I Smell Trouble (Maurauders)

[Deleted]

It was the week before Finn and Abby were due to leave for their Auror training. One last week with some of his best friends before it was months, even perhaps a year before he saw most of them again.  Finn tried not to think of that as he Apparated to the back of the Leaky Cauldron.  True, he could have gone the Muggle way and taken the train into London and used the Muggle Underground, but he had only done that twice in the past five years.  Besides, what was the use of having an Apparition license if you didn't use it?  He waved hello to some of the people he knew in the Cauldron, then as a change he walked out the front entrance into the brilliant sunlight.  He put on a pair of sunglasses as he walked towards the meeting place the five of them had agreed on; Trafalgers' Square.  He passed by the large box office in Leicester Square where Muggles were queuing to get last minute good deals on West End shows.  He had heard that the Muggle Studies professor was performing in a show - Phantom Miserables maybe? - but today there were more important things to do.  Such as causing mischief and mayhem throughout London on one of their last nights together.

He arrived at the large fountain first, chuckling to himself.  He had said five-thirty, but assumed people would get there closer to six.  Since he had decided to become an Auror, punctuality had become a strong point of Finn's.  "Always late," he muttered good-naturedly to himself.  He hopped up and sat on the edge of the fountain, waiting for his friends for the mayhem to begin.



@casey  @fred  @abigail  @jams

[Deleted]

James was feeling good. Optimistic, more like. He was happy for his friends that had all managed to get good, grown-up jobs right out of school. James had decided that right now, finding a real job just wasn't for him. At least, not yet. He didn't know if he wanted to spend the rest of his life in an office or on a broom and he figured he would take a couple months off to decide. He had had several invitations from some Quidditch teams already and then he always had a position in the auror training program because of his family but he just... wasn't sure. So to relieve some of the stress, he was glad to be going out and enjoying some of the last few days he had with his friends until they would be too busy to hang out. Minus Fred. James figured he could pop in any old time for some products at his uncle's store and that was a plus.

The former Gryffindor had, luckily, earned his Apparition license before graduating and it was a blessing. He found himself saving a lot more time just popping up wherever he wanted. And had even scared his mother a few times with it, too. It was fun thing to know. He had just Apparated into an alley just on some corner street off of Trafalgar Square and began the short walk to their meeting place: the fountain. As James neared it, he saw that Finn was there first and wasn't really surprised. He grinned as he finally took his last few steps up to Finn. "I expect the others to be fashionably late, eh?"

@fred
@abigail
@casey
@finn

[Deleted]

@fred & @jams & @abigail & @finn

"I expect the others to be fashionably late, eh?" casey walked up to where finn and james already were and he couldn't help but laugh when he heard james' comment. he reached to clap him on the back before shifting around james to hop up onto the edge of the fountain next to finn. "we're always the fashionable ones. you guys are just hopeless" he said with a grin as he leaned his hands back next to him and settled backward. they were still waiting for fred and abby it looked like they weren't in the square yet so they had some time to kill. he reached back into the fountain and cupped some water into his hand and flicked it at james. "so how's life with nothing to do?" he teased. glancing to finn he nudged his shoulder lightly. "bit lazy this one isn't he" he said with a motion to james. they'd know he was kidding. it had been so long since they'd been together in a group that it was needed. things were different now they weren't in each others pockets at school. there was more space between them. he'd missed seeing them, even more so now that masin had moved away. they still kept in contact via the occasional owl but things were over there. almost as quick as things had started.

[Deleted]

People always expected Fred to be late. He wasn’t the most responsible of people, so it therefore followed (as the night the day, he thought to himself with a smirk) that he wouldn’t be responsible with his time, resulting in lateness. Strange things had happened to Fred over the summer, though. His job at his dad’s joke shop had changed him immensely. He ever came to work late, because work was just fun that he got paid for. His job actually began to consume his life, which was strange, because Fred Weasley was far from a workaholic. He volunteered to close up several times a week, if only to give his father a bit more time to spend with his mother and sister. He liked to see his family happy, and if that meant staying at the shop a little later, Fred was glad to do it. So, surprisingly enough, Fred wasn’t late to his rendezvous with his friends because he was being irresponsible – quite the contrary.

