The sun was shining brightly as James Potter strolled into Kings Cross, carrying his owl and his nimbus broomstick, struggling to heave his trunk across the stone floor. His mother and father were almost running to catch up with him as he smoothly disappeared between platforms nine and ten. As he rounded the corner, the gentle breeze blowing his untidy black hair, he was nearly knocked backwards as a pair of arms wrapped tightly around him.

"Prongs! Thank merlin you're here!" Sirius exclaimed as James returned the hug. James and Sirius, they were really brothers. No time or space could ever separate them.

"I've missed you brother! How're you doing? They been feeding you alright?" James asked concerned, noticing Sirius' distinct cheek bones which protruded more than usual.

"I'm fine James. I'm relieved to be back I can tell you that. I don't think I could have lasted another day!" Sirius replied turning to greet James' parents.

"Andrew, Katherine, always a pleasure," Sirius said smugly as Mrs Potter hugged him tightly.

"Oh dear boy! You are looking extremely skinny! I think you need to eat one or two treacle tarts," Katherine Potter said examining his facial features, looking very worried. She turned his face from left to right. James and his father were sniggering behind.

"I doubt he'll be getting any treacle tart. I'm sure James will eat the whole supply within the week," Andrew Potter laughed, receiving a playful nudge off of James. It was at that moment when James' younger sister, Ella Potter, rounded the corner looking unnaturally cheerful.

"Sirius!" Ella shouted giving him a quick hug. He, like James, was an older brother to her. The two of them were very close. "Gosh, you look rather thin-

"Okay, okay we get it!" Sirius said pointedly. "Enough about my amazing figure, how are you, Andy? One is looking a little run down, don't we think," Sirius smirked. Andrew Potter was a candidate in the upcoming Wizarding election. There was huge pressure on him to become the next Minister for Magic.

"Late nights my friend. Absolute chaos at the Ministry. Hopefully it'll all be worth it come November," Andrew mused. Ella gave her parents a quick goodbye hug before departing to meet her friends. Andrew gestured towards James as they were joined by Remus and Peter.

"Yes?" James asked. He followed his father's gaze towards a group of boys who were filing around his sister.

"They're at that age. You know, with her being in her fourth year, they really start to take notice. Emotions all over the place. Believe me I know! Just, watch over her please. More importantly, you look after yourself-

"I know, Dad-

"This is your sixth year! Your NEWT year! I know you're captain of the quidditch team and I know you and the boys get up to, God knows what, I just want you to stay grounded and have fun at the same time," his father said placing a hand on his shoulder, his mother by his side.

"Dad, you can just say it. You're up for Minister, you can't have a lousy bloke like me for a son-

"Don't you ever say that James! You are the greatest son I could have ever hoped for! My worries lie with…our darkening society," Andrew said firmly, causing his mother to look at him alarmed, eyes widening noticeably. Before James could say anything his mother interjected.

"What he means to say is that…is that we want you to stay safe, James, stay safe," Katherine said. James looked from one to the other, utterly bewildered and confused.

"I, is there…what's wrong?" James asked growing ever so concerned. His mother looked from his confused face to his fathers. They shared a look. It was one of those telepathic couple moments. James stood impatiently as the Hogwarts Expressed roared to life behind him.

"James…there are certain things…there are dreadful things happening. Things we can't really talk about, as of yet. We just want you to know we have your best interests at heart…have a good term son!" His father finally cheered clapping a hand on his back. His mother kissed him on the cheek, causing James to blush when Sirius wolf whistled.

"Your hair never lays flat Jamesy-

"Mum!"

"It's just like your fathers! Now, I suggest you run along before these three boys get too impatient. Have a good term boys!" Katherine smiled.

The four boys began to walk towards the train when Andrew called back.

"By the way, you'll be seeing a lot more of me this term. I'll be in and out of the school regularly!" his father smiled.

"Whoop-de-doo," James muttered sarcastically, causing Sirius, Remus and Peter to laugh loudly.

. . . .

The Hogwarts Express rounded the corner and the students of Hogwarts were hit by a warm September sun. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter (the Marauders as they called themselves) eventually found an empty compartment which they settled their luggage in. James settled his owl, Snowy, in the corner as Peter collapsed onto the bench.

"It feels good to be back," he sighed lifting his legs onto the seat.

"You bet! How was France, Pete?" James asked sitting across from him and watching the buildings pass by in a blur.

"S'alright. The weather was pretty lousy but the food was great," Peter replied.

"Food," Sirius said licking his lips, allowing his eyes to flicker shut. James and Remus exchanged glances.

"When was the last time you ate?" James asked. Sirius opened his eyes.

"Yesterday…gosh quit with the staring guys I'm fine," he said looking at his feet.

