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halothenthehorns · 3 years

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TLTNL- SNAPE’S WORST MEMORY

Vague note before you read; I don't like Snape. I never switched to honestly feeling anything other than vindictive 'I want to punch him in the face' syndrome for this guy. I never transgressed into the wondering realization he's a good person just because he loved someone. Yes he had a hard life, yes he sacrificed it to protect someone else, but I'm sorry, it does not make up for the countless things he does to children. Call it a cover, call it whatever you like, I don't condone it.

Sorry if that disappoints you or you at all disagree, feel free to argue back as I do love differences of opinion and will never scorn anyone for thinking otherwise. At least know I will never put such things into the fic, verbatim anyways, because Harry clearly thinks differently, and this is his story. Like with all other characters who people have different opinions about, all sides will be shown, even Snape's.

HPHPHPHP

Remus glanced at the clock and saw it was getting close to lunchtime, but he decided to keep going now with even the slimmest of hopes Dumbledore would make some miraculous return. He just couldn't imagine it, Hogwarts without Dumbledore?! Even in Harry's second year the idea had trouble him, and the Ministry had caused that one as well, admittedly through Malfoy instead of Fudge, but how on Earth did this keep happening? He forced himself to remember it wasn't right now, Dumbledore was up at the school this moment helping them fight off Voldemort for now, so he had to remain focused on that to begin, and immediately regretted it.

BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

"Oh not another one!" James demanded, though at some point he really should have stopped being so surprised.

Dolores Jane Umbridge (High Inquisitor) has replaced Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty-eight.

"That's not even, the Ministry can't-" James spluttered. The Ministry decreeing teachers at the school was mind blowing enough, but now apparently they could just assign headmasters to the school! What next, they were going to start put wizards behind the desk at Gringotts?

"I can not imagine this," Sirius groaned in disgust. "That, that kitten stalker behind Dumbledore's desk, and now with total control of the school! Is there anything she can't get away with doing now?"

Remus was so gray in color it was almost terrifying. The image wouldn't even form in his mind, the kind headmaster who had allowed him into the school replaced by that- that- he didn't even have any insults left!

Lily felt petrified for the students well being, she almost couldn't breathe for a moment at the thought of what all she could get away with now in regards to those detentions.

Signed by the Minister of Magic. These notices had been put up in the school overnight, as well as the story spreading of Dumbledore's miraculous escape from said Minister, The High Inquisitor, two Aurors, and the Junior Assistant to the Minister.

"Percy wasn't there when that happened," James corrected. "He'd left before Dumbledore started the fight."

"I'm surprised the school wasn't adding in a whole Auror department to the list, so I didn't correct them," Harry shrugged.

Details of this had gone away with people, such as one girl insisting to another Fudge was now in St. Mungo's with a pumpkin for a head,

"I wish," Sirius grumbled.

but what was surprising was how accurate the rest of their information was.

"How did they know everything?" Harry asked bemusedly.

"The portraits," all four at once reminded him.

Such as the detail that only Harry and Marietta were witnesses, and as the later was still in the hospital wing trying to get her curse removed, Harry was now being bombarded with first-hand account requests.

"There's nothing new," Harry sighed.

When told to Ernie, on their way back from Herbology, he at once assured Dumbledore would be back, and even divulged his own herd information from the Fat Friar, that Umbridge had later been seen trying to get back into the office, but was now bard. Apparently she'd thrown a right tantrum when unable to get in.

"Ha!" Sirius' bark of triumphant laughter was heavily echoed by all of them. It wasn't nearly what the cat barf was owed, but for the smallest moment, they got to enjoy her misery instead of the other way around.

Hermione viciously said how much she'd have loved to seen that. Fancying herself up in the Head's office, lording over all the teachers while being a puffed-up, power-crazy old-

Cut in of did Granger really want to finish that sentence?

"Yes, yes she does," Sirius protested of whoever had interrupted something nice for a change.

Malfoy had come upon them.

"Why am I not surprised," James muttered as he buried his face in his hands, somehow knowing this was only about to get worse with that albino reject involved.

He at once declared he was going to have to take points from both houses.

"Prefects can't take points away from other houses," Remus scoffed.

"I'm sure he's just already been promised Head Boy and was practicing," James rolled his eyes.

Ernie corrected only teachers could dock points from houses that weren't theirs.

"I wonder how many times he's had to be reminded of that when trying to bully little first year Gryffindors," Sirius scowled.

Ron reminding they were Prefects too.

"Actually sometimes I forgot," Harry muttered. After the initial shock, Ron had never made much of a show of it except for a few occasions.

Malfoy agreed prefects couldn't dock their points, also referring to him as Weasel King,

"Clever," Remus sneered with exaggerated sarcasm.

but the Inquisitorial Squad-

"The what?" Remus was interrupted by all four of them, which he found unnecessary as he'd been wondering the exact same thing.

he was cut off by Hermione demanding what that was.

Malfoy pointed to the I silver badge he had on his robes above his own Prefect badge, stating it was a select group hand picked by Professor Umbridge.

"I'm going to cry," Sirius vowed. "I, this, how do they keep managing to make shit up as they go along!"

"I never would have believed the school could turn into something so," James trailed off, without words for how different this place had become from his memory.

The Inquisitorial Squad did have the power to dock points from anyone.

"That just, completely undermines the whole system," Lily rubbed furiously at her forehead, thinking Fudge should be done with it already and rename Hogwarts 'The pre-Ministry of Magic.'

Then he continued with his first though, taking five from Granger for insulting the Headmistress, five from Macmillan for correcting him, five from Potter because he didn't like him,

Harry's eyes had narrowed with every insult Malfoy had given, even after all these years he still managed to find ways to be the most insufferable person in that castle, his only saving grace was he wasn't as bad as Snape and Umbridge, yet.

then five from Weasley for his shirt being untucked,

"Just take a round hundred why don't you, it'll be faster!" Sirius felt like his eyes were going to pop out of his head if he rolled them any harder.

oh, and he'd almost forgotten, an extra ten from Granger for being a Mudblood.

"Nice to know he forgets sometimes," Remus said testily, "I certainly never fail to forget how much of an arse he is."

Ron furiously reached for his wand, while Hermione pushed his arm down and hissed at him not to.

"Is she off her rocker?" Lily snarled. "I'd have cursed him at the start of this already."

"Trust me, none of us would have stopped you," James growled.

Malfoy was uncovered, stating new Head, new times, they'd better be getting used to this. Then they left.

The four turned to the hour-glasses that showed all house points, worrying that this couldn't really be happening,

"I wish I'd thought that for even a second," James shook his head, but he'd long since stopped questioning the depths that woman would go.

but even as they watched, the points shot down. Whereas Gryffindor had been neck and neck with Ravenclaw this morning, now they were both significantly less, as was Hufflepuffs house showing immense drops, the only unchanged one being Slytherin.

Lily looked about ready to pull her hair out in frustration. She couldn't believe such blatant favoritism could continue, the system had been slightly off kilter before and now it was just rampant.

The twins arrived then, commiserating Montague had tried the same thing with them during break.

"What does he mean, tried?" Sirius eagerly demanded.

Ron asked what he meant by tried?

Sirius was so giddy to hear any bout of revenge, he didn't even bother to gloat he'd just mimicked Ron.

Fred said without concern he hadn't gotten all the words out, as they'd stuffed him into the Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor before he could.

All five of them burst out with laughter for this, Harry's feeling a little more forced than he understood why.

Hermione looked shocked, saying they'd get into trouble.

Fred disagreed, at least not until they found Montague, and that could take weeks. Then they declared they still didn't care.

"Did they ever?" Lily rolled her eyes.

"Never been expelled were they," James defended. "Clearly they had some restraint."

Lily wasn't sure how he was able to say that as if it were actually a good thing.

Hermione asked if they ever had?

George said of course, they'd never been expelled.

Without looking up, Remus reached over and put his hand against Sirius' mouth so he could keep going very loudly. Sirius waited impatiently until his hand got tired and he removed it before bursting out anyways, "Lily and James mimicked them!"

"Thank you Blackie, I hadn't noticed," James said blandly, while Sirius crinkled his face in disgust for that nickname.

"Shut up Comet," Sirius snapped back.*

Fred pointing out they'd always drawn the line, George correcting they might have crossed it occasionally, but Fred pointing out they'd never caused real mayhem.

"Honestly, I'm not quite sure why," Remus mock pouted.

"I know I wouldn't have the restraint with the year I've been hearing about," Sirius agreed.

Ron asked about now?

Fred and George simultaneously agreed mayhem was exactly what their new Head deserved.

"I love them!" James declared. "Lily, we need to have twins."

Lily smacked him upside the head even while she was repressing giggles.

Hermione said they couldn't, Umbridge would have them expelled.

"I recall a conversation where they don't care," Sirius said eagerly, wondering how on Earth this could be Hermione's first thought.

Fred shook his head at her naivety, saying they didn't care, they'd leave right now except they wanted to pay their dues to Dumbledore first.

James was still bouncing in his seat like an excited toddler, glee and eagerness to hear what he'd been expecting from the pair of them ever since Umbridge had kicked his son off the Quidditch team. He had no clue what they'd been doing in the meantime, but surmised that the change may well have been they'd finally gotten premises for wherever their shop was to be. Glory this was going to be worth the wait, of that he was confident.

Then George informed them they may want to toddle along to the Great Hall so the teachers could see them peacefully at lunch.

Hermione asked why, and George promised they'd see.

"I'd fear for my life if I were Umbridge," Remus' grin was stretching into one Harry had grown to associate with a Marauder story.

"She hasn't the sense, and I'm almost glad for it," Sirius corrected with the same look in place.

Fred and George disappeared, and Ernie quickly did the same muttering about homework.

"I forgot he was there," Lily snickered. "I wonder how well he knew the twins before this to have such a reaction?"

"Clearly quite well, as he knew to make a run for it," Harry said with a smirk.

Hermione said perhaps they should go get some lunch.

James clucked his tongue at Hermione, Dumbledore couldn't have dragged him away from watching this.

Ron instantly agreed, and the three tried to move in with the rest of the que,

All three boys groaned loudly in agitation, they would have paid anything to get front row seats for whatever the twins had planned, and their boy was walking away from it!

Harry hardly looked upset at their reaction, he was vividly remembering already that they wouldn't have long to wait for details.

but when Harry turned around, he came face to face with Filch. He quickly took a step back, the caretaker was best viewed from a distance.

"Filch is best viewed not at all," Sirius corrected while all of them frowned for what this news could be for. Filch did not single out students for good reasons.

He told Potter the Headmistress wanted to see him.

"Don't call Dumbledore a woman," James rolled his eyes.

Harry at once stupidly said he didn't do it, his mind still on Fred and George.

Lily busted out laughing loudly at the look of chagrin on Harry's face and the three boys affronted look their boy was such a terrible on the spot liar. It hurt their soul.

Filch gave a silent, wheezing laughter at his guilty conscience, then instructed him to follow.

"Don't do it Harry," Sirius said at once.

"And what, run the other way and get in more trouble?" Harry demanded.

Sirius declined answering no matter how tempted he was to say yes, run all the way to Grimmauld place. Who'd have thought he'd ever even think such a thing?

He exchanged a look with Ron and Hermione before doing so, and as they left the crowd, he saw Filch was in an extremely good mood.

"Great, now I'm starting to fear for your life," Remus groaned.

"At least I have the sense to agree," Harry sighed.

He hummed to himself all the way up the marble staircase before informing Potter things were going to be changing around here.

"We've noticed," James said harshly, it had been disturbing him for quite some time.

Harry coldly said he'd noticed.

"Oh good, I thought it had just been us," Sirius tried for a happy snicker, though it was clear how distracted he was he hadn't realized this had been said twice.

Filch continued he'd been telling Dumbledore for years he was too soft on the students.

"And your idea of correcting that was medieval torture," Remus pleasantly reminded. "I'm sure he can understand why normal teachers methods are better."

These filthy little beasts dropping Stink Pellets every which way, they wouldn't have been doing so if they'd known he had the power to whip them raw.

Lily blanched in horror while the boys smiled grimly. They just couldn't believe Filch would ever go through with it, considering how often he'd threatened this and he'd always been laughed off.

Nobody would have been throwing Fanged Frisbees down the corridors if he could've strung them up by the ankles in his office.

"Why doesn't he ever just go for the Heretic fork, that's a grand old torture," Sirius offered in what he was sure was a helpful tone of voice.

"I don't even want to know what that is," Lily shook her head.

When the new Educational Decree Number Twenty-nine came through though, oh he'd be able to do that and much more.

"If he ever goes through with that, I'll give the man his own award," Remus snickered with a bit of an edge, implying it wasn't a trophy kind.

The Minister had even signed an order for the expulsion of Peeves.

"They're going to blow up that castle trying," James said conversationally.

"Hopefully the twins stick around long enough at least see that," Remus said without concern.

Harry was not happy to hear the lengths Umbridge had gone to to get Filch on her side, but he knew they'd pay off considering his extensive knowledge of all the school's secret passages, rivaled only by the Weasley twins.

