A/N: Rated M for Maturity. Some mature content covered. Lemons included in later chapters. No flames, if you don't like it or don't agree, don't read it.

Walking down the street of Hogsmeade, the Marauders stumbled as they walked. James led the way, Lily not far behind him, frustrated that he was drunken enough that his walk was a stumble. Following not far behind, walked Siruis with a very tipsy Samantha Clearwater on his arm, clinging tightly to him, Remus and his latest girlfriend, Zenobia. Following not long behind, Peter walked alongside the only girl willing to give him the time of day, Dorcas Andrews. The stumbling continued as they discussed where to go next.

"I think you should just go home," Lily says, frustrated as ever. "You are drunker than skunks and I think you need to just sleep it off."

"I think I agree with Lily on this one, you guys." Remus adds in, "It doesn't look good, a former prefect being seen under the influence of-" He stops with a hiccup, then laughs, "Well, everything."

"You just don't know how to have fun." Sirius answers, looking at Lily, "The party has only started."

"I DO know how to have fun!" Lily barks back, annoyed. "It's just not the childish irresponsible fun you children insist on having." As she said that, Peter stopped in his tracks. He no longer saw that the others were walking on, nor did he continue to hear the usual bickering between Sirius and Lily that seemed to occur every time they went out. He was busy staring at a sign, a brown wooden sign sticking out from the brick building.

"Hey," He said, still in a trance from the sign. "What do you say we all go in and have another drink?" At the sound of that, Samantha and Zenobia stopped giggling and Lily and Sirius stopped arguing. James even came to a halt, the thought of one more shot of firewhiskey sounding awfully appetizing. "Look," Peter continues, "Hogs Head, we can go in and have one more drink before we call it a night."

"I don't know-" Remus starts in as Lily huffs in frustration. "We probably should-"

"Excellent idea Wormtail!" Sirius says with a laugh, taking his arm from around Samantha and playfully wrapping it around James. "What do you say mate? One last drink as a single man?"

Lily sighed again, following behind the rest of them slowly into the dimly lit bar. It was a rougher area, sending a chill down Lily's spine as she felt the air in the room suddenly grow colder, muckier. Sitting close to James, she wraps her arm in his as Sirius walks up to the bar, ordering more butterbeers.

"Six please," He says to the barkeep, forgetting to order for Peter and Dorcas. "Hey Wormtail!" He hollers behind him, causing another table not far from them to turn around and glare. Recognizing the long-nosed boy from Hogwarts, the one with the greasy black hair that they had picked on and de-panted so many times, Sirius couldn't resist the urge to irate him one last time. "Hey Snivellus." He said with a laugh, "Fancy meeting you here."

James stood up, a smile on his own face as he saw who Sirius was referencing to. "James, don't." Lily said, her eyes begging him to sit back down with him. He had enough of her negative attitude all day. Lily claimed he got careless when he drank, and although very likely that did in fact get a bit rash whenever he drank, next weekend was their wedding and from then on out, as Sirius often-times put it, the old ball and chain would be locked around his ankle permanently.

"Enough Lily." He said sternly, not wanting to argue with her but having enough of not being able to do as he wished. "You have me for the rest of our lives, they only have me for this one night. Besides, Snape deserves it for what he called you."

Rolling her eyes, Lily watched as the boys walked over to the other table hoping they didn't cause a fight and get kicked out. "If it matters at all," Zenobia whispers, her black sleek hair falling into her pale white face. "Remus says that James really does love you."

"I know he does," Lily answers with a false smile, "I just wish he wouldn't be so reckless."

"Snivellus Snake." James says with a laugh, as he walks up to the table seeing a group of about eight people sitting around. Most of them were upper-classmen in school but only a few did he recognize, Lucius Malfoy and his long-term girlfriend Narcissa Black, Rodolphus LeStrange, and Geoffery Goyle. "How's life been treating you?"

"A lot better now that I'm not getting hung by my ankles weekly." Severus replies his voice monotone although he was embarrassed. He had just earned his Dark Mark, they were out celebrating the fact tonight. He was a man now and these pathetic imbeciles were trying to embarrass him.

"Is someone making fun of my puppy?" A woman a few years older than the rest of them asks with a laugh, standing up. Her black hair flew in multiple directions and her teeth were mostly rotten. She also had dark eyes that kept a constant look of shock…or insanity to them."He's a real dog now, aren't you Snape."

