Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zip. Please don't sue me.

Summary: A look into the first year of James Potter and his friends.

James Potter was a usual young boy. He was eleven years old, lived in a modest-sized house in the country, and attended grade school like any other normal boy. One thing would be thought quite odd about him, however. James Potter just happened to be a wizard. For James, this was not such a strange thing. He went to school with young witches and wizards, and was taught by members of the magical community. They weren't taught actual magic, just reading and writing, and math and science. It was in the summer just after the completion of grade school that James Potter received a very special letter.

"Mum! It came! It came!" James yelled, running into the house with the letter clutched in his small hands.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you, darling." Mrs. Potter hugged her son close. "Take it out and read it."

Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Term will being September the first. Board the train at King's Cross from Platform 9 ¾ by 11 AM on that date. A list of books and supplies has already been provided.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonnegal, Deputy Headmistress

"Can you believe it, Mum?" James grinned.

"I can. You are going to be a brilliant wizard, darling. Your father and I are both very proud." Mrs. Potter hugged him again. "Let me see the list. We'll head out to Diagon Ally first thing in the morning."

James had been to Diagon Ally many times, but he'd never before been so excited. Everywhere they went, first years and older students were getting supplies, catching up with old friends, and just having a good time in general.

It was not such a strange sight, to James, to see students eyeing brooms and cauldrons, and to see owls fluttering about with letters and parcels attached to their feet. That was just how the wizarding world worked. James' father, who worked for the Ministry of Magic in muggle relations, was a well-respected member of the magical community. Modestly wealthy and from a good line, the Potter family was nothing out of the ordinary for their kind. He had given James and his mother plenty of money to spend on supplies, and the secret fun spending money was jingling in James' pocket, begging to be used.

"James, did you speak to your father this morning?" Mrs. Potter asked as they walked through Flourish and Blots.

"Sure did, Mum." James smiled knowingly, remembering the conversation with his father.

"Now, officially, to your mother, I do not condone any mischief of any sort, and I did not give you spending money for any aides to magical mischief makers." Mr. Potter smiled as he handed James a pouch. "Don't spend it all at once, James, and do not, under any circumstances, tell your mother."

"You got it. Aides to magical mischief-makers? That implies a partner." James wiggled his eyebrows.

"Sorry son, my days of pranks are over, but I'm sure, somewhere out there, a great mischief maker is waiting to meet your acquaintance. Now, have fun today and don't get your mother into a fit. Stay out of any major trouble, and if I hear but one word of you heading down Knockturn alley, I will take your spending money and your broom away for the entire summer next year." Mr. Potter mock threatened, knowing that James knew better than to ever go into Knockturn alley alone. "Be safe."

"Bye Dad, Thanks." James grinned, hugging his father and running out.

Elsewhere in Diagon Alley was another highly usual wizarding boy named Sirius Black. Sirius was much like James in many ways. He enjoyed playing jokes, had natural born talent as a wizard, and loved playing Quidditch. Unlike James, who was thoroughly enjoying himself, Sirius was having a horrible time. A spunky, troublesome eleven-year-old with an overbearing mother who just didn't understand him, Sirius often found himself trapped in his mother's bad side.

The Blacks were one of the wealthiest, most influential families around. They could trace their bloodline back generations and were considered to be of the purest blood. They were also rumored to be ruthless, however, in dealing with those within their family that married out of the pureblood lines. The Blacks were pureblood and they would let no one forget it, least of all their own family members. As in the case of most Blacks, Sirius was expected to get into Slytherin house, the house that his family had been in for generations with few exceptions.

"I don't want to get robes yet, Mum, I don't know what house I'll be in." Sirius tried to walk away from the robe shop where Mrs. Potter was looking at some pricy Slytherin robes with delight.

"Nonsense." Said Mrs. Black. "Every upstanding Black has been in Slytherin. There's no reason you shouldn't be there as well."

"No, Mum." Sirius protested.

