Disclaimer: I do not own any of the cannon HP characters that may have been mentioned in the books and/or movies. I do however own rights to Jacqueline Benoit and any other characters I may happen to come up with. So don't steal them.


Platform 9¾

Potter Manor was a peaceful place in comparison to the manors that the Black family owned. It was a much brighter, more care free atmosphere even in the worst of times. And given that the Marauders spent their summers harassing Mr. and Mrs. Potter – the worst of times came very often under the rage of Dorea Potter.

Playing pranks on their fellow students, mainly Slytherin House was a specialty of the Marauders. The group or pranksters consisted of four best friends; Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter. These four were better known as Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs in each other's company. The nicknames given for each of the animal they could turn into; three of the friends were unregistered Animagus, while the fourth was a werewolf.

At Hogwarts, the Marauders were something like royalty. They were the Kings of anything funny. James and Sirius were considered quite the heartthrobs throughout the school. Not that anyone even attempted to as James on a date. It was well known that he'd had eyes for the only girl who wouldn't give him the time of day since his Second Year. Lily Evans was a Muggleborn girl with bright red hair and startlingly green eyes. She also had the temper of a lit firecracker, especially when it came to James Potter.

This summer was different from all the others, and not just because the Marauders would be entering their Sixth Year at Hogwarts. Sirius had left his blood purity crazed home in the middle of July and had spent the rest of his summer holidays living at the Potter's Manor in Warwickshire. Number 12 Grimmauld Place had never been as inviting as the open fields of Potter Manor.

"Oi!" James yelled as he shook Sirius awake the morning of September 1st.

"Five more minutes Prongs," Sirius grumbled irritably.

"Mum's going to have a heart attack Padfoot. Get up! It's nearly nine."

"Doesn't take that much effort to get to King's Cross," Sirius replied tiredly.

In all honesty, Mr. and Mrs. Potter were Side-Long Apparating James and Sirius to London to catch the Hogwarts Express. So in reality, it really didn't take that long to get there. But Dorea Potter would never let James, much less Sirius, out of the house without a mountain of a breakfast in their stomachs. Sirius, irritated with James' chatter, finally sat up in bed. His dark hair was a mess and he glaring at his best friend like he was Severus Snape.

"You still love me Pads!" James grinned triumphantly before running out of the room before Sirius could find an object to throw at him.

Sirius grumbled a few profanities as he made his way to the en suite bathroom. After showering, using the toilet and making himself look presentable to wizarding society he trudged down the stairs to the dining room. Sirius had been right in his assumptions; Dorea Potter was certainly not letting his son or his best friend out of the house without a proper breakfast. Mountains of pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, toast, sausages, bacon, and porridge were laid out on the table. James was wasting no time into stuffing his stomach full to capacity.

"You're disgusting Prongs," Sirius said with a laugh.

"I've got to bulk up for Quidditch!" James replied in protest.

Sirius snorted, "Or in hopes that you might finally woo Evans."

James' face turned the slightest shade of pink at the mention of Lily Evans. Sirius chuckled to himself but didn't state that he noticed James' blushing face. He dug into his modest breakfast, sure that Dorea wouldn't be satisfied with any amount of food he ate. Soon enough, James' mother appeared and started fussing over the amount of food both boys were eating.

"Mum! Honestly, we've had enough. Our stomachs are going to explode if you shove anymore on to our plates!" James complained loudly.

"I worry about how much they feed you at school!" Dorea replied.

"The house elves make far more than enough food for everyone Mrs. P," Sirius laughed, "Besides, we know how to get to the kitchens if James here feels a little peckish."

"Quit fussing over them Dorea, they're nearly grown men," Charlus Potter said as he entered the dining room with a copy of The Daily Prophet in hand. He leaned over to kiss his wife on the cheek before taking his chair at the head of the table.

Charlus Potter and his son looked very much alike – from the pictures of Charlus and Dorea that hung around the Manor, they were the spitting image of each other. Even now that Charlus was balding with a head full of silvery-grey hair; he and James looked exactly alike.

"Have the two of you packed your trunks?" Dorea asked.


King's Cross Station was bustling with Muggles on Platforms Nine and Ten, which didn't bode well on Dorea Potter's quick temper. The Muggles stared in wonder as James pushed a trolley with his owl in a cage on top. Sirius yawned, eagerly awaiting a nap on the long journey to Hogsmeade Village.

"Be good!" Dorea said to James and Sirius, "I mean it! If I get anymore owls home about the two of you being reckless..."

"Aw relax Mrs. P, I'll make sure James is a good boy," Sirius said.

"It's not just James I'm worried about Sirius Orion," she said, hands on her hips.

"I'll be good too then, I suppose. See you over Christmas Mrs. Potter, you too Mr. Potter. Thanks for-"

"You're welcome in our home anytime Sirius. You're practically our son as well," Dorea said offhandedly.

The two boys bid farewell to James' parents and took off down the Platform to find a seat on the train.

"Remus!" James hollered as they came across the sandy-haired teenager on their journey to find an empty compartment.

Remus Lupin turned to find two of his best friends staring back at him. Remus smiled tiredly in their direction before muttering a greeting in their direction.

"Don't tell me you made Prefect again Remus," Sirius said a lopsided grin on his face. Remus rolled his eyes and pointed at the silver badge pinned to his school robes.

"How will the Marauders ever deal with the shame?" James said dramatically before clapping Remus on the back, "Good job Mate. Too bad Evans isn't as lenient as you."

"Speaking of Evans, she's stomping over here looking ready to murder," Sirius said warningly.

James turned in time to get the full blow of Lily Evans' school bag to the chest, followed by several more to the rest of his body. Without a word, Lily stalked off back toward her friends.

"What'd you do this time?" Remus asked curiously.

"I'm sure it was the Howler he sent her proclaiming his love to her," Sirius snickered, "You're lucky that's all you got James. I'm sure Evans was riveting mad when she got that owl."

Remus shook his head, "Just give it up James. She hasn't given you the time of day in six years...I don't think this'll be your year either."

"Ah but it's the thrill of the hunt Moony old pal!" James said dreamily, "Did you see how hot she was when she was flustered like that?"

Remus and Sirius groaned as James drifted off into a dream land – staring after the red haired girl as she boarded the train with her friends.