Trick Of The Wolf

(One-Shot)

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

AN: This is a short standard 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: Astronomy

Category: Standard

Prompt(s): [Location] Haunted Mansion / [Dialogue] "Don't do that! Haven't you seen what happened with X?" - X can be anyone the character saying it knows.

Word count: 1,984 according to AO3 (4 pages)

Summary: In which, the fantastic four try a Muggle-style haunted mansion.

"You want to show us a Muggle-style haunted mansion?" James asked.

"It's our first Halloween outside of Hogwarts since we were all kids," said Remus. "It's kind of weird not seeing Hogwarts at this time, but we're all finished. Besides, I've always wanted to show you a Muggle version of Halloween, anyway."

"How can it be haunted, though?" Sirius asked as Remus sat down next to him. "Ghosts rarely appear to Muggles, if ever."

"Finally," Remus replied. "I know something about Muggles that you don't."

"Well, I never claimed to be an expert," Sirius said, holding up his hands for a moment.

"Look, it's all done with props," Remus began. "Actors. Dry ice. Sounds. It's all about illusions. There's a really good one in London that keeps coming every year. I've been in it with my parents many times."

"Sounds like fun, Moony," said James. "When do we go?"

"Tonight, in a couple hours," Remus said. "I'm driving. Both ways, in case you guys want some drinks or something after. I can't drink too much since the full moon's coming up. It would mess with the wolf, so I'll be the designated driver."

"Which is hilarious since you are also the only Muggle car driver around here," Sirius pointed out. "You're the only one who can do it."

"Exactly," Remus said with a smile. "I'll bring the Porsche around to pick everyone up."

As the evening grew darker, a bronze Porsche 928 5-Speed VIN rolled up in front of the Potter family home. Sirius was the first one out, pulling on his leather jacket. His hand stroked along his black bike parked on the side as he passed it. He got into the seat next to Remus before turning to the back to drop a rat onto the seat behind him. Peter soon appeared in the rat's place as James slid in beside him on the other side.

"Ok," Remus started as he turned the car onto the road. "The haunted mansion is open for the next three hours. After that, we can all go out into the city for a bit. I can show you around."

"Sounds like a plan," Sirius agreed.

Half an hour later, Remus pulled up into a large parking lot next to a dark house set up in the middle of it. Remus got out first to hand over the four tickets before leading the other three inside. The moment they stepped over the threshold, the lights went out.

A loud scream was heard before two soft orange lights came on.

Sirius blinked. "Hang on. Where's Remus?"

James glanced around, only to find Peter part way into a tunnel that was slowly spinning around, causing anyone in it to keep stepping sideways to stay on the path. Peter wisely retreated.

"I thought he said this was all illusions?" Peter asked before letting out a yelp. A rope had dropped down right in front of him with a note attached. He read it aloud. "If you want your friend back, complete the whole track."

"He's been kidnapped?" James exclaimed. "Let's hurry up, then!" He promptly stepped forward to the spinning tunnel. After watching its rhythm for a few moments, he ran through it.

At the other end, several long bags hung from the ceiling. Sirius stepped up beside James with Peter just behind. The three of them watched the bags for a moment before getting in line to walk along the board right underneath.

"What are they?" Sirius asked.

"Dead bodies, I think," James answered.

"They aren't ... real ... dead bodies, right?" Peter asked. "I mean, Moony said it's all props."

"Yeah, but Moony just disappeared right at the start," James said. "So I think—oh." He fell silent as the body bags started wiggling.

"They're alive?" Peter gasped.

"We should free them!" James reached up to start working on a knot. When it came undone, someone in a uniform slipped out.

"Well, that's never happened before," the person said as he stood up, brushing himself off. "What are you doing?"

"Er ... saving you?" James tried.

"I don't need saving," the man said. "I do this every night, but usually people run away screaming."

"Ah!" James stammered. "Sorry. Didn't mean to ruin your trick."

Sirius stepped back a few times to whisper in a low voice, "Actors."

James nodded quickly before saying, "Look we had a fourth person with us, but he disappeared at the beginning. Can you help us find him?"

"He's probably down a different path," said the man. "There are several different starts to this course. But all end up at the end." At that, he walked away.

"The end," James repeated to himself. He turned to Sirius. "That's what that note said."

"Remus didn't tell us he was choosing a different path," said Peter.

"Maybe the path chooses you," James said. "Took him by surprise or something."

The three of them moved forward past the remaining wiggling employees in body bags. They entered the next room which had several colourful dancing lights bouncing around the walls. The door banged shut behind them.

Sirius tried it but the door was bolted shut. "No way but forward," he said as he turned back to the room.

The three of them took a step forward, only to cause the floor to click. Wailing of what sounded like poltergeists rang out through the room.

The lights went out.

Peter grabbed hold of Sirius who grabbed hold of James. "Nobody let go of anyone!" Peter ordered.

"One of us has to feel ahead to find a way out of here," James said, pulling Peter closer. He put Peter's hand into Sirius's before letting go. "I'll do it."

"Don't do that! Haven't you seen what happened with Remus?" Peter exclaimed. "Last time the lights went out, he disappeared!"

