Chapter Four:
"Who are you?" James inquired about the oddly shaped boy sitting to the right of left of him in their first Charms class. The boy looked around himself for a moment before actually looking and pointing to himself.
"Yes, I am talking to you," James stated in a manner-of-fact way. The boy gulped and stretched his hand out to meet James'.
"Peter," he said solemnly as he shook hands.
"What's your last name? Like me. I am..."
"James Potter. I know. Pettigrew," Peter finished, let go of James' hand and turned and faced Professor Flitwick once more.
"Is that it? Are you just going to introduce yourself after not talking to me for the last three weeks? You just shake hands and then make no conversation?" James questioned with a smirk on his face.
"If you are going to make fun of me like that Slytherin guy, I will asked to be moved," the boy said in a quavering disgruntled tone.
"I'm not makin' fun of you. I am just sarcastic. A bit of a whanker I suppose. Make no mind of it, besides you're a Gryffindor, we don't make fun of our own kind," James said as if it solved everything, which it apparently did because Peter turned around and started talking so much that Flitwick stopped levitating a very scared toad into the air.
"May I be of assistance gentlemen? I think you should know the spell before you open your mouth," Flitwick grabbed the toad that croaked very loudly before asking for hands to demonstrate. "Anyone fancy a try?" Flitwick's eyes gleamed as James, Sirius, and Remus raised their hands in friendly competition.
"Well, Mr. Potter." Flitwick said while he stared at James. "We will see if you did pay attention. Come along now."
James nudged Peter and mouthed 'Watch this' before leaving his seat. He walked down the isle past Lupin and then Sirius who were both smiling. James stepped up onto the platform where the very short Flitwick stood to be visible.
"Are you ready, James?"
"Oh, yes. Very much ready, Mr. Flitwick." James wheeled around to face the rest of the class and winked at Sirius and Remus.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" James shouted as he made a fluent 'swish and flick' motion with his wand. Everyone laughed, because the toad hadn't moved, but everyone had lacked to notice that he hadn't directed his wand in an upward manner either. Suddenly, James flicked upward with his wand and Snape flew upward and out of his seat. Everyone laughed harder to see the gangly Slytherin boy hovering in the air while flailing rapidly in an effort to get down.
Flitwick gave a startled look at James before reaching for his wand. Before Flitwick got his wand out James jerked the wand downward and Snape crashed into his chair that caused him to hit is already abnormally large nose into the desk.
Although it seemed like a long time, it happened rather quickly because Snape was only in the air for about three seconds before James pretended like he didn't do it on purpose.
"Oh. I am so sorry, Snape. I must have missed the toad." James said apologetically.
"Very well, very well, no harm done. Potter, if you would, please sit down before you miss again. Maybe you should pay more attention next time," Flitwick directed his attention to the rest of the class. "Aim is very important as you all have seen."
James walked past Sirius.
"You didn't miss the toad, you dead on target! Was he implying that Snapey isn't supposed to look like that?"
James and Sirius snickered and as James passed Remus he just looked at him with a sense of submission.
"Ruthless, but funny."
James sat down next to Peter and nudged him for the second time in the last three minutes.
"What'dya think?" James asked nodding towards the brooding Snape sitting in the next row and one seat behind Peter.
Peter looked at Snape who just sneered at him before turning back to James.
"I think that he deserved it." Peter said with a sense of confidence. James giggled softly before turning back to Flitwick's presentation.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Er...sure."
"Why are you talking to me...like a...like a friend?" Peter said very suggestively.
"Well, I don't know, maybe because you sit next to me. You never talk, you are right next to me alphabetically, and well, you are a Gryffindor, we're all friends right?" James looked at Peter in a confused sort of way.
"But why would you talk to me when your cool friends are in this class. You haven't talked to me before."
"Do you not want me to talk to...did you just say 'cool'?" James looked intrigued at what the boy had just said.
"Well yeah, you three are the coolest Gryffindors. Well, in any house really. I mean that I have seen." Peter faded and turned back towards the front of the classroom. James suppressed a question as he basked in what Peter had just told him. Am I really cool? Cool!
