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At lunch that day, Sirius didn't say a word, hoping that if he was quiet, James would not try and resume their talk. But, no such luck.

"So," James said, inbetween a bite of food. Remus and Peter looked at each other inquiringly.

"So what?" Peter asked. James shot him a look of daggers.

"I was talking to Sirius," he said. Sirius pretended not to hear. Remus grinned.

"Peter, I don't think this quite includes us."

"Oh." Peter began to stuff his face once more. Sirius put his fork down, and took his wand out. Peter's eyes widened and he looked from James to Sirius to Remus. "What's he doing?" he whispered. For once, not even Remus had a smile on his face. Sirius was staring straight ahead, at the Slytherin table. James, Peter, and Remus followed his eyes and saw him staring at Severus. Severus, however, was not aware of the boys gaze. He was bent over a book on Potions, reading silently, his lips moving as he read. Sirius' mouth twitched into a happy sneer.

"Sirius...," James said warningly. Sirius glared at James. "What are you doing.... that isn't including me?" James said with a grin. Sirius gave him a small smile, and clapped a hand on his shoulder. Maybe there was hope for James yet.

"Come here," Sirius instructed, grabbing James and whispering into his ear. James started laughing.

"Sounds great!" James turned to Remus and Peter. "Care to join us?" Peter looked at the two uncertainly. James had a feeling he would say yes just to be accepted. Remus, apparently, also noticed this, and answered before Peter could.

"I think Peter and I will, ah, sit this one out, if you don't mind," Remus said, casting a glance at Peter. Peter looked relieved.

"Y-yes, I agree with R-remus," Peter stuttered. He kept glancing nervously at Snape. "You're going to get yourselves in t-t-trouble," he said, ever so softly. Sirius grinned.

"Trouble is my middle name, wouldn't you say so, James?"

"Of course, Sirius," James said, grinning. He extracted his wand from his robes. "Where's the other one?"

"What other one?" Sirius questioned. James stared at him for a moment, willing him to understand. "Oh! You mean... Riddle?" He asked. James only nodded. "I don't think we should start with him."

"Why not?"

"Well it was Snape with the problem... not really Tom...," Sirius trailed off. "You can if you want. But it's like just... picking a blind target."

"Wha' are yeh doin'?" A gruff voice suddenly called. Sirius and James turned toward the voice. It belonged to Rebeus Hagrid. He was sitting with Arthur Weasley and Frank DeRose.

"Nothing," Sirius replied curtly. Arthur gave a small nod, and turned back towards Frank.

"So, tell me more about eleektreeceetee," he said.

"Electricity," Frank corrected.

"Right, that," Arthur said. Remus laughed jovially, amused by Arthurs excitement on the muggle world.

"Well, yeh bes' watch wah yeh do," Rebeus said. "Don' want yeh to get in trouble."

"Don't worry about us, Rebeus," James said. "We'll be fine." Rebeus only nodded, still very much aware they were up to something. James turned back to Sirius.

"Okay, we won't do anything to him. Snape, than, shall we?" James asked. Sirius nodded.

"On the count of three, than. One, two, three!" Sirius counted. Muttering under their breath, and pointing their wands at Snape, both James and Sirius sent a curse flying his way. They watched, waiting to see what was going to happen. All of a sudden, Snape stood. Sirius watched with wide eyes, and James smirked. This was his curse, he was sure. Snape's leg shot out from underneath him, moving in every which direction. Snape's eyes bulged in his head as he tried to control his legs. Finally, he could stand no longer, and he flew to the ground. As he lie on the ground, his legs still kicked in every direction. Sirius was laughing, along with half of the Great Hall. All of the Slytherins stood stock still, watching the exchange. Finally, the Head Boy, Nicholas Zalinia, stood up and did a counter curse. Snape stood up, his eyes bulging, his face bright red. Sirius frowned.

"My curse... it didn't take effect," he whispered to James. James shrugged.

