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Remus lay on his bed reading his book very contently until several heavy boxes of chocolate landed on his chest, knocking the breath out of him and the book out of his hands. He glared up at the one who threw the chocolate at him and wasn't surprised when he saw James and Sirius at the foot of his bed with Peter a little ways off.

"What was that for?" Remus asked sitting up and massaging his sore ribs.

"Happy Valentine's Day," James said, grinning like a madman

"You guys take Valentine's Day seriously?" Remus asked, looking from Sirius to Peter to James with surveying eyes.

"Oi! Who doesn't?" Sirius asked in surprise, raising his eyebrows.

"I think it's a ridiculous holiday," Remus said with a shrug and bent over his bed to retrieve his fallen book.

Sirius and James gasped dramatically making the other roll his eyes, scoff to himself, and resume looking for his spot on the page he had just been on.

"How can you hate Valentine's Day? How could such words ever come from your mouth, Remy?" James asked and sat down with a dramatic flare.

"What's the point of Valentine's Day? All it really does is makes people mad for you," Remus said and looked at his friends with his eyebrow raised. "And make all the single people out there feel bad about it when there's noting wrong with being single."

"Major thing right there, Remy," Sirius said and pointed his finger at him. "GIRLS SWOON OVER YOU."

"So?"

James and Sirius exchanged glances; as if they could read one another's mind, Sirius ran over to his bed and James continued on with his rant as casually as he could.

"Valentines Day is a magical holiday that makes girls drown you in cards and chocolate," James explained and grinned. "Girls become obsessed over you; and you—" he said poking the young lycanthrope, "—can bathe in the nonstop attention."

Remus pulled a disgusted look.

"I, for one, do not want girls ''obsessing', which you like to call it, over me anyway—that sounds rather intimidating—especially when girls are already intimidating. Secondly, I most certainly do not want to be bathed attention. Thirdly and lastly, I just think it's a pointless holiday that makes everyone ignorant and heartbroken."

"Wow Remy, I don't think I've heard you rant your opinion that much ever," James said, and could not help but look at Remus with surprise., who rolled his eyes and was about to say something but was abruptly tackled to the ground and bound together by a rope.

"Ouch! Sirius! What the bloody hell is going on?" Remus asked struggling against his bonds. His legs and wrists were tied together—all done by Sirius.

James gave Sirius a high-five.

"By the end of today, we will make sure you love Valentine's Day," the bespectacled boy said.

"Peter, help!" Remus said.

"Nope," Sirius said and threw the shorter friend a stern look. "He's on our side."

Remus stopped struggling against the ropes and glared at Peter.

"Four against one? That hardly seems fair," he muttered and fell limp against his restraints.

"Now we are going to release you," James said, raising his hands up. "Promise not to kill us?"

"For what? Tying me up or something you're going to do in the near future? Because just remember, you lot, if you know you'll regret doing it—don't do it at all."

James and Sirius just grinned while Peter waved innocently. They released Remus and stood by the portrait door, evidently waiting. Remus grumbled the entire time as he rose to his feet, rubbing his wrists and ankles where the rope had cut in.

"Down to the Great Hall for breakfast!" Sirius cheered and bolted out the common room with James while Remus and Peter took their time walking down.

"You took their side?" Remus asked Peter as the two walked at a slower pace than James and Sirius.

Peter shrugged.

"Even I don't mind Valentine's Day. It's not that bad of a holiday."

Remus raised his eyebrow at Peter who shrugged but grinned. He and Peter walked into the Great Hall to see Sirius and James smirking but trying to mask their smug looks.

"What now?" Remus groaned, afraid to hear the answer.

"What ever do you mean?" James asked in an innocent tone pulling a confused expression. But despite of that, he failed to hide the mischief in his hazel eyes.

"I know you three did something," Remus said eyeing his friends suspiciously and surveying the room as if he expected something to emerge.

"Way to assume the worst out of us," Sirius grumbled.

"Sorry Sirius, old habits and all," Remus said with a very pronounced smirk.

