Under the Full Moony

Scroll 14: Werewolves and Quidditch

"WHY are we doing this again?" asked Sirius in a bored voice as they walked towards a red telephone booth.

"Because I'm now seventeen, and it's the law, and you wanted to come," replied Remus simply.

"Well, yeah, I wanted to go OUTSIDE, but not to the Ministry of Magic!"

"I didn't BEG you to come along you know. If you want I'll met you up in Quality Quidditch Supplies."

"And what? Leave you to face those decrepit hags in the Werewolf Registry alone? Yeah right."

Sirius pulled the door open, "Anyway, can't we wait until you're out of Hogwarts?"

Remus shook his head and picked up the receiver, "Six, two, four, four, two, right?"

Sirius nodded and leaned against the glass of the booth.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business," came the cool female voice.

"Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, here to register in the Werewolf Registry," muttered Sirius darkly.

"Thank you. Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes," she said as two badges slid out of the metal chute.

Sirius grabbed them and rolled his eyes, "Can we hurry this up! I have things to do, places to be at, stuff to blow up!"

Remus laughed as he took his badge, 'Remus Lupin - Werewolf Registry.'

"Visitors to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand fir registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium," the voice said as the booth sank into the pavement."

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day," said Sirius in a mocking tone.

The booth's door slid open as the voice said, "The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day."

"Ugh, this is so stupid. As if you're a criminal or something! I hate it ..."

Remus shrugged and they walked to the security desk where an old wizard in blue robes stood.

He passed a long golden rod up and down Remus' front and back, and proceeded to do the same with Sirius.

"Wand?" he grunted and Remus handed him his first.

The man dropped it onto a scale with one dish. It shook for a few seconds and produced a small piece of parchment.

"Twelve inches, Willow, and Unicorn Hair, been in use seven years?"

"That's right."

The man handed Remus his wand back and took Sirius'.

"Eleven and a half inches, Ash and Dragon-Heartstring, been in use seven years?"

"Yep."

Alright then, you can go, elevator' down the hall to your right."

Sirius snatched his wand and grabbed Remus' arm, "This is all bullshit. I bet you there are at least seven Death-Eaters on this floor alone, right now!"

Remus sighed, "Sirius, be ... realistic."

"You were gonna say 'serious' weren't you? And I am! They're ... everywhere ..." finished Sirius dramatically as they entered the elevator which was crammed with passengers."

They descended down, down, stopping at each floor and wizards came and got off the lift. Finally they reached the fourth floor.

"Level Four for the Regulation and Control of Magical Beasts, incorporating the Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office, and Pest Advisory Bureau."

Sirius huffed and pulled Remus out by the arm, shoving wizards and witches aside.

"Magical BEASTS, honestly! Now where do we go?"

Remus motioned to a Directory to their left. They walked over and Sirius moved his finger down the list of Divisions and Sub-Divisions and such.

The Directory giggled and Sirius pulled away, "That tickles!"

"What in the bloody hell!" asked Sirius bewildered.

The list suddenly flashed a red light that scanned all the way to the bottom and the sign spoke again, "Search incorrect. Please restate the name of the Division or Sub-Division you seek."

"Hey, Remus, check this out!"

Sirius pointed to a small yellow box on the sign with the words: You Are Here.

Sirius moved to the left and the small box did as well. Sirius took a step back and the box moved as well, a step forward, as did the box, "Cool!"

"Search incorrect. Please restate the name of the Division or Sub-Division you seek."

"Sirius!" Remus shook his head, "Stop fooling around!"

"Search incorrect. Please restate the name of the Division or Sub-Division you seek."

Sirius pouted, "You're no fun, Remus!"

"Search incorrect. Please restate the name of the Division or Sub-Division you seek."

"The quicker I register, the quicker we can get to Diagon Alley!"

"Search incorrect. Please restate the name of the Division or Sub-Division you seek."

Sirius frowned, "Fine, fine! And you, SHUT UP!"

He yelled at the sign which merely flashed the red light, scanned the list all the way to the bottom and said, "Search incorrect. Please restate the name of the Division or Sub-Division you seek."

Remus shook his head and spoke to the sign, "Beast Division, Werewolf Registry."

The sign flashed red and found it, "Walk down the hall and through the door to your right."

The little yellow boxes moved on the sign to show them.

"There, past the Werewolf Capture Unit, to you left."

The little boxes flashed red when they found the registry.

Sirius grabbed Remus' arm and they walked down the hall, past the Spirit Division. A couple of ghosts sat in the waiting room looking glum.

Sirius grinned at them, "This place seems a little DEAD! Let me LIVEN you guys up!"

