A/n: Chapter 12. Wherein Sirius is smart, Remus is embarrassed, Simone suggests he go on a holiday and the reign of the Marauders begins.

Chapter 12 – The Marauders

Remus was in the bedroom, hurriedly pulling on his school shirt. Simone had magically summoned his uniform and robes from his trunk, all the way to the shack, for him to change into.

"I don't see why you're so embarrassed. It's not like you have anything to be ashamed of. I mean, with those muscles, you are pretty hot," said Simone through the door, her charisma overweighing any embarrassment she might usually have from talking about such things.

Remus didn't reply.

"There's going to be a time when you won't be ashamed to waltz around topless, but I guess you are a bit young for that," she continued.

"Not really helping, Simone." He replied.

"Oh come on, just relax mate, its fine. You know, I never realised you've have a six-pack, but I guess being a werewolf does have its upsides."

"If you're going to continue talking about that, I'm staying in this room." Remus fumbled with his tie.

"Seriously Remus, just chill. It's all right. No-one is scarred for life, it's only me and you in here, and I'm hardly going to take photos and post them up around the school." She replied.

Remus stepped out of the bedroom, his tie almost chocking him.

"God Remus, you go from almost no clothes to more clothes than an Eskimo. Come here." She grabbed Remus' tie and pulled him towards her, before he could refuse, untied his tie, and retied it, to a more sane level than one of suffocation.

"There. Now since it's almost seven thirty, we might as well go to breakfast."

"Okay…No, wait. Madame Pomfry said she'd be here in the morning to pick me up. Shouldn't we wait for her? How will she react when she discoverers you've been here? Oh dear." Remus was panicking.

"Relax Remus. You really need to go to on a Jamaican holiday or something. Just relax. Take a deep breath and chill. I'll just get a message to her briefly explaining some things and it will be fine. Now can we go to breakfast?"

"How brief will this message be?" Remus eyed her suspiciously.

"Just the bare essentials." She smiled.

Remus sighed, but obeyed as Simone pulled him towards the trap door and into the tunnel.

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They emerged from the tunnel into the cold morning air. The snow had almost blocked the tunnels exit, but Simone had managed to clear it away with her magic when Remus wasn't looking. But when he saw the snow gone, he guessed what had happened.

"Simone, when are you going to tell us about all this?" He asked.

"About what?" She replied, feigning innocence.

"Your powers, where you go all the time, all this stuff you're keeping secret. It isn't good to keep secrets from friends."

"You're one to talk Mr. Werewolf." She retaliated.

"Okay, well, good point, but I've told you my secret, shouldn't I get to know yours?"

Simone sighed. "Remus, I can't tell you. Not now. I know you don't understand, but it's for your own good. I'll tell you all later, much later, but not now."

Remus looked at her, concerned at her sudden break down in confidence.

"When I do decide to tell, believe me, you'll be the first one to know. It's just not safe right now." She said quietly.

"I understand…and thank you for being with me last night. You really helped." He smiled sympathetically.

Simone regained her enthusiasm. "Now, onwards to the castle!"

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Lily sat in the Great Hall, at the Gryffindor table, reading the Daily Prophet. Sirius and James sat across from her, having a Sausage Eating Competition, while Peter was the referee.

Suddenly Simone and Remus entered the hall, and sat down next to their friends.

"Here you are, Simone," said Lily, as Simone sat down next o her. "I haven't seen you since yesterday."

James looked up from the competition. "We haven't seen Remus since yesterday either."

"Where were you two?" Asked Sirius, his mouth full of sausage.

Simone had forgotten to come up with an alibi. "Oh, we were just in--"

"The library." Finished Remus.

"Yeah, the library. I was teaching Remus about--"

"The stuff in the lake."

"The stuff in the lake?" Asked James, suspiciously.

"Yeah, like the Giant Squid, and the merpeople, and the water sprites."

"And we lost track of time and fell asleep in the library." Completed Remus.

"I told you he was getting ahead." Said James. "You owe me five Galleons Sirius."

"Oh, yes, well, the thing is…hey Pete, can you lend me five Galleons?" Asked Sirius.

