Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters.
The main story is about the Marauder's last year at Hogwarts; the flashbacks (in Italic) recounting their most important moments during the previous years.

Chapter 3: Moonwalkers.

James was discharged from the Hospital Wing twenty minutes after. The word about his fight with Travers had spread like a wild fire while he was gone; every single living soul (and not so living, for even the ghosts knew) in the castle had heard about the fight, yet, some details had been lost in translation, people had the impression that James and Trevor had been fighting about Lily's love, rather than her honor. Yet, James was worried for Lily; he had spent the first two weeks back at school, tailing her, with Sirius' aid; he know that Trevor eventually would strike back.

"Don't worry" Sirius would always say "If, and when that happens, the pig's gonna regret it for the rest of his life.

And so he did. After two weeks and a half of protecting Lily, Trevor eventually reached her and tried to force himself upon her, the next thing they knew Trevor "was able to reach the high notes" as Lily had put it.

"Does it mean…" squeaked Peter his eyes wide in terror as he watched Lily walk away "that she hit him…?"

"Round and square, down there" said Sirius grinning.

"Hex him down there, by the sound of it" said James laughing.

October dawned, chilly as ever, the wind rustling the old, fallen, spring leaves. The seven years were drowned in homework, classes were becoming more and more demanding; even James was seen paying attention to the teachers.

Rumor has it that October moons are the most beautiful of all year. James and Sirius agreed, for they were very fond of Full-moons.

"You know the sixth's a full" said Sirius to Remus under his breath during potions class. "It's been a while, you know"

"I told you, I don't want you guys doing it anymore" said Remus sternly.

"Why?"

"It's dangerous, remember last time?"

"Oh, James back me up" said Sirius elbowing James.

"I don't know, it is dangerous" said James, tormented by their last, moon-light adventure.

….

It had happened a year ago.

James and Snape's relationship had reached an all time's low. James had gone more and more recklessly open about his feelings for Lily, something that angered Snape.

Snape was a little bit curious about Remus' monthly disappearances; he had even taken the liberty to spy him sometimes. And it was this that Sirius took advantage of.

He had caught Snape lurking behind some armors in the fourth-floor corridor.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked revolted at the sight of Snivellus' greasy hair.

"I-I- What do you care" answered Snape defiantly reaching for his wand, but Sirius was faster, and with a flick Snape was dangling in the air up-side down.

"Manners, Snivellus, Manners" said Sirius in a true imitation of McGonagall's most stern voice "Where do you think you were going?" Snape didn't answer but his eyes flickered for the stairs. Sirius could have read his mind "Sneaking of to the grounds huh?"

"Look who's barking! As if you weren't sneaking every month, I know your friend is a filthy werewolf!"

"Oh, I bark alright" snarled Sirius "But, I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Remus' not a werewolf, thought he could make a pretty good one; we're sneaking off to somewhere better, but you'll never know, unless you can dodge the Whomping Willow that is" and he dropped Snape, enjoying the clank of his head with the floor as he fell "Go to your stupid common room Snivellus, don't stick that greasy nose of yours where it doesn't belong"

Snape made for a run, but Sirius knew he had made it. Snape was full of curiosity now, he would probably sneak to the ground and find Remus in a full werewolf form and have the scare of his life, that would teach that git.

He found James and Peter on his way to the common room, the Invisibility Cloak and the Map ready on their hands.

"Guess what I did to poor Snivellus?" he asked them grinning.

"What?" said James and Peter in unison grinning too.

"I told them to go down the Whomping Willow!" the grin disappeared of James' face almost instantly much to Sirius' disappointment.

"You did WHAT?"

"Told him to go down the Whomping Willow, he was a sneak, and so he deserved to have the crap scared out of him!"

"Remus' fully transformed down there!" bellowed James panickly thrusting the Cloak to Peter's arms.

"So?" asked Sirius but James had already broke into a run.

"I'm not running fast enough!" thought James scared, he put his whole mind to focus and felt his body shiver, faster than he could blink he was running on all fours, sprinting, not as a human, but as a stag; he was sprinting to save the life of the being he hated so much, the being that spent so much time with her, the being that would find a full-grown, dangerous werewolf, should he find a way to hoodwink the Willow.

….

"I think not, Padfoot" said Remus sadly "If it happens again-"

"It won't!" jumped Sirius looking from Remus to James "I know I screwed it up! Let's not waste the fun!"

"We need to be very cautious" said James under his breath "No risks"

"None"

"Seriously?" asked Remus surprised.

