Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize from any Harry Potter book. If you don't recognize it: Hey it's mine!

I updated the images that each guy saw in that odd orb thing… so if you'd like to check it out, that'd be cool.

Hey people! This is up earlier than I had expected! Ok, this chapter is a bit shorter than they have been lately. At least I think so! ;)  But it's good nonetheless! I really like how I did it! :D:D:D It's a plot developing thing, and you get into the mind of Peter, and reasons to why I think he turned. Little bastard.

Anywho – thank you all so much for your reviews! I'm loving all of them!

Alright! Enjoy everyone!

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"What should I wear? I repeat – what should I wear!? Oh m'God… I don't have anything to wear…"

"Shut up Mel… It's 7 am… and wear your damn uniform. That's all anyone is allowed to wear. So choose one, shut up and go back to bed. We don't have to leave until 10 – and I plan on getting out of bed at 9:30." Ara rolled over and went back to sleep.

"But… but, I, but… Gus!" Mel whined, making no sense.

"All I got outta that was - *yawns* - Gus has a butt…" Lily mumbled, half asleep.

"Mmph." Jen tiredly mused. "He doesn't care Mel. If he liked you when you were in the Common Room with bed head and pyjama's, he'll not care. So I repeat Ara's words. Shut up and go to bed." Jen told Mel as she stuffed her face under her pillow.

"I, er, I… grrr… fine." And the Temple fell back into blessed silence.

But over in the Ranch…

"Ok, so we've got the Cloak packed away, right? Malfoy will never know what hit him… literally! Ha! We rule. Remus – you going to do the honour?" Sirius asked.

"Yes I am." Remus answered from the floor where he was dragged out of bed. Peter was in the bathroom already, and James had fallen asleep on the floor after being pulled out of bed by Sirius. "He constantly tries to get into the Shack scheduled Hogsmeade visits, so it's about time he sees some ghosts." He gave the best evil smile he could muster that early on a Saturday morning.

"But what - *yawn* - is his excuse for not being with us when we're outside of it?" James asked awoken, now crawling on the ground trying to find his chest. (A/N: of clothes people… I'm pretty sure he knows where his chest is… as should everyone.)"Er… just say that I'm… off with, er, um yea. Out with –"

"My sister?" Sirius said, teeth together, eyebrows raised. "You know Remus – I didn't really appreciate that little lie of yours. 'I'm going to get some rest Padfoot. You know – werewolf stuff.' " He started advancing on Remus.

"Yea, sounds good Moony. Good of Sirius to be so happy for the two of you." James said, shoving Sirius into the bathroom, now that Peter was out.

"What did he want me to tell him? 'Oi, Sirius – please don't come in our dorm. I'll be snogging your sister.'" Remus said, pulling on his jumper.

"Who's snogging Sirius' sister? What's the plan? I'm so out of the loop again…" Peter said, flopping onto his bed.

"As always Peter, as always." James said, getting dressed. "We're just going over our 'ghost' plan. Moony wants to do it." He said, nodding in Remus' general direction. He wasn't sure where he was standing, due to the fact that he was also pulling his jumper over his head. "Hm… guys. Something's wrong here…" Peter and Remus started laughing at him. Sirius came out of the bathroom to a rather interesting sight.

"Guys, what's going on?" James complained.

"Prongs, buddy, need help? Or maybe a brain?" Sirius mocked, laughing. James had geniusly put his head through one of the sleeves, one arm through the neck hole, and one through the bottom part of his jumper.

"Shut up and help me find my head!" He yelled, muffled mind you, at them. His arms were flailing about trying to yank his head out.

"I don't know James, kind of an improvement on your face." Remus told him, laughing.

"Alright. I hate you." James shot back, pointing with the hand out of the head hole (above his head), to the direction of Remus' voice. Incidentally enough, he was pointing at the now awoken Dennis.

"What did I do? It's you guys who can't bloody shut up." He said, getting out of bed. "It's what," he looked at the clock, "8 am? Damn you."