After class James waved bye to Peter who blushed, waved, and scampered off to his next class. James met up with Sirius and Remus and repeated what Peter had told him.
"Well, he seems nice. Should he be part of our group?"
"Well, I don't know Remus, have you seen him in Charms, he couldn't levitate air." Sirius refuted in a humorous manner.
"Well, I think he's fine, yeah he is a bit 'squib-ish' but I think that every group should have the oddball."
"When you say 'oddball' so you mean totally incompetent and obsessive or do you mean Snape-ish?"
"I mean Peter-ish you git!" James said to Sirius before pushing him.
"OUCH!" Yelped a girl who started to fall to the ground due to the force of Sirius' stumbling.
"IMOBULUS!" James yelled pointing his wand at the girl moments before impact with the ground. James quickly put his wand in his pocket and grabbed her arm and back to lift her up. Once the hair was out of her face, her beautiful emerald green eyes became visible once more. James just stared at her as he lifted her up to her feet.
"So...may..." James and Lily had both started to talk.
"Maybe you should watch what you are doing?"
"Sorry."
Lily grabbed her bag out of Sirius' hands and walked of with her three friends. James stared at her until she turned around the corner and then just continued to stare in the same direction without reason.
"James!" Sirius yelled in James' ear while clapping his hands in front of his face.
"Let's go," James said and he just started to walk in the direction he had been staring in.
"James!" Remus yelled. James spun around and looked confused.
"What?"
"Our class is this way," Remus said pointing in the opposite direction. "We have McGonagall next, remember?"
James, Sirius, and Remus all lazily walked up the stairs and around the corner, down the hall and entered the room on the left. The three of them sat down next to each other and started talking about the animals sitting in the room.
McGonagall walked in and cleared her throat before talking.
"I am sad to inform you that today we will not be talking about the transfiguration of animals, instead I have decided to allow you to have double Defense Against the Dark Arts class today, for personal reasons, I am afraid to say that I have fallen a bit ill and will not be able to teach today. I hope that tomorrow, madam Pomfrey will have been able to fix me up and expect all of you to be ready for animal transfiguration and the comprehension of animagus'. Just be ready, and I hope you enjoy your lesson with Mr. Hoperdy." McGonagall motioned towards her door where the Defense teacher stood awaiting to guide his class upstairs.
James, Sirius, and Remus all looked at each other and then to McGonagall who was just disappearing behind her door.
"Something's wrong, I know it," James said as the three of them rose and started walking with the rest of the class out of the classroom.
"Yeah, ever since the second days of school she has seemed really at ease, and she still looks around every ten seconds at every meal while talking to Dumbledore."
"I know, this Ravenclaw girl, she was really pretty, she told me that her friend overheard part of McGonagall's conversation with Dumbledore last night at dinner and they were talking about an uprising and defending the school or something. She also said McGonagall looked a little uptight," Sirius said as the three walked down a long purple velvet corridor up to the third floor where the DA class was.
"Well, I think that 'a little uptight' is an understatement, because something really bad must be happening for her to be like this for three weeks. What do you think that uprising refers to?" Remus asked the other two. Sirius just shrugged.
"Well, my mom gets the daily prophet every day and comments on how the world is, maybe we could find out if we read one. I'll order one if you guys want. But we have to split the tab. I think that it is just a Knut."
The other two nodded in agreement as they sat down in their respective seats in their Defense class.
After four straight hours of Defense Against the Dark Arts the three boys were really excited to practice what they had learned, but also sick of the subject.
"I am glad we don't have another DA class for another three days," said an exasperated Sirius while flopping onto a crimson armchair in the Gryffindor common room.
"Yeah," James said in agreement. Just then Peter walked by staring at the group of boys lounging in near the fire. "So, what is your decision of Peter?" James questioned motioning his head toward the apprehensive Peter sheepishly, but very slowly walking by.
The three boys stared at each other for moment.
"Sure, whatever, I don't care," Sirius interjected the silence. "What about you Remmy?"
"I think that it is fine. I think incorporating all people is great idea."
