"what am I supposed to do, I cant just not do my perfect duties"
"Uh moony, maybe you havent realized but you cannot, under any circumstance do your perfect duties tonight" Peter said for what felt like the 20th time
"Remus, just go and talk to McGonagall" James suggested
"I cant, if she didn't realize it was the full moon tonight she must have a lot on her plate. I don't want to disrupt her"
"Arrughgrhugh, Pete would you mind getting us some food, I have a feeling this could be going on for a while" James sighed
You see, Remus Lupin had been rostered on for perfect duties tonight, however tonight was also the full moon. So if Remus were to stay then he would turn into a werewolf. Minerva McGonagall always made sure that he was never busy on a full moon, but tonight was the time where she stuffed up. Of course McGonagall has a lot on her plate though, so its not her fault
Remus knew that there was no possible way to stay here and do his duties but he also didn't want them to be left undone, what if someone was in trouble in the corridors late at night and he wasn't there, or what if one of the first years got lost. what in merlins name was he going to do.
"Would you please stop worrying, McGonagall is going to understand why you weren't there moonkins"
"Eurgh, 1st of all, its not about McGonagall, what if something happens and I wasn't there to help, 2nd of all, please stop with the nicknames" Remus looked at sirius with pleading eyes
"Mooncake"
"No"
"Moonpie" Sirius raised an eyebrow in question
"stop"
"Remikins!" Sirius widened his eyes
"Please, just call be my name or moony pads"
"Yes please, I know I'm your best friend and all but I can't take you calling Moony one of those horrendous nicknames anymore" James threw his pillow at Sirius
"ugh fine, that's no fun though"
Peter came back with the food and they all spent their afternoon trying to get Remus to stop worrying, it was working when
"I HAVE AN IDEA" James shouted across the room
"could you possibly tell us that idea in hushed tones" Sirius asked
"SHHHH, okay so Remus, you can't be a perfect tonight as you are preoccupied with plans to turn into a werewolf, yet you wanna make sure someone is out being a perfect incase someone needs help, yet you cant get someone else to do it since they will ask why you cant"
"Yes Prongs, we have been talking about this for the past 2 hours" Remus rolled his eyes
"What if, and hear me out, I be your temporary perfect fill in for tonight"
The room was silent ... for about 10 seconds
"You know, that may work, what do you say moony" Sirius looked over to Remus
"I- well, I mean, Yeah, it could work, and you would be there to help people. Yeah, lets do that" Remus smiled
"Okay, so all you need to do is give me your badge before you head down to the shrieking shack-"
"Just to uh, interrupt. Im still onboard to become Animagus so you won't be alone" Sirius interjected
"I disagree, its illegal and you could get hurt"
"I dont care, were doing it and you cant stop us. Were pretty much almost there, were just waiting on peter, honeybuns"
"Sirius, we were keeping that a secret" James wacked him
"Shit, sorry"
"Please stop with the nicknames!, and you guys are seriously willing to do that for me"
'Of course, and I've nearly got it. I sure that by next full moon Ill be able to do it Remus" Peter said timidly
Remus looked at all his friends + boyfriend, his marauders with awe
"Anyway back to my plan, so you give me your badge and then I just head out and walk around and help people"
They all agreed on that idea and so it was final, tonight, James Fleamont Potter was going to become a perfect!.....temporarily
------------------------ That Night -------------------------
James had been walking around hogwarts for around an hour now. According to Remus he only needed to be out for around an hour and a half, so he thought he should stay out just a little longer. He went to go to where the footsteps were coming from, thinking that it could be someone who needed help. However when he rounded the corner he was face to face with Filch.
"Impersonating a perfect, thats no good" He snarled
"Im not impersonating, im a perfect for tonight"
"Whatever kid"
Filch grabbed James by the arm and lead him to McGonagall's office. He threw upon the door and presented James to McGonagall
"What is the meaning of this, Argus" She sighed
"Precious James here is pretending to be a perfect, no doubt so he can set up more dungbombs in my office"
"Is that what you were doing potter?"
"What no, Im a temporary perfect, remember" He stared into McGonagall's eyes
"I don't seem to recall appointing you as such"
"You know professor, Sirius told me that there is a star that represents him and his brother, how crazy is that. Yeah you can see it right there, next to the full moon"
unfazed McGonagall continued
"Argus, you are dismissed" Filch's smile faltered
"Surely you want me to stay for the punishment"
"There will be no punishment, you caught a perfect doing their job at night, thats not against the rules"
"I- but professor"
"Uh, I said you were dismissed, goodbye Argus"
Filch grumbled something about marauders and pranks on his way out
"Have a biscuit potter"
James smiled brightly, McGonagall always had his favourites. She gestured for him to sit down, and so he did.
"In the morning, if you would tell Lupin I'm sorry, I'd very much appreciate it." She continued on in a quiet voice "I thought it was still three days away, I just don't know how I didn't realize"
"Its okay professor, you must have a lot on your plate"
She smiled, a real, genuine smile. James was quite shocked to be honest, he'd never seen her show emotion before
"You are dismissed James, and please don't forgot to tell Remus I am sorry"
It was that night that James realized that McGonagall really loved each and everyone of the kids at Hogwarts
The next morning, when miss Pomfrey allowed, he went and told Remus about last nights events, and that McGonagall said she was sorry. Of course James wasn't surprised when he saw Sirius was there, but was confused as to why madam Pomfrey let him in so early. Once last nights events, they all went to the great hall for some late breakfast.