Hello friends! I seriously need to post on the proper days. Anyway, enjoy! Disclaimer: once more these characters are unfortunately not under my creation.
And just like that, the fifth year approached swiftly. The boys approached their first animagus transformation and their first full moon.
And the full moons were the true adventure. When all hell breaks loose and the boys go and console their friend together, all their fights or arguments of the day hide away while they enjoy those brisk hours.
However the price to get where they were in 5th year was a lot. Waking up at the beginning of dawn and just when the sun went down to do the enchantment. For three years straight, it was the same routine.
The final step was to perform the spell during a thunderstorm. Which they didn't have to wait too long for, a couple weeks after the beginning of term a crack of thunder shook the common room.
The boys exchanged glances and their feet pounced up, each getting ready for the other. Remus was extremely hesitant, not only was this illegal but painful. He knew from experience, how would his friends take it?
Eventually they were ready and hunted down the spot they had set their plan on. A corridor with three nearby empty rooms or closets so each could transform in their own room.
Remus placed a silencing charm on all the rooms and the other three entered their room. Each chanting the same word that would change them forever.
The crackling of thunder made a pit in Remus's stomach, fear jibbed at him. He didn't want this for them, he didn't want them to have to suffer for him. He knew how painful it was to transform into anything that wasn't human, he understood. It was something he would never wish upon another person.
He waited a few more minutes before deciding to go into the nearest one. He entered the classroom to find desks piled. The fear caused adrenaline to rush to his head, now it wasn't just the storm pounding.
Then lightning cracked down and bright light flashed through the room, if highlighted a black creeping figure. The figure was a black dog, the hair was shaggy and the eyes were steel.
There was no doubt who it was. But if there was, the next moment when his tail wagged, his four paws slipped on the tile floor, and the dog laid like a starfish, an automatic, "Sirius", came from Remus.
Sirius confirmed it with a furiously wagging tail and his signature grin. Remus felt his own smile widening at the goofy grin on an animal.
He then proceeded out the room, the wobbling dog behind him. He ducked into the next one and found no one. There was no flash of lightning to highlight any figure, there was nothing except an odd squeaking noise.
Sirius and Remus exchanged a look before panic mode set in. Black tried to run around the room in his new form but couldn't help falling like crazy. Lupin on the other hand only thought of the worst, he was clawing himself in his own mind.
Then finally Black came back to Remus holding a brown scrappy rat. Lupin looked at it—not understanding the dog eyes of Sirius—wondering what the hell he was thinking in that second.
Remus cautiously took the rat from Sirius's mouth, a concerned smile playing on his face. The rat began to squeak obsessively, and the dog was nudging Lupin.
The two dots clicked and all of sudden a humongous smile was found on Remus's face. He started to laugh gleefully, forgetting about the other marauder for a couple of minutes.
Finally, he remembered James and anxiety met him once again. The three marauders crept out and walked to the closet across the hall, and approached the final door.
On the other side was loud noises and banging, apparently the silencing charm wore off. It didn't sound too good. The boys felt worry strike into their heart. Remus slowly turned the golden knob and opened the creaky wooden door.
The marauders were met with a large dark brown stag, stuck in the cramped closet and stumbling to get up. The stag lifted his head and met Remus's eyes with a plea for help.
However instead of receiving the wanted help, Remus broke down in laughter. He cradled his stomach while looking at the pitiful James. Who only narrowed his deer eyes in annoyance, letting out an exasperated bleat.
A few minutes later and the boys retransformed into their normal human selves. Returning with overpowering smiles, applause, and laughter.
They reentered the common room with those same looks causing everyone to think they had pulled their greatest prank yet. Which included Lily, who as a new prefect rushed over to the other 5th year prefect, Remus.
"What're you planning? You're a prefect now Remus. You have to stop stooping to their level of childishness." She lectured the wide grinning Remus, her arms were crossed and her eyebrows furrowed.
He returned the sentiment with his stupid grin before running upstairs. Lily let out an exasperated sigh, knowing she couldn't change his outlook.
A week later came the first full moon in which they could transform. The three animagi were excited to help the werewolf Remus, but Lupin wasn't so keen on the idea.
"No, it's too soon. What happens if I scratch you? Or bite you? Now you would be a werewolf too. And it would be my fault. It's too dangerous." He fiercely fought against the idea.
"Moony, mate, that was the whole point of this damned thing! To help you. Screw what ifs, we could stand here and talk for hours about what ifs. But why do that when you can have your best mates with you." James fought back, his eyes connected with the cast down sunset eyes of Lupin.
"Couldn't have said it any better, Prongs." Sirius placed hand on Remus's shoulder, a soft smile comforting him.
"Fine, but if I get hostile, promise me you'll be out of there." Remus told them, but before he could finish the other boys started to cheer.
"You won't regret it, Moony!" Peter yelled back before following the other two to the dining hall for dinner. Remus walked alone to the infirmary, praying to any God that he wouldn't hurt himself.
Lupin sat alone in the shrieking shack, hearing the sway of the wind and watching the sun go down. A deep sigh reverberated through him before the other boys burst through the door.
