Thanks so much for reading! I know there's about a million Harry Potter fanfics out there, but you're HERE! The story of the Marauders and their friendships is one of my favorite storylines, so here is their story of seventh year. Please review and follow!
September 1, 1977
A brisk autumn breeze blew through the streets of London and whipped a gold and maroon scarf off the neck of a tall, lanky, black haired boy as he crossed the street towards Kings Cross Station. It began to float down the crowded sidewalk until suddenly, as if the wind had changed direction, it whipped back towards the boy and was caught by a figure who had suddenly appeared, almost as if out of thin air, on his left.
"Probably going to need this, mate!" laughed Sirius Black, elbowing his best friend in the ribs. "It's been bloody cold all summer because of the damn dementors everywhere. Keep your clothes on."
"Good snag, Sirius, but do you not see the muggles everywhere? If you get us expelled before we even get to Platform 9 ¾ I swear I'll hex you so bad you won't be able to sit down all month." James nervously rumpled his already very untidy hair as he shot furtive glances around the crowded street.
"Relax, James," sighed Sirius tiredly, "just because you're Head Boy doesn't mean you can't have a bit of fun. We're of age now."
James cast a sideways look at his friend and nudged him forward through the crowd. He trailed behind Sirius as they made their way to the pillar between platforms 9 and 10. James watched Sirius' dark, wavy hair sway as he dodged muggles carrying bags and rolling suitcases. He noticed a few wary looking people wheeling their trunks on trolleys, as James and Sirius were doing, but looking very out of place. Their bright shirts didn't match their clashingly colored bell bottoms and they attracted quite a bit of attention from passerby.
"You'd think that wizarding parents would've gotten a bit better at picking out muggle clothes by now," sighed James. "They're a dead giveaway."
"I think they look rather dashing, to be honest. Nice and subtle," smirked Sirius as they continued to make their way through the crowd, trailing behind the gaudy outfits in front of them.
The throng of students and parents made their way to the pillar and cast nervous glances around, trying to time their departures at moments when muggles wouldn't notice. Everyone in the station seemed preoccupied, though, and no one seemed to notice a few people vanishing through the solid wall every few seconds. The passbery kept their eyes on the ground and glanced nervously at watches, holding the hands of their children and spouses perhaps more tightly than was strictly necessary. No one dared make eye contact or venture away from their destinations. It was simply too dangerous these days.
"Let's go," muttered James, anxious to make his way onto the platform beyond the wall. He and Sirius locked eyes, nodded, and ran towards the pillar together, pushing their heavily laden trolleys in front of them. Instinctively, James closed his eyes tightly at the moment he should've made contact with solid brick. Instead, when he opened them, he stood on a crowded platform filled with shrieks of joy, the screeching of owls cooped up in cages, and the whistles from the waiting scarlet steam engine. Teenagers bolted across the platform into the arms of their waiting friends, anxious to tell them about their long summers apart or show off their newest robes, brooms, and pets. Despite the gloom that persisted even here, James felt some weight melt off of his chest and a smile return to his face. He grinned doggedly at Sirius at he pointed at a group of people a short ways away on the platform.
"Excellent!" exclaimed Sirius as he recognized the figures. "Moony beat us here! Wormtail's with him too. Hope he reserved a compartment already. I don't want to be disturbed on the way to the castle." Sirius strode off towards his friends, but James felt a tug on the back of his denim jacket.
"Do you think you're going to get away without a goodbye hug?" whispered Euphemia Potter. Once a powerful witch, age had now wizened her and she stood more than half a foot below her son. "You maybe be of age, James Potter, but you do not get to leave for Hogwarts without hugging your old mum. Get Sirius back here too. We've practically adopted that boy as our own and he owes me a goodbye as well." She reached up to her son's head and attempted to tame the unruly locks as James batted her hands away.
"Sorry, mum. I'd never leave without saying bye. Here comes Padfoot now."
