CHAPTER FIVE: Slavery (*)
~~~~~~~~I Solemnly Swear I'll Have The Next Chapter Up As Soon As I Hit... Over 20 Reviews?~~~~~~~~~ SO REVIEW!!
"The worst he'd do is make us carry his books." James mimicked Sirius in a high-pitched finicky voice.
Sirius scowled at him. Remus had taken full advantage of Sirius and James' debt to him; they had to clean the whole dorm every day for the rest of the week... without magic!
"This is so cruel!" James cried, finished polishing the headboards and starting on the dusting.
"How was I supposed to know?" Sirius muttered and kicked a garment under Peter's bed.
"Now, now, I said 'clean' not half-asked tidying." Remus was standing in the doorway.
James glared at him, "You're only doing this out of pure spite!"
Remus shook his head, "Actually I just want our dorm to be clean once in a while. You both seem to have a problem in that area."
Sirius rolled his eyes. Who has time for mild tidying? There are things to do! People to prank!"
Remus watched with an amused expression as the two pranksters finished the dorm and made the rest of the beds.
"If anyone messes this place up, I'm going to kill them!" Sirius muttered and put a dirty rag in the garbage.
"You missed a spot." Remus said and dropped a paper on the floor.
Sirius glared at him; that had been what he had done to Remus about a week before.
"You drive a hard bargain, Lupin." James muttered and took a seat on the edge of his bed.
~*~
That night at supper.
Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter were talking animatedly about nothing in particular.
They were about halfway through when it happened...
Severus Snape entered the great hall, late like always.
"Hey," James whispered to Sirius. "Look who it is."
"Great," Sirius grinned, "How 'bout we make it dinner and a show?"
James was about to reply when Remus cut in.
"Oh, about that," Remus said without really looking up from his plate. "No more."
Sirius and James exchanged glances, "What?"
"No more pranks."
Their eyes widened, "WHAT?"
"You are in a week's debt to me and I say no pranking for the week."
James looked as though someone had told him his favorite aunt had just died, Sirius looked like he had been told he was about to be kissed by a Dementor.
"You... you can't—"James said meekly, he was in shock.
"I can, so no hurting or endangering others, illegal charming, or dishonest conduct. I want you to be nice to everyone."
They sat in stunned silence.
Someone from the Slytherin table sent a spoonful of mashed potatoes and it nearly hit Sirius's head.
"Remus!" James tried, "If we don't do something they win!"
"Yeah!" Sirius agreed. "Do you want the enemy to win?"
Remus gave them both a definite look and continued eating.
"What do we do?" James whispered to Sirius.
Sirius was staring incredulous at Remus, "I don't know—"
The next Slytherin spoonful hit the back of James's head.
"Remus.... PLEASE...." James said, he was clenching his wand hand into a tight fist, trying to resist the calling of revenge.
"One week James," Remus said. "Then you can go back to whatever you like."
The rest of dinner was a trying affair.
~(!)~
"I can't believe he's doing this to us." Sirius said and ran a hand through his hair.
James and Sirius were in the dorms, they didn't know where Remus and Peter were but they found it a good time to confide in one another.
"Maybe there's a way around this." James said pacing back and forth.
"How?" Sirius inquired.
"Um... think about what he 'didn't' forbid us to do," James said. "He didn't say we couldn't use my cloak."
"He didn't say we couldn't charm the hallways to make you think you're walking through a flubberworm's belly."
"Yeah! That wouldn't be hurting or endangering anyone in particular!"
Sirius grinned, "Well what does he EXPECT us to do instead of pranking?"
"How about homework?" Remus had entered the room and heard the last bit of the conversation. "And by 'illegal charms', I meant against school rules too."
Sirius and James shared a dismal look.
Remus went to his trunk and took something out. He was about to leave when he stopped and turned, "Oh, and before I forget, James, the cloak."
James looked about ready to cry.
"But Remus—"
"Cloak. Now."
With many whimpers James VERY reluctantly gave him the cloak.
"Evil, that's what you are, pure evil."
Remus thanked him for the cloak and left.
James collapsed in his bed in a fit of agony as Sirius looked on in quiet horror.
"We've created a monster."
~ (!) ~
The next day at breakfast, Sirius and James didn't say a word. They still hadn't gotten over the shock of Remus's unreasonable conditions.
