Chapter 4

The Map, the Moon, and the Wardrobe

The sun was rising on the eastern hills of Hogwarts and three youths yawned reluctantly and got out of their beds. Only one didn't get up with the others. The one that had only gotten three hours of sleep due to nightmares. His nightmares consisted of his godfather falling into the veil over and over again, with a woman's insane laughter in the distance.

The three other boys stood over his bed, throwing open the red hangings. Sunlight danced on his black hair and fine-features face. His slightly big nose, large eyes, and smirking mouth (however was twisted in a state of pain) all came together to form a very handsome sixteen-year-old. His friend James grinned, leaning over his chum and whispering.

"Siiiriusss…" he drew his breathe, "waaaaakkkeee uuuuppp." Padfoot groaned. James smiled.

"Dudley, what are you doing here?" Sirius asked, halfway in dreamland. The two other boys snickered.

"Dudley?" The youngest one asked curiously, with beady, black eyes and a squirmy look to him stood in the back. He had dirty-blond hair that was slightly unkempt, but not as bad as the other three. Wormtail, as they called him, was the last to become an Animagus, in one of the simplest forms—that is to say; a rat.

"Strange name for a girlfriend," said Moony, smirking. The last was a bit pecky looking, but only because the full moon was approaching. He was a werewolf, and had been one for years. Until James and Sirius figured out what he was, he had to feel the pain of transformation, make up lies for his absence, and so on. However, now he had to watch over James and Sirius to "make sure they didn't kill anyone", in the Headmaster's words. Blond haired and brown eyed, he was normal, despite the werewolf factor.

James let more teeth show in his grin, "Who's Dudley? Are you cheating on me?" James laxed his face into mock concern. Sirius's hand whipped out suddenly, smacking James's face in the process of searching for glasses that didn't exist.

"Oi, Padfoot, what the hell was that for!" James leapt back and rubbed his face. Sirius's eyes snapped open.

"Oh," he said. For he had just remembered where he was. Not at Privet Drive number 4, not at Ron's, not at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, but at Hogwarts. Hogwarts twenty years ago in a body that wasn't his.

"That's it?" James asked, mouth slightly open. "That's all you have to say? You went absolutely berserk last night. I knew that you wanted a full moon, but you have to find other ways to get my attention." James grinned. Wormtail giggled. But Moony gazed at him, thinking. Something was defiantly wrong. First there was no moon, and then Sirius goes crazy, and forgets the next day. He shivered.

"Right… James?" Sirius looked at his raven-haired soul mate.

"Since when have you called me James, Padfoot?"

"Dunno. I'm just…" he rubbed his temples, "a little stressed."

"You think?" James laughed it off, but Moony's eyes forged into Padfoot.

"What was that last night?" he asked quietly.

"What was what?" the three glared at him. "Oh yeah, that…" Darn. He thought, I guess I'm not getting away with anything today. Now, what's an excuse they'd fall for… "I was just sleepwalking I guess. I mean, I woke up and I'm standing in front of the mirror, and you were staring at me."

"I've never made you out as a sleepwalker," Moony said suspiciously.

"Yeah," Wormtail chimed in. James glared at them.

"Don't be stupid, give Paddy a break, he's obviously stressed," Harry felt a swoop of gratefulness towards his father. Moony grunted and they all started changing into their robes. Harry sat in a daze, still in his bed.

"Er… I'm going to go downstairs…" he started.

"Don't be such a git, Padfoot, get dressed and we'll all go down together," demanded James. Harry's gratitude towards him vanished. "And take a bath—you smell," he added.

Harry had a hard time that morning. He felt he owned Sirius (and his sanity) not to see himself naked. Taking a bath with his eyes closed and getting dressed with his gaze on the ceiling left him with some bruises, but no pictures that might come up later on.

He joined the other boys back in the room, to find them in a heap, fighting and laughing. He shyly threw his pajamas on his bed and started out the door. Harry felt he didn't belong.

"Patfoot, where ya goin'? You missed the whole thing! Wormtail looked like he was going to cry," James laughed. Serves him right. Harry added.