"We need to get to the end to find him," James reminded him. "Now just walk straight ahead. I'm right in front of you both."

They took about four or five steps before they all slipped down a wide slide to land in a ball pit. Several lights appeared here, showing the large soft foam balls in the pit.

All three landed with soft thumps into it. So far, no one else from their gang had disappeared.

"There's the exit," James said as he started wading through, still holding onto Peter to pull him along. "Sirius, we—Sirius. Sirius? Oh, my God, Sirius!" James groaned, putting his free hand onto his forehead.

The head of a large black dog lifted up from under all the balls, holding three of them in his mouth.

"You idiot! We are in Muggle territory!" James hissed through gritted teeth.

Padfoot disappeared under the balls for a moment before rising up once more as Sirius. "Relax. I was under the balls. Besides, it's still pretty dark in here. Anyway, we've both done magic in front of Muggles before, or do I need to remind you of your unisex comment during this past summer?"

"We got in a lot of trouble for that," James said.

"Worth it," Sirius replied nonchalantly.

"Would you get over here, you stupid mutt?" James snapped, making Sirius laugh. "Unbelievable, irresponsible ... " He climbed out of the pit without a backwards glance.

Which was extremely fortunate for Sirius who stuffed a couple of balls under his leather jacket to take home to play with later. Sirius came out last, a rather cheeky big grin on his face. As he caught up to the other two, he said, "I'm pretty sure Padfoot is a 'pureblooded' grim, not a mutt. Moony's the mutt, being, you know, half."

James stopped walking, making Peter walk right into him. He let Peter go as he turned sharply to Sirius. "'Siriusly'?" He whined, making air quotes at the ridiculous pun. "You're going to go there with that?" He tried before bursting out laughing.

Sirius couldn't help but join in. "It's true, though." Two things slipped from his jacket as he laughed. Sirius ignored them but James watched the pair of balls bounce into a corner.

"Did you steal some balls from the pit?" James raised a brow over his glasses.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Sirius stuck his nose into the air.

"Sirius!" James groaned before turning to the door leading into the next room.

Waiting until last to move, Sirius lifted a hand as he muttered in a low voice, "Accio balls." His eyes went wide as he realized what he had done, but it was too late. "OH! SH—OOF!"

There was a loud crash as every single one of the balls from the pit, plus the two stolen ones on the floor, came smashing into Sirius's face, knocking him down. Several balls went rolling into the next room where James was.

Peter stepped back to avoid getting hit as well. More of the balls went bouncing on by him, ending up spinning around James.

Glancing down, James watched the things roll about at his feet. "Are you kidding me?"

"You ok, Jim?" Peter asked.

James glared ahead, refusing to look behind him as a few more balls bounced by him into his view. He looked down at a spinning ball, watching it until it came to rest be his left foot. He made a tsk-ing sound before promptly kicking the ball away. Looking forward, he said, "Peter? Tell me that Sirius did NOT just do what I know he just did?"

"Yep, he totally did!" Peter doubled over in laughter.

"Kill me now. Just KILL me now!" James snarled.

"Hmm," Peter hummed to himself, casting an odd sort of look, part sorrow, part determination, at James's back. He shook his head as he stepped forward, careful to avoid a few more rolling balls.

"We're leaving him behind!" James marched ahead once more. "He can pick up his mess. He created it. He can deal with it!"

James cleared two more rooms, with Peter following closely, before Sirius finally managed to catch up.

"Two balls," Sirius grumbled. "I should have said two balls."

"No, you shouldn't have," James corrected. "You should not have said anything at ... why do you look like you have breasts? Wait. Never mind." He opened the door with a large exit sign over top, rolling his eyes at the fact that Sirius was still keeping two balls buried under his jacket.

They went up some stairs into a brightly lit room. At a table sat three men. One was the man they had released from the body bag. The other two were Lupins.

"Remus!" Sirius moved forward. "Mr. Lupin? Hi."

"Are you ok?" James asked as he came to the table.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Remus laughed.

"You disappeared," said Peter.

"The strobe lights in there mess with my ... eyes," said Remus. Those in the know knew he meant wolf, but the man with them wouldn't understand. "So I just went down some stairs, let out a wild scream to confuse you all, then just ran under the whole house to come up here."

"So, in other words," Sirius began. "you're one of the actors in here, right?"

"Yep," Remus said. "Oh, this is Jason, by the way. Apparently, you let him out of his costume?"

"Yeah, I did," James admitted with a laugh.

Remus just laughed again as Jason waved to everyone before leaving. Remus added, "Papa helps set this up. So yes, we know what you did in the ball pit. Jason doesn't. He just showed up here to let us know you three were nearly done."

"So is this place a Muggle thing or not?" Peter asked.

"It is," Remus answered. "Mostly. I help with that. Papa just adds a few finishing touches. The paranormal is our area of expertise, after all. Also, he makes sure it is safe."

James groaned before glaring at Sirius. "After this, I think I need a drink."

"Well, let's go," Remus said as he stood up. "Have fun with the next group, Papa."

"I will," Mr. Lupin grinned.

Remus stepped outside. "Oh, Sirius?"

"Yeah?"

"Put the balls back."