Disclaimer: First and foremost, all cannon characters contained in this fanfiction are the property of J.K. Rowling. Mekus and Chi own this specific story line and the way the characters are portrayed, and anything else that you do not recognize in the wonderful world of J.K. Rowling, belongs to Chikus also.
Ratings: Just to be on the safe side really. It applies to later chapters more than anything. Content inside the story includes crude humor, mild language, some adult situations, and some violence too.
Summary: Join in the adventures of the marauders as they start their seventh and final year at Hogwarts! Will James and Lily be able to resolve their differences? Could Sirius finally settle down? The threat of Lord Voldemort is increasing. How will the wizarding world react? Read and find out!
The air was blowing slightly harder as the sun reached the pinnacle of the sky and sat among the barren wasteland, which now loomed over a slender figure clad in black. The figure moved along the side of the road, slowly, deliberately, footsteps falling as softly as snow, making their way towards civilization. A lean hand was removed from inside the pocket of the frayed cloak and lifted to the young man's slim and pallid face. Angular features protruded his soft pallid skin and formed a handsome countenance. His shaggy chestnut colored hair lingered over the edge of his shapely brows and swayed delicately in the arid breeze. Silver specks could be seen sprouting from beneath the honey golden locks reflecting their own amount of light. The figure's eyes were his most renowned feature being amber in color and able to enthrall any person's attention to their seemingly incessant depths. He looked all together tired and upon closer inspection, one would assume that he carried with him some form of illness that accounted for the ashen appearance of his skin. In assuming such a matter, one would be correct and most astounded to find that he did carry with him a form of illness, one that had plagued his life since his childhood years. He was a lycanthrope, or more commonly known as a werewolf. A heavy burden that had been his to carry alone until he met his three best friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, were everything changed. He had been successful in fooling his three companions for two and a half years, making up excuses about being ill and disappearing inside the shrieking shack once a month on the night of the full moon. But James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew were not to be fooled by his monotonous excuses, and they quickly figured out his secret. Instead of shunning him away, they had used his condition as an excuse to learn to become animaguses and join him on then nights he would transform.
Remus Lupin considered his friends to be the most important and only constant things in his arduous life.
Realizing that he had reached the brick wall behind the Leaky Cauldron Remus used his free hand to hit the right brick and open up the passageway that revealed the street referred to as Diagon Alley. He entered quickly and the wall returned to its normal place behind him.
Remus walked slowly, inspecting the many figures that would look out at him through the glass windows that lined the edge of the cobble-stoned street. He couldn't help but chuckle as he passed by the window of Gambol and Jakes where he could see a desperate mother trying to retract the hand of her young son from the now bubbling insides of an enchanted cauldron. His stride quickened as he made his way towards Flourish and Blotts, Remus's favorite bookstore.
A slender Gryffindor witch of 17 stepped out of the Apothecary in Diagon Alley, one hand holding a brown bag full of potion supplies, smelling much like dragon dung, the right hand clasped onto a small girl in a soft lavender dress. She was of the height 5'7 and her slender figure now was replaced with more womanly curves that left her with a pleasantly lean frame. Her hair was a glossy cinnamon stick brown cut in layers, the shortest reaching to the temple of her chin and the longest cascading straight down to her mid back, framing her large and lustrous coal black eyes. Currently her hair was entwined in two French braids, each braid met off by a silky red ribbon that matched perfectly with her Gryffindor robes. Her name, Anastasia Marie Walden, but she was known simply as Anna to most.
Miss Walden felt a soft tug on her arm, and a sweet voice ask, "Anna, when can we go to the Menagerie? I want to see all the animals." Anna stopped walking and looked down at her six year old sister, smiling warmly. "Soon Melissa, I promise. I need to finish getting all my school supplies, and then we can go to the Menagerie to get the collars and see the animals alright." Melissa nodded, and smiled sweetly back at her older sister. She was rather small for her age, reaching up only to her older sister's mid abdomen. Soft chestnut locks were pulled up into a ponytail, separated into three braids, and all looped under and tied with a soft lavender ribbon that matched her dress. Melissa Aurora Walden shared only a few traits of that of Anna. She had the same skin complexion, nose and warm smile, but all in all her mother dominated her hereditary traits. The most prominent feature of Melissa was her eyes. Yes, she had the type of optics that seemed to be a chameleon color changer, adapting to the apparel that the individual was wearing. At the moment Melissa's, or Lissa to her friends, eyes had taken that of a soft amethyst.