"Do something... fast," James muttered back. Sirius licked his lips. He muttered something under his breath, and in a second, Snape was upside down in the air. His robes fell over his head as he dangled. James and Peter roared with laughter. Remus eyed the Staff Table warily. Headmaster Garlin was eyeing it with anger blazing his eyes. Remus noticed one Professor, however, had amusement dancing in his eyes. He had never noticed this Professor before.

"Who's that?" Remus asked Rebeus Hagrid, pointing at a Professor at the end of the table. He had graying brown hair that hung long down his back. He had a beard, coming just below his chin, and he was staring out at the lunch room through half-moon spectacles.

"Tha'd be Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid said. "Teaches astronomy." Remus nodded and turned his attention back on the Professor. Sirius was now moving his wand under the table, making Snape spin in circles. Peter roared with laughter, noticing the look on Snape's face. He looked about ready to hurl!

"Whoever is doing that, stop it NOW!" Headmaster Garlin roared. The laughing stopped immediately. Sirius held his wand steady under the table, holding Snape upside down still. "NOW I SAID!" Sirius muttered lowly under his breath, and put his wand back into his pocket. Snape collapsed in a heap on the floor. He didn't move. He had landed hard on his shoulder. The Head Boy rushed over to him. "What is wrong with him?" Headmaster Garlin asked, standing up. His eyes danced over the crowd of students, trying to pick out who did it. Sirius and James plastered an innocent look on his face.

"Dislocated shoulder, I'd say," Zalinia responded. His black eyes also checked out the group of students. They landed on the Gryffindor table. He knew it came from there-- he just didn't know which had done it.

"Mr. Zalinia, please escort Severus up to the hospital wing. Madam Jones will be happy to assist him," Headmaster Garlin said. "You will be excused if you miss your first lesson, or are late to it. Now go." Zalinia flicked his wand, and Snape rose. Holding the wand over his shoulder, he exited the Great Hall, Snape floating behind him, face contorted in pain. Sirius looked at James, trying to contain his grin. Peter looked around worridly. "Whoever did this will pay," Garlin growled. "I will find out who it was. And when I do, beware." With that, he stormed out of the Great Hall. After a few moments, the chatter picked up again. Sirius and James just grinned at each other. Peter chuckled nervously. Remus however, was still watching Dumbledore.

"He knows."

James turned to look at Remus. "Who knows?"

"Professor Dumbledore."

"And who is that?" Sirius asked with a sneer.

"Him," Remus nodded to the wizard. Dumbledore was staring at them through his glasses. He didn't seem too upset, but he wasn't happy, either. Sirius narrowed his eyes and stared right back at the professor. James, however, wasn't as daring.

"C'mon, Sirius," James said, standing up. "Lets get out of here before we do get pinned for this." Sirius stood. "We'll catch up with you later, Remus." Peter waved as he continued eating. Remus still kept his eyes on Dumbledore.

"Yes... later," Remus said, absentmindedly.

James and Sirius exited through the main doors, deciding to be early to Herbology. They walked in silence to Greenhouse One, and sat down at a station together. "So," James said. Sirius stared at him. He couldn't believe he was going to pock this subject up again. But, much to his surprise, he didn't ask Sirius to answer his question. Instead, he answered it himself. "So, I guess you decided to accept us?" Sirius bit his lip.

"Yeah," he said roughly. "I'm letting the wall crumble. I guess I do need friends." James smiled and Sirius allowed a little grin.

"I was thinking," James said after a few minutes of silence.

"Oh, no, were you?!" Sirius asked, feigning shock. "Did your brain go into overload?" James scowled, but then laughed along with Sirius.

"Almost," he said with a smirk. "But... seriously. I think the four of us... we need names to call each other. Like, special names, you know. Just to make the four of us more special." Sirius just sat in thought for a moment. People started to poor into Greenhouse One. Remus and Peter rushed over. James repeated to them what he just told Sirius. Peter nodded enthusiastically.

"I agree!" He squeaked. "That'd be cool!" Remus also nodded. Sirius, finally agreed.

"Well, what are our names going to be?" James asked, propping his chin on his hand. Remus was the first to speak.

