A/N: I hope you enjoy this installment! Thanks for reading and reviewing.

I don't own the Harry Potter universe.

Misadventure

On Saturday morning, Madam Pomfrey once again made the journey to the house hidden by the Whomping Willow. The tunnel was still and quiet, just as she had left it the night before.

"Remus?" she called softly as she stepped out of the tunnel and into the house. "Where are you, dear?"

Silence met her ears. She began to walk through the house, searching for him. Her eyes widened at the sight of the broken furniture. She shook her head slightly.

"Such a sweet boy … to have this curse …" She continued muttering to herself as she walked into the kitchen.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Remus was there, lying on the floor. His skin was deathly pale, and covered in gashes and bite marks. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was shallow. Madam Pomfrey stared at him for a moment, letting herself absorb what was sure to become a very familiar sight over the next seven years. Compassion for the child before her filled her being.

"Oh, my," she sighed.

She administered her potions and healing spells until Remus was able to open his eyes. He blinked up at her.

"'Lo," he barely managed to whisper.

"Don't try to speak," Madam Pomfrey said. "Just lie still for a moment. When you're ready, we can go back to the castle."

Remus nodded, and let his eyes slide closed again. Madam Pomfrey shook her head sadly.

"You poor thing," she whispered.

She continued working until Remus was strong enough to walk. Then she escorted him back to the castle, taking him straight to the hospital wing.

"I'm sorry to be so much trouble," he muttered as she helped him into bed.

Madam Pomfrey sat down on his bed and looked straight into his eyes. "Remus, you are no trouble. I'm sorry that you'll have to spend the weekend here, but I'm sorry for you, not for me. Helping you through this is my pleasure."

Remus felt an ache in his throat and a pressure against the backs of his eyes. He blinked.

Madam Pomfrey smiled. "Get some rest. I'll be here if you need anything."

Remus nodded, his eyes dropping closed before she had even rearranged the screens hiding his bed from view.

"What are you doing?"

Severus looked up as two boys sat down with him in the Slytherin common room. "Potions homework."

"Homework? On a Saturday?"

Severus shrugged. "Why not?"

The two boys exchanged a look.

"I'm Walter Avery," he said. "This is Charles Mulciber."

Severus nodded. Although he had barely spoken to the boys, they did share a dormitory.

"You're Severus, right? Severus Snape?"

"Yes."

They exchanged another look.

"That's not an old family name."

"No," Severus agreed.

"But … you do believe in the Slytherin values, right?"

"Of course!" Severus said quickly.

They grinned. "Want to play Exploding Snap?"

Severus glanced down at his homework and then looked up at them with a smile. "Yeah," he said. "I do."

Remus spent Saturday and most of Sunday under Madam Pomfrey's care. He returned to Gryffindor Tower on Sunday evening, tired by ready to resume to his daily life.

When he walked into the common room, he immediately saw his friends. They were seated by the fire, where James and Sirius were trying to help Peter with his Charms homework. Once again, James' hair was standing straight up. He reached his hands up to grip it in frustration again as Remus crossed the room.

"No, Peter," he groaned. "It's Wingardium Leviosa, and it's supposed to make stuff fly!"

Sirius was fanning a feather, which was smoking slightly. "Not set it on fire," he added.

"I'm sorry," Peter moaned in a way that suggested he had apologized quite a few times already.

Sirius glanced up with a scowl on his face. His expression brightened as he saw Remus approaching. "Lupin! You're back!"

"I'm back," Remus said. He dropped his bag on the floor, and sank down into the chair next to Sirius. It felt wonderful to sit down. The walk back from the hospital wing had been rather draining.

"How's your mum?" James asked, his eyes showing concern.

"Not well," Remus mumbled.

"Sounds like a tough couple of days," Sirius offered.

"It was," Remus said, this time confident in the fact that he was being completely truthful. "What did you do while I was away?"

"Not much," James replied.

"Flitwick gave me extra homework, and they've been helping me," Peter said.

"Trying to, at least," James said.

Remus eyed his friend's hair. "Pretty hard, I'd say."

James shrugged. "My hair bothers my mum more than me." He reached up to ruffle it a bit. "Better?"

"A bit," Remus laughed. "A bit windswept, that is."

"You look like you just got off a broomstick," Peter said, chuckling.

James' eyes lit up. "Do I really? Cool!"

Sirius laughed. "Oh, now you've done it. Good one, guys."

Remus smiled. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize – I didn't realize that it made me look cool before!"

