A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment 3 – Travel and Tourism: Task 2- Prompt: Write about a group such as the Knights Templar or Freemasons (will accept HP canon groups such as Marauders, Death Eaters, Order, DADA etc)

Insane Prompt Challenge: 645 – Quote:"Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness."
– Euripedes

Word Count: 609

Like a bunch of lunatics we plotted and planned, each idea more absurd than the last. We were just letting off steam. At least, that's what I'd thought at the time. Slowly some of the pranks we'd joked about began happening. At first it was harmless things. I should have realized where things were headed. I should have realized things weren't going to remain harmless. At some point, I realized it was almost always Sirius who took things too far.

I didn't find out what happened until after the fact. That doesn't excuse me though. I knew Sirius was a bit wild, a bit reckless. We all were honestly. But what would have happened if James hadn't stepped in... it was unimaginable. I would have killed Severus. I wanted to believe Sirius had a lapse of judgment, that in some way he didn't realize the severity of his actions. It wasn't until later I started to realize Sirius wasn't like us, not exactly. He seemed to find joy in hurting Snape, heck he found joy in teasing James about his insane crush on Lily. It wasn't until I did a bit of research that I discovered there was a name for that; sociopath.

It was then I started to distance myself from them, just little things. Like sitting with Lily at dinner instead of them, or putting a space between us in the common room. Little things like that. I think James figured it out first, that I was tired of their behavior.

"What's with you lately, Moony? You've been too busy to hang out with us."

"Studying," I replied. I wanted to tell him the truth, that Sirius' behavior had been... well, that had been the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Are you still mad about that prank? 'Cause it was totally Sirius' idea. I had no idea what he was planning." I nodded slowly.

"I could have hurt someone James. Seriously hurt someone," I stated using the actual word instead of joking with Padfoot's name like we always did. James knew the difference.

"I tried talking to him, but he just brushed it off. I want us all to be friends again, Moony."

"I do too, James, but, I'm worried about Sirius. He doesn't seem to realize his actions have consequences. I'm worried what he might do. There's something I found in a book, about people who have a condition called sociopathy. They lack a conscience like you and me, they don't have a moral compass. I think Sirius might be one," I whispered finally voicing my concerns out loud for the first time.

"That's why he needs us, Moony, you, me, and Wormy, to keep him from doing something stupid," James stated. I nodded slowly. It made sense, my level head, James' problem solving skills, Peter's ability to lie his way out of anything. Maybe we could protect Sirius from his own actions?

"Alright, I'm in. But no more picking on Snape. I know he's a git and everything, but maybe if we lay off him a bit, Sirius will find something else to direct his attention to? Hopefully his studies?" I suggested.

"Fine, I still don't like him, but for Sirius, I'll lay off. Maybe Lily will notice and go out with me?" James muttered a smile crossing his face thinking about Lily. I nodded, anything to get him to go along with this.

"All in then, marauders forever?"

"Marauders forever," James agreed shaking my hand tightly before we went in search of Peter. I already knew he'd be in, no matter what we did, he was always in. We could count on him.