When he finally made it to their designated meeting point, Fred found that his friends (minus Abigail) were already assembled, and talking about…fashion, of all things. “Of course I’m fashionable, I didn’t spend all of this time in the closet for nothing.” He declared. Not a moment later, Fred’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He hadn’t meant to say that. Shit.

@finn
@jams
@casey

[Deleted]

Finn smiled as one by one his friends arrived.  Abby had mentioned to him earlier in the week that she needed to spend time with her family, so she wouldn't be coming out.  They certainly would miss her, but she's always with them in spirit - he'd be sure to cause some mischief on her behalf.  "When I get a break from Auror training James I'll have to whip you in some shape," he teased.  As Fred joined them, Finn chuckled inwardly at his 'closet' joke.  Fred had never outwardly told anyone if he was gay, but over the years of being his best friend, one notices things; lingering looks on boys in their Quidditch uniforms, not showing nearly as much enthusiasm as the other guys when they checked out girls swimming in the lake during the early summer months.  He had never come out and asked Fred if he was gay; that wasn't his style.  If and when Fred felt comfortable enough to say something, he would, and that was that.

Finn rubbed his hands together, looking excited.  "Right, now that we are all here, we need to make a vow.  A vow that tonight will be legendary, even by our standards," he said, putting his hand in the middle of the circle.  "And let's start with a visit to the Queen," he added, grinning devilishly as his gaze went towards Buckingham Palace.

@jams @casey @fred

[Deleted]

At the sound of Casey's voice, James turned to see his friend and gave him a sarcastic roll of the eyes. Leave it to Casey to make a smart comment. "Ha, ha," he said sarcastically, but letting a small grin peak through. "You're hilarous. At least not having a job for right now gives me time to see Rory," he shrugged with a smile at the thought of the brunette. "Haven't seen you much at the hospital though, mate," he said to Casey, knowing that both he and Aurora both now worked at St. Mungo's.

When Fred came, it felt like they were all back together again... minus Abigail, but James had a feeling she was probably busy with work or family. She'd had a rough year. When Fred spoke up and seemed to bug eyed, James raised in eyebrow in confusion until what Fred had said sunk in. Slowly, a loving yet mischievous grin and he clapped a hand to Fred's back. "What was that, mate?" He asked, knowing now what Fred had said. He would never want Fred to feel uncomfortable, but he wanted Fred to know he was among friends and if he had something say, he could say it without judgement. He knew that none of them would judge the other for their way of life and he hoped Fred knew that too.

James looked back at at Finn when he declared that tonight be legendary. He smirked at his friend's words. "I'm with you on that," he declared.

@casey
@fred
@finn

[Deleted]

@fred & @jams & @finn

“Of course I’m fashionable, I didn’t spend all of this time in the closet for nothing.” casey grinned a little and looked at fred. he made a show of looking him up and down and all around him before clapping fred on the shoulder lighty. "go back in and change, that outfit is awful" he joked. honestly he couldn't talk. his jeans worn through at the knee and his black jacket that he'd been wearing since about fifth year was what he was donning tonight. he moved to rest against the edge of the fountain james and finn were sitting on. "You're hilarous. At least not having a job for right now gives me time to see Rory, Haven't seen you much at the hospital though, mate," casey smirked and looked at james. he'd seen james around a few times with aurora. the problem was his best mate only had eyes for rory. "well if you took your face from her neck every so often you might see me" he joked as he folded his arms over his chest. "Right, now that we are all here, we need to make a vow. A vow that tonight will be legendary, even by our standards, And let's start with a visit to the Queen," casey groaned and shook his head, dropping his face into his hands. "the queen is an innocent bystander .. leave her alone" he said as he lifted his head and jumped up onto the edge of the fountain, walking along it in the direction of buckingham palace.