James leaned down and embraced his mother in a tight hug. He felt a warm tear soak into his shirt and he pulled away and peered into his mother's aged face.
"Don't cry, mum. We're going to be fine. We know how to fend for ourselves." James gave his mother's hand a reassuring squeeze, but she looked even more anxious.
"That's precisely my worry, love. You and Sirius are far too talented and brave for your own good. You fight for justice and protect those who need it. I don't worry about your abilities,
James…"
"She worries about the state in which you will return home, son." James' father, Fleamont, placed an arm around James' shoulder and locked eyes with his only son. "We know you intend to join the fight against You-Know-Who after you leave Hogwarts, James. Knowing you two, you'll figure out a way to weasel your way into the resistance even before you graduate. I can't forbid you from doing it, because I know that would be a lost battle before it even began. I just beg of you to please stay safe. Don't take unnecessary risks. Watch Sirius' back like he watches yours. Fight smart, boy. The thought of losing you is far too much for our old hearts to handle." Mr. Potter continued to stare into his son's eyes, as if expecting confirmation that his son would stay safe for his own sake. A hand on James' shoulder broke the gaze between father and son.
"You know us, pop," smiled Sirius. He had appeared at James' shoulder during the conversation and was now hugging Mrs. Potter goodbye. "We are smart. Perhaps not in the traditional sense, but smart nonetheless. James can protect himself, and I'll protect him too. We look out for each other. We'll come home to you. I promise."
Tears glittered in Mr. Potter's eyes as he clapped Sirius on the back and hugged both of the boys goodbye.
"Don't do anything too foolish this year, boys…" muttered Euphemia as the boys gathered their things. "Notice I say 'too foolish' because I know that a few detentions are inevitable when you two are around each other and Remus and Peter. Try to keep it under 10."
"No promises, mum!" Sirius winked as he picked up his trunk and made his way towards the Hogwarts Express.
"We'll be ok, mum. I'll see you at Christmas." James kissed his mother's cheek as he prepared to go.
"I know you will, James. Bring Sirius with you for Christmas and whoever else needs somewhere safe to go. Perhaps you'll even bring the girl you're so fond of…. If she ever comes round to going on a date with you...:"
"Bye, mum," James interrupted, his cheeks growing ever more red. "Love you both."
The Potters smiled as they watched their only son board the train that would take him away one last time. Fleamont grasped Euphemia's hand and brushed a tear from her cheek.
"He makes me proud. We've raised a brave boy, my dear."
"Indeed, we have. Perhaps too brave for his own good, given the circumstances. We can only hope we get him back in one piece." And with her final remark, Euphemia turned to walk through the pillar to the muggle world, committing to memory the image of her son boarding the Hogwarts Express to his last year at school. It was how she wanted to think of James, happy with his mates at Hogwarts… the alternative was too dark to imagine. The Dark Lord was powerful and growing in support everyday, and she knew her son would do everything in his power to resist his ruthless reign. Fear gripped her as she crossed the streets of muggle London and felt the damp gloom settle over her once again.
James slid the compartment door shut as the train began to move away from Platform 9 ¾. He glanced up and down the corridor before turning back to his best mates and taking his seat beside the window opposite Sirius. He leaned back, sighed, and took his round glasses off of his face. After carefully polishing them on his shirt, he closed his eyes and he set his glasses on his lap as ran a hand through his hair to make it stick up spectacularly.
"You look like you wound up on the wrong end of one of Wormtail's failed charms, mate," smirked Sirius, rolling his eyes at James' carefully messed up hair. James opened one eye, pulled his wand from his pocket, and sent a carefully aimed jelly-legs curse flying through the compartment. Sirius waved his wand lazily, deflecting the spell, and the other two laughed.
"It's good to know some things won't change this year," muttered Lupin, "even when nearly everything else will."
