The Infamous Marauders

Chapter Seven

Authors Note: I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far, I would love to hear your opinions :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters featured in my story they belong to the wonderful J. K. Rowling.

Mid October 1976

It was early on Saturday morning, the frost that glistened across the Hogwarts grounds was being slowly melted by the rising sun, Sirius sat alone in the dormitory, an ungodly hour to be awake in Sirius' opinion but since the rest of his roommates had the audacity to be so weird, active and loud this early on the weekend he was woken up. James had convinced Peter to sneak out to Hogsmeade with him to purchase some butterbeers and sweets, and Remus was in the library with Lily, ever since their friendship had been revealed the pair had begun to study together often. Although Remus had been adamant he had no romantic feelings towards Lily there was something going on, something they shared… Sirius shook his head it wasn't his business really but it annoyed him, it was like Lily was stealing their friend. She had her own friends didn't she why didn't she study with them? He already knew the answer to that though, her friends would no doubt be down by the Lake or some other place trying to attract the eyes of the sixth-year boys. Lily had always been a dedicated student though now he thought about it, she was always so focused, often he thought of her as uptight and too serious but Moony was like her in many ways and he had never thought of Moony like that, had he?

Sirius decided he was going around in circles thinking about what Remus and Lily were doing there would only be one way to really find out and James and Peter were currently in possession of the perfect spying tool, the invisibility cloak. Not that he would admit it but Sirius secretly enjoyed studying, he loved to learn new things, when it was lectures by boring professors or writing long essays the studying wasn't much fun, but he loved to read and learn new skills to develop his magic. This morning was perfect for some private studying with the room to himself, he rolled off his bed and landed dramatically on the floor pretending he was an Auror on a mission ducking from hexes, he knew it was childish but it was fun and there was no one to see him, he looked under the bed to find the potions book he had owl ordered from Diagon Alley.

Sirius hadn't told anybody else he was investigating different pain relieving and preventative potions in the hopes of finding something to help Remus, he was hoping to find a way Remus to manage the pain of the transformations better, the way his bones snapped and skin stretched was horrifying, he knew Madame Pomfrey and even Dumbledore himself had tried to help Remus but they had long since given up and on finding a new breakthrough and so Remus had been on the same general medical programme for the past three years. The problem was they hadn't been in the shack and heard the anguish and pain Moony suffered, it was torture for Sirius with his keen canine senses and he had that memory to drive him in his search. He and the Marauders had created brilliant things before, the Marauders Map for example should have been impossible but they had done it, and now he would find something, he had to.

When Professor Slughorn had mentioned they would be looking at advanced potions Sirius had been hopeful for something that could act as inspiration but unfortunately the potions they would be brewing seemed to have no relevance to his personal project. Sirius knew it was dangerous to create potions especially if you didn't have extensive knowledge on the ingredients and the reactions that could occur when the components were brewed together but he would try. Sirius always seemed to have a natural ability for potions, it was he who had brewed the potion the first week to make all the students sing, he didn't flaunt his skills in class though, he would hate to be on Slughorns radar too much, he had heard about the dreaded Slug Club and he would do anything to avoid it.

Remus sat in the library with Lily completing his Defence Against the Dark Arts essay, he had fell in love with this lesson from the moment he first stepped into the DADA classroom in first year. At home, he had often felt dangerous, and defenceless all at the same time, to discover this magic that allowed you to protect and defend others was amazing to Remus and he had a natural talent for the spells in the class. Remus had often worried the lycanthropy would taint his magic and make it weaker, yet in class practical's he was always one of the strongest duellers. Lily had always been an average student in DADA but the past two years she had started to excel, her spell repertoire had grown considerably and she had begun to use more inventive spells in her duels, combining her charms skills with defensive spells to trick and defeat her opponents. Remus had once asked her about her increased knowledge and she had just put it down to OWLs revision, he had an idea of the real reason though.

He knew James and Peter had snuck out to Hogsmeade and he wondered what Sirius was currently doing, he had probably fell back to sleep knowing him, Sirius could lie in all afternoon if left to his own devises. Tonight, James was hosting a mini party in the Gryffindor common room to congratulate all the players who had made the Quidditch team. Remus had gotten out of Hogsmeade duty by promising James he would whip up some fireworks at the end of the night. His plan was to fire them from their dormitory out the window so they burst into life next to the common room windows for all the students to see, he had decided to not inform Lily of the plans that would be occurring later that night to spare James the day long lecture, although James might of appreciated it, Lily hadn't spoken to him since she had been paired with him for the potions project, Remus was excited and had been sneaking out the past couple of nights using the cloak and map to practice his fireworks, they were going to be fantastic.

"You ready to head up for lunch Remus?"

"Yeah sure I'll just pack my things away" With a swish of his wand his parchment, quill and books were organised back in his bag.

"The only essay I have left to write is my transfiguration, you have much left?"

"I only have ancient runes left, there is one passage I have been trying to wrap my head around for the past couple days, it isn't due until next Thursday though"

"I can try and help you if like, later tonight in the common room?" Lily offered.