~     *     ~

"Where to now? Post? Honeydukes? Zonkos?" Remus asked, showcase girl style. "Or if you'd like, we can go in for a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks." (A/N: Think Toy Story 2's Tour Guide Barbie)

"Remus, stop it." Jen said, covering his mouth. "Never – and I repeat – never, sound more feminine than me. I don't know whether to laugh, or lend you one of my school uniforms. Complete with bra." Oh did they ever laugh at that – but stopped when Remus whispered something in Jens' ear that made her swat his arm, and blush. "So anyways. Girls, we'll shop, and guys can come if they want."

The boys went to Zonkos, while the girls went to the Post office, then would later head over to Gladrags Wizardwear, with Sirius saying, "What's so amazing about birds and cloth?" as they departed.

After Zonkos they went up to the Shrieking Shack.

"Is it time?" James asked.

"Yes. Malfoy 'overheard' 1:30 – it's… 1 o'clock. We have half an hour. Now, because it's Malfoy, he'll be here at 1:15 to get a 'good head start on us'. Ok Moony, go!" Sirius said, handing him the Invisibility Cloak, bag of goodies, and checking his watch.

"The key phrase is 'Shove off Malfoy', ok?" James said.

"Got it." Came a bodiless voice. They saw the fence move, grass shift, then some of the boards covering the door creep apart, snapping here and there. The door opened, then shut.

"How long do you think we'll have to wait for him to finish?" Peter asked, worried. Five minutes later, the door opened, boards moved back into place, and then the door closed.

"Done." Came Remus' voice.

"Great. No one would have seen you anyways without the cloak… but still." Sirius said quietly. "Now, we wait." He said normally, leaning against the fence.

"Wait for what Black?"

"For your ugly face to leave." James said.

"Oh how witty of you James. I'm sure you'll be made Head Boy for wit such as that. You and that little Mud –"

"Shove off Malfoy!" Sirius said loudly.

"Why? What are you doing here anyway?" Rattling could be heard from inside the Shack. "What is that? Where's the sick boy? Off to see his sick mum? Is she dead yet?" Malfoy asked, eyeing the Shack. Crack! A stick was thrown at Malfoy's back, breaking on impact. "What the f – Who did that?" He whipped around. More sounds were coming from inside the Shack, things breaking, and furniture being tipped over. "Where is he? He's in there, isn't he? You'll be in trouble when I tell -"

"Oh shut up." Sirius sighed. "He's off with my sister. Just go away already."

"I will not! I heard you conspiring!" Malfoy shouted. "I –" Splat! A great handful of slimy moss/mud got the side of his face.

All the guys had to try there hardest to hold in their laughter. They weren't doing so well, seeing as snorts, and fits of sniggering came over them, lasting about ten seconds each time.

"Pretty haunted up here? Isn't it Malfoy?" James said, holding onto the rickety fence, looking about the clouds.

"There are no ghosts in there." A soft growling could be heard, compliments of our Remus.

"No, but I'm sure there are other things –" A snarl was heard now, and bushes started rustling, along with the sound of breaking glass, and things crashing into walls with immense force inside the Shack. Malfoy, it now seemed, was scared to death.

"Alright you three idiots. You obviously have something to do with this, none of you are frightened." Malfoy told them, pointing to each their faces.

"No, why would we be scared? We're brave Gryffindors. Not cowardly Slytherins like yourself." Sirius said, eyeing him with hatred. "Rumour has it anyway that the restless spirits cannot go beyond the gates."

Malfoys' hair started to stand on end, being held up by some invisible force. Or hand. The boys had to bite their tongues to stop from laughing.

"Yes, well… well… what the?" He put a hand up to push his hair down, but instead felt a hand. "Aaaaah!" He started to run away, but tripped. Over Remus' foot no doubt.

"But then again, we could be wrong." James finished.

Malfoy tore down the street, screaming nonsense.

"Well, that went well." Peter said as Remus materialized before them.

"How nice of you to join the conversation Peter." Sirius said, glaring at him.

"Finite Incantatem." Remus said, pointing his wand at the Shack. Everything that was breaking, and toppling, stopped. "Accio Quaffles." The three Quaffles flew through on of the boarded windows, and right into a bag James was holding open.