[Deleted]

Well, no one had punched him for being gay, and that was a start. James asked him to repeat himself, and Fred rolled his eyes. Might as well get it over with. “I’m too gay to function, Potter. And if you tell anyone in our family, they won’t have enough of a body to bury.” Fred hadn’t intended for his threat to be quite that violent, but at least James would get the picture that this was something that he was confiding as friends, not as family. He still needed to get around to telling their family. He’d probably start with Harper, since she was definitely at least somewhat gay, too, though after that, Fred had no idea how he’d proceed. Fred bristled a little when Casey told him to ‘go back in’. Maybe it was a joke, but coming out of the closet was a big freaking deal for him, and being told to go back in, even as a joke, was hurtful. Casey was lucky they were in the middle of a street full of Muggles, else Fred probably would have whipped out his wand and challenged his friend to a duel…again.

“Can you stop being such a kiss-ass for ten seconds, Casey? We’re trying to have fun here.” Fred snapped. Truth be told, he was still sensitive about the duel they had had at the end of the last school year, and the closet joke definitely hadn’t helped Fred’s opinion towards Casey improve. “Buckingham Palace it is. Lead the way, your Finneus-ness.” Fred said, turning from Casey to grin at Finn. Since it was his idea, it only made sense that he would be the one to lead them to the palace and whatever trouble they would get themselves into.

@finn
@jams
@casey

[Deleted]

Finn laughed as Fred -finally- admitted what they all already knew; he was gay. “Well I’m glad you finally came out and confirmed it mate. We’re happy for you and whoever the lucky fellow you coerce into marriage is,” he said jokingly, clapping his friend on the back. He was glad Fred had finally put it out in the open; his friend had been clearly struggling with this for awhile and Finn hadn’t helped but notice a sort of dark cloud over him the past few terms. Hopefully with this news, Fred could finally find happiness. He gave a jaunty smile over to Casey. “Come on now Finny, I’m not going to actually touch the queen. I just think the palace looks a bit….drab, wouldn’t you Freddy boy?” he said as he strode down the long pathway towards the palace. They stuck to the shadows, avoiding the brightly dressed guards as they made it to the gates. “This way,” he whispered, creeping his way around back towards the lower walls.

Making sure his wand was still in his pocket, he scaled the short wall as only a wizard could. He paused as he looked at the side of Buckingham Palace, thinking of what to do. Inspired by Fred’s revelation, he uttered a spell and a multitude of colors issued from his wand, coating the side of the palace in a pallette of the rainbow. Grinning broadly, he turned back and bowed to his friends. “Right, Jamesy you’re up next,” he called up as quietly as he could as to not attract the attention of the guards.

@fred
@casey
@jams

[Deleted]

When Fred officially came out verbally, the smile on James's face was a big one. He clapped his hand on Fred's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, mate. But you don't you worry, I know better than to cross a scorned Weasley," he said, raising his hands in surrender. James rolled his eyes at Casey. He had missed his sarcastic humor. "You're right, next time I'm looking for a snog I'll just come find you!" James shot back at Casey with a laugh.

James rolled his eyes at the little bickering between Fred and Casey. "You two save it for later, eh? We've got some trouble to 'round up," he smirked wickedly. As Finneus completed his own trick, James pretended to clap his hands together in applause. The Potter bit his bottom lip as he pulled out his wand and then the perfect idea came to mind. James looked over at the Royal Guards, dawned in red. With a flick of his wand, the top of their large, black, furry helmets began to emit bubbles like a child's bubble blower. The palace was certainly about to look like a child's mind had taken over. Such was the Marauder way.

@casey
@fred
@finn

[Deleted]

@fred & @jams & @finn

“Can you stop being such a kiss-ass for ten seconds, Casey? We’re trying to have fun here.” casey raised a brow and looked at fred. well if someone was still bitter about anything it was fred. but then he always could hold a grudge. "only one of us here kisses ass fred .. and it's something you do for fun now isn't it?" he snapped back at him. he laughed at james' comment and he moved to drop his arms around his friends shoulders. "You're right, next time I'm looking for a snog I'll just come find you!" he nodded and reached to pinch james' cheek. "well you know i'm always up for a good snog" he joked as he moved with them toward the castle. “Come on now Finny, I’m not going to actually touch the queen. I just think the palace looks a bit….drab, wouldn’t you Freddy boy?” casey rolled his eyes and shoved finn's shoulder lightly as he walked with them. he listened to them and watched what they did to the castle. raibows and bubbles? well there seemed to be a theme going here. he thought about it for a moment and took out his wand, waved it at the castle and conjured what looked bouncy castle slides at most of the big windows on the building. "so we're turning the royal family into a circus act?" he said with a slight grin as he glanced back over their shoulder encase someone was watching them.

