The Marauders: Year Four

The Motorbike and the Duel

The Motorbike and the Duel

Sirius put his hands on the handlebars, grasping them, his fingers curved out to the clutch grip and the brake and acceleration grips... legs spread wide over the seat and the hulking bike... James, pale with worry, got on behind him. Sirius cracked his neck, stretching it first one way and then the other, and took a deep breath. He looked about.

"Alright, how do I turn this thing on?"

"Bloody hell -" James made to get off the bike.

"No, no stay - stay James -" Sirius said, "I'm only joking." He wasn't entirely... He squeezed the clutch. He did remember that was important from having read his motorbike magazines. And they always showed motorbike riders jumping up on something to start the engine so he looked down at the pedals by his right foot... "Hang on," he commanded.

James nodded. He was holding onto the seat.

Sirius tried first one of the pedals, jumping up on it... nothing happened... and then the other... fingers tight 'round the clutch. There was a rumbling attempt at starting from the bike that set the whole thing vibrating. James's eyes widened and he grabbed tighter to the seat. Part of him hadn't expected Sirius would figure it out. But then - with a great big jump and the tightest squeeze to the clutch Sirius could give --- the motorbike roared to life, vibrating all over as the engine growled beneath them and Sirius settled into his seat.

"Blimey!" James murmured.

"HERE WE GO!" Sirius shouted over the volume of the bike's rumbling engine, the most wildest grin he had ever worn played upon his mouth and he released the clutch and the bike lurched forward harshly.

"Oh Merlin. Oh Merlin." James clutched his seat harder, tightening his knees 'round the girth of the bike.

Sirius turned the handle bars and the bike turned, moving slowly 'til they were aimed at the door. He let out a hoot and said, "James... Blast the door open."

James drew his wand. "Reducto," he said and the door blasted open and Sirius squeezed the acceleration grip... what he thought was gently... but the bike leaped forward, the engine groaning loudly and James said, "Shift gears! With your foot! You need to be in another gear! Dad's car does this sound when he forgets to shift!"

So Sirius moved his foot on the pedal and the motorbike leaped forward with even more speed, wobbling recklessly down the hallway toward the doors by the library. They weren't exactly thefront doors, but they would do...

"POTTY WEE POTTER... SNEAKY SNOOPY SIRIUS... WHAT'RE YOU LOT DOOOOING?" Peeves was suddenly zipping up from before them and turning about to hover right alongside them as they rumbled down the hallway, distracted from wherever he'd been headed in such a rush.

"CAN'T YOU SEE, PEEVES? WE'RE CLEARLY UP TO NO GOOD!" Sirius shouted.

"WHAT IN HELL IS GOING ON DOWN THIS CORRIDOR!? PEEEEEVES?" Filch, who had been chasing after Peeves anyway, came running 'round the corner by the library ahead of them to see the headlight on the motorbike coming toward him - and the two boys upon it. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"Nice night for a ride, we thought," declared Sirius as they rumbled past him.

"ABSOLUTELY NO DRIVING MUGGLE VEHICLES INSIDE OF DOORS!" Filch shouted, "I'M CERTAIN THERE'S A RULE ON THAT!!!" He turned to run after the motorbike... Peeves hovering behind him cackling and clapping...

Sirius squeezed the accelerator... the bike sped up... the meter on the bike said they were going nearly eight kilometers... and there before them was the doors to the courtyard. "JAMES! THE DOORS!" Sirius yelled.