Managing Mischief

Chapter 3: Adventures Back to Hogwarts

        As the train jerked forward and began to leave the station the Wisp and Weasley twins made their way down the corridor in search of their friend Lee. They had met Lee their first year at Hogwarts on the train and had become fast friends. They made quick work of finding him; knowing they'd find him in the same cabin they had met so many years ago.

They had almost reached their destination when a head popped out of the cabin into the corridor "Oi! What took you so long? You didn't pull anything without me did you?" Lee pouted at them.

Fred and Aries looked at each other with matching looks of mischief.

"Oh! You should have seen it Lee!" Fred started.

"It was our finest work yet!" Aries continued nudging his twin in the ribs.

"Indubitably, my dear twin!" Leo swung his arm around George's shoulder; a silent request for the latter to continue.

"The look on their faces was priceless!"

Lee's face schooled into a look of indignation, mouth agape. "I can't believe you guys! I thought we were best friends!" Lee began swinging his arms in exaggerated movements as he continued to rant.

The two sets of twins masks were starting to crack and muffled laughs were starting to become evident; so much so that faking coughing wouldn't fool anyone or cover the laugh.

Lee noticed and his rant slowed and then stopped into nothing. After a moment's pause Lee gave a crude gesture and said " You four twats should have been put in Slytherin."

That was all it took for the masks to crumble and the twins to launch into ruckus laughter. Aries then stepped forward and took charge and ushered Lee back into the cabin and his seat.

"The hat did consider.."

"...Putting us in Slytherin.."

"..But think of how boring..."

"..Your life would have been then."

After the years Lee had gotten use to the four of them finishing each other's sentences, and keeping up with them at the speed they spoke.

"We may not have pulled a prank without you.."

"...But you'll never believe.."

"..Who we met!.."

"Or who they are!"

The group launched into regaling the story of finding and meeting the Marauders on the platform.

When they finished Lee had a look of amazement on his face, eyes wide as saucers and simply asked "what did they smell like?"

The Wisp twins looked at each other having a quiet conversation with each other trying to figure out if Lee was serious and whether or not they were going to indulge his curiosity.

George could tell looking at his twin, that he too wanted to know the answer to Lee's bizarre question. George himself was a bit disturbed by the question and decided to steer the conversation back on track. "Guys, we have more important matters to focus on right now than what the Marauders smell like."

Lee blanched at his friend, "What could be more important than that?!" Lee whipped his head back to the twins sitting across from him, waiting for his answer.

"Firewhiskey."

"Parchment."

"Coffee."

"And pine."

After they finished throwing Lee a bone, Fred clapped his hands, rubbing them together, and eyes alight "Gents, we can badger Harry for information later. For now it's time to plan our first prank of the year."

And with that the group launched into a brainstorming session full of plotting and laughter.

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The Hogwarts express was now a dot in the distance, and the smell of the smoke was now dissipating. Only a few families remained on the platform, continuing to watch the ever disappearing train.

James looked around the platform for a moment, his eyes finally landing on the nervous expression of his best friend. Remus was approached by Dumbledore at the beginning of summer and asked him to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. It was perhaps the first time James had ever seen the ever cautious werewolf not have to think through every last detail before giving an answer. Had James not known that back in their Hogwarts days that Remus dreamed to become the DADA teacher, he might have called the instant yes Remus gave impulsive.

"Well mate, are you ready for your next adventure?" James asked as he clasped Remus on the shoulder.

Remus turned his head towards James with a large smile on his face, and replied "I believe I am. You didn't ruin the surprise and tell Harry already did you?" Remus' face became suddenly suspicious. James didn't exactly have the best track record of keeping secrets; he would just get too excited and it would burst out of him.

A laugh rippled out of James "Don't worry I didn't let it slip. He'll be very surprised to see you there." Thinking for a moment he added " HEY! This is the longest I've kept a secret!"

A chuckle escaped Remus as he shook his head. He was going to miss his husband and their family, but he couldn't help but feel like every choice he made and every action he made had led him here to this spot; to this moment. He couldn't help but to feel a bit sentimental looking back and reflecting on his life. So much had changed since the last time he walked the halls of Hogwarts and now he was going back to be a teacher. A dream, as a child he never thought could happen, finally coming true.

As Remus broke out of his musings, he made eye contact with Lily and the strong willed, fierce woman broke down into tears throwing herself into his arms.

"I can't believe you're leaving me with these two bumbling buffoons!" Lily cried. "I make no promises that they'll still be alive when you come back at Christmas." Lily added as she pulled back from the embrace, smiling up at Remus. She was so incredibly proud of him. He had overcome so many obstacles and knocked down just as many walls to get to where he was today.

Remus turned now to his husband, who to his credit wasn't the basket case he had been expecting. Though that probably had more to do with them saying a private goodbye that morning before coming to drop off Harry. Remus tilted Sirius' chin up with his thumb and forefinger and kissed Sirius softly, ghosting a whispered " I love you" against his lips.

Remus took a step back, smiling as he took one last look at his husband. "Don't look so crestfallen. The first Hogsmeade weekend is less than a month away. I'll write to you all and let you know when to come; I'll see you all then." And with that he disapparated to Hogwarts.