The two stared at him and Remus hid his face.

Sirius sighed, "Have you been waiting here long, or did you miss your appointment because you were LATE?"

The two ghosts just stared at him.

"So how did you two kick the bucket?"

One of them sighed, "Suicide."

The other looked away, "Car crash. I should've never got into that Muggle vehicle!"

Sirius' face went white, "Oh ... I'm ... very sorry ... gotta go!"

He grabbed Remus arm and walked away as fast as he could.

"Sirius! How could you!"

"I didn't know it was so ... tragic!"

They passed the Experimental Breeding Division where a red-faced wizard in blue robes was arguing with a thing woman.

"That is a DOG! I would NEVER cross-breed!"

"THEN HOW COME IT BLOWS FIRE THROUGH ITS-"

There was a loud boom from within and Sirius and Remus sped off.

Finally they reached the Werewolf Capture Unit. They took one look inside and Remus blanched.

There were a few wolf heads lining the walls and ripped portraits of Werewolf-Hunters with dead wolves at their feet.

Sirius led a very white Remus away.

"The heads ... don't werewolves turn back into humans if they're killed?"

Remus looked green and sick, "They ... were mistaken ... they're real wolves ..."

And at last, they reached the Werewolf Registry. They didn't have to wait long, for there was no one else there. A few minutes after they had sat down, they were called into a small office to the side.

The first thing Sirius saw when they walked in, was a small toad-like woman sitting on a chair, looking highly superior. Sirius hated her at first sight.

The second thing he noticed was that almost everything inside was frilly, laced, or white.

"Hem, hem," was her greeting. She had a high-pitched girly voice. "One half-breed at a time, if you don't mind."

Sirius' cheeks reddened, "Excuse me! My-"

Remus cut him off, "I am the werewolf. My friend is just accompanying me-"

"Well then he can wait outside."

"Maybe I don't want to!" yelled Sirius.

She glared at him and stood up, "If you-"

"Listen little woman! If you don't want Remus tearing you limb from limb, I suggest you shut up, sit down like a good little toad, and register him!"

She gasped and fell back. Nonetheless she sat back down.

"Sit," she commanded and Remus sat, Sirius standing behind him like a guard.

"I am Dolores Umbridge, Head of the Half-Breed Registry, or as you say ... werewolves. Name!"

"Remus J. Lupin."

"What does the 'J' stand for!"

"John," Remus muttered.

"Date of Birth?"

This continued for a long while. She asked for his current residence: his parent's house; job or career plans: none; how he dealt with the full moon: he lied that he went home for the three days before and at the full moon as Dumbledore instructed (Sirius sniggered); was he alone or was there someone present at the full moon: lie; had he had any accidents or close calls: another lie and another snigger from Sirius; how did being a werewolf make him feel: lie; personality as a human: just a tiny lie; was he aware of the Werewolf Code of Conduct: Yes; and finally, any concerns or questions: No.

Dolores Umbridge handed his a flier with the Werewolf Code of Conduct, and Ten Ways To Prevent Incidents on the Full Moon printed on it. She had obviously written the Ten Ways because number one was: 1) Hand yourself over to the Werewolf Capture Unit.

"Now," she stood up and looked over at them. "Proceed to the next room where your picture will be taken for your Werewolf identification."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "What's that for!"

She gave him a twisted smile, "So we'll always know where he's working. I'm working on a new law that gives the employer the choice of denying people like ... him, jobs."

Sirius emitted a sound that sounded suspiciously like a growl from the back of his throat.

Remus just smiled and walked into the next room.

A few camera flashes, twisted smiles from Umbridge, a ride up the telephone booth and they were free.

"Can you believe that sadistic bi-"

"People like ... me ... are not usually trusted."

Sirius grumbled, but them thought of something, "Hey, let me see your W.I.D."

Remus passed him the Werewolf Identification.

"Hey, you're not looking too shabby in this picture ..."

Sirius winked at the picture, who blushed and looked away.

Remus smiled, "Good. That's a first. Well, now we're off to Diagon Alley. Are you sure you're going to try out for the Quidditch Team?"

"Yes I am! If Regulus is going to be Keeper for his, I'm gonna be Chaser for mine! And James too, but he'll need to find a new Seeker ... maybe you can play too!"

Remus stared at him, "And slip off my broom sideways, landing in a heap on the mud!"

"Come off it, I can teach you!"

"No."

"Please!"

"No!"

"Just try!"

"No."

"For me!"

"No!"

"Oh that right there ... that's just cold Moony."

"Just shut up and walk!" Remus said laughingly as he pushed Sirius into the Leaky Cauldron.

