Disclaimer: Most of the Characters are not mine, and the Harry Potter world itself definitely isn't. If it was, I would not be posting here, I would be writing a Marauders book and publishing it (Hint Hint JK!)

A/N: I've been wanting to write a Fifth Marauder story for AAAAAGES now, and I've finally plucked up the courage to. Before now, I was worried I would do a bad job with it, but ah well. My main inspiration to write this story was Aquarius23 's story 'The Fifth Marauder'. Don't worry, this is not plagiarism, but I figured that, because I have many theories that are like theirs, some may think that I'm copying. I promise I'm not! 3 Reviews are really appreciated! I love hearing about what you guys think of my writing, especially when you leave me Constructive Criticism. I will name each chapter, and every time a new year comes around I'll write that too. Hope you like Chapter one!

[This was an old story and has now been updated and improved.]

Update A/N: Yeah, I know it's been ages and I should have re-uploaded these ages ago. I've finally finished editing this one and it is now back up for your reading pleasure (And hopefully it will be staying up!)

Marauders Era – First Year

Hogwarts

Ava wasn't what most people would call socially adequate. She wasn't much of a people person at all, really, and she tended to keep to herself. She was different from the other kids, and not just because of her magic. Her mother had never hidden the fact that she was a witch, constantly using household spells to neaten the place up a bit. No, the issue was that when other eleven year olds wanted to go out in the sun and play, she would much rather stay inside with a good book.

"Ava!" The girl sat up in her bed as her mother's call rang through the house.

"It's here! Your letter's here!" Ava couldn't contain her excitement as she leapt from her covers, dashing out of her bedroom in her blue nightie. Michael, her younger brother, met her in the hallway, his blonde hair sticking up at odd angles. The pair of them raced down the stairs, where their parents were waiting. In their mother's hand was a letter, the Hogwarts crest gleaming on the seal. Ava practically snatched it out of her hands – normally she would never imagine being so rude, but everyone understood her excitement. Michael watched, slightly jealous, as his sister tore the letter open and read through it.

"I'm going to Hogwarts!" She cheered, pulling him into a hug. He tried to act happy for her.

"Don't worry, Michael dear," their mum ruffled his hair even more, "You'll be joining her soon." Ava nodded, grinning, before racing back upstairs to get ready.

Diagon Alley was simply wonderful. It wasn't like Ava hadn't been there before, but it seemed so much better now that she was here to buy her school supplies. Michael was tagging along, and she felt bad for him. Having to watch your sister get everything you wanted must be hard. She tried her best to shove her guilt to the side as they bought all her supplies, and before she knew it they were sat in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. She looked happily at her chocolate sundae, her usual order from the place. "Ava, we were wondering if we could make one more stop before we go home?" Her mother said, scooping some of the dessert into her mouth. Ava grinned.

"Quality Quidditch supplies?" She asked hopefully. She knew what the answer was already – the school didn't allow personal brooms until second year.

"I was thinking more along the lines of Magical Menagerie." Her mother said with a smile.

"You're getting me a pet!" Ava squealed, making her family jump. Her parents laughed and nodded.

"Yes, we are. We figured it would be nice for you to have a friend when you attend school. I mean, Ava sweetie, we know how much you struggle making friends and we just want you to have a bit of home. And of course, we may get an owl so that we can write back and forth," she turned to Michael, "You can care for it, if you wish, and take it to Hogwarts when you go in a couple years?"

The owl had cheered Michael up, and when they were stood in Magical Menagerie choosing their pets, he had totally forgotten the jealousy he had been feeling for the previous five hours. "I want a cat, for sure!" Ava had said on the way in. She was now happily playing with a cream kitten in the corner.

"I'm going to call you Mimp."

"Mimp? What kind of name is that?!" Her dad teased, as he petted the cat from behind her. She stuck her tongue out at him before sighing.

"I think it's cute." She turned to her brother, "What do you think of Mimp?" He grinned back at her and held up the owl that was currently perched on his arm.

