Running in the dark

Chapter 34

"You'll be happy too here that Gilderoy Lockhart is the commentator," Regulus told Remus as they sat in the Gryffindor common room at the start of October. Regulus had a book in his hand but was using one hand to play with James' hair, who was laying on his lap.

"Oh thank Merlin, I couldn't deal with that crap again," Remus muttered while sipping his tea.

"I think I'll miss you being the commentator, you're funny Remus, Gilderoy is way too full of himself," James said, it was just the three of them in the room. James then looked at his watch and sat up.

"What's wrong?" Remus asked, James was begging to stand up and head towards the portrait hole door.

"Just planning our sleepover this Saturday, see you two later," he said before leaving with a wink.

Regulus let out a sigh of annoyance. "I didn't think he'd make us do that," he mumbled.

"He always keeps to his word, and you chose to be his boyfriend, you signed yourself up for stuff for this," Remus chuckled.

"Don't you laugh, he's probably gone to meet your boyfriend, you aren't going to get out of this either," Regulus snapped.

James invited Marlene, Dorcas, Lily, Mary and even Pandora. Regulus, Peter and Remus didn't even have a choice and Sirius planned half of it with James.

Remus walked into their dorm at midday on Saturday after being in the library all morning to find his bed and trunk were gone and so were James, Sirius and Peter's.

James and Sirius had spelt a cover to be the size of the whole floor and pillows had been set up pretty much all across the room. They were very serious about the whole ordeal and had even given them all checklists of what to bring.

Marlene rolled her eyes as she was handed the piece of paper and read it allowed:

Wear pyjamas

Bring a blanket

Bring food if you have any

Do not bring a book, this is a social event (Looking at you Reg, Lily and Moony)

Bring a teddy if you're like Regulus and had to sleep with one until you're nine

Regulus was not overly happy about the last item which was courtesy of Sirius.

By Saturday evening, Peter and Remus found themselves going up to their dorm to change into Pyjamas. Peter put on his favourite silk black ones, they suited him well. And Remus found himself putting on red plaid pyjama bottoms and a white sweatshirt, none of his friends asked about his scars, they never did they were all rather sure it was personal or had something to do with a magical creature, so Remus was not afraid to let his arms be bare.

"I'm hoping they know how to bring our beds back," Peter muttered as the two went to sit in the common room waiting for the others.

Pandora and Regulus showed up first. Regulus wore silk green pyjamas and didn't look as happy as Pandora. She wore a blue nightdress which cut off just below her knees. She had her hair down, which was pale white and long reaching down her shoulders. She had regular chats with the Marauders but because Regulus was now dating James and being put next to him in the care of magical creatures she ended up talking to James a lot more.

Dorcas showed up next in black joggers and a black shirt, she had tied her hair into two braids and she smiled at Marlene when she walked downstairs in black drawstring trousers and an ABBA shirt.

Mary and Lily then came in night dresses, Lily wore a black one and Mary wore a red one, they matched and anyone could say they looked like the cutest couple.

They all waited for Sirius and James, wherever the hell they had been for the last few hours, and then they came bounding down the stairs.

"It's ready," Sirius smiled at them even though Remus and Peter looked very confused.

"How'd you get up there?" Remus asked confused as they all started to follow the two up the stairs.

"Invisibility cloak moony," Sirius chucked. He was wearing grey joggers and a Bowie shirt. James was wearing bright red silk pyjamas and seemed very happy to be in them.

The room was different from when Peter and Remus had left it, they had set up small tables with snacks and drinks on them, pretzels, crisps and sweets. And they had put up fairy lights across the room, even though it would have been much easier to just keep the light on, but James wanted it for extra effect.

"Why's there no alcohol?" Marlene while plopping down, she was holding her whole bed cover instead of a blanket like the others, saying how they could all freeze to death.

"This isn't a party," James snapped and he went and sat down beside Regulus.

They found spaces around the room where they sat down and sat up against the walls.

They began to talk and laugh into the night. This is why James did this, he loved his friends so much but he knew there was a war coming for him, the war his parents were fighting, the one he would fight too, having memories like this is what was going to keep him going.

By three am, Peter was snoring softly, Mary and Lily had fallen asleep a few hours earlier holding each other, Pandora was awake and in a soft conversation with Remus about Muggle studies while Sirius lay asleep his head resting on Remus' outstretched legs, Dorcas was chuckling with Marlene, the two weren't tired at all and James had his arm around Regulus who was nodding off as they lay on the floor.

It was nice, the soft talking and laughter, the hushed snores and the people hugging one another. It was just a time when they were all happy with one another, with nothing in the way.