"You're what!" Sirius said as he stood up.

"Head Boy," replied James miserably, throwing and catching his Head Boy badge.

"Say WHAT!"

"Head Boy, Sirius."

"I DID NOT hear that!"

"I'm the bloody Head BOY!"

Peter and Sirius stared at James as if he was contagious, "EW! Gross! Get out of our compartment!"

James pushed his glasses up his nose, "My point exactly. Dumbledore musta finally cracked and gotten me mixed up with Moony."

Remus looked up from his book, "No, Dumbledore must have done it for a reason."

Sirius grabbed James' sweater and pulled him out of their compartment, "You're sick and gross and nasty! Get out!"

James gaped at him, "But-"

Suddenly he saw a flash of red hair, "Sirius no! Don't do this!"

Sirius just flashed him a grin and raised his wand, "All for one and one for all, catch your pants before they fall!"

There was a flash of blue light and James was thrown backwards, pants around his ankles, red-faced, humiliated, and to top it off, at Lily Evan's feet.

He looked up, and was surprised to hear his 'Mature-voice' kick into gear, "Hullo there, Evans."

Had she ignored him, or rolled her eyes at him, or even insulted him for having Golden Snitches on his underwear, James wouldn't have done anything stupid.

But she didn't.

She giggled.

She looked down and giggled, and James jumped up and pulled his pants up and yelled, "Stop laughing! And ... for your information ... I don't care what you think anymore! I ... you're not even pretty!"

He pulled the compartment's door open forcefully and walked in, still red-faced. He took one last look at her, she was standing there, hand over her mouth, and slammed the door shut.

Once inside, James turned to Sirius, "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT ABOUT!"

Sirius shrugged, "Just having some fun-"

"THAT WAS NOT FUN! OR FUNNY! DON'T LAUGH!"

But Sirius and Peter were already giggling madly. Remus just sighed, "Hey ... James ... no big deal, right? It could've been worse."

"I CALLED HER UGLY!"

Remus gasped, as did Sirius and Peter, who suddenly stopped giggling.

"Oh dear ..." Remus frowned.

Sirius cleared his throat, "Sit down Prongs."

James walked over and sat next to Sirius, who put an arm around him.

"Listen Prongs, I'm going to be blunt."

"When are you not!" James interrupted.

"You did ... something unbelievably ... stupid."

James rolled his eyes, "I kinda figured ..."

"But ... all is not lost! In fact, maybe if she thinks you've lost interest in her, she'll come running after you!"

James looked at Sirius, "Padfoot, you're high."

James took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, "Or maybe you're not. In any case, my chances with Lily Evans just went out the window."

Sirius opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when the compartment door slid open.

Lily Evans stood there, in her uniform, the Head Girl's badge shining on her robes.

She smiled at James, "Hullo there, Potter."

James was glad he didn't have his glasses on and hid his red face in his hands.

Lily looked around, "Professor Slughorn told me to invite you all to the front compartment of the train."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Every year he gets on he train and invites us, and every year we turn him down. What makes you think we're going to go now!"

James sighed, "Because ... let's just go, okay, Sirius?"

Sirius stared at him, "US! The Slug Club ... AGAIN!"

"They have free food ..."

Peter smiled, "I'm there!"

Sirius grabbed his new Shooting Star 170 and looked at Remus, who was reading on his bed, "Wanna come watch the tryouts?"

Remus looked up and nodded, "All right then."

He took his glasses off, put them safely away and walked alongside Sirius.

Sirius opened his mouth a few times, and Remus looked at him hopefully, but it always ended in a sigh or a smile.

Remus would just smile back.

'He's been really ... cold ... well, no. Not cold. Just ... not ... what we used to be ...'

"You know," Remus began. "If you make the team, I'll have to sit in the stands with only Peter."

Sirius laughed, "Cut him some slack. Plus, you'll be too into the game to care. I'm going to whip Regulus' arse!"

Remus looked at the ground, "Since the first day, that's all you've been talking about."

Sirius looked at him curiously, "Your point ...?"

Remus too looked at Sirius, with a hurt expression, "Never ... never mind."

Sirius sighed and grabbed Remus' hand, "Oh, I get it ... is that it?"

Remus nodded.

They walked to the pitch in silence, Remus feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Sirius' hands did not comfort him. It wasn't like it used to be.

At all.

They finally parted ways and Remus watched the tryouts.

Not many of the students there were particularly good fliers.

Then, there was a surprise. James would be taking one of the Chaser positions, obviously, to work with Sirius.

