Predator-Prey Relationships

Lab Rat

Moony smiled as the walked down the corridor that led to the Potions dungeon, and inhaled deeply. His smile broadened.

Padfoot smacked him.

"I think Moony's gone round the twist, Prongs," The black haired boy growled conversationally.

"Yeh, must be a breakdown. No one in their right mind'd look forward to potions with the Slytherins," his friend replied gloomily.

Moony chuckled. He was simply quite happy. It was October, best month of the fall season, meaning the first Hogsmeade trip was coming up, as was Halloween, which ranked among his favorite holidays...he loved the decorations that went up around the castle on that night, it was too early in the year for any exams of major consequence, and late enough that the strain of readjusting had ended. He sighed contentedly and put his hands behind his head.

Padfoot rolled his eyes, and the four of them turned round the corner through the door. They were among the first ones to arrive, evidently, for Lily's friends and a few of the Slytherins were absent from the room, though not for long. Remus could hear the sound of an argument coming their way down the hall, though he couldn't yet make out the words. As the quartet took their seats the debate entered audible range.

"In my old school, such rampant favoritism would never be permitted!" Came Lestrange's cold, harsh tones.

"Don't be ridiculous, Rodolphus," Sandra Barron said, apparently very much weary of the conversation. "For one thing, I've heard about Durmstrang. I have a friend who went to Durmstrang. The teachers there are just as biased as anywhere else...maybe even more so, since the students aren't permitted to speak their minds."

The group entered the room, Rodolphus storming angrily in, with Sandra and Lily, both looking furious, at his sides. Savannah was glaring at Lestrange's back with a look that Remus felt, if it had been directed at him, would be sufficient to put him in therapy for years to come. Severus stalked (looking particularly greasy, Moony thought) into the room with Davie Gudgeon, Shawn Mulciber and Jonas Avery bringing up the rear.

"Which brings me to my next point! The lax discipline here is appalling! Students running about, totally unguided-"

The chilled, forceful rant was cut off by Padfoot's equally love-less growl.

"Shut it, Lestrange. If you've got some sort of problem with Hogwarts, by all means, leave."

"Oh, don't," James added as he stood up behind Sirius. It seemed as though if he put any more sarcasm into his voice, it would flood the floor. "I'd be all torn up inside without you around, grouching about everything and everyone."

Rodolphus opened his mouth to retort, but at that moment Professor Sanguire stepped elegantly into the room, dark blue high-collared robes flowing around her, giving her a very fluid appearance, which was only augmented by her alert silvery eyes.

"Seats, Misters Lestrange, Black and Potter. You also, Mr. Pettigrew...today," she waved her wand, a graceful willow one, at the blackboard, and instructions appeared "We will be mixing a particularly interesting potion, and a well recorded one. It has been in use by the same Transylvanian village for several centuries. Some of these ingredients are quite hard to come by-Yes, Mr. Snape?" Moony's thick eyebrows arched in mild annoyance, and he heard a low growl of disgust from Padfoot.

"I wondered, Professor, if it might be Harkenov's Draught of Renewal of which you are speaking?" he said in his usual oily voice, fingers laced in front of him.

"It is indeed, Mr. Snape. A potion I myself have brewed on many occasions, it is not terribly difficult to create so long as you are attentive to a few fundamental ratios and variables, which I feel make it rather interesting...it is not so immutable as others. As I was saying, the real complication here is that the materials you will need are rather specific, and some, in fact, quite dangerous to handle, but Professor Dumbledore has given me permission to include it in this year's syllabus...perhaps he feels it will aide you in securing extra points on your O.W.L.S." Professor Sanguire was truly a powerful presence. She had accomplished, in a single month, what many teachers felt would validate their entire existence...she had subdued Sirius Black in a class environment...well, Moony thought with a grin, More or less. He glanced to his side, where Padfoot was sitting, upright, for once, though he was pouting spectacularly. Moony gave him an encouraging smile that had just a hint of good-natured mockery. Lily, who was fulfilling her obligation as an honor student by paying rapt attention to Professor Sanguire's every word, sat next to Padfoot, with Sandra and Savannah next in the row. Sandra was taking notes on...whatever it was the teacher was saying (Moony had sort of tuned his attention away) and Savannah was sitting back, comfortable, though attentive. It's an interesting group. Moony observed, definitely not for the first time. I know Lily's been friends with Savannah and Beatrice-the-Hufflepuff since before they came to this school. That must've been interesting; since I know Savannah's pureblood. Lily wouldn't speak to her for half of first year. Thought she'd been betrayed. That girl wasn't always this...she'd love for me to pick mature as a word, I know. Don't think Beatrice is Pureblood, but then, I wouldn't know. Moony gave his friend a subtle nudge with his quill, and wrote the question on the parchment he was supposed to be taking notes with

Is Beatrice Barret, you know, that Hufflepuff beater, 'pureblood'? Padfoot opened his mouth so slightly it was hardly visible, but then, with a glare at Professor Sanguire, who appeared to be telling them something about Essence of Yarrow, put his quill (one of the few items he owned that looked good as new) to his own parchment and responded.

Think so, M. Dun think shes a mgglbrn. Y?

Moony, looking at Padfoot's parchment out of the corners of his eyes, heard soft footfalls in their direction. Quickly and subtly he shifted his parchment to his Always-Half-Finished page of Potions notes, but wrote nothing, lest it draw attention to his change in behavior. Nudging Padfoot with his foot, he looked up. Professor Sanguire stood right above the two boys.

"Forgive me, Mr. Black, if I find it suspicious for you to actually put quill to parchment in my class. May I ask what inspired this abrupt bout of studiousness?" Her voice was not sweet, deceptively or otherwise. Rather, it fitted perfectly with the rest of her image; it was like liquid silver.

Padfoot mumbled something totally incomprehensible.

"I rather thought so. Now, if we can return to the lesson, I was just about to tell you to begin. Please, stand?" Everyone in the class, from Lily Evans to Shawn Mulciber, obeyed. Sometimes Moony felt as though there was something more to that than a commanding persona. There was something borderline-hypnotic about those glacier-like eyes...

Professor Sanguire waved her wand, intoning the charm "Mobilidecorum". The chairs piled in the corner of the room, and she waved it again.

"Aparicium Cauldrons!"

The student's cauldrons appeared, and she began to speak.

"Now, I want you to divide into pairs for this potion. As you will know, if you have been paying attention, it will take us the course of a month to complete it, and so we will merely be adding the first set of ingredients today. I will be pairing you off."

No one dared groan. Moony would have sworn on his sense of hearing that she had a mischievous gleam in her eyes, and that the sides of her typically serene mouth raised a little. His speculation was confirmed a moment later, when she spoke, her voice definitely was sly.

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans. Mr. Black, Ms. Michaels. Mr. Lestrange, Mr. Snape. Mr. Gudgeon, Mr. Mulciber. Mr. Lupin, Mr. Pettigrew-" She continued, but Moony, with a wink to Wormtail, stopped listening, as he migrated towards the cauldron they shared. "Alright, Wormtail. What're we doing?" Moony said, grinning.

"You really ought to pay attention once in a while. Dunno how you expect to get past your O.W.L.S this year..." Peter sighed resignedly. It was a very, very old argument, one they both knew all the steps to. "Anyway. We've got to add Essence of Yarrow, and then let it simmer for five minutes. We've only got about ten left in the class, but after we do that, we can add feverfew, still counter-clockwise I think three times, and then we can get out."

"Doesn't sound to hard," Moony said, and rummaged around for some Essence of Yarrow, finding a vial, he stood back up, and opened the cap.

"Oy, Wormtail, how much are we supposed to put in?" He waited a beat.

"Wormtail? Oy Wormtail!" He said, snapping his fingers in front of the shorter boy's face. Peter seemed to be in a trance of some kind...actually his face was not unlike James' when he was looking at-Lily! Remus realized, turning to follow Peter's gaze with a sinking feeling in the region of his stomach. He was momentarily confused...Peter was looking out into the hall where a bunch of fourth years were clustered, not at any of the girls in their class or-and he hadn't really wanted to face this prospect-at Professor Sanguire. Then, though, he saw something that chilled his blood. One of them, and easily the one who Remus felt was least welcome to behave in such a manner, had stepped out from her cronies and was beaconing to Peter.

Bellatrix Black mouthed the words 'you. Owe. Me...' and winked. Remus' canine heart sank. He had been dreading something like this since the first day of term, over a month ago.

"Wormtail-" Remus began, softly.

"Yeah. Sorry...just...wanted to see what she wanted. Bloody Slytherins," Peter finished; reaffirming himself a little more forcefully then was totally credible...or wise. Mulciber and Gudgeon, who were at the cauldron neighboring theirs, glared at him ominously. Remus lowered his neck a little, so he was on their eye level, and growled. Mulciber turned back to his work, but Gudgeon laughed.

"Ah, my. I'm shakin' now. Shawn, d-don't let the f-fearsome Lupin g-get me," he said, affecting a stammer. "Who d'yeh think yeh are, 'Agrid?"

Mulciber, still concentrating on his cauldron, kicked Gudgeon, who fell silent, looking a bit confused.

"Right. Peter. You were telling me how-oh. Thanks," Remus said, for Peter had taken the opportunity to add in the Yarrow, and was stirring the contents quite vigorously.

They finished in another minute, and packed up, going outside to wait for James and Sirius, who hadn't quite finished. Looking back in on them, Remus chuckled. It made sense for Professor Sanguire to assign James with Lily...he didn't dare make a mistake with her critical emerald eyes on him, though he was certainly running a few risks. He had, evidently, bewitched the cauldron to stir itself, and the feverfew packet hovered as though waiting its turn over the mixture. Lily was watching with an expression of mingled amusement and irritation. Sirius was a different matter entirely. He was following instructions, for perhaps the first time in the history of his taking potions, to the letter. And seemed to have just said something funny, for Savannah was giggling quite merrily. I definitely know what he sees in her. Remus felt a little tug somewhere in his chest when looking at his fellow prefect. He shook his head. Bad Moony! I mean, sure go ahead and sympathize with him, but just be happy for Sirius. And he was, genuinely.

This, it seemed, was one of the rare occasions upon which he could potentially feel envious of his best friends (as they so rarely had or wanted what he had or wanted...another advantage of their diverse fellowship), but he really was happy for Sirius. Seriously.

"Brilliant Prongs!" Sirius laughed, tears in his eyes. They were walking across the lawn from the Charms class-area (it could hardly be called a room), laughing happily and congratulating one another. The class had let out considerably early, thanks entirely to the four of them.

"Yeah," Peter put in "Definitely cool"

"Ah, c'mon, I can't take all the credit here, whole thing was Moony's idea." James laughed, squeezing his friend around the shoulders.

"But it wouldn't have been possible without your spellwork, Prongs," Moony replied, ducking out of James' grip.

"And besides, Padfoot, that distraction was just what we needed. Perfect timing with that pumpkin,"

"How great is Professor Gam, though? Letting us out early like that?" Peter commented excitedly.

"Mm. Yeah...almost suspicious, really," Moony agreed, voice thoughtful. "Most teachers would start throwing around detentions and taking points for moving a bit of the Everglades into their classroom. Though I must admit, I like his style better."

"Yeh, you don't see me complaining." Sirius growled. "He's right though, it was really advanced magic. Pity it was just a-what'd you call it, Wormtail? Geographical-Displacement-Illusion? I'd've liked to introduce Snivellus to that crocodile."

"Alligator, Padfoot. A crocodile has a sharper, more triangular jaw. That was an American Alligator, they usua-"

James cut him off. "Right Moony, tell us another time, it looks like we're about to get a little gratitude for our hard work."

Remus wondered briefly what he meant by this, as Ryan Adiell and Gravis McFulton, the remaining Gryffindor boys, had disappeared right after Gam had let them out. Ryan having gone off in his usual purposeful manner, though Remus couldn't fathom what plans he could possibly have for the free period granted to them...it wasn't as though they'd advertised what they were planning. His curiosities were laid to rest, however, when he saw the triad of Gryffindor fifth year girls walking towards them (A rare occurrence, Lily usually steered clear of James if she could help it at all). Savannah and Sandra were grinning broadly, though in different ways, and even Lily looked grudgingly happy. James ran his fingers through his hair, ruffling it. Sirius stepped jauntily forward, a lopsided grin on his face.

"Here to thank us, Evans?" James asked. Remus could have hit him. It was an unbelievable idiotic remark...but he knew his friend's usually exceptional social skills (that had made him easily the most popular boy in their year...even with the new foreign competition) were somehow negated by Lily's presence.

Lily looked as though she'd reconsidered, and for an instant, she seemed about to reply with an insult, but Sandra nudged her, and she lowered her eyes.

"Not so much thank you as congratulate you, Potter. I must admit, that was some really impressive charm work you did there, though I expect you had help, its well beyond our year. Just..." she trailed off

Savannah looked a little annoyed with her. "Yeah, what Lily means to say is that that was brilliant. And you sure have my thanks for getting us out of class...if only we could do that to the Slytherin common room..." she got a dreamy look in her eyes, which Sirius mirrored perfectly, no doubt with the same fantasy.

Sandra spoke: "Ruddy brill James. I was thinking, D'ya think we might use that in our next match? It's against Ravenclaw, at the end of the month, and you know how good their chasers are. If we could distract 'em with something like that, it'd be excellent. Wonder if it's against the rules?" This seemed to bring Savannah out of her trance.

"That's right...you four didn't get in trouble, did you...peculiar, that?"

James shrugged. "Well, I guess its like he said. It showed aptitude or something like that."

"Mm. Cool. Well, We're off to see if we can use the library for a bit. There's a curse I've been dying to look up. No pun intended. Thanks, and congratulations on getting off," the prefect finished, though she still seemed bothered by something.

With Lily in the lead, the three girls departed for the castle. "How are we gonna use our...unanticipated free time?" James put the unanimous question to voice.

"Eat," Remus' lycanthropic hunger spoke for him.

"Find Snivellus and hex the daylights out of him."

"We could do that Transfiguration homework."

As one, James, Sirius and Remus turned to Peter, looked at him with identical expressions of total disgust, and resumed arguing.

"How much time d'we have? I'm not kidding, Prongs, we can get the cloak and head into Hogsmeade if we're really quick about it...get a bite at the Three Broomsticks."

"Moony, you've already gotten a bite, and look where it wound you up," Sirius joked. Though perhaps it seemed an obvious line, the spontaneity of it brought hearty laughter from all four boys.

"I know what we can do, mates," James said, still chuckling. "Padfoot, didn't you say your cousin's got some sort of muggle thing for us? She's got a free this period, I happen to know."

"Yeah, that's right, but two things," Sirius remembered, a little surprised. "How do you know she's got a free, and where are we gonna find her if she does?"

"Its on Moony's prefect's schedule. Head Boy and Girl have free this period, and are...what is it again?"

"'Available for consultation in the lounge to any prefects who wish to receive guidance,'" Remus quoted fluently. "Yeah, I'd forgotten about that. Lets go, I can get us in."

The quartet dashed up the final steps into the Prefect's Lounge, Remus having shouted the password ("Foaming Butterbeer") from a good distance so they wouldn't have to slow down. He had not, however, counted on how they would slow down once admitted. The four boys skidded to a halt just short of colliding with an extremely delicate looking porcelain statue of a badger, lion, hawk and snake. They were in a very comfortingly lit room, which had its own fireplace and armchairs. Indeed, it looked rather like a miniature common room.

They looked around. The fire was burning merrily, and was, apparently, the only source of light, for someone seemed to have charmed the curtains on the window to stick together. Bookcases lined the walls, and there were various relics of previous generations of Hogwarts students, including a few class portraits and, in a corner, a slightly singed bird's perch. James nudged Remus; evidently feeling it wasn't his place to speak here.

"Uh-Hi. Andromeda, are you here? Ted?"

"Hey Remus!" Came Andromeda's kindly voice from the couch facing the fire.

"I brought company, that's okay, right?" Remus replied, a little unsure of himself...in his month as a prefect, he still had a good deal to learn about what was and was not expected of him, and he had never been much for paperwork, or following instructions, or any of that administrative stuff.

"Sure mate," came a deeper voice, which he recognized as Ted Tonks', Andromeda's Hufflepuff boyfriend.

"Yeah, as long as its not my cousin and the rest of his gang," Andromeda teased. "I've just spent an hour and a half cleaning this place, no thanks to this lump."

"You act as though you don't trust me," Sirius growled playfully.

"That's 'cause she doesn't, mate," Ted rejoined. This exchange relaxed James enough to lead the four of them around the couch so they could actually see whom they were speaking to. The two seventh years were stretched out comfortably, Andromeda on top of Ted, gazing at the fire. They were waving their wands about lazily, and, looking up, Remus saw their Head Boy and Head Girl badges engaged in a game of tag near the ceiling.

"So, what're you after, Remus? And what's all this about a swamp appearing on Eddie's lesson? Sounds like you lot's handy work, to me...'less that Ravenclaw in your year's behind it somehow. What's his name, Andy?" Andromeda moved her elbow backwards into Ted rather sharply, but didn't move.

"Mundungus Fletcher. How can you forget him? He's the one who stole our badges at the beginning of the year and tried to copy 'em," she answered.

"Right. That blighter," Ted laughed merrily. "So, what can we do for yeh?"

Remus nudged Sirius, much as James had him.

"'Member that VCR you said you'd lend us sometime? Well, we've got a...um..."

"Unexpected bit of spare time. Charms class ended a bit early today," James finished for him, self-mocking slyness in his voice.

Ted's jovial laugh seemed to be a little infectious, Andromeda, who was, though very friendly, a little uptight, chuckled along with him.

"So we thought we'd catch up on our Muggle Studies...or rather, help Remus with his," Peter squeaked.

Andromeda and Ted exchanged secretive glances at the mention of Muggle Studies class. Obviously it had some kind of special meaning for them. "Okay, but you know electronics don't work on school grounds, so save it for your next trip to Hogsmeade, alright boys?" She said with a wink and shifted a bit.

"Yeh, I think that'll be soon enough, anyway," Ted said from beneath Andromeda's hair. "But you know, it doesn't really do anything without a Television."

The boys looked blank.

"That thing in the corner over there, on the flat box. The flat thing's the VCR, the boxy thing with the screen is the telly," Ted explained patiently, pointing over the couch to a corner where a heap of muggle-looking things stood.

"See?" Andromeda remarked, only somewhat teasingly, "isn't it nice to know where everything is?"

"Right, thanks a lot," Sirius said.

"Yeah, thanks again," Remus and Peter said in unison.

James was studying the television set.

