"Actually working for once I see," Remus commented as he sat in an armchair by the fire. James looked up from the parchment he was scribbling on and made a face.

"Yeah. It's due tomorrow morning, so I figured I should do it tonight."

This time it was Remus' turn to make a face at his friend. "I've never understood how you always get away with leaving things to the last minute like this."

"What can I say? I'm just that awesome."

The pair worked in silence for several minutes- James on his Transfiguration essay, Remus on a chart for Astronomy. After about half an hour, chaos erupted on the other side of the portrait. Someone out in the corridor was shouting, with the sounds of several sets of footsteps making the words unintelligible. There was also a scrabbling of claws on stone, then a shriek from the Fat Lady. The secret door to the Gryffindor common room swung open and then quickly shut again, admitting one very large, very wet black dog. Tongue lolling out, Sirius trotted over to lay by the fire, his head resting on James' feet. Remus snorted.

"It never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to believe he's actually your dog."

"Not my dog," James corrected absently as he put the finishing touches on his essay. "Everyone who sees him thinks I'm looking after him while Hagrid's on vacation."

"Yes, well, that trick will only keep working for another week and a half, so you two better start being more careful." Remus sighed and poked Sirius with his foot. "You may as well turn back now; there's no one here to see."

Standing up, the dog yawned and shook his head. Then he saw what James was writing. Sirius let out a distressed yip and poked at the Transfiguration essay with his nose. James laughed.

"I know you wanted to boycott this one, but if I don't hand it in McGonagall's gonna send a letter to my mum. Which means a Howler on Friday at breakfast- right when we were planning Operation Purple Giraffe."

A look of betrayal crossed the canine face. Without warning, Sirius grabbed James' essay in his mouth and took off, opening the portrait with a paw and bolting into the corridor. For a moment, James was too stunned to do anything. Then he took of after his best friend, yelling like a maniac for Sirius to give his paper back. Remus sighed and shook his head, a small smile on his face as he continued to work on his Astronomy chart.

xXx

First thing the next morning, James was called up to the front of McGonagall's class. The Transfiguration teacher gazed down at him with a familiar expression of stern disapproval. "Mr Potter, where is your essay?I was under the impression you would actually be handing one in today."

James stared at the floor, flushing slightly. "A- a dog ate it Professor."

"I see... The same dog who's been causing mischief around the castle ever since Hagrid left for Edinburgh?"

"Yes..."

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Mr Potter... Ten points from Gryffindor. I expect you to hand in your essay at the beginning of tomorrow's class. And if you're going to be looking after Hagrid's pets for him while he's away, for God's sake learn to control them!"

"Yes Professor." James slunk back to his seat, embarrassed but also slightly pleased. At least she believed that it wasn't his fault and hadn't given him detention. At the front of the class, Professor McGonagall sighed.

"Now, before we begin the day's lesson, has anyone seen Mr Black?"

Remus raised his hand, stifling a giggle internally but externally maintaining a perfect poker face. "He's not feeling well this morning Professor, so he decided to stay in bed. Something he ate last night disagreed with him."