"No, you cleaned me out the time you bet Snape was allergic to chocolate. I can't."

"Damn. Well, sorry James; looks like--"

"I can't believe you're doing this to me again. If you don't have the money, why did you bet?" Asked James, really annoyed.

"I thought I'd win. Who'd have guessed Remus was actually studying, and in the holidays no less."

"I did, and now I want my money." Said James.

"I thought you were rich." Interrupted Lily to Sirius.

"I was, until I spent it all at Zonko's," replied Sirius.

"What about your parents? Can't they lend you money?" Lily quested, having read in the History books about the famous Black family fortune.

Suddenly the enchanted sky of the Great Hall turned dark with storm clouds and lightning flashed across the sky. Sirius wore an expression of deep, pure hatred. He took in a deep breath, ready for a rant.

"Those pureblooded dirty little scumbags are so full of themselves, that …" and Sirius began a ten minute rant.

Ten minutes later…

"…I hate them all!" he breathed out.

"Sirius' family wrote him out of the will for being in Gryffindor, along with some other stuff. He really hates his family." James quietly explained to Lily, who responded with "oh."

Everyone was rather shocked. Even people from the other tables were looking over, completely speechless over what had just happened. Simone reached into one of her pockets.

"Here you go James. I'll pay Sirius' gambling debt." She handed him five gallons.

"It's okay--"

"Take it. Looks like you'll need it more than I do." She replied.

Sirius's eyes cleared and he was stunned at Simone's sudden act of charity. He looked at her blankly.

"No need to thank me Sirius. But next time you should probably make sure you have money before you gamble." She replied, smiling, he usual humour not at all affected my Sirius' outburst.

Sirius smiled back, and returned to his usual self.

"Well, I'm never bringing that up again." Said Lily, quietly to James.

"Hmm." he agreed.

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Simone and Lily were in their dorm. Their roommates were elsewhere, probably in the common room gossiping, as they did.

Lily was busy reading a book she had gotten from the library, and Simone was sitting on her bed, with the curtains shut, writing Christmas cards and wrapping presents, all at the same time. This was possible through her magic and her advanced multi-tasking skills. With all the presents wrapped, pre-written gift tags stuck themselves onto the appropriate present and the pile shrunk. Simone clicked her finger and her trunk flew open. Another click at the shrunken pile of gifts levitated and landed in her trunk, with a timer spell to be sent to the appropriate people at dawn. Shutting her trunk, Simone got back to the many cards. She started to sort them by realm. As she had many friends in many different places, it was a godsend to be able use magic to take care of them all.

"Hey Simone," said Lily, putting down her book, poking through the curtains around Simone's bed and getting up on it, "You know, you could've told me about Remus."

"Excuse me?" Said Simone, with a look of confusion.

"You know, that you two are, like, an item." She replied.

"Huh? Wait a sec. Are you telling me that you think me and Remus are dating?"

"Well, yes. I mean, it's so obvious."

"Lily, you've got it all wrong. I am NOT going out with Remus."

Lily raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, he's nice and he's a great friend, but he's just, I dunno, not my type." Simone went on. "Besides, you know as well as I do that these boys are way too young to even consider that kind of commitment. I mean, Remus is by far the most mature, but even he is still too young to actually 'go out' with someone. We're 11 years old for Christs sake!"

"Then what are you doing with him all the time? You two are always so mysterious."

"That, my friend, is classified information."

"If you two aren't going out then why do aren't you telling me what you're really doing?"

"Lily, I swear to you that we're not 'an item' as you put it. Trust me Lils, if and when I ever go out with a guy, you'll be the first person I tell."

"Really?"

" 'Course, you're my best bud, why would I tell anyone else before you?"

Lily looked much happier after this, and then went along to tell Simone about her book and how interesting it was.

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In the boy's dorm…

"You know, lads, I've been thinking." Said Sirius.

"Never a good sign." Mumbled Remus.

"That we, as devilishly handsome, intelligent--" Continued Sirius, ignoring Remus' comments.

"And delirious," added Remus.

"He's talking about all of us, not just himself," replied James.

"Well, that's a change." Said Remus.

"And wonderful, and above all, modest…what was I talking about?" Said Sirius.

