James and Sirius sat in the car with James his parents. They were driving in London and were just a few minutes away from Kings Cross. "You boys have everything?" Euphemia asked. Both of them nodded. "If I do find something I will send it with the owl to you, okay?" They nodded again. "Thank you once again for letting me stay here for the whole holiday. I had an amazing time." Sirius said. "Oh, that is no problem at all, dear. We love having you over. You are always welcome!" Euphemia said. "Indeed! And stop thanking us! There is no trouble at all. Our house is big enough and we love the company." Fleamont added.
Soon they parked at Kings Cross. James and Sirius got their trunks out of car and James his owl out of the car and waited for Euphemia to return with a cart. "Okay, I got one. I think we need to step on it a little, since we only have 15 minutes left. Who knows if we can go through the wall in the first minutes." Euphemia said hastily. The four of them walked quit quickly into the station and towards platform 9 and 10. "Okay, honey. You go first with Sirius. I will follow with James." She said to Fleamont. Fleamont put his hand on Sirius his shoulder and acted like he wanted to show him something on the train on platform 9, while leaning against the wall. Slowly they glided through it, without waking up any suspicion. "Okay, let's go, dear." She put her hand on James his back and started walking towards the wall, while talking to him. Before they glided through she gave one quick look around and nobody was paying any attention to them. A few seconds later they arrived at Platform 9 ¾. The train was already steaming and people were hopping in carriages and saying goodbye to their parents. Close to the end of the train they saw Remus and Peter. They waved and walked over. "We already got us a carriage!" Fleamont helped Sirius and James with their trunks. Sirius said his goodbye to the Potters and got into the carriage with Remus and Peter. James was standing outside with his parents. "This is it then honey! Now you know that you are more than welcome to stay over for Easter, right? Just write us if you want to!" James nodded. "I know and I will let you know. Thank you for everything. The good and having my friends over. I had an amazing time." Euphemia hugged her son tightly. "No problem! They are always welcome! Anyone of your friends at Hogwarts is! So, be good this term! Listen to your teachers. Go to class, do your homework! But most importantly, enjoy yourself! These are the best years of your life! I love you, honey. And I will miss you!" She hugged James tightly again before realizing him. James turned to his dad. "Yes son. Do what your mother says. Kick some butt at Quidditch as well! And don't forget to write once in a while. We will miss you!" He hugged his son and gave him a sweep through his hair. James hopped on the train. "I love you mum and dad! Save drive home!" Fleamont waved, Euphemia threw a kiss with her hand before walking away.
James walked to his friends. "So, you guys got a good last week at home?" He asked, while sitting down next to Peter. They both nodded. The four of them told all of their activities during the train ride. After a couple of hours the with the candy cart stopped at their door. "Can I interest someone in something?" She asked. Everybody nodded. "My treat boys!" James said. "Get whatever you want!" He heard some protests, but he waved them away. "I got some extra pocket money from my dad. They had a good year at the firm and I want to share it with you guys! Get whatever you want and how much you need or think you need." Everybody shrugged their shoulders and they got a load of food. Remus candy consisted out of 80% of chocolate and some other sweets. Peter had a lot of cakes. Sirius and James had a lot of everything. The rest of the train ride was being filled with laugher, eating and visits from fellow friends from Quidditch and Gryffindor.
Soon they arrived at the station at Hogwarts. The boys just changed into their robes and quickly stuffed their pockets with their remaining candy. They grabbed their luggage and James also his owl and made their way down to the platform. It was drizzling slightly and the wind was cold. Everybody quickly walked towards the carriages and got in. they couldn't wait until they got to the warm castle that was waiting for them with their dorms ready and warm.
The four friends made their up to the Gryffindor tower, carrying their trunks and the owl with them. "Okay, let's dump our stuff and go down to eat!" Sirius said while rubbing his stomach. "I am starving." Quickly they made their down again and found a few seats free at the table of Gryffindor. Dinner was quite good and everybody was more than full. Back in the common room they sat down next to fire and looked at the hole watching other Gryffindors walk in slowly, one by one.
