Chapter Four: The Prank


Winter passed and spring came. Things stayed where they were, for the most part.

Remus and Lily's relationship was still secret. They were pretty sure that no one knew Remus was dating anyone, and that no one knew who Lily was seeing. James was slowly falling from his "revolution" and back in love with Lily. Remus doubted that he ever had fallen *out* of love with her, and he wasn't just being all talk.

Sirius was now speaking with Lily again, and she was grateful. He wasn't very pleased to find that his X-ray glasses didn't work on Hogwarts walls, though. He discovered this outside of the girls' toilets.

And for the biggest surprise of all, Peter began seeing Pauline, the Ravenclaw girl he liked.

"I suppose with Peter, he couldn't keep it a secret even if he tried," Remus said. "It's not the matter of having never having had a girlfriend, I hadn't before you, but the point that no one thought he ever would."

Lily agreed and went back to her studying. She said it was her prefect duty to set an example and start studying for exams early. It was only an excuse to study as much as possible.

Sirius said that it was pointless to study too early. "You would forget everything that you learned early on, so it's useless."

It was one night in the Gryffindor common room when James spoke up in a hushed voice to Sirius, Peter and Remus. "Guys, I know I said I dropped the subject, but...I think I figured out who Lily is dating."

Remus looked up, wide eyed. His heart started beating at twice its normal speed. "Y-you do?"

James nodded. He took a deep breath. "It's...Snape."

"What?" Remus asked, shocked and relieved at the same time.

He shook his head. "I know. I never thought Lily to be the type to go dating Slytherins. And Snape of all people. That guy is such an ugly git."

"How do you figure that up?" Sirius asked. "I mean, how do you know?"

"Well, my first clue was that Snape stood up for her that one day Malfoy was ridiculing us. And then I kept seeing them leaving the Great Hall at the same time. I just don't know where they go," James said. He sighed. "And why else would she keep it a secret?"

There was silence.

"Um, you know, we should have like some way to keep tabs on him," Peter said. "What if he's using our passages to get to Lily?"

"They're not technically *our* passages," Remus said. His heart had yet to slow.

"That's a good idea," James said slowly. "Wormtail, you had a ruddy great idea! We need something to keep tabs on that ass. Like a...a...a something."

They were silent for a little bit longer. Remus was thinking about how he should relay the message to Lily about this. She should know that they think she's seeing Snape. And she had joked about making them think she was dating Malfoy. That was pretty close. Too close.

"A map."

The three boys turned and looked at Sirius.

"What?" Peter asked.

"A map. We could make a map of Hogwarts," he replied.

"We know our way around," James pointed out.

"Not a normal map, you dolt. A magical map. Something where we can see where Snape, and everyone else in the school, is going. Not only could we see where the rat - no offense, Wormtail - was going, we could have a safety for when we use our passages. We could know where we the teachers were." Sirius' eyes were glowing. He seemed ecstatic about the whole thing.

"What if a teacher found it? It would be spoiled for good," Remus said. Anything to keep them from doing this. It was destroy most anything he could have with Lily. A secret map that showed the secret passages? It would show *his* secret within an instant.

"We could clear it. Put some sort of charm on it. A spell to open it and a spell to close it," James said. He was getting the idea.

"I don't know..." Remus said.

"Look, Moony," Sirius said, "we need this. To make sure Snape's not trying a fast one on us. We'll sign it and your name can be first."

"I'm not putting my name on it!" Remus said. "What if a teacher *did* get a hold of it? They'd know who's it was."

"...we could sign it with our nicknames," James said. "Not too many of the teachers know those. If they did, the might figure out where they came from. And I'm sure Filch doesn't know. If it got confiscated, no one would know who we were, even if they could work it."

"We don't even know how to work it," Peter said. "We haven't even started it."

"Then let's get to work!" Sirius said. He grabbed some spare parchment and a quill. "Okay, how are we going to go about this?"

"I'll catch up with you guys later," Remus said. "I need to go study."

"You better get some input into this things or we won't put your name on it at all!" Sirius called as Remus walked out of the common room.

