Ficlet: No Challenge: Playtime
Title: Playtime
Summary: The Marauders try to have a bit of fun being Animagi, but it doesn't really work until the full moon. This started off as a drabble for the Animagi challenge, but it was too long so dropping it here instead.
Characters/Pairings: Marauders
Genre: Gen
Beta: None
Rating/Warnings: G
Word Count: 545
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Yes
What was the good of being able to transform if you didn’t make use of it at every opportunity? First of all, they had decided to sneak into the kitchens to get some food, until Peter had got himself stuck in a hole and James had confirmed through experimentation that his antlers wouldn't even get them through the dorm room door, never mind trying to explain why a stag wanted some cheese crackers. Remus had shrugged and shown them the crackers they had taken from the kitchens earlier that week - they had just walked right in and had the food presented to them. Sirius had conceded the pointlessness of the plan once Remus had given him a cracker and a scratch behind the ears.
In search of adventure again, they had decided that perhaps being inside the castle wasn't the best way, so a trip to the Forbidden Forest was in order. After Peter shivered and shook and finally was persuaded by an impatient Sirius to sit on James's antlers (Sirius grabbed Peter by the back of his neck and tossed him up onto James's head), the adventure ran into a slight flaw when it became apparent that Remus couldn't actually pursue them or play games with them in human form after ripping his robes on an old tree and coming face to face with some rogue pixies. James had driven them off with a toss of his head and a few stamps, which unfortunately had sent Peter flying. It had been up to Sirius to find Peter quivering under a rock, and Remus had carried him back to the castle in his pocket.
The Marauders found their real purpose when the time of the full moon rolled around, and the plan was carefully put into place. Peter dashed with remarkable speed to press the knot on the Whomping Willow with Sirius and James following. The howls of the wolf didn't scare them once they had transformed and bundled somewhat awkwardly up the staircase, Peter finding another way up that didn't involve nearly being trampled under paws and hoofs. All three of them noted that their entrance on the next occasion (because there was no doubt that there would be a next occasion, of course there would be) would be a lot more put-together, perhaps even spectacular, more so than two large huffing animals crashing through a door and a small rat rolling unceremoniously over the doorframe.
The wolf had been instantly aggressive towards the new presences in the room. He had been annoyed, and seeing objects upon which to vent his own frustrations lit a fire underneath him. He had tumbled into the dog with surprising speed, threatening to crush him until a bash from a sturdy set of antlers had taught him better and strong dog bite had taught him again. The fight went on for a while, the rat scrambling in and out of the tussling animals, nipping the wolf here and there as the dog snarled back at the wolf and the stoic stag bucked and kicked and headbutted. After a while, the fight seemed to dissolve slightly - the hits, bites and kicks became less vicious. Somehow, even deep down the wolf knew the difference between a fight, and playtime.
Susan / Ravenclaw / 18 points
Summary: The Marauders try to have a bit of fun being Animagi, but it doesn't really work until the full moon. This started off as a drabble for the Animagi challenge, but it was too long so dropping it here instead.
Characters/Pairings: Marauders
Genre: Gen
Beta: None
Rating/Warnings: G
Word Count: 545
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Yes
What was the good of being able to transform if you didn’t make use of it at every opportunity? First of all, they had decided to sneak into the kitchens to get some food, until Peter had got himself stuck in a hole and James had confirmed through experimentation that his antlers wouldn't even get them through the dorm room door, never mind trying to explain why a stag wanted some cheese crackers. Remus had shrugged and shown them the crackers they had taken from the kitchens earlier that week - they had just walked right in and had the food presented to them. Sirius had conceded the pointlessness of the plan once Remus had given him a cracker and a scratch behind the ears.
In search of adventure again, they had decided that perhaps being inside the castle wasn't the best way, so a trip to the Forbidden Forest was in order. After Peter shivered and shook and finally was persuaded by an impatient Sirius to sit on James's antlers (Sirius grabbed Peter by the back of his neck and tossed him up onto James's head), the adventure ran into a slight flaw when it became apparent that Remus couldn't actually pursue them or play games with them in human form after ripping his robes on an old tree and coming face to face with some rogue pixies. James had driven them off with a toss of his head and a few stamps, which unfortunately had sent Peter flying. It had been up to Sirius to find Peter quivering under a rock, and Remus had carried him back to the castle in his pocket.
The Marauders found their real purpose when the time of the full moon rolled around, and the plan was carefully put into place. Peter dashed with remarkable speed to press the knot on the Whomping Willow with Sirius and James following. The howls of the wolf didn't scare them once they had transformed and bundled somewhat awkwardly up the staircase, Peter finding another way up that didn't involve nearly being trampled under paws and hoofs. All three of them noted that their entrance on the next occasion (because there was no doubt that there would be a next occasion, of course there would be) would be a lot more put-together, perhaps even spectacular, more so than two large huffing animals crashing through a door and a small rat rolling unceremoniously over the doorframe.
The wolf had been instantly aggressive towards the new presences in the room. He had been annoyed, and seeing objects upon which to vent his own frustrations lit a fire underneath him. He had tumbled into the dog with surprising speed, threatening to crush him until a bash from a sturdy set of antlers had taught him better and strong dog bite had taught him again. The fight went on for a while, the rat scrambling in and out of the tussling animals, nipping the wolf here and there as the dog snarled back at the wolf and the stoic stag bucked and kicked and headbutted. After a while, the fight seemed to dissolve slightly - the hits, bites and kicks became less vicious. Somehow, even deep down the wolf knew the difference between a fight, and playtime.
Susan / Ravenclaw / 18 points