While walking through the corridors to Transfiguration, Sirius and James were still in depression when a drawling voice behind them said, "Ever heard of conditioner, Potter? You should try some, it might make that rat's nest you call hair a little less repulsive."
James twirled around ready to fight but Sirius put a hand on his should and motioned with his eyes towards Remus.
James gave an angry sigh and continued walking.
"What? No witty comebacks today?" Lucius asked.
"Go away Malfoy, I can't fight you." James muttered and the Gryffindors turned the next corner and headed toward their class.
Leaving the Slytherins wondering that the heck just happened.
~ (!) ~
"This is getting to be too much!" Sirius complained as he lay on his bed after classes.
Remus and Peter had gone down to dinner and James and Sirius had decided to skip it, they had had enough of being taunted and not being about to do anything about it.
Somehow they had gotten word of Black and Potter's predicament and had been taunting them ever since.
It was save to say that both boys had never been so frustrated in their lives.
"I'm about to explode!" James cried back from his spot on his own bed. "I had to stand there and take all that crap those goddamned Slytherins were yelling at me. I swear, as soon as this week is over--"
"You think that's bad?" Sirius challenged. "McGonagall was standing in the EXACT spot I hid those trigger dung bombs. I missed the PERFECT opportunity!"
"I couldn't lie in DADA about my homework because of that stupid 'honesty' stuff!"
"I had to fess up to last month's fairy-dust extravaganza!"
"I've had enough of this," James said sitting up to face his companion in misery. "We have to do something."
"What?" Sirius asked sitting up too, he looked solemn.
"Remus said to 'be nice' right?" James said with that glint in his eye.
"Yeah?" Sirius urged him on.
"So," James replied with a mischievous grin. "Let's be nice."
~ (!) ~
The next day's breakfast was faring well as Sirius Black and James Potter made their way to their table in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
People were quite used to the idea that James and Sirius had taken to skipping most meals and just raiding the kitchens (Without the cloak, mind you, Remus never forbade them from the kitchens) or eating before or after everyone else.
So they were back, were they? They still had two days to go.
"Hey Potter! You'll never make the Quidditch team next year!" A random Slytherin yelled.
"Hello!" James yelled back. "Nice day isn't it! You're looking sharp today!"
Sirius and James sat opposite of Remus and Peter with big smiles on their faces.
Remus looked up at them but said nothing. They hadn't broken any of his conditions.
"Black! You look like a girl!"
"You're pretty too!" Sirius called back.
Remus looked at them but they gave him innocent smiled, "Not breaking any rules from our agreement." James said.
Remus nodded and they all went back to eating.
~ (!) ~
In DADA James and Sirius paid extra attention to the lesson and answered all the questions. Then when the teacher left for a moment they sat there in perfect obedience.
Lucius approached them but before he could taunt them or say anything,
"You have such shiny hair," James said with a big smile on his face. "It really suits you, doesn't it Sirius?"
"Oh absolutely, I couldn't see him in any other. And those robes," Sirius said smiling too. "Accents the eyes."
"Oh yes, perfectly. And such nice condition, those robes."
"Very nice indeed."
"And shiny teeth!"
"Very shiny! You must floss very well!"
"Your shoes are shiny too!"
"You're so shiny!"
As the teacher returned, Lucius hurried back to his desk, horrified.
~ (!) ~
"Did you see his face?" James laughed.
James and Sirius were in the common room during break.
"A really, really 'shiny' face." Sirius said and both boys were in fits of laughter.
Then Remus came down from the dorms and both boys snapped to attention.
"You're looking good today, Remus." James grinned.
"Very good," Sirius agreed. "And smart!"
"Yes, oh so smart!"
"Don't forget stylish!"
"Oh never, we can't forget stylish."
"Alright, enough of that." Remus said with a frown.
"Enough of what?" James asked.
"We were being nice." Sirius added.
"Well it's annoying." Remus said.
"You can't go back on our agreement." James said with a frown.
"Yeah," Sirius agreed. "No changing things now."
Remus looked a little alarmed. "You mean you're going to be nice until Friday?"
"Saturday, actually." Sirius grinned.
"That's right, you're so cute Remmy!" James cooed and batted his eyelashes.
Remus looked spooked and quickly left the common room.
The other two peeled with laughter.
~ (!) ~
Friday came and people had began to beg Remus to let Black and Potter out of that ridiculous agreement so they could stop being so creepy.