"Hey guys, I was thinking about something." James said warily. He had been thinking about this for the last part of their Christmas holiday. Somehow he felt like it was time now. "Well, we did that potion last time for Slughorn, right? And I know Snivellus won that price. But who cares? Who is happy with 3 unicorn hairs?" Peter snorted. "Well, of course you say that. Do you know how much money that is worth?" James shrugged. "Money is nice and all, but not what life is about." Peter looked at him with big eyes. "Of course you would say that. You have money. You have no idea what it is to live with almost no money." James looked confused at his friend. "I know I have money and that you have a tight budget back home. But I am not saying that because I have money. I say it because I truly believe in that. Yes, I do not know how it is to live on a tight budget, but that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate unicorn hair and their worth." Remus put up his hands. "Okay, I have the feeling this could get out of hand. You both have a point. James, Peter has the feeling you would probably not say that if you knew what it is like to live on a very tight budget. And Peter, James means that even if you can win something that you can sell, it isn't all about money in the world. So please, can we get pass this before money will get us into a fight?" James looked at Peter, who looked a bit ashamed. "Sorry Pete. I know money is tight and there is indeed a big chance that I would not speak like that if I had less money. I am privileged in my life. It gives me the ability to look differently at stuff or even look at other stuff. I don't have to worry about clothes, books, food etc. So I can worry about other stuff, maybe stuff that people with less money will never think about." Peter smiled a little. "Yeah, it is fine. I am happy for you that you have that life. You are not snubbed at all, thank Merlin. You don't rub it in our faces. Sorry for getting so defensive about it. It is just a touchy subject for me." James nodded understanding. "Well, what I wanted to say is. We now have a bit of experience in working on a potion for a bigger amount of time, so maybe we could start that special potion we were talking about earlier this year."
The other three looked at James. Sirius started smiling after a few seconds. "Oh yes, mate. You know I was ready ages ago, but Remus made us wait and wait." Remus rolled his eyes. "And for a good cause. I will still try to postpone it. Hoping it would never happen. You guys don't have to do this. At least, not for me. I – I – I can't ask that from you. What if you get caught?" Remus started sounding a bit desperate. "Come on, Remus. We talked about it. We are willing to take that risk. Who will recognize that potion instantly? If we get caught we will make sure it vanishes in a few seconds." Remus was looking desperately for another excuse. "But what if it is Slughorn? He would recognize it immediately, just as McGonagall. And imagine the trouble we would get in! How many rules will we break by just already brewing this potion? And those are just school rules. What happens if you guys take it? You will become Animagi, but illegal ones! That goes way further than just breaking school rules, that applies to the law of the community." Remus started rambling, but he realized where he was and how public they were. His voice became a whisper, but somehow it sounded more pleading and scared. "If you take it and get caught, you will need to go trial. What would your parents say? You would be expelled from Hogwarts or even worse. Your wands might get snapped for breaking all these rules! The risk you will take for just doing this to be with me… it is not worth it, okay? Don't do it!" Remus had a panicked look in his eyes.
Sirius was looking at his friend, but with an amusing look on his face. "Are you done with your big speech? Good! Listen mate, we know the risks. But so what? Are we supposed to know about your transformations and how painful they are? We want to be there for you, all of us. We want to support you and help you make it easier. We cannot cure you and your 'furry little problem', but we can be by your side, literally." James nodded. "Indeed! Remus, we are more than willing to take these risks and yes, indeed for you. But that is no burden for us, just like you are not a burden for us. So stop feeling like one and just accept this. Even if you don't agree with this, we will still do it. Than we will roam the forest without and maybe coincidentally also be there during that time of the month." Remus looked at his friends, one by one. "And what is life without a little bit of risk, right? I get a little bit tired with just detention. It is either cleaning stuff or helping some teacher with something. Wow, that is such a punishment. The punishment was so bad that I will not do that again! NOT!" Sirius added, while smiling. "Not even cleaning floors with Pringle is a punishment that big enough that I would stop doing all these pranks and stupid stuff."
