{ Spencer Tag Dump }

Where: The Hogwarts University library Who: Open to all

Leaning back in her chair, her thoughts far away from anything to do with the pile of coursework in front of her, Mary sat up when she became aware of another person approaching the table she was sitting at. A quick glance at the clock told her that it was long past clocking out time for most.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked with a small smile. "Everyone's usually gone by now."

someone: you're pretentious

me, sprawled out on a bed of roses, reading oscar wilde and sipping champagne: oh?

Mary glanced up from her scattered papers, her lips curving into a wry smile. “Oh, James,” she said, her voice carrying a teasing lilt, “your dedication to academics is truly inspiring. If only we could all plop into chairs and absorb knowledge through sheer proximity to textbooks.”

She leaned back slightly, arms crossing over her chest as she regarded him with mock seriousness. “What is it, you ask? Well, if you must know, it’s an attempt at deciphering the unfathomable mystery that is Professor Flitwick’s latest assignment. Something about wand movements and their effects on nonverbal incantations.” She gestured vaguely at the jumble of notes before her, letting out a dramatic sigh.

Mary’s gaze flickered over him, noting the familiar mischievous glint in his eyes. “But enough about me and my noble struggles. What about you, Potter? Come to offer your wisdom, or are you just taking a break from terrorizing our peers and lecturers?”

"Oh, just studying ever so rigorously." James said, plopping down into the seat opposite from her. "Really, can't get enough of it." His forearms rested on the table in front of him and he leaned forward. Looking down at the books and pieces of parchment that littered the desk in front of Mary, he grinned slightly. "Not to give you an advantage or anything," he began, "but the best-laid coursework usually requires quill to parchment."

He sat back, leaning comfortably against the wooden backrest of the seat. "What is it, anyway?" Although James Potter thought himself rather skilled in the art of reading upside down, he wasn't about to intrude on another student's own writings. Well, not a students beyond their group of Marauders, anyway. He did have more self-control than that. Still, he was curious what had been so dull to force Mary's thoughts into the abyss of the bookshelves she'd been staring vacantly at.

“Enchantments is a mature and understanding partner,” Remus said solemnly, though his lips twitched. “It knows I have other interests. Broader horizons. It supports me in my pursuit of diverse intellectual stimulation.” He leaned back slightly, cradling the muggle book protectively against his chest as James’ curiosity flared. “It's called The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and it's about one of the best detectives in the world,” Remus said as he adjusted his grip on the leather-bound book. “And for your information, Holmes doesn’t judge me for my divided attention. He’s far too busy solving mysteries and being clever.” He paused, narrowing his eyes at James. “Unlike some people who barge in uninvited and disrupt perfectly peaceful afternoons.”

“Invited,” Remus scoffed lightly, shaking his head. “You call being dragged by the ankle out of the library ‘invited’? That’s a very loose interpretation of the word, Prongs.”

Still, the elbow to his side drew a reluctant smile, even if Remus tried his best to roll his eyes in response. “Fine. Moony and Prongs Take on the Outdoors—though I’m reserving the right to rewrite the title when this inevitably ends in chaos. I’ll have something like, ‘Two Idiots and the Consequences of Their Actions’ in mind.”

He allowed himself to be pulled to his feet, though his body language was more resigned than enthusiastic. “You do realize that ‘expanding my mind’ doesn’t have to involve reckless spontaneity, right? It could involve, I don’t know, sitting quietly by the lake. Or bird-watching. Or—Merlin forbid—letting me finish my book in peace.”

Remus gave James a pointed look as he watched him dig through his sheets for his wand. “Honestly, how you ever manage to keep track of anything is a mystery.” His voice was dry, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

And then James burst through the door like a whirlwind of enthusiasm, dragging him along in his wake. Remus barely managed to snatch his cardigan from the back of a chair as they went, muttering under his breath.

“Fine,” he called after James with mock exasperation. “But I’m counting these five minutes, and if I end up covered in mud—or worse—I’m hexing you.”

Despite the grumbling, Remus couldn’t quite suppress the faint smile creeping across his face. James was impossible, but he was also James. And that, frustrating as it was, made all the difference.

James had to fight back the laughter that pulled his lips into a smile, knowing if it made its way passed his lips, he'd lose his bargaining power with Moony. "Of course," he began when he'd effectively banished the urge, "your romantic coffee date with Enchantments for the Moderately Ambitious yesterday slipped my mind." He pulled his head back to get a better view of the muggle novel Remus was so enamoured by. "Does Enchantments know you're being unfaithful?" His lip curved into a smirk. "What's so alluring about this muggle book, anyway?" A brow raised, genuinely curious, since he wasn't able to glance the title of the thing. He was no purveyor of muggle fiction, although he had learned of its existence in muggle studies at some point. And he was certain he'd seen Lily carrying very non-wizard tomes throughout the years.