*

Remus knew that he could find Lily up in the library. He pulled her into a secluded area. She looked at him questioningly.

"What is this about?" she asked in a soft voice.

"They think you're dating Snape and they're making a map of Hogwarts to keep tabs on him, or to even catch the two of you in the act," he blurted out, all very quickly.

Lily blinked. "What?"

"James thinks you're dating Snape," Remus said slowly.

"Does he now? That's not too horrible."

"But he, Sirius and Peter are creating a map that can show where Snape is so they can make sure that Snape's no where near you."

"Snape's never near me. I don't see what the problem is."

"The map won't just show you and Snape. It will show everyone."

"Oh," Lily said shortly. "That's bad."

Remus nodded. "I guess this means that we might as well be out with it. Our whole relationship. They should know before they find out the hard way and then James really gets hurt."

She nodded. "I think that's a really good idea."

"I have to go first, though," he said slowly. "This weekend. I have to -"

"Take care of your sickly grandmother? Or is it your cousin's wedding?" Lily asked. "Don't give me an excuse. Give me the truth."

Remus' voice was stuck in his throat. He swallowed. "I - uh...we have other things to worry about, Lily. We do."

"We've been living a lie, Remus. Keeping secrets from James and everyone else. I trust you more than anyone else in this world, but I can't see past your lies sometimes. I just - I want to know the truth. You remember that night when I told you that I wanted to unlock your mystery?"

He nodded.

"You still haven't let me in. What are you so scared of me finding out?"

What would she think? If she knew what I was and what I had done, she would never speak to me again. And trust? How can she trust me? And how could she if she ever found out what I was? This monster, the horrible thing. She couldn't love that. No one could. I sure as hell couldn't.

"They know," she was saying. "I suppose it's a fair deal. They know your secret, and I know about us. Is that it? Remus, talk to me!"

"I can't. Lily, I'll talk to you when I get back. I'll be gone, so we won't have to worry about them finding anything out. I promise."

"Remus, tell me. Please, I want to know. There's nothing you could say to me that could make me love you any less. Except the lies. The lies, the ones you tell and the ones we tell, they're killing us."

"I'll tell you when I get back."

"You promise me?" Her voice was pained.

He nodded. "I promise."

She nodded. "All right, then. And we'll tell them when you get back."

"Right."

Lily smiled. "Right."

*

Friday night, Remus walked up to the hospital wing. "Madam Pomfrey?"

The nurse turned and saw him standing there. "Ah, Lupin. Full moon again? Seems like we just had one. Better get you down there before total nightfall."

He looked out the window at the setting sun and nodded, more to himself than anyone else. He turned and started walking on out, followed by Madam Promfrey.

They walked to the Whomping Willow tree and Remus reached down and with a long stick, touched the special root. The tree froze. He had already told James and the others that he'd much rather spend this month alone and that they should work on the map. He slid down the hole and down in the path.

He walked along the passage until he came into the whole of the Shrieking Shack, as it had come to be called. He looked at the bitten down furniture and shuddered. He simply sat on the floor, leaning against a bed, and waited for his transformation to occur.

*

Up in the Great Hall, during dinner, Sirius walked up to the Slytherin table. "Hey, Snape."

Snape turned and looked at him. "What do you want, Black?" he asked with his eyes narrowed.

"Come with me."

"Why the hell should I?"

Sirius smirked. "You want to know where Remus goes every month? You've always wanted to know, haven't you?"

"What are you getting at?" Snape snarled.

"Come with me."

"I won't do anything of the sort!"

"Listen, if you want to be a part of this *group* as you seem to do, you'll come with me."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I hate you," Sirius said evenly. "So, you're going to come with me."

"Because you hate me? Black, you seem to be out of your mind. You should go see Madam Pomfrey because I'm going to hurt you if you don't," Snape said. He turned back to his food.

Sirius grabbed onto Snape's arm and dragged him over to the window. He pointed to the Whomping Willow. "Look."

Outside the window was Remus going beneath the tree.

"What the..." Snape said, trailing off.

"You want to find out?" Sirius asked again.

