Sticky Fingers

They had to pinch themselves to make sure they weren't dreaming.

Seriously. It was that surprising.

After pinching hard enough to leave a miserable bruise, they stared, open-mouthed, at their dormitory room again. As much as they wished it weren't so, this was definitely not a dream.

Each of their bedspreads were knotted and thrown over their four-poster, their pillows de-cased. Their trunks were open and its contents were strewn on the floor. Peter's prized button collection was being ingested by Barnabas, James' cat, and somebody's mattress was in the bathroom.

And in the middle of all the mess, was none other than Remus Lupin. His eyes were wild, his tie crooked and shirt un-tucked. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong, indeed.

"My Prefect badge is gone!" cried Remus, effectively breaking the spell that glued his roommates frozen, and they entered the room to assess the damage more clearly.

"So?" said James, picking up his cat and sitting down. Barnabas spit up the buttons on his owner's lap and sauntered out the room. "Why don't you just Summon it?" James gave him a pointed look, the same look Remus had used on him – all of them - one too many times.

The werewolf blinked, before giving an abashed smile. "You're right, why didn't I think of that!" He took out his wand and said in a clear voice, "Accio Remus' badge."

Nothing happened.

"Just great!" he groaned, throwing his wand to the floor. "What am I going to do?"

Peter said, "Where did you see it last?"

"If I knew that, then it wouldn't be lost, now would it?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Don't bite his head off, you. We're trying to help."

Remus looked down. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just stressing out. This has never happened to me before - I never lose things. It's against my nature."

"Why don't we start from the beginning," suggested James. "Tell us everything you did today."

Remus scratched a scar on his face absentmindedly. "Err, well I woke up, went to the bathroom and then got dressed. I know I had my badge then, because I always polish in front of the mirror twenty-five times before starting my day," the boy explained. "Then I went down to breakfast with you lot, and I remember having to show my badge to a first year when I reprehended him for making spit balls. Uhh, then we had Herbology, so I put my badge in my bag so it wouldn't get dirty. But I know I pinned it back on after class because we had a Prefect meeting during my free period. After that, we had lunch then Transfiguration."

"Didn't you use the loo during Transfiguration?" asked James, looking thoughtful.

Remus nodded. "Yes. After I left the loo, I took a shortcut once I spotted Peeves trying to unscrew the chandeliers from the ceilings, and I bumped into a second year. Then I came back."

Peter remarked, "Hey! I didn't remember you having you badge when you came back from the loo, Moony."

James stroked his chin. "That's right. I don't either."

Sirius was contemplative. "How did the second year look like?"

Remus gave him a strange look, but still explained, "He was short, had red hair, freckles…I think he was in Slytherin." He didn't think this was helpful (many kids could've matched his description) but Sirius looked oddly pleased. "Why?"

"Moony, old friend, I think I may have found your badge."

They had to attend all their afternoon classes before embarking on the search, so after a hasty departure from Muggle Studies, they were finally free to do so.

Sirius led the way. He was wearing a proud smile the whole time, and James' hands were practically twitching to slap it off. Remus was too busy being elated at the prospect of his badge being safely returned to intervene. He kept brushing the place his badge usually rested before remembering it wasn't there. This made Remus walk faster.

They heard him before they saw him.

"- I've run out of copies of that essay."

"No, you don't understand. Slughorn's got it due tomorrow, and I've detention tonight. If I don't hand anything in, I'm gonna flunk that class."

"That's yer problem, not mine."

"I'll pay you double…ten galleons?"

There was a pause. Then: "Hey, hey, looks like it's yer lucky day, Dawlish. I have another copy, after all!"

"Bless you."

"Yeah, yeah, just hand over me money."

The Marauders had rounded the corner by that time, just in time to witness John Dawlish, a seventh year, snatch the essay from a redheaded boy. Satisfied everything was in order, Dawlish passed over some coins. "Pleasure doing business with you, Fletcher," he said, merrily placing the contraband essay in his bag.

The kid's eyes gleamed as he counted the gold galleons in his hands. "No problemo." Dawlish walked away, and the Marauders marched up to the boy. Fletcher was too busy putting his coins in a money bag to notice them, so when Sirius cleared his throat, he jumped a mile in the air.

