Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) Book Three (Marauders Era)

Chapter Eighty-Six - A Busy Day In Hogsmeade

Saturday was a Hogsmeade visit, and Remus was very excited. Especially since he had enough money to buy some books, from what happened over the holidays with Slughorn. He also had a letter from his mother weighing him down with guilt... but he wasn't going to let that get in his way for the time being. He'd reply to her later.

"Come on, I'm sure you look fine," James shouted at the bathroom door, where Sirius was taking ages to get ready due to his date with Tanaka later. "I want to get to Honeydukes and Zonko's as quick as possible." He pounded at the door. "Hurry up!"

"You could always sneak in next week if they're out of anything," Remus said dryly.

James turned to face him. "I know, but it isn't the same. This is... a territory thing. Showing them that I can and will buy all the pranks and sweets."

"You are really weird."

"I know." He turned back and shook the doorknob. "Bloody moron's gone and locked it. Come ON! I'll unlock it if you don't—finally!" He stepped back as the door opened and Sirius emerged looking more or less the same that he did every day, only in his casual weekend clothes.

"Well?" He spun around and struck a pose. "How do I look?"

"Gorgeous, let's go." James grabbed Sirius and dragged him down the steps. "Next time we're leaving you, mate."

They arrived in Hogsmeade only half an hour after the first carriages did, and James acted like it was the end of the world. He wanted to go to Zonko's first, since that was the most important, however Peter mumbled out that they should probably go to the camera shop first since it may take them a while. He wanted to get the new camera's insides put into his old camera's shell. James hopped from foot to foot but reluctantly agreed, brimming over with impatience the entire time. The wizard at the camera shop said it would take a few hours and to come back at around three.

James let out a huff of annoyance as they left, and began running down the street to Zonko's, forcing the others to run too. Remus tried not to roll his eyes, and was glad when they passed through the doorway into Zonko's so James would shut up. Instead of bells ringing, a kooky sort of laugh announced whenever the door was open.

As usual, they had a list of everything they needed to refill and then James stopped in front of a new display case that wasn't there last time.

"LADS!" he shouted across the store, ignoring it when someone told him to stuff it.

"I'm right beside you," Remus complained, rubbing his ear.

Sirius and Peter appeared. "What is it?"

James waved his hand at the case. "Look! It's... beautiful!"

It was a 'new and improved' potion called Insta-Beard. Guaranteed to give anyone a beard, regardless of age or gender. The picture on the front showed a toddler taking a sip and then sprouting a goatee.

James and Sirius immediately began taking all the bottles off the shelves, piling them into their baskets. Peter was told to go get another basket. Remus voiced his concern over buying the entire stock, and James scoffed, promising it'd be fine. He had big plans for the potion, which he hoped to use for Valentine's Day.

"Imagine all the girls sprouting whiskers on their dates," he giggled.

The exhausted clerk stared at everything when they took the baskets to the counters. "I don't know if I can sell all of this to one person," he said, picking up one of the Insta-Beard bottles.

"Four people," James corrected.

The clerk blinked a few times. "I... I think I should get my boss..."