The Other War // James Potter & Lily Evans

german gibberish and absurd conclusions;

James had been out early on the pitch for a whole two hours so it surprised him when he saw that it was only ten o'clock when he returned to the common room. It was fairly empty and under the assumption that people were either asleep or out in Hogsmeade, James waltzed in to find Remus reading a book while Sirius talked loudly about something that was quite incoherent. Resting his broom on the pillar that led up to the boys dorms, James waltzed over to them and took a seat next to Peter. Remus was completely ignoring Sirius's remarks, his nose buried in a book titled, German for Dummies.

"You know, Mooney," Sirius drawled. "You spend too much time studying. Who needs to learn German? I'm sure there are plenty of girls waiting for the chance to snog your face off." Remus scoffed, not looking up. Sirius continued. "And learning languages is so boring. Isn't there anything else you can do with the abundance of spare time that you have? My patronus essay, for example." Remus shut his book with a solid thwack and turned to Sirius, taking out his wand.

"Says you because you can barely speak English." Remus retorted. Sirius clutched his heart in fake hurt but Remus didn't miss a beat. He waved his wand in Sirius's face, muttering something under his breath. Sirius froze for a moment then began laughing, scoffing because nothing happened.

"Weil ja das-" Sirius said but as soon as the words rolled off his lips, his hand flew up and covered his mouth, eyes widening. "Remus... was zum Teufel ist hier los?" James had to bite his cheek to stop himself from laughing because his eyes were already tearing up. Sirius opened his mouth to speak again but closed it with a second thought for his own sake. Remus smiled graciously. "Don't worry," Remus spoke to Sirius in between laughs who was glaring at him venomously. "The charm will wear off soon... ish. it'll just make everything you say come out in German." He smiled in contempt. "Gee," Remus said sweetly. "This'll help me with my translating skills. Anything you'd like to say, Black?"

Sirius was still glaring daggers at Remus but Remus seemed unfazed. Sirius said something in an angry garbled German that James noticed sounded awfully like a string of curses.

"He says that you look absolutely spiffing today, James." Sirius's eyes widened as he tried used his hands to convey that that wasn't actually what he'd said and that Remus was making it up, but James pretended not to understand.

"NEIN, ICH HABE NICHT."

"Ah, Sirius wanted me to tell you that you can take a ride on his broomstick."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "That sounds awfully gross but tell him thanks."

"Danke."

Sirius sank into the sofa and pulled the tasseled cushion over his head as if he could block up their torment. James laughed.

"Nice one, Mooney," James laughed. "When will this wear off?"

"In an hour or two." Remus shrugged. "Enough time to have some fun." Peter though for a moment before piping up.

"What charm is that?" He questioned. "I've never heard of it before."

"Just something I made up, I've never used it before, I'm glad it worked." Remus said as if he'd overlooked the part where if it'd back fired, he could have injured Sirius.

"When's lunch?" Peter asked.

"In about two hours, why? You ate this morning." James answered.

"I'm always hungry." Peter replied hotly.

"Let's go to the hall then," Remus suggested as he stood. He pulled on Sirius's ankle. "Come on, Black. Maybe they'll have some Eintopf for you in the hall." Sirius groaned but obliged, following James and the others out the portrait hole.