When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

Chapter 29 *Edited*

James blinked himself awake. It was still dark outside, but the sky was beginning to lighten. ‘Lumos Minimus,’ he muttered, lighting his wand just enough to read the clock by his bed. It read six-forty-two. ‘Nox.’

He knew he wouldn’t sleep again. He was used to waking up early, but they’d decided to forgo their pre-sunrise study sessions until Sirius could join them. James glanced over to Sirius’ bed. It was empty.

Cursing, James tore back his covers and snatched up his wand. ‘Moony!’ he bellowed. Remus woke up immediately and set about waking Peter. ‘Wormtail! Padfoot is gone!’ He threw himself to the ground by his trunk and grabbed the Marauder’s Map. ‘I solemnly swear I am up to no good!’ he said hurriedly, tearing out of the dormitory with Remus and Peter close behind. ‘Sirius Black,’ he said, tapping the Map.

A little light flared on Sirius’ dot. It was positioned in the Library. James scanned the surrounding area. Sirius was alone. James relaxed and stopped abruptly. ‘James?’ Remus asked, skidding to a halt in the middle of the Common Room.

‘He’s in the Library.’

Remus’ tense expression calmed. ‘Bit early, isn’t it?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘Just a bit,’ James muttered, walking toward the Portrait Hole. ‘He could have left us a note or something.’ He felt silly for overreacting, though, given the circumstances, it wasn’t surprising. ‘And what’s Padfoot doing up at this hour? He should be in b- Ah! Fuck! Watch it would you!’ 

James had managed to duck in time to avoid being brained by a Security Troll’s club. The troll grunted something to its companion, who snarled at the boys. Peter fainted. Remus caught him, eyes wide. ‘You all right, Prongs?’ he asked, staggering under the mousy boy’s weight.

‘Fine,’ James said tersely, staring up at the trolls. ‘Move,’ he said loudly, knowing there was no use in trying to run past them. They’d chase him, and probably kill him. The troll grunted and gave him a little push toward the Portrait Hole; students weren’t allowed out until seven-thirty. ‘No, I don’t want to go in there,’ he said, exasperated. ‘I want to go there,’ he pointed down the corridor. The troll made a rumbling noise and pointed. ‘Yes, there,’ James said impatiently, mimicking the noise and the point. 

The troll other troll sniffled. James copied it. Little piggy eyes lit up and the troll grunted for about thirty seconds. Frustrated, James made random grunting noises, pointing at himself, the trolls, and the corridor.

Both trolls let loose a deafening roar, displaying yellowing teeth. They lifted their clubs threateningly. James swore and towed Remus and the unconscious Peter back into the Common Room. ‘What did you say?’ Remus asked, laughing, though he looked pale.

‘Not a clue.’ Students were filing down the staircases in various bed-attire, having heard the commotion. Most of them were holding their wands, looking panicked.

‘What happened?’ a blonde first-year asked. ‘Did a Death Eater try to break in?!’

‘No, no,’ Remus assured them, slipping into what Sirius and James referred to as “Prefect Mode”. ‘James managed to insult a Security Troll.’ Several students laughed, but several had noticed Peter’s limp form, and uneasy muttering started again.

‘Oh my Merlin!’ a third year cried, hysterically, ‘they killed him!’

James rolled his eyes. ‘He’s fine. He fainted. Look, Enervate.’ 

Peter stirred, blinking around at the gathered students. ‘Good morning,’ he said, bemused.

‘What in Merlin’s name is going on?’ Lily asked, emerging at the top of the girl’s dormitory stairs in her pyjamas. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of the three Marauders, surrounded by the entirety of Gryffindor House. ‘What did you do?’ she asked, her green gaze landing on James.