Anna's obsidian optics glanced down at the watch at her wrist. She still had plenty of time to find all the necessary supplies, hopefully catch up with some of her classmates, see how their summer's had been, and see if anything had changed over a three month break. With that Anna, still holding Lissa's hand, began walking through the crowds of people, going no where specific and looking for no one in particular.
A lanky rogue of 17 walked out of "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions" examining his new robes, trying to determine how they fit him. Having trouble, since no mirror was around, James Potter walked around to a semi-reflective window shop, one hand digging inside of his pocket. James stood there in front of the window, some witches and wizards glancing quizzically at him, and looked over himself. A handsome, hazel eyed, jet-black messy haired boy with glasses stared back at him. "Not bad Prongs, not bad at all," he muttered quietly to himself smirking. "We got her now." The Her being Lily Evans, the most gorgeous girl he had ever laid eyes on.
James Potter had grown during the summer break, now reaching a tall height of 6'5. James was now the tallest of the Marauders, a group of pranksters made up of him and his closest three friends.. He had lost some of his quidditch muscle unfortunately during the growth spurt, but he was now filling out, looking more and more like a grown up man. Yes, James was of age now, and life could not have been any better, especially because of the letter. The letter that informed him that HE James Potter, prankster fiend and ringleader of the marauders, had been chosen for Head Boy. It had flipped his entire world upside-down.
When he had opened the envelope, James had only expected a list of school supplies, but much to his surprise, also got a splash of soggy cornflakes from his cereal in the face. "What the Hell!" James exclaimed as he fished out the foreign object that had plopped into his morning cereal. His mouth had literally dropped open when he saw what it was, the Head Boy badge. He began reading, and re-reading an additional paper attached to his school supplies, informing him what some of his duties would be during the school year. Immediately proceeding that James checked to make sure that this was not some type of joke or mistake, but it wasn't. The letter was clearly addressed to him, James Potter. His next thought was that of Head Girl. Lily, just had to get it, there was no other way or possibility that someone else could, but...what had been the odds that the biggest prankster in the school would receive the badge, not even being a prefect in the first place? It was then that James had made one of the most important decisions of his life, promising himself that it was indeed a time for change, and that for the better. The time had arrived to shed the old childish ways, and embrace the armor of maturity and responsibility.
James Potter, looked at himself, then ruffled his hair in the back, a bad habit that he had not been able to discard yet, when he exclaimed "Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" His hand dove into the pocket of his black robe, pulling forth a shiny badge, which clearly displayed Head Boy. It was almost inconceivable when the owl had dropped the post in at morning breakfast. In truth, his own mother had thought he had nicked it from Remus, or created a duplicate as a joke. She nearly fainted when she realized that James was indeed telling the truth, and then smothered him with kisses, telling him how she would cook his favorite meal and buy him a new broom. Pinning the gold badge proudly onto his chest, the marauder began walking towards the Quidditch store, a pouch of galleons jingling merrily in his pocket.
It wasn't too long after, that James Potter spotted a familiar brunette bending over a box outside Eyelops Owl Emporium, which looked to be filled with certain types of rodents and owl treats, a small girl looking disgusted by her side. Abandoning the lure of Quality Quidditch Supplies, James began making his way towards Anna, hoping that maybe she had seen Lily, or any one of his fellow Marauders.
"Anna," Melissa stated muffled as she plugged her nose with her fingers, "it's really stinky. Can we please go?" Anna seeming not to hear her sister, began digging through the crate, looking for a certain rodent. "Hmm...How do you think Archimedes would like this?" She asked quizzically, holding up a light brown field mouse. Melissa took a step back from her sister warily, "Anna, that is really gro..Eeep!" She gave a small yelp as her foot treaded on a rather solid shoe. Melissa whipped around and found herself face to face with a rather tall hellion, one that she recognized as James Potter. "Oh, sorry James..." she stated shyly than walked over behind her sister, peeking out from behind her.
