(A/N): Hello all! It's time for Chapter 9! (Finally, right?) After rereading Chapter 8, I realized that A) Sirius forgot to get his wand back from Gary, and B) he also misuses the word "exceed" when he means to say "excel." Oh well… :).

Also, I've done a little research and I've found that Regulus Black, like the Hagleworth twins, was in his third year during Sirius' sixth year.

Reviewer thank-yous: Moongazer7, WhiteTiger3944, and LaughableBlackStorm for reviewing! Now tell your buddies!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the own JKR's Harry Potter books. Any characters not found in her texts are of my creation, based on the world she has created. After all, it is fan fiction, and I think, by now, we understand how it works.

So on with the story!


Sirius sat upright in bed early the next morning.

"Oh, bugger!" he said.

He threw his covers off and put his face in his hands. A muffled "my bloody wand" could be heard. From the other side of the room, Peter whispered something.

"What did you say?" Sirius asked.

"Did you have a nightmare too?" Peter asked.

"No," Sirius said. There was a pause. "Did you?"

Peter nodded, a disturbed look on his face.

"I dreamt that Danny Littlebrook tied me to a tree and ate my toes," he said and then shivered, despite the warmth in the room.

"Well, I wouldn't put it past him…" Sirius said absent-mindedly, halfway listening to Peter and halfway fretting over his wand.

James emitted a particularly loud snore. He was the only one still asleep. Remus had presumably gotten up early to take care of some prefect duties. James snored again. Sirius grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.

"Get up already," he grumbled. He started pacing back and forth.

"What's his problem?" James asked Peter groggily. "And what time is it?"

"I have no idea," Peter said, watching Sirius pace around the room, who looked to be arguing furiously with himself, under his breath.

James made a noise that was somewhere in between a laugh and a scoff. He then grabbed the pillow Sirius had chucked at him and buried his head beneath it.

Noticing this, Sirius ran over to James' bed and slapped his hands down on the pillow.

"Prongs!" cried Sirius. "You have to help me get my wand back!"

From under the pillow and Sirius' hands, James breathed a muffled "From where?"

"From Gary, mate," Sirius said, going back to his frantic pacing. "Gary's got my wand."

At this, James pushed aside the pillow and sat upright in his bed. He began stroking an invisible beard on his chin, looking as if he were deep in thought.

"Well," he mused. "Sounds like we need to orchestrate a recovery mission."

Remus walked in just as he said these words.

"Wand recovery?" he asked. "No need, I've got it. Professor Professor gave it to me this morning."

Remus handed Sirius the wand.

"He also asked me to let you know he wants to see you in his office during your break after Transfiguration."

Sirius scoffed.

"Oh, goodie," he said, snidely, "I've got another date with Gary."

Later, at breakfast, the Marauders were all off in their own worlds. Sirius sat there not eating, but destroying his food with his utensils and having little outbursts of fuming fury periodically. Peter kept drifting off to sleep, and then waking himself up Everytime he would snore. Obviously, his nightmare had kept him up most of the night. Remus was diligently working on what looked like a calendar of sorts, nibbling on toast here and there. James was surveying the Gryffindor table thoroughly. He kept looking up and down the table, apparently trying to find someone.

"Hey, you, Hagleworth!" James called. "Come here, will you?"

Adrian Hagleworth said something quickly to his sister and Milton and got up from his seat at the other end of the table. He came over to James' end and sat down beside him.

"Yeah, James? What's up?" he asked.

James gave him an appraising once-over. In return, Adrian looked at him curiously.

"Everything all right?" Adrian asked.

"You know anything about Quidditch, Hagleworth?" James asked.

Adrian looked relieved.

"Well, yeah, who doesn't?" he said.

"You're small," James said. "I bet you would fly pretty fast."

"Yeah," said Adrian, "that's the one good thing about being scrawny."

"Right then," said James. "I'm looking for a Seeker for the Gryffindor team. I want you to try out."

Adrian immediately perked up at that.

"Really?" he asked, enthusiasm pouring out from him.

"Yeah, how does this Saturday sound?" James asked.

Adrian had a little trouble containing his excitement.

"YES!" he said, nearly shouting. "Great! It sounds terrific! I'll be there! Thanks James! You can count on me!"

"Right. Good. I've got class," James said. "So, I'll see you around."

James got up and left the table. Adrian jumped up and ran back to his friends. He could be seen waving his arms around wildly and telling the story in elaborate, excited motions.

Once he got out of the Great Hall, James realized that he'd left without his friends. He turned on his heel and headed back into the hall, finding the other three Marauders exactly where he'd left them… Sirius having a fit, Remus at work, and Peter asleep in his porridge.

"HEY!" James shouted. "You lot get up. We're going to be late for McGonagall."

And so they got it together and trooped off to Transfiguration.

As soon as they arrived at the classroom, Professor McGonagall put them to work. There was no time for note passing or idleness for anyone. That is, of course, until the messenger arrived.

