The Marauders: Year Six #Wattys2017

31 August

31 August

The night before the train would carry them to Hogwarts, the four Marauders sat about on the porch behind the Lupin house. James's broomstick, still not flown yet because muggles might see lay across his lap - shiny gold letters declared it to be a Stratosphere77 and he was polishing the handle for about the hundredth time already. On the floor, leaning against the rail, sat Remus Lupin, eating a chocolate bar while Sirius absently stroked his hair, sitting on the rail above him. Sirius had back against the column, eyes closed, smiling lazily as his legs crossed over one another and stretched before him, his other hand in his far pocket, turning the tiny box from the consignment shop over and over and over in his palm. In the chair beside James sat Peter, rocking so the floorboards squeaked, struggling to open a pack of sugar mice with his teeth.

"We're sixth years, guys," Remus said suddenly.

"We are," James nodded.

Remus looked around at them, "Remember when we first started and Bilius and Derek and Alex were sixth years and we thought they were sooo grown up and older than us and --" he looked about, "Do you lot feel grown up?"

"No," Peter said quickly around the package.

"Good, I thought it might be just me," Remus said.

"I hope this year goes smooth," James said. "I feel like I've had quite enough adventure this summer with everything that's happened. I'd like a year without any surprises and horrid happenings. Just boring old school work and snogging Evans, thanks."

"Awe, listen to you, still thinking you snogged her." Sirius smirked.

"I did," James insisted. "Twice."

"Uh-huh."

"Actually, she snogged me the second time..."

"Merlin's beard, the hallucination grows stronger," murmured Remus, nibbling the chocolate bar with a smile. Sirius's fingers were tangled up in Remus's hair still, stroking the curls at his forehead so that Remus's head bobbed with the petting he was getting. He rolled his eyes up, as though trying to see Sirius's hand, but of course he couldn't.

Sirius said, "But I agree with James. A good year without any drama --"

"No drama? So you aren't going, then?" Peter snickered.

James and Remus broke into laughter at this.

Sirius sniffed and pretended to be offended.

"I don't reckon it's even possible to have a year without drama for us," Remus declared.

James said, "Well, I plan to be working triple hard at Quidditch this year. Flying practice for me, every day, and I'm going to reconstruct the whole team if I have to. We're bloody winning that house cup this year if I have to personally every bloody position on the pitch myself."

"Win the house cup on your own? Bloody hell. There goes the ego again," Sirius murmured.

"You ought to try out this year, Sirius. You were a fabulous beater when you played. I could use another fabulous beater. I've only got Frank one more year."

"Perhaps I will."

"Good."

Remus sighed. "Well, if you do, at least I'll have something to watch when we're at the bloody quidditch games this year."

"You could try out, too," James suggested.

Remus laughed so hard he snorted. "Clearly you don't remember me on the broomstick in flying lessons first year. There's a reason I haven't touched a broomstick since."