James gave Sirius a brief glare before turning around to face the Professors, "Nice night for a walk, isn't it?''
"Quiet Potter.'' Said professor McGonagall sternly, through narrowed eyes.
"Hey!'' piped Sirius squinting at one of the three figures, "Is that…yes, yes it is. It's the grown up version of Moony!''
Sirius threw open his arms and ran to embrace the grown up Moony.
Who, by the way, was too much in shock to do anything. He had thought Dumbledore was losing his mind when he had informed him about his friends 'comeback.' Even if James and Sirius had been alive to see this it still would have been a lot to take in. After all 'they' had never done this. Or had they? It all seemed clouded. If Lupin really tried hard he could just vaguely remember something of the sort but then…nothing.
Looking down at the younger version of Sirius, Lupin felt a great sadness and jealousy. If only … no better not think about stuff like that. Nothing could bring them back. But then how—
"Remus, even though you're old and a professor, which I would like to remind you for the record is against the code of honor, I have to say … I love you.'' And with that Sirius buried his head in Lupin's shoulder and pretended to cry.
(He really could have been an actor, his performance was so good.)
James catching on dropped his bags, walked over to Sirius and Lupin and hugged them both.
Smiling slightly, Lupin sighed before pushing them both off, "What makes you think I can get you out of this one?''
"Get us out?'' James said tilting his head slightly, with an innocent expression on his face, "I didn't know we were in trouble in the first place. We were just here talking to Harry and doing a little shopping, male bonding. Nothing seriously wrong.''
"Nothing seriously … Potter! What you did is worth a year of detention. Not including the fact that you attacked a teacher!'' Professor McGonagall yelled, her lips pressed into a very, very thin line, "Which is worth an expulsion!''
"Well technically you can do anything to us because we technically don't go to this school.'' Said Moony, the younger.
"All about to change I assure you,'' said Dumbeldore sternly, but with twinkling eyes.
The Marauders and Harry all exchanged brief looks before looking back at Dumbledore who just turned and started walking, with the other two professors following him.
Looking at each other again they shrugged at each other and followed the professors.
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*Professor Dumbeldore's office. *
"You will be attending classes with Harry all except for potions. For obvious reasons of course you will be spending that time with me studying potions. While you're here you will of course be in Gryffindor, losing and winning house points. And I do suggest you win more then you lose. You will also apologize to Professor Snape.''
At this last statement there was an uproar.
"I'm not apologizing to that slimy old git!''
"He pulled his wand out on us first!''
"I wont do it, I just wont do it! I refuse to do it!''
"You will do it,'' said Dumbeldore sternly, staring each one in the eye, "And Remus will make sure you do it.''
There were scowls all around except for Harry who was smiling smugly. After all he didn't do anything so he wouldn't have to apologize, but Snape would probably blame him for what they did, But hey it was going to be worth it, watching them apologize to—
"What are you smiling about?'' James asked Harry angrily.
Sirius also noting this growled at Harry.
Harry didn't even bother answering them because he was to busy turning his head away trying not to laugh. Looking at a mirror on the wall he could see Dumbeldore smiling broadly and Lupin, the older, trying not to laugh also but on the verge of failing.
"Now it will be a little cramped but there will be enough room in Harry's dorm for the three of you. Tomorrow Lupin will take you to get only the very necessary supplies that you will need for schooling. Harry may go if he is able to finish tomorrow and tonight's work. Professor McGonagall was kind enough to get it for him.'' Dumbeldore said.
Taking her queue Professor McGonagall handed a stack of work to Harry.
"I trust you have eaten already?'' asked Dumbeldore.
Seeing them nod their heads Dumbeldore went on to say, "Then you may go. Lupin please take them to Professor Snape.''
No one moved.
The Marauders just sat and glared at Dumbledore evilly.
Finally Dumbledore stood up and said, "Now'' pointing at the door.
Sullenly the Marauders and Harry, well not so sullenly for him, stood up and left the office. With Lupin the older following, giving Dumbledore a smile before closing the door behind him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*On the way to doom. *
"O.k. I have an idea lets not and say we did.'' Said Sirius.
