Author's note: CW for a joke about committing suicide, and cutting hands with knives

-x-

"Where's my mustache?"

"Ouuuuuch don't pull this so tight!"

"Sit still, you need bigger boobs. Sprout's got bigguns."

"Where's my waistcoat?"

"What're you doing looking at Sprout's boobs? Ow, you pinched me. I bet McGonagall never pinches Sprout. OW! WHY'D YOU PINCH MY BOTTOM?!"

"Where's my pocket watch?"

"You're a very pretty girl, Petey. Almost as pretty as Sprout."

"Bugger off!"

"Here's everything of yours, James." Remus wriggled out from under James's bed, arms full of James's costume. "Why you stashed them here then promptly forgot about them is beyond me." He dumped everything onto James's nearly-bare lap; his friend was only wearing y-fronts, which was unusual. "Why are you wearing those?"

James stood up, hitching the brown trousers up. "I doubt Slughorn wears boxers."

Peter looked up, face wrinkling. "Ew, I don't wanna think about Slughorn's pants!"

Sirius finished hooking the brassiere and then gave Pete's rump a pat. "There you go."

Peter looked down at his bra and the transfigured pillows that were very breast-shaped tucked inside the cups. "Remember when we put up Dedenne's private things?"

James snorted with laughter as he wriggled the rest of his clothes on. "That was great." He grabbed the pillow to tuck into his shirt and trousers and poked at it with his wand until it puffed out, adding a sticking spell so it would stay put.

Remus was already in his plain tan trousers and white top, and he pulled the brown-and-bronze waistcoat on before slipping his arms through the sleeves of the bronze under-robe, and then finally he pulled on the dusty blue robes. "Why do they wear so many layers?" he asked, sitting down to get his socks and shoes on.

"I'm not wearing much." Sirius gave a twirl, his emerald green witch's robes flaring out around his legs. He didn't have any skirt or trousers or even an under-robe on, all he had were hose.

"I bet McGonagall wears more under hers," Pete said, shimmying on his no-nonsense work shirt and trousers.

Sirius gave a pose. "I don't care, I'm going like this." He winked before pulling his hair back in a bun.

Remus fluffed his own hair out. It was much longer than normal, and slightly different color to match Flitwick's. He then pulled the dusty blue pointed hat on, making a slight face as he did. He didn't really enjoy wearing fancy hats, they made his head really warm throughout the day.

Sirius helped Peter finish getting in his dirt-smeared robes and then all of them helped James get his shoes on since he was having trouble bending over with the pillow.

"Look at us!" he laughed when he finished sticking his mustache on.

"You look dumb," Peter said.

James tried to kick him and nearly fell over. "Oh, stuff it."

Peter pat his boobs. "I did."

They went over to one of the mirrors and peered at their reflections. Remus had to admit there was no doubting who they were. Everyone in the school would know instantly. James was right.

They took several photos of each other and got David to take a couple of group photos. In one they posed all stiff, formal, and severe. Then in another they all made faces. In the third James was holding Sirius in his arms bridal style, while Remus was on Pete's back.

David was dressed up in a very strange outfit that he explained was a rugby player, a Muggle sport. Spinnet was in a Quidditch uniform, for the Falmouth Falcons which—considering how violent they were—was very fitting for the jerk.

James puffed his chest out. "Come on, my boys!"

"Oi!" Sirius said, hands on hips.

"And… er… ladies."

They certainly got looks as they made their way through the school, especially Sirius and Peter. Remus wasn't sure if the teachers would notice but as soon as they went into the Great Hall, Sirius shouted out for Professor McGonagall. She looked up, saw Sirius, and immediately put her head back down, her hand over her mouth whether in irritation or trying not to laugh, Remus wasn't sure.

"None of them are dressed up this year," sighed Pete as they found seats. James and Peter both had a bit of trouble with their extra padding. "How do girls do this?!" Pete's fake boobs were scrunched up practically under his chin.