Remus looked at Sirius. "Really … I'm sorry."

Sirius laughed. "It's good to have you back, Remus."

"Full marks yet again," Sirius said as they walked out of Potions. "How did you do?"

"Nearly there," James said.

Remus shook his head. Potions was not his strongest subject. Peter, on the other hand, looked ready to cry as he looked at his essay.

"How did you do, Lily?" Sirius asked as the girls walked out of the classroom behind them.

"Full marks," she said.

Sirius made a face. "What does a guy have to do to beat you in that class?"

Lily laughed. "It's not going to happen. Just give it up now."

"Oh-o!" Sirius exclaimed. "Is that a challenge?"

"I believe it is," James said excitedly. "Are you willing to accept?"

Lily looked at him for a minute. "Are you?" she asked.

James' eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "I will if Sirius will."

"What are the stakes?" Sirius asked as they walked in the Great Hall for lunch.

"Glory and honor," Lily said.

"Nothing more concrete?"

Lily arched an eyebrow. "What exactly were you hoping to have?"

Sirius shrugged. "No idea. I suppose glory and honor will do."

Lily grinned. "Deal."

"Deal," Sirius echoed.

James looked between them and nodded. "Deal."

They took turns shaking hands on their bet. Across the Hall, Severus watched with a sinking heart. He turned from his path to the Gryffindor table to say hello to Lily and sat down with Avery and Mulciber.

"We need to talk."

James and Sirius checked in the dormitory doorway. Remus was sitting on his bed, looking more serious than they had ever seen him.

"What happened?" James asked.

"Peter did really, really poorly on that essay."

"Okay," Sirius said slowly.

"We need to help him."

"We always do," James said.

"Yeah, but I think we need to work harder at it," Remus said.

"Remus, come on!" Sirius sat down on his bed and faced his friend, scowling.

"Sirius, he really needs our help," Remus said.

"He needs your help, you mean," Sirius replied. "I don't know how you and James can stay so calm with him."

"Look, I know it's frustrating," James said, understanding what Remus was saying. "But we're the only ones who can help him!

"There are loads of people who could help," Sirius replied. "Lily's marks are just as good as ours – better in Potions and maybe Charms, even. I don't see her volunteering."

"But Peter trusts us," Remus sighed. "He doesn't know Lily well, and, quite honestly, I don't think he'd let her help him. He doesn't like to admit he has trouble with things."

"No, he likes to ride on our coattails," Sirius muttered.

"Come on, Sirius," James said persuasively. "You're just as good as Lily in Potions – maybe even better! So, that makes you the best, and Peter needs help. Use your superior knowledge for good."

A smile crept across his face. "I am the best in Potions, aren't I? I'm even better than you and Lily."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, don't let it go to your head."

"And you'll keep helping Peter?" James asked.

"Since I'm the best," Sirius grinned.

James laughed, and Remus rolled his eyes with a smile.

"Right!" Professor Aves walked up and down the rows of students. "Pick up your broomsticks!"

Peter turned to look at James. James winked. They both held their hands over their broomsticks, and yelled, "Up!"

Peter's broomstick leapt into his hand as easily as James' did his. Across from them, Sirius and Remus grinned.

"Mount your broomsticks!"

The students dutifully swung themselves onto their broomsticks.

"Fly ten feet into the air and hover!"

Again, the students hastened to comply. Only several students were unable to complete the task. Peter was not one of them.

As he hovered next to James, he turned to him with a beaming grin. James grinned back.

"You're a natural," James said.

Peter laughed. "Thanks, James. For everything."

"Remus! Over here!"

Remus made his way across the common room, to where his friends were seated. He sat down on the floor next to James.

"What's going on?"

"Another adventure," Sirius grinned.

"Even better than last time," James added, his eyes shining.

"What are we stealing this time?" Remus asked apprehensively.

"Nothing," Peter said, his voice holding a hint of disappointment.

James rolled his eyes. "If Peter had his way, we'd all be convicts."

Remus looked between the three of them. "So we're not stealing anything?

"First of all, we borrowed the broomsticks," Sirius said. "If we had kept them, that would be stealing. In case you forgot, we returned them."

"Thanks for the reminder," Remus said sarcastically.

"This time, we're going exploring," James said quickly, cutting off any reply Sirius would have made.

"Just exploring?"

"Well, we found all those shortcuts last time," James explained. "There's bound to be more around this castle. We've just got to find them."

"How will we avoid getting caught?"

"That's the best part," James enthused. "Finding the shortcuts will keep us safe."

