#yeah i think this is prongsfoot

[theresthesnitch]

okay but no, hear me out:

Sirius leaving home for the Potters house, but make it Romeo and Juliet with Monty making the poision to get him out of it (and obviously it goes better because Monty is the shit)

[galaxostars]

trick or treat? 🌺❤️

hi zar 🐍💚

don’t have much up my sleeve rn but since you asked, here’s some prongsfoot that I never posted bc …the layout is a bit messy and…makes my eye twitch, but well. it’s still prongsfoot so u might like it !!

[padfootastic]

hey hey hey since we’re popping in just for hot takes, here’s another one:

platonic. prongsfoot. isn’t. a. thing.

how many fucking times does this have to be said.

should i start tagging every remus and sirius interaction as platonic wolfstar??? clog up the whole goddamned tag for u????

honestly what is so hard to understand that a ship name denotes…A FUCKING SHIP

and in case it bears repeating: a ship is inherently non-platonic thank u very much. a ‘platonic ship’ is…wait for it…a friendship. there u have it. shocker i know.

[quillkiller]

you know, sometimes i feel like prongsfoot just works better than jegulus, like hold on i’m thinking about it

well. yeah

[whisperingn1ghts]

Partners in crime?

[fishisvibing]

Everyday I think about sirius is such james' boytoy, then at night I clutch my sheet tightly because I can visualize their hot messy seggs in my head

[my-castles-crumbling]

Dorm room - Jegulus, Black brothers, wolfstar, platonic prongsfoot - TTPD Server Micropromt Challenge - word count: 497

“Reg, I need to talk to you,” Sirius said, sitting on a bench next to his brother and frowning. “I don’t know what to do.

Instantly worried by Sirius’s sincere demeanor, Regulus placed his homework to the side and turned. “What is it?”

“I think James is gay. Or not straight, anyway.”

Regulus could have listed ten things, a hundred things, a million things that he thought Sirius was worried about, and he still wouldn’t have come up with this. It took all of his self-control not to gasp or choke or laugh. “Why d-do you think that?” he asked, stifling all of his emotions.

Clearly not picking up on Regulus’s struggle, Sirius shrugged, staring into the distance. “Well, he’s definitely meeting up with someone. He comes back to the dorm room late and he’s been happy lately. Even happier than usual. He’s fucking floating on air most of the time, if I’m honest.”

Trying not to flush with pride at the fact that he was the one making James so happy, Regulus gave a noncommittal grunt, his own fear of being outed outweighing his happiness. “Why would that mean he’s meeting a boy, though?”

“Why would he hide a girl?” Sirius questioned softly, frowning. “Plus, he’s been asking me questions. First he kept asking about how I knew I was queer. How did I figure out I liked blokes, what it was like to be with a bloke, things like that. But now it’s about how I knew I loved Moony, how I knew he was the one for me…seems like whoever it is, it’s serious, you know?”

Hardly daring to breathe, Regulus nodded. His emotions were a swirling storm. Panic at someone finding out. Fear at his parents’ reaction. Overwhelming joy at what Sirius had said. He and James hadn’t said those words yet, but he’d been feeling them for a while. It was mind-blowing to hear that James might feel the same.

“Hey Reg?”

Still distracted by this revelation, he hummed, brain half half paying attention while he pictured James’s smile in his mind’s eye.

“Can you…can you tell James…whenever he’s ready to tell me about…whoever it is. Can you tell him I’m just happy that he’s so happy?” Sirius asked, eyes wide and mouth in a worried frown. 

He froze, stomach sinking to his toes. “Wh-why would I-?” he began, trying and failing to sound casual. Fuck. Fuck, did Sirius know? How did anyone find out? Oh Gods, what would happen now? What–?

“Just…” Sirius said thoughtfully, a small smile on his face, “I get that it can be scary. To be open about stuff like that. So…if you see him around or whatever, and he’s with whoever he’s seeing. Tell them both I’m happy for them, and I’m there for them. Whatever they need. Alright?”

Desperately biting his lip to hold back tears, Regulus nodded. “Yeah,” he said gruffly, avoiding Sirius’s gaze. “I will. If I see them, that is.”

“Thanks, Reg.”