"That is an unfair comparison!" James protested. "Padfoot's bad ideas are always a good use of my time. And, if I recall correctly, you were invited. And thus, it was not neglect." He crossed his arms and a small nod punctuated the comment.

"I'll have you know I put a great amount of effort into entertaining myself. I just happen to enjoy company. Some people enjoy doing things with their bestest of best friends." He elbowed Remus in the side. "Besides, who would read a book about poor, old James Potter stuck inside on a bloody gorgeous day... when they could read: Moony and Prongs taking on the outdoors!" James exclaimed, though relented: "Okay, the title needs work - but that's why you're part of the story."

Upon Moony's agreement, James practically jumped off the bed, falling backwards to the floor and scrambling to get up before his friend even considered changing his mind. "Absolutely no quidditch... or wrestling. Yes, sir!" The dark-haired wizard saluted, smile plastered onto his face. Now the only conundrum was what they could do.

Seeing hesitation begin to cloud Remus' judgement, James grabbed him by the arm to tug him onto his feet. "Nope. You said yes - you have to expand your mind now." Admittedly, he didn't have a plan on what yet but he was sure it would come to him within the next 5 minutes. There were countless things they could do both on and off campus. "Besides, using the levitation charm on Sirius gave us some great new intel! It was absolutely benficial." He grinned. "Regardless of the... hitches."

James fished for his wand, which had gotten lost somewhere in his own bedsheets. He definitely needed to start leaving it in easily accessible places. But that was future James' problem. "Moony and Prongs take on the outdoors!" The wizard exclaimed, door bursting open as he did so. James, who hadn't bothered to remove his shoes when he entered the dorm the last time, hadn't even considered that Remus might need time to prepare. He looked back.

where: borgin and burkes who: open

It was captivating—a sudden, irresistible urge to touch the object. Her hand had reached up, the pad of her forefinger mere inches away, when the chime of the doorbell jolted her back.

Dark magic.

A sinister smile played across her features as she turned toward the sound of approaching footsteps. "I wouldn’t..." She had been seconds away from cautioning them against touching it when a new idea took shape. "Or," she said with a sly gesture toward the candlestick holder, "you could touch it. I’m curious to see what might happen if someone does."

Mary’s smirk widened into a grin, her dark eyes glinting with a spark of mischief that could rival Sirius’s own. She tapped her quill against the table, feigning deep contemplation. “Outshine the stars, you say? Careful, Black. Flattery might actually work on me—if you’re lucky. But let’s get one thing straight: chaos might be where the magic happens, but it’s also where eyebrows tend to go missing. I’m rather fond of mine, thank you very much.”

Leaning forward, she rested her chin on her hand, her tone teasing yet tinged with challenge. “Now, I’ll admit—peace isn’t always my thing. And as you know, I’ve been known to dabble in a bit of chaos myself. But unlike you, I don’t throw myself into mayhem without a plan. The last time I got talked into a so-called ‘brilliant idea,’ it ended with Peeves setting off dungbombs in McGonagall’s office. Let’s just say I’ve become a bit more selective about my partners-in-crime since then.”

She tilted her head, her grin deepening. “That said, I do enjoy a bit of reckless fun. And I’ll admit, the idea of leaving some poor first-years wondering how their cauldrons turned into screaming banshees is… tempting. But if you think I’m just going to blindly follow you into one of your harebrained schemes, you’re sorely mistaken. I have standards for my mischief.”

Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret. “So here’s the deal, if I’m going to trade my peaceful evening for whatever chaos you’ve cooked up, I want in on the planning. No surprises, no last-minute detours into disaster.”

"Ah, Mary, my dear! Your wit is as sharp as a Ravenclaw's quill, and that smirk of yours could outshine the stars." Sirius leaned back in his own chair, running a hand through his tousled hair with a roguish grin. “Oh, if you only knew the extent of my chaos. Chaos is where the real magic happens, where the unexpected dances with the absurd!” he replied, his voice smooth with a hint of mischief. “While I might not exactly be the model student—let’s just say my activities have always tended to veer more towards the adventurous side of the spectrum.”

He tilted his head, studying her with mock seriousness. “As for your serene little bubble of quietude, let’s be honest. It’s a lovely thought, but you and I both know that peace is terribly overrated. Besides, don't you ever get bored? Life’s too thrilling to sit around, even under the glow of the moonlight. The ghosts can keep each other company; I’d rather stir up a bit of fun.”

Sirius's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, clearly relishing the idea. “As for the mayhem, well, it’s a bit of a delicate art, really. A spontaneous escapade here, a cheeky prank there—one mustn’t detail the formula too much, as that tends to spoil the surprise! But I can promise you, whatever we end up doing will be a brilliant story for the ages. And if that means skipping essays… well, consider it an added bonus.”

