Honestly, this chapter is more a filler/link chapter than anything else. Stupid me, I left the first chapter at a really hard place to continue, so this was hard to write. Obviously the arrival of the Marauders- as well as the other kids- would have an impact, but where's the balance between cheesy and OTT, and completely underrated and ignored? I'm not at all happy with this, but it's good in that it's gotten their physical (and, to an extent, mental) changes, as well as the introduction of a couple of OCs out of the way. After this I can try and get the quality of the story up to standard.


They entered in three groups.

The first was made up of a strange mix of teenagers, all with the same nervous and slightly angry expressions on their faces. There were two adults with them, one on either end of the line, a man and a woman with identical blank faces and large builds. Whispers broke out amongst the school as they walked up the centre of the hall and waited, in single file, in front of the Head table. None of these were the Marauders.

The second group had a noticeably different atmosphere about them. There were less of them, as well- where the first group consisted of around twenty kids, mostly young teenagers, this group was made up of around fifteen older teenagers, some of them surely almost over-age. They looked angry, mostly, and the murmurs around the school were quiter. This was partly because of the way the group glowered at everybody they passed, and partly because there were four escorts with this group, posing questions as to how dangerous these kids actually were. They made a line next to the first group, and hundreds of heads turned expectantly back to the door. Where were the Marauders?

And then, there they were.

This time, there was no excited chattering from the Hogwarts students. Everybody could only stare in shock at the teenagers who walked in. Like the other two groups, they came in single file- but unlike the other two groups, there were nine huge escorts, one each for the nine teenagers. Also unlike the other two groups, the hostility and fury radiating from this group was actually scary.

The first to enter was Sirius Black. His face was impassive, but there was something about his shockingly pale skin and dark eyes that made everybody he looked at glance away. His escort was walking close to him, one hand hovering around the small of his back, as if he needed restraining.

The next to enter was an unfamiliar girl. She had almost the same translucent skin tone as Sirius, but her eyes were dark blue, and her hair fell down her back in a white-blonde waterfall. There was a smirk on her face, and she kept her eyes on the back of Sirius' head.

The boy- if he could be called that; he looked around nineteen- following her was also new. His pale blue eyes were cold, and his lips were curled in a threatening smile. He was almost as burly as his escort, and his eyes flickered constantly between the students, the girl in front of him, and Sirius.

Lily Evans was next in line. Her kind face had been replaced with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. She glared at several people she passed, as if daring them to remember the old Lily.

After her came Remus. He had grown several inches, and there was something animalistic about the glint in his eye and the way his muscles rippled under his clothes.

Marlene followed, and she wore the same hostile look as Lily, her fists clenched at her sides.

The girl after her was another new addition to the group. She had olive skin, dark hair swept over one shoulder, and an arrogant smile playing around her lips. As she passed the first few Hogwarts students, Remus glanced over his shoulder. They locked eyes for a second, and her smirk deepened.

Peter was next, and nothing about him was recognisable apart from his blonde curls. He made eye contact with nearly everybody he passed, flexing his muscles and sniggering as people gaped at him.

The last to enter the hall was James.

The contrast between him and Peter was shocking. He had the same small Seeker's build he was known for, and the same tanned skin, but that was where everything changed. His glasses were gone, and his hazel eyes flashed with fury even while his face remained impassive. His messy black hair had seemed to smoothen out a bit, and he walked down the center of the Hall as if he owned it. His escort was inches away from him, staring down at him as if he was going to attack somebody.

Going by the cold anger James was radiating, nobody doubted he would, given the chance.

They formed a third line, a small distance away from the other two groups. The silence was gradually broken as seven years' worth of Hogwarts students began to speak, excited and nervous.

"Look at his face-"

"Who're those girls?"

"I think they actually started the fire, look at them-"

"What are those bracelet things?"

Everybody seemed to notice at the same time the metal cuffs that circled the third group's left wrists. Each member of the group had their navy-blue jumper sleeves rolled up- almost as if they wanted them to be seen.

Dumbeldore was quiet for an unusually long time. The schol had talked itself out by the time he stood up. Still, he gazed at the Marauders for a moment more before addressing them all.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." His tone was unusually strained. "For those students that don't know, for whatever reason; our visitors are from two...schools-" Nobody missed the hesitation in his voice as he referred to the two Detention Centres as 'schools'. "But now form one group. Of course, they will be treated the same way as we treat each other- with respect, fairness, and generosity."

James' face changed for just a millisecond, from carefully blank to something... scarier. Dumbeldore didn't miss it, and he kept his eyes on the boy as he contnued, now directing his words at the three groups. "You will be given your own sleeping quarters for the duration of the stay, but you will attend various lessons and meals as if you're students of the school. By the end of the year, there's a possibility you might be." He took his eyes of James to smile at the other groups, some of whom smiled back, and some of whom just stared.

"Now, for Group... C, was it? Yes- Group C- arrangements have been made for you to spend meals and classes as if you belong to one of the four Houses." He was speaking to the first group to walk in, the majority of them younger, and they gazed around, some looking nervous. "It's up to you, however, which House you choose. Why don't you take a seat somewhere?" When nobody moved, he gave another, brighter smile. "Take your pick! Don't be shy!"

The twenty- odd kids began to spread out. A group of adults at the back of the Hall watched carefully, some moving to stand at the ends of the House tables. Finally, they were all seated randomnly throughout the Hall, next to students who looked mostly less than pleased.

Dumbeldore seemed to lose his welcoming exterior for a moment as he returned his gaze to the third group, and he examined each teenager carefully before speaking again. "According to past experiences and advice from the staff accompanying you, we've decided that- for now, at least- Groups B and A will have their own table. He gestured to a new table, identical to the House tables, positioned on the far wall next to the Slytherins. The second group- Group B- were quickly shepherded towards it. Group A remained standing until everybody was still once again, and then they, too, were taken to the missed the way Sirius' escort's eyes never left his composed face, or the way the blonde girl moved so she was so close to him that her own escort began to look on edge. Nobody missed the glint in Lily's green eyes, or the flex of Remus' muscles as he glanced at the Slytherins.

And absoloutely nobody failed to notice that James stood where he was for a few seconds more, staring at Dumbeldore with an indecipherable expression on his face, before running his tongue over his teeth. "You treat each other with 'respect, fairness and generosity'?" he quoted in a smooth voice. "Wow. First lie and we've only been here two minutes. It's almost as if we never left."

His escort placed a hand on his shoulder, jaw tense, but he just gave Dumbeldore a smirk before turning and stalking over to join the others at the table.