Chapter 17:

The rest of the holidays went by quickly and before any of the three kids knew it, it was time to go back to Hogwarts. Peter and Remus hadn't been able to make it and James and Sirius were looking forwards to seeing their friends on the train and showing them the passages Johnny had given them. They were also eager to go venturing into them. Johnny had told them secrets passwords to a few, patterns to touch to get in (kind of like how to get in Diagon Alley) and also a way to avoid detection.

"It's quiet simple really," Johnny was saying at the Kings Cross before boarding the train, "Just keep quiet," he laughed and James scowled at him.

"That's not helpful Johnny," James said hitting his cousin playfully.

"Sorry mate," Johnny laughed.

"James, mate, we don't need Johnny's advice, we have better tools to sneaking around,"

"Right you are Sirius," James grinned.

"It was really nice meeting you boys," Olivia said walking up to them after saying good bye to Selena. "I hope we can hang out again after the school years over."

"Sounds like a plan," James said. Olivia gave him a hug and then turned to Sirius.

"You may not be related directly but I feel as if you're already part of the Potter family, you fit in so well," she said hugging him. "It was a pleasure to get to know you as well."

"The pleasure was all mine," Sirius said winking. James rolled his eyes and Johnny laughed.

"Paws off mate," he said wrapping his arms around Olivia. Sirius laughed and then turned to Vallery.

"Thanks again for having me,"

"Any time Sirius," she said hugging him. "And stay out of trouble," she said giving James a hug as well.

"Don't we always," James said hugging his aunt.

"No," Sally, Vallery and even Johnny said at once.

"Oi, we're not that bad,"

"Just get on the train," Sally said. "Selena, keep them in line."

Selena laughed, "Like that's even possible?" she asked and the three got on the train. The four waved to them as the train stared to move.

"So did any of you catch a glimpse of Remus or Peter?" James asked as they went in search of a compartment.

"Nope," Selena said, "But I see a few of my friends," she waved and walked off as James and Sirius headed farther down the train. Finally, after passing about twenty spots, they found their two friends sitting quietly in a compartment near the back of the train.

"Hey mates!" James said excitedly opening the door. Both Peter and Remus looked up smiling, although both looks forceful. James could see that Remus looked pale and thin and had a freshly healed cut on his arm. Peter looked sad.

"What's wrong with you two?" James asked taking a seat opposite Remus.

"Long holiday," Remus sighed, "Didn't get much sleep or food… mums not doing so well."

"Oh Remus mate," James said glancing at Sirius, "you really should get some help mate."

Remus shook his head, "We're doing all we can do."

"What about you mate?" Sirius asked Peter, "You look a little down as well."

"My parents were fighting over the holidays; I'm worried they might split up."

"Peter, mate," James said looking at his friend, "I'm sure they'll be fine."

"You don't understand," Peter said shaking his head, "my parents fight a lot, they've split before as well… I think this may be the real thing."

They sat in silence for a bit, all thinking about different things. Sirius was the one to break the silence. "I think this calls for some cheering up," he said.

"Snivellus?" James asked and Sirius smirked and nodded.

"Snivellus,"

Peter and Remus looked up. "What are you going to do?" Remus asked.

"Well we've been working on a little special prank for him," Sirius said and he pulled out an ordinary looking piece of parchment.

"What's that?" Peter asked. Sirius opened the parchment up and showed the two boys. Remus grinned and Peter laughed.

"That's good," he said.

"The best thing is when he opens it… but I'll leave that as a surprise, it will most defiantly cheer you guys up."

"I thought Snivellus stayed at Hogwarts for the holidays," Remus said.

"Well he was supposed to," James said, "But his mummy missed her wittle snivvy,"

"In other words he had to go to some family thing eve though he didn't want to,"

"How do you know?" Remus asked.

"My dad works at the Ministry," James said, "and he over heard about some problem at the house that Snivellus had to be present for."

"What problem exactly?"

"I'm not sure, we didn't hear the whole message," James grumbled.

