Chapter 15

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When James burst into the dorm room, the others hardly batted an eye.

"What is it this time, James?" Regulus asked, not even glancing up from his book. In the four years he'd known him, James's dramatic entrances had become almost predictable.

Even though Regulus wasn't technically in the same dorm as the Marauders, he spent so much time there it felt like a second home, especially now that they were all in the same year. When he wasn't hanging out with the Marauders, he was usually with the fifth-year Gryffindor girls, Emmeline and Hestia, who had become integral members of their group—particularly after their unforgettable Diwali celebration.

"I just fully transformed!" James practically squealed, barely able to contain his excitement.

"Into what, a werewolf?" Remus deadpanned, still engrossed in his book. Despite being a werewolf himself, he had a knack for making light of the situation.

"No, you prat, a stag!" James corrected, bouncing on his toes. "Remember last year when we started with partial transformations? I got the antlers, Sirius the paws, Pete the tail, and Reg the mane. And we even started using the nicknames!"

Regulus raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "You managed a full transformation? Not just partial?"

"Yeah!" James nodded vigorously, his glasses nearly sliding off his nose. "I'm talking the whole stag—hooves, fur, and everything! I was out by the lake, and suddenly, bam! I'm a full-on stag!"

Sirius, who had been lounging casually on his bed, sat up with a grin. "Looks like you finally nailed it, Prongs. About time, too."

"Easy for you to say, Padfoot," James retorted, but his tone was more playful than resentful. "You had the whole dog thing sorted last month. I was starting to think I'd never get it right."

Remus finally set his book aside, his expression turning thoughtful. "This means you're getting close. If you've managed a full transformation, the rest of you can't be far behind."

Peter, who had been silently observing from the corner, looked a bit apprehensive. "You really think we can all do it? This isn't exactly like learning a spell..."

"We've come this far," Sirius said confidently. "We've been practising for nearly two years. Besides, we've got more motivation than anyone else. We're doing this for Moony."

Regulus glanced over at Remus, who gave him a small, appreciative smile. The challenge of becoming an Animagus was daunting, but the prospect of being able to support Remus during the full moon had been their driving force.

"So, what's the next step?" Regulus asked, his voice steady. "We're close, but we need to ensure we're all ready."

"We keep practising," James said, his excitement tempered by resolve. "It's going to happen for all of us. And when it does, Moony won't have to face the full moon alone anymore."

Sirius grinned, his grey eyes glinting with mischief. "And just think of the trouble we'll cause once we're all transformed. Hogwarts won't know what hit it."

"Trouble is the least of our worries," Remus said, though he couldn't suppress a small smile. "Let's make sure we're careful. We don't want anyone finding out before we're ready."

"Yeah, remember when we were in second year and Lily and Mary, especially Lily, were warning us about getting into trouble?" Sirius asked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

James chuckled at the memory. "Oh, Lily was so adamant about us not crossing lines. I remember her giving us that stern look, saying, 'You're bound to get caught.' She never liked us pushing boundaries. Though she had no idea about the real reason behind our efforts, neither of them do."

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