"That's enough Belletrix." Lucius, who James recognized from Hogwarts as being a Seventh Year Head Boy their first year answered, standing up himself as he turned to face James. Narcissa put her hand on his, her black and white hair pulled back into a tight ponytail.

"Lucius. Don't." She whispers softly, almost fearful herself of him. "Not here."

Brushing her off Lucius calls "If it isn't Potter." He smirks, his voice a cold drawl. "And look who else is here Ciss, your blood-traitor cousin Sirius."

"He's not our cousin." Bellatrix answers, snarling her nose at him. "He is nothing to us. He is just as bad as the mud bloods themselves."

Fury filled James as his blood started to boil. He was ready to hex her, to kill her even for making such a comment in front of Lily. Reaching for his wand, him and Lucius point their wands at each other's faces at the exact same moment, causing Remus and Snape to stand up as well, while a dark-haired man who looked just as crazed as Bellatrix herself stood up too, pointing his wand at Sirius who in return pointed back, while Geoffery Goyle and Peter both stayed sitting, shaking their heads at each other.

"Prongs," Remus said, putting his hand on James' shoulder as James shook with fury. "Come here for a minute."

"What do you want Moony?" James answered, not losing eye contact with Lucius.

"There is a better way to handle this." He said softly, "Besides, it would look bad if I got caught mid-bar fight having been a Head Boy only a year ago. And I can't just sit here and watch you guys duel it out without stepping in."

"And what's your idea?" James growls through gritted teeth. "Because they deserve to pay for what was said about Lily."

"A game of wizard's chess. Show him who has the brains, not the brawn Prongs."

"Fine by me," Lucius answers, more than content with showing the Potter boy that he had both. "And let's make this interesting."

"Interesting how?" James asks, wondering what was going through the Death Eater's mind.

Sirius keeps an eye on Severus as he grabs Lucius, whispering something in his ear. Knowing he had to talk to Lily one last time, to explain himself and that Lucius wouldn't fall for that being a valid reason, he comes up with a conniving idea, begging Lily already in his mind to forgive him. "I know it, nothing will get to Potter quite like me sleeping with Lily."

"She's a mud blood," Lucius whispers back, "You are above that now Snape."

"She's his fiancée," Snape answers, still begging Lily to forgive him as he tried coming up with a valid excuse. "How better to take a stab at him? And Maybe she will spill something we can use."

"I like the way you think Snape," He answers with a smirk, "Very good idea. Okay Potter, let's make this interesting. An agreement persay?"

"What kind of agreement?" James asks cautiously, not trusting the man in front of him.

"We win, Snape gets to take your mud blood home." He says with a laugh. "Show her what a real man is all about." Turning around, James looks at Lily who was furious with the conversation at hand, about ready to walk out herself and tell James exactly where he could put such a bet. He turned around, walking towards Lily and wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you," He whispers into her ear, kissing her cheek lightly.

"Mhmm." She answers, furious.

"Don't worry Lil'," He says softly, "I will win."

"You better James Potter! Or I swear-"

"I know." He answers, "I love you and deserve any hexing this gets me." He tells her before stepping back up to Lucius. "And if I win?"

"If you win," An Italian woman speaks up from sitting down. Her eyes melted Sirius instantly, being a dark shade of brown that sent a want down to his groin. Her black hair fell around her face perfectly, and the dark golden complexion of her skin had Sirius mesmerized. She was beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful and Sirius could only quiver at the thought of what he wanted her to do with her delicate lips. "If you win…Sirius is it?" She whispers onto his lips, getting a really soft nod out of him. "If you win, Sirius gets me?"

"DEAL!" Sirius answers a little bit too quickly, unable to keep his eyes off of her as she walked away, her black dress fitting too perfectly to her hour-glass shaped body.

"And Siri?" She calls out, turning around causing Sirius' view to quickly switch from her beautiful behind up to her face.

"Ye…Yes dear?" He asked stuttering slightly.

"Since we are going to be on a first name basis?" She says seductively licking her lips, "It's Arianna Zabini dear."

"Th…Thank you Arianna." Sirius says, stuttering again. "You better win." He growls into James' ear as he turns around.

"Thanks," James growls back, rolling his eyes. "No pressure at all."

"SIRIUS BLACK!" Samantha yells from the other table, "If you know what is good for you, you will get your ass over here right now!"

