"Come on Moony, everything's going to be fine. Stop worrying," Sirius said with a cocky smirk on his face.
"Yeah Moony, we've been practicing all summer. And don't worry, we'll take care of you," a winking James continued.
"It's not me that I'm worried about," Remus replied to his friends. The first transformation of his sixth year was fast approaching and James, Sirius, and Peter had been practicing their transformations into their newly discovered animagi. "I just don't trust myself. I don't have any control when I'm like that."
"We know mate, that's why we've taken every precaution to make sure you won't harm us, or anyone else for that matter," James reassured him as Peter nodded his head in agreement. Peter had been a shy boy since the marauders had all met in their first year. Even now in their sixth year, he rarely truly expressed himself with anyone but his closest friends.
"You know you're never going to win this battle Moony, so just give up," Sirius concluded the argument and went back to the game of exploding snap which he and James had been playing all evening. Instead of replying, Remus simply went back to his transfiguration essay.
"DO YOU BOYS HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS?" came a booming voice from across the common room. It came from no other than Gwenog Jones, the boisterous seventh year who was one of the best beaters Gryffindor house had ever had. "PRACTICE STARTS IN FIVE MINUTES!"
"We know Jones. Who do you think made the schedule?" Sirius coolly stated as the beater's face became red with fury.
"Sirius," Remus addressed him with a disapproving glare, "do you really want to tick off one of the only people on the field that possesses a bat?"
"He's right Padfoot, we should probably get down to the pitch," James sighed as he put away the game. He had become much more mature after being elected as the team captain the previous year, but seemed often not to enjoy his new found responsibilities.
"Thank you. You know, sometimes I think Remus is the only one out of all of you who has any sense. Spiers, Hatton, and Longbottom are already on the field and Prewett is in detention for punching that Slytherin," she said tersely and excited through the portrait hole hoping not to be late herself.
"Come on Padfoot, let's go. Are you coming to watch again Wormtail?" Prongs inquired with a laugh.
"Of course, what else is there to do? Are you coming too Moony?" Peter replied as he got up from his place in front of the fire. Remus debated for a moment. Did he really want to sit here and dread the upcoming full moon? Quidditch might be a decent distraction, especially because this essay was not doing anything to take his mind off things.
"Sure, I might as well." He and Peter hurried up to their dorm to grab their jumpers and headed out to the Quidditch pitch.
James and Sirius zoomed by on their brooms as Remus and Peter took a seat in the empty stands. "Oi, watch it," Peter's shout was drowned out by the laughter of the two boys. Remus observed the Gryffindors as they executed their flying exercises.
As captain, James led the pack with graceful swerves and was directly followed by Sirius and Frank Longbottom, making up the three chasers. Longbottom, who was the oldest member of the team, flew with a quiet force that demanded respect on the field, but was truly quite awkward when not. Next came the beater, Jones with a space left for her absent partner, Gideon Prewett, a brut of a fifth year who had a reputation for playing rough.
Following close behind was the perky fifth year, Jordan Spiers. Her long chestnut hair sailed behind her as she flew with the elegance required of a seeker. Out of all the girls sorted into Gryffindor house, Miss Spiers was one of the most beautiful, but also seemed very friendly.
Bringing up the rear of this flying convoy was the team's new keeper, and the marauder's fellow classmate, Miss Clara Hatton. Her ponytail, the color of black coffee, peaked out from below her helmet as she veered back and forth. Hatton was by far the clumsiest member of the team, but she blocked the majority of the other teams' shots.
Spiers threw a wink at Remus as the group completed a final lap around the Quidditch pitch. "Eh, got an admirer there Moony," Peter nudged him with his elbow.
She must have just had something in her eye, Remus thought to himself. Why would she wink at me? I don't think that I've said more than five words to her before. Besides, with my condition, any girl would be repulsed by me.
"Hmm? I hadn't noticed," he replied, brushing off the wink. It's better to avoid a relationship that's only going to end in pain.