"Fine. We've gotten everything on your list, here's some money, stay away from dark corners, call if you need help, I'll be around shopping. Do not leave the street." Mrs. Black instructed, handing Sirius a few coins. "And avoid all of those pesky mudbloods that are flooding our world."

Sirius rolled his eyes and ran off towards the Quidditch shop.

"Mum, look at that broom." A boy was eyeballing the Nimbus 75, the best broom out to date. "Can I get one?"

"If you keep your studies up this year, maybe your father and I will get you a broom for your second year. You can't have one at school first year anyway. Now, I've got to get shopping. Stay on this street only. Don't you dare wonder anywhere else, understood?"

"Yes ma'am." The boy nodded.

As soon as the woman left, Sirius approached the other boy. James had rumpled dark hair and hazel eyes, with a lean but strong build.

"What's your name, first-year?" James asked, turning to look at Sirius.

"How'd you know I was a first-year, first-year?" Sirius retorted.

For a moment, the two boys studied each other. Sirius looked a little like James, only with darker eyes and lighter hair that appeared relatively neat. Then they both burst out laughing.

"James Potter, pleasure to meet you." James held out his hand.

"Sirius Black. The pleasure is mine." Sirius shook the outstretched hand.

"Your Mum ditch you too?"

"I'd rather her ditch me than drag me into all those boring stores." James shook his head. "Look, another firstie."

"Where?" Sirius asked.

"Right there. Looks kind of peaked to me." James pointed at a small, thin boy. "Real pale too. Maybe he's a vampire."

The boy opened his mouth to say something to his parents and the other two saw that his teeth were normal.

"Nope, not a vamp." Sirius sighed. "Too bad."

"Wanna go talk to him?" James suggested.

"Sure. If he isn't a vampire, he should be a great guy." Sirius nodded. "Come on."

The two boys followed the pale boy around until he noticed he had two shadows.

"Who are you two?" The pale boy asked, turning around. "And what are you doing?"

"Sirius Black and James Potter, Marauders of Mischief." Sirius grinned, holding out a hand. "We were following you."

"Remus Lupin, not a marauder, but plenty mischievous." Remus shook his hand. "First years?"

"Yep." James nodded. "Wanna go cause trouble somewhere?"

"Hang on a second." Remus grinned. "Mum, Dad, can I go explore? I just met some guys who know their way around, they're first years too, and I promise to stay at the main shops."

"Remus…" Mrs. Lupin sighed, looking at the pleading, puppy-dog look on her son's face. "Fine, meet back at the Inn in two hours, young man."

"Of course." Remus smiled and ran off with Sirius and James.

"So, anybody got older siblings that have been to Hogwarts?" James asked as they walked.

"Um…no." Remus shook his head.

"My cousins all go, but I only talk to one of them." Sirius shrugged. "And I haven't seen her since she went and got herself a boyfriend or fiancé or whatever it is she has now and got kicked out of the family."

"Your family is straight up weird." Remus grinned. "I've read all sorts of things about the Blacks. Including all the nasty things you do to your relatives that stray too far from the fold."

"Don't believe everything you read. The Witch Weekly called them an 'upstanding family with grand traditions and great generosity' and called my family 'steeped in tradition, though not particularly outstanding'." James said crossly.

"My Mum has that article framed. You know, they call me the black sheep sometimes, but I believe I'm the white sheep." Sirius sighed. "They're nutters, the whole lot of them. Mum tells me I'm well on my way to being burned off the family tapestry. That's what she does to people that associate with, what she calls, 'inferior' witches and wizards."

"My family is just a bunch of blood-traitors mixed in with a few muggle-borns." James said. "But according to my Mum, I'm the great, great, great, great, great, great, great…however many…grandson of Gryffindor's."

"And you say my family puts too much stock in blood." Sirius grinned.

"Well, I don't really care, just that the Potters have been in Gryffindor since forever." James sighed. "If I don't get into Gryffindor, something is wrong with me."

"I'd like to be in either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor." Remus smiled. "Just not Slytherin."

"You pureblood, mate?" James asked.

"No." Remus shook his head.