As they sat down, James, Sirius, and Peter all pulled out their wands underneath the table. One after another—red, pink, and white fireworks burst into the air. Students craned their necks to watch the impressive display. Remus immediately glared at his friends clutching the apple he was eating and realizing what'll happen next.

"I'm going to kill you lot..."

Not a moment after he had said that, The Marauders merely caught a glimpse of the mixed expression each one was wearing before completely engulfed in fireworks. When the smoke had finally ceased and risen, three out of the four now had a pink cloud hovering above their head raining sparkles and the occasional mist of heavily scented girls' perfume.

"Why the hell did this backfire!" James roared angrily, trying to swat the cloud away.

Remus burst out laughing.

"It's a simple spell, really," the first year werewolf said between his laughter, "I just said 'reversa'. Though it doesn't work for all spells."

"You are such a prat, Remus Lupin! You are!" James growled and (very roughly) shoved Remus off the bench and onto the floor, pinning him with his foot and knee.

"Get off!" Remus groaned as James's knee was digging painfully in his stomach. Instead, his stubborn friend increased the pressure on him and remained there until his legs buckled from underneath him (courtesy of Remus).

"We're going to be late for Herbology," Remus wheezed as he caught his breath, glaring at James as he got to his feet.

"Fine, future-Prefect-Remy," James said and the other three shoved the rest of the food in their mouths, took a handful of mints (each) from the small bowl and collected their things, striding out of the Great Hall. As the four walked to Herbology, Remus did his best to brush off the sparkles from James and the repulsive perfume.

"Oi! You are dousing me with your perfume and sparkles, mate!" Remus said and this time, he did not bother to try and hide his triumphant smirk.

But before James, Sirius, or Peter could say anything on that matter, they were cut off when Remus turned for he felt a tap on his shoulder. He came face to face with Ella Froyt, a Ravenclaw first year smiling shyly at him.

"Hi, Remus," she said quietly and held out her hand which held a red and pink card. "Here—Happy Valentine's Day, Remus."

"Thanks, Ella—that is really nice of you," Remus said, his smile faltered as he shifted his feet uncomfortably.

She flicked back her mane of black hair and walked off quickly without another word in which Remus was grateful for.

"Got yourself an admirer, I see. And here, the first one to receive a card out of the four of us happens to be the one that hates Valentine's Day," Sirius said, wiggling his eyebrows; mischief danced in the silver eyes.

Remus blushed furiously as he attempted to glare at Sirius. "No. Not with Ella and I can tell you that much for sure and with certainty."

"Why? What's wrong with her?" James asked, raising his eyebrow at his friend who fumbled with his book bag's strap.

"I don't date," Remus said flatly and looked ahead.

For more reasons than you know, Remus thought to himself and was glad none of his friends could perform legilimens successfully.

He quickened his pace as he walked to Herbology. Professor Sprout scowled deeply at the three boys who walked in with sparkles everywhere.

"What happened?"

"Spell gone wrong," James mumbled, looking up at the pink cloud with every sign of great dislike, Remus had a hard time hiding his laughter.

This is your fault. I blame you, mate, Sirius mouthed to Remus who raised his eyebrows at him the entire time.

What can I say, Remus mouthed back with a shrug and a very pronounced smirk.

"That cloud is annoying and a distraction, boys. How long is that going to be there?" Professor Sprout said exasperatedly.

"Until it wears off," James sighed then added, "unfortunately. Don't worry, Professor, I bet it's more annoying to us than you."

"Well, because with or without your little cloud, you will perform this activity flawlessly."

"We'll certainly try, Professor," James said and hurried away.

By the time class was over they managed to do the class activity almost flawlessly in spite of James, Sirius, and Peter's sneezing from the perfume.

"You're getting your ridiculous sparkles on me," Remus complained and brushed them off his shoulder pointedly.

"Bugger off, Remy, you're the one whose suppose to be doused in sparkles—not us!" James grumbled ad glared gloomily at the pink cloud that hovered mockingly over his head.

"Oh poor ickle James Potter! That's what you get for trying to prank me," Remus said with the slightest air of arrogance.

"Nothing gets by you!" Sirius said brushing off his robes and at the same time squashing his plant's leaves, making it tremble.

