Whyyyyyy can I never get chapters out on time? Well, actually this week I had a pretty rough Monday so I'm giving myself a little slack. I'd rather not get into it. Anyway, it's here now!

We're into the boys' second year and now that we are, I'd like to reveal the theme: Pranks. Get ready for some good old-fashioned Marauders mischief making :D

Anyway, I'm not going to ramble on today, so on with the show. Thanks for all who have favorited and followed the story and I hope you're all enjoying it :D Hopefully I can get the next chapter out on time XD Love ya!

~SXS

FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMER, SEE FIRST CHAPTER AN.


Sirius didn't sleep the night before September 1st. He was far too excited about the idea of being free of Grimmauld Place once more. Luckily Regulus was also full of anticipation about going to school for the first time and he kept him company through the night.

At 8:30 the Black family Flooed to King's Cross Station and spun out onto Platform 9 ¾. Regulus had his trunk in tow and followed Sirius when he snuck away from their mother and cousins.

"Well, Reg, this is it. You and me, going to school together at last." Sirius slung an arm around his brother's shoulders.

"I'm really excited!"

"Me too. I can't wait for you to meet my friends. And speaking of which..." Sirius looked ahead towards the last car on the train and could see Remus and Peter standing near the door. The sight of them made his heart leap in joy and he ran forward with a new burst of adrenaline.

Remus only had a moment to prepare himself when he saw the other boy barreling towards him. Sirius tackled him in a hug and they both fell to the ground in a pile of limbs and hair. "Remy, Remy, Remy!"

"Good Godric, Sirius. I can't breathe!" His friend laughed and sat up, allowing him to do the same.

"Sorry, Rem. I'm just so happy to finally see you!" Sirius hugged Remus around the shoulders and he returned the embrace.

"It's good to see you too, Siri." When they pulled apart and stood, Remus took him in. It was obvious that he hadn't been eating properly as he was much thinner than he had been at the end of the previous school year. His hair had also grown long and shaggy, bangs falling into his eyes and the rest reaching his neck. It almost looked like he'd been in prison for a bit. Even his eyes were less sparkling with enthusiasm than they had been three months before.

"Alright, Pete?" Sirius said to the other boy standing there.

"Alright, Sirius," he replied with a smile which Sirius returned easily. Then he turned to his doppelganger and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Mates, this is my brother Regulus. Reg, this is Remus and Peter." He gestured to each one and Regulus gave a shy wave.

"Nice to meet you, Regulus," Remus said. "Sirius has told us a lot about you."

"You'll sit with us on the train, yeah?" Peter asked. Regulus seemed to have been struck silent by being in the presence of others. He nodded shyly.

"Come on, Reg, they're friends. You don't have to be nervous." Sirius gave him a little shake and he hiccoughed, but still remained silent.

The four of them then climbed onto the car, figuring that James and Anjanette would know where to find them later. But before they made it into their compartment at the back of the train, it started to move and they were off for Hogwarts.

"It's like a dream come true," Sirius sighed happily as he watched out the window and could see his mother's figure grow smaller in the distance until they were past the platform and out into the open valley.

"Knock knock!" The voice was accompanied by the related sound and everyone looked to see James Potter in the doorway.

"Jamsie! I was beginning to think you'd missed the train!" Sirius grinned widely.

"Merlin's balls, Sirius. You look like you haven't eaten in weeks. Wait, did you not eat while you were grounded?" He fully entered the compartment and sat next to Peter.

"I ate. Just not as much," Sirius said, waving a hand as if it were no big deal. "Reg here helped me out when he could. Speaking of which, James, this is my brother. Reg, this is James Potter, formerly my number one nemesis but now my best friend."

"I thought I was your best friend?" Remus said as he feigned being scandalized.

"Of course you are, Rem. Can't I have more than one best friend?"

"Am I your best friend too?" Peter asked, looking hopeful.

"Hmm...I'll have to think about that one," Sirius said, but with a playful wink. Peter laughed though the full feeling wasn't behind it.

"It's okay, Pete. You're my best friend," James said and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, but don't you think we should all be best friends with each other?" the smaller boy pointed out.

"He does have a point," Remus said.

"You didn't say that anyone but Sirius was your best friend," James retorted.

Remus paused thoughtfully. "That's true. I suppose you blokes are my best friends. Actually besides Anjanette you're my only friends. So you might as well be my best ones."

