9 Years with the Marauders: 1972-1981. Beginning in 2nd year, the trials and tribulations of the Marauders right up until the deaths of James and Lily Potter. Remus/Sirius relationship-centric. James/Lily. Warning SLASH! Contains m/m content in later chapters.
DISCLAIMER: All characters, locations, and bits (with a few exceptions) are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios.
NOTES ON THIS CHAPTER: 1974, and Summer.
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"He's a what?" Remus asked, sitting down on the sofa in the common room and looking at Peter, who was sitting silently and glowering at the carpet.
"... a rat..." Sirius whispered reluctantly as Peter's face screwed up in anger.
"A RAT." Peter repeated, louder and more angry than Remus had ever seen before. "James is a stag, symbol of power and elegance; Sirius is a dog, loyal and smart and happy, and I'm a rat, international symbol of disease and pestilence!"
Remus wasn't quite sure what to say to that, except that he had no idea that Peter even knew the words "elegance", "international", or "pestilence" at all. Ignoring his impulse to congratulate Peter on his widening vocabulary, he grimaced and thought about it.
James had already attempted to comfort Peter a bit about his Patronus, and now he perked up again. "But Pete, you've finally done a fully-fledged Patronus, isn't that amazing? It only took you a couple of months longer than the rest of us."
"A RAT." Peter repeated furiously, and ten heads in the common room all turned to where the four boys were lazing about in their usual spot by the fireplace. Peter flushed scarlet when he realized that people were staring at them, and only lowered his voice a couple of pegs. "Remus is going to eat me the first full moon that we try this on, and then that'll be the end of it!"
Remus winced, and Sirius glared at Peter in annoyance. Peter had a point though. Remus didn't think his werewolf self would see a rat as anything but a snack.
"Pete, you'll have Sirius and I to protect you, we aren't going to let you get killed, besides Remus would never forgive himself you know."
"I wouldn't, Peter." Remus said quickly, trying to also be reassuring.
Peter glared, crossing his arms over his chest. "I won't become a rat." He said firmly.
"But Pete, if you don't become an... if you don't do It with us, then we'll have to leave you here, and go have fantastic Marauder adventures without you, do you want that?" James attempted.
"Rat." Peter said for the tenth time, narrowing his eyes.
"Peter..." Remus spoke up, getting an idea. "You guys will have to get into the Shrieking Shack you know, to let me out."
"Yeah?" Peter agreed sullenly.
"Well, how do you get to the Shrieking Shack?"
"You... go through the Whomping Willow." Peter mumbled, looking vaguely confused, but at least interested to hear what Remus was getting at.
"And, in order to get through the Whomping Willow, you've got to avoid all those branches and hit the knot on the trunk, riiiiight?"
James and Sirius immediately comprehended what Remus was trying to say. Peter still didn't seem to get it, but he nodded in agreement. "Right."
"Well Pete, you're gonna be the only one of us that can do it!" James said excitedly. "Sirius and I are going to be way too big, we'd get beaten into little bloody pulps before we'd ever get to the knot. Someone who was small... and brave..."
"Like a rat," Sirius interjected, "would be able to get to the knot."
"We wouldn't be able to do it without you, mate!" James finished, hitting Peter lightly on the back.
Peter had perked up significantly, and he was thinking this over. "Yeah... yeah, you wouldn't be able to get to the secret passage without me." He said thoughtfully, grinning a bit.
Remus did not feel the need to point out that the other two boys could use a long stick or levitate something into the knot just as easily, because at least Peter didn't look like he was about to burst anymore. "Yes, see, Peter, you're really quite helpful in a smaller form. Exactly what the Marauders need, a way to sneak around the Whomping Willow."
"Plus!" Sirius suddenly said. "Think of all the investigating you can do! All four of us don't really fit under the cloak anymore, but just think of the pranks we could pull if we had someone really tiny who could sneak around the castle for us while we're in the Cloak?"
"Miss Penny would eat me." Peter said uncertainly.
"No no, we'd distract Miss Penny, while you go do your thing, and we'd become the best pranksters in Hogwarts history!"
Peter mulled this over, and grinned. "You wouldn't be able to do it without me!"
"Absolutely right, Pete." James said reassuringly, though he gave Sirius a glance that Remus knew to be extraordinarily patronizing.
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Sirius didn't think that Lily Evans' face could get any redder. In fact, it was almost the exact same color as her hair right now, and he suspected that it didn't get much redder than Lily Evans' hair.
