Chapter 17

with the Gryffindors and the absolute mess on the second floor

With trembling legs Remus stopped in front of the wall, where in dark paint the picture of a werewolf mauling a stag and a big dog trying to catch a rat was seen. Despite the steps behind himself, Remus couldn't take his eyes away from the picture, feeling bile rise in his throat at what was in front of him and tears when he catch Sirius own scent coming from the painting.

Tears and bile transformed and rage upon seeing Sirius pale face, looking dumbfounded at the wall together with the entire student body. Rage mixed with shame made him take holp of Sirius shirt and drag him closer to himself.

'' This painting reeks of your scent Sirius. What the absolute fuck where you thinking? Eh?!'' he yelled looking from Sirius to James and Peter '' Another one of your pranks?'' he spat at him, fists trembling from rage, feeling the unnatural need of growling rising in his throat

'' It wasn't me. Remus. Remus.'' Sirius said desperate trying to wake the young werewolf up from his raging trace '' I wouldn't do that to you. To us.'' he said trying to calm him down despite his own griping anger that transformed in paranoia and worry with each passing seconds

Because at the end of the day it wasn't just Remus secret, it wasn't just him being in danger. A stag, a rat and big shaggy looking dog. James, Peter and Sirius Animagus forms. Illegal Animagus forms and their own personal ticked for a vacation of 5 years in Azkaban. All four of their necks were on the line, but if they couldn't stop Remus in time from exploding than everything could escaladed worse and worse.

'' Remus, mate, you need to calm down.'' James said looking concerned around before smiling dumbly at them like they just made a great joke. '' Let's finish this in our dorm and then Pads could explain.'' he said smiling when Remus calmed down under his hand just for his face to twitch at Sirius next words

'' Explain? What is there to explain?! It wasn't me!'' Sirius said angry and upset when even James doubted him '' What we need to do is search which Slytherin did it!'' he yelled making the snakes in the crowd burst

Not caring of anything else, Remus leaned closer to them and hissed

'' It reeks of you. Stop denying it.''

Things escaladed farther from that point on.

with Xenophilius

Fooling the Gryffindor guarding portrait was unbelievable easy, concerningly so that it made Xeno stop for a few seconds before stepping into the empty Common Room.

The Gryffindor Common Room was bright, red and empty. The fireplace was burning brightly, there were book shelves stacked with muggle books and magazines, a drawer overflowing with make-up, a board filled with their team schedule and random things like birthdays and exams dates. There was a sleeping orange cat on a cushion of the same color and what looked like a stack of homework that will never be finished, tucked away in a corner, almost falling over.

On the right was clear, bright sign with 'Girls Territory' and on the left was another sign with 'Boys Den'. Xeno walked with careful light steps on the stairs and quickly found the Marauders room. Someone, most probably James, sticked fluttering snitch on the door, together with the boys names. He breathed deeply before looking concentrated at the doorknob and opening the door.

Inside he was greeted with a mess. There were old, dirty clothes on the floor, the most smelly ones being the Quidditch jerseys, forgotten homework, lighters and muggle magazines with naked woman's. An overflowing stash of dark chocolate, what looked like empty bowl of snacks and glitter. There was a giant bottle o glitter in a far corner of the room that looked a little too close to exploding.

Beside all those things that were actually quite normal, the most concerning thing the amount of Nargles in that room. There were Nargles on the chests, angry and trying to shoo him away, then there were one stuck on the beds curtains and more around the windows. There some of them that were just seating on the floor staring t him curiously trying to lure him closer.

'' There are traps alright.'' he said quietly before avoiding the Nargles on the floor and beginning to search the first bed, the one with homework tucked under the mattress, trying to find the blank piece of parchment Athena wanted.

There was nothing there and he already wasted Twenty minutes, panic sinking in even though there was no sound coming from the Common Room or nearby dorms.

let's calm down he though looking around the room before spotting a smiling Nargle waving at him from what looked like Potter bed

'' Hello.'' he begin softly, walking towards the bed and smiling at the creature '' Would you help in exchange of a bowl of sweet cream and honey?'' the two stared for a long time at each other, Xeno eyes burned and the Nargle just stared back mockingly before laughing and lifting the bed cover revealing an old looking piece of parchment. When he looked again, the Nargle disappeared, just a faint laugh ringing in his ears.

His short moment of relief was burst by the loud voice downstairs and the hurried steps that were closer and closer.

'' Fuck.'' Xeno sweared taking a step back, hiding the surprisingly warm paper under his cloth, almost losing his balance on a fallen book. Under his arm was a smooth surface but looking back he was not touching anything else but the wood drawer. Holding his arm up, he marveled at the invisible cloth before in the split of second when the door opened, Xeno was already covered with the cloak

The boy with candyfloss like hair and a heart that was beating too strongly in his chest, didn't cared of the screaming match behind him and walked out of the Lion Den towards the Slytherin Nest, under the cover of an Invisible Cloak and with the warm piece of parchment under his clothes. In the same way he entered the Slytherin Common Room and the girls dormitory without alerting anyone. Carefully, so his hand wouldn't reveal itself, he opened Athena and Skeeter door just to be greeted by a pair of pleasant, happy purple eyes and shocked green ones.

'' Surprise.'' he said taking the cloak off, revealing himself with a wide grin '' You would not believe what Potter was hiding in his room.'' he said gathering the cloak in his hands

'' Was a Cloak of Invisibility?'' Athena said teasing, Skeeter walking closer to him taking a hold of the cloak

'' I mean to say, it is not a travelling cloak imbued with a Disillusionment Charm, or carrying a Bedazzling Hex, or else woven from Demiguise hair, which will hide one initially but fade with the years until it turns opaque.'' he begin rambling excited '' We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible, and endures eternally, giving constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it. Nothing sensed me coming here and I'm pretty sure that no sounds can get out either.'' he said falling on a soft cushion, cloak still in his hands

'' You rambled to yourself all the way here didn't you?'' Skeeter said amused making Xeno laugh

'' You know I did.'' he said proud of himself