Character: James Potter

Challenge: Snakes and Ladders Challenge

Prompt: N/A

Era: Marauder

Summary: They say friends are forged in fire, but James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were friends formed by a mutual love of seeing people who deserved it get their comeuppance. The first night in the dormitory for legends.

Birth of a Legend

"A good friend will bail you out of jail. A best friend will be sitting next to you, insisting that you do it again."

Author Unknown.

James yawned as he sauntered into the dormitory for the first time, tossing his tie down on the bed nearest to the window as he did so. Another boy already sat on the bed furthest from the window, his hangings half closed and his nose buried in a thick textbook—History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot.

"Hi," he said, throwing himself down on the boy's bed.

The other jumped, nearly dropping his book.

"Twitchy, are we?" he asked teasingly.

He looked up, eyes narrowing, but he didn't say anything. James shrugged at Sirius, sprawled on his bed.

"Come on wolfy, what's wrong?" Sirius asked.

He jumped again, eyes widening as he clenched his sheets in his white fingers.

"How-did Dumbledore?-he swore he wouldn't-but-"

Sirius, however, continued without heeding the other's strange reaction. "It's not that much of a stretch. Wolfy makes perfect sense. My mum used to tell myths as bedtime story. I mean, Remus?"

Remus sank back on his bed, his hand on his heart.

"Says the boy who's a walking, talking pun."

Sirius gave a large laugh at that, sounding ridiculously like a dog."I make that joke every single time my mother begins a sentence with 'You can't be serious.'" Then he gazed at the other boy in wonder. "Remus, you made a joke."

He and James exchanged a high-five.

"There's hope for you, after all!"

Peter looked hopefully up from his letter to his mother. If James glanced out of the corner of his eye, he could just barely see the start.

Dear Mum,

You won't believe it! I'm in Gryffindor!"

Huh. James didn't think it was such a big deal. Before he could ask Peter why he didn't think he could be in Gryffindor, an owl flew in the window, a smoking, red envelope clutched in its beak. Even the owl flinched away from it, taking off as soon as he had landed. Peter dove for cover, flinging his pillowcase over his head. Remus leaped from his bed and slammed the door just in time and slumped against it, ears plugged. Sirius regained the use of his wits and attempted to pounce on the envelope, but he was too late. James stared at it in horrified fascination as it began to speak.

"SIRIUS ORIAN BLACK, HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE THE NAME OF BLACK LIKE THIS? I HAD TO HEAR IT FROM NARCISSA! YOU BESMIRCHED THE FAMILY NAME AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY TO WRITE YOUR OWN MOTHER TO TELL HER? I WILL NEVER HEAR THE END OF THIS FROM DRUELLA! YOU WILL HAVE YOUR FATHER AND ME TO ANSWER TO IF YOU EVER WORK UP THE COURAGE TO COME BACK TO THIS HOUSE!"

The letter fell with a sputter and a frightful burst of smoke. Silence reigned in the dormitory. Peter emerged from his pillow, white as the sheets on his bed. Remus returned to his bed and watched Sirius with wide eyes.

"Well, mate, when you said they'd be furious, I didn't think—"

"Neither did I," snapped Sirius bitterly, crumpling the letter in his fist.

Ashes seeped through his fingers as he turned his back on them. James could tell his new friend didn't want them to see him cry, but he couldn't just sit there.

He took a few steps forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You know, I think this 'Narcissa' needs to learn a lesson."

Sirius smiled, his face clearing at once. Still, his voice was shaky.

"Yeah. She's always been a snitch."

Remus, not wanting to be left out, joined them. Peter hastened over.

"We'll be like Robin Hood!" Peter said excitedly. "Getting revenge for people who can't do it themselves."

Remus looked pained. "Robin Hood's men were called Merry Men."

Sirius grimaced.

"We need something better."

"The Marauders," said Peter quietly.

The boys looked at each other with broad grins.

"The Marauders, it is," James said.