Before the Moon Rises

BEFORE THE MOON RISES

The Original Plan

Chapter One

"Don't need nothing but a good time

How can I resist

Ain't looking for nothing but a good time

And it don't get better than this."--Poison

January 1978

The Marauders, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, sat at a secluded table in a corner of the darkened Hogwarts library. It was after hours and the Marauders, as usual, were up to no good.

The library was quiet and deserted, as it should be at this hour; most students had retreated to their beds. Sirius and James were bent over an old and ratty copy of Hogwarts, A History snickering. Remus was leaning back in his chair, his light brown hair falling just over his ears and his arms were over his chest, frowning slightly. Peter looked nervous and agitated as he brushed his hand over the Gryffindor crest on his robes.

"What are we doing here?" Peter asked nervously.

"We've already told you, Peter. Didn't you even listen to Sirius' plan?" James replied in irritation.

"Tell me again why this is a good idea?" Remus questioned. James leaned back in his chair casually, messing up his hair absentmindedly--which was a feat among itself because his hair was already sticking out at every known angle.

Sirius smiled, his teeth perfectly straight and white. "Good ol' Remus, always questioning our motives, always the voice of our conscience. We're doing this because it will be funny as hell to get rid of Snape for a little while."

"You're talking about charming a historical book that will trap Snape inside the pages...for how long?" Remus wondered, tapping a finger on his lips in thought; his pale blue eyes were unsure and questioning.

"Who cares?" James replied.

"James, be reasonable. I can't stand Snape as next much as the next bloke, but this seems a little drastic," Remus retorted.

"No it doesn't. It won't hurt him in the least. He won't be able to alter history, just float through the pages, lost like a sad puppy. The charms will wear off after a few days...weeks if we're lucky...and then he'll back to his horrible, greasy self," Sirius said, tapping his wand on the book and whispering another incantation.

"How do you even know it will work? What if he can alter history while he's gone? And what will happen when he returns? Will he come back as if nothing happened or will time have gone on without him?" Remus asked, looking over his shoulder. A strange feeling was forming in the pit of his stomach.

"I don't know if it will work or not. And I seriously doubt he'll be able to change history... Quit worrying so much, Remus. This is going to be fun. And as for what occurs with time while he's gone and what will happen, there's only one way to find out--test it on Snivellus," Sirius flashed his charming smile and lifted his eyebrows up and down quickly.

Remus rolled his eyes and sighed. "I just want it put on record that I think this is a bad idea." Remus looked over his shoulder again. Sirius continued casting charms on the book.

"Opinion noted," Sirius said without looking up.

"Why do you keep looking around, Moony?" James asked, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table.

Remus frowned and leaned closer to James so he could whisper without being heard.

"I feel...weird," Remus whispered.

"Why?" asked James.

"You're being paranoid," Sirius answered nonchalantly.

"What is it, Moony?" James asked again.

"It's just--I get the feeling we're not alone," Remus whispered quickly, glancing around again.

"W-what do you mean?" Peter stuttered.

"I'm glad you said that," James began, "because I've got the very same feeling."

"M-maybe we s-should go," Peter said, standing up quickly and knocking his chair to the ground with a loud slap.

"Damn it, Peter, be quiet!" Sirius barked then lowered his voice. "Madam Pince always spends at least ten minutes in the back storeroom of the library before she makes one last sweep and you know that," he said, now glancing over at Remus and James. "There's no one else here. Quit being so twitchy Peter."

Peter picked up his chair, apologized, and sat back down at the table, while Sirius finished charming the book. Remus kept glancing around and as his eyes rested on a particular shelf, the hair on the back of his neck began to stand on end.

"Listen, Sirius, I'm going to have to go with Remus on this one. I'm getting some really weird vibes right now," James said, fidgeting in his seat.

"Okay okay, I'm done. I can't believe you lot. When did you all become such cowards--" Sirius began saying but he stopped immediately when books on a nearby shelf toppled unexpectedly and very loudly to the floor.

All four boys jumped from the table instantly and bolted for the door. The charmed copy of Hogwarts, A History lay on the table; in their haste, they had forgotten to take the book with them, causing their plan to be forfeited for a time.

Minutes later when Madam Pince swept through the library, she clucked her tongue loudly when she came across a pile of books on the floor. She placed them back onto the shelf in their proper locations before picking up an old and worn out copy of a historical book on Hogwarts. She didn't bother opening it up, merely lifted it and placed it gently back onto the shelf where it belonged. There it sat for many years gathering dust until an unfortunate student came across that very charmed copy, totally unaware of the magic placed inside its pages.