"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall?" said a voice from the door.

The entire room shifted their attentions to the visitor, glad for the break in their difficult task. There in the doorway was Danny Littlebrook.

"Hiya, Peter!" little Danny said.

Peter nodded quickly to acknowledge him, and then moved to stand behind Sirius, so as to be out of sight.

"Can I help you, Mr. Littlebrook?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Danny said. "Professor Professor would like to see Sirius Black in his office, not at his earliest convenience anymore, but right now."

"I'm sorry, who?" McGonagall asked.

Sirius stood up, resigned.

"He means Gary, Professor," he said.

"Oh yes, Professor Gary Professor," McGonagall said, understanding, or so she thought.

"No, just Gary," Sirius said, gathering his belongings. He left the room shaking his head and saying, "Gary, Gary, Gary…"

Once he was out of the classroom, he began interrogating little Danny.

"So, Gary sent you to get me, huh?" he asked.

"Yes," said Danny.

"Are you in his class now?" Sirius asked.

"No," said Danny, "but I have him next. I was leaving the Great Hall when he asked me to get you."

"Interesting…" Sirius said. "Who do you third years have Defense Against the Dark Arts with?"

"The Slytherins," Danny said, a note of distaste in his voice.

"Of course you do," Sirius said, empathetically. "Feel free to give that kid Regulus a good swift kick for me."

By this time, they had reached Professor Professor's office. Sirius said waved goodbye to Danny and stepped into the room. There was a surprise guest waiting for him, in the form of a small, black-haired third year boy in green robes.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the offspring of my two idiot parents," Sirius said, mockingly. "I was just talking about you."

"What, gone and got yourself detention, have you?" Regulus asked, sneering.

"No, have you?" Sirius asked back.

"No," Regulus said, matter-of-factly.

"Well good," Sirius said. "Detention is for people who actually do things, not the ones who just stand around in their sissy pants whining and doing nothing."

"Oh, like you're such a good role model!" Regulus retorted. "You'll get that Boyd kid expelled soon enough."

"Hey, Milton could kick your sorry rear in a duel, any day!" Sirius yelled back at his brother.

"Gentleman, please!" said Professor Professor, entering the room. "Is this anyway to solve our differences?"

"Well, we could go back to not speaking at all like last year. That was nice," Sirius said.

"Yes, why don't we?" Regulus said.

"Regulus, I'm not sure why you are here," Professor Professor stated plainly.

"I got a note, sir," Regulus answered. He handed the professor the parchment roll.

Professor Professor sighed.

"Dear boy, this note is asking you to see Professor Slughorn, not me," the Professor said.

Sirius thought this was hilarious.

"You see, this is what happens when you have a pair of idiot parents," he said. "You get an idiot for a brother."

"Sod off!" Regulus shouted. He made a move for his wand.

"That is quite enough!" Professor Professor shouted above the insult match that had started up. "Regulus, go to Professor Slughorn's office now."

Sirius made a face at his brother as he left the room.

"As for you, Sirius," the Professor said, "I have something for you. I had not intended for you to start up a row with your brother, however."

"Oh, don't worry, it happens like this once or twice a year. We try to speak to each other as little as possible."

"How does that work, if you're in the same family?" Professor Professor asked, sincerely.

"Same family, sir, not the same house," Sirius explained. "I moved into the Potters' house at the end of last year."

"I see," the professor said. "Well, here we go."

He reached for a large book on a dusty old shelf. He handed it to Sirius. It was heavy and worn. The cover read "Mastering the Non-verbal Spell."

Sirius took a moment to look the book over.

"Thank you sir," he said.

"You've got potential, Black" the professor said. "But like I said, it will take time. I thought this may help you get started."

Sirius nodded, debating whether to show the full extent of his gratitude or not. Maybe for once, he might be able to show up Remus in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"I appreciate this sir," he said. "Thanks again."

Professor Professor nodded and dismissed him. On the way up to the Gryffindor dormitory, Sirius ran into his friends.

"Padfoot! You missed all the fun!" James said, excitedly.

Sirius then caught sight of Peter.

"Why is Wormtail burnt and steaming?" he asked.

"He caught fire again!" James whooped. "Moony was all over it with the Aguamenti! It was awesome! BAM! WHOOSH!"

James continued acting out the scene, making odd gestures and sounds.

Peter gave him a shrewd look.

"Yes, Remus," he said through gritted teeth, "once again, I can't thank you enough."

"Hey, what are friends for?" Remus said.

"Well, Moony, I for one," Sirius said, pretending to gush, "am glad you are such a nerd."

Remus playfully hit Sirius in the shoulder and together the boys called Marauders headed off to the common room for their break.


So, what did you think?

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Also, while you're at it, please check out the new Boys Called Marauders companion piece "Hero." You can find it on the list of my authored stories.

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Thanks for reading!