James reached over, balancing a saucer on Pete's boobs. "Look! Why don't girls do this more often?"

Peter plucked the saucer off. "Stop that, my tits are not your entertainment."

"I wonder if Sprout ever said that to Slughorn," laughed Sirius, and Remus choked on his eggs.

As usual, most of the students were dressed up except for a handful of those who didn't care, and a few first years. When the Marauders sashayed into the Potions classroom the only ones not in costume were Snape and Professor Slughorn who looked down his nose at James.

"Something wrong, my boy?" James asked, drumming his fingers across the pillow-stomach before he reached up and smoothed down his mustache at the same time Slughorn was reaching up to smooth his down. Slughorn stopped and glowered, telling him to sit down and stop being impertinent.

Snape leaned across his desk to hiss at the four of them. "You four look utterly stupid. Especially Barmy and Pokey."

"Is that any way to talk to your teacher?" Sirius asked, in McGonagall's voice. "A hundred points from Slytherin."

"The day you can remove points from Slytherin is the day I jump from the Astronomy tower with weights on my ankles," Snape growled.

Sirius beamed. "I'll be sure to make my Prefect application extra good, then."

Potions turned out to be difficult for James and Peter to do, which was funny since they were the two Marauders actually good at the class. Peter kept having to push down his boobs while James would have to lean over from a distance to make up for his fake belly.

Glad I don't have to have anything like that, Remus thought as he worked on his own potion, grateful, for once, for his shortness which had landed him the uncomplicated role of Flitwick. Sirius didn't have any trouble either except he kept hiking the skirt of the robes up to display his legs for anyone looking their way until Slughorn told him to stop it. Sirius let the robes drop and, with a dramatic sigh, returned to working on his potion.

"Nobody appreciates my legs," he mourned.

"I'm sure Cassie does," James promised.

"These make my legs look fantastic!" Sirius hiked up his skirts again. "I mean, look at them! I'm wearing hose more often."

"Hidden under your trousers?"

"I'll wear skirts, then. Short ones. It isn't fair that men can't wear short robes, or skirts like girls can. How come they can show off their legs but I can't? If girls can wear trousers, boys can wear skirts."

"Should have known you'd be a cross-dresser, Barmy," Snape said.

Sirius twisted around to face him. "I should have known you'd be happy to listen in to any conversation about my legs, Snivellus. What are you supposed to be, anyway? A vulture?" Snape ignored him, going back to his potion. "A bat? Oh, I know. A ghoul, right? Inferi?"

"Mr. Black, please stop distracting the other students," Slughorn said. "I've warned you once, this time I'm taking three points from Gryffindor."

"I can't help my legs be such a distraction, sir," Sirius replied, batting his eyelashes.

"Five points, now return to your potion."

Sirius gathered up some of his robes material, acting like he was going to pull them up. "If I pull my skirts up to my thighs, would they be worth more points?"

"Return to your potion!"

"No wonder you never wear traditional robes, if this is how you act in them," James laughed quietly.

"I never wear traditional robes because it drives my family batty," giggled Sirius who finally returned to his potion.

The rest of the lesson went relatively easy, with occasional giggles from James and Sirius who kept whispering silly things to one another. Since Remus didn't have a chance to ask at breakfast, once the lesson was over he went to inquire what Lily was dressed as. He knew she, Cassie, and Alice were going as… well, he figured they were going as the sun, the moon, and earth… but he wanted to be sure, since Lily was probably the moon and it made him a little nauseated.

"Yes, I'm the moon!" Lily said when he asked in the hallway, and she gave a twirl. She was wearing a long pale grey gown that glittered all over; the skirt covered her legs but was rather wispy and floaty. The sleeves were cut to show off her arms which had silvery glitter down them. She had silver glitter across her eyelids and two shining lights in her earlobes. A sparkly silver, slightly transparent scarf floated down her hair.

