Chapter Six: Dueling

They arrived a bit late, and to their great disappointment, Professor Carter was already there and ready to begin the lesson. Peter remembered that they were to begin studying dueling and anxiously got out his book, oblivious to the stern look Professor Carter was giving the latecomers.

"You should all have read up on dueling since last week," the professor began. Peter nodded vigorously, having finished the required reading as well as an entire library book on dueling. He was pretty confident that he wouldn't make a fool out of himself in class.

"But to refresh your memories, we will begin with a demonstration of the etiquette of dueling," he went on. "Could I have Mr. Potter and Mr. Black up here to help me?"

James and Sirius smiled and scrambled to the front of the room.

"Stand facing each other, wands out and up," Professor Carter directed. "Bring them up like so," he said, holding his wand straight up in front of his face, "And down to your side."

James and Sirius imitated their teacher, trying hard not to laugh. "Then turn around and walk ten paces. Very good. Now turn back, and prepare to cast your spell as I count to three," he continued. "But for Merlin's sake, don't actually cast one!"

He looked suspiciously at his two helpers, but shrugged and counted, "1, 2, 3!"

At the same moment, Sirius yelled, "Abhorreo Mora!" as James yelled, "Perfundo!" Peter watched in amazement as James began to shudder uncontrollably and Sirius looked as if a bucket of water had just been poured on him. Professor Carter quickly, but exasperatedly, stepped in and stopped James' shuddering and Sirius' dripping water onto the floor.

"Thank you for your help in the demonstration, boys," Professor Carter said tiredly. "I will give you five points each for helping, which evens out when I take away five points each for disobeying me." He smiled good-naturedly as their faces fell. "Let's break into pairs and try what we've just seen…without the spells, of course." As he paired the class up, he wisely broke up the dangerous duo and put Peter with James and Sirius with Remus.

The rest of the time passed uneventfully as they practiced bowing and pacing. Peter felt confident that he knew what he was doing- up until he would have to cast a spell. He hurried through his lunch, trying not to think about their next class with the Slytherins. Fortunately, nothing noteworthy happened and everyone returned to their own common rooms unscathed that night.

Peter didn't sleep well. The mysterious pranksters, Dumbledore's worried face, and his anxieties about school all churned around in his head. When he finally did sleep, he tossed and turned so much that when it was time for breakfast, he was more tired than he could ever remember being. James asked him what was wrong, but he just said he hadn't slept well and left it at that.

A week passed, and the moon waxed into its fullest phase. Remus had to leave for the Shrieking Shack right after dinner. The other Marauders went up to Gryffindor Tower and decided to go to their room and have a private discussion about their next big prank. When they entered their room, Fletcher was sitting on his bed, reading. As soon as he saw them, he closed the book and shoved it into his trunk and locked it. Without a word, he left the room.

"Weird," Peter murmured.

"You got that right," James replied. "Our next prank should be on him. He's such an easy target, sharing our room and being so quiet."

Sirius nodded gleefully. "Yeah, we can get him really good."

Peter wasn't sure that was such a good idea, but he didn't feel confident enough to challenge James, so he merely nodded in agreement. They discussed many plans without making a decision, and went to bed still scheming. The next morning, on the way down to breakfast, they were surprised to see a patch of golden mist floating outside the portrait of the fat lady.

"What's that?" Peter asked nervously.

Sirius shrugged. "I have no idea."

James cautiously approached it, examining it as close as he could without touching it. He stood up. "Seems ok," he concluded.

So they forged ahead, into the mist. Before Peter knew what was happening, he was hanging upside down from the floor, which was now above his head. The ceiling below looked a long way off and he was terrified to move. He slowly turned his head and saw his friends also hanging from the castle floor. After a moment of confusion, Sirius disappeared and his voice penetrated the mist. "Just pull your foot from the floor and you'll be ok," it said.

Peter watched in surprise as James lifted his foot and disappeared from the mist. And still he remained motionless, hanging, too scared to move a muscle.

"C'mon Peter, it's easy," James pleaded. "Just lift your foot."

A moment of internal struggle ensued, but finally he realized that he had to try to move his foot unless he wanted to be stuck upside down in the mist forever. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before slowly lifting his foot. It felt like it was made of lead and it seemed like years before he hit the ground, right side up, beside his friends.

"Sorry guys," he muttered. James and Sirius smiled understandingly, but their faces turned to concern as more students emerged from Gryffindor Tower and stared at the mist. The only way around it was to go through it, so James took charge.

"This is some trippy mist," he called across it. "When you walk through it, everything turns upside down and you're hanging from the floor. But all you have to do is lift your foot to get out of it, ok?"

The group of students nodded nervously, then plunged into the mist and reappeared a moment later on the other side.

"Thanks, James," an older girl with long brown hair said. "That Anti-Gravity Mist can be tricky."

"You're welcome, Arabella," James replied.

She stopped and looked puzzled. "Where's Remus?" she asked.

"Running a bit late," Sirius interjected with a broad smile.

Arabella shone her sparkling brown eyes on Sirius and rejoined her friends. James gave Sirius a push and he elbowed James squarely in the stomach. A terrific game of rough housing would have ensued, except for the crowd of Gryffindors gathering on the far side of the mist. Peter cleared his throat to get James' attention and soon every Gryffindor was safely on their way to breakfast.