Numen: divine power, especially one who inhabits a particular object.

May 3, 1974

"Oi, Moony, Wait up!"

"No, you can't have a look at my notes, Black," Remus said wearily, stopping at the top of the spiral staircase and turning to meet his friends.

"I'm hurt," Sirius told him in a fake-wounded voice, shaking his head. "You think we only seek out your company to use you."

"I think you only seek out my company to use me ten minutes before an exam," Remus corrected. "Particularly when you all studied by seeing how many Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans you could cram into Peter's mouth."

"We reached a new record," said James indignantly. Peter winced, sucking on his chapped lips.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Well I'm not helping you cram last minute. If you want to use my notes, study with me the night before."

"It's divination," James reminded him, rolling his own eyes at the ceiling. "How do you even study for that? Besides, we've got it covered. Show 'im, Petey."

Peter rummaged around in his bag and produced a shiny, black plastic ball about the size of his hand. He offered it to Remus, who raised his eyebrows at their looks of self-satisfaction.

"And what exactly is that supposed to do for you?" he asked.

"A demonstration, then," James said regally, plucking the plastic ball out of Peter's hands. He flipped it so a painted number 8 faced Remus, closed his eyes and began shaking it. "Will Sirius, Peter, and I pass our exam today?" He opened his eyes and looked down. "'Definitely'. See, Remus, the fates have spoken."

"Oh, come on. Is that the thing Peter's brother sent him for Christmas? A toy made for six-year-olds?" Remus demanded incredulously.

"Six and up," Sirius amended in an offended tone.

"You aren't seriously going to use that on your exam."

"Why shouldn't we? If a pack of playing cards can tell the future, a magic eight ball certainly can. At least it has magic in the name. Besides, Professor Fey will love it."

Sirius grabbed the eight ball from James and began shaking it up, too. "Will Professor Fey love our creativity? ... 'Absolutely.'"

"Am I friends with a bunch of idiots?" Remus asked sarcastically, turning to keep moving up the stairs.

Sirius followed, shaking up the ball. "'Probably.' Oh look at that, it has a sense of humor. It must be channeling the fates."

"You're going to get thrown out of the exam," Remus warned in a board voice.

"Will we ever start listening to Remus?" James asked.

"Ooo, outlook not good," Sirius reported.

A/N: Right, so there's some Marauders for Louey06. Hope you like it! So sorry It's taken me four and half months to get it to you! But yay for two consecutive updates! Love you all!