"Yeah, we tried but they moved outside to talk, they didn't see, to care it was freezing out."

"That's rubbish mate," Remus said shaking his head, "I bet you lot weren't happy about that."

"No," James said, "And when we tried to sneak out to follow, my mum had us go clean up my room."

"Which was pointless as we just made a mess of it ten minutes later," Sirius said.

"Alright, so Snivellus is on the train then?"

"We even passed him coming into the compartment," Sirius said, "he was sitting with a bunch of other Slytherins."

"So how do we get it to him?"

"That's easy," James said. "I'll be right back." The three watched as James got up and walked out of the compartment. He walked through the train, stopping at one filled with a bunch of first years.

"Selena," he said, "I need you for a second,"

"I'll be back," Selena said to her friends and she got up and followed James back to his compartment.

"What's this all about?" she asked as he shut the door.

"We need you to get this to Snape." He said holding out the note.

"What is it?" she asked looking at it.

"It's out latest prank," Sirius said, "only problem is getting it to him, so we need you're help."

"How can I do this?"

"Just tell him it's from Lily."

"Evans?"

"Yeah, he has a thing for her," Sirius said.

"He does not," James mumbled.

"He does," Sirius said and turned back to Selena, "Anyways just say he received an Owl but it got lost and you got s hold of it."

"He knows I'm related to James though," Selena said, "He may suspect something."

"He won't," Sirius said, "Just get it to him,"

"Fine, fine," Selena said taking the note. The boys grinned and watched her walk out, "But you owe me," she said before turning around. The boys quickly scrambled up.

"Get under here," James said taking the cloak out of his pocket, "We don't have much time."

Quietly and carefully, the boys walked out in the hall. Oddly enough it was fairly empty and they were able to manoeuvre themselves through and outside of Snape's compartment.

"Look I'm just trying be nice," they heard Selena yell at him, "Either take the note or I'll read it out in front of the whole school."

Snape sneered, "Try it,"

"Fine I will," she said and she flipped the note over and was about to open it. James bit his lip and glanced at Sirius. He was just smirking and James turned back and saw that Snape had snatched the note out of her hand.

"Now get out," he said pointing to the door.

"Happily," Selena said and stormed out of the compartment. James watched as the door slammed shut and Snape turned to the rest of the Slytherins.

"What are you laughing at?" he sneered.

"Mate you let that little Gryffindor bitch boss you around," Jesse Grosse said.

"I was trying to get her the bloody hell out of here," he said and stormed out of the compartment as well. The boys followed him farther down the train and into an empty compartment where he looked around quickly before slipping in. The boys were able to sneak in just before he shut the door and locked it. A smile now played on his lips as he opened the note.

As soon as he opened it, however, the note blew up, sounding as if a bomb had just went off on the train, and Snape was covered in confetti and black soot. The boys roared with laughter. Snape jumped and looked around the compartment where, through the smoke, he saw the marauders.

"YOU! How did you get in here?"

"Magic," James said laughing, "You got a little dirt on your face Snivellus,"

Remus and Peter were laughing as well. "Alright mate you were right," Remus said holding his stomach, "That cheered me up."

"Same mate," Peter said. He was bent over, laughing so hard.

"I'll get you back," Snape warned as he pushed past Remus and peter to get out but Sirius was standing by the door.

"Where do you think you're going Snivellus? This is a party in your honour!" He used his wand and raised some of the confetti and made it fly at Snape's face.

"Don't forget this," James said taking a pumpkin pastry from his pocket and throwing it at Snape as well. "Can't have a party with out cake," The boys laughed harder and exited the compartment, leaving a dirty, cake covered and angry Snape behind.

When the boys woke up the next day for school, they were all in high spirits. After the dinner Remus had the night before and seeing Madam Pomfry, he was looking healthier. Peter had also cheered up, being with his friends, talking and laughing had helped a great deal. James and Sirius were in even better moods, after pulling yet another prank on Snape and also being back with their two mates.