Personally Sirius had thought it was a spec of genius. James had come up with the plan in desperation to get the girl's attention, because she hadn't even looked at him since last year, not even when James put a toad down the back of her shirt on her birthday. Sirius wasn't in it for the attention, he just liked the idea of taunting.
It had taken quite a bit of work. Remus had even had to do research, but he had told them straight off that he was against the entire plan, that he thought it was a bad idea, that they were going to get themselves jinxed into oblivion and if they EVER brought his name up in reference to this he would make sure that he never gave them any notes or homework for any class ever again. Sirius felt the threat was a valid one, since Evans was still tutoring Remus in Potions and Remus really needed the help in that class.
The Invisibility Cloak had been a factor as well of course, how else were they going to get to three different hallways an hour before dawn in order to put up all those glorious posters? The hallway in front of Gryffindor Tower, a long hallway in the dungeon by Slughorn's classroom, and the second floor charm's corridor were all covered from floor to ceiling, for about ten yards down the hall, with small posters.
Each of them had a giggling picture of Lily Evans prominently displayed, flipping her hair over her shoulder and beaming. Underneath the photograph was a huge caption in red letters "WHISTLE FOR GINGERS". Sirius himself had put the Sticking Charm on the back. It would take Filch hours to remove them, and even then the Squib probably wouldn't be able to do it without getting a teacher to help them. Sirius was getting better and better at Sticking Charms. His family's house elf had taken a full month that summer to remove the Gryffindor banners from his bedroom. Sirius was already planning on replacing them though.
They had all arrived for Potions just in time to see Lily Evans' divinely red face, and the large group of Slytherins that they shared class with were all laughing and whistling quite loudly. Sirius was grinning, James looked hopeful, and Remus was cringing faintly.
"Lovely picture of you there, Evans." Sirius finally had the courage to say brightly with a smirk.
"YOU!" She shrieked, in a voice that would probably explode a Kneazle's eardrums. Strangely enough, she was actually pointing her wand at James, who was trying to look as innocent as possible. "CRETIN! YOU... YOU ABSOLUTE BEAST! LEVICORPUS!"
James shouted as he was suddenly lifted up off the floor by his ankle and suspended in the air. His skinny legs were on display as he flailed helplessly, bellowing in anger, and this only made the Slytherins – and now the Gryffindors too – howl with laughter.
Finally Slughorn came out of his classroom, presumably wondering where the devil all his students were and what was the cause of the ruckus. He made a surprised noise, like a "harumph!" and shook his head. "Miss Evans, put Mr. Potter down this instant!" He said, avoiding looking at James, still upside down.
Her face was extraordinarily calm as she flicked her wand back. James dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes with a sickening crunch. Sirius was laughing too hard to help him back onto his feet, so Remus was forced to do so, while Peter gathered up James' books and things that had tumbled to the ground while he had been suspended in the air. Lily whipped past the whole group to follow Slughorn into the Potions classroom, and most of the students followed. Only Severus Snape stayed behind, his face the same color as a well-boiled beet.
"Wotcher, Snivellus?" Sirius said casually, while James adjusted his robes and snatched his glasses away from Peter.
Snape glowered at them from between strands of greasy hair with such fury that Sirius was sure he could feel actual heat from the stare. Defiantly, he straightened up and glared right back, crossing his arms over his chest. The Slytherin opened his mouth to say something, but Slughorn's voice rang out from the classroom. "It is time to begin class, students, either come in or close the door!"
Remus immediately entered the room, and James as well, flushing deep crimson, and then Peter. Sirius and Snape continued to stare at one another with a deep, seething hatred. Finally, Snape growled something under his breath and swept past Sirius to enter the dungeon classroom, and Sirius followed him, nose deliberately stuck in the air haughtily.
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"Ooooh! That Potter!" Lily slammed her cauldron on the desk, and Remus quickly scooped up his book so that the vial of Nullifying Potion that she knocked over didn't spill its bright green contents all over it. She looked apologetic, and quickly used a cleaning spell, but her eyes still shone with fury. "I'm sorry Remus, but I just don't know how you can stand them!"
