An hour later the two boys were on their way. Four hours later they were still on their way. Severus flew a straight path; he kept the break in the trees that designated the muggle road in sight and was careful to stay low enough to avoid being seen. Sirius was in and out of the forest canopy. One minute he was dodging branches the next he was doing loop-de-loops in the clear blue sky above Severus.
"How much longer till we get there?" Severus yelled.
Sirius roared to new heights a moment later he dropped back to Severus' level. "I can see the river that marks the halfway point."
Severus groaned. "I've been on this broom so long my arse is going numb."
"Wimp."
"I have better things to do than live on a broom."
"Like get killed by Malfoy?"
"If we turn back now we could still see the expression on his face when the Devil's Snare grabs him," Severus tempted.
"It's Malfoy, he'll still be fit to be tied next week," Sirius replied carelessly.
Severus muttered various uncomplimentary things under his breath but kept flying.
It was well after lunch when the two boys arrived at the Pettigrews' modest home. Peter was in the yard pacing.
"Sorry, it took longer than I thought," Sirius said as they alighted.
"I was starting to think that the nutcase had killed you," Peter exclaimed with a venomous look at Snape.
"Like he could," Sirius laughed.
"I'm standing right here," Severus complained.
"Look I'm starved," Sirius said. "We didn't think to pack a lunch. Could we raid the pantry before catching up with James and Remus?"
"Help yourself," Peter said and led the two taller boys inside.
Sirius spared a moment to stick his head in the parlor and offered Peter's mother a charming smile and a cheerful hello.
"It's good you're here, I'm afraid my grass would have protested anymore pacing," Mrs. Pettigrew replied. "I still don't understand why you didn't just floo in; it's such a long flight."
"I just got a new broom. Second years are allowed you know. I had to try it out," Sirius explained glibly.
"Boys and their toys," Mrs. Pettigrew laughed. "Still I would never let Peter go that far by broom."
Sirius made a sad face. "I think my family was glad to be shut of me for so long."
Mrs. Pettigrew patted Sirius on the shoulder apologetically. "I'm certain you and your friend are hungry after all that exercise. I won't keep you."
Sirius thanked her then the three boys hurried on to the kitchen.
"There's a roast in the cold box, you can make sandwiches real quick," Peter offered. "We don't want to waste the whole day. I bet James and Remus are having loads of fun without us."
"Naw, who could have fun without me?" Sirius laughed. He dug through the cold box and tossed a variety of fixings to Severus while Peter produced a loaf of bread and silverware.
It only took the boys ten minutes to scarf down their meal. Then they trooped into the living room and flooed over to the Potters' with their brooms.
James and Remus were playing Wizard's Chess when the threesome tumbled gracelessly out of the fireplace.
"We're going to have to figure out a quicker way to sneak you past your parents," James said to Sirius.
"The fireplace is warded, I can't floo without permission," Sirius replied there was a touch of frustration in his voice.
"It's too bad they won't teach us to apparate yet," Peter remarked.
"What you need is a portkey," James stated authoritatively.
Sirius turned puppy-dog eyes on Remus. "Remy, my bestest, bestest friend ever, Remy. You know how to make a portkey right? All that reading you do…"
"No," Remus sighed.
"Please, pretty, pretty please. I know you could figure it out."
"I'm not going to risk sending you to the middle of the North Sea or merging you with the key or any of the other hundred things that could go wrong with an inexpertly made portkey," Remus stated firmly.
"You're serious huh?" Sirius sighed. "I guess I'll just have to leave really early next time."
"Or don't go back," James said.
"Oh no, we are definitely going back before your family tells my father I ran away," Severus protested.
"I left Malfoy with a Devil's Snare under his bed," Sirius said. "I gotta see how it turns out."
"Okay, okay," James laughed. "You've gotta go back, this time anyway. We wasted enough time; lets play Quidditch. We've got five people so here are the rules: All against all, one Keeper and two Beaters on defense, two Chasers on offense; we rotate every five minutes. If anyone sees the Snitch they go for it."