James looked back at Peter and waved him to come to the fire. Peter glanced around for the second time that day and pointed to himself once again. James' face lit up and he mouthed 'DUH'. Peter slowly cantered over to the group.
"Huh?" Peter questioned while looking down at his shoes.
Sirius stared at James and rolled his eyes. James sighed before talking.
"Sit down. We wanted to talk to you."
Peter looked at all three of the boys as if he could tell if it was a prank. He nodded after a second of contemplation and sat down in a seat on the opposite side of where the other three were sitting.
"Peter, you are officially part of our group."
James and the other two looked dubiously at Peter and he just sat there with his mouth open. Then Peter adjusted himself in the chair and looked up at James. "Really? " "Yeah." "Okay. Um...thanks?" Sirius snorted which caused a slight laugh out of Peter. "I think that is the first time I have heard you laugh," James stated while trying to suppress a giggle. "Well, I don't know what to tell you. I am usually laughing at you guys, but you didn't see I guess." "What do you mean laughing at us?" Sirius said sharply and leaned in towards Peter who stiffened. "Well, I didn't mean it like that...I I am sorry...I mean you are funny...I I..." "Bloody hell, are you tense! Relax I was just messing with you! Live a little Peter!" Sirius bellowed and stood up. Peter laughed along with James and Remus. "Let's do something. We haven't really even looked around yet. Wanna 'explore'?" Sirius said yawning and stretching finally out of his seat. "Great idea. I overheard one of the paintings on the second floor talking about tickling something to get to the kitchens. I wonder who cooks all that stuff." "Don't talk about food right now Remus, I am starving and we can't eat for another hour and a half," Sirius looked up at Remus with a sarcastic menacing look. "Well, that is what I am talking about. If we find the picture of fruit or whatever it is, then we can get some food." The other three all nodded in understanding and glanced around before piling out of the common room. Remus led the way to a painting of a very large with in a bright red dress. She leaned towards Remus and whispered in his ear after about five minutes of pleading. "You aren't kidding me are you?" "Go check it for yourself you blubbering git!" She said as she shook her head and sat back down on her gold armchair. "And you'd do good to not listen to other people's conversations!" "Well, don't shout it for half of Hogwarts to hear!" Remus mocked back and bowed. "Good day!" He said with a smile and led the other boys up two flights of stares. "Wow! It worked! I didn't think it would." Said Peter astonished that a door opened. The other three boys sat just as floored as Peter that it had actually worked. Sirius punched Remus in the shoulder and laughed. "Brilliant! This is bloody brilliant!" Sirius yelled as he walked inside and turned around to face the others. "Well, what are you waiting for? I don't know about you, but I am starving!" He smirked and started walking. Peter ran right behind him. He was new, but he was hungry. The James went followed by Remus who checked around before shutting the door. They walked down a relatively long hallway before they came to and entry way with a very little door, only about five feet high. "Who is in there? Is it goblins? I thought that they were very rude? Can't imagine them being good cooks." James said with a raised brow. Sirius bent over and knocked on the door and then opened the knob. When the door opened the four boys gasped in amazement. There were hundreds of plates laid out. Come with food and some without. There was still an hour before they were supposed to meet in the Great Hall. There was a very strong smell of pumpkin filling the room and seeping out into the entryway where the four boys stood in silence. Peter pushed past Sirius and went straight for the pudding that was sitting next to the door. There were four little bowls of chocolate pudding on a small table to the left of the door. Unlike Peter, the other three didn't move and instead looked at each other. "Did they know we were coming?" Remus looked at Sirius who shrugged and directed his attention to James. "I don't know. We don't even know who they, is!" He said with a hint of confusion on his face. Then he looked at Peter who had stopped eating and stood frozen staring at the three boys. "Is something wrong? Is it a hex, a spell, what's wrong?" James said as he walked into the massive room. "NO! I was just listening to what you were saying and I was afraid to keep eating. But it is the best pudding that I have ever had, and that is saying a lot. Pudding is my favorite!" Peter looked passed James to Sirius and Remus. "Well, I don't think that there is any trouble