"I trust us" said James looking to Sirius thoughtfully "I mean Sirius know what he did was wrong, and he doesn't want it to happen again" he looked to Sirius "We'll limit to the Hogsmeade forest, no one ever goes there, plenty of room to take care of your 'furry little problem'" his whisper became almost inaudible "And no one will get hurt"

"Yes!" jumped Sirius gleefully, attracting some glares from nearby people who were trying to concentrate on their cauldrons.

"More work over that table, boys!" bellowed Professor Slughorn over the dungeons.

"Right!" winked James to Professor Slughorn over Lily's reproaching stare across the dungeon, he turned his gaze to Remus and whispered again "The fourth's in two days, that falls on Thursday, we'll set everything in order, just to be cautious"

"Good" said Sirius stretching his arms "Haven't barked at the moon in a while, if you get my drift" he winked an eye to them, Remus rolling his.

Sirius darted out of the dungeons with Remus, sensing James' intentions. James stayed behind pretending to clean the rest of his cauldron, while looking over his shoulder to see Professor Slughorn talking to Lily.

"I can introduce you to some highly useful contacts my dear" was saying Slughorn, James catching regularly the words "excellent potioneer" "important people" "career prospects" among others. At last Lily walked towards him, and so he stood up; dripping Mandrake roots all over him.

"Oh my!" said Lily laughing as James pulled the roots away of him. "You've got some on your hair" she reached for his hair, her warm hand feeling gloriously good on his head.

"You know" James tried to strained his voice casually "Old Sluggy's having a party Halloween night, and hum, well-"

"You're gonna ask me out" said Lily as a matter-of-factly.

"How did you know?"

"You've been doing it for the past six years, every single day of it" lazily answered Lily "It's almost way too predictable"

"Right, well, I thought you changed you mind, I mean I did save you"

"From what?" she said, crossing her arms.

"God only knows what Trevor would have done to you"

"I think it's Trevor whom you should be worrying about" said Lily, that malicious look on her face again "He'll be forever sorry about trying to make a move on me"

"Right" said James a little scared of how much a jinx in that place could hurt "Anyway, if you only, only would-"said James his hand together as if praying.

"Fine" surrendered Lily "I'll go just this once, and as friends!"

"Hold it" said James his eyes wide with shock "You agreed to go out with me?"

"I think I did" said Lily lazily "We both know you'll never get tired of this, and well you did behave like a true gentleman back there, I mean, you could have hex him, but no, you took the hard way just to make sure I was safe"

"Yeah, well" shrugged James his face red.

"Anyway got to go" said Lily checking her watch "Guess I'll see you at Halloween"

"Right" said James watching her go.

"And James-" she said looking over her back.

"Yes?"

"We're going as friends"

"Right" It was not a question or doubt; it was an order.

James' body experienced too many emotions at the moment. Happiness, shock, nervousness, confusion, excitement. Too many to control. He could hardly blink when he found himself dangling upside down, his blood rushing to his head.

"What the-"he shouted reaching for his wand "Impedimenta" he shouted at a lurking figure by an armor nearby, Snape threw himself out of harm's way.

With a nonverbal incantation, James released himself from the charm, he crashed loudly into the cold, stone floor, his bag ripping, his books flying opened, his bottle ink crashing and breaking.

"Damn, Snivellus!" he said and flicked his wand.

A blue jet stream flew to Snape's head, but he shielded himself. He retaliated with a purple ray which was stopped by Professor McGonagall herself.

"My office" she said, her mouth a thin line.

"Professor Slughorn shall deal with your detentions Snape, you shall go" she said fifteen minutes later in her office after docking a few points out of each one's house "And you" she turned her stern gaze to James "Very disappointed of you. A Head Boy. Dueling. I thought maturity would have made you more-" she closed her eyes "civilized"

"But-"

"I see not"

"He hexed me first!"

"He shall have detention, and so will you" she said, her face hard "I don't know what's with you boys, why do you hate each other so much, and why have you done so for the past six years!"

"I don't hate him" muttered James, McGonagall's face full in disbelief "I don't"

Which was after all the truth; otherwise he wouldn't have saved him.

…..

He was sprinting on all fours, the grass rustling slightly at his wake. The full moon lighting the grounds as he passed. His heart pounding uncomfortably on his throat.

"Please let me be on time" James thought "Please, God, let me have time!"

He knew Remus was becoming more aggressive these days; teenage werewolves were the most aggressive. "It's the sprout of hormones" Remus explained "The werewolves get crazier and more aggressive because of that, it is due to pass, don't worry". He and Sirius would joke about a bad case of puberty would hit Remus on full moon; but there was no doubt he was right, he was getting aggressive, he didn't enjoy his company very much lately. That made him most dangerous.