Remus looked at her helplessly and shrugged, setting his book back down and flipping through to the Befuddlement Draught that she was helping him complete. He'd nearly gotten it right in class, but Slughorn had still clicked disapprovingly, and Remus had asked her to meet him in one of the spare dungeon rooms. Lily was one of Slughorn's favorite students, so when she said that she was working on something after hours, he had given her a key to the spare classroom, and his spare key to the potions cupboards to get all the ingredients she needed.
"They aren't so bad... when you're one of them anyway." Remus attempted, but Lily didn't look like she was about to be pacified by Remus' words.
"Thinks he's so clever!" She muttered as she started to gather up the ingredients they would need. Remus didn't try and help her, as she was gripping the sneezewort so hard it was becoming crushed. She sneezed a moment later, and realizing what she was doing, she quickly set it down and washed her hands thoroughly. She huffed and then managed a weak smile at Remus
"All right then, here, chop up the sneezewort into very thin slices." She said, and Remus diligently began to work.
As they brewed the potion, Lily seemed to calm down a bit. Remus even got her to chuckle at a joke about Slughorn. By the time that the Befuddlement Draught was complete, they were discussing favorite Muggle authors.
Remus enjoyed talking to Lily. She was bright, smart, and didn't make him feel awkward like Sirius and James sometimes did with their private "telepathic" conversations. She actually let him speak and didn't shoot him down if she was too busy talking about something else. Remus wasn't usually very good with girls. Well, not that he was bad. But he always felt strange talking to girls, like they were judging every single thing that he said or did, and then they would go and tell every detail of the conversation to the other girls, and then the whole castle would know everything. But Lily wasn't like that. She made Remus feel more normal than any other girl or boy his age he'd ever hung out with, including Sirius and James – perhaps especially Sirius and James would be more appropriate.
"Oh, and happy birthday, Remus." Lily added as they started to clean up all the ingredients. Remus was gathering up some of the Draught to show to Slughorn tomorrow to try and get some points on the assignment back. "I know it was a week ago, but I never got the chance to tell you. I got you something."
He blinked and accepted the small box that she handed him. Opening it, he saw that it was several bundles of fresh film for his camera. "Wow, thanks, I was almost out."
Since getting his camera, Remus had already gone through one full roll of film, and had just started on the only extra roll his parents had given him. Lily had probably noticed that he had been wearing the camera around the common room – too afraid to take it out of Gryffindor Tower – and had bought him a present accordingly. It was quite amazing, seeing as Remus and Lily only ever talked when they were in the dungeons working on potions, or occasionally greeting each other in the hall when Remus wasn't with his friends.
"No problem. This time, try and take a better picture of me. My nose looked all blotchy in that poster." She said, and her bright green eyes were glittering faintly.
Remus turned scarlet. "I didn't-"
"Oh I know. Black probably took it from you to use. I really don't understand you, Remus Lupin." She said, a strange expression on her face. "But I doubt there's anything really wrong with that."
She leaned over and kissed Remus on the cheek quickly, and then hurried out of the dungeon. Remus stared after her a moment, and tucked the film in his book bag, to give her a good solid head start before he headed in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. He felt as though he had taken a drink of his own Befuddlement Draught, and the only thought running through his head was "James will kill me if he finds out." On the other hand, Sirius would probably congratulate him. But it wasn't like it was a real kiss. She was just... giving him a friendly peck on the cheek. Nothing wrong with that, nothing untoward or inappropriate. Yeah, just a friendly peck on the cheek after helping him in Potions. He nodded to himself and managed to walk right through the Grey Lady, who left him spluttering and shivering in the middle of the hallway.
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Ever since Lily had hoisted James up by his ankle, an epidemic of levitation ran like wildfire through the halls at Hogwarts. At first Prefects and the Head Boy and Girl attempted to keep the pranks and taunts in check, but after Kalinda – now a sixth year Prefect – had used Levicorpus in order to stop someone else's Levicorpus, it was like the dam had broken.
Sirius and James used it whenever possible, halfway because they thought it was brilliant, and halfway because they knew that if they didn't use it first, someone was going to use it on them. Peter ended up levitated about twice a week as exams approached, and only by locking himself in the far corner of the library did Remus manage to claw his way into May with only one levitation to his name, done by James himself no less after Remus had thrown a shoe at him.
Remus was cowering in the library. Madam Pince would surely protect him from the rampaging students – mostly fifth years and seventh years who were lashing out after cramming for O.W.L.s or N.E.W.T.s. Peter was even there, and Remus was trying to help him study for Transfiguration, which Remus was worried about and Peter was an absolute hopeless case in.
