Chapter 3 "Close Call"
The next few weeks were a blur to everyone in the school. Most people were involved in the play either playing parts or behind the scenes. James and the rest of the Quidditch teams were training harder than ever. And everyone was beginning to become overwhelmed with course work.
However, most people were enjoying themselves too much to notice. True, Remus was surprised at the amount of work that the play took, but it was a pure escape. On the stage he was able to become anything he wanted, and everything he feared, without being shunned. Many people were stunned at the talent "sweet, quiet Remus" had. This even captured a few of the girls' attention, causing Remus to blush horribly every time Sirius brought up the subject, which was nearly every practice. Sirius too was lapping up the limelight. He had won the role of John. Lily had been cheated of the role of Lucy (that had been given to the Drama Club president) but she was given the understudy role. James darkly hinted to the other Marauders that the Drama Club president might suffer a case of "food poisoning" the night of the performance. This however was not at the top of the group's annoyances. Severus Snape had also won a significant role, that of Stride. He was also somewhat of a props consultant. In the scene of Jekyll's transformation into Hyde it was necessary to concoct a liquid that changed from red to a bright white and then to purple. This was simple enough to figure out, except that obviously the liquid could not have any effect on the drinker, although the group debated whether or not to put some form of Polyjuice into it, so as to actually make Jekyll and Hyde look different.
Remus hesitated, not keen on the idea of having to turn into someone else onstage. The idea was finally rejected once someone pointed out that Remus's voice would be altered if he took the Polyjuice. No one wanted to lose that voice.
Finally it was, as the others joked "that time of the month" again. Remus did his homework in advance and made sure that Lily would tell the director (a Ravenclaw seventh year named Diana) that Remus was ill. James as captain of the Quidditch team canceled practice for the night, telling the team to "take a break and rest up". Peter was not missed much behind stage; he was mainly in charge of ensuring the light charms did not run out, which they rarely did. Sirius simply charmed his way out of it… as usual.
It was later that night that Lily opened the Common Room door for the three Animagi so that they could make it to the Shrieking Shack before the moon rose.
"Be careful," she hissed as usual. James had never revealed that the group actually left the Shack, trying to make it seem that they only kept Moony company within it. Lily, though, knew him too well for that and was in charge of letting the group in and out through the portrait hole without suspicion. She never slept well knowing that the Marauders were more than ever likely to put themselves in an unwise, if not deadly, situation.
"Lily, why on Earth do you think we'd be anything but careful?" Sirius joked through the cloak. "Ow! James, what was that for?"
"For being a smart-ass to my girlfriend. We can take care of ourselves, Lily. Don't worry."
And with that the three slipped out, and made their way to the Willow.
Running up the stairs to the shack the Marauders paused hearing a sudden ear-splitting shriek cut the air. The scream changed to a blood-chilling howl.
Sirius glared at Peter. "Who said 'we had plenty of time'?"
Peter winced, "Sorry. I guess I misread the lunar chart."
"Hey," James interrupted. "Let's just get up there and transformed before Moony comes sniffing around for us.
Scrambling out the three transformed as soon as they were into the room, smoothly morphing from humans to the stag, rat, and dog. Padfoot gave a greeting howl.
Moony answered, and there was a sudden bounding on the stairs, and the massive wolf tackled the dog, yipping and barking and jumping around like a puppy, too excited for its own good to see friendly faces.
Padfoot growled, not crossly, giving Moony a dog-grin.
What occurred next could not be described properly. It was rough-housing like any other seventeen and eighteen year old boys would participate in, except it was a tangle of fur and Prongs had to be exceptionally careful of his well… prongs. Wormtail, due to his size, was unable to participate properly but ran around the group. Upon spotting him, Moony's attention was instantly diverted. Jumping from the fray he began to chase Wormtail, who took off at a run towards the refuge under a chest of drawers. Taking the corner too fast Moony tripped over himself but in a split second recovered in hot pursuit. Prongs and Padfoot took off after him. Moony might think of the chase as playing, but as evidenced on Padfoot's cut leg, the werewolf's perception of "playing" was a bit warped.
Padfoot caught up to him first, and jumping between the chest giving Moony a growl, his teeth bared.
Moony snarled, his fur bristling and yellow eyes narrowing, as he snapped his jaws in warning.
Padfoot did not back down, pale eyes meeting the golden ones, pure resolve about his position etched in the dog's face.
