The Lost Essay

(One-Shot)

Disclaimers: I don't own anything apart from some DVD's/books for this series.

AN: This is a short drabble prompt for "The Houses Competition" set in 'Marauders' Era' time. As I am old (ish), my views of them may vary from the young ones, including the fact that I am TeamCharlus/Dorea, have Sirius/James as distant relations through Black blood, as well as TeamTrans (as an ally). I do not accept any new stuff by Rowling.

House: Gryffindor

Class: Prefect

Category: Drabble

Prompt(s): [Action] Dancing in the rain / POV of same character (which is 1st. person POV): Remus

Word count: 817 according to AO3 (2 pages)

Summary: In which a grumpy Remus is starting to wonder what deer stew tastes like ...

(Won the Judges's pick award!)

I swear to Merlin, this essay on charms for our OWLs will be the death of me. I've spent literally three days researching for it. I've spent almost four whole hours writing it. Also, I have the misfortune of knowing a rather annoying, aggravating animal—a stag, to be exact. Stupid thing ATE my work! HE ATE IT! I am crying. Angry crying, not sad crying. Maybe some sad crying too, I don't know. I can't see well right now because of it, but I'm glaring at anyone coming near me.

I'm currently out in the pouring rain that's making the ground muddy, tracking the damn beast before his hoof prints disappear.

"HEY! MOONY! WAIT UP!"

Sighing heavily, I look around to see Sirius running towards me. Running? He was more like skipping along, as if dancing. Dancing! In the pouring rain. I can't deal with this guy's happy mood, right now. I just can't. I really don't have the patience for his antics at this particular moment in time. "What do you want? Go away!"

"Well, good day to you, too, Mr. Grumpy," Sirius teases, patting my head as if I were some sort of pet.

"I'm not a pet!" I pull away, shaking my head to get some water off me. I growl at him, baring my tiny pointed incisors.

"Wow! You really are a joy to be around, today," Sirius says in a lofty voice. "What happened?"

"Prongs ate my charms' essay," I snarl. "I'm tracking him down!"

"Can I help?"

"Sure," I mutter, feeling only slightly better.

We follow the prints along the shore of the lake, circling almost all the way around until we end up near the edge of the forest. We follow the trail into the trees until it opens up into a small meadow.

There's Prongs, prancing about, dancing in the rain. Another one who likes this weather. Fantastic.

Well, I am a very unhappy little werewolf puppy. Prongs is not allowed to have fun after totally ruining my work! I snatch up a rock. I wait until Prongs turns the other way, still dancing, before launching the rock hard.

It hits the stag on the back of his head, right between the horns. Prongs bleats loudly as he spins around to stare at me.

Good! I ruined his stupid dance.

"You're in a lot of trouble, Prongs," Sirius says, grinning widely.

James reappears, rubbing the back of his head. "What did I do?"

"Do?" I cross my arms. "You ate my charms' essay, you git!"

"I did not!" James exclaims in full denial. "Prongs ate it."

"James, I am not in the mood!" I snarl.

"What do you reckon we should do with him?" Sirius asks.

"Look, I'm sorry," James says. "I still have trouble controlling Prongs. I'm still learning."

"Do you know how much work I did for that essay?" I snap, not really caring. "I need it done by tomorrow morning but I don't have time to redo all that when I still have other homework to finish. Plus, the full moon's this week."

"That's why you're extra grumpy," Sirius says softly.

"I've finished mine," James replies as if that would help.

Hang on. It would help me. "Is that so?" I raise one brow almost like how Spock does it as I glare at him. Oh, he won't get away so easily! "That's fantastic. You will rewrite my essay right now. It better be exactly five feet long like how I had it. My notes are in the dorms on my nightstand."

"I'm not going to be able to do that!" James exclaims.

I narrow my eyes at him. "I wonder what deer stew tastes like." I feel Moony stir within me. Suddenly, my vision turns slightly amber.

"Alright, already!" James yelps, holding up his hands. "I get the message." He hurries back towards the castle.

I was about to follow, but Sirius has suddenly grabbed me. He pulls me into the small meadow, spinning me around. I growl at him, but it just makes him laugh. Now, we're both dancing in the rain, getting soaked to the bone.

We end up staying out there, dancing together until the rain stops. When I finally enter the Gryffindor dorms that evening, a rolled-up parchment was lying on my pillow, tied with a bright gold bow. I open it to find a new essay for our Charms class.

It's missing three inches. Guess I'm going to find out what deer stew tastes like. I can see it now. I'll be back home, watching Star Trek reruns while having a nice hot delicious bowl of the stuff.

Fine, fine. It's a nice fantasy, but I admit, it's only a three-inch difference. Not bad. Not as good as I had it, but that will never happen, since I'm the best at writing essays. So yeah, I'll use it.