It seems Remus plan to not tell Lily had just fallen through "Erm well actually I'm going to be busy tonight?"

"Oh, what with if you don't me asking?" she politely enquired.

"Not at all Lily, well the thing is James and Sirius organised a little celebration in the common room tonight for the Quidditch team" he answered slightly apprehensively.

"That's nice of him I suppose, it's a shame to disrupt people working but I suppose it is a Saturday"

To say Remus was surprised would be an understatement, Lily had never approved of James' parties, she always berated him for too being loud and disturbing the sleeping younger students or told him he was attention seeking and just trying to fuel his popularity.

"You can close your mouth Remus, I believe people deserve a celebration now and again and as a prefect I think it's good for our house to celebrate achievements and the team players did put in a lot of effort with the try outs, even I have to admit James did a good job with the team"

Remus smiled at Lily, even if James' constant pestering caused her to get annoyed often she was proud of her house and did her best to support and help her fellow students.

Later that night the party in Gryffindor tower was in full swing Professor McGonagall had popped in to congratulate the new team herself and reminded the students to be in bed at a reasonable hour however it lacked her usual sternness, everybody knew the Head of Gryffindor house had immeasurable team spirit. Tables were pushed together laden with Butterbeer, Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes, and many other treats from Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts kitchens. James introduced the team rather dramatically using a sonorous and the entire house had cheered, as the party progressed Remus and Lily with the other prefects herded the younger students up to bed despite their many protests.

Remus made his way up to the dormitory it was nearly time for the fireworks, the night had been great and the students were tiring out from all the fun, Remus opened the window and sat on the ledge waiting for the signal.

James once again cast sonorous "I want to thank you all for celebrating with us tonight I want to say a final congratulations to all the people who tried out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, I had a great four days flying with you all, I know we will win the Quidditch Cup this year, not only because of the great team we have but from the massive support from all of you" He paused as the students clapped, whooped, and whistled "Now if I can divert your attentions to the windows please, we have one final show for you before we bid you goodnight" The students rushed to the windows all trying to peer through at once.

James then realised their mistake the windows weren't big enough for everyone to see, he panicked and looked at Sirius he looked equally as stumped and shook his head "Damn" James muttered to himself. Then suddenly the windows began extending taking up the entire side of the tower, giving the students a full-size view of the dark night outside the windows. Just off to the side Lily pocketed her wand smiling to herself, James thanked Merlin for his luck then he cast the spell that would trigger the alarm within the boy's dorm.

The soft tinkling alarm alerted Remus then he began to cast the complex incantations to form the fireworks. It began as streams of red and gold light swirling around each other the swirls then burst outwards, falling like glittering stars. From within the burst of light a giant golden lion sprang forth, it roared then bounded alongside the outer tower wall, the lion leaped up high and exploded the rays of light grouped together into a bright ball of golden light before exploding once again forming the words congratulations across the sky. Remus finished his wand movements sending forth many streams of light illuminating the night sky in numerous coloured explosions.

The students in the common room stood wide eyed in awe at the amazing fireworks display just outside the tower, it was a beautiful sight, the lion had even earned a few surprised yelps when it first burst into view rushing towards the students.

Once the bright explosions finally faded, Sirius darted up the stairs, he entered the common to see Moony shutting the window "Merlin Remus! You didn't tell us it was going to be that big, that was amazing!"

Remus grinned at Sirius "Thank you, but honestly I had to practice the incantation tons for tonight"

Sirius flung his arm around Remus' shoulder "Well your studious ways have paid off once again my friend"

"We can't all be naturally talented like you, you big dog" Remus said playfully shoving Sirius off "Right I want to have a shower and get to bed, I need to work on my ancient runes tomorrow"

"Okay my fair maiden I shall leave you to your beauty sleep" Sirius bowed as he exited narrowly missing the pillow launched at his head by Remus.

Sirius made his way back down to the common room, Peter was packing away the last of the food no doubt for himself, and James was stood talking to the Gryffindor seeker, the windows were slowly shrinking back to size, Sirius quickly glanced around the room for any signs of an active wand, he quickly spotted the caster and made his way over to Frank Longbottom a seventh year "Nice spell work back there mate you saved our asses"

"What are you on about Sirius?" Frank asked confused.

"Enlarging the windows, I got to admit that was quick thinking, I have no idea how you managed something that complex so quickly I didn't think it would be possible to alter the castle itself like that"

"It wasn't me, I don't know any spells that could manage to transform the walls like that so quickly"

"But I've just seen you with your wand out reversing the spell"

"I was just trying to discreetly scourgify my shirt, I spilled some butterbeer down it and Alice is over there I wanted to tidy myself up before she notices, she'd have a right good laugh at me if I didn't"

"So, who was it then?"

"Sorry I have no idea, I'm going to go say goodnight to Alice anyways" Frank bid Sirius goodbye before striding over to his girlfriend.

Sirius looked around confused, who had performed the spell then he wondered, it certainly wasn't James he had looked absolutely clueless as the windows had altered, whoever it was they had saved the fireworks show that was for sure.