[Deleted]

Fred rolled his eyes at Finn. “Unlike the rest of you poor sods, I don’t have to coerce anyone into doing anything with me.” As far as he knew, James was the only one of the Marauders who actually head a steady relationship, and considering it was with someone with the last name Lestrange, Fred wasn’t sure that it counted. Satisfied with Finn’s response and James’s promise that none of their family would be told before Fred was ready for it, Fred followed Finn as he approached the palace wall. Finn cast a spell that covered the wall in rainbows, and Fred smiled. Pride was a good thing to have, and Fred was working on that. Which was why, when Casey made the comment about kissing ass, Fred was red. There were two options here: a violent one, and a nonviolent one. Deciding that he didn’t want to get in trouble with Muggle authorities, Fred took the nonviolent course of action. “I’ll see you guys later.” He said abruptly. “Have fun.” Without any further explanation, Fred Disapparated away.

@finn
@jams
@casey

[Deleted]

Finn had half a mind to go after Fred, he really did. But when Fred and Casey got worked up and Fred stormed off, the changes of Fred blowing up at Finn got exponentially higher. He didn’t want his friend to say something he was going to regret the next morning. He did however turn and raise a brow to Casey. “You just had to crack a queer joke,” he said, mock sighing and shaking his head. The mood had turned a little sour with the absence of Fred; Finn wasn’t quite sure what was going on with him and Casey, but he didn’t think he liked it. He looked over at James, then back up at the palace. “Right, let’s just get out of here before they catch on that there are bubbles coming out of their hats,” he said as he scrambled up and over the wall.

Once they were out in the gardens, Finn looked at his two remaining friends. “Well, we’re all eighteen, let’s go to the pub shall we?” he said, trying to sound enthusiastic. They were all old enough to have a few pints, maybe the alcohol would help bring the atmosphere of the party back up. “Any recommendations? We could go to the Hard Rock Cafe,” Finn suggested. He’d been there once with his mother, but for afternoon tea. He’d heard great things about the drinks selection though. At this point, Finn could really use a stiff drink.

@jams
@casey

[Deleted]

James watched somewhat helplessly as his cousin stormed off before disapparating away. He felt for Fred, he really did. James had never gone through what Fred was certainly going through but he felt for him. It had to be hard for him to keep something like that from their family. With a sigh, James turned to Casey. "I hate to say it, mate, but whatever's going on, you two should probably talk it out soon," he said a bit solemnly. James hated to see his friends fight. It tore at him from the inside out.

The eldest Potter was quick to jump back into the swing of things, not wanting to be a downer. He followed after Finn and grinned widely at Finn's suggestion for a drink. "That sounds good to me. And hey, I've never been there," he shrugged. James rather liked the idea of attending a place called the 'Hard Rock Cafe' for some drinks. He wondered what it was like. "What do you say, Case?"

@casey
@finn

[Deleted]

@jams & @finn

“You just had to crack a queer joke,” casey shrugged a little and pocketed his wand once the slides from the windows had settled back into place. "it wasn't a joke" he said simply and honestly. "i hate to say it, mate, but whatever's going on, you two should probably talk it out soon," he shook his head a little and frowned slightly. he wasn't going to try and work things out with fred, at least not in the near future. "no. if he's going to bite he shouldn't act like a drama queen when someone bites back. he gives out shit plenty but he can't take it? i mean come on. that's bullshit. i don't care if he's sensitive or not. he knows me" fred had pressed casey since they'd both arrived and casey wasn't one to tiptoe around and not say what he was he was thinking. "That sounds good to me. And hey, I've never been there, What do you say, Case?" he nodded a little and set his hands in his pockets. they could go anywhere and he'd follow. "sounds good, but i think i'll leave the alcohol to you" he said with a grin as he walked away from the palace with them, the guards all scrambling to try and get rid of what they had done to the place.