in here," James took a bowl of pudding and started eating. Starving, Sirius pushed passed Remus and grabbed both bowls. "Hey! One of those is mine, you know?" Remus seized one of the bowls out of Sirius' hand. Remus looked around as he held his pudding firmly in his grasp. He walked around the corner and froze mid step. "Psssttt..." Remus whispered as he motioned to where he stood. "What is it?" James walked over to where Remus was standing and froze too. "What is it?" Peter walked over to where they were while eating his pudding still. Sirius followed him and all of them stared as over one hundred house elves walked hurriedly around the huge kitchen that lay before them. James stepped forward to get a better view of the elves scurrying everywhere frantically. One came up to James and reclined his head all the way back to look at James. "Did you like it? Do you want more? We are really busy, but we don't usually get company, so what would you like. We thought that would fill you until dinner, unless you would like more of course." The elf took a big breath in and James took his chance to talk. "No, I think that we are fine," James turned to the others. "Actually, I could do with a bit more," piped Peter as he stepped out from behind Sirius. The elf glanced at him, snapped his fingers, and smiled at Peter's reaction to the newly filled bowl. "Peter," James said firmly as he turned back to face the elf. "Yes, the pudding is great! We don't need anymore, and thank you for your help. We were starving!" "Famished!" Remus added. "Dead!" Sirius said as he winked at the elf that had just refilled his bowl. "Thanks! What do you do down here anyway? I mean do you only make food, or do you do other stuff too?" Sirius asked as he looked at James with a wince and continued to eat his food. James turned back to the elf and laughed. The elf was crawling up onto a chair and motioned the four Gryffindors to sit down. "We should probably be going back actually," Remus looked at the other three who just stared at him. He gave up and sat down. "Oh. You're staying. Great! We never get anyone down here. Except Dumbledore, of course, comes down every day and thanks us for helping all of you. We like it though. But, as I was saying. You are the first student to ever come down here." The elf looked at the boys with admiration and smiled. "So, no other student has ever been down here? Ever?" Sirius asked as he shoveled another spoonful of the chocolate pudding into his already half full mouth. "Well, I was born about fifteen years ago, so at least not in the last fifteen years or so. Not while I have been here," the elf's feet swung in the air as his grin expanded. "Wicked!" James said as he turned to look at Sirius. "Do you know what this means?" "What?" Sirius shrugged. James smiled and looked back at the elf. "Would you mind if we came back every once and a while?" James leaned towards the elf whose face lit up like a rocket. "Merlin's beard! Of course, I would love it!" The elf said ecstatically as he jumped to the ground. The four boys looked at each other in jubilation. James leaned down to the level of the elf and extended his hand. The elf looked taken aback. "What? What's wrong?" "Well, it's just...well, you are kind like Dumbledore!" The elf shouted excitedly. The two shook hands. "James Potter. That is Sirius Black!" He motioned toward Sirius who bowed and rolled his hand several times before flying back up to a standing position and laughed. "This is Peter Pettigrew," Peter nodded with a spoon in his mouth and smiled. "And I am Remus Lupin," Remus extended his arm and shook the elf's hand as well. He smiled as he straightened up again. "Thanks, a lot, we needed this." "What's your name?" Sirius moved James out of the way a little so he could see the elf. "Oh me? I am Dory. Dory the elf, glad to help you with your nutritional needs!" He exclaimed with a broad smile and the five of them laughed. "Nice to meet you!" The five of the chorused. Remus stood up and looked at a clock that was on the wall above an immense pot of mashed potatoes. "We need to go, or we are going to be late!" The four boys quickly rose and nodded to Dory. "Thanks again!" James yelled as he shut the door behind him and ran down the hallway. Six minutes later the four of them were sitting in front of a table full of the food they had seen only ten minutes before. They laughed as they each grabbed hefty helpings of food and sloshed them onto their plates. After eating a few helpings, they walked slowly to the Gryffindor common room. "I am stuffed!" Sirius exclaimed as he held his belly. "I shouldn't have eaten so much..." His sentence was interrupted as satisfying and reverberating belch echoed through the corridor. They all laughed and nodded in understanding as they made their way to Gryffindor Tower.