Wide grins were set on their faces, Remus looked out the window and saw the moon on its climb. He shut them up and hurried their transformation, James and Sirius hid in a closet while Peter watched Remus.
The full moon's rays beamed across Lupin's back and Remus looked back. His body ached and pushed, his mind became muddled. He felt great pain shoot all through him and no matter how many years he had been a werewolf it still caused him to scream in horror.
Next thing he remembered was seeing his friend rat back into a corner. Then the darkness of night met Remus, he was alien in his mind, only feeling nothing.
Peter was backing into a corner to shrink away from the swelling and breaking body of Remus. The process was ugly and cruel, and he understood why others would consider the werewolf a monster.
But once he was done, the amber eyes of his friend stared back at him. Recollection of this rat fellow crossed through the werewolf's mind, and a trying grin greeted Wormtail.
Wormtail let out a few squeaks and Prongs came out, along with his dog friend, Padfoot. They tediously went up to their transformed friend and were greeted with a weird slanted teeth smile, a sense of security was placed in the two animagi.
The stag nodded his head down, his prongs being playfully clawed at by the wolf. He chased the wolf around in the tight area, the dog joining in after a while.
James was enjoying every last second, but couldn't help feeling restrained. Perhaps it was the fact that he kept sliding into the walls, and his antlers kept getting stuck in the broken walls.
But the room was far too small and the boys wanted to adventure farther. And there was only one way to do it, Peter squeezed through the small closed door and unlocked the door. The creatures flooded out, and Peter continued the mission.
Eventually around two in the morning, the creatures could've been seen chasing each other on the ground near the forbidden forest. Testing the boundary, but the stag daringly took a step into the forest and began to pounce.
He ran around the magnificent forest, hearing the howl of his wolf friend and his dog buddy joining in. Peter was situated on his back, gripping onto his fur.
The marauders used the night to run and run around, having the best time together. However, by three they had to sneak back into the shrieking shack and sneak the other boys out.
Peter hit the knob to stop the Whomping Willow and the boys hurried back in, Remus transformed already back into a human and was passed out. Sirius and James carried him back in, and placed on the torn up bed.
Wormtail transformed back into his human self and joined back into the celebration of the first night. The adventure replaying through their mind, and an exceeding amount of happiness coming with it.
Madam Pomfrey collected Remus and he had his day in the Infirmary, which got him a visit from Lily like usual, and a lot of chocolate that her family sent her. The marauders cascaded in when Lily was about to leave, a weird tension between Lily and James resurfaced. He swiftly ducked his head down before trying another chivalrous smile. She scoffed before turning around leaving.
Sirius slapped James on the back and laughed at him, James responded by lightly pushing Padfoot's chest. The boys then turned their attention to Remus, who had a similar bright smile.
"Last night was so much fun, we can write about it for you!" Peter stood on the left side of the cot and excitedly told him, but Remus stopped him before he could continue his rambling.
"I know. I can remember." A dreadful silence echoed, before all the three boys shot up with shocked looks and gleeful cries.
They were in the middle of asking questions and begging for answers when Madam Pomfrey entered the scene. She shooed the boys out, of course not without a protest.
"Aww, c'mon, Pommy! We're his best mates. We just want to make him relax." Sirius whined, trying to fight against the magic that was escorting him out.
"He needs his rest, not a bunch of mischievous deviants." She snapped back, before attending back to Remus.
"You don't really mean that, Pommy, do you?" James acted offended, setting his hands on chest where his heart was.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling at their tomfoolery. Peter entered his two-cents, "You hurt us, Pommy!"
The bodies finally reached the other side of the door and it slammed behind them. Sirius turned around and attempted to get back into the room, only to be met with his butt on the floor.
Peter and James cackled in laughter as Sirius began to rub his butt. A few students passed by and gave them weird looks, but they were the marauders. They were always laughing.
They walked back up to the Gryffindor tower, running into Peeves along the way. Peeves always helped them out in their prank business, he especially enjoyed talking to Sirius.
But finally they're reached their dormitory, escaping the in depth conversation of pranking with Peeves. They settled on the floor and got out a deck of Exploding Snap.
Wormtail spoke with a serious tone and asked, "Did any of you get scratched?"
Sirius shook his head no before placing down his card, James hesitated. He looked up at Peter and said, "Did you?"
Peter shook his head no before smiling widely, proud of the no scratch discovery. He placed down his card.
James smiled back, but ignored the pain in his back. Though he was scratched he found that it didn't matter, it would only do harm not help them. So he remained quiet about his injuries from that day forward.
"Aha! I win!" Sirius exclaimed, he then jumped up and paraded himself around the dorm. The boys chuckled before heading off to the Great Hall, with black spots of smoke still puffing on the floor.
Their classes sped by, their attention still not entirely focused on the subject. Aside from Transfiguration where James was providing avid details about some spell. But soon the boys were back in their dorm, getting ready for slumber.
Dreams followed them to bed, running through the wide open forest with the feeling of freedom flowing on their backs. Their animagus followed them forever, and full moons became their favorite time of the month. Even Remus couldn't help but anticipate the next one. The marauders and their spirit animals, coursing through all hardships that came their way.