Hey guys here's the new chapter. I just wanted to thank all the reviewers so much, you guys are great and keep me motivated. Hope you enjoy- Sirius' POV.
I hate cats. For the rest of my life I shall hold a vicious grudge on those scarily psychotic things. This is it, the final straw, there's no going back for us.
"There is no way that Ms Norris is all cat." James puffed as we sped down a hallway, trying to escape the mad caretaker and his furry beast.
Being too out of breath, I have to lay off those sugar quills, I just nodded, shuddering as we heard the nearing cries of "I'm going to twist your thumbs off!" coming from Argus Filch.
Nothing like a good old torture threat to make your speed pick up.
I suppose it wasn't our brightest idea to swear revenge on Michael Haden, James' mortal enemy, by dousing him in stinksap, which got all over the Charms corridor. Who knew it could splat right up onto the ceiling? Not us, apparently.
As we bolted from the scene of the prank, Filch came after us swearing his revenge. It's almost a wonder Hogwarts isn't the setting for multiple revenge tragedies with the way the occupants carry on. Dumbledore should look into that.
Filch's fevered footsteps were catching up as his threats grew louder and more violent, causing James and I to pick up pace. I think we'll all look back on this one day and realise that one of us overreacted.
Suddenly, James stopped short, threw open a broom closet door and pushed me in, slamming the door behind him.
Uncomfortable.
"Ah mate? What-what are you doing?" I asked trying to stay as far away as possible from him in the cramped space. Oh gods, I can never bring a date to one of these again.
James didn't appear to be listening; he was staying as still as possible as though trying to discern something important. Still doesn't explain what we're doing.
"Prongs, why are we in a broom closet? You know, people might think that-"
"Something's wrong." He said, still looking as if he were deciphering a strange riddle.
"Yeah. My best mate pushed me into a broom closet and I don't know why. On top of the fact that a murderous caretaker is out for our blood, as we speak. James, he's been cleaning here for years, he can make it look like an accident. Sweet Merlin they'll never find our bodies."
"No Padfoot," James continued seriously "Something, somewhere is horribly wrong."
And the award for most dramatic conversation between two heterosexual guys in a confined broom closet goes to…
"You're not trying to be a psychic again are you? Cause you know that the professor said the candle thing was probably a coincidence." I said, remembering fourth year when James had declared he was psychic and wore a fake beard that resembled Dumbledore's for 'authenticity'.
"She was just jealous, I knew that was going to happen," James continued, giving me a glare at my obvious disbelief "But really, Sirius, something feels strange. Ominous. Like when we're in trouble with mum and she hasn't found us yet."
"Is it the fact that we're in trouble with Filch, and he hasn't found us yet? Because, this isn't the most ingenious hiding place so I'm sure he's about to. Him and his creepy cat."
"You're right, I'm probably just paranoid. Must be one of my animagus things, with the full moon tonight and all." He grinned, cracking the door open to see if we were safe from a brutal and ruthless double homicide.
As soon as James said 'full moon', the pit of my stomach dropped right to my shoes. Now that it was mentioned, something did feel decidedly off.
Ever since our first transformation and since Remus' 'accident', the Marauders, thanks to our animalistic tendencies, were able to sense when something big was coming and hear and see a little bit further than normal. The best move of our pranking careers was becoming animagi.
We were all edgy about the full moon tonight, because of Belle. Remus wanted to keep his furry little problem a secret; he didn't want her to treat him any differently. Yet if there was anyone in this school who could spot a werewolf, it was her.
Apart from the fact that she knew all of the signs thanks to her brother, we hadn't been very convincing in our secrecy. It was the deadly weakness of the Marauders, despite our ability at being master trouble makers, we couldn't lie. Believably at least. All except Peter, who could fib under any circumstances, and so generally got us out of consequences.
The only problem there was, although Peter could lie, he was unable to speak to a girl. He only faced McGonagall through years of practice, so he couldn't save us from our half-formed excuses to Belle.
Now, we were all wondering how she wasn't going to notice the four of us disappearing at night, and then coming back with bruises for souvenirs. Somehow, I think a midnight Quidditch practice wasn't going to cover it.