"And this is Owlfonso." Ava cocked an eyebrow, and he did the same. They shrugged simultaneously and the three of them made their way to their mother.

The morning of the first of September was, in a word, chaos. Ava was hurrying around, fretting she'd forgotten something, and Michael was moaning that it was unfair Ava could take the owl. "Well she'll be writing home to tell us what house she gets in, who she befriends..." eventually the family piled onto platform nine. "Just avoid the funny looks the Muggles give you." Ava's mother soothed as they neared the gate. She nodded and turned to her dad, who couldn't go onto the platform, being a Muggle.

"I hope you have an amazing year, honey. And remember to play tons of pranks-" At this he received a swat to the back of the head, and the family laughed, "And most importantly, remember that we love you." He kissed her forehead, and the three of them ran onto Platform 9¾.

The gleaming red train was already waiting when they got to the platform, and Ava stared up at it in awe. She hugged her mum and brother before waving them off and heading to the train with her trolley. She grabbed her trunk, the owl cage and the cat carrier before dragging them to the train's door, her trolley disappearing into thin air. She blinked in shock before struggling to lift the heavy trunk onto the carriage. "Here, allow me." said a voice from behind her. She turned to see a boy with sandy brown hair, and dark green eyes staring into her own blue ones.

"Thank you!" she smiled, "I never have been very strong and I'm all on my own, so-" she looked up at his slight smirk and raised eyebrow and groaned.

"Sorry. I tend to rabbit on a bit when I meet new people." She said, sighing. The boy laughed.

"It's alright, it's nice having someone to talk to. My village is pretty small, there aren't many kids my age." He moved his hair from his eyes and heaved the trunk onto the train, "I'm Remus Lupin. Are you a first year too?"

Ava nodded enthusiastically, dropping her end of the trunk. "Ava" she held out her hand, and he looked at her sceptically before shaking it, smiling. Odd, she thought to herself. Remus pulled his own trunk from the platform before they made their way through the carriages, Remus pulling both of their trunks behind him. Ava was holding the animals. They came to a compartment where two boys sat. One had wild brown hair to his shoulders, the other with messy black hair and square glasses.

"May we join you?" She smiled, having opened the door.

The boy looked up and saw Remus and Ava. The boy with longer hair nodded, a cheeky grin growing on his features. He looked rather familiar. Probably saw him in Diagon Alley, or something. She held out her hand once she had sat across from him. "I'm Ava." The boy took her hand.

"Sirius" He shook it, before snatching his hand back. Were all wizards this impolite? Remus sat beside her and they looked at eachother, shrugging.

"I'm James Potter!" The other boy said, nudging his glasses up his nose.

Suddenly there was a clatter in the isle, and the door opened to reveal a plump woman with a sweet trolley. "Would you kids like any sweets?" Remus immediately shook his head, as did Ava, but James nodded.

"We'll take as much as this can get." He grinned, handing her a small bag of coins. The woman counted them before handing them a bag of treats. James tore the bag open and dug in, pulling out a chocolate frog. He held the bag out for Ava, and she took out a pumpkin pasty. He then held it out to Remus.

"Take one." He encouraged, and after a second the quiet boy reached in and pulled out a sugar quill. He smiled, before chewing it heartily.

"Thanks." He said, "I don't get very many sweets at home." He glanced away, but Sirius laughed. You could tell by the look on Remus' face that he thought Sirius was laughing at him, but his expression changed when Sirius spoke;

"Same here – My mum never let's me have sweets because 'disappointments shouldn't have treats'"

"Why are you a disappointment?" Ava asked curiously, diving in the bag and pulling out a second pasty. Sirius sighed.

"I may as well tell you. I'm Sirius Black," He winced as his two acquaintances gasped, "I'm not like them. I'm not evil like them. I want to be a Gryffindor, for starters." Ava realised where she had seen him; In the papers, with his family, the family that housed some of the most evil wizards of all time.

