The idea (year 1)
Remus tried to like Severus Snape. He really did. Though it was difficult with the strange rivalry that the Slytherin boy seemed to have created with both James and Sirius who Remus admired so much. The three boys would glare at each other, and yell random insults at each other, and the worst part of it was that Remus kind of understood why. He couldn’t remember exactly how this rivalry began or why it did in the first place but he did know that all three boys could definitely be a pain.
James, although he was caring and funny could often be arrogant and loud. Sirius whose personality was just as big as James’s could sometimes get bad mood swings and anger outbursts. Severus who, according to Lily was a kind and trusting friend (though Remus had never actually witnessed this in person) was often cold and harsh towards pretty much anyone other than a handful of Slytherins and Lily.
On this specific occasion, a few weeks after term had started, Remus and Lily had been studying for Transfiguration in the library, while Severus sat at their table and glowered at his essay not knowing what to write but also not wanting to ask for help, when James, Sirius and Peter walked into the library obviously trying to look casual. James was humming to himself, Sirius was whistling merrily and Peter was sort of bobbing along muttering things to himself like, “oh boy can’t wait to study...and read and not do anything that's against the rules at all.” After that particular sentence Sirius had stepped on Peter's foot and raised his eyebrow at him, furiously. “What the hell was that, Pete?”
“Ow- Sorry ! Jeez.”
Remus looked up at them curiously and watched as the three boys walked over to a shelf and started combing through it. Every once and a while one of the boys would perk up excitedly and show the other two something only for there to be a quick murmur and head shaking before moving on to more books. After a few minutes Lily and Severus had observed the strange behaviour.
“What are they doing? ” Lily hissed.
Severus scrunched his eyebrows together and shook his head slowly. “They’re up to something,” he spat, venomously.
“What? No.” Remus said, although he knew it was true.
Severus turned his black eyes in Remus’s direction and Remus immediately wished he hadn’t said anything.
“You’re just defending them because they’re your dorm mates.”
“No of course not!”
Severus smiled though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh? So you’re telling me you’re friends with these morons. Even better.”
“What? No! No, I’m not.” Remus stammered. The past few weeks Remus spent pretty much all of his time with Lily and Severus. And alh Lily wasn’t paying too much attention to them, her eyes still focused on the three boys.
“Remus,” Lily said finally, “go talk to them.”
“What? I don’t want to.” Remus asked.
“Go on. Ask them what they’re doing. They’re obviously not studying.”
“I don’t know...It’s not really our business.”
Lily gave him a look.
“Besides they probably wouldn’t tell me anyway.” Remus continued.
“Sure they would. They like you.”
“Of course they don’t! Why would they?”
“Well I like you.” Lily shrugged. “Severus likes you.”
Severus sniggered, “Yeah Lupin. I like you. I think you’re great. ”
Remus could feel his face go red at Severus’s sarcasm.
“Fine. I’ll go talk to them.”
- - - -
“Sirius you have got to stop looking like you’re going to wet yourself, mate. Everyone in this library is gonna know you’re up to something if you continue to jump around like that.” James rolled his eyes at his excited dorm mate. Sirius Black was like a ball of energy and coming from James that said a lot. Sirius also had a way of surprising him. Even though the two boys barely met a month ago, Sirius had drawn James in from the very first day on the train. The other boy could get excited about the smallest things, which never ceased to amaze James. The other day he had seen a particularly white owl and hadn’t stopped talking about it all through dinner. When he talked about his brother, his face would light up with pure love. He was loud and confident, sure, but he was also very observant. He was the first one to notice when Peter needed help or James was bored.
James had always prided himself with being able to tell a good character in mere minutes. The second Sirius had set foot in their small compartment, James had known he was special. Right now though, Sirius was going to get them in trouble before they had even started the planning on what they were calling, “The Prank”. Admittedly it wasn’t a very clever name, but it did the job. Besides, why spend time on the name when you could be spending that very time planning the greatest prank in all the history of Hogwarts? That was the philosophy the two boys shared.
“Shut up James! I’m just excited.” He snapped his book shut and looked past James where Peter was crouching on the ground scanning through the bottom shelf. “Oi, Pete is there something useful in that book of yours?”
James shook his head as it was obvious Sirius had no intentions of hiding his excitement in any way.
“Uhhhhh, to be honest I’m not really sure what I’m looking for...there's somethings about growing your fingernails but I don't think that would be very- ”
“Come on Pete anything that can help -”
“Help with what?” Remus Lupin’s voice cut through Sirius’s. James turned around and saw the small boy standing at the end of the bookshelf, wearing an oversized sweater over his school uniform, staring at them with his light brown eyes wide in curiosity. James and Sirius exchanged a look. Sirius gave a slight nod and a shrug.
“Alright, Lupin,” James said, “We’ll tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone else. This is top secret.”
Remus frowned then turned his head to look behind him where Lily and Snape were sitting watching the four of them very closely. Though the moment they realized they were seen they looked down at their books and pretended to read. Remus turned and looked at the three other boys again. Then he gave a big sigh.
“Oh, ok. Yeah uh sure, I don’t really....I don't really want to tell them anyway. So....so what are you lot up to?” Now that he was around the other three boys Remus's voice started going all stuttery and nervous again and he focused his eyes on the book in Sirius's hand.
“Well,” James said rubbing his hands together, and completely ignoring Remus's stammering, “as you are probably aware, Halloween is pretty soon. So, the three of us were planning something for the special occasion.”
“...Something? Like...what?” Remus asked apprehensively.
“Like a prank.”
“A...prank?” Remus asked, not looking very impressed.
“Well, yeah but like a cool prank you know? Something big.”
“Ok....well do you have any ideas yet?” Remus asked, seeming to warm up to the idea.
Once again Sirius and James exchanged a look. Sirius raised his eyebrows at James, what should we tell him?
“Well," James cleared his throat dramatically, "We have uh...we have...we have nothing.”
“Oh.” There was a pause. James nodded, embarrassed and Peters face looked slightly red.
“Well can I help you think of something?” Remus said eventually.
“Ooh yes!” Peter cried. James hesitated. He obviously knew Remus from their dorm as he saw him everyday. He even liked the boy, thinking he was intelligent and sometimes when he slipped up and let his guard down he could even be quite funny. But he never really seemed to fit in with the other three, choosing to rather spend time with Lily and Snape instead. Sirius nudged James's arm and nodded slightly.
“Alright, mate." James nodded grinning. "It’s not like we couldn’t use the help.”
“Yes!” Sirius pumped his fist in the air. “This is gonna be great!”
Remus grinned, and James thought he could see something sparkle in the small boys eyes. And sure enough when James locked eyes with Remus for just split second it was undeniably there. A glint of mischief, right there in the amber of eyes of Remus Lupin.
James raised his eyebrows, surprised that he hadn't noticed it before.
"I think I have an idea..."