"Oi! Remus!"

Remus turned with a slightly annoyed look but it melted when he saw Angeline Gallon, a first year Hufflepuff, stride up to him.

"Here," she said giving him a card and a box of chocolate. Remus thought it would be cool to be showered with girls like James and Sirius were already today but decided that he would rather not.

"Er—right—thanks, Angie," Remus said awkwardly. "That's really nice of you."

Angeline, however, glared at the card sticking from Remus's book bag.

"Oi—and who is this from?" Angeline asked hotly as she snatched the card from his bag.

"From Ella Froyt—who is just a friend," Remus answered, speaking the half-truth (as he rarely spoke to Miss Froyt in his life).

"What's going on between you and her?" Angeline demanded.

"Nothing is going on between Ella and I—like I said before, we are just friends," Remus explained calmly though he could feel the heat rise in his face.

Angeline seems to relax. "Are you busy this afternoon? Do you want to meet me in the library?"

"No," Remus said instantly then cleared his throat. "I—er—I mean I wish I could but no—I can't. I have somewhere to be."

Angeline looked a little crestfallen but she shrugged. "Then some other time."

"Sure," Remus said and tried to make his tone sound bright.

Nope, Remus thought.

He watched Angeline walk away with his with insides threatening to shrivel up into a pile at the bottom of his stomach and he wished he was invisible on every Valentine's Day.

"Rude much?" James asked once the young girl had turned back to her own plant.

"What?" Remus muttered and poked his quivering plant with his wand. It shot out a couple of thorns; he managed to fling up his hand in time to protect his face but his gloves were now covered in thorns that were starting to prick his palms. Remus winced as he plucked out each one.

James, who was busy trying to find something he apparently dropped in the soil took time to reply.

"I can tell she likes you," he said finally.

"There is no way I'm ever going to be I interested in her. Hark who's talking—you turn down every girl who asks you."

"True," James said swinging his arm around Remus's shoulder. The entire class was now focused on wrestling with their ill tempered plants.

"Ickle me little Remy-kiddy!" Sirius cooed once he got wind of what Remus and Ella Froyt were talking about.

"What?" Remus asked, though a little absentmindedly.

"Remy-kiddy has a crush on Ella and Angie. Look at you—you have girls lined up and waiting for you. Aren't you lucky."

Remus stopped in the middle of the empty corridor not even noticing the fact that they were missing class.

"Ickle me, little Siri-diddydons," Remus said nastily, deciding he needed to have the last word. "Egoistic me, love watching girls fall to my feet."

James burst out laughing in his way of picking sides.

"Poor little Jamesy-kins, can't even get Evans to date him," Sirius said in mock sympathy and sighed dramatically.

"I dare you to call me that again," James snarled pointing his wand at Remus who held up his own wand. "Rem-kiddy."

"I didn't even call you that! It was Siri-diddydons and you have nerve to call me that," Remus growled as he aimed his wand at James.

"Call me that one more time Remy-kiddy," Sirius said and added his own wand to the fray, "and you're a dead man."

Now the three pointed their wands at each other, while Peter debated whether going to class or watching his crazy friends. Remus had his wand pointed and Sirius who targeted James who aimed his was like a sword at Remus. Without warning lights burst from the end of their wands, firing jinxes and hexes at one another. Light bounced off the walls and flung themselves anywhere they could hit again.

By the time they were out of breath, Remus's, usually blue eyes, had now sinister cat eyes and fangs for teeth. James was sporting the largest rainbow patterned—everything. His robes, hair, and eyes were flashing the colors of the rainbow. And Sirius's beloved hair had gone a bright shade of pink.

"What have you done?" Remus screeched pointing an accusing finger at his two friends.

"You look so creepy!" James said between gasps of air, pointing visibly at Remus and Sirius, both, who scowled deeply and opened their mouths to argue.
"Yeah!" Remus snapped and scoffed airily. "Don't flatter yourself, mate!"

And without further ado, the three boys were burying their faces in their robe's sleeves and trying to get to the closest lavatory.

