Once a Potter, Always a Marauder

Remus sat at his desk, his eyelids drooping and his vision blurring. One more essay to grade, just one more..... His head slipped down with a soft thump onto his arm, holding the quill ready. Remus began to dream, a soft smile gracing his face.

The portrait to the Gryffindor Common Room swung open at two in the morning and muffled sounds of people crawling in reached the ears of dozing Remus Lupin, working on a particularly nasty essay from Professor Aspwhite, the Potions Master. "Where have you been? It's almost two in the morning. And you two being Head Boy and Girl," Remus addressed the air in front of him.

"Remus, it's the end of our seventh year. Can't we have a little fun?" James Potter appeared grinning sheepishly at his friend.

"Anyway, as I recall you've got the Astronomy Tower tomorrow night with Kristen. Or so that's what Padfoot had to say," Lily Evans' flaming red hair was the first thing to appear as James' Invisibility Cloak slipped off her as well.

"My night time activities are none of your business," Remus sniffed, trying to maintain his dignity, "All I'm saying is that you two are supposed to uphold the honor of the school or something of that nature. Don't quote me, Dumbledore said it. I must go tell Sirius that I won the bet anyway. He bet you two'd be back at one. I said two. Which means James, I get that cloak tomorrow night," Remus said with a cheeky smile gathering his school supplies.

James and Lily just grinned at their friend as he hopped up the stairs to his dorm room smirking.

New voices penetrated Remus subconscious, though familiar at the same time.

"Well, if we don't hurry we'll never get out of this part of the castle. What with Peeves flying about," a male voice whispered, just outside Remus' open office door.

"How does he know we're here?" countered a female voice, a little softer than the male's.

"I don't know, possibly the fact that Invisibility Cloaks make you invisible, not sound proof," the male reasoned.

A quiet smile played on Remus' lips at the soft sounds of this conversation. Invisibility Cloaks.... midnight rendezvous...... Hogwarts halls.... James..... Lily....WHAT??? "James you know you shouldn't be sneaking our after hours like that... you are Head Boy after all...." Remus wasn't too far gone not to notice that it had been over twenty years since he last heard a conversation of this sort. He grunted and picked his head up, looking out his office door. As he half expected, there was a startled gasp but no one standing there.

"You two.... Come in here now. You've got some explaining to do," Remus said, trying to sound menacing. "I know you're there. Don't think I didn't hear your voices. I'm pretty sure as to who you are anyway so even if you run, I'll be chatting with you later. Or maybe your brother Miss. Weasley?"

As Remus had expected, two young faces appeared out of thin air, and for just a moment Remus thought he was in seventh year again, catching his friends returning to the Common Room after hours. Red head, hanging her head sheepishly; dark haired boy with firelight reflecting off his glasses running a hand nervously through his unruly hair, attempting not to grin at being caught.

"Professor Lupin, I can explain..." Ginny began.

"I know exactly why you were out and have a sneaking suspicion you've been in the Astronomy Tower. That was always a favorite. In my years here we practically had a schedule for evenings there," Remus said. "Unfortunately, I am no longer a student and the rules of the school state that I should report this to your Head of House...."

'"But Professor..."

"You didn't let me finish Harry. I should report you to your Head of House, but since I know her reactions to these things from experience I'm going to let it slide just this once," Remus said, watching their reactions. Harry's face went from one of fear to one of confusion to one of shock. Ginny's just went red from embarrassment.

"You.... our teacher...... got caught......." Harry started.

"I wasn't always a teacher. In fact I used to be a grade "A" Marauder. Padfoot and Prongs weren't the only ones allowed to have after hours rendezvous. Why, in my sixth year I almost died of fright when Albus Dumbledore caught Kristen and I sneaking past the gargoyle. He just laughed and sent us back to Gryffindor Tower, but what a fright we turning around to find the Headmaster staring at us."

"Kristen hurry up. We need to get back to the Common Room since we don't have the Cloak tonight," Remus urged dragging his girlfriend down the corridor.

"Remus I'm going as fast as I can without sprinting. And honestly are you afraid of a little detention if we're caught? You ARE a Marauder after all....." Kristen said as she stumbled over an uneven stone in the floor.

"No Kris, I'm afraid of my mother when she gets that letter saying I've been caught out for the fifth time this term. I hate Howlers and I know I'm gonna get one this time."

"Honey it can't be that big of a.... a..... uh... oh....."

"What?" Remus hissed.

"Hello Mr. Lupin, Miss. Jameson," Albus Dumbledore said serenely, his glasses glinting in the light of the half moon.

"Headmaster, Sir...." Remus sputtered, the blood draining from his face.

"There's a perfectly logical reason for us to be out here," Kristen began.

"Even if there is, which I suspect there really isn't I only suggest that you two hurry to your Common Room and quickly, for I think Mr. Filch is coming and you don't want to get caught. Good bye. And please in the future, don't be so noisy." Professor Dumbledore moved along the corridor, chuckling softly to himself and leaving two very confused teenagers in his wake.

"I shall walk you two back to the Common Room, since I know the pleasure Snape will take in turning you in. He took sick pleasure in turning your father in every single time he could. Your father got so many Howlers Harry. It seemed like at least one a month and they all sounded the same."

"JAMES ALEXANDER POTTER HOW DARE YOU BE OUT AFTER CURFEW! IF I'VE TOLD YOU ONCE I'VE TOLD YOU A MILLION TIMES NOT TO DO THAT!! IF I GET ONE MORE OWL FROM PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE I WILL PERSONALLY COME UP TO THE SCHOOL AND PUNISH YOU MYSELF!!!......." Mrs. Potter went on and on occasionally slipping in a sweet, "Hi Remus," and ,"Hello Sirius," or, "Hope you're well Peter."

James tried to slip under the table, but only managed to leave a mess of black hair and a bright red forehead hovering on the edge of the table. This always happened.....

"C'mon Ginny, let's get you back in Gryffindor Tower before your brother notices. It's what? One in the morning? He's going to kill me one day," Harry said making his way to the door.

"You may want to wear the cloak anyway. You never know who'll show up," Remus said beginning the trek to the Fat Lady.

"Good bye and please, keep your midnight wanderings a bit quieter. Check the charms books. They may shed a little light on the subject. As I recall it's 100 Everyday Charms and Incantations. And as I remember it's near the end. Possibly still book marked," Remus said with a smile as the Fat Lady swung open revealing a very irate looking Ron and a worried Hermione.

"Hello Harry....with my little sister I see...." Ron's anger edged voice filtered out the portrait hole until it was muffled by the fully closed portrait.

Once a Potter, always a Marauder. I wonder if I'll be seeing Ron tomorrow night. Maybe Hermione already knows those charms. It wouldn't surprise me one bit. Remus looked toward the sky out one of the windows. I miss you Lily and James. Sirius, there's your star. Wherever you are. I miss you too pal.