"You're so funny!" "You're so pretty!" "I wish I was you!" "I wish I was your friend!" "I hope your next class goes well!" "Have a good day!" "Can I carry your books?" "Can I hold you hand?"
"ARGH! They're driving me CRAZY!" Lily Evans shrieked as she ran away from them and up to her dorm.
James and Sirius entered the common room soon after.
Remus was still looking at the place Lily had disappeared from.
"Remus! Ol' Boy! Long time no see!" James cried upon seeing him.
Remus sighed, "I really wish you wouldn't say that every time you see me."
"Nonsense," Sirius said and clapped him on the back. "We were being nice."
"I really wish you'd stop." Remus said.
"Not until today is over." James said and then he and Sirius disappeared upstairs.
Remus sighed, what had he done?
~ (*) ~
On Saturdays no one was ever up.
"Hey! Up." Remus said and kicked Sirius's bed and then did the same to James's.
"What'dya want us up for?" James asked sleepily, trying to adjust his eyes to the light and groping about for his glasses.
"I got you something." Remus said and put a bag on the floor.
Sirius and James both sat up straight, attention captured.
"What is it?" Sirius asked excited.
Remus sighed and looked at them both seriously.
"This past week has been--- well--- unusual." Remus said slowly.
Neither Sirius nor James spoke.
"And well--- maybe I was a little out of bounds in asking you to be something you are obviously not."
James and Sirius grinned at each other.
"So," Remus said and kicked the bag a little. "in this bag are a bunch of things from the joke shop to make up for it."
James looked as though he wanted to pounce on it but held back as Sirius replied, "How did you get that?"
"I have ways," Remus said, "I'll give them to you as long as you promise to never be so creepily absurd again."
"Oh don't worry about that," James said eyeing the joke bag eagerly. "My mouth feels dirty from saying all those nice things to those Slytherins."
"Good." Remus looked relieved. "I see you both downstairs then." He said and left to go to breakfast.
"So..." James said, picking through the bag. "What do you say we enter with a bang?"
"Sounds like a plan." Sirius grinned enthusiastically.
Let's just say, breakfast was anything but 'nice'.
~~~~~~~~I Solemnly Swear I'll Have The Next Chapter Up As Soon As I Hit... Over 20 Reviews?~~~~~~~~~ SO REVIEW!!
"The worst he'd do is make us carry his books." James mimicked Sirius in a high-pitched finicky voice.
Sirius scowled at him. Remus had taken full advantage of Sirius and James' debt to him; they had to clean the whole dorm every day for the rest of the week... without magic!
"This is so cruel!" James cried, finished polishing the headboards and starting on the dusting.
"How was I supposed to know?" Sirius muttered and kicked a garment under Peter's bed.
"Now, now, I said 'clean' not half-asked tidying." Remus was standing in the doorway.
James glared at him, "You're only doing this out of pure spite!"
Remus shook his head, "Actually I just want our dorm to be clean once in a while. You both seem to have a problem in that area."
Sirius rolled his eyes. Who has time for mild tidying? There are things to do! People to prank!"
Remus watched with an amused expression as the two pranksters finished the dorm and made the rest of the beds.
"If anyone messes this place up, I'm going to kill them!" Sirius muttered and put a dirty rag in the garbage.
"You missed a spot." Remus said and dropped a paper on the floor.
Sirius glared at him; that had been what he had done to Remus about a week before.
"You drive a hard bargain, Lupin." James muttered and took a seat on the edge of his bed.
~*~
That night at supper.
Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter were talking animatedly about nothing in particular.
They were about halfway through when it happened...
Severus Snape entered the great hall, late like always.
"Hey," James whispered to Sirius. "Look who it is."
"Great," Sirius grinned, "How 'bout we make it dinner and a show?"
James was about to reply when Remus cut in.
"Oh, about that," Remus said without really looking up from his plate. "No more."
Sirius and James exchanged glances, "What?"
"No more pranks."
Their eyes widened, "WHAT?"
"You are in a week's debt to me and I say no pranking for the week."
James looked as though someone had told him his favorite aunt had just died, Sirius looked like he had been told he was about to be kissed by a Dementor.
"You... you can't—"James said meekly, he was in shock.
"I can, so no hurting or endangering others, illegal charming, or dishonest conduct. I want you to be nice to everyone."