James saw the Whomping Willow ahead of him, it was too still, too peaceful. He concentrated again, focus his mind strong enough to his body, to alter it; and then he threw himself to the hole under the Willow already transformed into a man. He dashed trough the underground tunnel, sweat running through his forehead, his hands and feet full of dirt. He reached his destination. The Shrieking Shack. The villagers would surely hear some roars and yells from the Shack tonight, but would those yells be from the attacked Snape? Would his death be heard all over Hogsmeade? No. He could not bear it, as much as he loathed the guy, as much as he had the affection of Lily he could not have or deserve, he could not let him die.

"Snape!" he yelled, running up the stairs, his wand aloft "Snape!"

He heard a roar on the door to his left, he blasted open with his wand, and to his full horror saw Snape crouching, the palest white he's ever had on his face staring transfixed in horror at a full, transformed, angry werewolf.

"Remus! DON'T!" he said pointing his wand, most unwillingly, to his friend "Please! I don't want to hurt you!" his voice breaking, for he knew there was no way he could understand him.

Remus stood there watching them, his eyes focused on Snape, a hungry-look upon his face, his mouth drooling, his fangs bared. The wolf crouched, ready to jump, James stood in his way trying to help Snape up, but it was too late, the wolf had already jumped to strike, with nothing else to do James flicked his wand at his friend protecting him and Snape from a sure deathly blow. The wolf fell on his back, howling with anger.

He was surely confused, thought James, at the sudden attack from a figure he smelled so familiar and harmless; taking advantage of this momentarily weakness he grabbed Snape's ropes and pulled him out of the room "RUN, YOU IDIOT! RUN!"

Snape dashed out of the room his legs trembling violently, followed by James. They both went down the stairs fast as they could, the wolf upstairs howling madly and ripping the door with his bare claws.

"RUN!" yelled James "Don't look back! Come on!"

He pushed Snape to the underground tunnel and they ran for it. Adrenaline and blood pounding on his ears, sweat raining on his face, James ran, his legs feeling too heavy, the wolf's howls imprinted on his ears. He could hear the wolf approaching behind them, determined to get his prey; he urged Snape to go faster, but Snape apparently wasn't in such a good condition as James was; after all James played Quidditch twice a week and once a month he usually went to run free as a stag on the grounds.

"Come on, you git! HE'S GETTING NEAR!" yelled James watching Snape tripping, he turned on the spot to watch the wolf dashing behind them on all fours, his face twisted in madness, and he pointed again, most unwillingly, his wand at him "Stupefy!"

A jet of red light flew to the wolf, hitting him square on the face, the wolf falling loudly. Snape turned to watch their hunter fall, to make sure they were safe.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU DOING!? THIS ISN'T OVER! COME ONE!" James yelled at Snape, angry at his stupidity, they got up and broke into run once more.

At last they spotted some light on the dark underground tunnel, the exit was near. Faster they ran as they heard the wolf coming for another strike. The night fresh air blasted against James' face as he came out of the tunnel under the Willow; after all it was a chilly night. Snape made a run for the castle, surely he would find safety there, but as he ran, he tripped, falling with a loud "THUD!" on his face.

"GET UP!" screamed James as he helped Snape up, again.

But the wolf had at last reached them. He howled at them, his claw ready to strike; and it happened too fast. A giant, black dog tackled the wolf with huge ferocity that made the wolf tripped on its hind legs.

Both animals circled each other, growling. Snape on the ground, James crouched, both staring in horror at the animals.

Then the dog made for it, he ran to the forest; the wolf behind his wake. And James felt suddenly cold. Sirius had sacrificed for him. He knew that it would cost him a great deal escape from the wolf, and if he couldn't he would have to fight him.

"We're saved!" whispered Snape, his voice shaking with fear.

But James didn't really listen; he was more worried about the fate of his two friends. He threw himself to the ground, exhausted, and looked to Snape.

He was drenching in sweat, breathing heavily. And then Snape caught his eye. James was not hoping to see gratefulness on his face, but surely he didn't expect the hate Snape's face was emanating. His eyes were almost slits, his greasy hair wet in sweat, and an inexplicably hate on his face.

"Funny little joke" he said, pure hate forming on each of his words "Got cold feet I suppose?"

"What are you talking about, you git!? I just saved your slimy life!" said James without breath, still confused.

How any of this was his fault he couldn't understand, but surely Snape couldn't be thinking he had anything to do on any of this. After all James didn't hate him, he just despised him.

….

James tried not to remember any of this. He did, after all, worried about Snape's safety, believe it or not. He didn't want him dead. His only problem with Snape was his devotion to Dark Arts, which James despised. And of course, Lily's attention to Snape worsened things a little bit.

