Chapter 4

James sat near the fire in the common room which was deserted except for Sirius, who was doodling idly on a piece of parchment and Remus who sat next to him reading a book, fire illuminating his lightly scarred face.

"This has been a very uneventful Christmas vacation so far." Sirius declared, looking around at James and Remus who raised his eyebrows. "We should do something. No pranks." He raised his hands at Remus's disapproving look and continues to talk. "But at least roam around the castle. Come on."

James approved of this. For three hours Remus has been reading and James staring at the fire (which got boring quickly). Peter had gone to his parents, and now even Peter couldn't entertain him. He got up and headed towards the door. "Well, come on then. Lunch is in a few hours. Might as well make it fast."

"Mate, Peter is supposed to be the clumsy one." Sirius choked out through fits of laughter. Remus scowled and turned his head to hide his blush while James cackled on his other side, leaning on Remus for support.

"Oh, that fall was e-epic and I can't," James hiccupped. "How do you have the talent to trip over a tiny lock and end up down a trap door?" Remus jabbed him in his ribs.

"Prats." James didn't miss Remus wince when he prodded the bandage at his throat. This cannot be good for him. Remus isn't that clumsy and the injuries keep on increasing.

"How'd you get that again?" Sirius added casually, all laughter gone as he straightened himself. This was something James could never really comprehend. How Sirius could easily change from goofy to determined in a matter of seconds. "Did you fall over the stairs…..again?'

Remus stiffened. "Leave it alone, Sirius. Really, just a scratch. Its fine-"

"Not the first one." James added. Noticing his obvious discomfort he said, "Whatever it is it can wait. Tell us when you need to." He took one look at Remus's disbelieving face. "Well, you are bloody awful at lying. Did you really think we wouldn't know you were lying? You serious, mate?"

"That's me, actually." Sirius cut in triumphantly.

James laughed and patted him on his back while Remus groaned.

"Do you think it's possible for someone to die when they've been looked at like that?"

"Might be possible." Remus mused as he noticed James glaring at Severus Snape as he chatted amiably with Lily Evans, who was conveniently the love of James's life.

If she acknowledged him, that is.

James fumed. "What does that ugly grease ball want with my Lily?" James could practically feel Remus rolling his eyes.

"Work up the courage to ask her out first. No, wait, work up the courage to ask her anything first." Sirius muffled his laughter in his steak. "Now, eat up. Your food is getting cold." James refused.

"Why does that slimeball think he can get all close and all- Oh my god, did she just laugh?! Did Lily Evans just laugh because of that slippery little-"

"James. Be nice. Christmas spirit."

"It's Christmas Eve. I have no need to be nice. Besides, Lily is just so-"

"Over you? Oh, wait…."

"Remus, I SWEAR TO MERLIN-"James cut off abruptly when he noticed the whole of the Great Hall staring at him with a mix of confusion, amusement and exasperation. Sirius fell off his seat and got up wiping tears off his face.

"Ohhhh, lucky Jamie! Lily is looking at you now! She's possibly thinking you're mentally demented! Good job!" Sirius announced, aware he sounded like a mentally ill psychopath with a very load and croaky voice but this was gold. James attempted to recover his dignity by holding his fork tighter and ignoring him. Remus shook with silent laughter at poor James's misfortune.

"And now he feels shame! What a rollercoaster of- OW!"

"Merry Christmas, my dear friend." Remus woke up to James whispering these words gravely into his ear while clutching his 'Quidditch through the ages' novel while Sirius sat up dramatically and fell down bowing to the Christmas tree while crying about Morgana.

Why was he even friends with them?

"Merry Christmas, James. Sirius, you'll wake up the entire school at that rate." Sirius grinned, his dramatic reverie forgotten. "You got presents!" Remus noticed the small piles of gifts from family and friends.

"Thanks mate." He noticed a gift from Sirius and one from James. "Thank you too, James." James saluted. "Your pile is pretty big, James. And Sirius, you.."

He trailed off when he noticed Sirius flushing and James stiffening as they noticed three, no, four presents under Sirius's name. But what enraged James was that none of it was from his family. He could see the names. James. Remus. Peter. Mr and Mrs Potter. How could they. How could they abandon Sirius, ignore him just because of his house, something so trivial-

Sirius put his hand on his shoulder. "Listen, Remus, James." He shot a look towards James who was shaking in rage. "It's fine. Really is." The weird thing was, they couldn't see him lying when he looked so sincere. "I have you, James. I have Remus. I have Peter. And you nutter, Jamie, you told your parents?!" Sirius shook his head in a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Anyway, I don't need them. I have you all and you are enough. Trust me." He smiled and all their anger disappeared at that familiar smile. They hoped that maybe, maybe one day Sirius would let his family go, let all the hatred discrimination go past him instead of letting him bottle it up in his chest and pretend he was okay. Remus put on a real, honest smile and patted Sirius on his cheek.

"This moment has gone very sappy. Do you wanna kiss next or something?!" James yelled and slapped Sirius on his shoulder. He laughed at Sirius's pained expression. "The James Potter Team of Greatness does not have sappy moments like this."

"That name is worse than your attempts to court Lily Evans. How about the 'Sirius is Life Band'? 'The Prankster Buds'? Or for you, 'The James Is Very Bad at Stealing Things in Front of Sirius the Great Lion'?" They continued to exchange stupid names until,

"I know you stole my quills, James." James let out a gasp and shook his head. "And Sirius, I know you stole my-"Remus shook his head. "You bloody marauders." Sirius and James exchanged a glance.

"Marauders; raiders, huh?" James looked at Sirius and Remus with a grin. "Not bad."

And this was how they got the name most people remembered them by.

Marauders. Not bad at all.

Peace, pizza and Percy

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