He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice. “So what do you say, Mary? Care to trade the tranquil for a dash of delightfully reckless?”

where: Ye Olde Curiosity Shop who: open

Narcissa wandered through the aisles of the curiosity shop, an object catching her attention. Slender fingers collected the bookshelf stopper in the shape of a snake. It looked expensive yet there was something else about it... something magical perhaps. Excitement sparked in her blue hues. Her attention was pulled away from the antique as she felt someone at her side.

The blonde turned abruptly to the person. "Do you know it's rude to sneak up on someone?" Fingers clench around the snake book stopper in a possessive manner.

LET HER DO IT!!

Mary raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk as she crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “You thrive in chaos? I’d never have guessed, Black,” she quipped, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. “And here I was thinking you were the poster boy for order and discipline.”

Her gaze flicked over to the window where the moonlight spilled in, painting the room in silvery hues. “As for me,” she continued, fixing him with an amused look, “I was actually enjoying the quiet—something you seem determined to disrupt. But I suppose it’s hard to expect peace when Sirius Black is on the prowl, keeping lonely ghosts company and all.”

She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin in her hand, her smirk deepening. “Skipping essays for mayhem, though? Tempting offer. Care to elaborate on the mayhem, or is it the type of thing one just needs to go with the flow?” Her eyes sparkled with intrigue.

Sirius leaned against the edge of the table, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face as he ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Well, you know me, McDonald. I thrive in the chaos of the night," he replied, his voice smooth and teasing. "Besides, someone’s got to keep the ghosts company. They can get a bit lonely, you see."

He glanced around the dimly lit room, then returned his attention to her, his eyes glinting with mischief. “And what about you? Lost in the depths of coursework or just enjoying the quiet? I’d like to think it’s the latter, but then again, I’ve never been one for schoolwork. How about we skip the essays and cause a bit of mayhem instead?”

Narcissa’s lips twitched, the barest flicker of amusement threatening to break her practised poise. She tilted her head, her pale hair catching the soft glow of the light, and regarded James with the kind of cool detachment reserved for overly eager performers.

"Ah, yes," she began, her tone a perfect blend of dryness and sharpness, "your happy helping of arrogance, recklessness, and that unyielding Gryffindor optimism. A truly baffling concoction. It’s a wonder you’ve made it this far without collapsing under the weight of it all."

She closed her book with a deliberate slowness, letting the pause linger just long enough to keep him guessing. When she spoke again, her voice was softer but no less cutting, with an edge carefully hidden beneath her smooth delivery. "You’re fortunate, James. Most wouldn’t tolerate such impudence. But then, I suspect you’ve always counted on your audacity to carry you through. I hear you have a knack for landing on your feet—no matter how recklessly you leap."

Her gaze briefly caught his, the faintest flicker of something teasing glinting in her eyes before she glanced at the book. She ran a finger along its spine, as if reminding herself that she had far better uses for her time, though the smirk playing at her lips suggested otherwise. "As for my reading," she said, her voice now laced with mockery, "it’s hardly the sort of thing you’d grasp easily. Some pursuits, after all, require more than sheer determination and an oversized grin."

She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms with the grace of someone who knew exactly how to command attention without asking for it. After a brief pause, her smirk deepened, a glimmer of amusement finally betraying her mask of indifference.

"Still," she continued, her voice lowering ever so slightly, "do feel free to keep trying to amuse me, James. Who knows? One of these days, you might even succeed."

With that, she reopened her book, her expression calm and composed, though her eyes betrayed the faintest spark of intrigue—a sign, perhaps, that she found him far more entertaining than she’d ever admit.

James grinned, large and proud. It was the kind of grin that could disarm or infuriate, depending on the other person. Although knowing the blonde before him, he anticipated the latter, but ever optimist, James thought today might just be the day she would surprise him. Still, he didn't shy away from a challenge, so he settled into what was now his seat with warmth. He wouldn't have joined Narcissa had he bothered to look (and would make a note to do so next time), but as it happened, he was willing to ride the wave today. And most others, if he was honest.

"Well, good morning to you too, Narcissa," he said brightly. The juxtaposition between their tones might've been jarring without context. "I see you've been working on that winning personality of yours. That's an E for Exceeds Expectations. Keep it up and you might just earn that O you've been vying for."

James' eyes moved to the book as she placed it, with purpose, on the table before them. Pulled away from it by her continued line of questioning, he peered up at her again. James wasn't sure whether he'd rather dodge her curses or her questions. But, ever the good sport, he plowed on ahead. "Oh, how well you know me. Let's say it's a happy helping of all three." He raised his brows a moment, his bright smile still plastered onto his lips. "Besides, you know you secretly live for these little interruptions of mine."

James leaned in again, eyeing the book. "So, what is it today? A gripping tale about the trials and triumphs of good, old-fashioned wizarding families? Or a thrilling essay on the remarkable allure of whatever shade of emerald you'll no doubt be wearing to Sluggie's Christmas Party?"