Fourth and Fifth Year

"Here it is" said James as he threw dusty old book at the table "Now we just need to do it, Can't be that hard, can it?"

He and his friends, the Marauders, were sitting in his father's library. They decided not to take James' parents offer and go to their vacation home in Greece for a month with them. It's not like they would be bored in Potter Mansion. It had two pools, one outside one inside, biggest game room anyone ever saw and bunch of elves to help them around. Actually true reason they decided to stay was that after learning Remus is a werewolf in second year they wanted to help him. They just didn't know how. And it hit them at the end of third year. The only way they could do it is becoming animagi, since werewolf is only dangerous to humans.

"Nah, I bet we will do it by end of next term" replayed Sirius.

"I don't think it will be that easy guys, it takes full grown wizards years to become one" said Frank

"Yeah but we are Marauders, smartest, sexiest beasts that ever walked this Earth" Sirius grinned

"OK guys, we will bring book to Hogwarts with us, doubt my father will see it missing. It's not like we can do anything now since we are underage" added James.

"Guys you don't have to do this, I appreciate it, really I do but it's illegal, and you could get hurt. Just being friends with me after finding out is more than I could ask for" started Remus again for the fiftieth time.

"Ahh, zip it wolf boy, we are doing it" grinned Sirius and slapped his shoulder.

"We discussed this already Moony. We know the risks, and we are doing this because we want to, now stop pinning about this. If you really want to help us than make sure we don't screw up somehow" continued James.

"Fine" muttered Remus and three other boys smiled.

"OK now, I know your father have some old firewhisky, I recon we could find it and treat us for job well done" announced Sirius

"What job, we just wound a book" questioned Frank

"Exactly, we found a book, that's like half of the job" grinned back Sirius.

Later that night they were sitting outside talking and drinking firewhisky when Sirius groaned. "Damn I wish that some girls are here."

"You mean like that blonde fifth year that you snogged before year ended?" snickered James, Sirius gave him lopsided smile "Yeah, she was feisty"

"I still can't believe you were first to loose virginity Sirius. I mean, look at me I'm dashing" said Frank with amusement in his voice.

"Yeah, you are also pinning after Prewett."

"What no, I am not pinning after her" stammered Frank.

"Yeah right, we do have eyes you know?" asked Remus

"You are one to talk. Oh Macdonald I will show you true wolf" replayed Frank grinning.

"Oh Mary I will ravish you. You will see that I am true animal in bed" continued Sirius with a wink.

"I never said that" said Remus quickly in defense.

"Nope but you are thinking it."

Remus blushed "It is really hypocritical from you Sirius seeing how you look at McKinnon."

"What, she is hot babe, I can't deny that."

"Yeah right, that is why you look at her like lovesick puppy."

"Hey I do not look like lovesick puppy" yelled Sirius as rest of Marauders roared laughing "That's James' job"

"What does that supposed to mean?" asked confused James.

"Oh come on, you spend half your time looking at Evans"

"I do not, we are completely different"

"And you like her" pitched in Remus

"No I don't, we fight all the time and…" stammered James

"Mate, its fine, she is good looking bird. You don't need to lie to us. We are your brothers" added Frank.

James blushed "Fine, I just can't stop thinking about her eyes. They are like emeralds that see right to my soul."

"Ohh, our Jamie is in love." Said Frank ruffling his hair.

"Zip it."

And just like that summer holidays were over and fourth year Gryffindors were on train back to Hogwarts. Marauders walked to train compartment where Gryffindor girls minus Lily were already sitting. As they entered Sirius flashed them smile "Hello my ladies, how were holidays?"

"Hi guys" Alice answered and flashed Frank shy smile. She liked him a lot but he was Marauder and he could never like someone like her. "Holidays were fine, yours?"

"Great, it is nice to be around some other girls than those at Hogwarts." Sirius replayed "Frank over here really had great holidays, what was her name again?" he added winking in his direction.