"What would you have me do? Laugh as I spoke to him? I would have ruined it… you know he frightens me anyway." Peter said in his defence. Sirius just glared some more.

"Well done boys, well done." Came a silky, creepy voice from behind them. They spun around, or in Peter's case jumped, and saw a tall woman with long white-blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes. She wore flowing robes of black, hood drawn back. "I commend you for scaring the child so horribly well. You work well as a team. You may be of service to me and my Lord."

"She looks like a Malfoy." Sirius whispered from the corner of his mouth to James and Remus.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Maybe because I am. Now, do you wish to aid me? I can make it worth your while." She pulled out a sack of gold. "And then some." She took out her wand, and they backed up, hands already holding their wands. She swirled it in front of her, allowing a greenish orb to form. Inside of it was their self. Each boy saw what he wanted in the form of physical change, and such things that they don't have now.

Sirius saw himself a little more filled out, with an anonymous girl by his side. They were looking at each other lovingly. He looked mature, and respected. He saw his parents behind him, smiling happily with Jen. His father, it seemed, was on vacation.

James saw his mother and sister by his side, laughing at a joke. His father was there as well in normal robes, obviously spending time with his family. Martha, his sister, was hugging him while his mother pinched his cheek.

Remus saw himself full of health. No scars, no bags under his eyes. He was holding Jen under a full moon, and was perfectly normal about it. He was holding a silver pendant for Jen to wear, and he let go of it unscathed.

Peter saw a taller, thinner, more handsome version of himself, sacks of gold, and a swarm of girls around him, begging him to spend the night. His Grandfather lay in a grave below him, and his mother looked on proudly.

"I can make this all possible. What do you say? Join me?" Peter kept staring at himself, gawking at what could be. He was snapped out of his reverie by James' voice.

"No thank you. I believe my life, and say my friends' lives are as perfect as they can get right now, with these circumstances. Besides, you can't do all that." He said, glaring at her in the eyes.

"There are some things that can't be changed." Remus said, thinking of his lycanthropy. The others had a very good idea what he saw.

"I have all I need, thank you. Now, if you don't mind, and even if you do – I'm leaving." Sirius told her, walking backwards. He wasn't about to turn his back on her.

Peter said nothing. If she could really do all that… This Lord of hers had to be powerful… and Peter could use some power. Being a Marauder was fine at school, but what about afterwards? Maybe then he could prove to his Grandfather… yes, yes could prove to his Grandfather that he wasn't some insolent little thing that should be dragged outside and shot. And maybe with some power, his mother could get better, and be back home. And that would get his Grandfather off of him for sure… Peter was jolted out of his thoughts when James put an arm on his shoulder. He must have missed the later part of the conversation.

"…and no thank you ma'am. G'day to you, and please never come near me or my friends again."

'Leave it to James to always be polite…' Peter glanced at the lady when the orb disappeared. She was staring at him, and must have been for a long time for James to put his arm on his shoulder. She had a look of triumph on her face. Odd for someone who had just been turned down. She had seen him staring with a thoughtful look on his face. 'What will happen now? I can't go up to her with these guys around.' He had to be sly – that would be hard around the Marauders. "Yes, bye Miss. No Pettigrew will ever join your 'Lord'." He told her, raising his eyebrows suggestively. She took the hint. The guys didn't.

"That's the spirit Peter."

'Now she knows my full name.' Peter thought to himself happily. She could contact him now if he didn't see her before they left Hogsmeade and went back to Hogwarts.

"I will leave you then." She sneered at them. "Remember what you could have had. Remember those you could have owned." She disapparated.

~     *     ~

"Hello ladies. Fancy meeting you here." Sirius said, take a seat between Ara and Jen.

"Oh yes Sirius." Ara said, placing her hand on his shoulder, looking him in the eyes. "We never thought in a million years that you would ever grace us with your presence here of all places."

"Aye, m'lady. Shocking, isn't it?"