"How can she even like him?" James would think bitterly sometimes "She wouldn't, ever, like him!?"

The idea of Lily and Snape together holding hands tormented James quite a lot, but how he would feel if he would ever see them kissing? James shuddered at the idea. After all Snivellus and Lily hadn't spoken to each other in almost a year, for reasons unknown to James.

When he at last arrived to the Fat Lady and muttered the password ("Codswallop") he remembered why he was so cheerful and couldn't help grinning as he entered the common room.

"Why are you wearing that stupid, lopsided grin?" snorted Sirius over some parchment he was writing on.

"I-"began James but caught sight of what Sirius was doing "Are you doing homework??"

"Unbelievable, right?" asked Sirius grinning "But McGonagall told me she would give me detention on Thursday night if I didn't handle this essay, and well, I want Thursday night free, don't I?"

"Well" said James shifting uncomfortably, remembering why he felt so miserable "I do have detention Thursday night, and Friday night, and Saturday night too"

"What? Why?" asked Sirius angrily while Remus entered the common room with Peter.

"There, we've just come from the library" said Peter ignoring the angry look on Sirius' face and the apologetic one of James' face.

"Yes, we'll be free Thursday night" said Remus ignorant too "What's the matter Padfoot? Need help with your homework?"

"He's got detention Thursday night" explained Sirius.

"What did you do?" asked Remus calmly closing his eyes, as if this were not news to his ears.

"Dueled with Snape"

That too was as if it weren't news to his friends "What for this time?"

"Dunno" shrugged James sitting on the armchair by the fire, followed by his friends "I was talking to Lily-"

"Lily?" asked Peter.

"I'm over her!" mocked Sirius with a good imitation of James' voice.

"I am!" lied James to his friends and to himself "We were just talking as friends-"Sirius let a loud snort out "And after that Snivellus attacked me"

"What were you talking about?" asked Remus, knowing wisely that the answer of that could be the reason behind the attack.

"I asked her to come with me to Slughorn's Halloween party- as friends!" he added at the look of his friends' face.

"You're over her, right!" snarled Sirius sarcastically, some fourth girls nearby eyeing him hopefully.

"We're going as friends! She said so herself!"

"And she's going with you because you helped her with the Trevor business?" asked Remus in disbelief, Peter watching him as if he couldn't believe someone could be so wise.

"So what?" snapped James.

"I don't know whether to be happy for your date or be angry at your detention" said Sirius half-beaming, half-exasperated.

"Be both"

Both boys laughed, joined by Peter, Remus smiling slightly.

"Come on Remus!" said Sirius patting his back "He's got a date with her! After six years!!"

"Don't you think Snape attacked you because he overheard this?" said Remus raising his eyebrows.

"Do you think he's jealous?" asked James raising his eyebrows too in disbelief.

"Yeah, that's sounds pretty Snivelly to me" said Sirius as a matter-of-factly and the four boys laughed.

James decided to start on the Transfiguration essay, Sirius finishing it and Remus helping them, Peter watching them in awe.

After they had settled everything they went to bed, they changed into their pajamas and settled each one on their respective beds. James lay awake for a while thinking things over.

McGonagall was being unfair, he was the one attacked after all; yet every detention he'd had so far was an exaggeration of the teachers, yes, he may have crossed the line a few times, but nobody had gotten hurt. The only detention he considered he'd deserved was the only one that Dumbledore ever put on him.

….

He was sitting on a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk, Sirius to his right and Snape to his left. The rare, pretty, silver instruments of Dumbledore stood around them making small noises; the portraits of previous headmasters snoring peacefully on their frames, after all it was four in the morning.

"I think you understand the risk you put your classmate on?" said Dumbledore from behind the desk to Sirius, peering him over his spectacles with his light blue eyes.

"Yes" said Sirius looking down.

"Good" said Dumbledore gently "Playing with the condition of your friend is no laughing matters. Your jokes Mr. Black are highly amusing, but I'm afraid this time it was a joke of poor humor.

"Yes" said Sirius, his eyes on his shoes.

"I believe that it was your friend Remus who told you?"

"No, we found out, four years ago" interrupted James to spare Sirius from talking.

"Of course" said Dumbledore "You would be too foolish not to, particularly because you spend so much time together" he turned his gaze to Snape who was not so pale now "I take it you'll take the secret to the grave"

Snape turned his eyes to Dumbledore, throwing him a filthy look.

"Severus"

"Why?"

"Because it would really hurt Mr. Lupin's reputation, and he doesn't deserve discrimination" he pierced Snape with his light blue eyes "You will not tell anyone about this, or you'll answer to me, and the detention you could get would be much graver than the one they are getting" he said pointing with his head to James and Sirius.