As well as that, I really hated lying to Belle. I had to restrain myself from shouting "He's a werewolf!" when she had asked if Remus was feeling well in Charms. I don't think she, Remus or any of the surrounding Ravenclaws would have taken that well at all.
I must have been smiling softly as I was thinking of Belle, because James was now giving me an uncomfortable look.
"I think we've been in here long enough." He said, clearing his throat as he opened the door wider.
Just as we left, we heard the sound of intense running and were halfway back in the cupboard when we heard "Where in the name of Ethelred the Ever-Ready have you two been?"
"Moony?" James and I cried at the same time, jumping away from the door.
As Remus caught up to us, he began to take in our surroundings "Were you two going into a broom cupboard?"
"What?" James cried in outrage "Of course not. Pads and I are…checking all of the doors in Hogwarts. Making sure they all open."
Good one Prongs. "So if you'll excuse us." I continued in a haughty voice, both of us stalking down the corridor.
"Will you two muppets stop. She knows."
"What?" James spun around, throwing me a panicked glance "This can not be happening. Belle hates not being told things. I got a punch in the nose for throwing her a surprise party when we were twelve."
This is not good.
"Why do you think she knows mate?" I asked, hoping that this was all a big misunderstanding which we could giggle about over butterbeer later.
"Well, she came back to the common room, muttering angrily. Lily went to see if something was wrong but-"
"You were with Lily? Did she say anything about me?" James cried earnestly, pushing me out of the way to stand directly in front of Remus.
It would be funny if he wasn't so desperate. Actually, I suppose it is funny because he is so desperate.
"Anyway," Remus continued, moving away from James. Which is probably a safe idea considering how bonkers James is over anything Evans.
"Lily didn't seem to get anything out of her and Belle spent the next half hour glaring at me."
"This is bad." James breathed, now backing away from Remus as though his treachery was contagious.
"When it looked like she was going to come over to talk to me, I left and sprinted to find you guys."
And then, as though they were counting down the minutes we had left to live, we heard Belle's clicking footsteps.
"Quick, in the broom cupboard!" James squeaked, pushing all of us towards the door.
His desperate shepherding was too slow, however as soon, Belle came into view. We all quickly abandoned James' plan and began to lean in a nonchalant way against the wall. Maybe she doesn't know after all, and just really wanted Remus' chair or something.
"So," She said softly as she approached us "What are everyone's plans for tonight?"
Okay, she knows.
"Well, we were going to have a uh- sleepover." James blurted, studiously ignoring Remus and my eye rolls.
"Really, James?" her voice became dangerously softer as she took another step towards us, resulting in us all taking a step back.
Never let an annoyed woman enter your personal space, it results in scratches if you do.
"Oh yeah, you know, read magazines, gossip, ponder about hair colours each other would suit. The usual." Remus piped up, apparently deciding on sticking with James' idea, who was now nodding approvingly at him.
Rookie error, Lupin.
"Huh. You sure dyeing your fur wouldn't be too messy, Moony?"
I'm sure you could hear our simultaneous gulps from Dumbledore's office.
"Fur? I would call his hair a mane at best, babes." James chuckled unsurely, his hand tugging desperately at his own hair as though it were a portkey that could get him away from her.
"Give it up babes. I know." She said, giving us a defiant glare. Lily has to have been tutoring her.
"K-know what?" Remus managed to get out, though he couldn't actually look Belle directly in the eye.
"That you're a werewolf, Remus." Belle said in a quiet voice, with an edge of hurt to it.
There were several moments of awkward silence before James broke it "You're a werewolf Remus! Since when? How long has this been going on!"
Belle didn't seem amused because she just said before leaving "Its fine. That doesn't change what I think about you, Remus."
"She's upset." I said, now wishing that Filch did find James and I and then hung, draw and quartered us.
"This is my fault. I was overly paranoid." Remus said dismayed, before walking off the other way.
James and I looked at each other in helplessness "I guess we should talk to them rather than continue our inspection of the school's doors?"
"That's probably best," I answered James "I'll go after her if you'll go after him?"