"Which is perhaps why we came here to begin with." She said flatly, jokingly wiping her hand on her robes. Sirius opened his mouth to rebuke, when a large ice cream was put in front of him with a loud clunk.

"Aw Lils – you shouldn't have!" He started counting the cherries.

"The lady looked at me as if I was crazy when I read the order to her." Lily said, sitting beside James, and taking his hand in hers. He had this faraway look in his eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Just fine, hun." He kissed her head. "Thinking of some crazy lady we met earlier."

"Did she have long blondish-white hair? Pale skin and cold blue eyes?" Jen asked from Remus' side. "Black robes?"

"How did you know?" Remus said concerned, spooning himself some strawberries, and cookie crumbs.

"She kept on trying to talk to Lily, and get her alone in Gladrags. Reminded me of Malfoy." Jen answered him. "She left when we went into crowds of people."

James put his arm around her protectively. "Well, that's the last time you go off alone." He told her quietly, ignoring the other conversation.

"I wasn't alone James. I had Ara and Jen with me – along with everyone else in the shop. Don't worry we kept to busy areas. I made sure of it. See how we're in the more open part of the pub?" She told him softly, glancing around. She scooted closer to him nonetheless.

He leaned his forehead to the side of her head, eyes closed. "I love you, never forget that."

"I know." She turned her head to meet his in a soft kiss that they let linger for a few moments.

"And as I try to eat my ice cream with unknowing amounts of junk food on it, I don't need to see that." Sirius told them, interrupting their moment, pointing his junk filled spoon at them. They all began to eat the hugely smothered ice cream.

"Sirius," Ara started, staring at the contents on her spoon, and then looking at the big bowl, "have you reached the ice cream yet?" They had been working on it for a few minutes – all six of them.

"No. Did you remember to get ice cream with it Lily?"

"Three scoops." She responded.

"Interesting." A few screams were heard outside the pub. Every head inside turned towards the door; a few of the more brave got up to investigate. They creaked it open, and peeked outside.

"There's a crowd gathering!" One of the men told everyone. People stayed quiet to here the status report.  "From what I hear, a student was attacked." Everyone gasped.

"Where's Peter?" Jen asked. He had not come in with the other boys. They had now just noticed.

"Peter!" They chorused and darted out the door, pushing everyone out the their way. The pushed through the crowd gathered around the student.

Peter was lying on the ground, nose bleeding, passed out. A couple of wizards were trying to revive him. "Enervate."

His eyes fluttered open and there was a look of complete bemused shock on his face.

"What happened to him?" A female's voice came through. It was Professor Aubury, the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. "What happened Peter?" she asked him, kneeling beside him and his friends. She pushed her caramel hair behind her ear, and helped Peter sit up.

"I… I." He glanced over at his friends, looking hurt. "Where were you guys?" He passed out again.

"Were you not with him?" Aubury asked James staring at him with her cinnamon.

"No Professor. He was with us until we reached the Three Broomsticks, and we never noticed that he wasn't with us in there. He's always so quiet."

She nodded. Everybody knew he wasn't quite like the other three Marauders. "Did anyone see what happened to him?" She asked the large crowd, while conjuring a stretcher for him. People shook their heads no. A few people mentioned a woman was with him. "What did she look like? You there," she pointed to a young witch, "tell me what you know."

"He was walking with a witch, when all the sudden their voices got a bit raised, and she hit him with a spell, then disapparated." Sirius recognized her as Julia, the 20-year-old witch who had rubbed his belly all those months ago. James noticed this too, and couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow Sirius' way. "He hit the dirt here, and was passed out."

"Thank you. Come students." Aubury told James, Remus, Sirius, Ara, Lily and Jen. "We're going back to Hogwarts. No doubt you want to see your friend safe, and know what happened." Sirius groaned, and James looked at him pointedly.

"Bye Julia." Sirius waved, James laughed, leaving a very confused witch behind.

They brought him to the carriages, and made their way back to Hogwarts.

~     *     ~

In the infirmary…

"Peter, please tell us what happened." Ara said, trying once again to get story out of him.

