The Marauders Era

Sirius sank back in his chair and let out a sigh. One would think it was his herbology essay that was troubling him or that he was spending his Friday evening in the library. However, that was not the case. Tomorrow was the day his little sister was going on her date with her future husband. Just that sentence alone was enough to give him nightmares. Over the past week, he had been trying to get his roommates to go along with his plan to crash the date. However, James shook his head, saying that he didn't want to be on either Cassie's or Lily's kill list; Peter refused because he didn't want Cassie to be mad at him. Frank was trying to get back into Alice's good graces and wouldn't dare to do anything that meant spoiling the magical makeover's purpose. While Remus had just rolled his eyes and returned to the book he had been reading.

For a moment, Sirius had even considered asking his sister's roommates. However, when he mentioned it, Lily's glare was enough to make him drop that idea relatively fast. All said, he had no idea what to do, which again frustrated him to no end, making him let out another sigh.

"Merlins beard Sirius, that's the 11th time in a half-hour. Are you trying to make me come over there and strangle you?" Remus's usually light amber eyes had darkened significantly, and his pale face seemed tired and somewhat annoyed. A strike of guilt immediately filled the curly-haired boy, Remus had gotten released from the hospital wing earlier that day, and the first thing he did was going to the library to make up for the work he lost.

Although he did have the notes, his friends made him, and as much as he was grateful for them, for he was, there were always one or two things that they forgot to write down or had trouble understanding, depending on the subject. However, he should have known that letting Sirius join him wasn't the best idea, as his emotions still hadn't settled back into normal. With the full moon having been just three days earlier, they were all over the place, and patience was not his best quality right now.

"I'm sorry, Remus." The sandy-haired boy rubbed his eyes and let out a sigh himself when he saw the guilty look on his friend's face. "No. I'm sorry for snapping at you. My mood hasn't been the greatest today."

Remus let his eyes linger for a moment on Sirius's face, kicking himself for not noticing the dark rings that were growing under his grey eyes. "Is it bothering you that much?" The dark-haired boy leaned his head back, closing his eyes and let his mind fly around for a moment. Several things were bothering him. Apart from his sister, there was also his brother, who he had seen wandering the corridors along with Crabbe, Rosier, and Snape more often than he would have liked.

Not to mention the hours he had spent at the hospital wing for the last few days. A tiny smile, one that Remus missed, covered his lips as he thought back to yesterday when Madam Pomfrey was inches away from hexing him out of the wing. When he finally returned to the dormitory yesterday evening for the first time since the full moon, Peter took one look at him before turning to James and asked him.

"Do you know this one, Prongs?" James lifted his eyes from the map, staring at the tired-looking boy standing by the entrance, and smiled a somewhat mischievous smile as Sirius recalled. "No, can't say I do. But he does look awfully familiar, Pete, don't you think?" Peter squinted his eyes while looking at Sirius for a moment before he let out a gasp."Merlin, you're right. He looks just like our long lost roommate Sirius."

James moved his glasses higher up on his nose and studied his friend for a moment."Though I haven't seen him for the past two days, so I can't be sure."

"Shove it Prongs, you saw me before lunch."

"At the hospital wing, yeah. But this is the first time in two days that I've seen you in here." Sirius sent a glare towards James before making his way over to his bed, placed between Remus's and James's, and laid down on his back. He closed his eyes for a moment, but all he could see was the frail-looking sandy-haired boy who was currently sleeping alone in the hospital wing.

"Has he been getting any better since lunch?" Peter's voice filled the quiet room. Sirius had not left Remus's side ever since they had arrived at the hospital wing, even going as far as using James cloak at night, so Madam Pomfrey wouldn't notice that he was there.

The other two members had been given the task of taking notes and gathering up Remus's homework in as many classes as they could manage, which seemed more difficult than expected. Still, it was nothing they wouldn't manage with the help of either Cassie or Lily.

"Yeah, Poppy said that he would be released tomorrow evening. She wanted to keep him for a little bit longer to make sure.." He trailed off, and then silence filled the room again, that was until James stood up, his eyes danced across his two best friends, before letting out a slight sigh. He grabbed his grey hoodie and pulled it swiftly over his head, and struggled for a little moment before his shaggy hair popped through the opening. He fixed his slightly crooked glasses and ran a hand through his naturally messy hair, making it yet even more chaotic.