"I'm the sun," Cassie confirmed, striking a pose. She was in blinding gold: the same gold miniskirt she wore to the Hufflepuffskein concert, Alice's sparkly gold blouse, and Lily's sparkly gold waistcoat. She wore gold hose, gold shoes with high heels that made her taller than Sirius by half an inch, and her hair was poofed out with gold glitter scattered through it; she also wore gold sparkly makeup, and gold lights in her ears.

"And I'm the earth," said Alice. She was in a pale blue blouse that looked very watery, with earthy brown trousers, and a green sash that spilled down the back looking rather mossy. She wore green makeup, and had various flowers sprinkled through her hair. She had loads of green and brown bracelets that clattered whenever she moved her arms. She had a gauzy white scarf wrapped around her neck that floated like clouds behind her. Because her hair was down, he couldn't see if she had anything in her ears but when she moved he thought he saw a glint of blue. There were also tiny vines wrapped around the earpieces of her glasses.

"You've always put the sun to shame, but now you're doubling that," Sirius said flirtatiously, sidling up to Cassie.

She wrinkled her nose and gave him a little shove. "Please. It's really bizarre to have McGonagall flirt with me."

Their next period was free, so the seven of them went to the Great Hall since it was cold and drizzly out. At twenty till Sirius got up and said they had an appointment to meet before Defense. Remus had no idea what he was talking about, but followed his friends; they ended up outside the Transfiguration classroom right when it let out, and Sirius knocked at the door but didn't wait for an answer.

"Hallo McGonsie!" Sirius waltzed right in, bold as brass. He gave a twirl and a pose. "I wanted to make sure you saw my outfit today. Do you like it? Peter, get a picture of us, the two sexiest women in the school."

Somehow, Sirius only left with ten points removed from the house and no detention at all; though in the picture Peter managed to snap, even with it being as blurry as it was, the real McGonagall looked like she had a headache.

-x-

Everyone they passed by seemed to get a kick out of their costumes. James was exceedingly smug when nobody asked the Marauders who they were. He and Sirius kept 'removing points' for silly infractions. Things like not walking like a duck, not whistling loud enough, their shoes being too squeaky… things like that. They tried to get Peter and Remus to follow suit but neither did.

"Flitwick hardly removes points anyway," Remus pointed out when James called him a spoilsport. "He's very lenient. It would be out of character." That, at least, got them off his back though they kept poking at Peter.

Most of the teachers all seemed quite amused by the costumes. Charlemagne laughed when they went into Defense, and Professor Sprout grinned in Herbology, her eyes crinkling up. Kettleburn, though, didn't really seem to notice or at least he didn't react. He was too busy being excited over showing them pyrabbits, going more into them than they learned during the extra credit lesson from Professor Prewett the year before. Pyrabbits were one of the many magical creatures that straddled the two classes: Defense Against and Care Of.

After Magical Creatures was over, the four mini-teachers ran inside to prepare for their prank. Practice was canceled for the day, so they had loads of time to get things underway. Remus felt rather nervous since, as usual, it mostly hinged on him and his ability.

"The music isn't as important," James reassured him, gripping his shoulders. "That part is more of a test run of Project TJ than anything else."

"It should work," Remus replied, tugging at his sleeves. He didn't add he was nervous about everything else too. The pumpkins, the sweets, the fireworks—it was a lot. Not as complicated as Operation Overgrowth, but they had hardly had time to prepare. "By the way, if we're doing something for the last meal before Christmas holidays—"

"Of course we are," Sirius remarked.

"—then we better get started a lot sooner than a week before," Remus finished.

Then it was time for Ancient Runes, which made him feel awkward being in a group costume without his group. He went with Lily and Aegis who was dressed up as well. Remus hadn't really gotten a good look at his outfit in Potions, since he had been wearing robes over it, but he was dressed all in silvery blue: turtleneck, matching trousers… and there was what looked like frost across his blueish cheeks and in his eyelashes, and his lips were icy blue. His hair had a faint tint of blue in it, too. He had bluish white horns poking out the top of his head. He wore a short necklace that held bluebell flames locked up in a tiny jar. Remus's stomach made a swoopy sort of feeling when he realized (in the back of his head) how good Aegis looked in that color.