"Don't worry baby," Sirius whispers, walking over and wrapping his arms around the young blonde's waist. She had a very serious look to her, nearly being as beautiful as the woman he had just spoken too. "You can trust me baby, if I win I will only walk her home."

"They have a name for women like that." She answers coldly, "They are called a temptress."

"Tempting indeed," He says dreamingly, "but either way, you can trust me baby. I love you."

"I love you too Sirius and I do trust you." She said, forcing a smile.

"What about the rest of us?" Bellatrix asks in a cackled laugh as she licked her lips at James, causing him to shudder in fear.

Lucius smiled as he sat down at the chess table. "Fine Belle, we will make this very interesting then. Potter, if you win?"

He looked back at the other guys before smiling again. "Okay, if I win I get her," He says, pointing at a woman sitting next to Snape. The woman had dashing green eyes, wavy dark brown hair and an almost perfect olive complexion. She smiled up at him, exposing her perfectly aligned white teeth.

"Prissy?" Lucius asks, raising an eyebrow. He couldn't help but be more than willing to agree to that, Priscilla having a shrieking laugh and an annoying attitude to match. "She's engaged to Patrick Parkinson, but okay." He says with a smirk, "Have fun with that."

"Remus gets Narcissa," James continues, winking at Remus as he shook his head unable to believe that the others were making bets on their sex lives. "And ummm.."

"I guess that means you get me." Bellatrix laughs, skipping over to Peter. "I will have so much FUN with you, my precious little rat." She says, pulling his hair back lightly.

The other three Marauders smile at each other. "Lucky you," Sirius says with a grin.

"Yea," James continues, "Better you than me."

Lucius looked around at his group, nodding understandingly. "You want to play that game Potter?" He asks, now furious at the thought of any of the group of cowardly boys having a chance at his precious fiancée. "If I win, I get you darling." He says with a smile, pointing at Samantha Clearwater who sighs at the thought, causing Sirius to take a second glance back at her but say nothing.

"And what makes you think you have anything I want?" asks Samantha.

"Why my dear what do I have that you wouldn't want? Fame, riches, pleasures beyond imagination." Lucius says with a smirk and raised eyebrow. Samantha rolls her eyes but smiles at the thought.

"Goyle, you get Zenobia Meradin." He says, pointing at a tall lanky girl with pasty white skin, pitch black straight hair and blue eyes that Goyle could swear could see straight through him. "Rodolphus you get-"He stops, looking at the girl sitting next to Peter. She had bottle-glasses, braces on her teeth, and a grin that could kill a cat. She was, to say the least, the equivalent of Bellatrix in Lucius' opinion.

"You get Dorky Dorcas Andrews." Goyle says with a laugh, "Hope she rocks your world mate."

"Shut up Goyle," Rodolphus growls back angrily.

The bets were on as Lucius and James both sat down at the table, chessboard in front of them. James had promised the girls he would win, that they wouldn't have to sleep with the Slytherin men in front of them, not that any of them other than Lily were necessarily upset over it as Samantha kept looking over at Lucius with a sigh. "Hey Spellmaster." Lucius calls out, looking over at Snape. "Put a non-cheating spell here on the board. I don't want Potter here thinking he can take the easy way out." Nodding, Snape pointed his wand at the board, muttering a spell that caused the board to glow an eerie blue and then fade. With that, the game began.

Very little of interest happened in the first few minutes of the game with both players moving the pieces in their opening moves. James relying heavily on his knights while Lucius used his pawns to open in a defensive barricade. After their opening moves were completed they settled in for a heated battle back and forth as Lucius took first blood slaying one of James knights. Two moves later James decimated Lucius barricade of pawns putting him slightly ahead, with most of his pieces remaining on the board. Shortly thereafter, it became a game of give and take with neither really jumping ahead nor having the opportunity to crush the other. After about thirty minutes of neither getting ahead, James and Lucius both stood up, agreeing to take a break and rest their minds.

"It's looking good," James lies walking over to where the girls had been sitting at their original table. "I think I may have him in my grasps."

"You better," Lily growls at him, furious that they were still sitting in the dark, gloomy pub. "I'm tired of being here and really don't want to sleep with Severus. How could you make such a silly bet?"

"Don't worry," James promises, "Nothing will happen. It's all in fun." He says, patting her hair as he tried to comfort her.

"Don't touch me," Lily answers angrily as she pulls away from James' comforting hand.

