No Control // Wolfstar

Fifteen

Sirius shines his light into the abyss of the tunnel. The walls are narrow, only enough for a single filed line, and are rough with sharp edges of blasted rock. Remus follows closely behind, Peter next, and lastly James. He clutches his cloak closely while holding onto Peter's belt loop. They shuffle along in crouched positions when the statue behind them shuts.

"Lumos," Remus whispers.

The tip of his wand shines brightly behind Sirius, helping James and Peter see where they're going.

"Where do you think this leads?" Peter asks.

"Long tunnel, creepy entrance...maybe our death?" Sirius suggests.

"Not the time Sirius," Remus mutters.

"If we hurry, we can add this to the map when we get back."

"If we make it back," James adds with a smirk.

"Shut up Prongs," Peter and Remus collectively groan.

The tunnel continues on for what feels like ages when Sirius stops. Before them stands a wall of rock. James feels the surrounding walls, grunting. 

"Bloody dead end!" Peter exclaims. 

"Maybe not," Sirius whispers. The rest crowd around him when he points upwards. Remus lifts his wand to illuminate the cement ceiling overhead. The outline of a square is ragged but noticeable. "Give me a leg, James."

James cups his hands together and Sirius hops up. He pops the cement tiling up, sliding aside. Dust clouds his vision momentarily before he can see his surroundings. "It's...a cellar," Sirius tells them. He grasps the sides of the floor and hauls himself out.

Once all four boys are above ground, they shut the false floor door and inspect the area. Peter wanders around the edges of the room, his wand held out against the boxes lining the walls.

"Guys," Peter says inspecting the jars on the wall. "I think we're in Honeydukes."

"We're in Hogsmeade?" Remus gasps. "That's...impossible."

"Well we walked a damn long way," James snaps. "We could be in fucking Germany by now."

"James we would have to cross beneath the English Channel to be in Germany."

"I'm just saying I didn't walk all this way to be stuck in some shitty cellar."

"When you're done with your lover's spat," Sirius comments, "I'll be upstairs." The three quickly follow Sirius' lead up the wooden stairs on the side. "Alohomora." The door pops open with an eerie creek as they stumble out into the new room. 

"Woah," they all whisper in awe.

"It is Honeydukes," James says. He strides across the floor, grabbing a handful of chocolate frogs. "Look at this!"

"It's not free," Remus reminds. "If we take anything we should still pay."

James rolls his eyes, dropping the candy back into the dish. "Whatever. We should go to the Three Broomsticks."

"Prongs, it's three in the morning," Peter says eyeing the clock on the wall.

"Rosie would never deny me service."

*

*

*

"James Potter, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black all walk into a bar..." Rosmerta announces with a sly smirk. "Remind me how this one ends."

The bar is remotely empty, spare for two men clutching their empty pints while passed out over their plates. The brooms sweep dust in circles on their own accord, and the rest of the chairs are already stacked on the tabletops. A pungent stench of stale food and booze lingers in the air. Rosmerta swipes the counter clear of any loose lettuce or spilled whisky as the boys approach.