Snape nodded, taken with his curiosity.

Sirius grinned. "Perfect. You'll be a real part of the group, now."

*

Sirius sat down with a satisfied grin. "What did you do?" James asked, eying his friend.

"Me? Nothing."

"Liar. Out with it, Padfoot."

"I just told Snape where Moony was."

Peter's eyes grew to three times their normal size. "Why did you do that?"

"Because Snape is a nosy idiot and because he's dating Lily. And because I can," Sirius replied. He looked lazily down at his food. He picked up his fork and began eating.

"You're not serious, are you?" James asked.

"Technically, yes. But I'm always Sirius."

"Padfoot, did you really do that?" he asked in a tone that warned no joking.

"I thought it was what you wanted, Jamie! To get back at Snape for dating Lily. You already hate the guy, he just took it one step too far," Sirius said. "And it was you who said that you were going to kill whoever it was Lily was seeing. You said it yourself. I just did the dirty deed for you."

"No, you're having Remus do the dirty deed for you. And I realized that killing someone isn't going to get Lily to love me!" James stood up and ran out of the hall.

*

Remus sighed. The anticipation was almost as bad as the transformation itself. In the last few moments of his sanity, he replayed the things Lily had said to him in his mind. There was something about the way she asked him to tell her the truth.

James, Sirius, and Peter had understood. They hadn't left him. What really made him think that Lily would? And if she didn't, then she really didn't love him for who he was. The whole thing, the whole package.

Remus jumped as he heard a stirring behind him. He stood and turned. "I thought I told you that I didn't - Snape, what are you doing here?"

Snape looked at him, his dark eyes open wide with surprise. "Where am I?"

"Go! Go, now."

"What are you talking about, Lupin?"

"Snape, you have to go now," Remus said, rushing over to him. He began pushing him out the opening.

"Stop - touching - me," Snape said in a growl.

"Listen to me, you have to go. You can't stay here. How - how did you even get down here?"

"Black told me and -"

"Sirius?" Remus asked in shock. "Sirius did this?"

"Yes, you're beloved -"

"Shut up. You have to go - it's almost nightfall."

"Snape! Remus!"

"James?" Remus questioned in surprise.

"Snape, you have to go," James said, grabbing onto his arm.

He pulled his arm away. "Don't think I'm going anywhere with you, Potter."

"If it wasn't going to kill you, it might almost be worth it," James muttered. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Remus jerk and back over to a wall. "Remus? Is it happening?"

Remus nodded. He slid down the wall and curled into a ball on the floor. His hand shook like mad as coarse brown and grey hairs began to sprout from them and his arms. His fingers slowly came together and then pulled back; his fingernails turned into black claws.

"Oh my God," Snape said, "he's a -"

"A werewolf, I know," James said. He began ushering Snape back to the opening, but Snape was frozen in wonder.

Remus' face began to elongate, and his ears began to point and move to the top of his head. His cries of pain turned to howls. He was suddenly more wolf than human. He jumped up onto four paws, almost completely transformed and growled menacingly at James and Snape.

*

Sirius and Peter sat staring at their food in the Great Hall. Lily came over and sat down next to them. "What's going on, guys? Where's James?"

They exchanged nervous glances and then looked to Lily. She nodded.

"Another secret."

"What are you to be talking about secrets?" Sirius burst. "Seeing someone behind our backs when you know James is so fucking in love with you that he would die for you. And he's about to. And over a slimy git like Snape."

"What do you mean James is going to die over Snape?" she asked.

There was a silence.

"Tell me, Sirius!"

"Sirius sent Snape down after a werewolf," Peter said quietly. "When James found out, he went after Snape in order to save him."

"WHAT?" She looked furiously from Peter to Sirius. "Is that the truth?"

Sirius nodded.

"For your information, I am *not* dating Snape. I told you before that who it was is none of your business and it stands just as true today. I should have known that you would pull a stunt like this one. So, it's a good thing you don't know who I'm really dating - to put him in danger like this. And James! Where's the werewolf? Peter, tell me," Lily said. She felt a moment of guilt for narrowing in on Peter, but she knew that Sirius would never say anything.

