* * * *

C H I C K E N

It's Purely Circumstantial.

Sweat sticks to his body like a determined leech, jolting him awake. He presses his hands together to stop his fingers from trembling.

It’s no use.

Their room is silent. As he inhales, his chest feels like there’s too much air and suddenly he can’t breathe.

Fear grips him as he jumps out of bed, hurrying to the familiar bed adjacent to his.

He slips underneath the covers, and nudges the portly boy in the hopes that he will give him refuge for the night. The boy rolls over, allowing for James to fit comfortably.

“Thanks Peter,” he says quietly.

* * * *

C H A R M S

It Won't Hurt, I Promise.

“No, trust me, Remus, it’ll be funny, I promise.”

Remus momentarily closed his eyes, sighing deeply. “Somehow, James, I doubt that.”

James’ smile mirrored his enthusiasm. It was bright, too big, and mischievous. He plucked his wand off the desk and waited for Flitwick to turn back around.

“Finally,” he said quietly, an impish grin snaking its way onto his lips. Dark brows knitted together, he concentrated, flicking and swishing just like Flitwick showed them. To Remus’ surprise, James managed to turn the back portion of Snape’s hair a bright, fluorescent pink.

“It’ll help with his self-esteem,” James declared proudly.

* * * *

H E A D M A S T E R

Well Played, Sir.

Now, this was absolutely, positively, not my fault.

I did not expect him to actually attempt to hex us before we finished pranking him.

Now, poor Wormtail is stuck in the Hospital Wing while I’m taking the heat for something that was not even remotely my fault. Okay, so a few other students may have gotten injured.

But…Dumbledore isn’t even here yet.

Oh, there goes Reggie, giving me that look.

“What?” Oh. He looks angry. Let’s see if I can reason with him. “It’s not like your hair won’t grow back.”

Hair grows back even if you burn it, right?

* * * *

L O P E

Fix It, Now.

“Must you do that?”

“Do what?”

“That!”

He paused, his obnoxious smile growing larger. “Does it bother you?”

The other boy’s frown was contagious, and a few seconds later, James found that he was frowning too.

“Well, it shouldn’t.”

He could never fully understand what kept Remus so wound up. James often imagined his friend exploding—head flying off and everything. He would do to relax more; at least, that’s what James wanted to tell him.

“S’not bothering anyone Remus,” James said flatly, continuing his languid gait.

Through clenched teeth, Remus spoke slowly. “Quit being a prat and walk properly.”

* * * *

D U E L

Press Play.

Words stab him with the sole purpose of quenching his anger. He ignores their meaning; allows for them to pass through, leaving his brain to process the scenario.

He has three options and he opts for the second one.

A hand pulls on his robes. He doesn’t care. Continues to press the tip of his wand into the cheek of the boy he has pressed against the wall.

“Say. It. Again,” he commands.

Whimpering. The boy’s lips tremble. Hyperventilation.

“James.”

He comes to; gently releasing his hold against the portly boy.

Sirius. “It’s not worth it mate, leave him be.”

* * * *

P A J A M A S

It's All About Perspective, Miggy.

A shiver drips down his spine; his arms wrap around his lithe frame. He sits soaked, water dripping from his pajamas, as McGonagall paces around her office. She stops at his chair; a severe brow arches high as she attempts to regulate her breathing.

“Do I even want to know why you broke curfew?”

He shoots her a sheepish grin, shrugging his shoulders lazily. “Dunno, Miggy, what is curfew but a relative construct of rules and time?”

Her blinking mirrors her annoyance and matches her twitching upper lip. “I’m not going to dignify that with a response, go dry off.”

* * * *

Y O D E L

Get With the Times.

It had taken time, but James had finally persuaded Remus to lend him his muggle radio. He sat on his floor, legs crossed, and fiddled with the dial.

“Okay…now, how did this work again?” He frowned and bit down on his lower lip.

A few minutes later, static was heard and then…singing? Content with his progress, he clapped his hands, standing up over the radio. The music was weird and loud; he liked it.

His mother peered into his room, an inquisitive look in her eyes.

“James, what is all that noise?”

He groaned. “Mum, haven’t you heard Muggle Music?”

* * * *

D U N G E ON

We're So Lost That We're Found.

“L-let’s go back, James, I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

A yelp. Sirius laughs as he steps from behind Peter. “This is why you should have been in Hufflepuff.”

Laughter surrounds James and Sirius, while Remus shakes his head, wand lit as he walks behind them.

“It doesn’t look safe at all, Potter, where are you taking us?”

Snorting, James shrugs, and then slinks a thin arm around Remus’ shoulder. He whispers. “On an adventure you’ll never regret.”

He removes James’ arm. “Come off it. We’re lost, and you know it.”

James smiles and turns at the corner.

* * * *

P A C E

Just Stand Still.

His hands trembled as he walked towards the window; once he’d reached his destination he swiveled on his heels and walked back towards the other wall. A frown glued to his lips, James was in a fit of nerves.

“Get a grip, you’re acting like a whiny girl again.” A half-eaten cookie was balanced between his lips as he mumbled to his best friend. Rolling his eyes, Sirius took another bite, as James kept walking around the room.

“If I may…suggest something?”

James glanced over at their other roommate, Nigel.

“Why don’t you just ask go her out in person?”

* * * *

A C T

Ode to Infinite Patience.

“Don’t. You. Dare.”

His lower lip quivered, his right hand placed on his chest delicately. “You…you don’t even care…do you?”

His sharp intake of breath alerted Remus to the insincerity in his voice. With narrowed eyes, the boy tilted his head at James a frown taking hold of his lips. “You’re being unnecessarily dramatic, James,” he articulated, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re not fooling anyone, you know. Just yourself.”

James grimaced, and peered at Remus with a curious look. “You’re alright Lupin…you’re alright.”

He tossed a pillow at James’ head. “Idiot,” he said, rolling his eyes.

* * * *

T E L E S C O P E

Sit Down. You're Being Ridiculous.

“Now, gentlemen, for this to work, we’ll need seven telescopes.”

An obnoxious snort, followed by a series of girlish giggles—courtesy of Mister Pettigrew himself—alerted James to his friends’ lack of faith in his plan.

Smirking, Sirius raised his hand. “Oi, Professor Potter, now, since we’re such novices in the art of pranking, do tell us how you plan on not getting us caught.”

James tapped the rolled up parchment onto the table. “Of course. I’m always prepared, Padfoot.”

Remus stood up after closing his book and shook his head. “I don’t want to be a part of this.”