The next few weeks passed in a flurry of commotion; between all the homework their teachers piled on them to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything over the break, testing out their Christmas presents and landing themselves in more detentions with Filch, and working on their map, they had absolutely no free time even on weekends. One Friday morning found the Marauders in Potions trying to figure out how to make a Transforming Solution which was supposed to turn their white lab rats into toads. Sirius was partnering Remus while James, who was the more patient of the two, was working with Peter.
"Someone's got to help you two dolts pass this class." Sirius had reasoned.
Sirius was leaning back in his chair, telling Remus what to add and when to do it. Under his guidance, Remus's potion was the correct color for once and nothing was exploding; however, Smeral didn't seem to notice this. Instead he was praising Severus Snape, his teacher's pet, like he did every day. Remus had to admit, however greasy and annoying Snape was, he did have a knack for potions. Sirius was not as reasonable on the topic; it was a little known fact that he and James were neck and neck for the highest marks of all the first year students (and most of the older ones also), except for Potions where Snape had the highest grade, and that irritated Sirius to no end.
So when Smeral turned his back to them, Sirius pulled out a Wet Start Firework and threw it into Snape's cauldron. The firework immediately exploded, throwing Transforming Solution into the air. Some of it splashed on Snape and Narcissa, who was partnering him, and on the Slytherins who were sitting around them. One girl was turned completely into a toad, while the rest began to develop gills, huge mouths with long tongues or frog-like skin. Professor Smeral immediately turned on Sirius, although he hadn't actually seen the boy throw it.
"30 points from Gryffindor, Mr. Black, and a week of detentions!" Smeral taunted happily.
Sirius was about to snarl something in return when a girl's voice spoke up from the other side of the class.
"It wasn't him, Professor."
The Marauders and Professor Smeral all turned to look in the direction of the voice, and Krissy Miller stared back defiantly.
"She's right, sir. It came from over there." Lindy Moline lied, her gaze flicking to Remus for a moment before meeting Smeral's furious eyes and pointing to a group of Slytherins near the Marauders.
Smeral's lip curled, but he knew he had no proof that it was Sirius. "Fine!" he barked. "Gryffindor can have their points back."
He swept toward Sirius, glaring daggers, before stopping to inspect his potion. To Smeral's fury, the potion was perfect. He growled deep in his throat, but they were saved by the bell that signaled the end of class. Sirius let out a sigh of relief as Smeral stormed away and they packed up their ingredients; Gryffindor really couldn't afford to loose any more points.
They waited outside the Potions dungeon for Krissy and Lindy, who finally appeared surrounded by their friends. The Gryffindor first years faced each other, with the exception of Frank Longbottom who had already left to catch up with his Ravenclaw friends.
"Thanks, ladies." Sirius said, his face breaking into that charming grin of his as he gave Krissy a hug.
Krissy shrugged. "Smeral's an ass, even if it was you he had no right to assume."
"And Gryffindor can't really afford to loose any more points. I'd blame you four for loosing most of them, but you earn more points than the rest of us also." Lindy added, her green eyes sparkling mirthfully.
"Hey Sirius, wanna skip History of Magic with me today?" Krissy asked, a naughty gleam in her eyes. Sirius's face took on the same expression.
"Choose between you and Professor Binns, do you even have to ask?"
They walked away hand in hand, heading for someplace more private, while their friends just rolled their eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
James looked across the Transfiguration classroom to where Sirius was sulking in the back row. Professor McGonagall had separated them and given them detention for turning their salamanders into a baby dragon. Yesterday had been full moon, so Remus was still in the hospital wing and Peter was concentrating on Professor McGonagall's every word because they had a rather large test coming up.
Careful that McGonagall didn't see him, he pointed his wand at Sirius's quill, which was lying forgotten on his desk. He picked up his own quill and began to write as Sirius's quill imitated his own. The blue-eyed boy's frown gradually disappeared as he watched his bewitched quill write messages by itself.
Hey Siri, you look a little bored over there. He grinned at Sirius who smirked back and pointed his own wand at James's quill. James let go and the quill immediately began writing in Sirius's familiar handwriting.
Never! You know how much I love listening to McGonagall bitch at me because I already know this shit.
James had to stifle a chuckle at that.
Well, why don't we give her something to bitch about?
I love the way your mind works, James, my boy.
Got anything on you that explodes?
Always.
On three…
One…
Two…
Three!
The two boys went all out. There was a huge explosion followed by a revolting smell as about twenty dungbombs and a large supply of fireworks and even a few poppers went off simultaneously from opposite ends of the classroom. There was immediate chaos as people plugged their noses and tried to duck as fireworks zoomed around the classroom.