It nearly stopped him in his tracks, and panic began bubbling up. Was this going to happen more often? He cast a rather frightened glance towards Lily, wanting to ask her and being unable to. Now that he… knew… was he going to think all his… guy friends… were attractive? Or was it simply because Aegis did look good in that color? Perhaps he'd ask Lily at least that later. Maybe it was… normal… to think things like that? As normal as something like that could be.

Or maybe he was being disgusting.

"Swedish Short-Snout," Aegis explained when Remus asked. "I attempted to make wings however they fell apart."

At least his heart wasn't thudding nor were his palms sweaty. The swoopy 'he looks nice' feelings stayed as simply that which reassured him.

Ancient Runes proved to be… interesting… as Professor Codde wasn't there, and they were in the hands of Professor Quirke. She rambled a lot, didn't finish many sentences, and went into a non-sequitur speech about the planets for a short while. She assigned a pretty heavy assignment and dismissed class ten minutes early.

"I'm glad Professor Codde is around," said Lily as they shuffled out. "That was…" She looked down at her notes. "Interesting."

"I wonder how long Professor Quirke will continue to teach here," wondered Aegis.

Remus excused himself, popping into a loo to relieve the pressure on his bladder. When he stepped out of the stall, he saw an older Hufflepuff boy primping his hair at the mirror… and Snape washing his hands. Remus hovered for a second, taking in a deep breath before making his way to the third sink. Snape turned towards him, sneering.

"I never did ask," he said, his voice oily and smooth, "what exactly is it you're supposed to be? A goblin?"

Remus stiffened, fury whipping through his body at the not-so-slight dig at Professor Flitwick's rumored ancestors… a rumor that Remus suspected was true. He looked up in the mirror, at Snape's reflection then over at the Hufflepuff boy who was now making possibly sultry looks at himself.

Insulting him or his friends was one thing, but insulting Flitwick—a teacher—was something else. "I assumed you would have n-noticed that my friends and I were going as—as the Heads of Houses, and I am Profess-essor Flitwick, though I suppose that requires thinking on your part so, silly me. Even th-the first years got it, though."

The Hufflepuff began laughing wildly, while Snape colored slightly. He flicked his wand to turn the water off magically, doing another flick of his wand to send a spray of water all over Remus. He jumped back as Snape stormed out. He grabbed the front of his robes, shaking them a bit to get some of the water off but it had already soaked through.

"Looks like you peed yourself, Loopy," snorted the Hufflepuff before returning to his primping.

Remus looked down and there was a dark stain at the front of his robes around his crotch. He used a drying spell as he left, thankful for the Hufflepuff even if he had used that stupid nickname.

"Where have you been?"

Almost as soon as he reached the stairwell, the other Marauders pounced on him. It was strange having a miniature Slughorn, McGonagall, and Sprout haul him off into a nearby secret passage. The Halloween feast started at six, so they had a little over an hour to finish preparations. Peter was worried about the time but the others knew they'd be all right. Time-wise, that was. Remus wasn't sure about the rest of it.

"Right." James began pacing. "How long is the silence?"

Peter held up the record that James had had custom made. Remus wondered how much this prank had cost him. "Fifteen minutes then Jelly Slug Jitterbug starts."

James nodded. "I slip out, get everything in the passage, start the record, and then I have fifteen minutes to get back—"

"Are we stashing the bats in the Hall before?" Sirius asked. "It seems easier to do that."

"If we can, that probably is best," James agreed, running his fingers through his grey-blonde hair. "Not sure how crowded it is in there."

Peter frowned. "We're not doing the light thingie again, are we? Like we did for Overgrowth?"

Sirius shook his head. "No, we just need to put the bag somewhere."

"Maybe in one of the big pumpkins?" Remus suggested. "There'd be enough room."

