Moony and Padfoot

Remus yawned. It was one in the morning, and he was tired. He almost fell asleep on top of the pile of test papers. Focus, Moony, focus! He thought.

It didn't work.

"Oh damn!" Remus said, standing up. "I'll just go to Hogsmeade for a butterbeer, I couldn't grade these papers if my life depended on it."

Remus stood up and walked out of his office. It was wonderful to be at Hogwarts again. For the... wow, was it really the ninth school year he had spent in the castle? Seven years as a student, one as a professor in Harry's third year and now in Harry's fifth year... yes, it was nine years. Remus sighed. Dumbledore was the most generous person in the world.

Not really wanting to run into anyone else, Remus headed for the secret passage. "Dissendium," he whispered, tapping the statue of the one-eyed witch. It opened. Remus was about to step inside it for the first time in years, but was caught by surprise by what he saw.

Fred and George Weasley were there, staring right at him.

"What- what are you doing here?" Remus said. "You should be in bed."

"Er-" George said.

"How did you- how did you know about this?" Fred asked. "You couldn't have known, unless Harry showed you..."

"Damn, we told him to keep the map a secret!" George said.

"Oh for the love of Merlin, come on, I'll explain in my office..."

Fred and George followed Remus to his office curiously. When Remus closed the door behind him, he sighed and sat down.

"How did you get the Marauders' Map?"

Fred and George looked at each other wide-eyed. "Did- did you just say the Marauders' Map?" George said.

"Oh, come off it, surely Harry told you?" Remus said. By the looks on their faces, Harry hadn't told them. "He didn't?"

"I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, Professor Lupin," Fred said solemnly. "And if it weren't for the fact that you're a professor, I would say you're bonkers."

"Oh come on, Padfoot would be so dearly disappointed!" Remus laughed. Fred and George now looked confident in the fact that their professor had gone a bit mad.

"How do you know about Padfoot?" Fred asked.

Remus almost laughed. "Well, Fred," Remus said slowly, "I know Padfoot."

"You know the makers of the Marauders' Map?" Fred and George asked amazed.

"Very good," Remus said sarcastically. "I know them very well. Padfoot- I know him a bit too well," Remus sighed. "He's just a stick in the mud."

"How dare you insult one of the makers of the Marauders' Map?" Fred asked, sounding horrified. Remus did laugh at this.

"Rest assured, Padfoot would say the same for me."

"Who is Padfoot, really?" George asked. "We really owe him one."

"Er- can't tell you that." Sirius popped into his mind. He still wasn't cleared. That was one of the projects Remus was working on.

"Why not?" Fred asked, putting out his lip. "Please?"

"Is that the best you can do? Prongs would be so disappointed..." Remus stopped abruptly. Thinking of Prongs hurt.

"You know Prongs too?" George asked, awed. "Can I have your autograph?"

"Oh, please," Remus said, backing away. "Asking me for an autograph is liking asking Snape to wash his hair. It just doesn't happen. I did just say that out loud, didn't I?" Remus said, looking at the looks of adoration on their faces. They nodded.

"You two are not to repeat what I just said to anyone, you hear me?"

"You are my hero," Fred sighed. "Did you know Wormtail?"

Remus clenched his fists. He ground his teeth at the mention of Wormtail. "I wish I didn't."

Fred and George exchanged raised eyebrows. "What?"

"It's a long story I can't even think of telling you," Remus said, relaxing a little.

"What about Moony?" George asked. "Did you know him?"

"Yes, I did, and maybe I'll consider telling you who he is if you tell me how you got the Marauders' Map."

George immediately began talking. "We were in our first year, and Filch-"

"George!" Fred said. "Are you crazy? He's a professor, he'll tell Dumbledore!"

"Well, I can tell you two things, boys," Remus said. "One, Dumbledore already knows about the map and two, if I turned the Map in Padfoot would squash me like a bug. Siriusly. Haha. Siriusly," Remus said, thinking of the 'Yes, I know I'm Sirius, who are you?' joke Sirius had used all the time. He chuckled.

Fred reluctantly let George tell Remus how the Marauders' Map had come into their possession.

"I always wondered how Harry got it," Remus mused aloud.

"How do you know Harry?" Fred said.

"How do I not know Harry, Fred?" Remus asked sarcastically. "The whole world knows Harry, after what happened to his parents," Remus swallowed, "and he's my student, oh, and I don't know, maybe he's my best friend's son? Oh bloody hell, I said that out loud too, didn't I?" Fred and George nodded.

"You- you knew Harry's mum and dad?" George whispered.

"Knew them? James was the best friend I ever could have had. Other than Sirius."

"Who?"

Remus slapped his forehead. "You had better shut your mouth, Moony, before you let out something important," he scolded himself.

"YOU'RE MOONY?" said Fred and George as one. Remus banged his head into the wall.

"I should not have said that, I should not have said that, I should not have said that..."

