It was an hour later when James finally emerged from the boy's dorm, content that Peter was finally asleep and not just faking it. As he ventured into the common area, he got to see a Lily Evans laughing, a very pissed off Remus and a beaming Sirius.

He couldn't ignore the smile tugging on his own lips as he joined the group by sitting in the armchair across from Lily's.

"James!" exclaimed Remus in relief, "Make him stop!" he begged.

"What's he doing?" Inquired James, smirking and meeting the eyes of Sirius who wiggled his eyebrow in response. "Puns, so many puns." whispered Remus exasperatedly, rubbing his temples before shoving his foot in Sirius' face, making him squeak in shock. "Dog puns to be exact!" Sirius chuckled, shoving Remus' foot away from him, making the werewolf smile. James grinned broadly before winking at Sirius and clearing his throat, "What do you call, a dog magician?" He asked, making Lily's attention finally turn to him out of curiosity, instead of the usual irritation as she shrugged with a soft smile on her lips, "A labracadabrador!" he exclaimed, making the small group burst into a fit of laughter as Remus threw the pillow he was using at James' head, emitting a frustrated sigh. "I hate you all." He muttered.

As the group sobered, Remus glanced at the time to see that it was almost dinner. With a heavy sigh he pulled himself from the couch.

Simultaneously, everyone's attention turned to him. "Almost dinner. Better be off." He commented offhandedly, cracking a few fingers as he turned away. He relished in the small relief the action allowed. Worriedly, Lily watched him shuffle away. He looked back and offered a sincere smile before picking up his pace, as if he could sense her eyes still studying him.

"He'll be alright Evans." Announced Sirius, looking back for a moment as well. There was the usual level of concern in his stomach as he turned and grinned widely at the redhead. James coughed, shifting the attention from Remus- he hated it when people discussed his condition without his knowledge, he didn't want to be pitied or seen as a special case. "So, why did the snowman call his dog frost?" James asked.

"I don't know Prongs, pray tell!" Exclaimed Sirius dramatically, stretching out over the couch, tucking his feet underneath the cushion Remus had used. "Because frost bites!" James grinned when he got a chuckle out of Lily who failed to stop herself. Her hand was covering her mouth, but James caught a glimpse of her smile and pride welled in his chest.

"Hey Evans, if you like jokes..." James began as Lily rolled her eyes.

"The answer is no Potter."

Sirius snorted from his place on the sofa, "If she had said yes? That would have been a funny joke." Lily smirked at Sirius as he cackled before James pounced, beginning to wrestle him.

"Imbeciles." She sighed, watching them. Though she would never admit, her mood had lightened with the two of them being their arrogant selves- well, maybe not so arrogant anymore.

************

As the night progressed, the boys waited for Lily to climb the girl's stairs to get ready for dinner before entering their own dorms to find Peter still fast asleep, looking less troubled than before.

James glanced at small Peter before looking away again and sitting on the edge of his bed, satisfied that his friend was alright. He began to take off his shoes when Sirius turned to him, making James pause with untying his shoelaces. "What?" he asked point blank, knowing if he didn't say anything then Sirius would continue to open and close his mouth like a fish all night. "Let's see her. Make sure she's alright." He announced. James shook his head no adamantly. He didn't want to let Sirius anywhere near the girl who had clearly been affected by the Dark Arts. Sirius had the most against the Death eaters, considering his family were forcing him to become one before he ran away.

"Mate," James began, a serious look in his eyes, "is that... wise?" He asked cautiously, making Padfoot raise his eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean 'is that wise'? Merlin Prongs, I just wanna check on her before rushing to Moony." He explained, making James hang his head in thought for a few moments. The tone of voice Sirius had taken, the sheer desperation in it, made James give in almost immediately. He nodded his head reluctantly, "Alright. But you better keep a cool head." He warned as a grin split onto Sirius' face.

He turned to Peter before pulling back his blankets. "Come on Wormtail, we gotta go!"

************

As the castle settled for the evening, the three boys crept beneath the cloak, eyes wide and attentive as they actively avoided Filch using the Marauders map that James carried, glancing up every so often to give directions.

Eventually they arrived ag the infirmary to find the doors closed. They all groaned inwardly before Sirius took a risk, pushing open the door. Then he dragged the rest of them inside before silently closing the large, oak door behind them. All of them stiffened when they heard a familiar voice with a Scottish twinge. James nudged the two boys and they shuffled into the ward, beginning to approach the closed off bed where the voices came from.

"Minerva." came another voice that they all recognized as Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes?" Professor McGonagall's voice was tired; they would recognise it anywhere from the amount of times she had scolded and thrown them into detention. "You must know it is getting late." Came the calm reply of the matron. "I do realise that, but-"

"Then you must also realise you need to eat and sleep yourself." She cut the professor off with a 'this-is-final' tone of voice that made the boys smirk. Hearing their own professor being told off instead of them for once was an amusing spectacle.

There was the scraping of a chair as it slid against the floor, making the boys all hold their breath, and attempt to become one with the wall.

"Of course, Poppy, thank you." she mumbled, yawning at the end as she emerged from behind the screen. Her face appeared so much older with creases of worry. The boys watched her leave in silence, the door clanging shut behind her. Then Madam Pomfrey began towards her office, sparing one final look at the closed off bed, mumbling things that had sounded like ingredients.