"I don't want to ruin one of Hagrid's pumpkins," said James. "Wouldn't our spells hit the pumpkin?"

"Not if we use one with a face carved in it," Remus said. "I don't want to ruin his pumpkins either."

"Let's go scout."

The four of them went to the Great Hall as quickly as they could, hoping it wasn't closed off yet. It wasn't quite five yet, and that's usually when the doors shut to finish the decorations. Thankfully it was still open and better yet, there weren't many students around… or teachers. Hagrid's giant pumpkins were already in place. There were several that were simply pumpkins, and four with designs carved into them. The one nearest the Gryffindor table had a huge gaping smile. Perfect.

"Wow, this one is really big!" James said, going close to the pumpkin. Remus wondered where he was hiding the bats until he slipped a large, slightly wriggly bag out of his waistcoat. It had been his stomach! Not only that but Peter was pulling two more smaller ones from his robes. He had been using them as boobs. Remus grinned to himself, shaking his head as the three bags were placed deep within the pumpkin, out of sight.

"We just need to make sure to sit near there," Sirius said after they strolled out.

"I thought we needed to be by the door, for James to get out," Peter said.

"Nah, since nothing will happen until several minutes after I come back it shouldn't be too suspicious." James frowned. "I hope."

"I believe we'll be accused regardless," Remus said.

They ducked into the nearby secret passage where they had a phonograph player stored, as well as a replacement belly and boobs for James and Peter. They spent the next hour there, chattering about various things and going over the plan a few more times. At ten till six, Remus rose and, after nervously licking his lips, performed the sound spell.

A dim blue orb of light floated in the air near the record player. It wouldn't be activated until its partner spell was done. Hopefully it works, he thought, tucking his wand in his pocket. It should. They had tested it at this distance before. Strictly speaking, it would be fine. And then in a week or so, James will want to do Project TJ, and then he will be murdered.

The Marauders snuck out of the passage and took a roundabout way to the Great Hall, joining the lingering crowd, jostling their position until they were nearer to the front. When the doors opened, the four of them tried to appear as casual as possible as they took seats partway down the table, near the pumpkin.

The Hall had been semi-decorated earlier with the pumpkins and fake spiderwebs but now ghostly blue lights danced through the air, dark shadows flickered across the walls, and several skeletons were doing little jigs around the room—dancing to the clacking music that more skeletons performed with their own bones. Bats swooped through the air, and a humongous spider sat in a corner of the ceiling.

After everyone took their seats, the skeletons danced their way to the front of the room, lining up in front of the High Table. The music became more frantic while the skeletons began doing tricks, sending bones flying through the air and catching them, replacing their own missing bones. A sort of dancing, juggling act that garnered a lot of applause when they finished.

Professor Dumbledore motioned for the feast to begin, and the glorious Halloween spread appeared across the tables. Not everyone dove into the food immediately; several were giving the Marauders dark looks before slowly trying their food. Remus snorted, trying not to laugh into his potatoes. Everyone was remembering the previous Halloween feast, with the Babbling Brew.

After about ten minutes James slipped out of his seat. Remus noticed McGonagall kept her eyes on him as he left the Hall. At the doors he paused, which wasn't part of the plan, then slowly turned to meet her gaze. Then he very loudly said, his voice rolling across the noisy room, "I HAVE TO USE THE LOO, PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL, IS THAT ALL RIGHT WITH YOU?"

The Hall fell silent while McGonagall pressed her lips thin, then the students began laughing. James turned on his heels and left the room.

"He really has no shame," sighed Remus, marveling at his friend's courage to say that in front of literally everyone in the school.

A few minutes later—about the time it would take James to go to the nearest lavatory and pee then come back—he returned. After a couple of minutes Remus felt James nudge his foot, then fireworks began going off. Students and teachers both jumped at the sudden explosions and during the flying lights Remus hopefully sneakily shot out the second part of the sound spell at the ceiling. He tucked his wand back in his pocket, praying nobody had noticed the light coming up from where they sat.