They sat in stunned silence.
Someone from the Slytherin table sent a spoonful of mashed potatoes and it nearly hit Sirius's head.
"Remus!" James tried, "If we don't do something they win!"
"Yeah!" Sirius agreed. "Do you want the enemy to win?"
Remus gave them both a definite look and continued eating.
"What do we do?" James whispered to Sirius.
Sirius was staring incredulous at Remus, "I don't know—"
The next Slytherin spoonful hit the back of James's head.
"Remus.... PLEASE...." James said, he was clenching his wand hand into a tight fist, trying to resist the calling of revenge.
"One week James," Remus said. "Then you can go back to whatever you like."
The rest of dinner was a trying affair.
~(!)~
"I can't believe he's doing this to us." Sirius said and ran a hand through his hair.
James and Sirius were in the dorms, they didn't know where Remus and Peter were but they found it a good time to confide in one another.
"Maybe there's a way around this." James said pacing back and forth.
"How?" Sirius inquired.
"Um... think about what he 'didn't' forbid us to do," James said. "He didn't say we couldn't use my cloak."
"He didn't say we couldn't charm the hallways to make you think you're walking through a flubberworm's belly."
"Yeah! That wouldn't be hurting or endangering anyone in particular!"
Sirius grinned, "Well what does he EXPECT us to do instead of pranking?"
"How about homework?" Remus had entered the room and heard the last bit of the conversation. "And by 'illegal charms', I meant against school rules too."
Sirius and James shared a dismal look.
Remus went to his trunk and took something out. He was about to leave when he stopped and turned, "Oh, and before I forget, James, the cloak."
James looked about ready to cry.
"But Remus—"
"Cloak. Now."
With many whimpers James VERY reluctantly gave him the cloak.
"Evil, that's what you are, pure evil."
Remus thanked him for the cloak and left.
James collapsed in his bed in a fit of agony as Sirius looked on in quiet horror.
"We've created a monster."
~ (!) ~
The next day at breakfast, Sirius and James didn't say a word. They still hadn't gotten over the shock of Remus's unreasonable conditions.
While walking through the corridors to Transfiguration, Sirius and James were still in depression when a drawling voice behind them said, "Ever heard of conditioner, Potter? You should try some, it might make that rat's nest you call hair a little less repulsive."
James twirled around ready to fight but Sirius put a hand on his should and motioned with his eyes towards Remus.
James gave an angry sigh and continued walking.
"What? No witty comebacks today?" Lucius asked.
"Go away Malfoy, I can't fight you." James muttered and the Gryffindors turned the next corner and headed toward their class.
Leaving the Slytherins wondering that the heck just happened.
~ (!) ~
"This is getting to be too much!" Sirius complained as he lay on his bed after classes.
Remus and Peter had gone down to dinner and James and Sirius had decided to skip it, they had had enough of being taunted and not being about to do anything about it.
Somehow they had gotten word of Black and Potter's predicament and had been taunting them ever since.
It was save to say that both boys had never been so frustrated in their lives.
"I'm about to explode!" James cried back from his spot on his own bed. "I had to stand there and take all that crap those goddamned Slytherins were yelling at me. I swear, as soon as this week is over--"
"You think that's bad?" Sirius challenged. "McGonagall was standing in the EXACT spot I hid those trigger dung bombs. I missed the PERFECT opportunity!"
"I couldn't lie in DADA about my homework because of that stupid 'honesty' stuff!"
"I had to fess up to last month's fairy-dust extravaganza!"
"I've had enough of this," James said sitting up to face his companion in misery. "We have to do something."
"What?" Sirius asked sitting up too, he looked solemn.
"Remus said to 'be nice' right?" James said with that glint in his eye.
"Yeah?" Sirius urged him on.
"So," James replied with a mischievous grin. "Let's be nice."
~ (!) ~
The next day's breakfast was faring well as Sirius Black and James Potter made their way to their table in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
People were quite used to the idea that James and Sirius had taken to skipping most meals and just raiding the kitchens (Without the cloak, mind you, Remus never forbade them from the kitchens) or eating before or after everyone else.
So they were back, were they? They still had two days to go.
"Hey Potter! You'll never make the Quidditch team next year!" A random Slytherin yelled.
"Hello!" James yelled back. "Nice day isn't it! You're looking sharp today!"