[nightsmarish]

Hello luv <3 could you possibly write a prongsfoot or wolfstar x reader and they take her to get a new piercing?? maybe they accidentally keep hitting or helping her clean it and stuff :)))

Poly!prongsfoot x fem!reader (James Potter x fem!reader x Sirius black) | 900+ words

A/n: first of all: omg, my first rq, very very happy, thank you so much babes <3. Second: I am on a piercing ban rn and I am dying for the ban to break so this made me sooooo jealous

T/w: reader is suggested to have multiple ear peircings, needles, still learning to write James, Sirius works in a bar

★⋆｡°⋆𖦹✮₊★⋆｡°⋆𖦹✮₊★⋆｡°⋆𖦹✮₊★⋆｡

"What if this is a bad idea?" You haven't even gotten out of the car and into the building when you start second guessing yourself.

"Love, you've wanted this for a while, I thought?" James is getting out of the backseat and opening your door on the passenger side.

"I do, but it's my first face peircing, what if it looks bad?" James kneels next to your seat in the car while you fiddle with your hands, eyes focused on them, rather than the worry on James' face that will undoubtedly make you melt.

"Doll, you're gonna look hot as fuck, I promise you that much." Sirius turns in the driver's seat to face you, left hand moving to the back of your head, stroking the nape of your neck. "And either way, if you get it and, after a few months, hate it, you can take it out."

You all sit there for a moment before you stop fidgeting and look between the two boys. "Sorry, I don't know why I'm freaking out now, ive been planning this for weeks now." You laugh, trying to ease the tension that's accidently set.

"It's okay, love." James gently grabs your face, turning you to face him and kissing you softly. "You still wanna get it?"

"Yeah, I do."

ᯓ★

You all manage to get through the door of the peircing shop.

You sit in the chair, Sirius holding your hand and James looking away because needles freak him out, but he was adamant he would be a form of moral support.

The piercer uses the forcep clamp and you're pretty sure the needle is in their other hand, but you've had your eyes closed for a while now. And honestly, based off the videos you watched, it's probably for the best you don't see the needle.

"Okay, breath in through your mouth." Their voice is soothing as you take in a breath, albeit a little shaky.

"And a deep breath out..." your hand forms a death grip on Sirius' hand as the needle punctures your nose.

"Good job. I'm going to put the jewelry in now; one more deep breath in." Your hand keeps its hold on Sirius, "and out." The jewelry swiftly replaces the needle. "Okay, and you're done."

While paying and leaving, your hand never leaves the boy until you reach the car.

"Let me see." James once again gently grabs your face once the three of you are near the car. "Dear Merlin, that looks amazing."

"Yes it does, and you took it like a bloody champ, doll." The other boy adds.

"Yeah? It looks good?"

"Obviously." He overlaps one of James hand and leans in to kiss you.

"Wait- no- no kisses right now." Both boys drop their hands from your face.

"Are you okay?" James brows are furrowed in concern.

"I'm- I'm just scared you'll hit it and it will hurt."

The paler of the two laughs a bit but looks at you so fondly you could melt into a puddle like the wicked witch of the west. "Fine- fine then. No kisses. For now."

ᯓ★

You're sitting on the couch when James gets home a few days later, book open as you read.

James toes off his shoes and walks behind the couch, tilting your chin to lean down and kiss you.

You instinctively let him, used to the little routine the three of you have. But dear fuck, you didn't consider how much it would hurt for his nose to hit your very sore one during a kiss.

"Fucking-" You pull back, hand going to your nose to shield it as if some invisible source is gonna sucker punch you.

"Shit- sorry, love, I didn't even think about your new piercing." James rounds the couch to sit next to you, putting your book face down on the coffee table to keep your place.

"It's okay, Jamie, really." You move your hand away and rake your nails through his hair.

"'M sorry anyway." He leans in again, this time kissing your hairline instead of your cheek.

Sirius had been up in the bedroom, having a night shift at the bar he worked at, so he was sleeping most of the day. But his shift starts in an hour, and he wants to at least see you two before he has to see drunk people for 8 hours.

Padding down the staircase in your townhouse, Sirius sees you and James on the couch, you with tears lining your eyes.

"Bloody Merlin, baby, don't try and kill the girl, prongs." Sirius jokes as he makes his way to the couch as well.

"I didn't do anything!" James whips his head around to Sirius, who cuts him off with a kiss before he can continue to defend himself any further.

"He kissed me and it hurt like a bitch." Your voice is slightly whinny, desperately wanting your shorter boyfriends attention.

