Chapter 2 The Letter

The upcoming quiditch match against Hufflepuff was quickly approaching. James was pushing his team for practice so they would be sure to win.

There were three more days… two days…one day…twelve hours… ten hours… eight hours… six… four… one… twenty minutes…ten minutes… five minutes. The whole team was waiting in the dressing rooms for the game to start. Being the captain James told his team they had nothing to worry about and to play the best they could. There was nothing more to be said so he left it at that and waited.

Finally it was time. The team went out and took their places. The captains shook hands and the game began.

Carol Manchess caught the big round ball and zoomed to the Hufflepuff goal posts. She threw the ball and made it in. Gryffindor had received the first ten points of the game. The chasers on both teams played more and more fiercely as the game went on. Keeping his eyes out for the snitch James swerved around the stadium.

The match had gone on for hours. The score was one hundred fifty to one hundred twenty to Gryffindor. James knew he needed to catch the snitch soon to end the game. And then he saw it right next to one of the Hufflepuff beaters on the other end of the field. He urged his broom on toward the snitch. Just as he reached out to grab the tiny gold ball, somebody knocked his hand out of the way, but slipped. Then James leapt from his broomstick and in his hand was the golden snitch. The stadium erupted in cheers. The teams landed and were greeted by the crowd. James was lifted upon Sirius's and Remus's shoulders. They carried him to the Gryffindor common room. Though James was happy he had caught the snitch and won the game, he was really tired. So after a few swigs of pumpkin juice and a few pats on the back he turned in and went to bed. Now that he had the weight off his back he could sleep peacefully. His last thought was on the quidditch cup they had won that day.

The next morning when James came down the dormitory stairs, he immediately saw Lily Evans. He went over and put his arm around her. She scowled and shrugged it off. James simply replaced it. Lily tried to move away but James held her fast. "Why Evans, how would you like me to walk you to our first class together?"

She gave him a false smile and put her right hand in her robe. James was looking away. His arm began to burn. He quickly removed it.

Now Lily faced him. "Don't you ever touch me again or I will hex you beyond repair." Her wand was directed at his face. She turned on her heal and stomped out of the room. James looked surprised then began to smile. Sirius was laughing.

"Tough luck Prongs." He said. He and James went down to breakfast. Sirius told Remus what had happened.

"Seriously Prongs." He replied, "I think you are going about it the wrong way."

"Well what do you suggest Moony?"

"Well you already know that what you do to other girls isn't going to work on lily."

"And…"

"You need to do something different."

"Yah?" And when Remus didn't answer, he added. "Like what?"

"What does Lily like" Remus asked.

"How should I know? She won't ever talk to me." He said very exasperated.

"Well you're going to have to figure it out wont you. That is if you actually want to."

James now had a gleam in his eye. "You have prefect duties with her right?"

Remus frowned. "I'm not going to ask her anything for you if that's what you're going to say."

James looked disappointed. "Why not Moony, you're the perfect man for the job."

"No Prongs you'll have to ask her yourself."

"But…"

"I'm going to transfiguration." Remus interrupted.

"Man he was perfect."Prongs sighed.

"We'd better get going, or we'll be late." Sirius Said.

On their way James thought of something else. "You sit right behind Lily don't you Padfoot?"

"Yep," Sirius answered, "But it will be kind of hard to ask her anything without getting McGonagall involved.

"Oh yah." James was defeated.

The year was nearly over with just exams left. All the teachers were giving the sixth years mountains of homework to prepare for their exams. Since it was springtime many people were found studying outside. This included the Marauders. Though they were studying the Marauders still found time to pull pranks on everyone who passed. The latest was Sadie Cason, a fourth year Gryffindor girl who was trying to catch James's eye. Sirius had beckoned her over. As soon as she was standing about three feet away a swirl of water surrounded her and soaked her to the bone. The four Marauders roared with laughter.

"I have been waiting a long time to try that on someone, Cason, you are the lucky number one." Sirius said through fits of laughter. The soaking Sadie stomped off toward the castle to change into dry clothes no doubt.