"While that's true," Sirius sighed, "I still can't find him anymore of a credible threat than his cat. Timing is key in avoidance of him."

He finally stopped outside Umbridge's office, so very familiar to Harry from his many detentions.

"I'd be very pleased if you stopped reminding me of that," Lily hissed, though it wouldn't actually help, as that was ingrained into her being as much as the back of his hand.

The usual pink décor was as eye watering as ever, the only new thing the block of wood on her desk declaring her as Headmistress.

Remus adopted quite a cruel smirk for that was all she could claim, a useless block of wood. The school would never follow her.

Also his Firebolt and the twins Cleansweeps were chained to the wall behind her desk with iron pegs.

Lily raised a brow and stated, "a bit overkill," while James and Sirius looked physically pained at the thought.

She thanked Argus for his fetching Potter, while Harry took a seat. Not knowing what fresh horror to expect,

"I stopped wondering that and now just dread it," Remus grumbled.

he was completely started when she asked him what he'd like to drink.

"Don't do it Harry," James said at once.

"It's probably poisoned," Sirius agreed grimly.

"I just wouldn't accept anything from her on principle," Remus crinkled his nose at the thought, all of them wondering at what she hoped to accomplish by the sudden nicety.

When he hesitated, she prompted tea, coffee, pumpkin juice?

"The most fast acting poison you have," Lily muttered.

He at first refused, but upon her persistence, he picked tea.

She turned her back and made quite a show of pouring it into the cup as well as some milk before turning back to him.

"I'm starting to think that wasn't a joke," Lily told Sirius.

"I never meant it as one," Sirius agreed.

She requested he drink up while they have a chat, but when Harry still only held the cup, she impatiently waved him to try it.

The look on Harry's face was clearly strained, and they could all understand why at having to play niceties at this. The real problem was they couldn't put their finger down on why she was doing this.

He finally raised the cup to his lips, but froze at the last second upon spotting a kitten with very blue eyes, the same shade as Mad-Eye Moody's special eye. He could easily imagine what the old Auror would say to him drinking something from a known enemy.

James's mouth popped open with outrage. "You mean you actually were going to take a sip before you saw that?"

"But I didn't," Harry protested, starting to rub in agitation at his forehead, somehow knowing he'd be quite grateful for this, though not a clue as to why, she hadn't really poisoned that had she?

"At least Mad-Eye left a good impression, even the fake one," Sirius grumbled.

Instead he falsely took a sip with his lips firmly pressed together, and once he had, she asked if he knew where Albus Dumbledore was.

Lily was getting a worse feeling by the second, and she hadn't thought it could be possible, considering his company. "Why does she think you'd know that?"

"No clue," Harry sighed, as always wishing he had a better answer for them.

Harry instantly said he had no clue, and Umbridge went right back to encouraging to drink up his tea.

James kept shifting his weight with heavy unease, wishing she'd stop with the farce of politeness in this drink already, though perhaps that's the only way to be nice she knew, the fake kind. All he really wanted to do was transform her into a teapot and shatter the pieces already.

When she repeated the question but got the same answer, she switched to asking for the whereabouts of Sirius Black.

Remus choked hard, he couldn't even get his full name out, but he didn't need to, it was clear they'd understood.

"No," James hissed, looking nearly faint.

"No, she can't have, there's no way she knew that was you!" Lily protested. "I, you, you've actually been really careful, and smart, and..." she trailed off, because her words gave her no comfort, and it was clear they were going straight past the others.

"Okay, okay," Harry practically yelled to keep their attention before they had an utter panic attack to rival the one screaming in his head. "She doesn't know where he is, that's why she's asking!"

"But why!" Remus snarled, his eyes glued to the words, ignoring how hard it was becoming to breathe from the mounting fear. "She shouldn't have any clue what you know about him, as far as they're concerned he's still after you!"

"Something's changed," Sirius said slowly, and honestly the scariest part to all of them was how hard Sirius was clearly trying to keep up his usual calm in regards to this. "The only thing I can think of was that Azkaban break. Despite their stupid story they published, they realized something wasn't right, and they're trying to find some alternative. The only one they've got is what Dumbledore offered, so if they believe I was out trying to help Harry..." he trailed off with a miserable shake to his head. He had no hope that this change would help him at all, they'd still do everything in their power to bury all this even while looking for someone to blame.

Remus was not comforted, none of them were. It terrified him to keep going, to know what else Umbridge had called Harry up there to ask, though what in her sugar frosted mind made her think he'd answer was beyond him. Most likely she was just looking for a tell, some way to show he was lying to throw him back in detention.

Harry's stomach turned violently, the teacup in his hand shook and he pretended to take another long drink to stall, spilling some over his chin before answering he had no clue to this as well.

James couldn't help his high pitched keening noise. Harry was a terrible liar, they'd well established this, so if Umbridge had any uncertainties before, she'd know now Harry did know something.

Harry recognized that look, and flinched with guilt. He could feel tears stinging his eyes in frustration that he couldn't do Sirius any help, that somehow he was in fact going to make this all worse for his Godfather.

Umbridge was not impressed, saying she knew there had been someone in the Gryffindor tower, all the Floo Networks were being watched, except her own of course.

Harry made much the same noise James just had in distress. Remus gave him a sympathetic look for all the wrong reasons, but all they could think of was how upset Harry was he'd be going the rest of the year without talking to Sirius, something none of them had ever had to do.

Her Inquisitorial Squad was going through all mail, Filch keeping an eye on every secret passageway. If she found one shred of evidence-

BOOM!

"Thank you," Sirius nodded solemnly. "I really wanted her to be cut off."

James had to think hard past his unending worries regarding his brother to recall where or why this noise would be made, and had never yet been more grateful for the twins.

The floor shook, Umbridge nearly slipped off her chair, as both looked in surprise to the door. Umbridge took off at once, and Harry only paused long enough to dump his still full cup into a plants vase before darting after her.

"I'm sure that saved your life," Lily shook her head, they still hadn't ruled out that drink being deadly.

He could hear people running and screaming several floors below.

"Well Harry certainly has an alibi now," Remus muttered.

The source was not difficult to find.

"I'd be disappointed if it was," Sirius rolled his eyes.

One floor down, pandemonium reigned. Somebody (and Harry had a very shrewd idea who)

"Flitwick?" James offered helpfully.

"No, no, Crookshanks must have set something off," Sirius said blandly.

"You're both ridiculous," Remus told them fondly, "obviously it was Ginny."

Harry found a smile somewhere in him for their antics. He couldn't help it, they never ceased to be able to do that no matter how heavy his mind got.

had set off what seemed to be an enormous crate of enchanted fireworks.

"Moony," Sirius pouted, "why do you always get the best parts."

Remus scowled at him, honestly thinking that heart failure over what Umbridge could know had hardly been worth discovering whatever the twins were up to, but merely smacked him upside the head in response.

Dragons comprised entirely of green and gold sparks were soaring up and down the corridors, emitting loud fiery blasts and bangs as they went; shocking-pink Catherine wheels five feet in diameter were whizzing lethally through the air like so many flying saucers; rockets with long tails of brilliant silver stars were ricocheting off the walls; sparklers were writing swear words in midair of their own accord; firecrackers were exploding like mines everywhere Harry looked, and instead of burning themselves out, fading from sight or fizzling to a halt, these pyrotechnical miracles seemed to be gaining in energy and momentum the longer he watched.

Filch and Umbridge were standing, apparently transfixed in horror, halfway down the stairs. As Harry watched, one of the larger Catherine wheels seemed to decide that what it needed was more room to manoeuvre; it whirled towards Umbridge and Filch with a sinister 'wheeeeeeeeee'. They both yelled with fright and ducked, and it soared straight out of the window behind them and off across the grounds. Meanwhile, several of the dragons and a large purple bat that was smoking ominously took advantage of the open door at the end of the corridor to escape towards the second floor.**

Umbridge screamed at Filch to stun them before they could get away while firing off the spell herself.

The others had been far too enraptured listening to such descriptions to dare interrupt, but now that it was clear their details had been shut off for now, they still couldn't quite force words of wonder from their mouths, they were actually stunned stupid by something so spectacular occurring in their old hallways.

"The, twins, managed..." Remus trailed off there, words weren't good enough to cover this fantastic feat.

"These are the best kids ever!" Sirius shouted, his vivid imagination nearly not enough to cover this.

"I don't care what we do, we have to make sure at least this is managed again," James stated in no uncertain terms.

Lily was too busy giggling in agreement to add in.

However, the moment the red spell connected with a rocket, it exploded and tore out a chunk of wall. Umbridge at once turned on Filch and told him not to do that as if he'd suggested it.

"I'm not surprised she blames her actions on others," Lily managed to get out less hatefully than normal considering she was still laughing.

Filch needlessly agreed, being a Squib he could do this no more than swallow them,

"No, but I'd like to see him try," Sirius said with enthusiasm.

but instead went for a broom and tried swatting at them, only managing to achieve setting that on fire.

"Probably his most brilliant idea ever," Remus cackled.

Harry ducked away still laughing like crazy, and found the twins in the nearest corridor listening to the chaos with suppressed mirth.

"They've far more restraint than I would have thought," Lily managed while her shoulders still shook. "I would have expected them to proudly be standing under them."

"No sense when everyone will know who did it, but then you can't prove it," James corrected.

Harry told them he was impressed, they'd put Filibuster out of business for sure.

"Well I should hope not," James couldn't stop smirking. "A little healthy competition is good for them."

George whispered he hoped she tried Vanishing them next, that made them multiply by ten.

Impossibly, fresh and renewed laughter began again in here, now they were all wondering the ways these things could get better the more magic you tried to use on them.

The show continued for the rest of the day, often disrupting classes, though the teachers hardly seemed to mind.

"Because we have the best staff ever," Harry managed in between roaring with laughter.

For instance, when a dragon came soaring through the room, McGonagall blandly asked Miss Brown to go fetch their headmistress without out so much as looking up from her desk.

"I miss McGonagall," Remus wheezed out.

The highlight of all this being Umbridge spent her first day as Headmistress running around the castle covered in soot in her attempt to be rid of the firework, whom the teachers seemed incapable of expelling without her around.

"But of course not," Sirius widened his eyes with mock concern despite a few tears still pouring out of them. "We have no idea what kind of magic is behind these, who knows whose subject they relate to," which only managed to fill the room with even more laughter.

Flitwick had even been seen thanking her for the help, after all, he wasn't sure he had the authority to do this himself, before slamming the door in her face.

Lily nearly fell off the couch in utter hysterics, her infant laughing loudly along the only restraint holding her together.

The twins were the heroes of the common room that night, taking orders from everyone in the school for their own set of Weasleys Wildfire Whiz-bangs. Hermione fought her way through just to congratulate them, and they offered to add her to the list for a discount.

She returned to Harry and Ron to find them watching their bags as if hoping the homework would spring out and do itself.

"Wait, wait," James insisted with a rewind motion, and continued with the most important question yet, "did she buy some?"

Harry just blinked innocently without response.

Hermione offered they could do that later as wheel went whizzing past the window.

"I knew it!" Sirius pumped his fist in triumph. "I knew that one had to have more fun in her life than we'd been led to believe."

Ron asked if she was feeling alright, and she happily informed them she was feeling a bit rebellious.

"I'm so proud," James didn't even have to fake rubbing tears from his face.

"Only took her group getting disbanded to admit it," Harry chuckled.

"Though how she went from an illegal study group to not doing homework as rebellious is beyond me," Sirius said only semi-intelligible from laughing so hard.

Even when he headed up to bed they were still going full strong, a sparkler pausing right at their dorm window to write out Poo.

Harry was starting to get worried none of them had stopped laughing for so long, surely they were all going to run out of air soon, and yet none of them could seem to care. This was far too brilliant and a perfect shot of relief after all the stress they'd been dealing with of late.

He got into bed grinning at what Fudge would think when he heard of Umbridge's first day at Dumbledore's job,

"Probably furious," Sirius said with chipper.

"I can only hope it gets worse," Remus insisted with a grin, though he was flabbergasted how after that display.

and how Fudge would react when he heard that the school had spent most of the day in a state of advanced disruption.

"Oh I'm sure he'll find some way to cover it up, that's what he's best at," James rolled his eyes.

The moment he closed his eyes though, he was back in the long dark corridor of the Department of Mysteries, racing to the black door that opened to his touch.

The smiles slipped right off all of their faces like Snape had just appeared into the room. It felt impossible it should happen so fast, but the reminder of this dream and how deep Harry kept going just couldn't feel any good for them as it only reminded them of Voldemort's unexplained connection, and obsession with this place.

He was inside the circular room lined with doors . . . he crossed it, placed his hand on an identical door and it swung inwards . . .

Remus released a sharp breath, he didn't want to keep going, to find out how far Voldemort had gone inside this place. Whatever Voldemort was after it wasn't a good thing, couldn't those fireworks just wake Harry up again already.

