A/N: Yay! A new chapter! Alas, a very short new chapter. Stuff will start being longer in a few weeks, I promise. Thanks to all your reviews. Beansie: A friend pointed out to me that if Peter were Muggle-born, it's not likely he would have been allowed to become a Death Eater, nor would he have had the desire to become one, what with the whole purity of blood thing. Courtney: I realize they wouldn't be patient, and I know I introduce a lot of people (half of whom you helped make up, so I don' t know why you are complaining), but that's life. I don't need to explain them all or give them purpose yet, as long as it comes eventually.

By the way, accompanying this chapter will be a few edits of my first few chapters, just fixing a few errors, things I don't like, etc, so if you want, you can look over those changes, but it's nothing major.

Disclaimer: standard disclaimer applies

Once, They Were Friends

Book One: Moony

Chapter 6: First Adventure

"The kitchens are probably somewhere near the Great Hall, right?" said Sirius. The others nodded. "Either one floor right above, below, or next to it. I don't think they are right above us, because we've had a class in one of those rooms, and I saw kids going into most of the doors right above here. I think there's a way to get in from the entrance hall, or maybe in the dungeons below us."

"Well though out," said Remus, "but this school is huge. We could be searching for hours, and I don't want you guys going into that kind of trouble for my birthday. It isn't that important, really."

"First of all," said James, "your birthday is very important to us, your friends. Second, having said that, this isn't just for cake. We want to start learning every nook and cranny of this school, for optimum pranking capabilities. We have to start somewhere, why not the kitchens."

"I think it's a great idea," said Peter enthusiastically, though the remark was entirely unnecessary.

"Right,"said Sirius in an off-handed way, not sure how to respond. "If everyone is done eating, I think we should go now, if we want to roam the halls without crowds. Most people are eating." James nodded in agreement, and Remus grabbed another roll for the exploit. He wasn't used to this much food at once, and found he was unusually hungry.

The entrance hall was almost completely empty, making their voices echo a little. They wandered around the perimeter of the hall, peering down the halls of classrooms, running their hands along the walls near the door to the great hall. The four of them had split up, Sirius and Lupin both wandering on their own and Peter tailing James.

Rather suddenly, Sirius shouted out, "I think I've found something." He was standing by the side of the great staircase that led up into the next floors.

James ran over to him, and, not paying very close attention to where he was going, he crashed into another student. "Sorry about that," he said, standing up and brushing himself off. He looked at the pale, greasy haired boy, and extended his hand. "I'm James Potter."

"I know who you are," spat the scowling boy. "And I want nothing to do you. Any of you," he added, surveying Remus' secondhand robes. His were, oddly enough, of the same quality, but his attitude was so cold that one was inclined to ignore that about him.

"I was just trying to be polite," said James, a little bitterly. "You didn't have to bite my head off. What do I care if I have nothing to do with you?"

The other boy looked at James, deliberating whether to respond or not. In the end, he found he had nothing to say, and instead stalked up the stairs to his dormitory.

"That was odd," said James to Remus and Peter, then, realizing Sirius was still waiting for them, turned and ran over to him.

"I found a door," said Sirius when the others came over. "I think I'll open it."

"Because that's the last thing one would expect you to do with a door," said James, laughing. Sirius glared, then laughed and opened the door.

Behind it was a small corridor with a marble staircase. It didn't lead to any classrooms that they could see, so they decided this was a promising route to take. Down the staircase was a hallway covered in paintings of fruit.

"It would make sense for one of these to lead to the kitchens," said James, "but I can't see any door."

Remus leaned against the wall, then pulled back quickly when he felt a painting behind him. He shook his head to get the hair out of his eyes, some of it hitting against the canvas. "I told you we shouldn't have bothered. How are we, a bunch of first year students in their first real day of school, supposed to be able to find the kitchens, which I'm guessing most students never find." But just as he said these words, the large green pear behind him began to laugh, and the painting swung off the wall, revealing a bustling kitchen.

"You were saying, Remus?" said James, smiling and pushing ahead into the kitchen.

"Honestly, Remus, you mustn't doubt our abilities as a pranking team. I think tonight's little exploit proves we are going to be very successful in this school, don't you think, James?"

"I think I do, Sirius. Now, are we getting cake or not?"

As soon as he said that, a half-dozen short little creatures with large eyes and pointed ears surrounded them. "How may we help young sirs?" asked one of the elf-like creatures. "It is our pleasure to be of service to you."

Sirius noticed Remus' confused and mystified expression and whispered, "They're house-elves. We have one at home. They cook and clean and things." Remus nodded in understanding.

James had decided to speak up. "We want a cake for our friend here. What kind are you partial to, Remus?"

"I've always liked chocolate, but what ever you guys want is fine, too."

James nodded. "A large chocolate cake, with the words 'Happy Birthday Remus' if you can manage it. And some candles or sparklers would be nice, too."

Within minutes, the house-elves returned with a cake, alight with sparkling candles. "Wonderful," said James, and carrying the cake out of the kitchen, he added, "We're welcome back, right?"

"Of course, young masters. It is our sworn duty to serve Hogwarts staff and students."

"Excellent," said Sirius, just thinking of the possibilities, the fun they could have with such access to food. "Shall we head back up to the dormitory and enjoy this, then?"

James walked first, carrying the large cake. He was followed by Sirius and Peter. Remus walked a few paces behind. He saw the cake that sparkled ahead of him, and he didn't care if it was as good as it looked or if it tasted like mud. He had friends who made the effort to mark his birthday as if it was something special, something to be celebrated. Since Rom had died, his mother tried to make his birthdays joyous, but since it would have also been his brother's birthday, these events could never really be enjoyed. Nothing in Remus' life for the past two years had really been enjoyed, because he had no one to enjoy it with. Now he had friends. Good friends, friends who were beginning to care about him. They didn't really know each other, not yet, but that would come in time. Soon, they would be nearly inseparable, like best friends often were, and they would know everything about each other.

Everything. That frightened Remus. His secrets were what would drive them away, what would keep out all that he longed for. They had been impressed by Professor Kirn's "accomplishments," Remus sensed that. They looked at their teacher with a sort of awe young boys usually reserve for athletes and super-heros, not teachers. That meant they thought werewolves were something to be killed, monsters to be disposed of.

So they must never find out. Not ever. It wouldn't be easy, but he would begin getting practice at it in just a few days time. The full moon was approaching. Remus could feel it.

A/N: That's all for a while, 'cause I'll be away from a computer for the next five or six days. Sorry. But you know what to do. Leave lots of reviews for me to read when I get back. That would be much appreciated.