James searched the grounds. He found what he was looking for, a certain girl with beautiful green eyes and long red hair. He ran his hand through his already messed up hair and walked over to her side. "Go out with me Evans," he said.

Lily sighed, "No Potter."

"C'mon."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"I'll be your friend."

"No thanks."

"I'll do anything for you."

"Stop asking me out."

James walked away looking disappointed at his loss but had a grin on his face nevertheless, He went and sat next to Remus.

Still looking at his book he said, "Like I said, you have to use a different way to get to Lily, Prongs."

"I know, I know." James was frustrated.

The first exam would be defense against the dark arts, then potions, followed by Transfiguration, next it would be Herbology, and finally Charms. And then for those who had continued in other subjects such as Astronomy and Muggle Studies were last.

The Marauders had nothing to worry about in Defense against the dark arts with the exception of Peter. He was always having trouble with his classes and wouldn't be able to answer all the questions if the answer was staring him in the face.

Just as James expected the exam was simple. He notices that Remus and Sirius were thinking the same thing. The three finished their tests early and waited for the rest of the class. As soon as they were excused the Marauders headed straight for lunch. Lunch ended all too quickly and they headed for their potions exam. Professor Slughorn was waiting with a smile for them.

"Now sixth years, this exam won't be too difficult. All you have to do is make a draught of the living dead." He told them. "The instructions are on the board." He gestured toward the black board. "You may begin."

Although potions wasn't his favorite subject, James was exceptionally well with them. He barely finished his when the hour was up.

"Everybody fill a flask and mark it with your name then bring it up here for me to grade." Professor Slughorn instructed.

There were scraping noises as everybody made to fill their flask. Once all the samples were on the desk the class was excused.

The hour before dinner was dedicated to studying. Most people went to bed at around eleven o clock.

The next morning everybody ate a swift breakfast then hurried off to their Transfiguration exam. Professor McGonagall had given them the task to turn their desks into deer. Every student's looked different from one another. Every one was looking around to see how they did theirs wrong but nobody had time to do any changes. Feeling rather worn out James skipped lunch and went straight to Herbology. Later everyone else joined him

"For this exam you will be identifying the plants on your table. You will write them on this piece of parchment." A large roll of parchment flew toward the students and landed on the desks. "You may begin," said the stout Professor Sprout. The rolls of parchment unrolled themselves and were each about a foot long. They were numbered from one to fifty. This was by far the longest exam yet.

James had about three numbers he had to finish when Professor Sprout told them they had one minute left. He filled in the last three answers with his best guesses. Then it was dinner time.

"One more exam left." Remus reminded them.

James and his friends couldn't wait for exams to be over. After exams was two weeks of free time. This time would be spent outdoors by most of the students. On the last week they would receive their results and then a few days later they would be sent home for the summer vacation.

James went to bed extra early so he could look at his unusual map. He called it the Marauders Map. He and his friends made it for the nights they needed to check to see if the coast was clear. This map labeled every single person in Hogwarts, where they were and who they were. He was looking for someone and he found her in the library with her best friend Addison. He stared at the name for what seemed like hours when someone ran into the dormitory.

"What are you doing?" James asked a panting Sirius.

"I've got a date with Serenity." He answered as he jostled out of the room.

Of course, when had Sirius ever not had a date? He, James, also had a knack with girls, lately though he had been taking it easy because he wanted to be with Lily Evans. He looked back at the map to see Lily's name again. He found her moving up the staircases toward the Gryffindor Common Room. James stood up to go down there but was too late. He watched as her name stopped she was probably in her bed now. He too went back to lying on his bed. He replaced the map in his truck and with his thoughts on Lily, he fell asleep.

James was with Lily on the sofa. Professor McGonagall came in and told them to do their exams before playing around. James was just about to protest when he heard his name "Prongs, Prongs!" It was Sirius. James pulled out of his dream.

"What Padfoot?"

"You have five minutes to get yourself into the charms exam! You over slept!" James jumped out of bed and pulled on some robes then raced down stairs just in time for the beginning of the test.