"So this entire thing is just one giant risk?"

"Isn't it great?" James' eyes shone with the excitement of an adventure.

"Right," Remus said, trying to share in his friends' enthusiasm. "So when do we go?"

"Tonight," Sirius said, his face determined. "We go tonight."

Following Peter's advice, they four boys left the common room together before curfew. They wandered the halls openly, knowing they were well within their rights so early in the evening. James had a letter to his parents clutched in his hand. If anyone caught them, they were going to say that they were lost, trying to find the Owlery.

"I do need to send this," James said. "I haven't written in a week. My mum will be worried."

"We'll send it," Sirius promised. "We'll just wait till a bit later in the evening." He grinned. "Owl must be getting bored by now, if it's been a week since you sent a letter."

James scowled. He had not been able to come up with a name he liked for his owl, despite his best efforts. Sirius, annoyed that the owl didn't have a name, had started calling him Owl. By the time James had decided on a name, it was too late. His owl only responded to Owl. Sirius, Remus, and Peter found this to be hysterical. James had been angry at first, but had fallen to resigned acceptance. He could see the humor in the situation, even if he was reluctant to admit it.

"What are we looking for, exactly?" Remus asked.

"Secret passageways," James replied.

"Secret - oh, come on," Remus laughed.

"No, I'm sure they're here," James said.

"It's a huge, ancient castle," Sirius said. "If there aren't any secret passages here, there aren't any anywhere."

"Shh," Peter hissed. "Over there."

The other three boys fell silent, but continued slowly walking. Peter was right; someone was watching them. As they approached a tapestry, a figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Ah," he said. "I've caught you."

"Snivellus?" James said in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Potter," he sneered. "Up to no good, I'm sure."

"What are you talking about?" James asked, rather defiantly.

"I know what you've done."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you used the broomsticks."

"What are you talking about?" Sirius repeated James' words. "You're off your rocker."

"You had to have been practicing," Severus replied. "There's no way Pettigrew learned to fly on his own. Potter must have helped him after class. And since the four of you are never apart, I'm sure you were all in on it."

James was getting nervous in spite of himself. Professor Aves hadn't commented on the change in Peter's ability, so James had assumed that it had gone unnoticed. Apparently, he was wrong. He looked at Sirius and Remus to see how they were reacting. Remus looked slightly nervous, but Sirius gave Severus a defiant look that dared him to try to fight.

"Or maybe James talked Peter through the theory," Sirius said. "Or maybe Peter was just nervous during the first lesson, and has always had the natural talent."

"Or maybe you're making up stories to save yourself."

"Maybe I am," Sirius shot back. "Who's to know but me? And, really, Snivellus, what authority do you have to tell us we're 'caught?' Last time I checked, you were still a first year student, just like us."

Severus' nostrils flared. "You just wait. I'll make your lives miserable."

"Oh, we'll be waiting, all right," Sirius said casually. "Come on, guys. We have to get James to the Owlery."

And with that, he turned and walked off. James, Remus, and Peter hurried to catch up with him. Severus stared after them, hatred filling him. He knew they were breaking the rules, and, even worse, he knew that they were becoming friends with Lily. She shouldn't be around people like them. They were no good for her.

"Do you think he's serious? That he knows something?" Peter asked breathlessly.

"No," Sirius said bluntly.

"How can you be so sure?" Peter protested.

"If he knew something, he wouldn't be waiting to catch us again," James said. "He's guessing based on his own delusions."

"He's guessing pretty accurately, then," Remus said grimly.

Sirius grinned. "Well, maybe all criminal minds think alike."

"You're calling us criminals? Putting us on the same level as Snivellus?" James said, clearly offended.

"No," Sirius said. "I'm just saying that if he hadn't thought of doing something like this, he wouldn't be so suspicious that someone else had. I would never put us on the same level as Snivellus."

Remus looked thoughtful. "It is a little odd that he's hang around waiting to catch us, isn't it?

Sirius shrugged. "More delusions?"

"Of what, though? Why would he bother?"

"Drop it, Remus," James said. "It's not worth it to try to figure out."

By the time the boys had found their way to the Owlery and watched Owl take off with the letter, it was well after curfew. They elected to begin their exploration of the castle, and left the Owlery following a different path than the one they had used before.

They did manage to find several shortcuts before it happened. As they rounded a corner, feeling very proud of themselves for not getting caught, Mr. Filch appeared.