"BLACK! POTTER! DETENTION!" McGonagall screeched.
They laughed, and then gagged on the disgusting smell. Someone had already opened the window, and Professor McGonagall vanished the fireworks, but the smell still lingered. She seemed to realize that she wouldn't be able to regain the student's attention with the classroom stinking abominably, so she allowed the rest of the class to leave a few minutes early, but made Sirius and James wait after.
"In all my years, I have NEVER met a pair of students with such blatant disregard for rules! Obviously cleaning the school is not enough incentive for you two to behave yourselves, so I'm going to try another approach. In Muggle schools they make children write lines. Maybe writing the same sentence for four hours after dinner will teach you not to pull pranks in my class. Now get out!"
They hurried out of the class and collapsed in the corridor laughing. "Writing lines! That's a good one. For a minute there I thought she was going to say we couldn't try out for the Quidditch team next year!" James panted between chuckles.
"That was my thought too, mate." Sirius shook his head. "In all my years!" he mimicked. "She's probably what twenty five?" they started laughing again.
"Let's go visit Remus." James suggested, "I've got some of those toffees he liked so much last time we were in Hogsmeade."
It was the first full moon since the Marauders had found out about Remus's lycanthropy, and they had done everything in their power to make life easier on their werewolf friend. To save Remus from having to make up another sick relative, they told anyone who asked that he had been the victim of a prank gone wrong and was currently in the hospital wing with whiskers and bright green skin. They even took notes for him so that he wouldn't have as much make up work to do when he got back.
When they got to the infirmary they found Remus sitting up in bed, reading. He was paler than ever and there were dark bags under his eyes. One of his arms was bandaged and he looked exhausted, but the smile that crossed his face when he saw them was genuine.
"Hey Remy, we brought you some candy." James said, fishing in his pockets and withdrawing some Sugar Quills and Fizzing Wizzbies.
"Thanks guys, sugar always helps after a transformation." Remus said quietly.
They all realized from his sober voice that he was thanking them for more than just the candy. Remus still couldn't believe that they hadn't deserted him.
"Sure thing, Moony." Sirius replied as he pulled up a chair and swung a leg over backwards to lean against the high back of the chair. He glanced from the bandages on Remus's left arm to the mix of old scars and still- healing cuts on his right before looking back into Remus's eyes.
"Are those self-inflicted?" he asked quietly.
Remus looked into those concerned blue eyes noting that it was strange to see Sirius being… well serious. What most people didn't realize about crazy boy with his devil-may-care attitude was that Sirius was fiercely loyal to his friends. It pained him to see one of them hurting and know that there was nothing he could do for them.
"Yeah." Remus said softly.
"God, Remus, I wish there was some way we could help."
Remus shrugged. "I appreciate the sentiments, but there's nothing anyone can do."
"We took notes for you." James said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Remus arched an eyebrow. "You three actually took notes?"
James grinned and Sirius put on a mock-offended expression while Peter spoke up indignantly. "Hey! I take notes."
Remus smiled. "Sorry, Pete, I guess I should have said 'these two actually took notes."
"Yes, well, some of us have better things to do with our time." Sirius said airily.
Remus snorted. "Such as get detentions?"
Sirius just grinned in reply.
"So, Remy, you gonna eat that candy or what?" Peter spoke up.
Remus laughed. "Go for it."
The smallest Marauder grinned as he stuffed a Fizzing Wizzbie in his mouth. Remus offered some to the other two who shook their heads.
James suddenly shot a curious look at Remus. "Hey Moony, where do you go when you transform? I mean you can't just stay here, right?"
"No, for one I'd attack the other patients, and even if there weren't any, I'd destroy the room."
Sirius cocked his head sideways, trying to think of a place that would be suitable. "So where do you go?"
"The Shrieking Shack."
"I heard some third years talking about that when they got back from Hogsmeade. They said some violent ghosts had just moved in, but I guess that would just be you they're hearing, right?" Sirius reasoned.
Remus nodded. "Dumbledore had it built for me when he decided I could come to Hogwarts. They also planted the Whomping Willow over the entrance to the passage so that people like you two wouldn't try to follow it."
"Whoa, they built the Shrieking Shack and planted the Whomping Willow all for you? That must be some kind of ego booster." Sirius grinned.
Remus rolled his eyes, "Yeah it helps my self-esteem so much that all these precautions have to be made so I don't kill anyone."
"Just kidding, buddy, take it easy!" Sirius laughed.
Just then Madam Pomfrey appeared. "Ok boys, visiting time is over. You're late for dinner and Remus needs his rest."
"See ya later, Moony." James said as Sirius threw him a salute.