Throughout this conversation, Regulus watched quietly, feeling like he didn't quite belong with them. They were already established and comfortable with each other and he felt like he would be intruding if he tried to say something or even stayed any longer.

"Um, Sirius, I'm going to go and see if Narcissa and Andromeda are around," he said, excusing himself.

"Oh...Okay. I'll see you at the feast then," his older brother said. Regulus nodded and left. Sirius tried not to look disappointed, but couldn't help his smile fading slightly.

"It's not easy being thrust into a group of people who already know each other." The boys looked to the door and saw Anjanette standing there with Harlie in her arms. The Ravenclaw came into the compartment and sat between Sirius and Remus, nodding to each of her friends in turn.

"Now I feel kind of bad," James said. "We should have tried to talk to him."

"Next time," Remus said. Sirius, however, doubted there would be a next time. He could already feel that they were going to be spending less and less time together after the Sorting. He could try with all his might but things between him and his brother were going to change, and there was no way to avoid it.

.:~I~S~S~:.

When the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, a fleeting memory went through Remus's mind of Sirius promising to nick him more chocolate. He looked over to his friend and saw a silver glint of mischief in his eyes which he did not like one bit.

As they got off the train, the werewolf tried to keep track of Sirius, but he was easily lost in the crowd. Something told him that he had somehow managed to get the Invisibility Cloak from James (probably while he had dozed off during the ride). Curse his leftover exhaustion from the full moon.

He decided that the only way he would be able to track him was by scent. He already recognized Sirius's smell being that they spent so much time together and had had a few moments where they were in close contact. But he had never really dissected it before. Now when he breathed in and found it, he realized that Sirius smelled like summer rain and fresh laundry, with a hint of ginger. Following this was less of a task and more of a pleasure.

That was, however, until the scent trail suddenly veered off in the wrong direction. But before Remus could sneak away to follow it, he felt a large hand on his shoulder which could only belong to Hagrid.

"'Lright there, Mr. Lupin? Come on, now. Can' be goin' the wrong way. You'll be in the carriages this year." The enormous man steered him in the other direction and Remus lost all hope of following Sirius. Frustration welled inside of him as his mind conflicted with his heart as to whether or not he should be mad at his friend.

He's only trying to get you something you like.

But he's risking getting into huge trouble! It's not worth it!

But it's chocolate. Honeydukes chocolate.

But he could get suspended. Expelled even!

But it's CHOCOLATE!

Eventually the two compromised and he decided to scold Sirius when, or if, he saw him again that night then eat the chocolate anyway. Why let the hard work go to waste?

Remus sniffed out his other companions and found Peter and Anjanette already in a carriage. But then he realized-

"Where's James?"

"Thought he was with you," Anjanette said.

"I think he might be with Sirius," Peter said.

"Oh boggart muffins..." Remus cursed under his breath but somehow they had both still heard him.

"Boggart muffins? Is that some kind of dessert?"

"Your boggart is muffins? Why are you afraid of muffins?"

"You're both wrong. It's just a swear." Anjanette raised a brow but didn't contest this and Peter looked longingly out the window at the castle, now thinking about dessert. Remus just hoped that Sirius and James weren't stupid enough to take their sweet time getting back.

The carriage door closed and it started to move. Remus looked out the small window to see that there was nothing pulling it, but it wasn't really a surprise. This was Hogwarts after all; anything was possible.

When they reached the castle, the first years hadn't quite made it across the lake yet in their boats. Remus was glad as this bought Sirius and James a little extra time.

He and Peter separated from Anjanette in the Great Hall as she went to sit down with her House. The boys found Lily who was currently talking to a blonde girl with green eyes not quite as vibrant as her own.

"Hello, Lily," Remus said.

"Hello, Remus. How was your summer?" Lily smiled, obviously having a change of heart about him and Sirius after they pranked James.

"Hot and relaxing," Remus said, though that was only partially true. The moon made sure that he stayed stressed more often than not. "How about yours?"

"Much the same. Sev and I swam almost every day, it was so hot," she said, waving her hand in front of her face.

"Do you have a pool?"

"Yes, but it's a small one. I thought that we could go to the local public one once or twice but Sev said he's uncomfortable around so many Muggles," she explained with a half-disappointed expression which she tried to hide. Based on what he'd heard Severus say about Muggles in the past, this didn't surprise Remus.

Just then the doors burst open and James and Sirius were rushing into the room and towards the table.