"Right. Moony, you take the Elevizin, and I'll get the VCR. Wormtail, you can take those wires, I so do not trust Padfoot with them," He said with a good-natured smirk. Sirius punched him, and as the four boys set off down the staircase, laden with their treasures, Remus heard Ted call out "Oy! You'll need tapes!" But the others hadn't heard, or didn't care, and Remus was distracted from wondering why they'd need tapes, and if the VCR was broken by the high-speed arrival of Alice Winters, a Hufflepuff chaser in the seventh year, who was very much out of breath. She tore past them, stopping only once she realized she couldn't get into the Prefect's lounge.

"Frothing Butterbeer!" Remus called over his shoulder.

Alice panted something that sounded like "Frank. Fell. Broom. Third Door." And entered the lounge.

"What d'you suppose that's all about?" Sirius growled inquiringly as they continued on down the spiraling staircases.

"No clue. I think she said something about Frank falling off his broom...and a third door, might've been floor, though," Remus replied, looking out a convenient window onto the Quidditch Pitch. "But I don't see anyone out there."

"Weird girl, Alice. Nice though," Peter commented distractedly, as he tried to sort out the wires he was holding.

"Let's drop this load off in the common room, and then see what all this fuss is about." James pointed ahead to the Fat Lady from under the VCR. "Loup Garou."

They entered, and, much to their surprise, found Frank Longbottom sitting at a table with Gravis McFulton, listening to some joke of Ludo's.

"Frank? What're you doing here? We heard something about you falling off a broom." Sirius said, not sounding terribly relieved...or concerned in the first place.

Frank turned, looking mildly confused.

"Broom? I don't know about any broom...haven't been flying all day...who said I had?" "Alice Winters," Remus said, setting down the television, and taking a mental note of the slight flush that rose in the chaser's cheeks at the mention of her name.

"Your cousin better not have put another Confunding charm on her," this was directed to Sirius, along with a rather nasty look. Frank pushed down on the table and back of his chair and swung off, moving hastily out of the room without a backwards glance. As soon as the portrait hole slammed shut behind him, Ludo broke out laughing.

"Care to let us in on what's so funny?" Sirius growled, slightly angry. He was evidently put off by Frank's implication that he might defend Bellatrix.

" S'okay Padfoot," James pulled him away "We might as well head down to Care of Magical Creatures, we've got about twenty five minutes."

"It starts in fifteen," Peter looked a little confused

"Exactly," James said with a smile and a stretch.

"James, Sandra, Ryan, Gravis, Shawn, Rodolphus and Davie, please come up to the front of the class." Professor Kettleburn said with a twinkle in his eye. "Alright. Now, who've I just called up?" there was some brief murmuring, and Sirius shouted out

"Three chasers, a beater, a seeker and two keepers". There was a general acknowledgement, and Remus began to smile. He thought he saw where this was going, and he was eagerly anticipating the looks on the Quidditch player's faces when they found out.

"Right, Sirius. Now, as he's just pointed out, these are all trained, I hope, flyers." In the next breath Professor Kettleburn let out a reverberating bellow. The entire class fell silent. The seven fifth years standing next to the one-armed professor edged away from him slowly, obviously frightened for his sanity.

"Can anyone tell me what I've just done?"

"Made a bloody fool of yourself?" hissed Snivellus, from the back of the class, which set the Slytherins laughing...until they saw the look of contempt on Lestrange's face. Kettleburn replied lightly: "Alright, I admit I set myself up for that one. Seriously though," He cupped his remaining hand to his ear "We've got about thirty seconds before it's a moot point. Anyone?"

Remus, doubting if raising a hand would do much good, called out "Called Draelah?"

"Excellent Remus, five points to Gryffindor." The elderly wizard replied. Just as he finished there came a terrific roar from the Forbidden Forest, and Draelah, thundered towards them, wings folded. She stopped and pressed her massive snout up against Professor Kettleburn, snorting loudly as she did so. He rubbed her nose, and tapped his wand once against the side of her jaw. A golden bridle appeared, with very long reins attached.

"Alright, now you've all seen me fly on her," He began. James, at the front of the class, swallowed very hard. Mulciber had a look of dawning terror on his face. Only Gudgeon, Ryan and Lestrange seemed unaffected.

"So I thought I'd teach you to today. Now, I'd guess you seven are the most experienced fliers in the class, so I thought I'd have you go first. Who'd like to start us off?"

Gudgeon raised his hand. No one else did.

"Alright then, twenty points to Slytherin. Come right up here, Davie." James looked furious with himself. As soon as Gudgeon's short flight had come to an end, and a very, very rattled looking Gudgeon had dismounted, James strode forward.

"Excellent, James," Professor Kettleburn said, and showed him what to do. Draelah's massive wings beat twice, and she lifted off. James slacked the reins, and she flew upwards. He was hanging on very well, but it didn't look as though Draelah was paying too much attention to him. She swooped around the lawn, diving up and down. It really looked like a great deal of fun. Soon the massive beast landed again, and James sprung off, swaggering back to the group to stand between Remus and Sirius. He winked at Lily, who snorted and rolled her eyes.

After James rode, the other five loosened up a little. Sandra rode fairly well, though she said afterwards that it was easily the most terrifying experience of her life. Gravis and Mulciber had more or less the same reaction, but watching Lestrange ride left Remus with the very eerie impression that the Slytherin beater had done this before. Ryan Adiell flew last, but with a fierce determination. He seemed to enjoy the ride intensely, despite, and perhaps even because of, the fact that he was nearly thrown during a loop Draelah flew in at his own behest.

Soon the rest of the class was allowed to try, and Remus was the first to volunteer. He stepped up to Draelah's massive side, stroking her. Professor Kettleburn gave him a boost onto the cool, scaly neck, and he settled just above her enormous wings, taking the golden reins in his hands. He wrapped his legs around her neck, trying to feel her movements, and allow his body to work with them. He let the reins go forward a little, and pulled his heels in with all his force. Draelah took off, rising up.

Remus found himself in a world both totally alien and somehow comfortable. He had been right. It was a great deal of fun. It was almost as wonderfully freeing as running in his fur, his powerful front legs propelling him forward... This is excellent! He thought as the wind pushed his curly, mildly unkempt brown hair back. It formed a water-like cushion around him, a wonderful rushing of air, giving lift to every bit of him. The two of them dived through the invisible currents, and he let out a crow of pleasure. He had a sudden inclination to swoop down at the class and, much to his delight, found that he was. This is incredible. I feel as I do when we run, when my paws beat out a pounding rhythm in the grass, the wind flowing through my coat, my teeth ready to slash and draw blood! He shook his head wildly as Draelah banked up and looped, coming to rest behind professor Kettleburn. Remus hopped off, feeling very light headed. He walked unsteadily back to the class, taking his place next to James, who clapped him on the back heartily. Ryan nodded to him, but his expression retained its perpetually intense barrier.

All too soon the class was over, and they were heading back to the dormitories discussing loudly.

"Did you see that greasy haired slime-ball's face? Bloody coward!" Sirius laughed

"That was awesome, that landing, Sirius," Peter complimented, "with the flip and all...Severus just kind of slipped off." he gesticulated to show exactly how poorly the Slytherin fifth year had dismounted.

"Not that you were exactly that suave, Wormtail," Remus joked amiably, and James chuckled, opening his mouth to add more. He was interrupted, however, by the voice of his teammate, a seventh year named Bertha Jorkins.

"Oy! Peter!" she said, rather loudly. Sirius and Remus exchanged knowing, mildly exasperated glances. She operated in the sort of criminal underworld populated by the Marauders, Mundungus and Bellatrix, where school rules counted as nothing more than roots to avoid tripping over, and social dynamics were played like keys on a piano, but she was slightly different. Much less discrete, and caring little for the ramifications of her gossip, those to whom she spoke had to learn not to act on her word alone, without first acquiring a better grasp on the facts. Remus sighed a little as Bertha walked over to them.

"Peter, you aren't gonna believe this...you know Sirius' cousin, Bellatrix Black?" she went on, and the three other boys snorted their laughs at her total lack of acknowledgement to Sirius' presence. Wormtail, who, with a quick commiserating glance to his friends, gave a tiny smirk, nodded.

"Well, I think her friend, Derra O'Reilly, you know her? Might actually fancy you...now don't get too excited," she said, obviously misinterpreting Peter's look of sheer and utter confusion for eagerness. "I haven't got anything definitive just yet, and I must admit," she said with an insipid sort of self-mocking grin that was really more annoying than it was endearing "I got distracted by a really interesting little thing Ludo's been on about today...you know Alice Winters?"

"Eh, not to interrupt, Bertha, I'm sure I'd love to hear all about that sometime," Peter said, smirk growing a bit. "But could you tell me this 'bout Derra?"

"Oh, right you are, sorry, Peter," she said, her own stupid grin broadening. "She's been asking around about you, at any rate...not sure why, really, watch out for her, I'd say...and anyone else who keeps company with Bellatrix." Bertha's attention was caught by a group of girls in her year, who were waving her over. She turned to leave, but as she did so she called back "Oh, right, and James, I hear Hufflepuff's got some new broomsticks...can't for the life of me remember what sort...you might want to look in to that."

"Ruddy Idiot," growled Sirius after her. The four of them did not break step as they continued towards the castle.

"She can be of use...you just have to figure out what to believe and how to take it...its not that she's dishonest exactly, just a moron...her gossip is like hearing bits of conversations without inflection. You know what's been said, but not why or how," Remus added.

"Yeah...when its even worth bothering about. Wonder if there's anything to that broomstick business...I should go check with Ted or something...actually..." James began to get a decidedly evil look in his eyes "we could do some first hand investigating, if we wanted..." At this, Sirius perked up considerably, but Peter had a queer sort of far away look in his eyes...he was elsewhere, and Remus had his suspicions that that place was rather dark and smelled of creepy blood-scented perfume-he knew the way Peter's mind could analyze social bonds, and the detached scrutiny with which he used that power. Remus was mortally afraid that his eager friend would see Derra O'Reilly as a direct link to the most attractive girl in the fourth year.

Not a floorboard creaked as the four boys slid, invisible, through a moonlit classroom. The chill night air wafted through the room, sending wonderful jolts through Remus' spine.

"C'mon, c'mon, I know its here," Padfoot grumbled as he poked at the blackboard with his wand.

"Why don't we check the map again, Padfoot? I still say it could've been the third door on the left," Prongs intoned in a placating voice that didn't quite suit him.

"I'll just keep telling myself we're doing this for the map, alright?" Moony chuckled almost inaudibly.

"Will you guys tell me what we're doing already? Why are we here? I could be working on my potions essay..."

"Sleeping, more like, and we're more here for you than any one else, so don't whine about it," Padfoot growled, still prodding at the board.

"Ah, there we go!" His wand had left a glowing red chalk mark, and he began to write with it: Honestly, we're the Cleaning Crew.

Prongs and Moony snickered, and the blackboard swung open, revealing a very dusty staircase. They hopped through ("Where are we going?") and began to climb down, descending what seemed to be three flights of stairs...which would, by Moony's count, put them on the level of the dungeons.

Padfoot broke the alert silence. "Here," He drew a small circle in the dank stonewall, and a window began to appear. "There we go. Slytherin girl's washroom. We've got ourselves a view of the sink wall, here, mates..."

"Well what on earth are we doing on this side?" Wormtail squeaked excitedly "Lets rotate...the passage leads all the way around, and we can see the showers..."

"Shut up Wormtail," Moony growled affectionately. "We're not doing that...we're here to see what that says," and he gestured to the wall behind the sinks, upon the stones of which was scrawled message upon message.

Prongs mouth dropped as he scanned the wall. "Why're they writing a novel on the bloody wall? Haven't they got anything better to do than sit in the bathroom and write all day?"

Moony chuckled. "Weird, I know, but it should tell us a few things, give your glasses here,"

Removing his round glasses, the messy haired boy shifted uncomfortably and handed them across Padfoot. Moony tapped them three times with his wand, and handed them back. Prongs lifted them to his eyes slightly apprehensively, and then gave a little gasp of surprise. "Moony...what'd you do? I can see the bloody cracks in the stone..."

"Magnification charm," Moony answered, a little amused, and some of his pleasure at having cast it impressively leaked into his voice. "You can make out the writing?"

"Definitely," breathed Prongs. He turned to Padfoot. "What'm I looking for?" he said without hesitation. Moony saw Wormtail wince. It wasn't usually a wonderful idea to be less than delicate when discussing Sirius' family, but Prongs and himself had never had information withheld from them. Still, Padfoot took a breath before answering, and when he did, his voice was crisp and curt.

"Tight script. Black ink, of course. Old fashioned penmanship."

"Thanks..." Prongs said distractedly, scanning the wall for such writing. "Here we go! She's responding to something in red, which says...hang on" he adjusted the glasses "says 'Remember, Gladys, never cross a Black'...that's the red...sounds like Narcissa. She says 'Nous sommes toujours pur, et sombre comme le nuit, ne nous rendez jamais fache.'...That's French, right?"

"Yeah," Padfoot growled "It means 'We are always pure, and black like the night, never make us angry' exactly the kind of dirty, arrogant thing she would say. Keep looking though, Prongs," He finished, the bitterness in his voice alleviating slightly. "What?" he turned to Wormtail, who was staring at him with a look that somehow combined confusion and condescension.

The smaller boy made a sort of appreciative 'mhm' noise.

"Didn't know you could speak French." He said in a voice to match his expression.

"Everyone in my family can," Padfoot's expression darkened, and the bitterness returned full force to his tone. "Least ways that's what my dear old mum says...shows we're living up to our sparkly clean blood."

Moony, irritated, turned on Wormtail.

"You don't need to be in a classroom to learn things, Wormtail-" he began harshly, but was cut off by Prongs, whose eyes were moving feverishly to read whatever he had found.

"This is incredible...bloody fantastic! There's a list," He took a deep breath, as though he were afraid he might suffer heart failure "of 'boys to stay away from' and 'boys not to stay away from'."

It took a few seconds for this to sink in, and then all three of them spoke at once.

"Who's on it?" Wormtail squealed excitedly

"We're rich! Empty your Gringotts vault, 'Dung!" Padfoot high-fived Moony.

"D'you think it could be a joke?"

Moony's question had a mildly sobering effect.

"It is a pretty stupid title... 'Boys not to stay away from'..." Wormtail observed.

"Yeah, but I've got a feeling the other one was there first, and the name itself is in self-mocking spirit...I just want to know if the rest of the list is honest" Moony replied, quite forgetting their last-moment's spat.

"Dunno...Not sure how we could tell..." Prongs answered, eyes still intent on the list. "Oy! Here y'are Wormtail...under 'Boys not to stay away from'...go figure," he joked. "Why would snakes want to avoid a rat?" Moony retorted, earning himself a look of mock disgust from Padfoot.

"It in Bellatrix' handwriting?" Sirius growled inquisitively, and with genuine interest. Moony tensed. If that twisted girl so much as annoys Wormtail I'll make her rue the day she messed with the Messrs. He couldn't contain a smile, though, at his own internal dialogue...the others thought his language a bit theatrical, and that 'rue the day' comment would probably qualify.

"Nah," Prongs said, and Moony relaxed visibly. "Its kinda loopy, besides, its in green ink."

"Who d'you think it is? Derra?" Wormtail asked somewhat thoughtlessly.

"Well how should I know? I don't exactly keep a reference manual on Slytherin girl's handwriting," Prongs mimed scanning a dictionary sort of book- "Lessee; Black, Narcissa-see also really hot graduates-uses red ink, dots i-s approximately a quarter of a hundredth of a centimeter aloft-" Moony and Wormtail chuckled appreciatively.

"Funny, Prongs, 'cause I know you can tell us exactly what angle the tail of Lily's q-s are held on," Padfoot retorted good naturedly. Prongs actually had the grace to blush, but it was certainly fair payback for the Narcissa crack.

"We can find out," Remus began, "All we have to do is get our hands on something every Slytherin girl in the last five years has written...maybe not even that," he said, totally serious. "Where on the list is it, Prongs?"

"Okay, two things. A, its rather recent...the list is long, but there's dates next to each name. Wormtail's was done about a week ago," At this the shortest boy perked up and opened his mouth, but Prongs continued. "B, Moony, there is no way in hell I'm getting the signature of every Slytherin girl in this school...There has to be an easier way to find out."

Fair point. Moony acknowledged. They complimented each other perfectly, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs (particularly the polar opposites of himself and Prongs). In the five years of their friendship, the unstoppable foursome had worked out a system of checks and balances to put the American government to shame. Moony's elaborate schemes were all good and well, as was his zeal for coming up with them, but it was Prongs' ability to keep those plans grounded in reality that made them possible. James' premonitions also bore great import. Although they were quite certain he wasn't in any way a Seer, when Prongs had a 'bad feeling' about something, it was usually best to think long and hard before acting...not Padfoot's favorite pastime.

"Anyone else we know on that list?" He asked, jerking himself back into the musty secret passageway.

"Looking, looking," Prongs replied. "There's 'Dolph, he's on both lists, actually...different handwriting...that oaf's only been here a month...Churvis...hey, there's Crouch, he's on both too...ha! Bellatrix put him on the 'Boys to stay away from' list, and wrote next to it 'to be disgusted with, more like'...least we know she writes on this thing, now...that'll tell us if she's involved in this O'Reilly business," scanning further and further upwards, Prongs expression suddenly turned livid.

"Snivellus," he spat "How the bloody hell did Snivellus get on that list." It was in no way a question, simply a statement of disgust.

A feeling that mixed complete contempt with nausea rose in Moony's heart. His mind practically clouded over. Snivellus? I know these are Slytherins, but doesn't that say they're supposed to be shrewd? I'll bet they see that disgusting, slimy, useless fool as sensitive or something. I'll rip him to shreds...am I jealous? He quickly dismissed that thought from his mind, but it came back in fuller force. Do I want to be seen as sensitive so badly that I-no, I don't care how people see me-is that a lie, though? You care what Savannah thinks, don't you? His own voice sounded sly. Not really. He rejoined, and surprisingly, he accepted that.

"Hey, Padfoot, we're bad boys," Prongs chuckled "Or maybe good, since the Slytherins wrote this...Moony, you're not on here at all, sorry mate. Oh, what a surprise, Malfoy's on here." Malfoy was a recent graduate, having left the previous year, he had used his powers as Head Boy to make their lives rather miserable, and they, in turn, had used their powers as Master Pranksters to make his life miserable.

"Wonder if Snivelly put him on there," growled Padfoot.

"Definitely possible," Moony replied in a very similar tone. That simpering sycophant worshiped Malfoy since we were in third year. Spied for him. Disgusting, really. But of course, he needed the protection. Wanted a big bad prefect on his side...that coward couldn't handle us on his own, so he had to run to Lucius.