Sirius and James sat opposite of Remus and Peter with big smiles on their faces.
Remus looked up at them but said nothing. They hadn't broken any of his conditions.
"Black! You look like a girl!"
"You're pretty too!" Sirius called back.
Remus looked at them but they gave him innocent smiled, "Not breaking any rules from our agreement." James said.
Remus nodded and they all went back to eating.
~ (!) ~
In DADA James and Sirius paid extra attention to the lesson and answered all the questions. Then when the teacher left for a moment they sat there in perfect obedience.
Lucius approached them but before he could taunt them or say anything,
"You have such shiny hair," James said with a big smile on his face. "It really suits you, doesn't it Sirius?"
"Oh absolutely, I couldn't see him in any other. And those robes," Sirius said smiling too. "Accents the eyes."
"Oh yes, perfectly. And such nice condition, those robes."
"Very nice indeed."
"And shiny teeth!"
"Very shiny! You must floss very well!"
"Your shoes are shiny too!"
"You're so shiny!"
As the teacher returned, Lucius hurried back to his desk, horrified.
~ (!) ~
"Did you see his face?" James laughed.
James and Sirius were in the common room during break.
"A really, really 'shiny' face." Sirius said and both boys were in fits of laughter.
Then Remus came down from the dorms and both boys snapped to attention.
"You're looking good today, Remus." James grinned.
"Very good," Sirius agreed. "And smart!"
"Yes, oh so smart!"
"Don't forget stylish!"
"Oh never, we can't forget stylish."
"Alright, enough of that." Remus said with a frown.
"Enough of what?" James asked.
"We were being nice." Sirius added.
"Well it's annoying." Remus said.
"You can't go back on our agreement." James said with a frown.
"Yeah," Sirius agreed. "No changing things now."
Remus looked a little alarmed. "You mean you're going to be nice until Friday?"
"Saturday, actually." Sirius grinned.
"That's right, you're so cute Remmy!" James cooed and batted his eyelashes.
Remus looked spooked and quickly left the common room.
The other two peeled with laughter.
~ (!) ~
Friday came and people had began to beg Remus to let Black and Potter out of that ridiculous agreement so they could stop being so creepy.
"You're so funny!" "You're so pretty!" "I wish I was you!" "I wish I was your friend!" "I hope your next class goes well!" "Have a good day!" "Can I carry your books?" "Can I hold you hand?"
"ARGH! They're driving me CRAZY!" Lily Evans shrieked as she ran away from them and up to her dorm.
James and Sirius entered the common room soon after.
Remus was still looking at the place Lily had disappeared from.
"Remus! Ol' Boy! Long time no see!" James cried upon seeing him.
Remus sighed, "I really wish you wouldn't say that every time you see me."
"Nonsense," Sirius said and clapped him on the back. "We were being nice."
"I really wish you'd stop." Remus said.
"Not until today is over." James said and then he and Sirius disappeared upstairs.
Remus sighed, what had he done?
~ (*) ~
On Saturdays no one was ever up.
"Hey! Up." Remus said and kicked Sirius's bed and then did the same to James's.
"What'dya want us up for?" James asked sleepily, trying to adjust his eyes to the light and groping about for his glasses.
"I got you something." Remus said and put a bag on the floor.
Sirius and James both sat up straight, attention captured.
"What is it?" Sirius asked excited.
Remus sighed and looked at them both seriously.
"This past week has been--- well--- unusual." Remus said slowly.
Neither Sirius nor James spoke.
"And well--- maybe I was a little out of bounds in asking you to be something you are obviously not."
James and Sirius grinned at each other.
"So," Remus said and kicked the bag a little. "in this bag are a bunch of things from the joke shop to make up for it."
James looked as though he wanted to pounce on it but held back as Sirius replied, "How did you get that?"
"I have ways," Remus said, "I'll give them to you as long as you promise to never be so creepily absurd again."
"Oh don't worry about that," James said eyeing the joke bag eagerly. "My mouth feels dirty from saying all those nice things to those Slytherins."
"Good." Remus looked relieved. "I see you both downstairs then." He said and left to go to breakfast.
"So..." James said, picking through the bag. "What do you say we enter with a bang?"
"Sounds like a plan." Sirius grinned enthusiastically.
Let's just say, breakfast was anything but 'nice'.