Gryffindor needed a Beater for their team. James held a brief trial. Little second year Dirk Cresswell turned up. The members of the team were inclined to laugh at him.

But Dirk played surprisingly well. James selected him.

"Thank you, James!" he said earnestly in the common room.

James grinned at him.

"He is a good kid. Hard to believe that stupid Death Eaters will target innocent and nice Muggleborns like Dirk and—"

"Ted Tonks," said Sirius.

"And—" began James.

"Mary MacDonald," said Sirius.

"And—"

"Bertha Jorkins."

James looked at Siirus through narrowed eyes.

"C'mon, Prongs if there is one Muggleborn I seriously disapprove of, its—"

"Don't say it!"

"Evans," finished Sirius.

"What have you got against her?"

Siriis looked horrified. "I can't see anything right with her."

James gave up.

--------------------

That year, during the Christmas break, all the Marauders went to James' home.

It was a cheerful and happy Christmas, as James' father was present too. Apparently, things had been going well with the Order of the Phoenix recently.

The day after Christmas, Sirius asked Mrs. Potter if they could go out the next day to buy a motorbike.

"What do you want one for, dear?"

"Just—just like that. Mrs. Potter, you haven't seen them, they're great! And I learnt a charm few days back—I could make it a flying motorbike!"

He looked at Remus, James and Peter as if expecting some applause. But he was disappointed. All of them rolled their eyes, Remus muttering, "Mad."

But they did accompany him, first to Diagon Alley to collect some money from Gringotts and exchange it with Muggle money.

Vault 711 now belonged to Sirius.

The Marauders had severe difference in opinion once they did reach the motorbike shop. Remus thought that a double seated one would be best. James liked the look of a slim red and black motorbike. Peter voted in favour of one with two sides raised, as if to prevent the rider from falling. Sirius wanted a midnight black motorbike which looked straight out of a horror film.

They shouted and argued for around one hour before the owner of the shop came and told them to please buy one immediately, or else leave. So then Remus had the bright idea that each of them should vote for two, and Sirius' horror movie bike won.

"Come aboard," said Sirius grinning, as he sat down on it after they brought it out to the street.

"What? It won't hold four of us!" said Peter.

"And you need a license for driving," added Remus.

"A what?"

"A license."

"How do you know?"

"My mother's a Muggle."

"SHUT UP!" said James. He got in after Sirius and pulled Remus by the arm.

"There isn't enough space," protested Remus, but he got in after James and clutched his shoulders.

"And you can hang from the handle, Peter," said Sirius seriously.

Peter whimpered.

"Oh, come on," said James.

Somehow, the four incorrigible teenagers managed to fit into the motorbike meant for maximum two people.

"OY! What're you doing?" yelled the shop owner, catching a glance of them through the transparent doors.

No one replied to him.

Sirius started the bike and straight away began at a very high speed.

Peter yelled and clutched Remus, who was clutching James, who was clutching Sirius, who, with the safe handles in his hand, was chuckling away in peace.

Sirius varied the speed alarmingly, with lots of sudden turnings. Yelling like mad people, three of them out of genuine fear of dying, and one of them just to increase the chaos, they sped through Muggle London.

"MANIACS!" shouted a passerby, as people all around scrambled out of their way, panicking.

At last, they reached Potter household. Remus, James and Peter stumbled out, looking dizzy.

"It's a mercy we didn't kill anyone or get killed ourselves," said Remus. "Or get arrested, either."

"That's what happens if we trust Padfoot in anything," muttered James.

Peter whimpered again, clearly making up his mind to never do this mistake again.

Sirius was grinning from ear to ear.

"Mrs. Potter, how are you?" he shouted cheerfully as they entered the house, having locked and parked the bike outside.

Anne Potter came out, smiling.

"Had a good time, my dears?"

"Yes!"

Apparently, Mrs. Potter thought that Sirius' answer was meant from them all.

But in the evening, James and Remus admitted to each other that they had enjoyed it, too, but they'd better not tell Sirius that, because Sirius needed to be discouraged from this alarming addiction as soon as possible.