Four laughing boys tumbled through the portrait hole behind the fat lady. One was tucking an old empty bit of parchment into his pocket, another folding up a strange silvery material into his bag. They were Sirius Black and James Potter and following them were two other boys of their age, one who was small and pudgy, this was Peter Pettigrew, and a tall, thin boy who always looked ill, known as Remus Lupin.
Once in the common room they erupted into heinous fits of laughter.
"Oh Merlin, that was hilarious! Did you see his face? Priceless!" James tried to get out through his laughter, tears streaming down his face.
"I know, I think that was the best prank ever!" Sirius acknowledged, plonking himself down in his favourite armchair by the roaring fire always lit in the common room.
"I never knew Snivellus could cry!" James roared laughter calming down.
"I agree it was very funny but do you not think that maybe it was a bit over the top to fly him up to the ceiling in the Great Hall at dinner time to set his trousers on fire?" Remus put in to the conversation wisely.
"Oh Moony would you ever relax? It was a prank it's supposed to be fun for us and humiliating for the people we pull them on, mostly Snivellus." Sirius replied an annoyed tone in his voice.
"Yes I know that, and believe me, he was humiliated! It's just that," Remus hesitated, then carried on gravely, "Well, I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think I may have seen one of the teachers at the entrance, just as you let him down and put out the fire. They waited 'till we were all finished and then I'm pretty sure they went straight to Dumbledoor."
A stunned and horrified silence filled the empty common room.
"You are shitting me!" Sirius said in a croaky whisper.
Remus looked gravely around at his three best friends, James looked sick, no doubt thinking of the effect of this on his quidditch playing privileges, Peter looked like he was about to faint; his eyes were wide, a faint sheen of sweat covered his pale face and he was breathing quickly. Sirius simply looked completely dumbfounded, his mouth, Remus was sure, would soon touch the floor. Finally he couldn't hold it in any longer, he started to laugh.
"Oh sweet Merlin! I can't believe you fell for that!!" he rolled around clutching his stomach. "You know something Sirius...it was fun! Not for you...but...Oh boy...I'm gonna do that more often!!"
"Wow, Moony well done, congrats for your first prank pulled on your own!" Sirius said, relieved, "But if you ever pull one on your fellow marauders again I will thump you!"
James laughed but turning suddenly playful turned to Sirius and asked "So what's this with you and Katie? Every time you're around her you turn all...puppyish!"
The others laughed and turned incredulously to Sirius saying"What's this?"
Sirius turned to thump James mumbling through a clenched jaw "Shudup Pratt!"
"Ooh is the great Sirius Black going soft?" crowed James laughingly.
"NO!" Sirius said defensively.
"Ooh defensive, that must mean you really like her!" Remus teased.
"Leave me alone! So James, how's Lily these days?" Sirius asked trying to change the subject without being noticed.
"Well-"was what James started to say but was cut off by Remus saying "No way, you are not getting out of this conversation that easy! Why don't you want to talk about it?"
"Because it doesn't matter it's not like she likes back, she doesn't even talk to me when I'm around her!" Sirius said embarrassed.
"Have you ever thought that maybe she doesn't talk to you because she's really nervous and scared about what you might think?" was Peter's first input to the conversation and all three were amazed by the confidence in his small weary voice.
"What, you mean you think she likes me back?" Sirius asked hopefully.
"I mean you shouldn't jump to conclusions about her feelings for you when you haven't talked to her about how you feel." Peter answered nervously.
"So I should...ask her to go out with me?" Sirius asked just as nervous.
"No! You don't want to scare her do you? No, you should just talk to her first, maybe try meet up in the astronomy tower again?" Peter asked cocking an eyebrow.
"How did you know about that? I didn't tell anyone about that!" Sirius asked bemused.
"You talk in your sleep." Peter shrugged.
"Sirius can I talk to you for a minute? Alone." James asked a deep look of concern on his face.
"Eh...now?" Sirius asked disappointedly.
"Yes now!" James answered urgently.
Sirius and James walked over to one of the corners of the common room away from the other two.
"So what's up Prongs?" Sirius asked his friend.
James rounded on Sirius after this statement "What's up? You know what's up! I thought you told me everything! Everything Padfoot, you know what that includes?
"Um...everything?" Sirius answered scared he might be wrong.
"Yes Padfoot but you know what else that includes?" James asked a strange fire in his eyes.
"Um...no Prongs what else does that include?" answered as though being scolded by a teacher.
"Telling me about the girls you like! And what happened in the astronomy tower?!" James shouted anger overwhelming him.
Sirius looked sheepishly at the floor and said "I'm sorry. I should have told you I liked your ex. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me Prongs?"
"Wait, who did you say you liked?" James asked confusion written across his face.
"Katie you know Lily's friend? You went out with her for two years, cheated on her and then forgot who she was? Ringing any bells?" Sirius asked.
"Why does everyone relay that story when they talk about us? We had some good times together...can't remember any at this time but I'm sure we did!" James said sheepishly.
At this Sirius thumped James in the arm "Don't talk about her like that!"
"What! What I say?" James asked bemused.
"You...you...you...ugh!" Sirius said as he threw his arms up and started to walk away from the corner but James caught his arm and pulled him back saying "You still haven't told me what happened in the astronomy tower?!"
Sirius looked away murmuring "Nothing." And walked away after James dropped his arm.