"Rem, Peter! You will not believe what just happened!" Sirius exclaimed. "By the way, here." He handed Remus a small box. "They're assorted chocolates this time. They have different flavors in the middle of each one."

"Never mind the chocolate, tell them what happened!" James said, practically bouncing.

"Yeah! So we-"

"You can tell us later, Sirius. After I lecture you about disappearing into Hogsmeade." Remus pointed at him and Sirius shrunk back like a scolded puppy. "Now come on and sit down, the first years are coming in."

Sure enough, Professor McGonagall opened the doors to the Great Hall once more and a flood of small children followed behind her in unmarked robes and with apprehensive faces. "Hard to believe that was us last year," James commented.

McGonagall led them to the center of the Hall and lined them up before going to get the Sorting Hat and putting it on its stool. The students all silenced themselves, waiting to hear what song the Hat would sing this year.

"Many years ago,

Before you were born.

When I was much younger,

And not ripped or torn.

There lived four great witches

And wizards you see.

I'll tell you their story,

Before you come see me.

There was Godric Gryffindor,

Brave and strong.

Salazar Slytherin,

Also came along.

Rowena Ravenclaw,

And Helga Hufflepuff.

Decided to pass on,

Their wizarding stuffs.

So they founded a school,

And charmed me alive,

So that I could Sort you,

Into four Houses, not five.

Each House is different,

For their personalities.

And no one knows them better,

Than the Sorting Hat, me.

So put me on your head,

And I'll tell you soon,

Which House you belong to,

Which is your common room.

Will you be like Gryffidor,

Daring and bold?

Or loyal Hufflepuff,

Til you're seventeen years old?

Ravenclaw smarts,

Could set you in that Tower.

Or cunning like Slytherin.

You'll know within the hour!

So come sit on my stool,

Put me on your head.

And soon you'll know,

Where tonight you will bed.

The Hall erupted into applause and when it died down, the Transfiguration teacher began to read the names of the new first years. Quiet conversations started among the tables, but they were all still listening for the sound of their House name being called out so that they could cheer.

"Black, Regulus," McGonagall's voice eventually called out, immediately snapping Sirius's attention to the front of the Great Hall. His little brother walked shyly up to the stool and sat. The old and weathered hat was placed on his head and silence ensued as they waited for the result. Some of the students, knowing that Sirius had managed to escape Slytherin the year before, actually thought that there was a possibility he would be in a different House.

However, their suspense was short lived when the Hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" and Regulus got up to join the other green and silver-clad students.

Sirius stared after him. His brother seemed to sense this and turned to look at the Gryffindor table. Their almost identical eyes locked and there was a sad exchange between the younger royal blue and older blue-gray. Sirius tried to smile in reassurance and Regulus returned it, though there wasn't much feeling behind either. Then the newly Sorted Slytherin faced his House table and found a seat.

Sirius looked down at the empty plate in front of him and sighed. Remus, all anger about the chocolate forgotten, put a hand on his shoulder and craned his neck around to try and look into the face of his friend. "Come on, Siri. Just because he's in Slytherin doesn't mean anything."

"It does, Rem. Regulus is a follower. They'll get to him before you know it." He hunched his shoulders over even further.

"But Remus is right, mate," James said. "He grew up with you so you've already had some impact on him."

"And now you're together again," Remus continued. "Just because he doesn't sleep in the same dorm doesn't mean you can't still have an influence on him." Sirius turned his head up towards Remus and the werewolf smiled. "It'll be okay." He held out his pinky and Sirius smiled and took it with his own, squeezing lightly.

"I guess you're right. I can't give up yet." Sirius rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands and sat up again. He looked over towards where Regulus was sitting and caught Anjanette's eye in the process. She jerked her head toward the Slytherin table with a questioning look and he nodded. Yes, he's my brother. And I'm not going to let that change.

.:~I~S~S~:.

Regulus looked at his brother across the Hall and tried to smile and look brave for him, but the truth was that he was terrified. This was the first time that he would be in the same place as Sirius but not be able to go see him whenever he liked. He always knew they would be in separate Houses, but the reality of it only just became clear in that moment.

He sat down next to a boy with a slightly hooked nose and greasy looking hair. The boy didn't even acknowledge him and Regulus felt extremely awkward, but also felt it would be rude to get up and move somewhere else. He decided that he might as well try to make some conversation.

"H-Hello," he started. The other Slytherin continued to stare down at his empty plate. Regulus decided to try again. "I'm Regulus Black."