"Who are you?" James inquired about the oddly shaped boy sitting to the right of left of him in their first Charms class. The boy looked around himself for a moment before actually looking and pointing to himself.
"Yes, I am talking to you," James stated in a manner-of-fact way. The boy gulped and stretched his hand out to meet James'.
"Peter," he said solemnly as he shook hands.
"What's your last name? Like me. I am..."
"James Potter. I know. Pettigrew," Peter finished, let go of James' hand and turned and faced Professor Flitwick once more.
"Is that it? Are you just going to introduce yourself after not talking to me for the last three weeks? You just shake hands and then make no conversation?" James questioned with a smirk on his face.
"If you are going to make fun of me like that Slytherin guy, I will asked to be moved," the boy said in a quavering disgruntled tone.
"I'm not makin' fun of you. I am just sarcastic. A bit of a whanker I suppose. Make no mind of it, besides you're a Gryffindor, we don't make fun of our own kind," James said as if it solved everything, which it apparently did because Peter turned around and started talking so much that Flitwick stopped levitating a very scared toad into the air.
"May I be of assistance gentlemen? I think you should know the spell before you open your mouth," Flitwick grabbed the toad that croaked very loudly before asking for hands to demonstrate. "Anyone fancy a try?" Flitwick's eyes gleamed as James, Sirius, and Remus raised their hands in friendly competition.
"Well, Mr. Potter." Flitwick said while he stared at James. "We will see if you did pay attention. Come along now."
James nudged Peter and mouthed 'Watch this' before leaving his seat. He walked down the isle past Lupin and then Sirius who were both smiling. James stepped up onto the platform where the very short Flitwick stood to be visible.
"Are you ready, James?"
"Oh, yes. Very much ready, Mr. Flitwick." James wheeled around to face the rest of the class and winked at Sirius and Remus.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" James shouted as he made a fluent 'swish and flick' motion with his wand. Everyone laughed, because the toad hadn't moved, but everyone had lacked to notice that he hadn't directed his wand in an upward manner either. Suddenly, James flicked upward with his wand and Snape flew upward and out of his seat. Everyone laughed harder to see the gangly Slytherin boy hovering in the air while flailing rapidly in an effort to get down.
Flitwick gave a startled look at James before reaching for his wand. Before Flitwick got his wand out James jerked the wand downward and Snape crashed into his chair that caused him to hit is already abnormally large nose into the desk.
Although it seemed like a long time, it happened rather quickly because Snape was only in the air for about three seconds before James pretended like he didn't do it on purpose.
"Oh. I am so sorry, Snape. I must have missed the toad." James said apologetically.
"Very well, very well, no harm done. Potter, if you would, please sit down before you miss again. Maybe you should pay more attention next time," Flitwick directed his attention to the rest of the class. "Aim is very important as you all have seen."
James walked past Sirius.
"You didn't miss the toad, you dead on target! Was he implying that Snapey isn't supposed to look like that?"
James and Sirius snickered and as James passed Remus he just looked at him with a sense of submission.
"Ruthless, but funny."
James sat down next to Peter and nudged him for the second time in the last three minutes.
"What'dya think?" James asked nodding towards the brooding Snape sitting in the next row and one seat behind Peter.
Peter looked at Snape who just sneered at him before turning back to James.
"I think that he deserved it." Peter said with a sense of confidence. James giggled softly before turning back to Flitwick's presentation.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Er...sure."
"Why are you talking to me...like a...like a friend?" Peter said very suggestively.
"Well, I don't know, maybe because you sit next to me. You never talk, you are right next to me alphabetically, and well, you are a Gryffindor, we're all friends right?" James looked at Peter in a confused sort of way.
"But why would you talk to me when your cool friends are in this class. You haven't talked to me before."
"Do you not want me to talk to...did you just say 'cool'?" James looked intrigued at what the boy had just said.
"Well yeah, you three are the coolest Gryffindors. Well, in any house really. I mean that I have seen." Peter faded and turned back towards the front of the classroom. James suppressed a question as he basked in what Peter had just told him. Am I really cool? Cool!