"Nah, its in Narcissa's handwriting, figures, really...weren't they going out last year?" Prongs interrupted the internal tirade.

"Yeah," Wormtail answered. He could usually be counted upon to know the business of the Seventh Years, though Moony really had no idea how or why. He'd always suspected it had to do with the number of clubs and extra-curricular things the shorter boy was involved in, most of which were run by Seventh years.

"Ha, Gudgeon's been crossed out! Nott's there, though," Prongs referenced a current Seventh Year "...say, why d'you suppose girls are always saying we talk too much 'bout stuff like this...they bloody write about it!"

"Who knows why they do anything?" Wormtail pointed out.

"I do. I'm proud to say that I'm probably the only man who understands exactly what women think about," Padfoot replied, impressively managing to keep a straight face the whole time.

"As supported by the fact that you characterize the entire gender as thinking about the same things," Moony said, the very sincerity of his voice making the statement sarcastic.

"That's because you are a woman, Padfoot," Wormtail quipped.

"The rat's got a point, Pad," Moony added, eyes full of mirth "I only know one person who spends more time doing their hair than you."

"Yeah. Prongs," finished Padfoot, and all four of them laughed merrily.

"Alright. Moony. Padfoot. Wormtail. We definitely have got some planning to do," James inclined his head mildly, and did not continue speaking. The four boys sat around a table by the fire in the Gryffindor common room, holding what Sirius had termed a 'Council of War'. Their equipment lay at hand-a proviso of Remus', who said it was good for inspiration-though it was hidden under a blanket Sirius had pulled over himself.

"Right," Moony said, taking the cue. "Well, what're our objectives?"

"We've got to mess with Snivellus," Sirius pointed out. "We're disgustingly behind on that...ought to be ashamed of ourselves."

"Okay...here's what I think," Peter said slowly, pushing down on the air with both his hands, as though to affirm the solidarity of his point. "We have to figure out what's up with O'Reilly and if Bellatrix has her claws in it."

Sirius stiffened at the second name, but Peter ignored him. "Both of 'em have shown up outside Potions every day this week, and they came to a Charms Club meeting."

"Well," James began sarcastically. "That could be because they've got Potions in that room right after us...just a wild stab in the dark there."

"And Peter...aren't they both in your Charms Club?" Remus added.

"Yeah, but Bellatrix almost never shows up for meetings-don't think she lets Derra either," Peter looked slightly abashed.

"Maybe she's just got more of a life than you have, Wormtail," James suggested playfully.

"Well, if he's right, then he has a point...why the sudden change? And Bertha did say that thing about her being-" Remus' pensive response was cut off.

"Oy, Padfoot, hand me another butterbeer," James said, stretching a little. They had brought the stolen keg into the common room, which was an easy task now Remus had enchanted it to be next to weightless.

"We still have to figure out how to work the VCR," Remus plowed on "And Prongs, I don't know if you've found out about those broomsticks, but if you-"

"I haven't," James admitted.

"So yeah, then we've got four orders of business. Prank Snivellus, Find out what Bellatrix is up to-"

Peter interrupted him. "Why does she have to be involved? Derra doesn't have to be a pawn there..."

"Because she hangs out with Bellatrix. That's like asking why we have to be up to something," Remus shot back, and continued. "Work that VCR and find out about the Hufflepuff broomsticks...oh, and 'Dung said he's got some stuff for us, so that's gotta be scheduled too."

"All while handling our schoolwork, trying to make Lily see the light, and doing detentions," James added with a melodramatic sigh.

"There's no rest for the wicked, is there?" Remus answered him sympathetically. "'Least we aren't first years...that was rough..."

"Not s'much as second year. Ruddy awful," Sirius added with a sigh.

"So we're agreed then? Good," Remus didn't wait for an answer...he didn't really need one. "Okay, so, what form shall justice take against Snivelly?"

"We steal all his socks," Sirius replied instantly, taking a swig of James' butterbeer.

"Not again, it'd be too obvious, besides, we're more creative than that," Remus said, thinking. "We could hide his hair-grease. He'd die."

James looked disgusted. "Its not called hair-grease, Moony...and not bad, but why don't we go for something a little more..." an evil grin spread on his face "traumatic."

"Sure," Remus granted. "So, first we get our hands on a Dementor, and-what?" They were all looking at him.

James shook his head. "Ok, no. I was thinking we slip some bubotuber puss into his face-wash...if he actually uses any, that is."

Remus, who had been looking a little crestfallen, perked up at this. "Fine by me. Teach the fool not to be so superficial."

"Wrong word, Remus. I don't think you've gotten to the heart of the matter. He's really more shallow about blood," They groaned appreciatively at Peter's pun.

"So bubotuber puss it is, then?" Remus asked, and, again not needing an answer, he continued. "Alright, well, we should scout it out beforehand...do a little more spy-work."

"That's your department, Moony," said Prongs "You can do it tomorrow" (it was a Thursday)

"Alright. Padfoot, care to join me?"

"I'll have trouble keeping my wand off the git, I'd probably blow your cover," his friend growled from inside his mug.

"Well, we'll start that tomorrow, then. Now, for O'Reilly...I rather think we need more information before we can act there...maybe we'll find something out when we go in to see about Snape."

"Maybe I'll talk to her-or her friends..." Peter said, and there was something in his voice that deeply disturbed Remus.

"We have no idea what that'd work like, Peter, or what you'd say to her, or anything," he cautioned. "Don't forget who we're dealing with here."

"I haven't forgotten," Sirius put in darkly.

"Right, well-Yeah, Prongs?"

"Ted's captain of the Hufflepuff team. That means Andromeda would know, which means that 'Dung might know," James said, a thoughtful look on his face. "So we can ask him, when we go to pick up this stuff he says he's got...did he say what it was, by any chance?"

"Nope, just that we might find it useful...might've had something to do with me acting weird, he told us about it at the Quidditch Match, which was the day of the full moon, as I'm sure you remember..."

"Moony, you so do not need the full moon to act weird," Prongs said seriously.

"Yeah, when are you not acting weird?" Padfoot put in, and Remus smiled.

That's comforting. So maybe I don't have to feel guilty so often...maybe my actions aren't all rooted in lycanthropy...or maybe they are, and it's just a part of me...

"The day Remus acts like a normal person will be the day Sirius marries Severus," Wormtail chirped. "Hey, Sirius and Severus...that has a nice ring to it...say it with me, Prongs, Siriu-Ow!" he was cut off. A very ragged copy of The Standard Book of Spells, Volume Five seemed to have dropped out of nowhere and hit him in the head.

Padfoot pocketed his wand, a satisfied smirk on his face.

"So yeah," Prongs said, hefting himself to his feet. "We can ask 'Dung when we see him, and if that doesn't get us anywhere, I'll just go and see for myself."

"I'll come," Sirius and Remus chorused.

"Right, so we'll head to whatever bizarre meeting place he's cooked up tomorrow, and afterwards Moony can go spy on the Slytherins...oh, and maybe you can ask what's-his-name...your Muggle Professor?"

"Perkins,"

"Right. Him, the nutter. Ask him about the VCR...when's your next class?" James began to gather the invisibility cloak, and Remus stood up, as did Peter.

"Not 'till next week, but maybe I can find him tomorrow. He's nice enough, I think he'd probably be excited to help us out."

"If I were doing it, and you were me, or whatever, you'd tell yourself-or me-or whoever, to be careful about what you say," James grinned.

"Yeah, when you figure out what you've just said, tell me," Remus replied, and, grabbing the keg, which he held effortlessly over his head like a rather oddly shaped beach-ball, he set off with James towards the boy's staircase, Peter in tow. "Pad, you coming?" He called without looking back, though his ears told him someone, someone fairly light and not wearing shoes, had just sat down at the chair he had abandoned. He allowed himself a brief moment of pride at his ability to decipher that from faint sound alone.

"Nah," He heard his friend's voice, which was suddenly sounding almost imperceptibly deeper. "I'll be there in a bit."

"When you've done hitting on Savannah," Peter muttered behind Remus, and the sequence of events became apparent. Remus, smiling at the image of the roguish Sirius sitting in a poofy armchair by the fire with Savannah, headed up to bed.

"Professor Perkins!" Remus shouted as he ran down the hallway the next day. "Professor Perkins!" The gray-haired little man stopped and turned.

"Yes Lupin?" he asked, peering up at Remus.

"I was wondering," he said, trying to regain his breath "If you could tell me something about Muggle technology...we didn't," he breathed again "Cover it in class."

Perkins seemed to consider this. "I'm sure that'll be just fine," he said. "I'm on my way to my office right now...why don't you come along, Lupin, and we'll see what we can do for you." Remus nodded appreciatively, and followed the kindly man down the corridor. They made a turn past a statue of a knight whose helmet was chattering loudly, and Perkins led the way into a small office that bore a distinct resemblance to a muggle garage. The room was dark, and smelled strongly of oils and gasoline. A large workbench functioned as a desk, upon which sat books and several objects ranging from a toaster oven, which was flashing a brilliant shade of purple, to an old fashioned Webly revolver. Various larger bits and pieces of muggle artifacts stood in corners, some (such as a very large, very yellow bicycle that was bobbing about the ceiling, as though filled with helium) obviously enchanted. Bookcases lined the dark walls.

"Now, what was it, Lupin?" Perkins said, picking up a very thick tire, and prodding at it with his wand. The tire drew itself backwards, arching comically, and then rolled off across the floor at a high speed. Perkins sighed, shook his head, and turned back to face Remus.

"Well, I was wondering...you know those things muggles watch their version of a moving picture on? VCRs and Televisions?" The small man nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah, I was doing a bit of research for your paper on turning points in muggle entertainment, and I was wondering...how exactly does a VCR work?"

"Very good question," he said in a sort of wheezy voice. "Function is bang similar to those audio cassettes we talked about last year, and so the basic premise is too. You put a cassette, except it's a video cassette, into-"

Remus interrupted him "Eh, Professor, what is a video cassette?" Perkins' face glowed, as though he'd never been asked such an interesting question.

"Its sort of a-here, I'll show you," he began to look through one of the bookcases, and found stack of roughly book shaped boxes. "Here's what they look like, Lupin," he said, moving back towards Remus. Suddenly, and with a shrill cry, he threw the boxes into the air and launched himself on the tire, which was sneaking into a nearby corner.

Remus looked on, a little unsure of what to do.

"Eh...Professor, d'you need any...help?" he said. Perkins appeared to be loosing the fight with the tire, and Remus was fairly certain that wasn't the desired outcome.

"Good of you, Lupin," his professor panted cheerfully, still wrestling the tire. "Grab this thing for me, will you?"

Remus did as he was instructed, holding the tire down against the workbench, next to a stack of books entitled: Steppenwolf. Darker than you Think. The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror and Bitten

"Thank you," Perkins said distractedly, picking up his wand again. "These dratted things keep escaping...you see that bicycle, up there?" he pointed upwards, and Remus nodded. "Well, muggles have got a sort of powered type, runs on a motor. Today's youth have no connection to the muggle world, that's why there's all this awful prejudice," he looked as though he was warming up for a tirade, and Remus sincerely hoped he would come to the point rather quickly. Much as he enjoyed hearing about what was wrong with his generation, he felt his time would be better spent seeing what 'Dung had to offer in his tower. Still, he felt he had to say something, and he did want to get his hands on those tapes...

"Professor, I think that might be because a lot of the muggle stuff, that is, the stuff muggle adolescents use, just isn't as...exciting, as ours," he finished, quite politely, he thought.

"Exactly!" Perkins exclaimed, dropping a weight on the tire. "Just look at brooms-of course people would rather fly than ride a bike. That's why I'm trying to see if I can enchant this thing to fly!" the professor was really enjoying himself, and they seemed to have steered clear of the rant, so Remus ventured what he supposed was as un-time consuming a question as possible.

"How's that coming?"

"Oh, very interestingly indeed, Lupin, funniest thing is, there's something about the way the engorging charms and the levitating charms layer with each other that's bang catalystic-anyway," he retrieved the forgotten tapes, and handed them to Remus, smiling.

"There you go. I wish I had a VCR and screen to give you," and he looked around, as though hoping they might materialize "But I haven't, I'm afraid. Still, maybe you can figure something out. I hope this helps you, Lupin." He said, and, with agility Remus would never have expected from him, he whirled around and stunned another tire that was inching along behind him. With a satisfied sort of swagger, the short man went to retrieve it, and Remus took his opportunity to leave hastily, though as he closed the door behind him he heard

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" followed by a heavy crash. He winced, and dashed off, his feet taking him the well-worn route to Gryffindor tower. As he ran, he glanced down at the tapes. They were smallish things, but sort of heavy, like thick paperback books. The one on top was in a brightly colored box portraying what appeared to be a very large venomous tentacula, or some other sort of carnivorous plant. It was titled: Little Shop of Horrors in sort of thick, blotchy green lettering. He shifted it under the other, still running. This box was black, with gold block lettering, saying Star Wars. Shifting the last, he discovered that it was called American Graffiti -though its box bore nothing but that handwritten title. He should have realized they would be similar to audiotapes. Perhaps I ought to do my homework for that class once in a while...well, I do...but I don't really absorb it...he chuckled, and lept down the final bit of stairs to the portrait hole. Nah, Its an art, saying absolutely nothing and getting full marks just the same...one Sirius has yet to master.

"Loup Garou," he said out loud, and the portrait swung open.

He was greeted with a teasing "Its about time!" from Peter, and a growled "What kept you, Moony?" from Sirius.

"Perkins was having some disagreements with some tires," he replied, not clearing things up in the slightest.

"We've got an appointment to keep, men," James said with affected dignity. "Don't want to keep our good gentleman Fletcher waiting." and strode out the portrait hole in such a way that he was the image of pretentious properness down to his very exhalations. Sirius sauntered out after him, presenting a mocking contrast. Aristocratic and gangster walking modes taken, Remus set down the tapes and skipped (or something like it, he wasn't very practiced) to follow his friends.

Several minutes, and dozens of strange looks later, the quintet found themselves looking at a very old tapestry of a dinner party, which they knew to conceal the entrance to Ravenclaw Common Room.

"I don't suppose any of you geniuses thought we might need the password?" James spoke first. Peter mumbled something and looked down at his feet. Sirius looked a little abashed, and Remus rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

"I suppose we could go find Andromeda..." Peter suggested, but trailed off. It would be inconvenient, and probably take too long. Mundungus wasn't known for sticking in one spot for lengthy periods of time.

"Or we could just wait until some Ravenclaw walks by, and hex the password out of them," Sirius growled

"Or we could just get them to let us in anyway..." James pointed out.

"Oh, yeah. But that's not s'much fun, is it?" he replied a little guiltily, and Remus smiled. Abruptly, their attention was drawn back to the tapestry, where all the colors had moved one object to the right.

"Ooookay," Remus and James reacted in unison. Remus considered their present situation briefly. It really wasn't too bad, just mildly inconvenient, and he had an idea about improving it. "Did anyone bring food?"

"I nicked some firewhiskey, if yer dry," came Mundungus' voice, as he sauntered out of the tapestry, which had rolled itself up to reveal the Ravenclaw common room, a cozy looking one, with two walls covered in bookcases and a third in a single, vast window, the deep blue curtains of which were drawn shut at present.

"But o' course," Mundungus continued with a note of disdain "Remus doesn't throw 'em back," his eyes betrayed mischief "'Es the law now."

"That he is, 'Dung...'course, Remmy wouldn't dream of turning in a noble man-or woman- going about the dangerous life of a prankster...so long as they... keep honor among thieves." Though James' words were light, the threat was thinly veiled. He was obviously slightly put off by the alcohol comment-James was a teetotaler too.

"Wouldn't lie t'you; Prongs," he nodded at James "Moony."

The diplomatic dance of the underworld, Remus thought with a grin and pleasant little shiver. James shows part of his hand-he's got a prefect on his team, 'Dung flashes some of his-he knows our nicknames. Not like either of us is going to do anything...still, keeps honesty among the dishonest...

Sirius shifted his weight so that he stood behind James. Not out of cowardice or desire for protection by any means. No, Sirius, who stood a good head taller than his messy haired friend was upping the ante in the verbal poker game.

"Or you, o' course, Padfoot," Mundungus said, stepping back rather quickly. He was obviously intimidated, but would not back down.

Funny how this is necessary...we're all friends, we've known Dung for five years, we all trust him, even Padfoot, despite his display. Still, formality isn't so bad.

"Anyways, thought you migh' fancy some o' my...merchandise. 'Ere, 'ave a gander." And so saying, he mimed opening a backpack. The withdrawal of several very real objects proved that there was, in fact, a backpack-albeit an invisible one.

Drawing the four friends closer around him, the ginger-haired hustler displayed his selected wares.

Actually seeing the items did very little to improve Remus' understanding of them. Two things that sort of resembled ear plugs-except they glowed 'Dung's trademark midnight blue-a pair of small pins in the shape of moccasins and three small drawstring bags, one of which was labeled with a dripping fang, one embroidered; De-Arg- (the rest of the lettering, which was in McGonagal's distinctive handwriting, appeared to have been removed roughly) and a final pouch emblazoned with-

"Sirius, isn't that your family, like, crest?" Peter inquired.

Indeed, the final bag bore the familiar serpent encrusted shield (Remus had, on many occasions, tried to explain that the snakes were, in fact, African black mambas, but no one he knew seemed to care in the slightest), and the motto Toujours Pur.

"Yeah. Yeah, it is...what's that then, 'Dung?" Sirius sounded genuinely intrigued.

"Thought that migh' be o' interest to you. Nicked it from your cousin, if you really want to know."

Remus was momentarily stunned, as, if their slack jawed, wide-eyed faces bore any truth, were James, Sirius and Peter.

"Bellatrix?" he and James asked in unison. She might have been a year below them, but they had learned the hard way that crossing Bellatrix Black led to inevitable pain. She was, for all her cruelty, bias and semi-sadism, one of the most brilliant schemers in Hogwarts, and no one below the seventh year had any desire to cross her.

"Not s'loud," Mundungus implored them, looking about the empty landing as though the ebony-eyed fourth year might be listening. "But yeah. Bellatrix," He almost whispered.

"What's in it?" Peter breathed, still in a state of mild awe. Remus almost could have laughed, had he not fully understood the situation. Here stood the five most devious boys in the fifth year at Hogwarts, four of them Gryffindors (not to mention animagi and a werewolf) and one a Ravenclaw, and they were mortified of a single girl in the year below them.

Mundungus' cheeks reddened a little, and his usually shifty eyes pointed at the ground.