Then he was in a new, rectangular room full of odd ticking sounds with odd specks of light, but he didn't investigate and kept pushing on into the next room, which was the largest yet, as big as a cathedral and filled with enormous rows of small, dusty looking spheres...and he knew this was it, he wanted something in here more than anything...and his scar was hurting-

BANG!

Remus finally sighed in relief, shaking slightly from failed adrenalin in the face of coming within arms reach of this mysterious whatever it was. He glanced up at the others, to see if they had any idea of what to make of that new information, when he saw Harry in a right state.

His face was screwed up tight, once tears of mirth now clearly were burning out from something far more unbearable. It was heartbreaking, to watch him flip so drastically all because his mind was forced to live through so many things at one time, things he couldn't even put into words without fearing something far worse happening than just pain.

Lily was trying to surge forward even still cradling her infant, but James beat her to the punch, trying to make his sitting on the edge of the couch casual even as he hovered over Harry in pure agitation he couldn't be of more help than this.

They all wanted to do more, say something for him, but he seemed paralyzed with pain, and Remus would do anything to help him, and so he did the only thing he could think of.

Harry awoke back in his dorm, confused and angry to hear laughter all around him, Seamus shouting about how cool that was,

"No, no it isn't," James grumbled petulantly as he continued to rub at Harry's back.

Remus agreed, having to fight hard to keep his attention on the book.

all four of them crowded around a window where a wheel and a rocket seemed to have mated.

It took an extra moment for them to reel back and remember what they'd just been laughing so hard about, and Harry wished he could feel more regret for ruining their moment of fun instead of always being the source of a problem with his blasted mind.

Harry did not get up and join them, instead left stewing with disappointment, like he'd been denied a wonderful treat.

Harry forced out a laugh that sounded nothing but hollow to everyone, even his own ears. He almost longed for that feeling now, it would be better than the wash of other things he kept feeling as a constant mention of that place continued to make him sick with worry.

A glittering pink and silver winged piglets was now soaring past the windows of Gryffindor Tower outside, actually catching Harry's attention.

Lily opened and closed her mouth in fasciation, longing to just go back and marvel at the twins magic with these things, and yet never having been less interested in magic as her child fought to retain any sense of normality.

Yet he still could not and join the whoops of joy from those around him, as he now remembered he had an Occlumency lesson the following evening.

"Oh boy," Sirius grumbled distastefully, while Harry somehow managed to look all the more worried about that.

He spent the whole day worrying what Snape's reaction was going to be when he saw Harry had gotten even farther, and his guilt only rose when he realized how long it had been since he'd bothered practicing his Occlumency.

"Can't even blame you," James shook his head pitifully for everything Harry went through on a daily basis, how Dumbledore, Snape, or anyone expected Harry to empty his mind of all that was beyond him.

There had been too much going on since Dumbledore had left; he was sure he would not have been able to empty his mind even if he had tried.

"Honestly understandable," Remus sighed, his heavy eyes hadn't really gained much back with so many sleepless nights in a row from here, he could imagine it being just as bad in the months for Harry with longer to dread on these things than they gave themselves.

He doubted, however, whether Snape would accept that excuse.

Lily made a deep throated noise of agitation, entirely not looking forward to what Snape was going to say to him about this.

He tried to empty his mind during classes, which helped nothing as teachers kept shooting review questions around.

"Well I could have warned you of that," Sirius tried for a smile that still felt forced. They'd gone from roaring laughter to sickened with worry about Harry in the span of a second, and now nothing was being helped by the tense set up of another bout of Snape insults directed at Harry.

He trudged miserably down to the dungeons that night, and was very grateful for the distraction of spotting Cho. She'd been standing there watching the hour-glasses, Gryffindor's was nearly empty.

All five of them made a small little noise of agitation, even at something so small still so pestering as that blasted made up group of Malfoy's.

He asked how she was doing, if Umbridge had given her any grief for her membership of the DA.

Cho said no, but took the opportunity to say she'd never dreamed Marietta would tell on them.

Harry reflected back that Marietta was still in the hospital wing with her pimples and couldn't come up with a response for Cho for that.

All of them felt a vindictive laugh somewhere inside themselves for that, Hermione really was something special.

Cho kept going she was a lovely person, she'd just made a mistake.

James blinked in surprise, and just a little admiration for Cho still standing by her friend like that. He of course wanted to add a few more curses to Marietta for what she'd done to Harry, but Cho had just earned herself a few points.

Harry looked at her incredulously, demanding a mistake? She'd sold all of them out!

"I still wish I had some sort of motive for her doing that," Remus scowled.

"Not one good enough to excuse it," Sirius scoffed.

James and Lily frowned slightly, knowing they more than likely would have defended their friends if they'd done the same thing, but then again, they just couldn't imagine their friends doing this. Cho probably hadn't either, and it really was good of her still sticking with her through that.

Cho insisted everyone had gotten away.

"Thanks to Dumbledore," Remus shook his head slowly, he still wasn't quite sure how to wrap his mind around all of that.

Her mum works for the Ministry,

"I haven't forgotten," Sirius said in disgust with a slight shiver. Miss Edgecombe had nearly been the death of him, he wasn't likely to forget that.

Harry cut off to say so did his friends dad, and he didn't have sneak written across his face.

Cho snapped that was a terrible trick of Hermione's.

"Nah," James smirked, honestly considering this Hermione's best move yet, even trumping what she'd done to Skeeter.

She should have told she'd jinxed that paper.

"Well if she'd done that than hardly anyone would have signed it." Lily rolled her eyes.

"She could have told them all after the fact," Remus offered with a grin.

"Nah, this was much more fun, the person couldn't consider their consequences before they made the crappy decision," Sirius decided.

Cho scoffed that of course if Hermione had thought it a good idea, her eyes now bright.

Harry snapped at her not to start crying again.

"Harry, you do know that does not actually prevent anyone from crying?" Sirius asked him in concern.

Harry just huffed, he really hadn't been expecting this fight with Cho, but somehow was relieved for it to finally have happened all the same. However pretty she still was in his memories, her flat refusal to acknowledge the stupid thing her friend had done had finally driven out any feelings he had for her.

She shouted back she wasn't going to!

Harry said just as loudly good, he had enough to cope with.

She told him to go cope with it then before storming off.

"Well, I think that's done with," James gazed at the book with some pity for Harry's first crush having so many disasters back to back.

"The wrong sparks did fly," Remus agreed with a sad little smile.

Harry just clucked his tongue, still not as angry now as he was then, far more concerned with other things in his mind he couldn't reach, and that cemented it for the lot of them. Harry clearly didn't seem to care all that much for his relationship with Cho just evaporating.

Harry went off in an even worse temper, but now instead of dreading Snape, he was thinking of a few more things he'd have liked to have said to Cho.

"You're one of those who always comes up with the comebacks after the fact," James told Harry pleasantly.

"I premake up most of mine and wait for the situation," Sirius smirked.

"Suppose that leaves more room for you to follow the conversation," Lily snipped at him.

He arrived with Snape once again depositing memories into a Pensive.

"Just what does he keep in that?" Remus rolled his eyes.

Harry twitched hard in unease, he had a bad feeling he was about to find out, but it mostly went unnoticed as they all thought he was just preparing himself for another lash of Occlumency.

They began as usual, squaring off with wands out on either side of the desk, but before Snape could cast this time, the door banged open and Malfoy sped in.

"I'm surprised that hasn't happened before now," James rolled his eyes, "him barging in there to tattle on some first year Slytherin taking his favorite chair."

"What a sight to walk in on though," Remus raised a curious brow, he'd certainly pause at this with some concern.

He paused in shock upon the sight though, Snape lowering his wand first and asking what Draco needed.

Remus rolled his eyes, finding Snape referring to Malfoy by his first name really showed the depths to the two's relationship. The teachers should always refer to the student by last name out of sheer habit. He found this proof that Snape had a more familiar relationship with Malfoy, as if he'd needed it before now.

Potter was just here for remedial Potions.

"With their wands pointed at each other," Sirius emphasized. "If that wasn't a dumb enough excuse before, it gets worse every time."

Harry had not seen Malfoy look so gleeful since Umbridge had turned up to inspect Hagrid.

"And I know how much you long to see that expression," Lily scowled.

He would have given a great deal to be able to shout the truth at Malfoy,

"Why?" All four of them demanded of him.

"To make that stupid look disappear," Harry told them like he thought they were being very stupid on purpose.

or, even better, to hit him with a good curse.

"That's the response I was expecting," James nodded, feeling the world back on balance.

Malfoy put whatever he had to say about this on hold as he informed that Umbridge had requested his Professor,

"She's already tried to poison one student this week, I don't see how he could help with that," Sirius rolled his eyes.

Lily wanted to be more furious that Snape was in Umbridge's good graces like this, but then again, it was all the more sad she wasn't surprised considering how much the two seemed so alike.

They'd found Montague,

Sirius spluttered like he had a broken jaw.

"They did that how long ago?" Remus interpreted. "I think that's a new record."

"Ours only lasted a day, tops," James pouted.

"What even is that thing?" Harry demanded, quite sure his level of unease with this thing had nothing to do with the Slytherin Quidditch captains fait.

"You shove people in it, and they vanish," Sirius came back enough to helpfully explain.

Remus rolled his eyes at his inept friend and more properly said, "I'm sure you remember as vividly as we do that Nick broke one above Filch's office in your second year."

Harry nodded eagerly, he was still wondering what about that felt so significant. "Well there's matching pairs, always are. The one on the first floor the twins used is probably the still functioning one, but without the other to go through, it'll just leave you in limbo until it finds an opening to pop you out, but the magic is very vague about it all, and we have no clue what it's indications were when this would happen."

"It was pure need to understand such magic that we kept testing it," James offered with an impish smirk.

Remus' mouth was twitching in much the same way as he watched Harry curiously to see if he'd gotten it.

Harry wanted to smile back, but his mind felt torn in two. He still wanted to ask more about these things, but something about the Marauders and that look on their face...it was all fun now, but he had a feeling it bothered him for some reason soon.

He tried tentatively to understand all of this by asking slowly, "so, when you lot, err-"

"Put someone in cause they annoyed us," Sirius offered helpfully.

"Right," Harry paused to roll his eyes, "it just pushed the person out the other one?"

"We had to disable it for our needs to work," James's eyes widened innocently. "It was no fun if they just reappeared."

"We put it back together when we were done though," Remus still couldn't wipe a smirk away. "Couldn't have the teachers knowing we were messing with it."

"Never as badly as what Nick did though," Sirius was still laughing heavily, "so Merlin knows if they even are fixable now."

"Let me get this straight," Lily said dangerously. "You shoved people into a magical item, you had no clue what it would do to them, and then you continued to further break it apart to see what else would happen to them?"

"It happened to me first," Remus offered in defense of them. "Some Hufflepuff James had gotten last week shoved me into one for revenge, I made a reappearance a day later."

"It sort of just spiraled out from there," Sirius agreed.

Lily had spent the entire conversation frowning heavily at the lot of them, she'd never enjoyed hearing about their blatant ways of dealing with people that annoyed them. It was nice to see Harry wasn't exactly amused by this, but he was also clearly distracted by something so she wasn't sure how much he'd been paying attention past their actual words.

Absolutely none of Harry's thoughts had been helped by them, now not only was he positive something of these things should not be laughed at, but his lesson with Snape was feeling more foreboding than ever. He still nodded at Remus to indicate he was done for now.

he'd turned up jammed inside a toilet on the fourth floor.

James and Sirius roared with laughter, Remus trying hard to hide his own amusement behind the book and failing a bit.

Snape demanded how he'd wound up there, and Malfoy said he had no clue.

Snape dismissed Potter, saying he was to come back tomorrow to continue. Malfoy only paused long enough to mouth remedial potions at him before following.

"That's going to bite him in the arse later," Lily tisked loudly, though it hardly did anything to dampen the boys new found amusement. They'd gotten to hear the end results of yet another prank from the twins and had Snape's stupid lesson pushed off for a moment longer, they were now jovial, and hoped their mood would help Harry out of whatever funk his mind was clearly still stuck in.

Seething, Harry replaced his wand inside his robes and made to leave the room. At least he had twenty-four more hours in which to practice;

"There's the bright side," Lily persisted in pointing out, though clearly being ignored by all.

but all he really felt was the expense Malfoy was going to put into telling the school of his remedial Potions.

"I'm surprised Smith hadn't done that already," Sirius rolled his eyes.

He was at the door when he saw it, dappled lights dancing off the glass jars, that reminded him of his dream in the Department of Mysteries.

All five of them shivered heavily at the reminder, Harry looked ready to fall off the couch every time this was mentioned.

He turned around and saw it was only the Pensive still shining brightly, and wondered again what was in his memories?

"So quickly run from the room, otherwise you might see him again when you've so graciously been deprived of that," James said enthusiastically, he really hadn't a care for what could be in there.

Harry gazed at the Pensive, curiosity welling inside him, what was it that Snape was so keen to hide from Harry?