"Can I have your autograph?" asked a fazed Fred.

"No, Fred... I should not have said that, I'm such an idiot, I should not have said that..."

"You're really Moony?" asked George. "You're -like- my hero!"

"Oh my gosh, Sirius is going to kill me..."

"Who's Sirius?" asked Fred. Remus almost hexed himself.

"I am such an idiot!" Remus groaned.

Someone knocked on his door three times. Remus knew that knock- how many times had he heard it? It meant only one thing...

Sirius.

"Open the door, you great prat!" came Sirius's voice.

"Stay here," he told Fred and George. "Don't move... my sanity is at stake here."

Remus slipped out through the door. "Sirius. What are you doing here?"

"Dumbledore," Sirius shrugged. "I'm stuck here for a couple days. Thought I'd come see how you're doing. Full moon was yesterday, Moony, as I'm sure you'll remember."

"Of course I remember, Padfoot, you idiot," Remus sighed. "But you picked the most inconvenient time in the world to show up. I was just telling Fred and George how much of an idiot I am."

"While I whole heartedly agree-"

"PADFOOT!"

"Professor?" came Fred's voice. The knob turned.

"FRED!" Remus yelled. "Stay in there!"

"But-"

"No butts!"

"But I already have one!"

"Oh shut it!" Remus cried. Sirius was grinning.

"Smart kid."

"Too smart." Remus sighed. "I -er- told them I was Moony?"

"WHAT???"

"Padfoot!"

At that moment, the door started to open. Remus kicked Sirius, but he had already transformed. George came out.

"What's going on out here, Professor?"

The dog gave a bark that sounded a lot like Sirius's laugh. "Shut it, Padfoot," Remus said.

"What'd you call that thing?"

"Oh -er- someone dropped my dog off," Remus lied. "I named it Padfoot, after my friend." Remus nudged Padfoot with his heel. He whined.

"Oh. I was thinking- you were talking about a Sirius, and I was wondering- that wouldn't happen to be Sirius Black, would it?"

"What in the world would make you think that?" Remus said, kicking Padfoot, who was snorting.

"Oh, well, I know how's he friendly with Harry and how he knew Harry's dad, and Dad told us about how he's innocent and all, didn't seem too keen on explaining what really happened, but well, Dad you know... it would be pretty cool to see him, if he's really innocent," George ended lamely.

Remus smiled. "Come on. I want to show you and Fred something." Remus and George walked back in the room. Remus closed the door behind him. Padfoot barked. He opened the door just enough to let Sirius in. "Sorry, Padfoot."

The dog barked. Remus sat down at his desk. Sirius jumped on his desk.

"Padfoot, get off..." Remus said. Sirius reluctantly got off.

"Do you two solemnly swear that you believe that Sirius Black is innocent, and that you will never tell another living soul what you are about to see as long as you both shall live?" Remus asked them.

"Yes," they said, suspiciously.

"Well, George this isn't my dog."

"What does that have anything to do with this?"

Sirius had walked behind Fred and George. He looked at Remus expectantly. Remus winked. Sirius transformed.

"Everything," he said.

The two of them jumped. "How did you- what- why..."

Sirius grinned. "Howdy," he said. "I'm Padfoot."

They stared at him. "Nice to meet you too," Sirius said sarcastically, walking up to Remus. Remus slapped him.

"What was that for?" Sirius said, rubbing his side.

"For being an idiot."

"Well, in that case..." Sirius slapped Remus. Remus gave him one of those Looks.

"You're Padfoot?" Fred said lamely.

"Oh very good," Sirius said sarcastically. "Ten points to Gryffindor."

"Really?" George said.

"Nope," Remus said. "And now let me finish explaining why I'm a bit of an idiot..."

"A bit?" Sirius said mockingly.

"Don't mind the moron," Remus told them.

"Moron, yourself, Moony," Sirius said. "I didn't have to come up here to see you, you know."

"Well I didn't have to let you trash my house for a month."

Sirius grinned. "Hey, I did you a favor. Divination is for frauds."

"That was an expensive crystal ball!"

Sirius shrugged. "Then it was wasted money."

"Can I have your autograph?" George asked dazedly.

"I already gave them the Snape's hair example," Remus told Padfoot. "But you can try the Snape's stupidity one."

"Right. Asking me for an autograph is like asking Snape to pass a Transfiguration exam. It doesn't work."

"If you're Moony and Padfoot," Fred said, "where are Wormtail and Prongs?"

Remus and Sirius bit their lips. "Yea, I always wanted to meet Wormtail," George said, "He had a pretty cool nickname."

As one, Sirius and Remus clenched their fists. "All you need to know about Wormtail," Sirius said, through clenched teeth, "is that he is a stupid, miserable, traitorous bastard, and the sorriest excuse for a human being I have ever had the misfortune to lay eyes upon."

"Well put, my friend."

"I rather thought so myself, Moony, thanks."

