15-minute ficlet #7
I figured I ought to do this week's 15-minute ficlet before the weekend, seeing as I'm going to get a book in the mail tomorrow.

Harry Potter, total G

(sign)

"It has to be around here somewhere," said James. He shoved his glasses up higher on his nose, then continued inspecting the floor.

"Did he say what it would look like?" Remus was regarding the walls with narrowed eyes.

"He wouldn't strand us here, would he?" Peter said. His voice was high and worried. "Would he?"

"Good question." James paused and looked up at Remus. "Would he?"

Remus considered. "We haven't done anything to him recently. He shouldn't have any cause to be angry with us. Any cause that I know of, that is." He looked over at Peter.

"I didn't do anything," Peter assured them.

"Then, logically, he must have left us a sign. We're just missing it."

The three of them looked around again. The classroom was quiet, featureless, and utterly without doors.

"Oh, what a great idea. 'How will we find the way out, Sirius?' 'Don't worry, I'll leave a sign.'" Peter snorted, but his face was taut with stress. "Leave it to Sirius Black to mess things up. No one even knows we're here."

"Easy there," said James, giving him a reassuring smile. James Potter was the sort of person who could look confident and reassuring even on his knees, robe smudged, dust gray in his messy hair. "We're just not looking in the right place. If Sirius wanted to pull a prank on us, he'd make sure we knew what for."

"Of course," Remus said, and began probing at the stone wall with his wand.

Peter fumed and halfheartedly shoved aside a few desks. His stomach was beginning to growl.

"Stupid idea," he muttered. "I'm sure there are better ways to make a room private than to take away all the doors. This is like a cell."

"Maybe we're going about it the wrong way," Remus said, giving up on the wall. "Maybe it's a spell. If I were Sirius, how would I make a sign?"

James laughed. "You're asking me to think like Sirius? Ask for the moon while you're at it. Er." He blushed suddenly. "Oh, Remus, I didn't mean -"

"That's all right," Remus said quickly. "Maybe it's a spell, I mean. Peter? Any ideas?"

"If I had ideas I would have shared them long ago," Peter said. "I'm hungry. I wonder what's for dinner?"

A quiver of magic ran through the room, and they all jumped.

"That's the sign. Say it again," Remus commanded.

"What? 'I wonder what's for dinner'?"

Quiver.

Remus laughed. "'I wonder what's for dinner,' indeed. Chicken soup?"

Yet another quiver, stronger this time.

"I wonder what's for dinner," James said loudly and clearly. "Roast beef and potatoes? A big side of ham? Turkey casserole!"

The magic was growing. It had the distinct feel of Sirius to it, all mischief and mocking laughter.

"Yorkshire pudding," Remus contributed. "Pumpkin pie."

At the mention of pie, the magic coalesced into a single spot.

"It's dessert he wants! Devil's food cake!" Peter cried. "Apple tart! Chocolate pudding!"

The magic gathered even more tightly, and at the mention of the last dessert, it burst. It left behind a door.

James grabbed the knob and turned, opening the door to reveal a smirking Sirius. "What kind of sign d'you call that?" James demanded.

Sirius shrugged. "Made sense. You'd want to leave when you got hungry. Want to visit the kitchens?"

"Yes," Peter said, and ran for it.

(End)