"Fine. Whatever. I see I cannot change your minds, but I did warn you." Remus laid back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of chest, refusing to look at them. "Oh come off it! This will be fun!" Peter said. "James, I am in! Let's start this potion." James high fived Peter. "Great. Okay, so we will need three different cauldrons and some crystal vials. Extra ones, since we still need ours for Potions. So will order tomorrow morning three cauldrons and vials with the Daily Prophet. But before we can brew that potion, we will need some mandrake leaves. But what exactly must be done with that and the steps after that I cannot remember. Do we still have that book somewhere?" Sirius nodded. "I put on our desk in the dorm. But let's go get those mandrake leaves then. Where is your cloak, James?" James ran upstairs to grab his invisibility cloak.
There was a bit of an argument who would go with James. Sirius had the idea that he somehow had dibs, but in the end it was Remus who came along. "If we get caught by someone, not McGonagall, but someone else, there is a big chance they might let us of the hook when I am with you. I only got detention a few times, but most of the teachers like me." James had to chuckle. "And they don't like me?" Remus snorted. "Yeah, I dare to say they will like you. But they also think you are a pain in the ass. If you maybe would stop disturbing the classes, get less detention and stop hexing other students you would get away with a lot of stuff as well. So if we a teacher and we are about to get caught, you hide under the cloak and I will see what I can do. As long as they don't see you, we might get away with this."
Soon they arrived at the greenhouses. They went into number three, where a bit more dangerous plants were. "There should be mandrakes here that are fully grown. As long as we don't pull them out of their pot we should be alright." Remus whispered. They slowly walked along some vines and plants. "I see them." James said, while pointing at something a few meters away. Little did they know that something creeping up on them, slowly on the ground. They walked to the pots and looked at each other. "Okay, we should have brought earmuffs. What if we grab one by accident and pull it out of the pot? We could die. They are as good as full-grown now." Remus said a bit panicked. "Sst, we won't. How about you keep the Mandrake down and I pick the leaves?" James offered. Remus nodded and put his hand on the roots and pushed them down. James put his thumb and index finger on a leaf and pulled. It easily came off. "Keep pushing. I need a small stash in case one of us swallows one or spits it out and we need to start over again." He picked a around twelve leaves. Four each should be enough, otherwise they should make another leave-run.
Quickly they returned to the castle. They slid through the doors quite easily. Making sure their footsteps were as quiet as possible they made their way back up to the tower. Pringle was nowhere to be seen, they only passed a few ghosts who didn't notice them. Back in the dorm they saw that Peter and Sirius were still awake. "Did you guys do it?" Peter asked. Remus nodded and James showed them the leaves. "Great! We will start first thing in the morning. I am curious how difficult this will be while eating or even sleeping. What if we swallow it during our sleep?" James shrugged. "Just try to eat stuff that is easy to swallow and stuff them as deep and high in your cheeks as possible. And for sleeping as well I guess. And I got us more leaves, for a stash. There is chance we won't succeed the first time we try." Everybody nodded.
"Okay, well. Start tomorrow morning, right?" Peter asked. "Yeah. Tomorrow sounds alright. Then we need to keep it in our mouth until February 10th." Everybody agreed silently. "Okay, off to bed then!" James changed into his pajama's and went to bed. His sleep was quite restless. He dreamed about his mouth being stuffed full with leaves and barely able to sleep. He woke up two times during the night where he just shot up, his forehead full with sweat and heavy breathing. Oh come on, James, he thought. Why are you acting like this? There is no reason to dream all this stuff, nothing is going to happen. This wasn't even the trickiest part of the whole transformation yet. The whole transformation required a lot of patience and also luck. One mistake that you didn't notice could leave you as a permanent mutation of a half-human, half-animal creature. James shivered with that thought. He felt no fear, but he didn't particularly looked forward to this possibility either. Well, he thought, that means we just have to get everything right. And if we don't or we are unsure, we just need to start again. This thought stuck in his head and finally he fell asleep again around four in the morning.
Authors note: And so they start the progress of becoming Animagi! They won't succeed until their fifth year of course, since I try to do the story as much justice as they were told in the books. Or at least, the parts we were told about the Marauders. The whole transformation is quite long and if anything happens you should start over again. So I will see where my imagination will take us with this!
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