"Oh Harry," Lily sighed in exhaustion, wanting to press her face into her hands already as she felt where this was going. "Did you learn nothing from your lesson in Dumbledore's Pensive?"

Harry did not answer, though considering the feelings pumping through him, he was confident he hadn't thought that far ahead.

Harry took a step forward, his mind convincing him this must have something to do with the Department of Mysteries.

"I wouldn't honestly be that surprised," Remus agreed, "but you've no idea how to work that thing, so you'll just be plunged into the last thing he was thinking of when he put memories in there."

"Though that may honestly be it," Sirius said with a calmer tone creeping in Remus instantly regretted. "He wasn't hiding away private memories from his childhood, those were still in his head when Harry went in. Maybe it is Order business he's more worried about. If Harry wants to find out about them, this is the place I'd look."

"You're encouraging this," Lily yelped furiously. "Show some privacy!"

"He's not showing Harry any," James rolled his eyes, instantly tagging along to Sirius' side. Though he did raise his hands in surrender upon Lily's flashing eyes. "I wish he wouldn't, he has no way to get himself out of the memory, only Snape can do that, but I'm sick of him never being told anything and I know you are too."

Lily scowled heavily at the both of them as she didn't find that the point.

He tried to guess how long Snape would be gone, surely as the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, even after Montague was unstuck from the toilet, he'd be escorted to the hospital wing.

"The time frame is irrelevant," Remus scolded. "You weren't the one to put those memories in, so you can't pull yourself out until you've seen them all. Could be days worth of storage in there."

Harry wished he'd known that, but again, he now knew he hadn't thought that far ahead, and he had a bad feeling he'd soon regret it.

He stepped even farther forward, using his wand to tap the surface, and the image instantly turned so that Harry was now looking down into the Great Hall.

"Not at all what I was hoping for," Sirius sighed, he'd honestly been hoping for Dumbledore's office, or even Grimmauld places basement, something he'd been hoping for in relevance to whatever Snape was up to. An image of Voldemort, Snape talking to some member of the Order, anything other than what the man had for breakfast. There was no way something interesting to them happened in there, he'd probably just been admiring Umbridge's technique of making children cry.

He hesitated, but suddenly his anger seized him, of Snape, Cho, and Malfoy. He took a great breath, and plunged face first in.

"There you have it," Remus sighed without surprise. "Harry's a dead man."

"So he is some new kind of ghost," Sirius chuckled while prodding at Harry. "Fascinating, can I name him?"

"No," all four of them said at once.

The sensation of falling through black, spinning through nothing- and then he was standing in the great hall, except instead of the House tables, there were desks all over, quills scratching against parchment, it was clearly exam time.

"Huh?" James looked floored at this start, why would something of Snape's school years be so precious to hide away? He couldn't imagine doing the same.

"I know exams are close so they'd be on his mind, but this is ridiculous," Sirius rolled his eyes and yawned already out of sheer boredom.

Remus kept going blandly, and some disappointment. Harry was going to be in the worst amount of trouble yet, and apparently he wasn't even going to get to see anything good out of it.

He began looking around in the sunlight room for the man, this was his memory so he had to be here somewhere.

Though James did smirk a bit Harry may get a glimpse of him, he was sure his son would at least get a kick out of that.

When he did find him, it was a teenage version with a stringy, pallid look, like a plant in the dark.

Lily scoffed heavily and rolled her eyes, finding too much of his father's influence in that description. She'd always thought of him as a sickly pale, thin hair a silky black, admittedly too thin but still with a smile that drew her in to know what he was thinking. She supposed it was all in the eye of the beholder, as that was still how she'd describe him at fifteen. Picturing him now as the hateful man tormenting her son and his classmates, she may well have called him many of the same things Harry just had.

He read the parchment he was working on upside down, which said Defence Against the Dark Arts- Ordinary Wizarding Level.

"Uhoh," James hummed in concern, suddenly hurrying back to his Lily Flowers side, he hadn't expected it to be this exact OWL.

Lily felt a burning in the back of her eyes at once, this was her worst childhood memory. Far worse than anything Petunia had ever said to her as a child. Of all the things Snape would keep stored away, she could almost understand why he'd want to keep this one in particular away from Harry. Shame she would hope, for utterly humiliating her that day, though she was sure it was something far more related to his own status, just like always, considering the events having led up to that.

Harry watched his parents with wide eyed concern for this reaction, looking to the other two for some sort of explanation he could already feel he wasn't going to like, but they were avoiding his eye. This really had been just any other day to them, but for Lily, well this was still something she should have shared with Harry, what a way for the poor kid to find out.

Remus waited until Lily snapped at him to keep going before he could do this to her, though it hardly felt better with permission.

The call for five more minutes echoed around, and Harry saw Professor Flitwick up front, passing by a boy with untidy black hair, that stuck up in the back.

James sighed, not exactly thrilled he'd gotten his wish. He hadn't nearly paid Snape back in kind for what he'd called the love of his life that day, still, he hoped Harry at least enjoyed his attempts.

Harry moved so fast that had he been tangible, he would have sent desks flying as he moved to see his father at fifteen. It was like looking at himself with deliberate mistakes.

"That is a very good description for the pair," Remus muttered mostly to himself.

His eyes were hazel, his nose slightly longer and with no scar, but the thin face, and untidy black hair were all Harry's, they'd even be the same height.

"You weren't wearing your glasses," Harry noted, grinning wildly at finally having such a vivid memory of his dad at such a young age. He clung to that feeling as long as he could, there was definitely something off about this promising it wouldn't last.

"They're only reading glasses, I only use them for long periods, or something important," James shrugged. "The exams weren't long enough I bothered."

James yawned and looked right through Harry to grin at a boy a few seats back, and Harry felt another thrill upon spotting Sirius return the grin. He was leaning back in his seat, tilting it back on two legs and very aware of how good-looking he was.

Sirius snorted mirthlessly and gave James a very superior smirk, telling without a hint of remorse, "I knew I loved your kid. He only called you a thin, messy git. At least he acknowledges who the handsome one is."

James gave him a very heavy glare, even while fighting back a grin for his best friends endless teasing.

His dark hair was swept with an elegance James nor Harry could ever achieve, and he was completely ignoring a girl who was eyeing him as well.

Sirius' grin only widened, turning outright flippant, and Harry was quite sure he was going to be given an account of this girl and all sorts of details he never would have asked for, but Remus had not paused long enough to be of help, to Harry's relief.

Two seats away and another row back, Harry spotted Remus, looking peaky, and he wondered if a full moon was near.

"It was that Monday, actually," Remus mumbled.

Harry blinked in surprise. Not only did it wrench at him for Remus to know so explicitly when each was, meaning they must all stand out very clearly in his mind and that only emphasized how painful each must be, but even after a few days rest Remus was only just starting to look healthier. In the days leading up he'd grown quite pale and exhausted at all hours, he couldn't imagine having to study on top of all that.

Harry concluded that must also mean Wormtail was around here somewhere.

Remus flinched hard at the reminder, not even needing to glance up and see the others as well. Harry had never actually known him as more than the traitor, but it was still impossible for them to think back on nearly any memory from their time here without finding him as well. Now they were being force fed one! Snape's memory had just turned into the worst thing for all of them.

Sure enough Harry found the mousy-haired boy with a pointed nose biting at his nails as he scratched at his paper.

Sirius' features were twisted violently, he still felt that need pulsing through him at every small reminder of him to go and rip his head off. The forcible act of not being able to respond to this made him feel like he was on fire just sitting here instead. He'd learned his lesson, he'd just have to be patient...

He turned his attention back to James and saw he was doodling now, having already drawn a Snitch, and now working in detail on the letters L. E. He wondered what that stood for.

Lily fidgeted with a few strands of hair in unease while eyeing James, who wasn't even blushing at the reminder. The unease came from that very sharp hurt her son hadn't known her maiden name, or at least, hadn't put together what it would mean. Instead she sighed heavily and flippantly told him, "I suppose it's better than L. P."

James offered her a wide grin for the tone, wanting to hold her even closer than he was for her still taking shots at him rather than dwelling on this particular memory from her past.

Finally time was up, Flitwick summoned all of the exams to him, and James took to his feet and stuffed the paper and quill away into his bag,

"It literally just said Flitwick summoned all the papers to him," Harry scratched at his head in confusion.

"You mark your final answers on the exam," Sirius explained, "Prongs was still messing with his scratch paper."

"Couldn't students still know what to expect on the exam then?" Harry asked in surprise.

"Nope, the exam changes every year," Remus sighed.

which he slung over his back, and stood waiting for Sirius to join him.

"I always had to walk over to his arse," Sirius said with an exaggerated eye roll. "If I wasn't the one to meet him, he'd pop me on the head for making him walk."

"Hark, look who's getting memory problems of his own," James tisked. "If I walked up to you, you'd groan about me making you wait around, at least if I waited long enough you'd get bored and come to me."

"They are actually arguing about who walked over to whom the most," Remus informed the other two like they'd miss this.

"I'm aware," Lily shook her head in exasperation, "I'm waiting for you to cut them off already."

Remus hadn't just because he enjoyed watching them pick at each other so much, especially with memory of the one who was missing hovering right there in front of them, but he supposed he couldn't ignore it forever and instead kept going in hopes Harry would blot him from sight.

Harry spotted Snape leaving the Entrance Hall, oblivious to his surroundings and still studying his own paper, even his walk reminded him of a twitchy spider.

James snorted enthusiastically Harry so easily caught onto one of their favorite jokes of referring to him as a bug in every way.

A gang of chattering girls separated Snape from James, Sirius and Lupin, and by planting himself in their midst,

Remus twitched again in agitation, though it was slightly less so than moments before. He supposed that being referred to by his last name was still better than not having been mentioned at all like the other one, though he still had to remind himself it was his own fault Harry hadn't a reason to call him anything else.

and by planting himself in the middle he was able to keep in sight those he wanted to see and still be in Snape's company.

By ignoring those around him, he could still hear Sirius happily asking Moony if he'd enjoyed question ten.

Lupin agreed he'd loved it, name the ten signs that mark a werewolf. One, he's sitting in this chair, two, he's wearing clothes, three, check the name at the heading.

Lily felt a surprised giggle crack out of her before she could stop it.

"Ha!" Sirius barked in triumph. "See Prongs, told you you should have let Moony try some humor around her, she clearly doesn't partake to yours."

"And have the love of my life swoon over his brilliance," James insisted on looking mock affronted while he played along. "I'd rather kill them both."

"It's a wonder I didn't fall into your arms sooner," she told him drolly.

Wormtail was the only one who didn't laugh, instead groaning that he'd only gotten three, but he couldn't remember the last two.

James was aghast, considering he ran around with one once a month.

All five of them were turning an ugly gray color for having to see this, to relive it and be forced to once again come to terms with how close they all were, saying anything and everything to each other as they'd always done, when did that change for him?

Lupin implored him to keep his voice down as they headed outside to the lake, and Harry was worried that if Snape broke off, he'd have no choice but to follow.

"True," James tried in vain to keep the strain from his voice, failing miserably. "You'd be dragged along." His voice cracked at the end, he couldn't pretend to keep going, and was starting to more than pity Remus at having to be forced to read all this.

Clearly Harry was as well, whispering, "did you want me to-"

"No," he snapped without looking up. "May as well get on with it, not like he's actually doing anything." Except ruining more memories from his past, his biting innards were now constantly reminding, but they were all feeling the same way, it would help nothing for Harry to do this instead.

Sirius kept things going by stating that had been a piece of cake to him, he'd gotten at least an Outstanding.

"And did you?" Harry couldn't help but ask, infusing as much mirth into his voice as was possible.

Sirius watched Harry for a long moment with a set look in place that was all the answer he needed before he finally admitted, "no, got an E."

"We did though," James tipped his head towards Remus with a purposeful grin that didn't completely hide the hard set in his eyes. "Gave him hell for it."

"He probably missed one too many questions about harpies, getting them confused with himself and all," Remus told solemnly, at least this was one thing that rat could never take away, and they'd always find more ways to pick at each other.

"At least I got an O on my Transfiguration that someone got an A on." Sirius returned flatly, but there was finally a real grin coming back as well.

"You cheated," Remus insisted. "The lot," very heavy wince, "both of you," he quickly corrected. "Bloody extra practice and all, too many years ahead."

"You're just jealous you got O's in two classes to my three," Sirius insisted.

"Padfoot the only thing I'm jealous at you about is your never ending idiocy. How do you continue to make a fool of yourself?" Remus pleasantly returned.

James had only just opened his mouth to butt in as well when Lily cut in above them all with a relieved smile on her face. "Honestly, the lot of you, you're still arguing about this how many years later? You're all idiots, no matter what those grades said."

"There's my wife, keeping us all in perspective with her- how many OWLs did you get?" He suddenly broke off by asking her, she'd never answered him in school and it hadn't come up in recent times.