"About how great we are?" Suggested Peter.

"Oh yeah. Anyway, I was thinking, that we need a name. You know, as a group."

"What about Simone?" Asked Peter.

"Well, she's really only a part member, but because she's so useful, Simone will continue to help us now and then. But technically, she's not IN the group. Anyway, I, Sirius Black, prepose we have a name for ourselves."

"What do you have in mind?" Asked James.

"What makes you think I have one in mind?" Replied Sirius.

"Well, you wouldn't have dragged us all up here if you didn't already have a name you wanted to use." Said Remus.

"Now you mention it, I was thinking of one--"

"We are NOT going to be called Sirius Black and the Dancing Puddings." Said James.

"What are you talking about? I wasn't going to suggest that." Replied Sirius, lying.

"You talk in your sleep." James said simply.

"Damn!" Sirius mumbled quietly.

"What was that?" Asked Remus.

"Nothing, nothing." Replied Sirius, "Here is what I was going to suggest, before I was so rudely interrupted." He glared at James. 'Time for plan B' he thought, "I think that our name, for all time, should be; The Marauders."

"What's a marauder?" asked Pete.

"A Marauder is a person who causes trouble by means of raiding and pillaging." Replied Sirius.

"Did you just quote a book?" Asked Remus.

"Oh dear God, Sirius has been reading! It's the end of the world! Life as we know it has changed forever!" James said dramatically, and pretended to faint.

"We are not going to rob people. Pranks are bad enough, but I will not become a criminal." Remus said sternly.

"I'm not saying we steal or anything. And food from the kitchen doesn't count. The elves practically give it to us." Sirius replied, flinching at Remus' look of disapproval, "We'll just continue pranking and all that. We're not changing what we do, just adding a name. So we can be remembered throughout all history as the greatest pranksters ever!"

"I like it. Looks like you are smart after all. And to think I let you copy my Charms essay." Said James.

"Oh, well, yes, about that--"

"You can't hide it anymore Sirius. You are smart. From now on I will never let you use my notes, copy my essays or help you in any way with lessons again." Said Remus.

"Even in History of Magic?" Sirius asked desperately, "You know you're the only one who pays attention."

"Yes, even in History. Maybe you should just listen to Professor Binns, instead of sleeping. You too James." Said Remus.

"Damn." Said James

"What about Peter?" Asked Sirius.

"Well, Peter…is just…special. And he needs – I mean is always very grateful and thanks me when I help him. Unlike you two, who just take my work and leave." Said Remus, trying and failing to explain Peter's stupidity to them, without hurting his feelings.

"You say now that you won't help us, but mark my words Remus, one day you'll slip and BAM you'll be tutoring us for the exams." Said Sirius.

James nodded in agreement. "Well, enough of all this evil talk of not helping your two best friends, maybe we should make this whole name thing official."

"Oh, I have a great idea--" said Sirius.

"We are not signing anything in blood. No blood contracts, no blood brothers, nothing that involves our blood." Said James.

"Damn." Sirius looked downcast. "Then how do you prepose we officialise this whole name thing?"

"I dunno. This whole thing was your idea in the first place. I only know what we're NOT going to do." Said James.

"You're about as fun as Remus." Sirius said, "There is one thing we could do, and it doesn't involve blood." Sirius shot a glare at James,

"What?" Said Remus; thankful James had ruled out any kind of blood ritual.

"We could tell someone. That way it will officially be out there. But wait, we can't just tell anyone. We could use the Marauders to cover us when we pull off big pranks, so we don't get in trouble. We'll have to keep this whole thing pretty secluded."

"I know one person we could tell." Said Remus, smiling.

Did you like? I thought it was alright. See, a nice long 8 page chapter to make up for the short one. Thanks to all the people who reviewed last chapter. You're all really nice, great, fantastic people. Yay for all of you!

Don't worry, this story is going somewhere. I have plans for the later years. And Simone's big secret will be explained soon. Well, next year anyway. I realised that I forgot Halloween. oh well, I will mention it next year. We don't really celebrate Halloween in Australia, so it's easy for such things to slip my mind.

Please read and review. I really do appreciate the feedback.