Disclaimer: I don't own any of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter characters. I just use 'em for fun. Not money. Besides, I wanted some background on the marauders, so, here we go.





Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Chapter 1: Invisibility Does Have a Few Kinks to Work Out. . .

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"Remus, you're steeping on my foot!"

"Well, it's not like I'm doing it on purpose, Sirius! If Peter'd stop eating all those Chocolate Frogs. . ." came another voice.

"Hey, nobody ever tells you what to eat and what not to eat, Remus!" A squeaking voice piped up, sounding hurt.

"Peter, I'm just saying that you could do without a few of those sweets! Look there, your foots sticking out!"

There was a muffled laugh and a shhhh-ing noise. "Really you three, it's a wonder that Filch hasn't caught us yet with all the noise you're making! The cape is sight proof, not sound proof." All of the boys huddled under the cloak furtively looked around for any sign of the caretaker, and his cat Mrs. Norris. But with no sign, they let out a collective sigh.

"Honestly James," whined Peter, "It's getting to the point that we all can't fit under this thing reasonably! Next year we'll be lucky with just you fitting under it, at the rate you're growing!"

It was true. In the five years that they had attended Hogwart's School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, James had grown to be the tallest and lankiest of them. Not that it didn't help. James was the best seeker that Gryffindor had seen in years, and all that extra height did give him an advantage on the Quidditch field.

"C'mon you three, we've still got a little bit of time to look in the restricted area before Filch or Norris make their library rounds." And without a trace of them ever being in that spot, they headed for the library, only stopped for a moment when Sirius stubbed his toe.

Once up the stairs to the restricted area of the library, James threw the cloak off of them, much to Remus' relief, who looked as if he needed fresh air. The four crept silently up to the bookshelves, searching tattered spines for any sign of a book that might help their problem.

"Just a few more things to find, and then imagine the fun that we'll all have," Sirius Black chuckled. He wasn't as tall as James, but he was built, and looked like he could take on a small army without a wand. His hair hung loosely tied back, wisps of black framing his face.

"I really hope that this doesn't get you guys get into trouble," Remus Lupin began, scratching his sandy brown hair. He was thinner than Sirius, but looked strong in his own way. He smiled broadly. "Wouldn't want you all to get turned into some crazy animal permanently." He leered at Sirius. "But in your case it might be an improvement."

James Potter laughed, as his two friends, started a mock scuffle in the middle of the darkened library. He couldn't help but smile, being surrounded by his closest friends. Ruffling a hand through his unmanageable black hair he turned to Peter. "Having any luck?"

Peter Pettigrew looked up at him with solemn eyes. "I dunno James, I'm always so bad at things like this. . ." The short, pudgy blonde boy then proceeded to pull out a book, which, once out, flipped around and smartly chomped on his fingers. James quickly clapped a hand over Peter's mouth, as he watched the smaller boy stifle a curse. Just as quickly, Remus and Sirius stopped their game, and helped detach the book from his hand. When it was back on the shelf, they didn't even acknowledge the tears in his eyes, having gotten used to it by now.

"I say, why is it everytime that we find a book about turning into an Animagus, there's always ANOTHER book to refer to?" Sirius exclaimed, taking in too many book titles.

"Well, probably so troublemakers like us don't try becoming into them." James grinned. Remus walked to another section of the restricted library, as Peter nursed his aching hand, and tried again to make out the spindly lettered titles, most of which concerned the Dark Arts, and what evil things you could do to others, without having it come back to haunt you.

Peter beamed at James after a moment of searching. "I've already decided what I'm gonna change into." Sirius and James looked questioningly at him, and Remus' eyes sought him out through a gap in the bookshelves.

"Something intimidating? Maybe the Gryffindor lion?" Sirius inquired, and James stifled a giggle. Peter looked a little miffed, but Sirius continued. "Sorry, Peter, but sometimes, you just aren't all that. . ." he searched for the word, ". . . Together. And personally, I think that you should choose something that fits your personality. Like, maybe, a ferret, or, a rabbit. . . or even a-"

"A rat." Peter stated firmly. All three of them looked at him, but only James smiled. "Nobody really ever notices rats. There's loads of them in the castle as people's pets, and really, I think we should at least be a little inconspicuous." Remus nodded, and Sirius could only smile too.

"That's good thinking!" Sirius said, and started his search on the bookshelves again. "I hadn't put too much thought into that, but we should be able to change into common animals."

"Also," Peter squeaked, "I'd be able to get in and out of the kitchens without anyone suspecting me!" His cheeked flushed as they laughed. "Besides, they're really sneaky. I could sneak in there, and, WHAM! Be out with some treacle fudge without a house elf sighting me."