"I'm not telling," she insisted with a grin, "because it is pointless now." She honestly admired all of them, for still finding ways to make each other laugh with the rat being so vividly present now more than ever, but they couldn't ignore this forever. Remus paused and had to swallow hard before going back, when all he really wanted to do was snap this shut, he didn't want to reminisce about what came next any more than the couple.

James agreed himself as well as he pulled out a Snitch, almost casually letting it go before seizing it again with excellent reflexes.

James managed quite a pleased smile he'd impressed his son with his fun.

Wormtail watched him in awe.

Which vanished instantly, his face flushing red, though he was still so pale he looked more pink and still likely to start screaming if he had to keep remembering how much he'd enjoyed his friend indulging his every whim.

Much to Harry's relief, Snape folded himself into a nearby bush, while the group of four took up shade near a beach tree. By staying with the group of girls who were in the middle and now dipping bare feet into water, he could still be in between both.

Lily was brushing at her hair with vigor now, her nails catching on a few strands. This memory had replayed so many times so vividly in her head she didn't need Harry's descriptions, and vainly hoped that for once, this time would be different, that her son wouldn't even recognize her because nothing special had happened that day...

Lupin had pulled out a book and was reading.

"Don't even start Sirius," Remus told him without looking up. "It's my misfortune of the universe repeating these circumstances."

"But it's hilarious," Sirius insisted like Moony was missing on the joke of a lifetime.

"No, it's not," Remus rolled his eyes behind the pages and kept going loudly.

Sirius stared around at the students milling over the grass, looking rather haughty and bored, but very handsomely so.

Sirius flipped his hair over his shoulder and preened, Harry fighting the urge more every moment to tell his godfather to cool it. Normally his bravado was endearing, and hilarious, though that part was probably unintentional. He couldn't even really find anything wrong with this scene that should bother him, aside from Wormtail they seemed to be acting casually enough, why was the idea of being in here weighing so heavily on him he wanted to snap at all of them?

James was still playing with the Snitch, letting it zoom further and further away, almost escaping but always grabbed at the last second.

Harry remembered his mum and dad mentioning that earlier, and now realized why he would have seen this. He supposed he could see his mums point in him showing off a bit, but it's not as if he had an audience watching like the twins so often did, he was just entertaining himself.

Wormtail was watching with an open mouth, often cheering and applauding at the more wild catches. After nearly five minutes of this, Harry wondered why James didn't tell him to get a grip.

Underneath the visage from being so bluntly reminded of his many fond memories of this, some shock creeped through, as that had never even occurred to him. Why would it? He'd loved impressing everyone, especially his own friends. Tainted as it was now, he was left questioning all of this for the first time. Was Peter faking it? Was he actually envious? He still hadn't gotten his answer of why someone he cared so much for would do to him in their future.

James was clearly enjoying the attention though, occasionally ruffling his hair,

Harry had noticed his dad doing that quite a lot, and he almost smiled just a bit that no matter the torment his friend's reminder did to him, at least some parts of him had stayed the same.

and glancing to the girls at the water's edge as if hoping they were watching.

Finally though, Sirius seemed to grow bored of this and told James to put that up.

James did, and Harry had the distinct feeling Sirius was the only one he'd do this for.

"This is true," Remus tisked loudly over his own beating heart pounding through his head, despising the reminder of this hurting them all so much, and Harry may not even understand why yet. It was clear from his expression something of this day was bothering them all, but while he could wrap his head around it was the not so simple thing of vividly remembering Wormtail back in their lives so casually for the Marauders, he was yet sure what had his mother so near to tears.

He forced himself to keep going loudly with his first train of thought, even in the awkward silence. "Whenever I tried, he just told me to shut up, because he was doing it for me."

"Honestly, the only reason I told him to stop was because I was fixing to suggest we go take a swim in the lake, otherwise I would have joined him," Sirius shrugged, ignoring how forced the casual movement was.

Sirius instead said he was bored, wishing it was a full moon.

Lupin said from behind his book he would, but if he really wanted something to do, he could quiz him on some Transfiguration, even offering it out to him.

"Did you actually think that would work?" Lily arched a brow at him.

"I didn't want to go swimming, as I knew full well he was fixing to say," Remus shrugged. "I was delaying for a moment so I could claim to go back inside and work in peace."

Sirius simply snorted, saying he didn't need to look at that, he knew it all.

"That is also true," Remus muttered with an eye roll Harry must have missed at the time.

James got his attention by finding something else to liven up Padfoot, and Sirius turned like a dog that had scented a rabbit.

"Your descriptions are as accurate as ever," James told Harry with a straight face, but Sirius merely winced instead of the laugh he really felt. The two weren't exactly proud they'd started this fight between Evans and Snivellus. Sirius watched Lily tentatively, a need to defend himself this was common place, he hadn't known he'd resort to calling her that when this exact set up had happened countless times in their past already without such a thing happening, but the words died before they could start. An apology would probably just make her angrier, but now at him.

He softly said in excitement Snivellus, and Harry looked to where Snape was standing back up, James and Sirius now with him.

Lily groaned miserably as she kept eyes on her infant. James and Sirius exchanged a look, but as one decided to risk it and said, "sorry Lily."

"Don't bother," she snapped, clearly Sirius' prediction had been right. "You don't mean it."

"I am sorry," James insisted. "I never would have thought he'd-"

"You're sorry for what he did," Lily corrected harshly, "not for what you did, so save it."

James closed his mouth without bothering to agree, and Harry's bad feeling was growing worse than ever. This wasn't really...

Lupin and Wormtail remained where they were, Lupin keeping eyes on his book though his eyes were not following words. Wormtail was watching with a look of anticipation.

Remus' face folded as he easily recalled that look. He'd used to love seeing all the spells they learned in class in action on others. He hated how much it hurt to remember even the tiniest details about him. Thankfully Sirius and James were now plenty distracted by Lily they seemed more apt to ignoring this, but since Remus had kept himself out of this one, it was a bit harder for him to continue ignoring the rats every motion.

James repeated the nickname loudly after him, and Snape reacted so fast it was as if he'd been expecting the attack.

"He was, considering-" Sirius began with a sneer, now itching for a rematch just to let off some pent up frustration all of this was dragging up, which he sadly wasn't going to find in here. He only stopped as Lily glared at him with an old familiar look he hadn't seen in awhile, and that wasn't helping to clear his mind of this.

He dropped his bag and went for his wand, but before it had even cleared his pocket, James had shot Expelliarmus at him.

Snape's wand shot twelve feet away, Sirius letting out a bark of laughter before shouting Impedimenta, and Snape fell to the ground still feet away from his wand.

All three of them were so distracted, tense and waiting for a blow they never would have wished upon Lily, they all missed the look growing on Harry's face at recalling this scene.

The students around looked up curiously, some even eagerly as James and Sirius sauntered forward.

James began taunting how his exam had gone?

Sirius answered for him he'd seen his nose pressed to the parchment, it would be so grease marked no one could even read the answers.

Several people laughed, Snape was clearly unpopular.

"Least you've gathered the important details already," Sirius told Harry absently, glancing at him for a moment rather than watching Lily, and blinking in surprise Harry hadn't laughed along like he always had when they'd taken shots at Snape in here. Sirius wasn't actually sure what that face was, but he now frowned more heavily than ever for what Harry was thinking without sharing.

Wormtail sniggered shrilly.

Remus made a guttural noise of agitation, wishing Harry would quit noting such things already. They were all well aware if it wasn't Sirius and James starting the fight it was him egging them all on, but Harry reminding them of that only made this all far worse than they would have thought.

The boy on the ground snapped at them to just wait until he got his wand ba-, but Sirius didn't give him a chance, finishing for him to wait for what, him to wipe his nose?

Snape began saying curses and hexes intermittently, but still nothing happened from his wand still ten feet away.

James decided he didn't like his language and used Scourgify on him, causing bubbles to come out of Snape's mouth.

A new voice shouted to leave him alone!

"That actually took two curses longer than usual," James insisted on pushing for a casual tone of voice when addressing Lily. "Exactly how long had you been on the fence about him before this happened?"

Lily pursed her lips, not particularly wanting to answer him, and then she glanced at Harry and saw the look on his face. The expression surprised her, but she supposed he'd put together what this day was for her, but if he clearly had no care for the answer than she wouldn't indulge James' curiosity on this.

When her silence persisted, Remus kept going anyways. James had been well aware, as often as he'd mentioned it, that Lily had been seen out of company of Snape more often than not their last few months of fifth year, so he didn't know what his mate was trying to accomplish by asking such things, but he would try to save him from the answer anyways.

James and Sirius looked around at a girl with dark red hair and green eyes, Harry's mother.

James eagerly at once called out to Evans, making his voice go deeper, more mature.

Remus made some attempt at a laugh, speaking absently, "more idiotic than anything," but he didn't even pause for James to defend himself even if he would have.

Lily repeated for them to leave him alone, looking at James with great dislike.

Sirius was looking for it now, and watched another line cross Harry's face, his eyes growing as tight as his mothers for all of this coming back to him. Sirius wanted to reassure him that as bad as it was for Lily to be remembering all of this, that part was the common place, but he didn't want to interrupt right now in hopes Remus was almost done already, or even better, the actual Snape would show up and stop this. Quite an odd want, but it was killing him to watch this eat away at Lily, and he'd never have wanted Harry to see this in person, it was bad enough being told what the creep had once done to his mother.

She demanded what Snape had done to him?

"This time, you really should have emphasized that point," James told her, though she continued ignoring him in hopes he'd take the hint this wasn't helping. She pulled out of his arms and laid against the armrest instead, the baby still cradled tight in her arms her only comfort right now.

James looked hurt, he'd only been trying to help, but for now he crossed his arms and gave her her space.

James pretended to deliberate before deciding it was more the fact he existed.

James still found that to be true, that Snape had grown up knowing Lily and never seemed to value that enough but instead spent far more time in the company of pre Death Eaters, that his mere existence felt like a blocker to what James wanted more than anything, to be close to her, but there was always that sniveling used napkin in the way that Lily kept defending.

Harry made some kind of noise, but James was too distracted watching Lily to process it. He supposed Harry would have been plenty confused about all this in his time though.

Many of the surrounding students laughed, Sirius and Wormtail included, but Lupin, still apparently intent on his book, didn't, and nor did Lily.

Remus glanced up curiously, he'd felt Harry turn sharply to him and watched for a moment in confusion as Harry scrutinized him, but was he really looking at him like that because he hadn't laughed at the joke? Harry didn't offer anything though, and Remus went back to reading feeling as heavy as ever this couldn't just be done with. He almost would have preferred Harry to interrupt, it probably would have been a better distraction than forcing out this mess.

She coldly informed him he was a bullying toe rag, and to leave him alone.

James said he would if she'd go out with him.

"Bad timing there mate," Sirius helpfully inserted what he'd been thinking at the time.

"Thank you for not sharing that at the time," James rolled his eyes, "wish you'd carried that on."

Lily said she wouldn't even if it was just between him and the giant squid.

"Would you look it there, I beat out that sea creature after all," James seemed to almost pleasantly inform her, and he saw almost a twitching smile come back to her.

Sirius commiserated to Prongs this was bad luck before shouting in surprise, but too late.

Snape had been fighting off the curse this whole time, and had finally reached his wand, shooting a spell at James that cut across his cheek and splattered his robes with blood.

James whirled on the spot, there was a flash of light, and then Snape was hanging upside down showing off gray underpants.

Lily, whose furious expression twitched into a smile for just a moment,

"Really? I didn't see that," James blinked in surprise, he hadn't thought he'd gotten a real smile out of Lily for at least another year. How many other times had he made her smile without getting the pleasure of seeing? More importantly, how long had Snape been acting an arse to her before this happened for her to be doing it so openly now?

No one answered, especially not Harry, who was still processing all this so slowly he felt like his head had filled with molasses. All he was sure of, was that he didn't feel like laughing along right now like his dad was clearly hoping someone was.

but instead shouted at Potter to let him down.

James did so with a careless wave of his wand, but the moment he was back in the grass, Sirius shot Petrificus Totalus at him, and Snape fell back to the ground stiff as a bored.

"Payback complete, now where's a broomshed," Sirius muttered for himself.

Lily shrieked at them to leave him alone, drawing her own wand. The two looked at it warily.

"The first proper response of their day," Remus agreed absently.

James told Evans not to make him hex her.

"That would be a duel to see," Sirius hummed, though thankfully it had never gone that far, and at least now it never would. Lily mostly just shouted at them, and that was more than enough to stop Prongs, which in turn was just enough to stop the rest of them.

She snapped for the curse to be lifted then, and James did so with a deep sigh first before telling Snivellus he was lucky Evans was here-

Remus wanted to stop. He dreaded the next words to come pouring out of his mouth, because usually, the fight stopped there. Lily came forward and her and Snape walked off. This time though, he had to take a very deep breath before finishing.

Snape shouted back he didn't need help from a Mudblood!

Remus frowned hatefully, never in his life having wanted to say that word, and detesting he truly just had in regards to one of his friends.

