2

James, Sirius, Peter and Remus made their way down the hallway of the train. With much coaxing, Remus reluctantly told the others about a terrific jinx wherein the victim's underpants shrunk. They were quickly snapped out of their scheming when the door to a compartment flew open, and Lily Evans stood there with her hands on her hips.

'And where do you think you're going?' she hissed.

'To find Snivelly, of course,' Sirius said brightly. 'Want to come? We're going to shrink his underpants.'

Lily's eyes flashed. 'Can't you just leave well enough alone?' she said, glaring at James. 'I thought maybe you would have grown up just a little bit over the summer!'

'We're plenty grown up,' James retorted. 'We just haven't forgotten who's side old Snivelly took last spring.'

Lily flushed. 'He was just trying to get us out of there safely,' she said angrily.

'Keep telling yourself that. While you do, we're going to go and shrink his underpants,' James said.
Lily drew her wand. 'Don't make me hex you, Potter.'

Sirius, Peter and Remus backed off as James made no move to grab his own wand. 'Careful, Evans,' he said with a cunning smile. 'You're perilously close to breaking a rule. Wotcher, now!'

'I think one detention would be worth it, if it was my reward for putting you in your place,' Lily said dangerously.

Heads were sticking out of compartments on all sides now. James felt his pulse quicken. 'I'll leave Snivelly alone forever if you agree to go out with me, Evans,' he said with a grin. 'Not that bad a trade, when you look at it.'

'Funny, but I disagree,' came Severus Snape's voice.

James raised his eyebrows. 'Oh do you? Fancy sticking your greasy nose into other people's business?'

'To speak of Lily's 'business', Potter, is to speak of mine,' Snape said coldly.

'Oh, someone's developed a backbone over the summer. Pity it was absent during our little melee with the Death Eaters last year,' Sirius snapped, spitting at Snape's feet.

'You should be careful not to speak about subjects you know nothing about,' Snape said. 'Lily, are you alright?'

'I'm fine, Sev,' Lily said softly. 'There's no need for a fight.'

'I don't know about that,' James said with a smile. 'I think it would be fun to test out some of the skills from the second years' spell book.'

Snape's eyes narrowed. 'That would be unwise, with prefects about.'

'Prefects?' echoed James.

'Yes, Mr. Potter. Prefects,' came a silky voice from behind him. For a moment, James was eerily reminded of the voice of Gilles Rochefort. When he turned around, however, it was to face a tall, blond Slytherin seventh-year with a badge emblazoned with the letters 'HB' on it for 'Head Boy'. 'You made quite a name for yourself last year, Mr. Potter…what with all of your rule breaking. I certainly hope I don't catch you at it this year.'

'Lucius Malfoy?' Sirius asked in surprise. 'What drunk made you Head Boy?'

Lucius smiled coldly at Sirius. 'Ah, the…'Black Sheep' of the Black family,' he said. 'I've had the pleasure of meeting your brother Regulus. We're hoping he'll join us in Slytherin.'

Sirius snorted. 'You're welcome to him. Useless little git.'

'Temper, temper,' Lucius chided.

'Aren't you the one who got strung up by your underwear from the Astronomy Tower by Arthur Weasley two years ago?' Sirius said confidently.

Laughter filled the hallway, but if Lucius had even heard the comment, he did a superb job of ignoring it. 'Anyway, Mr. Potter—I would sleep with, er, 'one eye' open this year. Until next time.' He swept between James and Sirius and was followed by Snape's usual gaggle of friends—Mulciber, Avery and Dolohov.

'Are you coming?' Snape asked Lily who took one look at Mulciber and shook her head. 'Well where are you going to sit?' he asked impatiently.

'You could sit with us?' Remus offered.

Lily looked between the Marauders and Snape and had the look of someone trying to decide between dung and bogeys for dinner. She gave a funny little jerk and nodded at Remus, who turned and lead the way back to their compartment. Snape had a momentary flash of anger cross his face and he stormed off after Lucius and the others.

'Don't even speak to me,' Lily said as she sat down near the window and crossed her arms so tightly that James wondered how they would ever come undone.

Peter looked around uncomfortably. 'So, er, how was everyone's summer?'

Sirius made a face. 'Pick a different subject, Peter,' he said as he looked down at the ground. James had a feeling he was smarting about Lucius making friends with Regulus.

'How about your brother?' Peter asked brightly, obviously not picking up on Sirius' mood. 'I didn't know he was starting at Hogwarts.'

'Pick…another…subject,' Sirius muttered as he joined Lily in staring out the window, but she was now looking at him.

'You don't get along with your family?' she asked.

Sirius shook his head. 'I don't really like to talk about it.'

'Sometimes it can be helpful,' Lily offered. 'I don't exactly get on with…' she began, but stopped herself, looking at James and flushing slightly.

Sirius looked at her in surprise. 'I appreciate the offer,' he said. 'But that's something I only talk about with James.'

