I thought for a moment that James's eyes would pop out, and then rationality set back in. Peter was looking back and forth between James and myself, unsure of how to react, it seemed. Alarm bells started to sound off in my head, and my eyes darted at the carriage door briefly, though I don't know why.

Sirius grinned mischievously. "Well, I guess our marauding days are over, boys, we have a prefect in our midst now," he said and tilted his head defiantly. He raised a silent dare, a question, one that he already knew the answer to; in short, he was mocking me. The way he said it was somewhat cruel, and I was sure he wanted me to say the wrong thing so he would have an excuse to fight.

"Oh yes," I replied simply, "If I gave detentions for everything you did, you'd all be shining trophies until you're ninety."

Sirius seemed to deem my response the correct one, and added, "I'd be well over a hundred, at least."

James's eyes returned to their individual sockets, and he gave me a shove, smiling proudly, "It was inevitable, I suppose. Well done, Remus!" He ruffled my hair, and I shoved him back, letting out a happy laugh.

"Well, it's not like any of us could have gotten it. Try to imagine me as a prefect, after all," Peter remarked, throwing me a chocolate frog from the pile beside him.

I grinned, "Prefect Peter, now that has a nice ring to it, don't you agree?"

"Oh yes," Sirius said with a faux-solemn face, "Peter, darling, don't be so hard on yourself. You probably would have been prefect, if only you weren't so dim."

James glared at Sirius and promptly slapped him upside the head.

The topic was quickly changed, and though only light conversation drifted out of our carriage the rest of the way, I could feel the pack was on edge, waiting for that one last poke that would cause Sirius to detonate.

It didn't take long.

The sorting and dinner at Hogwarts was pleasant, as per usual, and after a short conversation with McGonagall about my duties as a prefect, I found myself back in the Gryffindor dormitories, feeling exhausted and content.

I was helping Peter stick up a Quidditch poster of the Appleby Arrows, and talking cheerfully with him about the Charms homework we had due from over the summer, when it happened.

"What is your problem, Sirius? You've been looking for a fight all day," James said, not unkindly. I pondered for a moment about what compelled James to say this, but I knew if I ever asked he would just tell me that Sirius was being stupid, so I decided not to.

Sirius sneered at him, slamming the top of his trunk down loudly, "Oh, just shut up." He proceeded to sit cross-legged on his bed and wore a brooding face, muddy boots staining the freshly washed sheets.

"James is right," Peter said, unaware of the impending situation, though I was not as immune to the waves of anger Sirius was sending off, and tried to shush him. My attempts at keeping the peace were futile.

"No," Sirius said loudly, "Let's hear what Peter has to say, after all, it's bound to be helpful." This clearly achieved the affect he was aiming for; all attention was now on him with Peter off sitting disheartened in the background.

James started yelling at Sirius for being cruel to Peter, and I quickly accio'd their wands so they were unable to harm each other too badly in the forthcoming brawl, which now included me, it appeared.

There was no way this was going to end well.