"I 'avent exac'ly opened it...I'm right scared to," he admitted. Remus chuckled sympathetically, and James clapped the young thief on his back.

"That's probably for the best," Sirius observed. "If it came from my aunt's house, chances are you don't want to have anything to do with it. Best thing to do with everything there...well, except Andromeda." He finished, flashing a guilty look towards the Ravenclaw Common Room.

"What's this, then, 'Dung?" James said, prodding the earplug things.

"'Zacktly what you migh' 'spect. They're sorta a spying thing. You put this one somewheres, and its charmed to relay everythin' it 'ears to the other. In'erested?"

"Yes, please 'Dung," Remus stepped in before James could try to get out of paying for them, in some way or another. "We'll take them. How much?"

"Five sickles. But Remus, I think you'll find this worth a look-see." He said, handing over the satchel that had once belonged to McGonagal.

"De-Arg...the rest's gone...what's it do, Mundungus?" Remus replied, turning it over in his hands. It seemed to be full of a cool powder, and it had a very comfortable weight to it, though it seemed heavy for its size.

"McGee's been getting into alchemical transfig'ration lately...she's got a whole load of these powders for turnin' metals 'nd such inta other metals...I nicked this particular bag outta 'er drawer. It'll turn anythin' its 'plied to from silver into lead."

The implication took less than a second to sink in. Coming up with a response took a little longer.

"Oh," Remus replied, trying to sound casually interested "Sounds sort of useful...has she got any that'll turn stuff into turquoise?" He felt a slight glow of pride. He had pulled off the tone masterfully.

"Why," James began tensely "Would Remus be interested in turning silver into lead? Silver's worth more...I don't fancy lead sickles myself. You're welcome to 'em if you want, though, 'Dung." The sudden warning flare behind the round spectacles seemed to convey its message. In tones of perfect innocence, Mundungus made his reply.

"Oh, it's the principle of the thing. But you never know when you won't want somethin' to be silver. Think 'bout 'ow many keys are made o' silver...they'd fit more locks if they were lead..."

"Good point," growled Sirius "We'll take it. And the pins?"

"Mundungus' Mufflin' Moccasins," the con artist said proudly "Made 'em m' self. Jus' fix these 'here pins to your shoes, and you're set. They won' make a sound."

Peter sure could use a pair of those. It'd stop him from getting us into so many close scrapes...boy can be louder than James' dreams about Lily.

"Excellent, 'Dung," Remus voiced his approval, and gave a meaningful, if almost imperceptible, nod to James.

"We'll take the lot, then, 'Dung...how much?"

Mundungus Fletcher's face brightened visibly. "Four galleons for the lot," he said quickly.

James opened his mouth to protest, but Remus cut him off, handing the coins to the Ravenclaw. "Thanks a lot, 'Dung."

"'Preciate you taking that pouch, if you really want to know," he said with a note of relief in his voice, eyes resting on that-which-had-once-been-Bellatrix's.

"No problem 'Dung...say, you wouldn't happen to have heard something about the Hufflepuff Quidditch team recently, would you?" James asked.

"'Fraid I don' know too much. There's somethin' goin' round 'bout some new brooms, but if its true, their keepin' bloody quiet 'bout it. Not like 'em, really. 'Ufflepuff's never up to much . I'd suggest you ask Andromeda," He said, with a nod to Sirius "but she aint 'ere...off snoggin' 'er private Quidd'tch Cap'n in the prefect lounge, I'll bet-"

Sirius cut him short of finishing his oath.

"What won't you bet, 'Dung?" the tallest boy pointed out good-naturedly.

Mundungus chuckled appreciatively. "No 'arm in a friendly wager-speakin' o' which," He turned to Peter, and produced a flask of some amber liquid from his sleeve, and a crumpled hat from his other. "Ten sickles says I can drink this flask o'-"

"No thanks, 'Dung," Peter said immediately.

"If I didn' know better, I'd say I felt a touch mistrusted," Mundungus responded wryly, slipping the hat and flask back to their respective sleeves. "Anyways, your all quite welcome...you know the drill boys, 'old that lot out now." James and Remus held the pouches, pins and plugs out for Mundungus to see, and he tapped each one in turn, muttering something under his breath, erasing all of his own fingerprints from the items.

"Right. Thanks again 'Dung," James said, and started off. "Come on guys."

Remus strode next to him, examining the contraband. He knew Sirius was on lookout, and so felt secure. "This stuff must be powdered dragon fang. Antipodean Opal-eye, it looks like," he said, peering at some purple dust in the fang-marked pouch.

"How can you tell its Antipo-whatever?" James replied, not really paying attention, or caring about the answer.

"Because it's this sort of purple tone. See, the dragon fang we're used to-Swedish Short Snout, Common Welsh Green-that's the sort of ivory color you'd see most often. Obviously Vipertooth dragon's fang is going to be a kind of-"

"Forget I asked, Moony," James shook his head in affectionate exasperation. Remus smiled, but his ears twitched-he heard someone else nearby. They were in an empty corridor on the fifth floor, near a secret entrance to the north tower, which, until now, they had been fairly sure was exclusive knowledge. But now-Remus raised his ears and held out a hand. The other three boys stopped.

Remus definitely heard a rustling from behind the portrait of Circe that covered the entrance. He stepped over silently and looked back at the others. James and Sirius had their wands out, pointing directly at the place where the hole would be when he opened the portrait. Peter too was holding his wand, but he seemed to be torn between polishing and dropping it.

"Achaean swine," Remus intoned, and Circe's portrait swung open.

"Stupefy!" James and Sirius shouted instantaneously. Twin jets of red light whizzed through the air into the passage, hitting, as far as Remus could see, no one.

With looks of confusion, the four boys stepped into the dark area, all of their wands now at the ready. The somewhat musty secret passageway was totally empty, save a few of its usual spider webs.

"Are you sure you heard something, Remus?" Peter asked in mild irritation.

"Yeah," Remus said distractedly, looking around for any signs that someone had just been there.

"Well, I mean, are you sure it was a per-" he was cut off by a glare from Sirius.

"If Moony heard someone, then someone was here...watch my back," he growled, and the three wands faced the two ends of the tunnel. In an instant Sirius had transformed. The massive black dog sniffed around, and an unmistakable look of revulsion appeared on his muzzle.

"Snivellus," he growled with complete disgust, returning to his human shape. "I'd recognize that slime ball's greasy trail anywhere."

"Wonder what he was up to, poking around here," Peter said nervously.

"We'll teach him to trespass on our territory," Remus said, his voice dark.

"Right," James said, obviously horrified that Snape had found his way into a secret passage-something he felt was sacrosanct. "You'll get him tonight, Moony. Find out some good stuff for us. In fact, go right now. Get the cloak." Remus nodded, and turned, behind him he heard: "Padfoot. We're going after him in person. We can outrun him if we hurry...catch him before he makes it back to the dungeons. Wormtail. You go find that git Gudgeon-don't worry, you can take him no problem."

Remus bolted. It was time. Friday night was approaching. A wonderful chill was filling his blood. Each of them had their assignments. He would do his part in the deconstruction of that worthless Slytherin. Sirius and James could tear him to shreds physically, but Remus would find out the weak points. He would open the fool up; expose his weak throat. The disgusting sneak would see what it was to tangle with the school's elite. He was going down...

Breathing sharply, silently and deliberately the cool night air-slightly stagnant in the dungeons-Moony stepped invisibly into the Slytherin Common Room behind an exhausted Shawn Mulciber. The latter slouched over to the fireplace. Noticing that all the chairs were filled by first years busy about their homework, the burly Quidditch player gave a small moan of despair and dragged himself-and a large stack of books, up some stairs to what Remus supposed was his dorm. Turning his attention to the room, he was again mildly surprised (and on a level he wasn't sure he was too pleased with, charmed) by the parallel to his own common room. At a table, working their pure-blooded noses off, sat Davie Gudgeon, whom, evidently, Wormtail wasn't going to find, Eric King, a teammate of Mulciber's, Rex Churvis and Jonas Avery. Though he couldn't hear what they were saying above the chatter of the first years sitting around the fire, Avery and Gudgeon appeared to be in a heated argument about some homework they were all working on...though as Churvis was in the sixth year, it seemed more likely to Moony that he was trying to help them cheat off his old work.

The squirrel like sounds of the first years interrupted his speculations.

"Funny, isn't it?" a girl with straight brown hair was saying "They're always warning us that Hogwarts is going to be some big new thing...new people, new rules...but look around." she advised her compatriots, a short haired blond girl, a pinch-cheeked girl with somewhat bulbous eyes and a boy that looked almost bizarrely like an iguana, who obliged.

"Yeah," squealed the bulbous eyed girl "I see what you mean, Evie."

Evie shook her head a little, and continued. "Can any of you tell me the difference between this room and any of the parties and such are parents have thrown?" Moony was intrigued by her tone. It wasn't bitter, or exasperated, surprised or comforted...it was a detached observation she was making, and her tone was like water in a still pool. Clear and cool, but motionless.

Iguana-boy shook his head, and a weirdly low rumbling voice came from his throat. "Well, there is...there is...Cantry...and the Gudgeons never actually...attend anything."

"They came to the Walpurgis feast two years ago at Black Manor," the blond girl put in. "Remember, Lucius wouldn't give Gladys the time of day?" the two other girls giggled annoyingly at Lucius' name.

Why do they do that?! Remus was disgusted.

So, evidently, was Iguana-boy, and Remus felt a most unwelcome surge of empathy.

"He was...trying to get with...Narcissa Black...besides," the boy continued in his unfittingly deep voice, which now bore a definite note of mixed jealousy and disdain "She was being...a bit of an idiot...Lucius Malfoy is...is an arrogant berk"

"But he's hot!" Pinch-cheeks said in a voice that combined earnestness with the very tiniest trace of self-mocking. Evie and the blond girl were once again triggered to giggling in a way that could not possibly be healthy for the environment. Remus had to stifle a laugh when he recognized the expression on the iguana like face as being identical to his own.

They always say males are the ones who pay too much attention to appearance...that we set standards too high, that we don't want a real relationship. He almost growled. But they're just as bad, if not worse. Always twittering away about some famous guy, or some Seventh year-practically never a Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, though I expect they'll be fawning over Padfoot by next year. This is what, the first time we haven't had to endure constant praise for that completely useless, salubrious, salacious, unctuous Lucius?

These fools can't even get over him now he's gone! They weren't even here when he was...well, I suppose they know him from those Walpurgis Knight parties he accessed a mental drawer in which he kept 'interesting stuff Sirius said'. The Knights of the Walpurgis was a sort of society that Padfoot's parents, really his whole family, were devout members of. In fact, a good deal of the old wizarding families belonged to it. He remembered Sirius saying the Adiells were members also, though in much lower standing than the Blacks. James had said...what was it now? The memory was several years old, and was a little rusty, but part of Remus' role in the group was to remember such things. 'We wouldn't be caught dead with a bunch of snobs and Slytherins' that was it. Sirius had responded by saying that that was the only way the Potters would be caught there. A filling sense of security rose in his heart as he reminisced, but it was replaced by almost predatory excitement when he saw a fourth year girl making her way over to the fireplace. Derra O'Reilly dropped her books on the table, apparently intent on doing her DATDA homework. With a look of irritation, she surveyed the first years, none of which even glanced up at her. The lightly built fourth year sniffed indignantly, attempting, and failing, to get their attention. She cleared her throat. When this failed as well, she took a step forward, and asked with surprising politeness in her tone: "D'you all mind clearing out? I've got some work to do, and you really ought to-" Evie cut her off with a glare.

"Ought to what? Why should we move over for you?"

"C'mon," Derra responded with growing irritation. "Just budge up? I'd sort of like to work by the fireplace..." her words had absolutely no effect.

"We'll move when we're ready," Evie retorted, but then Remus noticed with interest that the color had drained from the first year's faces.

"That would be now, I think," came Bellatrix' silky voice from directly behind Remus.

The younger students hurried to obey, Iguana-boy practically falling over himself to clear off. With a disgusted growl, Bellatrix sat elegantly a now-vacated chair and touched her fingers together contemplatively. Derra, looking somewhat mollified, sat next to her vampiric looking friend.

Perfect! Now, If they'll just talk about Peter, we're good to go

Derra began sorting out her studying accoutrement, and set a long roll of parchment down. Dipping her quill in green ink, she had nearly put it to the scroll when Bellatrix spoke-though the she remained motionless, coal black eyes staring into the fire as though she pondered something distant.

"I had the misfortune of encountering Rookwood," she said, referencing a Ravenclaw in Remus' year.

"Augustus?" Derra asked, still looking at her paper indecisively.

"Do we know another one?" came the cold response. "Self proclaimed brain tried to ask me out."

Derra perked up, evidently this news was much more interesting than the composition on anti-hex laws she was trying to start. "What'd you say?"

"Nothing. He isn't worth the effort of turning down."

Derra snickered "You're horrible! Augustus isn't bad looking though...and he is a fifth year...I might've been a little more cordial."

"He's not bad looking for malnourished gilliweed...and it isn't as though he has any real redeeming qualities. He's clever enough, but weak." Bellatrix replied, speaking as one might of a defective kitchen appliance. Still staring at the fire, she continued. "And my fool of a cousin and his friends have certainly shown me that the fifth years are nothing to be impressed by."

Derra arched a thin eyebrow and dipped her quill in the green ink, quite unnecessarily, as she hadn't written a word. "Would you say the same if it were Rodolphus?" she asked poignantly.

Bellatrix didn't respond.

Derra seemed to find meaning in her friend's silence, which was a little odd, since, it seemed to Remus, Bellatrix wasn't the most open of conversational partners.

"I thought not," she said, sounding satisfied, and began to write.

Bellatrix, ignoring this last, actually moved her eyes. They flickered from the fire to the entrance, and Remus turned to see who had entered.

Severus Snape, his hair a brilliant shade of green, limped in looking utterly defeated. Some sort of gooey pink substance clung to his robes, upon which, Remus noted-having to quell a laugh-flashed a brilliant neon lion.

"Oy! Sev! What 'appened t'yeh?" Davie's voice called from the table he worked upon.

Severus looked up, his expression a mix of loathing and humiliation.

"Potter and his goon Black attacked me while I was in the kitchens." He hissed. Remus bristled. Just because James filled a dominant role did not make the others his servants. It was a misconception that showed an astounding lack of insight.

Gudgeon and Mulciber made their way over to their bedraggled comrade, and helped him into a chair by the fire.

"Scourgify!" Snape whispered, pointing his wand at his robes. "Scourgify!" he repeated wearily, when nothing happened. "I can't get this bloody muck off...Shawn-top case of my trunk. Blue flask, furthest on the left" he ordered. Mulciber, looking mildly concerned, trotted off to retrieve whatever it was.

"I would not allow Potter to get the better of you, Severus," lanced Rodolphus' harsh voice. Snape rolled his eyes, an action just barely detectable beneath the mass of greasy green hair. "It will only inflate his ego."

"And I suppose you could do better against the both of them?" Snape retorted in an oily voice.

"I rather hope so, Severus. If I could not, I would most certainly reconsider my education-as though I need another reason to regret coming here," He seemed to have touched a nerve. Remus, to his own great satisfaction, saw an expression of intense jealously cross Snape's face.

Bellatrix, to Remus' great surprise, looked as though Rodolphus' words had been a slap to her face. She quickly recovered, however, resuming her chess-playing expression.

She turned to Derra, and Remus just caught her whisper: "Go to the kitchens. Bring back two quarts of pomegranate juice." The brown-haired girl stood instantly and obeyed, walking briskly from the common room.

"Potter is a fool, Severus, and my cousin no better. Even if you can't take them in a duel, I would hope that you could outsmart them," she said coolly, and rose as Mulciber returned with a blue flask, the contents of which Snape began to apply to his robes, instantly removing the goop wherever it touched.

Remus felt torn. There were now four opportunities for espionage: he could go to Lestrange's remaining group, over at their table, remain here with Severus, Gudgeon and Mulciber, leave to follow O'Reilly, or continue to spy on Bellatrix. This last seemed like the most potentially profitable option, so, totally silent, he slipped after her-then something occurred to him. If she were headed up to her dorm, it was highly unlikely that he'd be able to follow. He knew from personal experience that the girl's dorms sealed themselves to boys, and whatever enchantment was responsible for this was perfectly capable of seeing through invisibility cloaks. Fortuitously, however, Bellatrix was merely pacing a corner of the common room, reading a bit of parchment. As Remus approached, he saw the distinctive heading of her family crest.

He trembled with nervous excitement. His senses were aroused now-he was in full control of his faculties. Remus took another three steps forward, moving as silently as he could manage, concentrating on rolling his feet against the floor-ball to heel. He tightened his exhalations so that they were utterly silent, coming in minute, controlled breaths. The very epitome of careful, he leaned ever so slightly forwards so that he could read over Bella's shoulder. The strong (mildly creepy) scent of her hair washed into his face, but he held himself totally still, not daring to change even his breathing patterns. Stifling a shiver, he looked down at the letter the dark-haired girl held. Blood red ink arched in graceful script across the page, and he began to make out the writing.

It was in a language-or code-he didn't understand.

Remus Lupin could have cursed.

He could read only the signature at the bottom, which said, quite simply: Cissa

Well, that wasn't so hard to figure out. Cissa obviously meant Narcissa Black, who was four years Bellatrix' elder, and one Andromeda's. Now, if only he could read the rest of it...it wasn't Latin, that much he could tell (he didn't speak much Latin, but he was certain he could recognize it if he saw it) nor did it appear to be Spanish, Aramaic, Hebrew, French or German.

Not that I could read it if it were in any of those languages either. By my fangs, this is irritating! Moony you moron, why don't you-

"Fool," hissed Bellatrix, and Remus was jolted from his internal tirade. He was suddenly made very aware of his proximity to her face, and he withdrew silently.

"Thinks he's good enough for her, does he? The greedy git..."

Remus was, in a word, interested. Who's she talking about? If that's from Narcissa, then-Lucius? Bellatrix' whisper was intense, and hardly above a harsh breath in range, but he could hear her every word. Without much warning she wheeled around. He caught a glimpse of the black fire that burned in her eyes as she stalked towards the entrance.

Hopping over a reclining first year, he moved nimbly and silently besides her, matching her pace. His previous question was suddenly, and with almost laughable convenience, answered, as, under her breath she hissed:

"I despise Lucius Malfoy...almost as much as-"

Her frustrated whisper was cut off by the opening of the door, and Remus, looking outside, had to bite his lip to keep from giving himself away.

There, outside the Slytherin Common Room, stood James, Derra and Peter.