"Nothing will happen Lil'." He answers, sitting down next to her as Sirius put another butterbeer in front of James. "Don't worry."

Meanwhile, over at the Slytherin table, Goyle brought Lucius some firewhiskey over ice which he gulped down quickly. "It looks good." He says, grinning at the guys. "Don't worry about it Snape, the red-headed mud blood is as good as yours already."

"Thanks." Snape answers, biting back the need to tell Lucius she was more than just a mud-blood.

"Lucius," The Italian beauty calls out across the table, leaning over and allowing Lucius to see down her dress. "Is there any way I can speak with you privately." Lucius looks over at Goyle and Rodolphus with a smirk before nodding his head.
"Anything you like," He says, standing up and walking over to a corner of the pub with the woman. "What can I do for you Zabini?"

"I do believe you can…help me?" She says, placing her words carefully.

"Yeah?" He asks with a smirk, "And how could I do that?"

"I want you to lose." She says blatantly, handing him a coin bag gently, allowing her nails to scrape across Lucius' hand seductively.

"You want me to take money for losing?" He asks raising his eyebrow. The woman was mad. A Malfoy never lost to anything, much less to a group of young Gryffindors. "Thanks but no thanks Zabini, I think I have the game under control." He answered, starting to walk away.

"WAIT!" Arianna called out. "Maybe there is something else I can help you with Lucius?"

"And what would that be?" Lucius asks, turning back around and walking up to the woman. "Don't you think you have been enough of a disgrace to me? Thinking I need your money? Thinking I need anyone's money? Do you realize WHO I am? The power I hold?"

"My apologies again," Arianna said softly, "Let me see what else I can provide for you that would manage to keep your dignity…" She said, thinking about it.

"What do you want me to lose for anyway?" Lucius asks, curiosity getting the best of him. "What need is Sirius to you?"

"Think it would be nice to sleep with the enemy is all," She answers seductively; "I get a rush out of it. Besides, he is rather cute." Lucius rolled his eyes at the thought, amazed that he was even having this conversation with her. "I know what I can provide for you Lucius." She continues. "You and I both have special…needs per say that can be accommodated by me sleeping with Sirius."

"I'm listening." Lucius says, paying closer attention to what the woman was saying.

"He has betrayed your fiancée's family. He has put the Black name to shame as a blood traitor. I think we could come to an agreement on this. Remember back in school?" She asked, him being a few years younger than her they had still attended school together at Hogwarts and Lucius remembered clearly. Arianna was the 'Black Widow' for a reason. Every man she had dated, even in Hogwarts, were rich men, attractive men, who had little knowledge of what they were getting themselves into whenever they asked her to go to Hogsmeade with them. Lucius had caught on quickly. They would buy her the world, one precious jewel at a time and when she was done with them, they magically disappeared. A death no one could link to her. "I think I can help you remove a lingering problem IF you can help me by losing."

Lucius contemplated the thought, seeing that it worked out in his favor either way. If he won, he got a chance with the beautiful young Samantha Clearwater. If he lost, well then Sirius was out of his hair. "You have a deal Zabini." He answered, shaking her hand. "Let's see what I can do."

Sitting back down, Lucius had it in his mind. He would continue to try to win, but if he lost he was still coming out ahead. He couldn't argue with it either way. As James sat back down at the table, Lucius made the first move. A small crowd had gathered to watch the onslaught and a not so few shady side bets were placed by some most unsavory characters. It didn't matter to James though. The only thing he was thinking about was winning. This was what he was good at. It didn't matter the game, only the competition. After a good forty five minutes of play with no clear leader both groups had gotten up to crowd around the board for a better view. Then with a stroke of ingenuity James led Lucius into a trap taking his queen and leaving him with only his knight and king. Lucius, noticing his oversight, cursed under his breath and berated himself for getting over zealous. Retreating to a defense position Lucius was able to recover from his mistake taking James queen and final rook leaving both with only two pieces. James having only his king and a bishop and Lucius only his king and his knight. The board began to glow a bright yellow and then both kings laid down their swords.

James looked up questioningly at Remus who had been paying close attention at the end and replied to his questioning look with a sigh, "It's a draw. The spell Snape used is not only an anti cheat spell but also governs the game. If there is no possible winner then the spell automatically finishes for you. So technically neither of you won….or lost."

"Guess that means you're going home with me," Sirius says with a smile, wrapping his arm around Arianna, who winked at Lucius who was busy watching Narcissa walk over, standing up behind Remus and putting her hands on his shoulders.