After class James waved bye to Peter who blushed, waved, and scampered off to his next class. James met up with Sirius and Remus and repeated what Peter had told him.
"Well, he seems nice. Should he be part of our group?"
"Well, I don't know Remus, have you seen him in Charms, he couldn't levitate air." Sirius refuted in a humorous manner.
"Well, I think he's fine, yeah he is a bit 'squib-ish' but I think that every group should have the oddball."
"When you say 'oddball' so you mean totally incompetent and obsessive or do you mean Snape-ish?"
"I mean Peter-ish you git!" James said to Sirius before pushing him.
"OUCH!" Yelped a girl who started to fall to the ground due to the force of Sirius' stumbling.
"IMOBULUS!" James yelled pointing his wand at the girl moments before impact with the ground. James quickly put his wand in his pocket and grabbed her arm and back to lift her up. Once the hair was out of her face, her beautiful emerald green eyes became visible once more. James just stared at her as he lifted her up to her feet.
"So...may..." James and Lily had both started to talk.
"Maybe you should watch what you are doing?"
"Sorry."
Lily grabbed her bag out of Sirius' hands and walked of with her three friends. James stared at her until she turned around the corner and then just continued to stare in the same direction without reason.
"James!" Sirius yelled in James' ear while clapping his hands in front of his face.
"Let's go," James said and he just started to walk in the direction he had been staring in.
"James!" Remus yelled. James spun around and looked confused.
"What?"
"Our class is this way," Remus said pointing in the opposite direction. "We have McGonagall next, remember?"
James, Sirius, and Remus all lazily walked up the stairs and around the corner, down the hall and entered the room on the left. The three of them sat down next to each other and started talking about the animals sitting in the room.
McGonagall walked in and cleared her throat before talking.
"I am sad to inform you that today we will not be talking about the transfiguration of animals, instead I have decided to allow you to have double Defense Against the Dark Arts class today, for personal reasons, I am afraid to say that I have fallen a bit ill and will not be able to teach today. I hope that tomorrow, madam Pomfrey will have been able to fix me up and expect all of you to be ready for animal transfiguration and the comprehension of animagus'. Just be ready, and I hope you enjoy your lesson with Mr. Hoperdy." McGonagall motioned towards her door where the Defense teacher stood awaiting to guide his class upstairs.
James, Sirius, and Remus all looked at each other and then to McGonagall who was just disappearing behind her door.
"Something's wrong, I know it," James said as the three of them rose and started walking with the rest of the class out of the classroom.
"Yeah, ever since the second days of school she has seemed really at ease, and she still looks around every ten seconds at every meal while talking to Dumbledore."
"I know, this Ravenclaw girl, she was really pretty, she told me that her friend overheard part of McGonagall's conversation with Dumbledore last night at dinner and they were talking about an uprising and defending the school or something. She also said McGonagall looked a little uptight," Sirius said as the three walked down a long purple velvet corridor up to the third floor where the DA class was.
"Well, I think that 'a little uptight' is an understatement, because something really bad must be happening for her to be like this for three weeks. What do you think that uprising refers to?" Remus asked the other two. Sirius just shrugged.
"Well, my mom gets the daily prophet every day and comments on how the world is, maybe we could find out if we read one. I'll order one if you guys want. But we have to split the tab. I think that it is just a Knut."
The other two nodded in agreement as they sat down in their respective seats in their Defense class.
After four straight hours of Defense Against the Dark Arts the three boys were really excited to practice what they had learned, but also sick of the subject.
"I am glad we don't have another DA class for another three days," said an exasperated Sirius while flopping onto a crimson armchair in the Gryffindor common room.
"Yeah," James said in agreement. Just then Peter walked by staring at the group of boys lounging in near the fire. "So, what is your decision of Peter?" James questioned motioning his head toward the apprehensive Peter sheepishly, but very slowly walking by.
The three boys stared at each other for moment.
"Sure, whatever, I don't care," Sirius interjected the silence. "What about you Remmy?"
"I think that it is fine. I think incorporating all people is great idea."