"Oh" Her face fell a little "Well that's nice"

Marlene gave her compassionate look and said "Black you are disgusting"

"Nope I am awesome" he smiled ignoring the look Frank gave him

Compartment fell in silence. Frank kept glancing at Alice who kept her gaze at her shoes. Remus and Mary exchanged few shy smiles. Sirius grinned and winked at Marlene who rolled eyes at him. James just wandered where the hell is Lily. After few minutes of silence he couldn't take it anymore and asked with voice, he hoped was casual "Where is Evans?"

"She is with Snape" Mary answered.

"What does she see in him?" he asked, feeling rage fuming in his chest.

"He is her first friend, and she is loyal."

"But he's a snake, they are not loyal" he argued.

"But she is Gryffindor and we are" pitched in Alice.

"Crap, you are right. Still I don't like it" he mumbled.

"We don't like it either but there is nothing any of us can do. It's her life. She has to make a choice" sighed Mary.

Door slid open and Lily stepped in. Her eyes scanned room and stopped at James. "What are you doing here Potter?"

"Sitting with friends, going to school. It's weird that you don't know where are we going seeing that you are here as well"

"O ha-ha, very funny. Go away."

"You can't throw me out."

"Just watch me" she replayed dangerously twisting wand in her hand.

"Go out with me and I will leave you be" he surprised himself and rest of Gryffindors asking her out. Than he grinned.

"What did you ask me?" she asked in dangerously low voice.

"Go out with me Evans, once you try me you will never want to leave my side."

"Get out before I curse your balls off permanently" she screamed.

"You wouldn't do that, you would love them."

"GET OUT!"

"Fine, let's go guys. See you later Lily-flower" he winked at her.

"AND DON'T CALL ME LILLY-FLOWER" she slammed door after they left "What a bloody git"

"So I take it he's taken a step more to annoy you" said Marlene.

"God I hate him" Lily fumed. How dare he ask her out? She would never go out with someone like him. Walking around school like he owns it, ruffling hair like he just stepped of the broom, hexing people just because he can. –Well you seemed to notice a lot about him- said voice in her head *Shut up you, I can't stand him. Besides it is hard not to notice him with that giant head of his* she argued with herself –Yeah and those strong arms and…- voice continued *SHUT UP! Great I lost it, I'm talking to myself.*

Few months passed and nothing changed. Except screaming matches between James and Lily seem to be longer, more fierceful and more frequent. James kept asking Lily out and she kept saying no with snide remarks insulting him manhood, intelligence and even existence. And he liked her even more for that. Every Marauder gained fan club and you could see them surrounded by every girl under fifth year and even few six and seven years except for Lily and her friends.

Mid-February found forth year Gryffindor Sirius Black banging on door to girl dormitories. Door opened and Marline poked her head out.

"What do you want Balck, and how did you get here?"

"We are playing truth or dare and decided that girls should join us. And that would be trade secret" Sirius winked

"What if we don't want to play truth or dare?"

"I will than stand here and bang my fist at the door whole night"

"Who is it Marls" asked Lilly from inside of the room

"Black, he wants us to play truth or dare with him and rest of idiots"

Back in the room Mary looked up to Alice and before Lilly could answer said in union " Tell the we are coming in a minute."

Lilly glared at them and huffed when she saw pleading looks they gave her "Fine, we are in"

"Great, see you girls in a bit" Sirius gave Marline a smile and stepped on staier witch turned into a slide. He yelled in joy when sliding down.

Couple on minutes later in Common Room eight forth year Gryffindors were sitting in circle while Frank was describing the rules of the game. "We will all sign a peace of paper that will be jinxed that caused boils to erupt on your face if you lye or decide to back out on a dare."

"Are you insane Frank?" Asked Lilly and received seven identical looks of bemusement "What?"

"Lilly darling, this is how wizards play truth or dare, its nothing serious, jinx will only last for about twenty-four hours" Marline told her.

"Oh, well that's fine I guess" said Lilly in small voice feeling stupid as usually when she didn't understand some of thing that wizards do.

They signed piece of paper and jinx took its hold with bright flash and then started the game. Half an hour in a game thigs were starting to get interested.

"OK Frank" said Alice "Is there anyone in this room that you would like to snog?"

His hart skipped a beat, this was his chance "Yes, there is someone that I deeply care here, but she doesn't know yet" Marlene gave him big smile, she could feel that something will move forward tonight with Frank and Alice. Then she nodded to encourage him. Seeing that he shoot a smile back to her.