"Oh, my poor girl, James is hurting you with his love again?" Sirius coos as he sits between you two, but it's more like on both your laps, grabbing the sides of your face to place a soft kiss on your forehead.

"I said sorry!" He attempts to defend himself again, "I didn't mean to."

"Sounds like it was an accident, huh, doll?" Sirius speaks in-between kisses on your face.

"Seems so." You murmur.

"Either way, seems only James can properly kiss me now." He grins at you before grabbing James' face, more aggressively than needed, and smashing their lips together.

[arliedraws]

hey! what about university au prongsfoot? like what do they study? do they participate in any social activities? i love your characterization of them 💖

Okay, for an AU queen, I don’t usually do much with “What if they were Muggles” AUs. But! I’ll see what I can do.

Because both James and Sirius excel in many areas, it’s difficult for me to pin down.

I see James as either really traditional or really romantic in his professional aspirations. I could see James either as a finance bro orrrrrrrrr pursuing an English degree. If he went to university and had a girlfriend, I would say he’d probably go the traditional route of, “Yeah, I’ll get a degree in business so I can provide for my family in the future.” BUT, I’d like to think a devastating breakup might have pushed him into a liberal arts degree, specifically a literature degree, (particularly if he had wealthy parents) because no one understands his pain like poets do, of course.

Sirius, on the other hand, strikes me as a mechanical engineer type. I’m thinking aerospace, biotech, automotive, etc. I really see him combining fierce intelligence and creativity with a need to build something with his hands. Outside of class, however, he doesn’t really have time for extracurriculars—he’s too busy building stuff and being clever for that sort of thing.

For the Prongsfoot focus, I reeeeeally like the idea that Sirius is a T.A. for a mathematics course that James takes. While James isn’t struggling at all in the class, he can’t help feeling distracted by Sirius, the extremely fit T.A, and he keeps missing key parts of the professor’s lessons because…did the T.A. just catch his eye and wink at him? And James realizes he’s missed entire lessons because he’s not paying attention, and he does so poorly on an assignment that the T.A.’s written on his paper, “See me during my office hours on Tuesday - S.B.”

[forestdeath1]

Poet

@prongsfoot-microfic

January 23, 1977

James lies with his eyes closed on the dusty bed in the Shrieking Shack, his nose buried in Sirius's waist. His left hand casually rests on his friend's thigh. Sirius, leaning against the headboard, is flipping through the pages of some yellowed book, faintly illuminated by the dying light of sunset seeping through the cracks of the old windows.

"What's that you're reading?" James mumbles sleepily into his friend's shirt.

"Some muggle poetry. Lily gave it to me," Sirius responds.

"Why does Lily give you books?" James lifts his head slightly.

"Because, unlike you, I'm not a toerag. I can actually talk to her without making a fool of myself, you know?"

"Oh, shut it," James exhales, lightly hitting Sirius's book with his hand before rolling onto his back. "She likes me."

"Of course, she does," Sirius agrees, without looking up from his book. "Everyone does."

"Right," James pretends not to hear the irony in Sirius's voice. Or maybe he genuinely doesn't.

"Muggles can write beautifully, did you know?" Sirius asks a few minutes later.

"Nah," James answers lazily, yawning and stretching. Today he had to get up even earlier than usual – Stone had set a penalty training for their team for "improper conduct on the field."

"Listen to this," Sirius starts reading, sliding his left hand into James's hair.

Sirius twirls a lock of James's hair around his finger while his voice fills the room with the dramas of human lives, clothed in rhymed lines. James looks at the log ceiling, studying the patterns of darkened grooves and scratches, listening. 

Sirius has a beautiful voice. He even makes poetry sound interesting. Poetry? Since when did James care about poetry? But with Sirius, even poetry seems fascinating.

Well, it's not like he's genuinely into poetry, but he likes how Sirius reads them – like he's the hero of these stories, not just a bystander.  If any of them has a refined soul, it's definitely Sirius, though he'd never admit it. 

This boy has a knack for finding the hidden poetry in the prose of life – something James has always lacked. Sirius – a lyrical child of the night. Daunting, dark, and dangerous, but only to those who haven't yet learned to understand it, who haven't seen that he is a reflection of the most dazzling white light.

"Do you like it?" Sirius asks after a while.

"Yeah," James whispers, turning back towards Sirius and pressing his face against his side, slipping his hand under the shirt to rest it on Sirius's chest. "Write me a poem," James looks up, smiling slightly.

