Lady stardust

"Exactly, Marls, than I-" James laughed, entrenched in conversation with Marlene, but quickly paused seeing Snape walk in. In fact, everyone froze; the Great Hall was silent.

Suddenly, everyone burst into laughter. "Bahah, Singing Sev," Marlene laughed loudly. "Whoever cursed his broomstick was a genius!" A red-haired 3rd year giggled. James grinned at Sirius, who grinned at Peter, who grinned at Remus. "The Marauders are genius," Sirius said quietly enough for only them to hear.

Ever since the incident, Snape had become more hostile, calling them slurs and casting petty curses like Levicorpus, turning their hair different colors, and whatnot.

"You degenerate low-life whore," he mumbled as Sirius and James walked by. "Aww, he called me a whore," Sirius said to James. "Sniv, you think I'm pretty then," he snickered, turning back to Snape.

As much as Sirius pretended Snape didn't bother him, it was getting quite annoying, and he had this feeling that Snape was planning something.

———11

Halloween was fast approaching, and, to Remus's luck, the full moon was on the same night. "Just my luck," he groaned. "Yeah, that sucks, but don't worry, I will be there," Sirius reminded him.

James noticed Regulus up ahead, seemingly avoiding him. "Reg, reg!" he called, running up to the boy and pulling him away. Narcissa glared at them, but James just smiled.

"Oh, erm, hi James," Regulus mumbled. "How have you been? It's been a while since we've hung out. Are you okay?" James asked.

For the last two months or so, Regulus had been close and affectionate with James, but in the second half of October, he became very cold.

Regulus guiltily looked up at James. "It's complicated," he whispered. "What's wrong? Please, what did I do? Was it the Snape thing?" James asked worriedly.

Regulus's eyes were watery. "No, no, it's not you, just..." he said nervously. "I'm sorry," he whispered, running off as tears stung his eyes.

"Did you do it?" Narcissa asked sadly.

"Yeah, I think he gets the hint," Reg responded. Narcissa paused. "I'm sorry it had to be this way," she said uncomfortably. "God, I hate this family," he muttered under his breath.

James solemnly walked back to a shocked-looking Remus and a furious-looking Sirius. "What happened?" James asked, worried for his friends. "Snape," Sirius snarled. "Fucking Snape came up to us and said—" Sirius started to say before being cut off. "Look, Sirius, it doesn't matter; he's a fucking asshole," Remus muttered as he walked away.

"What the hell happened?" James asked when Remus was out of earshot. Sirius looked around and quickly cast Muffliato. "Me and Remus walked by him, so obviously I flipped him off. He just got this weird smirk on his face and said, 'Oh, fuck off, you half-blood faggot. No wonder your parents abandoned you, you pathetic excuse for a wizard. Why don't you go scar up your face more?'" Sirius quoted, getting more and more agitated.

James was shocked and furious. "What the fuck, how dare he!" James exclaimed. "Yeah, it's fucking messed up. How did he know about Remus being left by his parents?!" Sirius raged on.

James shrugged. “I don't know, man, but we have to do something! How upset was Moony?” James asked. “Pretty pissed off. I think he is more mad that Snape knew about his parents more than anything,” Sirius said, trying to calm himself by tapping his foot. “Yeah, we have to do something about this! I know what we did was mean and all, but this is a different level!” James raged on. Sirius nodded. “Leave it up to me,” he muttered.

“Hey, how was Reg, by the way?” Sirius asked when they made it back to the common room. “Oh, I'm not too sure; he's acting off. I mean, for a while, everything was amazing and perfect, but I think he's been ignoring me lately, and today when I asked what was wrong, he just started crying and said, ‘I'm sorry,’” James said, concerned. “Oh god, my parents probably have something to do with this,” Sirius groaned. “I fucking hope not,” James mumbled.

“It will be fine; it always ends up alright with him,” Sirius said, trying to smile. “Yeah, I hope you're right,” James sighed.

————

“Happy Halloween!” James cheered the next morning, waking up early. “What the hell,” Remus groaned, sitting up. “Woopy,” Sirius groaned sarcastically. “Come on, mates, it's Halloween; we have to start early,” James reminded them, rolling his eyes. “Come on, let's go down to Hogsmeade for breakfast!” James cheered.