"Is that all you could come up with this year?" Lily asked from a few seats away.

"Rather boring," added Alice.

Remus shoveled another forkful of food in his mouth, nervous about the next bit. He figured they'd get in trouble for this… though really, it wasn't bad. It wouldn't hurt or upset anyone, unless they were afraid of slugs. And there wasn't anything in the rule book barring bats or sweets in the Great Hall.

James's watch let out a soft beep. It was one minute until the song was supposed to start. Remus gulped down some water, counting down, and then shot the spell out towards the pumpkin. There was some rustling and then, just as the Jelly Slug Jitterbug began playing throughout the entire room (a little tinny and not as loud as Remus would have liked, but it still worked!) dozens of pumpkin-bats flew out into the air.

Everyone began looking around trying to figure out where the music was coming from, unable to figure out it was being pumped out of a spot in the ceiling.

And when that sugar hits your tongue, you're gonna flail around, jerk your knees, twist your hips, and simply go to town, you gonna be doing the jelly slug jitterbug, baby! The jelly slug jitterbug!

The pumpkin-bats fluttered around, some near the rafters, some rather low. Some flying like real bats, most of them flapping lazily around, and a few lagging very slowly behind. Remus wasn't sure how long it would be until the second bit. According to James, the most important bit—

Without any warning, more fireworks happened. At the same time bags of jelly slugs began raining down from the pumpkin-bats, bouncing along the tables and onto students. Unfortunately… Remus was right about the spell not working properly. A dozen bats remained properly, while the others all exploded, sending a pumpkin mush down along with the sweets. There were annoyed yelps, and several shrieks as the pumpkin goop fell on students.

"Whoops," Sirius muttered under his breath, his grin belying the word.

A great big glob of pumpkin landed on Remus, dripping down the brim of his hat. He made a face, reaching up to pull it off.

"The ones still up there must be yours," James whispered to Remus, who didn't deny the suggestion.

The song and fireworks ended, leaving nothing but the sounds of grossed out kids who were pulling pumpkin goop off of them, as well as quite a few happy students as they collected up the mini bags of jelly slugs.

Dumbledore was picking a glob of pumpkin out of his beard, nodding as McGonagall whispered in his ear. Both of them were looking at the Marauders. Remus ducked his head, knowing they were going to be pulled aside after the feast was finished.

James and Sirius were both grinning from ear to ear, unable to hide their glee over the success. They didn't care about the looks they got, nor did they care after the feast when McGonagall made a beeline for them. Her fingers came down around James's arm just as they were trying to get out of the Great Hall.

"Am I right to assume you two were the ones behind the… incident?" she asked, looking down her nose.

"Would I, an esteemed teacher and Head of Gryffindor, stoop to such a thing?" Sirius asked loftily.

McGonagall gave him a rather murderous look before her gaze swept across the rest of the Marauders. Remus tried his best to look innocent; tried not to cringe back when her eyes went over him. Slowly, she released James's arm. "Detention," she told James and Sirius. "Tonight."

"Tonight?!" they both cried out.

Her arm waved towards the room. "You'll be assisting the house-elves in cleaning the Great Hall."

"We didn't do it!"James protested. "You don't have any proof."

"Who else would have done it?" she asked.

"I don't know, that's your job to find out, not mine," James retorted.

Her glare focused on him before she crooked her finger, motioning for them to follow. They went back to the Gryffindor table, and McGonagall pulled empty bags out of the pumpkin they had been sitting by. "I presume these are yours." She offered them to James who folded his arms. "Very well, shall I ask the portraits outside whether you went to the lavatory when you left… or somewhere else?"

James hunched a little, shifting slightly.

"Let me offer a choice. Either you accept the detention tonight and that will be it, or I shall launch into an investigation and if I find out you were involved you will have detention every single night for a week—including the nights of practice."

"You can't do that!"

She didn't smile, but Remus could sense a smug one hidden inside of her. "If you didn't do it, then you won't have anything to worry about."

