'Sit down, Mr Potter. Mr Black.' Dumbledore said.

Sirius and James sat down.
'It was Remus.' Both of them said simultaneously.

Dumbledore cracked a smile.
'I haven't called you for any pranks you have done. Though Mr Filch has been very angry as to who threw the dungbombs before the quidditch match.'

Sirius smirked. 'Yeah I was wondering that too.'

'Coming to the more important matter in hand, Severus Snape has woke up the previous day. And I have had a talk with him.'

'So, when's he getting expelled?' Sirius asked.
'He's not.'

'Why not?' James asked.
'If it for me he would be going for lifetime imprisonment in Askaban.' Sirius said.

'Because he was under the imperius.'
'What? Who was controlling him?'

'Now I had my doubts but legilimency never does lie. Don't take this the hard way, Sirius.'

'It was my father, wasn't it?' Sirius asked getting up.

Dumbledore remained silent but nodded.
'But Snape must have had a hand in playing along with all this?'

'He did. Not much. But  Orion Black is influential like that.'

'Influential my ass.' Sirius gnarled.

James put a hand over his friend's shoulder.

'Relax, I am alive. Calm down. Nothing happened.'

'Severus Snape is getting suspended for the next five days. And that is enough punishment for him.' Dumbledore said.

'Mr Black, you may leave now. I want to have a word with Mr Potter.'
***
'Here, I managed to get you all I have for now. Two hundred and fifty galleons.'

'You had this much?'

'Mary helped. Relax. She doesn't know anything specific though.'

'Still fall another two fifty galleons short. Man, thanks for this. I will try to pay you back soon.'

'We will worry about that later. Now how do you expect to have the money?'

'Should I talk to Parkinson and forms some kind of deal?'

'No, I would rather ask Sirius for money and end this thing right here.'

'Let me talk with Parkinson.'
***
'Parkinson.'

'Pettigrew, it's a bit early to be coming after me.' They entered an empty classroom.

'I can only give four fifty galleons at the moment. I need time for the rest two fifty.' Peter said sweating nervously.

'Keep it. Give the whole sum at the time told.' Parkinson smiled.
***
'James, Sirius will not react well to the information I have given him. I need you to take care of him and assure him that none of it is his doing.' Dumbledore said.

'And secondly professor flitwick says you will surely fail charms if you don't start working hard already. Wouldn't want a bright boy like you doing any less.'

'How's the war?'
'Its going on.' Dumbledore said flickering his eyes.

'I wish not.' The old man said. 'You children shouldn't have to go through this.'
***
'Lily Evans and Remus Lupin, you do know who we are.'

Lily and Remus were in couches facing the headboy and headgirl - Carlos and Zara.

'You two have been conveniently bunking prefects meetings and neglecting your duties at certain times.' Zara said.

'Now you two lovebirds, need to cool it off and take this job seriously.'

'Wait, we are—' Lily stamped Remus's foot.

'We just missed track a couple of times. We wouldn't dare miss anymore. I take this job very seriously, I assure you and so does Remus here.' Lily smiled.

'I am glad.' Zara said.

'You guys want to join us for dinner or something if you don't have plans?'

'Yeah, —'

Another stamp stopped him.
'It would be our pleasure.'

'I like you two.' Zara smiled. 'You are so cute together.'

'I know right.' Remus groaned.
***
'Where, you going Pete?' Sirius asked.

'Nowhere specific.'

'Mind if I tag along?'
'I would rather walk alone.' Peter said.

'Oh, okay. Listen, Remus mentioned something to me yesterday about being worried about you. Is it serious?'

'Remus has a big mouth.' said Peter leaving the dorm room.
***
'Four fifty is my final offer. Take it. I will give the rest in two or three days.' Peter said.

'You realize, that we are two here?' Parkinson laughed.

Parkinson was with Oliver Goyle.

'Listen, leave me alone.'

'Not so easily.' Parkinson smiled. 'You realize how risky business it is to bet on something?'

'I don't really understand what's the problem?'

Parkinson pushed him to the wall and grabbed him by the neck.

'I will show you what the problem is, you moron.'

'Stupefy.' Parkinson fell down sprawled over the floor and Peter managed to get down.

'Expelliarmus.' Sirius shouted getting Oliver's wand before stunning him too.

'You okay, Pete?'

'I don't know. Thanks.'

'No sweat.'
***
'This chicken is great.' said Remus.

'Thanks, I pride myself on stealing it.' Zara smiled.

'You guys are the only couple we have dined with who have proper table manners.' Carlos said.

'Somebody's complimenting my strengths.' Remus made a face.

'Listen, we didn't mean to scare you earlier when we called you. You guys do your jobs okay.'

'And we pride ourselves on that, don't we honey?' Remus asked.

'Yes.' Lily gritted her teeth.
***
'What was that all about?' Remus asked.

'You tell me.'

'No, why didn't you let me say we weren't a couple?'

'Because if we give different reasons then we are more likely to get suspended as prefects.'

'So we act smoochy when they are around? I don't know if I am up for this.' Said Remus.

'Hey, I wasn't exactly thinking properly there either was I?' Lily asked.
***