Chapter 3: Nightly hangouts
After the marauders had finished their more or less successful day full of classes, they reunited in their room.
Sirius, his tie hanging loose around his neck, sat back-to-back with James.
Remus laid on his own, a book in his hand.
Peter had just entered the room.
«Hey», James welcomed him.
«Don't wake Moony. He's fast asleep», added Sirius.
«He doesn't know, we know, but don't let the book misguide you. »
Peter smiled faintly.
Then the book dropped to the floor when his friend turned about.
Remus waked with a start, rubbing his eyes.
«Morning Moony», said Sirius with a grin.
«Night», returned Remus.
«We did not mean to wake you, Moony. »
Remus smiled at James and Sirius.
«I managed to do that without any help. »
«Peter, we told you not to wake him», joked Sirius.
Remus looked at him. «Don't listen... to him. He didn't mean it. He may sound... but he is not... well... you know. »
«Heartless. Mean. An idiot. Thank you, Moony for mentioning it. I had lost hope», Sirius answered.
«Now you´re lying. »
«How comes that, Prongs? »
«I am sure I told you many times. »
«Look at them», commented Remus.
«Look at us. Arguing like an old married couple», Sirius said, while poking James in the ribs.
Together, all four friends broke into laughter.
Then Remus let himself fall onto the bed again, while Peter drew his bag into a corner.
«That bad? »
James quickly rose – Sirius caught the bedpost just in time, complaining – and walked over to him.
«Come on. It can't be that bad. »
«James. »
Sirius looked out of the window.
«Yes. »
«I would say tonight is the night. »
Peter lifted his head.
«Invisibility cloak. »
«Wand. »
«Do we still need the book? »
«No, Peter», Sirius and James answered in unison. They looked at Remus.
Peter carefully leaned over him.
«Asleep. »
«Then let's go. »
They had reached the "Household Charms" section unnoticed.
«Why create such a completely useless section. Really. Even Pince rarely uses it», mumbled Sirius.
James had conjured Lumos.
«Maybe it's about time you take a look. »
Sirius smirked.
«I will. »
«Later. »
He too fetched his wand.
«Now it's either be or not to be. * Do you think it'll work? » James eyed him.
«We'll do it together. »
«And I'll wait», whispered Peter.
Sirius and James lined up.
«One. »
«Two. »
They spoke the transfiguration spell.
Instead of James, he saw a deer.
He lowered his head.
Paws.
Instead, of words, he heard himself bark.
Prongs pawed the ground.
Then they both transformed back to human.
«Padfoot. »
«Prongs. »
They both sank to the floor.
«We did it. » James smiled.
«Mischief managed. » He grinned.
«Did it hurt? », asked Peter.
«I forgot you were there», voiced James.
«Yeah. You're always... We never know whether you're present or not. »
They heard footsteps.
«Padfoot. »
«Mate. »
«You or me? »
«My turn. »
James nodded. They had spoken silently.
Sirius tiptoed away from where his friends hid.
His gaze wandered around.
«I solemnly swear I am up to no good. But for what», he thought aloud.
Then his eyes found the restricted section.
«Classic, but gold. »
He cleared his throat, loudly enough and within a minute Filch grasped his shoulders.
«Restricted, Black. »
«Where is Potter? »
«You ask me that? I don't know», he returned.
Filch smiled frostily, accentuated by the lamp he was carrying, it gave him quite a scary look.
«Fine. Fine. Acting, ignorant, don´t we. Let's see what we're doing with you. »
«After you», said Sirius.
Filch frowned, then pushed him forward.
He grinned. «Alright, then not after you. »
Peter and James had heard the exchange.
«Mate. » James laughed, then took him by the shoulders.
«After Padfoot's sacrifice, you're the last of us. »
Peter searched for his wand.
«Forgot to bring my wand. »
«Peter. »
«Yes. »
«I got this. I promise. »
James took a deep breath, branching off.
«Did it hurt? »
«No. I swear. »
«Can... Can I borrow your wand? », he asked nervously.
«Catch. »
James smiled.
«Here.»
«Never ever throw a wand», James stated and handed his wand to Peter.
«Ah. »
«Thanks, mate. » His friend lifted Sirius' wand he had found between two books.
James cast a glance at the clock.
«Peter, it's high time. »
James looked at him.
«Say the spell. »
Peter grabbed the wand tight and swung it.
Suddenly, James and the library reached enormous highs.
He lifted his head.
James bent down.
«Congratulations. »
Then Peter transformed back.
«Which- »
«A rat. »
He smiled.
«I managed. »
«Yes, you did. »
I managed.
He had received the letter today. Hogwarts. Magic. And he, a wizard.
His parents had taken him by the shoulders.
«Be careful. »
«We don't know these people. »
«They could be dangerous. »
He had been nervous, at the platform and during the train ride, but when he had seen the castle, only had thought about this one thing:
I managed.
*Shakespeare