The Marauders and the Hollow Hill

The Halloween Prank

Peter stared into the Common Room fire. It was nearly midnight, and the glowing fire had been reduced to mere embers hours before. James and Sirius had gone to bed, and Peter was the only one left in the Common Room. He was waiting for Remus, though with some sort of false hope. He had been waiting like this for the past few hours, and he doubted Remus was ever going to show up.

What was going on with Remus anyways? When Peter had brought Remus up to the hospital wing a few days ago, Madam Pomfrey seemingly panicked. She had shooed Peter away, locking the hospital door firmly behind her. He hadn't gone away - he just stood there for a moment, then anxiously pressed his ear against the door, trying to hear what was going on inside, but the doorway to the hospital wing was either enchanted or really thick. Peter couldn't hear a thing.

An owl hooted somewhere. Peter yawned.

Then he heard some shuffling steps. "P-P-Peter?" someone yawned. James. Bleary-eyed and dressed in striped pajamas. "Why are you still awake? I mean, I'm usually up for some wild party late at night, but-"

"I'm waiting for Remus," Peter muttered, doing his best to stifle a yawn and failing. "He should be back by now, don't you reckon?"

"I reckon," James said, frowning. "that he won't be back until tomorrow morning. Madam Pomfrey's overprotective, haven't you seen her? He wasn't back yesterday or the day before that, and he won't be back tonight-"

Peter nodded. "Yeah, but-"

"Pete, Remus is fine."

Peter huffed; James smiled.

"Here - Five Sickles he's back tomorrow morning."

"Five?" Peter protested.

"Four, then."

"Two."

"Three, fine, if you insist."

*      *      *

Peter awoke with James tapping him hard on the face.

"Pete, you awake? YOU AWAKE?" Immediately, Peter cringed.

"Crikey, James! Don't do that!" he yelled, covering his ears.

James was still smiling like a crazy person. "Why? Remus does it." He plopped down on the end of Peter's bed, adjusting his glasses over his nose.

"Speaking of Remus..." Peter glanced around their dormitory. It was seemingly empty besides himself, James, and Sirius who was still sleeping, snoring away. Peter sighed. "He's not here. I win-"

James's grin widened. "Not so fast, my friend! He's actually-" He whipped around, apparently expecting someone to be standing there, because his expression melted from triumph to surprise in a about a second flat.

"Where'd he go?"

At that moment, Remus came through the door of their dormitory, already changed into his robes but looking absolutely exhausted. There was also a white bandage crossing the bridge of his nose. "You two are actually four years old, aren't you?" he murmured. Peter guessed he must've been sick: he was definitely paler than usual and there were huge bags under his eyes, but he was smirking nonetheless.

James pumped his fist. "Three Sickles to me!" he yelled; Sirius stirred in his sleep and turned over, his mouth slightly open. James chuckled. "You'll do the honours, won't you, Remus?"

Remus smiled. "Certainly." He slowly made his way over to Sirius's side. "SIRIUS BLACK!"

"GAH!" Sirius screamed, leaping out of bed and falling on his face. "Ow," he moaned into the floor.