Disclaimer: I don't lay any claims on JK Rowling's creation. Just having fun with it.
Chapter 1: First Steps
James placed his latest purchases into the gray, bottomless trunk, snapped the top down, and belted it closed. Louis XVI was still fluttering around, orange feathers protruding in many wayward directions, not unlike James's own hair. The owl's wrought iron cage, triple tiered with flourishes in pewter, dangled haphazardly from James's pinky, as the soon-to-be Third Year cooed to his pet.
"Bloody bird, get your sorry arse into the cage this instant! I swear, that cat from next door is tearing his whiskers out, dreaming of getting his paws on you. One of these days I'm gonna let him," James thundered at the owl, his voice a mixture of contempt and amusement for the pampered pet whose sense of mischief matched that of his owner's.
At that moment, Louis was pecking at the golden statues atop James's dresser, testimony to his many childhood wins in the local broomstick races. The figures changed hues every few seconds, from gold to silver, passing platinum, burnished bronze and myriads of other variations on the standard precious metals. Finally, the iron pagoda's door banged shut, with Louis inside, but only as a result of the scary faces that James was forced to mime in his attempt to intimidate the fearless bird. James's personal favorite was "The Wolverine", a wolf-like imitation that scared the owl witless.
"Thank Merlin," James breathed, grabbing his shiny Lightning-streak Model 436-X on the way out of his palatial estate, as the winds of another year at Hogwarts blew his way.
"James, old pal! Where have you been these last months?"
"Hiya, James. What's brewing? You know, I expected to see lots more of you this summer…"
James was inattentive as Sirius and Remus prodded him with the sour fizzing sticks from their chocolate cauldrons. His eye was caught by the now-familiar landscape of Scotland coming into view. The proud mountains loomed above the ribbon of smoke that was the Hogwarts Express, as the enchanted train passed through them.
"Yeah, James, we've been trying to plan our Annual First Night's Rites, but you haven't been responding to our owls," Peter stuttered breathily into James's ear.
Peter's nervous chattering snapped James out of his haze. Yes, he had grown kind of lazy over the last, warm weeks of summer. Getting up at noon, stealing pancakes from the house elves' secret stash, and going for dips in the lake at the edge of his property left little time for answering post. James's self-assured countenance made it easy for him to saunter up to any 'boy on the block', or in the 3-mile radius surrounding his home, and ask to race him. He befriended muggles' and wizards' kids alike, only to forget he had ever met them once he was back at Hogwarts. But that was James.
"Yeah, First Rites, those," James itched his head, feigning forgetfulness. "So, we're doing them again?" he questioned in mock disappointment. This was only said to rile up his fellows, and to express his commitment to the ever-prominent cause.
"Sk-Skip the First Rites," Peter breathed, distress splashed across his face. "But why?" he whined.
Remus and Sirius laughed, used to James's sarcastic attempts. "Those again," Sirius affirmed. "Jamie, old pal, this year's pranks better be Better Than Ever!" he bellowed. "Can't have anyone forgetting the Marauders!"
"No," James agreed softly, falling back into his reveries of one more summer gone by.
A/N: Hi. I know it's a short beginning, but I will expand on it. Please leave a review…thanx!