"There's a path under the Whomping -"

"Wormtail, you idiot! Don't tell her!" Sirius yelled.

Lily stood up, reached over the table and slapped Sirius across the face. He stared at her. "Both Snape and James are in danger, don't you realize that?"

He nodded. "James can handle himself."

"I don't care. He's your friend and if he dies, you're going to feel the guilt for the rest of your life. Under the Whomping Willow? How do I get down there?"

"You don't," Sirius said simply.

"Tell me! If you won't do anything, I sure as hell will, you lazy, selfish, son of a bitch!"

"I'll take you," Peter said, "but it won't do any good."

"Take me there," Lily replied darkly.

*

"Snape, get out of here!" James yelled. "I can take him."

"You can take a full grown werewolf, Potter?" Fear was evident in his voice.

"Don't ask, Snape, just go!"

Snape slowly backed away, but tripped over a rock, and fell backwards onto the ground, slamming his head against the side of the passage opening. He was out cold.

"Shit," James muttered. He looked back at Remus, who was growling, his teeth bared. "Remus, old buddy, I really hate to do this to you, but if I don't you're going to rip me to shreds."

James transformed. He bowed his antlered head at the wolf. Remus barked loudly, and jumped up on James' back, sinking his teeth deeply into his neck.

James reared onto his back legs and threw Remus against the wall opposite Snape. He yelped loudly, but jumped back up, charging toward Snape. James then turned and rammed his antlers against Remus and tossed him to the other side of the room.

"James? Snape?"

James' head looked up at the path. He couldn't see, but he recognized the voice to be Lily's. Shit, shit, shit, he thought. He reached down with his antlers and picked Snape up and tossed him onto his back. He ran up the passage way, but the ceiling of the path slowly got smaller and he couldn't go any further as a stag.

He dropped Snape on the ground, and hoped that Lily would stop when she saw him. James then ran the other way down to where he could already see Remus running toward him, his jaws snapping.

James lowered his head again and shoved Remus down with his antlers. Remus, once again, went flying against the back wall. James tried to usher him into another room, but Remus could smell Lily. And it was quickly explained why.

James looks over his shoulder and saw Lily standing behind him with wide-eyed wonder. It was quickly James' sole desire to keep Remus from Lily.

He shoved Remus into the next room and then transformed back into a human and slammed the door shut. He could hear the growling and snarling of Remus from the next room as he tried to break the door down.

James turned to Lily. "We have to get out of here. I don't know how long the door will hold him."

"You're an Animagus?" Lily asked, a little shocked. "I mean - how?"

"Ask questions later. We have to get out of here," James said, grabbing onto her arm and pulling her into the passage. "Where's Snape?"

"Peter has him up at the base of the tree."

"Where's Sirius?" They were running up the passage.

"He didn't come. He's still in the hall for all I know."

James sighed, even as they rushed to the top of the passage. He wasn't surprised by that at all. He helped Lily up through the mouth of the cavern. He then pulled himself through as well.

"Close it up, Peter," James said, looking at the frozen Whomping Willow. Peter poked the root with a stick and the three backed away from the tree as it went crazy.

"Where's Snape?" Lily asked, looking around.

"Over there," Peter replied, pointing a few feet away. "I pulled as far as I could. I figured you guys could help get him up to the castle."

"I don't have my wand," James said. "Lily, do you?"

She nodded and whipped her wand from her robes. She levitated Snape up and slowly led him away. James and Peter followed.

"What happened down there?" Lily asked.

"We should probably wait for Remus," James said.

"Is he an Animagus, too?"

"Uh...we should just wait for him.

*

The next morning, a very tired Remus wandered into the Great Hall. He plopped down next to James. He would have normally just walked up to his room, but there was business to attend to today.

"How's Snape?" he muttered. He set his elbows on the table and put his chin in hands. He closed his eyes.

"Uh, fine. He's in the hospital wing - he got a nasty bump on his head from falling over. Peter and I explained things to Dumbledore and he's going to talk to Snape. You hungry?" James replied.