The look of surprise Bellatrix had possessed for a fleeting second was replaced by a malicious gleam in her eyes and a matching smile.

"Potter, I was just thinking about you," she said in a way that left no doubt about the nature of those thoughts.

"I didn't know you cared," he retorted with heavy sarcasm. "We were just having a chat with your mate here." He gestured at O'Reilly, and winked almost imperceptibly at the space above Bellatrix shoulder where Remus stood, his hazel eyes making the faintest of flickers to O'Reilly's back, and strode off, Peter in tow.

A menacing sound like steam escaping came from Bella's lips, and Derra entered the room, looking a little flushed and carrying a large bag. Remus whirled silently so that he was behind O'Reilly before Bellatrix could see her back, in the same motion removing a minute piece of parchment and folding it into the cloak so that it wouldn't appear to be floating in midair. Coming down from the spin he allowed himself a brief moment of pride at the suavity of his action.

Now, however, he was presented with a problem. He was clutching the note from James in the folds of the cloak, but he couldn't transfer it to the interior-where it could be read without being seen-while avoiding revealing himself in some way or another. Looking around the room, he hit upon an idea. He moved deftly over to the group of ousted first years, who were now lying on the floor, workbooks spread out around them. Moving so that he wasn't in any of their fields of vision, he let go the note, which fluttered to the ground. Instantly he moved the cloak over it and bent, retrieving it. Satisfied, Remus looked at his hard-won prize.

He smiled. It was a message very much in James' voice, despite its simplicity.

Moony. Hurry up your date with the blood traitor. We've hit something.

-P

There was something...touching...about what James called Bellatrix. It was a reversal. By the conventional usage of the slur, Bellatrix was in no way the blood traitor of the Blacks. Sirius and Andromeda were, but James' allegiance to Sirius was strong enough that he asserted the rest of Sirius' family as the treasonous ones. Fortunately the note confirmed his suspicions that spying on Bellatrix was the key element to his work here-he did, however, have yet to discern logical paths for assault on Snape, and so thinking, Remus turned to the dorm Mulciber had gone to on Snape's orders and entered.

Really, it looked very much like the Gryffindor boys dorm-save the décor. The Four-poster beds had serpents entwining the posts, and the walls were of granite. A dresser so covered with vanity products that it could've been James' stood at one end of the room next to a mahogany cabinet who's doors were open, revealing a vast collection of potions and bottles...none looked terribly inviting. Remus strode over to the vanity table, and began sorting through things, handling them through the cloak. He was looking for Severus' hair-grease...there was a comb with teeth that had, Remus knew, at one point belonged to a Chinese Fireball, with the surname Mulciber inscribed uponthe handle. There were enough bottles and creams to put the author of Witch Weekly to shame. Wow, these Slytherins are superficial thought Remus with a smirk.

Madam Malkin's Stain Remover, Dr. Ubbly's Skin Ointment; Make your skin like a Puffskein, Frothengard's Fabulous Hair Spray; No natural additives whatsoever...

At last! Remus thought, uncovering a bottle full of what was evidently homemade grease...it bore the scrawled label "Property of Severus Snape. Touch at your own risk". Without hesitation, Remus moved to pick up the bottle. If something was going to happen when they tampered with it later, better they should try it out with only one of them, who was invisible...if it knocked him out no one would see, and the others would know where he was. If it shocked him, he could stay silent...and no one could really hear him back here anyway. If it bit him, or overflowed and burned a hole in the cloak, he was alone, and might be able to make it out of the Slytherin dorms without difficulty. He picked it up, and braced himself for shock, fire, stunners, acid or any other of a myriad hurts.

Nothing of the sort happened.

The bottle was cold, heavy, and felt like a bottle.

No, really, Moony? The bottle feels like a bottle? It's a wonder the sorting hat didn't put you in Ravenclaw. Sheesh.

He replaced the bottle, a feeling of accomplishment in his heart, and turned to leave the room. At that moment Shawn Mulciber and Davie Gudgeon walked in, supporting a still limping Snape.

"Oy, mate, yer not gonna let that stand, are yeh?" Davie said, looking concernedly at Severus' leg.

"No pun intended," grunted Mulciber, and closed the doors to the cabinet after returning the blue flask.

"I don't see that I am flooded with options, Davie," Snape retorted venomously.

"Yer not gonna tell me we can' take on Potter an 'is cronies, are yeh?"

"Quiet, Davie," Mulciber said warningly "Black's got the Head boy and girl on his side...his cousin, you know."

"Well, so's Bellatrix, ain' she? An' she 'ates 'im, she does. 'Eard 'er talkin' bout 'im th'other day...cursin' 'im somethin' awful."

"I attempted an assault on Potter and his Gryffindor minions earlier this evening, Davie...it did not go smoothly," Severus responded coolly.

Remus had to stifle a growl.

"Wha' 'appened then, mate?" Gudgeon said, helping Snape into a chair.

"I had concealed myself in a passageway near the divination tower. They approached...I was prepared to hex them, but that freak Lupin heard me, I think."

Remus was having a hard time keeping from laughing.

"Yes," he hissed in a voice as greasy as his hair "I'll be keeping a close eye on him...especially on...certain nights."

All desire to laugh had been knocked from his chest. He suddenly felt hollow, as though someone had ripped out his stomach. He knows! Snivellus knows! If he tells anyone, I'm dead...I'm as good as expelled. Dumbledore can't have the parents knowing he's let a werewolf in with their kids...and that's if I make it out of the school alive. Half these kids would want me dead, and the other half would hate me for betraying them...for hiding this from them...Lily, Sandra, Ted, 'less Andromeda's told him...they'd be furious...Savannah... He felt, at that, if possible, worse than he had.

Remus Lupin didn't trust very many people, and when he did, he was totally devoted, and open, and thus his lycanthropy was rarely a problem...James, Sirius, Peter and Kettleburn knew, as did the only other adult he was fully open with, the barkeep at the Three Broomsticks, Ossip Weintraub. And he was pretty sure Mundungus had figured it out by now. But, though he valued their trust, Remus wasn't quite as close with the Gryffindor girl's group. Actually, I could live without Lily's respect, he reflected She's a good person, but she can be a little pretentious...still...wait...you're Moony. You don't care what anyone thinks of you. He stated vehemently. Oh? Why are you jealous of the attention Snivellus gets? Why do you feel a tug in your heart when you see Savannah? Why do you worry about betraying Dumbledore's trust?

He answered himself, in what he hoped was a firm tone.

I am not jealous...Snivellus just doesn't deserve to be thought of as anything more than fresh meat. Savannah is a brilliant schemer...I respect her...and besides, I'm a werewolf, not a Dementor. I can feel attraction if I want to...I have as much right to be attracted to Savannah Michaels as Sirius does.

Oh no you don't. You're a werewolf, like you said...you deceive her even as you have this internal dialogue with yourself.

Doesn't internal dialogue imply that it's with myself?

Shut up. That's not the point. The point is that you're lower than her...you're dangerous...you're something low...a creep, to use the slang expression.

I'm a lycanthrope. What's wrong with that?

You're foul, a real monster...you would kill your own friends if they hadn't become animagi.

THAT'S NOT TRUE AND YOU KNOW IT...or I know it...or whatever! I would never hurt Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.

Remus almost stamped his foot, but stopping himself brought him back to where he was...Snape's dorm. Mulciber was snoring loudly now, and Gudgeon was reading something, which surprised Remus. He had always figured the boy was illiterate.

Conscious, now, that he had completed all required aspects of his mission, and that James had asked him to hurry, he reemerged into the common room, and moved silently over to the fireplace, where Derra was taking another stab at her DATDA homework...she had made some progress, though only about three inches worth, and Bellatrix was staring at the flames, the very picture of contemplative malice. Two glasses of pomegranate juice sat in front of the girls, and as he watched, Bellatrix reached down, without averting her eyes, and raised one to her lips. He would have to wait for someone to open the door...and he had to admit to himself, he found the pair rather fascinating...in a sort of morbid way.

"-so then I ran into Potter and Peter," the smaller girl was saying.

"What a coincidence," Bellatrix said coldly, and, though Derra didn't pick up on it, it was suddenly clear to Remus that Bella had known where James would be. How was the question...did she have a Marauder's Map of her own?

"Yeah. Peter was kind of sweet...in a bumbling sort of way," the fourth year airhead continued.

I'll show you bumbling. He thought, followed by: Oh, brilliant threat. What on earth is that supposed to mean?

"If you like obsequious rats," Bellatrix responded, sending a shiver down Remus' spine.

"Potter does keep him on a tight leash, doesn't he?" Derra agreed, her voice as disgustingly bubbly as always.

Oh, yes, and you're the paragon of independence, O'Reilly. Really, you're too dense to see the marionette strings Bellatrix is dangling you from.

"Mm," was all Bellatrix said for a short while. Then; "I suppose he has his strong points," she admitted, and Remus nearly fainted where he stood.

"He's kind of cute even, don't you think, Bella?" Derra dipped her quill in the ink again. "I mean, he's not Rodolphus," and she giggled sickeningly. "But he's got a kind of appeal-"

"If you like him, perhaps you should ask him out," Bellatrix said silkily. "There's a Hogsmeade trip soon...ask him to that."

"Oh, but I couldn't!" The idiot giggled nervously "I mean...if he asked, I wouldn't say no, but..."

"If you wouldn't say no, then why won't you ask him?" Bellatrix arched a slender ebony eyebrow.

More giggling. Remus was worried he might have to visit Madam Pomfrey.

"Bella! Its not done...how would it look, me, asking Peter on a date?"

"Like you wanted to go on a date with Pettigrew," Bellatrix said, as though explaining something to a very slow child.

O'Reilly giggled as though Bellatrix had said something scandalous.

"Honestly. I think you two would be...good together," Bellatrix seemed to be trying to put Remus into cardiac arrest. Bellatrix, approving of Peter? Lily'll be asking James out next-right after she hexes Snivellus.

He felt a surge of irritation at the impossibility of the prospect. What was wrong with giving the slime ball what he deserved? The pathetic coward didn't value anyone or anything but his own useless life.

"Really Bella?" Derra looked up from her work to her friend.

'Really Bella?' he mocked her mentally.

Bellatrix gave the tiniest of nods.

Derra giggled again. "Okay. Do you think he'd pick up on the traditional hints?"

"I don't see why not," Bellatrix hissed. "I wouldn't worry about attracting Pettigrew." She added, tone slightly gentler.

She stood to leave, finishing her pomegranate juice and putting the goblet down. She turned, but before she began to walk she said, without looking back.

"Oh, and the answer to the second part is: The Atrius curse. It was first developed in the fourth century A.D. and requires the use of water from the Aegean Sea and the horn of a minotaur. The ministry qualifies it as a Class Red Dark Arts Spell, and usage can earn you a life in Azkaban... books that mention how to perform it are a class A non-tradable substance, as are scrolls. It isn't quite as hard as they make it out to be, though."

She strode to her dorm without another word.

"What's all this about then?" Remus asked, as he sat down by his own common room's fireplace.

"Wormtail heard something earlier," James replied, not looking up from the Marauder's Map. Besides Bagman, Jorkins and two other seventh years, they had the common room to themselves.

Remus turned to Peter.

"Well, I was in the staff lounge, right?"

"As a rat, I presume?"

Peter nodded. "And I was about to get out of there... you know, I don't care to be around Professor McGonagal like that...but then I heard Professor Flitwick say something about the Homorphous charm."

Remus had a sudden, unpleasant flashback to the first day of term, when he had overheard the staff discussing that very spell.

"Did Flitwick say anything about it? Who they were going to use it on, perhaps?" Remus asked.

"Nah, sorry mate, but Professor Kettleburn said there were...what was it? Ah yeah. 'other ways of dealing with the problem' and he gave Professor Sanguire this look. And then she's like: 'I'm afraid I don't agree Koros'," Peter mimicked her icy tones fairly accurately.

"Weird. What happened after that?"

"Professor McGonagal started coming over to where I was hiding, so I bolted. Didn't hear the rest...I did run into Derra, though,"

"So I've heard," Remus said darkly.

"Ah yes," James looked up with interest "Report in, Special Agent Moony."

Remus gave a mock salute, and began to tell the tale of his experience with the Slytherins.

"Yeah," Sirius growled when he came to the part about Bellatrix' letter from Narcissa. "Yeah, they use their own written code. Have since Bellatrix was old enough to write."

"Can you read it?" James asked bluntly

"Yeah, reckon I can...if they haven't changed it."

"Could we ask Andromeda?" Peter inquired somewhat thoughtlessly.

"I suppose you could," Sirius was beginning to sound irritated "But she'd be about as likely to know as I would, seeing as anyone halfway decent gets shunted in my family." He finished bitterly, and a silence ensued.

"Go on, Moony," Sirius said a little sulkily.
Remus obliged, and there were no further interruptions until he had finished his story.

Then Peter and James spoke at once.

"So Bellatrix wants me to go out with Derra?"

"So nothing happened when you picked up the bottle?"

"No, nothing happened, Prongs. We can tamper with it no problem...we just have to get the pus, and that's a matter of milking it ourselves or buying it off 'Dung,"

"You had to say milking, didn't you, Moony," James rolled his eyes "Now I won't be able to drink milk for a week."

"And yeah, Peter, she does...which is why you should be very careful here."

"I don't see what you've all got agai-" the smallest boy fell silent at the looks the other three were giving him.

"Against who, Wormtail?" James asked in a threateningly sweet voice.

"My cousin?" Sirius growled. "Because I haven't got enough parchment to give you the complete list."

"I-I wasn't going to say Bellatrix..." Peter mumbled.

"She's dangerous, Peter...she was playing O'Reilly like a violin back there," Remus cautioned.

"Right then," James said, touching his wand to the map. "Our mischief managed, we can head off to bed. We've just got this last week of detentions, and its pretty rough. I'll be totally out of it...Moony, you'll keep those big ears open for me, right?" he folded the now blank map into his sleeve, picked up the cloak and walked off.

"Yeah, me too...Gam wants me to talk to him every bloody day after classes...man thinks he's a ruddy guidance councilor or something," Sirius gave a single, barking laugh, and followed James.

"Not a bad plan," Peter said, looking after them. "I think I'll follow suite." And he did. Remus stayed only long enough to watch the flames burn down, and then headed off to his own bed, where he fell into a deep sleep, dreaming that he was being told he couldn't have the hamburgers, because they were undercooked. In his dream he insisted that he liked his meat rare, but the house-elf serving him simply made a face and said "young master is not wanting his meat uncooked. The salad is being a better choice for young master," while Bellatrix played the viola, and Sirius ate some sheet music the house-elf served him.

The following Sunday Remus found himself walking to the owlry with Peter in the late afternoon. He had finished what homework he was going to do, as, of course, had Peter, so they were in a somewhat lazy mood, and had opted to see if there was something interesting to be done in the owlry. Sirius, on his way to visit Gam yet again, bearing this time gifts of stolen butterbeer he felt might help him cut short his sentence, had suggested they rearrange all the Slytherin's mail, but this seemed complicated, and Remus wasn't really feeling up to it. Rather, he was hoping Snape had gotten some sweets or something from home that he could help himself to.

"What d'you make of her?" Peter whispered, as they passed Professor Sanguire, who was in deep conversation with a student Remus didn't recognize.

"She's not bad...I mean, she's not the warmest woman in the world." Remus observed

"But she knows what she's doing. I think she's just a little nervous; this being her first year teaching...wants to assert herself a little bit first. Then I think she'll ease up."

Peter nodded. "Yeah, she's pretty cool...definitely good looking too..." he got a mischievous glint in his eye "d'you think she ever wears anything more...revealing?"

"I doubt it," Remus chuckled. "She's always wearing those high-collar robes in some shade of blue or another."

"Yeah, what's that about?" Peter said curiously "I've always wondered why she wears blue."

"I expect its because she's head of Ravenclaw," Remus replied unconcernedly.

"Could be. D'you know who she looks like?" Peter said.

Remus' heart sank a little. He had a feeling he knew exactly where this was going. Still, he took the bait. "Bellatrix Black."

"Yeah...except her eyes,"

"Yeah. Her hair's lighter too," Remus said, though he really couldn't care less how the shade of the potion's teacher's hair compared to that of a fourth year girl's.

"Yeah," Peter's expression darkened "Why does everyone think it's so impossible for a girl to like me?"

Remus thought for a second, and realized he had been anticipating this.

"It isn't, Wormtail. No one said it was. In fact, you know you've got a better chance of that than I have," Remus said gently. "Its just Derra I'm worried about-you haven't seen it. Bellatrix is in total control of her life. She might as well have the imperious curse on that girl. Actually," he laughed ruefully "I wouldn't be surprised if she did. But Wormtail, there are definitely other girl's who'd be interested in you...how about Alice Winters...well, unless Bagman's right, and she and Frank are going to wind up together...that seems sort of likely, now I think of it," Remus mused

"Oh, thanks," Peter replied sarcastically, but with a grin that showed he had taken the oversight perfectly well.

"Well...what about Barret? Actually, if you want, I'll look into that for you."

"I notice you've mentioned only Hufflepuffs"

"So? What's wrong with Hufflepuffs? Ted's a Hufflepuff, and he's fun," Remus was almost offended. The sorting hat had considered every house but Slytherin for him, and, though he had, on some level, hoped for Ravenclaw, he wouldn't have been displeased with Hufflepuff either. Not that he was hard working, or anything, but he valued loyalty very highly. In fact, if Sirius was not the least hard working person softest working? He had ever met, he wouldn't have been surprised to see him in Hufflepuff.

The smaller boy's eyes narrowed a little, and they turned a corner, nearly slipping on the remains of a glowing blue dung bomb.

"There's just something about them...I dunno," Peter sighed. "If I hadn't gotten into Gryffindor, I think I'd like to be in Slytherin," he said earnestly.

"Ambition," Remus nodded. Boy does enough career prep to make Salazar look like a goalless oaf.

"Yeah," Peter nodded "I mean, I'm happier here, of course...but d'you know, I can't figure out how I ever got into Gryffindor." He looked up at Remus, who looked back into his watery eyes "I can't even get up the courage to ask a fourth year out...and she's not exactly intellectually intimidating."

Remus gave a snort of laughter, but recovered quickly. "You're brave Wormtail. I know you are...I'm not-"

"Are you kidding? You're the bravest person I know! You actually don't care what anyone thinks of you!"

"I am not, Wormtail, Sirius probably is, in all honesty. He'll stick by what he thinks is right no matter what."

"You do too."

"But I don't act as aggressively on it."

"Because you're a pacifist."

