Sirius bounces out of the bathroom with a grin that anyone other than his closest friends would have probably called evil.
"Sirius, what in the name of Merlin's pointy hats are you wearing." James shudders, slightly shocked by what he is seeing.
"Whatever it is, he seems quite pleased with himself." Peter tries to reassure.
"They're… tights. Sirius, what--?" Remus tries not to make a face before he's cut off.
"Correct, Remus! Purple tights! It's for my costume tonight." Sirius rests his fisted hands on his nylon wrapped hips.
"Who are you going as? McGonagall?" James quips.
"No, as a matter of fact. I didn't want her to feel bad if I pulled off that hideous hat of hers better than she could (and I would)." Sirius smiles wildly at his friends. "No, mates, Remus will be quite proud of me! I will be going as a great, timeless, and might I add quite handsome figure from Muggle literature."
"I didn't know you had an interest in Muggle literature." Remus says.
"What will be my punishment if I tell you I sneak a book or two from your library every once in a while?" Sirius bats his eyelashes at Remus.
Remus raises an eyebrow and tries not to let the words of his friend contort his pursed lips into a smile as he rolls up a near by piece of parchment as if it were a newspaper. "Well, that explains a few things… but as long as you don't touch my chocolate, you shall be spared."
"Aw, you tease!" Sirius pouts as Remus stops hitting his palm with the rolled parchment.
A few hours later finds the boys in the Gryffindor common room mingling amongst some other fourth years.
James has put on some simple black dress robes and combed his thick, wild hair as best he could so it fell along his collar in the back and just so it tickled his eyelashes in the front. He carries an acoustic guitar on his back. "John Lennon," he says, grinning despite his failing attempt to impress a red haired, green eyed, black cat with his knowledge of the Muggle world, or at least some of it's better music.
Peter has his same old sheet draped over his head for the fourth year in a row. In first year, he had forgotten to bring, transfigure, or buy a costume in time for the annual feast in the Great Hall and the following party in Gryffindor tower. Remus told him about a Muggle Halloween cartoon in which one of the characters threw a sheet, with two holes for eyes, over his head and tried to pass himself off as a ghost. Figuring that this would be the easiest option at such short notice, Peter tore a sheet off his bed and charmed two circles out of it. Peter had done the same in second and third year, having forgotten again. This year, however, he didn't even bother making a fuss, claiming it was "tradition" and he couldn't let down the fans, no longer wanting to admit to his forgetfulness.
Remus adjusts the collar of his costume. "And who are you supposed to be?"
"Well, I'm," Remus turns around and meets Sirius' smiling face. "Dear Merlin, Sirius."
"Merlin? I think Merlin would have worn something a little more… flashy. Sorry, mate." Sirius poked at his friend's costume.
"Who the hell are you?"
"I," Sirius began dramatically. "am The Prince!"
"I don't think a prince would wear trousers that are quite that puffy." Remus pokes cautiously at his hip, afraid that the over abundance of deep purple fabric might engulf him whole. "Are you smuggling balloons under there?"
A small pout showed up on his face for a split second, but vanished as soon as it had appeared. "He could have worn them on laundry day. I am The Prince on laundry day! And you are, mate?"
"I'm just a humble peasant." Remus drops his voice a bit, "Boring, but it was easy. It's just some over worn stuff from my closet that I haven't worn in ages. I didn't have a chance to pick up anything in Hogsmeade last week because of, well, you know." He makes a small howl that only the two of them can hear.
Sirius nods and smiles at him.
"So, which Prince are you exactly. You said a great and timeless,"
"And handsome!"
"…character from Muggle literature."
"The Prince from The Prince and the Pauper, of course." Sirius smiles after answering unusually shyly, but still as matter-of-factly as ever.
Remus stares at him. 'He couldn't possibly have planned this…'
Picking up his invisible bag of dramatics he always seemed to carry with him, Sirius kneels down in front of his friend, grabs hold of his hand and says, "It is awfully horrible being such a handsome prince. Will you trade places with me, oh, delightfully shabby, yet equally as handsome kindred spirit?"
"Do I really look shabby?" Remus asks, quite proud of his convincing costume.
Sirius kisses the hand he is holding, "The shabbiest."
Remus can't help but flash a smile. "Maybe later. You can be my costume partner, though, if it means that much to you."
Sirius jumps up smiling. "Only if I can wear your hat. I just adore patchwork." Sirius sweeps his long fingers across the small bill of the newsboy hat.
Before Remus can protest, Sirius steals his hat and replaces it with his own sparkling crown.
"Hey, wait up!" Remus calls after Sirius who is already halfway across the common room.
To be continued...