Remus shook his head. "I'm going to bed now."

"Well, Moony, there's something else."

Remus turned his head to James and reluctantly opened his eyes. "What's that?"

James shifted uncomfortably. "Well, you know how I went down there to get Snape? And well, after you transformed I sort of fought you a bit - sorry about that, by the way -"

"That's fine," Remus mumbled, half asleep. His eyes were once again closed.

"Well, Peter and Sirius sort of let it slip to Lily where Snape and I were -"

Remus' eyes opened.

"- and she sort of got Peter to tell her how to get down under the Whomping Willow -"

He raised his head from his hands.

"- and then she sort of got down there and you sort of tried to attack her and she sort of saw me transform and she sort of knows most of the story."

Remus blinked at his friend. In a slow, even voice he asked, "James, are you telling me that Lily knows *everything?*"

"Sort of?"

"James..."

"We didn't tell her about you. For all we know she thinks there's just a random wolf living in the Shrieking Shack."

"Thank God for small favors," Remus muttered.

"She's furious with Sirius right now. And still not too happy with Peter or I. Mostly because we had been keeping secrets from her. And she's royally pissed over the idea that we're Animagus and won't tell her why," James said. He sighed. "I didn't want to lie to her, so I just refused to give her a reason."

"Well, she's going to be even more pissed when she finds out about me."

James didn't really move, but it was obvious to Remus that he agreed.

"Oh, and she's not dating Snape," James said as an afterthought.

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

Remus nodded slowly. "I should, you know, go tell her. No reason she should be mad at you for something that's all my fault."

"It's not your fault, Moony. You couldn't help being what you are," James said.

He sighed. "Believe me, Prongs, this is my fault." Slowly, he got up, with some help from James.

"Want me to walk you up the common room?"

Remus shook his head. "I'll be fine." He walked away. "I am going to not be fine," he muttered.

*

Lily was sitting in one of the chairs, looking into the fireplace. She heard a footstep behind her and turned and looked.

"Remus, you're back. You...look terrible."

And he did. Dark rings wore under his eyes and there was a light stubble on his face, that rarely needed shaving. He walked slowly, as if every step brought pain to him. He sat down in the chair across from hers.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"What's the matter?" Worry was in her voice. "Did James or Peter tell you what happened last night?"

He nodded.

"I'm fine. A little shaken up, that's all. It really didn't strike me how stupid I had been last night until this morning. I was so close to dying."

"That's what really makes this so hard to say," Remus said slowly.

"What is it?" She sounded puzzled.

"Lily, I thought about this. I love you, but I can't see you anymore."

She blinked. "What?"

"We have to break up. This - it can't go on."

"W-why? Is it the secrets? We can tell everyone - I don't mind it at all. I wanted to tell them anyway. You know? Remus?"

"It's not the secrets. Lily, you know I live with my Great Aunt, right?"

"What does that have to do with it?" she asked.

"Bear with me. You know that. Am I correct?"

"Yes, you are - I do."

He swallowed. "You don't know why, though."

"I figure that you're parents died," she said slowly.

"That's right. It's how they died, though. I never told anyone this. And it's been nagging in the back of my mind ever since we started going out. That I might hurt you the way I did before with my parents."

"What happened?"

"I killed them," Remus said heavily.

"What?" Lily asked in a hushed voice. "I - how?"

"When I was eight years old," he began. "We had been dealing with it for about five years now, but one night I got out of control. I killed my parents and my younger sister. I didn't even know what I had done until the morning afterwards. I should have been put into full containment, sent to an institution for people with my disease, but I was simply sent away. I've been dealing with this demon, pushing away from it for years, trying to deny it. And last night - what happened. I could have killed you too."

"Remus...no. God, no," she said in sudden realization.

"Yes," he replied, "I'm a werewolf. And last night I would have killed you, if it hadn't been for James."

"You've never hurt anyone else, though? Have you? Since you got to Hogwarts?" she asked carefully.