Sirius laughs softly and clears his throat dramatically.

"Oh, James the Magnificent, greatest of the great, brightest of the bright..." he begins theatrically, extending his hand in a caricature of a gesture.

"And who's making a fool of themselves now?" James sighs, suppressing a chuckle, and lowers his head back to Sirius's waist. Sirius flicks him on the head in response.

They lie like that for a while. James hears the rustle of turning pages and the howling of the winter wind. He feels the warmth of Sirius's body under his palm. They're always warm, both of them. Moony often jokes that they can use them instead of warming charms for their dorm.

"Actually, I found a poem here," Sirius suddenly says, "just needs a little tweaking..."

"Tell me."

Sirius pauses for a moment, then flips through the pages and stops at the right one. James raises his gaze to him, looking up – Sirius has always dubbed this particular expression as 'the deer look'.

Sirius thoughtfully shifts his gaze from the book to James, smiles with one corner of his mouth, ruffles James's hair, and, returning his grey eyes to the book, quietly says:

"He is my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I think this love will last forever: am I not wrong?"

"What did you change?"

"Just the last line. It's originally about loss. 'I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.' But I like my version better. You?"

"Me too," James lifts himself on his elbows, presses against Sirius's ear, and whispers, "I think this love will last forever," then kisses him, moving lower down his neck and deeper, sliding his hand under the shirt. "You are not wrong."

___

October 31, 1981

He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood; For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Funeral Blues by W. H. Auden

[lexithwrites]

thinking about 'yeah we make out and we've had sex a few...hundred times but we're best friends! its easier than trying to find dates! but like,,,i dont want james/sirius to date someone right now because then i wont get as much attention...because hes my bestfriend....' prongsfoot

[kathrahender]

My opinion about Harry Potter Ships (2/2)

Wolfstar (Sirius Black/Remus Lupin): Beautiful. Just beautiful. They're THE Marauders Era couple. 😆

Remadora (Remus Lupin/Nymphadora Tonks): I have to see the development in a canon couple to like it- and in the movie they were suddenly like "We're a couple now :D". So no, not my ship. 😕

Jilly (James Potter/Lily Evans): Why not. After all, they both did bad things. "But Severus also did bad things" Yeah, he did. But James bullying him was also bad. So was Lily laughing when his "best friend" was being sexually assaulted.

Snilly (Severus Snape/Lily Evans): Before their bond broke they were good friends so I'm okay with it. Although sometimes I think they both deserve someone else.

Sirily (Sirius Black/Lily Evans): I didn't know the existence of this ship until now- but you know- it's nice. I like it.

Regulily (Regulus Black/Lily Evans): Wouldn't they also be called something like Starflower? Even the name of the ship is nice.

Remily (Remus Lupin/Lily Evans): I will only say the ship name ✨Moonflower✨ is beautiful as well as the ship.

Rosekiller (Barty Crouch Jr./Evan Rosier): Fics made me ship them 😅

Bartylus (Barty Crouch Jr./Regulus Black): The fics also made me ship them ngl

Moonwater (Remus Lupin/Regulus Black): I prefer Sirius with Remus/Severus/James and Regulus with Barty but they're okay 🌸

Jegulus (James Potter/Regulus Black): I know it's popular, but I'm neutral about it. I don't hate it, neither I love it. I like some fics of them tho.

Jeverus (James Potter/Severus Snape): I LOVE IT! But just because I read fics where James changes before bullying gets too far and Severus turns into a Death Eater. And fics with them having a healthy relationship. If they were toxic in the fics I wouldn't like it.

Snirius (Sirius Black/Severus Snape): They're kinda like Jeverus and they are Slytherin/Gryffindor. I will only say that.

Reverus (Regulus Black/Severus Snape): Ooooh they're cute 💖

Snucius (Lucius Malfoy/Severus Snape): Two Slytherins? One of them is a brunette and the other is blond? I LOVE IT.

Arthucius (Lucius Malfoy/Arthur Weasley): Dron 2.0 but in the previous generation. 👌

Wolfdragon (Lucius Malfoy/Remus Lupin): I don't know what made me ship them, but I love this ship ❤️

Stardragon (Lucius Malfoy/Sirius Black): They're- kinda interesting 🧐

Lucissa (Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Malfoy): They're literally the best "partners in crime" relationship of Harry Potter.

