A/N: Thank you for all your kind comments on the last chapter. To answer a query – yes, I will being doing ficlets from all seven years.

As mentioned previously this chapter marks the start of the second year fics. I would love to know what you all think. Hopefully I will have another update before the weekend – as long as work doesn't suddenly need me. Enjoy the chapter.

#-#-#

7. The Quidditch Pitch

Peter Pettigrew: September 1972

The stands roar with the combined excitement of four houses' worth of students – each student having been deprived of Quidditch for a long summer, and all looking forward to the start of the new season. The first game – the one currently exciting a great many students and a fair few teachers – was between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Although any match would have attracted a crowd this particular match had lead to wild predicitions of being 'the greatest match in Hogwarts' history' – in the opinion of many of the crowd the prediction was only wild because the match hadn't happened yet.

Peter Pettigrew was currently standing in the Gryffindor stand with two of his best friends – Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. All three of them were currently awaiting the arrival of their group's missing member on his Quidditch debut.

"I wish it would hurry up and start." Sirius complained.

"Do you have to be so impatient?" asked Remus. Sirius responded with a pointed look which spoke volumes of his lack of patience. "Well be impatient quietly."

"Pete, tell Remus that I'm just excited to see James and that after a rather boring summer… well – this was worth waiting for."

Peter shook his head. "Remus is sat right there – tell him yourself. And anyway – we're all excited."

The argument was prevented from continuing further by the announcer – the long promised match was finally starting. The Ravenclaw team was announced first – there were no surprises in the line-up; it was unchanged from that which walked away with the Quidditch Cup the previous year.

The Gryffindor line-up contained only one change from the Ravenclaw's major rivals of the previous year: James Potter as the third chaser. The Gryffindors, lead by Sirius, Remus, and Peter, had decreed that the second year would bring the trophy to Gryffindor. The Ravenclaws responded with doubts due to 'lack of experience'.

Peter looked towards the pitch in an attempt to find his friend. Currently James was looking a little green and a lot like he might fall off his broom. Peter felt guilty for even having the unvoiced thought that maybe the Ravenclaws had been right about how James would cope.

"He doesn't look good does he?" Remus asked.

"I wonder if he picked up that bug you had a couple of days ago. You were right under the weather." Sirius commented to Remus. The latter boy paled at Sirius' vague accusation.

"I'm sure it's not you fault, Remus. James didn't say anything about feeling ill this morning – and if the way he wolfed down his breakfast is anything to go by, he's fine." Peter tried to comfort Remus – although his words seemed to do little to change the pained look on Remus' face.

"Yeah, what was the idiot thinking?" Flying on an full stomach." Sirius' voice contained concern that only his friends would have been able to discern.

"Potter scores! That second year is really making his mark! Gryffindor lead ten points to zero!" The announcer's voice stopped the discussion for the second time that day.

On the pitch James was performing some kind of victory loop. His face was once again filled with colour, and he looked very pleased with himself.

"Maybe we should pay attention." Peter suggested – not wanting to miss anymore of his friend's achievements.

Sirius and Remus just nodded.

#-#-#

8. Hogwarts School Kitchens

James Potter: November 1972

"Where exactly are we going?" Peter asked.

"I told you – it's a surprise." I had told them, numerous times, and I think they were expecting me to slip up and tell them anyway. I wouldn't let this one go – it was too important.

"Are we nearly there yet?" Remus asked.

"Almost. Just three more staircases." In Hogwarts terms that was pretty close, particularly when your starting point was Gryffindor Tower: land of the staircases.

Three staircases later and we arrived as promised. "Ta-daa." I gestured at the painting; the three boys in front of me did not look impressed. "OK – so the painting isn't great but watch this…"

I looked around before backing up slightly. I pitched myself at the painting – my hands landing on the picture to break my fall.

Nothing happened. I tried again – this time my bone cracked awkwardly as I landed; the door didn't open.

Peter asked, "Are you feeling alright?"

"He's not just talking about your hand. Have you lost your gobstones?" Sirius' pessimism made me think that perhaps I had forgotten something important.

Remus was slightly gentler, "If you tell us what you are trying to do… maybe we could help."

"I'm trying to open the painting."

Remus nodded. He then moved to the side of the painting and tried to pull it from the wall.

"It won't work if you do it like that. It was a magic doorway, with a magic handle."

"Which you open by falling into it?" Peter asked and I nodded.

"Are you sure you didn't just hit your head?" Sirius again. Honestly did he not know how to be positive?

"Pretty sure." I replied.

"Well… maybe it only works at certain times," suggested Remus. I had to concede that he could be right – Hogwarts could be pretty unpredictable. Remus continued speaking. "What did it lead to anyway?"

I toyed with the idea of not telling them – but they needed to know how good my discovery was. "The kitchens."

I don't know which one of them looked most shocked – they all looked pretty pleased at the thought.

"Did they give you any food?" Sirius asked – his attention once again focused.

I nodded. "Cake. And a good cuppa."

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt if…" Sirius never finished his sentence. Instead he threw himself at the painting.

"Sirius, stop it. It won't open like that… James has already tried. And probably broken his hand in the process." Remus was right – my hand was throbbing. "We're probably missing something."

"All sirs have to do is tickle the pear."

The voice came from behind us. We all jumped. I spun round to find a house-elf looking at us as though we were mad. Or maybe that's just what house-elves look like. We never had one so I wouldn't know. I'd have to ask Sirius – wait, did he tell us how to get in?

Remus was, as usual, one step ahead of me. He moved towards the painting and brushed his finger along the pear. The door handle came from nowhere – just as I remembered.

He opened the painting to the smell of a bustling kitchen. I'm sure I had a pretty smug grin on my face as the four of us headed into the kitchen.

"You know we're probably not meant to be here, right?" Remus asked.

"Definitely not." Peter added.

"Makes it better doesn't it?" Sirius asked.

None of us could bring ourselves to object – particularly as we were being handed biscuits by the house-elves.