"Don't worry Sirius," Ava smiled, "But your family are going to hate me. I'm Half-Blood." Sirius grinned, and Remus said,

"As am I" Remus and Ava smiled at eachother – They had something in common.

"Well that's great! My first two friends will be disliked by family. Seems like we all have something in common already!" The four laughed as the train set off.

"So then he and Evans leave, both pretty annoyed. I doubt they'll get on with us very well." Sirius laughed. He and James had been explaining to Ava and Remus what had happened with a boy named Snivellous and a girl named Lily. James was about to say something when the compartment door was pulled open. "H-Hey, can I sit with you? No-Nobody else will let me." They all looked up at a short, plump boy who appeared to be on the brink of tears.

"Of course!" Ava said, not giving the boys a chance to answer, "I'd never let anyone go without somewhere to sit." The other's didn't seem to have a problem with it, moving to give him a seat.

"Thanks." He smiled as James handed him a bar of chocolate.

"No problem. And don't worry about those people who wouldn't let you sit with them. They aren't worth it."

"Yeah, don't make it your problem. Their loss." Sirius shrugged, popping a sweet into his mouth. Remus nodded his agreement, not looking up from the book that he'd taken to reading.

Time passed by swiftly, Peter fitting in rather well as they began to get to know one another. "So, what house does everyone want to be in? For me, it's anything but Slytherin." Ava said.

"Gryffindor." Sirius and James spoke at the same time, and they looked at eachother. A smile played at James' lips.

"You want to be a Gryffindor? Wouldn't your mother be mad?" Sirius grinned at the boy's comment, a gleam in his eye.

"Exactly. Anything that will make that old cow's blood boil, I'm on it. Besides, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff don't suit me and if I'm put in Slytherin I may just throw myself off the astronomy tower." The pair laughed, and Ava smiled. She had been worried that she would have no friends at this school, but hopefully she'd already made four.

By the time Hogwarts came into view out of the windows, James, Peter and Sirius were talking about quidditch teams while Remus and Ava chatted about books. They barely even noticed as the train began to slow. "We're here!" Peter smiled, pointing to the castle through the window. They all turned to look in awe, before hurrying with the rest of the students to get to Hogsmead Station. "James Potter!" The five of them turned as a gruff voice called James' name. A huge man with a great bushy beard was grinning down at the boy.

"Hagrid!" he cheered, and hugged the man. He held him at shoulders length.

"How are ye mam and dad?" he chuckled. James shrugged and laughed.

"They're alright. Hagrid, I want you to meet my mates, this is Peter, Remus, Ava and-"

"Sirius Black." Hagrid cut the boy off, and Sirius was looking anxiously to the floor.

"Well, if yer' friends with James Potter I s'pose ye can't be tha' bad, eh? Me dad a'ways taugh' me to never judge no one, so I won'. I'll be 'specting great things from ye." Sirius looked up in surprise as the man spoke, and his face turned to a grin.

"See, Sirius? I told you. Not everyone will think you're like them." Ava encouragingly squeezed his shoulder, but she jumped as Hagrid yelled,

"FIRS' YEARS THIS WAY! FIRS' YEARS! COME ON, YOU LOT!"

The five friends looked on queasily as they sailed across the Black Lake. The castle loomed overhead as they docked in a small cove beneath the school. A woman with half-moon glasses and a tight grey bun was waiting as they went into the Entrance Hall. She stood at the top of a grand staircase, and Ava watched her as she explained the Sorting.

"You will enter the Great Hall in pairs, and wait at the front until your name is called. The Sorting Hat will call your names out in Alphabetical Order. Once you are sorted, you go and sit with your house until the end of the feast, when Prefects will take you up to the common rooms. Your trunks will be waiting for you in your dorms, so I suggest you don't dawdle if you want the best bed. Your timetables will be on top of your trunks, though they will be the same for most of you, as in all classes there will be two houses being taught at the same time." her lips curled into a tight smile, and she waved her arms, signalling for them to line up. Ava stood next to Sirius, James nest to Remus and Peter behind with a girl they didn't know. Clapping was heard, and McGonagall began towards huge double doors.