"Fine" snarled Snape "I won't tell anyone"

"I'm most thankful for that" said Dumbledore bowing "You may go to bed Severus, now" he said and watched Snape exit his office before addressing to Sirius and James "You will do detention every evening for the next two months, and you'll try to rise Mr. Lupin morale, I'm sure he will be guilty ridden for tonight's events, which we know he wasn't responsible at all"

"Yes, professor" said James quietly.

"Not James, professor" muttered Sirius, his eyes still on the ground.

"Beg your pardon?"

"Not James" Sirius looked up to meet Dumbledore's light, blue eyes "I'm the one who told Snape how to get past the Willow. True, we were both out of bed trying to sneak around just for the fun of it, but he went down the Willow to help Snape"

"Is that so?" said Dumbledore raising his de-colored eyebrows "I was under the impression that Mr. Potter and Mr. Snape had a long, standing rivalry"

"You don't believe me" said Sirius simply.

"Oh no!" said Dumbledore shaking his head slightly "I really do, Mr. Black. I know when I'm being lied to, and I know many things that happen around my school. Mr. Snape is under the impression that Mr. Potter was in for the joke too, but both you and him have agreed on one aspect of the story: Mr. Potter was not present when you told Mr. Snape how to get past the Willow. So I am guessing, and I'm pretty good at it, that you're completely honest. Perhaps only two weeks of detention for Mr. Potter just for the sake of the argument?"

Both boys looking pleased, they thanked the headmaster for their understanding, for any other teacher would have sent them home.

….

James felt they had been under-punished but he didn't complain, after all he did save Snivellus' life. He shifted in his bed to a more comfortable position and then thought of Lily, she'd finally agree to go out with him. Smiling to himself he fell into sleep, dreams spiraling with images of Snape, a werewolf, and Lily, Lily's almond-shaped, green eyes…

"MISTER POTTER!"

"Ididn'tdoitIswearit!" woke James with a start. It was Transfiguration class, Thursday morning, a feebly sunray barely visible over the clouds.

"I would rather not find out what it is you didn't do, but what I would like to know is the answer to the question." said sternly professor McGonagall.

"Huh, well, you see, I-"

"You weren't paying attention" cut in Professor McGonagall in a matter of fact tone.

"Yeah, well you see I was, but I have so many things in my head" said James trying to sound convincing.

"Of course you have" said Professor McGonagall, her mouth thinning into a line.

"Yes, well, between Head Boy duties, homework, preparations for my N.E.W.T.s and stuff like that, well, you know, the mind sometimes slips off" he concluded waving an arm, many girls giggling and some boy snorting.

"I hardly think the N.E.W.T.s are worrying you at the moment" said Professor McGonagall raising an eyebrow.

"Well, no" said James clapping his hands as if praying "But-preparations for Slughorn's party are worrying me" he put a hand in his chest "deeply"

"Why, I don't see why it should, the party is in a month"

"Three weeks actually" said James as a-matter-of-factly "and four days. Still I'm worried about what I'm going to wear, how to comb my hair" Sirius snorted at the sight of James' untidy hair "I want to look really good, you see, I want to impress" he turned his gaze to Lily, who was frowning him as if he were a little naughty boy.

"Well, you do not impress me now! Next time you fall asleep it's detention Potter" said Professor McGonagall even more sternly, her mouth a very tiny line.

James knew she thought he had detentions to his neck already (Sirius and James had been given detention by Filch for selling Dungbombs to first years) but perhaps, James' misbehavior was the reason McGonagall left them such an incredible amount of homework.

So between Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts(Professor Stronghold turned out to be after all strict) and Transfiguration they had a huge pile of homework. James and Sirius had started Quidditch practices, two days a week. James had also Head Boy duties starting next week, which he would comply delightfully, for he would spend some time with Lily. All in all, seventh years were drowned in homework, but Sirius, Peter and Remus would not worry about that until the weekend, for they had a moonlight adventure tonight.

"Don't worry, Prongs" said Sirius patting James' back as they made their way to the marble stairs "It's always next month"

"Yeah" said James sadly, he'd been looking forward his nighttime stroll.

"We'll try not to have fun for you" said Peter, they had already offered to postpone the adventure for James, but they would leave Remus alone in his transformation, and that wouldn't be fair.

"Yeah" said James frowning "See you tomorrow, I guess" he waved them.

He knew they would stay up all night, but he had detention, and so with a grimace he entered Professor McGonagall's office to serve his detention, imagining the many adventures his friends would be having, and the many they had since they had become animagi two years ago.

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