A silence fell over the compartment and each boy looked at the three surrounding him, as if taking in the details of their faces before the year began. James, the tallest of the four, had a long face accentuated by jet black hair that stuck up in the back at all times. His round glasses framed light brown eyes that usually glittered in a way that suggested they held some sort of wonderful secret behind them. Sirius, seated opposite James, impatiently brushed a long lock of dark, curly hair back from his face. His dark features were lightened by hazel eyes that flitted around the compartment. His face was covered in a fine layer of stubble that he was determined to grow into a respectable beard. He sat with a confident manner that would have seemed haughty to all but those who knew him best. Lupin, seated next to Sirius, was as light as Sirius was dark. His strawberry blonde hair fell in wisps across his forehead and his pale skin was marred by deep scars that looked as if they'd been left by long claws. His forehead was creased in worry and made him look much older than he really was. Cowered in the corner nearest the door was the smallest and mousiest of the four boys. Peter Pettigrew wrung his hands together repeatedly as his small, watery eyes flitted around each of his friends, waiting for someone to speak. When James finally opened his mouth, Peter looked reverently at him and clung to each word.
"So. We may as well get to it. Who's dead? Who's not coming back to the castle this year?"
Remus looked a bit shocked at the harsh tone James spoke with. Peter yelped.
"Come off it, Wormtail," growled Sirius, "you've seen the news. You-Know-Who and his bloody Death Eaters are firing curses off left and right and don't care who they hit. Everyone who isn't a pure-blood is at risk and they consider blood-traitors to be as treacherous as muggle borns. So we need to know who is here. We need to know who to protect."
"Sirius…" began Lupin, "you know that Dumbledore and the rest of the Order won't let us join yet. We have to finish seventh year. He's told us time and time again."
"Just because we aren't officially in doesn't mean we can't do our part. Some of our best friends are Muggle-borns and half-bloods. You know what Mulciber tried to do to Mary MacDonald back in fifth year. Even you, Remus! You're a half-blood! Who's to say You-Know-Who wouldn't pick you off next?"
Lupin's laugh sounded eerily like a bark. "I'm afraid he'd want to do other things with me, Sirius," he explained. "Werewolves are in high demand among the Death Eaters, I'm told. I'm a weapon in his eyes."
"Even so…" began James, wearily putting his glasses back on and resting his elbows on his knees, looking up at Lupin. "This is our last year at Hogwarts. We need to learn everything we can in Defense lessons, protect the people we have the power to, and get ready to fight. The war is here, Remus. I intend to fight Voldemort or die trying."
Wormtail yelped once again at the mention of Lord Voldemort's name. All three boys shot him a look and he hastily shoved his knuckles into his mouth to keep silent.
"You're right, Prongs, as always," conceded Remus slightly sarcastically, causing a small smirk to creep onto James' concerned face. "I'm in. Let's fight the bastards." James clapped him on the shoulder and turned back to face all three.
"First things first. Who has seen Lily Evans?"
The train sped through the heather covered countryside as the afternoon melted away. Fog blanketed the hills and clung to the train's windows. Condensation ran down the inside of the window and James trailed his finger through it absentmindedly, drawing the letters L and J. Sirius slapped his knee, jerking him out of the trance he was it, and he quickly wiped the window clear of incriminating evidence and rejoined the conversation. The four Marauders sat huddled in their compartment, pausing their conversation only long enough to buy pumpkin pasties and chocolate frogs from the witch who pushed the food trolley. They compiled all of the information they had collectively gathered over the summer about the status of the Hogwarts students and families who were in danger.
"Lily is fine," Remus said, jotting down notes on a piece of parchment, "she sent an owl to me over the summer to let me know that she was safe and that Dumbledore had placed a Fidelius charm on her aunt and uncle's house where she's been staying. She is the secret keeper, so no Death Eater will be able to find them."
"Nor can any creepy bloke who wants to take their niece on a date…" quipped Sirius, winking at James.