"So, you guys coming?" Sirius raised his head slightly and sent his friend a rather curious look. "Where are we going?"

A smile grew on the messy-haired boy. He took hold of his friend's signature leather jacket and threw it towards him. "To Hogsmede, of course, wouldn't want Moony waking up tomorrow without chocolate." Peter jumped out of bed in joy, pulled on his shoes, and stood next to James before Sirius even had the chance to react. A broad smile grew on the older boy who quickly raised himself from the bedand threw on his leather jacket as elegantly as only Sirius could. The morning after, Remus had woken up with a pile of chocolate bars occupying the table next to him; however, by the time the three boys had come to visit, the werewolf had already eaten half of it.

Sirius's smile grew a few inches as he was glad that they had decided not to bring all the chocolate they had bought and instead had chosen to save some of it. However, he figured that it was probably for the best not to mention it. "I'm just worried about her." He opened his eyes and sat back up, placing his elbow on the table, he moved his palm under his chin to hold his head up.

"I understand that, but stalking them? do you really think that is a good idea?" Remus lifted an eyebrow and gave his friend an uncertain look. Even Sirius had to admit that it was probably not the best idea he had thought of. He knew that it was a terrible idea and would not give anyone a positive outcome. "No, I don't. I just need to make sure that Rabastan's not like his brother." He ran his hands through his hair and let out yet another sigh. Most people knew that the oldest of the Lestrange siblings was exceptionally cruel and a rather big supporter of the death eaters. Chances were that he also had become one, along with his wife, Bellatrix.

"Okay. I have an idea, but for this to work, you have to be completely serious, and we can not bring Peter or James with us."A wicked smile grew on the older boy's lips. Remus rolled his eyes as he could not believe how on earth his friend was so ridiculous. "You know what I mean."

"Okay, what is it?

"We make them think we bumped into them on accident." A few seconds passed before Sirius said anything. "Okay, look, I can't believe that I'm saying this, but are you serious?"

"No, that's you remember." Remus sent the other boy a swift smile, almost feeling proud of himself. However, the other boy just shook his head. "But yes, I am serious. Look, it's not a terrible plan. If you make Cassie think that we accidentally ran into them while they're shopping somewhere, she'll be less likely to think that you're following her or plotting something."

"But why can't James or Peter come with?" Remus raised an eyebrow and sent him the look that he had master so well over the years of being friends with the trio. The look that basically said, you're an idiot right now. "Because, first of all, James is a terrible liar and will be likely to screw it up, and Peter already said that he didn't want to make Cassie mad, which will make him nervous and scared that he will mess it up, which will end in him ratting us out."

Seeing his friend quietly agree with him, Remus decided to share yet another reason while grinning slightly. "Besides, you're way too dramatic when you try to act normal, and I'd say that alone is enough of a challenge."

---------------------------------------

It had been a long time since Cassie had felt this nervous; sure, they had exchanged some letters after the first ones, where they agreed on meeting by the three broomsticks and start with a butterbeer, but still. She let her eyes wander over her reflection, turning swiftly from side to side, inspecting the outfit. As Alice named it, the magical makeover had taken a bit longer than she expected, though she wasn't too surprised as she shared a dormitory with four girls with slightly different tastes in clothing.

Marlene had wanted her to wear a dress but was quickly shot down by Dorcas, who said that it was October and rather cold outside, Cassie, however, had silently thanked Dorcas as dresses were something she didn't mainly wear much unless her mother said so.

She passed Honeydukes, and through the window, she saw a glimpse of her older brother smiling down at Remus, who was too busy trying to figure out which chocolate to buy. Stopping for a moment, she watched as Sirius let out a laugh and put his hand on top of Remus's head and tousled his hair. The shorter boy looked up and pouted. However, the blush was clear as day on his cheeks. A soft chuckle left her as she continued her way to the three broomsticks.

The closer she got, the more nervous she felt, and suddenly she stopped, as there he was. He stood leaned against the wall, right next to the entrance door, his eyes going back and forth, looking among the sea of students. A small smile covered his lips when he saw her. Cassie took a tiny breath and exhaled before walking closer.

"Hey," she cursed herself the moment she opened her mouth, as the words came out sounding shakier than she would have liked. As if sensing her nervousness, Rabastan sent her a soft smile before replying. "Hey, you ready?"

"Yeah. Let's do this."