James burst into the library. Madam Pince glared at him with such ferocity that Remus actually heard him whimper, and he shrunk down a few inches as he slowly and quietly made his way over to Remus' table. Sirius was right behind him, having entered the library with far more decorum. They slumped into seats and James barely kept from bursting into laughter. Peter and Remus both looked at them with expressions of mingled curiosity and fury.
"You should have seen it! Sixth year Slytherins... three of them," Sirius whispered hastily, peering around for Madam Pince, "they converged on us right? And James... James is a genius! He hit one of them with a Body-Bind Jinx so fast they could barely move, and then we both levitated the other two, one of them was a girl, and her skirt flew straight up..." Sirius could barely breathe he was trying to keep from laughing so hard.
"If you don't shut up," Remus commented mildly as he went back to reading his Transfiguration text, "Madam Pince will use your head as a spike near the doorway to warn other children of the consequences of entering her library."
Sirius only lowered his voice and continued talking excitedly to James. Remus deliberately ignored him, but couldn't help hearing the words "Evans' underwear" and "Potions class" in the same sentence. He let out a small groan, and his face fell forward onto the book. Peter looked at him regretfully. "Remus, is that vein in your forehead going to explode?"
"One can only hope, Peter."
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"You'll write letters, won't you?" James said in disappointment. His parents were currently hugging Sirius and helping him with his trunks, and Remus had come over from where his mother and father were standing and looking nervous to say good-bye.
Remus smiled. "Of course, I'll write letters. You two probably won't be writing any letters, too busy having fun."
"I still don't know why you can't come."
"Money, I told you." Remus said nervously.
"Hell, Moony, I can pay for your ticket-"
"I don't want you to." Remus said hotly. James rolled his eyes. "Besides... we might be going on vacation... it could be fun."
"If by fun you mean 'completely the opposite of fun'." Sirius had arrived now.
All three of them glanced over, to see Peter being squashed against his mother's sizable chest. She was sobbing things like "My little Petey-pie!" and smothering him, and he had turned red as a tomato, not looking around. Remus couldn't blame him. Half the platform was staring at him, laughing or pointing.
"I don't think Pete will be visiting either. It's completely unfair you know." Sirius said with a huff. "Auntie said it was totally fine for you to come visit."
"Drop it." Remus said curtly, then flushing as Sirius got that expression like a kicked puppy. "It's just.. I'll come next year. Promise." He said weakly.
Sirius punched him in the arm, and smirked. "All right fine. But you'd better still send letters."
"Yes, yes. If you two can be bothered to pick up a quill." Remus said loftily.
"Remus!" His mother called, looking peaky. He grimaced, and looked at his friends helplessly.
"I've got to go. Have a great summer." He picked up the camera laying on his chest, and James and Sirius immediately squashed together so that he could take one last picture of them before he ran off to join his parents.
ooo
Dear S. Black,
Well, it was just as I feared. You and James have frolicked among the trees, and probably flown broomsticks, and perhaps have inhaled deep the air of summer, and have promptly forgot your dear little Moony who is trapped in the house with his parents. Indeed, I can imagine you are now fighting over the spot in front of the fireplace while Mrs. Potter cooks something delicious for Sunday supper. I, on the other hand, am eating a sandwich made by myself. Mother has been doing laundry all day and Does Not Want To Be Disturbed.
If indeed you have not forgotten that I exist, a letter would certainly remove my gloom.
Your mate,
R.J.L.
ooo
Moony
Blimey, got your letter and couldn't remember who this Moony person was at all. James had to set me right, the kind soul that he is.
Indeed, brooms and bicycles and all sorts of delirious adventures have been had by the two lonely pathetic Marauders. Just isn't the same without you trying to read books and Peter acting all excited. Only two more months left until school though, which I am sure you are VERY PLEASED ABOUT.
Haven't the time for a long letter, Auntie has made the most amazing steak and kidney pie and the smells are making me drool. (You'd like to make a comment here about how drooling isn't an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence, wouldn't you?)
~ S.O.B.
ooo
Monsieur Black,
Your ignorance cuts deeply into my very soul. Also the lack of steak and kidney pie is cutting into my soul. It's not that difficult to cut my soul it seems. Mother did make Salad for dinner tonight, after proclaiming that my father needed to lose some weight. I, a Growing Boy, was permitted to have chicken on my salad, but I'll admit to you that it was one of the least filling meals I've ever had. Thankfully the supply of Honeyduke's you left me with at the end of the year should be enough to last me through two more Healthy Meals. (Do send more should you find yourself with dispensable income to buy sustenance for your lonely marauding friend.)