"Bugger off, Padfoot. Okay, so Lily is accounted for. Mary?" James glanced around at his friends, hoping someone could speak to the status of one of Lily Evans' best friends, Mary MacDonald.
"I saw her on the platform," said Peter, "she looked a bit off. Downtrodden…"
"Well I'd expect that," muttered Sirius darkly, "seeing as her parents were attacked trying to take Mary to Diagon Alley to get her school robes."
The other boys inhaled sharply and waited for Sirius to continue.
"They made it out okay, from what I've heard. Shaken up and with a few injuries, but the St. Mungo's healers put them right and erased the memories of it. Mary will always remember, though. She'll remember that she's the one who caused it just because she was born with magic."
James shook his head angrily. Remus covered his face with his hands. Peter wiped a tear from his pudgy cheek.
"Right. So we need to make sure Mary and Lily are safe this year, along with other muggle born Gryffindors. They're well known muggle borns who possess a noticeable aptitude for magic, which will make the fledgling Death Eaters even angrier. Speaking of those prats, which of the bloody Slytherins do we need to be on the lookout for?" James looked pointedly at Sirius.
"Blimey, mate, I've been living with you all summer! I'm not a bloody Slytherin!" barked Sirius at the expression on James' face. "Right. Okay, I do know a few things. I heard Regulus talking to my parents when I snuck back in this summer to nick my stuff. We've always known Snape was a slimy, creepy git, so he's one of them now. Mulciber, obviously. He's made that quite clear. Avery, Knott, Rosier, and my brother are also likely candidates. They all boast about their pureblood status and think what Voldemort is doing is for 'the greater good'. They're the ones we need to be on the watch for. The last thing we need is them letting more Death Eaters into Hogwarts or leaking information about Dumbledore to their master."
Remus nodded thoughtfully. James tapped his wand against his knee absentmindedly, causing red sparks to shower out of the end and straight into Peter's lap. With a yelp of realization, he put the small fire in Wormtail's crotch out and laughed, coming to his senses.
"Aguamenti! Sorry, mate, accident. No, really, I swear," laughed James, amused by the look of betrayal on Wormtail's face as he fanned the smoke away from himself. "Anyways, we probably ought to change into our robes soon. I expect we'll be arriving in Hogsmeade soon."
The other three nodded in agreement and stood up to sort through their trunks to find robes, ties, and their cloaks. Peter discarded his wet, singed jeans to the sniggers of the other three. They pulled their robes on over their heads in silence and all sat back down, cloaks in hand, to prepare to enter the castle.
"This is really it, boys," grinned Sirius, "our last year. We may be stepping up to join the resistance and fight the Hogwarts Death Eaters this year, but we still have some time for mischief. I've got a few ideas up my sleeve, and with our newly perfected map, we will execute them flawlessly. Moony, you've got the map, right?"
Remus nodded, patting his breast pocket under his robes. The Marauder's Map was safely stowed upon the most responsible of the four, putting the other three at ease. They had spent countless hours charming that old piece of parchment into the bit of genius it was now, and they could not afford for it to fall into the wrong hands.
"Speaking of the map, Padfoot…" began Remus, "I think this will be our greatest weapon in trying to keep order and protect our friends. We can take shifts with it, especially at night, to watch out for the people who are being targeted by the Death Eaters. It would give me some more peace of mind. Lily is one of my best friends, and I would blame myself if something
happened to her."
"Brilliant idea, Moony!" yelled James, his face lighting up. "I'll take the first shift tonight after the feast."
"Of course you will, mate, but you do know the map will only show you where Lily is, right?" Padfoot smirked as he looked at James. "You'll be able to tell she's IN her dorm room, but you can't actually see her undressing…"
Remus and Peter howled with laughter as James threw a chocolate frog at him. They felt the train coming to a stop and all stood up, fastening their cloaks and locking their trunks.
"Here we go, mates. We're home." The boys followed James out into the corridor and into their seventh year.