Yes, in the end, as Remus knew it, they kept the Prewett brothers as Beaters, kept Edgar Bones as Keeper, and Donna Smith as one of the Chasers. Sirius and James were the other two, and to everyone's surprise, Lily Evans would be the new Seeker.

Afterward, while everyone was heading to Gryffindor Tower, happily trooping upstairs to celebrate, Sirius pulled Remus away from the crowds, and under the stands.

Remus just stared at him, "What ... is it ...?"

Sirius grinned, "You're happy for me right!"

"I am, yes."

"Then ... why don't you look it?"

"Because ..." Remus shook his head, "No ... it's selfish. I'm sorry-"

Remus made as if to leave, but Sirius pulled him back.

"Moony ... stay. Just tell me."

Remus sat down again, "Well ... you know ... if we ... you don't ... Quidditch practice ... it's going to ... we're not going to see each other a lot!"

Sirius let out a bark of a laugh, "Oh come off it! Yeah we will!"

"How?"

"Hey, I'm Sirius Black! I can do anything, remember?"

Remus smiled, "Honestly ... "

Sirius took both of Remus' hands into his, "Nothing has changed ... I was just nervous about tryouts-"

"You, nervous! WHY!"

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Even I don't know. But, back to the point! We're still together Remus ... and ... no, never mind. It's too soon."

"What is?"

"Nothing!"

"Sirius, tell me!"

Sirius suddenly pinned Remus down, onto the dirt, "How about we just snog?"

Remus laughed, "That's good too."

Many, many minutes later they walked out onto the grounds, walking hand in hands as Remus knew they always should. Sirius looked up at the sky.

"Hey look! LOOK! It's my star!"

Remus laughed and looked over at where Sirius pointed.

"Indeed it is Sirius, the Dog Star."

"And that's Canis Major!"

Remus nodded, "Yeah ... and over there is Leo and Regu-"

"And there's the moon!" Sirius cut him off. He obviously didn't even want to hear the mention of the star Regulus.

"Yes, that's the moon."

Sirius smiled, "The Moony moon."

Remus smiled as well, "Oy ... Sirius ... ? What's your middle name?"

"What gave you the idea I had a middle name?"

"I'm just wondering ..."

"Okay, Moony. I'll tell you. But promise NOT to laugh!"

Remus held up his hand, "I solemnly swear."

Sirius grinned, "Right then. I was named after my dad. He wasn't a bad sort of man ... although I never saw his bad side ... "

"He died before you came to Hogwarts right?"

"Yep ... well, you know my family's big on stars and constellations ... it's Orion."

"Orion! Wow ... that's cool ..."

"No it's not. My full name is Sirius Orion Black."

"So?"

Sirius looked up at the sky, pouting angrily, "What're my initials, Moony?"

"S. O-oh ... I see ..."

"So basically, my initials are totally right. My mum is a-"

"Don't, Sirius ..."

Sirius shrugged, "And Regulus is Really A Bastard! Hah!"

Remus laughed, "Well, it's one good thing, right?"

"It's a start, yes ... that git's going to join the Death Eaters ... I can't believe he'd just throw everything away!"

Remus put his head on Sirius' shoulder, "Let's not think-"

"Exactly! Let's just walk around. You know, Moony. Me and you-"

"You mean you and I?"

"ANYWAY! I'm trying to make a point! Ahem! YOU and I ... we're the brightest things in the night sky."

"It rhymes," said Remus cheerfully,

Sirius frowned, "Yuck, you're right."

"Anyway, what do you mean?"

"You're the moon ... I'm the brightest star ... we shine even in the darkest light! Because WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! This calls for a song, sing with me Moony!"

Remus shook his head, "Honestly ..."

But Sirius just kept singing, "I've paid my dues! Time after time! I've done my sentence! But committed no crime! And bad mistakes! I've made a few!"

He kept singing in the halls, up the stairs, walking hand in hand with Remus, who joined in the chorus half-heartedly.

"Okay, Moony, sing 'We're the Marauders', okay?"

Remus just rolled his eyes and sang along.

"We're the Marauders- my friends! And we'll keep on fighting till the end! We're the Marauders! We're the Marauders! No time for Snivellies! 'Cause we're the Marauders- of the world!"

A/N: I unintentionally foreshadowed Sirius' wronged imprisonment in Azkaban in the lyrics: I've done my sentence but comitted no crime.

So yeah, wow! Last year at Hogwarts! Lily and James romance! THEFIC WILL DOES NOT END WHEN HOGWARTS ENDS! It goes a little beyond Hogwarts! So don't worry your little heads ... "anyone worrying?"

Ahem! So ... Comments, questions, shtick? Review please!