The Marauders and the Hollow Hill

The Invisibility Cloak

"Something's up," muttered James, not touching his breakfast. "Something's not right here."

"The eggs are fine," said Peter, confused, glancing down at his plate.

"Not the food," James snapped. "Something's wrong here at Hogwarts!"

"Steady on, mate!" said Sirius, stifling a yawn. "What wrong with you?"

James frowned over at Sirius. "Nothing's wrong with me!" he said loudly, a bit offended. "Something's wrong with Hogwarts!"

"How would you know? You've only been here two months," said Peter stiffly.

Sirius blinked at them both. "What's up with you two?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Nothing!" James and Peter snarled at the same time. Sirius looked taken aback by their sudden burst of anger; James immediately regretted saying it the minute it came out of his mouth.

Sirius glared at them, suddenly moody. Violently, he stabbed a helpless kipper on a passing platter and shoved it in his mouth. "The last thing I want is you lads arguing," he muttered. "Especially on my birthday."

"Well, we'll make sure to- wait," James felt himself straighten up in his seat. Something tugged in the pit of his stomach, like a feeling that he had forgotten something of crucial importance-

James gasped. "Blimey! Sirius... it isn't-"

"Yep," said Sirius, downing his pumpkin juice in one like it was a shot.

"Sirius!" Peter shouted. "Why didn't you mention it before?"

Sirius bit his lip. "I did... honestly, it doesn't matter-"

"You're lying," Peter said immediately. "It matters more than anything."

"I can't believe I forgot," moaned James, banging his head on the table. "Stupid, stupid, stupid-"

"Alright you lot, calm down!" exclaimed Sirius, barely able to restrain a grin. "You're right. I'm extremely offended that you forgot my birthday and you shall regret it for the rest of your lives."

Peter glanced up at him, alarmed. "Why?"

Sirius frowned vaguely and stared up at the ceiling. "I'm not sure yet. But you'll pay eventually."

Sirius was grinning, but James somehow knew that he was crushed. How could James forget his birthday? What kind of friend was he? He felt like a wave of guilt had crashed into him. Angrily, James squared his shoulders and stuffed a spoonful of eggs into his mouth. "I'll make it up to you, mate," he said, spraying bits of egg everywhere. "I'll buy you the fanciest, most expensive thing in the catalog when it comes next week, I promise."

Sirius flicked some chewed egg off the arm of his robes. "Appreciate it." He said this stiffly, but James knew that he was grateful.

Peter, meanwhile, still looked worried about what Sirius was going to do to them, but he seemed to manage to push that aside for a moment. "I'll get you a present too, Sirius," he added. "And I'm sure Remus will too... wherever he is."

"He's in the hospital wing, isn't he?" said Sirius, reaching for the pitcher of pumpkin juice. "Didn't you see him on Monday?"

"Of course he did," James scoffed. "And I'm sure he's fine. Peter, you worry too much."

James saw Peter roll his eyes.

*      *      *

The day rushed past and it was already dark out. Students still lingered in the Common Room, and James, Sirius, and Peter had taken their favourite spots by the fire, which was crackling merrily in the large square fireplace. They had been teasing Peter about how he had been approached by a third-year girl during supper. She had proceeded to flirt with him, and awkwardness had ensued.