James chuckled, and smiled warmly at Melissa. "Really, am I that frightening Lissa? I am just a big loving teddy bear, right Anna?" Anna placed the mouse back into the crate and resisted rolling her eyes. "Hello James," she turned around to face him, "Did you have a nice summer?" She asked politely, wiping her hands on a handkerchief in her pocket. Goodness, how Anna was annoyed with James, always chasing after her best friend like some desperate love sick puppy. She didn't even want to get started on his friends. Sirius, the infamous womanizer, thinking himself better than most just because he had good looks. Peter, the pathetic follower, not doing anything unless his two idols approved of it, except eating, something that he did quite well. And there was Remus, probably the only sensible one out of the entire group, how he had gotten involved with this group of insolent pricks, was something Anna would never know or understand.
James ruffled his raven black hair in the back, out of reflex more than anything. "It was brilliant. Sirius A.W.O.L.ed his family and came to live with me the entire summer. One of the best breaks of my life, if I do say so myself." James stated grinning, crossing his arms in front of his chest. He had known Anna and her family basically his entire life. The Potter's and the Walden's had always been close friends. Both families were active in the Ministry fields, and both their parents had graduated in the same year from Hogwarts. James also prided himself in the fact that Anastasia was the first individual he had ever committed a prank on.
Anna smiled back. "Your poor mother! I couldn't imagine what chaos and pandemonium she had to go through with you two, especially now that you both are of age." James seemed to have changed slightly. Height was the most obvious, but there was something lingering deeper, hiding within the outer surface. He was no longer calling her by her surname, something extremely un-characteristic. Anna couldn't decipher it though. Was it the way he was speaking? Did he get a haircut?
Melissa was still standing behind her sister, not sure if she should participate in the conversation. She didn't know James as well as her older sister did. He was terribly handsome though, making it even harder for her to even mumble a single word to him. She would never forget the first time she had met James Potter, he had kissed her hand like one would a princess, and from then she had found her first crush.
James laughed, then let out a soft sigh. "Yeah." James began recollecting on some of the events that had happened during the summer. "I think the hardest thing though was when we passed our apparation tests. Sirius kept appearing and disappearing every few feet. In the end my mum threatened to chuck him out on the curb if he didn't stop."
Anna laughed at this comment, throwing her head back slightly. "Why am I not surprised James. He wouldn't be Sirius Black if he hadn't done that." Yes, as James kept talking it became more and more apparent that James Potter had most definitely changed. It was then that Anna's coal black eyes fell onto a shiny badge resting on James' chest. "James, what in Merlin's name is on your robes?" She asked bewildered, motioning to the Head Boy badge.
James grinned widely. "What this?" He asked innocently, smirking. "My, my Anna, and I thought you were intelligent. It's a Head Boy badge." He put his hands on his hips and assumed a ridiculous superhero pose. "You're looking at the new Head Boy of Hogwarts, hand picked by Dumbledore himself."
Anna raised her brow at him curiously, looked at the badge, and then began laughing hysterically. James looked at her appalled. "Now Anna I am serious!" With that Anna began laughing even harder. Regaining her breath and wiping a tear of laughter from her eye she faced James. "That has got to be your best prank yet James. You actually had me going there for a second. You Head Boy." Anna let out another giggle. "So, who did you steal it from? Remus or was it Gideon, the Ravenclaw Prefect?"
James tried not to look too offended, or angry. Was everyone going to react like Anna when he said that he had been elected the position of Head Boy? "Probably.." James thought bitterly to himself. "Walden, I am serious!"
Anna went into another fit of laughter. "No, Sirius is your best friend." She punned jokingly. James rolled his eyes. It was hopeless trying to convince her anymore. He would wait until Remus and some of his other friends came, instead, he decided to change the subject. "Do you know who Head Girl is?" He asked innocently. It seemed that Anna had dropped the last subject, as she began going off on this one.
Anna nodded. "Yes. Lily got it. No surprise there though. She sounded so excited when she owled me about it. To celebrate I offered her to spend the last few weeks at my home before we go to school. She comes tonight and is staying until September 1st, then it's off to school." She leaned back on the edge of the crate, crossing one foot over the other.
