"Okkkayyy… that was really weird." said Sirius, watching Bob, making sure he was gone for good

"You can say that again." James sighed.

"Okkkayyy… that was really weird."

James rolled his eyes "I didn't mean for you to take that literally."

Sirius, who felt like being a little smart ass, grinned. "Then why'd you say it?"

"C'mon Sirius, be serious." Lily moaned. She clasped her hand on her mouth, instantly regretting her poor choice of words.

"But I am-." said Sirius.

Lily silenced Sirius with a well-placed kick in the leg. Sirius dropped to the ground. He clutched his injured limb, shouting "Violence inherent in the system! Violence inherent in the system!"

Sirius withered on the ground, whimpering. Remus tapped his shoulder.

"Do you mind if we get back to finding a way out of here?" he asked.

"Not at all Remus old pal." Sirius said jovially, forgetting his "pain" instantly.

Peter waved his hand in the air. "Can we sit down please?"

"Absolutely corking idea." said Sirius. He decided that he would be extremely energetic, just to see how long it would take Lily to get fed up with him. They found a large oak tree and proceeded to sit…and sit they did.

"Alright everybody. Any suggestions, grievances, or questions." asked Remus.

Really big mistake.

"I'm hungry!"

"I have a rock in my shoe!"

"Is the sky blue because it reflects the ocean or is the ocean blue because it reflects the sky?"

With a sharp whistle, Lily restored order.

"Peter, were going to get food soon. James, take off your shoe and empty it out. Sirius, stop being an idiot."

They took up a collection to buy supplies. A few Knuts were offered with a Sickle thrown in. Lily was a bit disappointed, but they would have to make due. She scooped up the coins and stood up. Lily set off in search of a bank where they could exchange their money, the boys running after her.

It didn't take long to find the bank. A sign above the doorway read: "BANK OF INDEPENDENCE." Dead give away if you ask me. They walked in. People were passing money to the tellers sitting behind iron bars.

"Why are they caged in? Are they dangerous or something?" asked Remus his body shaking slightly.

"I don't know," whispered James.

Suddenly a voice called for the next person to come up. When no one else went up Lily, and the other three walked up. Sitting on the other side of the "cage" was a little old man with thinning white hair.

"Umm…is there anyway we can exchange this for American money sir?" inquired Lily

"Let's see." said the old man. Lily handed him what little money they had. The teller turned the bronze coins over in his wrinkled hand, muttering under his breath.

" I can't give ya much. Now if ya had some gold then I could give ya'll enough to head out on the trail." said the old man.

Lily turned to her companions. James and Sirius gazed down at there shoes, as if fascinated by them.

"C'mon you two. Cough it up." Said Lily, glaring at the boys.

Their heads shot up, their eyes wide. Remus stood there; he had no idea what was going on. James fussed with something around his neck and Sirius hid his right hand inside his robes.

"Do you want us to starve? muttered Lily. Remus concluded that his friends had something Lily desperately wanted.

"Lily, what do you want from them?" said Remus, utterly bewildered.

"Exactly what the man asked for; gold or, in Sirius's case, silver. I want them to give me their jewelry." Replied Lily

"You g-g-guys w-wear j-j-jewelry?" said Peter, trying to stifle his laughter.

"I just have a ring. It's a family heirloom. James on the other hand…" said Sirius, his dark eyes focusing on James.

"Don't tell him Sirius. For the love of God, please don't tell him." James pleaded.

His words fell on deaf ears. Sirius was shaking with silent laughter. "James, on the other hand, wears jewelry like bloody Mr. T!"

James felt himself blushing. Lily and Remus were silent for a moment, before bursting into fits of uncontrollable laughter.

"I'm sorry," gasped Lily, "If I had held that in any longer my teeth would have exploded!"

Scowling, James reached down the front of his robes. He pulled off a thick, gold, chain and slammed it on the counter.

The elderly teller looked quite impressed. He carefully examined James's chain. The man took it and disappeared through a door behind him. He reemerged ten minutes later, in his arms a small, burlap bag.

"I think that 'bout covers it. Thank ya'll fer doin' business with us." he said, handing the bag to Lily. As they left he waved energetically, calling " Ya'll come back now, ya here!"

They exited the bank, squinting from the sunlight. Lily opened the bag. Inside were several small wads of bills.

"How much did we have?" asked James. He was eager to see how much his beloved chain fetched.

Sirius stared at the money. He had never seen anything quite like it. He ran his fingers over the paper money.

"How should I know." said Sirius, who had a look of confusion on his face. "Doesn't look like the Muggle money back home."

'I'll count it." said James, "I take Muggle Studies."

"I wanna try." whined Remus, just to be annoying.

"Me count! Me count!" shouted Sirius. He started jumping up and down singing; "Here's a jingle for Goldfish. Wrote a song for Goldfish. The wholesome snack that smiles back, until you bite their heads off!

"I'm about to make a Solomon-like decision. I'll cut Sirius in half, ignore you two and count it myself." said Lily.

Remus, James and Sirius (who had sung the entire Goldfish jingle) watched Lily intently. She was muttering nonstop under her breath.

"Is Lily trying to count the money or curse it?" asked James. Peter and Sirius shrugged, unsure of their friend's intentions.

"Holy tube socks of Batman!" Lily blurted.

"WHAT?" the boys shouted

"You must have really impressed him. He gave us seven thousand dollars!"

"He's probably senile." said Peter, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Senile or not that man just saved our butts." said James.

"C'mon guys. Our dinner awaits." said James, tugging on Remus's robe.

Sirius dropped to his knees. He let out a noise like a wounded dog. The others, who had turned to leave, whipped around.

"NOOOOOO! Not without my love!

"What the hell?" exclaimed James.

Lily and Remus attempted to lift Sirius. Sirius began thrashing about like a crazed halibut. James grabbed Sirius, trying to get him to stand up, but he was fighting too hard.

"Tim! My love, I'm coming! Hold on my sweet!" yelled Sirius.

The others managed to bring Sirius to his feet. He was still struggling to get to the old banker. They started pulling their crazed friend away from the bank.

"This. Is. Not. What. I. Planned. To. Do. Today." James grunted.

"If it's any consolation, traveling to nineteenth century America wasn't high on my list of things to do today," said Remus through gritted teeth.