"Not since I came to Hogwarts. I've been carefully contained in the Shrieking Shack every month. Since my family, though, I have made others of my kind. But I've never killed any since then," Remus said. "That doesn't make up for the things I've done. And that's why I can't be with you."

"And the others know and that's why they became Animagus," Lily said, putting the pieces together. "For you."

He nodded and looked to the floor.

There was a long, pregnant pause.

"How did they do it?"

Remus looked up. "What?"

"How did they become Animagus? James fought you. He was a big enough animal to contain you. I want to be able to do it too." A fiery smile blazed across her lips.

"What?" he repeated. "You - you would do that?"

"Did you really think something silly like you being a werewolf would make me stop loving you?" Lily asked incredulously. "It would take a hell a lot more than that, sweetheart."

"I - I didn't know," Remus said, surprised. "Honestly, I thought it would. And I don't exactly think it's a 'silly thing.' I seriously could have killed you last night. And I'm not set on it happening again."

"Of course not. That is exactly why I want to do this! If they could, I can. It might be our only chance."

"Lily - no. I just I can't take the risks that you would get hurt in the process of becoming an Animagus. It took them three years to do it without any help. It's not easy. They had a lot of close calls and they went through a lot of pain. They really shouldn't have done it in the first place," he said, reaching out and placing his hand over hers. "I don't want to put you through that."

"I *want* to!" she exclaimed. "Don't you understand? Remus, I love you. I want do this for you. For us. So we can be together. I don't care if we tell them or if we have to stay a secret for the rest of our lives. I want to be with you."

He leaned back into the chair and sighed. He closed his eyes and was silent for a long time.

"Remus?" Lily prompted gently.

He opened his eyes and looked over at her. He swallowed. "I can't do that to you, Lily. I couldn't ever give you a normal life. I've been dealing with this for thirteen years. I've thought about these things. I'll never be able to have a steady job; there's no way I could ever have kids. I can't give you the life you really deserve."

"I can't agree with that. I love you -"

"Love isn't the issue here," Remus interrupted. "God, I love you so much I could explode, but I know that the only real way I can give you want you really need - what you deserve - is to let you go. So you can be with a guy like James who can really be something."

Tears filled her eyes. "There's no way we can make this work? There's nothing I can say to make you change your mind?"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, no."

"What do you want me to do? Forget everything that we've been through? Make like it never happened?"

"If you want to."

She paused. "Is that what you're going to do?"

"No," he whispered.

She stood. "Then, I guess there's nothing left to say." She leaned down and pressed her lips against Remus' forehead. She smiled sadly at him, and then walked away. She let out a loud sob and then broke into a run.

Remus sunk down into the chair. This had to qualify as the worst day of his life. That included the day he was bit and the day his family died. Admitting you've done something is more terrible than the act itself.

"Hey, Moony."

He looked up to see James standing above him, leaning against the back of the chair.

"Hi, Prongs. You...didn't hear any of that, did you?"

"Hear what?"

"Nothing. What's going on?"

James plopped down in the other chair. "Dumbledore talked to Snape and got his side of the story. Snape wants to expel us all. Luckily Dumbledore has come to the fact that it was just Sirius who plotted this against Snape and decided to suspend Sirius for two weeks, but not expel him."

"And about -"

"Dumbledore swore him to secrecy. Don't worry."

"Where are Sirius and Peter now?" Remus asked.

"Sirius is in taking the third degree from McGonagall. I heard something about a hundred point loss from Gryffindor thanks to him, which takes us out of running for the House Cup. And Peter's off making it with his girlfriend, I guess."

"That was a mental image I didn't need."

"Yeah, really," James said. He paused and then added, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I talked with Lily. She didn't really seem to mind that I was a werewolf. She was a little shocked and all that, but she wasn't going to turn me in to the Ministry or anything. I think she felt stupid for not having figured it out for herself," Remus said.

James nodded. "Where, uh, where is she now?"

"Her room, I think."

"Oh, okay."

"You know, Prongs, I think she likes you more than she thinks she does. First going in after you, when she knew that there was a werewolf down there. And then when you saved her...I think she may see you in a new light," Remus said. He took a deep breath. It was the right thing to do. "I'm going to bed now."