Jamcissa (James Potter/Narcissa Malfoy): If the ship is between a Malfoy/Black and a Potter, I'm in 😉

Jucius (Lucius Malfoy/James Potter): I think the same thing as I said in the previous ship 🎶🎶

Prongsfoot (Sirius Black/James Potter): Two Gryffindors? Friends to lovers? Gay wizards? Yesyesyesyes-

Moonbucks (James Potter/Remus Lupin): It's similar to Prongsfoot so yes 👌

Narlily (Narcissa Malfoy/Lily Evans): The fanarts made me ship them ⭐⭐

Bellamort (Tom Riddle | Voldemort/Bellatrix Lestrange): I have the feeling they would be toxic so no. The only way I could accept it is if they were both sane enough to have a healthy relationship.

Belladolphus (Rodolphus Lestrange/Bellatrix Lestrange): Yes. they have to be together. Although I only like them if they're not toxic.

Quirrelmort (Tom Riddle | Voldemort/Quirinus Quirrell): I mean they could be a good couple if both of them (again) were sane enough to have a healthy relationship. Unless we're talking about AVPM- which would be a big YES.

Snarry (Severus Snape/Harry Potter): Nope. I see Severus as his father figure and nothing else.

Tomarry (Tom Riddle | Voldemort/Harry Potter): I headcanon them as platonic soulmates. Besides I ship Tom with Abraxas and Harry with Draco 🤣

Bellamione (Bellatrix Lestrange/Hermione Granger): For me they're like the previous two ships. They would just have a platonic relationship.

[st0nesnglitter]

Prongsfoot x Reader Headcannons <3

A/N: hi, woke up with lots of thoughts about this particular pairing. I haven’t written in like six months so it’s short and kinda bad lol. Also I always thought the shipname Buckstar..

GN!reader except the last bulletpoint.

The difference between James and Sirius is easiest described by this: golden retriever and black cat. James is touchy-feely, loves cuddling and needs exercise to keep him sane. He’s all goofy smiles and curls, and loves very openly. Sirius is quietly observing, elegant and shows affection on his own terms, but when he does it’s amazing. He leaves fleeting touches to get you to come to him, pretty smirks and sharp eyes.

Since they’ve known each other for such a long time they bicker like it’s a sport. Their arguments rage from Quidditch brooms to pizza, from the prettiest flowers to what are the best dress shoes. Often times they want you to settle their disputes for them, which lead to extravagant compliments to win you over.

“Aw come on, love, you know I’m right” Sirius purred into your ear. “Just say that lip oil is better than lipbalm and I’ll show you how soft my lips can feel”

“DON’T FALL FOR HIS CHEAP TRICKS!” James screams from across the room.

Mornings in James’ bed are warm and soft. James loves, loves, loves being big spoon whilst Sirius usually wants to rest his head against your chest which often leads to you being in the middle. Sandwiched between two gorgeous men, who adore you, makes it hard to leave each morning.

nsfw

Their competitive streak definitely comes out in the bedroom too. Having a “who can make our partner cum the fastest/ the most times/ the most intense” competition that usually leads to every muscle in your body aching and the dire need for some new sheets.

“I think I got four” James mumbles as he softly dabs a washcloth over your spent body.

“Yeah right, you got two at best!” Sirius argues as he grabs you some boxers to wear to bed. “I, however, got three solid ones”.

When James feels subbier he wants to be used like a toy. He is def a pleasurer in every mood but when he feels a little foggy and frustrated he just wants to give and give. So even though Sirius is pounding into him from behind he is still determined to give you the best head of your life. His eyes get so pretty and glasslike, with his brows furrowed as asks to fuck you even though he’s shaky from Sirius and you’ve already came onto his tongue.

When Sirius doesn’t feel his best he is the opposite. He just want to degrade and mock, let his frustration out through his delicious malice. There’s a slight Madonna-whore complex within him, since he and James have fooled around for some time and you’re the new addition, he feels like he can be rougher toward Jamie. You can tell his mood through how hard he kisses, grabbing onto the back of your neck and using your hair as leverage. He makes a mess out of James’ curls, makes him look like a real slut, and usually ends with Sirius giving James a facial. Seeing his boyfriend with messy, sweaty hair and a flushed face that is covered in his cum usually snaps him out of his bad mood.

