Mischief Managed Y2 Part 2: The Truth of the Tournament

Chapter Sixty-Three: Floating Away

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Remus was not excited about the party Slughorn was hosting for the champions, the usual Slug Club members, and the younger students who would participate in the third task. At least James had decent dress clothes and had been nice enough to lend a pair to Remus. The chaser seemed to be on the verge of changing his mind about letting him borrow them though. James was trying to explain for the third time now the specific way Remus was supposed to tie his tie. He didn't understand why the only way he knew how to, which he had learned by himself for his mum's funeral, wasn't good enough.

"There's just a proper way to do it 'sall." James impatiently countered Remus' attempt just to leave his tie be.

"Oh bugger off, James. Let the poor sod embarrass himself if he wants," Sirius called unhelpfully from his bed with a smirk that ended abruptly. "Bloody hell, we have to leave for detention with Filch soon. Look alive, Peter," the heir called, tossing a pillow at the youngest Marauder who caught it, looking put off.

"Good catch, mate, maybe you have a chance at Quidditch after all," James pointed out, particularly good at getting Peter to cheer up when he was down. Really James was great at getting all of them to cheer up, though many times Remus only pretended to and there were simply times when nothing improved Sirius' mood. Although nowadays the massive twat would combust into giggles out of nowhere every now and then, completely out of the blue, becoming very offended when Remus called him out on this. The berk had found the audacity to explain to Remus with a straight face, "I am a man, I don't giggle."

"Remind me what you have detention for again?" Remus asked mildly, trying not to smile at the nervous look Sirius shot him.

Peter, still grinning at James' compliment, practically beamed. "It's a secret between me and Sirius."

James shot Remus a look who shrugged, pulling off the attempt at the tie once again, trying not to get too frustrated. Sirius looked less thrilled about having a secret with Petter than the latter did but he nodded in agreement, shoving his half of the mirror in his bag. Remus wasn't entirely sure why Sirius took it since James would be busy at the party. But the chaser grinned and pulled out his own half, using a shrinking charm until it fit in the pocket of his dress robes.

"Yes well, do be careful. I know you swear you had nothing to do with what happened to Daniel but he could still come after you," Remus sighed, suspecting it was in fact Sirius and Peter that had pulled off the prank that had McGonagall fuming in class the next day. An ill-timed joke from James about the matter had almost landed the chaser in detention with the other two. Remus would have been livid if his friend wasn't going to the dumb party with him. It's not like he could gracefully get out of the blasted event either, which Sirius had pointed out to him several times with far too much amusement. James seemed downright jolly about the matter, mostly because the champions would be in attendance. As Sirius urged Peter to get up so they could head down to detention the heir shot them a pointed look.

"Best of luck, men. You'll need it."

"Drama king," James scoffed. Sirius just shook his head with a wistful look in his eyes that seemed to say 'just you wait.'

"Hurry up, Peter, or I'm ditching you," Sirius muttered, swinging his bag over his shoulder. Apparently Filch had them mucking out the bathrooms tonight so a spare change of clothes was a necessity. The infuriating git deserved it, Remus was sure.

Peter got to his feet, sullen once more. "Have fun at the party."

"Have fun cleaning toilets," Remus shot back, unable to help himself. He forced an innocent look on his face as Peter stuck out his tongue in retaliation. Sirius flipped Remus off for his cheek with a smirk, and James snickered in appreciation. Once the two troublemakers left, James flopped down on his bed with a laugh.