Harry gasped, as it finally snapped together for him. She'd told him she'd stopped being friends with Snape because he'd called her that in public one day, screamed it at her in the middle of a courtyard, were her exact words...but he hadn't realized it had been this exact day! He looked desperately to her, but she wouldn't look at him, wouldn't look at any of them.

James was aching to put his arms back around her, to promise she wasn't alone, but she didn't want his comfort right now. She didn't blame him for this anymore, as she had for the rest of that year. Things had changed over the summer, she'd changed when she finally realized her relationship with him was irreparable like this day had proven.

Lily blinked once, before telling Snivellus to wash out his mouth.

James roared at Snape to apologize, but Lily shouted just as loudly she didn't want to make him apologize, he was just as bad!

James looked truly offended, saying he'd never call her such a thing.

Lily snarled that didn't excuse his strutting around corridors, always cursing people who annoyed him. She made him sick!

Then she stormed off.

James tried calling after her, but when she didn't respond, he demanded of Sirius still next to him what was with her, his tone trying to say the answer was of no real importance, and failing.

James didn't bother to deny this, even as Sirius politely told him, "you failed at that every time by the way."

Sirius offered that reading between the lines, he'd guess she found him conceited.

"Exactly how big were those lines?" Remus asked of him.

Sirius made his eyes go big with confusion, and so Remus just rolled his own.

James looked more furious than ever as he turned back to Snivelly, asking of the watchers who wanted to see him take off his pants?

Harry never found out if James had.

"Nah," James huffed, "Hagrid showed up then. Though I might have if he really hadn't apologized, I was still wanting one even without her around," he said in no uncertain terms.

Far from looking reassured, Harry's expression only darkened, much to all of the boys confusion, and Lily was still keeping eyes only for her infant and wasn't watching any of them.

A hand closed around his arm like a vice, and glancing up, Harry saw the adult Snape.

"Uroh," Sirius hummed. This must be why Harry was looking so off, no one would be happy being caught doing this.

Harry was dragged back, feeling as if he did a flip before finding himself in the dungeons again, Snape still holding fast to his arm. It was scary, his lips were shaking, his face was white, his teeth were bared.

Lily did look up sharply at that, anger now the most dominant thing rather than the hurt of her youth. Yes Harry was in the wrong, but if he hurt her boy, Snape was going to wish she'd killed him that day instead of simply dropping him from her life.

Snape hissed what an amusing man his father had been, shaking Harry so hard his glasses slipped from his nose, before he was released, and shoved so hard he hit the stone floor.

James and Sirius snarled in outrage, all eyes flashing furiously for Harry being treated like this. All of them were trying to reach for their wand now, growing more worried by the second Snape was fixing to turn on Harry with worse than the curse that had left a scar on James that day.

Harry though could hardly react, this moment of seeing Snape trying to remind him of something he just couldn't concentrate on right now, still far too wrapped in an all to living realization.

The shout of get out, and never to come back echoed behind him as Harry got to his feet and ran, a glass of cockroaches exploding above his head on the way out. He didn't stop running until he was three floors ahead, slumping down into an empty plinth as he rubbed at his bruised arm.

All four of them made a noise of outrage Snape had really hurt him. He'd deserved a detention certainly, they wouldn't have even argued if Snape had done a number of things like emptying house points or weeks of detentions, but actually harming him was far past crossing the line. The oddest part was, Harry wasn't even rubbing at his arm now, for all the world his face showed he couldn't care less, and it was depressing the lot of them to see him go so silent with no idea why.

Harry didn't know where to go. He didn't want to go back to the tower and tell his friends, and it wasn't because Snape had thrown a jar at him.

"I thought you or him exploded that by accident, he actually threw that at you!" Sirius barked in outrage.

Harry had no reaction, he wouldn't look at any of them.

It was that he knew how it felt to be humiliated in the middle of a circle of onlookers, knew exactly how Snape had felt as his father had taunted him,

Remus' brows shot up in surprise as they were finally getting an idea of why Harry hadn't spoken a word during that whole exchange, and that's the part he'd focused on? He finished curiously,

and that judging from what he had just seen, his father had been every bit as arrogant as Snape had always told him.

and hadn't been expecting that.

HPHPHPHP

*Nicknames offered by Xovercrazy and MelodyGirl239 in that order

**I think I'm allowed some direct quotes from the books, and these are just too magnificent to pass up.

#Harry Potter #fanfiction #OotP #Snape's Worst Memory #reading the books #HP #Jilly #James Potter #Lily Potter #Remus Lupin #Sirius Black

3 notes · View notes

amarauder · 5 years

Text

chapter eighteen ❥ original

it’s a hate-love thing original version.

james potter x reader.

"Oh, y/n, we always knew you'd make it!" shouted Arabella, hugging her friend.

Y/n smiled, and fingered the Gryffindor Prefect badge on her chest carefully and proudly. Her three girl friends were gushing at it with awe and respect.

"You will let us get away with stuff, won't you?" asked Jennifer mischievously.

"Of course, Jen." She chuckled. "D'you guys have any idea who the other Prefect is?"

"Remus," replied Jennifer happily. "Isn't that wonderful for him? I think he deserves it, since he's not so much a troublemaker as James or Sirius."

Y/n's smile faded slightly. She had been almost positive that the other Gryffindor Prefect would be James. However, she wouldn't mind working with Remus, since he was so much more understanding and less annoying.

Fortunately, none of her friends saw Y/n's hesitation, and continued to chat about her duties as a prefect. The compartment slid open, and the Marauders walked in.

"Mind if we sit here, girls?" said Sirius, grinning. "Our ickle Moony is growing up, being a pref—Y/n?" He stared at her. "You're a prefect, too? Oh, the shame!"

Y/n rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Sirius. Congratulations, Remus."

Remus smiled. "You too, Y/n. I always thought that James would be a prefect, though, since he—"

"Aww...shut up, Moony," said James affectionately. He didn't seem bothered at all that he wasn't a prefect. "And it's Prongs, not James."

"Yeah, yeah."

"It was so obvious that Y/n would become a prefect," said Violet with a big grin on her face. "I mean, she was prefect material ever since our first year..."

"Don't make me sick, Vi," said Y/n.

Violet smiled. "I'll try, n/n."

"Hey, Flower, shouldn't you be in the prefect compartment with all the other prefects?" asked Sirius innocently.

Y/n's eyes widened. "Oh, damn! I forgot!"

"Well, come on then," urged Remus.

The two rushed out of the compartment amid snickers from James and Sirius, and rushed into the prefect compartment. Everyone else was already there, and the Head Boy and Girl were not pleased to see them late.

"L/n, Lupin," acknowledged Kevin Sharp, nodding at them curtly. "I'm glad that you've finally showed up."

Bellatrix Black let out a shrill giggle.

"Black, what do you think you're doing?" snapped the Head Girl, Teresa Chamberlain.

"Nothing, Chamberlain," said Bellatrix sulkily.

"Good. Now, I want you all to carry out your duties as a prefect well this year. You may not deduct points from any Houses, but you may give out punishments when it is completely necessary. Also, you will be escorting and helping many of our younger students at Hogwarts, and you will keep watch when there is danger and be alert at all times. Also, I warn you, do not abuse this position, or you will be handing over your prefect badge to another person who is more worthy of the position. I'm sure that you will all be successful in carrying out this job, as Dumbledore chose you all personally." She gave a tight smile toward the Snape and Bellatrix, the Slytherin Prefects.

"I wonder how long Dumbledore took to choose the Slytherin prefects," muttered Remus under his breath. Y/n stifled a laugh.

"Can we go now?" asked a fifth-year Ravenclaw rather loudly.

Several people chortled, and Teresa looked highly affronted.

"Absolutely not, Goldstein! You must patrol the corridors for forty-five minutes to make sure that everything is all right."

"Forty-five minutes?" said Mark Goldstein incredulously. "Is this some kind of joke? No one told me a prefect was this hard!"

Kevin chuckled. "Well, get used to it, mate."

Teresa sniffed. "Well, I don't know why Dumbledore chose you for a prefect, then, if you can't handle the job. I'm sure that there are many other willing Ravenclaw boys in your year who will do the job without complaining."

Mark sighed heavily and rolled his eyes, making a face at Teresa when no one was looking. Y/n giggled.

"It looks like we have to be stuck with a Gryffindor Mudblood for forty-five minutes, Severus," said Bellatrix, loud enough for everyone else to hear.

Y/n turned red, as all eyes rested on her. "And look, Remus, we have to get stuck with slimy snakes for an hour. But they're useful, really, since they're so cunning and deceitful, so we can get whatever we want if we learn a few tricks from them."

Remus laughed, along with the other House prefects. Even Teresa, a strict seventh-year Ravenclaw, smiled.

"Don't mind Bellatrix, y/n," mumbled Snape under his breath.

Lily stared at him. "What, it's 'y/n', not 'Mudblood' or 'l/n'?"

"Look, I'm sorry if you're mad about those comments, but I have to be like that around my friends..."

"I'm sure," said Y/n coldly, and she went off to join Remus.

"What was that about?" he asked, bewildered, as she caught up with him. "Did Snape threaten you?"

"Nah. Stupid git doesn't have the brains or the guts to do that."

They both laughed, and set off patrolling the corridors, and watching out for misbehaving students fighting, using magic, etc. After fifteen minutes of this, however, everyone was tired of walking up and down the corridors, and eventually, one of the Hufflepuff girls fainted.

"At least it was something to talk about," reassured Mark to a frantic Head Girl. "I mean, it's so boring, watching for stupid first years trying to do a bit of magic. At least it was exciting."

Teresa glared at him. "Why are you even a prefect?"

"Why?" Mark looked honestly frank. "Well, I don't know, really, but I found the badge with my usual Hogwarts letter. Mum and Dad were thrilled though and bought me a new broom, I s'pose that was a compensation—"

She gave a frustrated shriek and grabbed Kevin, who was currently chatting, with a lovesick gaze on his face, with the other Ravenclaw prefect.

"Looks like Teresa really has it this year," commented Y/n, sniggering. "Poor Goldstein is making her life a living hell, and school hasn't even started yet."

"Don't worry, we'll find them in each other's arms before long," assured Remus, grinning at the thought. "It'll be quite a show, too."

"Hey, Remus!" Mark waved, and came over to them. "How's it been?" Without waiting for an answer, he said, "Oh Merlin, prefect duties are so boring! I can't believe I got stuck with this."

"The companies won't overlook it when you start finding a job," said Y/n wisely. "It'll look good, saying that you were a prefect at Hogwarts."

"I s'pose..." He looked at her doubtfully. "But then again, l/n, you've always been prefect material, so you wouldn't know how I feel."

Y/n rolled her eyes. "I do think this is boring as well, Goldstein, so don't say another word."

Afraid that he had gotten onto one of Y/n's famous redhead tempers, Mark sauntered off with Frieda Lawrence, the other Ravenclaw prefect.

"You just scared him away, y/n," said Remus, pouting.

"Oh, quit that, Remus. C'mon, we have to do our job before Teresa reports us."

After another half an hour of walking tediously, Teresa finally announced that they may go back to their regular schedule, unless if they would like to remain in the prefects' carriage the rest of the trip. All the prefects, relieved that their constant marching was over, grabbed their belongings and nearly trampled each other while trying to get out of the carriage as quickly as possible.

"How was it?" asked Arabella eagerly, as a disgruntled Y/n and Remus entered the compartment and collapsed into seats.

"It was hell," groaned Remus, shaking his head.

Not only were the prefect duties a "living hell", but the fifth years were to take their first standardized test this year—the dreaded O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizard Levels). The teachers made sure that they had plenty of homework the first week by giving them essays and readings from the book, and also plenty of review work as well. McGonagall and Hurst took this advantage very pleasantly, so to speak.

"This—is—hell," breathed James, as he dug his fingers painfully into his messy jet-black hair.

"Oh, don't be such a wet blanket, Potter," said Y/n cheerfully. "This isn't as bad as I had expected."

"WHAT?" He gave her a hollow stare.

"Yeah, I expected worse," she said, nodding and smiling.

James groaned and let his head fall onto the table with a loud "thump". Everyone in the Gryffindor common room glared at him, especially the fifth and seventh years, who were also struggling with their O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. homework, respectively. He glared right back, and everyone quickly went back to their work again.

"Stupid people," he muttered.

"Oh, don't be so cynical, Potter," continued Y/n in the same singsong voice.

"Y/n, stop pestering the poor boy so," chided Violet. "He's trying to do his homework. Merlin knows we have so much of it, and we're not all as clever as you."

"Do stop it, Vi. I'm not so clever as you think, and I'm definitely not finished yet. I need some serious tutoring in Transfiguration." She groaned loudly.

"Transfiguration?" repeated James, almost laughing. "I finished that ages ago! And Perfect Prefect L/n hasn't finished it before me?"

"Oh, stuff it, Potter," snapped Y/n. "I can do without your taunting, you know. I'm having enough troubles as it is without you challenging my Transfiguration abilities."