James was laughing so hard that tears were coming to his eyes. "Just like you Pettigrew. . ." He managed between gasps for air, "Always thinking about food."

"Well, you guys ought to be careful of what you choose. Make sure it's something you like." Remus said grimly. "You wouldn't want to be stuck only changing into one dumb animal for an eternity." There was a silence that followed Remus' statement that no one really wanted to break; that made them all remember the importance of what they were looking for.

"I found it!" Sirius exclaimed, after a good twenty minutes. The other boys huddled around him as he stood holding a book entitled 'Animagus Incarnate: A Complete Compendium of Animalistic Magic'. Peter let out a sigh of relief.

"Good, now we can get out of here, before that bloody cat of Filch's spots us." He sighed, and turned to where James was standing, about to put on his cloak. All the boys hurried under the protection of the invisibility cloak, when Peter accidentally slipped on the slick marble, and knocked into the others, who knocked into a silver candelabra, sending the entire thing clattering to the floor. They all stiffened, and heard footsteps coming there way. It was barely a milisecond between the time they all got safely hidden under the cloak again and Filch rounded the corner. As the care taker made his way over to the mess, they slowly inched away, daring not to breath.

Filch glared around, cursing under his breath, and looked to the closest likely exit for the purpetrator. At that point, Sirius kneed James, and indicated that he no longer had the book, that it had been knocked out of his hands in the fall. Gulping, Peter pointed inside the cloak that the book was right behind Filch. And if the caretaker found the book misplaced. . . there was a chance they'd never get it again. Grimly, James looked all of them in the eye, and nodded.

With utmost precision, they snuck up behind Filch and settled on top of the book, the fold of the cloak making it instantly vanish from sight. The caretaker stiffened, and Peter seemed to be praying silently to himself. All four were sweating profusely. Quietly, James knelt, and picked up the book. Once safe in his hands, they started to slowly back away. . .

When there was a terrifying hiss and yowl behind them. Sirius was biting his hand to keep from cursing aloud- he had stepped on Mrs. Filch's tail. The dour looking cat eyed their spot warily, as if searching the blank air for anything.

Filch walked ever closer to them. "What is it my sweet? Is someone here?" He snarled, spittle flecking the cloak. James bit his lip, and Peter looked about to faint. Filch reached out a bony hand, about to rip the cloak off, when suddenly Peeves the poltergiest crashed through the ceiling.

"Filchy Wilchy!" He shrieked at the top of his lungs, as the caretaker dropped his hand to cover his ears. "Why is it you never do your job?"

"What on earth are you talking about?" Filch demanded. "Go away, I'm busy!" He again reached for the space where the boys were, but seeing their chance, they had already started to move backwards, mindful of Mrs. Norris, and covered by Peeve's racket.

Peeves did somersaults in mid air, and looked as if he were in deep thought. "Hmm, well if I were the caretaker, I'd make sure there were no Ravenclaw seventh years making out in the Potions classroom!" Cackling madly, he dove into the floor.

Furiously, Filch turned to Mrs. Norris. "Did. . . did he just say?!" The cat nodded furiously, and the both of them bounded out of the room. It was about a minute later that four breaths let out, realizing the coast was clear. Remus started to say something, when James only said, and quite shakily, "Let's just get back to the common room."

Fifteen minutes later (which seemed ages longer) and a password (Hairy Mandolin) they were all sitting in their dorm, each to their own respective bed. Sirius stretched, Remus collapsed, and James stared intently at the book, but Peter couldn't seem to get rid of the shakes.

"I thought we were going to die." He whispered. "Filch was going to catch us, and not tell Dumbledore, and torture us in his office. . . we are SOOOO lucky." And on that note, Sirius started to laugh hysterically.

"Aw, c'mon guys, did you see the look on his face? It was great! He knew there was something, but he looked like a fool! And that stupid cat! I bet her tail will never bend the same way again!" Soon enough, the others joined in his laughter, until they were so loud that the sixth years next door banged broomsticks against the walls and shouted for them to be quiet. Their boisterous laughter subsided into fits of mad giggles.

"But still, it was a good thing that Peeves came along. . ." mused James, and Remus gave him a wolfish grin.

"Yeah, excellent for us, but not for those two Ravenclaws. I mean honestly, can you imagine them ever wanting to have an intimate moment again after being discovered by none other than Filch?!" Yet again, the four burst into laughter that not only had the sixth years on their case, but the seventh years as well.

James' hand played over the cover of their newly aquired book. "Well, men, after three years of searching, at least we have a happy ending tonight!"

>>>>>>>To be continued. . .



Hee hee. . . I love stories with ALL the Marauders!