As they walked down to breakfast, laughing and joking, James pushed Sirius into a wall. Sirius lost his balance and went to grab onto the suit of armour that was standing by him. Instead of it crashing down, the arm he grabbed turned down and a passage way opened up at the opposite wall.

"Sirius!" James said rushing to help his friend up, "Look what you did!" Sirius grinned.

"Write this one down!" Remus wrote a quick note about it and the boys exchanged looks.

"No James," Remus said, "We don't have time. We have class in half an hour and we got to go eat breakfast first."

"But Remus," James said, "This is a new passage way!"

"James class is more important then strolling around the school finding these secret places,"

"Fine," James sighed, "But I'm coming here right after class is done with,"

"I'm with you mate," Sirius said. He looked at Peter, "You coming?"

"Um, I suppose," he said and glanced at Remus, "it may be fun," Remus sighed.

"Not until class is over." He said.

When class finally ended at the end of the day, James and Sirius rushed towards the spot where they had found the new secret passage. Remus and Peter followed behind slowly. James turned the arm of the suit of armour and looked at the other three.

"Ready?" he asked. The two nodded but Sirius just shoved him playfully.

"Let's just go!" he said. James grinned back and walked into the passage.

The passage was dark and they all lit their wands and walked down a few stairs. Cob webs surrounded the corner of the walls and the passage twisted and turned as they walked. Occasionally they'd see a spider or two crawling around.

James walked in front along with Sirius, while the other two lagged behind complaining.

"How much longer?" Peter asked.

"I don't know do I?" snapped James, "We just found the place."

"James don't get mad at him," Remus said, "he'

S just asking because it seems like this is a very long passage."

"Well you're in luck then," Sirius said. All three looked at him. "We're at the end."

They all exchanged looks and James and Sirius quietly and carefully opened the wall at the end, trying not to be loud in case it leads out somewhere public.

Light shown in the wall and they all blinked at the sudden change. After a few moments, in which they exited the passage and the wall closed behind them, invisible unless you knew it was there, they realized the wall lead out to a place close to the Whomping Willow.

The boys looked around, there grounds was deserted, seeing as it was the middle of winter, and almost dinner time.

"Well brilliant, all that way just to freeze," Peter grumbled.

"It's not so bad Pete," James said and he threw a snowball at him. Peter's moth fell open and his eyes widened in shock.

"You'll pay for that one James," he said and tried to throw one back at him, although he had terrible aim and it landed a foot away from him. James laughed and launched another one at Peter. Peter was able to dodge it that time and Remus threw one at James this time, in which Sirius repelled with his wand.

"Cheater!" Remus cried launching three at Sirius with his wand.

"We're wizards so it's not cheating to use our wands!" Sirius said and blocked those as well. Eventually, it turned into a big snow ball fight between the four friends. Peter, not much better with his wand then he was with his hands, was on Remus's team, who was fairly good with his wand. Unfortunately they were still no match for James and Sirius and, after they were soaked from the snow, they gave up and surrendered.

"Ok I'm officially starved," James said. Sirius nodded and, after throwing one more snow ball at Remus, he turned towards the castle and started to head back in.

"I think I'm going to change first," Remus said. Peter agreed and those two walked in a different direction then James and Sirius.

"You know," James said, "That passage can work out for us,"

"You reckon?"

"Well," James said, "We haven't brought up the werewolf in a while… next full moon.. well we could use the passage and finally find out who it is."

"James," Sirius said, "You don't still think it could be Remus do you?"

James sighed, "I don't know Sirius, that's why I want to find out who it is."

Sirius nodded, "Alright, then next full moon, it's you, me, and a werewolf."

A/N: Alright here's a new chappy for all my readers! It's been a little bit but, I am done school now… well not only am I don't school… I am done HIGH SCHOOL! Well grad isn't for another week but that's besides the point, I passed my classes and I am out of that blasted school lol. Anyways I hope this chapter was a good one for you all and that you liked it, don't forget to review and tell me what you think of it!!!

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