"I have high Transfiguration abilities," boasted James. "I can help you if you like, L/n. That is, if you help me with Charms."

Y/n thought about it for a moment. She could have James help her in the cursed essay, and be finished with all the homework, and still have it easy with helping James in Charms, as it was her easiest and best subject. But she still had her pride at stake. Having James help her would mean that she was giving into his pleas and woos, and Y/n did not want to be subdued of her hatred for him.

"Sorry Potter, no deal," she said simply. "I can handle it myself, thank you very much."

James cursed silently to himself. He knew that she'd say no. He knew that Y/n had a lot of pride in herself, and did not want to lose that pride if she agreed to get help. He knew that she was very independent and did not want to depend on others to do the nasty work, in this case, a Transfiguration essay, for her.

"I can help you, y/n," offered Arabella, thinking that her best friend simply refused James' offer because she hated him.

"No, but thank you anyway, Bells."

Arabella was surprised and exchanged bewildered looks with Sirius. She thought that she knew Y/n L/n very well, but now there was a new outlook on this.

"Why should Y/n refuse my help? I'm not that bad at Transfiguration!" She whispered to Sirius.

"Y/n has pride, Bella. She doesn't want to give in that easily...only if it's a desperate situation, then she might as for help."

"What?" Arabella was aghast. "I'm her best friend!"

"Doesn't matter."

"I hate you, Sirius. You are officially the bearer of bad news."

"What did I do?" Sirius was surprised. "Don't peck at me; I was just stating the mere truth."

"The truth is bad, Sirius. You should only state the good truth."

"Well, you did want to know. So I told you."

"You could have told me 'no Bella, but the truth will cause you great distress'."

Sirius let out a yell of frustration, causing the study-absorbed Gryffindors to jump in alarm.

"What's gotten into you, Padfoot?" said James.

"Bella's mocking me," was his brusque reply.

"I am not!" cried Arabella defensively. "I was just telling you what I expect of you, as my boyfriend."

Several people snickered at this comment, but many boys looked suddenly downhearted. Rumors flew since Arabella and Sirius had broken up last year, and they were now upset that their chances with her were very slim, now that they made up again.

"Hey, Arabella!" called out one brave sixth year. "Go out with me. Dump Black and go out with me, and you'll have anything you want."

The Marauders roared with laughter, and the girls giggled at Arabella. Her face flamed red.

"Not a chance, Demise!" she shouted back. "Black's my man and no one's going to replace him."

"Ha! You only want him 'cause he's a pureblood and that his family are all noble, not to mention snobby and are mostly Slytherins."

Sirius glared at him. "Shut it, Juan, before things get bad. Don't you DARE insult my family, you low-life—"

"Yeah, yeah, dirty half-blood," said Juan Demise, rolling his eyes. "I've heard it before, Black, I've heard it before."

"Actually, I was going to say arrogant jerk," replied Sirius calmly. "I really don't care what type of blood someone has, unlike the rest of my family. But I saw you flirting with my cousin Narcissa last week when old Lucius wasn't looking. Shame on you, Denise."

"You flirted with Narcissi?" choked James between coughs. "Oh, Juan, you are a joker, mate."

Juan blushed. "I didn't know who she was!" he cried helplessly. "I thought she was one of those gorgeous girls from Hufflepuff. It never occurred to me that she was a Slytherin, or a Black."

"Or Malfoy's beloved girlfriend," added Sirius.

"All right, I get it, Black! You don't want to dump your girlfriend. I'll ask her best friend then. Hey, L/n, want to go out with me?"

James closed his eyes and sucked in his breath, waiting for the answer. For some strange reason, he didn't want Y/n to go out with Juan...but what did it matter to him? She wasn't his girlfriend, so she had the freedom of deciding whatever she wanted.

"Oh, shut up!" screeched Y/n, standing up. "I'm trying to do my Transfiguration essay, and I still have a whole roll of parchment to write! And no, Juan, I will not go out with you."

The dark-haired and dark-skinned boy looked rather grim, but didn't mind. After all, it wasn't really L/n he was after; it was her best friend, Arabella Figg. And he'd do anything for Arabella's lips on his own.

James let out the breath that he had realized that he was holding. Thank Merlin L/n didn't say yes to that Denise...wait, why do I even care?

His thoughts were disturbed, however, when Jason Wood, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, had stormed right in front of him.

"Potter! There you are." He looked highly delighted about something.

James and Sirius exchanged nervous looks, waiting for the worst.

"Since this year is my final year at Hogwarts." He paused, as if for special effect, before continuing again. "I want that Quidditch Cup. I know that we've held it for quite some time, but I want the bloody Cup all the same. You got that? Good. I want us to train hard, hear? We lost the stupid Cup to Slytherin last year, much to my grievous disappointment, but we will NOT lose it to those gits this year if I can help it. Now, practice this Friday."

"Wood, we've already had a whole week of practices last week," explained James reasonably.

"Merlin, we have to prepare for our O.W.L.s, too!" exclaimed Sirius, outraged. "I got a 'D' on my Potions essay last week!"

"Well, that's your problem, isn't it, Black?" said Wood coolly. "I got a D as well on one of my Potions essays—and am I complaining? Hell no. We're going to beat Slytherin this year, and we're going to get that cup. Any words you'd like to add, Potter?"

"Huh?" James wasn't listening to the two-way bickering between Wood and Black.

"Potter, McGonagall's promoting you to captain next year, so I hope you can do Gryffindor proud."

"I'm—I'm going to be the captain next year? Bloody hell, are you serious, Jason?"

"No, he's Sirius."

"Oh, come off it, Wood. Seriously."

"Yes. I've spoke with McGonagall, and she thinks you are the best choice. Now, I hope you'll train hard this year, Potter."

"Yes, sir!" James did a mock salute, and Wood was highly pleased as he walked off.

"Going to snog Cassia, Wood?" called Sirius after him.

"Leave the poor guy alone, Padfoot," said James, rolling his eyes. "He deserves to win this year."

Sirius ignored him and looked at Peter. "Hey, Wormtail, get Moony for me."

Peter nudged Remus, who was sitting there next to him, absorbed in his Divination reading.

"Moony?"

"Yes?"

"Padfoot wants you."

Remus looked over at Sirius. "Yes, Padfoot?"

"The full moon's in two weeks."

"Don't think I didn't notice, Padfoot. What's your point?"

"The point is, we get to try it out for the first time! It'll be so cool, you being a you-know-what, and then us being—er—you-know-what, and we can rule the school grounds!"

Remus smiled. "And discover new secret passageways."

"There we go, Moony. I knew you were a prankster at heart!"

"Oh, what are you guys planning now?" said Jennifer, sighing. "Really, if you can just leave Snape alone, he isn't too bad, for a Slytherin at least..."

"Jen," said Sirius sternly, "first of all, we're not plotting against Snape again, as disbelieving as it may sound. Secondly, you are a mad woman, saying that Snape isn't bad for a Slytherin. All Slytherins are bad, if you know what I mean."

"Don't contradict my girl, Padfoot," warned Remus threateningly.

"Whatever, Moony. Anyway—Prongsies? What's wrong? You look—fazed."

James rolled his eyes and sighed. "Seriously, Padfoot, what's with the 'sies' suffixes all the time? And when did you learn such a hard word like 'fazed'?"

"Aww...I know you're just joshing, Prongs. Oh, and I think Prongsies is a cute name, don't you think, stag-boy?"

Remus choked and jabbed Sirius sharply with his arm.

"Ow! What the heck was that for, Remus?"

"Ooh, careful there, Moony, Padfoot's using real names...that means trouble." James smirked.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind, Prongs, when we're all sent to Azkaban, thanks to the ingenious Mr. Padfoot. Or, at least, you three will be. I'll be visiting often, however. I'll attend Padfoot's funeral as well, and say very nice words about him."

"I'm sure you will, Moony."

"Hey, I'm here, you know!" said Sirius, annoyed.

"Who are you?" asked James innocently.

"Prongs!"

"Prongs? Since when did you know my little nickname? Only my best friends, Remus and Peter, know it. Who are you?"

Sirius sighed in defeat. "All right, I'm sorry I let that stupid 'stag-boy' comment slip. Happy?"

"Very."

"You four do know that you are having the most pathetic conversation, don't you?" asked Y/n, bemused.

"What did you hear?" demanded James at once.

"I heard you saying something about a stag-boy," she said, raising her eyebrows at James' alarmed voice.

"And—?" prodded James eagerly.

"And...what? That's all I heard." Y/n stared at him strangely. "Are you all right, Potter?"

"Are you sure? Do you know what 'stag-boy' means?"

"Well, you're as proud and arrogant as a stag." She shrugged. "Why? What's it to you? Is this some kind of prank again?"

The four Marauders looked at each other nervously.

"We just came up with nicknames," stammered Remus, chewing his lip.

"Yeah—amusing, aren't they?" James laughed nervously.

"Whatever. Look, I'm going to take a walk to the Astronomy Tower."

"I'm coming with you," said James at once.

"Fine."

Y/n and James set off to the Astronomy Tower. After about ten minutes or so, they finally made it to the top and saw the beautiful grounds of Hogwarts from below.

"Well, well, if it isn't Potter and the Mudblood," came a cold, sneering voice.

It was Voldemort, and he looked more sinister and menacing than ever. The two teenagers exchanged glances.

"Why don't you leave us alone, Voldemort?" shouted James.

"Don't make me hunt you down even more, Potter," he spat. "And don't get too cocky now. The Ministry's starting to worry about my fellow Death Eaters and I. They're even starting to fashion a new name for me—You-Know-Who, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and my favorite: The Dark Lord. But of course, that's what my darling Death Eaters use as a code signal." He laughed cruelly.

"We're not cowards!" screamed Y/n. "I'll be calling you 'Voldemort' for the rest of your days, though it won't be long before you—"

"Stupefy!" roared Voldemort.

Y/n fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Y/N!" cried James in alarm. "Y/n, wake up...please."

"Tut, tut, really Potter, you're not as strong as people say you are. The Mudblood is Stunned, and there's nothing you can really do about it, is there?"

"Expelliarmus!" said James, his wand pointing straight at Voldemort.

Voldemort's wand came soaring to him, and he caught it along with his own, triumphant.

"Don't get too confident, Potter. I know more about the Dark Arts than any other Dark wizard that's ever walked this world..."

"Unfortunately, Voldemort, I hate the Dark Arts. It's all evil."

"Avada Kedavra!"

James missed the Killing Curse by a few inches. His heart was pounding endlessly, and he could barely catch his breath.

"Enervate," he whispered, pointing his wand at Y/n.

Y/n stirred feebly and got up to her feet, staring. Then she finally realized where she was and let out a high-pitched wail that sent Voldemort screaming.

"Shut UP, you stupid Mudblood!" he shrieked.

"You won't get James nor I, Voldemort," she said, quite calmly. "No matter how hard you try."

He laughed. "Ah, but the Dark Lord will get you, L/n, no matter how hard it takes. I won't let you or your son stop my reign of terror."

"You—" But before she could finish, he vanished.

"How did he get to Hogwarts?" said James. "I mean, you can't Apparate or Disapparate on school grounds."

"I'm glad you read Hogwarts, A History, Potter," said Y/n dryly. "But then again, he is a Dark wizard, and he has his ways."

"Evil git," mumbled James, and they started to head off to Dumbledore's office.

"Er—you do know the password, right, Potter?" asked Lily, as they stepped in front of the stone gargoyle.

"Come off it! You're the genius in this school, I thought you knew!"

"Oh, sod off. Let's see...Peppermint Humbugs."

James gave her a strange look.

"Stop staring, Potter, and help me."

"All right! Er—Pepper Imps?"

The gargoyle came to life and jumped aside. They entered Dumbledore's office and felt the same warm and cozy feeling as they sat down nervously. Dumbledore smiled at them from his large desk.

"Professor, Voldemort attacked us in the Astronomy Tower," said James quickly.

Dumbledore looked grave. "Has he attempted to kill you?"

"Yes, sir, and he almost did. And he Stunned Y/n, too."

"I wasn't hurt too badly," said Y/n hastily. "I mean, James revived me again..."

No one seemed to notice the pink tinge that appeared on her cheeks when she said this.

"I see. Well, I am very sorry to tell you, Mr. Potter, Ms. L/n, that you shouldn't wander around the school grounds without anyone accompanying you. From now on, if you would like to go somewhere, please bring your friends or a teacher. That is, unless if you can go about being unseen." He seemed to be looking straight at James when he said this.

Y/n sniggered and James turned beet red.

"We'll be going now, Professor," said the former, still giggling. James went after her stoically.

"You should have seen your face, Potter!" gasped Y/n, still laughing. "I mean, Dumbledore knows you have an Invisibility Cloak!"

"Oh, shut it, L/n," snapped James irritably. "I was just attacked by Lord Voldemort. Really, you can be more thoughtful about my feelings, you know."

"Potter, I was just Stunned by Lord Voldemort."

"Oh yeah. Oops, my bad."