"How were the dragons"? Remus asked, smiling when Sirius smirked.

"Even more harsh than usual. I have been eating, obviously not a lot. I really hate bread," Sirius added.

"Just picture roast chicken and chocolate cake and lemon drizzle and all your sorrows will go away," Remus said causing Sirius to laugh.

"I'll picture my mother falling off a broom. Yeah, that's funny," Sirius chuckled. His face however suddenly turned straight.

"But seriously-

"Ooooh Sirius is being serious," James chimed.

"Sirius is being serious when he says seriously," Remus smirked.

"Don't even think about it Peter," Sirius said as Peter was about to add on to their little interruption.

"As I was saying, I've never actually been worried about my brother before. He's always hung around with the wrong crowd, I know, but things are getting dark. He's a stupid git, a complete idiot, in fact. He doesn't realise what he's getting himself into," Sirius said.

"He hangs around with Malfoy. Malfoy is a prat. Always has been, always will be. Yeah, he likes dark stuff. Yeah, he does seem to be forming some slimy little low-life group. But, he doesn't have the balls, Sirius, I'm sure Regulus is fine," James said reassuringly. Sirius nodded and was about to reply when their compartment door slid open slowly, revealing none other than Malfoy, Nott and Avery along with some other Slytherin cronies.

"It looks like this compartment is full. Full of idiocy," Lucius Malfoy drawled.

"Malfoy? Is that really you? I couldn't see your beautiful face from all of your shiny long locks," James said causing Sirius to laugh hysterically. Remus quickly grabbed a book from his bag and began to read it, successfully managing to blend in with the interior.

"It seems that you are still a big-headed moron Potter," Malfoy snapped.

"Moron? That's rich coming from the boy who mistook a tree for a dementor last year," James retorted. Sirius laughed loudly. Peter made a weird squeaking noise. Remus' head was now only inches from his book, trying his upmost best to stay out of trouble.

"Very funny. I wouldn't dare say another word or Pettigrew here will pass out with Potter overload," Malfoy snarled, watching Peter admiring James from the end of his seat. Avery and Nott laughed coldly.

"Don't say a word against my friends Malfoy, especially when you have a slimy haired creep as yours," James said defiantly, eyeing Lucius like he was vermin.

"Yeah, Malfoy. What was his name again? Snivellus? At least we're normal and our best friend isn't a book," Sirius said joining James' side. Lucius' eyes drifted to Remus instantly. Remus stared fixatedly at his book, though his eyes did not move left to right.

"Well it seems our friends have something in common," Malfoy said causing the Slytherins to snigger.

"Shut your mouth"! James snapped raising his wand. The Slytherins backed away slightly, eyeing James' wand cautiously.

"Ooooh, tut tut tut. Always jumping into things Potter. What are you going to do? Hex me? I'm sure your filthy mudblood lover will admire you greatly for that"! Malfoy mocked.

James lunged forward aggressively; however Sirius grabbed him from behind, trying to restrain him. Peter looked startled. For the first time Remus looked up from his book.

"Get...off of…me," James shouted trying to struggle out of Sirius' grip. The Slytherins laughed and disappeared, leaving James struggling from Sirius' strong hold. Sirius instantly released him.

"What was that for?" James said looking offended. "How can you deny me a chance to hex Malfoy? Did you hear what he said about Evans-

"James, I hate the lot of them too, but we were outnumbered by about ten to one-

"Who gives a damn about the rest, Malfoy's a slimy no good-

"Trust me you don't want to do something you'll regret-

"Regret? The only thing I regret is not punching him when I had the-

"That's enough!" Remus said raising his voice angrily, causing Sirius and James to step back, both looking slightly affronted. "E-nough."

The three of them stared at each for a long moment before James spoke up.

"C'mon Moony. Surely you agree that-

"I agree fully with Sirius. You were acting foolishly. Think-about-your dad," Remus said raising a brow. "Now, I'm off to the prefect meeting. I'll see you guys later," he added sliding the door open and walking down the train and out of sight. James sighed and sat down.

"I hate Malfoy! I hate his guts! Sometimes my hate for him matches my hate for snivellus," James snapped to no one in particular, straightening his glasses as he said it.

"Don't we all. Just, stay calm alright. We'll pay the bunch of them a visit after the feast tonight," Sirius said much to Peter's delight. James lightened up considerably after this. They watched as the buildings swiftly turned to fields and trees. They talked for hours about their summers and their upcoming full moon adventures; they started planning some new pranks also. It was when fellow Gryffindor sixth years walked by their door that the conversation changed dramatically. Sirius raised a brow and stepped out into the hallway.

"Evening Parker, Green, fellow Gryffindors," Sirius smiled leaning against the door frame. "What a welcome surprise," he added eyeing the girls.