One thing they never got tired of arguing about: who has the bigger dick. There’s only been one time they’ve argued who has the smaller: when you agreed to do anal. It was after a Quidditch win and they shared a quick glance before starting to debate.

“Well you are definitely longer!” James says and gestures with his hands to measure out a guesstimate of Sirius’s dick.

“Oh come on, mate, you have a fat cock”

After a few minutes of bickering you just decided for yourself. And since Sirius was more slender you felt more comfortable with him taking your anal virginity. But you didn’t want James to feel left out so he got to prep you. And this man took this job with the upmost seriousness. He ate you out, worked in one finger at a time, playing with your clit to make you relax. When Sirius finally pushed into your tight hole you were already so close to the edge. He stilled when he was balls deep to let you adjust, but as he started to thrust into you your eyes widened and legs started to shake.

“I made her cum from anal… I am a god!” Sirius was breathing heavily, on cloud nine.

“Oh please! I placed her right on that edge for you, you only tipped her over”

And the bickering continued…

[catcheroflies]

“what’s your favorite ship?”

wolfstar obviously, why wouldn’t it be? it was my first fic and it’s the parents of marauders i don’t understand why you would ask m-

i was gonna say jegulus but then i started retyping so many ships that i realized i have adhd I CANT DECIDE. so i’m not participating in this question anymore. it’s too much. AH cause i started thinking about prongsfoot then wolfstarbucks, then bartylus, then moonwater, then, then jilylene, then dorlily- yeah.

[eastwindmlk]

"I think I have always loved you." & Prongsfoot

Thank you! This one got a little wild, a little action-y! I did not expect that! There are 310 words! So, I kept it short (yeah for keeping New Year's resolutions!) My inbox is still open! These were prompts but, don't let that limit you!

“Now? Really? You have to bring that up now?” Sirius shouted over the roar of spells being slung left and right. Bolts of white and green and blue arched all around them and Sirius could barely focus enough to deflect a nasty curse from one of the masked ones. 

They knew there was potential for enemies on this particular mission—they were freeing a prisoner from the LeStrange estate, after all. Sirius would not have expected anything less. What he did not expect, what no one expected, was for Voldemort himself to be present. 

James casually pulled up a shoulder and turned away from the fight to look at him, making Sirius’ heart drop. “James, focus!” he yelled. Just then, a spell whizzed by his ear, and the scent of burnt hair filled his nostrils. 

A powerful stunning spell flew from James’ lips. “That’s why I had to say it! It was distracting,” he complained and closed the distance between them until they were standing shoulder to shoulder. 

Sirius hated to admit it, but he understood, in a way, that words like that could cloud one's judgement if kept in too long. The problem was, now he had words of his own lingering on the back of his tongue. 

“Bella is going to hate me,” Sirius announced, one arm wrapping around James’ side as he pointed his wand upward. With a well-placed Bombarda the ceiling around them came crashing down in a could of dust and the almost musical shattering of the gaudy obsidian chandelier his cousin loved so much. 

He allowed himself a brief moment, a handful of heartbeats to bruise his lips against James’ in a breathless, hasty, long overdue kiss. "I think I have always loved you, too.” A warm smile flashed across his stoic features, lasting only long enough to press their bodies together fleetingly. “Now, run!”  

[siriuslystarbucks]

Knowledge

Written for @prongsfoot-microfic prompt April 21, 2023: Knowledge

James and Sirius are peering at a book together. They're sat so close they might as well be one big person. The book, at least, is big enough to span from one end of their shoulders to the other.

"Did you see-?"

"Yeah, the frog legs."

"They need to be fresh," Sirius notes, nose wrinkling in disgust. "We'll have to ask Slughorn for some of his tadpoles this week."

"He'll want to know why. Who's going to lie, you or me?" James considers it as he says it, head tilted thoughtfully.

"I dunno. Rock, paper, scissors?"

"We can't do that," James says. "We both always pick scissors, then rock, then scissors again."

"Ah, true. Spin a wand?"

James reaches into his pocket, then cracks his hand on the bottom of the table and drops his wand with a swear.

They both stare at the spot. 

"Do it together?" Sirius suggests.

"Might as well, since we do everything else together."

They go back to looking at the book in silence.

Sirius breaks it a few minutes later. "I'm not sure we're ready for this ritual. We need more background knowledge to make this work."

"I think we could manage it," because they've managed everything else so far, "but sure. Reading a little more never hurt us."