I have actually managed to read ten books in the last month. Real books, not textbooks thankyouverymuch. I have never finished a book before without someone throwing a dungbomb into my lap or sticking their fungified toes in my face, or otherwise finding a way to distract me from Reading. (Yes, your toes did have fungus, do not argue with me, Sirius Of-The-Most-Noble-And-Ancient-House-Of-Black. You should change your name to Sirius Of-The-Most-Stinky-And-Air-Poisoning-Black-Toes).
I was not of course referring to your family in any way there, so do not get cross.
R.J.L.
a.k.a.
Moony Of-The-Most-Noble-And-Pre-Pubescent-Marauders
ooo
Moony
James and I have pooled our innumerable charms and resources together (by which I mean we begged Auntie and Charlie) and have gone on a rampage at the local candy shop. It is a Muggle store, but we have procured for you all manner of delicious candies and chocolates so that your Healthy Meals can be completed with an assortment of fine flavors. You owe us big time.
I am not offended by the accusation of my toes, for those were inherited from my dear mother, loathe as she were to allow her feet to touch a basin of soap and water. I am however, offended that you have managed to read books. Oh Moony, when will you ever learn. Speaking of reading books, once you finish the summer reading, do write to us and tell us which ones were boring (all of them) and which ones that we should remember to read (none of them).
~ S.O.B.
ooo
Droolface,
I completed the summer reading in my first week back home. Dad is working pretty much overtime and Mum has this habit of giving me the stare of The McGonagall (I don't know where women go to learn these stares and things, do you think there is a class we can take?) and so I have been finding myself Outside, unaccustomed as I am to this great fiery ball of gas that apparently most humans refer to as the Sun. I am freckling again. I'm sure you find that amusing. Stop giggling.
As you said, you will not finish the summer reading anyway so why should I even share? For your information there was a bit about a war, but it was a goblin war and I do not think you would find it quite as interesting as I did. So before I waste my time writing a full summary, I shall simply say that you wouldn't read any of the books anyway.
Your candy was met with much delight. Your poor owl was nearly apoplectic when he dropped it onto my bed, the bag nearly weight ten pounds! I gave him a Sugar Quill to recover and I've never seen an owl fly so fast around my head. In any case you might want to see if you can let him rest for a while when he returns.
Oh, and do send more of those Nougat bars. My tongue is practically humming, and they are all gone already. A travesty.
Sincerely,
R.J.L.
ooo
Freckleface,
I find it unendingly amusing that you freckle, but I do not Giggle. I chuckle, and in a very manly way at that. We have cleared the shop of every single nougat bar that could be found, and have sent them along. Yves was most displeased to find us strapping yet another package to his legs, but he went willingly enough. If he dies on the way and the package is lost, I apologize greatly for the loss of nougat. Also you will have to write a letter to Auntie about how it was your fault that we killed her favorite owl. (The Potters have four owls, and Yves is the largest, so that is why we chose him for sugary deliveries.)
I am offended (not really) that you would claim that I would never read the summer reading. I'll have you know that just this morning I read over all the titles. Having accomplished my goal for the summer, I shall now go lay on my back in the grass and become a bronzed Olympian. You can sit with your freckles and read.
~S.O.B.
P.S. Why did you never tell me of the fantastic Muggle Contraption known as the Motorbike?
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just a few drabbles about the end of third year, and summer vacation. The letters were just a fun little way to pass the summer without doing too much writing, so I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed writing them. Next chapter will delve into the deep mysteries of 4th year. =3
As a side note, I just uploaded a very angsty fic called Aftermath, which is basically what happens once Remus gets back to Grimmauld Place after the Battle at the Department of Mysteries. It's somewhat of a companion piece to this, but basically just a oneshot. It is SERIOUSLY angsty so if you aren't into that sort of thing don't read it, but it does have Remus/Tonks and that's kind of cute. =)
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
hotpinkfleur: in every single chapter, because she is, as always, my ever-present writing advisor and friend *hug*
freakyprincess-87, pshhh yeahh: You guys seriously review every single chapter. I think I love you. In a non-creepy way. Really.