Lily, Peter and Remus looked at James in surprise. James ran a hand through his hair absent mindedly. 'So,' he said airily, 'We're allowed to take part in the Quidditch Trials this year! Any of you play?'

Lily snorted. 'I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you play Quidditch.'

'And what's that supposed to mean?' James said, flopping down on a seat across from her.

'It has been my experience that most Quidditch players have about as much between their ears as they do between their feet and the ground,' Lily said coldly. 'A stereotype which you obviously fit into.'

'What, doesn't 'Sev' like to play Quidditch?' James asked as he ruffled his hair again. He was pleased to see Lily turn slightly pink.

'Even if he does, he's not as pigheaded as you are. He actually pays attention to his studies.'

Now it was James that snorted. 'High talk for someone who barely scored better than me in our classes last year.'

Lily flushed. 'I didn't barely score better than you—how dare you! You don't take your studying seriously at all!'

'I've told you before,' James was grinning again, 'that when you're blessed with superior talents, you don't need to spend all day with your head buried in a book.'

'No, you can spend all day with your head buried in the clouds,' Remus murmured to a roar of laughter from Sirius.

James laughed as well. 'Whose side are you on, Loony?'

'That's not a very nice nickname,' Lily chided.

'Well, he spends all day studying,' Sirius said, as if this made up for it.

'And that makes him Loony?' Lily asked, astounded.

Sirius grinned. 'If you're feeling left out, we could certainly give you a nickname. How about Silly Lily?'

'If you call me that, I'll glue your tongue to the top of your mouth permanently,' Lily scoffed.

Sirius seemed to be mentally weighing the pros and cons of whether to try calling her that again, when Peter changed the subject. 'What class are you looking forward to the most?'

'Transfiguration,' James said readily. 'Distracting Evans should be considered a national past time.'

Lily stuck her tongue out at James. 'Potions,' she declared. 'I'm going to see what new potion I can sucker Potter into taking this year.'

'I'd forgotten about that!' Sirius cackled as the memory came back to James. Professor Slughorn, their Potions professor, had got them all to concoct a Melodus Draught in their first year. Naturally, Lily had been the best, and James had volunteered to try it. Unseen by anyone but Remus, Lily had added a few extra peppermint sprigs that ensured the potion would last for the duration of the day.

'I had too,' James said thoughtfully. 'You know what this means-revenge!'

Lily snorted again. 'I'd like to see you try.'

'Challenge accepted,' James said with a mischievous smile. 'I'll pay you back for that, Evans, just you wait.'

'Anyway,' Remus cut in, 'I'm looking forward to Potions as well. I find it to really be an interesting class.'

'Defence Against the Dark Arts for me,' Sirius declared, and then a sudden silence fell over the room. James knew that everyone was thinking about Professor Bowen at that moment. 'Who do you think they're getting to teach this year?' Sirius added quietly.

Peter shook his head. 'I heard my Mum talking about it. Said Dumbledore was having a really hard time finding someone to take the job-everyone reckons it's jinxed.'

'Well they've got that right,' James muttered. 'Even before what happened last year, no one's lasted for longer than a year. They'd have to get someone really brave.'

'Or really stupid. Pity you're too young to apply,' Lily quipped. James whipped around to see Sirius biting on his fist to prevent himself from laughing out loud.

'Oh go on, then,' James sighed, 'that was pretty good.'

Sirius' cackles could be heard by the whole train.

*

When the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station, the five of them disembarked onto the platform. The familiar sight of Hagrid towering overtop of the frightened First Years greeted them. 'All righ', there, James?' Hagrid called with a wave.

'Cheers, Hagrid! Are we coming with you?' James called back.

Hagrid shook his head an pointed. 'Secon' years go on the carriages. I'll see you up at the castle!'

They strolled over to the carriages that Hagrid had indicated. There was enough room for three to a carriage. Sirius dragged Remus and Peter to go off in another carriage, leaving James and Lily alone-a predicament that seemed to cause her considerable distress.

'Really, I'd rather just go alone, there's plenty more-' Lily was arguing.

'Oh come off it, Evans,' James rolled his eyes as he opened a door. 'I'm not going to bite.'

But no sooner had they both hopped in when they were joined by a third occupant-a panting, sweaty Severus Snape who was staring daggers at James.

'Sev?' Lily asked, stunned.

'You looked...like you...could use...some company,' Snape panted as he sat down, sweating profusely.

James chuckled to himself and looked over at the train where Lucius and his friends were only just leaving the platform. 'What happened to your friends Sn-Snape?' he corrected himself as he caught a glare from Lily.

'None of your business, Potter,' Snape said softly.

As the carriage started to move, it occurred to James-he had probably gotten off the train just as James and Lily were moving toward the carriage itself, and run to catch up. He hated James with a passion and would likely rather have been caught dead than be in a carriage with him.

So that meant...

'Oh,' James thought to himself. 'Oh, this is going to get complicated.'

'So…why aren't you sitting with your friends?' Lily asked, obviously uncomfortable with re-iterating James' question. 'I mean, you spend as much time as you can with them.'