Remus didn't have a retort. That was more or less true...though he felt Severus Snape deserved a good thrashing, he wasn't a fan of violence.

"Wormtail...why d'you want to date O'Reilly if you don't think she's smart?" he responded, a little miffed.

"She's hot," was Wormtail's immediate response, but he continued with a smirk after looking up at Remus' face "You should've seen your expression when I said that...horrified...anyway, that's not the only reason..."

"What're the others?" Remus asked softly

"Oh, I don't know...she's fun, and she hangs out with some interesting people."

"Peter 'Wormtail' Pettigrew. I'm not going to warn you again. Bellatrix Black is, to use a twenties cliché, bad news."

They entered the owlry, and Peter made his way over to a box full of letters and packages, and began sorting through them.

"I can handle her, Remus," Peter said from the box. "Just because Sirius doesn't like her doesn't mean I can't."

ldquo;Sirius is an excellent judge of character-and its not just him, James and I don't like her either."

"Are you sure? I think James just goes along with what Sirius says"

There's his mistake. He doesn't understand...he's too bitter...he can't see the beauty of our group objectively. If we don't like someone, then that's it, we don't like them. Bellatrix messed with Sirius when she was ten. We don't like her. Simple as that...if anything got complicated, if we divided our opinions on people...

"What if I said I wanted to hang out with Snivellus?" Remus asked.

"Your business. He's a greasy haired git, but it's still your business who you hang out with."

"Wrong, Wormtail. We look out for each other. If I were ever to do something that stupid, I'd want you three to hex me until I came to my lycanthropic senses."

Peter looked around nervously at this, but satisfied no one was present to overhear, withdrew a large cardboard crate from the box.

"Here we go. Box of pasties for James. You want?" he said, opening it to reveal some sticky buns and a crumb cake.

"Definitely," Remus replied, and grabbed a large bit of crumb cake, which he promptly stuffed in his mouth.

They walked back, Remus trying to swallow the cake, and Peter holding the box. Choking down the last of it, he reached for some more.

"Eat, Wormtail. You'll be cold come winter if you don't."

"I'm on a diet," his friend responded somewhat gloomily.

"Why?"

"To loose weight..." Peter replied, as though this should be obvious.

"What on earth do you need to lose weight for?"

"I'm overweight."

"So? Most people are just underweight...bunch of superficial numbskulls if you ask me," Remus growled unsympathetically.

"Its not healthy...besides, James is only a little taller than I am, and he weighs about sixty pounds less."

"James happens to be abnormally skinny. And Sirius is insanely lanky, so don't you even start with him," Remus countered as Peter opened his mouth.

"Alright then, still, I've got a slow metabolism...I need to be on a diet."

"You don't see me going on a diet, and I eat all the time...wait, that doesn't make any sense...obviously I'm not on a diet if I eat all the time," the two boys laughed for a ways, and then Peter said, with a distinctive dejected note in his voice "D'you think Sirius is going to do anything about Savannah?"

"Eventually," Remus said. "But Padfoot's not big on external relationships."

"Yeah. I don't know why not...still, she's a little weird for him, isn't she? I mean, she's a really good student, and-"

And that is your shortcoming, Peter, you don't know why not. Sirius' role is as our group's guardian. He makes sure we're all safe and he's good at it. Protects us from threat and invasion. He said none of this, though.

"She's a good student only because she maintains the illusion of being good. She hangs out with Lily, you expect her to do anything else? She's as devious as Sirius when she wants to be."

"She's always carrying around all those books...and she got made a prefect."

"I got made a prefect, Wormtail. Actually, I'm surprised you didn't. You're the good boy"

"Not really, Remus. Teachers think you are too..."

"Irrelevant. Have you ever noticed what those books are about? They aren't school stuff...well, not well-rounded school stuff, at any rate. Its all history of Magic."

A look of genuine surprise crossed Peter's face. "What d'you mean?"

"I mean that's all she reads. History of Magic books...she's really into it, and not too much else."

"She's good looking enough, I suppose, but there's a whole lot of other girls..."

"Wormtail, sometimes I wonder if there's anyone you don't think is good looking. Honestly, sometimes you're ask bad as 'Dung"

"I take that as a compliment," Peter retorted with a sniff of mock pride. "Still, I think that's an odd match. Savannah does well in everything."

"She doesn't though," Remus replied, now mildly annoyed. "Its like I said. She gets by because she hasn't got anything else to do except read those history books...Lily's always working...wants a shot at Head Girl, I'd bet."

"She does. She said so," Peter agreed.

"Well there you have it."

"You know a lot about Savannah...where on earth did all that come from? We don't exactly hang out with her very much."

"I notice things. I have a lot of time on my paws," Remus answered vaguely.

"That's because you don't ever do any work."

"That's not true. I do some," Remus tried to sound indignant. They were almost back at the common room now. "I work as I see fit."

"I don't know," Peter sighed abruptly "I guess I'm just a little tired of it all, you know? James is actually one of the most inconsiderate people on earth sometimes."

Remus laughed. "Yeah, but he's also one of the most perceptive, and caring, and loyal. I think that's my favorite endearing quirk of his...that he has absolutely no compunctions about being inconsiderate."

"He's late to everything, he calls Lily 'Evans'..."

"Well, okay, that is pretty dumb of him, but still, you have to forgive the guy. He works hard."

"At what?"

"Being a good alpha," Remus answered instantly.

"Not everything is in terms of animals, Remus," Peter said, a slight harshness and note of exasperation coming into his voice.

"For one, humans are animals. Our social structures function on the same basic equations as any other species, and use the same ingredients, Wormtail," Remus retorted. They had arrived at the portrait hole.

"Loup Garou," Peter said, and marched inside as it swung open.

The following week came and went fairly quickly. Remus had little to do, with Peter occupied by his, as Remus liked to call it, self-inflicted sessions of dullness, James being worked to the bone by Bagman and Professor McGonagal, who seemed determined to make good on her last week with him in detention, and Sirius spending half his time with Edward Gam (he had taken to bringing him butterbeer from the stolen keg on a regular basis, attempting to get out early for good behavior). Indeed, for the first time in a long time, Remus Lupin saw little of his friends, though he noticed Peter was spending a great deal of time talking to his fellow charms club members. Though he had moped about for the first few days, he had eventually taken to wandering the hallways invisibly, looking for potential mischief and mulling over life in general.

Classes had just ended, Friday afternoon, when he was sitting by the fire, scrubbing frantically at a stain of blue paint on the invisibility cloak-Peeves had somehow detected him, or was just throwing blue paint around randomly-either way he had to get it off before James flayed him alive. Normally he would've gone to Mundungus for some of Filch's cleaning solution, but the Ravenclaw was in a towering temper-evidently the paint he used for his trademark color had been stolen, and Remus had his suspicions that it was the same paint he was so desperately trying to get rid of.

Without much warning, though perhaps he had merely been concentrating too hard on the stain to notice any, Peter flopped down in the chair next to him, looking thoroughly miserable.

"What's going on, Wormtail?" he looked up from his scrubbing, and to his horror saw a tear making its way down his friend's round cheek.

"I've just seen Ted and Andromeda...they've broken up."

Remus dropped the cloak.

"What?"

"It gets worse. Listen. Its my fault."

"I reiterate: What?"

Peter sniffed a little, and Remus put his hand on the shorter boy's shoulder.

"Oh, I was stupid, Remus. They got into a fight about some cleaning Andromeda wanted Ted to do, but the real tension is totally my fault to begin with. Ted's student captain of charms club, you know, and...and Remus, I've been hanging out with Derra all week...Ted told Andromeda, and they started arguing. See, Ted said he was worried Derra was being used to use me or something, and Andromeda said there wasn't any proof of that, maybe she just honestly liked me," he grinned a little, as though he had been very pleased to hear that vote of confidence from Sirius' middle cousin. "Anyway, Ted said he thought she was just defending her sister, and Andromeda said she wouldn't without cause, but that Bellatrix was really a good person, and so what if she was defending her...anyway, they've been at it all week, and they've just now broken up."

Remus was speechless for a moment

"That's awful, but I'm sure they'll get back together...it sounds like it was just a problem they were going to have to work through anyway..."

"Not really," Peter sniffed "I don't think so anyway. They were getting on fine before...the worst part is though, Ted's been right." And here the watery-eyed boy really broke down. "Andromeda's hanging out with Bellatrix now...and Derra's avoiding me...its not exactly transfiguration to figure out what's going on. Bellatrix just wanted to use Derra and me as a wedge...now she's done she's called back Derra...actually, I'm beginning to think she might've given Derra some potion or something, and its worn off now Bellatrix doesn't need her to like me."

"How on earth did you figure that?" Remus was a little confused. That was an awfully complex conclusion to jump to.

"He's right about that bit," Sirius growled softly from directly behind Remus. "But there's a lot more to the Andromeda-Ted mix up"

Remus was about to inquire further when James spoke, swinging over a chair as he did so. "Well, we're not going to let Bellatrix get away with it, are we?"

"Of course not," Remus replied. "Can't we just show the letters to Andromeda?"

"If we could get near her, then yeah," Sirius said in tones of great frustration "But we can't. Bellatrix is permanently stuck to her now, and she'd know exactly what we were trying to do."

"I can go to her during the consultation hours," Remus suggested "She can't have given up being Head Girl over this."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't spend too much time in there right away," James put in. "I actually heard her talking to Bellatrix about going home...this is hitting her pretty hard."

"I can imagine. Though I wouldn't take her at her word, Prongs," Sirius agreed. "You don't know what it was like when she and Ted started dating. Well, when my family found out, more like. Totally awful...her dad threatened to disown her...they were all ready to, but uncle Alphard...you all remember him, stopped 'em. Said all teenagers went through a phase like that, and not to take it too seriously." Sirius smiled grimly "I think he was just trying to bail 'Meda out, though."

"And now she's gotten over the phase. Well, good for Bellatrix," Peter spat.

"S'okay, Wormtail, we'll get things sorted out," Sirius said gently "First we'll get my foul cousin back for this, and then we'll sort out 'Meda and Ted."

"Wait," Remus implored, confused. He felt as though things were moving along rather quickly, and he still didn't know quite what was going on. "Can someone please tell me what's happened?"

"Right," James said-ignoring him-as Peter dried his eyes a bit "Any suggestions, men?"

"We hex the living daylights out of her." Sirius said instantly.

"That won't be good enough...besides, she'd scare me in a duel...she definitely knows the Dark Arts. How about if we drug her with some veritaserum?" Remus responded. "If we could get our hands on some, it'd be perfect."

Sirius and James nodded. "Good plan, mate, but where're we supposed to get Veritaserum?"

"And while we're at it," Remus continued "I can use the serum on you all SO SOMEONE WILL TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON!!"

Peter managed to smile and James chuckled sympathetically, and began to speak.

"Well, I haven't really been around for much of this myself-been doing detention with Lestrange-but Gam took Padfoot here to some of these meetings, so these two," he gestured at Peter and Sirius "have a better idea of what's going on."

Remus swiveled to look at Sirius, who was leaning against the back of his chair.

"We don't know s'much as we'd like," came the responsive growl "but Worm's given you the gist of it. I know it sounds a bit like a conspiracy, but that's sorta what happened. See, Gam teaches Charms Club, and he's been dragging me along with him this week...final week of detention and all that. Not that I've been working myself to the bone, exactly. Anyhow, here's more or less what went down..."

And Sirius began to relate the story of how Ted and Andromeda had been driven apart in the past week, explaining as best he could how Ted had become frustrated with Andromeda, and Andromeda insulted on behalf of her sister by Ted.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sirius entered the unpleasantly bright, rather undersized classroom where Charms Club was going to meet feeling slightly dejected. It was Monday, and he had just come from his last class. He should be in his common room, he felt, sitting on the poofy chairs by the fire, allowing its warmth to encircle hi, fending off the chill of the October air. Instead he was helping a teacher (in itself a sign his time was being ill-spent) to set up for a club he didn't like, in a room where he found the lighting offensive. Moony's got the right idea He thought, grimacing at the image of his ever-scheming friend lazing around their dorm, probably drinking warm butterbeer. Work to avoid work. Sirius tended, and preferred, to merely avoid work in all its incarnations. The only trouble with this philosophy was that he frequently found himself doing something tedious as a forced ramification of his prior lack of desire to be strained.

"If you could set those mats down, Sirius, it'd be much appreciated," Gam said, looking over his shoulder to where the disgruntled Gryffindor stood. Gam was sitting at a desk that had been pushed against the far wall, seemingly engrossed in grading some papers. Sirius obliged, crossing the room to a large pile of yellow and red mats.

"I must congratulate you again on that bit of charm work which so effectively disrupted my class the other day. A cooperative effort, I presume?" The un-extraordinary man spoke kindly and earnestly, so Sirius rewarded him with an honest answer-something he would only have done for Flitwick or McGonagal (with whom he had a jokingly adversarial relationship). Well, Perhaps Dumbledore as well, but as the man seemed to know everything anyway, it was a moot point.

"Yeah, James, Peter and Remus,"

"Really? Those three? I never would have suspected it!" Gam teased him.

Sirius shot a mock scowl in response, dragging on e of the mats (They were surprisingly heavy) across the floor.

"Seriously though, you boys are an impressive team...what's your secret?" Something in Gam's voice sent off warning bells in Sirius' head. He paused in his smoothing of another mat.

"Remus would say 'diversity of fellowship',"

Gam seemed all the more intrigued by this answer.

"Oh? And what role would he say you fit into?"

Sirius was spared the trouble of continuing a conversation that was putting him on edge by the arrival of Ted Tonks, who herded in a group of third years with a somewhat weary look on his face.

"Sorry, Teach, couldn't find that powder-Minnie says someone's nicked it," the way Ted said the word 'someone' made it very clear he had some suspicions about just who had taken it. The third years had begun talking loudly-Sirius didn't care enough to listen to the individual words-and Gam had to speak up a little for Ted to hear him.

"Alright, thanks for asking, but I wouldn't let Professor McGonagal hear you calling her Minnie,"

"Oh, she's just an old softy," Ted said, raising his own voice as he helped Sirius with the last mat. The third years stubbornly increased the volume of their chatter.

Arrogant little runts, Sirius growled mentally. I hate third-years. Despite his scorn, he felt a rare surge of happy reminiscence. Third year had been the best time of his life since he had been sorted, though with his newfound Animagus powers this current year looked to top it. He knew Remus would argue with his negativity, his tolerance for the hyper little things bordered on love. Yeah, but that's because Moony is everybody's grandfather. He gave a short laugh-the one James always said made him sound like Remus on a full moon. The feeling of safety born of his thoughts of James and Remus was twisted and wrenched, however, when he saw his younger cousin gliding into the room. She shot him a look of pure malice. Bella...something deep in his mind spoke up. Shut Up! He shouted at himself. He knew that suppressed, broken voice, and he feared it terribly.

"Helping dear Professor Gam?" she managed to combine a mockingly sweet tone with a hiss. Only Bella... what might have been an affectionate chuckle withered into a sharp hurt in his throat.

"I never thought you'd be a teacher's pet...is Gam making poor, forsaken Siri feel at home?" anger shot through him like a cold-front, flooding his heart with a numbing ice.

"You disappoint me Bella, hiding behind your family...didn't you always say you wanted to be more than your last name?" he retorted, the internal frost slipping into his voice. Her lethal black eyes narrowed, but at that moment Derra and Peter walked in, announcing their presence with Derra's high-pitched giggle. Peter seemed mildly confused, but happy.

This is bad, was Sirius' instant reaction. Quickly he strode over to the pair of them.

"You. Come. Now." He growled, grabbing Peter by the shirt collar.

"Sirius, can't this wait?" Peter said, casting an urgent look at his fourth year companion.

"No," Sirius pulled him back out the door. He let the smaller boy go only once they'd turned a corner.

"What's so important?" Peter straightened his shirt irritably.

"Nothing. But why, why do you hang out with that girl?"

Peter gave a sigh of exasperation. "I know you don't like Slytherins, but..."

"No. No but. They're whiney, obnoxious idiots. Stay away from O'Reilly."

"You're just mad about some stupid family thing!" Peter's voice cracked, and he stormed back into the charms room, leaving a fuming Sirius alone in the hallway.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh, yeah, sorry about that," Peter sniffed, his voice the epitome of submission.

"S'okay, mate," growled Sirius kindly. "You had your head up O'Reilly."

"That was right before Ted tried to pair me with Barty for Charm practice, but Bellatrix got herself made his partner, so I wound up working with Derra...I guess that was all part of her plan, looking back."

Remus refrained from mentioning that it seemed a hard thing to miss the first time around.

"So, what happened next?"

This time, Peter began to speak.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

With a flick of his wand, Peter sent the cushion whizzing towards his outstretched hands. Rather masterful, if he did say so himself. They were practicing summoning charms-or at least, he and Derra were.

Rarely did he outperform anyone in spell-work, and he was positively elated to know something Derra did not. True, it was merely that he had learned the spell in his previous year, but it was empowering to be in this position-it made him feel mature, worldly...it accentuated the inch-and-a-half by which he was taller than Derra. The fourth year gave her perfected 'silly me' giggle-ot seemed she had one for every occasion. Truly charming, Peter smiled at his own pun, walking over to where Derra stood.

"You've got to imagine the object in your hand-its not just the spell words," he corrected her, trying very hard to sound patient and experienced. He thought it came out rather well.

"I'll just give it another shot, then, shall I?" She accented her words with a well-practiced flip of her hair.

"Accio!" this time the pillow flew right into her hands. Peter mentally thanked whatever deity had permitted his advice to prove effective.

"I did it!" she squealed. Peter beamed patronizingly. Maybe she really does like me... he frantically searched for something suave to say-what would James do? Probably something stupid-hang this. He gave in, settling for a simple

"Congratulations,"

"Yes, congratulations," came Bellatrix' silky voice. Peter whirled around. He was used to Remus doing that-suddenly appearing behind a guy, but this was so unexpected that he momentarily wondered how secure his heart was in his chest. Bellatrix stood behind him, her presence rather like that of the night sky, she loomed, darkness beyond his reach. Her arms were crossed over her chest and one thin black eyebrow raised, looking ominously like the Reaper's Scythe. "I see you two are...getting on nicely. You make a cute couple," there was something contemplative, calculating, in her voice, but Peter brushed it off. Crouch, the thundercloud-like girl's partner, approached, holding a pillow out in front of him and looking mildly apprehensive. Peter knew that most of his friends hated Crouch's achievement-oriented mindset, but he found himself sympathetic to the boy. Remus could yammer on for hours about James' relationship with his father, but he didn't know the senior Crouch. Really, for an intelligent kid, Remus can be a little...blinded. Mabye it's a werewolf thing...makes you bloodthirsty.