"What an unsurprised welcome," Hayley Parker replied. James came out to join them, looking around desperately, for her.

"She's in the prefect meeting Potter," Hayley said, noticing his eyes examining the group of girls, Lily's friends.

"Good summer?" Sirius chirped up, staring intently at Hayley, Lily's closest friend. She was very pretty. She had long shiny brown hair. Her eyes were blue, comparable to crystals.

"Not bad," Hayley replied, turning away from his piercing grey eyes as her cheeks blushed rather obviously. It seemed everyone but Sirius noticed this.

"Love is in the air"! James sang, causing a huge outburst of laughter and giggles. Now Sirius was the one to turn bright red, and Sirius never got embarrassed.

"Shut it prongs, or should I say Jamesy-

"Ugh!"

"-I know you love it when your mummy calls you that," Sirius barked. James wrestled Sirius to the floor playfully. The girls around were shaking their heads.

"Boys! No, I wouldn't refer to you two as that. You are a race of your own"! Iona said laughing.

"That, you are correct, Green," Malfoy sneered. The two boys instantly got to their feet, looking hugely irritated.

"Back for dessert, Malfoy?" James said annoyed.

"It's a free train Potter. Not everything in this world is yours, you arrogant idiot," said Nott from Malfoy's side, bearing his fists.

"You know at Diagon Alley? They're selling lives. You should go buy one," Sirius said causing James to double over with laughter.

"I'd buy some clean air if I were you. What with all the bad blood floating around," Malfoy said staring at Evanna, who was a muggle born. Before Sirius or James could retort, Iona rushed forward.

"You're foal! The lot of you! Black and Potter are ten times the men you all are put together and tripled!" Iona shouted. Many heads were now peering out of their compartments to get a better view of the commotion. James and Sirius shared a look. She had actually defended them. These girls, they never paid them the slightest bit of interest. They were the prettiest and smartest girls in the school.

James suddenly felt a rush of admiration towards her. He wanted to rip Malfoy's smug head off as the image of Lily rushed to the front of his mind. He had the odd feeling that Snape, who had just appeared at the back of the Slytherins smirking a little, knew exactly what he had thought.

"Well it's true! I feel slightly intoxicated. Oh, look, here comes another mudblood. Hey Evans, can you move back please, the smell is killing-

BOOM!

There was a flash of bright light that was followed by screams echoing throughout the train. The brightness was suddenly filled with black, heavy smoke. The lights on the train flickered out. People were shouting, many were coughing. The majority looked confused. Malfoy lay on the floor, looking slightly dazed. The Slytherins looked from him to James, utterly flabbergasted. A little wary. James lowered his wand from Malfoy's slump figure, shocked to say the least at what he had done.

"Prongs, what-have-you-done," Remus said stepping forward. A gigantic hole formed out of the train floor. Heavy black smoke was floating out of it.

"He had it coming! The filthy git!" James shouted placing his wand in his robe pocket when he saw none of the other Slytherins were going to retaliate. "Cowards," he muttered.

"We're slowing down!" Hayley gasped.

"How can you tell?" asked Sirius.

"Look!" She pointed towards the hole. The passing train tracks had suddenly come to a halt. The fields around them stopped moving.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Sirius exclaimed smiling broadly, receiving a slap across the arm from Hayley.

"We can't be there, surely!" Evanna said anxiously, looking down the train. "Oh crap."

The train driver hurtled towards them, sweat creasing his forehead. He looked like he was about to explode.

"Get out of the way! All of you!" He said barging through the Gryffindors. When his eyes met the gaping hole, he exploded.

"WHO DID THIS? WHO?" He said looking towards the stirring Malfoy. He turned towards Lily, who was nearest to him. She looked at James, for a fraction of a second. Every hair on his neck stood on end. In that fraction of a second, James saw many different emotions. She was annoyed, shocked, angry at Malfoy, but what James noticed was that she was…she looked thankful. Appreciative.

But surely she would say it was him straight away? I mean, Evans hated him. She had only at the end of last term, called him an arrogant toe rag. She had said he was as bad as Snape. Snape who had called her a mudblood. He would never say that to her. Ever. As he looked at Lily, his heart ached. Ached with the longing for her.

After a few moments Lily turned to the train driver. She looked like she was having an internal battle with herself.

"It was…I didn't see," she said. The man instantly asked one of the Slytherins, who of course, said it was James, but he didn't care. No one else seemed to notice anything. No one else noticed what she had said.

Lily Hating-On-Potter Evans, had actually lied for him. She had lied to protect him. As Sirius retaliated and Remus shouted it was Malfoy's fault, Lily looked at James. They stared at each other, not moving, not speaking. The world around them seemed to disappear. Nothing else seemed to matter.

For the first time in James Potter's life, he was speechless.