Encounters of the Future Sort

Disappearing Cauldrons is Never A Good Sign

by IHaveASiriusObsession

Disclaimer: Harry Potter = JKR

A/N: All right, so this chapter is a bit short, but expect the others to be longer. I don't usually write stories about this kind of thing, so please let me know what you think. Enjoy : )

It was a beautiful Saturday. The sun was shining, casting rays of warmth on the freshly defrosted spring grounds of Hogwarts. Most students were outside, enjoying this sudden heat wave, be it lounging on the grass or going for a dip in the Black Lake.

But if someone just happened to journey up to the school's seventh floor, their nose would detect the foul stench rotten eggs, and their eyes would see through the fog that was consuming the corridor, and they would be led to a room that could be found only if you knew where it was, and would discover four boys hovering over a giant, black cauldron.

"That's it, we are officially going to die."

"Shut up Moony! We're fine."

"Do you know how temperamental this potion is? It's past N.E.W.T. level!"

"I agree with Prongs- shove it."

"No one cares what you think Padfoot!"

"You know Moony, that really hurt."

"Sod off. It's not my fault that you two have some absurd death wish."

James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were situated in the Room of Requirement. Each had a curious bubble around their heads to protect them from the horrid smell of the potion brewing just before them.

"Why are we doing this again?" Remus asked almost in agony.

Sirius stirred the potion while he spoke. "Because you said we needed some extra potions practice for our O.W.L.'s."

Remus rolled his eyes in annoyance. "I meant you should ask Slughorn for some extra lessons, or something. Not attempt to brew a complicated potentially fatal potion! You do know that I'm a Prefect and this is exactly the thing I'm supposed to prevent, don't you?"

"Oh, relax. You're here aren't you?" James pointed out, grinning.

"I'm only here to make sure you don't blow yourselves up." Remus said through gritted teeth.

Sirius stirred the potion twice to the left and four times to the right.

"What are we supposed to do next?" Sirius asked as he finished stirring.

James scanned through the instructions book, a frown on his face. "In this book, Potions for the Potentially Challenged, it says to add three frog legs, but in this one," James held up the second book, "If You Can Brew it, You Can Do It says to squeeze the juice from six burrow beans first."

"Hmm… What do you think Moony?" Sirius asked him.

"I think that you should stop making the potion all together!" Remus shouted, throwing his arms up.

"Okay, I say we add the frog legs, then the beans." Sirius proposed, ignoring Remus.

"Right," James agreed, passing the ingredients to Sirius who threw them in the cauldron.

Nothing happened.

"Great, " Sirius said, "we screwed it up."

"No, wait," Peter said, gazing into the cauldron, "I think it's doing something…."

The potion was starting to bubble and froth, turning a violent shade of red.

"Moony," James said cautiously, "what's happening?"

Remus went rigid. "RUN! JUST RUN!" he shouted, pointing at the door.

But, it was too late. The cauldron had exploded mere seconds later with a giant BOOM! and the next thing the Marauders knew they were lying face down on the floor.

"Ugh," Sirius groaned as he sat up, massaging his temples.

"What happened?" Peter asked, standing and looking around for the cauldron.

Remus got to his feet, his eyes also searching for the cauldron. When he did not locate it, he froze to the spot.

"What's wrong Moony?" James sat up, noticing his tension.

Remus said nothing.

"I think the potion gave him brain damage," Sirius joked aloud.

"T-t-the cauldron…" Remus finally stammered, pointing to the middle of the room where it had been. "It's gone."

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter all stared at the spot where the cauldron had once been, eyes wide with shock. Disappearing cauldrons is never a good sign.

"The ingredients are gone too, and it doesn't smell bad anymore either," Peter pointed out the obvious, breaking the silence that had befallen them while removing his bubble head charm, causing the others to do the same.

"That's a bit creepy," Sirius commented.

James nodded. "What say you we just leave and pretend like nothing happened?"

"Good idea, Prongs," Sirius agreed, heading towards the exit.

"Yeah," Peter followed.

"Should we? It's kind of too strange to ignore…." Remus disagreed.

James laughed. "Moony, now what could possibly happen that we'd need to call attention to the matter?"

Remus looked anxious. "I don't know, I just have a bad feeling about this…."