~ROAC~ (incomplete)

"I sometimes feel a little strange,
A little anxious when it's dark."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The last day of September dawned misty and blustering, a disappointment to most students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry due to how it had poured nonstop the last three days. The Marauders had accosted Dumbledore after lunch yesterday and tried to convince him to simply make the storm disappear- alas, he refused, though he did remark in a voice so quiet only the four of them heard that the clouds would hide the upcoming full moon. It was the first since the start of this school year, and in the past two days, James had noticed that Remus seemed wearier and less focused on his work than usual, as often happened in the near time before and after a full moon.

Much had happened in the last week. Remus' second date- James shamelessly called these 'study sessions' dates despite Remus blushing and refusing the label -with Persephone had gone well, better than the first, he'd said, and James was pleasantly surprised to see his joy from the two meetings had boosted his friend's mood through these past two days before the full moon. Fortunately, all the Marauders' professors knew of Remus' condition and so went light on homework with the classes including the four. The day passed relatively quickly, with the usual banter and bonding among their friend group in the halls, class, and meals, but James noticed Remus wasn't eating much and so made sure to sneak a few extra snacks up to the Gryffindor common room after supper.

Although he said he was full, Remus ate the three bread rolls when James offered them like he hadn't eaten all day, and the messy-haired, glasses-clad boy felt glad he'd thought to snatch them up while he had the chance. Still, as the hour hand of the clock on the mantel ticked closer to seven pm and sunset, James could tell Remus was getting antsier to get going. He was just about to head up to their dorm to get the Map and his cloak ready when he noticed someone waving to him from across the room. 

"James Potter?" Naturally, the fellow in question made a u-turn and waved to Sirius to head up with Remus and Peter without him. After a moment's hesitation, they did so and James walked over to the girl who'd caught his attention and her friends.

"How can I help you lovely ladies?" All three giggled and the girl who'd waved him over blushed as her friends poked her, trying to get her to say what she'd called him over for. Ah, the youth of fifth year, James thought wistfully, then remembered it had only been barely over a year since he was a fifth year and dusted away those frightfully adult thoughts.

"Is Sirius Black... single?" James raised an eyebrow as the gossipy laughter of the other two girls grew and the third, clearly the most outgoing of the trio, twirled a lock of her blonde hair around her finger. 

"I suppose he is," James replied, forcing away a frown from his face, "for the time being." 

"Do you think if I asked him to Hogsmeade, he'd say yes?"

"Ooooooh!" 

Squeals and swats of the arms all around the table. James was starting to regret involving himself in this high-spirited, low-maturity mess. He shrugged and took a step back, shaking his head as if actually disappointed for the girl. He was not.

"He's got his eye on another girl, sorry, Giggles."

The girl looked so crestfallen he wondered if the nickname had been too much, but then her friend poked her arm and cried, "See, I told you he wasn't a playboy like that anymore!" and an argument broke out between the pair as the third tried to mediate. James quickly extracted himself from the situation and turned to go- but then the girl grabbed his arm and he paused reluctantly.