James looked back at Peter and waved him to come to the fire. Peter glanced around for the second time that day and pointed to himself once again. James' face lit up and he mouthed 'DUH'. Peter slowly cantered over to the group.
"Huh?" Peter questioned while looking down at his shoes.
Sirius stared at James and rolled his eyes. James sighed before talking.
"Sit down. We wanted to talk to you."
Peter looked at all three of the boys as if he could tell if it was a prank. He nodded after a second of contemplation and sat down in a seat on the opposite side of where the other three were sitting.
"Peter, you are officially part of our group."
James and the other two looked dubiously at Peter and he just sat there with his mouth open. Then Peter adjusted himself in the chair and looked up at James. "Really? " "Yeah." "Okay. Um...thanks?" Sirius snorted which caused a slight laugh out of Peter. "I think that is the first time I have heard you laugh," James stated while trying to suppress a giggle. "Well, I don't know what to tell you. I am usually laughing at you guys, but you didn't see I guess." "What do you mean laughing at us?" Sirius said sharply and leaned in towards Peter who stiffened. "Well, I didn't mean it like that...I I am sorry...I mean you are funny...I I..." "Bloody hell, are you tense! Relax I was just messing with you! Live a little Peter!" Sirius bellowed and stood up. Peter laughed along with James and Remus. "Let's do something. We haven't really even looked around yet. Wanna 'explore'?" Sirius said yawning and stretching finally out of his seat. "Great idea. I overheard one of the paintings on the second floor talking about tickling something to get to the kitchens. I wonder who cooks all that stuff." "Don't talk about food right now Remus, I am starving and we can't eat for another hour and a half," Sirius looked up at Remus with a sarcastic menacing look. "Well, that is what I am talking about. If we find the picture of fruit or whatever it is, then we can get some food." The other three all nodded in understanding and glanced around before piling out of the common room. Remus led the way to a painting of a very large with in a bright red dress. She leaned towards Remus and whispered in his ear after about five minutes of pleading. "You aren't kidding me are you?" "Go check it for yourself you blubbering git!" She said as she shook her head and sat back down on her gold armchair. "And you'd do good to not listen to other people's conversations!" "Well, don't shout it for half of Hogwarts to hear!" Remus mocked back and bowed. "Good day!" He said with a smile and led the other boys up two flights of stares. "Wow! It worked! I didn't think it would." Said Peter astonished that a door opened. The other three boys sat just as floored as Peter that it had actually worked. Sirius punched Remus in the shoulder and laughed. "Brilliant! This is bloody brilliant!" Sirius yelled as he walked inside and turned around to face the others. "Well, what are you waiting for? I don't know about you, but I am starving!" He smirked and started walking. Peter ran right behind him. He was new, but he was hungry. The James went followed by Remus who checked around before shutting the door. They walked down a relatively long hallway before they came to and entry way with a very little door, only about five feet high. "Who is in there? Is it goblins? I thought that they were very rude? Can't imagine them being good cooks." James said with a raised brow. Sirius bent over and knocked on the door and then opened the knob. When the door opened the four boys gasped in amazement. There were hundreds of plates laid out. Come with food and some without. There was still an hour before they were supposed to meet in the Great Hall. There was a very strong smell of pumpkin filling the room and seeping out into the entryway where the four boys stood in silence. Peter pushed past Sirius and went straight for the pudding that was sitting next to the door. There were four little bowls of chocolate pudding on a small table to the left of the door. Unlike Peter, the other three didn't move and instead looked at each other. "Did they know we were coming?" Remus looked at Sirius who shrugged and directed his attention to James. "I don't know. We don't even know who they, is!" He said with a hint of confusion on his face. Then he looked at Peter who had stopped eating and stood frozen staring at the three boys. "Is something wrong? Is it a hex, a spell, what's wrong?" James said as he walked into the massive room. "NO! I was just listening to what you were saying and I was afraid to keep eating. But it is the best pudding that I have ever had, and that is saying a lot. Pudding is my favorite!" Peter looked passed James to Sirius and Remus. "Well, I don't think that there is any trouble