Being at the front, Ava felt self-conscious as they filed into the Great Hall. It was silent, and all of the older student's eyes were on them. Ava stood at the front, her eyes trained on the floor. "Don't look so nervous. You'll be fine." Sirius grinned, nudging her.

"You aren't worried at all?" She whispered, as the first name was called.

"Of course I am. I don't want to be pleasing my mother, do I?" He sighed and Ava patted his shoulder.

"Sirius Black!" His head snapped round and his face visibly paled. He walked to the front, breathing heavily, and sat on the stool. He seemed to be there four hours. After about three minutes the hat called out it's decision. "GRYFFINDOR!" Gasps filled the hall, but Ava, James, Remus and Peter cheered. They had met mere hours ago but it felt like they had been friends for years. Sirius was grinning from ear to ear as he ran to the Gryffindor table, and he sent a thumbs-up in Ava, James, Peter and Remus' direction.

It didn't take long for Ava's name to be called – Her last name was Carver, and she was only two behind Amelia. "Ava Carver!" She closed her eyes, exhaling. Sirius clapped her shoulder as she made her way to the front, trying to keep her head held high. She sat down on the stool at the front and tried her best to ignore the thousands of eyes staring at her. She felt the hat be placed on her head, and it immediately began speaking to her.

"Ava Carver. A Half-Blood.

'That's me'

Cheerful, very Hufflepuff.

'I want Gryffindor'

You seem sure.

'I want to be where my friends are.'

Ah… Have any of them been sorted yet?

'Yes. Sirius has. He was worried he'd be put in Slytherin like his family. But I know that they'll go there. I have faith in them'

Hmm….

'aren't you going to put me somewhere? People are looking at me strange'

Direct… I suppose I will have to put you in…"

"GRYFFINDOR!" Ava sighed with relief, looking the Gryffindor table, where Sirius was clapping wildly. She grinned as she stood up, not even noticing the crest on her robes change to the Gryffindor emblem. She sat beside Sirius, away from the rest of the house. He high-fived her as she sat.

"Now all that we need if James, Remus and Peter to join us."

"Lily Evans!" The hat yelled out from the front of the room. Ava wasn't really paying that much attention, until after about three minutes when it called out for the third time,

"GRYFFINDOR!" Ava watched as the girl smiled to someone at the front, before she made her way over to the table. She sat with the rest of the house, rather than with the two students on the end. Sirius smiled at his friend.

"Cheer up, I think that it'll be Remus soon." Ava smiled back; She was disappointed that Lily hadn't sat near her. She could really use a female friend too. But then, she thought, I will be sharing a dorm with her.

Remus, James and Peter had been put in Gryffindor. Sirius and Ava had cheered heartily for each of them, especially James, who swaggered up to the hat confidently. It had barely touched a hair on his head when he yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!", and Ava had laughed as he smirked and sat with them.

"So, we're in the same house!" Sirius said excitedly. He was sat across from Ava, who was sat beside Peter. He was sat across from James who was next to Remus. By now, the table had connected in the middle, because two more girls had joined too. Lily Evans, Alice Towwe and Marlene McKinnon. Interesting.

"Ava?" She woke from her daydream to see that the boys were staring at her.

"Sorry," she said, looking down at the table, "I was miles away." Sirius told her what they had been talking about Quidditch – again "And I asked if you were planning on joining the team."

"Me? Nah. I fly, but just for fun. I'm nowhere near good enough to be on a team."

"Well I'm joining!" James announced, grinning proudly, "I play chaser. Sirius?"

"Beater. I have a decent swing." He shrugged, smirking.

"Well flying isn't my thing." Remus said, sighing, "I always fall off." The five of them laughed, and Peter nodded his head.

"Same here, I'm scared of heights. I can handle them if I'm on the ground, but up in the air I always feel like I'm going to fall." He shivered, causing them to laugh even harder.