"All righty then," Fred said, looking at the adults strangely, "then where's Prongs?"

Sirius and Remus bit their lips and looked at each other. How could they explain?

"Prongs was Harry's father," Remus said quietly.

At that moment the door opened all by itself and then slammed closed.

"Sirius!" came a voice. A voice Remus knew...

"Harry!" Sirius said warmly. Harry took off his Invisibility Cloak and hugged his godfather.

"Is everything okay?"

"Dumbledore wants me to stay here a couple days," Sirius said. "Are you all right?"

"Oh -er- actually, no." Sirius and Remus straightened up.

"I woke up screaming again," Harry whispered. "Ron made me come here."

"Did you have a dream?" Sirius asked sharply.

George cleared his throat to let the three of them know the twins were still there. "Oh, hi George- wait a second, what are you doing here?" Harry said.

"We'll explain in a second, Harry, are you okay?" Remus asked.

"I feel fine," Harry said grumpily. "No dream, no sweat- I just woke up screaming my head off. Ron made me come here."

"Are you sure you'll all right, Harry?" Sirius said.

"Yes, I'm fine, Sirius, you really ought to look that word up in the dictionary someday."

"Harry, you, like your dad, have the habit of saying you're fine when you're just short of dying. Honestly, you're filthy stinking liars. And might I add you inherited your lying abilities, or lack thereof, from James."

"I'm fine, Sirius! Fine! F-i-n-e. George, do I look fine?"

"Er- I guess so."

"Fred, do I look fine?"

"You could say that."

"Remus, do I look fine?"

"Nice try, Harry. No, I take that back. That was a miserable try. Harry, you're pale. You're white as a sheet. If that's fine, then I'm a hippogriff," Remus said.

"Thank you, Moony," Sirius said. "That's what I said about five minutes ago."

"Sirius, two words. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. I've never been better! Take my temperature! I'M FINE! Get used to it!"

"Are you sure you're okay?" Sirius asked.

"ARGH!"

"Oh shut up, Padfoot, I think he'll live," Remus snapped. "Now where were we..."

"We were just talking about... us, remember, Moony?" Sirius said brightly.

"Remus? Is Sirius feeling okay?" Harry said. Sirius hit him playfully.

"Actually, Harry, we were just explaining to Fred and George who made the Marauders' Map," Remus said. "We were just talking about Prongs."

Harry nodded. "You told them?"

"What I want to know, Harry, is why you never told us any of that," George said.

"I didn't really want to talk about it," Harry whispered.

"Speaking of Lily and James," Sirius said, "I have something to give you, Harry."

Remus looked at Sirius. He knew what this was...

"Harry, tomorrow- no, actually today, is your parents' twentieth wedding anniversary."

Harry stared at the two of them. "Really?"

Sirius nodded. "And I think they would have wanted you to have these." Sirius took out a small box. Harry took it and opened it.

Inside were two rings, rings Remus would recognize anywhere. Lily and James's wedding rings. Lily's was gold with engravings of lilies on it. In the middle was a small emerald. James had thought it looked like Lily's eyes.

James's, on the other hand, was silver. Remus had never touched it, of course, but it looked smooth. James had barely ever worn it, since he was around Remus most of the time. It had a beautiful engraving of a stag on it. On the inside was written: 'For Prongs, From Your Lily.' It was absolutely beautiful. The two of them were bound together.

Suddenly Remus frowned. Bound together? The last time he had seen them, twenty years ago, they were definitely separate.

"Sirius, why- how'd they get like that?" Remus said. Sirius shrugged.

"That's how I found them. Fourteen years ago. Right in between their bodies." Sirius gulped. "I kept them all through Azkaban."

Harry looked at his godfather appreciatively. "Thanks, Sirius."

"You deserve them, Harry. All you have left from your parents is their Gringotts vault, the Marauders' Map, and the Invisibility Cloak..."

"You have an Invisibility Cloak?" Fred asked. Harry waved it in front of Fred's face.

"Yup."

"Cool," said Fred and George as one.

"Thanks again, Sirius," Harry said.

"Now," Sirius said, "are you absolutely positive that you're all right?"

Harry groaned. "Yes, Sirius, I am absolutely positive."

"But-"

"Just shut up, Padfoot," Remus said. Harry turned to him.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Remus lied. His whole body still ached. Sirius snorted.

"You two," he said, glaring at Remus and Harry, "are the worst and biggest liars on the face of the earth."

"Really!" Harry said. "Sirius, I'm fine! I thought we had established that fact!"

"Yea, whatever," Sirius said. "And pigs fly."

"Yea, they do," Fred said. "At least in Charms."

"Hey, let's go do something," Harry said.

"Like what?" Remus asked.

"I don't know... explore the castle?"

"Why?" Harry said.

"Because the author can't think of a good ending for this story," George said.

"Oh," Sirius said. "Let's go, then."