"Well," he said slowly, his characteristic, evil grin spreading across his face. "What have we here? Some student out of bed, I'd say." He looked around at each of them. "Some Gryffindor students out of bed at that. Well, it's off to Professor McGonagall, then."

The four boys didn't dare so much as exchanged a glance as they followed Filch to McGonagall's office. Peter was shaking, Remus was pale, and Sirius looked defiant. James was sure he was turning a delicate shade of green. He had never been so nervous in all his life. He had no idea what Professor McGonagall would do to them, but he was sure he wouldn't like it. A thousand cover stories crossed his mind, each more incredible than the first. He hoped that one of the other boys was coming up with something better.

Filch knocked on Professor McGonagall's door, and grinned evilly at the boys again. "Pity Dumbledore doesn't approve of any of my punishments," he said. "We wouldn't even have to disturb Professor McGonagall. I could whip you myself."

James swallowed hard. Perhaps they were lucky to be dealing with McGonagall. At the very least, he was sure she would be fair about whatever punishment she dealt them. He just prayed it wouldn't involve whipping.

McGonagall opened her door, her face showing surprise at being disturbed so late. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the four boys standing behind Filch.

"Mr. Filch?" she asked.

"I found these four out of bed, Professor," he said, trying to hide his glee at seeing students punished. "I assumed you would want to deal with them."

"Indeed," Professor McGonagall replied, her lips forming a thin line. "Come in, gentlemen. Thank you, Mr. Filch."

The four boys looked at each other nervously. None of them wanted to be the first one to cross into McGonagall's office. Finally, Sirius shrugged, and took the lead. Inspired by his confidence, James followed him. He didn't look back to be sure that Remus and Peter were behind them. He knew they would be. They would stand together.

"Well," McGonagall said once they were all inside. She sat down behind her desk, and surveyed the children before her. "What on earth were the four of you doing out of bed? You know the curfew times. You've never broken them before."

Peter looked as though he wanted to protest her last statement, but Remus silenced him with a harsh look. James released the breath he had been unaware of holding.

"Well? Explain yourselves!"

James took a deep breath. "It's my fault, Professor."

"Mr. Potter?" she asked, a bit surprised in spite of herself. She could hardly imagine her star Transfiguration student willfully breaking the rules.

"Yes. I wanted to send a letter to my parents - they get nervous if I don't write once a week - and I asked Sirius, Remus, and Peter to come to the Owlery with me. And then we got lost on the way back to the common room. That's why Mr. Filch found us."

Sirius, Remus, and Peter looked relieved. James had stuck to their original cover story. They could keep up with this one.

Unfortunately, McGonagall didn't buy it. "So you left before curfew to send the letter, and you were still wandering around looking for the common room three hours after curfew?"

"That's about it," Sirius said confidently.

McGonagall shook her head. "Sorry, gentlemen, but it's not good enough. Particularly considering that I'm looking at three of the brightest students in first year. You've been in school for nearly two months. I'm sure that four inquisitive minds such as yourselves would have learned their way around the castle within the first two weeks." She sighed. "You must learn that rules are not meant to be broken. Ten points will be taken from Gryffindor for each of you, and you will all serve detention with me tomorrow night."

James felt cold dread fill him. Ten points each? That was forty points! They could have very well lost the House Cup for Gryffindor! Not to mention that he had just been awarded his first detention. He had never had detention before, not even in grade school. Oh, his parents would kill him when they found out.

"I will see you tomorrow night at six," McGonagall informed them. "Come to my classroom. You can clean the classroom. And I do mean without using magic." She rose to her feet, and walked around her desk. "Now, I'd better take you back to Gryffindor Tower. I wouldn't want you to get lost again."

The professor did more than simply walk them back to the tower. She took them into the common room, and watched as they climbed the spiral staircase to their dormitory.

"Well, is this the end?" James asked once they were all inside their room. "Are we through with adventures?"

Just the thought was enough to make him feel like he had lost his best friend. Their first adventure had been the very thing that had cemented their friendship. To stop the adventures seemed like the beginning of the end.

"Not as far as I'm concerned," Sirius replied. "We'll just have to be more careful, that's all."

The sparkle returned to James' eyes. "Really? You still want to have adventures?"

"Of course," Sirius replied. "This place would be dull without them. We need a little excitement." He turned to the other two boys. "What do you say?"

Remus shrugged. "I'm in, as long as we're careful." He turned to Peter. "What about you, Peter?"

Peter's eyes shown with the excitement of being included. "When do we start?"

James laughed. "Sometime after our detention."