"It's—this is blackmail! Even if you don't find any evidence, you'll blame us anyway."

"It's a matter of what the portraits say," McGonagall said calmly. "And if you went into a lavatory, or a secret passage."

"Professor, if you're not going to bother with Remus or Peter, may they go?" Sirius asked sweetly.

McGonagall frowned. "Yes, I su…" She trailed off, narrowing her eyes at Remus who felt ready to empty his cauldron. "Yes," she finally said. "You two may go."

Peter seized Remus's arm and dragged him off before she could say anything else. They slipped through the crowd still outside and found a bench to sit on. A few students gave them looks, and one of the Hufflepuff Prefects (who smelled strongly of pumpkin) asked if they had done it. Both boys remained silent, only shrugging in response and shaking their heads.

A few minutes later Sirius came out of the Great Hall, looking around until he spotted Peter's waving arm. Grinning, he strolled over to explain they had accepted 'the terms of war', and would be serving their detention that night. Remus wondered why, and he explained that James knew some of the paintings had seen him go into the passage, as he hadn't been particularly sneaky.

"We'll meet you in the common room later."

Peter and Remus made their way to the Gryffindor tower together, Remus wondering if McGonagall really could have gotten proof or if she had simply made the threat knowing that James would give in.

"Jelly slugs?" Lily asked as soon as the two stepped into the tower… well, Peter stepped into the tower and Remus fell in since his robes were a little long and got tangled when he tried climbing through.

"Hmm?" Remus stood up, brushing the clothes off.

"You dumped jelly slugs over everyone," she said. "And pumpkin mush."

"What makes you think we did it?" Peter asked, earning a look.

"As if anyone else would," said Alice from nearby, echoing McGonagall's sentiments. "Exploding pumpkin bats?"

"They weren't suppose to explode," Peter said and Remus dropped his face in his hands, feeling Lily's smirk rather than seeing it.

"I knew it was you four," Lily said.

Peter made a wheezing sort of sound, going red as he realized the accidental confession. "Er—"

Lily just laughed, sliding her arm through Remus's. "Since the idiot duo are occupied, let's play Cheat."

"What's Cheat?" Pete asked as they went to the table where Alice and Cassie were.

"It's the Muggle version of Jarvey," Lily explained as they sat down. "It's more fun with more people."

It was also a lot easier for Remus to win. Whenever someone bluffed, their heart tended to go a little faster or their breathing changed. Small, very subtle things no one else noticed but with his wolf senses he could.

"Not fair!" Cassie's face grew stormy as she gathered the cards after Remus called her bluff. "How do you always know?"

He shrugged, looking at his cards, figuring it might be best to play it a little cooler. Not call out every bluff. Still, he won the first two rounds before purposely losing the rest. It was quite a while before James and Sirius appeared again, smelling strongly of cleaning supplies and faintly of pumpkin. The girls teased them which they took in stride until finding out Peter had accidentally confessed.

"This is why I didn't want you answering any of McGonsie's questions," said Sirius, shaking his head but smiling. "You'd blurt it out, or Remy's face would've given it away—"

"Pardon, my face?" Remus demanded.

Sirius bowed. "Your face is very much so pardoned, Remy dearest. OW!" he yelped when Remus lightly punched him. Lily raised her eyebrows at Remus who tried not to blush, praying she wouldn't read too much into that interaction. That was simply Sirius being Sirius. He would have said the same to almost anyone, except a Slytherin.

"Well, we've got important boy stuff to do," James said after Alice asked them to join the game.

"What, sit around with piles of smelly socks?" Lily asked.

James gave her a rude gesture before heading to the stairs, pulling Remus along with him so the others had to follow. He didn't really have anything important to do, only sit around until Dave and Spinnet went to sleep. Then he got out his cloak, insisting they 'go somewhere'. Not even Sirius seemed to know what was going on which piqued Remus's curiosity… but not quite enough.

"I'm not sneaking around the school!" he hissed out.