"What happened?" he forced a grin. Harry didn't want to give Lupin any more reasons to be suspicious to him. If they found out who he was, it would ruin everything. Best to start acting like Sirius.

"Well, let's just say his socks had a mind of their own," James grinned and winked, and Harry couldn't help but think that the old Sirius had helped with this dirty trick.

"That was a dirty trick," Wormtail argued, reading Harry's mind.

"Come on, we don't want to be late for Transfiguration," Lupin reminded them.

"Hand on, I need to get the map," James dug through his truck, throwing old socks and undergarments in the faces of his friends before finally retrieving the Marauders map. Harry gazed at it. I'm glad I know how to do that much.

At breakfast, the school was in chaos. Girls were shrieking in laughter, and boys were shouting profanities at a feather-covered, sixteen-year-old Snape. Harry could see his father out the corner of his eye. He was grinning from ear to ear. Again, Harry had the feeling at the pit of his stomach that he had been responsible for this.

"Mr. Lupin? Could I have a word with you now?" the four boys turned around to see the smiling face of Dumbledore.

"Professor," he greeted, nodding and followed him out of the Great Hall. The three remaining boys exchanged worried looks.

"I hope he doesn't get in trouble…" Harry started, but James and Peter laughed.

"Moony never gets in trouble, he's too much of a goody-goody," James explained. "Duh."

"Oh yeah," Harry was glad Moony wasn't there to catch his second… wait… third mistake so far.

"Let's find a seat," James lead the two to through the crowd and sat at the head of the table. Sirius sat next to him, and Peter sat across from them.

"So Sirius, looks like your feather trick worked. I had my doubts, but you pulled it off well," James grinned at his best friend. "But you know the best is coming."

"Heh, well, I knew it was going to work of course… I've been, er, doing it for ages," Harry tried to sound convincing. And then… "OUCH!" someone had hit him across the back of his head.

"I KNEW IT WAS YOU," shouted a voice, "BOTH YOU YOU TWO… CREATURES!" Harry and James spun around, Wormtail blushed and looked at his half-eaten porridge.

"Aw, Evans," James started in a slightly deeper voice, "It wasn't us. We're angels."

"Shut up, Potter. I heard you two talking about it. What a horrible trick! One day," she pointed a shaky finger at James, "one day you'll get what you deserve." Harry winced, but James laughed harder. He gazed at his would-be-mother. She was beautiful. Dark red hair was cropped and scooped into her heart-shaped face. Sunlight shone on her eyes, making her pupils dilate and he eyes vividly green. Harry's eyes.

"So, are you listening in on our conversations now? Evans, I'm surprised. I didn't know you liked me that much." She scowled.

"Anyone with a brain could guess it was you, you…" she searched for a word, but couldn't find one. James laughed at her. "Just, don't do it again!" She huffed away and aggressively pushed past Lupin, whom had just walked up.

"What was that all about?"

"She knows about Snape."

"Anyone with a brain would know it was you two."

"Haven't heard that one before," James retorted sulkily, eyes glaring at his half-eaten toast. "Why does she have to stick up for him? After he's called her… a… a you-know-what! I've never called her that. FOR GOD'S SAKE, I even defend her!"

"Tough luck, Prongs," said Harry, remembering the phrase from Snape's pensive.

"Well, I have some news that might cheer you up, Prongs," said Lupin, grinning.

"Yeah?" he looked up.

"Professor Dumbledore told me the full moon is tonight."

Note to the readers:

Answering your question about where Sirius went (because it's not going to be answered in the story): He is still in his body, only dormant. Like when Voldemort took over Ginny's body… yeah, along the lines of that. I know it's not that original, but Sirius in the future at the Dursley's house wouldn't be that interesting, and would reveal things about the future. I chose Sirius instead of James because Harry already knows a lot about his godfather. His father, whom he has never had a conversation with EVER will be more interesting to him. Besides, it was BLACK'S mirror. It just seemed logical. ) –Cox Poppy.