"Nice of you to join us Mr. Potter.: Professor Flitwick said as he retold him the instruction. "You will be writing down ways to do these spells here on the piece of parchment." James began immediately. Most of the spells were ones James had used so he knew the exact effect. However he had found the Glacier spell fairly difficult because he had never used it before, but he guessed that it froze things. James was one of the first to finish and was set free to go to lunch. He sat across from Lily and was arguing with her about why she wouldn't go out with him. She had called him numerous names but he ignored them. James was so busy with his conversation that he didn't notice the tiny screech owl in front of him until it nicked his thumb. Putting his finger to his mouth, James took the letter from the owl, this was odd, and letters were usually delivered at breakfast. But he opened it and read every word. His face paled as the every ounce of blood seemed to run out of it. He felt like was going to get sick.

Lily was watching him. "Are you ok?" she asked.

James ignored her. Grief tore at James's heart and suddenly he felt alone and cold. His thoughts were only on the letter in front of him. He looked close to tears. Suddenly he stood up and ran to his heads office. He knocked fiercely.

"Potter!" McGonagall was angry. "What do you think you are doing?" Then catching sight of James, she asked, "What happened?" He gave her the letter. Her expression of concern turned sorrowful.

"I have to go Professor." She knew he would leave with or without her permission so she brought him to the headmaster's office.

James was beginning to get angry. How could this have happened? If Professor Dumbledore didn't let him go, he would go into hogsmeade and apparate to his house. After seeing the letter Dumbledore didn't refuse James request. He let him go on one condition that he would return to the school after he had taken care of it, he would not go off on his own after he saw them, his parents. James just nodded in agreement.

"You will need a houseelves apparition I presume" James felt weaker by the second. Dumbledore muttered something that sounded like 'kay' and just a second later a small houseelf popped into the room.

"You called Master Dumbledore?" She squeaked.

"Yes will you take Mr. Potter to his house, and then bring him back?"

"Of course sir, Kay would be honored."

"It would be best if you landed about a block away from the house."

"Yes sir." James had nothing to say.

They landed in front of an old muggle church. James took off running toward his house. He was dreading what he would see so he slowed to a walk. He pulled out the letter and reread it.

Dear Mister James Potter,

We are very sorry to inform you that your house has been discovered with the dark mark above it. As you know this particular mark forces us to conclude that the dark Lord visited your home. Later when we came to investigate, it looked as if there had been a struggle.

We regret to inform you that we have found your parents bodies and concluded that they were first tortured by the cruciatus curse, then were twisted by a spell unknown to any ministry official, and then finally killed by the unforgiveable curse known as Avada Kadavra. We are very sorry for your loss.

Giving you our best wishes,

Ministry of Magic

James folded the letter back up then quickened his pace with the elf still by his side. He could see his house now The Dark Mark was removed but the door was off its hinges. He began running. A ministry official stopped him from running into the house. "Sir My parents," James nearly begged.

The man's face was white as chalk. "I strongly recommend you staying out here because it is not a pleasant sight."

"Please sir." James begged again. The man sighed and gestured him in.

James passed him. He could see now that there was a great battle. He followed the damaged pieces of house to find the end. He was dreading what he would see. In the letter it explained that his parents were tortured, twisted, and then killed. Twisted? What did they mean? He would find out soon enough. James turned a corner and… No No No. He knelt down beside the bodies. How could anybody do this? A tear fell down his face and landed on the blood soaked carpet. More were forming, He couldn't help it. His parents' limbs were literally twisted.

They both had looks of pure agony on their faces. Why couldn't it have been me instead? James thought. Suddenly he wanted to run. He wanted to avenge his parents. He wanted to make the beast that did this hurt and die. He was already on his way when he remembered his promise to Professor Dumbledore.

Dumbledore knew he would feel this way. He would just have to break his promise. But then his father's voice sounded in his head. Your word is your word, James and you must keep it. James turned to the houseelf and together they went back to Hogwarts.