Where It Stays | J. POTTER [1]

3 | rats

"What the hell!" Maya exclaimed as she hopped up on top of the couch, wand drawn. She shot a spell at the rat that had somehow found its way into the Gryffindor common room and it scurried out of the way.

"Wait, wait!" James shouted quickly, running down the stairs, "Stop!"

"Stop?" she inquired, turning to look at the boy with wide eyes. "Why on earth would I stop?"

"You'll kill it."

"That's the idea!" she informed him as Sirius made his way down the stairs, "What do you expect me to do, kiss it?"

"He'd probably enjoy it," Sirius explained and Maya's head shot in her brother's direction.

"Why do you two care so much about some stupid rat?" she asked, her wand still pointed at the creature.

James stepped in front of it so the wand was now pointed at him, "He's my pet."

"You have a pet rat?" she asked, a look of slight disgust on her face, "Out of all the pets you could have chosen, you chose a rat?"

James bent down and scooped up the rat before standing back up. He opened his mouth to explain but Sirius beat him to it.

"Yep," the boy confirmed, "Sleeps with him every night too."

Maya's wand lowered slightly and she covered her hand with her mouth as she tried not to throw up, "Oh, Merlin's Beard, that's disgusting."

"I do not sleep with him," James stated but Maya wasn't entirely convinced. He looked down at the rat and then back up at the girl, shaking his head, "I don't."

"Okay, Potter," she placated, lowering her wand completely and placing it into her pocket, "I suppose everyone is entitled to their preferences."

James narrowed his eyes at a clearly amused Sirius, "Do you see what you've done?"

Maya hopped off the couch with a shiver of disgust, she looked over at James, "You have fun with your-" she looked down at the rat in his hands then back up at him, "-extracurricular activities."

"Wait, it's not-" he shook his head, "I don't sleep with a rat!" At this point, people had entered the common room after dinner and were confused as to what was happening.

"It's okay, James," she reassured him, "There's nothing to be ashamed of."

"I don't!"

"You don't what?" Remus asked as he joined them.

"James sleeps with a rat," Maya explained, "He's just a little embarrassed."

"You sleep with a rat?" Lily inquired, looking at the boy in confusion.

"No, I don't," James protested before looking back at Sirius, "I am going to kill you."

Sirius put his hands up in faux surrender, "It's not my fault you like to sleep with it."

"Yeah, James," Maya agreed, "Sirius isn't forcing it onto you, it's your choice. We'll accept you for who you are."

"Bloody hell," he muttered as he made his way to the stairs, "I'm going to bed."

"You two have fun together!" Maya shouted after him.

"Shut up!" he shouted back before the door closed with a slam.

Lily looked around at everyone in confusion, "He doesn't really sleep with a rat, does he?"

Maya couldn't contain her laughter anymore and she burst out laughing, Sirius right along with her. Lily looked up at Remus, hoping for an answer but he merely shook his head, "It's news to me."