"Night, Moony," James said. "We were going to work on the map, but there are some places we don't know as well as others. Sirius and I *were* going to go looking around today, but he's suspended and all that. It's not going to be half as interesting by myself."

"I'll go with you tomorrow," Remus offered. "I just need some sleep, you know?"

"Sure. Sounds great. Peter may even come with us."

He nodded. "Great. Oh, but if you're going to work on it today, there's a a path behind the Octavio Dilariumus tapestry down from the Great Hall. I'll show you how to work it tomorrow."

"Cool. Thanks. I'll see you then."

"Yeah," Remus replied. He trudged up to his room and flopped onto his bed. He curled up under his blankets and slowly fell asleep.

*

The rest of the school year passed and then it was time to go home.

Lily passed her exams with the highest marks in the sixth year. Remus' marks were almost as good, as were James'. Sirius had a few problems, from his two week suspension. Peter's grades were admirable. Especially with the guilt he felt over Lily's almost dying and the excitement of his first girlfriend.

Remus and Sirius boarded the Hogwarts Express and took a compartment by themselves.

"Look at us, the single guys. Here, look at this," Sirius said, thrusting a piece of parchment at his friend.

"What is it? And what do you mean we're the single guys? What about James?" Remus asked.

"Take out your wand and tap it. Say 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' You would know this, if it you had done more work on it. It's still not completely done, yet. The opening is a little dull. Oh, and Prongs thinks he has a major chance with Lily. He's over in a compartment with her and her friends."

"Are they -"

"Nothing official. Now tap the map, damnit!"

Remus pulled out his wand and tapped the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Words spread across the parchment, like magic, 'Welcome to the map made by Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.'

Then a picture of Hogwarts appeared onto the parchment. A few faded dots wandered across the paper with washed out titles on them.

"There's a few distance problems," Sirius said, noting the faded picture.

"It's cool," Remus said. He handed it back to Sirius. "Didn't you guys say something about clearing it?"

"We...haven't figured that one up yet. I'm thinking of making a model one of my house over the summer. So that next year it can be complete. You know, a seventh year total romp of the grounds? We'd rule the land."

"As long as you don't send any innocent bystanders for me to kill, we're all good."

Sirius cringed. "Sorry about that. It was wrong, blah, blah, blah."

"Apology accepted," Remus replied. He knew he wouldn't get anything better out of Sirius. That was just his mannerism. It was sorely out of character for him to do this. It meant a lot that he even apologized at all.

"Yeah, well. I'm thinking we need some sort of title. Like the Hogwarts Crazymen or something," Sirius said, watching the images fade in and out.

"Crazymen? I think I have a bad enough wrap as is."

"Good point."

"Why does it need a title? We're the only ones who are going to see it, hopefully," Remus said. "The last thing we need is for someone else to find it, have our names on it, and go marauding around like they own it."

"Yeah...stupid, bloody marauders," Sirius muttered. He then looked up from the map at Remus and grinned.

Remus smiled.

"So, are you going to tell Prongs?"

"Tell him what?" Remus reached around in his bag for a book.

"You and Lily."

He blinked as he pulled out the book. "W-what?"

"I really wish I had figured it out *before* I sent Snape down the werewolf hole. Of course, if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have figured it out. You broke up over it," Sirius said. "Moony, do you know how many girls I've broken up with? And some of them I was actually close to, if you can believe that. I know the signs. Believe me, you're lucky that James hasn't had a girlfriend or he would have seen it too. Both of you were good at hiding it, though. I suppose after hiding a relationship, you could hide anything."

Remus blinked again. He swallowed and smiled. "And I thought you were poor at verbal communication."

"Shut up. Are you going to tell him?"

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him. And that was the idea all along."

"You're a good man, Moony."

"If only," Remus replied. He looked down at his book.

"So, you want to spend some time at my house this summer?" Sirius asked, changing the subject abruptly. "We could work on the map. And we have a great basement for your problem. My parents are so dense they'll probably think you went out for some ice cream and just didn't come back until the next morning."