"Got it," Sirius exclaimed.
"I've been on a broom for hours," Severus complained.
"Let's go," Peter grinned.
"I can't," Remus said softly.
"Awe come on Remus, you used to practice with us," James wheedled.
"You're almost as good as I am," Sirius added.
"I don't want to play," Severus stated.
"Come on Remus, don't be a wet rag," Peter complained.
"I can't."
"This is about Mr. Hilbury isn't it," Sirius said. "You played until he had that I talk /I with you."
"It's about me being sick," Remus replied.
"So if you start feeling bad we'll quite," James decided.
"No!" Remus exclaimed. "Mr. Hilbury said I might give it to you."
"Mr. Hilbury? Not Madam Pomfrey?" Sirius clarified.
"She never said I couldn't play," Remus admitted. "Still, I'm not going to risk it."
"Madam Pomfrey okayed it but you're not playing because of Hilbury?" James demanded.
"I…"
"Live a little Remy, I'm willing to bet Madam Pomfrey knows more about healing than the flying coach," Sirius said.
"I'm not worried," James said.
"Hey you guys know me. I'm up for anything if you guys are," Peter chimed in.
"I don't want to play, I never did," Severus interjected.
"Snape!" the other three yelled accusingly.
"What? I don't wanna…"
Sirius glared at the Slytherin boy angrily.
"Fine," Severus sighed.
"Looks like I'm in too," Remus said. He slapped Severus on the shoulder. "When it's Quidditch it's hopeless to argue with them."
The Slytherin boy flinched then caught himself.
"So what are we using for a goal?" Peter asked.
"I've got a hoop nailed up in a tree out back. I'll point it out for you. I'm taking Chaser first," James said.
"Me too! I'm with James!" Peter exclaimed. He jogged after James as he headed outside.
"I've got Beater," Sirius said. "I can charm a timer to let us know when to rotate. Chaser to Beater to Keeper to Chaser to Beater?"
"Sure."
"Any preference?" Remus asked Severus.
"I'll Keep. How long are they going to make us do this?"
"Until James' mom calls us in for dinner," Remus replied.
"And Black is happy about it?" Severus groaned.
"It's Quidditch." Remus shrugged. They mounted their brooms and joined the other boys in the sky.
James pointed out the goal and indicated the side of the house. "Chasers have to bank the Quaffle off the house before going for the goal." He landed briefly, let the other boys get into position then released the Bludgers and the Snitch. James took off with the Quaffle. He bounced it off the house to Peter.
Remus and Sirius took off after the Bludgers. Peter few for the goal and tried to score. Severus caught the Quaffle and tossed it back.
Peter flew back to the house and bounced the Quaffle to James. Sirius swatted a Bludger at this friend. James rolled and passed the Quaffle to Peter.
Remus had lined himself up opposite of Sirius. He quickly redirected the Bludger James had dodged toward Peter. Peter took a hit, rolled with the impact and dropped the Quaffle. James flew beneath Peter and caught the Quaffle as it fell. Sirius went after the second Bludger. Remus intercepted the other Bludger as it rebounded off of Peter and hit it at James. James grinned and tucked the Quaffle against his side as he leaned over his broom. The Bludger chased after the bespectacled Gryffindor. James flew straight at Severus. The lone Slytherin held his ground between James and the goal. When a crash seemed unavoidable James dove and left Severus face to face with the Bludger. Severus jerked his broom desperately to the side; the Bludger grazed his elbow as it shot past him. While Severus fought to stay aloft James pulled out of his dive and tossed the Quaffle through the hoop.
James sped after the Quaffle and scooped it up inches from the ground. "Clock's still running," he called as he flew back to the house and bounced the Quaffle off the wall and back to himself.
Sirius gave up on the second Bludger and joined Remus in keeping the first where it would do the most good. The two boys batted the Bludger back and forth in front of the goal turning it into an added line of defense as James made his second run. James eyed them suspiciously but the clock was down to thirty seconds. When James set himself to throw Sirius finally directed the Bludger at him. It struck James' upraised arm. James rolled with the blow but lost the Quaffle. Peter tried to scoop it off the grass only to flinch away when Remus used the Bludger to defend it.