"And I don't really care too much," the boy replied without looking up.

"Aren't you at least going to tell me your name? We are in the same House."

"Will it make you leave me alone?" Finally he looked up and met his eyes with cold black ones. Regulus just gulped and nodded. "Severus Snape," he said curtly, then looked down again.

"Nice to meet you too..." Regulus put his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his hand. He just hoped that not all the Slytherins were like this or he was going to be very lonely.

.:~I~S~S~:.

After the feast, the Gryffindor boys went up to their dorm to unpack their things. "It seems like only yesterday I was hoping for today," Sirius said.

"It was only yesterday," Remus said.

"Which makes sense as to why it seems like it was," he retorted and Remus rolled his eyes.

"Hey, you never told us about what happened before dinner," Peter said.

"Oh yeah! You tell them, James."

James clapped his hands together excitedly. "Okay! So Sirius wanted to get the chocolate for Remus from Honeydukes before we went up to the castle-"

"Something that you should not be doing anymore, by the way," Remus scolded.

Sirius elbowed him in the ribs. "I think you'll change your mind after you hear this."

"Anyway, we went under the cloak and into Honeydukes and grabbed the box. But then we could see out the window that the carriages were already on their way up and we'd missed them."

"So," Sirius took over. "We were panicking because we thought that we'd get into mountains of trouble and we didn't know how we were going to get to the school in time."

James held up his hand, his index finger raised. "But then the bloke behind the register came around and said, 'You need to get into the school?' And we nodded, so he said, 'I used to sneak in here all the time from the castle. There's a secret passage in the basement.'"

Remus thumped both James and Sirius in succession. "You listened to advice from a stranger? That's extremely dangerous! He could have been leading you into the basement to kill you or keep you prisoner or something."

"Relax, Remy, we're alive aren't we?" Sirius said, rubbing the spot where he was flicked.

"Besides, he was young. He looked completely harmless. He works at Honeydukes for corn's sake!"

"Please don't talk about food, James," Peter moaned, rubbing his stomach.

"Sorry, mate. Anyway, we went down into the basement and there was a trapdoor in the floor and we went down into an underground tunnel," James explained.

"And we followed the tunnel until we wound up on the third floor by the DADA classroom behind that creepy statue of the one-eyed witch," Sirius continued, doing his best imitation of the statue.

"Then all we had to do was come down into the Great Hall and you know the rest." James and Sirius smiled, proud of themselves, but Remus did not look impressed.

"So you mean to tell me that there is a secret passageway that is easily accessible to anyone who goes into Honeydukes and that it leads directly into the castle with no sort of booby traps or tricks that could possibly keep dangerous people away from it?"

James snickered. "He said 'booby'."

Remus groaned in exasperation. "You do realize how dangerous that is? Anyone can get into the castle!"

"But not everyone knows about it," Sirius said.

"That depends on whether or not that cashier fellow is shelling out this information to anyone who comes into the store. Hopefully he only told you because you looked distressed and you were in your robes." He shook his head. "By the way, I did not change my mind. I still don't want you two sneaking into Hogsmeade just to feed my silly chocolate addiction."

Sirius snatched the box out of Remus's hands and opened it for him. "Just taste one, Rem. I'm sure it will work in our favor." Remus looked down at the small bundles of deliciousness, and he picked one up, popping it in his mouth. It melted in his mouth and the sweet peppermint filling only enhanced the flavor. His eyelids fluttered just a little, it was so good. "See, I told you!"

"It doesn't matter anyway," Remus said, popping a caramel-filled piece into his mouth. "You can't get back through the other way, can you?"

"Yes we can!" James said.

"All you have to do is tap the hump on the creepy statue and say Dissendium and it opens again," Sirius explained. "The guy told us."

"Wonderful. Now I have to worry about you two disappearing into Hogsmeade whenever you get the urge. That Invisibility Cloak doesn't help matters much either since you can sneak around pretty much anywhere without getting caught." Remus slapped a hand over his mouth, realizing all too late that his words were only encouraging the two. The dark-haired boys looked at each other and grinned wickedly.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Sirius started, waggling his eyebrows at James.

"I'm sure I am," the other answered with an identical expression.

"This weekend?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Oh no..." Remus wanted to do something, anything to stop them, but his heart was fighting with him again. They'll bring you more chocolate. You love chocolate.

Stupid chocolate.