If you ever keep an eye on my profile, you'll know this one has been planned for a while! Really eager to make a go of Marauder Era stuff, and after all the goodies revealed in HBP, I can't help myself! So, please enjoy this new story, and review! The first chapter is short (normally over double this length!) just to see if people out there like it!

- CHAPTER ONE -

Homework Dilemma

The fire in the empty Gryffindor common room crackled loudly as the dancing flames licked at the top of the stone hollow. The orange light glowed across the hearthrug, sending flickering shadows at the sides of the large plush armchairs besides the fire. In one of the armchairs was sat a young male, with his legs up across one of the arms, and his back leaning on the other. In his lap was a sheet of parchment held against the cover of a hardback book. With an open inkpot sat on the table besides him, he quickly scribbled away using his long eagle feather quill.

Pausing his writing, the boy sighed, raising his free hand to run his fingers through thick unruly hair of black. He leant forward, dipping his quill into the inkpot again, before writing another sentence. He paused once more and leant back with an irritated groan, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses tiredly.

"James? What are you doing?" came a voice, and from behind the armchair walked another Gryffindor student. He walked with a casual gait, tall and undeniably handsome, with black hair that swung in mischievous grey eyes with an idle elegance. He strolled across the hearthrug and heavily dropped into the chair opposite James. He leant back in a relaxed manner, pulling one leg up onto the cushion beneath his form.

James answered very simply, "Potions," and looked back down at his parchment.

"Oh, I haven't done that," replied the boy unconcernedly, picking at the arm of the chair.

"Sirius! It's due tomorrow! Professor Slughorn will do his nut if you don't hand it in for the FIFTH week in a row."

"James, shut up. You're starting to sound like Remus."

"I hope that's not an insult," came a third voice, and Sirius looked round to see Remus Lupin stood on the staircase leading to the boys dormitory. He was wearing a dark navy dressing gown and an amused smile on his face. He completed the last few steps down the staircase and headed over to the fireside. He looked down curiously at the parchment in James' lap. He made a quiet sigh and straightened, shaking light brown hair out of his eyes. "That's Professor Slughorn's Confusing Concoction essay," he commented airily. He rested his hands behind his back and raised an eyebrow at James.

"Yeah?" pressed James curiously, leaning his head back to look up, pushing his glasses up his nose. "It's confusing, alright," he muttered quietly to himself as he looked back down at it.

"It's in first thing," continued Remus with a slight inclination of his head to the clock on the wall, "And it is 1.30 in the morning."

Sirius grinned and James groaned quietly, "I know, but I need to do this!"

"Fifth years and over are supposed to be in bed for 10.30," Remus informed, continuing to nod his head.

Sirius couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Remus, what are you going to do, dock house points? Just let him get on with it if he really wants to."

"I can't authorise you both staying up any longer," said Remus anxiously, his Prefect badge glinting as it sat pinned on the lapel of his dressing gown. He leant over James, pointing at the essay, "Look, you only have the conclusion to do, do that over breakfast. If you get stuck you can look at mine." Remus looked across to Sirius who was flicking piece of screwed up parchment into the fireplace, "Do you want any help on yours, Sirius?"

"Nope," said Sirius gently as he then pushed to his feet with a languid stretch, "I'm fine. I'll not be the only one to hand it in anyway, I bet Peter hasn't done it."

"Actually, he has," cut in Remus swiftly, "He asked me for some assistance on his conclusion earlier this week and has had it done for a number of days now."

Sirius scowled quietly as he turned from the armchair and stomped towards the staircase moodily, "Fine! I'll be the only one again! Better start winning us some more house points, prefect, because it looks like I'll be losing us some more tomorrow!"

James sighed quietly as he watched one of his best friends quickly leave. Pushing himself off the armchair, he rose to his feet besides Remus, gathering his books and stationary, "Thanks," he said quietly, "I don't think I could have stayed up any longer. I think I wrote 'memory misplacement' four times in a row before realising."

"Well don't go competing for length," said Remus quietly as he passed James to head upstairs, "Lily Evans has written two feet more than required on it."

"Yeah well," muttered James quietly as he followed Remus up the staircase, "Lily would wouldn't she? She's Slughorn's favourite."

Next chapter you'll see Lily, Slughorn, Peter and Snape, so please review to make that update speedier!