in here," James took a bowl of pudding and started eating. Starving, Sirius pushed passed Remus and grabbed both bowls. "Hey! One of those is mine, you know?" Remus seized one of the bowls out of Sirius' hand. Remus looked around as he held his pudding firmly in his grasp. He walked around the corner and froze mid step. "Psssttt..." Remus whispered as he motioned to where he stood. "What is it?" James walked over to where Remus was standing and froze too. "What is it?" Peter walked over to where they were while eating his pudding still. Sirius followed him and all of them stared as over one hundred house elves walked hurriedly around the huge kitchen that lay before them. James stepped forward to get a better view of the elves scurrying everywhere frantically. One came up to James and reclined his head all the way back to look at James. "Did you like it? Do you want more? We are really busy, but we don't usually get company, so what would you like. We thought that would fill you until dinner, unless you would like more of course." The elf took a big breath in and James took his chance to talk. "No, I think that we are fine," James turned to the others. "Actually, I could do with a bit more," piped Peter as he stepped out from behind Sirius. The elf glanced at him, snapped his fingers, and smiled at Peter's reaction to the newly filled bowl. "Peter," James said firmly as he turned back to face the elf. "Yes, the pudding is great! We don't need anymore, and thank you for your help. We were starving!" "Famished!" Remus added. "Dead!" Sirius said as he winked at the elf that had just refilled his bowl. "Thanks! What do you do down here anyway? I mean do you only make food, or do you do other stuff too?" Sirius asked as he looked at James with a wince and continued to eat his food. James turned back to the elf and laughed. The elf was crawling up onto a chair and motioned the four Gryffindors to sit down. "We should probably be going back actually," Remus looked at the other three who just stared at him. He gave up and sat down. "Oh. You're staying. Great! We never get anyone down here. Except Dumbledore, of course, comes down every day and thanks us for helping all of you. We like it though. But, as I was saying. You are the first student to ever come down here." The elf looked at the boys with admiration and smiled. "So, no other student has ever been down here? Ever?" Sirius asked as he shoveled another spoonful of the chocolate pudding into his already half full mouth. "Well, I was born about fifteen years ago, so at least not in the last fifteen years or so. Not while I have been here," the elf's feet swung in the air as his grin expanded. "Wicked!" James said as he turned to look at Sirius. "Do you know what this means?" "What?" Sirius shrugged. James smiled and looked back at the elf. "Would you mind if we came back every once and a while?" James leaned towards the elf whose face lit up like a rocket. "Merlin's beard! Of course, I would love it!" The elf said ecstatically as he jumped to the ground. The four boys looked at each other in jubilation. James leaned down to the level of the elf and extended his hand. The elf looked taken aback. "What? What's wrong?" "Well, it's just...well, you are kind like Dumbledore!" The elf shouted excitedly. The two shook hands. "James Potter. That is Sirius Black!" He motioned toward Sirius who bowed and rolled his hand several times before flying back up to a standing position and laughed. "This is Peter Pettigrew," Peter nodded with a spoon in his mouth and smiled. "And I am Remus Lupin," Remus extended his arm and shook the elf's hand as well. He smiled as he straightened up again. "Thanks, a lot, we needed this." "What's your name?" Sirius moved James out of the way a little so he could see the elf. "Oh me? I am Dory. Dory the elf, glad to help you with your nutritional needs!" He exclaimed with a broad smile and the five of them laughed. "Nice to meet you!" The five of the chorused. Remus stood up and looked at a clock that was on the wall above an immense pot of mashed potatoes. "We need to go, or we are going to be late!" The four boys quickly rose and nodded to Dory. "Thanks again!" James yelled as he shut the door behind him and ran down the hallway. Six minutes later the four of them were sitting in front of a table full of the food they had seen only ten minutes before. They laughed as they each grabbed hefty helpings of food and sloshed them onto their plates. After eating a few helpings, they walked slowly to the Gryffindor common room. "I am stuffed!" Sirius exclaimed as he held his belly. "I shouldn't have eaten so much..." His sentence was interrupted as satisfying and reverberating belch echoed through the corridor. They all laughed and nodded in understanding as they made their way to Gryffindor Tower.