“It's a fucking full moon tonight; I'm tired and feel dead; let me sleep,” Remus groaned. “Okay, moons can stay, but the rest of you, let's go, and let's invite the girls! Oh, and Reg!” He added happily.

“Alright, alright,” Sirius sighed, getting out of bed.

James was already changed, wearing his favorite pair of cuffed blue jeans and a Fleetwood Mac shirt with a flannel thrown over the top. Sirius threw on a black Queen shirt and leather pants, while Peter picked a blue turtleneck.

“Bye, moons, see you tonight,” Sirius said softly, kissing Remus's forehead. “Mhm,” Remus muttered contently.

“Now off to breakfast!” James cheered, dragging Peter out of the room.

Marlene and her gang promised to meet them all down there, so all that was left to do was beg Reg to come.

Sirius strolled into the Slytherin common room, a place he was widely hated. “Blood traitor,” he heard as he walked by a group of fourth years.

“Hey, Reg, Reggie,” Sirius called cheerfully, knocking on Reg's door. Instead of Reg opening the door, it was Narcissa. “Oh, you,” Sirius said distastefully; he never really liked his cousins, well, except Andromeda. “Yeah,” Narcissa said bitterly. “Um, I was coming to see if Reg wanted to come to breakfast with me and some friends?” Sirius asked.

Reg took a breath, and Narcissa shot him a stern glare. “No, I can't, sorry,” he mumbled. “Oh, alright, um, James and Pete will be there…” Sirius said tentatively.

Regulus started to fidget with his rings. "Oh, um, can't, sorry,” he muttered. Narcissa looked back at Sirius with a content smile on her face. “Sissa, can I have a word with my brother?” Sirius asked, pushing through the door. “Hey!” Narcissa barked, but it was too late; she was locked out.

“What?” Reg asked. “What's up? You're acting off! You're ignoring James and don't want to come to breakfast!” Sirius exclaimed.

“I'm just busy,” Regulus shrugged. Sirius rolled his eyes. “We both know that's not true,” Sirius sighed. “Look, it's complicated; just leave,” Reg requested, avoiding his brother's gaze. “Not until you tell me what's up!” Sirius pleaded.

Reg got up and left. “See you around, Sirius.”

Sirius defeatedly left the Slytherin common room. “I'm assuming not so good?” James said, sadly smiling. “Yeah, I don't know, sorry,” Sirius sighed. “Well, let's go; I'm sure Marls is waiting,” James sighed, trying to change the subject. “Yeah, you're right.”

The day progressed with normal Halloween activities: breakfast at Hogsmeade, looking at all the decorations the shopkeepers put out, trying to scare Filch, and of course, thinking of ways of getting back at Snivellus. Eventually, Sirius went back up to sit with Remus for a while.

“Hey, Moons, how are you?” Sirius asked, sitting on Remus’s bed. “Alright,” he mumbled, sitting up to lean against Sirius. “It will be okay; I'll stay here,” Sirius reminded him. Remus closed his eyes. “Mhmm, that's Sirius. Love you,” he mumbled sleepily. “Love you too.”

Remus thought to could have stayed like that forever all he would ever need was Sirius Black.

————

By dinner that evening, Remus was feeling well enough to attend the yearly Halloween feast in the Great Hall.

It was decked out in big pumpkins, and the ghosts were trying their best to scare the first years. The floating candles were replaced with floating jack-o-lanterns, and a band of banshees were playing music in the front. “This is awesome!” Sirius proclaimed. “It's never been this decked out before!” he grinned, pulling Remus to the table.

The feast was fantastic – pumpkin pasties, cherry tart, with a plethora of assorted foods for the main course. The feast went on until around 7 or so when Remus tapped Sirius’s shoulder. “Time to go?” Sirius asked. Remus nodded.

As they left the Great Hall, Remus was a bit in front of Sirius. “Where are you and that thing off to?” Snape asked slyly. Sirius clenched his fist. “God, Sev, can you—” he got an idea. The Whomping Willow! That would give Snape a good beating, and if he managed to get past that, a werewolf sure would give him a scare. It was perfect.

“Why don't you come to the Whomping Willow in an hour and see,” he smirked. “There's a certain root that I think you would be interested in messing with.” Sirius laughed.

Snape's eyes were wide. “Oh, alright,” he mumbled, wandering off. This was the best prank yet! Sirius smiled to himself, running off to catch up with Remus. “Hey, Moons, wait up!”