"Blimey, don't do that." He straighten himself and cracked a smile at Sirius. "Nice to see you again, Black." He glanced at the other boys. "The name's Mundungus Fletcher. What can I do you for? Need any …ah, assistance in a class, too?"

Peter opened his mouth to answer of course! but James shut it with an expert touch.

"My friend over here's lost his badge," said Sirius, gesturing behind with a lazy hand. "Think you can help us, Dung?"

Mundungus cast a frightened look at Remus, who he suddenly noticed was there, and shook his head quickly. "No can do. I've got a Charms assignment that needs attention. Try tomorrow." Mundungus turned on his heel and walked away.

James yanked him back. "Not so fast, mate. You've got answers to our questions, and I'd hate to use other means to get this out of you. We don't usually go around hitting kids, but you could be an exception if you push my buttons. You feel me?"

Mundungus gulped and nodded.

"Stop threatening him, James," reprimanded Remus, his inner-Prefect shining through.

The Slytherin, much to everyone's horror, began to tear up. "I'm so scared," he sniffled, "make him go 'way, mister, please."

Remus' resolve began to crumble. He just wanted to get his badge back, but he all he managed to do was make a twelve year old cry in the process. This was definitely not worth it. Perhaps Dumbledore could spout him up another badge. Surely Remus wasn't the only one in Hogwarts to have misplaced their badge. There, Remus thought, satisfied. With that settled, maybe he could move on to more pressing matters…like his Astronomy readings.

Sirius, however, did not share Remus' mindset, and promptly hauled Mundungus up by the shirt fronts and held him against the stone wall so that they were staring into each other's eyes. "I have to tell you, Dung, I didn't think you could get any more pathetic, but I guess I stand corrected," he said, and tightened the grip he had on his shirt. "I've come to claim a favour."

"B-but…b-but.."

"Listen," said Sirius, "I don't go out of my way to help people - especially Slytherins - but somehow I did, and I saved your arse big time. How are Mulciber and Rookwood, by the way? Should I let them know you and I severed ties? Last I heard, they were pretty keen on beating you to a bloody pulp…"

Mundungus squeaked, "It's here, I have it! Just put me down!"

Sirius dropped him. The Slytherin reluctantly passed the badge from his pocket to Remus, who looked like he was about to cry.

"I'll never let you go," The Marauders heard the werewolf coo sweetly to the badge, and they turned away to give them some privacy.

But Mundungus watched on with envy. "D'ya know how much a Prefect's badge goes around at?" he asked the older boys with venom. "I could've bought meself the new Shooting Star 6000, if you hadn't messed up me plans…"

James perked up. "You fly?"

Mundungus seemed nonchalant as he studied his finger nails, but he couldn't hide the excitement in his voice when he said, "If the business scene wasn't my calling, I reckon I'd have been an ace seeker. I could catch a snitch within twenty minutes of a game if I really tried," he bragged.

"You know, Fletcher," said Sirius, "If you weren't a slimy Slytherin, I'd say you were kind of alright. Kind of."

Mundungus game them a big ole grin and shook hands with all of them. "It's a real honour meeting you lot, despite the circumstances," he said, letting go of James' hand. "Well, I best be off!" And he scattered away.

"What time is it?" asked Remus, his badge proudly resting on his chest. "I think I can still make it to the library…"

James rolled his eyes at his friend's studious nature, but lifted up his sleeve to check the time. He was disturbed to find his wrist bare, and was even more disturbed when realization hit him.

"The runt's stolen my watch!"

A/N: Should the next chapter be about the Marauders watching a movie in the cinema or in school or something entirely different? Can't decide...

IWishICouldThinkOfAUsername: Seriously, I think it's in every family member's job description to be embarrassing to their relatives...augh! So glad we agree! PoA is the bomb!

Remus' daughter: Woo! I love OotP, too...but you-know-who dies and I cry like every time how can you stand it...?! That's another record! You're really making your family very jealous of you, hahaaha

Our Mismatched Socks: AGREE AGREE AGREE AGREE and uh, AGREE! Time traveling...do you know what we could do? I can't...must not... think of possibilities...

Harry1675: Hahahaaa, that dream must've been something! LOOL, and i always blame Snape, don't worry

nobody2: Oooh, good choices! Umbridge just made my blood boil...! I cackled whenever she and McGonagall argued

Crystalline-Enchantix: I love you for loving me for loving you for loving this...I think that's right...

Guest: Thanks a bunch!