"Eh, Bellatrix...we're supposed to-" Barty began, but Bellatrix interrupted as though he hadn't spoken.

"Yes, you know, Peter, sometimes the guidance of an older boy...someone with experience-" her glance at Derra made it clear what sort of experience she was referring to. Can she do legilimency? I wouldn't be surprised...

"Eh, Bellatrix, we're supposed to practice-"

"If you want to see your...shall we say options..." she continued, totally ignoring Crouch, "I would consider it."

Peter digested this. It wasn't an unappealing idea, but whom did he know? He had no older siblings, and his closest relationship with a Gryffindor seventh year was with Ludo-who's opinion he had no respect for. Maybe another seventh-year...Ted! Ted is perfect!

"Bellatrix," Crouch broke in irritably, "We're supposed to practice banishing charms!" he held out the pillow.

Without shifting her dark gaze from Peter, she took the pillow and pressed her wand to it.

"Evanesco." The pillow vanished. "Find it," she said coldly, and Crouch moved off to start looking.

"Consider it Pettigrew. You might just get somewhere," Bellatrix said in a voice like flowing ink. Had she been a cat her tail would have waved above her back. There was something in her whole manner-something predatory.

Peter swallowed. "I'll keep it in mind, thanks,"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"shouldn't have agreed to that one," Peter reflected.

"There's a shock," James and Remus replied in unison, and they exchanged grins.

"I'd say that was the worst of it," Sirius commented. "You just say 'no' to that girl...and then hex the sixty-third generation, refined and cultured genes out of her."

"Oh, are you sixty-third generation? Congratulations Padfoot," James teased.

"Actually, I'm sixty-fourth,"

"How does that work? She's your first cousin, not removed-whatever that means," Remus pointed out.

"I count as a generation of my own."

"That doesn't even make sense," James shook his head, exasperated.

"Well, that's your problem then," came the prim response.

Remus shook with silent mirth, but glance at Peter reminded him that he still didn't know exactly what had happened. James, it appeared, was curious about this part of the story as well, for he beat Remus to the question.

"So? Don't leave us hanging here..."

Peter again cleared his throat, and began the next chapter in the week's melodrama.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was lunchtime. Normally Peter avoided wandering the castle during this period, preferring to stay close to James and Remus, but today he found himself on the fifth floor, strolling down a corridor he was fairly certain lead to a staircase to the Hufflepuff's Common Room. The sun shone brightly through the windows, but the chilly October air was getting to him. I don't care what Remus says-it definitely gets cold around here. Then again, I suppose he doesn't feel it as much as the rest of us.

Rays of light pooled on the stone floor in front of him, and he could see the tops of a few trees on the grounds. Still, Peter was not in the mood to enjoy scenery.

Wringing his hands together for warmth, he turned a corner to the staircase he had been looking for. The long walls were lined with portraits-principally of pompous looking witches and wizards in robes he was fairly sure had been in style during the Italian Renaissance-and he had the mildly unnerving experience of several dozen painted eyes following him in what felt like silent judgment. Finally he reached the bottom of the stairs, and with a sense of great relief began to jog down a new hallway. Soon he entered what was, in effect, a clearing in the architectural forest. Behind an arch stood a large, circular room, sparsely furnished with tables, candles and chairs.

He looked around, and saw at one end a large fireplace, engraved with badgers.

That must be it he thought, and crossed the hall as swiftly as he could.

Oh, no...what's the password again? Peter rummaged through his pockets, locating a few sickles, but no parchment. Think...that first year said it had something to do with food...porridge? No. Pudding? No. Pumpernickel? No...maybe it didn't start with a 'p'...Pie...

"Apple brown betty!" Peter crowed happily, remembering the password he had...extracted...from a first-year that day.

The back of the fireplace slid away, revealing what was perhaps the...softest room Peter had ever seen. Several large poufs were arranged around couches and worktables, and two fireplaces stood on either side of the dorm stairs. Even the floor was carpeted.

Several younger students looked up at his arrival, and a few seventh-years in the back glanced up from a game of exploding snap.

"Wotcher, Pete, you need something?" Ted called over, jovial as ever.

Peter nodded, a little unsure of himself. He had been firm in his resolve to come here, yes, but now that he was confronted with spilling his heart to a seventh year Hufflepuff who was shouting across the room to him, he somehow felt somewhat less brave.

Ted, mercifully, seemed to pick up on Peter's awkwardness, and so left the table, striding towards him.

"'Ere, mate, we'll get out for a bit," he said kindly, and then, shouting across the room, "no one touch my cards!" Ted's reassuring arm on his shoulder, Peter exited the common room through the fireplace. Once safely on the other side, Ted continued walking slowly, and Peter stayed in step.

"What's up?" the older boy asked lightly.

Peter wasn't really sure how to respond. He knew what he wanted, but how did one solicit the advice of a seventh-year who's steady girlfriend happened to be the estranged sister of the best friend of the girl one was interested in?

Instantly three voices rose in his head, each giving their advice.

Just ask. You haven't got anything to be afraid of, as long as you're comfortable with yourself. Remus echoed in his mind.

Spit it out...then threaten to hex him to Myanmar if he tells anyone, suggested Sirius.

Why on earth do you need to ask anyone? But if you've got to, just do it. James' voice pointed out.

"You know...at...charms club?" Peter started off, knowing he sounded idiotic.

Ted nodded, and suddenly his expression darkened slightly.

"This is about you and O'Reilly, isn't it?" he asked, and there was definitely a glower in his words.

"eh...yeah," Peter said, looking a little perplexed. "Yeah, it is."

"I've seen you two together a lot lately-I'm not surprised. Watch yourself around her, alright?"

Peter felt a little hurt. Why did everyone think he was so incapable of handling himself around two fourth year girls? He decided to do what he figured Remus would, and asked.

"Why does everyone think I'm so incapable of handling myself around two fourth year girls?"

Ted chuckled a little. "You should know, Pete, that Derra O'Reilly is not to be trifled with-she runs with Bellatrix Black, and-"

Now Peter was getting really irritated. "Whose sister you happen to be dating, Ted. Why does everyone think Bella's so horrible? She seems helpful to me,"

"You gotta understand, she's a very determined girl. I've been on the receiving end of her anger only once, and it's not an experience I care to repeat." Ted replied earnestly.

They were now moving towards the entrance, onto the grounds, having taken a different route than Peter had arrived by. He was fairly sure he'd have a difficult time finding the place again.

"I was just wondering, though," Peter said, trying to control his temper, and succeeding. "if you could help me out. I mean, tell me what I should do. D'you think I've got a chance with Derra?" he finished, impressed by his own boldness.

Ted sighed heavily as they passed a tree. "You want the truth, Pete? Yeah, I think you've got a chance with Derra. Yeah, I think she fancies you. But listen to me. Listen to me. It matters who her friends are. Do you want to tangle with that?" he asked, abruptly jerking his head to indicate a spot against the school wall some dozen yards away. Peter was a little awestruck. He had seen Remus pinpoint people, or listen into conversations being held at great distances, or behind thick walls, but he had completely missed what Ted, who, as far as he knew, was fully human, had seen a while back, evidently.

Close together, very close together, by the walls, Bellatrix and Jonas Avery stood, deeply engrossed in kissing one another.

Peter was more or less shocked. He hadn't known Bella to have any interest in Avery, certainly, Remus had never mentioned it. Anger surged within him.

What's going on here? I thought she was unattached! What's Remus playing at?

Ted evidently saw through his confusion. "No, Pete, they're not going together. Bellatrix isn't really one for steady relationships. They've known each other since they were practically babies, though. Most of the Slytherins have. Their pureblood parents all belong to some sort of society-same one that political nutter, Voldemort, has been feeding people into for the last couple of years."

Peter simply didn't know what to make of this. He was pureblood, yes, and his parents had attended a feast or two in their day, but never had he been part of any community. He felt a flare of resentment. How could he make up for lost time like that? From the sound of it, Derra would be just like Bellatrix-he couldn't match with the boys they'd grown up on, their home-field selection...he suddenly found himself feeling very inconsequential indeed.

I'll ask Sirius, he thought to himself. If it's a pureblood thing, he'll know.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Well, I can assure you, Peter, you're not missing out on a thing," Sirius said when he had finished telling the story. "Bunch of stuffy old bores bragging about how many wizarding generations they've got behind their names, and arranging marriages for two-year olds."

James nodded his agreement. "And they're all completely horrible. I remember when I was nine, I walked in on Malfoy's dad teaching him how to set fire to house-elves," he sighed. "Not exactly a festive environment."

"It'd be fascinating to study that whole culture," Remus enthused. "Make a whole project out of it-learn the dynamics, the social structures..." he trailed off, daydreaming of ethological studies. James and Sirius looked at him, and shook their heads in mock disgust.

"And then-Well, Sirius has just told me a little bit of it-so I'm not really sure what happened next," Peter said, ignoring this, "but I think Bellatrix did something tricky with him and Ted...let him in on something, so he'd...well, he'll tell you, won't you, Sirius?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sirius Black scowled. He had been doing a good deal of that lately, he reflected with a sort of grudging internal smile. He was stalking along the school grounds, looking desperately for something-anything-to vent his frustration upon. Normally he would have spoken to Moony, or had a good, long, wrestling match with Prongs, or maybe the latter followed by the former, but neither of them were at hand, and he was spending a good deal more time than he would have opted for helping out at that stupid Charms Club of Wormtail's.

"Engorgio!" he barked, lashing his wand out against a passing Slytherin first-year, a boy named Jorgan Von Derclaust, whose face put him in mind of an iguana. The unfortunate kid's book bag swelled to four times its normal size, and became far too heavy to be carried.

"Out of my way," he growled.

Von Derclaust's reptilian eyes narrowed, and his thick neck seemed to swell ominously.

"Manners, Black...or I'll have to...report you," he threatened, not reaching for his own wand, but merely making eye contact with Sirius.

"To who, your mother? This isn't your fetid manor, if you'll remember. We're on my turf now,"

"Your cousin's, you mean, Black. You aren't the head of the family anymore, from what I hear. Disgraced the name, like that blood-traitor Andromeda," the boy spat.

"Mobilicorpus!" Sirius sent the boy flying, literally, out of his path, and stomped onwards. Prongs would've reprimanded him for messing with a first year-so would Moony, but he didn't care right now, right now all he cared about was making sure someone would listen to his warnings about his cousin.

If I have to hex Peter into oblivion, I'll get the message through that thick skull of his. How dare he? For five years we shelter him. We protect him. We befriend him. We love him, and then he goes and ignores us for my low-down, conceited, biased bat of a cousin. Does she appreciate him? No. She'll use him and cast him aside. She thinks about as much of him as she does of at toothpick. And not the funny colored ones either, the boring tan ones.

Sirius looked up from his feet, and a truly evil grin spread across his face. Here at last was a way to relieve his pent-up anger. Shawn Mulciber and Snivellus were walking towards him, and he didn't need Remus' nose to sense their intentions.

Before either of them could begin to assault him, he brought his wand up, and in one clean, slashing motion cut open Snivellus' cheek.

"Expelliarmus!" Mulciber shouted, but Sirius was too fast for him, and spun out of the way.

"Impedimenta!" Snape's spell hit him, causing him to stop in the middle of a graceful turn.

"Stupefy!" Sirius roared across the empty grass between them. His stunner hit Mulciber full on. Now it was just himself and Snivellus.

The cold wind charged his blood, whipping his long hair around him like a black halo.

"Densogio!"

"Protego!" Sirius blocked the hex just in time, but Snape didn't miss a beat in casting his next spell.

"SEQUNDUM NORMAM!" a jet of deep blue light shot from Snape's wand. Sirius' brain worked in overdrive to remember the spell from his father's Dark Arts books, as he ducked into a roll to avoid it.

He felt the wind from it brush his hair, and he threw back his head, laughing with glee as he rose to the battle again.

Alright Snivellus, if that's how you want to play.

"OBLIVIATE!"

Snivellus twisted out of the way-unfortunately the memory charm flew past him.

"Serpensortia!"

"HELOGALE PARVULA!" Sirius shouted, pointing his wand at a rock near the writhing black snake that had appeared. He felt a bit of warmth, thinking that Remus would be proud of such tactics, and looked back at Snape with renewed conviction.

The rock had become a dwarf mongoose.

"Petrificus Totallus!" Snivellus shot a full-body-bind hex straight for Sirius, but he dodged.

"Time to end this, Snivelly. I've had my fun for today," he growled.

"Expelliarmus!" was his opponent's only response.

"Protego!" he circled, and lunged. "Stupefy!"

The duel was over. Snape lay unconscious next to his companion, and neither snake nor mongoose were anywhere to be seen. The cool breeze picked up again, and the refreshing feeling of exertion washed over Sirius' body. He wasn't fool enough to stay by his fallen adversaries, however, and with a quick look around to ensure that they had, indeed, been alone, he bolted for Charms Club. He was late anyway.

Soon Sirius stood in the busy Charms room. Gam, who had merely asked where he had been, and expressed interest in the fact that he had been alone, did not appear to be irritated with his absence, which, Sirius supposed, was a good thing. The last thing he needed right now was for some authority figure he actually liked to get him worked up. So he reclined on a mat, concentrating very hard on sleeping and ignoring the group of loud third years who always seemed to choose the area right next to wherever he was for their idiotic gossip. If he cared to listen, he imagined he would know enough about their internal affairs to write a book.

His eyes were shut, blocking out at least some of the annoyingly bright light of the classroom. Over the sound of the chattering third years, he could hear Ted lecturing Crouch on the proper way to cast a heaving charm, and, on the side opposite them, Bellatrix was reciting an incantation that was most certainly not legal. Peter and Derra were, to Sirius' great annoyance, conspicuously absent. He heard the heavy footsteps of Ted Tonks and Edward Gam leaving the room, and stood up. Amusement was served. Walking to the front of the class, he clapped his hands. Most of the room fell silent, save the insufferable third years.

"OY! SIMPLETONS!" he bellowed, and they shut up. "Today, I, Sirius Black, will be your instructor. We're going to be breaking free of your usual lesson plan, though," a grin spread across his face, and some of the students began to look a little worried. "I thought we might practice a few of the more...aggressive charms. Practical stuff, mind you. So, in the spirit of learning, everyone, get your wands out," he took his own out, and leveled it at Bellatrix, who had hers leveled at him. A small grin was beginning to creep across her aloof features. "Get ready, and, on my mark, DUEL!"

The classroom erupted in the sound of a dozen hexes and jinxes being thrown simultaneously. He stayed stock still for a moment, allowing the bolt Bella had aimed for where she expected him to spin to fly past, and then sent a conjunctivitis curse back at her.

"Protego!" the dark girl shouted, blocking his spell as she wove around the other students. He was gaining on her.

"Finunkulus!" she spun, and dodged.

"Impedimenta!" he tried again, and this time the spell hit.

Bellatrix lost no time in bringing her own wand up, however. A jet of red light shot from it, narrowly missing him as he ducked. He had just enough time to register that it had, in fact, hit a third year, before he twisted to avoid another stunner.

"Gladius!" he shouted, and his wand suddenly elongated, sharpening into a deadly blade.

"Gladius." she responded by turning her own wand into a sword, and steel met steel.

Their eyes, perfectly identical, held fast. So swiftly did their swords move, blocking one another, countering, parrying and thrusting, that they appeared to be dancing. Sirius spun, laughing wildly, and Bellatrix' swift blade narrowly missed his shoulder. He came up on her other side, slashing for her torso, but she met his blow, and performed a sort of flip that forced him backwards.

She laughed, a cackle like a viola sonata, and swung her sword at his legs. He jumped just in time.

"You'll never catch me, Bellatrix!" he crowed, returned, suddenly, to his nine year old self, dancing opposite his cousin at a Walpurgis ball.

"Oh, but I already have, little Siri," she said, blocking a swing he had taken. Her eyes were pure darkness, undiluted evil. She spun, laughing again, and met his sword low.

"You see, as we speak, your precious Pettigrew is off courting my darling friend Derra,"

Confirmed fear registered in Sirius' mind, and his thoughts were not on the duel as he narrowly avoided a blow to his arm.

"Oh yes," she smiled sweetly, "young love, how adorable. You see," she swung her blade high, and he met the blow, holding fast. "Its all part of my beautiful little plan. A work of art, really, but you've lost so much intellectual power in the last five years I doubt you'd understand it," she cackled wildly, and her charcoal eyes danced as she parried his next swipe.

"Try me," he growled, pressing his blade on hers, holding against it with all his might. She was almost as strong as he, which was saying something, for the height difference (one of few physical dissimilarities) was pronounced. When they had been younger, he recalled, they had been mistaken for twins at many a dinner party, so similar were they in appearance.

"You see, dearest cousin, I want my sister back," she smiled sweetly across the X their blades formed, "and I'm using-" she broke off, leaping backwards and landing with perfect grace. He charged, and again their swords clashed. "Your friend Pettigrew to break her and that mudblood up."

Sirius roared, a sound that would have terrified the strongest of seventh years, but did not even phase Bellatrix' cool disposition. With renewed strength born of frustration at Peter for not listening to him, anger at Bellatrix for stooping so low, and shame for being so helpless in it all, he drove her back, parry for thrust, till she was pressed against a wall.

"FINITE INCANTATUM!" Ted and Gam shouted together. Sirius' and Bellatrix' wands reverted to their usual state, and all around them the fighting stopped.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So then I told Ted...was about all I could think to do," Sirius finished, and Remus noticed something that might have been a tear forming in the corner of his friend's eye. He patted Sirius on the shoulder, as did James.

"You told him all that?" Peter asked, genuinely curious.

"Yeah," Sirius said. "Yeah, I did."

"Well, that explains a lot, I guess. He told me something to that effect-I ignored him, of course. Couldn't believe it, could I?" Peter finished, rueful and apologetic.

"I told him the next day and he went straight to 'Meda. Brought me with him to back it up, but I don't think that helped any. 'Meda's not someone you mess with," he chuckled. "He told her what I'd said, and she said she doesn't believe it, basically. Though I don't know why not-she knows Bellatrix better than anyone. Anyway, he said he thought she was just trying to defend her sister, and she said so what if she was, it wasn't any of his business to go around insulting other people's families. He said she should be the one to talk, looking down on anyone just because they haven't got five hundred pure generations of blood in their veins, and then she got really mad. He tried to say Bellatrix was too uncontrolled-evidently he'd seen her kissing Frank Longbottom for some reason or another, and when he got away, she did a scouring charm on her own mouth,"

Remus and James shuddered. Peter held his hand to his lips, as though protecting them from the thought.