Gryffindor common room was large and rounded – it was in a tower, and the five friends had raced up to it. "It's just us four in the boys' dorm, so it'll be a battle between friends who gets the best bed." Sirius had said, as they walked up. Now, the boys looked at eachother before racing up to their room. She didn't know, for now, who had got the best bed. She didn't even know what was considered as the best bed. Rolling her eyes, she began up to her own dorm, noting that Marlene was still in the main room talking to one of the older students. At least I won't get the worst bed. she thought, smirking.

"Hi! I'm Alice!" She was pounced on as soon as she opened the door, the black-haired girl almost knocking her off her feet. Ava moved her blonde hair from her eyes and smiled.

"Ava Carver." She held out her hand and the girl shook it enthusiastically. At least she didn't give me that look the boys' did. Ava turned to the other girl, who had ginger hair framing her face and emerald green eyes.

"I'm Lily Evans." She said, leaning against the bed post. She was the one who held her hand out, and Ava shook it happily, "I'm a Mugggleborn. I know quite a few people are biased about that, so if you have problems we should probably get them out of the way."

"I'm pureblood, but I've lived in Muggle London for as long as I can remember. Mum didn't want to raise me to be prejudiced."

"I'm glad." Lily smiled. Ava watched as they began talking of life in the Muggle world.

"My sister hates me, she calls me a freak." Lily said sadly. Alice sighed, comfortingly squeezing Lily's shoulder.

"So, Ava, what's your blood status?" Lily changed the subject quickly, turning to Ava with a smile.

"Half-Blood. It's my mother with the magic." The door suddenly opened, and it seemed to be a repeat of what had happened to Ava.

"Hi! I'm Alice!" Marlene didn't take it like Ava had – instead she yelped and rushed backwards, crashing into the door that had closed behind her. She moved her dirty blonde hair from her eyes and scowled.

"That hurt!" She snapped. Alice apologised, and instead introduced herself again, holding out her hand like Ava had so many times that day.

"Marlene McKinnon"

"So, what classes do you have?" Sirius asked Ava, as they sat in the common room on the first day of classes. Ava glanced to her parchment. "History of Magic, potions, double transfiguration and defence against the dark arts. Which you know full well, seen as though we all have the same ones." Sirius grinned sheepishly as his friends laughed.

"What lesson are you most excited for?" Peter asked. he was sat cross legged across from the pair, between Remus and James.

"Flying." James said, at the same time Sirius said "Friday's flying lesson." The two looked at eachother for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"For me, I'd have to say transfiguration." Ava said, "Remus?" The boy looked up from his book, disoriented. He shrugged

"Yeah, good idea." The other laughed, much to his confusion. He didn't realise he hadn't been listening properly.

History of Magic was, as Ava discovered, the most boring lesson ever. She was sat beside James, who was asleep, his head resting on his hand. Mr Binns, the ghost teacher drifting around at the front of the classroom, droning about something or other. She felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned to see that Peter and Sirius were grinning at her. She rolled her eyes as Sirius mimed what she should do. Looking to her left, she saw that Remus was also looking at her expectantly. She smirked, before knocking James' arm out of the way. His head landed on the desk with a thud and he yelled out, waking up and lifting his arms in a fighting stance, his glasses wonky. His four friends began laughing.

"POTTER! CARVER! BLACK! PETTIGREW! LUPIN! DETENTION AFTER SCHOOL!" Ava's face dropped, as did her friends'. She had never had a detention in her life.

"Well done, Black!" She snapped as they filed out of class ten minutes later. He laughed,

"You were the one who did it!" Sirius countered, as James sighed and rubbed is chin.

"yeah, and it bloody hurt and all!" he said, mostly to himself.

"Just because I told you doesn't mean you had to do it! It was completely your fault!"

"I wouldn't have done it if James hadn't been asleep!"

"Are you saying this is my fault?"

Remus and Peter rolled their eyes to one another. This was going to be a long seven years.