James dove and rolled to avoid Sirius' Bludger. He grabbed the Quaffle off the grass and while still upside down he threw the Quaffle at the goal. The buzzer rang.
Severus caught the Quaffle and held it. "What now?" he asked.
"Keep it; you're Chasing," Sirius instructed. "Remus Keep, I'll Chase. James catch!"
James smirked and plucked the Beater's bat out of the air. "I'm ahead and no sign of the Snitch," he said.
Peter flew to the goal to collect Remus' bat and Sirius reset his timing charm then he flew after Severus. "Snape, if we want to score we're going to have to work together," he hissed when he caught up with the other boy.
"I get the first shot at a goal," Severus bargained.
"Deal, then we trade off."
Severus rebounded the Quaffle to Sirius then took off for the goal. He scanned the skies for the Snitch while he waited for Sirius to pass him the Quaffle. Sirius wove between James' Bludger strikes. Occasionally he flew at Peter in an attempt to startle the sandy-haired Gryffindor out of position. Peter grimly held his ground and kept returning the Bludger to James. Sirius soared into the sky as he tossed the Quaffle to Severus. The almost forgotten Slytherin boy tried to angle the Quaffle behind Remus. The golden-eyed boy stretched for it; the Quaffle grazed his fingertips and went through the hoop.
"Darn it all, it would have missed if I hadn't touched it," Remus exclaimed.
"The score's still good Lupin," Severus protested.
Sirius blasted past the goal to retrieve the Quaffle. "We're still on the clock," he yelled. He tossed the Quaffle to Severus then dive-bombed Peter. The Bludger went wild and James cursed as he turned to chase after it. Severus bounced the Quaffle back to himself then passed it to Sirius. Sirius flew straight at Remus then rolled and put the Quaffle through the goal as he shot past the startled Keeper.
Severus caught the Quaffle before it could hit the ground and flew back toward the house. He rebounded it to put it in play then waited for Sirius to deliver it back to him.
This time Remus had them figured out. He kept his eye on Severus and stopped the Slytherin's attempt to score. The buzzer rang as Remus returned the Quaffle to Sirius.
The next rotation saw Sirius and Severus as Beaters while Peter took the Keeper's spot leaving James and Remus on offence. With Remus' help James scored twice on Peter before Severus and Sirius started passing the Bludger back and forth to keep it on hand until using it to knock the Quaffle away from the goal before it could get past Peter.
The scores crept upward. While Sirius was Keeping against Peter and Severus he spotted the Snitch and took off after it. The other three Gryffindors flew after him. Severus quietly scored on the untended goal then retrieved the Quaffle and scored four more times before the rotation ended and the Snitch was lost again.
Dinnertime arrived before the Snitch was caught. After a quick conference the boys beat the Bludgers into submission, packed up the Quaffle and finished off their game with an all out Snitch-hunt.
James spotted the illusive golden ball hiding in the trees. He landed, covered in scratches from close encounters with the foliage but triumphant.
"I bet you purposely get your glasses a little farsighted," Peter accused jokingly.
"Naw, I've just got a lot of practice in looking for things I can't see," James replied. "Who got second?"
Remus pointed to Severus. "And only by seventy points too," he said.
"How the bloody hell did you manage that?" Sirius exclaimed.
Severus smirked. "You leave the goal undefended… frequently."
Peter scowled. "How many other ways did you cheat?"
"It's not my fault everyone else has a glory-fixation," Severus said in a smug, superior tone.
"Cool it Pete," James said quietly. "What'd ya expect, he plays like a Slytherin; the letter of the rules but not the spirit."
Severus opened his mouth to defend himself and got an elbow in the ribs from Sirius. "Like I care what you think of me," he muttered instead.
"Boys! Dinner's on the table!" Mrs. Potter called.