A/N: Sorry I've taken so long—characters, title not mine—you know the drill—so without further ado:

CHAPTER THREE: The Thumb of Devotion and Events Relating to It

November 13th, 1986

The Reflections of Remus J. Lupin

8:31 AM

Great Hall

I believe I am beginning to understand things. I was most rudely awakened early this morning by a certain Sirius Black gallumphing (gallumphing, mind you!) onto my bed, and covering my mouth with his hand. He then proceeded to whisk me out of my warm, cozy, comfortable bed and down to the empty common room. I tried to relate the indignity of being whisked to him, but he simply shushed me and began giggling madly.

"Sirius, what on earth are you on about?" I said.

"Operation CID!" he whispered, once he had controlled himself. "All right, Remus, here it is, and I'm sorry you weren't informed sooner—Alice and I have been plotting." He said it gleefully, like it should have explained everything.

"Operation what? Plotting? Without me, Padfoot? I'm hurt!" I put on an air of mock pain. "No, really, what're you plotting about?"

"Okay—we first got the idea after you told me about that conversation you had with Lily—you'd already taken the first steps, Moony! It was brilliant! Me n' Alice took it a bit further, though—she volunteered to talk to James and try and knock some sense into him, but it was fruitless, as one would expect, so we staged the little lovey-dovey thing last night. Worked rather well, eh?" Sirius said, rubbing his hands together and raising his eyebrows. "I mean, you've been watching him—he's most clearly up to something. I'm rather curious as to what, though, I didn't mean the thumb thing to influence him."

I sighed in relief. "All right, Sirius. You've put me at ease. But what does CID stand for?"

Sirius suddenly brightened and said, "Oh, that's the best part! It stands for 'Couples In Denial,' Remus! See, me and Alice and you are pranking Lily n' James, but me and you—we're pranking Alice n' Frank!"

The Musings of a Master Marauder

10:42 AM

Transfiguration

Operation Couples-In-Denial is going swimmingly. I think. It's all rather complicated. Alice and Moony and I are plotting against James and Lily, Moony and I are plotting against Alice and Frank, and it's likely that Frank's plotting against me 'cause he thinks I'm after Alice, and James is plotting—well, what is James plotting???

I really am curious. James is plotting something. And he hasn't told anyone what it is. That either means it's something evil he's going to do to us, or it's got something to do with Lily. He keeps scribbling on this one piece of parchment so enthusiastically it's rather frightening, and he's constantly muttering under his breath. Is he trying to memorize a curse or something? Somehow I don't think so. I'm a little worried about him. Perhaps I'll ask him. It's worth a try.

10:47

Still in Transfiguration

Okay. I've been trying to get James's attention for the last three minutes, and he just keeps staring off into space. He must be thinking about something incredibly interesting, Lily, no doubt . . . he's looking in her direction . . . actually . . . he's staring at her hands. . . why is he staring at Lily's hands? I mean, they are very nice hands, and she has painted her nails this shimmery purpley color which is quite nice, and catches the light and sparkles in the most intriguing way, but it's an unusual place to stare nonetheless.

Hm.

11:21

Still Still in Transfiguration, will this class ever end?

This must have something to do with that "thumb of devotion" thing James said last night. So it's got something to do with Lily!!! Ah. I am SO good. And the Alice/Frank project is also going well...

But what the bloody hell is the thumb of devotion???

James is poking me . . .

12:37

Lunch, Great Hall

Oh bloody hell. James is insane.

I now know what the thumb of devotion is. And I'm sorry I ever wondered.

James is writing poetry.

"Sirius, Sirius," he said. "I need you to read something for me, tell me if it's okay."

I figured he meant read over a bit of homework or something, so I said, "Okay, Prongsie-boy, but you know Remus is better at this sort of homework-y thing, I'll make a complete mess of—" and then I saw what it was, and I laughed so hard I fell of the bench.

And—oh, dear me.

What will Lily say?

The Perceptions of Peter Pettigrew

2:54 AM

Dormitory

I can't stop laughing. I have no idea what's going on but I cannot stop laughing!

Well, it was like this. Remus, Sirius, and I were awake, attempting a three-way game of tic-tac-toe. James was asleep, mumbling about rings and perfection and other rather odd things like that. Suddenly, James lunged for Remus's hand and started kissing it! "Your pinky of purity," he mumbled, pulling Remus off the bed and into a standing position. "Your ring finger of rapture—middle finger of—" he tripped and his face smushed into Remus's shoulder. "Pointer— of perfection—and the thumb of—devotion," he said, beginning to waltz Remus around the room.

Remus was laughing uncontrollably by this point. "James—James, what're you—"

James shushed Remus and commanded, "Be quiet, little person, we're dancing!" before falling backwards onto his bed, leaving a hysterical Remus standing alone.

The Jovial Journals of James Potter

7:46 AM

Great Hall, Breakfast

Well. I have been informed that I serenaded Remus in my sleep last night. And it's rather awful. Sirius keeps grabbing Remus and waltzing him around the room, saying, "Be quiet, little person, we're dancing!"

Which is not exactly encouraging, considering what I'm going to do tonight.

Perhaps I'll put a niffler in his robes.

A/N:: There you have it! Chapter Four should be up . . . within the century . . . eh . . .