James felt as if a balloon was swelling inside of him. Lily had gotten head girl. This was perfect! What better excuse to spend late nights alone with Lily when they had patrolling duties together. It was also the opportune aspect of accomplishing Operation Lily Flower. "Have you gotten all your supplies yet?" He asked inquiringly, now in a much better mood.
Anna shook her head. "No not yet. My whole family and I got here about 15 minutes ago." She raised the brown bag clasped in her left hand. "I have only just got some potion ingredients for home."
At that moment a short pudgy little fellow with blue eyes, holding a rather large ice cream cone, called out "Prongs! Hey Prongs!" waving frantically, waddling over, and looking rather ridiculous. James beamed. "Wormtail!" Peter Pettigrew, ecstatic that his idol had noticed him resisted the urge to sprint and instead hurried his pace. The small mousey haired boy with a pointed nose unfortunately stepped on a stray piece of owl treat, slipping and sliding straight to his bottom, his ice cream flying into the air and landing with a small splat near James, Anna and Melissa, speckling them each with droplets of creamy goodness.
Peter struggled up, turning bright red and trying vainly to ignore the snorts of laughter and strange looks he was receiving. James, wiping a piece of strawberry off of his cheek chuckled. "Smooth Wormtail. I see your coordination didn't improve over the summer," he joked playfully as he grabbed Peter by the arm and hauled him to his feet.
Peter tried to smile, but was having difficulty. He was making sure that his eyes where nowhere near in the proximity of Anna or the girl beside her. He felt completely mortified and useless near James Potter, not even considering falling hard onto his backside in front of Anna and some girl he didn't even know.
Anna holding back laughter smiled sweetly at Peter. In truth, she felt rather sorry for the chubby fellow. "Hello Peter," she stated cheerfully, smiling and wiping some cream from underneath her eye. "Did you have a nice summer?"
Peter looked at Anna, then found his voice gone in spite of himself. He was becoming more and more lost into her dark optics and the sweet aroma she radiated, the longer he stared at her. In the end, he muttered a high-pitched, "Fine." Peter cleared his throat. "I mean...It was great." His cheeks turned a deep shade of red.
Anna smiled encouragingly back at Wormtail. "Well that's good." She looked over at James Potter, then back down at her little sister, who looked absolutely terrified being surrounded by two boys, one cute, the other, well...strange. "Melissa, ready to finish shopping?" Melissa nodded, her amethyst eyes glued onto Peter. She never knew that dropping an ice cream cone could be so depressing, but the look on Peter's face could change that perspective. The poor bloke looked as if he was on the verge of tears.
James ruffled his hair in the back, flashing a dazzling smile at Melissa. "It has been awhile hasn't it Melissa. You get prettier by the hour my lady." Lissa's face turned a deep magenta, it looked as if she was radiating off heat. She said a rather quiet, "Thanks. You too." Then quickly looked away.
James smiled and looked back at Anna. "Your sister doesn't miss a beat Anastasia my dear." Anna let out a snort of laughter. "To each ther opinion James."
James grinned. "So, Walden, would you care for two escorts to guide you on your shopping spree?" He pointed to himself and Peter. "You know you could use two strong gentlemen as ourselves to carry your bags. Merlin knows how much you buy." He put a bent arm on Peter's shoulder
Anna rolled her eyes. "Do I have much of a choice Potter? Do you think I am that dull? I'm glad you have found amusement in using me as some type of Lily detector," her voice dripped with sarcasm.
James chuckled. "Anastasia, I am shocked!" He stated with mock concern, placing one hand on his chest from the accusation. "But if that is how you identify yourself, I am giving no objections." James crossed his arms in front of his chest, grinning mischeviously at Anna.
With another roll of her eyes, Anna began walking through the crowds of people, her sister one step behind her. James smiled and then followed after, whistling softly with is hands inside of the pockets of his robes, his mind on a particular red head. Peter was still dwelling over the loss of a perfectly good ice cream, standing there, looking at the melting remains when he finally realized that James and Anna had left. With a small yelp, he hurried after them, being pushed and treaded on all the way.
Chikus: So, what do you, the people, think? Like it? Love it? Hate it? We would love to hear your feedback. Reviews are always lovely. This is our first fan fic, so we hope we are doing a good job.