As soon as they reached the Fat Lady's portrait on the seventh floor, Arabella and Sirius came bounding to them and crashed into each other. Y/n and James took one look at each other and started to laugh.

"Oh yes, very funny, laugh all you want," said Arabella sarcastically, as both she and Sirius got up and dusted themselves. "Be that way and worry your best friends to death."

"I knew you guys were snogging up there, but Bella insisted that we find you anyway," said Sirius smugly.

"Snogging? Do you really think so, Sirius?" said Lily wryly. "Enemies snog all the time in the Astronomy Tower, oh yes!"

"Really? I knew it!"

"Oh, Sirius, Y/n was being sarcastic," sighed Arabella.

"Padfoot, you are pathetic," laughed James.

Sirius had a maniacal glint in his eyes. "Prongs, can I be best man?"

"Huh?" James frowned.

"At the wedding of you and Y/N."

"Oh, that." He waved it off casually. "Whatever. You probably are the best man anyway, since you're the godfather of Harry, too."

"What a random topic, Sirius," remarked Y/N.

"I had to say something before I die for Bella, like the prophecy says," he said solemnly.

"Who knew you were going to be so heroic later on, Sirius," said Arabella, smiling.

"If only we knew..." whispered Y/N.

"That was the best experience of my life!" said Sirius, grinning, as they went into the Great Hall tired and yawning.

"Yeah," said Remus, smiling. "Thanks guys. It really made the transformation—er—easier."

"No problem, Moony," said James, looking delighted.

"Now that we found the passageway to Hogsmeade through the one-eyed witch's hump, what are we going to do?" asked Peter.

Everyone looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, this opens a list of possibilities, doesn't it? We can do anything now! We can even go to Hogsmeade during the full moons."

James grinned. "Wormtail, you are a genius. Really. We should create a map that shows every single passageway of Hogwarts, and with everyone's name labeled on it, so we know where all the prefects and teachers are at, so we won't get in trouble. What do you think?"

"Prongs?"

"Yes, Padfoot ol' buddy?"

"The students of Hogwarts have now the opportunity to know the greatest minds and pranksters that this school will ever see."

"I second to that."

"We can have it as a blank parchment, so no one will suspect a thing," said Remus. "We can call it 'The Marauder's Map', and we can have passwords to make it show, or make it blank."

"Moony, you are a wicked, wicked genius," said Sirius complimentarily.

"Thank you, Padfoot."

"But," said James doubtfully, "we do have to do a lot of charms to it..."

"Not to worry, Prongs," assured Remus. "We'll manage it. And if we're stuck on something, I'm sure we can get some help from Y/N if we know how to be as vague and unsuspecting as possible."

Sirius dangled his arms around the three other Marauders. "Fellow Marauders, we have just entered a new era of Hogwarts history."

"Why?" came Arabella's amused voice as she grinned at her boyfriend.

"Bellsies! What are you doing here?" Sirius was flustered.

"I'm here for breakfast, you twit," she said jokingly.

"Oh—right."

"Bells, there's no point of trying to reform, Sirius," said Y/N, rolling her eyes. "He's totally hopeless."

"Wait a minute, you wanted to reform me?" cried Sirius in alarm. "Why hasn't anyone told me this before?"

The two girls looked at each other and shrugged.

"Now, why should we tell you, Sirius?" said Jennifer, grinning. "After all, you'd object like you're doing right now—"

"All right, I get it! Good Merlin, people these days..."

James gave a loud gasp and covered his hand over his mouth.

"What are you doing, Prongs?"

James shoved the Daily Prophet into the middle of the table so that the girls could read the front page.

The Dark Lord: He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Rises

A new Dark wizard is fashioning his name as Lord Voldemort, writes Danielle Henderson, Special Correspondent.

This wizard is very dangerous, and we must all refer to him as "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Be-Named". He has been reported at appearing at the Potters' house this summer, so says Sarah Potter and her husband Daniel Potter, as well as Headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore.

"He threatened to kill my James and his friend," says Mrs. Potter weakly. "I don't know about the rest of you, but he's not as harmless as you think. This Voldemort will destroy many lives, I warn you all."

Unfortunately, Mrs. Potter is quite right. One of You-Know-Who's followers has recently murdered the Prewetts, a very powerful pureblooded family next to the Potters and many others. This young man (so called "Death Eater"), is no older than nineteen, named Antonin Dolohov, and he and his other fellow Death Eaters are planning more deaths ahead, so predicted.

Yet, many of our fellow wizards and witches don't think You-Know-Who at all harmful; in fact, many think that he has the right idea by trying to get rid of Muggle-borns (people of non-magic descent).

"The man is quite right about getting rid of these Mudbloods," says Tricia Black confidently. "Mudbloods are stinking up our world, and if they aren't rid of immediately, then our whole Wizarding community will be going to the dogs soon."

Why is this mad wizard killing off many families?

"Lord Voldemort is quite capable of many deeds, I imagine," says Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "He is killing every wizard and witch whom he believes will thwart or threaten his reign in power."

Minister Bagnold is quite nervous of this Dark reign that Dumbledore mentions, and urges the magical community to remain calm. She thinks that this wizard will be as bad as Grindelwald, if not worse, and suggests constant vigilance.

"He will not take over our world if I can help it," she states flatly.

What will become of us, you ask? Well, we shall see about You-Know-Who and how far he will get before we can start sending out our best Aurors against him.

"Mum and Dad will surely fight him," whispered James worriedly, as they finished reading the article. "They're two of the top Aurors in the Ministry."

Sirius faced his best friend seriously (no pun intended). "Prongs, I'll be by your side through thick and thin. You can count on that. And you know I'd rather die than to give you up."

Despite the situation, James smiled. He knew that he was beyond lucky to have such a best friend like Sirius. Even though most people thought him stupid and only good for his looks, Sirius was much more. He had dignity, honor, and bravery—three qualities that the Blacks were never known for, and only his cousin, Andromeda, had, besides him.

"I know, Padfoot," he replied quietly. "I know."

"I will stand by you at the end as well, Prongs," said Remus. "You guys have done so much for me—I can only do the least by sacrificing myself if needed."

"Me too, Prongs," said Peter, but his voice wavered. He wasn't as brave as his three best friends were. No, he was a coward that didn't belong in Gryffindor. What was the Sorting Hat thinking? It considered putting him in Hufflepuff and then Slytherin, but at the end, it had decided Gryffindor. Who knew—maybe he'd become some sort of hero, sacrificing himself for his friends. The blond boy smiled at the thought.

"We're by your side, too, Potter, even if I don't like you too well," said Y/N, grinning, as she shook James' hand.

"Does this mean what I think it means?" said Arabella.

"Nope." Y/N withdrew her hand quickly from his grasp.

"We'll be friends through all this, right?" asked Violet hopefully. "Even if not all of us will survive?"

"Definitely," they all chorused together.

The Marauders and the girls were currently stuck in the Forbidden Forest. None of them really knew why or how they had gotten there. One moment they were in History of Magic catching up on their sleep, and the next, they suddenly were jerked awake and found themselves under the clutches of livid centaurs. To put it mildly, they were very not pleased.

"I swear this was Voldemort," said James furiously. "That damn git—"

"James!" whispered Peter fearfully. "Don't insult him...what if he hears you?"

"SO LET HIM HEAR ME!" he roared. "HELLO VOLDEMORT! THIS IS YOUR FAVORITE ENEMY SPEAKING, JAMES POTTER! YOU KNOW ME, RIGHT? THE ONE YOU TRIED TO KILL AT THE ASTRONOMY TOWER THE OTHER DAY!"

"Prongs, shut up," said Sirius, rolling his eyes. "You aren't helping the situation."

"Yes, Potter, yelling for Voldemort can only increase our problems," added Y/N dryly.

"Look at it this way, James," said Remus quietly. "We are in the Forbidden Forest, which is forbidden to all students, as you can tell by the name. We've just narrowly escaped a pack of mad centaurs that claim we disturbed the planet rotations, and now we have no idea where we are in this forest. Now you're starting to curse at an invisible Voldemort. Maybe you can think of a better solution than that, Prongs."

Some people might have thought Remus said this sarcastically, but they all knew him too long, and knew that he was dead serious.

"You're right, Moony. But what can we do?"

"What about—IT," suggested Sirius.

The girls looked at them with puzzled expressions on their faces.

"Nah, I don't have it," said James, shaking his head. "Besides, the girls are here, we can't risk them knowing..."

"Knowing what?" demanded Jennifer. "Really, we're your friends, we won't tell."

Sirius sighed. "Look, Jen, it doesn't matter—"

"It does if it'll help us out of this stupid mess!" she shot back.

"Well, it won't!"

"Does everyone have their wand with them?" asked Y/N tiredly.

There was a chorus of "Yes" among the group.

"Good. We'll light our wands and be on our way. There's no point of arguing. We should just go with the flow and see if we can find our way back to the castle."

"Why didn't we think of that?" muttered Sirius. "Lumos."

The others did the same, and they all looked for the lightest path. When they found it, they started to follow it, hoping that it would lead them back to the castle and to safety. From then, they would go to Dumbledore and tell him what had happened.

"This light isn't working," said James, squinting at the path. "No, wait...blimey! I think I see Hogwarts!"

They all rushed through the path, and sure enough, the castle was in view, with many students looking at them with surprise and interest.

"What were you doing in the forest?" asked Alex Opalisk, a fourth-year Gryffindor. She fluttered her eyelashes at James and Sirius.

"Ditz," muttered Arabella under her breath.

"Er—Hagrid sent us there to do something for him," stammered Remus.

Alex smiled at him seductively. "So—Remus," she said slowly. "The next Hogsmeade trip is on Halloween. Care to go?"

Remus stared at his friends, silently pleading for help.

"He already has a girlfriend," said Y/N coolly.

"Who? You?" She sneered.

"No, actually..." Y/N looked at Jennifer.

"What about you, Jamie?" she cooed. "You going with someone?"

James gulped. He liked Alex very much, since she was very pretty, but he felt intimidated by her all the time. His hazel eyes locked in with Y/N's E/C ones, they begged her for help.

"James is already going with me," said Y/N swiftly.

Everyone stared at her, especially Arabella, who's eyes widened in surprise and delight. Y/N shot her friends a look that said, "Yeah, well, this is only one favor for Potter in my lifetime".

"Oh." Alex looked severely disappointed and walked off.

James let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Y/N."

"Just don't expect any more favors from me again, Potter," was her brief reply.

"Never again will I have the pleasure," he agreed readily.

They all quickly headed into the castle and to Dumbledore's office. When they told him their story, the professor quickly stood up and sighed, his blue eyes tired and feeble-looking.

"I'm afraid you all—especially you five—are in grave danger, now that Voldemort knows of the prophecy and how Harry James Potter will thwart him in his reign of power." Dumbledore looked at Y/N and the Marauders.

"But—Professor—" began Y/N, but she could say no more.

"Why did it have to be us?" said James, sighing. "Why us?"

Dumbledore looked at the black-haired boy sympathetically. "It's just fate, Mr. Potter. It's just fate."

When they left his office, James let out a loud groan, causing everyone look his way.

"What's up, Prongs?" asked Sirius.

"It's just—I don't get it," he said quietly. "Why us? Why Y/N and I?"

No one had an answer for his questions, and they all slipped into Gryffindor Tower, except for Y/N. She lingered, waiting for James.

"It's just fate, Potter," she whispered, smiling slightly. "Fate's bringing us together, and fate's killing us together. But we'll stick by...together."

James grinned at her. "I thought you hated me."

"Oh, I do. In fact, I believe I loathe you very much. But you see, Potter, we still have to work together, no matter how difficult it is for the both of us."

"It won't be difficult for me, L/N. I don't hate you; I just don't like you too well. But I'm sure it'll change by the years. We were meant to be together, unfortunately."

"You know, Potter, you're not half bad sometimes. I mean, you do have your moments, like now. Yet other times, you're completely unbearable. I s'pose, however, that we were made for each other and nothing can change that."

"You're absolutely right, L/N. So—how about that Hogsmeade weekend?"

"In your dreams, Potter."

"Oh, I know something that'll change your mind." James started to tickle her.

Y/N shrieked with laughter and chased James around in circles in front of a very disapproving Fat Lady. But the portrait smiled as she saw true love right in front of her eyes. Only the lovers did not see it—but will soon, after all they will go through together.

It was like what Dumbledore had said: it's just fate. Y/N and James were two very wonderful and powerful wizards, and they did not deserve to have such a sad and horrifying fate. But that was just it. No one chose who they would marry, or what job they would get. It was all up to fate. Sometimes fate would be very nice and give you a devoted husband and lovable children. But sometimes, like their situation, it wasn't so nice. Y/N and James would have a short life together, for less than three years, but it would be one of warmth and tenderness, for both themselves and their future son. And nothing could change that...except for fate. All they could do is wait and let it all happen.

tags: @theredheadedwinchester

masterlist

#amarauder writings #it's a hate-love thing original version #james potter x reader

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