"No… nono… I – I can't. You'll think me weak." Peter stuttered, looking at his crisp bed sheets.

Jen, without taking her eyes off of Peter, swiftly covered Sirius' mouth. Thus being successful in muffling 'Peter, we already think you're weak…' Sirius swatted her hand away, and gave her the 'you're no fun' look. She returned it with a 'you're an ass' look of her own.

It was then that Prof. Dumbledore strode through the doors, McGonagall, and Aubury right behind him.

"So you see Albus, she would have done worse." Aubury said quietly, although our friends could have heard her.

"I believe she would have liked to, Glacia, but she was surrounded by Hogsmeade residents, shoppers, and students. It would not have been wise." Dumbledore responded in a tone of finality.

"Since when have we ever thought her group wise?" Aubury said crisply. McGonagall gave her a sharp look. Clearly, their conversation was over now that they were near the students.

"Ah, Mr. Pettigrew, no doubt you've told your story once already." Sirius huffed. "Then again maybe not. Would you mind telling it for me now?" Dumbledore asked Peter nicely.

"W-why are they here?" Peter said, pointing to the two teachers that arrived with the Headmaster.

"Prof. McGonagall is the Head of your House, thus is entailed to hear this. Prof. Aubury was there to hear the peoples' stories, and brought you back. She is also the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher; therefore knowledgeable in defending us against the dark arts." He said, smiling down at the young man. A few of the present people held back laughs, or coughed to cover them up. It sounded as if each were having some sort of fit.

"R-right… Well, I was going with the guys to the Three Broomsticks, and this lady we met earlier stopped me, and tried to convince me to join her 'Lord' again. I stood my ground this time faster than last, and she got angry. She attacked me with some spell before I could do anything… I was too slow, too weak." He never looked in the Headmasters eyes, nor did he his friends'.

Prof. Aubury stared at him the while, listening to each syllable, watching each mannerism. "And so she just hit you with some small spell to knock you out, then left? Was it Stupefy?"

"I… I, uh," Peter looked at his hands, "I'm not sure."

"Glacia, he would not remember if he were knocked out." McGonagall said harshly, but softly also for Peter's sake. The younger Professor looked at her, and stayed silent. It was clear that some of his story seemed hard to believe.

"Well, the nurses have looked you over, but if you wish, you may stay the night. I will see the rest of you at dinner." He turned and left, McGonagall behind him.

Aubury stayed a moment longer, gazing piercingly with her cinnamon eyes at Peter and his light blue irises before turning herself, and going out the door, taking the students with her. "We must let him rest." She said shortly. Outside the doors Prof. Rah-Sün came up, and started talking in a hushed voice to Prof. Aubury as they walked away together.

The six left over glanced at each other, sighed and headed upstairs to the Tower for some fun before dinner.

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Woo! Aubury doesn't trust the little rat boy does she? Don't blame her.

And James getting stuck in his jumper? Totally happened to my friend! We made fun of her the whole time! She wedged her head so far up her sleeve, so fast, that she couldn't get it off! The 'shut up and help me find my head' sent us all into hysterics! Not everyday you see an 18-year-old unable to dress herself.

Ok! Tell me what y'all thought, and that'll get you in my thank you's for my next chapter! :) But for now – my thanks for chapter 16!!

Zoe Lefebvre: You were the first to review!:) Remus and Jen weren't doing anything bad! I don't write like that! Not for this story anyways! ;) Omg! I would love a cameo! And yes – they do have Girl Scouts in England. It's all over the world. I should know! I joined Scouts for 2 years (yes I'm a girl – but in this part of Canada, Scouts is co-ed – so no Girl Scouts for me!), and we got to go to England for a HUGE Scout thing. I met people from Ireland, England, Scotland, America, Brazil, etc. There were over 20 000 people there on this Duke's lawn, camping for a week! It was great! Anyways! Ketchup on mashed potatos, eh? I know someone who puts vinegar (white – I know people in the US don't use it on fries – but it's so good!) and then ketchup on hashed browns. Nasty, eh? Thanks so much for your review!