"I wish I could draw a picture of this or something," Peter said laughing as they all walked at a brisk manner. James, Sirius, and Remus all glared at him.

The three hiked to the mirror in the lavatory to see the damage that was done and all stared in shock for a few moments.

"MY HAIR!" Sirius bellowed, he pointed to his hair. "Fix it."

"Not until you fix my eyes and teeth!" Remus snapped and glared accusingly at Sirius, who was too busy examining his hair.

"And someone will fix my rainbow colored—er—self!" James growled, looking down at his flashing self; he was now a lovely shade of blue.

Once the boys had finally stopped arguing, they managed to fixed themselves and they stormed out of the bathroom only for Remus to realize—

"We missed Transfiguration!" Remus groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"Cheer up, Remy," James said wiping off the sparkles, "Maybe she didn't even notice our disappearance."

"Unlikely," Remus snorted and looked at the sky that was bright, giving promising weather of warmth and sun.

James, Sirius, and Peter broke into a coughing for after their little cloud sprayed out more perfume mist.

"I really am going to get revenge on you," Sirius muttered once his pink cloud was done spraying perfume.

"You shouldn't have tried and pulled that prank on me and you wouldn't be covered in perfume and sparkles," Remus said holding back his laughter. "I thought we went over this."

They all went to the Great Hall but found Professor McGonagall was standing with her hands on her hips and a stern glare.

"Where were you four boys?"

Everyone in the Great Hall turned to see what was happening.

"The better question is—where were we not?" James asked, smiling up at her.

"Not in my classroom!" Professor McGonagall said loudly.

"Perhaps we were just hidden from your sight," Sirius said calmly.

Professor McGonagall sighed exasperatedly. "What will I do with you boys?"

"It's okay Minnie," Sirius said and raised his eyebrows at her with a madman grin. "You still have six and a half more years with us!"

Professor McGonagall looked horrid at the fact. "You four will be the death of me someday. If you miss my class again, I will give you detention for a month."

"Understood, Professor Minnie!" James said saluting to her before running past.

Remus did his best to avoid Professor McGonagall's intimidating glare.

"I can't BELIEVE you called Professor McGonagall 'Minnie'! Do you want to be slaughtered?" he growled as soon as they were out of earshot. "I can't believe you got away with it!"

James laughed and shrugged.

"Still enjoying Valentine's Day, James?" Remus asked after the smallest and briefest moments of silence.

"Despite this bloody cloud that has been following me the entire day—yes! I have fan mail," James smiled gesturing toward his unusually large pile of cards of chocolate.

"I can't believe girls can get this stupid over a stupid holiday," Remus muttered though he eyed it suspiciously.

"Well you must know that not all girls are like that," a voice said.

"Is that really what you think, Remus?" another added.

Remus turned around to see Lily Evans and Alice Prewett looking at him questionably. Amusement lanced their tones and glinted in their eyes as they met his gaze.

"Of course not," Remus said and smiled genuinely. "I don't think either of you girls are like that."

Lily and Alice smiled approvingly and Remus turned his attention back to James.

"Think you can help me with Evans? Think she'll go for me?" James asked, eyeing the redhead with great interest and even a little admiration.

"Dunno, mate—ever since the day you hexed Snape—and good, mind you—she is not really fond of you," Remus said and followed James's gaze to Lily.

"That greasy git deserved it," James snarled as he tore his eyes away from her.

"But you know Evans is friends with that 'greasy git'," he replied with his eyebrow raised in a superior manner.

James frowned. "Well now what? It seems we reached an impasse."

"So it would seem," Remus said and folded his arms across his chest. "Lay off Snape for a but then maybe she'll come around."

"Lay off Snivellus? I could never," James said and looked dramatically at Remus and flashed him a grin.

"Then don't expect Evans to like you," he said biting into his apple. "Besides, you have six and a half more years with her. You got plenty of time."

"You're right!" James said perking up at once. "And one day I'll get her to say yes to me."

"But for now," Remus pointed out mildly and rationally. "We're eleven. We don't need to worry about dating anyone quite yet."

James laughed and brushed off the sparkles.