SOFT SUNLIGHT

Summary: Set in 1973, the Hogwarts' Marauders' third year, this multi-chaptered fiction develops and expands upon the framework of what we are told happens at this part of history… and what we aren't.

Warnings: Adult language, Homosexual relationship, Heterosexual relationship,

Main Pairing: Sirius/Remus

Other Characters: James, Peter, Lily/Severus, Andromeda, Bellatrix/Rudolphus, Lucius/Narcissa.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the twisted imagination and the ridiculously slow laptop I am typing this onto.

A/N: This was my first attempt at writing slash. It isn't amazing, but I am proud of it, and I would appreciate constructive criticism if it is truly helpful and not abusive.

Chapter 3: In The Dungeons

When approached later that week on the subject, Anni agreed to help them become Animagi, and asked them what animals they would like to turn into.

"You need to be big enough to keep a werewolf under control but, wait, isn't there a tree to get past? One of you ought to be able to get past that."

"No, not a flea, Si."

"You wanted to be a flea? Oh, priceless!"

Sirius shrugged. Anni shook with silent laughter, but stopped abruptly at the sight of three Ravenclaw girls, also from seventh year, coming down the corridor.

"Oh hell's teeth. It's Maria, Jocelyn and Elizabeth, and as it's not ladylike to talk with third years, I'll have to go and be Andromeda and converse politely on topics such as the most recent homework or the difficulty of NEWTs. It was pleasurable holding a conversation with you, gentlemen, but my sorority summons me."

However, despite the sudden change, Sirius was sure she muttered 'shit and fuck and bugger the assholes'. He laughed. Anni was definitely cool.

***

"What are you laughing at? 10 points from Gryffindor. All of you have your shirts untucked, another 15. You ought to be outside, another 15."

Bellatrix was coming down the corridor.

"eek" muttered Peter.

"Peter's not got his shirt untucked," pointed out Remus.

"You're inside," answered James.

"My tie's loose, my top button's not done up, I was laughing because your twin isn't half the asshole you are, we have no intention of going outside, you look like a prostitute and I'm seriously thinking about running away from our family, cousin. Was there anything else guys?"

This last to his three friends, who were standing there with admiring expressions.

"No, I think you got everything, mate."

"kk. See ya, Bellatrix. Come on."

Then the four of them ran from the still frozen Bellatrix before she could do anything…

…right into the arms of Lucius Malfoy. He had witnessed the scene and was not pleased.

"Pettigrew, you seem to be blameless. Run along and try not to be influenced by these three again. Lupin, Potter, detention. Professor Slughorn has been looking for someone to catalogue the poisonous substances in his cabinet. You will do that tomorrow night, and 50 points from Gryffindor. Leave."

***

Eight o'clock, Saturday evening. Five hours since Lucius Malfoy had caught Sirius. The three Marauders had finally come up with a plan. Remus was to stay behind, to do homework and generally cover for Peter and James. Those two would try and find (and rescue) Sirius. This was the sticking point in their plans. Never mind, reasoned James. They would walk around with great bravado and a theme tune, poke around in the dungeons, make it up as they went along and generally have a good time.

"So what about Si?" was Peter's response to this.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot we had to do something."

"Let's just go anyway. Come on Jem. See ya Rem."

***

Meanwhile, locked up in a dungeon, Sirius was considering things. It could be worse. His wand could have been taken off him instead of hung from the ceiling, probably to annoy him. Bellatrix had obviously forgotten that he could jump the staircase in one. It could have been better, however. Once he had his wand, the dungeon could have not been spell proof. The only thing he could do was conjure an axe, and hack at the door. The work would have gone better if the door hadn't been a metre thick. He was through it though, and could see out. Then he heard someone humming a spy tune he was sure he'd heard before.

***

James was walking with an exaggerated stealthiness that was anything but inconspicuous, and humming the marauder theme tune they'd made up the year before. Peter was walking along behind, with a slightly deferential and scared look and with the attitude of a first year. No-one paid him any attention as they laughed at James. Unheeding this, they rounded a corner and saw a door with a crack in it, but otherwise a dead end. As they watched, the crack suddenly got bigger and they saw the glint of an axe.

"D'you think its Si?" Peter asked dubiously. However, muttered cursing issued from behind the door at that point.

"Definitely Si. Hey, Si! You in there? How you getting out?"

"Guess, you idiots." He chucked the axe through the gap just big enough to admit it. "This shitting door's a metre thick."

James set to work, still humming the theme tune in which Sirius joined and, after a look around to check it was deserted, so did Peter.

Eventually even Sirius could get through the gap in the door. They, after some consideration, repaired the door and destroyed the axe again.

****