"So then the Bloody Baron shows up, says Bellatrix told him Peeves was destroying the Prefect's Lounge, and Ted started screaming he'd had enough 'bloody Slytherins',"

At that, Remus couldn't help but chuckle.

"And that's how all that happened. Beats me how she got the Baron to believe her...and I'm beginning to think she was tailing Ted-trying to get his goat, if you know what I mean...letting him see her doing stuff he wouldn't like."

Peter, at the end of the story, blew his nose rather loudly, evidently attracting the attentions of Lily, Savannah and Sandra, for they made their way over to the fire, looks of concern manifesting themselves in diverse ways upon equally diverse faces.

"What's wrong?" Lily asked gently, taking a chair next to Peter.

James opened his mouth, and in an instant Remus predicted what his friend would say.

'Nothing we can't handle, Evans'...honestly. Now is not the time to make an idiot of yourself, Prongs.

He followed the first impulse that came to him, kicking James in the shin. For another second James' eyes seemed to cloud...it was like watching a rusty muggle machine kick into gear.

"Bellatrix messed with Peter," James said, swallowing.

I hope that was his pride.

He seemed to be searching for words, and not finding any. Though Remus could not actually see Sirius, he knew the taller boy had picked up on James' difficulty as well, and hoped that-because Peter was involved-Sirius would not take this opportunity to make sport of augmenting that difficulty. He was relieved to see he had been right when Sirius picked up for James, vaulting over Remus' head into view.

"My prat of a cousin used Peter to break up Andromeda and Ted...least, that's what it looks like." He answered, making direct eye contact with Lily, as though daring her to challenge any of his friends.

"Andromeda...Andromeda...not a name you'd think I'd forget," Sandra mused. "Who's she? I know Ted. He's captain for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team."

"Tonks' girlfriend," Lily responded, looking up from her chair to Sandra's dark skinned face.

"Really Lily?" Savannah said, making her own jump onto the arm of Lily's chair, where she perched comfortably. "I never would have gotten that. See, when he said they broke up, I thought-" The light sarcasm was cut off by its target.

"Right...Andromeda's Sirius' other cousin, Sandra," Lily tried for a slightly better explanation. "She's Bellatrix' older sister-she's Head Girl."

Sirius gave him a quick, meaningful glance, and Remus knew it wasn't just his heightened sensitivity to sound that had conveyed the envy in Lily's last three words.

"D'you know Derra O'Reilly?" Remus asked to lead into the fuller story.

"Of course...that airhead. She's awful...always trying to 'date up'," comprehension suddenly dawned in Lily's willow leaf green eyes. "Oh...I'm sorry Peter...that wretched girl." she finished very genuinely. Despite her faults, Remus knew Lily was really a...nice was the only word for it-person. Unfortunately, Lily knew it too.

"I'm fine," Peter sniffed "I...well...its not my best day, you know?" he was closing up a little, with the girls now present.

"I'm lost," Savannah put in. "Why doesn't anyone explain anything around here?"

"THANK YOU!" Remus enthused, and Sirius and James began to laugh...even Peter giggled, but Lily sent James a disgusted glare and leaned over to pat Peter's arm.

"I've got you covered," Sandra intoned to Savannah-presumably unaware that Remus could hear them. "I'm guessing O'Reilly got with Peter, and somehow the double S-sorry, that's what we call Bellatrix, she's seeker for Slytherin-used that to break up Tonks and her sister."

"Say no more," Savannah replied in an equally low tone. "I can definitely see Bellatrix pulling that off."

"So we're just deciding what hex to use on the bat," growled Sirius

"I still like my veritaserum idea," Remus put in

"How about it Evans...want to help us out?" James inquired. Remus could have smacked him. Suicide Prongs, Suicide! Don't call her by her surname you hopeless dolt! You've known her for six years!

Totally understandably, Lily's eyes hardened into jade shards, and she rose quickly.

"No, I'm afraid I don't have too much interest in helping you lot beat up a little girl," she said simply. "Peter-be mature about this. Don't let them." She turned on her heels and walked quickly to the portrait hole, swinging it open and looking back.

Sandra rose, and with a shrug to Remus and a glare to James, followed her friend.

Lily sent an urgent look to Savannah, who didn't appear to see, and, as though the room was filling with noxious fumes, Lily led Sandra away.

"Well? Aren't you going to tell us we're being immature gits and storm off with your friends?" James asked Savannah coldly.

"And miss an opportunity like this? Are you kidding me? Bellatrix will rue the day she messed with a Gryffindor."

Remus felt an absurd surge in the region of his heart at hearing the words 'rue the day' in Savannah's voice-something he found oddly soothing.

"Don't worry about Lily, she's just dealing with a lot right now. I like the veritaserum idea, but that's hard to come by...it gave me one though...an idea, that is. Maybe we can't get veritaserum, but Ludo Bagman's been rattling on about Frank and Alice for a while now, and part of his 'inside information' as he calls it is that Alice saw a boggart in the castle the other week...evidently-" Savannah lowered her voice conspiratorially, but Remus cut her off.

"The thing Alice fears most is Frank getting hurt! Brilliant! And so you're saying..."

"That we get our hands on that boggart and set it loose in the Slytherin Common Room...if we can get in. What would hit that girl worse than her whole house seeing what she fears most? She hates looking weak."

Sirius stared at Savannah as though she had just told him he was to become ruler of known universe.

James was speechless.

"Well, Rowena's out of a title. There's a new winner for 'Most Brilliant Witch Ever'," Remus said in awe. Though he had seen where she was going, or thought he had, actually hearing her explain her plan had left him awestruck.

"I could kiss you," Peter added in a similar tone.

"Best idea you've had in a long time, Worm," Sirius said, and did just that.

Savannah blushed as the dark-haired boy withdrew.

James, if possible, looked even more dumbstruck. Peter began to laugh, and Remus, not knowing quite what to do, joined him.

"This is bloody awesome," Savannah intoned for what Remus was fairly certain had to be the five thousand, three hundred and twenty fourth time.

"I still can't believe you guys get to do this all the time..." They were under the invisibility cloak-Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs and Savannah. She had insisted firmly upon joining them in their search for the boggart, and truth be told, none of them had really been all that enthusiastic in their protests.

"Why're you so sure you know where we're going, Moony?" Sirius asked, though not irritably as one might have expected. Rather, he seemed to have no problem whatsoever sharing a cramped space with Savannah.

"I'm not really. I told you though, Alice said something about the third floor that day, remember?"

"And so we're going to check every small, enclosed area in every bloody room on the third floor?"

"Do you have a better plan?"

Sirius fell silent.

"Here's the first one," Peter mumbled, and opened a classroom door. Inside stood some chairs, a desk, and a cupboard. He turned to Remus, and looked at him expectantly.

Stretching out with his sense of hearing, Remus allowed the sounds of the room, of the corridor, to flow around him...silence...the hum of the night, but nothing more...Sirius' heavy breathing...nothing from that particular cabinet though.

He shook his head, and they backed clumsily out of the room. It was interesting. Though years of practice had given the four of them perfect synergy in their movements, the introduction of an unknown variable-Savannah-threw them off balance.

"Moony, you're the only person I've ever seen apply the expression 'to crane one's neck' to ears," James joked.

Savannah's eyebrows arched at the nickname, but she wisely said nothing.

Remus again opened himself to the waters of noise, the currents of information that he could float through so calmly...he heard two new sounds, now they were back in the cold, dark, silent corridor. Each coming from a different room...he moved towards the first, and the others followed closely.

"Wormtail," he whispered, after turning the knob of the nearest door to no avail. Peter withdrew his wand, and touched it twice, muttering "Allohomora". The door swung open. Two people who had been standing very close together at the other end of the abandoned classroom looked up, startled. Biting his lip to suppress a snicker, Remus recognized the Ravenclaw chaser Emmeline Vance-her flush visible even in the dark-and that same team's keeper, Brian O'Conner, who, though he had looked to the door instantly, had not taken his hands off her.

Silently the quintet stole backwards into the corridor and made a turn into the next classroom, which was thankfully unlocked. About to burst, Remus muttered "Colloportus," as quickly as he could, and then burst into a fit of silent laughter.

James drew a sort of cross against the now sealed door with his wand, making it soundproof, and then doubled up as well.

"Emma! Emma!" Savannah laughed "Oh, Its about time! She's been denying she fancies O'Conner since last year!" She leaned on Sirius' shoulder for support, an action that made his black eyes shine.

"I suppose we shouldn't have walked in on them snogging like that," Peter managed between giggles "But did you see his face?"

"Like he'd seen a ghost! Actually," Sirius pointed out fairly "That's probably what he thought happened...can you imagine if Peeves walked in on something like that?"

A downright malicious grin appeared on his face.

"Oh no you don't, Padfoot," Remus said, still snickering "That's just evil."

A loud thud came from the other end of the room, and as one, the five turned.

A large grandfather clock had crashed to the ground, and was shaking violently.

"I think we've found our boggart," James sounded quite pleased. "Everyone remember how to deal with it? Good. On my mark..." he aimed his wand at the clock "Get set..." "Oh, wait!" Sirius interrupted him, and removed a shoebox from his robes, setting it on nearby chair, and earning odd stares from Remus and Peter.

"Now!" James flicked his wand, and the clock opened up. There was a loud crack, and suddenly Lily was standing in the room, looking coldly at James.

"Yes, I'm going with Severus. He's sweet, handsome, and-"

"RIDDIKULUS!" James roared, and Lily's hands suddenly dripped with grease. She made a disgusted noise and shook them. James began to giggle, as did Sirius.

"Aww," was Savannah's comment. "So that's what you fear most James?" her voice was about to overflow with mischievous glee. "Lily dating Snape? How sweet...in a sort of stalker-y way."

Sirius laughed harder, the boggart-Lily was backing against a wall now, and James was turning a brilliant shade of crimson.

Remus, realizing he had to get the boggart into the shoebox, circled around, pointing his wand at it from behind.

CRACK

Albus Dumbledore stood in front of him, a look of deep disappointment etched on his elderly face. Remus' heart sank as though the Mafia had tied it to a cement block.

"Why did you do it Remus? I trusted you. You have been given a home here when any other would have turned you away-" This was not for Savannah to hear, and Sirius and James seemed to have registered that before it began, as they were making a good deal of noise at the other end of the classroom. Peter, on a signal from James, was advancing on the boggart-Dumbledore, trembling slightly.

"And you have led your friends into greater danger than you know. Though the animagi transformation is a very difficult one-and they are to be commended for their achievement, it is an extremely hazardous spell as well." Remus felt awful. It was all too easy for him to imagine Dumbledore saying these things-remaining kindly even while expressing regret at trusting Remus. The words hurt worse than his monthly transformation.

"Riddikulus!" Peter cried, now standing next to him. The boggart turned to face the smaller boy, and there was another loud crack.

A giant black dog sat on the floor where Dumbledore had stood a moment before. Peter dropped his wand.

Though James and Sirius were looking at each other with confusion, something clicked for Remus.

A Grim. He fears Death above all else...that's silly of him...he rebuked himself instantly what a cruel thing to say, Moony! But it's true...

"Peter. Imagine that it's Sirius," he whispered. Peter, face pale and hands trembling, nodded and reclaimed his wand.

"Riddikulus!" he said again, firmly. The grim suddenly did a summersault and transformed into their black haired friend, who bore a goofy look on his face.

"Oy, is that really how I look?" Sirius said from the other end of the room, running his hands through his hair, and circling the boggart. "D'you think I ought to cut my hair..."

CRACK

As Sirius had come closer to the Boggart, it had transformed again. James lay on the floor, glasses askew, clearly dead.

Sirius jumped back and glanced up at the real James, as though looking for confirmation that he was still alive and breathing.

"Riddikulus!" Sirius barked.

CRACK

Remus had the distinctly eerie experience of seeing his own corpse lying before him on the ground.

"RIDDIKULUS!" Boggart-Remus suddenly began to sing-very loudly and very off key-"Oh don't sit under the apple tree/

with anyone else but me/

anyone else but me/

anyone else but me..."

The five of them began to laugh so hard that the boggart began to tremble. It was drawing itself towards the shoebox-the nearest confined, dark hiding place. Savannah ran in, and waved her wand.

CRACK

The boggart suddenly took on Savannah's own shape, but distinctly older, though not by much. In this form she appeared to be in her late teens, and Remus guessed Savannah's fear would have to do with graduating. Boggart-Savannah held a stack of books, just as the real one often did, but when Remus looked, he saw that they were merely textbooks on assorted school subjects. Looking into seventh-year Savannah's eyes, he saw that the sparkle, the creative gleam that was so much a part of the real Savannah, was absent. Rather her eyes were dull and clouded.

"Riddikulus!" she shouted, though there was a distinct tremble in her voice.

"RIDDIKULUS!" Though the change was not drastic, something seemed to come over the boggart-Savannah, and the glint of mischief had returned. The books suddenly flew from her hands and turned into jelly. Lime jelly.

For a moment they all stared. Then Remus began to laugh so hard he felt his heart would burst. Savannah and James roared with laughter as well, and Sirius shook his head in commiserating way to Peter.

James advanced, as did Remus.

CRACK

The boggart had become Lily again...but with Albus Dumbledore's beard. It took one look at the five fifth years and decided it had had enough. Quickly it disappeared into the shoebox, which Savannah spello-taped shut.

Slowly the giggles subsided, and James, who stood next to Peter, whispered "Why're you afraid of Sirius, mate?"

Peter seemed unsure of how to answer, but Remus moved his head slightly but sharply to one side, and James gave a miniscule nod, and walked over to take the shoebox from Savannah.

There was a moment of awkwardness. The last ten minutes had been exhilarating, yes, and amusing, but revealing as well. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs certainly didn't mind baring their souls to each other-they did it on a daily basis-but Savannah was not really a part of the group, and she had seen deep inside of them just now, and they inside her.

"Right then," James broke the silence. "Remus is...umm...familiar with the Slytherin Common Room, he can show us around when we set this guy loose. When shall we go?"

"As soon as possible," Savannah replied eagerly. "I'd say tomorrow would be fine...no clubs meet on Sunday, s'far as I know, so we'd be assured a full house...no pun intended."

Sirius gave a short, sharp laugh. "Then it's settled. We'll meet tomorrow evening."

"Right after dinner, outside the great hall," Remus added.

"Cool," James said "Bellatrix-you're going down."

"You don't mess with Worm and get away with it. Not while I'm around," Sirius put in.

"We'll see who pulls the strings this time," Peter squealed.

Savannah nodded firmly "You've chosen the wrong Gryffindor to jerk around,"

Wonderful! Its like a group howl! I've seen wolves doing this! The alpha always starts off, and the others join in with their voices!

"Woe betide you, Bellatrix, for you have done ill to the champions of darkness, and now we must joust in a resin-black arena," Remus added his own bit, and earned himself odd looks from all four of the others.

Once more the five Gryffindors stood under the invisibility cloak, but this time in the brightly lit Slytherin common room, none making so much as the sound of a heavy breath. They had slipped the boggart into Snape's potions cupboard, and had only to wait and watch now. Mulciber, Avery, Cantry, King and Broder were clustered around Lestrange (Gudgeon had gone into the dorms), discussing the merits of Durmstrang when compared to Hogwarts.

"Discipline here is far to lax!" Lestrange could be heard to say. It was becoming his motto. The iguana like first year and his friends were again in the chairs by the fire. Derra O'Reilly and a group of her fellow fourth years were gossiping heatedly, and Snape sat alone in a chair, reading a book in what appeared to be Greek.

The entrance opened to reveal their target-but there was something different in those haughty, ebony eyes. Something fuller...Remus was intrigued, but didn't have much time to ponder it, for, from the back, they heard a piercing screech.

Gudgeon, evidently, had discovered the boggart. He came tearing out from the dormitory, and behind him came galloping a furious roan centaur, arrow notched into bow. Hurling himself past a somewhat confused Bellatrix, Gudgeon made it into the hallway-the centaur turned, and sighted the group now advancing on it-Lestrange, followed by Mulciber and, separately, Snape.

"It is just a boggart," hissed Snape

"Of that I am well aware," Rodolphus said harshly "At my old school-"

"I'm sure we will be happy to hear about how tough you were back at your old school in a moment, Rodolphus, I'm certain you ate boggarts for snack foods, or some such. But now is not the time," Snape responded, and Mulciber chuckled.

"Riddikulus!" Bellatrix cried, after casting an exasperated glance at the arguing boys.

CRACK

For an instant Remus panicked. Sirius appeared to have blown their cover. He was standing in front of Bellatrix. But a sharp intake of breath behind him confirmed that this was merely Bella's boggart.

"You're nothing to me," the Sirius-boggart growled coldly. "You are an insignificant little girl. Get out of my way before I hex you. You're as weak as Snivellus."

Remus was shocked. He knew Bella and Sirius had been close as children, but he never thought that she had cared that much for his best friend. That, years after they had sworn themselves enemies, she still feared his scorn more than anything else.

"Riddikulus!" Bellatrix shouted again, and for the first time his life, Remus heard her cold, silky voice break.

CRACK

The boggart-Sirius had become Andromeda.

One look at the apparition's eyes told him what was going on. They seemed to see right through Bellatrix, as though she were less than no one. To his astonishment, Bellatrix spoke, voice quavering. Suddenly she seemed very fragile-a fourteen-year-old girl, not the evil, twisted, manipulating fiend he knew so well. It was as though the mere idea of that look from Andromeda was enough to tear her twisted heart to shreds.

"'Meda please, please," she was whispering almost desperately "'Meda, its Bella. 'Meda..." her voice broke, and she fell to her knees. The boggart spoke in Andromeda's voice, but without any trace of warmth or affection.

"I'm sorry Bellatrix. I'm not a Black anymore. I give this up. I give you up,"

"RIDDIKULUS" roared Rodolphus Lestrange, and the Boggart instantly shifted to the form of a twelve-foot tall hooded figure...a Dementor.

"Riddikulus!" he said again, and there was a loud crack. The Dementor was suddenly wearing fur-lined robes, and shivering. Remus thought he could hear teeth chattering beneath the hood. Rodolphus gave a Sirius-like bark of laughter, and waved his wand again. The Dementor/Boggart fled through the open door, which he kicked shut behind it. Bellatrix, in a state of something close to shock, moved towards the fireplace where the first years were sitting.

"Anyone who does not move now will wish their mother had had the foresight to drown them at birth," she snarled. The chairs were emptied in a flash.

The Slytherin boys retreated to their table, Snape returned to his book, and the sounds of the room reemerged, but Bellatrix Black sat by the fire and wept.