"OK, you go" Alice replayed. She saw exchange between Marlene and Frank and lowered her gaze to floor. *Of Corse he would like her. She was beautiful. I am not* she thought glumly to herself missing eyes full of hope on her.

"Padfoot, truth or dare?" asked Frank after few moments of thinking *She doesn't like you idiot*

"Easy, truth"

"What is real number of girls you slept with?"

"Eight" he grinned seeing everyone shocked faces "What? I've been doing it almost a year now"

"You are a pig!" exclaimed Marlene.

"I thought you were exaggerating" James added. Sirius just winked.

"Lily, truth or dare?" he asked.

"Dare" she replayed after minute of careful thinking. She was not going to tell secrets like this to everyone.

"OK, kiss Prongs" orders Sirius with wide smile.

She did not thought of that "Fuck, do I have to?"

"Dare is already said. You can choose to ignore it but you will walk with a lot more makeup for next twenty-four hours"

"Your dreams will finally come true" winked James.

"Shut up you idiot, let's be done with it" snapped Lilly.

She kneeled in front of him seeing he was sitting on the floor. She took a deep breath and slowly started moving towards his lips. *His good looking lips. Wait can lips be good looking?* Than their lips meet for the first time. Sparks of electricity shoot trough both of their bodies. He moved his hand on her back and pressed her to himself. She groaned to his mouth as he moved his tongue over her lips asking for entrance. She opened her mouth and their tongues started their own battle. He bit down her bottom lip and she pressed herself to him even harder.

The rest of Gryffindors looked at them dumbfounded. They were practically glowing in eacother arms.

"You know for someone who claims to hate Prongs, you are doing a hell of a snog"

*Damn you Sirius* thought James when she suddenly stopped and jerked away from him

"What do you mean Black, you dared me" asked seemingly angry and slightly panting Lily.

"I asked you to kiss him, not bloody snog him like you did"

"Whatever I am done with this game" than she sprinted to Girl's dormitorys.

"You OK Prongs?"

James was sitting with mouth half open totally zoned out. *The kiss was amazing, how the hell am I going to kiss anyone else when I felt this. Shit she must hate me even more now. Stupid, stupid, stupid of all the girls to fall for you chose one that hates you*

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go to bed" he muttered and started to walk upstairs while the rest of Gryffindors looked after him.

"I think she broke him" sniggered Sirius.

It was her fifth year. And Lilly just finished her last O.W.L. so she went outside to spend some time with her fiends for some of much needed rest. Then she saw James shouting "Expelliarmus!" at Severus. She became furious and marched up to him and Sirius. They immobilized Severus and began torturing him with Scourgify spell. She yelled at them "Leave him ALONE!"

James and Sirius looked round. James's free hand immediately jumped to his hair. He suddenly sounded more mature "All right, Evans?"

"Leave him alone," Lily repeated. She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. "What's he done to you?"

"'Well," said James, appearing to deliberate the point, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean..."Many of the surrounding students laughed.

"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."

"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."

"'I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," said Lily.

"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape. "OI!"

But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, spattering his robes with blood. James whirled about: a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants.

Many people in the small crowd cheered; Marauders roared with laughter.

Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, "Let him down!"

"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upwards; Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, "Petrificus Totalus!" and Snape keeled over again, rigid as a board.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily.

"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James earnestly.

"Take the curse off him, then!"

James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the counter-curse. "There you go," he said, as Snape struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus"

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"

Lily blinked. "Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."

"Apologize to Evans!" James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him.

"I don't want you to make him apologize," Lily shouted, rounding on James. "You're as bad as he is."

What?" yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a - you-know-what!"

"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can - I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."

She turned on her heel and hurried away.

"Evans!" James shouted after her. "Hey, EVANS!" But she didn't look back.

"What is it with her?" said James, trying and failing to look as though this was a throwaway question of no real importance to him.

"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate," said Sirius.

"Right," said James, who looked furious now, "right –"

There was another flash of light, and Snape was once again hanging upside-down in the air.

"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?"