"I don't think so.'' Said Lupin the older.
"How about this,'' began James, "We knock Remus out, get some brooms, fly to London, get some gold and live happily ever after in the Bahamas?''
"No to complicated.'' Said Remus the younger.
"Might as well use an unforgivable on Snape to get him out of the way,'' Harry said while smiling mischievously.
"Harry.'' Said Lupin looking down at him sternly.
Giving Harry a slap on the back James said, "I like your thinking boy!''
"Yes and then where would you be?'' asked Lupin, the older rhetorically.
"We'd be Snape free, that's where we would be.'' Said Remus.
"And you'd have the Ministry hunting you down.'' Said Lupin.
"But that's the beauty of it, old man, we are not here.'' Replied Sirius.
"I'm pretty sure Dumbledore has told the Ministry about your … arrival. Circumstances being what they are.'' Mused Lupin.
"Yeah, you're probably right. There has to be some way we can us this to our advantage," said James as he scowled at the floor, "got it. We can 'eliminate' him then float his body to outside school grounds making it look like a Death Eater attacked him.''
"I'm pretty sure Dumbledore can distinguish between the work of you four and the work of a Death Eater.'' Said Lupin.
"I think you're giving them to much credit professor, come on are we talking about the same Death Eaters?'' Harry asked skeptically.
"You may be right Harry but it doesn't matter anymore because we're here.'' Said Lupin.
And indeed they were, they had talked all the way and where now standing at the top of the stairs that led to Snape's office.
No one moved or said anything. They all just stared down the dark steps that would lead them to a rather ugly monster that the world could pretty much do without.
"I refuse to go down.'' Said Sirius with his arms folded over his chest and his nose in the air.
"I refuse to apologize to that beast down there.'' Said James with a scowl on his face.
"I refuse to go down when I sort of already apologized." Said Remus.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Well I kind of did. Remember when I told him, while he was laying on the ground, that Dumbledore and I hadn't meant for this to happen?''
Everyone thought for a moment.
"No, no that doesn't count.'' Said Lupin, the older.
"Yeah and if we have to do it you're doing it with us.'' James said.
Grabbing the protesting Remus, James and Sirius pulled him closer towards the first step then … stopped.
"I can't do this.'' Whined James.
"The shame of it all, us apologizing to it. What has the world come to? Some one please strike me down dead this very instant.'' Sirius prayed, looking up.
And to a certain extent that is exactly what happened, except for the dead part. They weren't getting off that easy.
Knowing that they would never go down without help, Lupin decided to help them. Positioning himself behind the three, he waited to till Sirius finished his melodramatic speech before pushing them down the stairs. Hard.
"Aaaahhhhh!''
"Abuse!!!!''
"I'm suing!!''
Turning to look at Lupin, Harry said, "Good one. I was beginning to wonder if they would ever get down there.''
"So was I, shall we?'' Lupin gestured for them to the stairs.
Descending the stairs Lupin and Harry followed the screaming trio.
With a couple of 'thunks' and groans the Marauders finally reached the bottom.
"Moony get up your on my arm!'' growled Sirius.
"I can't move! James is on top of me!'' Moony growled back.
"I am unable to move at the moment I think I am paralyzed for life.'' James moaned from the top of the pile.
With a growl both Sirius and Moony pushed James off of them.
"Hey! It's not like I pushed us down the stairs.'' James grumbled back while glaring at Lupin and Harry as they 'walked' down the stairs.
"You were given the option of walking down but you took to long deciding.'' Lupin said in a laughing tone.
"Yeah, yeah—''
A door was thrown open and a blinding light streamed out.
"Well, well how did I know it would be you out here.'' Sneered a cold voice.
"I don't know maybe you're psychic,'' said Sirius from his place on the floor, "then again you wouldn't have been lying disabled, on your classroom floor this afternoon, if you had been psychic.''
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Sorry it has been so long. I haven't been able to use the computer plus schoolwork. Semester finals.