(): Nice name. :P Thank you so much! I love it when people think my story is hilarious! I was scared how people would receive the whole 'pus' thing. And yea, depressing Red and Gold, but I needed death. Sad isn't it? I wrote the speeches thinking of what I would say about my friends, and lets just say I cried writing them. Thanks for the review!

Musicizdbest: Thanks for all your reviews! I think you just reviewed nearly every chapter!! It made me sooo happy! Thanks you!! :D:D:D

Blue eyes: Oh good you're happy now! I tried not to put so much sadness after chapter 15… but I needed to add James' little history! I hope this is soon enough for you! Thanks so much for reviewing every time!

qwerty: Thank you!! Thank your cousin for me, too! I was thinking of making it R/D, but decided to stick with my originally idea! I like pet rats, too! I've used my friends' rat twice for ISU's in school! The first for my Animal Testing ISU in Biology, then for my Witchcraft ISU (I read GOF in English, and you had to choose a theme to do a project on), and one girl had to leave the class cause she was crying. Honestly. Rats aren't that bad! Thanks so much!

I Have No Life: Thank you! I hope you liked this chapter as well! :)

Mei Queen: Thank you! I love it when people compliment my writing skills! Love it! And the title is sort of from Moulin Rouge. It's from the song Nature Boy (great, great song!), and the song is used in Moulin Rouge a lot. The two major lines of the song are: The greatest thing you'll ever learn/ Is just to love, and be loved in return. Great, great song. Originally sung by Nat King Cole. I may feature it sometime in here. Not sure. Thanks again!

Amber: To tell you the truth… I have no idea what the girls' prank will be. I'll have to come up with it, but it won't be in the next chapter either. Not sure when it'll come up… but it'll have to be good, won't it? Thanks for the review!!

Prankster Queen: Yes I did have fun making up the name for that prank! It's fun to read. Say it 3 times fast. Just try. I can barely say it once! ;) I cried in Lily and James: A Prophesy Fulfilled by Kirbee25, right? I cried when Remus did his little speech! Felt bad! Thanks so much! I love it when people tell me their reactions to my story! Whether it's having uncontrollable laughter, or crying – it's always great! Thank you so very much!

Katrina: Oh my GOD! Twice in a row! I should be grovelling right now! I love your reviews! Always so long! I love'em so much! Sorry about the long update thing! I've noticed that when you wait for a story to update, it takes so long. But when the updater, time seems to fly! Before I knew it – it was 2 weeks, and I was like 'Holy shit! Get typing!!!' Yea, Quidditch is next. I hope you like my first attempt at a match! Once again – thank you so much!!

SlytherinQueen87: You know, I was thinking of putting Sirius reaction to Remus and Jen… but I decided I could let you guys make up your own fun! ;) He's just unsure of what to think of them. I love how Sirius calls Dumbledore, Albus. It lightens the mood! ;) And you're only the second person to put that in your review! Now you know where I got her name! Jen is such a beautiful name – don't you think? Thanks for your review! I always love them!

LoonyLoopyLisa: Lol – I know what you're talking about! Getting up early bites the big one, especially after so many says of sleeping in! Like after the summer holidays, and the teachers watch everyone in class fall asleep and they ask you that damned question: 'Did you guys not get enough sleep during your two months off?' OBVIOUSLY NOT! We're up all night, slept all day, and have fun!                            Right. Anyway – thanks for your review! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Tweaked: You're person #3 to do that!! :) Thank you very much! And my name thing, Booganumba Weal… yea – no idea where I got that one… Just on my break at work, writing, and it… just…came. One letter at a time! And I hope you keep coming back, and hope you liked this chapter as well! Thanks!

Butterfly Queen: And I love it, too. ;) Yea, I think the title is better now… more mature (*un*like the story;)) I actually finished typing the story on Sunday (I was bored…), but I don't think that you should have had it so soon… I didn't want you guys to think that putting it out so early would become common again. And the one after it would have had to wait a while cause I hadn't finished writing it, yadda yadda yadda… All in all – Thanks for your review! I love'em! :)