Snape's mouth worked for a moment. 'I wanted…to spend some time with you,' he said stiffly.

Lily's eyebrows raised coldly and James knew that, just as he did, she knew that was not the reason he had come to sit with them. But at that point, Snape turned his gaze to James and sneered faintly at him. 'I hear you fancy yourself a good Quidditch player, Potter.'

James looked at Lily who was looking furious and merely shrugged. 'I suppose.'

'Maybe I'll see you on the Quidditch Pitch,' Snape said with a smile that promised malice.

James raised an eyebrow. 'Not if I see you first.'

'Oh stop it,' Lily hissed. 'Both of you. I don't know why you can't just act mature and stop with this petty little squabble you've been engaged in. You've had a whole summer to grow up.'

'Yeah, Potter,' Snape sneered.

'Excuse me, but I'm talking to you as well,' Lily said severely and Snape looked hurt. 'It takes two people to dance, and frankly, I'm getting sick of this little back and forth you have going.'

At that point, the carriage lurched to a halt. Lily clambered over Snape and stormed off without another word. James considered this for a moment when Snape suddenly whirled on him. 'You stay away from her,' he hissed. 'Just leave her alone.'

'What's it to you, anyway?' James asked. 'You seem to value your friendship with those wannabe-Death Eaters more than you do hers.'

Snape flushed scarlet. 'You know nothing about me, Potter,' he snarled. 'I thought that maybe, just maybe, you would have gleaned a few things from what happened at the end of last year, but Lily's right—you're just as thick as ever.'

'You're one to call people thick,' James hissed. 'You couldn't even stand up to a group of murderers!'

'We're entering a war, you simple minded git,' Snape retorted. 'If you'd like to be one of the first to die because he wore his emotions on his sleeve like a fool, then be my guest! I certainly wouldn't be sorry to see you go!'

'Alright, James?' came Sirius' voice and James and Snape looked up to see Sirius, Remus and Peter standing outside the carriage. Sirius' wand was hanging idly at his side.

James held out his hand with his palm facing the floor. 'No need for that, Sirius,' he said.

'Breaking a few habits, Potter? Or just afraid of my new friends?' Snape sneered.

James chuckled. 'If you want your friends to fight your battles for you, Snivellus, that's fine by me. I'll see you on the Quidditch Pitch before you know it.'

Snape stalked off, bumping Remus none too lightly as he went. Sirius went to trip him but Remus stopped him. 'That's enough,' he said, nodding over in the direction of another arriving carriage. Lucius was getting out, accompanied by Mulciber and Avery. 'We don't want to give him any reason to give us trouble.'

'Lupin,' Lucius said coldly as he walked by. 'I guess they'll let just anyone into this school. The state of your robes…I hope the homeless man you robbed was able to find something new to wear.'

Remus flushed but again held Sirius back as he snarled.

'See you at dinner,' Lucius said with a smile as he stalked off.

'That—I—he's a—' Sirius was spluttering, beside himself with anger.

'Just leave it,' Remus said quietly, staring at the floor.

'Oi! You!' Peter suddenly roared from their side. Lucius whirled around—no one had thought to try and restrain little Peter, whose wand was drawn. 'Densaugeo!' he yelled and Lucius was blown backwards and off his feet, his teeth suddenly growing rather massively until they were the size of his feet.

'You little—' Mulciber began, slashing his wand. Sirius hauled Peter out of the way and the spell slammed into the carriage that James and Snape had occupied only a moment earlier, splitting the door open. Sirius raised his wand to retaliate when it suddenly flew out of his hand. Mulciber's quickly followed suit, as did everyone else's.

'What-?' James asked, looking around, but they were suddenly looking up at an exceedingly tall, rather thin wizard whose mouth was pressed thinly into an unimpressed look. He had sunken in dark eyes and he gazed at James as if he were surveying something stuck to his shoe.

'It's Potter, yes?' said the man in a slow, calculated voice.

'Yes,' James answered.

'That will be ten points from Gryffindor.'

'What? I didn't even do anything—' James began.

'Ten points for each of you,' the man said, nodding to Sirius, Remus and Peter as well. They all began to protest when he held up a long hand, silencing them at once. 'Unless you would like me to allow your Head Boy to determine the punishment,' he said, indicating a seething Lucius Malfoy who was feeling his large teeth with his hands, 'I would suggest you go and join the dinner which you have already missed a good portion of. Now go.'

James, Peter, Remus and Sirius stalked past Lucius, Mulciber and Avery. Sirius made a face at Lucius as he went by, and Lucius muttered something unintelligible as they continued on their way to the great hall.

'That was brilliant, Peter,' Sirius said once they were out of earshot. 'Absolutely brilliant!'

'You shouldn't have done that,' Remus said softly. 'But thank you.'

'Who do you suppose that was?' Peter asked, looking quite pleased with himself.

James looked back. 'I'd guess it's our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor,' he said. 'And I get the feeling he used to be a Slytherin himself. This might be a long year.'