. Most of the students have guessed it already, though - Well, the older students are spreading it round anyway. It's what's keeping everyone quiet - no one want's to accidently say something insulting about the werewolf incase that person hears them, so no one's saying anything."

"I bet it's that Malfoy. Death-Eater-in-Training, he is."

"Nah, Avery's my guess - It would've happened before if it was Malfoy, right? Plus he's a prefect - He would have had to be on patrol at the time. No way he could have done it."

"Mulciber, then. You see how he looks at Mary MacDonald - like he wants to do the Killing Curse on her, if only he knew how. Not sure why though, she's really nice, right?"

The Marauders continued conversations like this, pretending to place bet's on who it was so that people wouldn't find it suspicious. If it wasn't Remus, they'd still be doing this, only they would be doing it for real, so it was natural for them and they didn't draw attention. Even after less than a year of going to Hogwarts, The Marauders were the kind of people who wouldn't be moved by danger or shocking news, and would instead play detective and figure out the supposed "case". The only person who found The Marauders at this point suspicious was Severus Snape.

"Well, Remus returns, just after an attack - a little suspicious, don't you think?" Severus had decided to interrogate them one day during Potions class.

"Not really." James said, not taking his eyes - the most deceiving thing about him - from his cauldron.

"You know what I find suspicious though?" Sirius asked, looking around at the other Marauders, "Doesn't Snivelly look greasier than usual?"

The other Marauder's looked at him, squinting slightly, as if studying him carefully.

"Oh, wait, just my eyes - it's not possible for him to look greasier."

The four of them burst out laughing, until Professor Slughorn came over and said, "Well, boys, unless you've finished your potions and are sure you've done them correctly, don't interrupt my class, please."

The four of them bowed their heads in fake-shame - it also helped to stiffle their laughter - until he had turned his back.

"What a downer - it was only a joke!" James was saying as they left Potions that day.

"Yeah, I mean, we hadn't knocked over Snivelly's cauldron or anything." Peter laughed, as usual trying to get attention from the others.

"Not a bad idea, Pettigrew - You've proven your use to this group." James patted him on the back, before unmistakably wiping it on Peter's cloak. "That will be your job, next Potions class - good luck to you!"

Sirius and James laughed, as if the idea of Peter doing it correctly was hilarious. Remus just gave Peter an apologetic look and shrugged.

Along with The Marauder's concocting plans, Severus was also thinking up one - One that would make The Marauder's bow down in fear toward Severus, and stop calling him "Snivellus" for a change. And he had the help of his fellow Slys, Avery, Mulciber, Rosier and Lestrange, to help him.

"Hey, Evan!" Severus called in the Slytherin common room one night, "You want to help me get revenge on those God-awful Marauders? Help me, and next time I get a chance, I'll buy you 4 cauldron cakes."

"5." Rosier bartered, "And a chocolate frog."

"Rosier, come on, revenge on The Marauder's is sweeter than a life-times supply of cauldron cakes!"

Rosier pondered this, and eventually replied, "Fair enough. I still want those 4 cauldron cakes, though. A deals a deal from the moment it's spoken, right?"

Severus sighed. "Fair enough. If the plan goes well."

"You're one sly Sly, Severus. Hey - that's weird..."

"Can we just start planning, please, Rosier?"

"Fine." He sat down next to Severus, and began to think - what would annoy the Marauders the most, more than anything else in the world? "I've got it!" He shouted out, after a moments thought.

"Well go on then, spit it out. What's your plan?"

He whispered the plan into Severus' ear, and waited for his reaction.

"Isn't that what gets you into Azkaban?"

"Oh, please - It's not a curse, for Merlin's Sake! You might get detention, though - but I have a way out of that, too." Rosier smirked, an evil glint in his eye.

It was risky, but what other choice did Severus have? This was the best he'd got - So why not? "Fine, I'll do it. But if I get detention-"

"No cauldron cakes, right?" Rosier moaned. He desperately wanted those cakes.