Early morning, July 15.
London's fog had yet to clear, down in the basement of Holmes Manor.
The Teleportation Array's blue glow pulsed rhythmically, illuminating several faces with differing expressions.
Douglas straightened his collar and swept his gaze over the "moving crew" before him.
Bill Weasley was stuffing the last Jamming Compass, covered in runes, into his dragon hide tool bag.
His long hair was tied back, and beside his signature fang earring, he wore an exquisite stud engraved with "P.M.C" (Marauders Power Company).
Remus Lupin wore a well-tailored gray trench coat. Instead of holding a wand, he was toying with a short metal rod that looked like a conductor's baton.
It was the company's Research and Development Department's latest close-combat staff. A wand could be inserted into it for both melee and ranged attacks.
It had been designed specifically for someone like him, who could turn into a werewolf at any time.
As for Sirius Black.
He wore a leather jacket with a distinctly rock-and-roll style, his lips curled in the sort of wicked grin that would give Professor McGonagall a headache and make female students scream.
Meanwhile, in the corner, Valerius was arranging his long platinum hair before a mirror with extreme fussiness.
"Sir."
Valerius turned around, pinching his nose as he looked at Sirius with undisguised distaste.
"Must we really work with this... this gentleman who reeks of dog hair? My sense of smell is very sensitive. That odor will make me sneeze while casting spells."
"Shut up, you bat freak."
Sirius did not even turn his head as he tucked a Silver Dagger into his leather boot.
"Unless you want me to throw you into the sea to feed those Dementors, you'd better drop that aristocratic act. Don't forget, you're the company's specially appointed architectural consultant