"I dub myself Moony."

"Moony?" Sirius questioned. "Why?" Remus just grinned mysteriously.

"For my own reasons," he said simply. Sirius rolled his eyes. Peter just nodded. James grinned.

"Moony," James said. "I like it." They were all quiet for a second. James looked at Peter. "Wormtail," he said suddenly. "Wormtail. Peter, you're Wormtail!" Peter's eyes got wide.

"W-wormtail? Why?"

"Well, look at you," Sirius said, getting the idea. "You're skinny... small... shrimpy.. you fit the description. And I have a feeling you have a way of, ah, worming your way out of situations... by, perhaps, manipulating the situation to fit you. You just have that, well, look to you."

Peter sighed. "Wormtail it is then," he gave in reluctantly. James grinned.

"Now, what about you two?" Remus questioned. Sirius and James looked at each other and shrugged. Just then, Professor Lilac entered. She clapped her hands.

"Okay, everyone, listen up!" Gryffindors had class with the Hufflepuffs, and they all turned to face Professor Lilac. "Welcome to Herbology, all. This class is not one of the most difficult classes you will face this year, but it does need you to have complete attention. Today, though, is not going to be too hard. I am going to pass out a list of herbs, and I want you all just to explore the grounds, and look for these herbs. The first person back will receive fifty points for their house. You may work in groups if you like. It will probably be a better idea, because if you come back in a group, all of you containing each herb, you each will receive fifty points for your house. No more than four to a group though. I don't want you all to receive TOO much house points now, do I?" Professor Lilac asked with a grin. Her smile suggested otherwise. James, Remus, Peter, and Sirius got their lists and exited the greenhouse. They began searching the grounds for their herbs. Their lists had pictures of the herbs that moved to show the whole image of the herb.

"So, what about names for you two?" Peter questioned, as he crawled on the grass, looking for his herbs. Sirius and James just looked at each other.

"P...," James started. Sirius' brow crinkled. Peter was still on the ground, inspecting herbs. "Padfoot." James said, after racking his brain.

"PADFOOT?" Sirius asked incredeously. "WHY?" Remus laughed, and picked up the herb that Peter was inspecting.

"This is one of the herbs on our list," Remus said. "It's Magnolia. See if there are three more samples around for the rest of us." Remus shoved the herb back in Peter's pocket as he kept searching.

"It just feels right, is all," James said simply. "It will suit you in the future. I know it." Sirius sighed, now knowing how Peter had felt minutes before. "Oh, fine," Sirius said. "I agree, I agree." James grinned. "Now, you," Sirius said, pointing at James. "What about you?" Peter handed Remus three more forms of Magnolia, and Remus handed them to the other two. Wiping off his robes, Peter stood up and they moved on. A whole bunch of students were milling around the grounds.

"One down, nine to go," Sirius muttered. Beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. The heat was killing him. They walked in silence for a few more minutes. "What's your favorite animal, James?" Sirius asked. It was just a question to break the silence. James wrinkled his brow, taken by surprise in the question. He bent down and picked up a flower.

"This is one. Mandrake Petal, I think." James handed it to Remus, who studied it carefully.

"Yes, I think you're right." Remus handed the herb back to James, and scoured the ground for extra. James pondered Sirius' question.

"A horse, I'd have to say," James said, after some thought. "A white stallion."

"All right," Sirius said. He started thinking about James' new name. "I think I have it." James looked at him.

"Have what?"

"Your nickname, obviously," he said with an eye roll. "Prongs... it goes with your favorite animal, kinda."

"Prongs. I like it." James grinned. Remus found the extra Mandrake Petals.

"So we all have nicknames?" Peter asked dumbly. Sirius' nostrils flared and he bit his toungue to come back with a rude remark.

"Yes, Peter," James said, exasperated. "We all have nicknames."

"Padfoot, Prongs, Moony, and Wormtail," Remus repeated. "I like it." James, Sirius, and Peter all nodded.

"Me too," they said, almost in unison. "Me too."

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