"It's important," James begged. "Please? Very important. Almost as important as… me." Remus snorted while Peter dissolved into giggles. "Pleeease?"

"We can't all fit under there," he pointed out.

"We can, if we try carefully."

They went into the hallway and rearranged themselves under the cloak which did just barely hold them all, so long as Sirius hunched over a bit and they squeezed together. Their feet showed on the way down the steps but nobody paid any sort of attention as they shuffled across the hall.

As it turned out, James wanted to go to the same secret passage they had gone to a year before. It led out to a cliffside cave where the other three had made a blood vow not to reveal Remus's secret. I should have known, he thought as they made their way through the passage until they stepped out into the chilly night air, standing on the ledge that overlooked the school.

"I wonder if our blood is still here," Peter said, getting his wand out. "Lumos!"

"Don't do that," James complained. "Someone from the castle will see."

Peter wrinkled his nose. "Nox."

They sat down, James's cloak wrapped around them to keep them somewhat warm though with all the layers on Remus wasn't very cold. He did shiver, though it was more from remembering a year ago when James pulled out a knife and sliced his hand. Sirius and Peter had done so too, all three of them vowing with their blood to protect Remus and his secret.

"We should do another blood oath," James said suddenly. "This time with Remus. To always be friends, no matter what."

"I don't want to cut my hand again," Peter said.

"Did you bring a knife?" Remus inquired.

James frowned. "No—"

"I did." Sirius produced a knife from his pocket, grinning rather madly. "What?" he asked when all three looked at him. He shook his hair out of his face. "I knew you would wanna do something again. I know you, James Potter, and I know how your mind works."

"That sounds frightening," said Remus, earning laughs from the others.

James cocked his head towards Remus. "Are you willing?"

He shrugged. "Considering the fact it will heal in about five seconds, I'm not bothered."

"Oh, that isn't fair!" Peter cradled his hand to his body.

"You gave us shit last year, for doing a blood vow on Halloween night," James said, narrowing his eyes.

Remus pulled his robes closer against his body. "Yes, however I know you will ignore any protests of mine so it is probably best to simply go along with your idiot idea."

James took the knife from Sirius and moved to his knees, posing with the knife over his hand. "Petey?"

Peter moaned, but didn't argue. "All right then. I, James Potter, do solemnly swear to…" His brow furrowed a little as he tried to figure out the best way to phrase what he wanted.

"Always be a Marauder, tried and true," suggested Sirius.

James grinned. "I, James Potter, do solemnly swear to always be a Marauder, tried and true." He flicked the blade, his blood flowing down his hand and into the dirt.

"I, Sirius Black, do solemnly swear to always be a Marauder, tried and true."

Remus shook his head when Sirius offered him the knife. "I best go last."

"I'm not ready!" whimpered Peter.

"Yes, but I won't let you cut your hand with a knife that's got werewolf blood on it," Remus said rather sharply. "I doubt anything will happen, however I shan't risk it."

Peter paled at the thought and took the knife. "I, Peter Pettigrew, do solemnly swear to always be a Marauder. OUCH!"

"You forgot the tried and true bit!" James snapped.

Peter stared at the blood on his hand, moaning a bit as he added, "Tried and true."

Remus took the knife, resisting the urge to wipe it off before using it. "I, Remus Lupin, do solemnly swear to always be a Marauder. Tried and true." He ran the blade across his palm, not even wincing at the stinging pain. It was nothing compared to what he went through every month, and since he had time to prepare for it, it barely hurt. Blood dribbled down into the dirt and when it mingled with the other blood he half expected it to start hissing or smoking or something. Nothing happened, of course, and as he handed the knife back to Sirius the cut was already healing.

James let out a whooping laugh and launched himself forward, flinging an arm around Sirius and Peter, motioning for Remus to join the hug. He inched forward, slipping in between them to be under James's arm, trying to ignore the strong scent of blood as he joined the group hug. He closed his eyes, arms around all three of them as he soaked in the moment and the feeling of belonging.

My pack.