Something about that look made the wolf remember something, something that made him know he would regret it horribly if he attacked either the rat or dog before him. He couldn't figure out but nonetheless it made him back down.
Then, catching a scent in the air that not even Padfoot's nose was aware of, Moony ran to the door and whimpered wanting desperately to go out.
Taking the doorknob in his mouth, Padfoot twisted the handle. Moony rushed out howling with Padfoot running after him, blending in his own voice. Prongs lowered is antlers and allowed Wormtail to climb on, before taking off at a lope after the other two.
The night passed in relative normality. Moony found a pixie glen and the entire group chased after the tiny things. Whenever one was caught though, they would immediately disappear only to reappear only a few feet away giggling wildly. Prongs had finally succeeded in pinning a pixie into a corner when Wormtail and Padfoot approached, Padfoot whining pitifully.
Prongs let go of the pixie and looked questioningly at Padfoot and Wormtail. Finally it hit him. Moony was nowhere in sight.
Wormtail got back into Prong's antlers. Padfoot and Prongs then split up, going in exact opposite directions. This was the system they had worked out long ago if and when Moony gave them the slip.
As Sirius ran down the streets he finally caught the scent in the air. Moony, and… He sniffed again. People.
Breaking into a sprint Padfoot followed the scent to the outskirts of Hogsmeade. He spotted the people, three of them all hooded and their backs turned towards him, talking in hushed tones. Padfoot did not have time to consider why a group such as this would be out with dawn hours away. He was searching for Moony. Finally he spotted him, crouched on the top of small bridge watching the group hungrily. Watching from a bridge that the group was about to pass under.
Padfoot howled, desperately trying to warn the group of their plight. They turned, faces still obscured. Padfoot ran towards them, and under the bridge, as Moony too howled and pounced.
Knocking over one of the hooded figures, Padfoot took on Moony. Bloodlust was burning like fire in the wolf's eyes, and it took every effort too delay him enough to let the trio get away.
They it seemed were rooted to the spot in morbid fascination and fear. Padfoot turned and barked trying to say "Get moving!" but as he turned he saw that by knocking over one of the boys it had knocked him into the others, causing their hoods to fall off. There with mouths agape were the pale faces of Rosier, Malfoy, and Snape.
The wolf got away for a moment and began to advance on Snape.
The blood rushing out of his face Snape pulled out his wand. "You! Damn you! Get away from me!"
Moony was advancing, snarling and foam gathering in his mouth, the full moon reflected in his yellow eyes.
Prongs leapt out, knocking Moony to the ground. Padfoot pinned the wolf to the ground as the boys finally grabbed Snape by the shoulders and dragged him to his feet, before they ran off into the night. Moony still growling and howling for blood, but helpless to pursue it.
Eventually, when not even Padfoot could smell the people any longer, Moony's growls had changed to pleading whines, and the sky was beginning to lighten in the east. The group made its way back to the Shrieking Shack, however, keeping Moony up to pace was a challenge. He could sense the transformation coming near and resisted it.
Soon though another howl ran through the night and the other three where helping Remus back into his robes, which were torn and frayed. He had not taken them off in time before the change.
Remus's mind was in a fog and looking at Sirius he noticed his friend's limp.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Remus asked, his voice nearly gone it was so hoarse.
"Naw," Sirius lied. "It's just a scratch, probably from one of those bloody pixies."
Remus looked at Sirius scrutinizing him. "Pixies? I thought we went to the brid…" And suddenly Remus's eyes grew wide and his knees gave out. James caught him and helped him onto the bed.
"Oh, God, I didn't…?"
"Nothing happened. None of them even had a scratch," James reassured Remus.
Peter was looking around anxiously. "What if they tell Dumbledore?"
"We were in our Animagi form, they wouldn't have recognized us," James argued.
Remus looked at James. "Snape recognized me."
There was grave silence after this. But after a few minutes Sirius grinned. "He can't turn you in on this one, Moony."
The other three looked at Sirius quizzically.
"Think about it. How could they explain why they were in Hogsmeade in the middle of the night when they were supposed to be at school?" Sirius's expression darkened considerably. "I wonder…"
"It doesn't matter what they were doing," Remus sighed, falling back onto the bed. "Just so long as none of us are in trouble." He rolled over to face them. "You need to be going, before Madam Pomfry comes to take me back to the castle. Go back through the Honeydukes tunnel, otherwise you might run into her half-way."
The others nodded and left.