"THIS IS REDICULUS!" Lucius hollers, flying his arm across the table, flinging the board against a far wall as he stormed out of the bar. Samantha looked over at Sirius, already snogging the Italian beauty in his arms and followed out after Lucius, slamming the door behind her.

"Think she's mad?" Sirius asks, looking over at James.

"Not nearly as mad as Lily is going to be." James answers, not taking his eyes off the table where the board had just sat. "I think I'm in a bit of trouble mate."

"A bit?" Sirius answers as Arianna massaged his back.

"Come with me," She whispered seductively in his ear, causing the hairs on the back of Sirius' neck to stand on end.

"Sorry, but umm…" Sirius said nervously, looking over at James.

"It's okay, go for it." James says, brushing Sirius off with his hand. Sirius didn't take any second thoughts as he turned around, kissing Arianna passionately before leading her out of the pub, his hand on her lower back and a grin on his face.

"Come my little rat." Bellatrix said with a sadistic smile, grabbing Peter by the hair and pulling him out of the pub. "I am going to have FUN with you deary." Remus and James exchanged disgusted looks, watching the two leave the bar.

"Think he'll come out alive?" James asked, staring at the door.

"Not if he's lucky." Remus answers, shuddering at the thought as Priscilla stared at James.

"Come with me Jamesy." She said with a grin, sticking her hand out for him to take. James shuddered at the thought of such an annoying pet name, wondering what he had gotten all of the Marauders into.

"Hold on," He says, looking over at Lily who sat there silently. He could tell she was upset with the thought as he walked over, sitting next to her. "I'm sorry," He whispers softly.

"Yea," Lily answers, looking up at him. Her eyes glared through him. "You are."

"I mean it Lil'" He says, feeling her anger towards him grow stronger. "How was I supposed to know there would be a draw?"

"Oh I don't know," She answers coldly, a hint of sarcasm shining through it. "Maybe you should have thought of that when you PROMISED YOU WOULD WIN!" She scolds, causing his head to drop.

"I'm sorry!" He hollers back, "What more do you want me to say?"

Lily starts to shake as the fury filled her, wanting to hurt him just as bad as this hideous pug-faced hussy was hurting her by talking like that to her future husband. "Wish me luck." She growls at him.

"Luck?" James asks, confused.

"Yes," Lily answers, staring at the girl who was waiting impatiently to take James out of the room. "Luck. Because with luck, I will rock Severus' world."

James stood up, his chair flying backwards and hitting the concrete with a bang as he stormed out of the pub furious that she would ever even say such a thing about Snivellus. He stormed out of the pub just fast enough that he didn't see how bad the words hurt even her, causing a single tear to fall from her cheek onto the table as Priscilla followed out the door after James.

Goyle shrugged looking over at Zenobia, nodding his head towards the door, both of them walking out silently. He couldn't help but be nervous, having never been with a woman before and now here he was with a woman who could stare through him. He shivered as he looked back at Rodolphus who could only stare at his date.

"Can I just take you home?" He asks, looking at the girl whose braces shown through her smile. Softly she shook her head, letting Rodolphus know she wanted to play. "Fine." He grumbles, grabbing her wrist and leading her out, leaving only Remus, Narcissa, Severus, and Lily in the pub.

"I'm sorry Lily," Remus whispers as Narcissa stands above him, seeing how upset Lily was over it.
"I just don't understand," Lily answered, knowing she could be truthful now that it was only the four of them. "And it's nothing against you Severus-"

"I know," Severus answers, looking down.

"But I just don't see how he could be so childish about it. Betting on our sex lives like this, like it's nothing. Does that mean it's nothing with me?" She asks, frustrated.

"I don't know." Remus answers, not knowing how to answer her.

"Well, he seemed really willing to leave with Priscilla." She answers.

"I know." Remus answers, standing up to embrace her in a hug. "Come on," He whispers, "Let's go." Taking Narcissa by the hand, he leads the way as they walk out of the pub.

Severus looked at Lily and softly said, "I didn't know any of this was going to happen. All I wanted to do was get you alone so I could talk to you again. Explain some…..things…"

Lily looked up into the eyes of one of her oldest friends and quietly replied, "Then take me somewhere." With that he smiled one of his rare smiles that he only showed to her and reaching out to take her hand led her out of the pub.