"You reckon you should go after her? Did I upset her that much?" James questioned, looking slightly distraught at the possibility.
This is probably a bad time to tell him that I fancied the pants off his adopted sister.
"Nah mate, it's just that women are unpredictable. I have a better chance at fighting her off should the worst happen."
"You do not." James called, as I jogged off in the direction Belle disappeared in.
I moved quickly through the corridors, anxious to find out if she was alright, before I saw her sitting at a desk in our Transfiguration classroom.
"That keen on studying are you? Merlin, I knew Evans would be a bad influence." I joked, to cover up my nervousness that always seemed to manifest when I was around her.
"Before you know it, I'll be a ginge." She gave a wry laugh, tracing patterns on the wooden desk with her finger.
After hovering awkwardly, I took a seat next to her, trying to ignore the pounding of my heart when she looked at me "Are you alright?"
She sighed, now twisting her hands, before speaking "It's just. I understand. I do. I mean, I know it's not something that everyone accepts, my brother lived through it, and still I can't help feeling disappointed that he didn't tell me, that none of you did."
I thought desperately for a few moments, why did I have to be rubbish at cheering people up, before I began "He wanted to tell you, I know he did. I think he was just scared that when he did, you would hate him for it. Even though your brother is a werewolf, I guess he thought that you would be disgusted with him."
She gave me an incredulous look so I continued "He wanted you to like him; we all wanted you to like us. James had been so excited about you coming here that we knew if you didn't, then there would be no more Marauders, so Remus was really nervous. He didn't want to mess it up."
"So he doesn't find me untrustworthy, you know, because of my dad?" she questioned softly, trying to make it appear as though the question didn't matter, when it meant everything.
"None of us do." I answered as seriously as possible. Well, as serious as possible for me.
"Okay." She smiled slowly, by George I think I actually cheered her up.
"To prove it, I'll tell you the biggest Marauder secret there is." I grinned, standing and grabbing her hand to help her up. At least, that's why I'll pretend I did it.
"You really don't have to," she said as we left the classroom "I don't expect you guys to tell me everything."
"Well it kind of relates. As you would know, werewolves are dangerous to humans but no other creature's right?" I squeezed her hand, elated that she hadn't let go.
"Yeah." She said slowly, trying to figure out where I was going with this.
Hah, my logic is untraceable, Archibald.
"Well, James, Peter and I decided to become animagi so that we could look after Remus on the full moon."
It was only because we were still holding hands, that I was able to realise she stopped dead.
"What?" she hissed, eyes narrowing "You realise that werewolves can still hurt animals, just not infect them."
"It's worth it. Haven't you ever done anything crazy for Jude?"
She looked momentarily surprised, before speaking "You're right. It's amazing, what you're all doing." she said, pulling my hand to continue walking.
As we headed towards the common room in companionable silence, my mind all in a tizz over the fact that she was still holding my hand, masculinity be damned, she finally spoke "So what are you?"
"Excuse me?" I asked, how did she know about my unmanly thoughts?
"What animal are you?" she giggled "I'm guessing Padfoot has something to do with it?"
"Oh," that makes much more sense "A dog." I grinned wolfishly at her to prove my point.
At that she burst out laughing "Typical, with your reputation."
"If you're referring to my reputation as being adorable and intelligent then yes, it's true." I answered huffily, at her increased laughter.
"Of course that's what I meant," She continued, matching my snobby accent "And James?"
"Prongs is a stag and Peter, or Wormtail is a rat."
"Which fits both of them perfectly," She grinned, as we neared the portrait hole "I suppose you can't show me Padfoot out here?"
"Ah, no. I think it would be alarming if I just changed species in the hallway. Although, remind me to go after Mrs Norris later, let's hope that cat hates dogs."
She laughed, pulling me in for a hug, stopping all my senses and heart functions.
"Thanks Sirius. For cheering me up. You saved me a lot of hours of angst."
I squeezed her back tightly in response, unable to think of any words I could say, or any words at all before she let go and headed into the common room.
When I find Remus and his omitting arse I will kiss him.