All the Young Dudes ( Sirius' Perspective )

First Year : Aftermath

The Gryffindor common room was crowded with gossiping students. Everyone was chattering, talking about who could be behind the prank. Apparently Snape had managed to piss off quite a few different people—Sirius wondered vaguely if there was anyone who liked him, aside from Lily.

He followed his friends up to their room, where the mood was silent and sombre. Remus sat on his bed and stared at the floor, looking sick with guilt, and James watched him apprehensively. Sirius wanted to shake them both. That was probably the coolest magic that any first year had ever done!

“What happened?” James asked, carefully, “Did you lose control of it? That was really strong magic.”

Lose control. Losing control of the spell made the cloud dissipate, the rain fade away—what Remus had done took precision, power. Sirius couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

“It was amazing!” He said, fiercely, “He’ll think twice about crossing us again!”

“But…I mean, we didn’t want to hurt him, did we?” James frowned.

“He’s fine, he was just pretending, to get us in trouble.”

“Will we get in trouble?” Peter piped up, fidgeting nervously, “We didn’t all do it, did we? It was only…”

Sirius slapped him around the back of his head,

“You rat,” he shook his head, disgusted, “We’re marauders. All for one and one for all.”

Peter narrowed his eyes, muttering, “Whatever that means,” and going to sulk on his own bed.

“I did it, you lot shouldn’t get in trouble.” Remus said morosely, eyes still glued to the floor.

“It was half my idea!” Sirius reminded him, “I did the research! Don’t worry, Lupin, I bet you anything he’s fine.”

But Remus continued moping. “If he is, then it’s no thanks to me.”

Sirius wanted to roll his eyes. Why were all his friends acting like girls? But then Remus looked up at James, gaze steady, and said,

“I did mean to hurt him.”

Sirius released a breath, but Remus wasn’t looking at him. He was speaking to James.

There was a knock at the door, interrupting whatever James might have said. It was Frank Longbottom.

“You four are to come to McGonagall’s office, now,” He told them. He was acting like someone had died, and for the first time Sirius felt a spike of worry—they hadn’t hurt Snivellus, right?

So what if we did? He thought to himself, furiously, trying to dispel with his anxiety, He deserved it!

Everyone stared as they made their way through the common room, and Sirius lifted his chin instinctively, daring anyone to say anything. He refused to feel bad about what they’d done; for Pete’s sake, it was just some water!

Dumbledore stood beside the desk in McGonagall’s office, watching them serenely. He smiled pleasantly as they lined up in front of him.