A new morning in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Slytherin hourglass tallying the points was filled to the brim and some emeralds were even scattered around on the floor. The whole student body and teachers were baffled by this event.
Most students were eyeing Professor Slughorn and deemed him as the culprit.
“I’m not saying he did it Albus, but can you think of any other person?” McGonagall reasoned with Dumbledore. “Minerva, he has been a professor for years and we all know his hobby is collecting people, a trivial thing like house points does not matter to him.”
“Then what do you think happened?” McGonagall asked. “I’m sure there is a perfectly reasonable excuse for this” Dumbledore answered with a twinkle in his eyes. Minerva thought he looked like he was enjoying a personal joke but knew better than to ask him.
James was in a good mood. He walked into the great hall with a mischievous grin. He did not notice the tense environment until he sat down and saw his dormmates' faces.
“What happened, why is everyone looking so tense?” James asked no one in particular. “Slytherin house hourglass is overflowing with points but I’m damn sure it is some shady business by that Snivellus.” Sirius gritted his teeth.
Upon hearing this James suddenly went pale and avoided Sirius’ eyes. “Oh yeah, it was definitely him.” James choked out. “Are you ok prongs?” Sirius asked concerned about him. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine just sleepy.” James exaggerated a yawn. Sirius looked at him suspiciously but let it go in favor of glaring at the Slytherin table.
While walking towards the transfiguration class James pulled aside Remus. “Moony, I have to tell you something.” “Are you finally gonna tell me why you acted so shifty during breakfast” Remus inquired. James ran his hand through his hair messing up his already messed hair. “Stop doing that it already looks like a niffler’s nest, just tell me what happened” Remus scolded.
James exhaled “Well you know how head boy and head girl can add and deduct house points too.” “Yes?” “I might be responsible for the Slytherin house points” James finally said with his eyes closed. “What?” Remus asked slowly “Care to explain.”
“You see I was fooling around with this person and things got a little heated and I got carried away and I might have given 100 points to Slytherin….multiple times” James breathed out hurriedly. “Prongs what the hell, how are we supposed to fix it.” Remus groaned. Then suddenly, “Is this person regulus by any chance?” Remus asked carefully.
“How did you know?” James asked wide-eyed. “No Jamie what did you do, Pads is gonna flip out.” Remus said while pinching his nose bridge.
“That is not the concern right out, the whole school is freaking out, I came to you because you’re supposed to be smart, please help me moony!!” James pleaded pathetically. Just then Sirius came back looking for them, “Hey what are guys doing, are you planning a prank without me?”
“No pads, of course not.” James said with fake enthusiasm. “Ok, let’s go or Minnie will give us detention.” Sirius ignored the weird display and pulled James with him who avoided eye contact with him.
James couldn’t decide whether he would go to McGonagall or Dumbledore. On the one hand, Minnie was strict but fair and also the head of his house, and on the other hand, Dumbledore certainly had a sense of humor but he was also the headmaster of Hogwarts and couldn’t be expected to let this misdemeanor go lightly.
James was sitting on the astronomy tower mulling over his choices when he felt a presence behind him. He felt that certain someone hug him from behind and James melted in his embrace. “Hey love, it seemed like a tough day.” Regulus mumbled softly. James nodded “It was killing me to not look at you the whole day.” “I’m here now, darling.” Regulus assured him.
They sat like this for a while and then James asked for regulus’ opinion about who he should go to about the hourglass debacle. “I think you should go to Professor McGonagall, she’s strict but she has a soft spot for you and she will definitely defend you if Dumbledore decides to punish you severely.” Regulus said. James nodded thoughtfully.
After sitting in silence for a few moments, they heard a commotion behind them. “C’mon pads, calm down, do you want Mrs. Norris to catch us” Remus whispered urgently. But Sirius stomped towards James and Regulus and yelled “MY BABY BROTHER, PRONGS YOU DIRTY BROTHERFUCKER.” James stood up to calm down Sirius and asked “How did you come here.” Sirius shouted, “Here I was concerned for you and looking at the map and What I see is you hanging out with my brother, still I thought maybe I’m thinking wrong and they just met by chance but I walk in on you CANOODLING MY BABY BROTHER.” Regulus jumped to his feet and shouted “WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BABY AND FYI I APPROACHED HIM FIRST” “DOESN’T MATTER YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO FUCK YOUR BESTFRIEND’S FAMILY AND EXES” “OI WHO ARE YOU TO MAKE THAT DECISION, I LIKE HIM AND HE LIKES ME”
“What in the bleeding hell Is going on here?” Filch thundered from the door of the tower. Remus groaned “Wow, this is fantastic.” He muttered silently. Sirius and Regulus looked down guiltily and James looked like a deer caught in headlights.
“Been a while since I caught students out of bed” Filch rubbed his hands sadistically. “This is gonna be fun” he laughed.
Soon they were taken to the headmaster and their head of houses were also called Slughorn still looked half asleep and Mcgonagall looked exasperated to be woken up in the middle night because of the marauders. She has honestly lost count of how many times they have stood in this exact position.
“What seems to be the issue here?” Dumbledore looked at the people in front of him through his half-moon spectacles. “These students were out of bed after curfew and causing a racket up on the astronomy tower” Filch said smugly.
“Mr. Potter, you are the head boy, all the younger students look up to you and you are supposed to guide them, but you are having difficulty in growing up and being a responsible individual.” Mcgonagall scolded James. James cringed at her tone and seemed to grow smaller into himself.
“It was my fault Professor” Regulus piped up to save James “I had a slight disagreement with my brother and Potter & Lupin were just caught in the crossfire, they had nothing to do with it.” Sirius did not say anything he just fumed silently and occasionally glared to James and Regulus.
“Whatever it may be Mr. Black, it can be solved during school hours, there is no justification for breaking the curfew.” Mcgonagall said strictly. “All of you will serve a week’s worth of detention with the Professors and Mr. Potter your head boy privileges will be revoked until I deem you responsible enough again.” Dumbledore said in a tone that brooked no argument. All of them nodded silently. “Now is there anything else, anyone would like to say?” Dumbledore asked while looking at James.
James spilled out everything, Mcgonagall and Slughorn looked appalled to say the least. Dumbledore looked like he was trying not to laugh. Filch was scandalized that such an event had taken place while he was on patrol. It was a good thing he wasn’t in charge of the punishments.
James got an extra month of detention for the mishap. Sirius wouldn’t look at him while walking towards the dorm. After reassuring regulus that he would be fine and not to worry he followed Moony and Padfoot to the Gryffindor tower.
“I’m sorry pads” he blurted out as soon as they walked into the room. Sirius sighed and said “I don’t mind that you’re dating my brother, he could do a lot worse than you, I’m just hurt you thought you couldn’t tell me about it.” Sirius said sadly.
“We just wanted to be sure about us before we told you, we didn’t exactly have a romantic beginning.” James said reluctantly. “What do you mean?” Sirius blinked owlishly. “Well…..honestly it just started with snogging and sha…” “LA LA LA LA, I don’t want to hear it you pervs” Sirius screamed. Remus and James cracked up at his reaction.
The next morning, Hogwarts woke up to see the Slytherin hourglass restored to it’s accurate points and none were the wiser. Rumor mill said the charm on the hourglass has failed temporarily and repaired by Professor Filtwick. But we know better, don’t we.