"Then you won't have to worry." Sirius patted Lupin's back. "I am expected to get into Slytherin, I want to be in Gryffindor."

"What does your mum say about that?" Remus asked.

"Oh, she gives me this speech," Sirius puffed his chest out and made his voice high and squeaky, "She goes, 'Sirius Black, you should set a good example for your little brother to follow. All of our family has been in Slytherin, and there's no reason you shouldn't be too. Slytherin is the most noble, ancient house of the best pedigree of wizard. The Blacks are a long line of the purest of blood. It won't do for you to be mixing with that lower class of mudbloods and muggle-lovers.' And then I say, 'Mum, I want to be in Gryffindor.'"

"Your Mum must love that." James stifled a laugh and spotted a shop. "Candy shop sounds like a good place to start our day."

The three boys ran straight into the candy shop and started ogling all the treats.

"Okay, so, what do we want to buy first?" Remus asked.

"Hmm…wanna freak out some muggle-borns?" James grinned.

"What do you mean?" Sirius asked.

"Muggle-borns are terrified the first time they see a chocolate frog." James shrugged. "Like this one."

"How can you tell she's muggle-born?" Remus asked.

"See the money she's got? It's paper. And she's eyeing cockroach clusters like she doesn't know what they are." James explained. "Plus, look at what her parents are wearing. How many of our parents wear stuff like that?"

"Point." Sirius grinned. "I happen to have a chocolate frog, let's go scare her."

"Scare her? That's not very nice. We should offer it to her." James said sweetly, taking the frog. "Let's go say hi to the nice girl."

Remus just shook his head and followed the other two.

"Would you like a chocolate?" James asked, holding out his hands, covering the frog.

"Good heavens!" Mrs. Potter exclaimed. "James Harold Potter, don't you dare even think about it." said sternly.

"Sorry Mum." James sighed, handing the girl the frog. "I'm sorry I tried to make the frog scare you, muggle-born."

"Muggle-born?" The girl asked. "My name, James Harold Potter, is Lily Evans. You should learn that not all muggle-borns are ignorant. Be careful, or I'll hex you into next week."

"How can you hex me?" James scoffed. "Do you even know what a hex is?"

"Lily!" Mrs. Evans exclaimed. "Stop this nonsense. Come along, dear."

"Just a minute, Mum." Lily smiled then turned to James. "You listen to me, Potter, don't you ever cross me at school, you arrogant little berk. Just because a person wasn't born into the wizarding world doesn't mean they are any less talented than you are. If I say I'm going to hex you, you should watch your back. I have quite an arsenal and I have no trouble taking it out on you."

With that, the fiery redhead turned and walked off.

"I'm in love." James sighed.

"You have problems, Jamsie." Sirius shook his head. "With any luck, she'll be in Hufflepuff. Do either of you play Quidditch?"

"Nope." Remus shook his head. "Scared of heights."

"Your loss, mate. It's only the greatest game ever." James grinned. "Are there any good joke shops around here?"

"Yeah-bloody hell!" Remus looked at his watch. "I've got to go. How about we sit together on the train?"

"Sure. We'll find you, mate!" Sirius waved as Remus ran off.

"Poor bloke. Controlling mothers, that's what's wrong in this world." James shook his head. "So, you got an owl?"

"Hello, Potter, ever heard of the last name 'Black'? Of course I've got an owl."

"My family is pretty old too…and not too bad off." James shrugged. "Does it really matter who your family is? I mean, that doesn't mean you'll be a spectacular wizard."

"True." Sirius nodded thoughtfully. "So, send me an owl, we'll plan something for the sorting."

"Like what?"

"Come on, don't you wanna be remembered at Hogwarts for something? Like being the greatest pranksters ever?" Sirius grinned. "Gotta go, Mum'll be furious if I'm late."

"See you on the train!" James called, and then walked off to find his own mother.

Little did the new friends realize that two ordinary boys and one young werewolf would leave an extraordinary mark on their world. As September 1st rapidly approached, all three kept in contact with each other, planning and scheming for their very first prank as the Marauders.