the_debt_of_time

The room fell immediately silent; the only sound was Peter's laboured breathing.
Sirius glared down at the boy, his expression making a promise of absolute pain to be
delivered once he had somehow fixed this amazing cock-up.
His heart was in his throat as he slowly turned, watching as Remus did the same to
look at James, who was no longer sitting on his bed. The Quidditch sign-up parchment
was clenched tightly into his fist, and his face was quickly turning red as he stared at them.
"WHAT?!"
Sirius took a leap. "Peter took your wand to scratch his arse with it once."
Remus sighed and cursed under his breath. "Nice try, Pads, but this argument
reached its peak about ten seconds ago. Look, Prongs," he said, using his calm and collected
tone of voice, glancing briefly at Sirius, who was desperately hoping he did not do anything
to make matters worse. "Let's be adults about this, yeah?"
"Or we could have denied it," Sirius said with a groan.
Before either had a chance to properly explain the unbelievably complicated and
interlaced relationships they each had with his twin sister, James shifted on the spot. A very
real and angry Prongs stood in his place, huffing hot air through his nostrils, black eyes
narrowed and head bowed forward.
Sirius's eyes widened in genuine fear. "Fuck."
From the corner of his eye, he saw Peter shift into his rat form and scurry through
a small hole in the stone wall.
"James.. ." Remus said, taking a slow step back.
Prongs pawed at the floor with his hooves in an aggressive threat.
"Well, shit." Sirius quickly shifted into Padfoot, knowing that at least he would have
size as an advantage in the oncoming and inevitable onslaught.
"Not fair! Not fair!" Remus yelled. "I can't shift at will!"
They both stared into the face of the angry stag just as it charged forward.